Circuit Break Phase 2: Busy 2nd Weekend

There are so many more things to do during weekend now. Woohoo!

WWF has resumed the 1st ride as per the Government advisory. To avoid the crowd, we started at 6am in groups of 5. My group was rolling at 6.05am and we barely made it in time. Nevertheless, it is important to take picture of my chio chio cycling socks and cleat shoes even if late. See, so special. Not pro never mind, look pro can liao. Hehe.

It was a short ride to Lab Park and back to JW for bfast. I never fall down on my cleat shoes, just that I was stressed that I would and ended up having difficulty clipping out on several occasions.

We got new jerseys, just nice to mark the event.

Physical tuition classes have started to resume. We sent the kids to Maths in the afternoon and burnt the time away at coffee bean. It feels so strange and I suddenly missed the weekends of doing nothing. Hoho. The evening was spent at my brother's place now that visiting is legit.

On early Sunday morning, we went hiking at the Treetop Walk. The last time we did that was a long time back. I was up before 6am and started with a short HITT since I had time to burn.

As usual, Zaky was the hardest to pull out of bed. He was totally not keen on the hike. Too bad, too sad. Hoho. We arrived at the Venus carpark at about 7am.

The new (probably not that new) platform pathway was easy to walk.

Bcos of the recent rain, part of the trail was muddy.

Like much, much muddier than this patch. Faint. Luckily I was wearing my old shoes.

Along the way, we spotted so many monkeys.

This one approached us and probably trying to snatch my bag bcos it saw me feeding Lil Shauna a mint. Hello, sweet lah, sweet only. Heng, a man helped to chase it away. Ended up, we didn't dare at all to eat any of the snacks that I lugged on the trail.

This other one was waiting on the treetop walk.

Then it chose to claw at Lil Shauna as we walked past. I don't know why it had choose her. We all obediently walked past it quietly and didn't attempt any eye contact. Fortunately she was not hurt.

Finally onto the treetop walk.

We come so far for this view. Then it was more stairs to climb. Haha.

We did complete the trail.

But left behind part of my sole. Time to finally throw the shoes away.

I was famished by the time we got back to the car and was pigging on the snacks with the kids.

We ended the walk with bfast back at JW. By then, it was already 10ish. I was meeting  the girls for lunch only to realise that it was buffet lunch! What?!! Dead.

Did I eat? Of course lah, buffet leh. Then I rolled home and bought BBT on the way home. Hohoho.

With that, it finally marked the busy weekend. I clocked 20k steps on my new watch wor.

What a busy weekend. My legs were so tired but at least I didn't have muscle ache like Daddy Lim and Lil Shauna. Haha. I did have a nasty headache and I think it was from dehydration. Sob.

Mummy Lim

Garmin Vivoactive Element 3

My faithful Fitbit Charge 2 served me for a good 3 years. I got it for myself as a bday present. In the 1st year, the HR monitoring failed but Fitbit did an exchange without much questions asked. I was impressed.

My Fitbit Charge 2 is really easy to use. I generally used it to track my HR during workouts, calories and weight. It is a fuss free watch with long battery life and can go on for a week without charging. The Fitbit app is also easy to use. I don't have much to complain about just that it isn't water resistant and it is sometimes difficult to sync with the phone to obtain GPS.

While I can't swim in it, it did have a few accidental dunk into the sea water when we were last in Phuket. The watch didn't spoilt but the strap rusted. Then again, the cheong replacement straps are cheap and plentiful on q10 and such. I got by, I am not a big fan of swimming anyway.

Fast forward 3 years and my bday is here again. Now that I am more physically active, I thought of getting a new sports watch. In the entire Fitbit series, the Charge is the only one that caught my eye. Charge 4 is now in the market but it looks exactly the same as what I have and I am a bit bored. My eyes strayed to Garmin, which is like the leader in such sports watch.

Garmin watches are a lot more expensive that the Fitbits. The Charge 4 is at $285 while the high ends Garmin watches are over $1k. After some research, I thought I might settle for the Forerunner 235; the price tag is right. I know, it is a strange yellow but it comes in other colors too.

Venu also caught my eye as it is a lot more pleasant looking but apparently looking good comes at a cost.

I have to credit Daddy Lim for doing the research. In like a short 15 mins, he recommended Vivoactive Element 3. It looks really nice and has the functionalities that I needed. It is a 2019 model and cost $328. It ticks all the boxes. Deal!

In times like that, I am glad that we live on top of JP and popped down to JP during Friday lunch. We found the last piece in Harvey Norman, in the exact color that I wanted. It is basically calling me to buy it.

Bye to Fitbit.

I got it set up in the same afternoon and left it to charge.

The same night, I clocked the last 10k steps on my Fitbit Charge 2. Must take a picture for memory sake.

Then I happily don the Garmin to go to bed. Haha.

For sure I am still meddling with the watch and Garmin app. There is a lot more on the app; I doubt I will use all of them. This morning, the Garmin went on a ride with me but I wasnt sure how to activate it. Hoho. Never mind lah, more chances to come.

While the ride wasn't captured, I was glad to figure out that I can download new clock faces! There are quite a number of choices. Look at this! So kawaii! I is good mood already. Hohoho.

Good buy, good buy.

Meanwhile, my Fitbit will go to Zaky when I get new dark colors watch strap. Lil Shauna took the job to clock steps on the Fitbit today. Totally not wasted.

Mummy Lim

Circuit Breaker Phase 2: 1st Weekend

Life is coming back to JP; the mall is crowded and the shops are opened. The only difference is that people are all wearing mask.

With Phase 2 here, I am like the thousands in Singapore, who suddenly feel the urge to shop. I don't need new clothes but the idea of buying cheap, not really important stuff is really appealing, like Diaso kind of shopping. No wonder Diaso is so crowded. Hoho. I am not the only one and Lil Shauna dragged me off to Popular on Saturday afternoon. At least I didn't go squeeze Diaso.

We didn't manage to cycle on Saturday morning despite dating the usual gang bcos of rain. It was again one of those leaking whole day Saturday. I was so excited to be able to practise my cleat shoes but woke up to the sound of thunders in the middle of the night. Chey.

We dated the gang again for a Sunday morning ride. The roads were slightly damp from the night drizzle but we decided to press ahead for a short spin at LCK. Unfortunately, it started to drizzle the moment we stepped out of the house. LITERALLY! Ended up, the 5 of us were all stranded at Frontier cc.

We sat and waited and hoped that the rain would stop.

Ooooo.. look at my eyebrow. Hehe.

We watched as the rain falls mercilessly.

Our hope of riding diminishes as the sky brightens. We were then hoping that the rain would lighten enough for us to safely ride to bfast.

No such luck. Centris was just across the road and we couldn't even make it across.

The rain eventually lightened up and we decided to head home instead while we could do so safely. At least we took a customary picture. Just nice, max of 5 and with mask somemore.

The sky started leaking non-stop again until the afternoon. The kids were nice enough for us to go for an afternoon ride and we decided on LP1. One of the usual gang joined too.

It was definitely eventfully. Before we reached LP1, Daddy Lim had a flat tire.

After much huffing and puffing, he decided to take a Grab home instead. Lol. The wheel is too new and it was too difficult to change the tubing. The remaining 2 of us decided to press on to LP1. 

We did it! 

While the adults had their "fun", so did the kids. It was playing and playing and playing since Friday. 

Ok, this week only. Lil Shauna agreed that she needed to work hard starting next week. The prelims are coming and soon PSLE will be whacking her in the face. Scary. 

Mummy Lim

My New Eyebrow

It had been a long time since I last had my brow done. The last was in April 2018. I read back my blog and saw that I have to suffer the 蜡笔小新 look every 2 years.

My brow has started to fade. I had to lightly draw over them before I stepped out of the house usually but it was an easy job given that the shape is still very much intact. I would love to go back to Beauty Recipe, the salon that I did my brow the last 2 rounds. Unfortunately, the salon is no longer around.

With the starting of Phase 2 and the possibility of returning to the office in a couple of weeks, there is no better time to get my brow done. I will have plenty of time to hide at home and have nicely recovered brows when I finally have to go back to the office. Yay!

After some google of good review eyebrow embroidery places in JW, I found Avone Beauty right in JP. I had walked past it many times and it is a nail salon, I didn't know that they do eyebrow embroidery as well. There were quite some good reviews and I decided to take the plunge. Appointment book right after P2 starts. I wore my cap to help hide the new brows later.

I had wanted to do the 6V eyebrow embroidery. There is some kind of promotion going on and 6V brows cost $616 with 1 year unlimited touch up. The last time I did mine, it was in D and I had the 6D one done. I am not sure if D = V. Avone Beauty also has the 9V brow and that cost over a thousand. Woohoo!

I was tended to immediately when I arrived. My beautician, Grace started drawing my brow and then recommended a combination of 雾, which is 4V and strokes (6V). Then quoted me the combined price of 4V ($406) + 6V ($616). Siao ah! I insisted on keeping to 6V. In my mind, I was thinking that it is the same one set of eyebrow regardless of the method, why would I pay double price? Moreover, isn't stroke supposed to be the more advance method? Why would I pay to do an old method? I do have to say that I really like the brow shape drawn by Grace.

The beautician then discussed with her manager and came back with a discounted price of $880. I get a free facial on top of that. Sorry, still not keen. She tried hard in trying to sell me the 2 combined Vs. Sorry, not keen.

I finally had the numbing cream on.

After a good 30 mins wait, I was ushered to the only tiny facial room at the back for the embroidery. Grace tried one last time and offered a last price of $717 without the free facial. Since it is not much expensive from the original 6V price, I took it. She said that based on her 专业 opinion, a combination will really look better. This is always the thing with such services, you never know how much discount they will eventually give. It is like buying stuff from one of those night markets; see how hard one bargain.

Two different kind of blades were used. The 6V has the usual ziak, ziak, ziak sound. That sound is damn scary. The 雾 method is a poking method like tattooing but definitely less painful than tattoo. The embroidery this time is slightly painful. I am not sure if the poking method is more painful or the numbing cream is weak. Anyway, it is bearable.

I asked Grace which method is more difficult and she said 4V. Sure or not? She also said that this 雾 method is not the same old tattoo method. Whatever lah.

One side done.

All in all, it took about 2 hours.

The actual brows looked a lot darder in indoor lighting condition. Grace said that she didn't give me too dark a brown already and asked me to come back for touch-up 28 days later if I wanted to a darker shade.

On the way home, I got Lil Shauna's Tiger BBT bcos there was no Q.

The moment I am done ordering, I turned back to see a line of 8. Heng ah.

This is for me. Hehe. Bcos also no Q. Haha.

Right after eyebrow is done, we went to visit NaiNai. I have my cap on to try to tone down my brow and to hide my grey hair. The hair dying is next in Q.

So many things to do before I become presentable. So busy.

Mummy Lim

The Gym is Opened!

I was waiting for the condo's advice on the reopening of the facilities as Phase 2 starts. Finally, the notice was sent out on late Wednesday - the gym is opened! So is the basketball court! The pool needs to be cleaned and is targeted to open next week. Never mind, I don't quite fancy the pool. Hoho. The only bummer is that the gym's aircon is down and the doors will be kept opened.

I wasn't exactly sure if I wanted to hit the treadmill with the broken aircon. Ok, I lied. I was really excited about heading to the gym and got out of the house not long after the kids headed for school. I wanted to be early to avoid the crowd and to see if the no aircon condition works for a treadmill run. Otherwise, I would head outdoor.

There was one other person doing weights when I arrived. The management has blocked out the alternate machine to fulfil the social distancing requirement.

No problem, I got my treadmill. Hehe.

The doors were opened and the broken aircon was turned on to facilitate air circulation. It wasnt too bad. I was reminded of my treadmill runs at one of the Airbnb and hotels; the gym is non-aircon too and I didnt die.

I started on the treadmill and it was so, so, so easy as compared to the outdoor runs. I was able to go slightly faster than before and I just ran and ran and it was actually easy throughout. Awwwww.. I really missed the treadmill.

In the end, I was on the treadmill for a good 45 mins and completed 6km!

I may not have run 6km at one go in my entire life! If I did, it was probably in my teenager years. Hohoho.

The run was mega satisfying. On the other hand, I am sad that I will probably "lose" real running soon bcos that is the real hard work.

I double checked that the basketball court is opened. The kids were all dating the neighbor friends once back from school and headed down for a combi of basketball, football, badminton, frisbee, whatever. They just wanted to run around and running around is good for them. Hoho. They didnt come back until 10pm when the basketball court lights were turned off.

It was definitely a good workout bcos sleep was so easy for the boy. There wasn't the usual turning and tossing and he was in lala land in minutes. Hoho.

Yay, I already feel so good about Phase 2 and the economy reopening. Hmmm.. my bday present.

The only strange thing is this muscle ache in my shoulders. Treadmill will give shoulder ache? Hmmmm.. so strange.

Mummy Lim

Looking Forward: Circuit Breaker Phase 2

Like so many in Singapore, I am looking forward to coming Friday - the start of CB Phase 2. While there are still many restrictions in place, at least we can now legally go out as a family. Hehe. The retail shops will be opened! Lil Shauna and I can start thinking about our belated bday presents. Hoho.

The WWF chat has gotten busy again with cyclists discussing new group rides coming up. We can finally start riding in a group again, in max of 5. The official rides will start next week; I have one more weekend to practice riding on my cleat shoes. Hehe.

The schools will resume fully on 29 June. Haiya, I am not very pleased that I have another week of HBL with Zaky coming up. Haha. It will likely be a few more weeks of WFH for me. There isn't much updates for Daddy Lim too. Popo is also not very please that the adults are not going back to work. Haha.

With the impending need to go back to work, it is time for some urgent grooming. I need to get my hair dye, it will be a perfect time to get my brow done too. More importantly, we all need to lose weight. This is so tough. The kids and I had been starting evening walks.

It is actually more for Zaky. Like I say, some walking is better than no walking. It is good that he is still determine to lose his 2kg.

Lil Shauna is also gan cheong about the rink reopening and had started practicing her axel jumps. She finally managed some proper ones after like 200 attempts. Hoho. Coach Raymond informed that the rink will reopen on 2 Jul. After working hard, then Lil Shauna burnt all her efforts with the irresistibles. Hoho. She whacked the entire box herself.

I have already been pushing my body very hard. I need to watch my diet. See, even my shoes spoilt le. They have served me for 4 long years of traveling, hiking, treadmill, cycling and more.

Time to use the new chio chio NB that I bought at a steal.

Daddy Lim had been looking forward to a swim at the pool. I am excited that the gym is going to open. However, looking at the state of the Centris pool and the gym, I think it will take a while. Nevertheless, we are heading towards normalcy! Fighting!

Mummy Lim

Exercise Together + Cleat Shoes On

While Daddy Lim was down and recuperating from his surgery, I had been maintaining and in fact increased my physical activities bcos of the WFH. I now alternate between HIIT, jogging and cycling up to 6 days a week. Unfortunately I still eat too much and didn't lose weight. But I do feel stronger and this is apparent during our weekly rides.

With the long breaks for Daddy Lim, I now can pull Daddy Lim for most part of the ride and have to wait for him in case he overworked his poor lungs and heart. No replacement lor. So much so that Daddy Lim also think that it is time to step up. Come, come.

He joined me for 2 HIIT sessions last week - Monday and Wednesday. He was pouring sweat by the end of the sessions; HIIT, particularly cardio HIIT is no joke. On Friday morning, we also managed to pull the most difficult person to go for a walk. See how far he is calling back.

It was so difficult. I had to lure Zaky with extra Fortnite screen time. Even then, it didn't stop him from whinning and complaining for most way. It was until that I gave him a 2kg weight loss challenge in exchange for V bucks for his Fortnite that he finally perked up. Walking is better than no walking. He has become way too lazy and eats too much.

I was hoping to go cycling on Saturday morning and to try out my cleat shoes. I remembered waking up to thunders in the middle of the night. The rain didn't let up and the sky continued to leak the entire day until late afternoon. The roads were too wet even for an evening ride. Bummer.

Fortunately, I got to ride on Sunday with my cleat shoes!

We hit the road immediately. Part of the nearby PCNs is under renovation and with the strollers and joggers, we figured out that it will be more dangerous to both the other users and myself to cycle on PCNs.

The intention was to Uturn at Lab Park unless I feel confident enough to continue. We decided to go slow. Daddy Lim was so "encouraging' and told me that ride faster, fall harder. Win liao.

In the end, we rode all the way to LPS and back. Hehehe, I didn't fall down and even managed to uncleat properly at 2 traffic lights that turned red at short notice. It took some getting used at 1st and I also realised that it became more and more difficult to cleat in and out towards the end of the ride when I was tired. It was definitely a good getting used to session.

The aim of the coming weeks will definitely be to practice more on my cleat shoes and to get Zaky to walk more. I can hear him whinning already. I also wanted to buy some of those pretty cycling socks to go with my cleat shoes. Pink pls. Hehe.

Mummy Lim