Urban Skating Adventure

Auntie S, T and I had been learning skating from Coach J. I think we had taken like 4 classes from him and he has decided to take us out skating. I have invited the kids  particularly Lil Shauna, who loves urban skating. Now, what is urban skating? I think it is generally skating from one point to another, and non park/ PCN. This is the time to put the skills learnt to test. 

Lil Shauna was keen but hesitant bcos she had to wake up early again after Saturday's unearthly official practice. She asked if the Coach is nice. Hmmm.. I wasnt sure if she meant like handsome nice or personality nice? I told her that she will probably perceive him as a fat uncle. She went on to conclude that he is nice bcos most fat uncles are funny and thus nice. What?! I went on to ask if Daddy Lim is nice and Lil Shauna went "YES" without hesitation but a sly smile. Hoho. Daddy Lim is a Fat Uncle.

The meet up.was at 8am on Sunday at Raffles City. To the MRT!

We were slightly early and the kids self entertained. 

I was busying gearing up and wanted to warm up. The kids waited until the last min bcos they are so good and can jump right into it. As I take more of the classes, I come to realise that the rest of the family are all damn good with skating but nobody offers to take me and I have to pay to take lessons. So ironical. Haha. 

Pictures shortly after we started. 

The starting part was a familiar route, from MBS to Barrage and then along that PNC. I just did that last week. Then instead of towards ECP, we headed to Kallang through another ECP. It took us lesser than 1 hour and 2 mini bridges along the way. 

We survived! 

I was intending for more. Like more loops around the kallang tracks but the rest were more keen to have bfast and go home. OK lor. The skating wasn't difficult for Zaky but tiring bcos his tiny wheels are not build for distant. 

We were doing small talks while de-gearing when Coach J asked if Zaky eventually took aggro lessons from Coach L, who was recommended by him. I tried putting in a nice way that Coach L seems to have eventually ghosted from us and Zaky is now taking lessons from Coach N. Zaky proudly went on to tell us that Coach N won 3rd in some Singapore aggro skating competition. Then, Lil Shauna butted in that she also got 3rd. Hahahahaha.... out of 4 skaters... even she was laughing at her own joke. 

We had a well-deserved 2nd bfast at the foodcourt. Our gears formed a mountain. So many, so heavy.

It was a cab ride home bcos so far, so heavy, so hot, so tired.. so many reasons. Hoho. 

I thought the urban skating experience was brief. Like most of it was done on the PCN; I had expected a lot more pavement and walkway. I thought that my last 2 weeks of ECP has a lot more difficulties and I had put my T brake, snaking, turn stop to more practice than this trip. Nevertheless, it was a good confident boost and I feel that I am so much better than when I started going round and round in Kallang. Hoho. I told Coach J that I wanted to continue learning, that he can teach us more tricks and also slalom. Hoho. 

Mummy Lim

Singapore National Figure Skating Competition 2022: Basic Novice

Remember the very reluctant Lil Shauna who didn't want to join the competition at the Basic Novice level? Bcos she lost to Coach, who simply said "Join", we ended up registering. Hohoho. I wouldn't lie, it is a struggle. 

She passed her Basic Novice test in Januray this year and her program is somewhat like her test program, just more difficult and complicated. We had 2 months to practice and it didn't help that Lil Shauna didn't seem to feel the urgency in the initial weeks. By the time she thinks that she needed more practice, the SISA ice time was packed with every skater who is also trying to prep for the same competition. The public ice time wasn't any better and the rink's capacity was increased too with the easing of covid restrictions. #died

The last few SISA lessons were bad. Lil Shauna struggled with crowded rink. There were so many skaters per session and each got to skate only once with music. I saw her during class last Wed and she was fumbling on ice big time. Her double salchow was still very inconsistent and I was worried for her. 

Today is her big day. The official practice was at freaking 5.50am. Did we go? Of course! We needed the tiniest practice time available. Coach was again very 厉害,  and told Lil Shauna that he wouldn't be coming for thr official practice. Hohoho

Daddy Lim dropped us at the rink at 5.20am. Literally 摸黑. We were up at 4.45am. 

Lil Shauna worked hard and the practice with music was so much better than usual bcos the ice was empty. 

We went home, had bfast and chilled a little.

Time passed so quickly and soon it was time to get ready again. I managed to bun her hair with many hair pins.

All done.

Back at the rink, the wait was increasing antagonising. Like every previous competition, I was as anxious as Lil Shauna. I was so gan cheong last night, that I even lost sleep. Losing sleep is a damn big thing for me lor. It didn't help that she was last of the 4 skaters. 

Finally warm up time. 

By the way, that is my company jacket. Haha. 

How did she do? She fell for her double salchow and couldn't do her camel combined spin at the end. She was quite upset with herself when Coach told her that the last spin is likely not considered. 

How do I feel? I was absolutely relived and super happy bcos I could see that Lil Shauna had worked hard in the last weeks and had tried her best. 

Unlike the last competition, the judge was onsite this time, which also means that results are released fast. Lil Shauna was very worried throughout that she would come in last. Of the 4 skaters, 2 are the same young girls who competed with her last year in Elementary and both won her by leaps. 

By lunch time, Coach has texted that she got 3rd in the preliminary results. Hohoho. I hope preliminary results wouldn't change. She is again very far behind the 1st and 2nd place (the same girls who beat her last year) and very closed to the 4th place. She again didn't do well for her skating and performance skill as compared to her competitors. 

Lil Shauna was relieved that she isn't the last. I am just happy that we are done. Phew. 

Mummy Lim

 

Happy News for my Wanderlust

When Covid hit in end 2019, we were hopeful and told ourselves that traveling would probably resume by the end of 2020. The year past and so did 2021 and there was no travelling. #sadlife

I wouldn't lie, I was feeling depressed at end 2021 and still depressed in the beginning of this year. It was that dreadful hopelessness, the feeling of having nothing to look forward to. 

Thankfully, despite the omicron wave, travel restrictions seem to slowly ease up. I had in my plans to travel at the end of the year, regardless of whether there is still covid, as long as traveling is reasonably allowed. That idea comforted my soul. I was planning to go to somewhere that speaks proper English and has good healthcare system so that if somebody is indeed tested +ve in the foreign country, we would be in good hands. The kids are dying to travel again and willingly take the risk with their crazy mother. In this case, I am not sure if mummy knows best; mummy doesn't care anymore. Lol.

It became clearer that we would visit Melbourne at the end of the year. I didn't dare book anything yet, monitoring the situation before committing. Then the wonderful news came with the PM speech. Hohoho. 

I had assumed that PM would be announcing the easing of covid restrictions but I didnt expect this level of liberalness. I like. Suddenly, everybody is talking about traveling again. This is a topic that I contribute excitedly and never get sick of. 

Originally, it was just Melbourne. Then, fireworks exploded when it was announced that the travel restrictions between Singapore and Malaysia would ease. Hohohoho. 

We are now exploring another possible trip during the June holidays. We heard that the touristy places/ attractions in Malaysia  had been badly impacted by covid. I am hoping that it would pick up by June, ready and welcoming us with opened arms. 

I am so looking forward. The last time we travelled, the kids were still kids. Now, we have a teenager and a tween and I couldn't imagine how traveling as a family would be like. I am game to try. Hoho.

Mummy Lim

Skating Fun

Last Thursday, Daddy Lim actually took leave to bring Zaky to the ECP skatepark. Such big sacrifice for skating. 

They left early morning, along with Lil Shauna, who was heading back to school for some duties. During previous school holidays, it is always me who took leave to bring the kids out. Now that the roles are switched, I felt a little left out. Pui. 

Auntie M also took leave to bring M to the skatepark. Bcos Zaky had companion, it was non stop skating until noon and without sunblock. The sun was scorching hot. The boys came back and Zaky was charcoal black while Daddy Lim was lobster red. So funny.

On Sunday, I got my chance to go to ECP skatepark with the boys. Zaky was very excited bcos M would be there again. Auntie M had bravely brought 2 kids on her own to the skatepark. Come, I clapped for you. 

The rain clouds were threatening when we arrived at ECP. It started to drizzle but didn't turn full blown. 

It wasn't obvious in the picture but the horizon far out was blurred by rain. I told Daddy Lim to come save me if I did get stuck somewhere. Luckily, the sky started to clear as I skated. I made it to the big green bridge. 

Last week's experience had given me a lot more confidence. 

Not only did I conquer the greenbridge, I also manage to cross the mini-er one and made it to the Barrage and then all the way to MBS.

So proud of myself. Hoho. 

The way back was less interesting and I was trying to act cool, thus donning my sunglasses, then cannot see properly and I stumbled so many times over twigs and seeds but still want to act cool. Lol. Then the rain was threatening again.

Fortunately I made it back without any misadventures and no rain. Hoho. Zaky was still happily skating and skating with M. We finally left the skatepark at about 11am. This time, I made Zaky slapped on sunblock. Daddy Lim still insisted to act macho. OK lor. Fortunately the cloudy weather helped. 

Another skating day!

Mummy Lim

School March Holidays

If it had been 3 years back, we would be overseas. Darn covid. 

Bcos we are in Singapore and I refused to spend on staycation, there is no exciting plans for the March holiday. Oh well, the kids are busy anyway. Lil Shauna is made to go back to school every single weekday. Yes, she complained shitload about it. Zaky was sent back to his P6 study camp on Monday and Tuesday. 

During covid, the aunties had met up many times w/o the kids, except for the youngest. No choice lah, covid restrictions. We still tried to occasionally arrange for kids tag along meetup, sleepovers, depending on the restrictions at different times. The aunties meetup w/o the kids, and the kids had started to do likewise. But I have to lament over their poor planning, making the mummies turn gancheong spiders, attempting to jump in to help and made things even messier bcos of the little information that we have. 

The big girls have decided to meet up last Wednesday. They had been whatsapping about it for a while. The original plan was USS and I agreed to pay for their tickets if Lil Shauna brings Zaky along. Deal! But nobody bothered checking if USS is opened. Apparently not. 

The destination was eventually changed to some cat cafe but nobody decides on which one and what time. The consistent answer that I got from Lil Shauna was "I don't know", like many of the other gatherings that the girls had planned previously. Faint. All they need is for somebody to decide and go lah, but we unfortunately had a bunch of "anything" girls. Zzzzz. 

Fortunately, the cat cafe visit did take place and Zaky got to tag along. 

They even travelled to Orchard for lunch thereafter. 

I was worried that Zaky's allergy would act up and I made him bring along Zyrtec. 

His nose didn't act up much and he didn't need Zyrtec. I heard that he suffered more from hunger than allergy and chomped down his lunch in 3 mins. The girls were very amazed. I bet they were still arranging their cutlery when Zaky was done with his lunch. Lol. 

The kids were very happy that Zaky's cat allergy was mild and started suggesting that maybe it is the time for cat. Fat hope! Psle! Psle! Psle!

Fighting!

Mummy Lim

Happier than Shopping

What can be happier than shopping?!?! Shopping for freeeeee!!

Once upon a time, I had to travel frequently for work. Some of these trips are halfway across the globe in business class flights that I couldn't be more thankful for. These traveling, particularly the long haul business class flights clicked in huge Krisflyer mileage. I had dreamt that one day that I would be able to use these miles to upgrade holiday flight tickets (only for Daddy Lim, the kids can sit in coach, hoho) to business class seats. 

The day never came (yet) bcos I left my job and covid hit. All I got instead were emails from SQ to inform that they are extending the expiring miles and then subsequently emails that they got fed-up extending miles and that the miles will be expiring. 

The miles are too precious. Without a secure travel plan in sight, I turned to KrisShop. Hoho. 

Tadah! All free!

I used to stock up on my beauty and makeup products at the airport DFS when I travelled for either business or leisure. I get to do none of these now. I hope this serum will last me until we can fly again. 

I like free shopping. Hohoho. 

Mummy Lim

AG+ Day 7

No more AG+ already. We didn't bother to test too bcos it was already -ve on Saturday and we didn't want any surprises. 

Given that it was a weekend morning, a visit to the ECP skatepark is a must. This calls for an early morning and a long drive on a lovely Sunday morning. 

Who knows that the lovely orange hue is an indication that it would be a freaking hot day. Zzzzzz.

The boys headed to the skatepark while I do my usual skating along ECP. After last week's experience, I preferred Kallang's smooth and debris free track. The ECP tracks are sometimes so teeth chattering rough and sometimes covered with leaves, twigs and seeds, like some booby traps. I stumble several times but fortunately didn't fall. 

Last Sunday, with more experience, I was a lot more stable. I decided to skate all the way to Barrage and the change in scenery was welcoming. The only challenge was this big bridge that stands in the way. Not only was it steep, it was wet from the previous night rain. I must be crazy but I did it anyway, waddling up the bridge like a penguin, then trying to T brake down while gripping the hand rail at times to slow down. I survived. 

My rewards.

Making it through one way gave me courage to conquer the bridge on the return trip. I again lived to tell the tales.

It was 9ish when I returned to the boys and so super hot. 

I was worried that Zaky would be overtaxing himself and we headed home not long after bcos it was way too hot. 

The afternoon was a mad logistics rush to get Lil Shauna from youth and then send her to her ice skating class. We have so much lesser time with the teenager now bcos she has such a busy school and social life. So much so that I had to plead with her to do desserts with me after her class and before she zoomed off for her other activities. 

Such precious time, such nice desserts. Hohoho. 

The plan was for me to go home and scrubbed down the isolation room while Daddy Lim send the boy for his Chinese tuition. I went home to find that popo has done everything despite us telling her to keep out of the room. Haiz, I don't care le. 

We are thankful that the Lord protected us from the covid virus, containing it to just the boy.

Mummy Lim