Goodbye Cooks

Today, we bid goodbye to our 1st real pet - Cookie Lim Daogei.

I unfortunately do not have a handsome photo of him in my phone currently. 

In his short lifespan of 1 year, 8 months, he had brought us a lot of joy. We found him utterly affectionate and always hungry for snacks. 

Daddy Lim woke me up at 6am this morning to tell me that Cookie didn't look right. He was lying in his sand box and not moving much. I woke the kids, wanting them to say their last goodbye before they headed for school. In that half an hour, we saw him panting as we held him dearly. We said our goodbyes and prayed for him; for God to take him to a better place soon if he was suffering. Daddy Lim then took over while the kids went to prep for school. In that few moments, Cookie moved on. 

The kids and I cried loads. It wasn't easy to say goodbye to our 1st real pet. 

Popo subsequently told me that Cooks was already behaving funny last night. He wasn't running his wheel as usual but was lying motionlessly in the sandbox when she was heading for bed. I like to think that Cookie, being as dear as he is, had waited for us to say our last goodbyes. I hope we have given as much love and joy as he had given us. 

Did he show signs? I don't know. There were times that we thought he lost weight, then he looked normal. There were times that I thought he had lost appetite but he was greedy thereafter. I am actually glad that he didn't. I thought that it is easier for all of us this way. 

We love you Cooks! Go run your wheel and eat your mealworm in heaven. We will see you again one day. 

Mummy Lim

Back to "Normalcy"

I am quite sure the kids would agree if I say that this June school holidays seems to pass faster than the previous ones. Maybe it is bcos we spent a week in Genting and I spent another week for business travel. Suddenly, the kids are going back to school. 

Secondary school has lost its charms. Lil Shauna isn't as enthusiastic as before to return to school. Zaky never like school anyway. Hohoho. Nevertheless, the inevitable will happen. 

The morning routine is now back in place and I thankfully still remember how to tie French braids. 

I am now working from the office 2 to 3 days a week and have the flexibility to plan my schedule. I was working from home on Monday bcos I was too lazy to commute and wanted to "recover" from the business travel. The house was exceptionally quiet. 

This morning, it was back to the office and the once familiar commute to office. I think everybody has gone back/ is going back to work. The train was crowded and the Raffles MRT station was 人山人海. 

Fighting! And let's start planning and keeping our eyes on the next holiday. Hohoho. 

Mummy Lim

1st Business Trip and Flight 2022

Yesh! I have completed my 1st business trip with my current Company and it had been 2.5 years since I joined. This is also my 1st flight since Dec 2019, all bcos of Covid. 

The flight was at 8am on Monday and I was up at 4ish. Still 天黑黑ish... 

I had obviously lost touch. Only when I stepped into T1, did I remember that I didn't do online checkin. Fortunately, the airport wasn't too crowded and I cleared the immigration quickly. 

Woohoo! Shopping!

Once upon a time, I stocked up my comestic and skin care products whenever I travel. After 2 over years, I suddenly realised that I have so many items that I needed to stock up. T.T

Well, I got my primer and sunblock this round. Slowly, slowly stock up and to many overseas trips and airport shopping in the future! 

The flight was full and I got the middle seat. I don't mind the middle seat but I did suddenly realise how small airplane seats are. I barely have enough space for my legs and saw this big size ang mo in front of me. I was comfortable until the lady passenger on my left started fidgeting and checking her bag. While doing so, she kept infringing into my air space and then, she stole my arm rest! Arm rest belongs to the middle seat, ok!

I got food, the travel agent had booked us flight meal.

Nothing fancy but I was very excited for my 1st in-flight meal after so long. Hoho. I think adding on a coffee would have been perfect but the flight was too short to order anything else.

We landed on time. The famous Jakatar traffic had been very merciful to us throughout the whole trip and there were't excessive jams. We got to our hotel in 30 mins, freshen up, had lunch before starting our work week in Indonesia. The hotel room was HUGH! The toilet is even bigger than our kids' room back home. 

Oh yes, got bathtub but I didn't use. I no fancy bathtub.

Our hotel was connected to a big shopping mall that was empty most of the time. There were plenty of food options but I didn't eat extravagantly during the trip as I was snacking constantly to keep my energy up and ended up too full at most meal times. I was very excited with Auntie Annes though.

I also did arrange to meet up an ex-colleague whom I have not met for years. It was fun catching up and trying to recall who and who and who. 

Did I keep up with my exercise regime? Oh yes, I was waking up every morning at about 5.30am to hit the gym. It was mostly empty and opens at 6am, working out perfectly for me. 

Gym, shower, quick bfast before heading to the office. 

We headed home on Friday morning as the afternoon/ night flight was full. Why didn't my colleague arranged for Thursday night flight ah? I also blur. 

The journey to the airport was smooth and along the way, we saw cyclist on crazy Jakarta roads. They are very brave. Come, I clap for you.

Hello Scoot! Yes, my first business flight was given to Scoot bcos SQ was full. 

This time, I was seated at the very last row and realised that the seat cannot decline. Zzzzz. I got in-flight meal again and it was yam rice this time. Quite yummy. 

I touched down at 12.30pm and started my 1st call that was mostly listening to information. I was on the call from touch down to clearing immigration, to buying Daddy Lim's shoulder monkey, to the grab ride home. Then it was another 6 back to back calls. I must be crazy to plan my calendar that way and even crazier that I actually managed to keep up. 

Towards the last call, I was physically exhausted but really proud of keeping up. Hoho. Yay to my 1st business trip in a long time. 

Mummy Lim

A Super Exhausting Sleepover

We talked about a boys-only sleepover. Once upon a time, it was nightmare trying to plan for the girls' sleepover bcos they were so busy socially. This time, it was equally difficult for the boys bcos they are so busy with tuitions during the June holiday. 

After shifting and accommodating, we planned for Thursday to Friday. Why weekdays right? Bcos it was to proceed or cancel as there was no perfect date. Of course the boys went ahead. 

Zaky had tuition until 7.30pm and it was already 8ish when we arrived at Auntie J's house in the faraway land. I heard Zaky missed supper, that was gobbled up by the other boys. 

Auntie J so kindly suggested that she could cook him delicious maggi mee. Eerrrr... no need. Zaky wasn't hungry and he has plenty of reserves. 

I heard that the boys were playing Nitendo switch until 1am. Very strong.

Despite the late night, they were up at 7am. Auntie J made them delicious cheese omelette. It doesn't matter if one is half asleep, one must eat 1st. 

Zaky said that the boys originally planned for an early morning swim. I wouldn't be keen too with the morning cold pool water. 

They ended up with more gaming before an early movie.

Meanwhile, at the not too far away Orchard, I was on afternoon leave and chatting up with the other 2 aunties. Hoho. We were also very well-entertained and immensely enjoying ourselves. 

The boys completed their sleepover with a swim. 

Their sleepover was indeed action packed and I also feel exhausted just hearing about what they had done. 

The boys left Auntie J's house in the late afternoon as it was time for the various tuitions. Zaky had it best bcos he had none. I got him a grab and met him at Suntec for dinner. The intention was to wait for Daddy Lim and have dinner together. Unfortunately, Zaky was super low batt and needed to eat. Then, he couldn't take the mrt anymore but grab was $50 and I didn't want to pay for it.

We decided to take a rest at a cafe while waiting for the price to come down. I wonder how did the rest of the boys survived their tuitions. 

The moment we got a seat at the cafe, Zaky made himself comfortable and was napping within mins. 

Yes, yours truly laps came in very useful. He napped for a full hour; Daddy Lim kindly came to rescue us. I managed to get some work done too. 

We adjourned to the foodcourt for Daddy Lim to have his dinner and Zaky fell asleep again. 

Then he napped somemore when he moved to the car. 

It was like a deep exhaustion that he couldn't , shake off. Once home, he showered and hopped onto the bed and slept until the next morning. Hohoho.

This sleepover is way too exhausting but all the boys agreed that they wanted to do it again and to do more 2 nights the next time. Wah! They are trying to murder the mummy who would be hosting the sleepover ah? Like Auntie J says, it would be so much easier to plan the sleepover during the December holiday bcos PSLE would be over and no more tuition. Yay!

Mummy Lim

The Dental Adventure

In February 2021, I had that cracked tooth ordeal that went on for months. The end result? I left the cracked tooth sitting with a band holding it together, after deciding that I didn't want a root canal or an extraction + implant, until such a time that I have no choice. 

A year had past and the yearly dental checkup is overdue. Oh yes, my heart cannot take 6 monthly dental checkup and doing it yearly is already an achievement in my perspective. I know that a visit is imminent when the last upper left molar started to hurt. I think it is a tooth decay. 

As my company insurance covers dental for the family, I scheduled Zaky for his dental too. Daddy Lim and Lil Shauna did theirs a few months back when Lil Shauna complained of a gum infection that eventually went away on its own. I was also hoping that my toothache will go away on its own. Fat hope.

Zaky's checkup went really well. There was no cavity and the dentist said that he did a good job brushing his teeth. Zzzzz. Zaky almost forgot to brush his teeth (like many other days) that same morning and rushed to do so right before our appointment at 11am. He was done quickly and got his teeth cleaned and polished at the clinic.

I was next and went on to explain the whole story about the cracked tooth and then the painful left upper molar, hoping that it is a decayed tooth. 

The verdict? It isn't a decay and would have been easier if it is a decay but another cracked tooth. Sob. There were some knocking, testing and 3 x-rays before the dentist advised the next course of action. 

The cracked left tooth can be rescued with a crown and this is the top priority. However, most cracked teeth would at one point cracked beyond repair and need to be extracted. Then 2 old metal fillings are to be replaced bcos these old time fillings are super hard and could actually contribute to the tooth cracking. The old cracked tooth may require an investigation by a specialist before deciding if a root canal could still work. Otherwise, it would be an extraction followed up by implant/ denture/ bridge. 

The procedures all sounded so painful but the dentist was very reassuring and claimed  that the root canal and implant are all much less painful than a tooth extraction. How come I don't trust the dentist? And why are my teeth cracking? Well, after 30 years of wear and tear, it isn't that surprising, is it? The dentist also accrued it to eating preference and habits. We all agreed that the murukus and doritos should be thrown away moving ahead. Hohoho. 

I need to mentally prepare myself for the crowning 2 weeks down the road.

Mummy Lim

Another ECP Roll

Daddy Lim and Zaky had their aggro skating lessons on Sunday morning. I had decided to tag along. Daddy Lim asked me if I would be using my "bubblegum" colored quads skates. I wish but I don't know how to brake on them and there is this huge slope leading to the skatepark. One has to 1st conquer coming down the same slope to get to the ECP paths. I cannot and I don't think I want to risk my life for that. 

It is always a period of adaption when I switch skates. I took the chance to rotate some of the wheels too. I had accidentally created an anti-rocker on my skates when I rotated the smaller wheels to my 1st and last wheel and needed to correct that.

The rocker and anti-rocker setup is usually for some rollerblading tricks. Of course I can't do tricks, I don't even dare to attempt jumping off steps. My greatest achievement so far is to be able to blade down slopes without falling. Hohoho. 

I went on my way, rollerblading along the familiar route. Probably a little too familiar and overconfident that I didn't watch out for the twigs/ leaves/ seeds as I usually would. I tripped and almost fell 4x. The 3rd time was especially bad. I tripped over I-duno-what and was really falling. At that moment, my hands instinctively reached out in anticipation of the fall. My eyes saw my hands and my brain was so amused. Everything happened so instantaneously, instinctively but not coordinated by the brain. Lol. Daddy Lim asked if I saw my life flashed across my eyes. No lah, don't have. Hoho. 

I made it to MBS this time, before deciding to turn back quickly bcos the stormy clouds were threatening.

The boys were done with their classes by the time I was back at the skatepark. Zaky was lethargic, maybe from too much BBQ food the previous night. It started drizzling not long after and we called it a day (morning).

Then, while Zaky was at his Chinese tuition in the afternoon, Daddy Lim brought Lil Shauna and I to the Kallang skatepark. Yay, 2 skateparks in a day. This time, I tried my bubblegum quads and was looking for fellow quads skaters bcos I wanted to learn how to brake. Someone told me that I should turn and then use the front brake stopper. Wah.... 高难度. I hope I managed to brake before I even fall to my death in my attempt to brake. 

I only managed 2 rounds around the track bcos it was sheer hard work on the bubblegum. I gave up after 2 rounds and switched to my rollerblades and glide freely for the next x rounds. Hoho. When can I be very good on the bubblegum ah? 

Mummy Lim

Chalet

It had been ages since we last gone to a chalet. My brother's family invited us to one, in celebration of the big F's 17th bday. Oh yes, time flies, big girl already. 

There was a cancellation of the Saturday afternoon plans and we could go to the chalet much earlier. We literally 大包小包 to the chalet via grab. 

The chalet is at Loyang and it is really very far from our house. The uncle seemed to drive forever before we finally arrived. 

The kids self-entertained and decided to go to the beach. I took the chance to rollerblade Paris Ris Park instead. 

It must have been more than 20 years since I last visited the Park. I remembered rollerblading in the same park with my secondary school classmates once. In my hazy memory, Auntie SL was part of the group. I must have been 16 (or younger then) and rollerblading was very in at that time. I bought a pair of $50 purple and black rollerblade from the Queensway shopping center but don't remember what happen to them. 

I came across this flight of stairs. 

I remembered we were here! And one of the classmates attempted to learn to jump off the steps. I didn't attempt then and wouldn't do it now. Hoho. 

The pathway at Paris Ris Park was a lot smoother than that of ECP but very much covered with twigs and leaves. So dangerous. The park was also much emptier than ECP. I skated to what appeared to be a dead end and rolled back, clocking only 6.1km. Paris Ris Park is only so small? I probably didn't find the connector to the bigger part of the park. 

The rain was threatening as well. The kids were still at the beach. I saw the rain in a far distant. We made it back dry and then the rain clouds went away. 

As such, the BBQ went on really smoothly. Once upon a time, nobody wants to BBQ. Now that the kids are older, BBQ is the fun thing and everybody (almost) wanted to BBQ. 

We didn't sleepover bcos there wasn't enough beds despite the huge chalet. The kids didn't sleepover too as LIl Shauna had made plans and Zaky was taking aggro lessons the next early morning. Again, another 路途遥远 journey home.

Happy 17th!

Mummy Lim

Another Pair of Skates?!

I always nag Daddy Lim and the kids on their purchases. The breakdown of bicycles, skateboards, scooters and skates that we owned are as follows:

Daddy Lim - 1 roadie, 1 trail bike, 2 aggro skates, 1 longboard (luckily he managed to sell his other old pair of rollerskates)

Lil Shauna - 1 hybrid bike, 1 rollerblade, 1 inline artistic blades, 1 skateboard, 2 ice skates (one old pair)

Zaky - 1 hybrid, 1 aggro skates, 1 skateboard, 1 stunt scooter, 1 kiddy scooter, 1 skateboard

Don't ask me why. As you can see, Daddy Lim is the 带头. He is also usually very encouraging towards the kids in buying new bike/ skates/ scoot. At times, he even helped with the researches. I have tried and learnt my lesson that nothing comes cheap if Daddy Lim is the only parent accompanying the kid to get a new something. 

I always pride myself as the thrifty and sensible one in the family. I only have 1 road bike and 1 pair of rollerblade. The rollerblade was recently purchased after the old pair was very worn. 

I totally enjoyed my new rollerblades and had rolled many kms on them. The lessons that I took with Auntie S helped greatly and I am so much more confident in them now. I thought of doing slalom classes but didn't progress and then I got bored. Hmmm.. what's next?

Daddy Lim had always said that different pair of skates have different uses/ feel. Even though he has 2 pair of aggro skates, they are supposed to be still very different. Really meh? 

I had given his "wise words" some good thoughts and therefore...

Hohoho.. 

I also want to try the "difference". 

These are very basic, entry quad skates. These are the Chaya Melrose Elite skates. I got them 2nd hand from Carousell at $160, saving about $100 for a brand new pair. They are very new despite being 2nd hand. 

I finally got them last week and tried them. 

They feel.... very, very weird. 

I had imagined them to be very stable given the quad wheels setting. They probably are. I can't tell bcos each time I moved from one type of skates to another, the transition is unstable and takes time to adapt. Reviews say that Chaya skates are small(er) but I actually feel that they are true to size. Luckily I didn't end up with a bigger sizing. 

It takes time to get used to them. As a 1st, I had to skate wider or ended up clashing my skates together as they are boarder base. Then, the maneuverability is much lesser compared to inline. Many times, I almost fell bcos my body had already altered direction but my feet (skate) haven't changed course. 

I have worn them 2x. Not bad, not bad. I tried to learn some simple dance moves but of course it isn't as easy as what one sees in tik tok. Hoho. I feel like an elephant on wheels. 

Mummy Lim

I is Old-Flower Eyes

I have perfect eyesight and I attributed that to good genes. My parents and siblings are all perfect eyesight. I was hoping to pass on that good genes to the kids but apparently, my genes are nothing compared to Daddy Lim's. The kids are blind bats even before they turned 10. Zzzzzz. 

I was told that people who have perfect eyesight become long sighted faster. I have realised that my eyesight had deteriorated since a few years back. Trying to thread a needle successfully requires me to hold the needle at a distance. But it was still good as thankfully threading needle isn't a daily affair. 

Quite some months back, I realised that I had troubles reading small fonts, particularly in the morning and night. I went to the optician and was told that I had mild long sightedness but nothing serious enough to require glasses. Long sightedness is made worse in dim light conditions. No wonder. 

I chose to remain status quo. I thought that I wouldn't get used to glasses. I had tried color contact lenses and no prescription sunglasses and both left my eyes strained and tired. 

The situation can only worsen. At times when my eyes are tired, I cannot even read the words on the laptop screen properly. I write really tiny words and I sometimes no longer am able to read my own writing. Hohoho. This called for another visit to the optician.

I was told again that it is mild. I could spend hundreds on prescribed lenses or $18 on off the shelf, old people looking 老花眼镜. I opted for the latter, in case I hated it. I chose the most non old people looking color. Tadah!

I is old-flower!

I had thought that I wouldn't get used to the glasses but was pleasantly surprised how the subtitles on the videos now become crystal clear. Woooooooo... I like. I tried wearing them during work but realised that video calls are tough. The constant head movement makes me dizzy. 

The glasses have now becomes a staple in the nights when I am using my phone. Ugly? Never mind, nobody else sees. Hoho.

Mummy Lim

Post Holidays Weekend

Thursday and Friday passed very quickly for Daddy Lim and I, trying to catch up on work. Then, the weekend was here. Only if I get to work 2 days per week every week. Hoho. 

I had arranged to ride with the WWF on Saturday while Daddy Lim and Zaky have classes at ECP. None of these happened bcos it started raining when I rolled my bike out. I had thought that it looked like a passing shower but it didn't stop and rained all the way to afternoon. I wasn't upset and was happy that it rained bcos...

Absolutely yummy.

The late morning was spent in IMM and more shopping! Hoho, I like to do retail therapy, even when there is no reason for therapy. 

When the rain finally stopped, we made our way to the Somerset skatepark.

I was their morale supporter, hiding underneath the shade. Luckily the after rained weather was comfortable enough and I got work done. The boys were also willing to leave when the temperature turned up. 

On Sunday morning, just when I was fretting over who to ride with, I found a long time cyclist kaki, whom I haven't rode with in ages. I tagged along to the big cycling group that he rode several times with and got my "craving" satisfied. 

It was mother-son morning and we headed to church before a delicious lunch. 

Zaky exclaimed that I bought 台湾香蕉??!!! Hello, 香肠!!! He was still very proud that he got 1 of the 2 words correct. Faint. 

After sending Zaky for Chinese tuition, I hopped back to JE for some monther-daughter time. I had a 2nd lunch with Lil Shauna. The lunch went on until 4pm, then we had a drink when Lil Shauna got tired of walking. The next moment, it was dinner time and we met with Daddy Lim and Zaky. Like that not right. Hoho. I feel like a fatten piglet. 

Mummy Lim