My Firsts

*Taobao Shopping*

I stopped shopping on Taobao when there was some issues with the 代购. Then, my online shopping was moved mainly to Lazada and Shoppee. There were several times that I attempted Taobao again bcos of the wide range of products and attractive prices but the reading of everything in Chinese is painful and slow and I gave up. 

We will be heading to Beijing at the end of the year. Yippee! I was told that it would be cold. I am not sure if it is Korea cold (or even colder) but I am not taking chance, and intended to up the winter gear for the family. This means spending $$ even before the trip and there are so many things to buy, which is why I turned to Taobao once again. Other than the wider variety, the prices appeared lower than Lazada and Shoppee. While I can’t say the same for the quality, I just hope that whatever we buy can last us for the 9 days trip. Haha. 

I did struggle a little with the alot of Chinese reading but survived! My 1st Taobao trial purchase, a pair of winter boots, had arrived! It only cost me $18. I do question about the quality but think that it should last me for the 9 days. Hoho. I have just placed another round of orders and keenly wait for the delivery. It feels like Christmas. Hoho.

*Screen for Life*

I had been diligently doing my annual health screening. Health screenings are expensive. Last year, I did a more comprehensive one with a few cancer markers and had to pay an arm for it. 

This year, I was introduced to Screen for Life by the aunties. Hoho. Though these are the basic blood tests, mainly diabetes and cholesterol, they should be good enough. What’s more, I get to do my Pap smear and all of these only cost me $5! 

There is a good list of clinics in my neighbourhood to do Screen for Life. I found one with a female doctor and was scheduled for an 8.30am appointment. While there was a little waiting, I was done very quickly. The clinic will call me to get the results when available. 

I will still need to get my mammogram and ultrasound done but majority of the cost has been covered by Screen for Life. Happy! 

*EWL MRT Fault*

On Wednesday morning, I heard about the mrt fault and was secretly glad that I now use the downtown line to get to work. However, I was supposed to meet Nana in JE in the evening. 

My colleague suggested that I take the NorthSouth line to JE. That would literally be 环岛追追追. I had trust in our transport system and believed that the shuttle bus services in place of the affected stations will get me to JE safely and efficiently. 

I had too much trust. Zzzzzzz. 

The train was running normally from Raffles Place to Queenstown. Then we were all told to get down at Queenstown and transfer to a shuttle train that runs at 10 mins interval. There was a lot of confusion on the platform and commuters were asked to cross over to the opposite platform (despite that being the platform usually for trains back to Changi). We were queuing orderly to board the train but the door closed abruptly and almost “kiap” a lady. I didn’t make it to that train and had to wait for the next one, with a 8 mins wait. 

Just when it was time, an announcement was made that we now have to go back to the original platform for the shuttle train to Buona Vista. Oh yes, you can imagine how chaotic it was. The shuttle train, which in fact a normal MRT team came and took us to Buona Vista, abet at a slower speed and multiple pauses. 

The “fun” part is at the Buona Vista station. We all got off the train and had to cross over to Science Park for the shuttle buses, that will bring us to JE. Commuters who needed to go beyond JE will have to hop back into another shuttle train for the rest of the stops from JE.

The bus stop was super crowded. It was filled with peak hours commuters taking the usual buses and a huge hoard of people looking for the shuttle buses. We were very lost, until one of the staff said that the shuttle buses were at the brown building in front? Huh? Where got brown building? 

It didn’t quite matter bcos I only have to follow the crowd that was as clueless as I was. Then I saw the bus and thought that I could board and it wasn’t too bad, only to realise that there is a Q that goes on and one and U turn at some point far ahead, which I cannot see. Without knowingly, I was already in the Q but there isn’t proper demarcation and people were cutting Q everywhere. I had to call Nana to tell her that I will be late and for her to go ahead. The wasn’t enough buses for the huge amount of people that were sent to Buona Vista by the trains. 

After 10 mins in the crowded Q, I barely moved a meter but only risk a panic attack bcos it was so claustrophobic. People were all meshed together in that tiny pavement. I called Daddy Lim for help and found out that he was in Star Vista! I was so lucky! He saved me! I can finally get out of the Q! 

Of course I did and pity the rest of the commuters. This is my 1st time experiencing a MRT fault and I don’t want to ever be stuck. 

Mummy Lim

Zaky’s. New Braces

The time has finally come, after our JB holiday and all the feasting. I told him that I must take the before and after pictures. 

Our appointment was at 3pm and there was barely any wait. We were 1st told to choose the color of the braces. Apparently, his friends had advised that he should opt for a dark color, so that it would contrast against his “not so” pearly whites. We chose blue bcos the blue is so nice. 

I entered the dentist room together with him. The dentist said that bcos his upper teeth totally overlaps his lower teeth, the braces have to be put on in phases. Dr Julia will do his upper teeth today and the lower ones in the next appointment. Otherwise, there is a possibility that he would bite off the lower ones. We were absolutely fine. He has 1 to 1.5 years time anyway. Haha. 

We were told that it would only take 30 mins. Zaky must be very nervous, I only got pictures of his very tense feet. Haha. 

It really took only 30 mins. Tadah! 

The blue is very nice. 

Zaky said that it was only slightly painful. The dentist also instructed on how to do his teeth brushing and also to eat soft food. The pain intensity grew as the day progresses. I think Zaky wouldn’t be able to take hard food even if he wanted to. He had porridge for dinner, though it wasn’t his favourite. Then he made us buy him new tubs of ice cream. Ice cream would be his supplement for the next few days.

On Sunday morning, he was hungry and I cooked him crushed maggie mee bcos it would be easier to eat. 

The pain had intensified. He was hungry but he was in pain and had to eat very slowly that he got tired of eating and couldn’t finish his food. He eventually decided to skip church bcos lunch would be a pain and he has tuition trial class at 1pm. 

I found him lunch - macaroni fried fish soup from the kopitiam. That was a good lunch. He was hungry and he could eat the macaroni, so long as he didn’t have to use his front teeth, which were the most sensitive. I had to cut the fried fish into tiny pieces and I bought you tiao, which were also cut to small pieces and soaked in the soup. I got reminded of the days when the kids were toddlers. lol. 

We visited my brother’s place in the night for dinner. Popo made us popiah.

Nana was happily feasting while Zaky had to tear up the popiah skin into tiny pieces. lol. He ate little compared to what he usually would.

He said that the pain was almost non existent while not eating and we all went to play Vball and badminton after dinner. Even the doggies. Hoho. 

Nana is getting very good at Vball ah. 

Zaky went to my brother’s place for dinner last evening, a practice that he kept even after ah yee and A went home. Popo is also very pleased to see and cook for him. He had already told Popo on Sunday night that he wanted porridge. Of course he gets porridge. Popo even made him macaroni soup to be tabaoed home for tonight’s dinner. 

He said that the teeth are in slightly lesser pain. I am so glad that we only did the upper teeth this time. I don’t know how he would eat in 6 weeks’ time after the lower teeth. Hahaha. 

Mummy Lim

The Kids

Updates on Nana’s prelim scare:

She said that the school had moderated the grades for her A, E maths and Chemistry bcos everybody did so poorly and she has 1 grade up for both subjects. Her L1R5 now is at 14. That is so decent for NH. Hey, I got 15 for prelim (I think). However, in her times, 14 can only get into the lousiest JC. Hoho. 

Prelim score: 

EL B4, CL A2 (actual), AMaths A2, E Maths B3, Geo A1, Chem B3

I don’t know how come A Maths is better than E Maths. Zzzz

I have no idea why the school bothers to moderate the prelim grades. There is no longer the system to use the prelim score to get into JC for the 1st 3 months. I heard it can be used to appeal when the actual O level results are less than ideal. But 15 can’t do much of an appeal. Hahaha. 

Seriously, I had expected her to do much worse for prelims, like 20s. So, she just have to keep the same momentum. Nana said that prelim shown her one thing - how some of her friends, who did very badly, ate very screwed. lol

***********

Nana has finished her prelims and had been dropping a whole lot of hair. I think it is stress. I had encouraged her to chop off and do a stylish cut for the rest of the school year. She refused, saying that she has plans to go for a perm after O levels. Hmmm.. at the rate that her hair is dropping, I wonder if she has much left to perm then. Haha. The good thing? She is young and healthy. I think the hair will grow back when the O level stress is over. 

How did she do for her prelims? If we take advantage of the A2 in Chinese, it should be about 17 points for L1R5. Not all the papers are back yet. If she keeps at the same rate, I think she will do decent for O levels. Decent enough to get into an OK JC. NH sets hard prelim papers, probably using the prelims to whack the still sleeping sec 4 students awake. 

O Levels start in mid October. Nana has another 1 month to go and has gotten into the studying momentum. The school’s night study has resumed after prelims, where students are provided with dinner and snacks and different subject teachers standby on different days to help students. This was the dinner provided one of the nights. Looks not bad. 

Her tuition center is also super helpful. Other than the usual lessons, the tutors are offering “consult” sessions for students to ask questions and be coached 1 to 1. 

The funniest thing about O levels now is how Nana is now a Chinese O level pro after obtaining her A2. Every now and then, I hear her dishes out her advice on Chinese O levels. Lol. 

I don’t know how Zaky is doing academically. SST is afterall not as academically driven as NH. He is generally getting his Bs and Cs for SAs. I am not sure if that is supposed to be OK or not. He will be opting for his Sec 3 subject combi in October. Like Nana, the choices are quite limited since A Maths and Chemistry are compulsory. What he gets to choose, is whether SS combined geography or history and an applied subject. There is no triple Science combi in SST. 

SST has an Integrated Development Program (IDP) with Ngee Ann Poly. It allows the selected students to directly take their diploma after sec 4, without having to take the O levels. Zaky said that he is not interested and thinks that he wants to go to a JC for now. 

Separately, Daddy Lim and I received an email from Zaky’s form teacher yday late morning. When I saw the email in my inbox, I was thinking what s**T problems did he land in school again. It turned out to be an email to commend him. He saw a Secondary 1 student in distress during recess and initiated to stay with the boy until he calmed down and the teacher came. Awwwww…. so sweet of him. 

Mummy Lim

Our September JB Holiday Day 4

All good times come to an end. Sob. 

We had intended to head back early to avoid the custom jam. After some discussions, we agreed on Aeon Mall, which is somewhere near to Austin Heights. We used to frequent that mall. 

Daddy Lim still think that we could have a light bfast, then an early lunch before we head back. Hmmm… I am sure we were already heavy from before the trip. 

Bags packed. Bye to the decent hotel but with no gym. 

We came with 1 luggage and go home with 1 (plus some extra plastic bags) too. 

Aeon Mall was about 30 mins drive from the hotel. Memories flooded when we turned into the carpark. The 1st thing was to send the kids to the Rocky Basecamp. 

Then to quickly grab a coffee and more shopping. Haha.

I ordered the popular Spanish Latte. I asked the staff what exactly it is - coffee, milk and sugar. Chey. What a fanciful name for a latte with sugar. It wasn’t too bad; the right amount of sweetness.

We headed back to the kids, wanting to take more pictures. The kids are very much into bouldering now. 

Bouldering is seriously hard work. Actually, I really don’t get the joy from trying to hang from one’s fingers. That sounds super torturing and painful to me. 

Also, a lot of falling. I mean, look at the poor fingers, how to hold a body weight? Why even attempt to try or train them to do so ah?

The kids didn’t last the full 2 hour session. On the way to the Center, we saw go-kart and the boys wanted to try. 

I am no fan of driving and if I must, I would have opted for the “Child Speed”. Why bother? Only the boys went and opted of course for the “Professional Speed”. There goes Zaky well-styled hair. Haha.

Nana was just happy with her Rotiboy, which had exited Singapore. 

The Professional Speed karts didn’t look that fast but Zaky said that they feel fast, maybe bcos the circuit was tiny. 

We finally headed for lunch. Our last Korean meal. At least there was enough interval from bfast to allow us to feel peckish.

And some kopi and teh, in prep of the long way home. 

Fortunately, there was almost no wait at the custom and we cleared both sides smoothly. We came home to Mochi, who is well and alive! 

We paid $30 per day to Nana’s friend from Youth to visit on Saturday and Sunday to feed Mochi and supplement with kibbles from the auto feeder. She said that Mochi hissed at her on day 1. I didn’t know Mochi hiss. Does he recognise us? At least he didn’t hiss at us. Haha. Does he miss us? I have no way of telling. 

This will probably be the last trip (for a long time) that we will drive in to Malaysia, until we figure out what to do with the VEP. Haiz. So painful. 

Mummy Lim 

Our September JB Holiday Day 3

It was getting harder to wake up and to wake up for a HIIT workout. I would gladly do the treadmill or elliptical anytime. Mental note to check for gym the next time. Will power wins and I still did my HiiT, though it takes me a long time to scroll through the list of YouTube video (still on the bed) and to choose one that seems tolerable. 

I finally remembered to take pictures of the pick and choose bfast. 

The plan for the day was Paradigm Mall crawling, ice skating, rock climbing and KTV singing. We made it to the mall at 10ish and Zaky had started to lose patience for shopping, unless we were looking for/ at his stuff. 

Camp 5, which is the rock climbing and bouldering Center, starts their 1st “guided climb” session at 12pm and that was full. We mistakenly thought that this was the only activity and signed the kids for the 1.30pm slot. We also checked out the ice skating sessions and Nana was very excited to see a fellow Singaporean skater. 

We were for lunch and archery to burn time. 

It was my 1st time shooting so many arrows. My left arm hurts from holding the bow and my right fingers hurt from pulling the sling. Tiring siol. 

Then to the claw machines. Bcos we had successes, we became very excited and spent even more $$.

I don’t even think the kids care about the prizes, they were just thrilled over winning. Who can blame them? I got very excited too.

The kids headed to Camp 5. Daddy Lim and I followed our calling - the shopping. We stayed long enough to take some pictures. Parents’ duty done. 

It was only almost after the hour that we figured out that the Center has the whole day access pass to the auto-belay rock climbing and bouldering. Zaky was still excited to continue, but Nana complained that her fingers hurt so much. The 1 hour session that they went for required them to take turns and thus a fair amount of waiting. Nevertheless, a good workout for them.

We skipped ice skating as well bcos the rink was crowded and we saw puddles forming. Never mind. All those climbing made the kids hungry and the parents benefitted too. What is a Malaysia trip without A&W? I think A&W taste better in Malaysia.

We headed back to the hotel to park the car. The Karaoke was in the KSL Mall and the mall was about 7 mins walk from the hotel. From our room, Daddy Lim spotted little tentages set up along our route to the mall and we decided to go explore, much to Zaky’s dismay. Haha, 

It turned out to be a make shift pasar malam along a super narrow stretch and it was so crowded. At least the walk to the mall had become very exciting as I ogled at all the good food but it was too early for dinner. Zaky didn’t agree though and complained that it was too hot and squeezy. Too bad, too sad. 

I think we just had a tired teenager. He also said that karaoke is not fun, that he is not going to sing but nap in the room. Ya, right… Nana thoroughly enjoyed herself. She had been dying to go singing. 

I would have loved buying all the pasar malam food and feast in the hotel but Daddy Lim and the kids didn’t share my passion and we ended at the Nanyang kopi for dinner. I kept my stomach though. We bought grilled beef (too tough), satay, otah, egg oyster on the way home. There was quite some waiting for the food bcos of the crowd and that was unpleasant but otherwise not too bad. 

Last night of our holiday! 

Mummy Lim