Snowboarding Beginner II

I took my intro snowboarding class last Monday. Truth be told, it took me a while to summon my courage to sign up but the moment I did, I was looking forward to class. 

I met Auntie S for lunch thereafter and decided that I would take full advantage of my OIL and signed up for the 6pm Beginner I class. Daddy Lim sent me for class and helped me with the pictures. 

I thought I look quite decent but I had quite a few falls, one of them particularly spectacular. No bones were broken thankfully. I took class with a young couple, who just returned from a snowboarding trip. They signed up for the trip but there was no instructors and they had to figure their way down the green slope. The lady said that she was trying to survive more than anything else. So funny but I can imagine. 

I learnt how to move left and right on heel side, then on toe side. We get to take turns and while I lament silently over the waiting, I think it was much needed. 

The next morning, I woke up with muscle aches, in places that I didn’t know muscles existed - the muscles at the 2 sides of my neck hurt so much. The muscle aches were not massive aches but enough to make me do duck waddle for the next 2 days. 

I signed up for a package of 6 lessons at their current promo. Snowboarding is expensive and with the promo, each lesson cost $70. I have 1 month to complete all 6 classes. That isn’t too difficult, I had already finished 2 classes on a single day. 

My original plan was to take my Beginner II lesson during the weekend. Oh yes, I have progressed! I wasn’t fast enough and didn’t find a slot at a timing that I wanted. Instead, I did a 8pm lesson today. I was the only student and had a “private” lesson. 

I had all the attention from the instructor but it was massively exhausting, especially when I was doing my toe side. It is a combination of wrong technique that made me tired without achieving what I needed and hit repeat. The instructor tried reminding me, bend this leg, put weight on that knee, on the ball of the sole, not the toes. All these made a lot of sense but after a while, my body was not responding to the commands or what my brain was telling my body to do. Lol.

I was constantly asking for breaks, especially when I was doing my toe side. Can you stop the carpet while you are explaining? Hoho. Can you explain slowly and in more details? Oh yes, I was absolutely using those opportunities to rest. While resting, I was happily chit chatting with the instructor to prolong my rest time. How I wish I have other class mates so that I can legitimately take longer rest. Hahaha. 

By the end of the class, I was doing my heel side nicely and was able to control the movement from side to side nicely. As for toe side, it depends on whether my body responds to what the brain is asking it to do. lol. 

The instructor said that I can go and do my Intermediate I class already. In the Intermediate class, I will be taught how to connect the heel side to toe side. Hmmm… I think I need more practice. In fact, I have already booked another Beginner II class on Saturday morning. Hoho. Weekend classes are popular and I think I will have class mates. 

We were all given this little booklet that the instructor will tick off after every lesson. I do feel like a student again. I am looking forward to Saturday class! 

Mummy Lim

Yochi Starting Week 6

Yochi has been with us for 5 weeks. He is still very hungry, very loud, very noisy and bullying Mochi. I do think that he bullies Mochi less now. He growls and hisses less and the number of times that he chased after Mochi in a day also reduces. Yochi doesn’t jump as high as Mochi, so when. Yochi is in his fight mode, Mochi takes refuge on his hammock or on the fridge. Otherwise, underneath the sofa, where it can only fit 1 cat. 

Each time we see the 2 cats in the same vicinity, we do a little yippy dance in celebration. 

I suspect that Yochi bullies Mochi less when we are not home. We have started not to “cage” Yochi in the service yard when we are home and at night. Nana sometimes takes one of the cats in her room at night, depending on how tired she is. Each morning and time that we are home, the cats look fine, not bloodied and very much alive. Yday morning, I opened my bedroom room door to the 2 of them meowing (harmoniously with each other) at me for bfast. No fights, no bullying. 

We also realised that Yochi turns aggressive on Mochi shortly after meal. I am thinking if he is guarding his food and have started to feed them further apart. It seems to help. 

Nana says that Yochi is very smelly. I don’t know if Yochi ever had a shower. Nana and I dragged Yochi for a shower yday afternoon. He was very vocal in expressing his displeasure. When we opened the bathroom door, Mochi was there, trying to see what was happening. #busybody.

Yochi wasn’t happy about the shower and showed his anger on Mochi. Poor Mochi! 

We had dinner with my brother’s family. They wanted to visit the Chis. 

Our rare family picture with the 2 uncooperative cats.

Mochi has always been the scardy cat. With so many people and Yochi chasing after him, we kept him in the room, hoping that he doesn’t get traumatised. Yochi was a lot braver and was happily eating snacks and chasing toy.

I hope Yochi doesn’t become too aggressive after the traumatic shower and the family visit. There is also the aircon servicing taking place tomorrow. I am already worried for Mochi.

The fosterer had been kept updated. She doesn’t chased us to make decisions on Yochi. She thinks very highly of the Chis and that they would be great friends soon, head butting and all. Good ah, we need the optimism. Haha. 

Mummy Lim

Meeting the Uni Mates and D&D at Molly Malones

Other than the SHSS aunties, I don’t have many close friends. Relationships take a lot to maintain and I don’t have so much to give to these other relationships. I am already very blessed to have this group of friends who literally grew up with me. What’s more, the friendship is now extended to our kids. God is Good! 

Anyhow, I did meet up with my Keppel ex-colleagues 2 weeks ago and was motivated to arrange a meet-up with my Uni mates. We met during an uni hall orientation camp, and went on to plan an orientation camp the following year. They were then my lunch kakis and we also met during lectures and tutorials, taking similar majors and modules in the arts faculty.

Our last meet up was months ago. We have a bigger turn up this time. 

The conversations circle around “what are you doing now?”, “your kids are so old already?” and “how bad is your presbiopia?”. Lol.

Among us, there is a teacher and it was school week. She was the 1st to trigger going home bcos she has an early morning and long day tomorrow. Most of them drive and now that I don’t live in ulu Jurong West, I got a free ride home. Woohoo. I was home in about 15 mins. Very nice. 

On Friday evening, Daddy Lim bought us tickets to a Dungeon and Dragon event held at Molly Malones, a pub in Boat Quay. Zaky has been very much into D&D and Nana sometimes play along. I got to know that Daddy Lim once played D&D in his younger years. I was a total newbie. We got to join a den of 6 with another couple. 

This was my very 1st experience with D&D and I was very lost. We got to select a character from a pre determined list and I was an elf fighter so that I can whack people. I was told that D&D is a role playing game. Our setting was a tavern. Ok, let’s drink some beer. The event encouraged the participants to buy real drinks and food at the bar, adding perks from these real $$ spent. 

I have seen the kids play D&D but never with props. These figurines are so cute. Zaky got very motivated to start his collection. 

The event was from 7pm to 11pm. About an hour into the event, I was already bored. Lol. But bcos we had other people in the “den”, we cannot just leave the game like that. Nana was also bored and wanted to go home at 9ish and was shocked when I told her that we can’t just leave. She has a whole day school event on Saturday and was telling me how tired she was and how tired she would be tomorrow. Eeerrrr… ok… 

The set up was done in such a way that there were different tables (dens) and what we do at the table could affect others (vice versa). The experienced players were clustered in one of the big tables. There were a few breaks in between and at 10pm, we had the choice to either continue at our table, or moved to the experienced table where they would be fighting dragons and the big boss. We took the opportunity to leave. The other 2 players at our table, who were much more experienced, went on to join the dragons fighting. 

Zaky said that it was a very fun experience with all the props but he would enjoyed playing with his friends more. Nana and I were more lost than anything. Haha. Well, at least a Friday evening of doing things together as a family, though a tad expensive. 

Zaky benefited from the fanciful dices that we could bring home after the event. 

Mummy Lim

Adventure on Wheels and Fake Snow

The new cycling group is just for cycling. They have another chat group and sometimes organise rides for the in group. It is ok, no sweat. If there is a ride and it works for me, I do. Else, I do other exercises. Less commitment and less peer pressure. 

On Sunday, they organised a ride to JB for bfast. Instead of super early meet up like what WWF used to do, we met at Potong Paris at 6am. I was mentally prepared for a hot ride. My last ride was 5 weeks ago. Hoho.

There were 10 of us and I was the only roadie. There was another hybrid and the rest were on foldies, mainly Bromptons. I double prepped myself for a long, chill and sunny ride. Hoho. 

Via some PNC, pavements and road, we arrived at AMK and it was only 5km from PP. I thought the custom would be near but it was a good 20km away. The most dangerous thing to do when riding to JB must be to cross the car lane and then cut into the single motorcycle lane, so as to go to the left of the lane. I felt so much hate from the motorists whom we stopped and cut and felt that my life had shortened from that life risking act. One of the cyclists asked if it was my 1st ride to JB. No ah, but with the WWFs, it was always male dominated and I always felt very well taken care and protected of. This ride, there were 3 men to 7 women. 

Cleared custom. Hooray! I should download the Malaysia QR code app. 

Right after we crossed the border, it was to bfast. The shop was right beside the ah mah kueh, which was meant very near to where the custom. Not that I was complaining. 

After a filled tummy, we set off.

The aim was to go to this iconic crown structure for pictures. We always drive past that in JB. To get there, we entered some neighbourhood and had to conquer a few climbs. 

Finally! 

It looked very sunny. Yes, don’t doubt, it was very sunny and hot. We headed for home thereafter. More pictures at the iconic 0km that was on the way home. 

We arrived at the Malaysia custom at about 10ish. The journey was less life endangering. We just had to bake in the sun.

There was an option for the foldies to take the train home. My bike cannot go onto the train. All the foldies decided to ride home instead. We stopped for dessert at Masiling. 

Then, another 20km via PCN, pavements and road to get home. I would love to just speed up on the road to get home fast but it was so baking hot, that the PCNs and pavements provided more shade and comfort. I reached home at 12ish and clocked 72km. Nice! 

Switching gear - one thing that I wanted to learn this year is snowboarding. I am always the weakest link whenever we go for such trips and decided to change fate. Since it is the Company’s OIL for the Raya PH today, I have decided to book my intro lesson. To take classes at Trifecta, the intro lesson is compulsory.  

Since the lesson would be in town, I went for the Bodycombat class at Paragon at 7.15am. Orchard Road was empty at 7am. 

I went for class, was done at 8.30am and then went for a leisure bfast at 313. It is so nice to not have to work on a working day. 

The intro class was at 10am. The instructions said that I should arrive at least 30 mins before class. I arrived at Trifecta at 9.20am and the office wasn’t even opened. Zzzzz. Anyhow, I got the ticketing done at 9.30am, then went to the snow arena, where they check my name again, before giving me the boots and protective gears. The protective gears are compulsory for the intro class. 

The email states that there would be a briefing at 9.45am. What briefing?

The instructor came shortly before 10am. There was one other lady in the class. The class could take up to 4 pax. 

The 1st thing that we learnt was to move with 1 foot strapped in. Every time I try snowboarding, I seem to forget that I had snowboard before. The lesson actually took place at the jump/ stunt slope that is only manuel and probably gentler. The slope has this little mushroom-like beads that the instructor spray over with water periodically. 

We learnt heel-side and toe-side. The snowboarding wasn’t tiring, it was the strapped in, hop to the starting point, strapped out at the bottom, then climbed back that was tiring. We had all the attention from the instructor and I managed to go for more runs than the other lady who was a total newbie. 

One hour was very short and I had a lot of fun but also a lot of backache. It is very difficult to stand up with the feet strapped in and so I was strapping in and out with my back bent. By the end of the class, I can totally feel the impact. 

The intro class cost $100 if walk-in. There was a March promo and I got 6 classes at about $70 each. The catch is that I have only 1 month to use them up. 

At the end of the intro class, the instructor declared that I can proceed on to the beginner 1 class. Yay! I am looking forward to the fun, even if nobody accompany me for the class. 

Auntie SR is also off today and we met for lunch and coffee after my class. Great use of the off day! 

Mummy Lim

Week 3 with Yochi

This is actually the start of week 4. Both cats are still alive. 

I was almost giving up last week bcos Yochi was so aggressive towards Mochi after his vaccination. I had hope that his aggressiveness would simmer off. He did, but Yochi still doesn’t love Mochi. 

Yochi still sleeps in the service yard most nights but managed to jail break on 2 mornings, when we didn’t close the service yard door properly. I was shocked on those 2 mornings to hear Yochi meowed so loudly outside our door for bfast. Otherwise, Nana adopts him on some nights. 

While the attacks are less frequent as compared to the day after his vaccination, it is still a few times a day. Mochi has learnt to “fight back” by trying to gently paw (or pretend to try to paw) and hissed (once) at Yochi but he is definitely no match. Mochi just usually runs away and Yochi will give chase. We lost count of the times that we had to stop/ block Yochi from chasing and attacking Mochi. Mochi didn’t seem to be hurt but he always looks so pathetic. Our heart aches for our resident cat. I lost count of the times that Yochi force Mochi to a corner and Mochi was just sitting that helplessly while waiting for us to save him.

Yochi is so affectionate with humans. Nana says that Moxhi will sleep at her feet but Yochi will sleep everywhere on her bed and on her. He just simply doesn’t like Mochi.

We let Yochi out of the service yard when we are home but I would usually either stay in the same place as them so that I can keep an eye on them or keep one of them in the room to save the trouble. 

I was working from home on Monday and both cats were roaming in the house. They don’t fight when it is meal time or for most part of the day bcos they are both sleeping somewhere. The fighting problem usually happen in the morning and evening after meals. Oh ya, Yochi eats so much more than Mochi but is still so lean. Anyhow, he is always meowing for food. 

Mochi seems to have accepted the fact that Yochi is the alpha male and many times tiptoe past him. That is so sad! He doesn’t provoke Yochi as much now (I think) but Yochi still 看它不顺眼 from time to time and will decide to attack Mochi for no reason. 

There had been occasions that I came home to both cats roaming in the house. Apparently somebody had decided that they have turned good friends and no longer fight. Or they simply forget. On those occasions, they are left alone for a few hours. I duno if Mochi was bullied then or maybe Yochi will only turn aggressive on Mochi when there are humans around. 

I duno how long we still can cage Yochi. He is always so vocal when we lock him that we were afraid that we would disturb the neighbours. Haiz, when does it take for them to live in harmony? 

I already stopped Yochi from chasing Mochi 2x this morning. Zzzzzz.

Mummy Lim

Annual SHSS Family Trip Part 3

Auntie H and the 2 younger kids had part 2 of their journey on Sunday morning. They were meeting Uncle C, who couldn’t join on Saturday bcos of work, to continue their trip to KL. They had a morning train to catch. Boo would be tagging with us for the rest of the day and we would send her home.

The rest of the aunties had agreed that we would be ready at 7am for 1st a kickboxing workout before Auntie R, who is a certified yoga trainer, would lead us through a one hour session. Only Auntie TL needed some encouragement. She was awoken by my persistent door knocking but disappeared. I thought she had gone back to bed. She did but didn’t want to disappoint us and managed to plug herself out from the bed to join us. I was so impressed.

I had fun with the workout. So rare to be working out with this bunch of ladies. We used to either run after kids or now just chill when we meet up. 

The yoga session was so good. Auntie R helped us with a lot of “opening” exercises - the hip, the shoulders, the back. 

The hubbies woke up shortly after we did but they weren’t at all interested to join us in the workout. They were happily talking about cars and bfast on the couch.

The plan was for the adults to head for tim sum bfast after the workout and then tabao back for the kids. The tim sum place that we found has really good reviews and therefore long Q. We realised that we were short of time and did a local bfast nearby instead. 

The kids were still in lala land. We had about an hour for the kids to get ready, pack up and check out by 11.30am. Auntie R and kids also had part 2; they were heading to Desaru by grab for another 3 days. The rest of us headed to Eco Palladium for Floor is Lava. The uncles decided that they would patiently wait while we run around like crazy in that tiny room. 

We had lunch after the 30 mins workout. The teenagers were famished given the little that we had tabao for bfast. Our next activity was Escape Game at 3.30pm. The teenagers were doing one mission. 

The adults went for a simpler one. Ours was also shorter as it was easier. At one point, the staff offered to provide us tips after he saw us struggling with the number lock for a long time via the cctv. The problem wasn’t bcos we couldn’t solve the puzzle; we cannot see the numbers on the lock properly. Lol. We were given many clues bcos our brain is rusty and eyes old flower. We did get out of the room alive. 

It was about 5pm when we were done and were contemplating lingering until dinner time. Auntie TL then reminded us that we can rest in her Airbnb. Her family is staying for another night near KSL. That was the perfect option. The hubbies snooze, so that they have energy to drive back later in the night. The aunties and teenagers play games. 

Dinner was at this Korean BBQ place nearby. Yum! We were constantly monitoring the customs during dinner. Auntie TL said that the traffic is usually light between 6pm to 8pm but picks up after that. I had thought that the traffic only lightens after 10pm. She was right. We left after dinner and were pleased to see almost no Q at the Malaysia custom. The Singapore side was equally smooth and we cleared both sides in less than 30 mins. Hooray! 

We came home to the Chis and they are well alive. Nana too! How are the Chis coming along? I will blog about it soon. 

Mummy Lim