Long Deepavali Weekend

Any PH is good and even better if it is a long weekend. 

I recently saw a reel on FB that it is not solely a holiday that makes people happy but the mere fact of looking forward to the vacation. So, the trick to a happy life is to constantly create a series of events/ things to look forward to. I dig that. I was looking forward to the long weekend. 

On Saturday night, I met Auntie SL and S at SimplyRetro. It had only been 2 weeks since our last visit but it felt like a long while. Disclaimer: meitu in the house

Did we enjoy? Of course. It is funny that we have sort of become “regulars”, saying “hi” to familiar faces and even “catching up” on “oh, we didn’t see you last round and where did you go” when we don’t even know their names. We simply use nicknames that we created - “tango guy and partner”, “my favorite girl”, “mini skirt”, etc. Amazingly, we all know who we are talking about and those post event discussions were fun on its own. 

I am also loving the loop sound blocking ear plugs and the revive Asian Flush blocking gummies that I bought for Simply. Both of them work amazingly. The long weekend provided the needed extra rest and I was so happy to wake up on Sunday morning, and knowing that it was the “new Saturday”. Hoho. 

We had the regular gym session on Sunday afternoon. That is when I wondered if such strength workouts should take place a day after drinking. I survived anyhow. 

On Monday morning, I went rollerblading with Nana. It had been a long time. While I can rollerblade steadily on flat paths, I am a hazard when I have to do sharp turns, long T stops on steep slopes and generally overcome everyday obstacles on the street. Rollerblading with Nana, who moves as if she is on shoes and not wheels, is an added stress. 

I fell while trying to navigate a massive slope. A jogger ran past and offered help. I was more embarrassed than in pain. While I had my wrist and knee guard, I scrapped my left elbow and knee bcos the lousy knee guard didn’t hold its spot. 

It wasn’t too bad and I could continue. We rollerbladed all the way to MBS and Nana complained that she has gotten blisters. We called Daddy Lim for help but eventually decided that we would anywheel home instead in our socks. So funny. 

At least we stopped for bfast at the kopitiam nearby before heading home. At that point, we had our rollerblades back on and Nana had to do all the food buying and carrying. I definitely don’t trust myself.

With most falls, the painful part is not only the actual fall but the recovery after that. Oh yes, tell me about the shower after that and all those unintentional rubs on the wounds. The wounds are unfortunately on spots that are high contact points.

In the afternoon, Daddy Lim and I met up with the Christmas Worship Team 2026 at Auntie TL’s place. Nana tagged along. For the past 3 years, the teenagers had been leading worship. The adults took over this year bcos the national exams, and the teenagers social life made them extremely busy. While we practice worship, we had fun socialising and catching up. 

We had dinner at Auntie TL’s place and left at about 8pm. It was such a fruitful long weekend. We need more of these. 

Mummy Lim

The End of O Levels

It had been almost a month since O level started. Zaky took his English Listening Comprehension paper on 15 Oct. The following week, he had a paper almost every day, including on his bday. The week of 26 Oct was the busiest but mainly maths and science papers, which he claimed no sweat. This week, he only took a paper on Monday and 2 science paper 1 today. 

That’s it! He would be a free bird this afternoon, but a chubby one, bcos he put on so much “study” weight. He claimed that he would lose it all when he finally get the time to exercise again. Oh yes, the metabolism of teenager boys (I hope).

Zaky has definitely slowed down his rate of revision during the past week. He was going out, playing basketball, watching social media throughout the week. Yday, I was wfh and saw him do some papers in between video watching. He confidently told me that he would do well for both the papers. 

This morning, there was a mad rush and crazy scare. Nana has her Maths paper at 8am. Zaky’s 1st paper was at 8am too. Her maths and physics now require this special calculator that cost over $100. Nana inherited hers from a senior. This morning, her calculator hung. Seriously, at 6.20am. 

In the end, Zaky took a Tada to school and Nana managed to borrow a calculator from a classmate who took H1 maths and didn’t have a paper today. Daddy Lim drove her to Buangkok to pick up the calculator and then to school. He then took half a day of urgent leave and had coffee and bfast at Star Vista. Both kids updated that they made it to school on time and safely.

Last night, while some may still be mugging and others resting, Zaky lugged all his books and notes into a few piles - the textbooks are to be donated, the others all to be sent to the recycle bin. 

There are a lot. I wonder how we are going to bring these to their respective places. 

Anyhow, Zaky’s room is still very messy. The books and notes were either piled up on his table or stacked up on his shelf previously and now onto the floor. The remaining messiness is still messy. Maybe it is not such a great idea to have him move the piles onto the floor so quickly. I can already foresee one of the Chis pouncing onto the stack or the fan blowing the loose papers somewhere. 

Regardless, Zaky has officially completed his O levels. Congratulations to him and to his parents. Hooray! One kid done, one more to go. 

Mummy Lim