NDP Show Live

Now that the kids are teenagers and are very busy, it is always a challenge to find a weekend for meals. The plan was to meet for dinner on Saturday. Then, at the last minute, my brother got NPD rehearsal tickets and asked if we were keen. Nana and I were gamed, Daddy Lim and Zaky were meh. It is ok, we can go without them. Hoho. 

My brother’s family came over at 4.30pm for cake cutting. Oh yes, the NDP gang were all decked in some sorts of red and white. We were very on theme.

We had to leave shortly. The plan was to tabao MacD, drop us somewhere, park somewhere and then be seated in the stadium by 6pm. Nana and I were 1st timer live NDP watchers and simply followed blindly. Ok, Nana did NPD live once, when she was P5 with her school, which was years ago, as part of the NE program. 

My brother drove and turn left and right, navigate the road closures, to try to find a nearest drop off point, which was still a distance away. We were ok, but it is a long walk for Popo. We saw so many people in red and white. The vibes were right. 

After we cleared the security check, there were plenty of stairs to climb and took a wrong turn and had to walk a big round to get to our gate. I kept asking Nana to walk behind Popo on the stairs, just in case. 

We were the last ones to enter the stadium.

The stadium was packed to the brim. While we had to take the last few rows and were super far from the stage, the few rows behind us were empty and I definitely appreciated the space behind me. The rows were really tight; I barely had space at my feet, which were mainly taken by my bag and the goody bag. I cannot imagine if somebody had to go to the toilet. 

The show started within minutes. Most of the time, we had to look at the big screen. The performers look like ants from our seats but that was ok, the big screens were good. I spent time trying to guess where the performers  whom I saw on the big screen were on the stage.

Once seated, we also started passing fries, burgers and drinks. We weren’t the only ones, we saw somebody having pizza, another one had fried rice in a bag, so creative. 

Nana and I were very enthusiastic and happily clap and sang along. As evening falls, the LED wrist band automatically lit up and changed color, blinked to make a coordinated picture across the stadium. 

The performances also switched to playing creatively with lights.

The show ended at about 8ish. Exiting the stadium wasn’t that bad. I think it was bcos most of the spectators were P5 students and were taking buses. However, it was a long walk to where the car was parked. We had to slow down for Popo. 

Nana and I totally enjoyed the show. I rarely watch NDP on TV and this felt like one of those performances that I would pay to go when I am overseas. This one free and right at home. The only challenges were the getting and leaving the stadium. 

The other plus? Bcos we missed the family dinner, Popo cooked us and tabao over some braised chicken and fried cod fish. It had been a long time since we had home cooked food. We happily heat them up and had our Sunday family dinner at home. 

I got cook something hor. The eggs, which Daddy Lim said was nice. Hoho. 

We had a good dinner, all thanks to Popo’s love. 

Mummy Lim

Happy Mother’s Day, Happy 18th Anniversary

Nana’s bday falls very near to Mother’s Day. I get reminded of her dramatic birth story every Mother’s Day. 

In celebration of Mother’s Day and Nana’s bday, Popo has prepared the “popiah party”. Popo made such nice popiahs and bcos of what her grandkids eat and don’t eat, we always have very interesting ingredients like Taiwan sausages, chicken nuggets, pork belly, etc. Even Zaky, who is aversed to most vegetables, enjoys her popiahs. In fact, he had been the one requesting for the popiah party for a while.  

Popo didn’t disappoint. We arrived to a spread. Yum!

We are missing the 2nd F, who is in Ho Chi Minh for her internship. She is missing on the good food.

We also gathered to celebrate Nana’s 18th bfast. 

Happy 18th Birthday, Nana! 

We are always craving for home cooked food. Popo knows and also prepped plenty of nicely cut fruits for us. Unfortunately, our tummies were bursting from the popiahs.

There were so much food and we had leftovers. I happily tabao them home. 

Mummy Lim

Happy 69th Bday to Popo

Popo’s birthday is around the corner. We usually meet up for lunch/ dinner during the weekends. However, as the kids grew older, and their social lives become a lot more colorful, trying to get a weekend that all of us are available is so difficult. 

We eventually decided for dinner on a Friday evening. We all congregate at the dinner venue for different parts of Singapore. 

It was Korean food and I was hungry. Chomp chomp. Look at the table full of food!

Got birthday cake somemore.

Happy birthday Popo! 

Mummy Lim

Goodbye to Ah Yee and Athena Part 3

It was SuperPark day! We extended the invitation to the Fs and only the smallest F took it up. I understand, bcos I also happily skipped. 

We had bfast and headed to IMM bcos Zaky needed new basketball shoes. Daddy Lim was very enthusiastic about bringing him shopping and I was wondering why. Then, we ended up with 2 pairs of shoes. Zzzzz…  now I know why.

After lunch, we headed down to Suntec for the 2pm session. Ah Yee got to escape this time bcos Daddy Lim volunteered for it. I duno why he wanted to go SuperPark but at some point, he regretted. Too late. lol.

Ah Yee went shopping for a bigger bag bcos she had too many things to bring home. I went for a gym class in Bugis Junction. We all made perfect use of time. 

We met for the last family dinner. 

No crab this time but still good dinner and good catch up. The kids were funnily reminiscing about old times, recalling the old tunes that they had composed. Other than the famous John Lim BooBoo Cracker, there is also the Subaru song, completed with advertisements. 

After dinner was more fun at the playground before finally heading back to my brother’s place to say goodbyes. 

We spent Sunday lazing around in the house with Ah Yee and Athena. Daddy Lim left for work early in the morning. Nana wanted to head off to church and then to tuition. Fortunately, Athena woke up early enough to say goodbye. 

We didn’t do much. Zaky spent the morning practicing his 电邮 for the upcoming test. I am pleasantly surprised that he actually has a good grasp of it. We had lunch at home, consisting of the leftover fried rice from Friday and supplemented with chicken nuggets and honey wings. Any meal with chicken nuggets and honey wings will be good. Ah Yee said that fried rice is good too bcos the fried rice in Paris doesn’t have the wok hep taste.

Ah Yee attempted a nap with Athena but failed miserably. Then at about 4pm, it was final pack up and Athena got to watch a last episode of Scooby Doo with Zaky before calling a cab to head to the airport. Their flight was at 11pm but they were meeting friends at the airport for dinner and a final attempt to tire the kid out for a hopefully quiet flight. 

When Ah Yee and Athena boarded the taxi, the reality hit me almost immediately. They are gone! 回家了! I suddenly missed Ah Yee so much already. 

It was 10ish when they finally boarded the plane. 

Ah Yee text yday afternoon to say that they had completed their 1st leg and were back in Europe but the plane was full of turbulences. Then a few hours later, they had safely landed in Paris. 

Athena looks so happy. I think as a kid, going anywhere with the parent is always fun, whether on a holiday or head back home. 

The following morning, I was still hit emotionally. Everything in the house reminded me of their presence and their absence. Athena’s powder. 

The Wonder Woman toy that she left behind that now has a new home on our shelf. 

Ah Yee’s love for the kids when she did a final stock up of the fridge - the milk, oatside.

Ah Yee said that  they probably wouldn’t come back next year or the next few. Athena would start primary school next year. More painfully, the flight tickets are very expensive and the long haul flights very painful. I know, that is why I have been putting off going Europe for holidays. 

It is ok. I told myself that I will work hard and save money and we will fly to Europe to visit them at the end of next year. 

Meanwhile, please stay safe, healthy, be happy and enjoy life. We will meet again very soon. 

Mummy Lim

Goodbye to Ah Yee and Athena Part 2

Ah Yee saved the last weekend for family time. We had to book the kids in advance and remind the them times and again that we are spending time together. They are so busy with their social lives and on multiple occasions, double booked themselves when we had pre-arranged dates. Zzzzz. 

On Friday, with 4 hours of sleep (after Mambo), I went bfast with Daddy Lim. We bought bfast back and then headed out at 11ish to Kallang Leisure Park for ice skating. Unlike the Rink in the past, Kallang Ice Rink has no online booking and is on 1st come 1st serve basis. We arrived at about 11.45am and managed to get tickets for the 2pm slot. Only the kids were ice skating with Athena and Ah Yee. Ah Yee didn’t have much of a choice. lol. Daddy Lim and I went coffee drinking. Hoho. 

The Kallang Ice Rink is mini and non-ticket holder cannot enter the rink. It was almost impossible to peep or take photo from outside too. 

Yay, Nana brought her skates, which had been in storage since the Rink closed over a year ago. She was half worried that she wouldn’t fit. Those skates were made to be snugged for the jumps. 

Did the kids had fun? Of course! Ah Yee was just very tired. Lol. They complained that the ice was bad, which we all know and it was puddling like a swimming pool 5 mins into the session. They related about how they saw people falling and getting all wet thereafter. Nobody fell in our group. Nana said that she can still do some of her spins and jumps and was very happy. She even had a mini fan club cheering her on in the rink. I missed the times seeing her dancing on the ice. 

This is the time that I cannot help but sneaked in an old skating photo. I had like this costume out of all that she had. 

After ice skating, we rushed off for our 2nd session of fun. We bought laser tag tickets and our session was starting at 5pm at Home Team Bukit Batok. It was a lot of fun but very tiring after just the 1st game. We played 3 in all. 

Bcos the vest and gun were so heavy, Athena had to partner with an adult. The adult would wear the vest and get shot at while she tried her best to shoot others with the heavy gun. Ah Yee stayed with her in the 1st 2 rounds and missed out on good fun. I was the chosen one on the last round. It wasn’t too bad, I was very tired anyway and happy to walk around, warning people not to shoot me. lol.

We headed home for NDP broadcast. I am not a NDP fan but having people in the house excited over NDP hypes things up. We got chicken, rib and bread from the supermarket. Ah Yee bought 2 big crabs; she wanted to treat Zaky, who suddenly had an interest in eating crabs. Yes, picky eater Zaky. We rarely have crabs bcos eating them is such a chore. They were really delicious and we all had a good dinner. 

So, how was NDP? I have no idea. Zaky had no idea too. He went to bed at 8.30pm bcos he said that he was exhausted. I followed him to lala land 15 mins later. Hoho. 

Mummy Lim

Goodbye to Ah Yee and Athena Part 1

In a blink of an eye, 5 weeks had flew by and it was time for Ah Yee and Athena to head home. Just like how it took us a few days to get used to Ah Yee and Athena in the house, I am sure that it would take us some time to get used to their absence. The only thankful thing would be Zaky returning to his room and I get my bed back. We were supposed to take turns to sleep on the floor but Zaky had all kinds of reasons when he was bunking in with us.

This particular trip, Nana was busy preparing for her Chinese O levels and then prelims and had much lesser time to spend with Athena. It was Zaky - the many afternoons and evenings at my brother’s place when Athena was there for her swimming lessons. The outings to Science Center and indoor playgrounds and the many make believe play, watching cartoons and playing board games together. Nana had her fair share of make believe and board games too in the evenings.

I was very surprised at how willing Zaky was in spending time with Athena bcos it is tiring to entertain a kid. Yay, I run far far; I had done my parts with my kids many years back. I am then reminded that Zaky has always been very nice to younger kids. 

One of the good things is that Zaky had spent many dinners at my brother’s place. He really missed Popo and her cooking. He always raved about how great Popo’s food is after every dinner and Popp of course will cook all of his favourite food. Popo obviously missed him a lot too.

Zaky has decided that even after Ah Yee and Athena leave, he will go to my brother’s place weekly for dinner. That’s so sweet. I am sure Popo will welcome him but not sure of the rest. Hahaha. 

We had many family dinners too, including a BBQ. 

The kids had a good time running around. 

We reenact an old picture. 

This is the ending pose of the “John Lim Boo-boo Cracker” song that the big F composed when they were little, even before Athena existed. It was a meaningless silly song that brought back a lot of memories. Hahaha.

Mummy Lim

Ah Yee and Athena in the House

A year flew by and Ah Yee and Athena are back in town!

Ah yee said that it was a dramatic trip. She purchased the flight tickets at a bargain 6 months back only to realise that the family name that she had used was not as per her passport. It was a whole nightmare of trying to change the name to buying new tickets and asking for refund. She ended up paying more than a direct flight with the boo-boo. Then, her connecting flight was canceled, which she only found out upon arrival at the airport. She was given a new flight, transiting in Seoul but having to fly for longer hours and yet not seeing any Korean oppa bcos the transit was too short. Beggers can’t be choosers. 

They were originally due to arrive on Thursday evening but eventually only touch down at 9ishpm. At least Athena is now old enough to self-entertain (I hope). They only stepped into our door at the 11ish. The kids were barely awake, happily greeted the pair before heading to sleepy land for school the following day.

Ah yee said that the taxi ride was equally traumatic bcos the taxi driver went round and round and couldn’t find our  block. IKR, we are tucked in this weird corner and google map just cannot “reach us”. They had to be let off on the side road and dragged their luggage to our block. I would have offered to meet them at the carpark or something but ah Yee had no internet and was contactless after leaving Changi Airport. #1stworldproblem 

Zaky had generously given up his room for the next month for ah Yee and Athena. He wasn’t upset at all and seemed very happy to bunk into our room and sometimes onto my bed. Zzzzz. 

We headed to my bro’s place for steamboat dinner on Saturday. It was very good; we haven’t had home cooked food for a while. The kids, particularly Zaky, were raving so much over Popo’s cooking, as if we had starved them. The kids had also made plans to have dinner at my bro’s place this evening. Lol.

Almost full force, short of ah tioh CY.

Mummy Lim

Family - Dinners and Gatherings

I couldn't sleep on Thursday night. By that, I meant that I tossed and turned for a while. For people who know me, that meant a lot bcos I am the 秒睡. I wonder why and suspected that I was affected by Ah Yee going home. 

Our house would be very quiet. Ah Yee and Athena had accompanied us for the last 2 months and ah tioh CY joined the last 2 weeks. They took off on Friday afternoon, but without forgetting to show me that there are evil butterflies in the airport. 

We don't know when we will see them again. Maybe the next one would be our turn to visit them in Europe. 

The last weeks had been family gatherings and dinners. Nana said that she wanted a BBQ and that was what we had. 

The kids swam. 

We ended back home for cake for my bro and CY's bday.

The cousins played 飞机棋.

On Thuesday, Ah Yee's family spent the entire afternoon in JP, doing last minute stocking of goodies and stuff to bring home. Zaky was on HBL and got to join them. Digressing, I am not sure what HBL really is supposed to achieve. Zaky would usually game whole day while Nana would lie and roll around the house the whole day during HBL. It is just like another day of holiday for them. 

Anyway, Zaky got to gain from plenty of kiddy stuff. He had wanted to ride in one of those for a long time.

The last bit of play before we bid Athena goodbye. 

Ah Yee and family touched down safely at 3am SGT on Saturday morning. It is still summer in Paris but it was 18 degrees. Not fair. 

The good thing about Ah Yee and family's departure is that I finally got back my room and bed. Since Nana broke her ankle, I have spent countless nights on the floor. They are still welcome back anytime. 

On Friday morning, I also got to spend time with some dear ladies - the other family though no by blood. 

I was on half day leave and thought that I have plenty of time only to realise that 4 hours passed by so quickly and there was still so much to catch up. 

These ladies are just to precious to me. 

Mummy Lim