Lesson 6: Snowboarding Intermediate I Class 3rd Time!

My last lesson was before our Taiwan trip. That was 2 weeks ago. There is always this anxiety that I would again lose all my basics when I go for class, like what happened 3 lessons ago, and I fell so many times just during warmup. 

Choosing a class slot is a strategic game. I had figured out that there would be a fair bit of waiting if the class is more than 2 pax. The strategy then means 1st identifying the available time slots that work, then waiting until the 11th hour to make the booking, so as to make sure that the class only has one or no other person booked. The Trifecta class schedule webpage is a now constantly opened on my browser. 

I had booked the 2pm class yday. I booked it at 1.15pm when I was already making my way to Trifecta. I was the 2nd person for the class. Nice! 

This is my 3rd Intermediate I class and I suspect that I would probably get stuck at this level forever. Lol. We did the same thing over and over again. Heel side to toe side and then back to heel side and kept going again and again. Bcos there were only 2 of us in the class, the simulator only stops when one of us fell, me mainly. The instructor asked if we needed a break, the other participant said no and so we were on the moving carpet for the entire hour. 

I was exhausted. When there was 3 in a class, I rest 50% of the time. When I was alone, I rest when I fell and pause to listen to the instructor’s explanation or instructions, or simply chit chat to stall for time to rest. This round, we just went on and on. My sweat dripped at times. Towards the end, my body was not listening to my brain. I had to concentrate so hard and kept repeating the instructions to myself out loud. So tiring. 

Also towards the end of my lesson, I thought I would hold on to the bar to rest while the carpet continues to roll. I was on my heel side. I apparently wasn’t paying enough attention bcos my toe side edge got caught, the bar continued to push me and I fell forward. I think that was why/ how I fell but anyhow, it was a very hard fell. I mermaided and the air got pushed out of my chest. The instructor asked me if I was ok. I think Ok ah, but I needed a moment to gather my thoughts and get myself ready again. 

It was a good lesson, there was a lot of practices. At the end, I asked the instructor if I can survive on the mountains already. “Yes!” Oh really? Apparently on the mountain, the heel side turn to toe side and back will give me a wide S curve down the slope. I can’t tell now bcos all I do is to hold on to the dear bar for life. 

Bcos of the fall, I had a whiplash and woke up with a sore neck this morning. I also got my 1st blue black on my left inner arm, from grabbing the bar so hard.

Nana asked me about my lesson. She hasn’t done any lesson since the intro class 1.5 weeks ago. She doesn’t even know that the lessons are conducting on the other side with the moving carpet. Nana is eager to go for lessons but just needed to find time. 

Daddy Lim was supposed to take lessons with me but he changed his mind at the last minute. He asked if we are really going for a snowboarding holiday at the end of the year. If yes, he would start his lessons too. 

Of course! Tadah! 

He was the only student and the instructor did so much more with him than my intro lesson lor, teaching him how to turn. My intro class was solely heel side and toe side down the slope. Zzzz. I think I will still fall big time when I had to get down that ski lift and that curvy path. Zzzzzzzz. 

Daddy Lim got to go to the moving carpet! Not fair! 

He had quite a few falls once he got onto the moving carpet. The last fall, his board got caught on the damaged part of the carpet and he rolled. Lol. 

Zaky would probably not be taking lessons. I don’t think he needs it and thus don’t waste my $$. He is also still pai ka-ing.

Daddy Lim said that it was very fun. I am sure he is looking forward to his lessons like I did.

Mummy Lim

Urban Skating Adventure

Auntie S, T and I had been learning skating from Coach J. I think we had taken like 4 classes from him and he has decided to take us out skating. I have invited the kids  particularly Lil Shauna, who loves urban skating. Now, what is urban skating? I think it is generally skating from one point to another, and non park/ PCN. This is the time to put the skills learnt to test. 

Lil Shauna was keen but hesitant bcos she had to wake up early again after Saturday's unearthly official practice. She asked if the Coach is nice. Hmmm.. I wasnt sure if she meant like handsome nice or personality nice? I told her that she will probably perceive him as a fat uncle. She went on to conclude that he is nice bcos most fat uncles are funny and thus nice. What?! I went on to ask if Daddy Lim is nice and Lil Shauna went "YES" without hesitation but a sly smile. Hoho. Daddy Lim is a Fat Uncle.

The meet up.was at 8am on Sunday at Raffles City. To the MRT!

We were slightly early and the kids self entertained. 

I was busying gearing up and wanted to warm up. The kids waited until the last min bcos they are so good and can jump right into it. As I take more of the classes, I come to realise that the rest of the family are all damn good with skating but nobody offers to take me and I have to pay to take lessons. So ironical. Haha. 

Pictures shortly after we started. 

The starting part was a familiar route, from MBS to Barrage and then along that PNC. I just did that last week. Then instead of towards ECP, we headed to Kallang through another ECP. It took us lesser than 1 hour and 2 mini bridges along the way. 

We survived! 

I was intending for more. Like more loops around the kallang tracks but the rest were more keen to have bfast and go home. OK lor. The skating wasn't difficult for Zaky but tiring bcos his tiny wheels are not build for distant. 

We were doing small talks while de-gearing when Coach J asked if Zaky eventually took aggro lessons from Coach L, who was recommended by him. I tried putting in a nice way that Coach L seems to have eventually ghosted from us and Zaky is now taking lessons from Coach N. Zaky proudly went on to tell us that Coach N won 3rd in some Singapore aggro skating competition. Then, Lil Shauna butted in that she also got 3rd. Hahahahaha.... out of 4 skaters... even she was laughing at her own joke. 

We had a well-deserved 2nd bfast at the foodcourt. Our gears formed a mountain. So many, so heavy.

It was a cab ride home bcos so far, so heavy, so hot, so tired.. so many reasons. Hoho. 

I thought the urban skating experience was brief. Like most of it was done on the PCN; I had expected a lot more pavement and walkway. I thought that my last 2 weeks of ECP has a lot more difficulties and I had put my T brake, snaking, turn stop to more practice than this trip. Nevertheless, it was a good confident boost and I feel that I am so much better than when I started going round and round in Kallang. Hoho. I told Coach J that I wanted to continue learning, that he can teach us more tricks and also slalom. Hoho. 

Mummy Lim

Skating Fun

Last Thursday, Daddy Lim actually took leave to bring Zaky to the ECP skatepark. Such big sacrifice for skating. 

They left early morning, along with Lil Shauna, who was heading back to school for some duties. During previous school holidays, it is always me who took leave to bring the kids out. Now that the roles are switched, I felt a little left out. Pui. 

Auntie M also took leave to bring M to the skatepark. Bcos Zaky had companion, it was non stop skating until noon and without sunblock. The sun was scorching hot. The boys came back and Zaky was charcoal black while Daddy Lim was lobster red. So funny.

On Sunday, I got my chance to go to ECP skatepark with the boys. Zaky was very excited bcos M would be there again. Auntie M had bravely brought 2 kids on her own to the skatepark. Come, I clapped for you. 

The rain clouds were threatening when we arrived at ECP. It started to drizzle but didn't turn full blown. 

It wasn't obvious in the picture but the horizon far out was blurred by rain. I told Daddy Lim to come save me if I did get stuck somewhere. Luckily, the sky started to clear as I skated. I made it to the big green bridge. 

Last week's experience had given me a lot more confidence. 

Not only did I conquer the greenbridge, I also manage to cross the mini-er one and made it to the Barrage and then all the way to MBS.

So proud of myself. Hoho. 

The way back was less interesting and I was trying to act cool, thus donning my sunglasses, then cannot see properly and I stumbled so many times over twigs and seeds but still want to act cool. Lol. Then the rain was threatening again.

Fortunately I made it back without any misadventures and no rain. Hoho. Zaky was still happily skating and skating with M. We finally left the skatepark at about 11am. This time, I made Zaky slapped on sunblock. Daddy Lim still insisted to act macho. OK lor. Fortunately the cloudy weather helped. 

Another skating day!

Mummy Lim

No Wheels and Small Wheels

The doctor has advised 7 days of no strenuous exercise after the Covid-19 jab. I walked around the poolside on Friday to clock my steps, like what I would usually do on rest days. On Saturday, Daddy Lim work schedule allowed him to join the WWF Saturday morning rides. When I cannot, he can. Zzzzzzz. 

Bcos I is young, possibly the under 30 group, I decided to take a good rest and not overstress my poor heart. Lol. So when Daddy Lim joined the WWF ride, I decided to go for a walk instead. I had contemplated asking the kids to join me but at 7am, I think they will probably roll eyes at me until their blacks cannot come back and decided to go alone. It wasn't too bad. I walked all the way to the end of Jurong Lake Garden and 2 more rounds around the pool to complete 8km. 

My heart feels normal but just a little bored on my walk back. 

On Sunday morning, Daddy Lim decided to bring Zaky to Kallang skate park. I have decided to give my super aged and plastic disintegrated rollerblades a try. We woke up at 6am and drove all the way to Kallang MacD. So far... Luckily I bought a meal for myself, nobody wanted to share theirs with me and were instead very happy when I couldn't finish mine. 

The plastic the seals the boots to the wheels structure is peeling off. Daddy Lim says that it is not safe and had been trying to jio me to buy a new pair. But the wheel structure is actually screwed to the boots and I don't think the disintegrating plastic would compromise the skates integrity. Anyway, never try, never know. 

Just to be extra safe and give me a couple more seconds to crash fall safely, I duct tape the skates. Hohoho. Then, there wasn't enough duct tape left and I made do with whatever there was. 

The skates worked very well and are safe. The tracks at Kallang are clean and smooth and I had a very good time skating around the tracks while the boys crashed at the skate park. It was so therapeutic. All in all, I completed about 13ish km. Not bad. Kallang wave park was also crowded with different exercise groups in the morning, from HIIT to taiqi and sword playing to zumba. I was kept well-entertained while going round and round the tracks.

Midway, the left duct tape dropped off and I reinforced it with normal tape and ended up looking even weirder. Hoho. 

Daddy Lim's old pair of skates had the same problem and so he bought his new aggro skates. I feel cheated now. Want to buy new ones, then say lah. Zzzzzzz.

While I was going round the tracks, the boys really and literally crashed at the skate park. Daddy Lim said that he had a couple of really bad falls. Why like that? Why hurt oneself? He had blue-black on his palm from breaking the fall, he said that his back and butt hurt and he scratched his elbow. Zzzzz. 

My heart... I cannot take it. I better don't see. Haiz. Meanwhile, Zaky made friends. That was this little girl in aggro skates and with her aggro skates mummy. Good ah. They said that they would be in the skate park like every Saturday morning, which made Zaky very excited and kept bugging me to bring him back to the skate park next Saturday morning. I want to cycle lah. Hoho. Let's see how it goes. 

Mummy Lim

Teaching Fondant Modeling

DL had been great in boosting my confidence in cupcake baking. She rekindled my dream of making baking my 2nd career. 1st, she asked if I was keen to bake cupcakes for her friends' bridal shower. I back out for fear of ruining the happy occasion. Then she asked if I am willing to teach her BS girls on cupcake making. After procrastinating and her chasing me for many times, I finally put my heart into it and decided on the date to do so.

We decided that cupcakes baking is probably too boring for the girls. They are afterall 14 years old, full of energy and cannot sit still. Who at 14 years old wants to learn how to bake? I still remember how I dislike going for Home Econs class when I was 14. The stupid cloth hat that we had to wear on our head, making us look like some dutch lady milk maid just made things worse. Hohoho.

So, DL + a friend met me in the morning at my place to bake the cakes + prepare the butter cream. Poor her, she had to take the MRT from Eunos all the way to Pionner. We then brought the prepared cupcakes to T-junction to meet her 4 BS girls + other labourer.

I was intro as the "super-senior". -.o" I feel so old lor. But truth be told, I am that old loh. They werent even born when I left SHSS. To push it further, if I had given birth at 17 years old, my child would be as old as them liao. Hohoho. Anyway, regardless of how old I am, I am so glad that I will always be one year younger than DL. Hohoho.

Back to the baking, her BS girls were really quiet initially. After all the messing around, they started laughing and joking and opening up. Just like any other ladies who tried their hands at fondant modeling, they ended up dressing their cupcakes no end, or what Daddy Lim referred to as "overkill". Haha. I had to keep rushing the girls bcos they can just keep adding flowers and decorations to their cupcakes. We will never move on then.

The girls with the completed cakes.

A closer look of the cakes. It is supposed to be garden theme, we made a dog, a bee and a rabbit.
I had to rush off to fetch the baby, but I heard from DL that the girls enjoyed themselves and were super proud of their creation. DL brought her cakes to some fellowship after that and even received many praises. Hohoho, my head just grew bigger. Anybody wants to exchange free cupcakes for babysitting services?
Mummy Lim