Tips

On Sunday, we had Mac for lunch and spotted this candy tree outside JCube. The kids wished that they could plant this tree so that they could have all the candies but we didn't have a garden. So we creatively watsapp the picture to ah yee, who has a mini patio in her Paris home. If she starts planting it now, it should be bearing candies by the time we visit her end of next year. Haha.

Lil Shauna was sent to the rink for a 45-mins practice before her off ice training. We are definitely making good use of her rink student pass. She practiced her program a few times and worked on her spins a little. She looked like she is doing well, remembering her program most of the time. I saw Teacher Raymond sneaking peeps at her and gave a nod of approval. Haha.

The physiotherapy student (EQ) was at off ice again and suggested some good exercises to help with their jumps and spirals. She also helped to answer many of my questions, from buying skates online to sharpening the blades. Lil Shauna’s blades obviously needed sharpening; we never done that since we bought the skates. She didn't complain either and it is not a good time to do so given that the competition is right round the corner.

More importantly, EQ helped to provide answers to what to do during the upcoming competition. She said that there will be too much buzzers to keep Lil Shauna still for me to do her makeup and hair. These should be done at the hotel and only touching up at the competition rink. If possible, she could wear her costume to the rink but it may not make sense in Bangkok without looking too weird on the street or sweating buckets and ruining the costume. As to whether we needed to be there the entire day will be dependent on what time is her item slot and whether there is practice session. The practice session is usually 30 mins at the start and the skaters competing for the same item will get another 6 to 8 mins of warm up session before their item. EQ suggested for us to simulate the competition setting, i.e., to let Lil Shauna do a 6 to 8 mins warm up then get her off the ice to rest for 5 mins. Thereafter she will have to do her program. It will give her an indication of what is the most crucial items to practice during those precious 6 mins and help prepare her mentally in the event that she is unable to finish practicing all the moves and had to start her program.

Good advices, right? Jia you!

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 65

We bought a speaker recently hoping that it can help Lil Shauna to practice the program with music on the ice.

Knowing that the ice will be crowded, we intentionally headed down a little later, hoping that it would be less crowded plus allowing us to stay a while later after her class. Sound like a plan, right?

Just that the plan didn't work out the desired way. The ice was crowded and it was impossible to practice her program without having to stop bcos somebody was in her way. We tried using the speaker but it was no fight against the noise. Lil Shauna could almost hear nothing when the song was starting. Teacher Raymond's speaker was probably 100x more powerful; I could hear the song across the rink.

We gave up after a while and Lil Shauna went over to the 1/3 ice to practice. She had to do it without music as I couldn't go over to the 1/3 and there was nobody to help her hold the speaker.

She tried hard, especially on her spiral and spins. Teacher Raymond helped her practice her compulsory solo items before teaching her 1 last hadn't action. It seems like her program is completed! She got to practice 2 more times with the music and both times managed to complete almost when the music ended! It was so nice  (in mummy's my-daughter-is-the-best perspective), I can feel tears in my eyes! Teacher Raymond spent the rest of the time practicing her spins.

Lil Shauna has max 3 more lessons to go before her competition. We had to miss next Saturday bcos of the CNL church camp. The next session will be on a weekday early morning, where she will practice on the entire ice and I had booked an entire hour class. I think it will feel very different as she had been practicing all this while on 1/3 ice. Teacher Raymond said that the session will be spent practicing the program repetitively with the music to really familiarise the "what happened at which part of the music". She will also needs to be in full costume and hair do to get used to the feeling. I will remember to take more pictures.

The rink was so much more emptier in the 2nd session but the little girl was too exhausted and refused to practice more.

Counting down...

Mummy Lim

Doing Well Academically

Lil Shauna has always been the academically stronger one out of the 2 kids. Zaky was put through the same academic regime - same kindergarten, same enrichment, but he just didn't blossom as well. We had to work alot harder at home with Zaky.

Lil Shauna adapted very well when she started P1. Her 1st semester mini test results were great too. The numbers dipped a little in the 2nd semester but nothing that needed me to worry.

She continues to do consistently well in P2. She just got back her SA2 results and her report book; her results were great! In P3, there will be streaming and Lil Shauna got into one of the top 2 classes, just as I expected. Hehe.

She is very proud of her achievements. I am very proud too. She is even happier that the schoolmate, who also stays in Centris and takes the school bus with her will be in the same class as her next year.

I never have to worry much about the little girl; she is silently competitive. It is a different story with Zaky. I am quite sure my head will grow bigger when he goes to P1 next year. Zzzzz.

Mummy Lim

Calling In Sick

Remembered how Lil Shauna was having a tummyache that suddenly disappeared on Sunday? She didn't complain about any pain for the rest of the Sunday. I assumed that everything was fine.

On Monday, she called me at 12noon from the school general office complaining of many different aches. Zzzzzz. It was lunch time and I was counting my lucky star when I managed to get Daddy Lim on the line and he ended up doing the ferrying. He is afterall the one with the car or I have to call cab to do the round trip. Heng ah.
I was feeling a little guilty for doubting the girl. Maybe she was really sick on Sunday and the evil mummy totally ignored her.

She was quietly watching the iPad when we were home in the evening, giving us the sick puppy look intermittently. However, Popo said that she was very well the whole afternoon and there was no fever. Lil Shauna chose to go to bed at 8pm that night. Was she really sick? Gosh, I have no idea.

On Tuesday morning, I woke her up for school and asked if she was up for it. It is either she stayed home or stayed in school the whole day; it is painful to arrange to pick her midday. The nice rainy morning must have helped. She immediately whimpered something about tummyache, pulled up the blanket and continued to sleep. Haha, what a clever choice. I emailed her teacher to ask that she be excused.

Was she really sick? When Daddy Lim and I reached home yday evening, the kids were happily playing basketball with the other kids. Ya, sick… When they were finally home, Lil Shauna was all bouncy and happy and was in a yelling fight with Zaky. She was full of vigor, what tummyache? Popo said that she didn't make a single complaint at all the entire day.

In the evening, she was so gamed when I asked her to practice her program. She even enthusiastically initiated to do her stretching exercises and allowed me to help her stretch in her spiral position. I am just glad that the kids are healthy and I am so happy to see her passion for ice skating burning up; it must be the competition effect.

Zaky also enthusiastically stretched with jiejie and he is so much flexible. He can almost do the split!

Maybe that is why Teacher Raymond is so encouraging about Zaky picking up ice skating. There aren’t many boys who do figure skating and it is easy to win in most competitions bcos there are so few participants. For now, Zaky seemed to have made the choice towards his TKD. Ice skating can probably wait. Let’s see.

Mummy Lim

Extra Ice Time

Since Lil Shauna decided that she had wanted to partake in Bangkok Skate, we had been having some extra classes on Sunday or sneak in some skate time on Sunday before off ice. Sunday afternoon slot is usually less crowded and she enjoys practicing with her peers. I usually wait for her outside the rink if the skate time is short.

I accompanied her today as we have a longer practice time after Zaky's grading test. Daddy Lim brought the little boy home for some father-son bonding. Yeah for me! Lol.

It didn't start very well though. She tried to practice the hand movements with her pragram but barely after much practice, she complained of a tummy ache. We visited the toilet 2 more times but did little to ease the pain... or so she insisted. I cannot tell how bad is the pain. Remember? Every pain is very pain to Lil Shauna. She whined and whined... until I decided that the best remedy might just be to ignore her. So I did and asked her to just sit and rest since we only had about 30 mins left before off ice. I was actually worried that she was trying to wriggle her way out of off ice.

Maybe it worked. Bcos she suddenly decided to go back to the ice to practice while complaining that her tummy still hurts. Amazingly, for that 30 mins, she put in such a wonderful performance. Some of her hand movements were on spot, she nicely arched her back for ballet jump, she held her leg after her waltz jump... it was such a joy to look. Teacher Raymond was coaching one of her peers and sneaking peeps at her, something that he normally doesn't do. I think he was equally pleased, sharing smiles with me across the rink when Lil Shauna completed a fantastic action. Lol.

The girl felt good about herself too though still complaining that her tummy still hurts so much after that 30 mins... seriously? She proceeded to her off ice training and then there was totally no complaint of pain. What the..... so pain or no pain?

Anyway, one of Teacher Raymond's ex-skaters is taking a diploma program in physiotherapy and as part of her curriculum, asked to understudy his skaters' off ice training to try to develop exercises to help with their on ice performance. I was skeptical at 1st but her credibility level (with me) rocketed when I realised that she is still skating and had progressed to duno wat back spin and triple jumps. Haha. Lil Shauna was working so hard during off ice trying to impress her.  Lol.

She commented that Lil Shauna's difficulty with spirals might be due to inflexibility of some muscles and also suggested strengthening of the back hamstring and buttocks muscle to help her hold her leg during spiral. She also suggested some exercise and stretching to do at home. I am so convinced.

Lastly, our trail makeup attempt.

It didn't look nice up close but we needed to be bold for her makeup to be visible in the rink. We will try again.

Mummy Lim

Grading Test - Blue Belt

We finally completed the last of the 5 sparring sessions last Friday. Zaky had to do 5 before he could take the grading test. We procrastinated until the last minute but we are just such busy people.

Daddy Lim had the weekend off and could send us for grading test. Yeah! Since the last grading test, the center had changed its grading test format for different belt to be tested at different time. I think it is a much more efficient method.

It was a mad frenzy when we reached. We had 15 mins and had to change the boy and the girl had a tummy ache.  Luckily Daddy Lim was there to help or I had to clone myself. Then Daddy Lim was delegated to help the boy put on his protective gear. His uinform was checked by the master and he was sent off to the waiting area. They improved further the sequence and the kids had a chance to revise their pattern with an assigned master before they headed to the testing ground. It was such joy seeing the little offsprings practicing at such close proximity.

The grading test was completed in a wink. Can you see Zaky?

I think he did his pattern well but was too fast and a couple of times freeze in his pose to wait for others. They were also tested on the back hook kicks and sparring. The sparring was quite a joke if you ask me. After making the kids go for 5 compulsory lessons, they probably tried kicking at their opponents a total of 6 times and it was contactless sparring, which effectively mean kicking the air. That concluded the sparring test. Lol.

He was out of the center in less than 5 mins.

He thinks he should be able to pass his grading test and he nicely pose for a picture for me.

Mummy Lim

Popo's 60th Bday

Yday, Popo turned 60 exactly.  She officially qualified as Senior Citizen. We had dinner with my bro's family at an atas vegetarian restaurant last Saturday to celebrate her bday.

The food would be ideal for vegetarian but I am a meatatarian. Lol.

We were supposed to have another family lunch yday but I postponed it due to unforeseen circumstances. To make up for it, we brought Popo for dinner at Kushinbo at JP. I was trying to look for a buffet dinner but I seriously know nuts when it comes to food. I googled a little and eventually just stuck to the easy choice right in JP. It kills 2 birds too - I had promised Daddy Lim years ago that I would bring him to Kushinbo for his bday meal. Haha.

Popo was enthusiastic. I think she likes buffet despite being a vegetarian. We booked a table at 5.30pm, right when it opens for dinner. Popo wanted to be early and asked what time we can stay in the restuarnt until.

There were plenty of options even for vegetarians.

We all enjoyed the wide spread of food. The food was probably just not too bad but good enough to satisfy us - non foodies. The kids love buffet, going around choosing and picking what they want to eat; they always look forward to hotel buffet bfast whenever we travel.

The kids had decent amount of proper food before indulging in the buffet of deserts. The kids had a great time going multiple times to the desert tables.

How long did we last? A little bit more than an hour. We are definitely poor buffet attackers. By the end, we had to roll home. The dinners around us were still attacking plates and plates of seafood to make their $$ worth. Daddy Lim tried - one crab leg. Haha.

Happy bday Popo.

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 64

Daddy Lim stayed home with Zaky this morning. Yeah! I had thought that it would be a great session but not so - the rink was so crazily crowded. School holiday not here yet leh. Where did all the people come from?

Once the rink gets too crowded, it is impossible for Lil Shauna to practice properly. We tried sneaking her over to the 1/3 ice but was chased back bcos figure skating group classes were ongoing. In the end, she was happily resting and snacking. She was only left with 30 mins eventually to practice.

To add on to the bad start, she tripped over ice during buddy hop and fell soon after she went over to the 1/3 ice. Bunny hop!!!! That is like one of the easiest jumps! Zzzzzz. We had to waste the next precious 5 mins comforting the crying girl bcos she is made of paper and cannot fall. I brought my mp3 player and wanted her to practice on her own with the music. In the end, we gave up - the earphones kept dropping out of the ears and it was too dangerous when they finally stayed up.

Fortunately, she had enough time to revise her program before class. She had the usual fault - traveling spin and her spirals needed to be higher.

Teacher Raymond didn't bring along the amplifier today, just when I though what is left is plenty of practice with music. I am so wrong. Teacher Raymond worked on her spins and spiral and waltz jump (see, I can be tutor coach already). We were told that Lil Shauna has 2 items to compete - the program that she had learnt and what they called the compulsory solo. For the latter, she is to do a ballet jump, a half-flip and spin. There will be no music and like the name suggested - compulsory for all competitors. It wasn't difficult, these are all that she is familiar with.

Teacher Raymond then spent the rest of the class teaching Lil Shauna the hand movements that accompany the strokes! What?!?! We are not done? The hand actions were not difficult, but Lil Shauna was so shy and ended up looking so awkward when it was supposed to be cute.  Teavher Raymond looked so much cuter than Lil Shauna. Lol. Lil Shauna will have loads to practice. It is not easy to combine both hands and legs. We will definitely hit the ice tomorrow for her to practice.

By the way, the costumes that I bought from taobao are finally here!

I bought 2 sets and their combined cost is less than what it would cost me to buy in a shop in Singapore - $140+. It would easily be $200 to buy a suit in Singapore. This one fits better. The other one is a little squeezey. That is the risk with online shopping.  

We tried her hair too. I saw this on YouTube.  What we need next is loads of hair spray and make up trial. I think we are almost ready to go. 

The competition will be here in 1 month time. So scary!

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 63

We had Maths makeup class early in the morning bcos we are skipping class next week for Popo’s 60th bday. Nobody complained about 2 Maths class on 2 consecutive days. However, it meant that Zaky would be tagging along for Lil Shauna’s ice skating practice and lesson in the afternoon. I gave him the choice to skate but reminded him that he would have no friends to skate with. He opted to play mindcraft and watch youtube on my phone instead.

Lil Shauna had 30 mins before her lesson and proceeded for her warm up and revised her program. She didn't need the all-powerful mummy’s nagging. Good. It took a couple of tries before she managed to get the entire program right. We had a little time to practice her spin before she went for her class.

She had the opportunity to practice her program a couple of times with music. It must be exhausting because I can see her panting at the end of each round but she was obviously enjoying it. Her spirals are still not high enough, her spins still travel and she is still not tucking her hands, she could hold her leg higher up when she lands for her waltz jump, she could flip her head more for the ballet jump….. I saw quite a lot of areas of improvement and I bet the professional Teacher Raymond saw more.

Teacher Raymond is always very patient and kind to Lil Shauna. I bet it has to do with the fact that she is always so obedient, never talking back… OK, she never talks to Teacher Raymond at all, even after 2 years. Anyway, he was never fierce to her and worked patiently on her spins with the little time left.

At the end of the class, Lil Shauna said that Teacher Raymond said almost the same as what I have noticed. Haha. I can be ice skating tutor coach already. The little girl worked hard during class and diligently practiced after class. I was so pleased with her. It was the little boy who irritated me. It wasn't his fault actually. He was just very restless and wanted so much to get my attention when I was trying to focus on jiejie. He so eagerly tried to show me what he had built on mindcraft but CONSTANTLY. Argghhh. Then he was moving about so much, climbing everywhere and falling everywhere. I was rather pleased when Daddy Lim finally picked him up for his TKD class. That boy needed somewhere to expel his pent-up energy. Haha.

Overall, it was a good session. Off ice training was great too. Lil Shauna is definitely stretching better and she knows that she has to work harder on her stretching at home to do her spirals on ice and all the other crazy poses. She is definitely motivated and is looking forward to the competition. Yeah!

I have just made payment for the Skate Bangkok competition registration fees - $128. Air tickets are booked. We will be flying Tigerair to save some money. The competition costume that I bought for her via Taobao will be arriving tonight. I really hope that it turned out well. We are definitely getting ready for the competition. So exciting.

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 62

Zaky decided that he wouldn't tag along today, which I am glad bcos I so wanted to help Lil Shauna practice her program and spin. We had bread at home and stayed away from the sinful Mac bfast.

It was almost 11am by the time we hit the ice. Lil Shauna's spin was still bad; she couldn't keep her leg straight and ended up traveling from the pivot point alot. We spent a lot of time trying but just couldn't correct it. I think she has lost her spins.... Nnnnnnooooooo!

She did her program alright though; she remembered everything without needing any help for me. We took a little rest before proceed for her lessons. Mamee time!

The entire class was spent practicing her program (the 1st 2/3). Teacher Raymond also taught her the remaining 1/3 of her program, which consisted of a spiral and a final spin. She had some problems remembering the steps initially but appeared fine by the end of the class. There was even a little time left to try out the entire program with her music.

She went a little too fast in the beginning and had to restart a few times. Then she took too long certain other parts and had yet to do her final spins when her music ended. Lol. But in the very least, she had finished learning her program!

She still have weekly Saturday classes for the rest of November and some extra classes. I am quite sure the classes will be used to let her get used to the music and pacing plus corrections of her bad habits to perfect her program. She definitely needs to work on her spins and spirals. She also doesn't understand pacing accordingly to music.

Lil Shauna looked like she had fun skating to the music but said that she is still worried about falling and making a fool of herself during the competition. I hope she will do fine. I am definitely more excited than her. Lol.

Mummy Lim