Ice Skating 117

Last week, Coach Raymond asked if we were going to send him Lil Shauna's music soon. Ahhh.. I had totally forgotten that that's work to be done for the competition.

After going through the kids' current "popular" playlist, Lil Shauna narrowed down to Sia's "Cheap Thrill" and Katy Perry's "Chained to and Rhythm" and "This is How We Do It". I thought we are so done with Katy Perry bcos I got so sick of "Fireworks" since Lil Shauna's last competition. However, we cannot deny that Katy has a really strong vocal.

My personal favorite has to be "Cheap Thrill". Unfortunately, Coach Raymond said that the songs are all very pop and hard for Lil Shauna to skate to given her shy personality. If we insisted on those, then it would be "This is How We Do it". We did insist.. hahahaha. Lil Shauna agreed that she would dance to it. Yay! I am so looking forward.

Coach Raymond didnt start teaching her the program. It started with her jumps, which I thought she did them quite well. Soon, he moved on to her spins, concentrating on her sit spins. She needed to master them for the competition.

I was pleasantly surprised that her sit spins were better than usual; she was able to go slightly lower. Then Coach Raymond combined the jumps and then even flip jump and sit spin!

She tried really hard and was on form. Watching her was a joy. Hehe. I didnt even ask her to go back to the ice after class. She said that she was able to go lower on her sit spin bcos Coach Raymond asked her to straighten her free leg. What?! That simple advice made all those difference?

Lil Shauan went back to the ice this afternoon for about an hour. Her "refined" sit spin is still around. Hehe. Coach Raymond even said that one of the sit spins was really good. I is happy. She now have to practice holding her sit spin longer... like forever. Haha.

Mummy Lim

Bcos April is a Happy Month Part 2

I celebrated my bday as if I was 60 years old. Hahaha. Finally, at almost end of April, I have checked off all the wish list items.

I got my thermal flask.

And my leggings, which I havent 开张.

My chio chio pink sunglasses.

The very painful couple tattoo.

The very belated ice cream bday cake that I only had 1.5 mini slices and the kids polished them off over the next few days. They didnt even leave some for me. Zzzzz.

Finally, to complete the list. Tadah!

Daddy Lim teased me about the many gifts. But my gifts do not break the bank. When I added them ALL up, they were barely half of what his bday gift cost last December. See, you made me spilled the beans. Don't challenge the wife. Haha.

That marks the end of endless shopping for April. When is April coming again?

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 116

We are finally back to the routine of weekly classes. Yay!

Last week, Coach Raymond said that Lil Shauna could try participating in the Preliminary in the coming interschool competition in July. This is basically single jumps and sit spin. She has to work on her sit spin. T.T

Lil Shauna thinks that Coach Raymond would work on her jumps this week bcos it was largely spins last week. She was so wrong. Lol. I think Coach Raymond wanted to help her on her sit spins. 

This is lucky dip.

This is fall down after sit spin. Lol.

Coach Raymond said that there was slight improvement in her sit spin. She went low enough (to qualify for sit spin) and managed to stand up after that. Hehehe. 

Lil Shauna reluctantly returned to the ice after ice resurfacing. Hehehe, mummy 1, Lil Shauna 0. When I agreed to let her off ice if she does 2 decent sit spin, they were achieved quickly. Haha. Incentive works.

Mummy Lim

Last Bubble Burst

Zaky had been complaining that he couldnt see clearly in school. While I tried my best to ignore him bcos I was in denial, I knew it was a matter of time. Sob. Lil Shauna's experience has trained me well.

Additionally, the boy thinks that wearing glasses is cool and had been bugging us to get him a pair. Zzzzz.. yes, he even thinks that jiejie is cool when she has her glasses on. Haha.

Finally, after all the bugging, Daddy Lim finally brought him to get his new glasses. We had to go to Nanyang optical bcos Owndays doesn't do eye test for kids before 8 yo.

Zaky is so pleased... but not his mother.

Why is my perfect eyesight genes so weak??!!!

No more hope already. Sob.

Mummy Lim

Couple Tattoo

I had been toying with the idea of a couple tattoo for a long time. Daddy Lim being the tattoo frenetic, will definitely be gamed if I bring up the idea. I was careful not to raise his hopes. I did briefly speak about it on several occasions but never too seriously. After thinking over and over and over (it is permanent ink afterall), I finally brought up the idea - our perfect anniversary gift. The date was nailed - 16 Apr 18, one day right after our 12 years' anniversary. Yay!

In the last few weeks, we started researching on couple tattoo design. It wasnt easy; it had to be something that we both like. The common ones that came up on google are lock and key, jigsaw puzzle, king and queen crowns, sun and moon. We also explored identical tattoos. The possibilities are basically endless and the sky is the limit. Then, there is the question of the size of the tattoo and where to tattoo. In my initial thought, it was meant to be a small, cute little one, somewhere on the hand.

As we google and searched we were able to narrow down to the idea of a "connected" tattoo. We eventually agreed on a rocket for me and an astronaut for him. Cute right? Hehe. While I am totally comfortable with a 2cm by 2cm tattoo, Daddy Lim would probably opt for one to cover his own back if he could. Lol. Given that the tattoos will no longer be mini-sized, we decided on the back of our ankle/ calf, so that the rocket and astronaut will be side by side when we walk. Aiyo, so lovey dovey. Melt already.

It was Daddy Lim's job to look for a tattoo artist bcos I have totally no idea where to start. He was more enthusiastic than usual and found one in Chinatown who bothered to reply to his email. That sealed the deal.

We arrived at the tattoo palour at about 2.30pm and we were surprised to see how young and pretty she is. We started discussing about the design and the size, which was determined largely by the amount of pain. Lol. That has always been my main focus.

This was the rocket design that we found on the internet and sent to the artist.  Based on the concept, she designed something similar but much nicer. Hehe.

She made some final tweaks to include a milky way to both our design to "connect" the 2 tattoos. Then the agreed design was stencil to the decided part. Following which, the nightmare started.

I remembered that tattooing was painful; I just cannot remember how painful it really was. I had to lie down on my stomach for the artist to work on the tattoo. It was very PAINFUL. Sob. Daddy Lim had initially raised the question of numbing cream but I thought it was too sissy to even mention it. I should have opted to be a sissy.

After like forever, the artist took a smoke break and I was devastated to see that the outline was barely completed. Sob. This was how it looked like. I didnt remember the last 2 tattoos taking so long but this artist was really detailed. Her lines were really clean.

I could opt to leave it with the outline or to color it. While Daddy Lim was super encouraging about having a full color, I told him that I would decide after the outline had been completed. Maybe I would have fainted by then. Lol.

Ok lah, truth be told, I could still smile and talk though I much preferred to not be disturbed so that I could concentrate on bearing with the pain. Haha.

Eventually, we compromised for a partial colouring. I had thought that the worse was over when the outline was completed but I was so utterly wrong. The color was the ultimate. Sob! It was like 3x the pain. I was literally clenching my fist and reminding myself to breath, as if going through labor pain. No joke! Daddy Lim said that I had low pain threshold. I almost shed tears of joy when it was finally done - 2 over hours of agony! Luckily, I didnt do a full colour in.

Afterwhich, it was Daddy Lim's turn. This was the stencil.

By the time the artist started working on Daddy Lim, it was almost 6pm. We were initially hoping to leave the palour at 7pm but the outline was barely done by 6.45pm. I decided to take a grab hitch home to the kids, leaving Daddy Lim to suffer alone.

Half way done.

Tadah! He was done only at 9pm. It was the right choice to leave 1st.

When he was home, he too relate how bloody painful the tattooing was. Hahaha. Especially the coloring part. I know right. So much so for teasing me about low pain threshold I have and not brave enough to do a full color. Hahaha.

This was how our tatoo look like this morning. Lil Shauna helped with the picture. Hehehe.

Totally awesome, right? Hehehe. The only upset part is that nobody asked me about my new tattoo in the office today. Lol.

Mummy Lim

On 15 Apr 2018

Yours Truely turns 25++++. Yay! Happy bday to me. It also marked our 12 years' anniversary. Wow! That sounded like a really long time.

We started off the day with a morning ride.

With my new puma PINK frame and PINK lenses sunglasses - bday gift from Daddy Lim.

We rode all the way to Labrador Park and back.

Chickens greeted us at the park!

On the way back, we stopped by the prata shop for bfast. While we totally forgotten shots of the prata (probably too hungry), I was happily shooting pictures of my new sunglasses. Hehehe. Daddy Lim's sunglasses were my bday gift to him. Cycling is such poison, there are always new and more expensive things to buy.

In the afternoon, we sent the kids for the usual classes. Lil Shauna finally collected her club jacket. Her name was imprinted on it.

While she usually takes off her jacket shortly after she warms up, she donned this for the entire practice yday. Lol. Interestingly, her jumps were also on form yday. I told her that it was a magic jacket.

We met my brother's family for dinner in the evening before rushing Lil Shauna and Felicia for trial hip hop class. I was hoping that Lil Shauna would be more aware of her body movement from dancing and that it would help her on her ice skating. Speaking of which, the inter school competition is coming up in July and Coach Raymond said that Lil Shauna could do the preliminary, which included all single jumps and sit spin!!! She has 3 months to brush up her sit spins.

The hip hop trail class is free. The girls were so cute.

The girls were too busy looking at the instructor and didnt look at how comical they were from the mirror. Lol. While they were too shy to tell us their experience, Lil Shauna was keen to show me her moves back home. Let's see if she is keen to go for more classes. Haha.

After the long and intense day, I was hoping to have a quiet cup of coffee after the kids turned in. It didnt happen bcos 周公 came to visit me. Lol.

Happy bday to me!

Mummy Lim

No Ride

Daddy Lim and I were looking forward to the WWF ride yday. For me, that was a much needed break after a series of treadmill.

Our cycling morning routine is always for Daddy Lim to wake up 1st bcos he has to drink his coffee, clear his bowels, move his heavy-ass bike out of the tight hiding kitchen corner and now, he needed time to don his disposable contact lens. On the other hand, I am usually ready to get out of the house in 10 mins. I am the new "man". Haha.

On Saturday morning, I could hear him going about his routines when my alarm finally rang at 6am. He was about to start on his contact lenses when I saw the other cyclists mentioning about rain and being stuck while reroute. I stopped him just in time or would have wasted a good pair of lenses.

We went to the balcony to see clear sky and no hint of rain only to have picture of thunder storms coming from different parts of Singapore. Yesh, we have cycling friends who come from far to join us for the weekly ride.

The ride was eventually canceled despite reports of rain stopping; the floor was way too wet for a safe ride. Since we were up, it was too wasted to go back to sleep and bfast was calling.

The sun was up by the way we headed back home after bfast. Rain? What rain?

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 115

Yeah! Finally, with April we are going to have some normality with the lessons. We have booked lessons for every Saturday morning.

The warming up routine stayed. While Lil Shauna was screaming out in pain as I helped her stretched, she was smiling and taking it in good spirit. The last I need is a crying girl who refuses to go onto the ice.

The practice before class was a little bit hiccuppy. Something seems off that I couldnt put my finger on. Anyway, there wasnt much time before she went for her class.

It was the usual footwork and I was spending the next few mins on my phone. When I looked up, she did a double loop jump! I didnt know that she can do that! I switched on the camera and was ready to roll only to capture the next few flip jumps. Chey. I thought her jumps were fairly ok now.

Then Coach Raymond worked on her sit spins before the back spins. She hasnt really got the back spins but was doing slightly better during practice. Class was so short and ended as soon as it started, except that Lil Shauna wouldnt agree with me. She looked like her legs would give way anytime.

It had been a long time since we stayed for extra practice after class. I had to bribe and coax before she agreed to spend an extra 15 mins on the ice, working specifically on her back spin. While she hasnt nailed it, it was definitely so much better than before. We just needed more practice.

Mummy Lim

To Philippines and Back

It was a last minute ultra short trip. I was flying in with 2 other colleagues and one of them is in sales. We had thought about flying in and out on the same day but eventually opted to stay a night. Manila is afterall about 4hrs by flight one way and dont remind me about the traffic. 

By the time the trip was finally decided, the available flight timing was crazy. We ended up taking the 6am flight to Manila, which means that I had to be at the airport at 4am. Great! I live in Jurong West. Haha. 

We survived alright. Much of the awake time was spent on discussions, from the time I met my colleagues at the airport to in the plane and it didnt stop when we arrived. We did find time to have a Japanese lunch with a local client. The spread was marvellous, which also meant that it was conflicting with my diet plan. Haha. More discussions followed in our half zombified state before we had dinner and turned in. We were staying right next to a big shopping mall but I was too tired to make it there. 

I have tried to hit the hotel gym whenever I travel. While it was so tempting to sleep in, I managed to move my lazy butt to the treadmill the next morning. The gym was huge and a whole row of treadmill, I like. Hehe.

My only picture from the trip bcos it was so short and pack. Ooooo..  look at my eyebrow. Hehe.

Bfast was good. I also like pick and choose, just like the kids. The rest of the day past by in the flash. We had a call before we headed to the office for meetings, then rushed to the airport for the flight home. 

Thank God that the flight was on time bcos PAL is notorious. This time, I was prepared and downloaded the app to watch movies only to not find anything interesting. I watched a movie that I rented instead before trying to sleep bcos I was so tired. 

I did doze for an hour but the remaining hour was terrible. I was in the state of drifting in and out of sleep. Many times, I was so tired but couldnt find that comfortable position to enter lala land. I wanted to cry. Why like that?

Finally, we touched down at about 11pm and I stumbled through the immigration im search of a precious cab.

I survived!

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 114

We actually only had lesson 1x in March bcos either the rink, Coach Raymond or Lil Shauna is busy. So busy lah. While we still "tried" to head to the ice when there is no class, Lil Shauna had much lesser ice time than usual. Well, there isnt any competition upcoming anyway.

We missed ice totally last week. With the long time away and the reduced ice time, I was conservation in my expectations. This is solely for my own health's consideration, least I vomit blood.

Daddy Lim sent us to the rink and we had time for some warming up before hitting the ice. Lil Shauna thinks that it is helping and I am just way too happy to give her that extra push while she is stretching.

Oh, the rink changed their fees structure both for the private classes and the public skating sessions. They just increased the private classes fees just year! They were advertising about the new scheme; publicising that it is a loyalty system. Zzzzz.. at the end of the day, it would cost us more than before for the same visit pattern. Sob.

Anyway, back to the lesson. Coach Raymond started with the footwork.

Majority of the lesson was on her sit spin. She was also working on her pancake spin. The skater basically looked like a pancake while spinning. It is damn amazing how many kind of spins and spin poses there are.

Her camel spin is still far from what a camel spin should look like.

We didnt do extra practice after class bcos Daddy Lim and Zaky were waiting for us for lunch. Oh boy, we have growing and hungry kids! They now can each almost eat an adult portion. We had lunch at Aston and looked at what was left.

Nothing!

Let's start working hard on the ice again.

Mummy Lim