Another Business Trip

I have been travelling so much in the recent months, including the short getaway to JB. Right after we came back from JB, I was again jetting off to Bangkok. This time for a week long business meeting.

At least it was flying SQ this time. I managed to watch a nice Korean movie in the short 2 hours' flight and eat in peace.

The meeting was held at the Millennium Hilton Hotel that it was a short ferry ride from Asiatique. The room was huge and comfy.

A work in progress building was right outside my room window.

But I could see the Chao Phraya river too! I know, the color of the water isnt too appealing. It looks much nicer in the night. Lol.

The meetings were intense, starting early in the morning followed by team dinners. Each night, I turned in close to midnight and wake up at 6am or earlier. See the extra grey hairs!

What was plentiful was also a lot of eating and tasting of market products. On one of the nights, I had huge juicy lobster and prawns at Asiatique.

On another night, it was an expensive dinner at Vertigo, on the 59th floor of the Banyan Tree hotel.

We literally paid for the ambient. For this little fish, it was a set meal that cost over S$150! Serious!

The good thing was that the dinners generally didnt end too late, mostly 9ish.

We had R&R as well. One of the mornings, it was a tour to the floating market. However, bcos it was so far away and the traffic is notorious, the journey started at freaking 6.30am! The journey took over 1.5 hr each way. I ended up feeling more tired than recharge. Haha. Shouldnt complain... better than no R&R.

The mango sticky rice was to die for. I had mango sticky rice like EVERYDAY. Woohoo!

Bcos I was constantly eating, I was compelled to hit the treadmill. I ran 4 out of the 5 days but I am sure I still ate more than I burnt. Zzzz. Lol. Too much good food.

The meeting ended on Friday 4pm and I was on my way to the airport at 4.30pm to beat the traffic. My 9pm flight was slightly delayed but arrived on time.

I was dead tired, arriving home only at 1.30am. I need to sleep. This travelling is so tiring but I have achieved much. Hehe.

Mummy Lim

Junior Black Belt Ceremony

Zaky got a provisional pass for his Junior Black Belt (JBB) last grading test. The tester wasnt too sure about his pattern and needed him to take a final grading test (2 weeks later) to make sure that he really knows his stuff. Nevertheless, he was sort of deemed as a JBB and was invited to the belt awarding ceremony.

JBB came with a different set of uniform with red and black strips collar. It also comes with an expensive $150 price tag. Zzzzzz... we just bought him a new set of uniform 6 months back for $80 bcos the old set (since he was 5 yo) was too small. He was tugging at his mini uniform every lesson and had difficulty moving when with his sparring guards underneath the already very tight uniform. Yes, he had been on TKD for 3 years already! I didnt realise it too until I read back on my posts. He has indeed grown a lot in that 3 years.

We had been hestitant to buy him the new uniform bcos we werent sure if he wanted to continue after the JBB. He has different levels of pom to attain after that but each pom level takes 1 to 2 years to achieve. We get a different answer each time we asked him and had been putting off with the uniform purchase. Last week was the last chance. The Master informed that he could wear his JBB uniform to the award ceremony if he has one. Otherwise, his old uniform will do. However, he needed the JBB uniform for the grading test that was coming up in 2 weeks' time. The center could try to loan him but there is no guarantee of securing a set. If so, the only option is to buy one. Huh? Why like that?

Anyway, Master spoke to him during class and told him that he would be learning self defence in the JBB classes. That got him very excited and he is now sure to want to continue. Huh? I told him the same thing a few weeks back and he still wasnt sure leh. Apparently the Master's words weigh more.

So, tadah! His new uniform, fresh from the oven for the ceremony. Adidas leh. Got his name somemore.

It was a tad too big. Afterall, he needed to wear it for a long time. The center has nicely stitched the sleeves and pants for him to suit him.

He happily posed for me.

Then joined the Q for the ceremony.

The parents were invited to witness the ceremony. This is the 1st time that I been into examination the hall.

There were like 50 kids waiting for their JBB. I think JBB must be quite easy to attain. Lol.

They waited patiently for their name to be called. Finally, it was Zaky's turn.

Proud mummy's moment.

The boy was mega proud of himself too.

The ceremony ended with a group picture.

Then the kids exited the hall, shaking the Masters' hand. So funny, just like a wedding dinner. Lol.

I shared the picture with the family chat and instead of focusing on Zaky's JBB, they were all hawking on his big goodie bag. Hello people, focus, focus.

But actually, so was I. Muahahaha. I just had to take a picture of his big goodie bag.

Zaky had lesson in the same afternoon and proudly wore his new JBB uniform and belt to class. I am sure the new uniform gave him extra oomph bcos he was doing his pattern so well during class. Hahaha.

Mummy Lim

Challenge Accepted

It was agreed that Daddy Lim would need to quit smoking before we would get him his new roadie. Muahahaha. For the past few months, I contributed $3 for every stick of ciggy that he "saved" from the pack. So far, we have built up quite a sizable money pool.

There were periods that looked really promising and he looked like he would be stopping anytime only to fall back. Chey! Apparently, the money incentive wasnt strong enough. He even told me that he can afford to smoke a few more months bcos the 2019 series bicycles are only coming out later in the year. Seriously? Win already. Then at other times, he said that there are people who really cannot quit smoking - as in they would fall sick if they do. Ya, my foot!

I got fed up waiting for him and proceeded with my Langma. I have decided not to be kind and he can smell my smoke. Muahahaha. I was also hoping that my new love will be the extra push that he needed.

I think it worked. Hehehe. Or maybe it is more the new 2019 Specialised Tarmac that just came out from the oven. Regardless, Daddy Lim declared that it is finally time to quit smoking.

He was already smoking fairly little over the last few days while we were holidaying. Then, he had his final stick yday morning before going cold turkey. Hehehe. Today is day 2 and he appeared to be doing well. I had been constantly asking him if he needed to snack or suck a sweet or whatever. He must have found me more irritating than helpful. Haha.

The real test would come when the work week starts. It wouldnt help that I would be away for work the whole week. I have asked the kids to help by trying to irritate Pappy less. Meanwhile, he needs to distract himself whenever the urge arises. Keep cool and keep looking at new bikes.

Reminder, reminder. The counter goes back to zero with every ciggy smoked. Fighting! Specialised! Tarmac!

Mummy Lim

JB Holiday Day 3: Angry Birds

Finally! I woke up early enough to have my quiet coffee. Hehehe. It wasnt long before the tiger disturbed my peace. Chey!

Again, we had 爱心 bfast. Look at the spread, can fight with hotel buffet bfast.

After some last min packing, it was time to say goodbye to the airbnb that kept us comfortable for the last 3 nights.

We checked out and lugged our luggage along.

The original idea was Legoland. However, my bro miraculously managed to convince the kids to go to the Angry Bird park instead.

I have no idea what happened in the park bcos Daddy Lim convinced me that the kids are old enough to head to the indoor park/ playground on their own. A guardian was needed and my bro bravely volunteered himself.

I only know that the kids had tons of fun and Lil Shauna said that there was a lot of jumping.

Why wasnt there Zaky in the pictures? Bcos he was jumping and running around too much.

Daddy Lim and I went window shopping instead. Then nuahing at the cafe until it was time's up at 5pm. We even stole a much needed cat nap at the cafe. Such kids' centric holidays are hard work lah.

After the indoor playground, the kids still bugged for more hoverboard.

We left the mall at about 5.30pm and had wanted to brave the traffic back, hoping to beat the custom jam. We were not in luck and decided to have dinner 1st. My bro brought us to this simple but delicious yong tau foo place. Malaysia is like so full of good food everywhere.

The custom didnt ease up much after dinner. Then again, it wasnt that bad a jam. It wasnt long before we saw the custom.

The Singapore checkpoint was much smoother and we made it home soon after.

Overall, it was a new little getaway. However, it was such a tiring holiday. Haha.

Mummy Lim

JB Holiday Day 2: Austin Heights Water Theme Park

I was again not the earliest out of the bed. However, bfast was nicely brought and delivered back my bro and Sil. Yums. Such simple food but great joy.

We headed back to where the trampoline park was but this time for the water theme park.

The kids were checking out the park upon entering. Actually, the park isnt big but good enough to entertain us for a good few hours. Yes, it was a very sunny day = slap more sun block.

I dont have many pictures bcos I was busy sliding with the kids.

Our favorite was the "yellow wall" - see the yellow slide beside. It was the most thrilling out of all the slides. The whole afternoon, we climbed endless flight of stairs for the slides. It was sheer hard work.

Of course the lazy river was a breather after all the hard work.

So was the wave pool.

We stopped for lunch for plenty of fried finger food.

I know right. All the hard work in climbing stairs were wasted on lunch. I cant help it.. the water was at fault; my tummy was rumbling.

After lunch, it was on repeat mode, starting with the children playground. We played catching and it was no joke.

Then more slides! The kids could probably go on and on and on but our old bones couldnt take it. Lol. We left at about 3pm with the intention for more trampoline jumping. We eventually decided to head back to the airbnb for some much needed rest. The kids compromised with the promise of more arcade play in the evening. Zaky of course insisted on 1 final round of the drift car.

As promised - the arcade. The kids were crazy about this Pokemon game.

We finally had an earlier night. After the water play, we were all super tired. Even the kids willingly go to bed, without the need for us to nag.

Mummy Lim