Basketball Again

Zaky got to attend basketball at mummy's escort on Sunday morning. Jiejie was working hard at home, trying to clear the mountainous amount of homework. I can tell that the teachers are all enthusiastically prepping the kids for PSLE. The kids were obviously not enjoying the teachers' enthusiasm.

I rarely get to send Zaky for basketball now and the boy obviously enjoys the rare occasions. I don't get it actually; I do nothing but sit at the side to look at him. That is easy job. Haha.

The running around is definitely doing him well.

I thought his ball handling and ball sense had improved a fair bit from the last season. Every now and then, he ran back to me for his water breaks and he was pouring sweat. The humid hall further aids the detoxification.

Zaky was a happy boy bcos mummy watched him for his session. I was a happy mummy bcos the boy is happy and jiejie finally finished her homework. Such little joys in life.

On the way home, the boy told us that he perspired so much, that he could style his hair. Yucky right? But I had to take pictures of his Stylo Milo hair styled in sweat. Hahaha.

Mummy Lim

Almost Gone Memory

We got the external hard disk many years back. In the hard disk that we barely used a fraction of its space, are precious pictures since the day the kids met the world and important documents that we accumulated over the years. 

A long time back, I used to backup the pictures via CD-rom but gave up after a while. Who still uses CD-rom? I don't even know if laptops still come with the reader. Anyway, I stopped backing up and rely solely on that faithful external hard disk. 

Recently, I was just thinking that I should back it up, especially after I was promoted of an error with the disk that fortunately "repaired itself". But, I procrastinated. Sob. 

Then one day, the laptop can no longer read the hard disk... I googled and saw that recovery of data can cost hundreds and even thousands. I died. I should have... If only....

We found a computer shop in JW and sent the sick hard disk in for some inpatient care, paying $30 for diagnostic fees. We were told that it would cost $299 if it can be fixed by the shop. The price doubles if more expertise is required and double somemore if divine help is needed. There is also no guarantee that the full data or any data can be recovered even with divine help. 

Fortunately, our sick hard disk wasnt that sick and could be fixed at the shop. It took a week and we were told to collect it, costing us $299. We were told that up to 98% of the data was recovered and asked us to check when we were at the shop to collect it. 

How to check? There were like thousands of pictures and other files. Lol. I was just happy to have what looked like most of the data back. It was totally worth to spend $299 on almost 12 years of memory. Speaking of which, I should buy another hard disk for backup. I is mountain tortoise and am so surprised that hard disks now come in TB. That sounds like a lot of space to store a lot of pictures. Hehe. 

By the way, this is the computer shop. I is happy. 

Mummy Lim

Not One but Two Goodbyes

Good time passes so quickly. In a wink of eye, 3 weeks flew by and it was time for ah yee and Athena to say goodbye. Their flight was on Thursday night and Ah Yee took a taxi to the airport with the baby and all her big and small bags.

Daddy Lim had to work late and was just in time to say goodbye and take picture with his favourite little person.

Ah Yee lamented that she hadnt summoned enough courage even at the last moment before boarding the taxi. I understand; I am even scare to fly alone with 2 big kids.

Athena had a 20 mins nap in the taxi and was a bouncy bunny at the airport.

They of course made it safe and sound back to France.

But ah yee told me that it was an ordeal and she had horror stories to share. Then, it was back to battling jetlag with a toddler. Not fun.

Things were different for us too. The 1st different is that I got my bed space back. Hohoho. It doesn't matter if I get to sleep on the bed or mattress but I get my 1 man's space back and I can turn to ease my back/ neck/ arm pain in the night! It is a happy different.

We all looked forward to see the little angel before we head for school/ work on weekday mornings. She is one early bird.

On Friday, that was missing. The kids didn't have a little girl to say goodbye to. I didn't have one who would happily explore my cosmetic and lotion in the mbr while I get ready for work.

We all missed Athena calling out for "Isaac" as if he is her best friend. His name was the only one that she had mastered and she went "Isaac", "Isaac", "Isaac", the whole 3 weeks. Or somebody who is so enthusiastic about going gaigai, even if it was to JP to buy bread and would fight to press all the buttons - like literally all the buttons in the lift. I did feel a little bad for the next person who went into the lift.

Ah Yee said that the next visit will take a while bcos Athena would have turned 2 and had to pay a child's price fare. I wonder if she would still remember us or to call out her "favorite Isaac" or still jam to the many silly tunes with the kids.

Fortunately for technology; far is no longer too far away.

The same weekend, we had to say goodbye to another family who is super closed to our heart - the Chan Family. As I write, they had just settled into their Airbnb 13 hours by flight away - the moo moo cow place. Uncle C had found an opportunity in NZ and the Chan Family had embarked on their new family adventure for perhaps a year or maybe 2 or even forever. Sob.

The kids will definitely miss each other. We had afterall spent so many countless weekends and holidays together. They had  known each other since birth! We tried to spend as much time as possible before their departure but even a lot is not enough. The ladies got together for a quiet dinner in their last week in Singapore.

They had already planned to visit home in July. We will definitely miss them loads. No more impromptu weekend dates. Sob.

Goodbyes are so hard.

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 197: Start!

We made a huge realisation last weekend - Lil Shauna hadnt been crossing her leg the right way during her axle jump. Coupled with not landing straight, she ended up landing on the wrong foot 1st every single axle jump. We missed this bcos my oppo phone camera no longer allowed me to slowly scroll through the video, a crucial function in helping to identify and rectify her skating mistakes. We only spotted it when I downloaded an app to do so. No wonder Coach Raymond had been telling her to close her legs (sounded so crude) for the longest time.

We had been trying to rectify the leg crossing thing for the last few ice sessions. It didn't work. Lil Shauna said that she cannot feel her legs. Win already. Not like I am a Goblin and can slow down time to help her cross her leg when she is in the air. She had to find her own way to slowly rectify what. Faint.

Lil Shauna had decided to go for the preliminary competition in April. While it is her PSLE year, I don't think she will spend the time off the ice on her academic work anyway. She eventually selected 3 songs for Coach to pick one and her poor mother laboriously edited the song to fit the required 1min30sec, +/- 10 sec. I is good with this song editing stuff already.

Coach started on her program y'day. It was up 3/4 of the rink and down all the way. That took the entire 30 mins lesson.

I helped her to video for her to refer back if need be. I am sure she needed to be much faster bcos it took like 45 secs for her to go up and down the rink.  I dont think half the program is made up of only those.

She came back from lesson, exclaiming how difficult it was. The steps do look much difficult as compared to her last one, turn here, then turn there. Oh my 天!

She stayed on slightly after class to practice the just learnt steps. She already forgot half of it. Die 了. We went on to practice her axle jumps. Still cannot leh and she ended up falling left, right and center. Haiz.

To make sure that she has time to practice, I have booked weekly SISA ice for the remaining February. I hope there is enough time. Fighting!

Mummy Lim

ActiveSG Basketball Season 2

When the 2019 ActiveSG Basketball season ended, Zaky was opened to signing on the next season. I was definitely 200x more enthusiastic than him. For $130, he gets to run around and sweat it out for up to 3x a week over a duration of 10 weeks. This kind of good deal where to find?

The better news came when I signed up online - due to the CCK Sports Complex renovation, the new season will be held in JW Sports Complex. That is so much nearer and convenient. Can you see me grinning? Hehehe. Unlike the CCK Sports Hall that is not near to any MRT station, the JW one is one MRT stop away.

The sessions continued to be on Wednesday evenings and the weekends morning. The later Wednesdays' timing works to our advantage. I used to have to take time off and rushed like I was chased by ghosts to send him for the Wednesday lessons.

His basketball sessions had been ongoing for a few weeks. This far, I haven't managed to send him for any. We didn't make it for any of the Wednesday classes despite the later timings; life had simply been too busy. On Saturday mornings, I will be at the rink with Lil Shauna, leaving Daddy Lim to drive the boy. On Sundays, it clashes with church.

Finally, I had the opportunity yday when we missed church bcos Lil Shauna had to catch up on school work. The boy was reluctant to move but decided to give it a go when he knew that mummy was bringing him. Mummy Power!

The class was small, not only in strength but also in size. Zaky said that there are sometimes more people. It was for 8 to 10 YOs and according to size, there must be a lot more 8YOs. Zaky is gigantic in comparison.

The session was mainly drills. He came back for water break each time pouring sweat. Good, good. He needed the exercise. Hoho. The drills were still interesting bcos the coaches introduced them in the form of games/ contests and there were plenty of cheering.

In the last 30 mins, they were split into 3 teams for matches. Apparently, it was the 1st time that matches were introduced this session. Suddenly, Zaky become one of the pros. There were so many of them crowding around the poor soul holding the ball and they were doing that catch ball pass ball stunt. Hey, isn't that what Zaky used to do? Haha. Zaky was definitely able to demonstrate his improved court sense and ball handling in that pool of disorganised little people.

Well, he definitely had a good time and I loved it that he had a good workout. Hehe.

Mummy Lim

Huat ah! Busy CNY 2020 Part 2

After a late night and a long hard ride, the last thing that I wanted is to wake up early. The kids were merciful enough to allow us to sleep until 9am before Zaky pounced on us declaring that it was time to wake up for bfast.

I had thought that bfast was waiting. Bo leh. The kids had finished everything that Popo made. Chey. Wake us up for what? But that gave Daddy Lim and I the perfect reason to have bfast alone. Hohoho.

We had no program for the day until the late afternoon. While having a peaceful bfast, Ah Yee texted that Zaky had been on his gadget for the entire morning. That is what the kids do when there is nothing to occupy them. So, we baked cookies! We are getting so good at it.

Usually, Zaky will chicken out after a while, going back to his gadget. This time, I made him baked to the end. Towards the end, he was messing up more than helping. Zzzzzz. But we got the cookies done alright.

The Chan Family opened up their house for CNY visitation. Ah Yee and Athena had no program and tagged along. I was very surprised that we can all fit into their place. Not that their place is small but we are all very big now.

Auntie H cleverly "distributed" the small people - the bigger kids took the children's room, the pre-schoolers took the master bedroom, the littlest were on the playmat in the living room.

The bigger kids were happily playing board games and nerds, under Auntie T's watchful guidance.

The adults were the cleverest, sitting around the table where the CNY goodies were and out of the kids' way.

Athena looked like she had a good time too.

There were really so many kids.

Auntie S was trying to get a picture with Athena and finally got a really good one with Lil Shauna's help.

We left at 9pm; the baby needed her sleep. It was way past her bedtime.

Daddy Lim had the go back to work on 初四. I didn't and unfortunately the kids had no school too. Haha. I would have loved spending the day on my own. We ended up dating the Fs to Science Center but no before a delicious lunch at Oppo BBQ.

The kids always managed to self entertain at the Science Center. There was an exhibition on poo poo and Athena was obviously very happy with the toilet bowl brush. Haha.

We wanted to visit the waterworks playground but the kids were barely 5 mins in before the park was closed due to bad weather.

The kids had a fun; I had tired legs. Haha. We ended off with dinner and arcade before finally heading home.

Disclaimer: no baby was harmed in the making.

With that, it marked the end of the long CNY weekend. Huat ah!

Mummy Lim

Huat Ah! Busy CNY 2020 Part 1

We had been spending many CNYs outside of Singapore. Not that we are trying to 避年 or save money; we don't give out many angbaos to extended family anyway, but the long break was always too wasted to miss. I am a sucker for holidays.

This year, we decided to stay in bcos of my new job and I found it hard to ask about the Company's CNY break shortly after starting work. Nevertheless, we had a fulfilling and busy CNY.

It started with the reunion meals. I had to work half day and rushed to have the reunion lunch at my brother's place. It was a delicious steamboat spread.

The rest of the afternoon was spent trying to recover from food coma, a very serious one. When I finally regained consciousness, it was time for round 2 at Daddy Lim's auntie's place. CNY is definitely a time to grow fat.

We had round 2 steamboat for reunion dinner with a lot of catching up. The kids were supposed to do a sleepover at my brother's place but the early morning took a toll on Zaky. He actually fell asleep on the couch at the auntie's place while pretending to hide and 扮沙发. Lol. Several attempts to wake him were futile. He finally rose when it was time to go home but continued his beauty sleep in the car. He gave up the idea of sleeping over or would have literally gone to "sleep" at my brother's house; only Lil Shauna made it. I heard that she didn't last very late as well before cajoling Felicia to go to bed too.

We headed over to my brother's place for bfast on 初一. I had the chance to hit the gym and attempt to burn off the calories for the 2 除夕 rounds. At least I try. Haha.

While I bought new clothes for the kids, Zaky managed to fish out an old red T-shirt from don't know where. He insisted that he must be in red from head to toe (and even inside) and refused to wear the new mainly black spiderman T-shirt. Zaky was literally a walking angbao for the day.

He was so red right? But he was so proud and happy to be that red. Lol.

We went visitations at my ah pek's place and then to my ah mah's place. The kids were just very happy to have CNY goodies buffet. I had to keep trying to stop Zaky from stuffing chocolates into his mouth.

Our last stop was to nainai's place. Bcos we were snacking so much, there was no need for lunch and then we ended with an early dinner at 4.30pm. In the end, Daddy Lim was hungry again at 9.30pm and had to head to MacD to save his life. Lol.

On 初二, it was my brother family's turn to hop over. Before that, Daddy Lim and I brought Athena to JP to buy bfast and grocery shopping. The little girl will literally forsake anything to go gaigai.

It was funny to see how Daddy Lim goes gaga over the little girl. It had been a long time since he did that too our literally "big" kids.

We had our family's 鱼生.

Huat ah! Good PSLE score ah!

The kids hit the pool.

We called it an early day bcos.... drumroll.... Daddy Lim and I were doing a Round Island trip in the night with some of the WWF kakis.

We rolled off at 8pm and didn't arrive home until 2.30am, supper inclusive. It was a long 6.5 hours' ride. They always say that riding more RI will make one stronger but I never feel that way despite being my 3rd RI. I always feel like dying every single RI. Haha.

By the time we arrived home, my legs were sore and so were my shoulders and right elbow. At the very last segment, we slowed down to ride with one of the cyclists who had a bad knee pain while the other group sped off. Truth be told, I couldn't cycle any much faster even if I wanted to. Haha.

The RI made a nice round on the map. I is proud.

Daddy Lim enthusiastically suggest that we should do 1 RI every month. I looked at him as if he was speaking foreign language. I am sure some wire short circuit somewhere.

Sleep was much needed after the long ride. The kids took the bed and I happily slept on the sofa than to try to squeeze with the kids.

Mummy Lim

New Routines

With the start of the new year, we started our new routines. We stopped the kids LCentral classes; we had been loyal customers since the kids were like 3.5 YO. My mum thought I was crazy to pull the stunt when Lil Shauna is in her PSLE year but I had been contemplating for a while. The kang tang kias do fine in English and LCentral appeared to be teaching and revising the same thing. Time and money can be put to better use, like their Chinese tuition. Haha. Lil Shauna is still with her Chinese tutor and we just switched Zaky's Chinese tutor. Finger crossed.

As a result, the kids now attend one more day of student care. I like that they are better utilising the monthly student care fees though they don't quite agree. Sorry, not sorry.

Popo used to go to school to fetch the kids on days that they return home despite us telling her not to. The boy is always a handful but he will have to learn somehow especially when jiejie leaves for Sec 1 next year. The kids have now upgraded to taking bus home themselves. Well, things are so good so far and I haven't heard much complaints from Lil Shauna.

I have now upgraded to work in atas Raffles Place and also head to the subsidiary office at AMK once a week. This must be one of the biggest adjustments that we had to make. I no longer send the kids to school with Daddy Lim or have bfast with him before work. It makes sense to hop onto the train at Boon Lay and I get to leave the house later. We realised how much we missed having bfast together, where we often catch up with each other. Just the other day, Daddy Lim was telling me that we no longer know what is happening in each other's lives. Sob. I felt so foreign stepping in the car only during weekends.

Bcos my day also ends later, the burden of picking the kids from student care falls solely on Daddy Lim. It is seriously stressful but fortunately, the kids now can take the public bus home in the event that Daddy Lim had to miss them. There is no way that I can grab a taxi from Raffles Place and be in time at last minute notice. Ok, even if many minutes' notice, it also wouldn't work.

The daily commute is a drag. On rare good days, I get a seat on the MRT and it is a blessing especially if I have my laptop with me. It takes me about 50 mins to get to the Raffles Place office. It takes me a train and a bus ride to the AMK office, requiring 1.5 hours but fortunately the northbound train starts at JE, guaranteeing a seat. Now that I take the train, I started noticing how many strange commuters there are. Blame it on my perfect eyesight and roving eyes but I have seen my fair share of strange messages on people's phone. Lol. They are really, really strange. 

Trying to find the most efficient/ comfortable way to commute to office had been my mission for the last few weeks. I was told that there is a sharetransport bus (somewhat like grab shuttle that has exited). For $6 one way, I get a confirm seat on the bus from JW to Raffles Place. Woohoo! I tried it once and while I get a seat (on one of those big buses), the pickup point is about 15 mins walk from our place. I haven't decide if that is the best way ahead.

Alright, that marks our new adventures for now.

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 195: Change of Plans

I have no idea why but suddenly, we were busy every weekend and Lil Shauna didn't have class or opportunity to hit the ice for 2 weeks. While 2 weeks didn't seem like a long time. It is super detrimental to her consistency.

Lil Shauna had class on Saturday and I wasn't surprised that the ice was crowded. Lack of practice plus crowded ice = I should not look at her. Haha. At least she went for off ice on Sunday after missing it for like forever, which resulted in severe muscle ache the following few days. I have to say that her flexibility did improve tremendously than when she 1st started off ice years ago. She can now do a full split on one side and almost full on the others.

While she can still try to bluff her way for Saturday ice, she cant for SISA ice last Wednesday. I saw her willingly put on her knee guard in anticipation of doing axle and falling jialat, jialat.

Tadah! Just as she had guessed. Axle time.

She looked like she was enjoying a YouTube video by the rink side with Coach right?

They were studying the axle that she just did.

Of course she was red faced and panting by the end of the class. She said that she has no idea how she did for axle - when she thought she did badly, Coach will nod and say good and ask her to do again and vice versa. Aiyo.

Coach was originally preparing her for the Elementary test. There is a competition coming up in April and Lil Shauna mentioned that she would like to join, meaning that she would have to partake in preliminary again. This means that the Elementary test had to be shelved. I have no objections so long as she wants to. Which will also mean that she will have to prep a song and start soon to prepare for the competition. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim