Ice Skating 92

We were hoping that we would see E on the ice yday and we did! However the magic was gone bcos E was busy chatting with the other girls too. Apparently, Lil Shauna needs friends who only have eyes for her. Lol. They did mingle more when they switched to the 1/3 ice.

Lil Shauna was aware of what she had to practice before lesson. She said that she spun until she was dizzy. Her scratch spins are moody, sometimes good, sometimes not. Her sit spin is far from ok.

The lesson yday was uneventful. It was the usual footwork before Coach Raymond worked on her jumps. She was taught to do a loop jump after landing a jump. It was tough; she was merely hopping at the end bcos she said that particular leg was so tired.

I didn't pressure her to practice after lesson; she deserves a break. Coach Raymond told us that there is Skate Bangkok and Skate Shenzhen coming up in December. Lil Shauna has already indicated her interest. What is more interesting is that she willingly told Coach Raymond that she wanted to go to the competition. She had to whisper into his ear, so funny.

Mummy Lim

Off Ice Buddies

Lil Shauna has an hour of off ice practice on Sunday afternoons. She has a group that she trains with. The group number differs depending on who are available but there are usually 3 of them and sometimes 4. At times when there were only 2, I asked Coach Raymond to cancel the training bcos it is way too hard and too few to share the pain. Haha.

They will start with warming up before training on their core. They will do push ups, crunches, plank and a series of tiring exercises before moving on to the different jumps. It will be easier to execute those jumps if they can perfect the move off the ice. Apparently, that little leg raise, arm angle will affect how many rounds they can rotate in the air.

It is hard work and Lil Shauna, being the weakest link, often sweat buckets. But she is so resilient and not giving up. Though slowly, she is surely improving.

Last Sunday, there were 4 of them. Amidst the hard work, they joked and laughed, so that the training is less painful.

Mummy Lim

Skate Park

After Zaky saw the pump track, he had been asking to go to a skate park. He was so persistent that we just had to bring him so as to earn some peace for our ears.

We had been passing by the skate park in JW. Daddy Lim said that it is lousy but I was convinced that it would be good enough to entertain the boy. I didn't want to travel all the way to town for a skate park.

Lil Shauna wasn't keen and asked to go window shopping at JP instead. Daddy Lim and I were secretly fighting to accompany Lil Shauna. Lol. Eventually, I took the boy to the skate park; I haven't been spending much quality time with him as well.

There was a group of Malay boys with their scooter when we arrived. Zaky tried the mini slope and commented how scary it was.

Zaky only dare to go down the smallest slope. The rest of the time, he was sliding down the slope by sitting on his skateboard.

He did try to go down the bigger slope after that, provided that I hold his hand. Lol. I was worried that my bag would get stolen and ended up carrying my bag around.

Shame on me bcos the boys were totally trustworthy. At one point, I dropped my phone without realising bcos I was too occupied with running with Zaky. One of the boys picked up my brand new phone and returned it to me.

Zaky did get bored after a while and was going backwards sitting on his board. His back knocked onto the ramp and he came crying. That puts an end to the skate park.

I think he still did enjoy himself.

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 91

Before I start, I had to share this picture that FB reminded me.

This was just 3 years ago when Daddy Lim and Lil Shauna took part in the 1st (and only 1 so far) parent and child run. It was just 3 years back but the girl looked so tiny beside Daddy Lim then; she looked like a baby! Those were her only pair of shorts then and they were definitely pink.

Fast forward 3 years later. Hohoho.

Back to ice skating.
Lil Shauna asked to go to the rink earlier this morning bcos she wanted to skate with her "new" friend - E. Did we? It was already 11am by the time we slow mo and got out of the house. We had to take the MRT to Jcube bcos we 摸 too much and Daddy Lim had to rush off with the boy to his sparring class. Then, E didn't come to the rink today. I have asked Lil Shauna to ask for her number the next time we see her.

Lil Shauna did the usual warm up before concentrating on her spins. Her scratch spins are so much better than during the competition. It is not that she has improved; she just found them back automatically. Yes, such things will only happen BEFORE and AFTER the competition. We tried her sit spins and back spins too. CMI. She whined when I asked her to practice and I told her that Coach Raymond will probably work on her spins during class. I was absolutely right. Hohoho.

Today's lesson was on footwork before Coach Raymond made her spin endlessly; from one type of spin to another. She didn't achieve her sit spin still. Coach Raymond asked her to hold her free foot during sit spin and she couldn't find it. Lol. Then it was the forward to backward to forward spin. She needed to work so much more on her back spin. By the end of the lesson, she complained that she was so dizzy. I would have puked on the ice if I had been the one spinning.

We stayed on the ice a little bit more after ice resurfacing. Again, she spun and she worked hard on it. She needed to find that "something" that would make her sit spins and backward spins worked. Don't ask me what is the "something"; she has to figure it out herself just like how she did it for her scratch spin.

It wasn't too bad except that she didn't see her "friend" today.

Mummy Lim

Chestnut Nature Park

Bcos school (work too) is so boring and the weekends’ mornings and afternoons are filled with enrichment classes, we would try to do something interesting on weekends’ late afternoons. Last Saturday, Daddy Lim suggested for us to head to the Chestnut Nature Park after the classes. The kids were thrilled; they love anything that is remotely related to adventures in a jungle.

I am quite sure that Daddy Lim has a side agenda, the Chestnut Nature Park is also a mountain bike trail park. He must have more interested to recee the place for his mountain bike adventure more than the so-call nature walk. The kids didn't care anyway.

It was a short trail.

The trail was largely well trod paths; I half suspect that it is created that way than naturally form due to human traffic. Nevertheless, I was impressed that we have such trails in Singapore.

It was real life Science lesson. We saw and touched things that we have never seen before.

Learning how some seeds are dispersed by wind.

Observing a little snail trying to cross the path.

Even a mini steam (ok, water tickling) in our path.

It took us about 30 mins to complete the trail. We could also go on the path that is shared with mountain bike; that is much longer. We didn't bcos we didn't enough time and the sun was scorching hot. Most importantly, we forgot the insect repellent and basically Lil Shauna and I were naturally baits for the mosquitoes and actually as the boys’ mosquitoes repellent. Zzzzz.

There was a pump track for the mountain bikes and we saw some experts flying on the pump tracks. We didn't have any bicycles and the kids decided to use their legs instead. Silly kids.

We would probably come back on another day with nicer weather and plenty of real insect repellent.

Mummy Lim

"Power" Ride

Did I tell you that I heart my fitbit? It is definitely one of the best investments in recent times. I set for myself a daily 8k step target but pushed myself to meet 10k every day. This means the daily walk along the office corridor before work starts if I am in Tuas or conquering the dreadful never-ending stairs at the MRT when I head to the new office. These are complemented by the tiny walks around the house in the night if I fall short. Bcos the house is so small, I sometimes get dizzy from walking in small circles. That must be how a dog feels while chasing its own tail. Lol.

I still go to the Centris' gym faithfully on weekend morning, usually hitting on the treadmill. Recent 2 weeks, I hit the gym on Friday evening too after sending Zaky for his 天下. It thrills me to see my fitbit telling me how great a job I am doing. Hohoho.

This week hasn't been too bad. I was on the step machine on Friday night, on the treadmill on Saturday morning and decided to go for a swim this morning. Yes, I am making full use of the facilities. Daddy Lim is inspired too but nothing comes cheap for him; not even exercise. Zzzzzzzz. To think that he was grumbling when I wanted to sign up that atas Amore package. Bleh.

Remember his atas expensive racer bike? It was standing in the old house living room for a good while before we shift. In Centris, there isn't space for the bike to stand around and it was sadly banished to the kitchen toilet that was not used. For over a year in Centris, the bike had only seen the light once before Daddy Lim finally sold it away at a fraction of its cost. Zzzzzzz.

As per how things work for him, it wouldnt be long before he gets a new bike to replace the one that he lost. I know him too well.

So why sell the old bike? Bcos he wants a mountain bike now. Didn't he have a mountain bike before switching to the expensive racer bike? Oh, the racer bike needed him to bend at an angle that hurts his back. Ah.... don't bother, we just have a new bike at home now that took over the toilet space once occupied by its predecessor. Haha.

This one is much bigger though and the toilet door cannot close which irks Popo a lot. I didn't want to interfere in that war. Daddy Lim also needed to use a lot of strength to manuveour this giant to go through the tight kitchen and into that toilet.

Anyway, what is more important is that he is moving and getting the much needed exercise. He took his giant for a power ride this morning and he was all smiles when he was back except for the last part where he had to squeeze his giant back into its tiny home. He is aiming for the mountain bike trails next. Cool!

As for me, I had a nice swim this morning with my Jay Chow. Everything was right, the headphones didn't come off like it sometimes would. The new Decathlon $9.9 goggles is so comfortable and doesn't fog; I didn't need to adjust it at all throughout the swim. I was just praising myself for the good buy only to realise that I had deep imprints on my face from the goggles after the swim. Zzzzzzz. It was so bad that I had to wear my sunglasses when I left the house. Maybe it isn't such a good thing to be too comfortable. Haha.

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 90 - Post Interschool Competition

My recent posts were all about ice skating. So boring. Lol. Even I felt bored blogging about them but persisted, thinking that these would be valuable notes in the future.

We are finally over with the Interschool Ice Skating competition and Lil Shauna is indeed in the 5th place. During the competition, I had already predicted that she would be either 5th or 6th. I am afterall the tuition coach. Lol. I also guessed who were the top 4 and 2 of my 4 guesses were correct. It left me wondering what were the judging criteria bcos one of the winners didn't perform better than Lil Shauna in my perspective and I also thought one other was great but didn't score well. Anyway, now that the competition is over, we all let down our socks. I didn't remember to ask her to do stretching on Friday or yday. Hohoho.

On Saturday morning, we arrived at the rink at 11am. I had reminded Lil Shauna to drop the stuff that she was working on for the competition and focused on her scratch spin that she lost, her sit spin that she hasnt mastered as well as the newer loop and flip jumps that she barely can manage.

She spent 30 mins in the crowded public ice before hopping over to the 1/3 ice. In my usual tiger mum mode, I would have pushed her to practice but I saw her TALKING to one of the skaters.

In her 3 years on the ice, she had only really talked to the peers from her core classes, whom are no longer taking lessons. She doesn't even talk to R and J, whom she had been taking off ice lessons with for over a year! She would only wave, do hand sign to communicate and offer her laughter at best.

The most amazing part? We had seen this girl so many times on ice but they never spoke, at most wave to acknowledge each other's presence. This morning, they were chatting like best pals! It wasn't the usual shy smile and awkward one word reply but they were really chatting and chirpy; like noisy little birds. It was my turn to be dumbfounded.

The girl - E, is 10 yo. She is more advance than Lil Shauna and I like it that she motivates Lil Shauna to try to do better. Lil Shauna said that E was telling her how to do sit spin better. I like.

Without the need to practice for the competition, the lesson was very much focused on footwork. Then 2nd half of the lesson was on loop and flip jumps. See, I have prediction power. Lol. I think she managed a few decent ones bcos I saw Coach Raymond nodding after a few of them. Then she was taught a new half loop jump, which she sort of got it after a few tries. Great!

We would be missing ice time today, as well as off ice. Well, I would take it as a break.

Mummy Lim

A Real New Phone

I inherited Daddy Lim's a few months old Samsung S6 Egde about 2 years back. He then got himself an expensive I-cant-remember-what phone. I only remember that it was expensive. Lol.

A few months back, Daddy Lim murdered the phone by drowning it in the toilet bowl. Dont ask me what he did before he dropped the phone into the toilet; the phone looked clean when it was home. Anyway, the phone was beyond repair and Yours Truly would never allow him to buy another expensive phone without contract. Ended up, he had to live with a cheap and low end Samsung. The phone only has the space to install 1 heavy weight game and was very slow. Too bad.

I did give Daddy Lim to redeem himself; Lil Shauna's bday was approaching then and he could buy her a bday present - a new phone(line) and use her line to buy himself a new phone. I tell you, his eyes sparkled at the idea. Haha. 

That was exactly what he did and Lil Shauna inherited his low end phone. She didnt mind at all and was overjoyed to just have a phone, any phone. She didnt have much use for a phone anyway. I did feel bad for her and was thinking of passing her my S6 when I get a new phone. I could recontract already but had been procastinating. Yes, it is still passing her an "old" phone but I am sure my "old" phone is so much more powerful than the phone that she inherited from Daddy Lim. 

The plan never materialise bcos the S6 screen cracked. Boo! 

We thought we could get it repaired only to be quoted $260 repair fee by the ah beng handphone shop. It was even more expensive if we get it repaired at the Samsung shop. Eventually, we dropped the idea. The phone is already 2YO and we didnt know how much it would last after the screen change. We thought we would get her a new phone with Daddy Lim contract when he can renew it in October. 

How about me? The Queen deserves the best!

Muahahahaha. I finally got myself a new proper phone; not one that is inherited. It had a much bigger screen than the S6 Edge. I always hated the idea to have to set up a new phone. This one came with the function to transfer all the apps and data from my old phone to new one. Sob! I am so touched! The setup ended up easy peasy. Oooooooo......

I am now blogging from my new S8+. How is it? Absolutely fine. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

D Day - Interschool Ice Skating Competition

Despite the frustration the day before, we were all upbeat this morning. It is afterall D Day! Luckily, I was busy at work in the morning or I would have butterflies on Lil Shauna's behalf.

We headed to the rink right after lunch and had ample time without the previous day's mad rush. On the way to the rink, I reminded her of the importance to concentrate and focus on herself and not be distracted by the crowd. I suspect that it was the main reason for her lousy performance yday. We had a little prep talk, reminding her of the hard work that we had put in the previous 3 weeks.

The rink was less crowded as compared to yday and Lil Shauna practiced the different elements, concentrating on finding back her spin from the lost and found department. We saw jiejie C, one of the 1st few ice skating friends that she made, and she gave us valuable tips on improving her spins at the very last minute. C was also the MC for the event.

Lil Shauna practiced very hard and went over the program many times without complaints. It was so much better than yday. She was perspiring and panting by the end of the session, her cheeks were flushed; no need for blusher at all. Haha.

Coach Raymond came at 4.30pm and asked how it was and I told him that it was definitely better than yday. Lil Shauna was made to repeat the program again a couple more times and Coach Raymond made some corrections and comments here and there. Soon, it was time to leave the ice and we did some last minute makeup. Of course we had to take a selfie before the competition.

There was an item before hers at 5.15pm. She was allowed to warm up before her item starts.

The warm up took place in 1/2 of the ice. The skaters then q up to do their program at the other 1/2 of the ice. There were a total of 11 skaters competing in Future Star and Lil Shauna was balloted to be 2nd in line.

How was it? Her program went great! While watching her, my heart was racing; I think I was more anxious than her. If my will power could have her, she would probably be flying on ice. Lol.

Could she have done better? Of course but what is the most important is her effort; I could really see how hard she tried for the program. She flashed a beautiful smile at the judges after the program. My heart melted. She was looking so sweet.

I could have mistaken but saw Coach Raymond smiling happily at me after Lil Shauna was done. I think he is pleased with her performance too. Hehe. He gave her a big hug when she came off the ice and Lil Shauna said that he told her that she had done well. I couldn't agree more.

I was mega proud of the girl and told her so. Right after her program, she told me that she wanted to continue learning ice skating. She also said that she felt that the whole ice was for her while she was performing; she must have really enjoyed herself.

We waited a long time for the results and it was still not released when we left for dinner. We came back to check after dinner and there was still no news. However, we saw C, who gave Lil Shauna huge encouragements and said that she saw Lil Shauna's result. Lil Shauna was in the 5th place! I was uber proud of her. The little girl was slightly disappointed though bcos only the top 3 placing will receive a medal. Hohoho. I had to remind her that it is already a great feat to be 5th out of 11 skaters. That brightens her up. 

We left the rink after that as it was getting late and bedtime was getting near. We will find out the definite result on Saturady. Meanwhile, Lil Shauna met so many "friends", most of them she doesn't really speak to though. Lol.

I am looking forward to her next competition and many more. I do hope it comes with less heartache with each coming one. Hehe.

Mummy Lim

D - 1 Day

The rink was opened to the public before the Inter school competition at 5.15pm. Coincidentally, it was a session for advance skaters, which we have not experienced before. I thought that it would help Lil Shauna by squeezing in some more practice. I must be wrong. Zzz.

I was on half day leave and the kids skipped student care. We had to rush through lunch and homework. We also tested the hair style that she would be donning on D day.

We see that the so-call advance skaters session basically meant that the inner part of the rink was cornered by cones. The figure skaters can then do their stuff in the barricaded area and minimising the risk of whacking the public and vice versa. The rink was still opened to the public but the public is restricted from entering the designated area.

Did it help? I thought that the 1/3 rink concept works better bcos the cones are very distracting. But the figure skaters are not restricted by the zone and can go in and out as they wish.

Bcos of the dedicated skating session plus the upcoming competition, there were many figure skaters practicing. It was double whammy for Lil Shauna, who was not only busy avoiding the skaters plus also the cones on the ice.

It was devastating looking at her. I was expecting an enjoyable session given how much she had improved after the 2 weeks' of practice. I had to go to back correcting her basics and all the hard work practicing her hand motions had gone to waste. It was a mega heartbreak for me and she received a ton of scolding for me.

She wasted a lot of time avoiding the other skaters. I watched her repeat the 1st part of her program like 10x without completing the program bcos somebody cut into her way and she had to restart. She was going slowly just in case she knocks into somebody. Her salchow landing went haywired; she lost her spin. Yes, all these just 1 day before the competition.

Coach Raymond came by towards the end of the session bcos he has students competing in the evening. We grabbed him to make sure that the positioning is right. He tried to correct her Salchow and gave her some tips for her spins. He is definitely a lot cooler than I am; his parting words - that there is nothing much we can do now that the competition is one day away.

We left the rink after the session. I was so upset that I didn't want to stay on to watch the competition. On the way home, I tried asking the reason for her lack of performance, she either kept quiet or replied that she doesn't know. Arrrggghhhh... I was an erupting volcano. It was the 1st time in the 3 years that I really considering giving up her ice skating.

She did apologise later in the evening and we had our prep talk. She also tried to make up for the lack of performance by stretching harder in the evening.

The fate is in her hand; there is nobody that can help her when she is in the rink later today for the competition. She would still be heading down for practice right before the competition. I suspect the rink will be even more crowded with figure skaters. Haiz.

Mummy Lim