Goodbye to Ah Yee and Athena Part 1

In a blink of an eye, 5 weeks had flew by and it was time for Ah Yee and Athena to head home. Just like how it took us a few days to get used to Ah Yee and Athena in the house, I am sure that it would take us some time to get used to their absence. The only thankful thing would be Zaky returning to his room and I get my bed back. We were supposed to take turns to sleep on the floor but Zaky had all kinds of reasons when he was bunking in with us.

This particular trip, Nana was busy preparing for her Chinese O levels and then prelims and had much lesser time to spend with Athena. It was Zaky - the many afternoons and evenings at my brother’s place when Athena was there for her swimming lessons. The outings to Science Center and indoor playgrounds and the many make believe play, watching cartoons and playing board games together. Nana had her fair share of make believe and board games too in the evenings.

I was very surprised at how willing Zaky was in spending time with Athena bcos it is tiring to entertain a kid. Yay, I run far far; I had done my parts with my kids many years back. I am then reminded that Zaky has always been very nice to younger kids. 

One of the good things is that Zaky had spent many dinners at my brother’s place. He really missed Popo and her cooking. He always raved about how great Popo’s food is after every dinner and Popp of course will cook all of his favourite food. Popo obviously missed him a lot too.

Zaky has decided that even after Ah Yee and Athena leave, he will go to my brother’s place weekly for dinner. That’s so sweet. I am sure Popo will welcome him but not sure of the rest. Hahaha. 

We had many family dinners too, including a BBQ. 

The kids had a good time running around. 

We reenact an old picture. 

This is the ending pose of the “John Lim Boo-boo Cracker” song that the big F composed when they were little, even before Athena existed. It was a meaningless silly song that brought back a lot of memories. Hahaha.

Mummy Lim

Mambo Jumbo Once Again

It had been months (Auntie S said 5 months) since we last went to Mambo. We got bored of it - the same music and the same 油腻大叔s crowding the platforms. We had wanted to try Total Recall in Capital. It was supposed to be the 90s music. Then one of us would be busy and we kept delaying the date. By the time we really decided that we should go, they canceled the Total Recall event. Zzzzzz… I think bcos there wasn’t enough crowd. 

Mambo was on National Day eve. The usual suspects decided that it is time. Then a few days before Mambo, Auntie SL whatsapp that her persistent cough isn’t better and she had to skip the event. We eventually decided that we could do a live band bar 1st. Auntie S and I once went to Warehouse at Clarke Quay for a drink bcos we were too early for Mambo. We remembered that it was quite happening with live band and dance floor. We saw that they still do live band. Go! Go! 

We met at 8.30pm. Warehouse has shifted to another location in Clarke Quay.

I then realised how early 8.30am is. By the time I was home from work and dinner, it was already 7.15pm. Daddy Lim kindly sent me to Clark Quay. 

Warehouse was much bigger than Blackbird. It wasn’t that crowded and maybe no need for reservation. We did and got a nice table facing the stage. There were 2 different bands playing for the night. The second one - Chris and Diana, playing from 10pm, seems to be the more promising and happening one. 

The usual suspects. I always suddenly look very “young” when one of these 2 ladies offered to take pictures with their phone.

I ordered this Brothers Line and Strawberry cider and it was really good. The 1st mouthful always taste like sour plum drink. 

Auntie S also ordered the same thing bcos she said that it is 500ml and can drink for a long time. lol. 

Auntie SL left at 10pm & she didn’t catch the 2nd hand despite our persistent persuasion. The 2nd band was definitely better than the 1st but pales in comparison to Vibes (Timber+) or the other 2 Blackbird bands. Was it bcos the restaurant is too big? The music played in between sets were also not happening - nice songs but not the dancing music. 

We caught 2 sets and decided to leave at about 12.45am. Warehouse opens until 4am that night but we got bored and enough. Auntie S said that she ended up with a tummy full of fluid but no hint of feeling high bcos the cider was only 4%. I was very happy with the drink exactly bcos I can’t taste the alcohol. Hoho. 

After we left Warehouse, we struggled if we should still head to Mambo for round 2. I left the choice to Auntie S and tadah! 

Mambo was so crowded with many uncles and aunties such that even I felt young. Lol. Then, there was this young crowd too. It was just strange, 

The 1st corner that we “parked” was right at one of the entrances to the dance floor. Not only was it crowded, people were constantly going into and leaving the dance floor. Why ah? Then, we got squashed by this middle age group with 2 big ladies and this Indian man who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The 2 big ladies were very explicit in showing us that they were not keen to share “their space” and the Indian man either did his elaborated Indian style dance, completed with hand actions or simply parked there. 

After a while in that predicament, we left in search of more space and found one that was away from the dance floor. It was the perfect spot despite being away from the action and the flashing light. What we needed was space and not deafness/ blindness anyway. 

Bcos we went Mambo late, we also left later than usual. It was almost 3am when we stepped out of Zouk, right when the music started to turn bad. Just like every Mambo experience, I felt my backache right after we stepped out of Zouk. At least my knees felt alright this time, bcos of the shorter dancing time.

I was very glad that we decided to head to Mambo and not home. We had fun dancing, even though it was just the 2 of us. Mambo didn’t feel that bad despite the crazy crowd. I think it is bcos of the long 5 months break in between. I think I am still a clubbing person and not yet transform to a live band person despite my age catching up. Hahahaha. 

Mummy Lim

We Thought We Lost Mochi and We Really Lost Puffy

Yday, there was no WWF ride bcos RIBA took place this morning. I cannot make myself go for another RIBA after my 1st and probably last one last year. It was a test of my patience and endurance. The RIBA was long, slow and the sun unbearable. 

Instead, I tagged along to the JLG where Daddy Lim and Zaky had their skating lesson. I went rollerblading in the once familiar park, enjoying myself and happily skating to my Spotify. 

There had been multiple times while I skated, I accidentally went over twigs and little stones. These, while insignificant looking are usually great hazards to the skaters. Most of the times, I stumbled but found my balance shortly. It had been a while that I fell while skating,

Yday was a different story. At one quiet stretch (luckily), I had no idea what I went over, lost my balance and literally flew into the bushes. The impact knocked my cap off. Nobody came to my rescue and I had to climb out of the bushes, then hunt for my cap. Lol. The only silver lining was that the bushes broke the fall and the grass provided a soft landing. 

There, right there. Poor bushes. I hope I didn’t kill any. I think that hollow was created by me. Lol.

I had a couple of small scratches but otherwise felt all right and was able to continue with the skating. Only in the later part of the day, I had this blue black pain on my right hip bone and this muscle ache on my neck. I probably pulled a muscle or something. #oldbones

Some time later, ah yee texted that they lost Mochi again! We had the aircon technicians come look at the aircon and the gate was left opened. Ah yee and Nana ended up spending the next hour combing the block in search of Mochi. Every single text in that hour was bad news - Mochi was nowhere to be found.

Nana said that she saw Mochi Dupe but no sight of Mochi. I eventually decided to grab home to help with the search. While in the grab car, I was already searching on what to do when one loses a pet - call AVA and SPCA, put up posters. Upon reaching, I was starting to call out to Mochi, scanning the drain and corners, hoping to spot Mochi. 

Right before I reached the house, Nana texted that they found Mochi! Where was he? Right in the house! Lol. Nana had already given up on the search and when the aircon technicians left, Ah Yee and Nana saw Mochi strolled out from the kitchen. lol. They sweared that they had checked the kitchen multiple times, including that space beside the fridge where he always hide. 

Ah Yee and Nana were so upset with Mochi. Nana said that she almost carried Mochi Dupe home in desperation as a replacement. At least they both had a good morning workout. As an act of shaming, we made Mochi wear his collar and Starbucks shirt. 

I think I need to get him an AirTag. This frequent loss is too stressful. Mochi didn’t like his shirt but after a while, didn’t seem affected. He slept very well in one of his favourite corners, shirt or not.

On a sad note, Puffy has finally left us. We got him in August 2022 and he had lived a long life (in hamster’s term) of 2 years. We lost Cookie after 1 year 8 months. 

We knew that his time was near bcos he had been losing weight and fur. He was also eating and drinking a lot lesser. He was so skinny in the recent weeks. Puffy’s departure didn’t tug at our hearts as much as Cookie bcos he bit us so much that none of us really dare hold/ play with him. Ah Yee and Athena found him motionless in his food bowl this morning. What a way to move on, totally hamster swag style.

RIP Puffy! I hope you had a good life. You had bitten enough fingers and eaten enough snacks and worms. Thank you for the joy that you brought to us. 

Meanwhile, the kids reminded me not to bring home another hamster. Mochi alone has given us enough work, entertainment and “excitement”. 

Mummy Lim

Busy Weekend

I met up with the aunties on Saturday afternoon for tea. Specific agenda - none. Eating - plenty. Hoho. 

The no meitu photo.

The meitu-ed.

We suddenly shed 15 years and C looks like a baby. lol. 

We chatted until the evening. Then, Auntie TL went for dinner date with hub, Auntie H went fireworks watching with family. The usual suspects headed down to Timber One. 

We met Daddy Lim at Timber One and we seriously didn’t check the performance schedule, and turn up to a crowd. Crowded must be good right? No ah. It was some oldies band, playing soul and jazz music. What is soul and jazz music? Basically music way before our time and we totally didn’t know any. Upon clearer look, the crowd were mostly grey hair, in their 60s.

I was very apologetic to Auntie S and SL. C was wide eyed, especially when the crowd started to fill the mini dance floor. Our only joy was to wonder if we would do the same when we are in our 60s. No!!!!! 

We left at about 9pm bcos it was so bad. The aunties headed home, Daddy Lim and I decided that we would drive to the Blackbird at Gillman Barracks bcos it would be so sad to end Saturday night on such a bad note. I don’t think any band would be worse than what we experienced at Timber One.

We were lucky to get a table not far from the stage. Tabula and Friends were playing. They are so much better than whoever was playing in Timber One and there was aircon! 

The crowd was interesting too. Blackbird is a restaurant with a live band playing. So there were kids, also uncles in slippers, including Daddy Lim. Hoho. Then there was a DJ in between sets too but don’t expect massive dance groups. Most of the patrons were there to dine and wine and watch the band. We left at 10.45pm and didn’t catch the 2nd set bcos I was tired. At least we found another decent place to visit another day. 

Daddy Lim didn’t have to work on Sunday and dated me for a ride. It had been a long time since we rode and of course I had to agree to the date. 

Not bad, 40km done. 

For the rest of Sunday, Daddy Lim kept asking me what should we do. Rest ah, the weekend had been too busy. I need to rest before Monday comes again. Haha.

Mummy Lim

Mochi Dupe

A few days ago, we lost Mochi again. I duno who but somebody didn’t fully latch the gate. I was already lying on the bed, swiping hp when Daddy Lim called for me. He said that he cannot find Mochi in the house, the gate was opened and Mochi probably escaped again. 

We started Mochi Rescue Mission. IG reel said that cats have the tendency to climb upwards if one ever escaped from home. Armed with a pack of his snacks, I headed onto the 20th floor, rattling the snack bag and calling for him. So many of the neighbours had things stored in the corridor and were perfect hiding spots for Mochi. Zzzz. 

Daddy Lim and ah yee went downstairs. By the time, I was at the highest 25th floor, I still had no sight of Mochi, and was thinking what should we do if we really lose him. I was just about to backtrack with the rattling again when Daddy Lim came out of the lift and said that they had found Mochi. He was on the 18th floor, trying to head to the unit right below us. IG bluff people.

Does Mochi recognise our house? I don’t think so. I even doubt if he recognises us. Daddy Lim said that when they approached him, he was shying away and then grabbed the neighbour’s gate when they attempted to bring him home. Silly cat. 

Yday morning was even funnier. I was about to get out of the house with my bike for my morning ride. I am always very careful when exiting the house, looking several times to make sure that Mochi doesn’t escape. I did the same and opened the door. Just when I was sure that Mochi was somewhere in the house, I opened the door and saw Mochi looking at me from outside the house!!???

It took me a second. Hey, that was not Mochi but the stray downstairs that looks like him. We call him Mochi Dupe. 

This is Michi, looks the alike right? 

Mochi Dupe was meowing away and Mochi was drawn to the gate. I had 2 cats, one inside and one outside checking out each other out and I was stuck in the house. Lol. I had to wake Daddy Lim to help me, to make sure that Mochi doesn’t escape and Mochi Dupe didn’t try to enter the house. Yes, all at 5.20am. 

Nope, Mochi Dupe didn’t try to come in. He was still in the corridor when I entered the lift. I have no idea how he got to the 19th floor. Morning exercise? The lift? This is the 2nd time that I saw Mochi Dupe on the 19th floor. The last, he was on his way to the 20th floor. He is the normal cat that climbs upwards, not like our Mochi.

Mochi ah, Mochi, pls stop escaping. 你又不认识路，又不会回家. If we lose you, we will just bring Mochi Dupe home. Same, same.

Mummy Lim

Another Business Trip to JKT

Yay! Done! Dusted! One more down. To JKT on Monday and back home on Thursday night. 

Checking in was in T3. I was at the airport at 5ish for the 7.25am flight. I thought that I wouldn’t be able to get my Indonesia colleagues’ favorite Garrett’s popcorn bcos there is no outlet in T3. Then, the departure gate was at T1. Bingo!

My inflight bfast. Only meh.. and I don’t like Meiji yoghurt.

I duno why but I always enjoy a kopi O on flights. 

The flight was alright. It was only 1.5 hours. I watched 3/4 of a movie and made a mental note to complete the movie on my way home. 

It was a busy trip and my calendar was super packed. By the end of the 1st day, coupled with the early morning, I was exhausted. Daddy Lim and the kids were home late and ah yee was in BKK. I was tasked to feed Mochi some kibbles using the auto feeder.  

I thought the kibble may be a bit stale; I should change it. Did Mochi eat the kibble? Of course. 

So cute! 

I hit the gym every morning. Ayana Midplaza hotel has a nice big gym with many equipment. 

I wore Nana’s funny red sheep socks, to be discarded after the trip. I think I looked so weird. Lol.

Of the 3 mornings, I managed to have bfast on 2. On the last day, I had time to slowly enjoy the bfast. 

Dinners?  My favourite mushroom room in the comfy of the room. 

Also, a can of regular coke with ice is to die for after a long day. 

The trip went past rather decently and quickly bcos I was so busy every day. My flight on Thursday was at 7pm JKT, which is one hour behind Singapore. I left for the airport at 3pm and arrived very much on time. Luckily O flew on Thursday and not Friday, where the global outrage happened. I want to go home.

My 1st dinner bcos I skidded lunch. 

Ya, BK sells fried chicken and it was very nice, better than the KFC we have at home. 

My 2nd dinner on flight.

The rice was nasi lemak rice. Nice.

The flight was full and I had the window seat at the very last row by the time I checked in to select seat. 

Yes, I finished the 2nd part of the movie. The flight was alright but at the landing part, I am not sure if it was air pressure or the pilot, but the plane was swaying slightly from side to side. Scary siol.

Home sweet home. A pleasant sight always that shouts “efficiency”!

It was already 11ish when I hit the pillow. Unpacking and laundry can wait. Happy to be home.

Mummy Lim

1st RI in 2024

There was a point where Daddy Lim was crazy about RIs and I was simply tagging/ dragging along. Then Covid came and so did the travel restrictions, and I become the one doing RIs. Every long weekend is an opportunity for a RI. 

The crazy days are over when the travel restrictions eased. I did too much traveling both for work and leisure. Long weekends are to rest and too precious to be pedaling on a bicycle around Singapore. 

It had been a long while since I last did a RI. Bcos there were so many requests, I planned my 1st RI for 2024 and for WWF. I wonder if it would be my last one for the year. Bcos the sun is very hot and I will melt but I also have no energy to do a RI after a long day at work, we decided that we will roll at 4am. This means waking up at 3am and riding on the road at 3.20am. 

I had thought that the roads would be deserted but there were some cars and a few grab bicycle riders. It didn’t seem much different riding at 3ish vs the usual 5ish. 

We rolled off at 4am as planned, with strong pullers led the pack. The pullers got too excited at the start of the ride that we had to keep reminding them to look at their speedometer at regular intervals and remember the poor souls in their pack (aka us) and were chasing like hell. 

Our 1st stop break was at Sinopec. I was very much reminded of the many RIs that I had did with Daddy Lim.

The next stop was to CV for bfast. 

Checked! 

The sun had risen. We had our tummies filled before we tackled TMCR. It had been such a long while. The trick to TMCR? Just draft, regardless of who the puller is, even if I duno the rider. 

We gathered at the end of TMCR and that was the last stop. Then, we rolled all the way home. The usual route is via the West Coast Highway. However, after ECP service road, we met road closures everywhere. In the end, we had to take the Bukit Timah way home. This meant that I would be the firsts to reach home but just that the BT way was full of traffic lights and thus not fun. With tired legs, it is easier to just keep pedaling than to go up and down the bike to stop at traffic lights. 

I was glad that I opted to roll to Frontier to start the RI. Otherwise, I would be short for my 100km. My RI map just looked a little weird. Never mind, a RI is a RI and I got my 100km. Hohoho. 

I is happy. 

On Sunday, I really cannot make myself go to the gym. I rolled on my small wheels instead. 

I only clocked 12km bcos it was going to rain and I had to rush home for church. 

Daddy Lim is always worried that I would fall while rollerblading. I didn’t… but I fell while at home. Zzzz. I was standing on the little stool to reach for the guards on top of the shelf. I found myself losing balance and attempted to step off the stool, only to step on the rollerblades on the road. Zzzzz. I don’t remember how I landed but I think 1st on my knees and then I flipped and bang my butt and almost knocked off the bikes. Luckily, no bikes fell. It was quite silly and very loud that I woke Nana up. lol. 

My blue black. 

mummy Lim