Annual SHSS Family Trip Part 2

The checkin time was 3pm. Auntie R and H arrived 1st and managed to get themselves into the Airbnb. It was a big house and can sleep 18. Some of the rooms were tiny and the house was aged but we can’t complain for the price we paid. It was S$360ish for 1 night for all of us. 

Rooms were distributed and we settled down easily. 

The Airbnb comes with a mini pool, game machine, ktv, pool table, mahjong…. enough entertainment to burn a couple of hours. 

Dinner was really fun. Auntie TL ordered this lok lok trunk that comes to the Airbnb just for us. We had to do a minimum spent of RM388 and extras are chargeable. To eat RM388 is chicken feet. I constantly saw Daddy Lim and Zaky by the food truck and heard that they ate alot and beer too. 

After all the eating, the kids disappeared to their rooms. 

The adults were either ktv-ing or chit chatting. Daddy Lim decided to turn in early. Our room was right beside the big kids on the 2nd floor and I was surprised that he managed to sleep despite the occasional bouts of laughter from the teenagers’ room. 

Of course there was the all time late night favorite pastime. 

I went to bed at 12ish. I heard that the mahjong kakis were done at about 2am. The teenagers only gone to bed at 4ish. They were playing hide and seek and sardine in the middle of the night. 

Mummy Lim

Annual SHSS Family Trip Part 1

The last 2 March holidays, we were in Genting with some of the SHSS families. Genting is cooling and nice but there is only so much you can do in that tiny resort. The 6 hours one-way bus ride also didn’t help to make things more exciting. 

This March annual trip almost didnt take make it. I don’t mind planning and assisting with the trip logistics. What makes it difficult is when people cannot decide if they are committed or now. Then go or not go? Plan or not plan? Anyhow, once a committed group is confirmed, I was happy to do the planning. 

We are busy people, especially the teenagers and decided that we will do a short JB trip. We have a total of 5 families. Other than Auntie TL, the rest of us did a one-night trip. 

Auntie TL, J and us drove into JB early Saturday morning. Auntie R and H took the public bus with the kids. So brave. 

Bcos the media warned of heavy custom traffic, we decided that we would try to leave the house by 5am. We managed 5.15am. Nana had to back out of the trip bcos of a school canoeing event, that is prelude to her NSG. It is ok, she shall stay behind to look after the “Chis”. 

Auntie J set off 15 mins later and caught up with us at the custom Q. Yes! The Q already stretched a long way back when we arrived at about 5.45am. 

The traffic was crawling. Auntie TL joined the “fun” a further 15 mins later. Auntie J said that we looked like Mario Cart. Lol.

Auntie TL was losing; her cart didn’t even show up on the screen. Lol.

After a torturous hour of traffic crawl, we finally saw hope. 

We celebrated when we finally cleared the Singapore immigration. It was a short drive before the Malaysia custom and it was so much shorter than the Singapore side. We cleared that in less than 30 mins. The other 2 families made it through too. In fact, Auntie J’s family ended up ahead of us. That is the thing with immigration, it is about luck and choosing the right lane to Q. 

The 1st stop is the 24 hours massage place that we always frequent whenever we drive to JB at such unearthly hours.  I made a booking for 11 of us. The 2 boys ended up unplanned twinning! This is the dress code for all teenagers apparently.

My left foot started cramping on the way to the massage place and it is not a good sign. The massage place was also super cold, which is the perfect enhancer for feet cramps. My left foot and toes started cramping the moment the masseuse started on my left foot. More than half the time, I was trying to tolerate the cramp and pain. I finally had to ask to pause when my left calf seized up. I had hoped that the right foot would be better but it wasn’t. My right foot and toes also started cramping when the masseuse started. It reached a point that the masseuse asked me to relax. Not that I didn’t want to; my toes were all having their own mind, twisting in different directions. I was happy when the massage was done. 

I felt that the massage was normal like how it usually was. Auntie TL said that her masseuse was really bad. For me? This is just a way to burn the morning hours before the mall opens up. 

We were done at about 9am and the rest of the gang had arrived safely in Malaysia too. 

The original plan was to have tim sum bfast nearby the massage place. We decided to meet up with the rest and have bfast near to JBSC/ CIO instead. 

Yum yum! We occupied 4 different tables.

After bfast, we walked back to JBSC, intending to do some mall crawl and laser tag, only to realise that laser tag has moved to the nearby R&F mall. Auntie TL said that we will have to make one big detour by car and suggested that we walk over. 

We followed Google map or what we think Google map was saying. I then realised how big a group we were. 

We are like some school excursion or church camp. 

The sun was burning hot and Auntie TL decided to ask for directions. A man who was heading to CIO for the train to Singapore for work told us that there was a dangerous crossing ahead and recommended us to backtrack to CIO and take a longer way, from the other side of the CIO. He funnily became our “tour guide” and mentioned that he had helped steer many lost sheep to the right way. We all clapped when he finally led us to the correct sheltered walkway to the mall. 

It was a long walk to the mall but at least sheltered. We had made a reservation for 12.30pm. There was some time for a snack and only Daddy Lim was hungry enough to eat. 

Laser tag was super fun. The adults and kids had 2 games and the teenagers went on for a final 3rd game. 

We were all perspiring like crazy. It was a great workout.

The 1st game result. Who was the 1st? Zaky. I was the 2nd place.

The 3rd game and Zaky was the top again.

After laser tag, we finally stopped for proper lunch at a foodcourt. Then grocery shopping for snacks before finally taking grab, some directly to the airnbn, while others to their car. 

Mummy Lim

Lesson on Parenting and Adulting

Parenting is a lifelong learning. Just when we thought we have a good grasp at it, the kids grew up and whatever we thought works become obsolete and we had to learn again. 

In my recent memory, what was really difficult was the “letting go”. I bet there were more difficult phases in the past but I have forgotten, which is a good thing. We learned to “let go” of Nana when she became a teen and had a super active social life. She had so much lesser time for us and we learnt to be a “single child” parents. That phase lasted for a few years. Zaky was very happy to be the “single child” then, enjoying all the attention that his parents showered on him. 

Then Zaky joined Nana’s path and we had to deal with a semi empty nest and had to learn to be a couple again. Our weekends are now for grocery shopping and resting, an integral part of life, especially now that age is though just a number but a very big one. Hoho. 

This year, Nana turns 18 and I am surprised at how old she has become. Lol. Ya, it had caught me by surprise several times this year that my 1st born is now legally an adult. This also inferred how old I have become. My grey hair is not helping. Zzzz. 

While we learn how to let go, the kids are by right supposed to learn how to take over the control. Not only be responsible for the extra freedom but also of the less pleasant side, like finances and logistics. Nana just had an adulting lesson. 

A couple of months ago, she asked if I remembered her SingPass password. She has forgotten and couldn’t log in. Why would I remember her password? Zzzzz.. she is supposed to reset her password and get the app sorted but she didn’t. Earlier this week, she couldn’t find her wallet and her NRIC is in it. I duno why she would bring the physical card around. I only carry my SingPass app. I kept her physical card normally but she needed it for some exams and didn’t pass it back thereafter. 

It is very troublesome and cost $100 to replace NRIC. Then she realised that to do so, she needed her SingPass, which she is unable to log in. To reset her SingPass password would require her NRIC issue date, which is not available bcos she misplaced her NRIC. I was upset with her and she too with herself. Then I realised that I don’t have to - she is an adult now and should take care of these troubles that she had created herself. 

After multiple tries, she managed to log in into SingPass. One hurdle crossed. I now asked both kids to tell me their password, so that I can help to keep a record. 

She did and was feeling very upset with the painful logistics. It is indeed painful. She was all stressed up last night such that I now feel bad to be upset with her. Haha.

Then, we heard her shouted from her room. What?! What?! She found her wallet. It was tucked in the pocket of her school skirt, which she had not worn for the past week bcos she had been skipping school as she was sick. What she needed to do now is to cancel the online police report that she has made, a requisite to replace her NRIC. More logistics but at least happy logistics. 

It is a painful and frustrating lesson. She experienced it 1st hand. I can only tell her “welcome to adulting”. Hoho. 

Mummy Lim

Week 2 with Yochi

I wasn’t home for 3 days out of the week but I supposed all were managed well. 

The cats are still segregated during the nights and when we are not home. Yochi continues to be kept in the service yard while Mochi gets to roam the house. Yochi gets to get out when we are around and sometimes we keep Mochi in one of the rooms so that Yochi can roam freely. 

Probably bcos we had originally kept Yochi in Nana’s room, he has a preference for her room. When we let him out, it is no surprise to find him napping in Nana’s room. The litter box issue seems to have resolved. Fingers crossed. 

Yochi still doesn’t like Mochi. They had existed in peace during meal time and once or twice during naps. Otherwise, they tend to be at different parts of the house. Yochi would growl (less hissing now) and paw at Mochi when Mochi gets too close. Then Mochi will purposely go and disturb Yochi. I would like to think that Mochi wants to make friends and do think that we need a 2nd cat, just that I duno if it is Yochi. 

Yochi also didn’t quite like the service yard. When we are home, he would meow for us to let him out. On Thursday night, Nana kept him in her room and there was no pee incidents. Still, I get anxious to allow him to do that. I don’t want to hunt and clean pee. 

Yochi was due for his vaccination booster. We willingly took on the responsibility and cost (reasonably at $52). We visited the Gaia clinic near to our place and the experience was quite pleasant for the humans. Yochi didn’t agree. He started meowing the moment we got him into the carrier and was very vocal on the way and at the clinic. 

Then he tried to escape in the examination room and table. Yochi is about 4.3kg and has no major issues upon physical examination. If it had been Mochi, Mochi would probably just freeze there throughout. Haha. 

Yochi was glad to be home and slept a lot for the rest of the evening. We had a peaceful evening, with the 2 “chis” napping in 2 different parts of the house. 

This morning, I was awoken by Yochi’s meowing. He is always so vocal and loud. Daddy Lim was getting ready for work and said that Yochi was being aggressive to Mochi and chased him around the house. I am wondering if it is the vaccination. Yochi also vomited a little. Then, I had to stop Yochi 2x from attacking and chasing Mochi. The last time was so bad; Mochi’s fur was flying and Yochi was really attacking and chasing Mochi. He was growling at Mochi, even when Mochi was hiding behind the curtain. Poor Mochi! Luckily Mochi wasn’t hurt. 

I had to separate them and kept Yochi in Nana’s room and then back in the service yard when I left for church. Zaky was the last one to leave the house and we told him not to let Yochi out. Zaky said that Yochi was meowing so insistently and loudly. 

Daddy Lim and I are indeed a little giving up. JJ, his fosterer had been kept updated. We are still trying and hoping that his aggressive behaviour this morning was due to the travel to the clinic and vaccination. Yochi is so snuggly with humans. He would come and sleep at our legs but he doesn’t like Mochi. Sob. 

I read that the integration can sometimes take weeks and even months. JJ is very kind to allow us to try for as long as needed. The vet whom Yochi saw wasn’t very “encouraging”. She said that with them both being male and so closed in age, Yochi may want to be the alfa male and thus the aggressive behaviour. She said that Yochi may be more suited to be the only cat. Sob. While we are keen to try, we should also remember and consider Mochi. 

Ok, ok. Maybe 1 more week and see how it goes. 

Mummy Lim

1st Jakarta Work Trip 2026

Yay! Done! It was a short trip from Monday to Wednesday night and Daddy Lim was worried about managing the 2 cats. Well, we all survived! Some caffeine will definitely help.

The flight to Jakarta was pretty bouncy at times. I no longer panic at turbulences but this one was bad enough to make my heart beat faster. The seat belt sign was turned off right before I got my meal served and I thankfully got my coffee. I like drinking kopi O on flights. They just taste different in the air - a nice difference.

I met a Singapore colleague on flight. Not planned, but always nice to meet somebody familiar. We shared a taxi to the office and both of us met the same issue with the egate and had to Q for the immigration. I duno how it works; the egate officer said that we needed to select something to enable egate when making the online arrival declaration. Anyhow, I get an extra stamp on my passport! 

It was a busy day and I took my last call at 6pm JKT back in the hotel. The hotel said that they upgraded my room. I barely have time to enjoy the room though. 

My favorite soup when I am in Ayana Midplaza hotel.

The soup dinner was supplemented with some snacks from 7-11. I also tabaoed the following day lunch at site, knowing that it would be very ulu and I probably have no time.

Of course we must go to the gym in the morning. The hotel has a very nice, spacious and well equipped gym. I got my 4.5km done.

I have to rave about the hotel bfast. I like so many things about this hotel. Hoho.

I only realised that it was raining heavily when I was at the lobby waiting for my taxi at 7.30am. I was worried about the bad jam bcos of weather and traffic but it took about the usual 1.5 hrs. 

The day was about meetings, and moving from 1 site to another for more meetings. Coincidentally, the same Singapore colleague and another one were all at site and we arranged to head back to Jakarta together. Bcos it is the Ramadan month, people start and end work earlier. We were told that the peak hours would be between 4pm to 6pm, so we arranged to leave at 6pm. The traffic was amazingly smooth and it took us 1.5hour to get back. We were prepared for a 2 to 3 hours ride. Speaking of Ramadan, I found out that only 50% of my Indonesia colleagues are Muslims and fasting. Apparently, something common in Jakarta. 

Bcos there were other colleagues, I had proper dinner rather than the usual room service. One of them is an Indonesian by birth and brought us to a mega shopping mall, which I unfortunately didn’t have time to shop. We went to Paulaner Brauhaus. Pretzel! But we had nicer ones in Europe.

The mall was about 5 mins car ride from the hotel and thankfully moving traffic. 

I leave for Singapore on the 3rd day. I somewhat miscalculated my time such that I had to miss bfast after gym and take a 8am call. I wasn’t too hungry, but it was so wasted to miss the good bfast. Lunch was the leftover snacks from the day before and I rushed off to the airport at 3.45pm for my 8.20pm flight, hoping to beat the 4pm peak traffic. 

Traffic was normal; the normal Jakarta jam. I was hungry. 

I spent whatever time I had in the taxi and waiting for the flight working and catching up on work. 

The flight took off on time. Of course I wasn’t hungry during dinner/ supper but I still ordered bcos I wanted the bottle of water and bun. Hoho.

The flight more comfortable, though mild turbulences for a long time, such that I had to forgo my kopi O. There were quite some empty seats. I was too lazy to ask for a change of seat though.

All done, and back in Singapore at 11ish pm. Survived and done another Indonesia trip! Daddy Lim, kids and the cats survived too!

Mummy Lim