Snapshots of My Life

Some Brief Updates... Finally

2011-06-17T16:27:00.003+08:00

First of all, I must apologise for not updating my blogging for ages. I’m pleasantly surprised that some of my ex-students are still checking out my blog. Thank you for trying to keep in touch.

Ok, here are some MAJOR updates.

Update 1
Another muffin is baking in the oven right now. I’m about 8 months pregnant and will be due for delivery in early August. Grace is going to have a baby sister soon! = )

Update 2
I’ve wanted to update my blog during the June holidays. But we have been really busy shifting into our new place and we have just settled in this week. The happiest person of course is our dear Grace who gets to go to the playground and swim at the pool EVERYDAY. What luxury!

Update 3
Finally, the long-awaited photos of Grace.

The Water Baby

2010-11-24T13:43:00.002+08:00

Dear Grace,

Today is the start of the 2010 year end holidays. And to ensure you start this period of adventure with a bang, we brought you to Civil Service Club to swim. We have not brought you swimming since June because of the terrible Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) that was spreading like wildfires from July. Thankfully, that has kind of stopped (for now).

Well, you are obviously a water baby. I am not just being the proud parent here, but seriously, there’s no fear in you about the water. You even wanted to walk around the baby pool without me holding you, but I am not as confident as you are. Expectedly, you wailed when we took you out, but not as bad as I expected (I hear worse ones when you Grandma or Mum takes you out from the bath) and you are napping like a log now as Papa is writing this. Haha.

More adventures to coming your way!

Grace, the Party Girl

2010-11-15T12:44:00.004+08:00

Dear Grace,

If you still do not know by now, you really enjoy birthdays. We say so because whenever the CD plays the Happy Birthday song, you will start to clap and pretend to blow candles. It’s probably the only song that will stop you from fussing out of the hundreds that we have, for now. And what a magical weapon the song is when we need to distract you in the car.

When you attend birthday parties, you never fail to clap enthusiastically (which is really very different from other kiddies your age or even those who are slightly older, but I digress as a proud parent). And of course, you would always volunteer to blow the candles, never mind the distance you are away from the cake. The ultimate evidence of your enjoying birthdays is you will always ask us to feed you with the cake. In fact, you demanded a second serving of the vegetarian black forest cake during your Great-Grandma’s birthday.

Good news is there are going to be quite a few birthdays coming next January and February (your mummy, + grandfather, and then your grandmother). But all good things come to an end, as there is a long drought till yours in September.

This is where Grace's love for birthday parties all begins.

2010-10-25T07:25:00.002+08:00

Dear Grace

Firstly, apologies for the lack of updates, from your Papa’s perspective as I have been real busy with work.

Over the past few weeks, so much have happened. What struck me particularly is how mischievous you have grown. I do not mean this in the negative or bad way, but rather, it brings a smile to me as I type this. You resemble your old man to the extent where worrying thoughts of you being overly-demanding or passionate (depending on perspectives) may actually affect you negatively in future. I do think it is great for us to live our lives passionately, to laugh out loud, to cry/shed tears and to voice our opinions without any fear of repercussions. However, the truth is people are generally sensitive, and sometimes, we need to exercise a certain amount of self-control. Now, that will be a difficult lesson to teach you as even I am trying to find the right balance.

So what’s the plus side of your mischievousness? Well, you simile and laugh with no hesitation and that causes joy to radiate throughout our home. And for now, this is all that matters!

Grace! Watch Out!!!

2010-10-21T12:46:00.004+08:00

Grace has been very eager to perfect her newly-learned motor skill (walking) lately. Recently, much to our alarm, she started running around the house. Just as we were wondering when she would have her first bump, it happened yesterday afternoon when Mum was about to leave. She tripped and hit her head. My heart sank when I saw her face plastered against the shoe cabinet. She cried 2 weeks worth of tears. Heartache!

We sprang into action of icing her bump to reduce the swell before bringing her to the doctor. Though she returned to normalcy after wailing inconsolably for 10 minutes, she’s under close monitoring for the next 24 hours.

The Husband’s response?

Husband: I told you not be overly-confident.
Me: *silence*
Husband: So what do you have to say to me? *in jest*
Me: Nothing… it was an accident. *defensively*

Truth be told, it was really hard watching Grace get hurt. It’s even harder not to feel guilty. There were many thoughts of “I could have and should have” done this and that. Well, as part of the healing process, here’s the apology.

Dear Grace,
Mama is sorry for not being vigilant enough. It’s my negligence. I will try my best to prevent accidents from happening in future. How I wish the bump is on me and not on you. Praying much that God will continue to watch over you and keep you safe. XOXO

To the Husband:
Your “teachings” have not fallen on deaf ears. Have I got the 3 parts of a sincere apology correct? =P

1) I’m sorry.
2) It’s my fault.
3) How can I make it right? (The most important part which makes the apology sincere)

Addicted to Grace

2010-10-21T07:40:00.003+08:00

I'm so in love with Papa!

Recently, the Husband and I had to attend a wedding dinner of a close friend. To put it on record, that was the most elaborated wedding I’ve ever attended and most probably in my lifetime. We expected the dinner to end late, so we decided not to bring Grace along. Actually, I was secretly delighted as this would be the first time that the Husband and I had some couple time ever since Grace was born. We thought we could enjoy the night without having to fuss over Grace. We were wrong. We started to miss her even as we were walking to the car.

The Husband: I feel something's missing when Grace’s not with us.
Me: Yes. I miss carrying Grace’s diaper bag too.

As we were afraid of waking Grace up when we returned that night, we put her with my mum in the other room. You would think that the Husband and I could finally have a night of uninterrupted sleep. On the contrary, we didn’t sleep very well either. We missed Grace terribly that night. We had half the mind to carry her over to our room when we returned home at midnight. However, fearing that we would disrupt her sleep, we resisted that fleeting thought.

We realised that Grace has become so much a part of us that we are incomplete without her. Right from the start, we have always made it a point not to overburden my mum with the caring of our gal unnecessarily. We just cannot bear the thought of leaving Grace with mum while we take the night out to enjoy ourselves. At present, the Husband and I will take turns to have some “ME” time to go fishing, shopping or meet up with our friends every now and then. Other than work and the occasional time-offs, every waking minute is spent with Grace.

We heard of how unwise it is for a couple not to spend time alone with each other. On the contrary, Grace is the cement that holds our relationship together. In fact, we love each other more because we appreciate the sacrifices that we have made for the family. We have never been closer and happier.

To us, it was a conscious decision to start a family 2 years ago and we are determined not to go anywhere without Grace. If there’s a place or function that’s not child-friendly, we will give it a miss unless absolutely necessary.

Come end of the year, we are going to bring her to Phuket! We haven’t gone for a proper holiday for 2 years. Gosh… how I miss the smell of the aircraft! I hope Grace will enjoy herself there too. Will update our adventures AND misadventures when we are back. = D

Self-weaning

2010-10-18T09:58:00.002+08:00

Grace seems to be very eager to embrace her independence and freedom recently. Ever since she started toddling, she can’t wait to take off at every opportunity. She will shrug away our offer to hold her hand and insist on walking on her own without any assistance. This is actually more backbreaking than having to carry her as we have to scamper after her.

My fear of weaning her from nursing proves to be unfounded. She actually weaned herself off right after she turned one. Probably she finds nursing too infantile for her now that she is a toddler.

Just a few entries back, I wrote about the trauma of weaning Grace off her night feeds. Apparently, she’s in the process of weaning herself off the night feeds too. She has her last feed at 9.30p.m everyday, sleeps before 10p.m and usually wakes up between 4.30am and 6am for a milk feed. On good days, she falls back to sleep. Otherwise, she will be very eager to begin her day as early as 6am. Theoretically, as long as a baby sleeps through 6-8 hours, that’s considered sleeping through the night. However, a part of me still greedily wishes that she will sleep for a longer stretch. Let’s see if the situation improves by the end of the year.

We have one more battle to fight. The Husband and I think this is going to be a BIG one. I shall call this “Mission Impossible – The Pacifier”. Although she only takes the pacifier to soothe herself to sleep, it seems that she's rather reliant on it at the moment. We don’t know when and how we are going to do it. I did some reading up on strategies to wean babies off the pacifier. However, I have my apprehensions as I have come to realise that there is usually a clear divergence between theory and reality. Without fail, the authors will include infamous disclaimers such as “Each baby is unique” or “It will vary from baby to baby”. I may just throw those theories out of the window and go with my instincts.

A note of caution to any parent-to-be who happens to read this post:
The pacifier is truly an ingenious invention. It soothes the parents more than the baby. With the pacifier, there’s peace in the household, but be mindful that this is just a short respite. So consider yourself warned. Don’t ask for trouble unless trouble troubles you!

Grace, Jia you!

2010-10-11T10:31:00.002+08:00

In the age of Facebook and Twitter, blogs seem to be losing its popularity these days. Uploading pictures with short captions seem to be so convenient and almost instantaneously, one can share photos and bits of their life with friends in a matter of a few minutes. Undeniably, the lure of this quick-fix to journal Grace’s life is great, especially when the Husband and I have very little time even to rest. We have been so busy that we don’t even have the time to formulate a thought. Nonetheless, we will persevere as far as we can to take time to pen down Grace’s developmental milestones.

In terms of physical development, Grace is pretty much on track. To name a few off-hand, at 13 months, she’s toddling around (unassisted) the house like an inspector, playing football and throwing balls in the living room, clambering onto the sofa and bed when no one’s watching, singing (you’ll have to imagine the melody yourself though) and dancing to music, etc. The “Happy Birthday” song and “Nobody” by the Wonder Girls are her all-time favourite.

While Grace is not meeting her speech and language developmental milestones as quickly as her physical ones, I think she’s still making great progress. At present, if she’s caught in the mood to talk, she’s able to say a few words like…

1) Mama
2) Nai Nai (Grandma in Mandrin)
3) flower
4) egg
5) map (all thanks to Dora, the Explorer)
6) red
7) black
8) bread
9) ya (her version of ‘yes’)
10) wait

We can’t wait for her to talk more so that we can be spared of trying to decode her babbling or making out what she’s pointing at.

Grace, jiayou! Mama shall endeavour to talk and read more often to you!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY Darling!

2010-09-01T11:41:00.001+08:00

This significant milestone is all thanks to your mother, who has preserved through many difficulties like loss of sleep, medical appointments. There are just too many for me to list but trust me, your mother’s love for you is just incredible, period.

We need to thank your grandmother too. Her advice, support and steadfastness from your mother’s confinement till now is a feat for your mother to emulate when your time comes.

I also want to put on record a word of thanks to our family members and friends who have constantly offered their advice, friendship, love and gifts. We are indeed truly blessed to have these unique individuals in our lives.

Above all, praise the Lord for His goodness in giving you to us.

Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
Psalm 150:2

Grace's 1st Birthday Party

2010-09-01T11:37:00.003+08:00

We organised a birthday party for you on 28th August 2010 at North Oaks EC function room.

We did not do anything extraordinary or fanciful as we invited only our closer relatives and a few friends. There was the standard buffet lunch with drinks, some balloons for all the kids and a caricature birthday cake.

What stood out to all who were there was that you blew out your own candle. Yes Grace, we are all so proud of you, well done.

Disclaimer: we did have a few practices before the actual day.

Significant Milestones

2010-08-24T13:55:00.003+08:00

Dear Grace,

Our apologies for not updating the blog regularly. Reason as this is the busy time of the year for your mummy and me due to examinations and keeping you engaged. Well, Papa is back at it again.

Since the last update, key milestones have taken place. You have started to
- self-feed
- top and bottom teeth have all started growing
- talk
- walk

We are letting you experiment with feeding yourself. So far so good, except for the flying corn, the use of fingers, the mess on the high chair and dirtying your hair.

The growth of your teeth is accompanied by lots of salivating. Currently, Papa sees 9 (Mummy sees 8). Reason: I’m the eagle eye J

You have also started talking, unfortunately mainly directed at your mummy. You acknowledge her by pointing at her and addressing “Mama”. You have also greeted your grandma, “Ah ma” on a few occasions. Mmmmmmm, when is it going to be the man’s turn?

Taking a few unsteady steps all by yourself. This means more work for us to ensure that no nasty accidents happen to scar my beautiful daughter.

Is that you, Grace?

2010-07-14T10:20:00.003+08:00

Grandma managed to catch a different side of Grace on camera which we have never seen before. Hardly, does she look so demure. The comments we have been receiving from cashiers at hyper marts to our relatives are often, “She looks so cheeky!” or “She’s very active eh?”

The Husband and I were both tickled pink when we saw the picture. It’s SO NOT her!!!

Mecure Palm Resort, JB

2010-07-06T10:11:00.004+08:00

Dear Grace,

This is a backdated entry of one of the many things we have done during the June Holidays. Just a quick entry on Mercure Palm Resort, JB, Malaysia, where we spent a night on 17 June.

This is officially your first overseas trip using your passport. Mama and me decided to play safe and not to fly or to drive anywhere that’s too far, just in case. You cannot blame us for being too cautious.

Verdict:
- Near Singapore, 1 hour drive, no traffic jam using Second Link, in and out.
- Pretty decent room, parquet flooring.
- Big bathtub. We soaked you three times. Wouldn’t have done it in Singapore, limited water resources
- 2 huge swimming pools but we only went once. Rained on 18th before we checked out.
- But like all hotels, overpriced food and drinks.
- Room slightly aged.

Bottom line, you had fun, and that’s what matters. Now we are talking about flying…is it going to be Phuket for the sand and sea or Bangkok for the food and shopping. Or both?

"Survivor" (Season 1)

2010-06-29T11:59:00.004+08:00

Much as the June break was a time of fun outings for Grace and us, it was also the start of the debut “Survivor” series (season 1). Well, it’s not the case of Heroes vs Villains, but rather Grace vs Dad & Mum.

To fill you in on the back story, Grace had been waking up for night feeds every 2 hours (i.e. 12 midnight, 2am, 4am and 6am) since February. Initially, we thought that she was hungry since she had yet to start on solids then. However, starting her on solids didn’t help at all. So, we came to the conclusion that she wanted comfort to soothe her back to sleep, and not truly hungry.

Determined to keep my sanity and to regain some semblance of my uninterrupted sleep, we decided to put Grace on the rigour of a crash course, that is, to cut down on her night feeds by the end of the June holidays. One of my colleagues was appalled at the radical measure I took of changing from a “milk buffet” to a “milk drought”. But call me hard-hearted or callous, desperate times call for desperate measures!

We officially launched the “war” in mid June. It was indeed a traumatic time for both Grace and us. We underwent 2 gruelling nights (about 2 -4 hours each night) of trying to outwit, outplay and more importantly, to outlast Grace. Fortunately, Grace somehow got the message that no matter how loud she wails, she was not going to get her milk. Well, I’m proud to announce that after 2 weeks of hard work, we managed to achieve some success by reducing her night feeds to just ONE! Three cheers for the Koh family!! We did it! At least, I get a 4/5-hour block of uninterrupted sleep now.

We could have persevered in our endeavour to wean Grace off the night feeds completely if not for the start of the school term this week. But consider yourself warned my dear Grace, the next concentration camp will be scheduled in December.

Stay tune for the Second Season of Survivor in December!

To Grace and us…Be strong and of good courage! We will survive!!

2010-06-25T11:33:00.001+08:00

Dear Grace,

A few old sayings that you probably will agree in time to come, “Time flies” and “All good things must come to an end.”

Well, the June holidays are over. Daddy and Mummy are back to work and all the playtime now must take a backseat. I have loads waiting for me at work and am taking a short break to pen this for you.

To recap this June 2010, we did the following:
(a) Singapore Zoo
(b) Overnight @ Sentosa + RWS
(c) Mecure Palm Resort JB
(d) Changi Airport

We will try to maintain this standard (or beat it) in the many holidays to come. But for now, we shall end this entry with a lesson on the need to wait http://www.buzzle.com/articles/waiting-and-bible-quotes-about-it.html

Changi Airport

2010-06-25T11:16:00.004+08:00

Dear Grace,

We finally brought you to check out the world’s airport.

The airport was an eye-opener for us too. Changi Airport is really huge. We only managed to see T2 and T3, and that is only because the viewing gallery in T3 is under renovation. The T2’s gallery is rather disappointing as it’s pretty small. But by the end of the trip, all of us (including Grandma) felt tired and were glad we brought the stroller with us.

The question at the back of our minds as we drove home was when will we fly out of Changi?

Dear Grace,

As Mummy was looking through the photos we took at the airport, I thought this photo looked very similar to the one we took of you when you were barely two months old. I just can’t help but marvel at how much you have grown and changed over the past 10 months. Dad and Mum really hope you have enjoyed yourself this June. We can't wait for the next school holidays to spend more time with you.

A Tribute to a Super Dad

2010-06-23T00:00:00.006+08:00

Sorry, this is way overdue. I could only do this bit by bit while Grace was sleeping. Happy Belated Father's Day!

So moral of the story? Don't ever believe a chicken-seller!

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-16T09:31:00.004+08:00

Dear Grace,

20 June: my first father’s day! Memorable because it’s also marks the day you rejected formula milk. And also because your mother has started taking on the onerous task of weaning off your night feeds, which can be like twice-four times a night, something that was never a problem when you were much younger. Don’t you think you are over-doing supper?

I cannot wait for my princess to celebrate it with me in the years to come, not hoping for much, but just a bear hug, kiss and a simple I love you will do. But I was warned the chicken-seller on Mother’s Day that there is no such thing as Father’s Day. We shall see.

Sentosa (9 - 11 June)

2010-06-16T09:30:00.003+08:00

Dear Grace,

9th June: first visit to Sentosa + an overnight stay with the 3 families (Uncle Bad, Uncle David and Uncle Ernest).

This was a really watershed event for there were many first-times for Grace. To name a couple, it was Grace's first time spending a night away from home, her first time being so close to the sea water and her first time swimming in a real pool. She cried initally when she entered the pool, but thankfully, the crying didn't last very long and she started to enjoy the swim. This also meant we needed to pack enough clothes, toys and etc for 3 of us, and Papa must really say we did really well. Now there’s confidence to venture further. Malaysia next, yeah!

Uncle David was the organiser and he chose the Silosa Beach Resort . Ask him why next time, we have no idea. Our verdict, the website looks and reads better than the actual place, which is a pity for it’s pretty nicely done up. But service and maintenance are really lacking, and, your Papa had to demonstrate the dragon’s fire spewing ability before the receptionist gave us the room which we swooped for another later that day, so what do you think? Phew!

That aside, we had a great time. I mean YOU had a really great time. We swam in the pool, dinner at Hard Rock Café at the new Resorts World, walked along the beach, used the bath tub to soak twice and the highlight, night visit to Universal Studios .

The theme park is really nicely done up so that's a plus for Singapore, just that good things do not come cheap, even a small packet of Garrett Popcorn is $6 a bag. But they tasted oh so good,

For those of you out there who have not visited RWS yet, what are you waiting for? :-)

Visit to the Singapore Zoo (Part 1)

2010-06-16T09:24:00.003+08:00

Dear Grace,

7th June marks the first time you step into the Singapore Zoo. Grandma came along too, and it’s pretty obvious she did not really enjoy herself because of the humid weather! Well, we saw the parrots, white tigers, rhinoceros, asian elephants, kangaroos and some pigs (warthog I think). Both your mummy and I came to the conclusion that you are too young to really enjoy the zoo, you were too busy looking at people, rather than animals. Or is it because at your tender age, you do realize that its people that’s more fascinating than caged animals that are only dependent on humans?

We left after an hour plus because you fell asleep and it started drizzling. Whatever it is, we plan to bring you back again tomorrow.

Update: Shucks, it rained the whole day on 8th June, so the zoo visit was cancelled.

Grace's First Playgroup

2010-05-27T17:59:00.003+08:00

Dear Grace,

Sat 22 May 2010 is a watershed day for you, because you attended your first unofficial play group with Tyler (Uncle David), Farooq (Uncle Bad) and Kristen (Uncle Ernest). You are the youngest within the group (as 2 month old Travis still cannot play).

Well, you started off crying (too many people perhaps or because you are the only one that cannot walk or speak human words), and then progressed to driving the little toy car, hitting the drum, throwing balls and then touching Kristen on her face. Not a bad start I must say.

More importantly, notice it’s just the fathers and their kids? And this by the way, is the first official group picture of you + the other kids of my best friends/buddies/brothers. We never bothered to try taking pictures before, because it’s just impossible for 4 kids + their dads to look at the camera and smile simultaneously, and judging from the photo, we are still quite far from there. Haha!

The Singapore Nightsky

2010-05-27T17:52:00.004+08:00

Dear Grace,

This is the time when you parents become cranky due to the lack of sleep from marking our mid-year examination scripts and taking care of you. The good news once that is over, the June holidays will come and it will be a grrrrreat time for you.

In fact, this week we have brought you out every evening, from your favorite Thomson Plaza to Ikea (Alexandra) and for the first time yesterday 20/05/2010, we (Dad, Mum, Grandma) visited the Marina Barrage.

This panorama picture of Singapore’s skyline is taken with Daddy’s new touch screen camera, not too bad eh?

A staring incident occurred in the car too. Ask me for the story when you read this sometime later in your life.

We have many more exciting trips in store for you…….YEAH!

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-08T23:00:00.001+08:00

Dear Grace,

This entry is dedicated to the dearest woman in both our lives, your mother = my wife.

Dearest Mummy and Wife,

On behalf of Grace, Happy Mother’s Day! This year is a significant one as it is your first Mother’s Day.

We thank you for all you have done, impossible to list as you’ve done so much and counting, but all that you have done for Grace and me we can never thank you enough. We love you.

This is what Grace will tell you in years to come:

1. My Mother taught me about ANTICIPATION...
"Just wait until your father gets home."

2. My Mother taught me about RECEIVING....
"You are going to get it when we get home!"

3. My Mother taught me to MEET A CHALLENGE...
"What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you! Don't talk back to me!"

4. My Mother taught me LOGIC...
"If you fall out off that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

5. My Mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE...
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

6. My Mother taught me to THINK AHEAD...
"If you don't pass your spelling test, you'll never get a good job."

7. My Mother taught me HUMOR...
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

8. My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT...
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

9. My Mother taught me about GENETICS...
"You're just like your father."

10. My Mother taught me about my ROOTS...
"Do you think you were born in a barn?"

11. My Mother taught me about WISDOM OF AGE...
"When you get to be my age, you will understand."

And last but not least...

12. My Mother taught me about JUSTICE...
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you....Then you'll see what it's like!"

Source: http://www.ahajokes.com/fp047.html

Grace's Standing!

2010-05-05T12:09:00.004+08:00

Dear Grace,

On 23/04/2010, I received a SMS from your Mummy. It reads:

Grace just stood up herself to take a toy from our bed. Show you the video later :)

A few issues hit me immediately when I read the SMS.

a) Hey my daughter is standing. Wow, she’s really fast.

b) Just too bad that I am at work and not there to witness the moment. Thankfully, your mother is teaching part-time now, so she can spend time with you. Please be very appreciative of the sacrifices that your mother has made and will continue making in order to groom you.

For the record, thank you dearest Mrs Koh, your first Mother’s Day is coming.

c) There was a time when Wife would greet me “Dear” first before she typed her message. But not anymore. Where is the love?

Mummy’s reply:
Dear Grace, please tell Daddy that Mummy had the onerous task of keeping a close watch on you (in case you fall), filming you in your momentous act, then messaging your Daddy while trying to stop you from grabbing my handphone and putting it into your mouth. Mummy loves Daddy as much as I love you. It's just that I’m still grappling with the art of multi-tasking.

d) Praise the Lord

The Art of saying 'Sorry'

2010-04-30T05:13:00.000+08:00

Dear Grace,

Upon deeper thinking and reflection, Daddy is going to start writing a series of letters here on Mummy’s blog dedicated to you. Actually, all my previous posts were either about you or consist of certain moral lessons that I want you to learn from. But just in case it is not explicit enough.

Today’s post is about a very humane and difficult topic of making mistakes and more importantly admitting to the mistakes we make. People find it tough to admit their faults and some live in perpetual self-denial because to admit mistakes means a loss of face and pride and the need to compensate the victim in terms of apology/time/money/effort.

I too have made many mistakes in my life and I believe it is inevitable that I will continue to make mistakes in my personal and work life. What I hope distinguishes me from others is that I will admit mistakes I make and to make-up as best as I can.

So dear Grace, be brave and do the right thing when the time comes.

Just for Laughs

2010-04-26T17:09:00.004+08:00

I was trawling the internet for some laughs for my 3NA class when I came across this website .

If you have the time, do take a read. I highly recommend it, and if you don’t have the time, perhaps you should ask yourself why you are always in a hurry?

These are the ones I like:

a. He who laughs last thinks slowest.
b. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
c. We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse.
d. Eat right. Stay fit. Die anyway.
e. The more people I meet, the more I like my dog.
f. The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Reasons:
a. Duh…..do I need to say anything more?
b. No such thing as no guilt or never committed any sin. This is why we seek forgiveness.
c. Haha…I do hope Grace does not think so. This is really for the pessimists. I will prefer to focus on the beauty in our lives, but still I have to admit, this does affect us from time to time.
d. The perfect excuse not to exercise? The difference between the fit and the flab is when they die, period.
e. The ultimate insult to the “people” I have to meet.
f. Sometimes, being the fastest may not be the best

Reservoir Visit #3 (MacRitchie)

2010-04-09T13:01:00.000+08:00

We continued with our quest to visit all the reservoirs in Singapore. To date, we have visited the Upper and Lower Pierce Reservoirs. Over the Good Friday weekend, we visited yet another reservoir - the MacRitchie Reservoir. Though we enjoyed the serenity, the surroundings were dripping with humidity. All of us ended up clammy with perspiration after a short 15 minutes walk. Nonetheless, that didn’t stop us from snapping some photos! The Husband complained in his earlier post that he didn’t have any nice photos with Grace. Well, I hope I’m finally vindicated by these photos! Hey, on some days, I do have an eye for photography too!

Stay tuned for our next reservoir visit!

Reservoir Visit #2 (Upper Pierce)

2010-04-07T11:47:00.002+08:00

While Grandma had her usual dry swimming session on Sundays, we took the opportunity to take Grandpa out for a walk at the reservoir with us. Recently, Grace picked up a new trick. She seems to understand the meaning of “sayang”. Whenever we tell her to “sayang” us, she will put her head on our shoulders, apparently to give us a hug. Looks like she’s playing a cards right and scoring many brownie points with everybody!

A Real Foodie

2010-04-04T08:00:00.000+08:00

Another update to my previous entry, it is confirmed that Grace is a real-foodie. Unlike what I have heard, she cries during feeds not because we are making her eat, but more so because we are slow in feeding her, and when the food runs out. It does worry me slightly and Wife (a lot) that Grace may become supersized when she grows older. Won’t lah right?

Sleeping on the Shoulder of the Giant

2010-04-02T22:40:00.003+08:00

Recently Grace is beginning to fall asleep on my shoulders. She did do this when she was much younger, stopped for a while and now the habit is back. Another evidence of her being close to her father (she does not do it to her mummy) Or is it like what my mum-in-law suggested, she does it on me because it’s comfortable…meaning shoulders are well-padded with fats =(

Well, whatever the case, as long as Grace is comfortable.

A note from Mummy:
Sometimes, the Husband will ask me in jest if I’m jealous of the father-daughter relationship he shares with Grace. Definitely NOT! Why should I be? In fact, I think it’s a good thing. The impact of a close father-daughter relationship is immensely powerful. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Grace will look to her father as a role-model, especially when it comes to what she should look out for in a life-partner in future. She will learn to compare all other men in the world to her father and she will not settle for anyone lesser than one who is the most loving, the most accepting, the most honourable and the most responsible (just like her father).

As the old adage goes, “When a girl grows up, she marries her father”. Hopefully, her life partner will reflect some of her father’s good characteristics.

Reservoir Visit #1 (Lower Pierce)

2010-03-30T12:29:00.004+08:00

Time flies. It really does pass by so quickly, especially for us, the adults, with so much to do.

The students will feel differently about this for the majority cannot wait for your time in school to end. Well, be patient, your time will come, what is important is for you to ensure that when it comes, you are in a position to maximise the available opportunities instead of looking back in regret.

For the March holiday week, Grace got to visit the Pierce Reservoir. The water levels were pretty low, due to the dry spell that Singapore had in the month of February. I believe it was one of the (if not the) driest month ever for Singapore.

The beach visit was put off because the dry spell is apparently over. The rains have come, and always in the afternoon and evening periods, affecting Grace’s outings. Well my dear daughter, not to worry, the visit will come; in the meantime, you just need to wait patiently.

For the record, Grace went without a poop for some time this past week, almost 5 days to be exact, but the good news is that stage is over. Thank God.

Too gruesome for us to post the aftermath, just imagine the accumulation over 5 days. Yucks!

First Family Portrait

2010-03-22T11:56:00.007+08:00

This by the way is our first official family photo. Wife has loads of beautiful photos with Grace. Alas, mine are always the not so well taken ones. Such is life =)

I want to officially record my thanks to my mother-in-law for her fabulous support here. Though there are some difficult moments with her, I am never in doubt or denial about how much she has done for us. I do hope Wife and myself will be able to do much more when our turn to be grandparents comes.

1 March: First time Grace tasted solid food.

Grace is 6 months old, and we started introducing her to solids. She’s a great eater…..haha, a chip off the old block for the love of good food. Or maybe the Eu Yang Seng Si Shen (Brown Rice Porridge) is really that good. I tasted it, rather bland, so it’s good for her. She has since tried avocado and pumpkin (she likes), banana (she dislikes) and sweet potato (acceptable thus far).

Hort Park

2010-03-21T11:40:00.003+08:00

Our little outing to Hort Park.

The March holidays are here, and other than work, I expect myself to spend more time with this great joy that I have been blessed with in my life. The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this break will be another visit to the beach, (Changi perhaps) and a walk to Pierce Reservoir that’s actually quite near home. I am also contemplating bringing Grace to the pool but am having second thoughts as she’s just over 6 months (Kristen started only when she was one)……so perhaps that should wait till June.

Watch out for our photographs.

With Love, From Dad

2010-03-18T22:09:00.011+08:00

It has been decided from today that I will too, at times jot down my thoughts about life and Grace here in the wife’s blog (in a different coloured font for differentiation). Reason being we will want this to serve as a record and perhaps for the very morbid rationale that either one of us may regret one day (hopefully never) for not telling Grace what we want to say.

Yesterday, Wife mentioned in passing that Grace is very close to me. And my response is but of course...I am not going to list down the reasons why. This is for Grace to list down herself when she’s older. What I am going to ensure is she will have many many reasons and fond memories of why she’s close to her father.

Just a quick summary from where the Wife has left off since she last blogged about our lives. That was 8 Dec, my brother’s Jerry birthday…talk about coincidences in life. Well, Jerry and Lee Ling are very busy with their baby boy, Zhe Kai, my nephew and Grace’s cousin who was born 1 week earlier than her on 25th August. 2009 was a great year for my family with the inclusion of the 2 babies.

This was Zhe Kai when he was one month old.

Apologies for the digression. From then till today, Grace went through the following (from her father’s perspective) in order:

- First Christmas: her first Christmas present was Sophie the Giraffe. It’s like the Ferrari of cars, so better buy for Grace right? http://www.sophie.sg/content/6-press-info

And as usual, we went to David and Ernest’s dad’s place in Changi for Christmas Dinner. I have been doing this since I knew the boys back in NUS in 1997……how time flies, now we are all fathers. Thank God for this group of buddies. This Christmas was indeed different, babies all round and we ended at 10pm latest with no serious drinking like before.

- First CNY: it was a good holiday for us…...super long weekend. But before CNY, it was just pure madness. Grace had her first professional haircut, before that, was always her beloved Grandmother who was doing it.

Grace received her own personal playmat for CNY, a gift from Grandma who made a killing the week before in her weekly dry swimming exercise.

Milestones

2009-12-08T13:19:00.007+08:00

Time to sleep. Playtime is over! Quick, bid everyone goodnight.

At slightly over 2 months old, Grace was babbling quite a bit. It's like dictation where she will baby talk for us to scribe. And now, at 3 months old, her neck and back are strong enough to allow her to sit up on the sofa, though she still requires some support. Looking at her physique, I think she's going to be a tall gal when she grows up.

A little person is starting to emerge too. She recognises voices, faces and places now. Despite bringing her out regularly and exposing her to people, she’s beginning to show her preferences. Only Dad, Mum and Grandma are allowed to carry her, and she’s the happiest at home. Grace is generally a cheery and playful girl who grins a lot in her sleep, and when she’s awake, she squeals with delight easily.

Grace has brought our family a new meaning. The word "us" now has even more committment and dedication as we journey together. We will seek to educate each other (not just her, though she should feature more prominently), to grow to become better people, and to be role models.

To our dear daughter who may read this one day, all we want for you, is happiness. And while I am at it, there are actually many more very desirable adjectives (like creativity, intellectual ability, prosperity... and the list goes on) that we will want you to have too.

Disclaimer: only the father with his God-given humour can come up with the last 2 paragraphs

Big Splash!

2009-12-08T13:03:00.002+08:00

Grace has a new addition to her toys recently – A swimming tub!! She enjoys kicking and splashing in the water tremendously. Swimming at an early age is purported to benefit babies physically, mentally and intellectually. However, the hidden agenda is to expend her energy. Somehow, the water therapy calms her down and she sleeps really well after a swim. This actually kills two birds with one stone. It gives us a breather and lets us have a few moments of peace in the evening while she has fun! Keke... = P

Daddy's Girl

2009-11-13T11:42:00.002+08:00

The father is officially a member of the "wrap-your-daddy-around-your-finger" club!

My Little Princess

2009-11-09T11:00:00.003+08:00

Dearest 4/3,

As promised, here's a photo of Grace in the dress all of you bought her. She looks very pretty in it. Thank you very much! Hang in there, the exams will be over soon! = D

Who Do You Trust Most?

2009-11-03T11:42:00.007+08:00

Went to a prata shop recently and found this interesting signage. What a clever way of conveying a message to your customers. = )

A Birthday Tribute to.....

2009-10-28T09:49:00.004+08:00

We celebrated my husband’s birthday a few days ago. This year’s celebration is different from the previous years as we have an additional member with us. To my husband, Grace is the best birthday gift he has ever received.

Since the arrival of our daughter, he has been wearing multiple hats at home while juggling with the demands at work. He is a supportive and loving husband, a hands-on father and a thoughtful son-in-law. Despite how tired he is after work, he has never failed to bring some cheer home. He will take over the task of attending to Grace from me so that I can rest. On weekends, he will wake up as early as 6am to do marketing so that I can sleep in a little longer, and by the time I’m up, breakfast is ready for me.

He is a natural when it comes to coaxing Grace to sleep, bringing a smile to her face, telling her bedtime stories, singing to her, changing her diapers, bathing her, cutting her tiny fingernails (which I dare not), and the list can go on and on.

I’m sure when Grace grows up, her heart will swell with gratitude and pride as she looks at her father because she has a wonderful father who loves her immensely and will deny himself of rest and things he wants so that she gets nothing but the best.

Happy Birthday!!

Say "Cheese"!!!

2009-10-14T09:59:00.003+08:00

Caught in the mood for making monkey faces.

Happy First Month

2009-10-04T10:26:00.007+08:00

Grace is finally one month old! It also spells the end of my "house arrest" aka confinement. The past 2 weeks has been rather challenging with a collicky Grace. Her crying spells often starts in the late morning till 12 midnight before she falls into deep sleep. Fortunately, her crying spells seem to have stopped 2 days ago. I hope this is not the calm before the storm! Let's see...

An Artist in the Making

2009-09-24T13:57:00.001+08:00

Grace has got talent! With just a wee bit of exertion, she’s capable of producing intricate and creative designs. But not on a canvas…. on mummy’s clothes, her cot and mattress. Grandma managed to abscond just in time. Lucky her! Well, this is just an evidence of her bullying behaviour as mentioned earlier.

Presenting to you Grace’s masterpiece – Quirky Spurt

Profile of a Baby Bully

2009-09-22T11:41:00.008+08:00

Name: Grace Koh
Age / Gender: 3 weeks old / female

Character Traits:
1) Demands to be served with no delay
2) The words “patience” and "wait" don't exist in her dictionary
3) Hates to be alone
4) Grunts loudly when service isn’t prompt enough or up to her expectations
5) Booming loud voice
6) All plans and schedules must revolve around her
7) Needs to be cuddled, otherwise you will be treated to her incessant shrills
8) Loves to poo and create a huge mess especially while the father is in the process of changing her diaper

Her Triumph Card:

Her coy smile (It has the power to melt hearts and erase all traces of her unreasonable demands made earlier)

The Aftermath

2009-09-14T17:25:00.005+08:00

Many would have thought that childbirth is one of the most traumatising experiences one could experience. I beg to differ. With the advancement in medical science, childbirth is made so much more bearable these days with epidural and other forms of pain relief. It is actually the aftermath of childbirth that is the often understated.

It has been the most distressing 2 weeks since the arrival of baby Grace. The stress level in the household peaked during the first few days after leaving the comfort zone of the hospital. Thankfully, we persevered and followed the advice given by the Lactation Consultation and Doctor. She’s doing great now. Except for some “fussy” days, she’s waking up only twice for night feeds so far. (Keeping my fingers crossed!)

This was her when she was 1 week old. As compared to the previous photo, you would notice that she had lost some weight and her face looked a little sunken.

A rare moment…. (This was taken just before we headed out to the paediatrician… she probably knew that she was finally getting out of the house for the first time after 1 week! That could have brought some cheer I guess.)

Grace Koh - 许恩乐 (1 September 2009)

2009-09-06T11:04:00.000+08:00

Welcome to the Koh family, Grace!

Love you always,

Dad & Mum

What's in the Name?

When we knew that it was going to be a baby gal, the name Grace immediately came to our minds. While some commented that Grace is too common and dated a name, it bears a very special significance to us.

We got the inspiration from the Bible. God’s grace in many ways is very similar to His mercy and love, and it specifically refers to the kindness of God towards the undeserving. We do not pride ourselves in our ability to create life. In fact, if not for God who deemed us worthy and bestowed this little life upon us, we wouldn't have managed to conceive her.

Grace does not have a choice of who her parents are, but we are specifically chosen to be parents to her. If I may quote one of our mentor’s words, this is a “blessed responsibility; a sacred trust from God”. One day, when the time is right, we will explain the significance of her name to her and it is our prayer that she will understand the magnitude of God’s grace and seek to walk in His image.

Ephesians 2: 4 - 9
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.... For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

As for her Chinese name, 恩 is Grace in Mandarin while 乐 means joy. We hope that her life will be filled with happiness and that she will find fulfilment in whatever she does in future.

Facebook or Blog… but No Twitter Please!

2009-08-17T13:52:00.004+08:00

I’m a late bloomer when it comes to technology. When I first started blogging less than 2 years ago, the blog wave had almost subsided and everyone was already riding the crest of yet another wave – Facebook. Now that I have my Facebook account, people are moving on to Twitter! Oh, don’t get me started on Twitter. No offence to those who are Twitter addicts, but personally, it simply caters to people who can’t read beyond an utterly boring and meaningless 140 word post that says, “Just got back .. homed.” If you only have an attention span of a fruit fly, this 396 word blog post will probably send your mind to a shutdown mode. So consider yourself warned!

With the imminent arrival of our new family member, I’ve been contemplating about either keeping a blog or maintaining a Facebook account for her.

Blogging is undeniably more meaningful where both my husband and I will write a chronicle of her growing years, share our parenting struggles and hand it over to her when she turns 18 or 21 as a birthday gift. But supposing there’s a number two some years down the road, do we keep another blog for him/her? The gravity of the issue is not just about being fair to both children, but rather do we have the time and energy to maintain two blogs? To think that I’m already struggling with one now!

Some of my friends have chosen the easy way out. They set up a Facebook account for their child and upload all the photos online so that it not only serves as an archive; it is also a platform where their friends can get to see their babies’ photos as well. Yes, it’s fuss-free and definitely less time-consuming. However, my issue with information on Facebook is that it lacks certain context. Hence, there could be things posted on your friends’ walls that you really don’t know what they mean. Will the photos make any sense with little text to explain the milestones my child has achieved at that point in time?

Well, if time and energy permit, I’m more inclined to keep a blog. As I take up part-time teaching next year, I hope I will have more time to take down momentous pictures and videos of Grace, detailing the many milestones of her growing-up years. We shall see!

To My Form Class - 5B

2009-08-12T15:44:00.007+08:00

Dearest 5B,

No worries. I’ve not forgotten all of you. Pardon me for my late post. Though I’m on maternity leave right now, there are just too many things that needed to get done in case Grace decides to make her grand appearance earlier.

Anyway, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your cards and gift. I missed many of you last Thursday (hmm…self-declared holiday I supposed? = P), nonetheless, thank you for sending your well-wishes via SMSes.

Though fleeting, I’ve watched all of you grow and blossom into mature and sensible young adults over the past 3 years. Personally, you are like a rose plant. A rose plant may be filled with thorns, but you never bother about them; rather you think about the beautiful rose that you see in that plant. I just want to tell you that all of you are very special to me. I’ve learnt much from all of you and you have brought much cheer to me over the years. Thank you for embracing me as your English teacher and form teacher.

You have started this long and arduous journey 5 years ago, so end it well. Don’t give up now.

When things seem difficult
and life uphill
Don't look too far ahead
keep plodding on
And inch by inch
the road will shorten, till
The roughest patches
will be past and gone
And you'll look back
surprised and cheered to find
That you have left
so many miles behind
And very soon
the tedious climb will stop
And you will stand
triumphant at the top!

Prayerfully and Lovingly,
Mrs Koh

To My Dearest 4/3... You Touched My Heart!

2009-08-11T13:15:00.013+08:00

Dearest 4/3,

First of all, thank you for throwing a mini farewell party for me last Thursday. You really caught me by surprise. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and well-wishes. I will tell Grace of your love. She will definitely love the dress and shoes you bought her.

Honestly, I was overwhelmed that day and there was actually a lot I wanted to say to all of you but I held back as I wanted my last lesson with you to end on a joyful note and not turn it into a teary farewell. However, when I saw the video, I was moved to tears. It brought back many bittersweet memories. It hadn’t been easy when I first took your class. I’m sure the first few months were a struggle as we tried to get used to one another.

Sure, there were times when you were extremely lethargic and won’t listen and I really felt like shooting all of you awake. There were also countless times when all of you just couldn’t wait for lessons to end just so that you could rush to your favourite stall to grab your fried eggs. Gosh! I’ve never seen a class so desperate for fried eggs before!

Nonetheless, you have been a great class to teach. I love your spontaneity and I have also come to appreciate your idiosyncrasies and your crankiness especially when you were high on sugar. You will be affectionately remembered for all the joys that you have brought me!

Lastly, all the best for your national exams and your future endeavours. I will be praying for all of you as you prepare for your exams. Live a life above and not below your potential!

I will keep all of you posted when Grace is born. In the mean time, take care and God Bless!

With Love,
Mrs Koh

P/S… Do keep in touch! My email address: kohpeiling@gmail.com.

What Do You See?

2009-08-11T12:52:00.005+08:00

Woahahah... this is so ironically hilarious that I just need to post this picture up! Did you see that??? = D

The Singapore Flyer

2009-05-01T09:54:00.000+08:00

Ever since the Singapore Flyer saga last year, we have been putting off our visit to the Singapore Flyer. The phobia of being stranded in mid air for hours and the thought of being lower-downed to safety from 165m above sea level is definitely not amusing.

However, we decided to give it a try this week. I expected the Singapore Flyer to be a ghost town after the incident but we were pretty surprised to see a healthy crowd (both tourists and locals) at the ticketing booth.

It actually felt rather odd to be a tourist in my home country. The 30 minutes ride crawled on slowly at first, but it was quite a breath-taking sight when we reached the highest point. I've never seen Singapore from that perspective. We have a beautiful country indeed. The night sky was vibrantly lit up by the sky-scrapers, the Fullerton Hotel, the iconic Esplanade and even the lights from the residential buildings at the outskirts of town could be clearly seen. Though it wasn't an experience to rave about, we will definitely re-visit the Singapore Flyer in a few years time with our daughter. By then, the much anticipated Integrated Resort will be bustling with life and that should change the night sky quite a bit.

We had our photo taken by a photographer and they got it super-imposed onto the image of the Singapore Flyer. It was very well-taken. However, the price ($18 for the first photo, $15 for subsequent photos) didn't go down very well with us! The husband asked if I would consider buying if the photo was taken with our daughter. Hmm… unlikely I guess. But on second thoughts… perhaps as evidence to our daughter that she has been there, done that, I may just relent.

Her First Present

2009-04-23T11:11:00.000+08:00

Recently, we bought our baby gal her first book – a cloth book. Basically, cloth books are meant to be interactive and they are supposed to give babies and toddlers a jump-start on learning. For instance, they'll learn to count from one to ten while they lift flaps, feel textures and play with the foldout playset.

Both my husband and I strongly believe that cultivating a reading habit must start from young. That lays the foundation of a child's language ability, mental development and even conversational skills. Hence, we are starting our daughter with cloth books and hopefully, her first experience with books will be a delightful and enjoyable one that will in turn ignite her interest in reading.

If there's one addiction that I want my daughter to indulge in, that will be reading!

Excuse me, she ain't gonna be a model!

2009-04-13T18:32:00.004+08:00

Yes, it's confirmed now. We are going to have a little princess! According to the sonographer, the baby is growing very well, in fact, a little too well. At this moment, she's an M-sized, bordering on an L-sized baby. The gynae suspected that she might be going through a growth spurt. I sure hope her growth rate will ease off a little in the last trimester. Otherwise, I will have a hard time carry her around in the later stage.

Seeing that she has extremely long limbs, the gynae unwittingly commented that she could be a model when she grows up. That was met by my unexpected silence. I bit my tongue out of courtesy, but I must have rolled my eyes in disgust and only managed to mutter an "OK". Sensing that the so-called flattery didn't go down very well with me, my gynae quickly moved on to the other aspects of the scan report.

A model?! Not that there's anything wrong with the profession. With all fairness, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, etc, they are successful models and have earned big bucks. However, being a proud and probably an egotistical mum-to-be, I think my daughter will possess more intellectual capacity that allows her to be engaged in other professions rather than just parading around in swimwear and flaunting her assets in public. After all, I've been taking fish and fish oil supplements faithfully which has the alleged effect of raising the child's IQ by 7 points! Yeah, you hear me right, SEVEN points. That should make a GREAT difference isn't it??!!!

*hmpf!*

Mars or Venus?

2009-03-05T09:57:00.003+08:00

Once the news of my pregnancy was out, I have been inundated with people asking if I'm carrying a boy or a girl. Well, at this point, we don't know yet. My husband and I are very much looking forward to the gynae's visit next week as the gender of our baby can be revealed if he/she cooperates during the scan. While there have been many speculations about the gender of our baby, most are based on old wives' tales and are inconclusive.

Some said that it's a boy because a boy with all the testosterone produced will take you down with him. Hence, that explains my pimple outbreak. There are also some who said that it must be a girl because a girl will tend to 'steal' the mother's looks. Conclusion: I've grown UGLIER.

Some said that it's a girl because mothers who are carrying girls tend to put on a lot of weight and I'll eventually balloon and look like a watermelon. Conclusion: I'm FAT and I've grown OUT OF SHAPE. (But isn't round a shape too?!)

Hmm… either way, they are not scoring any brownie points with me!

Nevertheless, whatever the gender may be, my husband and I are simply thankful for the little life that's growing in me right now. We just want the baby to be born healthy.

Farewell Candy!

2009-02-27T11:39:00.000+08:00

I remember stroking her head and cuddling Candy on a Sunday before I went home. Somehow, that usual gesture felt strangely odd that day when she came to me. However, I couldn't put a finger to it. It didn't occur to me that that was the last time I would ever touch and see her again.

Candy fell terribly ill on 13 February afternoon. She was diagnosed to have inflamed pancreas and there was nothing very much the vet could do to save her. She was put under observation for 4 days, but her condition didn't improve at all. The vet decided that it was pointless keeping her in the clinic, and advised us to take her home so that she would cheer up and perhaps, get better. I wanted to visit her at the clinic, but mum wouldn't allow me because of her flawed logic that pregnant women should stay away clinics/hospitals as far as possible.

I couldn't go back to my mum's to visit her at home that week either. I could only call to check on her condition. Mum said Candy seemed to be better as she had started drinking and eating again. I thought Candy was on the road to recovery and I would see her at the door greeting me the following Sunday. However, that was only my wishful thinking on my part.

Last Friday, 18 February, I called home after lessons to check on Candy. There was dead silence at the end of the line when I asked mum about her. Then her voice broke and I knew that the most dreadful had happened. The only consolation was that Candy had apparently died peacefully in her sleep.

I was upset that mum kept the news from me. If I hadn't called, mum wouldn't have told me about her passing on. I could at least have rushed home to say goodbye to her. But it was all too late. The vet had everything settled by the time I got to know about the news.

Though some may find Candy really spoilt and ill-behaved, having her is a real joy. To my parents, she was the most faithful companion. To my brother, she was the cutest soft toy on earth. To me, she was a great friend who would snuggle up to me whenever I was down. Indeed, she had brought tremendous joy to my family for the past 10 years.

Actually, I should be glad that the illness took Candy away swiftly and she didn't have to put up with the pain for too long. Nevertheless, it is still very painful to lose her. The only comfort that we could console ourselves with is that she had a good life with us. We had given nothing but the best to her for the past 10 years. I hope she felt our love for her too. We have decided not to have another dog ever again because the pain of losing one is just too much to bear.

Farewell Candy, you are greatly missed…

Baking in Progress

2009-02-26T15:44:00.009+08:00

Yes, I haven't been updating my blog lately. Come to think about it, it has been almost 2 months. Well, I do have valid reasons for that. Here they go…

By now, our families and our close friends have already been informed about a bun that's currently baking in the oven. Hence, from this day onwards, you shall read about the chronicles of the next 26 weeks till the oven goes "DING!" some time in August.

The term "Morning Sickness" has taken a whole new meaning for the past 2 months. Strangely, the nausea plagues me mostly in the afternoons and peaks at dinner time. The faintest stench will bring on waves of nausea and send me retching by the side. I've never hurled so much in my life. It literally zaps me of every ounce of my energy. But thank God that my "Evening Sickness" allows me to go to school and teach in the morning so far. Otherwise, my graduating classes would have missed a lot of lessons (though I'm sure they would love to have me report sick so that they can have their free periods!).

Sleep is never enough. During the initial weeks of my pregnancy, I was capable of sleeping through the day, only to wake up for my meals. The physical discomfort was overwhelming and the only solution was to sleep it off. However, sleep isn't a luxury now that school has started. Consequently, I have to hit the sack before 9.30pm every night.

My cravings come in seasons too. First, it was Nasi Briyani and it got to be the one from Allaudin at Tekka Market. For a while, we toyed with the idea of naming our child after the stall if it's a boy. Hmm… Allaudin Koh. Sounds good? Second, it was and still is, the Golden Arches' double cheeseburger, followed by Fillet O' Fish and now, it's McChicken. Third, it's sushi (only the cooked ones though). I've had sushi the whole of last Sunday and yet I'm still craving for more. Amongst the other foods that I like are pizza, french fries, Ikea hot dog buns, Maggi mee with loads of tomato sauce (yeah, I know it's disgusting. Blame it on the baby!), Lor Mee with lots of vinegar and basically anything extremely sour or savory.

So far, the nausea-inducing list includes:

1) Fish (but fried/processed fish is alright)
2) Prawns (Again, it must be fried in order to be held down in the tummy)
3) Chocolates (surprise, surprise.. how I used to love them!)
4) Cakes
5) Room-temperature / ice water (weird, but it's true! Plain water has to be hot or luke warm)

I hope the list will stop growing. Or else, life will be pretty miserable.

Lastly, thank you all for your well-wishes. Some of our friends have been the most kind by wishing us "Good Luck" and "Welcome to the land of no sleep". Can't blame them…I guess they are speaking from their recent experience. = D

Joyeux Anniversaire

2009-01-10T13:07:00.003+08:00

Coincidentally, my birthday fell on the first day of school this year. It was a soft start this year as it started on a Friday, and I had the weekend to rest up before the real thing kicked in this week.

As I come of age, I don't quite pay attention to my birthdays anymore. When I was much younger, I looked forward to my birthday because I wanted to grow up quickly and be independent. But now, I just wish that time can slow down a little so that the onset of fine lines around my eyes and the deepening of my laughing lines could be delayed. Sadly, time waits for no one.

I didn't hear my husband planning for dinner on my birthday, so I thought we would probably go back to my mum-in-law's for dinner as usual. I wasn't disappointed with that at all actually. In fact, I was planning to tell him that if mum wasn't cooking, I wanted to eat Popeyes for my birthday (available only at Changi Airport and the Singapore Flyer). It's a fast food joint, equivalent to KFC but their fried chicken is a different cut altogether from KFC. I simply can't get enough of their fried chicken!

However, being a very thoughtful and loving husband, he brought me to a French restaurant, Le Bistrot at the Singapore Indoor Stadium; something different from our usual fare. I must say that it was a good choice.

It was a stylish yet cozy restaurant with impeccable service that wasn't overbearing. Apart from a group of gals who were inconsiderately yakking and laughing away loudly a few tables from us, the ambience was perfect. The French cuisine was really well-done. We enjoyed the food thoroughly.

For starters, we had Foie gras (duck liver) and Hokkaido scallops.

Quail's meat and Duck Leg Confit were our main courses.

Finally, we had something similar to an apple crumble and lemon tart for dessert. Sorry, we forgot to take a picture of them before we digged in. They were actually exquisitely layed out on the plates when they were served. However, they looked too inviting and alluring that we forgot all about taking pictures. Yeah, what's new right? = P

Embracing 2009

2008-12-29T13:41:00.003+08:00

Hi folks, my apologies for not blogging during the school holidays. I was bumming around in Singapore, mostly resting at home. Just being able to laze around, go around Singapore to try out new food (with the new 2009 Makansutra of course!), and to top it off, catch up on my beauty sleep are really some of the simple joys in life. To sum it up, it was simply eat, sleep and be merry this holiday…. an extremely well-rested and rejuvenating one.

I wonder if you are looking forward to the new year. Well, I definitely am! In fact, both my husband and I are really excited about 2009. We’re looking forward to some new challenges ahead. For my husband, he will be starting his new portfolio at Riverside Secondary as HOD. Being a leader in the middle management is definitely not an easy feat. However, with his drive and resourcefulness, I’m confident that he will rise to the occasion. As for myself, there will be some changes to my deployment at work. Be it at work or at a personal level, I'm going to embrace the new challenges.

Whatever new challenges 2009 may bring, armed with God’s strength, grace and wisdom, we can certainly ride out the storms together!

A Whale of a Time??

2008-11-25T12:32:00.003+08:00

I came across these grotesque and disturbing pictures recently. Apparently, the massacre took place in a place called Faroe Island in Denmark. Whales are hunted for their meat and amazingly, almost every part of the whale can be used. The islanders use the blubber for processing oil, the skin for ropes and lines, stomachs for floats, and the esophagus for shoes. Undeniably, the whales do not die in vain and they truly serve their worth to the fullest, but if people do not put a stop to whale-killing, they will become extinct in no time.

Mankind is definitely going down a road of self-destruction. I’m afraid one day, we will join the list of the endangered species!

In the Mood for Indulgence

2008-11-22T13:49:00.009+08:00

It's the school holidays now and very soon, I will be off work officially. It has been a very hectic year. Somehow, this hasn't been a very good year for me especially when I have been plagued by poor health in the second half of the year. Much as I'm looking forward to the new roles and challenges ahead in 2009, I can't be more relieved now that the school term is coming to a close and I can finally have the peace of mind to rest and get down to doing some things for myself.

Despite the fact that the next few days of solitude has provoked feelings of profound dread as my husband is away in Cambodia, I've the luxury of succumbing myself to all my little indulgences. I can stay up as late as I want to, sleep in till noon, be a couch-potato in front of the TV the whole day or simply plonk myself down on the sofa and devour a story book, taking only occasional bio-breaks and meal-breaks. All of which my husband will never approve of if he's around. To him, all that are ridiculously unhealthy.

One of the things which I enjoy thoroughly during the school holidays is immersing myself in the boundless world of stories, where my imagination can be set wild. Yesterday, I finished one which I would categorically place under the "Trashy but entertaining" section. Well, at least the suspense kept me hopelessly hooked till the end.

Right now, I'm into my second book, Madwoman on the Bridge by Su Tong. It's a story set during the fall-out of the Cultural Revolution about a madwoman and her cheongsam which she will not take off, and a young doctor who covets her cheongsam and will stop at nothing to get her hands on the historical gown. It's quite interesting to see how the story unfolds.

Hmm…perhaps once I'm done with this book, I will also start looking out for another of his critically acclaimed novella, Raise the Red Lantern which was eventually made into a film by Zhang Yimou.

Happy Birthday Aunty M!

2008-11-15T09:03:00.003+08:00

Hong Kong, Sept 2005

Macau, Sept 2005

We celebrated Aunty M's birthday this week. Come to think about it, I've known her for almost 6 years. As one gets on in life, forging new friendships becomes exponentially difficult especially with colleagues. But somehow, when it comes to Aunty M, it was different. We went travelling together, we went on shopping sprees, we went for makan sessions all the time, etc. Essentially, we share many fond memories together. After the transfer to AMKSS, though we still meet up for dinners, I really miss having lunch and going out for tea after school with her.

One aspect which I admire about Aunty M is her dedication to teaching. After more than 20 years in teaching, she's still going strong. In fact, many have chosen to leave the service once their term of indentured servitude is over. However, Aunty M remains resilient in the face of the ever-changing education landscape.

Aunty M may not be a HOD, but if there is one word to describe Aunty M, that will be HOT – Happy Ordinary Teacher!

Happy Birthday Aunty M!

The Purpose Driven Life

2008-11-05T08:11:00.008+08:00

I bought this book some time ago but never got down to reading it until yesterday. It is equivalent to a self-help book but from a Christian perspective. As I was reading the first few chapters, I came across this paragraph which struck a chord in me.

"Knowing your purpose motivates your life. Purpose always produces passion. Nothing energizes like a clear purpose. On the other hand, passion dissipates when you lack a purpose. Just getting out of bed becomes a major chore. It is usually meaningless work, not overwork, that wears us down, saps our strength and robs our joy."

For a student who sets his mind on achieving academic excellence and getting into the Polytechnic / JC of his choice, he will be driven to work hard because it is apparent that if he puts in the right amount of effort coupled with the right studying techniques, he can expect good results.

On the contrary, a student with a laid-back attitude is usually one with no sense of purpose, no goals and no dreams at all. Lessons are of utter tedium to them and any amount of homework is burdensome. He sees no reason to study hard or pay attention during lessons. This lack of a sense of purpose in life usually spells a very bleak future. In fact, it will be the quintessence of a wretched life.

Food for thought:
What's the driving force in your life now?

Down Memory Lane

2008-10-30T15:45:00.009+08:00

My first three months in JC when all of us were still in our secondary school uniforms. Can you spot me? = P

Yeah right, we looked a little nerdy. But who cares? Haha

This was taken at the end of our JC 2 before we graduated.

Recently, I took the bus number 76 down to Parkway Parade. That was the bus I had to take for 2 years while I was in JC. As I sat on the bus, all the memories of my JC life came crashing back at me.

New private developments and new eateries have sprung up in the East. Now, the place looks almost foreign to me, and even the shops at Parkway Parade have completely changed. Not surprising. It has been more than 10 years since I graduated.

I remember how I used to catch my forty winks on the way to school on the bus and how I would miss my stop and I had to sweep up all the leaves on the parade square as my punishment for being late (yeah, I had my fair share of struggles back then too = P). On my lucky days, some kind souls from school would shake me out of my snooze land before I got black-listed by the Discipline Master. I also remember my Civics tutor (form-teacher) cum GP tutor and her snarky comments, my endearing Math tutor, my JC friends and how we used to hang out at Parkway Parade and Siglap after school. It was fun.

Though working life makes me feel empowered, it comes with a lot of stress, frustrations and worries as well. As a student, I was not able to enjoy the luxuries of life, but life was simple and carefree then.

Will I relinquish some of the luxuries that I enjoy now to go back to the basics? I think I will readily do so.

~Something Creepy~~

2008-10-20T14:26:00.002+08:00

There's something creepy going on in my house….

For the record, it has nothing to do with the Halloween season. It has been discovered that we have a lizard gallivanting in our kitchen lately. This lizard is ostensibly intelligent. It has successfully kept a profile so low that no one's seen it. It has also evaded all attempts to capture it, leaving only traces of its presence around – the by-product of all its feasting! Perhaps this is done deliberately to boast to us that it can get away with defacing our spotless kitchen with its droppings. Judging from the size of its droppings, I suspect it is a mutant-sized, gooey creature.

I'm on a mission to hunt this fellow down. Pardon me for not taking a pacifist approach to life when it comes to creepy crawlies. If I catch a fly, I will release it outside the house. If I catch a spider, I will escort it to the woods. BUT if I catch a lizard…. it's going to be SO DEAD!

*No pictures for this post. My blog shall remain untainted by creepy crawlies!

Connected (保持通话)

2008-10-15T09:57:00.008+08:00

When it comes to re-makes, I'm usually not very keen to watch the movies. To me, they are a mere repackaging of the original plot with some A-list movie stars or popular idols of the moment as part of the main cast in order to pique public interest and make such movies into a box-office hit. More often than not, such re-makes are squalidly produced for mass consumption.

However, after watching the recent Hong Kong movie "Connected", starring Lousi Koo and Barbie Hsu which is an adaptation of the Hollywood movie "Cellular" (2004), I must say it changes my perception of re-makes. Even though I haven't watched "Cellular" before, I think the Chinese version is of a respectable standard for a re-make.

My Review:
This is one of the few Chinese movies that I enjoy! It is a great thriller cum suspense movie that put me at the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I'm also impressed with Barbie Hsu's acting. I'm glad she has shed her cutie-pie / damsel-in-distress image in this movie for a resourceful IT geek who tries desperately to save her family (Right, still a damsel-in-distress, but a character with some intellect!). It's really worth a watch.

Some said that the Chinese version is much better than the "Cellular". Well, I can only review it once I get my hands on the Hollywood version.

Irresistible!

2008-10-08T10:08:00.004+08:00

A curry puff a week keeps my woes at bay!

Much to my dismay, my favourite curry puff stall in the Woodlands Industrial Estate has closed down recently. No doubt, there are other options available and most people laud about Old Chang Kee and Tip Top Curry Puffs, I have my personal misgivings about them.

Reasons:

Old Chang Kee (OCK): Though OCK has come very far since its inception, they are becoming too commercialised for my liking. Their puffs have lost the taste of a home-made curry puff. To me, they are a mere quick fix in desperate times.

Tip Top Curry Puffs: I don't support tax evaders! As a good citizen who is pathologically obsessive about being honest with our Singapore Government, I find it repulsive that a millionaire like the owner should have the audacity to under-declare his profits! Read this article.

Knowing that I have been gravely deprived of a good curry puff, my husband brought me to a stall that Makansutra rated full marks (6 chopsticks!! – Die die must try!). Deep-fried to a delectable golden brown, the crust of the curry puffs is crispy and their puffs are stuffed with generous chunks of potato and a slice of egg. The curry is simply awesome with just the right about of spiciness.

If I may be pardoned for the use of Singlish here, there can't be another word that describes the sense of satisfaction derived more aptly than this one - SHIOK!!!

Eureka!!!

2008-10-02T15:18:00.005+08:00

Melben Seafood has always been known for its Crab Bee Hoon. In fact, it has become an institution over the years. The only thing I dread about dining at there is the waiting time. Their queue never seems to cease (even at 9pm)! We thought we had to resign to the fact that there's nowhere else which serves such good quality crabs in the heartland.

BUT…. Lo and behold, we found a gem!

Lately, we uncovered a secret spot where they serve fresh and big crabs that can give Melben a run for their business. I'm not going to divulge its location just in case everybody swamp over to check it out and I slip back to square one - queuing up for crabs again! (Yeah, kick me for being selfish but I'm not going to budge.)

The eatery is well-hidden under a tired-looking HDB block where it will probably go unnoticed if you're not observant enough. It looks like any other coffeeshop with foldable tables, plastic chairs and unremarkable fluorescent lighting. While many seafood joints try to ride on Melben's success and emulate their menu, this eatery offers unique dishes such as their Crab coated with salted egg yoke and butter, Pumpkin Tofu, Fried Brinjal, etc.

Though every fiber in me is urging me to go back again to check out the other specialties, I must get a hold of myself. My quest for good food cannot stop here.

We have made a pact with our eating kakis (our beloved aunt and uncle) to embark on a gastronomic journey starting this weekend to ease the stress of exam-marking. So stay tune for a series of my upcoming gastronomic rumination!

Chilling Out

2008-10-02T11:15:00.006+08:00

If I have to choose a place to chill out and hang out with friends, it has to be Holland Village! Nestled in the middle of a residential estate, Holland V transforms into a bustling enclave at night. It has an array of cafés, bars and ritzy restaurants which are usually filled with the corporate crowd and expatriates in the evenings

On the eve of the public holiday during the week, we managed to stake out a spot at our familiar haunt which serves a potent mix of lips-smacking finger food, house pours and beer. I like this particular café bar very much. It's a great place to hang out with friends without the formality and hassle of an up-market bar. On top of that, they engage rather good live bands to perform every night. If we can, we like to go on Friday nights when the East India Company (EIC) plays. This band really has a knack of getting the crowd in a mass sing-along session.

Instead of my usual mock tail or juice, I decided to have a glass of white wine that night. The gratification that came along with it was most welcoming. Surely, immersing myself in the relaxing ambience with decent wine and great company is one of the many pleasures in life!

Rejected Olympic Sport: Toddler Tossing

2008-09-29T17:41:00.013+08:00

While my heart skipped a beat each time the child was tossed up into the air, the adults in the video were obviously in immense glee. While I was appalled by the parents' flippant regard for their children's safety and their nonchalance, it was an innocuous child's play to them.

I will never do that to any child or allow anyone to fling my child around like that. Over my dead body! In all seriousness, I think the parents need to be counselled and sent to a rehabilitation centre for cognitive disorder.

My conclusion: Either I'm just a nervous nelly or this is a shining example of my husband's pet phrase, "Stupidity has no cure"!

What Am I??

2008-09-26T10:20:00.004+08:00

When I was much younger, I liked to try out personality quizzes. But soon, I realised that these quizzes aren't exactly accurate. It has never failed to amaze me of how the analysis is done based on the extrapolation of my responses to some seemingly incongruous questions. More often than not, I find that the analysis is an over-generalisation of my personality that could apply to almost anyone on the street.

Well, it has been about 10 years since I last took a personality quiz. Recently, I came across one and I decided to give it a try. Undeniably, there's some degree of truth in it. It's actually quite fun. Have a go at it when you are free!

http://www.quizbox.com/personality/test82.aspx

Something Fishy

2008-09-23T09:40:00.006+08:00

A firm tug on the line and the spinning of the reel at high speed will send any angler into frenzy with his adrenaline pumping wildly.

We went sail fishing at Rompin 2 weekends ago. I managed to catch the magnificent sight of the sailfish leaping out of the waters and flying in the air. They were truly awesome.

Sailfishing is definitely not an easy feat. It requires oodles of stamina and brute strength in order to outlast the 20-30kg sailfish for at least 15 minutes. The fears of being dragged out of the boat by the sailfish or have your expensive fishing gear slipped out of your hands are omnipresent. (Some first-rate fishing gears can cost up to a few thousand dollars!) Regardless of all that, the sheer ecstasy of heaving the sailfish out of the water is mind-blowing.

Question: Where was I amidst of all the excitement?

While the others were battling with the sailfish, I was completely knocked out from 8a.m to 5p.m. on the boat. I was literally immobilized. Any amount of exertion would send me retching at the edge of the boat. Unfortunately, I was a victim of the dreaded seasickness. Being sea-sick is one of the worst things you will ever experience in your life. It's a combination of the worst car sick, worst roll coaster ride, the worst hangover and guess what? This is just half the agony and misery of being sea sick! You seriously don't want to experience that. So consider yourself warned!

The scrumptious seafood dinner was my only comfort at the end of the day. Despite being out of action, I got to enjoy the fruit of their labour. We had lots of calamari and a rainbow trout (an expensive and rare fish)!

Though I highly doubt that I would tag along for the next fishing trip, I can't wait for my husband to bring back all his prized catches!

Thumbs Up for Zam Zam!

2008-09-19T07:01:00.004+08:00

Are you game enough for huge crispy pratas and delicious juicy Mutabak (a stuffed pancake filled with eggs, onions, mutton or chicken with curry sauce already inside). Talking about it just makes my head spin!

Singapore ZamZam serves excellent Muslim food, a blend of Malay and Indian influences that are part of what makes Singapore such a culinary paradise. My husband said that their Mutabak was the best in town. A must-try if you happen to be around Arab Street!

I'm definitely going to patronise ZamZam soon to try their famous Briyani or otherwise, the Roti Prata!

Geylang Serai, Here I Come!

2008-09-16T07:05:00.003+08:00

It was my first time at the Geylang Ramadhan Bazaar last Friday to immerse myself in the festive mood. I had always wanted to visit the Geylang Serai during this period but never got down to doing it till last Friday. Thanks to my husband's friend, Sham, I finally got to try some of the tastiest Muslim food! Fried potatoes, fried prawn fritters, fried fish sticks (Sorry, I don't know their actual names) and not forgetting the otah. They were mostly deep-fried but they were all finger-licking-good!

I think one aspect of racial harmony is to be able to appreciate their culture and their cuisine. My husband is one classic example of a true-blue Singaporean. Some of his best buddies from his NUS days are Malays and Indians. If you were to take a picture of them together, I think that would be the best shot of a well-integrated society. In fact, an excellent snapshot for promoting racial harmony in Singapore!

Happy Belated Teachers' Day

2008-09-11T07:04:00.003+08:00

On Monday when I came back to school after the September holidays, I saw a lovely collage in my tray. I guess the students must have gotten the office staff to pass to me after I left.

Just a little Thank-you note for the 4 gals…

Dear Cherie, Joe Yong, Kai Jie and Seraphina,

I appreciate your efforts. It is being displayed at my desk now. Thank you for the thoughtful gift! = )

Excuse Me, Are You Britney Spears?

2008-09-05T08:43:00.001+08:00

I came across this very interesting video. Can you guess which one is NOT a girl? Be honest! = D

For the record, I got it wrong.

Let Your Hair Down!!

2008-09-03T10:00:00.003+08:00

We were at the SAF Yacht Club last Thursday for the Teacher’s Day Dinner (kindly sponsored by the School Advisory Committee). It was a beautiful and serene place by the sea.

This year, the EL department was in charge of planning for the dinner and we came up with the theme “Red Hot Summer Nite”. Though ironically, it rained that night, our dampen spirits were not at all dampened. Decked out in our colourful summer outfits, it was a refreshing change from the mundane office wear we put on for work!

Happy Teachers' Day!!

2008-09-01T08:24:00.001+08:00

This year, I received some very meaningful cards and gifts from my students. I'm deeply moved by what they wrote in their cards, especially from some of the "naughty" ones.

Though these students may not be the best in terms of academics, they are a bunch of very warm and genuine people. On many dreary days, they would brighten up my day with their enthusiasm and humour, and it has indeed been a joy to be their teacher.

Disclaimer: However, I must still insist that I was right during the times when I was upset with some of you for poor performance. = P

Another side track, to my dearest 4B, all the best for your Social Studies and English papers. You are very much in my prayers! God bless. = )

Just as a side note, my husband also received some significant gifts from his students, both current and ex. I was blown away by a box of home-baked cake from his 4E1 when he brought it back. From the cards, some of those that caught my attention was one that sent her greetings to me too as I was her Sec 1 music teacher and another which included geographical diagrams in the background as part of the design of the card for my husband (Well, he’s a geography teacher).

Thank you all for the well wishes and love!!!

Time Flies!

2008-08-24T20:02:00.009+08:00

Last night, my church celebrated her 35th anniversary. Attending the dinner has become a yearly affair ever since I was baptized. I truly rejoice with the church and I thank God for shaping Bethany to become a church where His Word serves as the foundation and cornerstone.

Personally, I have never liked attending dinner functions due to the need to make small talk with acquaintances. This dinner was rather different though, as my good friend Waifong attended with her baby son, Ernest. However, they were held up by the crazy weekend evening traffic in Orchard area. But of course when they finally did, Ernest quickly became the centre of our attention.

From http://www.thinkbabynames.com/, I discovered that the baby's name actually means "serious; determined; sincere." Mmmmm, come to think of it, the other Ernest we know, Ernest Vai (currently HOD of St Hilda's Primary), certainly possesses all these qualities. Do check out what your name means and see if it fits you.

Coming back to baby Ernest, he is a lovely boy; mild-tempered and charming in his quiet way. He has certainly grown since the days where he fell asleep in my husband's arms 2 years ago. Now, I can hardly carry him for 5 minutes without feeling any strain.

These pictures were taken 2 years back. Look how much he has grown!

May the Lord continue to watch over him and bless his life abundantly!

Wee's Birthday Celebration

2008-08-20T07:00:00.001+08:00

Recently, we celebrated one of our friend's 40th birthday. Like us, Wee and his wife YH are both teachers as well. Wee is current HOD in ADSS, and YH is in RGS. Just a short advert for the man of the moment, he is the driving force behind ADSS's robotics successes. Happy birthday Wee......and many more to come.

That's the famous chocolate cake from Jane's Cake Station. How does it taste? Makansutra's verdict is "Die die must try", my verdict is "Try already then can die".

As for the childish MIB (man in black), that's Joel, another good friend, who obviously does not behave like a 31 year old. By the way, he's single and funny (and an ex-teacher too). Anyone with pretty aunts, cousins e.t.c, let me know (can get free Maths tution if your intro works, haha).

Bitten by the Cake Bug

2008-08-16T17:02:00.002+08:00

Recently, the cake bug has bitten us. For no apparent reason, my husband just told me he missed the kaya cake from Good and Rich Cake Shop and so, we zoomed down to Beach Road and bought 2 Kaya rolls. It took us 3 days to polish them off, and after that, he suggested buying the cake at Jane's Cake Station at Jalan Kayu. Being the dutiful and obedient wife, I raised no objections, went to Jane's and bought the cake for a friend's birthday. Oh along the way, we ate a prata each from Thavesi (Singapore’s Best Roti Prata Restaurant). So my dear students, if you noticed any weight change in my husband or me, this is the reason why.

Something to Think About

2008-08-16T15:58:00.009+08:00

Received this from an ex-student and found it rather meaningful.

I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you.
我愛你不是因為你是誰，而是我在你面前可以是誰。

No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.

沒有男人或女人是值得你為他流眼淚，值得的那一位，不會要你哭。

Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

那人不是你所想般愛你，但不代表那人不是全心全意地愛你。

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.

一個真正的朋友是向著你伸手，觸動你心靈的人。

The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them.

掛念一個人最差的方式，就是你坐在他身旁，而知道你不能擁有他。

Traffic Stopping!

2008-08-11T10:41:00.005+08:00

Last Friday, the school celebrated National Day by taking part in Connect Singapore. This picture was taken slightly before 12 noon when the students were getting ready to recite the pledge together. It was quite a scene as students stopped in the middle of the junction while motorists honked impatiently at the traffic junction.

Much to our dismay, after about a 2 hour wait under the hot sun, most of us missed the recitation as we couldn't hear the radio station clearly. By the time we knew that we had to recite the pledge, the whole event was already over. What a pity!

An Eventful Weekend

2008-08-04T17:38:00.005+08:00

Our Saturday morning started off with a $70 traffic summon. Reason being: Parking within 6 metres of a junction. We were absolutely indignant about it because we saw that the other cars parking within a metre away from us didn't get any summon ticket. So why us?

To cheer ourselves up, we decided to go to one of our favourite haunts in Toa Payoh for dinner together with our Aunty and Uncle. Looking at the crowd, my husband decided to drop us off first so that we could place our order. Strangely, it took an unusually long time for him to join us at the table. When he finally arrived, he brought with him a really BAD news - He had locked himself out of the car!

Earlier on, my husband sent the car for a "spa treatment" on Friday. I guess the worker must have accidentally turned on the child lock while polishing the car. He was meddling with the lock when the car door slammed shut. We have a spare key at home. However, the problem was the house keys were locked in the car!

We ended up taking a cab to our Uncle's house, took his car, he drove us to my mum's place to get the spare keys we left at her house for an emergency like this, drove us to our house, get the car keys and went back to Toa Payoh to unlock our car. Talk about running in circles!

This is a classic example of Murphy's law: If anything can go wrong, it will.

It's the Durian Season!

2008-07-28T07:26:00.004+08:00

The Mau Shan Wang!!

We had a Durian Fiesta over the weekend. My in-laws were raving about how good the Mau Shan Wang (literally translated as Cat Mountain King) and I thought I got to give a try. Though my husband doesn't really fancy durians because of its pungent smell and its lingering aftertaste, it was very sweet of him to buy D24 durians and the Mau Shan Wang for me. Thanks Mr Koh, they were excellent!

The durian seller said that Sultan durian is the brother of D24 durian and guess what is Mau Shan Wang then? It is the Father of all Durians of course! = P

Calling all durian lovers out there, have you tried all of them yet?

Mau Shan Wang (Cat Mountain King)
* Grown in Pahang and East Malacca
* Golden Yellow flesh
* Very smooth texture and no annoying fibres
* Sweet initially but get bitter when you swallow

Jin Feng (Golden Phoenix)
* Grown in East Malacca
* Light Creamy and Milky flesh
* Soft and creamy texture and seeds are shrivelled and flat
* More towards sweet but a bit bitter

Hei Zhen Zhu (Black Pearl)
* Grown in Johor
* Slightly greyish flesh
* Each piece is small and have a smooth and creamy texture
* More towards Bitter taste

Qing Zhu (Green Bamboo)
* Grown mainly in Pahang
* Have a thin layer of skin to its flesh and extremely creamy when the skin break
* Very mild taste, not too sweet or bitter

D24
* Grown in Pahang
* Each piece is big and creamy
* Normally used in durian puffs due to its taste, price and amount of flesh in each seed
* Taste bitter

XO
* Grown in Johor
* Pale Yellow colour
* Texture are quite soft and runny. The seeds are characterised to be very small.
* Taste Bitter

D13
* Grown in Johor
* The exterior of the fruit is small and round compared to other Durians
* Dark Yellow flesh
* The texture is moist and have no fibre
* Taste sweet but seeds a bit big

Hong Xia (Red Prawn)
* Slight reddish flesh
* The texture is firm, yet creamy
* Has a bittersweet taste

A Love Story - Christian, The Lion

2008-07-23T11:50:00.007+08:00

Here's an amazing video of a full-grown lion's reunion with its owners who bought the lion cub from Harrods and raised him as a pet. However, as Christian grew bigger, they had no choice but to send him to Africa where he could roam freely in the wild.

I have always thought that such ferocious animals will only pounce on its prey or intruder given any opportunity, let alone remembering their owners and giving them a "lion hug" after a year of separation.

Unbelievable!

A Surprise

2008-07-22T09:28:00.005+08:00

I received a pleasant surprise last weekend when I was out shopping. At that time, one of the shops was having some discounts for their members but since I wasn't a member, I was prepared to pay the full price. However, what came next was something I wasn't prepared to hear.

Cashier: Are you are member?
Me: No, I'm not.
Cashier: It's ok. I'll give you a 15% discount because you were my teacher.

What really touched me wasn't the discount I received. More importantly, it was heart-warming to know that some students actually remember their teachers and bother to acknowledge or greet them even when they have already left school.

How time flies! She is the first batch of students I taught and now she is already out working. I think in no time, some of my ex students may even be getting married soon. Oh dear, I've really aged!

My dear ex-students,

If our paths do cross one day, please pardon me when I don't remember your names. Just do me a favour by jotting my memory. I will be more than happy with just a simple "hi" and to know that all is well with you. = )

Solving the Math Problem

2008-07-21T12:38:00.002+08:00

The Preliminary Exams for the 'N' level students are just round the corner (approximately 1.5 weeks from now). I sure hope that my 4B is into their final lapse of their revision. The next 2-3 months are the most crucial period, so don't lose focus now. Press on!

More importantly, don't ever make such blunders during your exams!

Eye Candies

2008-07-16T12:01:00.002+08:00

Recently, I got hooked onto the Korean drama, "The Legend" somehow. Probably it's because of the cast. They have my favourite actor, Bae Yong Joon (Winter Sonata) and of course, not forgetting his bubbly love interest in "The Legend", Lee Ji Ah.

I think the Koreans have a knack of creating melodramatic love stories. Combined with the melancholic love songs, these stories can be rather moving. My husband will often tease me by pushing the tissue box to my face during those heart-wrenching moments. Arghh...

Though these love stories are usually too dramatic and exaggerated, I still like to watch them. It's a form of escapism I guess. = P

His First Love...

2008-07-14T12:50:00.016+08:00

Suzuki TS200

TZR125 Honda Super 4Honda CBRR400

These are the motorbikes my husband used to ride during his younger days (before he started teaching). If I didn't recall wrongly, my husband said that he started riding since he was in JC. He owned four different bikes over the period of his "va va vroom" days.

No doubt, they look pretty cool and if you were to notice, each model got progressively more suave-looking. Hmm… he must had been very rich back then.

Now, he complains that he's financially impoverished because he has given me all his possessions. He probably only has enough money to buy this...

Rocketing Prices and Now This...

2008-07-11T17:01:00.004+08:00

To me, it's fine if the ERP gantries are erected out at sea. But I bet someone is going to jump if he has to pay ERP when he goes out fishing. = P

Prices of food and energy seem to be rocketing sky high lately. It can be pretty tough on the pockets if they are not deep enough to tide over this rough patch.

One evening, we were discussing about some of the belt-tightening measures we could explore if we were ever tangled in dire financial snares. Much to my horror, my husband suggested buying a motorbike to cut down on petrol consumption. More importantly, he said he would look fiercely cool to the students. What?! I was floored!

I seriously hope he meant that as a joke.

The Evolution of Man

2008-07-08T14:17:00.003+08:00

Hmm… is this the result of "mcdonaldisation"?

I remember the good old days when loads of potato chips, fast food and sugared drinks could do no damage to my health. Now, I'm rather watchful of what goes into my system.

During my time, eating at McDonald's was a once-in-a-blue-moon treat. It was a luxury in fact. Now, it seems that an average teenager can easily afford an Extra value meal at the food fast joints. To quote some of them, they said that they usually "KFCed after school".

To be honest, amongst all the food fast joints, KFC ranks as my favourite too. However, I am now pretty watchful of my weight and very conscious about what goes into my system. I do snack on chips and I LOVE burgers, but I eat them in moderation now.

Come to think about it, the Jack n Jill's potato chips used to be my daily fixed when I was in primary school. During my university days, eating fast food was a twice a week affair. I'm so glad that I have cut down tremendously after I got married, otherwise, the picture above should be titled, "The Evolution of Mrs Koh"!

So stay healthy! Don't take too much fast food!

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane...

2008-07-01T08:41:00.003+08:00

Sorry folks for not updating my blog. I have not forgotten my blog, but just that school has been keeping me real busy with the upcoming NOMAD.

It's kind of depressing these days. Not because of work, but because a few of our close friends had either left the country or are planning to leave the country. Joel and Aunty Margaret had already left for China and Japan respectively last Sunday.

Joel took up a teaching job in a Singapore International School in Nanjing. The pay and working hours are really tempting. Maybe some day, I shall apply to teach overseas too for a different experience.

Aunty Margaret is on Professional Development Leave for 3 months. I was kind of sad to see her off at the airport actually. I wonder how she's doing over in Japan now. Aunty Margaret, do up your blog quickly so that we can see your photos!!! = D

Grace is also in the midst of planning for a teaching job in Korea. If everything goes well, she should be leaving soon too.

Why is everyone leaving us all of a sudden?! *Fret, fret*

Macau, Here I Come AGAIN!!

2008-06-19T09:40:00.003+08:00

After 5 days in Beijing, we flew back to Guangzhou for a day of shopping! Fortunately, it had ceased to rain when we went back there. This allowed us to do some shopping. Guangzhou is really a shopping haven. If you like shopping, you must go to Beijing Lu and Shang Jiu Jie and Xia Jiu Jie (Direct translation: Upper and Lower Ninth Street). Many people from Hong Kong actually shop there because it is relatively cheaper. It's like our JB equivalent. On average, a nice top goes for SGD10 - SGD13 dollars, and they look just like what you can get at big departmental stores in Singapore.

The next day, we walked across the custom to Macau (Yeah, Macau is that near!). Oh, how I miss Macau! I was there 3 years ago and the place held many fond memories for me. It is not because I struck a windfall at the casinos there, but it's the food! We went to Taipa Village for lunch and chanced upon a restaurant that was featured in many food magazines and news articles. They served excellent crab porridge and other seafood. Yummy!

Since we were in Macau, the Portuguese Egg tarts were of course not to be missed. We bought a mixture of 20 Portuguese egg tarts and Bird's Nest egg tarts back! Oh, not forgetting my favourite Old Wives' Biscuit. Macau is indeed a food paradise!

Finally, that marked the end of our holidays. I'm glad that we ended our trip on a high note. We will definitely visit China again some time soon!

As for now, it's getting ready for school next week!

I Love Beijing (Day 5)

2008-06-18T23:22:00.004+08:00

Hutongs
Hutongs are a rare sight in Beijing now. It used to be a distinctive characteristic of Beijing. However, in the name of cleaning up the city in preparation of the Olympics, many Hutongs are demolished to make way for skyscrapers. It’s really a pity.

We were very fortunate to be staying near a Hutong and we had dinner there for 2 nights. I immediately fell in love with the simplicity of life in the Hutong. Kids were running about along the street, laughter filled the little allies where the locals chatted with one another. It appeared to be a close-knit community which is a stark contrast to the cold concrete jungle outside of the Hutong, where vehicles were honking impatiently at one another on the roads and people simply had a vacant look on their faces. Probably, they are like us who are too caught up with the hustle and bustle of city life.

The Summer Palace
We enjoyed this palace the most. The Summer Palace was where the imperial family moved to in order to avoid the searing heat during summer. The huge lake in the center of the palace actually made the entire place very cooling. As expected, this palace was HUGE, but it was comparatively more beautiful than the Forbidden City. The landscaping there was absolutely stunning. The entire place was so serene that there were even some old folks doing calligraphy on the walkway. It was really an ideal place to get inspirations for poem-writing.

We stumbled upon a costume rental shop and had a whale of a time there dressing up as Kangxi, Qianlong and the Empress. We did many hilarious poses and laughed till our sides hurt!

I Love Beijing (Day 3 & 4)

2008-06-18T14:56:00.002+08:00

The Forbidden City
We visited the Forbidden City (Gu Gong in Chinese, the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties) on the third day. If you say the palace is huge, it's really an understatement! No kidding!

We spent the entire day exploring the palace and still not able to cover the whole palace. I wonder if the Emperor had ever been to every part of his residence. Our legs were aching so badly by late afternoon that we couldn't go on anymore. We finally had to throw in the towels, and rested under a tree for a break. By the end of the day, what we could only think of was a good foot massage.

The Great Wall of China
One the fourth day, we woke up at 4a.m to make our way out of Beijing city to the Great Wall of China. It was indeed an incredible feat to build the wall on treacherous slopes which I don't even think it was humanly possible without the use of advanced machinery at that time. Nonetheless, the people of China did it. To conserve our energy for the rest of the day, we didn't climb the entire Great Wall of China, we took a cable car up and started mid way instead. Even then, the hike up was exhausting!

I Love Beijing! (Day 2)

2008-06-16T16:51:00.010+08:00

As it's summer in China now, dawn breaks before 5 in the morning. By 5.30a.m, I could see vehicles hitting the roads and commuters were already heading to work. In fact, to beat the crowd, many of the tours actually start their day as early as 4.30a.m to catch the flag raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square. Fortunately, being teachers, that didn't pose much of a problem for us as we are pretty used to waking up early.

The Temple of Heaven
Our first stop was the Temple of Heaven. The Temple was built in 1420 A.D. during the Ming Dynasty to offer sacrifice to Heaven. Much thought had been put into the architecture and the design of the temple. Every single part of the architecture has its own profound significance behind it.

Lunch @ Quan Ju De (Peking Duck)
Peking Duck, one of the most Epicurean dishes in China. The chef will come in with a roast duck and slice the duck meat in your presence onto a plate. Along with a few green onions / leeks, shaves of duck meat are then wrapped up in a small pancake with some plum sauce.

Though pricy, the restaurant was packed with patrons on the two occasions we were there (Yeah, it was so good that we just had to have it again before we leave on our last day in Beijing). I usually don't take the skin because of its fats, but the duck was so well-roasted that I couldn't resist it. I had to make an exception for its succulent duck skin. The fats and the fragrance of the duck simply oozed out as I bit into it. Ironically, it was terribly sinful yet heavenly!

Even our MM Lee Kwan Yew was there!

Beijing 2008 Olympics Games
After visiting the Yonghe Gong (a Lama Temple), we adjourned to the Beijing National Stadium (aka the Bird's Nest) where the 2008 Olympics will be held. It's a pity that construction is still underway and hence, not opened to the public. As such, we could only take pictures of the exterior.

China has really taken great pains to clean up the city and improve its infrastructure in preparation for the Olympics. Rigorous campaigns are held to promote the event and educate its people in order to showcase the "New Beijing" as a modern economic and social power.

2008 Olympics Slogan: One World, One Dream

It's Makan Time Again!
For dinner, we had some junk food at the roadside stalls. My favourite was the fried soft shell crab (No picture though. I gobbled it up before my husband could take a picture of me with the crabs! Hahaha… what's new right?). After which, we visited Hou Hai which is a Clarke Quay equivalent where there are lots of up market restaurants, serving mainly the tourists and expatriates. Expensive place, but nice ambience.

To be continued...

I Love Beijing! (Day 1)

2008-06-16T13:13:00.007+08:00

I had one of the most wonderful holidays this June. Even as I'm blogging about it now, I'm already starting to miss it!

As the weather was bad and there was some flooding in Guangzhou, I was immediately whizzed off to the domestic flight departure gate the moment I landed at the airport. Much to my delight, my husband had already bought air tickets to Beijing! Yippie!!

It was another 3 hour flight to Beijing and by the time we arrived in the evening, we were totally famished. Seizing every minute we had, we quickly dropped our luggage at the hotel and walked out to the town centre.

Beijing is now an extremely developed and modernized city. Skyscrapers are seen everywhere and the streets are surprisingly clean. Macdonald's or KFC can be easily spotted. Shops carrying top notch brands like Rolex, Cartier watches, Gucci, etc lined the streets in the town centre. The young people there are also fashionably-dressed. You can no longer call them country bumpkins now. Many of them can even speak simple English!

Our first meal in Beijing – Gou Bu Li Bao Zi! Don’t be tricked by the name of the dish, there's no dog meat filling inside the buns. They were merely pork and vegetables fillings.

Next, we hit the food street. There was a wide variety of street food available, from fruit candy sticks to live baby scorpions and even grilled star fish! Can you imagine having a scorpion squirming in your mouth as you bite into it? Well, we can't!

As there's just too much to blog about my Beijing trip, I will be blogging about it in several blog posts. Stay tune! = )

Away

2008-06-07T09:14:00.004+08:00

It's finally the holidays for me! It feels so good to just drop all the work, lug my luggage and fly off. Whenever I go on a holiday, I usually have some company on the plane. But for the record, I'm flying alone for the first time! It’s kind of exciting for me. Yeah, cheap thrill! = P

Alright then, I will update my blog with my holiday photos when I’m back! Tata! = D

Squeak... squeak...

2008-06-06T02:24:00.009+08:00

What happens when the cat is not around?
The mouse comes out to play!!! Muahahahaha

After sending my husband to the airport yesterday morning, I have 3 full days of “Me Time” before I meet up with him on Sunday in China.

Since I have the entire house to myself, I took the opportunity to invite my secondary school friends over to my place for dinner. Our lives have certainly changed a great deal over the past few years. Waifong is already a mother, Jeannie runs her own business and Yeeling will be leaving for Japan soon for work. I'm really glad we are still in touch after more than 10 years! Sometimes, amidst all the hectic work schedules and family commitments, it can be quite a challenge to find time to catch up with old pals. Nonetheless, friends are still an integral part of my life and they are definitely worth keeping in touch with.

Well, needless to say, we had a great time catching up with one another. We even took some fun shots and laughed ourselves silly when we saw how ludicrous we look. Here are some of the more "glamorous" photos.

Yes, call us and keep in touch, Yeeling! Take good care of yourself and more importantly, have fun in Japan! We will meet up again when you are back!

Hmm... think we are still pretty well-maintained after 10 years, isn't it gals? = P

P/S My dear Mr Koh, if you happen to have Internet access and you are reading my blog post now, please do not think that you have been forgotten. I'm just keeping myself meaningfully occupied while you're away. Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday! = )

Reel Appeal

2008-06-02T22:24:00.011+08:00

Fish ain't no pets. My husband hunts them! As for me, I eat them!

While I was busy taking down salient points for our group's discussion during our Mid Year Staff Review today, my husband was having a great day out at sea fishing. His love for fishing was rekindled recently when he had a bountiful catch during one of his recent fishing trip. Right now, if you dangle a lure or a live bait in front of him, he will definitely bite!

Somehow, I don't feel that I've missed out on the fun because I don't share his passion for fishing at all. To me, fishing is just a waiting game and a hobby mainly for men. The poor sanitation, the fishy smell on board the boat and the choppy sea will probably make my stomach churn. My husband claims that it's the euphoria of catching a huge or rare fish that's addictive.

Well, I have never caught any fish before, not even ikan bilis (ok, I'm exaggerating, but you get my point). That probably explains why I'm not hooked.

Snapshots of My Life

Some Brief Updates... Finally

The Water Baby

Grace, the Party Girl

Grace! Watch Out!!!

Addicted to Grace

Self-weaning

Grace, Jia you!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY Darling!

Grace's 1st Birthday Party

Significant Milestones

Is that you, Grace?

Mecure Palm Resort, JB

"Survivor" (Season 1)

Changi Airport

A Tribute to a Super Dad

Happy Father's Day

Sentosa (9 - 11 June)

Visit to the Singapore Zoo (Part 1)

Grace's First Playgroup

The Singapore Nightsky

Happy Mother's Day

Grace's Standing!

The Art of saying 'Sorry'

Just for Laughs

Reservoir Visit #3 (MacRitchie)

Reservoir Visit #2 (Upper Pierce)

A Real Foodie

Sleeping on the Shoulder of the Giant

Reservoir Visit #1 (Lower Pierce)

First Family Portrait

Hort Park

With Love, From Dad

Milestones

Big Splash!

Daddy's Girl

My Little Princess

Who Do You Trust Most?

A Birthday Tribute to.....

Say "Cheese"!!!

Happy First Month

An Artist in the Making

Profile of a Baby Bully

The Aftermath

Grace Koh - 许恩乐 (1 September 2009)

Facebook or Blog… but No Twitter Please!

To My Form Class - 5B

To My Dearest 4/3... You Touched My Heart!

What Do You See?

The Singapore Flyer

Her First Present

Excuse me, she ain't gonna be a model!

Mars or Venus?

Farewell Candy!

Baking in Progress

Joyeux Anniversaire

Embracing 2009

A Whale of a Time??

In the Mood for Indulgence

Happy Birthday Aunty M!

The Purpose Driven Life

Down Memory Lane

~~~Something Creepy~~~~

Connected (保持通话)

Irresistible!

Eureka!!!

Chilling Out

Rejected Olympic Sport: Toddler Tossing

What Am I??

Something Fishy

Thumbs Up for Zam Zam!

Geylang Serai, Here I Come!

Happy Belated Teachers' Day

Excuse Me, Are You Britney Spears?

Let Your Hair Down!!

Happy Teachers' Day!!

Time Flies!

Wee's Birthday Celebration

Bitten by the Cake Bug

Something to Think About

~Something Creepy~~