- 24-seater bus from the airport for the 7 of us, Express by Holiday Inn at Causeway Bay, The Peak
- City Super (supermarket) at Times Square, Stanley Bay, Shek O, Causeway Bay Windsor House Tao Heung Restaurant
- Macdonnell Rd, Maxim's at City Hall (dim sum), MTR and shuttle bus to Disney - Hollywood Hotel, Disneyland
- Disneyland, back to Express by HI, McDonald's, short walkabout at Causeway Bay, MTR to Central Wellington Street Yung Kee Restaurant (roast goose), night ferry back from Kowloon
- Ocean Park
Saturday, 13 December 2008
Hong Kong 2008, December 7-12
Here goes:
Friday, 28 November 2008
They don't make 'em...
Laptop's at the service centre, due to a malfunctioning keyboard. One fine day (thankfully after we got back from London), certain keys decided simultaneously to go on strike - "k", "\", down arrow, and most irritatingly, ".". You can imagine what these sentences would look like without the fullstop. The others matter less - "k" I've found to be surprisingly redundant. Except for, you know, words like keyboard.
So the Sony service centre guy calls and informs me that the keyboard is indeed fried (though he can't tell me how or why), and that a replacement will cost $120. Gulp. But ok, that I can take. After all, there are 86 moving components. I then gently enquire about the piece of plastic surrounding the keyboard, otherwise known as the palm rest, that Sophie decided to autograph one day - $145. Double gulp. Decision - replace keyboard, live with slightly off-coloured palm rest.
All this attention over a barely-year-and-a-half old computer led me to wonder about the other electronics items I take for granted that might suddenly die on me, and the impact their loss would have on my 'modern lifestyle' (W&G reference there).
Then I realised that my trusty Pioneer cd player is just about celebrating its eleventh anniversary! Sure, it's a little over-enthusiastic in retracting its tray these days, but that apart, the PD-S904 has worked faultlessly since I bought it as a poor but acoustically-fussy undergrad. During this decade of ownership, I have changed its plastic feet with styrofoam replacements, stuffed more styrofoam in the chassis as dampers, and occasionally prised open the optical mechanism to retrieve cds stuffed in by the kids two at a time. All without problems.
In fact, the rest of my audio system is holding out really well. Except for the subwoofer, all the components (from amplifier to speakers to DAC) have lasted eight years or more without showing the slightest wrinkle. And thank goodness for that. I guess some things don't have to change too often, 'mature' technology like audio, for example. So it's a good thing mine don't seem to be dying anytime soon.
So the Sony service centre guy calls and informs me that the keyboard is indeed fried (though he can't tell me how or why), and that a replacement will cost $120. Gulp. But ok, that I can take. After all, there are 86 moving components. I then gently enquire about the piece of plastic surrounding the keyboard, otherwise known as the palm rest, that Sophie decided to autograph one day - $145. Double gulp. Decision - replace keyboard, live with slightly off-coloured palm rest.
All this attention over a barely-year-and-a-half old computer led me to wonder about the other electronics items I take for granted that might suddenly die on me, and the impact their loss would have on my 'modern lifestyle' (W&G reference there).
Then I realised that my trusty Pioneer cd player is just about celebrating its eleventh anniversary! Sure, it's a little over-enthusiastic in retracting its tray these days, but that apart, the PD-S904 has worked faultlessly since I bought it as a poor but acoustically-fussy undergrad. During this decade of ownership, I have changed its plastic feet with styrofoam replacements, stuffed more styrofoam in the chassis as dampers, and occasionally prised open the optical mechanism to retrieve cds stuffed in by the kids two at a time. All without problems.
In fact, the rest of my audio system is holding out really well. Except for the subwoofer, all the components (from amplifier to speakers to DAC) have lasted eight years or more without showing the slightest wrinkle. And thank goodness for that. I guess some things don't have to change too often, 'mature' technology like audio, for example. So it's a good thing mine don't seem to be dying anytime soon.
Our crt television, on the other hand, is looking decidedly old-school in the face of the newer, slimmer screens, and I'm not sure if I'd be all that sad at its demise...
Friday, 14 November 2008
London 2008, 31 Oct - 9 Nov
Again, there’s too much to detail. Things to remember:
Piccadilly line, Oyster card, Russell Square, Lambs Conduit Street, Saco Apartments 405, Brunswick Square, Waitrose
Conduit Street Coffee House (Sid’s), bacon and eggs, toast no butter, tea, hot chocolate
Battersea Arts Centre 203, canned soups, crackers, Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, KOKA noodles with egg
St. Anselm & St. Cecilia, Holborn, Red Lion Street, The Dolphin, Boots, The Perseverance, The British Museum
Regent Street, Whittard, Oxford Street, Tie Rack, M&S, souvenir store, Gerrard Street, Golden Dragon dim sum (yum!!), Westminster Abbey, evensong, Abbey shop
St. Pauls, cathedral shop, Bank station, Monument Station, Tower of London, Yo! Sushi, Millennium Bridge, wind, rain, blown-out umbrella, Tate Modern
Knightsbridge, Harrods, Laduree, Café Rouge, Victoria & Albert Museum, Terminal 3
Photos here.
It was very intriguing and quite moving to experience the "motherland" from where Singaporean civic society originated. Things felt strangely familiar despite being also quite different. I’m very impressed considering how the Commonwealth countries now fare compared with many other places previously colonized by other European empires.
Piccadilly line, Oyster card, Russell Square, Lambs Conduit Street, Saco Apartments 405, Brunswick Square, Waitrose
Conduit Street Coffee House (Sid’s), bacon and eggs, toast no butter, tea, hot chocolate
Battersea Arts Centre 203, canned soups, crackers, Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, KOKA noodles with egg
St. Anselm & St. Cecilia, Holborn, Red Lion Street, The Dolphin, Boots, The Perseverance, The British Museum
Regent Street, Whittard, Oxford Street, Tie Rack, M&S, souvenir store, Gerrard Street, Golden Dragon dim sum (yum!!), Westminster Abbey, evensong, Abbey shop
St. Pauls, cathedral shop, Bank station, Monument Station, Tower of London, Yo! Sushi, Millennium Bridge, wind, rain, blown-out umbrella, Tate Modern
Knightsbridge, Harrods, Laduree, Café Rouge, Victoria & Albert Museum, Terminal 3
Photos here.
It was very intriguing and quite moving to experience the "motherland" from where Singaporean civic society originated. Things felt strangely familiar despite being also quite different. I’m very impressed considering how the Commonwealth countries now fare compared with many other places previously colonized by other European empires.
Saturday, 13 September 2008
Mammals
One leisurely Saturday morning, at breakfast, Matthew suddenly said to me,
"Mommy, do you know that people also lived when there were prehistoric animals?"
"Yup. Like the woolly mammoth right?"
"Ya," Matt replied, "Humans were like apes. Humans are mammals. But boys are not mammals."
"Huh? What do you mean boys are not mammals?"
"Boys are not mammals! They can't give birth!"
"Mommy, do you know that people also lived when there were prehistoric animals?"
"Yup. Like the woolly mammoth right?"
"Ya," Matt replied, "Humans were like apes. Humans are mammals. But boys are not mammals."
"Huh? What do you mean boys are not mammals?"
"Boys are not mammals! They can't give birth!"
Thursday, 14 August 2008
Tickets, Please
Driving Matthew home from school one day, I happily started singing along when the radio played a "classic". I just love Gold 90.5! But realising that I'm now listening to that channel makes me feel very old indeed.
"One way ticket, one way ticket..."
I noticed that Matthew was listening intently.
"Do you know what they're saying, Matt?"
He listened a bit more and then remarked, "But there's no such thing as a one day ticket to the moon, right?"
"Yup, that's right!"
Haha! I couldn't stop grinning. And I didn't have the heart to correct him either. Besides, that's exactly what I thought it was until Sean corrected me a few years ago.
"One way ticket, one way ticket..."
I noticed that Matthew was listening intently.
"Do you know what they're saying, Matt?"
He listened a bit more and then remarked, "But there's no such thing as a one day ticket to the moon, right?"
"Yup, that's right!"
Haha! I couldn't stop grinning. And I didn't have the heart to correct him either. Besides, that's exactly what I thought it was until Sean corrected me a few years ago.
Friday, 8 August 2008
Words of "Wisdom"
At bedtime prayers, we gather the children together and we all take turns saying parts of the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.
The past few nights, Sophie would suddenly interrupt any one of us, little hand raised, saying, "Wait a minute, I buy 4D, two dollars money!"
Then last night, in the lift, a man got in wearing a business shirt and trousers, and she pointed to him and said, "Like Daddy's dress."
I'm glad she hasn't forgotten her Daddy although he's been gone for days. Can't wait for him to come home tonight.
The past few nights, Sophie would suddenly interrupt any one of us, little hand raised, saying, "Wait a minute, I buy 4D, two dollars money!"
Then last night, in the lift, a man got in wearing a business shirt and trousers, and she pointed to him and said, "Like Daddy's dress."
I'm glad she hasn't forgotten her Daddy although he's been gone for days. Can't wait for him to come home tonight.
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Sarah Reads
Coming home from ballet at Tampines, we got stopped at the lights at a T-junction. Sarah suddenly asked,
"Mommy, is that the way to Saint Anne's?"
"No. We're in Tampines. Saint Anne's is in Sengkang."
"Why does it say "Saint"?"
"Where?"
"There!", she said, pointing right in front of us.
I looked hard. There was "Tampines North Primary School" in big letters on the builing up ahead. In front of that was a big green directional signboard with arrows to various parts of Tampines. I couldn't for the life of me see "saint" anywhere.
"Where, Sarah?"
"There! In front of the two numbers!"
Then I noticed this on the signboard:
It was so uncannily like Matthew's Punggol Doctor episode!!
"Mommy, is that the way to Saint Anne's?"
"No. We're in Tampines. Saint Anne's is in Sengkang."
"Why does it say "Saint"?"
"Where?"
"There!", she said, pointing right in front of us.
I looked hard. There was "Tampines North Primary School" in big letters on the builing up ahead. In front of that was a big green directional signboard with arrows to various parts of Tampines. I couldn't for the life of me see "saint" anywhere.
"Where, Sarah?"
"There! In front of the two numbers!"
Then I noticed this on the signboard:
St 42 - 45
It was so uncannily like Matthew's Punggol Doctor episode!!
Monday, 28 July 2008
Sunday Swimming
Finally, we got a sunny day, good for a swim. When we arrived at my brother's condo with the kids already sitting in their swimsuits in the car, it was crowded so we had to park at the second floor of the visitor's carpark. Sarah asked,
"How are we going to get down?"
Sean jokingly replied, "Ah, I know, we're just beside the pool so I can just throw you down, straight into the water. OK?"
Sarah retorted, "Noooo! We still have our shoes on!!"
"How are we going to get down?"
Sean jokingly replied, "Ah, I know, we're just beside the pool so I can just throw you down, straight into the water. OK?"
Sarah retorted, "Noooo! We still have our shoes on!!"
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Marriage In Progress...
Thursday, 26 June 2008
It's not any "cut", okay?!
Sarah and I were driving to her ballet class. She asked me,
"Mummy, is this the short cut to my ballet?"
"No, Sarah, this is just the usual way from our place to your class."
"Is it the long cut?"
"No. And there's no such thing as a "long cut". This road is just the normal way."
Silence for a while.
"Is it the medium cut?"
----------
My dad is going to have a couple of balloon stents put in his heart on Monday morning 30 June 2008. This is a far less invasive option compared to bypass surgery. Please keep him in your prayers. Thanks!
"Mummy, is this the short cut to my ballet?"
"No, Sarah, this is just the usual way from our place to your class."
"Is it the long cut?"
"No. And there's no such thing as a "long cut". This road is just the normal way."
Silence for a while.
"Is it the medium cut?"
----------
My dad is going to have a couple of balloon stents put in his heart on Monday morning 30 June 2008. This is a far less invasive option compared to bypass surgery. Please keep him in your prayers. Thanks!
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Mother's Day Present
I should be so happy. I got a four-figure gift from my husband! It's the coolest thing, and rock solid.
To qualify, I had to investigate a smell of burning wires in the middle of the night before, help my husband pack our insulated picnic bag with partially defrosted food and wish him godspeed taking it over to my cousin's place on the day itself, give up all our ice cream, and drink up all the melted Ribena popsicles.
Post-gift services I performed include revisiting my cousin's place with said picnic bag to retrieve the food, and grocery shopping late into the night the next day to restock supplies. The two most important facts I established are that the gift WILL accomodate our favourite Dr. Oetker pizza and Ribena popsicle makers. Phew.
To qualify, I had to investigate a smell of burning wires in the middle of the night before, help my husband pack our insulated picnic bag with partially defrosted food and wish him godspeed taking it over to my cousin's place on the day itself, give up all our ice cream, and drink up all the melted Ribena popsicles.
Post-gift services I performed include revisiting my cousin's place with said picnic bag to retrieve the food, and grocery shopping late into the night the next day to restock supplies. The two most important facts I established are that the gift WILL accomodate our favourite Dr. Oetker pizza and Ribena popsicle makers. Phew.
Monday, 7 April 2008
Eat Clean!
I was having lunch with Matthew and Sarah at the dining table and we were all finishing up at about the same time.
Matthew took a mouthful and declared, "I've finished!"
I looked over at his bowl and saw food still scattered about inside. I told him,
"Matt, there's so much food left! Scoop it up and finish it all nicely. Kids, if you want your husband or your wife to look nice next time, you mustn't leave any bits behind. Otherwise next time your husband or your wife's face will be full of spots and holes. Is that nice?"
"No," they chorused.
Obediently, Matthew scraped together the last bits in his bowl. Suddenly, he asked,
"Mommy, you always finish everything, but how come Daddy's face is a bit like that?"
Pause.
"Just a bit," he added.
"That's different, Matthew! Daddy's are chicken pox scars."
"I hope I won't be like that next time," Matthew said. "I don't want to be exactly like that," he grinned.
Poor Sean! He wasn't too pleased when I told him. Ha ha.
Matthew took a mouthful and declared, "I've finished!"
I looked over at his bowl and saw food still scattered about inside. I told him,
"Matt, there's so much food left! Scoop it up and finish it all nicely. Kids, if you want your husband or your wife to look nice next time, you mustn't leave any bits behind. Otherwise next time your husband or your wife's face will be full of spots and holes. Is that nice?"
"No," they chorused.
Obediently, Matthew scraped together the last bits in his bowl. Suddenly, he asked,
"Mommy, you always finish everything, but how come Daddy's face is a bit like that?"
Pause.
"Just a bit," he added.
"That's different, Matthew! Daddy's are chicken pox scars."
"I hope I won't be like that next time," Matthew said. "I don't want to be exactly like that," he grinned.
Poor Sean! He wasn't too pleased when I told him. Ha ha.
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
How does one celebrate?
Over the weekend I bought a pair of jeans from Giordano. I can't fit into any of my old ones anymore! Happily, they gave me a $20 voucher. So last night we thought we'd go to the mall to return the library books and use up the vouchers at the same time. There was a little polo dress I really fancied for Sarah.
After some time at the library where Sophie kept running away from me, thankfully silently in her rubber soled shoes on thick carpet but pulling books from the shelves (Argh!), we finally went and got the dress. SO cute. White terry cloth with a simple rainbow belt. Sarah called it a towel! We also picked up a groovy lightweight windbreaker for Matt to keep in his schoolbag - he gets cold in the train home.
As we were strapping the kids back into the car, it came to my mind what a family friend told us, that we should celebrate happy events like promotions and raises as a family, highlighting to the kids the importance of hard work etc. I recalled that Sean just had his salary adjustment announced. So, to sort of justify my spending spree, I told the kids, "Y'know, Daddy got a raise at work, so this is a way of celebrating."
Matt asked quizzically, "Buy more clothes?"
After some time at the library where Sophie kept running away from me, thankfully silently in her rubber soled shoes on thick carpet but pulling books from the shelves (Argh!), we finally went and got the dress. SO cute. White terry cloth with a simple rainbow belt. Sarah called it a towel! We also picked up a groovy lightweight windbreaker for Matt to keep in his schoolbag - he gets cold in the train home.
As we were strapping the kids back into the car, it came to my mind what a family friend told us, that we should celebrate happy events like promotions and raises as a family, highlighting to the kids the importance of hard work etc. I recalled that Sean just had his salary adjustment announced. So, to sort of justify my spending spree, I told the kids, "Y'know, Daddy got a raise at work, so this is a way of celebrating."
Matt asked quizzically, "Buy more clothes?"
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Sophie Zò Guí Táo
Our littlest is now ringleader of the three.
At bedtime prayers, she'll find that it's fun to bounce herself up and down on Matt's bed, in prone position. The older ones seeing her glee will follow suit. All three of them lying face down and bouncing up and down like dolphins breaching a mattress, squealing and giggling away.
Told to "Stop it and sit up properly!", they'll gather and sit nicely on the edge of the bed. Sophie must then discover that it's fun to bounce on the edge of the bed while sitting on her cute little diapered butt, and all three start bouncing up and down once more, looking at each other, laughing their heads off.
At bedtime prayers, she'll find that it's fun to bounce herself up and down on Matt's bed, in prone position. The older ones seeing her glee will follow suit. All three of them lying face down and bouncing up and down like dolphins breaching a mattress, squealing and giggling away.
Told to "Stop it and sit up properly!", they'll gather and sit nicely on the edge of the bed. Sophie must then discover that it's fun to bounce on the edge of the bed while sitting on her cute little diapered butt, and all three start bouncing up and down once more, looking at each other, laughing their heads off.
Winnie The ...
Sophie was discovered one afternoon last week in a, shall we say, "compromised" situation. No one else was home and Consuelo had opened her bedroom door at her usual end-of-nap time to wake her up. The little girl was found stark naked sitting in her cot, clutching a turd in her right hand, with poo smeared everywhere, including her face. No baby bath gel could sweeten her little hand for the rest of that day.
When Sarah was at about the same age, I had opened a door to find her in a horribly stinky room at my mom's place one Sunday afternoon, when I noticed that she had been sleeping in there quietly way too long. Throwing back the curtains to let in a flood of light, I found her and her bedding smeared with poo, a used diaper come unwrapped on the floor, and a significant portion of the contents (I remembered cos I had changed her and inadvertently left the diaper in the room within her reach) missing! After some frantic scrabbling among the bedding, I finally lifted a pillow to find the lump squashed underneath. The little girl was carried off at arm's length by my mom to a great washing down in the kitchen bathroom while I held my breath and choked back gags as I cleaned out the room.
We are very grateful to Matthew for sparing us any such excitement throughout his toddlerhood. It was only when he was in kindergarten that he had to go (big one, no less) in the car while we were stuck in an awful jam on the way to school. I happened to have a plastic bag handy. The rest is, er, no need to mention.
When Sarah was at about the same age, I had opened a door to find her in a horribly stinky room at my mom's place one Sunday afternoon, when I noticed that she had been sleeping in there quietly way too long. Throwing back the curtains to let in a flood of light, I found her and her bedding smeared with poo, a used diaper come unwrapped on the floor, and a significant portion of the contents (I remembered cos I had changed her and inadvertently left the diaper in the room within her reach) missing! After some frantic scrabbling among the bedding, I finally lifted a pillow to find the lump squashed underneath. The little girl was carried off at arm's length by my mom to a great washing down in the kitchen bathroom while I held my breath and choked back gags as I cleaned out the room.
We are very grateful to Matthew for sparing us any such excitement throughout his toddlerhood. It was only when he was in kindergarten that he had to go (big one, no less) in the car while we were stuck in an awful jam on the way to school. I happened to have a plastic bag handy. The rest is, er, no need to mention.
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Good Habit or Bad Habit?
On the way home from ballet yesterday, Sarah and I got to talking about habits. She had spoken to me rudely in the car, and I warned her that if she didn't check herself, it would become a habit.
"What's a habit?"
"A habit is something that you always do, and it's hard for you to change. Like, sucking your thumb! That's a bad habit, right?"
"Ya..."
"There are also good habits. Like brushing your teeth. So if you keep talking rudely, it'll become a bad habit and you'll always talk rudely."
"Okay..."
-----
At bedtime prayers that night, as the conversation went around to the concept of Heaven, Sarah declared that when we die, we'll go to heaven. Then she asked,
"When will I die, Mommy?"
"I don't know, Sarah. Only God knows."
Matt added, "But it's wrong to shoot ourselves so that we can go to heaven faster, right? Mommy?"
Sarah declared, "That's a bad habit!"
"What's a habit?"
"A habit is something that you always do, and it's hard for you to change. Like, sucking your thumb! That's a bad habit, right?"
"Ya..."
"There are also good habits. Like brushing your teeth. So if you keep talking rudely, it'll become a bad habit and you'll always talk rudely."
"Okay..."
-----
At bedtime prayers that night, as the conversation went around to the concept of Heaven, Sarah declared that when we die, we'll go to heaven. Then she asked,
"When will I die, Mommy?"
"I don't know, Sarah. Only God knows."
Matt added, "But it's wrong to shoot ourselves so that we can go to heaven faster, right? Mommy?"
Sarah declared, "That's a bad habit!"
Thursday, 14 February 2008
What Money Can Buy
We had gone to Long Beach at East Coast to pick up our Chinese New Year reunion food, and spent some time lazing about on the beach: Matthew playing alone in the warm sand, Sean and I reclining a distance away, enjoying the sound of the waves and the balmy breeze. On our way home, Matt, nearly 7, sat in the middle between us while we drove down the ECP, all sunny and blue and palm fringed.
"How much is it to join Raffles Town Club?", Matt asked.
I paused.
"I'm not sure, Matt. Why? Do you want to join?"
"Just wondering. I really like the bowling and the swimming pool there."
"Yes, it's very nice, isn't it. But I think it's around twelve or fifteen thousand dollars, or maybe even more. But you can always go to Raffles Town Club again when Jia Wei or your other friends invite you next time for their birthday parties."
"But how much is it, really? Is it really fifteen thousand dollars?"
"I don't really know, I'm just guessing, but it's probably about there. I'm not sure. I can check."
The subject dropped and we continued our drive in silence while the sky grew golden.
We had a great reunion dinner that night (of course, Long Beach black pepper crab!!), followed by all the family (aunties, uncles, cousins etc.) plonked in our living room watching American Idol until 11 p.m. At one point during the show we heard Matthew shouting, "Get out!" to his cousin and sister because the two little girls were sitting on his bed in his room refusing to let him sleep. The poor boy had had a long day!
>>Fast forward to the 3rd day of CNY>>
After counting out the kids' angpao takings, we decided that instead of banking everything for them, we'd let them each have a small sum to buy something they'd like with. Especially for Matthew who has started school and grown to be quite independent, what with having to take care of his own lunch before coming home, packing his own school bag, checking for homework etc., and generally being a trustworthy, lovable boy.
I went to him and said, "Would you like to buy anything with your angpao money, Matt?"
"Buy what?," he replied.
"Anything you like. Maybe some toys?"
"Do I have to buy toys?"
"Well, you don't HAVE to buy toys, but if there's anything you want, you can use some of your angpao money to buy it. If not I'll put everything in the bank for you. So, do you want some of the money now or should I bank it all?"
Matt thought for a while.
"Can I have two dollars?"
"Of course! What do you want the two dollars for?"
"To buy my lunch?"
"How much is it to join Raffles Town Club?", Matt asked.
I paused.
"I'm not sure, Matt. Why? Do you want to join?"
"Just wondering. I really like the bowling and the swimming pool there."
"Yes, it's very nice, isn't it. But I think it's around twelve or fifteen thousand dollars, or maybe even more. But you can always go to Raffles Town Club again when Jia Wei or your other friends invite you next time for their birthday parties."
"But how much is it, really? Is it really fifteen thousand dollars?"
"I don't really know, I'm just guessing, but it's probably about there. I'm not sure. I can check."
The subject dropped and we continued our drive in silence while the sky grew golden.
We had a great reunion dinner that night (of course, Long Beach black pepper crab!!), followed by all the family (aunties, uncles, cousins etc.) plonked in our living room watching American Idol until 11 p.m. At one point during the show we heard Matthew shouting, "Get out!" to his cousin and sister because the two little girls were sitting on his bed in his room refusing to let him sleep. The poor boy had had a long day!
>>Fast forward to the 3rd day of CNY>>
After counting out the kids' angpao takings, we decided that instead of banking everything for them, we'd let them each have a small sum to buy something they'd like with. Especially for Matthew who has started school and grown to be quite independent, what with having to take care of his own lunch before coming home, packing his own school bag, checking for homework etc., and generally being a trustworthy, lovable boy.
I went to him and said, "Would you like to buy anything with your angpao money, Matt?"
"Buy what?," he replied.
"Anything you like. Maybe some toys?"
"Do I have to buy toys?"
"Well, you don't HAVE to buy toys, but if there's anything you want, you can use some of your angpao money to buy it. If not I'll put everything in the bank for you. So, do you want some of the money now or should I bank it all?"
Matt thought for a while.
"Can I have two dollars?"
"Of course! What do you want the two dollars for?"
"To buy my lunch?"
Friday, 1 February 2008
Lazy to post about San Diego.
I should write something about our trip but haven't really felt like it.
Before I forget I'd better put down these words:
- St. Joseph's Cathedral on 3rd Ave and Beech Street (up 5th Ave from Hard Rock)
- Horton Plaza
- Hornblower
- Mary Jane's restaurant at Hard Rock
- Rite Aid drugstore
- Without A Trace
- Project Runway
- cheap cameras
- Aldo, GAP, Wet Seal, Banana Republic, Macy, Ritz
- Bourne Identity
- Never Let Me Go
Photos are available at Sean's facebook profile.
Before I forget I'd better put down these words:
- St. Joseph's Cathedral on 3rd Ave and Beech Street (up 5th Ave from Hard Rock)
- Horton Plaza
- Hornblower
- Mary Jane's restaurant at Hard Rock
- Rite Aid drugstore
- Without A Trace
- Project Runway
- cheap cameras
- Aldo, GAP, Wet Seal, Banana Republic, Macy, Ritz
- Bourne Identity
- Never Let Me Go
Photos are available at Sean's facebook profile.
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Back again.
I HAVE to just say, it was a very full 4 weeks we had with Consuelo gone home to the Philippines.
Some of the more memorable moments would include Sean being home with the kids, reasoning with a crying Sarah refusing to go to school and Sophie taking the chance to get hold of Sarah's mug of chocolate milk and, yes, sloshing it all over our cream-coloured sofa and low table, dripping into the basket of toys below.
Another would be yesterday (last day) -'s slapfest: Sarah was whining and I promised her I would smack her cheek if she whined again and of course she did and of course I smacked and this went on for 3 or 4 smacks until I stormed off steaming, with Sophie in my arms the whole time. Then Sarah let out another whine, whereupon Sophie promptly struggled out of my arms and toddled back to Sarah and delivered her a smack, her little arm stretched up high in order to reach Sarah's face. I watched with horror at the instant replay of the example I had so definitively set in the last few seconds!
We have all made up lovingly of course. But no thanks for any repeat of such experiences.
And I still think Sean should have taken a roll of red carpet and a dozen leis to the airport to welcome Consuelo back at 1 a.m. last night.
Some of the more memorable moments would include Sean being home with the kids, reasoning with a crying Sarah refusing to go to school and Sophie taking the chance to get hold of Sarah's mug of chocolate milk and, yes, sloshing it all over our cream-coloured sofa and low table, dripping into the basket of toys below.
Another would be yesterday (last day) -'s slapfest: Sarah was whining and I promised her I would smack her cheek if she whined again and of course she did and of course I smacked and this went on for 3 or 4 smacks until I stormed off steaming, with Sophie in my arms the whole time. Then Sarah let out another whine, whereupon Sophie promptly struggled out of my arms and toddled back to Sarah and delivered her a smack, her little arm stretched up high in order to reach Sarah's face. I watched with horror at the instant replay of the example I had so definitively set in the last few seconds!
We have all made up lovingly of course. But no thanks for any repeat of such experiences.
And I still think Sean should have taken a roll of red carpet and a dozen leis to the airport to welcome Consuelo back at 1 a.m. last night.
Says Ah Kong...
We were at my parents' place when "Alien vs Predator" started showing on TV. 4-year-old Sarah expressed some fears.
Not wanting to change the channel, my Dad told her, "Oh, this is 'Predator vs Alien'. Not frightening! There are only some aliens, and monsters. Anyway, you can't see anything because the whole show is all very dark! OK?"
Not wanting to change the channel, my Dad told her, "Oh, this is 'Predator vs Alien'. Not frightening! There are only some aliens, and monsters. Anyway, you can't see anything because the whole show is all very dark! OK?"
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