Life's Little Ups & Downs

P1 orientation

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:35:00 +0000

This morning was P1 orientation for Le. I saw some familiar faces, ex-students from my batch. I wonder if they recognize me. Some of them really look exactly the same as they were before, some were faintly familiar.

It's funny how we gather again after some many years. I also wonder if I would ever be attending my grandchildren's orientation in future at the same school. I better not think so far!

It's not just a tap...

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:29:00 +0000

... it's a $30 tap! We bought this some time ago when the previous one broke. Suddenly, I felt that such little details make a difference. We have to bring it along!

Final night in blue house

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:54:00 +0000

Tonight is the final night in blue house!

Tomorrow, we will start to stay over at MIL's. Monday, the movers will come. Wednesday, we hand over.

Asked Le if she was sad and she said no. Why? Cos we are moving to our new home, she said.

Asked her what she would miss most about this home. She said my wardrobe, bed, my CD pouch. I said Le, we are bringing all these along, you will see them again. Then she said the swing. Oh, this we won't bring along. And neither are we bringing the kitchen set - Kang's favourite toy for the past 2 years. So sad...

KPO night

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Girls' hiao night out again on Wed (18 Nov).

KPO, the very happening place in town now, just opposite our office and it's my first time there! So suah ku! Why KPO? It's Killiney Post Office, the newly revamped post office with a pub added!

Amidst work and home, there is life outside after all!

It's good to be outstanding!!

The 3 Sengkangers! I said for the last time! I am going to be AMKer after this week!

Le

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:55:00 +0000

Tonight, while we busied ourselves packing more stuff, Le quietly folded all the clothes on the sofa while she saw that she couldn't help with the packing. She helped first with the masking tape at the bottom of the box. While I started organizing and putting stuff in, she folded the clothes. I glanced at her and thought she was folding her own clothes but later they were all done and neatly stacked on the sofa.

That was really sweet of her. She can really be sensible when she wants to. Reminds me of myself when I was young :). Mum always said the same to me, but most of the time, I was just lazy or fighting for equality between me and the boys when it comes to household chores. Now, I appreciate the fact that I used to help her cook rice, wash veg, cut some food, wash the dishes and watch her cook cos these now become important lessons in life. At least I am not handicapped as a wife or mother.

Move, moving...

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:35:00 +0000

All our bags are packed, we're almost ready to go....

Yes, we are 90% packed, and almost ready to move.

This move has been a long drawn process... it's torturous! I can't wait for it to be over. I would like to take time to be emotional about this "blue house" and maybe sit in the empty flat for a while after everything is moved out, to reminisce the time we moved in and how excited we were. Too bad I won't be able to do that since I won't be around on the last day.

2001: we moved in

2003: Le was born

2006: Kang was born

2007: we did a minor revamp and painting

2009: we moved out

I hope the next move (if it ever happens) won't be so painful. It hasn't been a pleasant experience packing and we have to move "twice", prolonging the packing/ unpacking process. At least the packing process has come almost to an end. And today we decided which co to go with for the reno. Another closure.

Next would be to finalize the design, materials of the reno, the dates...

Also finish my last work trip for the year and concentrate on the domestic stuff. It's simply too tough to handle both at the same time. We were supposed to have a longer holiday with the kids before they both step on to a new phase of their lives, but I can't bring myself to include another event amidst all these.

Let's see how things work out, 1 step at a time, else you'll trip and fall!

Packing

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:23:00 +0000

Here are Le's contribution to the packing - writing extra message and writing the box for us.

First tooth

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:14:00 +0000

Yesterday, Le had her first tooth extraction. She had a new tooth grown behind her existing row of teeth. Last weekend, she started complaining about headache and toothache. When I checked, I found this new tooth that was never there.

Bunn brought her to the dentist yesterday and an extraction was needed. It seems another one is coming out next to this new tooth, and another extraction may be needed. If these new teeth don't grow naturally outwards to be with the current teeth, she would need braces.

She was braver than we thought. No crying. Bunn had to wait outside during the extraction, so we got her to describe the process. First the dentist used a round round sweet to rub, then injection and then with the pincer, pulled out the tooth. I will take a photo of the tooth when our camera is back.

A bunch of hair

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:07:00 +0000

A bunch of hair.

My bunch of hair.

Yes, I did it again. Chopping my hair off shortly after I permed it. Not that I don't like the look but I have no time to maintain and the curls looks like some limp mess. At least this time it lasted 3 months.

The stylist asked "No regrets?" I said "No".

She tied it and then cut off above the rubber band so that this bunch of hair can be a keepsake. Looks kinda eerie. I won't keep it...just for a few days for fun.

Maybe this is how I snap and decided to snip it off!

:(

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:35:00 +0000

I haven't packed in about 2 weeks. I think I am burnt out. With only 2 weeks left and 1 weekend to go, there is not much time left. Cos the final weekend, there should be just final small packing and wrapping, not major ones. Moreover, I may leave for a trip that weekend. Wouldn't you consider this last minute already? I don't think I have the time or luxury to take leave to stay home and pack but I don't care much anymore. Boxes don't seem enough, I don't care much anymore. If anything unexpected crops up during the last week and packing can't finish in time, I don't care much anymore. If everything should really wait till the last minute, let it be. I am not a superwoman, I cannot do everything.

I wonder if I will snap and start screaming, literally.

Count

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:12:00 +0000

Today's count was 48. Dipped vs last checkup at 61. Expected cos Kang has had bruises recently and they take a long time to heal. And he's running a flu, so that could account for the dip too. Dr said his reading seemed to hover around this count, so come back in 3 months' time, no need to be so frequent. Again she reassured that having checked his lungs and spleen each time, they are clear, so she's not afraid it would be something else.

Oh well...

With technological advances come inconvenience!

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:08:00 +0000

Today, I wanted to post a letter. I went to the SAM machine to buy a stamp. First it was so complicated with so many functions, which is good for a all-in-one or one-stop machine, but I got lost in all the buttons and couldn't see the one for buying stamps.

When I finally found it, it didn't accept 1 stamp purchase. I had to buy at least $2 which is almost 8-9 stamps but I only needed 1!! There was no coin slot but NETS card slot. The good old simple SAM machine which accepted coins was gone.

In the end, frustrated, I went to the PO counter and I had to queue to buy just 1 stamp. Luckily it was not long but I still waited 5 mins, and counting the time I lost trying to find the button on the machine, I was there for about 15 mins just to get a stamp to post my letter.

So we have advanced to have a multi-purpose super machine, but the very basic need of consumers is forgotten and does not exist anymore. What a shame!

Help, helper??

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:08:00 +0000

Tonight, Bunn brought up the topic of getting a helper. It's not the first time we talked about this. Before, we said... maybe if I get a perm job and it is busier... somehow we managed to fit into the "busier" routine. Then we said... maybe if Bunn's new job is busier... somehow we managed to fit into the busier routine again.

I always thought if we survived the 1st 2 years of Kang's birth, we should be ok. But I think both of us have been very stressed out by the kids' behaviour and this is really draining us. We seldom have peace of mind and good sleep, this is the main problem.

I dread the thought of getting a problematic helper. Bunn said this is not a problem, we can keep changing till we get a decent one. The inconvenience he refuses to put up with is the loss of privacy. For me, this is compounded on top of a problematic helper. And my solution? I thought of using machines to help us. Maybe get a dryer so that Bunn doesn't have to hang the laundry anymore, but this will increase our monthly PUB bill. Maybe a dish washer to wash all the daily stuff (lame excuse?), but this will also increase our PUB bill.

I don't know... is it worth spending on machines and increasing our bills to save our privacy and get the job maybe half done, or just forget and get a helper? We planned the spare room really as a guest room to welcome our loved ones, not as a helper's room. Dilemma.... I am really tempted to try the machine solution first.

Fatigue

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:45:00 +0000

It's Nov now. The Xmas deco is almost up along Orchard Road. It's a pleasant sight. With the rain recently, it feels even more Christmasy. But not just yet... maybe when it's later in Nov with sales all throughout, the mood will be stronger.

With year-end always comes fatigue and reflection for the past year. I feel really tired but happy to have a fulfilling year. Looking back, even since working "officially", I have only taken leave for a short trip with Bunn to Bangkok and the day I gave myself some hair grooming. The rest of my leave were taken for Kang's checkups. I really feel very tired... especially with the packing recently.

I don't know when but I hope to have some good break soon. We were supposed to go to an "ang moh" country for holiday this year, especially when Le is going to P1 next year, we thought to have a longer holiday. Then came all the new jobs, move... Of course we are happy for these changes, so this long holiday will have to take a back seat. Let's see if we can fit something in the next 2 months.

Bruises

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:54:00 +0000

Not sure if you can see clearly...there are a lot of bruises on Kang's legs. Don't really know how he got them, just that he's always running about and falling down. In this photo, they already looked better. Few days back, they were darker and looked very awful with bruises all over his legs. Those few days, his platelet count must have dipped quite a bit and now that the bruises have lightened, the count should have gone up. Will it become normal again?

Macho men!

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:47:00 +0000

Kang said he wanted to take out shirt like Papa. Boy can, girl cannot, he said to me. And see, he's trying to act cool and tough!

Tape

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:37:00 +0000

I threw away a lot of Le's little little stuff. I never knew what to do with them. Actually I could trash more but if I did, it could really be almost everything.

One of the stuff I trashed was a bag of tapes. Cartooned scotch tape, the type bought from pasar malam. Then later as I was looking for a narrower tape to stick something, I picked them back and realised they were quite sticky and useful!

Char Kway

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:32:00 +0000

The latest breakfast craze?

"The orh orh kway" as Le claims.

4 more weekends to go!

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:07:00 +0000

The more I pack, the more I marvel at how "little" things we have!
Actually there are more that can be trashed but I just feel 不舍得 and conveniently packed them into the boxes. I keep telling myself, I'm sure when we move over, there will be a 2nd round of trashing when we can't fit the stuff somewhere!

Except our master bedroom where I haven't touched, I've pretty much touched all other rooms whatever I could pack. Oh, of course I didn't touch the store room which is Bunn's job!

Somehow I can't believe we have lived here for 8 years. Didn't seem that long but Le is already 6, so it can't be wrong. And I also marvel at how "new" most of our furniture still look after 8 years. We didn't maintain that much... but then we are not much of a destroyer, so I guess that's why. Or maybe we are not at home enough to destroy our stuff.

Mmm.. should we buy new bedsheets? I think we deserve this after 8 years. Our very first set was actually Bunn's favourite cos it was very comfortable. However, I stopped using it cos it's dark blue and each time I use them, mosquitoes will invite themselves. I'll keep this set as a momento and donate the other overused 2 sets we have.

Alright, one thing at a time. Finish packing first, then move and get used to staying with MIL, then think about new things to buy later.

The study room has become a mini warehouse

Le

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:12:00 +0000

Ok, not every entry about Le is bad...
Yesterday afternoon, we were all napping. Le didn't want to as usual on weekends nowadays. She was playing with some toys when I told her I needed my beauty sleep, "otherwise, I will be very grouchy later". She continued playing for a while. As I drifted into my dreamland, I saw her packing up the toys...

Later, there was some banging sounds but I didn't bother.
When I finally got up, I saw the cups and milk bottle in the sink gone. Le had washed them all. I asked whether she washed off all the soap, especially Kang's milk bottle. She said yes, I did like what you do, pour water inside and shake shake shake. I didn't want to check or re-wash everything, I trusted her.

Le is really capable of doing things if she wanted to. There was once she packed the messy toy area at the balcony, it was very neat after that. And another time she took out all the shoes in the shoe cabinet and tidied up everything neatly. i can't explain, and I've said many times but I still marvel at how her little mind works.

Right before our eyes!

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:44:00 +0000

Last night, an accident happened right before our eyes and we were so close to it. I really got a shock.

We were having dinner with KP and family in Hougang. We were seated along an aisle next to the stall. Parallel to this aisle is a row of grass patch, and parallel to the grass patch is pedestrian pavement and then the road. In other words, between the aisle we were seated and the road are the grass patch and pavement. My back was facing the road, Bunn was opposite me and front facing the road.

Don't know how... there was a very loud horn, then screeching and banging sound... then we all stood up, I turned around and the car mounted the kerb of the pavement and came towards the grass patch but stopped in time. The driver came out unhurt and luckily there was no injury. Where I stood, in front of my eyes was the car. We were separated by the grass patch.

I saw the car coming towards us but the speed was slow by then, so I didn't expect it to come much forward. I was stunned and just looked when I should have just grabbed Kang who was on my left and run. But I didn't. I now wonder if it's cos I knew the car was stopping or I was just too stunned to move. SF was on my right, back facing the road too. She too turned to see what happened the same time as me, and we both saw the car coming. She was shocked too.

Imagine if something really drastic happens, we wouldn't even have time to think or react. That's what we call accident right? Good thing all of us were safe. What an ordeal!

Post PSLE celebration

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:59:00 +0000

We had a post-PSLE celebration today, and also a "lelong" give-away of some of our furniture.

It's really a relief to have a major exam over. As I was packing the other day, I found my sec school report book and looked through it cover to cover. It was very memorable..I mean the school life, not the exams!

Status check 2

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:47:00 +0000

Good thing I dragged back quite a number of boxes from the office (taking MRT!) yesterday. They came in very handy today. The mover's boxes will come only next Monday. Imagine if I had waited, I would have wasted 1 week and wouldn't have packed the 15 (I think, lost count..) boxes by today. Compared to my 1st box of last week, I am so proud of myself.

Status check

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:55:00 +0000

I have packed 10 boxes by tonight!

Study room
Is half done. It's kinda diffficult to complete cos there are things we'll still need to use. Then there are a fair bit of computer stuff like a lot of spare cables that I don't know what to do with them. Trash?

Kids' room
Kang's drawer bed is cleared. Book shelf should be fast but need to wait till weekend. Clothes drawers and Le's wardrobe will still be needed. Oh, the light bulb has fused, so now there's no light at night. With just 1.5 months to go, I am so reluctant to buy a new bulb. Let's see how long we can delay.

Kitchen
I started the top cabinets tonight. It's easy cos I trashed many empty containers. The rest are irregular shaped stuff, just need to sweep them into a box. So top is almost done. Will still need pretty much of the stuff in bottom cabinets, so those gonna wait.

I'm quite happy with my efforts but it's been very tiring!

Packing

noreply@blogger.com (Casper) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:54:00 +0000

I told Bunn this morning that maybe I should pack 1 box per day. He said "No", implying that want to do better do it all at once. Of course not once but rather not break up like that. Yesterday as I was packing the first box, he said his will be very fast, just give him boxes and trash bags. I seem to think that he is only thinking about packing his own stuff! I cannot do it alone! So this morning, I gave him the honour of packing the store room.

I just packed my 2nd box! Looking at this speed, I think it's gonna take 1 week per room! I will stick to my 1 box per day, at least there is a target. I'll try to double up as far as possible. There are only 6 more weekends to go, the last will probably be THE move, so only 5 for packing, I have to hurry!

Today, I trashed some stuff as I packed. I'm sure I'll start trashing more and more in time to come. I already have a good mind of trashing a basket of toys without even wanting to look inside. Out of sight, out of mind, out to the trash!