Happy Birthday MoM!!!

9 Sept 2007, Sunday

It is my mom's birthday. But sorry guys, I've forgotten how old she's.

Anyway to commemorate her egg-hatching day, we bought her the largest bottle of Lancome Parfum with a little ang-pow.

To make everyone happy & to give my mom a party, we invited the whole family to our new home for dinner. So May & I got real bz first thing in the morning, chopping up the veggies, meat, etc. (I was mostly supervising... : P )

The most enjoyable part was to concoct a salad which I improvised with our local tau kwa (cut into cubes and fried till slightly crispy), tossed with diced japanese cucumbers, cubed mangoes, cherry tomatoes. I added generous serving of balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing 1 hr before serving. Hmm... the taste blended so well together... the sweetness of the mangoes go well with the plain tau kwa & the sourness of the sauce goes with the veggies...

Then, we bbq the sliced brinjals & swiss mushrooms over a bbq plate on our kitchen (imagine satay). Boy, standing over the stove with that heat was pretty "unbearable" but the aroma from the cooked veggies was great - simply brush the veggies with olive oil, sprinkle some salt and chopped garlic over them. Voilah! You have real yummy bbq veggies for dinner. The whole family enjoyed the dinner which we whipped up. Well done, May & myself of coz.

I was also glad that MOTH enjoyed the dinner too. My dad & MOTH completed their dinner with some red wine. Thanks Glenn for the Australia Cabarnet Merlot wine (I hope you're reading this). Though I'm not a wine drinker, I did enjoy the taste of this wine. It was smooth tasting, not too sweet.

For some strange reasons, I've always enjoyed admiring the heads of little children & babies. So I took the opportunity to snap some candid shots of the children (my nieces aka Nat-Nat & Puppy + my 3.5 year old). They look real cute together. [Pixs above]. I love my baby niece's head. Though bald, she does look cute & charming...+CHUBBY!

Monsieur Avocado à Paris

C'est Monsieur Avocado a Paris avec mon amie, Sailor Moon.

Il est grand dans chez elle! J'espere Monsieur Avocado a Singapour grandira dans chez moi aussi.

Potted Garden

The other passion in my life is Gardening.

Our potten garden is located in our balcony with some pots of plants overflowing to our common corridor as well.

Flowers are in full bloom for our perwinkle plant (purple flowers), jasmine (white flowers)... and let's welcome the 3 new additions to our garden "EggPlants Babies". We grew them from seeds 1.5 week ago and they've since sprouted 3 leaves each...

I hope my heliconias will resume flowering soon. They have suffered a bit since the sunlight shifted from the balcony to our common corridor. I am pleased to announce that our bamboo is doing well and shading us from our neighbours.

Monsieur Avocado received his first hair trim by 1 inch. I read that trimming him is beneficial as it helps him sprout some branches and more leaves and it wouldn't end by being tall and 'spindly'. 'Spindly' a new word to me. Check it out in your dictionary.

Allow Self Sufficient to Opt out of Scheme

I'm really proud of my friend. Let's call her Mdm Quek. She has written to the forum on The Straits Times, voicing out her comments regarding our use and our say of our retirement funds.

Though I will only turn 31 in November, I can't help but to worry about retirement and our aging population. As I am an Administrator, I can't imagine myself at 70 years old, taking the MRT at 730am every morning to go the office and squeezing my nearly broken down body into the crowded train.

Wow, I would have to apply tons & thick layers to make up to cover my wrinkles. Anyway, I doubt any company would hire me as an Administrator when I'm 70. Maybe, I will clear tables and dishes at the hawker centre instead with MOTH side by side (he'll be 74)?

I extract her article for your reading pleasure:

http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_151219.html

Allow the self-sufficient to opt out of scheme

I HAVE worked very hard my whole life. I am sure I am capable of looking after myself when I age. I do not think I need to have any part of my Minimum Sum put aside to pay for an annuity that would give me monthly payouts after age 85.

I do not think many people will live past that age.

I would also want all my hard-earned money to go to my children and not into a common pool, as the Government envisages.

I hope the Government will allow those who can well take care of themselves in their old age to opt out of buying an annuity.


Quek Gek Soo (Mrs)

Rock & Roll

The Champion Rock & Roll Dancer of the Year...

Tips for the award winning dance steps:

1. first you kick your legs in the air;
2. try turning yourself around in fours;
3. show your butt to the camera (real sexy);
4. continue taking the tutu (aka pacifier);
5. scream abit and then collapsed in bed to take a nap.

Word of Advise for all parents - Do not let your kids watch "Hi 5". The dance steps our kids learnt can kill our assets. Maybe I should send this video to Dick Lee. Perhaps he would be so impressed by the 3.5 yr old talent and give her a contract.

Now gal, please be careful with our bed. As you know it's brand new...

: )

LIANE

Sunday, 2 Sept 07

This morning, we hit out to Burger King for breakfast. We bumped into Liane (the 3.5 yr old's teacher) & her family.

LIANE - I usually pronounced it "Lian". I
guess this is the Hokkien Style?

But no, the 3.5 yr old corrected me "Mummy, it's Le-Ann not Lian."

Wow, the 3.5 yr old is good. Thanks for the tip, my gal.
I realised today that we didn't send you to an "expensive school" for nothing. At least, she's got better diction, pronunciation and oral skills that her mummy.

Actually, I seem to have some troubles pronouncing certain words eg: film, tent (I would always pronounce tank instead), handsome (I always say "Ham-some")... and the most shameful bit is this, I scored a Distinction for English in my O-levels.

Maybe I should see a Hearing Aid Doc with my year end bonus (just to make sure that I'm suffering from any disorder).

Black Saturday

Saturday, 1 Sept 07

I was dragged out from bed first by the 3.5year old, followed by MOTH.
MOTH said, "Wake up, it's 9.30am. We have to head out to the movie soon".

The poor me dragged myself to the bathroom and finally took a glimpse at the clock. Gosh, it was only 8AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The movie is not till 11.10am. I hate this guy! I swore I could have murdered him.

So as you can see I wasn't in the best mood. We headed off to Marina Square, roamed around abit coz we were too early. I heard May (our helper) sniffing a little and clearing her throat. When we were at the pharmacy, she bought a pack of lozenges. I decided to "question" if she had been taking her medication.

Guess what???

She said "M'am, I only take the medication once at night."

Boy, I was mad. I hit the roof and started "###@#@#@#@#@#" at her. Don't worry guys. I didn't swear. I meant to say I gave her a piece of my mind for not taking her medication. The 3.5yr old looked at me and asked "Mummy, why are you scolding Auntie May?"

So I asked the 3.5yr old, "If you are sick and you don't take your medication even though it's good for you, will Mummy get angry with you?" She nodded her head.

So guys, I am not getting angry without a valid reason. If May is sick, she should take her medication with the proper dosage. I am tired of her coming to me complaining about her aches and pains every other day. If she's not taking care of herself, then she should stop dumping her grouses to me.

Ps. The medication which I gave her is our good old "Pi Pa Gao" that doesn't cause drowsiness.

Pss. I'm hitting the roof coz I've been sick for the past 1 week due to cough and cold and I've been struggling to be present at work. I'm also on medication since June due to my constant UTI. There's no one I can dump my grouses to. The moment I arrived home (without even having the chance to put down my bag), May starts "whining" and "complaining" about her day and it can go on (sometimes), up to the point when we are having our dinner. I empathise her but I think she must learn to choose the right moment to air her frustrations. Eg: over the weekend or after our dinner...

Psss. I was thinking if I would drive my BOSS to commit suicide if I was going to his office daily (every morning before he even puts his brief case down) & whine? Actually, I was thinking of sending May to work in my office supporting a team of 18 persons.