getting rid of Rey's arts collection

sigh, I promised myself every morning to get out of the house to at least 'do something meaningful' but always find myself hooked onto the com until noon. I justified myself by thinking it's a little bit better than sleeping thru till 11am like I did last week. At least, with the com on, I read the news, managed to cook lunch, chopped out vegetables for dinner, mentally plan the afternoon activities and throw just a third (not too much in case he notice it) of Rey's handicrafts and folded origami into the bin. Oops, don't let Rey know this! We have to make space for new crafts that plan to do with him this afternoon. Well, I'm kind enough to take a picture of his work before they got incinerated.

Read the below from omy...glad that my job content is much simpler, at least for the time being. Though I'd like to include "home tutor, video-photographer, cleaner, friend, chef, 'driver', bodyguard, repairman, pacifier, disciplinarian, play-mate, any types of role players (especially the monstrous role ready to be attacked by self-made heros), funny entertainer etc.
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Job Description of a parent
POSITION:
Mom, Mommy, Mama, MaDad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required. Tackle school homework on weekends and evenings.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilet and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:
None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills.
Your PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required unfortunately.On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis..
WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right..

NOTE: THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!! **
If you are fortunate enough you will become grandparents!

It's SNOWING 3@__@3

the snow-carpeted roof top

Rey's own snowman. He made the arms too which made it looked more like a penguin to me.


that's all! enough snowman for now. My hands are freezing already.

collected snow and brought it indoor


warming his hands.

Brrrr....It snowed overnight and we had expected the snow to accumulate on our roof top. We had a cup of warm milo, quickly put on our overcoats and prepared the playtools for digging snow. It really snowed heavily like when we were in Hokkaido!





Went to the Kyoto International Culture Centre on Saturday. Rey joined the International kids club where he gets to mix with children of other nationalities. Met some Chinese families from Dalian. Great, Rey and I get to speak Chinese every Sat from now!

Ratatouille

No, not the movie. I didn't watch the movie. Thought it's the name of the Rat! haha, forgive me for my lack of knowledge. If I'm not wrong, it should be French, with 'touille' meaning 'stir up'. Ok, whatever it is, it's a vegetable stew I learned from a morning cooking show here. I have to compensate for the lack of vegetable intake for the past few days.

Ingredients:

1)onions 1/2
2)garlic 2 pieces
3) tomatoes 2
4) yellow pepper
5)lotus root half
6)zucchini half or more (left this out)
7) asparagus 3
8)salt a little (for me)
9) olive oil 4 tablespoons.

.
cut them up whichever edible way you prefer

there goes the 4 tablespoons of olive oil.

Pour in the ingredients.

You can see steam coming up, stir abit before covering the claypot. I stirred only like 3 times, (cuz I have to hang the laundry) and slow cooked it for 25 minutes and it was ready to eat. Sorry, can't provide you the photo of the final product, I was so excited I ate it straight away! and NO! It was a success ok!

It is reccommended to use a claypot to capture the sweetness of the vegetables. I like this dish, easy to cook but guess I would prefer putting seafood or chicken in it next time, then it wouldn't be ratatoiulle anymore. And 1 more important thing, the TV show didn't say we have to put in eggplants! There should be eggplants for Ratatouille! So I can't say I cooked a 100% ratatouille, damn it!

photos back in Singapore 1

Back in Japan. My 4 goldfish survive the bitter winter the 2nd time. I'm expecting them to lay eggs soon so that I can sell the baby goldfish, hahaha! Last year, the eggs were laid but I thought the eggs have to be hatched by the mamas (imaging hens hatching eggs) so in the end the eggs got eaten up! So this year, I'll separate the adults fish from the eggs.

Japan is not that cold as I expected it to be. We are grateful for the sunny weather for the past 3 days, Afterall, it did snowed in Kyoto 1 week ago. Rey is enjoying his school. There are some hiccups, like I forgot to bring his napkin on Day 1, and forgot his fork, spoon and napkin on Day 2. Rey called me forgetful but I redeemed my 'see! you too!' chance when he forgot to bring back his water bottle on Day 1 and his whole bag of clothes + the water bottle on Day 2. Our list of things we forget just keep growing each day! Hahaha! I hope Rey doesn't forget to bring himself back from school tomorrow. As for me, I WILL make a list of things to bring tomorrow before the teacher start branding me a Forgetful Mum from Singapore.
Just got time to upload the photos, paisei!

Made a 'movie' finally. A quick short-cut to show the latest photos to you guys.

love cookies

Happy Chinese New Year!

There is only 1 thing for me to take note of, that is, no reading of books to Rey during this auspicious season. I'm going to WIN at mahjong sessions!! Rey is going to be the happiest kid in the whole wide world for the time being.