2008年2月28日木曜日

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.

2008年2月27日水曜日

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.
------------------
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!

2008年2月25日月曜日

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!

2008年2月21日木曜日

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!

2008年2月13日水曜日

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

2008年2月8日金曜日

2008年2月7日木曜日

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.

2008年2月3日日曜日

2008年1月31日木曜日

36 lions eye-dotting ceremony

Some weeks ago, a party of 36-lions mass eye-dotting ceremony was held and we were there to witness the event. The new lions were sponsored by some generous people living in Jurong for the CNY and this year's Chingay parade. Eye-dotting ritual is held to give the new lion its "spirit".



A paint brush dipped with red ink is used to dot the eye, ears ,nose, horn, feet, and the body.


MP Tharman dotting one of the feet, for 'world peace'.

If you notice, the shoes are sprayed red or yellow depending on the color of the lion.

Even girls are strong enough to dance the lion! POwer girls!


Rey enjoying the lion dancing in the heat.

36 new lions altogether, danced performed by secondary school students.

A final photo of the VIPs holding mandarin oranges, CNY approaching...


Uncle Vincent grabbed Rey in the photo taking whenever possible.


I'm glad that non-Chinese participates in our Chinese events.


The silver lion climbed up to the top in matter of seconds!
I liked the eye-dotting ritual speech best.
参花挂红 (狮头) Putting Red Flower Ribbon On Lion's Head
参花挂红拜师公 Putting Red Flower Ribbon and Bow to Our Predecessor
戴起响铃显灵通 Wearing the Chimes that will awakens its spirit
兄弟平安添义气 May Our Brothers Have Peace and More Chivalry
吉昌兴旺永流芳 So We May have Luck and Prosperity for All Eternity
醒狮点睛开光曲 Awakening Lion Eye Dotting Verse
(灵光) 罡气天地人,狮中之瑞 (Heavenly Spirit) In The Midst of Heaven, Earth and Men, The Lion Represents Luck (Dot The Forehead)
(双眼) 千里眼,左青龙,右白虎 (Both Eyes) With Eyes That Can See Ten Thousand Miles, The Green Dragon On The Left And The White Tiger On The Right (Dot Both Eyes)
(双耳) 顺风耳, 左通天, 右达地(Both Ears) A Pair of Smoothly Winded Ears, For The Left Penetrates The Heaven, While The Right Reaches The Earth (Dot Both Ears)
(鼻) 万里鼻,能办妖淫邪恶(Nose) A Ten Thousand Miles Sensing Nose That Can handle ALL Evil Spirits (Dot The Nose)
(嘴) 牙尖嘴利,吼声吭宇宙 (Mouth) Pointed Teeth and Sharp Mouth, with growling Roars that is heard throughout in this universe (Dot The Mouth)
(角) 独角震乾坤,万丈毫光 (Horn) A Single Horn That Rocks The Heaven And Earth, unleashes ten thousand miles of light (Dot The Horn)
(被) 威猛雄狮,长寿永无疆 (Skin) Giving This Ferocious and Brave Lion, A Long Life of No Boundaries (Dot The Body Skin) (左脚) 左脚踏七星,天下太平 (Left Foot)
Left Foot Stands On Seven Stars, For The World to have Peace (Dot The Left Foot)
(右脚) 右脚踏风云,降龙伏虎 (Right Foot) Right Foot Stands On Windy Clouds, to yield the Dragon and Suppress the Tiger (Dot The Right Foot)
顺风顺水顺顺利利,大吉大利起鼓
With Favorable Winds And rolling Water That Smoothly flow, May We All Have good Luck And Good Fortune. Begin The Drum

2008年1月26日土曜日

a day trip to Malaysia

All 23 of us, friends, families, and neighbours went for a trip to JB today.


We visited a temple and also Jusco (above)




Ate my favourite whole coconut, shell skillfully chopped off, with meat intact and juice in it.

Rey monkeyed around in the coach as usual.

I don't know why but a few of us stared at this rambutan tree for a looooong time, wishing the rambutans will just fall off ...maybe we haven't seen a rambutan tree for ages.

with 2 kids in tow...


kids amusing themselves with mimosa plants.


And I got my well-deserved Thai foot massage.


Came back early enough to cut cake for Misa's birthday.

And can you believe it? Rey, Nana and all are downstairs at the park having their impromptu BBQ with the same group of people who travelled with us. Guess I'm the only one chilling out at home, missing out the fun. Hmm...ok, joining them after this, and it's already 11:40pm! Rey is still at the BBQ!