To all SAHMs

As usual, I was checking out my friends' blogs and this one touches my heart deeply.

I can't wait.....

.....for Thursday to arrive! Just logged on to my blog and realised that we're only 5 days away from flying home. Last year, I was pretty unsure about the trip and had lots of worries. In the end, I had a fabulous time. They say that when think of the worst, you may be pleasantly surprised. It's like not getting your hopes too high. So if things don't turn out right, you've expected it. But if everything goes smoothly, it's a bonus. Now that I'm so looking forward to going home, hmmm...will I be in for some unpleasnt surprises? Will there be some unexpected incidents waiting to happen? Nononono!!!!! Not going down that road.

OK! I'm getting down to serious packing now. The girls' clothes had been packed some days back so it's just my stuff, pressies and things that family and friends had asked me to get for them. I have kind of decided not to bring the parasol back for my dad :(. The reason being that I opened it up 2 days ago and it barely fits my dinning room. It's huge! So I'm worried that it may be too big for the unsheltered part of the car porch. Qi, can you send me the pics please? I seriously think that he'll be thrilled with it (though he'll give me an earful first for bringing such a big item back) because when I took him to the garden centre in UK last year, he was in love with many items there.

The last few days of my stay in UK for 2007 is going to be quite hectic. Lots going on....party, visits, work to clear, chores to be done, Christmas cards and presents to be given out. Phew!

Boy oh Boy!

This afternoon, I went to Louisa's school to help out in her class. It was to guide the children with some sewing of Christmas decorations. First was a boy. In between me threading the needle for him (the thread kept falling off) and him sewing, he kept putting his hand inside his pants. At first I didn't think much of it. Then he moved on to uhm, touching and twitching you-know-where. I don't have any brothers and I have no experience with handling a boy before so even though I was taken aback (I'm sure it's a very normal thing), I carried on helping him with the sewing without batting an eyelid.

Soon, more children gathered around our table. The boys were surprised I know their names. So they started pointing to different kids in the class and asked me what they names were. When I could give them the right names, they were absolutely amazed. It was fun seeing their reactions.

Going home soon

We're flying in about a week's time and I am feeling excited yet worried. I so need to get away, if not I think I'll explode soon. I'm sure the girls will have a great time and myself too. I can't wait to be home again when this time round, it'll be very lively and noisy since all my sisters are back in Singapore. At this point of time, I think I really need to be close to my family and friends and am so glad to have decided to make this trip.

Hairdresser wannabe

After looking at all the hairstyles, I suddenly have the inspiration to give Lavigne a haircut. Well, not trying to let her be my guinea pig but she does need one. In my rather futile effort to copy the kawaii little girl's hairstyle, I managed to (surprisingly) finish the job quicker than usual. As Lavigne doesn't have a thick head of hair, I didn't dare layer it too much. This is how she looks now.

ps: The girl on the right is the model

A new look?

My hair is shapeless, limp and simply look duh! But if I cut it myself now, my hairstylist in Singapore will not be able to work her magic since I'll be going back next week. So I guess I'll have to live with it for the time being.

This time, I want to cut it shorter than usual. The last time I had a short hairstyle was probably more than a decade ago. I want a change. I NEED a change. So been looking at some websites such as this. I don't want to have it really short because I don't think it'll suit my wide David Couthard's face. Something touching the shoulder will be nice. Something which is very wispy and thin at the ends. Something like this

I so like the colour too but very much doubt will have mine coloured because not only will it cost a bomb and once the roots show (I don't go to any hairdresser in UK), it won't look very nice. Besides, I think I'd rather have that facial.

The Difference between S'pore and UK's retail scene

Hey, I'm on a roll today! Thanks ladies for all the good vibes!

I went to Sainsbury's today and bought myself among other things, a punnet of blueberries. I love blueberries and the first time I had them was just a few months ago at a friend's place. Since then, I was hooked. Unfortunately, they're terribly expensive and I don't often buy them. The reason I bought them today was because they're half price. At the checkout, I was packing my stuff into the bags when the small box of blueberries dropped out and onto the floor, spilling the content everywhere. Oh. My. God! I thought. My precious blueberries. Even though they were half price, at £1.99 per punnet (S$6), they are still very expensive. Then can you imagine my joy when the nice cashier told me she'll get someone to bring me another punnet. Will I get this kind of service if I was in Singapore? It was my fault that the fruits fell out of the bag, not the supermarket's. I think if I was at NTUC, I'll just have to make do with whatever's left in the container. No?

The other thing is I remember clearly I took a box of coarse black pepper and put it in my trolley. I only realised not seeing it while unpacking hours after I got home and I thought I didn't pack it into the bag at all. Checked the receipt and true enough, the item wasn't on it. Strange. Where did it go? Dropped out of the trolley? What's the matter with me today?

What I really like about shopping in UK is the return policy. You can bring back practically anything you buy and decided you don't like it afterall. It makes shopping so much easier. Especially if I'm in a hurry, I can just grab whatever that's caught my eye without trying or giving it too much thought since I can return them if they don't fit or that I don't like the item that much to want to keep it. Last year when I was in Singapore, my sister bought something which she then realised she didn't really like it. So I asked her to return it to the shop. She replied, 'You think Singapore's so good like in UK ah?' Yah, I forgot what it's like in Singapore.

The difference between Man and Woman

Ros: Since this time I'm not going to do my hair, just a cut, I'm thinking of having a facial done.
Adrian: For what? I can wash your face for you.
Ros: It's been ages since I had one.
Adrian: Where are you going to do it?
Ros: I don't know yet. I've been out of touch for so long.
Adrian: Hghn.....

Do any of you ladies out there have any good recommendations where to have one?

Pandan Cake Recipe

This is specially posted for you, Saggs! AND! For those of you living abroad who are craving for something local. Fellow friends in Singapore, easier and more economical to buy from Carrefour/Giant/bakeries.

For those of you who are serious in baking it, click here.

Black pepper chicken casserole, anyone?

I was cooking my MIL's chicken casserole and then it happened! Was seasoning the chicken with salt and black pepper while it was cooking in the pot and not realising I'd opened the jar of coarse black pepper (including the middle lid), I gave the whole jar a big shake (very hard to shake them out). To my horror! There was a mountain of black pepper in the pot. I looked at the jar and it was empty! I'd poured the whole jar of black pepper into the pot (it was a rather new jar so plenty in it). Luckily there were just chicken, potato and carrots inside. So I poured them into the colander and gave it a good rinse. So now I've run out of black pepper in the house.

Not been blogging

I'd been feeling lazy to blog lately. Even for the unfortunate incident that Louisa had encountered, there'd been some turn in events but I'm finding it hard to blog. Send some good vibes to me, k?

Unpleasant day

This morning, I had just parked my car when Adrian phoned me telling me Louisa's head teacher wants to see me Monday morning because that girl's mum requested to speak with me. I find it odd because for one week since my talk with the head teacher, she didn't approach me at all (both she and her daughter had been spoken to). The girl had given Louisa a card and asked if she's still her friend and we reciprocated with another card and some sweets. Why now and through the head teacher?

After the phonecall, as I was walking towards the school where my yoga class was conducted, a car on the opposite direction stopped and the bloke in the car asked me for directions to Egham. So I told him where he should head and then he asked if I could go with him and show him the way. Now this smells fishy. I told him 'I can't as I'm rushing to my class'. Guess what he said next? 'Do you have a boyfriend?'. So this was what he was trying to get at. He was trying to say more but I waved him off and went for my class. I told my friends what had happened and they told me I should have taken down the registration number and called the police. They said if it had been a young school girl (yes I know I look like one), she might have naively gotten into the car and God knows what will happen. I thought men only pick girls up at clubs and not in the middle of the road in broad daylight early in the morning.

Then! After the class had ended, one of my friends came to me and asked me not to ring her up to ask to speak to her husband (a GP) about my girls' illnesses in future with a cold, straight face. I was shocked. In fact I had felt she was treating me strangely for the past few weeks, a little on the cold side and I couldn't figure out why. I thought I was being oversensitive. Now to put things straight. I only rang them twice. Once last year when Lavigne had severe diarrhoea and just recently when the girls had HFMD. As on both occasions it was the weekends, the health centre was closed. I could ring the 'after-surgery hours hotline' to request a doctor to ring me back but from experience, it takes ages for them to get back to me. I had not intended for my friend's husband to make a diagnosis. It was more to get advice and to ask what was the next step to take. The health system here is very different from that in Singapore. Back home, we go to a GP when we're not well. Here, you don't see a doctor just because you have a cold or fever. Even if you have a cold or cough for like 200 days (I'm exaggerating), they may not prescribe anything. One will only go to the paediatric A&E when a child has had an accident or suffering from something really serious. I wouldn't want to turn up there unnecessarily. So I thought the next best thing to do was to ring my friend only because I hold high regard for her husband since he's a GP and can probably give some advice. No? So you can imagine how I felt when she said that to me. Reason? 'We don't like it. Even me, I don't like it. When our children falls sick, he doesn't treat them either. Furthermore, he can't make a diagnosis when he hasn't seen the patient'. I apologised and told her I wasn't aware that they didn't like me calling them and that I wasn't expecting him to make a diagnosis but just to get some advice. She added that once her husband's home, he doesn't want to think about medical stuff. I can understand this but certainly not about 'not treating their own children when they're unwell'. Adrian said it's perhaps that she doesn't like me talking to her husband. I felt quite hurt after she told me this. So this must be the reason for the change in her attitude towards me. I didn't call just because my girls were having a cough or cold. It was something more serious. One friend told me she always calls her friend who's a vet to ask about her dog so it's perfectly fine. This friend of mine has a strong character and is very direct. It puzzles me why she took so long to tell me this.

I really felt quite awful after this and so after picking up Lavigne from school, I made a last minute decision to go out. I took her out for lunch and got her and myself a new set of fleece jammies. My first in years because I've been feeling really cold. I'm happy with my purchase as I do feel warmer in them. About my friend? Adrian says she's weird and me? I got to know a person better.

Dressing up day

The children at Lavigne's school were asked to dress up today. My little girl went as Snow White since she has the costume. Unfortunately, we don't have any red hairbands or ribbons in the house so I let her wear her pink one instead. She doesn't usually attend school on Thursdays but because we're flying back to Singapore early December and she'll be missing some days, the principal had kindly let her do some make-ups. So it was nice that she went to school today and had great fun. One of her teachers dressed up as Snow White too (she's blonde but donned a black wig and I thought she looked fab). The principal put on a baby suit complete with a gigantic pacifier hanging from her neck. When the parents saw her, everyone laughed. There were little spidermen, pirates, fairies, Bob the builder and of course the Disney princesses. It's great to see everyone dressed up.

Sounds all too familiar? We're all in the same boat!

Adrian sent me this. Enjoy!

Winter Blues?

I am feeling exactly the same as my friend. Being a nocturnal person, I don't mind the long nights. But something is not quite right. I feel lifeless and down. Like the animals, I just want to hibernate and not see anyone. For the first time since arriving in UK, I feel very cold. I used to wear short-sleeve Ts and shorts during winters and Adrian would say I'm not human. Seriously, the cold didn't bother me at all. Then that is. But this time round, I'm always freezing. I'll layer with long-sleeve Ts and jumpers which is so uncharacteristic of me. Yesterday was the ultimate. I wore 2 pairs of socks! Cooking also becomes an utter chore to me. What used to be steamed rice with 2 dishes dinners become a one-pot, one-dish affair. I simply cannot be bothered to whip up anything fancy or elaborate. Have I been afflicted with SAD (seasonal affective disorder)?

The Mummy Diaries

What would you have done if you were diagnosed with an incurable disease? Would you tell your family about it? What if your children are still very young? Are you strong and brave enough to tell them and prepare them if you're near the end?

Tonight, I watched the programme 'The Mummy Diaries'. It is about families where the mummies have advanced stages of cancer and are dying. An expert helps them deal with the situation and prepare the children for the worst. Sadly in tonight's episode, the mum of one family died. Death in a family is never easy. Whether your children are grownup or not, it doesn't make it any easier. Another family featured in the episode tonight made me sit up and think. The reason is because they have 2 very young girls around the age of mine.

Two nights ago, I finished watching a Japanese drama serial 'Last Present'. It is about a career minded woman who found out she had cancer and has only three months to live. She left her daughter when she was a baby to pursue her career. With not much time left, she hoped to spend some quality time with her daughter who is now nine. She didn't want to let anyone know of her illness and planned to leave quietly. I have never ever cried so much watching a drama.

What makes all these so poignant was my brush with cancer scare not too long ago. It makes me realise cancer can strike anyone, whether you are young or old. It is particularly hard if you have young children. To think you'll not be able to bring your daughter to buy her first bra, explain to her the facts of life, know about her first boyfriend, see her graduate from schools etc etc. Like one mother from the programme had said 'I want them to know I don't want to leave them'.

Life is short.

For our Family: Louisa's School Performance

I just came back from Teacher-Parent consultation at Louisa's school. It is conducted twice a year. I was eager to find out from her class teacher if she has any problems with her behaviour (my attempt to pry things from her). To my relief, there was none. I asked if there had been any incidents in class which she may be concerned about. Again, nothing of that sort. So I went on to tell her what happened 2 days ago but didn't go into much details. She was rather taken aback but reassured me that had she known what had happened, she'd have handled the situation there and then. Since I will be seeing the head teacher tomorrow, I told her I will leave it to her discretion to tell her the name of the pupil.

Other than that, everything else about her performance are positive and I can't be more pleased. The teacher has no concerns or worries whatsoever. In her words, she said Louisa's working comfortably in the top group of her class and even though it's early days, in years to come her SATS results will be one of the tops. I thought that's a little far fetching but being her mum, of course I'm very proud to hear that. I wanted to find out if she excels in any particular area so that we can perhaps nurture that potential of hers. But her teacher said she's an all-rounder and I'm not sure if it's a good thing though. I'd have wished she'd had said Louisa's excellent with her drawing or that she's fantastic with her sentence structure and composition. At least then we know in which area we can push her a little for her to reach her full potential. But I guess it's still early and she's only 5.

Yes, pa and ma, I'll work harder with teaching them Chinese. I'm now having problem with their diction. Gotta let them listen to more Chinese stories. I can't wait for my neighbours to move in which I think will be very soon. I'll ask her daughter to speak Mandarin to my girls. No English allowed. Haha!

She did it again!

The girl who made a racist remark at Louisa sometime back did the same thing again. While they were working in a group (they belong to the same group in class) today, that girl said 'brown people are not nice'. Then she went on to yi-ni-mi-ni-mai-ni-mo and pointed at Louisa saying 'you're the brownest of us all'. My girl tried to tell her (the incorrect way though) that another person is darker than dark. Adrian and I quickly explained to her that she shouldn't say that and that there are people of different skin colours in this world. Adrian then pointed out Aladdin, Mulan, Snow White etc to her. She had such a sad look when she told us this unfortunate incident (again!) I thought she was going to cry. I had been to speak to the head teacher before and I wondered if I should do it again. On one hand, I think this girl needs to be told to stop making all these insensitive remarks. By now I'm sure she's not ignorant and DOES know what she's talking about. On another, I don't wish to present myself as someone petty. BUT! If this goes on and that girl is being a bully here, not only will Louisa suffer from ill pyschological effects but in turn she may unknowingly be seen as a racist too (the remark she had said earlier). She'd told us she wants to be white (horrors!) on a few occasions before. I don't want her to think that being brown (yellow) is something she should be ashamed of and that she is any more different than others other than her skin colour. It is just not fair to be bullied because we look different. I tried to be gracious and invited that girl to Louisa's recent birthday party. I wanted to show her mum that I am not petty by including her. But it happened again. After writing all these, I think I have made up my mind. I AM going to speak to the head teacher again. Louisa's friends can say her drawings are not good, her jacket's not pretty enough or she can't run as fast as the others (I'm making these up) but I WILL NOT tolerate any remarks made at her regarding her skin colour. She may look different from most of her classmates but she's not stupid and is in fact in the best group of her class. How can I approach this matter carefully?

Please help!

Dear Readers,

Several of my friends had asked me to start a designing business. I had found joy in digital scrapbooking and some of them had requested me to design birthday posters for their children. If I can make money out of my own interest, why not? You may have seen my work previously in this blog. I'm doing a market research at the moment to see if this idea will work. Can you please help by taking a poll? I want to find out how much will you pay for my design.

Thank you for taking part!

Unexpected bargains

We went to Ikea today, not really to shop, but to have lunch and let the girls play at Smaland. Little did we expect going home with some very good buys. While browsing in the store, we heard over the PA, announcements directing customers to a 'Bargain Corner'. I didn't think much of it since the items they sell there are returns/rejects which are slightly damaged or filthy. The girls were at Smaland and Adrian and I went to the marketplace. The announcement was made again. We got curious and made our way there. It was not the usual 'Bargain Corner' you find at Ikea stores. It was a makeshift one where items were marked down a great deal. There are some returns as you'll find at the regular 'Bargain Corner', display products, items which were from the past season and current season items which had been opened by customers. These are the items we snagged:

Children's rug

UP: £18.99

Bought for £2

Woollen Rug

UP: £140

Bought for £20

Panel Curtain

UP: £6.99

Bought 2 for £1

Drape Light (red)

UP: £12.99

Bought for £2

Whisks/picks/dessert spoons/48pcs cutlery

UP: ~£45

Bought for £2

I'm so glad to have a new set of cutlery as the current ones we're using are very old. We also bought 2 parasols for£ 4 each. They retailed at £39.90. We'd intended to give one to a friend but I'm so tempted to bring it to Singapore for my father. I'm sure he'll be thrilled. Well, we'll see. Louisa had asked me to create a reading corner for her with the rug. The red hanging light is up in their bedroom and they absolutely love it! I wished I'd bought another for my own room. Adrian took the girls out to the playground today so I could do some housework in peace. I brought the old rug up to the girls' room and replaced it with the new purple rug which matches our curtain. Adrian now declares the lounge as his favourite room in the house.

Bonfire Night

We went for the 'Bonfire Night' at Louisa's school this evening. This is our 3rd year attending the event. It is to commemorate the day Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament some 400 years ago. The tradition is to set off fireworks. This weekend, many families will be doing just that. Us? No....we're not going to. But we did with some friends when we were studying here years back. We waited quite a while for the firework display to start. Just as it was about to begin, Lavigne fell asleep!

Montage of some firework shots I took tonight