All's well

Lavigne's fever is gone and my review with my consultant today is good.  Flowers are almost all sorted, just the photo-shoot backdrop at the hotel needs to be discussed with the groom-t0-be.  Order for the flowers will be placed tomorrow and I shall complete the wrist and car door corsages by this weekend.  Getting excited yet nervous about the flower arrangements next Friday.  This is only my second time doing it (first was my own wedding).  Hope all goes well!     

Holiday so far

I had not been doing much for the wedding except to do more research, came up with the flower plan and check out the flowers and prices at a nearby nursery. A asked me what had I been doing the past week since I didn't seem to be doing much. My answer to him was 'I don't know'. But if I am to make a list, it will be as follow:

1. Makan
2. Dr visits
3. Personal grooming - cut and highlight hair (it's one of the first thing I had to do since I don't get my hair cut by the professionals in UK so you can imagine the condition)
4. Spending time with my family
5. Brought the girls out to a soft play place
6. Brought the girls to ECP to cycle (I had a wobbly start myself as I'd not cycled for more than 15 years?)
7. More makan
8. Nursery visit
9. Research on the computer
10. Even more feasting
11. Visit to schools for registration
12. Even more more food!!!

You can see that I've been eating lots - Laksa, bak chor mee, hokkien mee, chendol (which caused me to have diarrhoea), prawn noodles, rojak.....and I have yet to eat durian (too much deprivation is definitely not good). I can see my face becoming rounder and the waistline expanding. BAD! The food blog ieatishootipost is organising a durian degustation this Fri at a store near my mum's. Unfortunately, I got to know too late and places have all filled up. Perhaps it's good for me too. Otherwise I'll have to go look for another dress for the wedding. A friend asked if my dress is very small. It is the figure hugging type and a perfect fit so if I put on any weight, I won't be able to fit into it.

Sadly, due to the girls' illnesses, I have yet to catch up with any friends. Looking at my diary, this holiday is going to fly by really quickly.

Yes or no?

Louisa developed a high temperature Friday night.  After living in UK for a while now, I didn't bring her to see a Dr straightaway.  The GPs' advice in UK is usually 'rest at home, drink plenty of water, no medication needed'.  So I gave her paracetomol and monitored her temperature throughout the night.  It remained very high (at one point it was 39.5 degrees) and I sponged her.  Since there had been a case of H1N1 in her school just before the holiday, I brought her to a GP just to be on the safe side.  The nurses at the clinic wore masks and patients with high temperature had to don it too.  It was a totally different scene in UK.  Louisa was eventually seen to by the Dr in a 'separate room'.  Her symptoms were only cough (she had it in UK before coming) and high fever.  The Dr said she'd prescribe Tamiflu so I asked if Louisa has H1N1 to which she replied 50-50.  I asked if tests are needed to confirm and she said not anymore.  Anyone with any symptoms will be treated with it and it can be used for common flu too.  Then I was told the clinic doesn't stock it as it's unstable.  Was asked to check pharmacies or go to KK.  I rang up a few pharmacies and none of them has the syrup form.  So I had to go to KK's pharmacy.  Temperature had to be taken at all entrances and a mask given.  Singapore is really carrying out all the precautions.  When my mum rang me while I was in UK and told me about the situation here, I couldn't quite fathom it because it was totally different in UK even though the country has the 3rd highest number of cases outside Mexico and America.  When I started to worry when I found out someone got it in Louisa's school, her friend's mum told me 'it's such a flu'.  Anyway, the normal pharmacy had closed and I had to go to the Emergency Pharmacy and queue for it.  So many people were wearing masks.  After a long wait, I was given the Tamiflu tablet.  I commented that my child is still young and won't be able to swallow the pill.  The staff told me to open up the capsule and mix it with water.  Louisa doesn't even like drinking paracetomol syrup, let alone a bitter powdery mixture.  The GP specifically prescribed syrup form.  The reply I got was that there was no more stock for the syrup.  I heard a staff from another counter giving out the syrup form so I questioned him.  He said it's MOH's regulation to keep the syrup for very young children and infants.  I told him my daughter's not even 7 and she's still young and by telling me it is out of stock is totally misleading and that I insisted on having the syrup.  He said it's ok and gave it to me.  I had a shock when I was going to pay for it.  Almost S$50 for a small bottle!  The pharmaceutical companies are making mountains of money.  It's strange.  Everytime I come back, a big expenditure will be on medical costs.  Had already spent S$100 to get Lavigne's eyes checked.  She had sty and will need another review.  Medical care is readily available here but it is so darn expensive! 

Home

No matter how long I had been away or where I had returned from, the feeling I get whenever the plane lands on Singapore tarmac is always the same - 'this is my homeland and I am glad to be home'.  It is one of familiarity and fondness.  As I walked out of the aircraft, I felt a wave of heat and heard people speaking in Singlish and Hokkien.  I knew my family were waiting for us outside.  I said to the girls 'I'm so glad to be home'.  Later, Louisa said the same thing to my sister, Joanne.  My dad cooked so many dishes.  My parents-in-laws came for dinner together with my sis-in-law and her fiance.  That was a nice get-together.  I'm also looking forward to using the massage chair and playing wii amongst many things.  There's also many people to catch up with.  I know the month will fly by so I'll have to make good use of the time.    

Due Home Soon

In about 5 hours' time, we will leave for the airport. Compared to my previous trips, I didn't start packing until yesterday. Yes, YESTERDAY! I had already put aside clothes and things to bring home in my wardrobe but only took out the big luggage yesterday. However, everything's packed. The excitement is finally starting to build up. It's been a whirlwind 1.5 months. Even Lavigne's teachers told her to 'let mummy have a good rest in Singapore'. People have commented I look tired on several occasions. I certainly am. I hope the girls will sleep well so that I can catch some sleep too. It'll be my second time flying with them without A who will be joining us next Saturday. They are really excited and have been counting down to this day like 273 days ago. We are looking forward to be on board the Jumbo A380. I know, quite 'sua gu'.

Cheerios!

Goodbye

This will be my last time blogging from my old home. I'm not entirely sure the real reason behind me still having things here - my computer, the vacuum and cleaning stuff. Ok, computer's here because I don't have internet connection at my new place so I come back here to check my emails. But seriously, I think I'm trying to hold on to this place even though I can't wait to handover it to the landlord. Even though we'd lived here only for about a year, I really like this home. It's way nicer and bigger than our old uni accommodation in Surrey. All things come to an end. I will have to finally say goodbye to this place and pack up all the remaining things (even though the handover will not happen till end of the month) for we fly off next Monday. Am I ready for the trip? Nope! I've started packing but I haven't got round to buying presents or stuff requested by my mother-in-law. I haven't even had time to recuperate from my recent illness. My colleagues had been telling me to rest well in Singapore since I went back to work this week. I'm going to be busy the first 2 weeks helping my sis-in-law with her wedding preparation. But there will be home-cooked food to look forward to and the company of my family and friends. Time to disconnect the computer and pack them in their boxes and see you all in Singapore!

The countdown

One more week and we'll be going home. I thought I could finally look forward to the holiday after the move and that the house will be rented out and we can handover on 15th July. But looks like that's not going to happen now all because of Mr Nasty Landlord Dominic Palmer. Someone wants to rent the house and is keen to takeover on the 18th. As previously agreed, Mr Nasty said he'll end our contract on 15th July provided someone wants to rent or buy the house by that time. Voila! He's got a potential tenant. So my letting agent's been asking us to clean up the house for the handover on 15th as the new tenant is preparing to move in on 18th. Today Mr Nasty says he wants to sell the house which means we have to hang on and pay till end of the month even though we'd moved out a week ago. He had been a difficult person to deal with at the beginning and he's a big A*** right till the end.

Today after shopping at the supermarket, Lavigne and I got caught in the rain. It's one of those loathesome weather - rain a minute, shine another. It was drizzling so I decided to walk briskly to the car. The moment we were out in the open, it poured! I got the shopping and Lavigne into the car and pushed the trolley back to the bay. Passed by Subway and 2 youngsters in there went 'Chinks'. I thought I had misheard but on my way back, they said it again. I was already in a foul mood. So when I drove past them, I did the unthinkable (by my standard). I showed them the middle finger. They got me at the wrong time. I had enough of bullying of late.

On a happier note, even though the whole house is not set up at the moment, I'm enjoying having an ensuite, my bedroom and the kitchen. As we now have a dining table in the kitchen, I'm spending alot of time in there, doing my paperwork. My old kitchen was 1/3 the size of the new one. So I'm really liking the bigger space.

Scream

Maybe I should learn from my friend, drive to a place where there's no one and give an almighty scream! That's all I want to do now.

Day 7 & 8 - The MOVE

We did it successfully without the movers. There were a few incidents which I will share later. Very grateful to all who came to help - Daniel and his gf Vanda, Daniel Chew, John (Louisa's friend's dad), Gerald (and Emily and Sharon), Rock and Ching. We wouldn't have made it without them. The new house is still in a mess (esp the kitchen) but we've only cleared out the old house yesterday so that's understandable. Only the girls' room and the master room are more decent. I'm really enjoying having an ensuite and the extra toilets AND a built-in wardrobe. For the past few months, I had shared a one-door wardrobe with the girls and it had been so inconvenient. So happy to have my own wardrobe space now. The biggest headache will be trying to fit all the things i want into the playroom/my workroom. Adrian had set up a 'toy library' in the garage so the girls can choose what they want and rotate the toys in the house. I'm actually blogging at the old place now as there won't be any internet connection until we return from Singapore. We'll keep my computer here until we handover, talking about which I have more unpleasant encounters with the estate agent of my landlord. What an incredible week it had been!

Day 7

Aka 'mad day'. It was a day of rushing here and there. The vinyl's been laid and I swear the urine smell still lingers in the toilet downstairs. So, so tired. Won't be blogging much. Just taking a break. A said that I look very old now, especially my eyes. Oh no! I must sleep 3 days and nights when I return to Singapore and go for facial. Tomorrow is THE DAY. I hope we can move as much stuff over as possible, all the furniture in fact and the carton boxes can wait till Sunday. Better get going.

Day 6

Very exciting day today which didn't start off very well. Woke up at 6am (again!). It gets bright at about 4+am in the morning and I don't have blackout curtains or blind in my room. We've been eating lots of takeaways (A bought roast meats rice from Chinatown last night which was really yummy. I was famished) so I thought I'll cook beef stew for dinner this evening. Made Lavigne's and A's packed lunches and he forgot to bring it with him, left it behind in the car. I had to ask my neighbour for some fridge space to put his lunch as we've not moved our own fridge over yet. Louisa took ages to eat her breakfast, both girls refused to get changed and we left the house really late. Then Lavigne realised her hat's not inside the car. A said he took it back into the house the night before but couldn't locate it. So she cried from home all the way to class. As if that wasn't bad enough. A forgot to top up petrol last night when I had asked him to and the red light was already lit up when I came home yesterday evening. He had gone to the new house and back. I was certain the car was going to stall halfway and I was so worried. Luckily we made it to school.

It's Louisa's school Sports Day today. They had brought forward the starting time due to the heat only yesterday and the carpet layers were supposed to be at the new house at the same time. So I had to miss half of the event.

I'm so pleased with the new carpet. They are very nice to walk on, unlike the previous ones which were flat as pancake. I also managed to get my blackout blinds and curtain rails today. There's going to be a viewing in the old house later on (the agent booked someone in on my move day even I had told him about the chaos). I can't keep the house neat and tidy for them now and I don't care. Will be packing up the remaining stuff in the kitchen and bring them over in the evening. I'm totally exhausted! I need a good break in Singapore.

Pictures

As promised, some pictures to share. No time to do collage though.

Girls' Room
(Before)



Girls' Room
(After)
Curtain too long, must alter.



Master Room
(Before)



Master Room
(After)


Playroom
(Before)


Playroom
(After)


A's Study
(Before)

A's Study

(After)

Day 5

Unlike the past few days, I didn't go to the new house after dropping the girls at school. Managed to run some errands and did more packing. In the afternoon, I brought more cartons over and popped by John Lewis which is having a sale, hoping to get some roller blinds and curtain rails. Unfortunately, only a few items were on sale and they were not what I was looking for. Found something I like for my bedroom which was not on sale but the length that I wanted was out of stock. So it was a fruitless trip. Worse, I made a wrong turn and ended up in another town. Luckily I had left early and managed to get to Lavigne's school on time.

We went back to the new house after school as I needed to clear all things from the floor upstairs for the laying of carpet tomorrow. Then I realised I hadn't painted over the marks made on the ceiling whilst painting. That was neck breaking and up down the ladder repeatedly. Not fun at all. The good thing about painting before the new carpet is laid is that we don't have to worry about dirtying or dripping paint on the existing carpet. In fact, I didn't even lay anything on it. So that took the stress off.

I'm so glad I don't have to go back there this evening like I had been doing. A's on his way there with more stuff though. Good thing we didn't get the movers. We'd moved lots of things there ourselves everytime we go there. That saved us lots of money. I can't wait for the new carpet, especially the fitting of the vinyl in the toilet downstairs. The smell is unbelievable. The boys must have had lots of accidents in there. I'd wanted to open the door to air it but was afraid the whole house will smell horrid. So I just left it closed and forbade anyone from using it. Talking about which the thing I'm most happy with the house is there's 3 toilets. We have always survived with only a toilet in the houses we lived in. Total nightmare! I can't remember the number of times when the moment I sit on the throne, someone has to use it urgently too. Or when I'm bathing, I have company in there too. Soon, we'll have a choice of which one to use and not fighting over just one.

Update: A just got back and he's pleased with the upstairs. Phew! He's not been to the house since Sunday.