Sunday, 31 July 2011
Singapore Zoo
Yesterday we went to the Singapore Zoo all day! From 9:30am until almost 6pm! We saw different animal shows. Splash with the Sea Lions. The Rainforest Fights Back and the Elephants at Work and Play. We also spent a loooong time in the kid zone. The boys did their own splashing around and running through the different play areas. They enjoyed meeting a little boy named Ben who goes to the Canadian International School. Together they pulled the boats back and forth through the water, sometimes falling off! They want to meet him at Sentosa so we exchanged phone numbers with his helper. It was a great day and we are happy to be friends of the Singapore Zoo!
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Rollerblading Time!
Frunty and Pit have joined me in my new hobby of roller blading! And they love it and want to do it everyday as do I! It is a lot of fun. We are practising in our garage for now but nearby, there is a great canal with a path beside it which will take us to the east coast. As soon as we are ready, we'll go on a roller blading adventure. I wonder if Papa will join us by bike or perhaps, he'll one day consider skating again himself! Today was the boys' first day in roller blades and did they ever laugh their heads off every time they fell down. Their knee pads are already so scratched up, it's hilarious! Both did very well and were able to balance and skate quite well. I am so impressed by my sporty, little guys!
P.S. I purchased the boys' roller blades at World of Sports in Tampines Mall #1. The service was great with two sales guys getting the boys all geared up and helping them skate around the store which was quite empty at 2pm. It was just really fun and such wonderful service which I appreciated a lot! Thanks Tito Medz, from the Phillipines, and colleague!
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Mr. Popper's A Real Hit
Today we took the kids to see "Mr. Popper's Penguins" at the Lido, Shaw at Orchard Road. We all loved it. It is now our absolute favourite children's movie. We laughed from start to finish! Jim's still got it!
We encouraged Frunty and Pit to wear scarves, mitts and hats, because the theatre is so chilly but mainly, to get into the spirit of this wintry movie. They both thought our idea was too silly. Can you imagine?! At 9 and 6, they are too mature? Pit said, "people will laugh at us." My goodness. So Papa supported me and we both wore scarves even in the heat! I was happy because I was cozy on the mrt for once and in the theatre. We had a great time together! I can't wait to buy this movie and it will be part of our Christmas movie repetoire!
We encouraged Frunty and Pit to wear scarves, mitts and hats, because the theatre is so chilly but mainly, to get into the spirit of this wintry movie. They both thought our idea was too silly. Can you imagine?! At 9 and 6, they are too mature? Pit said, "people will laugh at us." My goodness. So Papa supported me and we both wore scarves even in the heat! I was happy because I was cozy on the mrt for once and in the theatre. We had a great time together! I can't wait to buy this movie and it will be part of our Christmas movie repetoire!
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Racial Harmony Day: More images
Picture #1: The Vice Principal, Mdm Teo, enjoys trying to buy a plastercine satay from the Satay Man: 1 for $10, while he fans the flames!Picture #2: At the Eurasian booth, the students got to make Christmas decorations and I helped them with the glue. At the end, there were sparkles everywhere especially all over my face! How did that happen?
Picture #3: The principal, Miss Tay, thanks the PSG members for all our hard work. It is easy though to carry out these tasks in such a fun setting.
Picture #4: While the satays and candies were fake, the Indian guy had some real,
tasty snacks! Frunty and Pit enjoyed trying some different foods and crafts at TPS, our home away from home in Singapore!
Racial Harmony Day
Today we celebrated Racial Harmony Day at Pit's school with rice crispy maple balls before heading over to Frunty's school to decorate childrens' hands all over the school. Papa and I got assigned to Joy2 and had a great time trying henna for the first time. Then we congregated in the area near the canteen to try different crafts from the different races. I helped at the Eurasian booth even though I suggested having a caucasian booth for me this year! Ah, who cares?! We are all friends!
Picture 1: our group of PSG members which organized this event and others including Papa as the Satay Man! Beside me is the TinTin Man who "sells" candy.
Picture #2: the P2Joy class showing off their henna!
Picture #3: Papa finishing up some students who came back for more henna!
Picture #4: At BBTK, some students arrive in costumes.
Picture #5: Pit is Eurasian/Caucasian...he decided to wear his Canadian t-shirt instead of a native, Canadian Indian costume...what-
ever! Just trying to celebrate together and enjoy our maple balls! (beaver droppings!!!)
Sunday, 17 July 2011
The Poco Poco Returns!
Our group of TPS moms performed so well at the school's 25th Anniversary that we were asked to dance our Poco Poco at Tampines Central Park for a racial harmony celebration last Saturday night. We enjoyed dancing together again and look forward to learning a new dance for the next time we must perform. It was really fun for the boys to play with some of their school chums at the playground after the show.
Saturday, 16 July 2011
Father's Day Part Two
This year we celebrated Father's Day on the island of Coombe, off the coast of Australia but decided to have a part two this weekend with a Boys' Day Out too. Papa took the two munchkins to a play zone at the Great World City and played glow-in-the-dark mini-golf. They came home and enjoyed Uncle Adam's X-Box before making dinner together. I think I fell asleep on the couch but woke up to a tasty pasta dish made with our freshly grown basil. Thanks, Papa, for such a special day together! We hope you like your homemade cards and book on shark "accidents"!
Monday, 11 July 2011
The Durian Song
(tune: The More we Get Together)
Did you ever feel a durian
A durian, a durian,
Did you ever feel a durian
Oh how did it feel?
Very ragged and jagged!
Ouch! Prickly and sticky!
Did you ever feel a durian
Oh how did it feel?
Did you ever smell a durian
A durian, a durian,
Did you ever smell a durian
Oh how did it smell?
Disgusting! Delightful!
Revolting Remarkable!
Did you ever smell a durian
Oh how did it smell?
(A Durian is about the size of a football with several small, yellow fruits inside each with their own pit.)
Did you ever feel a durian
A durian, a durian,
Did you ever feel a durian
Oh how did it feel?
Very ragged and jagged!
Ouch! Prickly and sticky!
Did you ever feel a durian
Oh how did it feel?
Did you ever smell a durian
A durian, a durian,
Did you ever smell a durian
Oh how did it smell?
Disgusting! Delightful!
Revolting Remarkable!
Did you ever smell a durian
Oh how did it smell?
(A Durian is about the size of a football with several small, yellow fruits inside each with their own pit.)
Durians
Durians are back in season and the guys near Fengshan Market 85 are busy cutting and preparing the tasty/terrible fruit in individual styrofoam packages. When I picked up Pit from school today, he asked if we could buy a durian. I was a bit surprised at the unusual request and also, had not seen the market yet so did not even know they were in season. Pit explained that he and his class had sung a song about Durians which was really fun and he was in the mood to eat some. So we walked home and on the way, stopped at the market and bought some of this sticky/sweet/mushy fruit with big pits and had a succulent snack together. Love them or detest them? Mixed feelings! Here is the song and a picture of a durian for those of you who have never tried one.
Thursday, 7 July 2011
TH...the on-going saga
Frunty is working on a "good English" exercise right now on the computer where he has to correct Singlish. He reminded me of what Pit has started to do and it is quite funny. We have been working on correctly pronouncing the "th" sound and now, for some reason, Pit will take any word he feels like and add a "th" where there is not one. For example, Pit will say,
"I hope you feel bether."
It is quite funny but also, ridiculouth. What can you do?!
"I hope you feel bether."
It is quite funny but also, ridiculouth. What can you do?!
Catching Up and Catching our Breath
Today is the 25th Anniversary of TPS! The PSG group has been practising everyday. We will perform the Poco Poco dance tonight in front of many high officials of Tampines, not to mention the principal, the entire staff and many parents like Papa in the audience. I must be nervous because I woke up at 5am and just bent my toe backwards while tripping on the carpet. I am sure the adrenalin will set in and all will be fine...and fun.
We have been very busy since returning from Australia so I have not made the time yet to chronicle our adventures. But I will. In the meantime, we enjoyed hosting our colleagues/friends from Belgium. They kindly brought us tons of beer and chocolate and made mousse au chocolat which did not set but tasted incredibly good none the less. We visited Chinatown, Little India, the Night Safari and walked around the entire Marina Bay. We saw a view of the city from Papa's new office which is a gorgeous building just completed next to his old building which is being dismantled. 20 years old is considered ancient here and although the building seemed fine to us, it was not high enough! We also spent some time with our friends at the pool and we all needed that lounging around time between sightseeing. They have headed over to Australia to coincidentally do the same trip that we just completed and then over to Christchurch, earthquakes permitting. They may return to Singapore for a few days if they cannot proceed to Christchurch and we will be happy to host them again.
We very briefly celebrated Canada Day with some red strawberries. We did not do our country justice though so we will have a part two this weekend. Last night, Pit made dinner for us and although no one liked it, including Pit, we are very proud of him. He made Rosti Nests and it was a school project. He got furious at our helper who would not let him do everything himself. I was helping him and he said he wanted it to be the two of us in the kitchen so we will have another attempt this Sunday when Ailene goes to church.
Frunty is home doing e-learning. He is being trained to do this in case there is every a natural disaster in Singapore and he cannot go to school. As well, there can be extremely hot days when the school will be closed. The show must go on and no one gets a holiday thanks to computers. But this afternoon I will take the boys to TPS to watch a theatrical performance. Ailene will pick them up and take them home and then Papa will come to the school to have dinner with everyone and watch us dance. Hope it is a fun night for all!
We have been very busy since returning from Australia so I have not made the time yet to chronicle our adventures. But I will. In the meantime, we enjoyed hosting our colleagues/friends from Belgium. They kindly brought us tons of beer and chocolate and made mousse au chocolat which did not set but tasted incredibly good none the less. We visited Chinatown, Little India, the Night Safari and walked around the entire Marina Bay. We saw a view of the city from Papa's new office which is a gorgeous building just completed next to his old building which is being dismantled. 20 years old is considered ancient here and although the building seemed fine to us, it was not high enough! We also spent some time with our friends at the pool and we all needed that lounging around time between sightseeing. They have headed over to Australia to coincidentally do the same trip that we just completed and then over to Christchurch, earthquakes permitting. They may return to Singapore for a few days if they cannot proceed to Christchurch and we will be happy to host them again.
We very briefly celebrated Canada Day with some red strawberries. We did not do our country justice though so we will have a part two this weekend. Last night, Pit made dinner for us and although no one liked it, including Pit, we are very proud of him. He made Rosti Nests and it was a school project. He got furious at our helper who would not let him do everything himself. I was helping him and he said he wanted it to be the two of us in the kitchen so we will have another attempt this Sunday when Ailene goes to church.
Frunty is home doing e-learning. He is being trained to do this in case there is every a natural disaster in Singapore and he cannot go to school. As well, there can be extremely hot days when the school will be closed. The show must go on and no one gets a holiday thanks to computers. But this afternoon I will take the boys to TPS to watch a theatrical performance. Ailene will pick them up and take them home and then Papa will come to the school to have dinner with everyone and watch us dance. Hope it is a fun night for all!
