It seems to be part of the culture here to go for an express manicure or pedicure or back massage. So I say, why not partake in this Singaporean past-time! I am now typing with nails which are almost, I can see, the same colour as my champagne-pink laptop!! Go wild!
The kids are asleep. They had a great Mandarin lesson tonight. I could hear the three of them laughing a lot while Daddy and I discussed housing issues in the other room. I could hear Frunty and Pit saying words in Mandarin. Sounds great.
Frunty has informed us that he is a "master" bowler and has started his own bowling club at school. While Pit wants to return to Brussels where the sushi tastes better, Frunty doesn't want to leave his school and new friends, not ever. Apparently they bowl each morning before classes and he has formed a team with Miguel, Isqandar and Amira, the tiny girl with glasses. How cute can you get?! He told all of this to me while we were in the sauna afterschool today. (we need to warm up as the pool can be chilly...I never thought I would use the word "chilly" while in Singapore except when inside a department store!)
We enjoyed kuru-kuru sushi again. It is fun to watch the kids take the different dishes off the conveyor belt and Frunty orders different dishes himself using the mouse. (each table as its own computer.) Luckily Sakae Sushi delivers because we may not live very close to one of their branches in our new home...wherever that may be! In the meantime, we'll enjoy sushi and purchasing bags of fruit afterwards. While I pay at Sakae, the kids run over and choose a gorgeous, freshly cut piece of fruit at the little fruit bar where we get or got freshly squeezed juices. I give them the money and they really have fun doing the transactions themselves. They are very gracious and tell me they say "thank you"!
What fun!
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Monday, 12 October 2009
Juicing Queen
On Saturday we visited Ikea. It was a lot of fun to take a look at what we can purchase when we get our new home. We are still in temporary housing but because we are in a fun area called Hougang, it is nice. The commute to school is tiring though so I hope we can finalize something soon.
Anyway, after Ikea we visited a shop called The Courts which has home/electronics and a fun, play zone for Whiz Kids. We put the kids in for an hour and walked around to check out furniture, beds etc. I found myself in the kitchen department and came home with a Philips Juicer! The representative gave me a bag of apples and carrots so I could juice that very night. I had asked for one or two but he insisted I take the whole bag "compliments of Philips!" He also gave me a thermos and two mugs.
So we have been juicing ever since. Apple and carrot and I have had celery and green apple. I plan to make different variations. It's a good way to get the kids to try different veggies and with the pulp, we can make carrot cake or something else. On Sunday, we made pancakes with the pulp.
I don't think the fun ever does stop!
Anyway, after Ikea we visited a shop called The Courts which has home/electronics and a fun, play zone for Whiz Kids. We put the kids in for an hour and walked around to check out furniture, beds etc. I found myself in the kitchen department and came home with a Philips Juicer! The representative gave me a bag of apples and carrots so I could juice that very night. I had asked for one or two but he insisted I take the whole bag "compliments of Philips!" He also gave me a thermos and two mugs.
So we have been juicing ever since. Apple and carrot and I have had celery and green apple. I plan to make different variations. It's a good way to get the kids to try different veggies and with the pulp, we can make carrot cake or something else. On Sunday, we made pancakes with the pulp.
I don't think the fun ever does stop!
Friday, 9 October 2009
French Babysitting
After our camping trip in Corsica, we were taking the bus up to Ajaccio to catch our plane when we met a French guy traveling with his wife. It turned out that on that very same day, their daughter was commencing a university year in Singapore. After several emails, Irene came over today for the first time and gave me a list of her friends, one of whom already came to us when we were near Orchard Road, who will be able to babysit en francais.
The kids were thrilled. Frunty raised both arms up in the air, shouting "J'adore le francais!" It must be a comfort food for them. I surprised myself by talking quite well with Irene when she first arrived and eventually, I needed to make some calls and go to the shops. She will come over next week and hopefully on a regular basis to help our kids continue their French. I was really impressed to hear so much French coming from Pit, by the way. I couldn't be prouder of my two little guys, conversing away, en francais.
In the meantime, I am in the middle of negotiations regarding several properties we are interested in and definitely feeling the heat. The agents are working on behalf of owners and their tactics are good. Luckily I am getting some insider information on these properties as I have been hanging around the area and talking to people who actually live there, pay rent and one such woman who is herself a property consultant. I appreciate her support at this time. This blog is supposed to be about having fun with our darlings so I just want to comment briefly on how I am a little, Canadian blow fish up against some big, hungry sharks over here. Today I was actually followed down the street by another agent. They are all competing with eachother and it is pretty intense.
Frunty has successfully completed his second week of school and got 29/30 on his spelling B. I am really proud of him as we studied the words in the taxi on the way to school and he seemed a bit sleepy. Meanwhile, he clearly was learning them and his printing was really lovely to boot.
I think I have found a lovely kindergarten for Pit near our potential new home. It is a toss up between the one with a Montessori method which is very close by but in a tiny home and quite expensive versus the government run, brand new kindergarten facility a little farther away but considerably more reasonable. I figure the bike ride will do us all good and I took the route already to test it out. The side walk is quite wide and there is a piece of grass dividing it with the actual road plus big, beautiful trees along the way. The kids wear tiny, orange and yellow uniforms and look absolutely adorable. Unlike the Montessori one, I did not see another International student but only native Singaporeans. I still think that Pit will fit in okay and will take him there next week to have a little visit. He would then begin in January.
Well, I don't think I can get any more tired than I am right now and am so grateful for the Sakae Sushi resto down below us where we had dinner. Daddy is on his way home and will find some sushi take-out waiting for him which I am sure he'll enjoy. These days are a bit tiring and overwhelming at times and I wouldn't change them for anything. It takes a lot of work to build up a new life from almost nothing...again. But with smiling faces all around, including my own kids, I know it is all worthwhile. Frunty, on one last note, has gone from never wanting to leave Brussels to wanting to become a Singapore citizen...he told me tonight during story time. Imagine that!?
The kids were thrilled. Frunty raised both arms up in the air, shouting "J'adore le francais!" It must be a comfort food for them. I surprised myself by talking quite well with Irene when she first arrived and eventually, I needed to make some calls and go to the shops. She will come over next week and hopefully on a regular basis to help our kids continue their French. I was really impressed to hear so much French coming from Pit, by the way. I couldn't be prouder of my two little guys, conversing away, en francais.
In the meantime, I am in the middle of negotiations regarding several properties we are interested in and definitely feeling the heat. The agents are working on behalf of owners and their tactics are good. Luckily I am getting some insider information on these properties as I have been hanging around the area and talking to people who actually live there, pay rent and one such woman who is herself a property consultant. I appreciate her support at this time. This blog is supposed to be about having fun with our darlings so I just want to comment briefly on how I am a little, Canadian blow fish up against some big, hungry sharks over here. Today I was actually followed down the street by another agent. They are all competing with eachother and it is pretty intense.
Frunty has successfully completed his second week of school and got 29/30 on his spelling B. I am really proud of him as we studied the words in the taxi on the way to school and he seemed a bit sleepy. Meanwhile, he clearly was learning them and his printing was really lovely to boot.
I think I have found a lovely kindergarten for Pit near our potential new home. It is a toss up between the one with a Montessori method which is very close by but in a tiny home and quite expensive versus the government run, brand new kindergarten facility a little farther away but considerably more reasonable. I figure the bike ride will do us all good and I took the route already to test it out. The side walk is quite wide and there is a piece of grass dividing it with the actual road plus big, beautiful trees along the way. The kids wear tiny, orange and yellow uniforms and look absolutely adorable. Unlike the Montessori one, I did not see another International student but only native Singaporeans. I still think that Pit will fit in okay and will take him there next week to have a little visit. He would then begin in January.
Well, I don't think I can get any more tired than I am right now and am so grateful for the Sakae Sushi resto down below us where we had dinner. Daddy is on his way home and will find some sushi take-out waiting for him which I am sure he'll enjoy. These days are a bit tiring and overwhelming at times and I wouldn't change them for anything. It takes a lot of work to build up a new life from almost nothing...again. But with smiling faces all around, including my own kids, I know it is all worthwhile. Frunty, on one last note, has gone from never wanting to leave Brussels to wanting to become a Singapore citizen...he told me tonight during story time. Imagine that!?
Sunday, 4 October 2009
SAM
After breakfast this morning, we headed to the pool for a family swim which always includes time in the sauna and the playground. When Daddy finishes his weights, he looks for us. We are hiding in the slide, laughing. What's fun is sliding down really quickly with wet swim suits on!
At 11 am, we had our first Mandarin lesson with Shea from China. Our kids have already picked up some Mandarin so today was more of a review and an introduction to pinyin. (the Chinese sounds converted into our Roman sounds) The kids got the 4 (+1) tones right away while I struggled to get my voice to go up and down and crinkly, like Pit's eyebrows! It'll take me time but the kids will probably be conversing by next year! (aaargh!)
We took the kids to visit SAM today: Singapore Art Museum for an open house which we read about in the Straits Times newspaper. It was funny to run into Daddy's colleague and his family as we had just seen them on Friday night at the Lantern party. Plus, it is a big city and we are already running into people we know. We have only been here a few weeks!!
We enjoyed some free candy floss and balloon dogs and signed up for several activities including the Animal Trail and Safari (hunt around SAM for hidden animals and colour your own animal designs) and best of all, making a terrarium (fit an entire eco-system into a jam jar.) The jar was made in Italy, by the way! We took a long time creating a doll using recycled materials so brought it home to finish it here. There is so much to do in Singapore. I am looking forward to the night safari at the zoo which has a Halloween theme right now!
Frunty cheered because he has completed his first week of school and thought he wouldn't have to go back. Then I explained that very soon, he'll have a week's holiday followed by a bit of school and then two months off. It looks like he'll return happily to school tomorrow. I am happy he has this time before starting P2 in January.
At 11 am, we had our first Mandarin lesson with Shea from China. Our kids have already picked up some Mandarin so today was more of a review and an introduction to pinyin. (the Chinese sounds converted into our Roman sounds) The kids got the 4 (+1) tones right away while I struggled to get my voice to go up and down and crinkly, like Pit's eyebrows! It'll take me time but the kids will probably be conversing by next year! (aaargh!)
We took the kids to visit SAM today: Singapore Art Museum for an open house which we read about in the Straits Times newspaper. It was funny to run into Daddy's colleague and his family as we had just seen them on Friday night at the Lantern party. Plus, it is a big city and we are already running into people we know. We have only been here a few weeks!!
We enjoyed some free candy floss and balloon dogs and signed up for several activities including the Animal Trail and Safari (hunt around SAM for hidden animals and colour your own animal designs) and best of all, making a terrarium (fit an entire eco-system into a jam jar.) The jar was made in Italy, by the way! We took a long time creating a doll using recycled materials so brought it home to finish it here. There is so much to do in Singapore. I am looking forward to the night safari at the zoo which has a Halloween theme right now!Frunty cheered because he has completed his first week of school and thought he wouldn't have to go back. Then I explained that very soon, he'll have a week's holiday followed by a bit of school and then two months off. It looks like he'll return happily to school tomorrow. I am happy he has this time before starting P2 in January.
Friday, 2 October 2009
Mid-Autumn Festival
This morning, Pit asked me how we were going to bring the fish that we caught at the Fish Farm back to Brussels. This hasn't been the first time that he has asked me a question about Belgium. He says it is too hot here and he wants to go back. Of course, I don't hear him asking these questions when he is frolicking about in the pool because, obviously, he is distracted and having fun. Eventually, and once we are settled in our home, I hope that he'll feel better about being here.
Yesterday afterschool, the three of us went to the Shaw Center to see the new Meatball movie. It was a way to celebrate Frunty's first week of school having been completed and to escape the heat during the hottest part of the day. Apparently, fires in Indonesia are creating a haze here which in turn makes a greenhouse-like effect. I don't find it unbearable in the least. What I did fine hard was the air-con in the theatre. I had to wrap a beach towel around myself and was happy that Pit was sitting on my lap. The movie was quite fun and afterwards, we took bus #36 to Parkway Parade to go to an afterwork office party hosted by a colleague at his condo to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with mooncakes and lanterns.
In the mall's food court, the kids ate beef and rice and this way we arrived at the party at 6pm with food in our bellies. This was smart as most of the food there had things in it we couldn't eat and also, the kids were so excited that I don't think they would have eaten even if they had been hungry. Instead, they got into the pool which had a jungle gym beside it and splash away.
The party was great and we got to know some more colleagues. The hosts' daughter played soccer with our boys so well that we were the very last to leave the party having had a marvelous time. Highlights were the pomelo contest in which the guys had to race against eachother to peel their fruit. I think Daddy came in second which was pretty good! For me, standing around the pool, watching the kids have fun, chatting about life in Singapore with a local, seeing all the palm trees lit up with little lights made for a magical evening.
We did come home to find some of the aforementioned fish dead but luckily, many new babies are still doing okay. What a week!
Yesterday afterschool, the three of us went to the Shaw Center to see the new Meatball movie. It was a way to celebrate Frunty's first week of school having been completed and to escape the heat during the hottest part of the day. Apparently, fires in Indonesia are creating a haze here which in turn makes a greenhouse-like effect. I don't find it unbearable in the least. What I did fine hard was the air-con in the theatre. I had to wrap a beach towel around myself and was happy that Pit was sitting on my lap. The movie was quite fun and afterwards, we took bus #36 to Parkway Parade to go to an afterwork office party hosted by a colleague at his condo to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with mooncakes and lanterns.
In the mall's food court, the kids ate beef and rice and this way we arrived at the party at 6pm with food in our bellies. This was smart as most of the food there had things in it we couldn't eat and also, the kids were so excited that I don't think they would have eaten even if they had been hungry. Instead, they got into the pool which had a jungle gym beside it and splash away.
The party was great and we got to know some more colleagues. The hosts' daughter played soccer with our boys so well that we were the very last to leave the party having had a marvelous time. Highlights were the pomelo contest in which the guys had to race against eachother to peel their fruit. I think Daddy came in second which was pretty good! For me, standing around the pool, watching the kids have fun, chatting about life in Singapore with a local, seeing all the palm trees lit up with little lights made for a magical evening.We did come home to find some of the aforementioned fish dead but luckily, many new babies are still doing okay. What a week!
Thursday, 1 October 2009
National Childrens' Day!
Frunty's first week of school includes a day off to celebrate Childrens' Day! Kids are so reverred here and the motto at Frunty's school is: "Enriched beyond limits. Loved beyond measure." So far, our experience at Tampines Primary is that this is true! He was placed in a Tamil class but after telling us he wanted to be with his friends in the Mandarin class, we got him moved over there which is where we ultimately want him to be. Everyone seems to be very accomodating and we are enjoying the friendliness of the school very much.
So today we enjoyed our "new" pool with adjoining jungle gym. We have moved from the Orchard/Scotts Road area to Hougang which is a nice change. Quieter, less hectic and more ethnic, less touristy. I did love starting our sejour in Singapore down in the center because it is pretty exciting.
In the afternoon, Daddy headed off to the office and I took the kids to Qian Hu Fish Farm where you get to keep what you catch! www.qianhu.com Now we have two, tiny fish tanks beside the kids' beds!
Tomorrow night is yet another celebration at a colleague's house where everyone from the office is invited. We'll be making Chinese lanterns together and enjoying a buffet and sparklers too. I would say that the main goal in Singapore is to play as hard as you work. Work hard in the classroom but goof around with balloons and games in the gym wearing your chevalier costume. Work hard in the office but make sure you enjoy your colleagues while swimming at night in a pool surrounded by lanterns. Does the fun ever stop here? No wonder the people are always smiling and are so friendly!
So today we enjoyed our "new" pool with adjoining jungle gym. We have moved from the Orchard/Scotts Road area to Hougang which is a nice change. Quieter, less hectic and more ethnic, less touristy. I did love starting our sejour in Singapore down in the center because it is pretty exciting.
In the afternoon, Daddy headed off to the office and I took the kids to Qian Hu Fish Farm where you get to keep what you catch! www.qianhu.com Now we have two, tiny fish tanks beside the kids' beds!
Tomorrow night is yet another celebration at a colleague's house where everyone from the office is invited. We'll be making Chinese lanterns together and enjoying a buffet and sparklers too. I would say that the main goal in Singapore is to play as hard as you work. Work hard in the classroom but goof around with balloons and games in the gym wearing your chevalier costume. Work hard in the office but make sure you enjoy your colleagues while swimming at night in a pool surrounded by lanterns. Does the fun ever stop here? No wonder the people are always smiling and are so friendly!
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Costume Hunting
I wrote a lot about Frunty's first day yesterday but didn't mention a few key things. First of all, his enthusiasm and desire to share with me a great many details was really great and I appreciated hearing all about his day. Walking to the Tanah Merah MRT, he regaled me with many details. He told me that they had a "spectacle" and talked about good and bad bacteria and how it affects the body. He said that if we eat too much sugar, we get too much bad bacteria so we need to eat lots of fruits and veggies. Ms. Devi said that Frunty did very well and behaved excellently which was great to hear.
When we arrived at school today, the security guards said the word "fire" to me. I really had no idea what he was talking about and quickly forgot about it as was honestly too dead tired to worry much. Afterall, I couldn't smell any smoke!! After school, Frunty again recounted a great deal of the day's happenings and first on his list was how the fire brigade came to the school in their trucks for a demonstration! It sounds like the first two days have been very exciting even though Frunty really wanted to stay in bed this morning. Who wouldn't? We have to wake up extra early to get to school so far away but that won't last once we get a home closer to TPS.
Tomorrow is a Childrens' Day Celebration at school so the kids need a costume which will be worn all day instead of the uniform. So when I picked up Frunty today with Pit we went to a costume store I read about near Lavender MRT. Okay, they had two million costumes for rent/sale, admittedly none that great but I thought Frunts could have chosen at least one. We left with him in tears. If only all of our own costumes were still not on the slow boat from Belgium!
When we got home I pieced together a bit of a pirate costume but called Daddy and got him to stop at another shop and he brought home a chevalier costume. Frunty put it on and Pit laughed his head off. It was pretty funny, a King Arthur costume. It is actually really nice but I don't think Frunty will wear it tomorrow. We'll see what happens. The following day, it's the actual day off around the state so we'll all sleep in again, like old times!
Gonna go snuggle with Frunty now. He deserves it. I am so proud of him. By the way, his friend loved the picture and frame Frunty gave him and thanked him many times. Hopefully we can make a play date soon.
When we arrived at school today, the security guards said the word "fire" to me. I really had no idea what he was talking about and quickly forgot about it as was honestly too dead tired to worry much. Afterall, I couldn't smell any smoke!! After school, Frunty again recounted a great deal of the day's happenings and first on his list was how the fire brigade came to the school in their trucks for a demonstration! It sounds like the first two days have been very exciting even though Frunty really wanted to stay in bed this morning. Who wouldn't? We have to wake up extra early to get to school so far away but that won't last once we get a home closer to TPS.
Tomorrow is a Childrens' Day Celebration at school so the kids need a costume which will be worn all day instead of the uniform. So when I picked up Frunty today with Pit we went to a costume store I read about near Lavender MRT. Okay, they had two million costumes for rent/sale, admittedly none that great but I thought Frunts could have chosen at least one. We left with him in tears. If only all of our own costumes were still not on the slow boat from Belgium!
When we got home I pieced together a bit of a pirate costume but called Daddy and got him to stop at another shop and he brought home a chevalier costume. Frunty put it on and Pit laughed his head off. It was pretty funny, a King Arthur costume. It is actually really nice but I don't think Frunty will wear it tomorrow. We'll see what happens. The following day, it's the actual day off around the state so we'll all sleep in again, like old times!
Gonna go snuggle with Frunty now. He deserves it. I am so proud of him. By the way, his friend loved the picture and frame Frunty gave him and thanked him many times. Hopefully we can make a play date soon.
