Frunty brought home a letter the other day which stated,
"The P1 pupils will be going on a Deepavali learning journey. Through this learning journey, pupils will learn more about the Indian culture from the various exhibition stations set up at the venue. Pupils will also get to watch an epic performance. Pupils are to be in their PE attire and bring the following items: a small bag and a pencil case, storybook (silent reading in the morning), water bottle with sling, finger food for recess. Warmest regards, P1 Teachers."
How exciting! Although I thought Deepavali was over and well-celebrated last month, it seems that yesterday's journey was another festivity to further explore this Indian holiday. I was so excited for Frunty. He loves the performances at school whether they are about health or about holidays. But when I picked him up, he was so tired. I took the boys for sushi and then a massage where Pit almost fell asleep in my arms. It is nice to stay somewhere cool during the very hot afternoon.
That night, Daddy came home and told us we were going on an adventure. We were so excited. The kids got on their bikes (Pit needs help as Daddy took off the training wheels) and we headed towards the river for chili crabs. The kids loved decorating the cleaned shells after dinner and two of ours will be hung on the beams of the restaurant. The two others were brought home.
Frunty has the next two days off of school. Stay tuned to hear what we'll do!
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Happy Birthday, Nonno!
We will call Nonno for his birthday but because of the time zone difference, it'll be on the 9th for us. We hope he has a great day in San Francisco.
We had a great day here in Singapore. We invited some new friends and colleagues to come to our home for a little house warming party. A few of our closer friends called to cancel due to illness. Shucks. Before they arrived, I rode my bike over to Market 58 to get tons of fruits and made fruit-kabobs. I also like paos and rice in pandan leaves and steamed chicken and traditional pork. Lots of yummy stuff. The basket of my bike was overflowing and a woman came and helped me back in all of my bags to make it fit well!
During the party, we moved by the pool so the kids could swim. Then afterwards, Frunty and I rode our bikes back to Market 58 to get massages. We both went for a back massage this time. Frunty said he loved it.
We also, by the way, enjoyed the Song of the Sea show last night. We didn't have enough time to see the pink dolphin as planned so that'll have to be another weekend. After the show, we did the night time luge ride which was really fun and beautiful with all the little lights in the trees. What a great weekend!
We had a great day here in Singapore. We invited some new friends and colleagues to come to our home for a little house warming party. A few of our closer friends called to cancel due to illness. Shucks. Before they arrived, I rode my bike over to Market 58 to get tons of fruits and made fruit-kabobs. I also like paos and rice in pandan leaves and steamed chicken and traditional pork. Lots of yummy stuff. The basket of my bike was overflowing and a woman came and helped me back in all of my bags to make it fit well!
During the party, we moved by the pool so the kids could swim. Then afterwards, Frunty and I rode our bikes back to Market 58 to get massages. We both went for a back massage this time. Frunty said he loved it.
We also, by the way, enjoyed the Song of the Sea show last night. We didn't have enough time to see the pink dolphin as planned so that'll have to be another weekend. After the show, we did the night time luge ride which was really fun and beautiful with all the little lights in the trees. What a great weekend!
Friday, 6 November 2009
Family Massage Time
Yesterday Daddy joined us for our afternoon massage time. We had lunch together at Market 58 after picking Frunty up from school. Sushi, chicken rice, fresh fruit and iced teas. Then we headed over for reflexology/massage. I had a much needed back/neck treatment. Pit snuggled with Daddy during his massage still preferring our massages at home only.
After the massages, I took the kids to see Astro Boy at the Tampines cinema while Daddy got back to work! It was a good movie which the kids enjoyed although thought was a bit too scarey in parts.
Today we are off to Sentosa Island to see the pink dolphin and the Song of the Seas show. Can't wait!
After the massages, I took the kids to see Astro Boy at the Tampines cinema while Daddy got back to work! It was a good movie which the kids enjoyed although thought was a bit too scarey in parts.
Today we are off to Sentosa Island to see the pink dolphin and the Song of the Seas show. Can't wait!
Thursday, 5 November 2009
New Fish
Daddy purchased a secondhand fish tank the other day and adopted, in so doing, three fish. Well, one doesn't really seem like a fish but more like a salamander. He came home very late at night with a huge grin on his face! The next day, those three fish didn't look so well but after a visit to the fish shop to get some anti-chlorine drops, those creatures have really perked up! Their survival after the last few days meant that the kids and I could go back to the shop and purchase a few new friends.
Frunty chose a black and white angel fish, Pit chose a Glass Catfish and I chose several little orange, guppy-like fish whose name was not on the tank at the shop. They all look pretty happy in there and when I read bed time stories to the kids, they like to stare at the tank. I think it is pretty soothing.
Irene came for 3.5 hours today to play (practise French) while I went furniture shopping. (I am actually considering some Asian-style furniture instead of all IKEA! Stay tuned for our new, equatorial look!) We won't see Irene til Janvier as she has exams and then travels. Today was a super rainy day here again so perfect for the kids to stay in and play with Irene. They seem to really enjoy their French time and start practising with me from the moment I mention that Irene is on her way!
Frunty chose a black and white angel fish, Pit chose a Glass Catfish and I chose several little orange, guppy-like fish whose name was not on the tank at the shop. They all look pretty happy in there and when I read bed time stories to the kids, they like to stare at the tank. I think it is pretty soothing.
Irene came for 3.5 hours today to play (practise French) while I went furniture shopping. (I am actually considering some Asian-style furniture instead of all IKEA! Stay tuned for our new, equatorial look!) We won't see Irene til Janvier as she has exams and then travels. Today was a super rainy day here again so perfect for the kids to stay in and play with Irene. They seem to really enjoy their French time and start practising with me from the moment I mention that Irene is on her way!
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Rainy Season
Since we arrived in Singapore, we have heard different stories about when rainy season would begin. Recently I heard it was supposed to be two weeks in December. Now apparently it is, well, now! The showers are pretty heavy and the wind blows the rain into our home. It is 9:15pm and a big rain pour just hit and now it is cooler outside. I tried to collect some of the rain water for our plants as tomorrow will surely be hot and sunny until the next shower hits.
After story time, Frunty sang me the Singapore National Anthem in Malay which he sings everyday with his fellow classmates. It was really lovely. I am myself learning some Malay at the nearby wet market but one or two words only. Of course, Frunty is way ahead with his daily exposure.
Afterschool we had sushi and fruit before heading out to look at Asian furniture shops. I think we'll choose some IKEA "pieces" for the kids but go for a more resort-look in other parts of the house. We are going to take our time. We took it easy choosing our home and now are really pleased so it is worth waiting to make sure we get it right.
I wish I could snap my fingers sometimes and have it all set up! But half the fun is the journey, I hear! The journey east.
After story time, Frunty sang me the Singapore National Anthem in Malay which he sings everyday with his fellow classmates. It was really lovely. I am myself learning some Malay at the nearby wet market but one or two words only. Of course, Frunty is way ahead with his daily exposure.
Afterschool we had sushi and fruit before heading out to look at Asian furniture shops. I think we'll choose some IKEA "pieces" for the kids but go for a more resort-look in other parts of the house. We are going to take our time. We took it easy choosing our home and now are really pleased so it is worth waiting to make sure we get it right.
I wish I could snap my fingers sometimes and have it all set up! But half the fun is the journey, I hear! The journey east.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Our New Home
A gorgeous breeze is wafting over me as I type this blog entry tonight. My very own palms that I purchased from Katong Floral Market are swaying. I can hear the fountain by the pool which I can also see where I am sitting. The small lamps around the garden are very attractive and the sound of our wood chime that Daddy just gave me, gives me the impression that I am at a resort in South East Asia. Wait a minute! I am!
We have been in our new home for just over a week and are enjoying it immensely. Setting up home is challenging but both kids are helping me. Pit and Frunty take turns with leaf patrol as we have two decks and also help unpack our boxes. (a few glasses that made it across the world have since broken on our tile floors which is pretty funny, actually!) Even though we don't have furniture yet and are still on air mattresses, we will have our house warming party this Sunday. Don't forget to bring your swim suit!
Although I enjoy living near Frunty's school so we can ride our bikes, some great markets where I am getting to know people (Victor at the Bao stall is really nice and will try to get me some red bean paste, the guys at the coffee/stall are teaching me...Malay!) and having a pool that I can jump in anytime I wish, I find living beside the Buddhist temple to be the most interesting experience. The chanting is soothing, the drums are mesmerizing... the scent of the cooking is tantalizing. Time to introduce myself!!
We were lucky to move in just before Halloween in order to enjoy a fun party, trick-or-treating and the chance to meet lots of new neighbours. Our gated community has such a great mix of Singaporeans and westerners. I feel so grateful to have the chance to commune with either depending on my mood.
I am also really proud of myself for some small home improvements that I instigated. I painted my ensuite bathroom an Oyster Grey and hired a guy to help me paint Frunty and Pit's rooms. The kids chose their colours and even which wall would have which colour. After this huge transition, I wanted to make sure they got to choose how to make their very own rooms special. Pit chose Mandarin Glow for one wall and Sprout (green) for two walls. The wall overlooking the Buddhist temple remained cream. Frunty chose Blue Mist for three walls and the one wall remained cream. He does want some green stripes added to one wall. It's going to be a bit tricky but I'll try.
I am also grateful that our Chinese teacher and French babysitters have been able to continue coming over twice a week respectively especially since they don't have comfortable chairs to sit on. It is a testament to how great our kids are that their tutors would sit on the floor to teach them. I am so proud of our guys. Frunty sings a song now in Mandarin and when the two of them are playing together, I often hear conversations in French. Frunty is also, I just heard, fluent in Singlish! When he is talking to Singaporeans, he speaks this hybrid dialect. The first time was a bit shocking. He knows with us though, he has to speak Canadian English and Italian.
Well, that's it for now although I could write for hours. I can't tell you how nice it is to have this life experience. A bat just flew by. Pit told me at dinner (gluten-free sausages that were delivered by The Butcher!) that if I were very quiet, I would see a bat tonight. He was right!
We have been in our new home for just over a week and are enjoying it immensely. Setting up home is challenging but both kids are helping me. Pit and Frunty take turns with leaf patrol as we have two decks and also help unpack our boxes. (a few glasses that made it across the world have since broken on our tile floors which is pretty funny, actually!) Even though we don't have furniture yet and are still on air mattresses, we will have our house warming party this Sunday. Don't forget to bring your swim suit!
Although I enjoy living near Frunty's school so we can ride our bikes, some great markets where I am getting to know people (Victor at the Bao stall is really nice and will try to get me some red bean paste, the guys at the coffee/stall are teaching me...Malay!) and having a pool that I can jump in anytime I wish, I find living beside the Buddhist temple to be the most interesting experience. The chanting is soothing, the drums are mesmerizing... the scent of the cooking is tantalizing. Time to introduce myself!!
We were lucky to move in just before Halloween in order to enjoy a fun party, trick-or-treating and the chance to meet lots of new neighbours. Our gated community has such a great mix of Singaporeans and westerners. I feel so grateful to have the chance to commune with either depending on my mood.
I am also really proud of myself for some small home improvements that I instigated. I painted my ensuite bathroom an Oyster Grey and hired a guy to help me paint Frunty and Pit's rooms. The kids chose their colours and even which wall would have which colour. After this huge transition, I wanted to make sure they got to choose how to make their very own rooms special. Pit chose Mandarin Glow for one wall and Sprout (green) for two walls. The wall overlooking the Buddhist temple remained cream. Frunty chose Blue Mist for three walls and the one wall remained cream. He does want some green stripes added to one wall. It's going to be a bit tricky but I'll try.
I am also grateful that our Chinese teacher and French babysitters have been able to continue coming over twice a week respectively especially since they don't have comfortable chairs to sit on. It is a testament to how great our kids are that their tutors would sit on the floor to teach them. I am so proud of our guys. Frunty sings a song now in Mandarin and when the two of them are playing together, I often hear conversations in French. Frunty is also, I just heard, fluent in Singlish! When he is talking to Singaporeans, he speaks this hybrid dialect. The first time was a bit shocking. He knows with us though, he has to speak Canadian English and Italian.
Well, that's it for now although I could write for hours. I can't tell you how nice it is to have this life experience. A bat just flew by. Pit told me at dinner (gluten-free sausages that were delivered by The Butcher!) that if I were very quiet, I would see a bat tonight. He was right!
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Sentosa Luge
The four of us went to Sentosa this afternoon for an exciting time at the concrete luge and then a relaxing dinner at the beach side Japanese restaurant. Frunty is a speed demon and Pit is very cute riding with one of the grown ups. He tries to affect the driver so we can go faster. It's amazing to have this tropical island fun zone / theme park a 30 minute metro ride away. Good thing we have the annual pass to go there because we'll certainly be going back.
