Kiddo Man Cave

阳阳 has a habit of hiding under his table to draw or play toys. I wonder if this is an instinctive man-cave element. You know like how boys in other countries would ask their dads to build a tree house so they can have their own special space away from prying eyes?

I warned him that it was dark under the table and not good for his eyes. Also cautioned him on hitting his head on the table top. Not very convincing cos the child in me also thinks it's very fun and cozy hahah I need to do a better job of being a parent.

Swimsafer Test 2.0 萱萱

I missed the first test because I was travelling. Glad I was able to go this time. It's at the same Hougang swimming pool as the first test. 萱萱 had some challenge completing the test though as the pool was shallow and she was able to stand up on it when she was not supposed to during the test laps.

We'll know the results in a few weeks. 

Encouraging 萱萱 To Read

With 萱萱 today so I brought her to the bookstore to buy some books. Hope this encourages her to read more. As my parents have done for me, I'm passing it on. So long as its books I am more than willing to buy it for our children.

Drawing On Window Condensation

Heavy cold rain today and the glass panels were fogged when we arrived to pick up 阳阳. 萱萱 had a blast drawing all sorts of designs. I was watching closely to make sure she wasn't drawing something naughty. :) the simple fun of youth.

To The Top

I think this is the first time I've seen 阳阳 climb a rope playground. He's usually timid and isn't nimble like 萱萱. I'm glad 萱萱 was here to help guide and encourage 萱萱 to go up with her. I'm pretty sure if he was alone he would have asked to go home already.

New Bike For 萱萱

Seeing that 萱萱 can ride the bicycle without the safety wheels we decided to buy one for her from Edmund. It's an immediate weaning off of the safety wheels but she doesn't seem to mind.

Since we were here we also booked a half hour for 阳阳 to practice with Edmund. He still needs more time to get to a proficient level. Well at least he is trying. We may have to get him one too soon. Well whatever it takes to make sure they learn this life skill. 

Good Managers Are Hard To Come By

I was out this evening for a team dinner to mark the departure of one of my managers. She happens to be one of the best managers I've ever worked for so it's bittersweet feeling to see her go. She has always been very supportive of what I do and doesn't try to micro-manage my work. She has been a very good listener and provides me honest and candid advise without being judgemental about my intentions. A truly wonderful person to work for.

However she shared that she has lost her passion for work in this current role for the last 9 months and am going to a larger role where she has more exposure and opportunities to learn. I can totally relate to that since I kinda did the same some 10 odd years ago. I couldn't take the repeated month end closing over and over again so I took a different route to my career. I think she is going through the same thing and I wish her the best.

She was very sad about it but when we hear the role she was taking up, everyone was unanimous in telling her she made the right choice. It wasn't even a choice, it's something you have to take up when you are offered the role. Plain simple decision.

I'm happy she's found the fire again and sincerely hope she succeeds in her new role. Heheh.  

Bonked While Parked

This is the scenario every driver dreads. You are parked nicely in a parking lot and someone accidentally hits you and goes off without leaving you a note. A hit and run.

We were parked in the usual spot at Plaza Singapura on Sunday. It's always this lot if I can help it because it's beside this walkway down a travelator to the 5th floor where crowds are much thinner than 6th. Anyways I happen to come back to put down some shopping and noticed my license plate on the floor and  scratches on the front bumper. Someone had obviously hit our car and didn't leave a note.

I immediately called Meimei to inform her and went straight to reviewing the dashboard camera. Surely it must have captured the incident. We were supposed to be buying lunch for everyone but these threw everything off. Meimei called the Plaza Singapura management office to request for a video but was told to call the Traffic Police instead as they cannot release security footage to the public. And so she did.

While I was frantically scrolling through clips by the minute, the traffic police arrive in about 30 minutes. I had just found what I think to be the offending vehicle that hit our car. It was a hit and run so we were right to call the cops. So we go through with the police what I would assume is the usual process of providing narrative of how I found the car, what happened etc.

Just as we were in midst of recording our statement and the traffic police taking pictures, a middle aged man approached the car and said he was the one who hit us. Interesting~. Is he back here because he genuinely was gonna own up or is here only because the cops have been called. I didn't catch his conversation with the police but Meimei shared with me later that he mentioned he is a lawyer and her alarm bells were on heightened alert.

The man started apologising for hitting our car and offered to compensate us. I told him I'm not familiar with the cost of repairs and I would be bringing it to Volkswagen so there is no ambiguity on repairs. He seemed reluctant to accept it and says he drives a Lexus and knows what it cost to go to the dealer. I smiled and said to him knowingly "yah, they would just replace the whole bumper." He replied, "If we can settle privately I can give you $450 now but if we repair at the dealer I will have to claim my insurance." Seeing that he seems to be sincere, I offered to bring my car to a 3rd party on Monday and have it assess before letting him know the cost. He agreed and we exchanged contact details.

He continued to provided details of his vehicles and finally left. Meimei was following the whole conversation and came over to quickly check on the car plate number the man had provided. Although the numbers were the same, the other alphabets given to the police were different. Hmmm what's going on?! We immediately asked the traffic police about it and were told that it's important to have the right car plate details else it may jeopardise the insurance claims if it went to that. We showed the police the video and they called the man to clarify. They had him come back to our floor and verify the correct car plate. At the same time we exchange photos of our NRIC so I have his details should I need to make a report.

Haiz all these really put a sour touch to the whole day. We drove home and had to order Grab along the way. The kids were hungry and tired from waiting for all these to conclude. 

The next day I took urgent leave to bring the car to an authorised workshop. We were quoted $350 for repairs and spray painting. I asked the uncle if he provides rental but was advised to take grab and claim for 3 days of loss of use instead. So I called the man and after some discussions we agreed on private settlement for $650. I thought it was extremely reasonable cost since I had to sacrifice a day of leave to come to the workshop and possible another one when I return to collect.

I think the fella thinks the same and transferred $750 instead through PayNow. I guess its a small compensation for the hassle. Obviously its not enough to cover my day of leave ... far from it. But at least it's an amicable resolution to it all without all the paperwork of insurance and claims.

Cycling Lessons

Meimei found a recommended cycling trainer at Bukit Timah area. Cycling is considered a life skill like swimming in my book. So I gladly drove everyone to the bicycle shop to see if Edmund can work magic and get 萱萱 and 阳阳 to cycle without the safety wheels.

It turns out 萱萱 only needed one session to cycle on two wheels. Perfect one and done scenario. 阳阳 needs more practice and we book another session on another week.

This was money well spent. I'm happy the kids were having fun and keen to cycle better. I dream of the day we can all cycle together as a family to a playground or go on a cycling trial from one end of east coast park to the other and back.

Baby Paparazzi

The new queen of 405. Every doll up session attracts the paparazzi craze. There must have been hundred odd pics from this one session.

Me? I just take a pic of the paparazzi so XY can giggle about it years later.

Kiddo Talk & Pic Oct 2022

 

Birthday Celebration Meal At Peppermint @Park Royal Collection Marina Bay

Ahh birthdays again. But this one's 'special'. It's the first time we were out as a family for a celebration meal. Meimei had planned it out perfectly with reservations at Peppermint. 萱萱 didn't have school today and we pulled 阳阳 out of childcare before lunch.

The selection is good. They have a cold bar with salad and Thai cold dishes. The seafood section was adequate with fresh prawns and crab. The sushi bar was a plated service so you couldn't just grab a whole bunch of sashimi. The hot food section boasted a good spread of pasta, meats, vegetables and soup like any creditable buffet would. They could do better on dessert but I think they were going with a Thai theme so choices were limited. The ice cream bar always helps though. Overall pretty satisfied with the available choices.

This is the first time the kids been to a buffet so they were undoubtedly excited and in high spirits. We let them have a free rein on what they want to eat so they were all in on the fried stuff. We did however ask them to save some space for desserts. They had a few servings of ice cream which must have been a dream for them since they normally don't get that much.

I'm happy we came out for lunch. It shows we have moved into the next stage of life where we can start bringing kids out for activities and fun. No more strollers, milk bottle,  pampers or nap time to worry about. I'm looking forward to more outings with Meimei and kids.

Algebra At Primary One?

Our days in isolation is simple. We wake up, wash up and have breakfast. I'll log on for work and 萱萱 will start on her homework revision books before she can get video. She's now able to do most of the exercises on her own so I leave her be. But sometimes there are sections she cannot understand, especially with the math exercises so I'll try to help her with them.

萱萱 struggles with the multiplication questions. That's to be expected I guess? I remember we were only taught multiplication at Primary 4. These days the children start at Primary 1. Ok ... so times have changed. But what shocked me was a question which seemingly requires algebra to solve. Huh?! Algeria at 7 years old?? I really wonder if any kids beside the super smart ones can understand these.

I struggled to explain to 萱萱 and thankfully she was nice and patient ... you can see on her face she is trying to gasp the concept but somehow she just gets lost. I sympathise with her confusion and didn't really push much on it. I just hope this doesn't put her off maths, which is so so important.

Finally Caught By Covid

I tested positive yesterday morning after feeling feverish and irritation in the throat. It was a shocker because I had gone to the US where everyone was maskless (including me) and didn't get it. Initially we had thought I might be one of those who is asymptomatic. Well ... this proves that I was probably just lucky not to get it on my business trip.

So I was holed up in the study room yesterday so Meimei could use the master since she was coughing so badly. But today 萱萱 tested positive so both of us are now confined to the master bedroom. Right now it doesn't feel so bad for 萱萱 and myself. Just high fever but no sore throat or breathlessness. I think the vaccination helps with the symptoms. Glad 萱萱 has the jab too so she doesn't have to suffer the ailments.

Hyper Mobility

I never knew this was a thing. Hyper mobility ... huh?

So we brought 阳阳 to see a specialist today for his walking. He walks slightly awkwardly on his left leg. We asked Dr Ang about it previously and got the usual "wait a little they may outgrow it" response. She did refer us to a specialist so we're at the session today to see if there is anything problematic we should be aware of. Turns out his joints have not stiffen and so the way he walks is a result of his body trying to balance out the limps. It's what she calls "Hyper Mobility". 

The doctor had asked Meimei to bring all his shoes and she tested them by trying to bend them at the soles. All of his shoes failed ... so we have to buy new shoes for him. The good ones are those with firm sloes so his feet can have a stable flat surface. I think its the same concept as a medium firm bed. The kid's body is still developing so a soft bed may result in a slouched back.

Other thing the doctor caught was his lack of muscle strength. And the solution to that is more playground time. Haiz 阳阳 is a Covid baby ... I never really had the chance to bring him to the playground consistently like I did with 萱萱. Oh well, guess its time to make it up.

To help him with stiffening up his hips, he has to sit with his feet pulled in everyday for about 20 minutes. I think it not only helps with his hips and joints but is good for him to keep a straight back posture too. He seems to be slouching a bit so this is like a combo fix.