I don't have much to share this month in terms of photos. I was away on the first and last week of the month and there are only a few photos I received. Even when I was in Singapore I was dealing with jet lag and trying to sort out the mess of the month end close. I'm glad we went live and close out the first month end process. It's a project I've been working every weekday night for the past 18 months to deliver.
Travelled to Bangalore this week on a short trip. It's a mini Finance workout to run through test cases so it's just me. We went out for lunch each day and the team brought me to try Bryani which is one of my favourite dishes. I discover a glorious treat in a papadum that is topped with freshly cut tomato, cucumbers and onions. I was cautious in eating raw stuff outside the hotel but they assured me that it'll be fine. I also had mutton soup which you cannot really find anymore in Singapore. We went to the same restaurant twice in a row because I loved the food there.
Never knew there were table tennis tables at a MRT till Meimei booked one for the kids to play. Meimei seems to think that table tennis will be a good sport for the kids to pick up at school as a CCA. I think it all depends on their interest and its good they get to try it out now so they know what it's all about.
The only downside to it is that if they get sweaty and tired, we still need to make our way back to Marina Square where we parked the car. Plus kids are typically dressed for church instead of sports. Thankfully it's all in the comfort of aircon. I might need to switch out my Sunday "Fresh clothes day" habit if this persists.
We were at River Hongbao at Gardens by The Bay this evening. They had put up a carnival and Meimei was in a generous mood and bought a few packs of tokens so kids could play in various carnival rides. Both kids were excited to try the bumper cars. It sounds fun right chasing after one another and trying to bump them.
But after the first few bums we noticed that 阳阳 tries very hard to avoid everyone. 萱萱 on the other hand chases after everyone and ramming into them.
We found out later that 阳阳's waist band was too tight and after being bumped, the band constricted and he felt pain at his abdomen. Well that explains it. It's good that they had a try at it so they know what it's all about. I'm pretty sure this experience has put 阳阳 off bumper cars for good. No loss really.
Was parked at Jewel Changi today. The BMW on our right had also just parked but were slow to leave the car. So we left the car while the driver was fiddling with something in the boot.
When we got back after lunch we noticed a very silly and yet sensible contraption on the BMW. Firstly we were nicely parked in our lots and no one is encroaching on the other. Plus ours is a sliding door so it'll never hit their car.
I was very tickled when I saw it. They must have had bad experiences parking at their condo carpark. But I was like "dude, it's just a car!". Or ... they are so bad at their parking that they consistently get their doors scratched or banged that they have to resort to doing this. What do you think it is?
Happy New Year! I tried to fit into the Goldlion shirts but most of them don't fit at the waist anymore. They must have shrank in the cupboard after such long period of neglect. I'll get new ones next year, Goldlion usually carries a couple of red ones.
Meimei has dress up the kids in perfect attires as usual. She has the midas-touch to getting things looking pretty and perfect.
I've walked past this Shake Shack many times since it opened at Jewel several years ago. Meimei and I never really got to trying it. Well that's because every time we walked past the restaurant, I notice that all the patrons have gloomy looks on their face. Not once did I see someone enjoying their burgers. How is that when it's supposed to be very good.
Well I think I found out today ... on my first ever meal at Shake Shack. For a meal that costed $100+ for a family of four, I expect a decent level of quality in the food. I don't have crazy expectations but a burger is a burger right? How wrong can it go? Plus this burger chain comes with a reputation for "amazing" burgers.
Well unfortunately I can also say this is the last time I'll have Shake Shack. It's all over-blown hype. The kids tried the burger and commented that Mcdonald's taste better. The patty was supposed to be juicy and flavourful but it was instead dry.
The nail on the coffin was charging an extra $2.40 for shrooms burger. It's my mistake but one can understand the confusion. After ordering a normal meal, there was a selection for shrooms at an additional $2.40. Ok so I thought $2.40 for some mushrooms would be nice. You know like in Burger King where there is the crowd favourite Mushroom Swiss that is priced a couple of bucks more than a normal cheeseburger. So yeah great I thought, let's make it an experience! Well ... I definitely got an experience. Turns out ... paying an additional $2.40 to the $20++ meal lets you switch out the beef patty for a portobello mushroom. WTF! Why does anyone have to pay more for a vege burger???!!!!
Then it finally dawned on me .... You'll never get your money's worth, they will bleed you dry and leave a sour taste in your mouth.
I'm now a member of the Jewel Changi Perpetual Shake Shack Gloomy Face Diners Club.
Alone on this trip so I could go try out different restaurants. I still kept the usual comfort meals like Mambo Seafood, LA crawfish etc.
I'm so sorry I missed your Birthday again this year. Glad that we have family around for your Birthday. That's the beauty of staying close to everyone. I sent a Happy Birthday on iMessage to 阳阳 while I was on the plane. We'll have another cake when I get back the next day.
I won't be able to get back before 8th Feb. The least I could do is come back with a present for 阳阳. When I told him last month that I would be traveling for work and would miss his birthday, he immediately blurted out that I'm missing his birthday again second year in a row. Man ... I felt so guilty after hearing that. But there is very little I can do. I have to be in McAllen to assist with the first month end close after the project go-live.
So I tried hard to find something he would like. I know he wanted a sweater that does not have a zip and preferably with a hoody. So when I chanced on this Pikachu sweater I was adamant to get it. I had to go to 3 different Walmart before I finally found one in 阳阳's size. I'm sure this will bring a smile to his face.
Pretty busy this month due to the project go-live. Flew to McAllen for the last week and will be in Texas for another week before I go home. Couldn't be there to bring the kids to rollerblading classes but thankfully Meimei has it sorted out. 2 thumbs up for my Deardear!
Thankfully I told the team about my blunder on the Cognac. They recommend I go to Spec's. They have a good selection of Cognac. I was surprised and elated to find a Hardy VSOP. They no longer sell them at the Changi eshop so I'm happy to get a bottle here. It cost a little more but it's more convenient to buy them here.
In McAllen for the first month end under the new ERP. I made a big boo-boo on the Cognac order. My user profile with Changi still has the old passport details. So the customer rep at the collection counter would not release the pre-ordered Cognac to me. Then I tried to go to the Duty-free store to get one but because its a flight bound for the US, customers cannot carry them through the security check and the liquor has to be delivered instead to the gates. And because of that they have a cutoff of 90 minutes before the flight. And I missed that by 10 minutes ... so I end up flying to McAllen without my booze. Bah ... I need to go find a liquor store to get some ....
On better news, I was assigned a nice Chevrolet with seats and steering wheel heating for the cold mornings. On the trip alone this time so no usual morning breakfast at iHop with Martin. I expect long hours anyways this trip since we are having to deal with the new ERP.
Good job 阳阳! Happy that 阳阳 is getting his turn in the limelight. I think he needs this validation more than 萱萱. He needs to work harder though ... he tends to fold easily and start lazing more quickly than 萱萱.
阳阳 had Vanessa's boyfriend give him a trial lessons on Taekwondo and he likes it. There happens to be a Taekwondo school at Heartbeat Bedok. So we took him for a trial today. He was very happy about being around other boys his age and punching and kicking. So I paid upfront for a 3 months course and will probably keep this going so long as he is interested. It helps to build up his strength to overcome the hyper mobility. Even if it doesn't I think it can help to build his resilience too.
