Titleless Too

Yes yes yes...i have also succumbed to the need for domestic help, having tried to take care of dandan ourselves and realised that it's just too much a stretch. Being able to take care of the baby yourself is wonderful if you can afford the time and effort, but we realised that what can happen is also that by doing everything yourselves, the joy of parenthood may just be drowned out by the weariness.

So yes, we've joined the club - and become an employer of what they call the FDW (foreign domestic worker - sounds more professional than 'maid' right?). Catalyst is so right that a good FDW is just so hard to find, you are either very good at one thing and bad at another or vice versa. For us, we're actually finding it hard to get one that has genuine rapport with the baby. This is now our top priority, even over being perfect at keeping the house clean.

Anyway, we were hoping to have a baby get-together at globetrotters but in the end it was more of an adult get-together, which was good too, given that we've not hung out for a while. There was a suggestion to have a beach outing so the kids can run or crawl or sit or flip around, while the parents catch them...i mean catch up. Anybody on?

Titleless

It's been quite some time ago since I have last blogged. From the posts that I have seen, looks like it is the same for the rest as well. Just came back from MC for 2 days, although still not feeling well, but have to come to office to "show face" and also to "catch up" with the work.

Met up with Yeek and Ping ping recently. Apparently, they are enjoying their "retirement" days. Am glad that they have found a new life and enjoying it. I believe that not everyone has their passion and determination to make Amway for for them. Anyway, I have become their down line again, not for the financial freedom, but simply because Justin likes the chewy Vit C from Amway, so it is cheaper for us to buy as a Amway member.

Anyway, last 2 weeks were a little too much with 2 kids and myself being sick. Unfortunately, Xue'e is also travelling on biz trips. If not for our maid, i think our kids would have suffered the most. Somehow, I noticed that our maid has taken care of Justin and Darren quite well. I have to admit that I did not bother with the kids' medication at all for the past 3 days. She had handled it well, of course, under the instruction of Xue'e, I guess.

So, in short, I am a strong advocate for having domestic help. Sometimes, it is not easy to find a good help though. With two of us working, knowing that someone is there to look after the kids certainly helps to relieve some stress.

BTW, I have missed the one organised by YC at the globe trotters. Any updates on who turn up and pictures?

just to share these links:

http://www.mypaper.com.sg/inmyheartcontest_result.html

http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/ep250807_opf_files/pg14-15b.html

hey kopitiamers, just realised changfu had some comments posted anonymously and they were awaiting moderation since few weeks ago. have since approved them so dun be surprised to see some that are back-dated.

Hello from Philly

Many thanks for all of you for your well-wishes. We thoroughly enjoyed the prata and the various informative advice given to us, such as shopping tips from our shopping expert LML.

I arrived in Philly on Tues night (Wed morning SG time). The weather here is surprisingly warm and I am really looking forward to a cooler weather. Spent lots of time walking around to get a better feel of the city and some parts of Philly remind me of NY.

I must say that this move to the US has certainly not been an easy decision for me. Many people have told me that I am courageous to take this path. But I always see it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I guess it isn't so much of a right or wrong move. Things can seem so wrong initially may turn out to be right in the long term and vice-versa. It's a decision that we have made so we will just have to make the best of it.

Will blog more as I settle down in the new city. So be prepared for more news in future from your friendly correspondent from Philly.

Of Hopes and Dreams

The prata meet-up on Sunday to bid bon voyage to Suu Wei and Serene, with XM, CF, QW, JJ, PS and the partners and kiddos in tow was great! It was a nice pleasant morning, especially when i am not an early person on weekends. But having the morning out to have teh halia, prata and reminiscing over the old times was not too bad after all!

Kudos to Suu Wei and Serene for being so brave to give up all they had to strike it out in the US. There are times when I feel the desire to change my job, move overseas but this only takes place in a 'Sliding Door' scenario or when i'm dreaming. I remembered that when i was in New York, i walked past a reputable PR Agency and i really stood outside its doors for a good 5 minutes and thought what it would feel to work inside. But these are only secret desires. Both CM and myself decided that there was too much at stake for us to let go of everything and just create a future out of the unknown.

Bravo, Suu Wei and Serene! Wishing you both the very very best. As with the title of our blog, CARPE DIEM!

Take care and keep in touch always!!

Just a post

In the midst of meetings, readings, labwork, visiting the animal house and back home the diaper changes, feeds and baby-talks, I sometimes get reminded that there's still this little space of ours to retreat to for a few moments of quiet thoughts and nostalgia. I just had to conjure up some story to post today. Speaking of nostalgia, i have been running into our juniors from HC from time to time.. pple who are like a decade our junior. And it's just amusingly interesting to hear them talk about similar kind of stories/experiences that happened to them, and that are still happening today.. like PROM nights at Shangri-la, speedie-gonzalez, silly "mountain-song" cheers.. Most recently, there was this girl who was like from class 02S78 and whose brother was the mass dance IC in something like the 28thSC. Brrr...

In case it hasn't hit you, Suuwei is leaving soon! On the 24th! Catch him while you can!

Our 3 Week-old Hooligan

Introducing the new hooligan on the block - Daniel Leong Eu Shay. We call him dan-dan in an attempt to cosy up with him, so he will terrorise us a little less. Didn't really work; he still behaves like an out-of-order alarm clock, waking us up for an odd-hour feed every so often. Funny how being parents is like - it is like there's this bully in school that keeps beating you up and stealing your milk, and yet you keep finding him adorable.

On Fathers Day...

Can't help realising the difference in treatment between Father's Day and Mother's Day and feeling a slight injustice for all fathers out there... First of all, you don't get mega signages at shopping malls telling you when exactly Father's Day is (which made it difficult to make plans to celebrate it!). Secondly, you don't get bakeries designing special Father's Day cakes unlike Mother's Day where there are specially flavoured love-shaped cakes. Thirdly, you are not bombarded by advertisements luring you to pamper your Father. So, does it mean that our society value Mothers more than Fathers? Or is it that Mother's Day is a more 'fleece-able' day?

I sometimes feel that Fathers are the neglected lot when it comes to emotional pampering, although sometimes it is the own doing of fathers that resulted in the current state of neglect for their day. My dad is a fine example. He will say 'aiyah, no need to celebrate lah' or 'don't waste money lah' whenever we propose ways to celebrate Father's Day. But when it comes to Mother's Day, he will be the one making a reservation at the restaurant! Perhaps he feels that he too want to take the occasion to thank my mum for all that she has done for the family, or just a common perception that 'women always like these kinds of things'?

Hmmm... baffling...

happy daddy's day

circle of life - part II

this afternoon, myself and colleagues in my department had attended a wake of a fellow colleague who just passed away. he was in his early 40s and is survived by his wife and 2 very young sons. earlier this week on wednesday, he had encountered difficulty in the SRC swimming pool at my workplace and could not be revived after being rushed to NUH. the spooky thing is that i was in the same pool 24 hours before the accident happened.

this has to be the 4th funeral in the last 1 year or so that i am attending where the passing away is related to natural causes. my mind was struck with the miracle of life again and again especially with many new-borns in the last 1 year or so too.

Recipe - Pumpkin Bacon Croquette:)

Saw this recipe featured on tv this morning and it looks really easy. Hence i thought i'll post it on Kopitiam!

Ingredients: pumpkin (half), bacon (4 strips), 1 onion, 1 can of mushrooms, salt, pepper, flour, 1 egg, breadcrumbs.

Step 1: Wash pumpkin, cut into slices and steam until soft.(you can retain the skin but wash it clean).

Step 2: Cut bacon, mushrooms and onions. Put bacon into frying pan and fry till fragrant. Add onion and fry till fragrant and add mushrooms in the end. Once done, off fire and leave aside to cool.

Step 3: Once steamed, mash pumpkin in a bowl while hot. Then mix the fried bacon/onion/mushroom to the mashed pumpkin. Add some salt and pepper for taste. Once mixed, transfer the mixture into a container to cool. (you may want to divide the mixture into 6 portions while still hot so that you can take it out later more easily)

Step 4: Once cooled, prepare to fry the croquette. Beat an egg and get ready flour and breadcrumbs. Transfer each portion of the mixture from the container into your hands. Coat it with flour and then shape it into a circle. Then dip in egg mixture, followed by dipping it in breadcrumbs.

Step 5: Prepare oil for deepfrying. When oil is medium hot, put the croquette into the oil and fry. Once the shape of the croquette is fixed, flip to the other side. Ready to serve when it’s fried till golden brown!

Pour some of those Jap BBQ sauce before serving and viola! Enjoy!

Hong Kong Hong Kong...

Hmmm... Kopitiam has been quiet for a while, so let me post something!
In view of the school hols, if you are contemplating a short trip and if the destination happens to be Hong Kong, then i have a few places to recommend for shopping and food! Die die must go, die die must eat!

Hong Kong is an annual pilgrimage for CM and myself...and over the years, i've built up a list of the must-go places for shopping and food. During my recent visit in mid-May, the greatest treasure i found was Citigate Outlets, a factory outlet mall for clothing, shoes and other stuff. The greatest buy was Esprit where you can get tops and bottoms below S$10! Makes you never want to step into Esprit back here! There's also Geox shoes on sale at the Mirabell outlet, Nike, Adidas etc. Visit their website for a listing of the shops available! http://www.citygateoutlets.com.hk/index.html

For jeans lovers, there's this great shop (with signage of 'Sparta 135') i found along Temple Street (Kowloon) where jeans are usually on offer, at only HK$80 (S$16?!). The best thing about this shop is they do alterations (length and waistline) on the spot and they open till 12 mn daily!

The next best thing about HK is the food! There's a nice steamboat shop, 稻香88 located at the third flr of SilverCord Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. The best thing about it is that it's half-price after 9pm daily! Everything! Last year, when we were there, we had crayfish, plates of beef, etc etc and it only came up to HK$40 per person! This is a must-go place if you are in HK and don't be surprised to find many locals joining the queue! Another die-die must try place is an eatery called "Australian Milk Company" along Parkes Street, Jordan, Kowloon. Their toast, steamed milk and almond egg custard is the best we've tried! It's really heavenly! Then, next to Australian Milk Company is a wanton noodle shop called Mak Mun Kee 麦文记. Their wanton and pig trotters noodles is really shiok! And after dinner, you'll need dessert! Must try Honeymoon Dessert 满记's mango sago and chin chow. Much better than anything offered here!
I have a more comprehensive list of places to shop/makan so email me if you need the list!

Enjoy!

More than words

It's been 6 months since WQ left. I don't think i need to say more about how he must still be dearly missed. Remember when he emotionally prompted us all to give a minute of silence to reflect on the bukit batok campus/council room before we moved out? It turned out to be quite a comical moment for some of us, amidst the sadness that bound us all. Perhaps it's an apt moment now to take a minute off your schedule to think of him... in the spirit of Kopitiam.

Another new beginning

Hi Kopitiam!

Phew.. my life has finally returned to some form of organisation for me to be able to pop by here again. Yes, for the record, our son has arrived! Let me introduce you to little Kieran. Thank you, those who found time to drop by at the hospital, and those who witnessed our moment of low and offered comforting words. It has been quite a rollercoaster ride for PS and me, over these first weeks. More to come later on, for now i just want to share with you the moments that gave us that "it's all worth it" feeling...