Thursday, June 29, 2023

Pre - flight rantings

SERIOUS BUSINESS  (entry dated 22/6)

This is no laughing matter when …… we have to buy these in preparation for our upcoming trip. 



I’m definitely bringing my cool sleeve; my cap; my umbrella; my fans; Coolify 2 neck fan; my SQ small towel to wipe face n perspiration; UV cream. I hardly use my Kiehls UV cream but now will have to do so (ehh….expired or not?!) 

Should I just pack Dri-fit tops? Easy to wash and dry. Got Dri-fit undergarments or not 😂?  

Let’s see if the gal will believe me when I told her July summer heat is no joke. She ever asked “how hot can it be? We went in June before …..”

WHAT’S THE HYPE WITH YOUTRIP AND …. (entry dated 23/6)

So hubby was so excited telling me how good and easy Youtrip was, better exchange rate and concluded with “you go and apply another card”. Initially I was questioning him why use this card when it works the same as a credit card? And with my UNI$ I can redeem more practical items to feed my kids stuffs like BreadTalk voucher not buying useless stuffs.  

There were a few to choose from so I chose Revolut, which sounds more of the winner to me. Applied mine on 13/6 and the card was probably in the mailbox for many days (we don’t open the mailbox daily. Like every 2-3wks maybe? Or when someone rmbrs 🤭)

Put in S$1000/- first. Will top up more at a later date. 

Wait for my review on Revolut when I come back from Japan. 

Anyway, feedback from lil’ one who used daddy’s card in TW. Can only use the card in Taipei but not in Keelung. Many of the people couldn’t use their debit card in Keelung also. So luckily I changed around S$500+ and had some extra notes at home. I think it’ll be no problem for us coz we won’t be travelling in ulu places. Still, it would be good to have some cash around. Not forgetting I’ll need to hide my money from che-che 😂.


SUICA CARD (entry dated 26/6)

I had the cards since 2013? 

I probably did use the cards in 2015? 2016? But in 2020, I don’t think I used in Okinawa as we walked a lot. And 2022, I didn’t use my card coz we practically had a car so … but I did check on the value of my card and asked what I can do with the not so 小 kids’ cards now. The staff told me to approach the JR East Office to process refund. 
I didn’t do it in the end coz not much money left and if I did, there won’t be any ‘souvenir’ for the girls to keep next time. Or maybe they don’t even want to keep the card. 

It takes the tech savvy girl to help me to do it on the phone. I probably did try once and never succeed or worried that I’ll even lose my ¥821 [S$7.74 only 🤣 talk like as if I have thousands of dollars inside] Topped up my card with ¥5000. So it’ll be easy now to tap tap my phone. Thanks to advance technology! And she had to REITERATE with such great emphasis on “DON’T I REPEAT DO NOT USE THE PHYSICAL CARD ANYMORE.” because :
She knows her mom can __________
(a) be forgetful at times 
(b) never pay 100% to what they say
(c) both (a) and (b) 
Answer : ______

FINALLY PACKED THE LUGGAGE (28/6)
Clothes and items were left on the piano and electone for few days. Finally packed them in. Initially wanted to let che-che have responsibility for her own items but it means I’ll need 4 packing cubes (1 medium and 1 large sized cubes each) and each will have some leftover space. I asked her to pack only 4 sets of clothes, 2 sets of sleeping clothes, 3 sets of undergarments. 


that’s coz aunty will be washing clothes there. See the hanger? Lil’ one was the first person to try this out. 

Got this from Taobao

Have this too. It’s slimmer to keep in the luggage but only 4 clips each hanger so may not be enough for us two. Maybe can either let che-che bring this to the US if she prefers. 

After I weighed the bag, I hope I’m doing it correctly coz my luggage weighing scale is spoilt so used the weighing scale (total weight of me carrying the luggage - my weight = 15kg. Huh? Sure or not? Maybe it’s the cans of chilli + kaya for Mio that is heavy? 🫢
I asked che-che if we should use another luggage as we have an allowance of 20kg on the way back. Knowing SHE WILL BE BRINGING home lots of 可愛いstuffs, her なにわ男子stuffs, and her snacks confirm 20kg is not enough. Of course I have the worry that with 2 luggages, the first hotel might be even more cramped. Oh well! I think we can step on the bed to get into the bed then 🤷‍♀️

PRINTING DONE on 29/6
Got the chance to scan through some itinery. I have no idea where the places she wants to go in Osaka. So I told her she has to know which train to take coz I’m just going to follow her 😂. 
Printed the itinerary and hotel bookings. I forgot how to do the booklet way and she asked just print normal, why bind?
After I kept the printer, I realised I forgot to print the flight bookings. Actually most airlines don’t even look at bookings, scanning the passport is good enough. 


HER PLANNING STYLE VS MINE
actually this is the most laxed holiday… I left the planning to her BUT she’s not as detailed as I am. Nevertheless must admit she has done a good job. It’s taken a load off my mind so I have no stress; feel younger. 





Wednesday, June 28, 2023

On This Day - (28th June) #Reminders from FB#

28th June 2021

Begin the week with the greens


Repotted yesterday. I hope we're doing it right.

Love the smell! It's so strong!



The remaining lavenders



and then not sure if we needed the disco light. But...just try. I hope the leaves don't burn out.

Got this months back, meant for my sunflowers n adenium which didn't get enough sunlight. Which is why there are 4 arms. Didn't use it in the end coz Mr ☀️ came out.



Repotted my thorn plant - euphorbia geroldi

Crossing my fingers n toes (again ) for

I didn't want to cram the front part of the PES this way.

The two racks are meant to go alternating between the 4 huge pots. However it means that the plants don't get the • they need and always end up dying.



Love the uniformed look



Back in da kitchen.

Trimmed some mint to make a drink for self.

Changed the failed coriander pod. 3x leh! Something must be wrong with that batch. Re-pod another mint.



28th June 2020

Lil' one baked her Oreo cheesecake last night.

We need to double the portion on the crust, can only do 5. Maybe coz she was being too generous and did a thick crust each kal. (Her bakery sure go bankrupt) She had to put Oreo cookies at the base for the rests.

This time round I told her we will do a water bath si, tho recipe claims there's no need to but having had that crusty look the last time, no harm doing it this time round. And it sure looks so much better.

As usual she says she want to do a proper cheesecake but I don't hv the baking tin anymore.

Somehow I still prefer the cupcake way, it's easy to eat on the go, not too big n won't feel so overwhelmed.

As for me, tho l've been wanting to do my cutesy bakes but I just feel so lazy. For the easiest (i think) - I dont even know when I'll make my b 5 U'##! Maybe

next year co or the following year?千脆买来吃吧!



28th June 2020


Even this is prompting me to start exercising 😂

Does rolling around help to burn calories?




28th June 2019


Time to smell the roses before the new school term commence.





28th June 2016


Craving for fried mee Siam ...

Is there one near me?


Footnote written in 2023 : can use Thermomix to do it. I will try one day. 



28th June 2015


Mei-mei: mummy, I'm looking for the charger. The disposable charger, where is it?

Me: I've disposed it.

Mei-mei: Where?

Me: Thrown away. It's a disposable charger right?

(sigh...

...2nd time telling her she's using the wrong

word)


28th June 2015


22nd Nov 09 - She's 3yrs 2mths. See how hiao she dances and ...yup ... now I'm reminded - that there was a period of time she likes to stick a piece of tissue paper into her nose. Haha! And notice that grin on her face. The grin that will melt our hearts and forgive whatever silly & naughty things she does. (pardon my irritating voice)








28th June 2013

Argh!!!! Both girls piano exams on 23rd July. But good hor! Both on the same day.



28th June 2011

Lil' girl sleeping in car before school starts


28th June 2010


Mummy needs a bailout! Dying to bake something.





Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Something about do’nut

I like cute and pretty snacks but I’d hesitate if you ask me to eat one whole piece of cake with loads of cream as deco. Donuts on the other hand doesn’t make me guilt stricken. 

In years of seeing the world, I’ve grown to like some donuts as snacks I’d buy for myself to eat before check-out from a station. 

When we travel, I’d introduce donuts to the family but nobody likes them. Oh well! 

Last December, I introduced them to Mister Donut and カレーパン 🍞. Only lil’ one tried Mister Donut and only che-che tried the karepan 🤨. I only like chewy mochi from Mister Donut so I ordered that for myself and lil’ one ordered Pokémon donuts. She totally forgot about this until she got back from Taiwan and told me the donuts is nice and she misses it. Thought she didn’t try it before. OMG! I can feed her poison she also dunno. Anyway, she was elated when I told her there’s one opened in home ground recently. Kept bugging me for 2 days until I decided to bring her down to Junction 8 

The lady behind me was telling me I’m so lucky the queue is short today since it’s opening. Maybe the hype die down already? The wait was made bearable as we were talking about food and other food. Haha! Put two Singaporeans together and we can talk non-stop about food. 


I didn’t know there was a cap on maximum order (10) and only 4 pon ring donuts per customer. I should have asked lil’ one not to talk to me and pretend we don’t know each other and order more. 
Still I can’t believe the guy infront of me queued so long just to order 1. What?! I was still telling lil’ one we queue so long just order the max 10 instead of 6. 

Two cashiers so queue moved faster



On This Day - (27th June) #Reminders from FB#

27th June 2021

Plant matters 


Her lavenders listening to 仕事はじめ 🎶 

 now. She's been playing her Joe Hisaishi's thru the night.

She wants to repot her lavender to a bigger pot tmrw.

Wish us luck!



Che-che wanted a (she calls it) monster plant in her room but I didn't allow anything with soil in bedrooms.

So she chose this big one to put in balcony.



3 pots of dunno what thorns plant on the floor. Will do the repotting tmrw. Let me laze one more day.

Sow new 🌻 seeds tmrw, it hasn't grown beyond a seedling for the last 3 attempts.



27th June 2016

I wasn't sure if I packed this music book over, am glad I finally remembered to check the shelf in b.shelter today. Athena Ting, now you can play the songs, don't hv to rely on hearing or squint your eyes to read the scores on your phone.

#my20yrsoldmusicbook# #lesmisérables#



27th June 2015

Wah seh! All the liu lian posts put up by friends somehow got into me. I'm going to buy a small box for myself tomorrow.




27th June 2015


Received this in my email:

I'm going to fly First Class and travel around the world, treat my friends to nice makan after I claim my US$6.4 million. Don't stop me from claiming what's mine!

But wait! Which cousin died?

Perhaps I should drop him an email telling him his cousin died too and she has US$12million in her account.




27th June 2012


To my daughter's future teachers,

You will know when my daughter forged my signature.

Cannot control laughter when I saw this. "MUMMY"




27th June 2010


Sounds tt u hear d night b4 school term starts :

  1. sounds of battery-operated pencil sharpener
  2. opening of cupboard doors
  3. shouting at d kids who are still-talking in their bed; thinking their mummy cannot hear "hey! I don't want 2 hear any noise from ur room... if not, 2 of u can come out & stand outside until tomorrow morning." - next minute kids keep quiet



Sunday, June 25, 2023

On This Day - (25th June) #Reminders from FB#

25th June 2022

YES!! So so looking forward to this after it was cancelled in 2020

#missingSSOverymuch#


25th June 2021

And they wanted the same character. Lucky there was another pic for that character.

#siblingsnofightnow#



Can't believe the big one - che-che

She's the one who likes to look at those cutsie crafts / beads things in kids section.

And she asked to buy this. I need to remind them this was similar to what I brought for our drive to Phuket to keep them busy in the car. I tore out the pages so they can colour at same time. But guess what? They had to fight for THAT SAME BLOODY PIECE!!

#She'smissingherchildhood#

25th June 2021

| love it when the girls or myself are fresh out from a salon. Nicely blown styled hair



Hols out soon. Time for hair-keeping.

#haircutnrebond#


25th June 2017

This reminds me of one pax on my flight, he put on the lifevest and sat there refusing to take it off.


Footnote written in 2023 :

What’s this sudden random post? Haha! 



25th June 2013


Last one for today.

Prepared by Sous Chef Athena Ting



More "cooking" fun



25th June 2012

Does anyone have a good English/ Chinese electronic dictionary to recommend?



25th June 2011

Kids with special needs aren't weird or odd. They only want what everyone wants.. to be accepted. Can I make a request? Is anyone willing to post this and leave it on your status for 1 hour? It is Special Education week & Autism Awareness and this is in honor of all children made in a Unique Way.



25th June 2011


Lil' girl take-5. Smile!