Part 2 of her finals weeks

I forgot to prepare encouragement cards for her earlier first part of her finals in September. Click here for the extremely short blog posting

PART 2 of her finals just after a week of study break. 

DAY 01 - 4th Oct (Tuesday) 

8am - 10.30am (extra time 30mins included) : MA1

2.30pm - 4pm (extra time 30mins included) : POA1

Encouragement card + sweets from the temple 

Hung her Gelatoni on her water bottle for her. This is what she will see on her table. Comforting? 

Packed her requested soba for her break in between papers 

 Second card to spur her on 

Made a trip to BTRT after dropping both girls in school. 去拜拜 

At the same time to 摆脱师姐 to help me with lighting the lamps for me on a daily basis until next Tuesday. 

DAY 02 - 5th October (Wednesday)  

8am - 9.30am (extra 15mins included) : CHEM

2.30pm - 5pm (extra 30mins included) : MA2

Encouragement card for Day 02

Rushed through cooking her spaghetti with prawns and fishcake (her weird request)

With time to spare after dropping her in school, dropped by temple again. I dunno why, but something tells me I should just drop by today. I’m glad I did. I couldn’t find the lamp I asked them to help me put at 4th floor, so asked around until I realised someone did it and put it in the main hall. 

Words written in my untidy handwriting

Said Chem is a little hard but Math (her archilles heel) is manageable and easier than Prelims. Ok, remain positive. May her results also be good, may there bea bell curve for Chemistry.  

DAY 03 - 6th Oct (Thursday)

2.30pm -  4.35pm (extra time 25mins included) : GEOG

Encouragement card and treats + sweets from temple 

She was so tired in the morning so sent her back to bed to Zzzzz . Cham lah! Today must bor-bi bor-bi 保佑🙏  more. 师姐 helped me this morning 

Asked her to sleep in the car on the drive to school. My goodness! Why is she so tired? She slept well last night. I hope it’s not her anxiety causing disruption to her sleep.

She told me that she took a nap while waiting in school and her Geog teacher asked if she wants to get a cup of coffee which she did and said it helped her a little. I shall prepare coffee for her to bring to school tomorrow – another afternoon paper. The paper is easier than prelims, she chose the correct question so I’m hoping she gets the results that she deserves. She made the wrong choice of question during her prelims which made her lose a lot of marks. Sigh….. 

While revising for next day’s Biology paper, she kept moving from her room to dining area. She brought out her Gelatoni with her, actually very 订位 for me but no choice I had to 忍 .

DAY 04 - 7th October (Friday)

2.30pm – 4pm (extra 15mins included) : BIO

Time flies, it’s the second last paper. Helps that she’s only taking 6 subjects, but after minus–ing her MT, EL and SS she only need to sit for 7 papers. 

I‘m enjoying this birthday a little more coz I don’t have to bother about her last paper next Tuesday. Finally a year where I can relax a little as for so many years the girls are either preparing for exams or having some sort of exams that I have no mood on my birthday at all. 

Encouragement card with fish snack. She finished the whole pack while revising for Biology

Prepared her Caramel Machiatto the night before and chilled it in the fridge. Poured into her thermos flask in the late morning. Her Gelatoni goes into her pencil case today. 

Cooked mee hoon kueh for both her and Che-che’s lunch. Another dreadful afternoon paper so she took forty winks in the car. (I’m beginning to hate afternoon papers. Plus it’s always almost this time that she takes a short nap at home) I went from Marine Parade to Clementi then back to Marine Parade again (reached MParade just in time, so parked at VJC to wait out for her).

She’s feeling so positive over her Biology paper, citing that it’s easier than Prelims. 🤞 fingers crossed; 👀 crossed. 

Walked in PP for a while before adjourning to CoffeeBean, I needed to go for my eyelash perm appointment so settled her there. She first relaxes by watching Boys Over Flowers, an old Korean drama. 

When I came out from Browhaus, she was already doing her work. We sat there waiting for Che-Che who bused down to meet us.

They wanted to try the hotpot here. I thought she wouldn’t do anything here coz she keeps telling me that she has enough practice. But next minute I know, she brought out her paper to do some practices. I’m so worried if she’ll accidentally sweep the eraser dusts into the soup 😂 

I thought she would stop at home since we reached home late. But she continued her work though I did tell her to rest. She didn’t listen so ….. anyway she can wake up later the next day as Mr Teo will only be coming in later in the afternoon. 

SATURDAY - 8th Oct 

Basically did her own self revision. Until Mr Teo came. 

SUNDAY - 9th Oct 

Another self revision day. I’m beginning to love this relaxed bochap lifestyle, just few more weeks of totally don’t do the mother and wifey duties until when I tao-huang-siao and decide to cook. 

MONDAY - 10th October 

Encouragement card #9

Last (or perhaps not) her last chiong to secure that distinction! She was practicing and practicing before Mr Teo came. 

Last tuition with Mr Teo only 2 hours. 

Just love this on my GoodNotes. Muahaha! 

Brought her down to temple at Sengkang to 拜拜. Brought her to Compass One to relax and pack dinner coz I know she will chiong for her favourite subject today and tomorrow. 

Note to self : must remember to prepare kopi for the kopi-阿嫂. Don’t care if she can’t sleep tomorrow night after drinking コーヒー,     she can jolly well stay awake and start tidying up her study table and room 😬.

Did some practice after her dinner. This one, very self- motivated when it comes to POA.  

DAY 05 - 11th Oct (Monday) 

YES!! *jubilant dancing* 💃🏼 

Encouragement card #10 and may she get a perfect 10 score 😅

An almost daily supplements. Refuses to take Mindwise so … better than nothing at all. 

(1) The question I get asked often “does chicken essence help?” Honestly I have no idea but she likes it so I give it to her all the time during exam period

(2) pearl powder. It’s usually given to her x2 in afternoon and x2 night on normal schooldays since she had her sleepless nights, blog entry HERE. Ideally we’re suppose to give after breakfast and before bedtime, but coz I give her 泡渗虫草 in the mornings so I try not to mix them. 

(3) vitamin C to build up immunity. See this skinny girl like can collapse faint anytime 😂

I do change about the 泡参虫草，sometimes it’s the grinded ones which I haven’t packed into the capsules. 

师姐 helped me this morning 

 

Transferred her chilled kopi into her thermos flask and —>

We’re ready to go. Set off at 1.22pm for her to report at 1.45pm. 

ALL THE BEST mei-mei! 

Booked for year end holiday

Surprisingly che-che's last paper is on 29th Nov, at least a week plus earlier than what's stated on the UB academic calendar. 

Booked tickets to Fukuoka, Japan for 15 days. We will be back for Christmas this year, won't be around for Results Day. 

So now it's time to get busy busy. Meanwhile, this music will keep me going 

Usually it's Christmas Jazz for the past few years when I'm planning holiday itinery. But I guess I'm not really in the mood for the music since we won't be spending our Christmas there this year. クリスマス in Japan? It never snows in Fukuoka in December. But who knows? With climate change, we might be lucky if it snows.   

Abit of diverted ranting -  
Fukuoka - a place the girls never been to. Obviously for me, I've been there a couple of times. The second last trip to FUK was a team flight, and we had the longest layover - in short it was the best FUK flight with 3N there. Hubby used the spouse ticket, it was the first time he used the ticket (second time was to JNB) where I worked like siao while he ate and snoozed on the flight. He wasn't my pax on the way up as I was assigned to work in JCL but my pax back to SIN. Real weird serving your hubby on the flight when I feel like throwing the tray on him. I can't be saying ''what do you want to eat, dear?'' or ''Nah! your meal. Eat and you better don't make life difficult for me onboard, you'll get it when we get back home.'' Instead have to have that politeness to all pax - '' Sir, would you like the xxx or xxx ?'' Aiyah all Japanese around him, they wouldn't even know what I'm saying to him coz I'd be speaking to them in Japanese and nodding my head all the time.    

Gate locked after 10 months

That surreal moment when I put the padlock on.

For the last 7 years the only time I can lock up the gate is usually at year-end where I give the girls 3 weeks break from tuition before the next school year starts. Other than that my house is always busy with tutors coming into the house. Will this gate be locked for good? 

The girls had the best tutors I can ask for. I don't mind them coming back as guests but tor-long no more tuitions. It's really no joke having an "Open House" for so many days in a week. 

Mr Teo (POA) is the last to leave the house. Anymore tuition next year? I hope not coz do not want to go through the secondary school life again. But if lil' one gets her choice of Accounting, maybe still need Mr Teo to help? 

Well, for now I'm happy to lock up the gate.

First Sunday freeeeee

 No tuitions today, feel so liberated! 

Sunflowers @ Flower Dome

 

We’ve got a visitor

This visitor so garung, just literally catwalked into the house. 

I was doing the dishes when I heard hubby exclaimed “cat. A cat came in.” Immediately I asked the girls to close their room doors so the cat can only roam in the living and dining area. We tried to chase the cat out but it was oblivious to our attempts, maybe it’s so used to it being chased away by the other ground unit residents? Don’t ask me why, I’m not afraid of cats but I’m not that willing to carry a cat. I mean, if it’s a dog I’d go and hug and carry the dog. Finally the man carried the cat (the way he pick the cat up is like picking up rubbish 😅) out from our main door while I quickly ran to close the sliding door. 

No noise from cat until about 10mins later we heard a mewing and the cat 🐈‍⬛ came back. 🤣 

Jiji, I named it after Kiki’s cat, kept wanting to come into the house. Lil’ one wanted to touch the cat but I didn’t allow esp if it’s stray.

She was so distracted from studying and came out to look at Jiji. After some time she took out her book and studied with Jiji sitting behind her.

I can’t load the imovie in here, so will just make do with these collages 

Keeping the doctors away with 🍎

This is my massive buy in one payment, so I guess this will be my birthday presents 😬? 

Got the latest Series 8 watch, the 2nd Airpod Pro, AirTags and an airFly adaptor for plane use.

My first AirPod pro has crackling sound now so it’s a good time to get a replacement as its warranty period is over. I’m not throwing the old one away but will keep it for holiday use. 

Lil’ one is jealous and been wanting to get a replacement for her Apple Watch.

New water feature for the PES

Made a purchase on 28th Aug for a new water feature at WOF. Our current 7yrs old feature after going through the weather elements and chlorine doesn’t look as nice as before. 

Boss is knowledgeable and explains that he knows fengshui as well. He did introduce a few and explained to me about their significance (tho I was lost at some point when he spoke in Chinese 😂)

However, I do have a few concerns 

1) the PES wall is not exactly that high so I need something low standing and small as it’s in the pathway from the PES gate to our sliding door entrance point.

2) the ‘bowl’ should not clog up easily coz the trees around my compound tend to drop leaves 🍃 🍁 🍂 at least once a year. 

Eventually I narrowed down to two and messaged hubby. 

I like this coz it has that spilling over from one bowl to another. Not a simple look; yet not that complicated either. Only this colour is available 🙎‍♀️

We both like the same one. This signifies a wealth pot. 好吧好吧！Can I buy a bigger wealth pot = ah lao earn more money = I can buy a lot of Hermès bags? 

The boss in WOF assured me that they can do the installation for us when I showed him the current concealed wiring dad did for me. When I mentioned that the previous guy from my first purchase simply dumped the thing and ran off, he said “how can they do like that? We will do it properly for you.” I felt at ease with his assurance.   

They do select dates for delivery. Delivery was slated for 16th Sep at a timing which I wasn't at home. 

Guess what? I was greeted with this sight when I came home! 

Am I suppose to have this extension plug sticking out like this and plugged into the home plug? It’s certainly dangerous 

I’m not sure what was the conversation between the delivery man and hubby, so called the boss. Boss I believe also didn’t know what happened so had to call the guy. He called later to say the delivery man said it’s complicated. Huh? If you have to deal with this deliveries all over Singapore, you only expect a simple plug into the socket? I also can do it what?  

I’m sure to an electrician, there must be a way they should know how to conceal wiring right? What more, now we already have the “foundation” done up for you. Most people place their water features outdoor too so they must be knowledgeable and not just find a socket. In our case, there isn’t a socket in the PES so we had to link it into our house. So I’m not sure whether the delivery guy is well versed as an electrician or not.

Boss said he’ll call me the next week to arrange for a guy to come down. One week plus later and still not a sound from him … why do I have to keep chasing him? So really I wasn't really pleased. Was it all empty promises sweet talkings? 

1st Oct - a technician came over    

OMG! dai ji liao liao. The bulb fused and caused short circuit in the house. Technician asked me to call boss to ask for a replacement. Then boss ranted that it costs him $150 to get the technician over. Ehhh..... are you trying to imply something? I did show him the photo of the covered box and how it is linked to my home when I bought the water feature. I didn't show him just once but at least 3 times and he kept saying that he'll do nicely for me. 

Boss then told me in that case don't turn on the lights. Coz by right for fengshui purposes not suppose to have lights coz it's fire. Fire and water don't mix. Then may I know why water features have lights then? If they're going to be used for fengshui purposes? GrandMaster Tan said we should leave the lights on in the night. So did boss just bullshit to me that he knew fengshui or was it the general fengshui that he knew? Every one has different bazhi, different needs. He continued to tell me if I insist on having the lights then he'll go and find the flood lights to put outside the water feature and he'll fix the thing for me. He'll have to find time to find it. My goodness! His ''gimme time'' can be just a decoy and hopefully I'll forget about it. No.... he's dealing with a woman who harps on things until they're done properly. So good luck to him, I'll continue to message me until he bar me from further purchase with him (I don't think I'll buy anymore things from him next time also!)   I told him again he has to open up the box to do it. I have a feeling he doesn't know how to do lah! Then he'll delay and delay again and again. So now, I'm not going to give any positive feedback COZ I have NO POSITIVE things to say about what's happening with my feature installation.            

TB Test (for overseas UB application)

Booked her a TB- testing near us (DTAP Kovan) and my poor girl was poked twice but he couldn’t draw out anything from her. Blood should be vacumned out into the vial automatically but nothing happened. Thin blood vessels she has as what doc says. On the contrary, doctors love me coz mine is very easy. No wonder! Everybody wants to drain my 🩸 including my kids. When I got back and told the man what happened, he mentioned that it’s the same for him so they had to draw blood from his hand. Err…… same for her but nothing too. I wondered if the lack of squeeze ball affects at all? Anyway, whack her arms and hands so many times also macam no use.  

In the end the doctor only charged us $10.70 coz he initially insisted FOC for us but I also felt bad that he had to waste one kit - QuantiFERON - TB Gold Plus so he charged me an 意识意识 amount😆. 

In between the 2 attempts, while he was smacking her again, I asked if can use legs? All the while I thought it’s the back of the knee but doctor clarified it’s the ankle. When I asked him the question, che-che gave me that “what the heck r u up to? I’m the one subjected to pokings not u.” look. Decided against it and asked for other alternatives. 

There is another way - prick test which requires 2 visitation 48hrs apart. I asked doctor to help me double check that it’s the test that is required/ stated in the forms I wouldn’t want to bring her do a test to only have done a wrong test. 

PPD stands for purified protein derivative is a skin test used to diagnose silent (latent) tuberculosis infection. 

extracted from : https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/tbtesttypes.htm

The TB skin test is also called the Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST). A TB skin test requires two visits with a health care provider.
On the first visit the test is placed; on the second visit the health care provider reads the test.

• The TB skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of fluid (called tuberculin) into the skin on the lower part of the arm.
• A person given the tuberculin skin test must return within 48 to 72 hours to have a trained health care worker look for a reaction on the arm.
• The result depends on the size of the raised, hard area or swelling.

T-spot TB test requires only a one time visit and doctor will need your precious lovely 🩸 as well. So this option is out for che-che. 

How does it work? 

Difference between QuantiFERON-TB Gold and T-SPOT

The wT-SPOT. TB test detects individual memory T cells that produce IFN-γ in response to M. tuberculosis antigens, using the enzyme-linked immunospot technique. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold test measures IFN-γ in the supernatant of antigen-stimulated cells by enzyme-linked immunoassay.

He tried for the second time and wasn’t successful. I’ll blog about her PPD test next time. I think I’ll have to delay a week + later as next week will be lil’ one’s finals, I’ll have problem shuttling between two kids. Have to find a suitable timing for test too coz her uni schedule is so weird. 

1 wk to finals

Pumped up with tuitions now that she’s officially on study leave starting this week. 

Last tuition with Mr Go on 27th Sep (Tue) for 3hrs. It was suppose to be his second last lesson with the next one the next day. But coz he’s flying off  ✈️ so we can only have one lesson and I increased to 3hrs. He’s been with us since che-che was in Sec 3? Another long service award tutor with us 😂. 

Cheryl will have one lesson with her on 28th Sep (Wed) to make up for her missed lesson last Sunday, and then her last lesson with lil’ one will be on 2nd Oct (Sun). Cheryl only starting tutoring lil’ one in Sec 3. A very friendly and generous lady. So friendly that it’s hard to believe that we only got to know her only a year plus ago, it felt like we’ve known her for ages. So generous with the girls that she likes to order bubble tea and treats for the girls. I feel so paiseh to keep receiving things from her. 

Ms Wong will have an extra lesson with her on 29th Sep (Thu) and another brought forward lesson from Sat to Fri. We’ll see her for 2 consecutive days before we wave 👋 goodbye to her. Another friendly and generous lady who’s also one of the recipient for Long Service Award 🤣. She’s very good with her hands - creatively, baking and in plants. Her lemon yoghurt cake is so yummy. Gifted us plants which I’m not willing to put inside the toilet. How can I put my gifts in the toilet?  The plants she gave are in the living and dining area instead, the pennywort she gave unfortunately mati. That plant really needs lots of water. Very creative person who will wrap things up so asthetically nice together with her handwritten cursive lettering. I communicate with her a lot. 

Mr Teo will see her for another 3 lessons. For the last 2 Sats, I added another half hour. Not sure if the extra 1/2hr can accomplish anything but perhaps I’d choose to believe that they can. Last day will be on the 10th for whatever things he needs to drill into the girl. Mr Teo came only this March and he gets the shortest service award 😉. However it may be short, I see an improvement in her grades. 

Then I can finally put the lock on the PES gate. 

Time went by too quickly this year. I just can’t wait for her to finish all her papers. Then we can relax. 

A visit to the dermatologist

Che-che complained that her skin hasn't been better. The last time I brought her to the nearby clinic was more than a year ago. Well, she hasn't complained to me that usually the medication is temporary as it reoccurs. (Yah girl ah… you don’t tell me how would I know?) It’s becoming more and more unbearable with sleepless nights that she finally spoke up.

Hubby decided to bring her to see dermatologist after that. Her first visit was on 27th Sep. 

She came home with different medication (obviously) and was told that she has mild to severe atopic dermatitis. Dupixent will help her internally, and we thought better to get her cured quickly before she flies to USA. She's afraid of the needles so it takes huge courage for her to sit still. Maybe she'll get used to needles after that. 

The creams that she came back with :

1) Elomet (Mometasone Cream 0.1%) - $150/-

2) F/S Clobetasol Cream - $72/-

3) Atoderm Intensive Gel Cream - $75/-

4) Acne Forte Lotion - $13.09

The subsequent dupixent jab will cost $1500/- . 😱 OMG!!

I really hope it works. Better be.. since spending so much money.

A comfort toy

 

She had this small Shellie May keychain displayed infront of her water bottle during both SS and EL exams.

She explains that seeing it helps her calm her nerves. Haha! As long as it helps, as long as she doesn’t clam up in panic and forgot everything that she has learnt, I guess I can let her bring to school. I asked if the invigilator said anything. The invigilator saw and smiled at her for bringing a toy and didn’t remove it from her. 

Today was her EL papers and she told me in that short period of time for Paper 2 she was given 2 breaks to stretch out which she did by closing her eyes and walking around the room.

 *positive vibes* 

I hope she does better than her prelims. And don’t clam up. Next week she doesn’t have to be in school as there are other papers ongoing. The next week after that is study leave and then the second half of the finals. Just a few subjects left (biology, chemistry, geography, math, POA)

Booked tour

Things I can only accomplish when she’s in school. 

Needed to book the tour so while the girl sat for her EL papers, I went down to Buddha Tooth Relic to 拜拜 in the morning. Sat in People Park’s Macs reading and listening to music. I made my way to NamHo which opens at 10am. Booked a tour to Vietnam then made my way to Parkway Parade to run some errands until the time I need to pick her up from school. Got some Vietnam Dong whilst I was there. 

Tour related stuffs - I’m left to 

: e-register with MFA

: purchase travel insurance 

: pack bags 

Why did I eventually booked a tour instead of doing it F&E which is what I would prefer?

I’m stepping into the land of unknown. Hanoi (HAN) and Ho Chin Minh (SGN) are turnaround flights on SQ so usually we don’t get down the aircraft. I remember the caucasian tourists coming onboard with huge hats and I always pray hard that none of them got squished in the A310 small overhead compartments. 

I did some planning initially but also found there's problem with transportation. And would I risk having 2 females in Vietnam? Would I put ourselves at risk walking in the streets where vehicles don't stop for pedestrians? 

In the end I felt it would be safer to join a group instead. 

So why Vietnam? 

When I was planning on where to bring lil’ one for a trip, I initially wanted to bring her to 🇩🇪 Germany. Did a quick calculation on where I was planning to go which I must say it was an interesting itinerary I had come up with. Even though I was saving half the price if we had gone on a 

1) “omg!what kind of itinerary tours” - this kind of plan also can cost so much?!

2) “we’ve been to more almost all the places they are bringing people to” - so why bother join tour? I think I can be a tourguide and guide through small alleyways / shortcuts instead 😂

by tour operators. Anyway, proposal was thrown aside coz finance minister says too ex. Anyway, I also didn’t consider the trap I would put myself in. If che-che sees us going Germany, she’d want to go to another place with me. (she's been telling me she wants to go Italy and Greece) Not fair right? So ….. good thing FM didn’t approve my proposal.

Alternative destination Japan is out coz need to go through tour operators and there’s a backlog of visa applications. I’d need at least 2 months to submit and I wouldn’t want to risk it all since I have less than a month to departure date. If not, Japan would be top on the list - DisneySea! All the かわいい purchases, all the Japanese food and snacks and countless trips to Family Mart. Not much of sightseeing coz we’ve done almost all. 

How about Australia? I can bring her to Melbourne since she’s not been there. Moving around the city area is fine but if I want to bring her to Great Ocean Road, how? I don’t want to drive, ok it's the lame excuse "what if we get into an accident there?" I can join land tours from there I suppose. But this country again requires visa. Sigh…

How about Korea? No more sightseeing so we’re basically there to eat, walk aimlessly and eat? Might as well just stay in Singapore and do that? Subjected to testing upon arrival. Haiyah so troublesome. 

That leaves me with Cambodia and Vietnam, places I’ve never been to. Though I think the country is generally safe but if we are only 2 females I wouldn’t want to risk it all so decided to join a tour. 

** Link to my previous ranting ** 

Tidying up the PES

Work in progress

Trying to tidy up the balcony but it looks more messy instead 🙄. 

The bigger pot of adenium doesn’t sit nicely on the shelf so will have to move it to another spot. Unless I can repot to a planter box that fits the shelf, and doesn’t kill the plant/root for insufficient space. 

The single layered shelf rack is only temp, I’m going to transfer the plants into water and move indoor when I feel like it. Maybe move the monsteras there after that without the shelf rack? 

Still need more small planter boxes? I’m suppose to plant blue pea, cosmos and magnolias but maybe pot is also too small? Sowed in new sunflower  🌻 seeds so cross fingers that I’ll have flowers.

The delivery guy came to my front door and I directed him to the balcony instead. He saw my plants and he asked me “you buy shelves to put more plants to sell?” I thought he really look highly of me and told him  “I’d be thankful if I don’t kill my plants. How to sell? Who wants it anyway?” Then he explained that a lot of people are buying plants from them and re-potting into more pots and sell them. Ok, ah-nia not so free to do such thing lah! Just tend to my plants, if die then re-plant lor…

Can’t wait to clear her room

Lil’ one’s room is in a terrible mess. 

Her study table drawer is messy, her bookshelf is loaded with stuffs which I really feel like throwing them all away NOW. Her room is … some will say it’s already not bad compared to theirs. Perhaps these are words of consolation that people want to hear, however it doesn’t work for me coz my eyes can see THE MESS! 

I have been progressively trying to scan things that I want to keep - some notes; her exam scripts (for memories sake); no school journal this year so nothing to scan. And throw the rests away. But yet on the other hand, there’s still that apprehension of “what if?!” “What if she did badly and is retained?” to really throw more materials away now. 

I forsee myself getting so busy getting rid of school materials in her room, clearing some new unused stationeries that we have - I call them our mini Popular Bookstore (yup! I have a supply of whatever nots so I don’t have to drop by the bookstore that often. I believe after my current membership expires I have no need to renew it anymore). 

I just can’t wait for the day to clear and tidy her room. To have that minimalist look that I’ve always dreamed of. 

Tutors slowly leaving

郭老师‘s last lesson with lil’ one was on 24th May (Tue) as MT paper is on 30th May (Mon)

One down! A bit sad coz she’s taught Che-Che since Sec 2? Or later part of Sec 1? So she was with us for 7-8 years. Great no one will come into the house via PES on Tuesdays now but I still can’t lock the gate. Then I’ll hang on to the rest of the tutors like a lovelorn lover. Her results came back with a distinction so she’s not re-taking end of the year. She can concentrate fully on other subjects. 

With both her SS and EL papers on 14th Sep (Wed) and 16th Sep (Fri) respectively.  11th Sep (Sun) was Mr Mak’s last lesson with lil’ one. Ok, so I hope I don’t need to see him again next year in my house. (Bump into each other in the streets can) Mei-mei better clear her papers. Likewise, another tutor that taught both girls (he taught che-che in Sec 3 so seeing him on a weekly basis for the past 6 years is so habitual.) He is the most organised tutor that I have, and I like his style. Organized mom meets organized tutor. When it came to CB in April 2020, he was all ready to jump into online tutoring, in fact the first. He had everything all ready. All he did was to email us the papers to be printed at least two days in advance and she sees him on screen. BUT I have a disorganized daughter! She throws the papers around her bookshelf/table. 

After he leaves, I only have the remaining 3 weeks with the remaining tutors. Yes, finally I can lock the gate though with a heavy heart, coz when they do come by it feels like our friends visiting us 😁 . They’ve been here since we moved to this place. From then on, we won’t have regulars visitors to our house, I think I’ll welcome the rats and shrews with open arms. It’ll be a different phase of our lives as the girls grow older, all in tertiary and not needing tuitions.  

Absolutely crazy!

Secretly planning on a holiday with lil' one, I think she's worked hard and deserves a treat. I deserve one too!  

But air tickets are insanely high. 

Even tour packages I wanted to use as a comparison is crazy high. You know what’s beyond insanely crazy? That the price of a Japan package tour can cost close to $5k for a 7D trip to Osaka and Kyoto! I saw packages to Japan is almost comparable to Europe, so I might as well fly to Europe instead. 

Then again, I did a calculation to submit a proposal. Well, it fell thru coz the man said it was too ex.😢 The estimated cost of our (lil’ one and my) airtickets, train tickets with reservations, accommodations adds up to $5637.97 for a 16D15N trip. Whereas a 11D tour to Germany but not quite the places that I’m planning to go is already $4238/pax. I don’t think we’ll spend $5k on all the misc stuffs right? We can budget on food, I will still bring my cookpot. Most places don’t require entry fees anyway, and we’re not driving thus don’t require any parking fees. And I think our trip will cover not only the old town and churches, it includes castles and concentration camps x2. Not Dachau anymore please 😅, I’ve been there like 4x already. Although the plan fell thru, on hindsight the itinery is saved in laptop and can be used the next time? If there is a chance. 

A 8D7N ChiangMai and ChangRai costs $1988!!! OMG! what's happening? Airlines and tour agencies trying to recoup their losses over the years? 

Japan - can forget it. There must be an influx of visa application and will need more than a month. We don’t hv time! And we only want to go DisneySea! 

Korea - e.visa  is required and even PCR testing. Air tickets prices are also increasing, unless we go on Asiana. SQ is going to slash our throats with their prices. 

First lash maintenance

Did my first maintenance, which was about close to 2 months after my 3rd treatment on 13th July

Can you see the progression from the first day, before treatment till now? If only men just look at the eyes, I think I can attract them? 🤣  or perhaps with a more longer lash now, I’m able to trap ants 🐜 

Oops! Just realised I wrote a wrong date in my collage. It’s supposed to be “13th July - right”

Will make an appointment for my eyelash perm 3 weeks later. I can’t wait to see how it’ll be.