Away for awhile but now back for a short time, I think...

It's been some time since I've last written here. Work has been busy, of course, and I do enjoy the busy period and the lax period that my work brings.

Although we are already in the 2nd month of the year, I still do feel the freshness of the new year and many new beginnings to come.

Many would have made their new year resolutions. In the past year, I have made resolutions to lose weight, spend more time with the kids, grow my hair long etc. Some resolutions have been carried out, some just...... well.... you know.

My resolution this year is to continue to be blind, deaf and dumb at all times.

We are still trying to cope without a domestic helper. I think we will still be trying to cope this year, next year and the future more years to come. Haha. Schedules are rearranged every now and then to try and improve the flow, laundry piles up even before the week ends (usually mine... kekeke....), the children learn to pick up after themselves and everyone is forced to pitch in with the housework.

My plans for this year:
1. I would still like to have homecooked meals at least twice a work week, thus I am still trying to adjust my lifestyle to incorporate cooking in. I guess this will mean waking up at 5am on the days I want a homecooked meal and planning the sequence of cooking, washing of vegetables etc the night before.

2. Daily school work revision with the children every week day evening. Of course this would be near impossible when I need to work late, but we do with what we can and when we can. This 2 years would be the last years that I can sit down with the adult-to-be and revise his work.

3. To come up with nutritious meals for the family.

4. To write in this blog as often as I can.

Well, till then....

Learning to let go - The Little Red Helmet

We have consolidated some of the Excited Little One's toys to be sent to The Salvation Army. The toys are quite new and we are giving them away because the Excited Little One is growing up and there are just too much toys lying around everywhere in her room.

This red helmet is one of her favorites and has, for many times, been reluctant to part with it. She got it when she visited one of the local fire stations during her kindergarten days. I have to say, it really is a very pretty helmet, almost like the real thing, doesn't it.

This time, I silently placed the helmet together with the other items to be given away. She looked at it silently, thoughtful, as if thinking back on the days she had fun wearing it and imagining herself to be the fire warden, running on her then plump feet. She then turned away, distracted by some other activities that entered her mind.

And this time, it was me, who gave the little red helmet a reluctant last look, recalling the times it had sat amusingly on my little girl's head. As I said a silent goodbye to the pretty little helmet, it was like saying goodbye to my little girl's toddler days and realising she is growing up too fast.

I hope our little red helmet ends up with another little girl or little boy and continue to bring fun memories to its new owner.

Nostalgic Streets of Batu Pahat

Batu Pahat is a small sleepy town in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The easily excited dad grew up here and maybe that's why he is such a deep sleeper ....zzzzzzz.... 

The architecture comprises of old buildings, some are quite beautiful I must say. Alot of nostalgia can be felt as you walk along the shophouses. There are old provision shops selling old school toys and tidbits, and round the corner you are likely to find an old coffeehouse with marble tables.

 Malay restaurants can be seen almost everywhere, and they serve local favourites like prata, seafood tomyum, nasi briyani, assam fish.

 This old petrol kiosk will serve well as a slasher flick setting, wouldn't it?

 

Foodstalls along a street as vehicles drive pass. Not exactly for the hygiene conscious, but maybe it's the "special" ingredients that make the food so ultra delicious.

 

The bus interchange that was revamped a few years ago.

Old beautiful building

Large signboards a frequent sight

The butcher shop

Yes, people still do stay in them

A fancy shopping centre

This small sleepy town always welcome us during our monthly weekend visits (the mozzies as well....) Townsfolk like me balked at the dirty drains that sometimes overflow during the rain, or the houseflies that I fervously bat away during meals, or shit dropping birds that house in the shop ceilings while i try to concentrate on a local dessert. But as years go by, this little sleepy town grows on me and my children, as we come in for the food and relaxation, away from the stressful fast paced town, where neighbours and friends just drop by anytime of the day with fruits they have planted, or maybe someone else has given them.

The town does try hard to keep up with the pace, with fancy movieplexes, fast food outlets, but it still does make sure it does not lose it's old school charm.

High Tea, Anyone?

I bought this English High Tea tray from Ikea and absolutely love it! The whole idea of earrings hanging from the different layers of the tray seems so funky to me.

The earrings have been removed from the tray now as there just isn't enough place for more of them now. I have just reused the tray for our X'mas party this year, and the kids love eating sweets from the tray.

Hear, Hear....

Hopefully back to blog

I have been busy for awhile, now that we do not have a domestic helper anymore and work has been busy.
I haven't got time to jog no more, now that there are household chores to be tended to. However, I hope to start my jog again, at least during the weekends as the concentration helps to clear my mind. My craft time is slowly coming back and I seem to be making plans to start something online.... we'll see...

It has been frantic at the start without the maid, hopefully now i have slowly accustomed to a dusty home within the best of my abilities. It's quite a laugh, actually. I have listed out how I split the household chores:

Laundry
The laundry basket is ALWAYS full. I couldn't decide the frequency of laundry. I dump the laundry into the washing machine, switch it on, I turn around, the basket is full AGAIN! In the end, my neighbour told me to just load in the washing maching daily. Quote her words ".... due to to size of your hubby's pant and shirts " .... (- -")

Sweeping and Mopping
The ever excited boy volunteers and has been doing it religiously during the holidays. But school is back now and his time starts filling up with school activities. Thus, we have entrusted this duty to our new member of the family which endearingly grows on me  ----- See blog entry "New Family Member"

Washing of Dishes
You drink You wash
You eat You wash
No cooking no need to wash
What can I say.... easy rules

Cleaning of TV console
Ever excited girl has this holy job which she needs to be reminded time and again.... and again..... and again.... But she does it so sweetly, you can't bring yourself to be fierce with the reminders.

Making of Beds
I make you breakfast, only if you make your own bed. Not so hard, isn't it.

School Shoes
Mummy's job.
1st Pair - Wash on every Wednesday, kiwi on every Friday
2nd Pair - Wash on every Friday, kiwi on every Sunday

Ironing of Clothes
Every Sunday while watching TV after dinner. Fast rules here - The mummy does it sullenly, so you want it ironed, you dump it in the ironing basket, before she drags out the ironing board or else you'll have to wait till the next Sunday and worse still, risk her wrath.

Washing of Toilets
Every 2 days - still Mummy's job. Cleaning of wall  tiles every 13th of the month as 13 is an unlucky number. HAHAHAHA.... but the ever excited dad has been just spritzing with Mr Muscle - the lazy man way. Well, I can do it the lazy mum way too.... just close one eye....

Cleaning of windows and furniture
Dusting on weekends only. And a fast one too.


So far this has been working.... we'll see if this needs to be tweaked further.

Hear Hear....

2012 Mid-Autumn Festival Bounty

This year's collection - the bags just get prettier each year!

If a picture speaks a thousand words

Hear, Hear...

Looking out the window.....

"This is his room too!!! He has the right to look out of the window too!!!!"

What have I been feeding my girl.....?

If a picture speaks a thousand words.......

What made me smile?

A baby in his pram was shaking furiously at his rattle and staring at it. I stood there looking at him, amused by his fervour. Suddenly he turned to look at me and gave me a wide grin. It made me laugh, as it looked as if we were sharing our secret joke.

Hear hear.........

The most insincere apology is one that expects to be forgiven.

Hear Hear ......