End of an Era

My helper had been embroiled in complications and have terminated her work here. 

She has left and headed back to her hometown abruptly within one day.

It had been an overwhelming, traumatizing week for me. 

I hope and pray that the ordeal is over. 

This morning, I read about the Police having arrested a bunch of runners. 

For now, we have to keep safe and stay vigilant. 

An end of an era is the start of a new. 

I will not want any replacement helper now or forever. 

Bren & I have worked out our plans and we are both happy to be teaming up to take care of our kids, plus housework, school work, enrichment development, together. 

Closer together, stronger together. 

Legos

 Wednesday Sleepy Coffee

 "Big" Yellow School Bus 

(by Colin)

 Library Book Trolley 

(by Colin)

 Our tradition is to eat an ice cream after the Piano Exams and we did just that. 

Lunch 

Sundays with Colin

 Many people stopped to comment that the wriggle-kart is interesting

we also think so 

I do wish there's an adult version for me. 

I mean, there should be one out there, I should find it if I really want it ya?

Colin improved on the Aquarium's design by affixing the fish to a knob-handle so that the Fish could be moved around in swift, swimming motions.   (imaginary play)

 back of the fish tank

 The original, first version

(with no moving parts)

 He still looks like a toddler 

Tokyo alone, is more populated than Singapore. 

8.9 mil people, while Singapore has about 5 mil

The entire Japan has about 127 million people! 

After Swimming Lesson

Saturday in September

 Going for our class

The class is doing not too badly for Bach's Two Violin.

 Gastronoma @ Paragon 

 Demonstration set at the Electronics Store

Marvel Superheros + Street Fighters (?)

Pizza

First time I'm using a zigzag pair of scissors for the hair. 

Trimmed the fringe and back of the head. 

Power

I saw this post on FB and some Mommies are calling this "Passive-aggressive", and they do not like it.  We, on the other hand, being Asians, may be too used to having being treated passive-aggressively till we either find it funny or do not register any offensive feelings, or sometimes we subscribe to the passive-aggressive notion without even questioning, or worse, we feel bad about not doing enough of whatever that is "expected" or suggested. (eg: not being the good parent to be reading to our kids)

So these days, I don't wanna feel bad about myself anymore.

If I am made to feel bad, I would question the source of intention and relevance.

If it were an old issue, I will work on myself to free myself.

If it were a current issue, I will re-check my resources and get creative with self-solutions.

I want to undo any chains on my heart because I deserve to be free.

It's never too late to be a good person

So this morning, while I was walking to the bus stop (at 6.20 am), I thought to myself --- It is indeed never too late to change yourself, your mindset and to make a conscious choice to be a "good person". A good person may sound like a vague notion, like, you may think to yourself -- "Of course I'm a good person! What's she talking about!"  Ya. A good person is a tall order. If your feathers are easily ruffled and if you are unaware that you cast your angry vibes or that you bring your disgruntled vibes to the room, etc, you are not aware that you're not being nice or just being irresponsible, so how could you be good when you are not able to control your bad vibes?

So, anyway, ever since about a week ago that I have decided to never willfully be disgruntled, it has been really good for me. It is refreshing to heighten my self-awareness, to call out on my own faults. I will refrain from any exaggeration, I will refrain from any feelings of exasperation and I will deepen my patience and refrain from any easy-trigger annoyance, plus, I will recognize any form of frustration even before it starts to brew. 

 So anyway, every time I try to up my own game, there will always be tests to test my theories. 

And today was the day the MRT had a glitch and I was totally cool.  Only, still, I think the SMRT is lagging in their SOP in handling public announcement (they gave the social media updates faster than they gave passengers who were on board the train)  and their post-incident public reply only gave the public feelings of being gaslighted, it was poor PR and poor handling but I have no unusually spiked response, I am as cool as a cucumber. 

I only felt empathy for the people who were visibly anxious (Students) and those people who had to call their supervisors urgently on the phone to explain the circumstances (maybe they needed to punch-card / clock-in on their office attendance timer) You would never know how some working environment is as controlling as 40 years ago, the obsession with being clockwork punctual without a hint of humanity is sadder in today's context than 40 years ago because some organizations still think it is relevant and uphold ruling by fear and reward.  Anyway, I hope we all evolve to be more humane, the sooner the better. 

Since I didn't want to fret over how to get to work because looking at the thick crowd, I think it is pointless to sweat and squeeze, elbowing each other to board the buses.

So I 'gave up' and went for Roti Prata, and texted my colleague to ask if he could kindly pick me.

Lego Vending Machine

Kiki & Colin made their own versions of Vending Machines after watching Youtube videos on other kids' sharing. 

I think to pick up ideas and to make Lego toys from watching videos do not come easily to just everybody. For instance if you ask me to watch a video and to assemble a vending machine with mechanics inside the block, I wouldn't be able to figure it out easily. So, I guess interest plays a part in how fast one picks up a new skill or work on an idea. 

MCT Oil

 Back on MCT Oil after a........ 3 weeks' break. 

My block had a Black Out last night. 

Totally no electricity...... no fan, no electricity for the fridge. 

Luckily, it lasted for about 45 mins which is considered short duration. 

Sunday in September

I woke up late (9am) and was feeling tired (mensus) so we didn't go anywhere but to PP which is just 5 mins away.

 One row of boys queuing up for their hair cut

 FB memory pop-up

Cheeky boy

Saturday in September

Is it bad to make her do homework / corrections while outside?
It's like we bring homework everywhere, like we have no other lifestyle except homework or exams?
I used to judge those parents that make their kids do homework in public. I feel that they were hogging space and being overbearing over school work.
But look at me now.
It is not as bad as you might think. We finished up most of the corrections while waiting for our Brownie and were just wrapping it up when our dessert came.
Of course we don't hog the space. We ate and left.


New slangs I've learned.

 At the Tourist Information Centre  (Emerald, Orchard Road)

 At Takashimaya Food Court

Moschino perfumes.
Wanted to get the blue one but remembered I still have seven bottles of half used perfumes to use up.
Will not get any new perfumes until I use up all the existing ones.

Begging God for forgiveness 

Watched this movie about a man who is blind since youth, regained his eye sight, gradually became disgruntled and dissatisfied with his wife, life and his closest friend. He became obsessed with his pursuit in "success", revealing his "true self" which was curt, suppressing good conscience, trying to justify grey areas in moral codes.

Eventually, he lost his eye sight again.

Somber reminder.

Do not crack "God jokes" in the pretext of claiming what you're doing is God-sent.