Sunday Part 2

A book about how the surviving victims from a toxic gas (sarin) poisoning (cult sabotage) at the ever-busy Tokyo met subway, were victimized for a second time by having uncompassionate bosses & colleagues who don't care much about how they have to live with life-long incapacity despite symptoms that are not obvious (eg: kidney failure). Some of the surviving victims even had to quit their jobs as they were unable to tolerate the icy treatment from their co-workers as well as having to put up with constant snide remarks.  The book also touches about how inadequate the emergency response team was/is. About how you might be an outcast for speaking up. In Japan, they don't talk about "bad things", you have to "stomach it", suck it all up and be silent.  

 She says she has five Gold (all breast stroke), three silver (all freestyle) from the 8 laps of group swim. 8 laps on their own, 8 laps group swim. She's new to freestyle.
She never knew that her coach was judging them, hence previously, she was lazy and took her own sweet time. Until one day not long ago, her coach scolded her for being lazy. He said that even a five year old beat her to it. It was then she realised her coach was mentally judging them. So she swam properly, and told me it was tiring.
Ha.

 Colin's tiny cars. Told me he doesn't want a recycled environment truck but he wants a rubbish collector trucks for his birthday.....

 So Kiki is back to Mastermind. Although I think this game is too mature for her, because she doesn't quite understand how to back-track and analyse past data to make more intelligent guesses yet. She's just guessing based on each, current result. But it's okay lah. Just play.

after revealing the answers to me, she told me she had used the colours of her Touchy (cow neck rest) to form the code for me to guess.

i copied her idea and used the colours of her PJs to form the code for her to guess but she didn't have any inkling... she took many guesses before finding the answers.

Sunday Part 2

A book about how the surviving victims from a toxic gas poisoning (cult sabotage) at the ever-busy Tokyo met subway, were victimized for a second time by having uncompassionate bosses & colleagues who don't care much about how they have to life with life-long incapacity despite symptoms that are not obvious (eg: kidney failure). About how inadequate the emergency response team was/is. About how you might be an outcast for speaking up.   That's so sad. 

 She says she has five Gold (all breast stroke), three silver (all freestyle) from the 8 laps of group swim. 8 laps on their own, 8 laps group swim. She's new to freestyle.
She never knew that her coach was judging them, hence previously, she was lazy and took her own sweet time. Until one day not long ago, her coach scolded her for being lazy. He said that even a five year old beat her to it. It was then she realised her coach was mentally judging them. So she swam properly, and told me it was tiring.
Ha.

 Colin's tiny cars. Told me he doesn't want a recycled environment truck but he wants a rubbish collector trucks for his birthday.....

 So Kiki is back to Mastermind. Although I think this game is too mature for her, because she doesn't quite understand how to back-track and analyse past data to make more intelligent guesses yet. She's just guessing based on each, current result. But it's okay lah. Just play.

after revealing the answers to me, she told me she had used the colours of her Touchy (cow neck rest) to form the code for me to guess.

i copied her idea and used the colours of her PJs to form the code for her to guess but she didn't have any inkling... she took many guesses before finding the answers.

Swimming Lessons (September 2015)

 Bren & I are glad she enjoys swimming. 

Very soon, she can join my sis in doing the "cannonball" at the pool.

Colin needs to beef up. Eat more to gain muscles and frame before we could start swim class with him. Hopefully, his appetite becomes more bountiful soon. Meantime, I will make more effort to  engage his food interests. 

Swim away.

Take aways

Came across a take-away shop with an old, senior, Japanese chef and what looks like his disciple?

Bought a Bento set for Kiki & Bren to share after swim class. 

Weekend

Saturday's music class. What did we learn?  

So-mi So-mi So-mi So-mi-do  like that lor. (hand signs)

Chimes, keyboard, ta ta ti ti ta. like that lor. 

 Using his sis' old sneakers. 

White socks are just so..... clean looking.

 Last week, Kiki panicked and drank water at the deep pool. (I wasn't there).

So this week, we had a hard time. She was sobbing the whole 30 mins while practicing her kicks. 

Until eyes swollen, eye bags formed. Nose red. 

Still, I encouraged her to overcome her fear. 

我是这么想的：- If I give her a break, it would be harder to restart. If we change a coach, it may not solve the problem because the problem is phobia. So this is like what I call the - Clutch Fighting phase. It's like you're changing gears on an upward slope? vroom vroom fighting clutch, find that balance, bite on it and step on!  So I kept signalling her the "I Love You" hand sign while I stayed at the corner of the pool (in pool). While she conveyed her message and wrote in the air

 "H O M E !" and pleaded to go home. 

So this continued for another 20 mins at the deep pool. My skin is so thick, I didn't care that I may appear crazy. She bargained with her stern coach to swim the breadth of the pool rather than the length. The coach said in a very loud and frustrated voice- But It's The Same What! Length or Breadth is the same! You are only swimming a Short Distance! 

Honestly, it is not the same for the child. You know why?

Although the kid may only be swimming 6 mtrs, it looks shorter when swimming it 3/4 of breadth; against swimming 1/10th of the length. Visually it looks intimidating not being able to see when you'll end. 

So anyway, luckily the coach gave up and let her and the other kids swim breadth. 

So after much coaxing with my hand sign, she managed to do her kicks with swim board and a short distance (3 mtr) without board.

I have the phobia of water despite liking the sea and water sports (which I am now unfit to do). 

But I hope KiCo will both enjoy swimming and water sports.

Last Friday Night

Coach gave us a make up class last Friday evening.

I wasn't present during yesterday's class (Sunday) but last night, Kiki recounted to me that she had to let water out of her goggles because they were filling up with tears. Her Papa told me that Coach pressured her to do the deep pool; she held her breath the entire half-breadth, didn't take interval breaths and became panicky hence got scolding from Coach, all added up to a burst of tears. But ok lah. I think that's part and parcel of the learning process.

Sunday, May 3rd (Swimming)

I thought she drew Colin and herself in pajamas but no, she says the sketch is on the skit she had watched at the drama centre the other time. "Writing under the Moon".

I wonder if that thick hair is a mortar board. I should ask her later. It does look like a mortar board. 

 She also journal the macaroni her Papa made and brought to the pool during her swimming sessions.

We have been going for classes for two months and have only gotten to swim - one full lesson, and two half sessions. that is barely 2 hours. For the rest of the seven times that we were there, it rained!
Finally this week, we got to swim! I mean we get to learn to swim.

Sunday

 We were all geared up for her first swimming lesson. All bright and sunny.

Then, it rained.

And rained and rained, and rained, rained, rained. Thicker and thicker the rain grew.

Even after it stopped raining after 1.5hours, the life guard at the pool says that there is still "thunder risk" and the red siren light is set to spin for another half an hour.

I told Kiki not to be disappointed because there would be many swimming lessons to come.
By then, Kico were so hungry, they didn't have the energy to fuss over not being able to swim.

We signed up via the Singapore Swimming Academy website and they give new students a set of swimming googles and cap when you make payment via online telegraphic transfer.

 Colin spotted an alter with statue of Guan Gong, he automatically put his palms together and "prayed".

 Intrigued by the old, grandfather clock.

 Walking home after dinner.