Happy Halloween

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Guess 10 months of the year have flown by. How time flies!! Before we know it, Christmas will be upon us. In fact, the fight for the Christmas dollar has already started, as I saw loads of Christmas decor in many shops and along the roads in town. Sigh. Way too early. By the time Christmas arrives it would feel like it should be over. I think this thing has gotten out of hand!!



Talking about getting out of hand, here's something that has really gotten out of "hand" ........ or "pants". Trust it never ever happens to you!












Have a great halloween party tonite!

Dad's cooking

Since I got married, some close to 19 years ago, I have not tasted my Dad's cooking. You see, when we were young, Dad usually made breakfast for us.

Last evening when we met for my nephew's birthday, my Dad invited me over for lunch today. He told me that my favourite fish was in season and he was going to cook it for me.

"Toi Her" is a type of fish which is popular with the teochews. It is a slim fish about 6 inches in length and about an inch in diameter. Not many know how to eat this fish as it has numerous bones which are very thin. Only if properly eaten will the bones stick to the fish. The way you eat it is most unlady-like. You have to literally slurp and suck the flesh off the meat. But the meat is sweet and soft. I havent had "toi her" for years.

Usually Mum would cook it using Grandma's recipe. But today Dad cooked it, using a recipe he learnt on his recent trip to China. Must say it turned out quite good, tho it was of a different style from that I was used to. I ate 6 of those fishes .. all for lunch!! There goes my diet!

Thanks Dad for a lovely lunch. And what a lovely way to end the week ...coupled with the children's exams finally OVER!

I hope you have a great weekend!

The Flip Flop Generation

Yes, there is a flip flop generation. I am not referring to the way youngsters flip flop on their likes and dislikes according to what's the "in" thing, but am referring to the way they like to go EVRYWHERE in their slippers.

In my time, (which actually isnt all that long ago) the only flip flops available were what we would call "Japanese slippers". It costs about $5 a pair and that would be what we wear when running downstairs to the HDB shops to get some things or to buy our char kway teow, with our own egg in hand, or if we are lucky, a trip to the beach with our parents.

Nowadays, there are so many different versions - there's the Ipanema's, the Havianas, etc and the cost of a pair can go all the way up to $50 just for a pair. And if they come jewel studded, the cost can go into the hundreds!! But to me a pair of slippers is a pair of slippers. And there is a time and place for them.

I cant understand why my kids always have to ask me "Can I wear my slippers?" And usually the answer is "No!"

You dont wear slippers when you go shopping in a nice mall, or to the movies, or out to lunch (unless its at the neighbourhood kopitiam or hawker centre). Even if its to these places, I would still prefer to wear proper sandals as the grip is better and there is a less chance of slipping and falling. Neither do you wear it to church or to a friend's house!! I think it shows a lack of respect, unless your friend happens to live next door - or you are going there for some "muck around"!!

An ex-colleague was commenting the other day about one particular boss complaining about staff wearing "flip flops" to work. He was referring to the ladies sandals, and how they flip and flop when they walked. In my time, working in a professional organisation meant that it was black court shoes - nothing less, coz that was normal business attire. I remember a boss commenting about my "blue checked" foldable umbrella which I whipped out from my handbag one day when it started to pour unexpectedly. He said that where he was trained in the UK, it was unthinkable for accountants to use anything other than a black umbrella. But I guess that's part of the British stiff upperlip. I digress.

Anyway, maybe it's me - too controlling and fixed in my "old-fashioned" ways - but I still think, flip flops - be they $50 havianas, designer or not , are meant only for the neighbourhood run-around. What do you think?

Time flies when you are having fun

Where has the week gone? I really dont know!! People say time flies when you are having fun, but I dont believe I have been having much fun this week at all.

The kids were all home on Monday, due to Deepavali. There was a LOT of fighting and squabbling over the use of the TV and the computer.

My son was home all week, and when he is home, I am usually stressed. Why? read on::

You see, next week is exam week for him. I tried to get him to study, but each time, after 5 mins at his books, he will say that he is done. BUT I know he is NOT done studying. WHY is it so difficult to get him to study???

And then he will start fighting with his Mei Mei over toys, over the TV, over anything. Even a toy or book that has been lying around for months untouched. Once one of them takes it, the other will want it. I know its their attention seeking ways. BUT it drives me up.

And then my son will complain about his food. Take yesterday for example. We had teochew porridge for lunch. When he saw it, he complained non-stop about how he hated it. Could he have plain instant noodles instead? etc, etc. Of course I put my foot down and said: Eat it or go hungry. Naturally he ate it. When dinner time came around, he said: "Can I have porridge instead of rice? Rice is so boring!!" A 100% turn around from lunch. Of course he got a shelling from me, and ate his RICE.

So, you can tell, I definitely did not have much fun this past week. But where did the week go? I really dont know. Anyway, I am glad it's FRIDAY!! and I am looking forward to the end of next week ... when I dont have to bug my son to study, and the whole family can have a relaxing time unwinding.

Have a great weekend!!

English Humour

English is a funny subject, easy to learn but not easy to master. There are many rules with equally many exceptions . Eg I was helping my son with his spelling and told him the rule of "I" before "E" except after "C" - Yes, that applies for words like "Receive" but how do you explain ancient to him? When do the exceptions apply??

But I guess exposure to the language will help you learn faster, and the best way would be through reading and listening.

And with children you really have to watch what they read, coz they are not gonna be learning much English if all they read are signs like those below!!

Have a great weekend ahead, and Happy Deepavali!


Did I read that sign right?
TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW

In a Laundromat:
AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT

In a Memphis department store:
BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS

In an office:
WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN

In an office:
AFTER COFFEE BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE COFFEE POT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD

Outside a secondhand shop:
WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?

Notice in health food shop window:
CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS

Spotted in a safari park:
ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR

Seen during a conference:
FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR

Notice in a farmer's field:
THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES.

Message on a leaflet:
IF YOU CANNOT READ, THIS LEAFLET WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS

On a repair shop door:
WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN'T WORK)

Horror Stories

Heard any horror stories lately? Well I did.

I was at school the other day waiting to pick up lil D. A mum was hurrying a teacher for her son as she had a taxi waiting for her. She then said that her daughter (who is only 3) was waiting in the taxi.

Alarm bells rang for me!! What? Leave a young child on her own with an unknown cab driver? I would never do that!!

Another lady there (a grandma of one of the kids) then scolded her for doing that, and went on to relate this story:

Her friends family went to Florida on vacation. The husband brought the son to the toilet at one of the Theme Parks (she didnt say which one), and left the boy in the loo to queue. He then went outside to take some photos. After awhile, he went back into the loo to get his son but he couldnt find him at all. He then called his wife who was waiting at another part of the park with their daughter to tell her what had happened. The wife left the daughter there alone (coz she was tired), and went in search of the son with the husband. They did NOT succeed in find the boy.

When they went back to where they left their daughter, she was gone too. Apparently they lost both their children there!!

I have heard similar stories about children going missing in China, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, but there is no way to verify the truth of it. But this lady claimed that it was her friend, and both husband and wife then came home to Singapore. I asked her again if it was true or just hearsay. She then told me "It's my friend!! It's a true story, so better take good care of your children, and dont let them out of your sight in public!"

Singapore may be a safe country and we tend to take personal safety fro granted. But more than 20 years ago, 2 teenage boys went missing, and to date they have never been found.

How sad that is!! I know I would NEVER be able to forgive myself should such a thing happen to my kids. (CHOI! CHOI! Touch wood!) That to me is a REAL horror story. And I DONT want to hear more of these stories. May it NEVER happen to anyone.

And the kangkong is growing ...

.... quite well I think!





It grew much much faster than I expected, and lil D is really excited now. She checks on her plant every morning as soon as she wakes, and will water it then. She will measure it to see how much it has grown, and has been sympathising with those that were not properly planted, and have withered and died. She's showing more responsibility than I expected.

Would she eat it? I really dont know. But S said that she was not going to eat it. Why?? Because its home grown, and she thinks there is too much stem, and hence the plant is unhealthy! Never heard of that!! Since when "too much stem" meant a plant was unhealthy? She said her teacher told her so!! Dont know what they are teaching our kids in school nowadays!

Anyway - , my kids only like the leafy parts of all vegetables, and I usually end up eating the stem. No problems for me, coz thats the part of vegetables that I like. Crunchy!! How about you?

Anyone wants to share some "unhealthy" Kangkong stems with me?

A Visit From Grandma & Grandpa

I was short of ideas on what to blog on, then I read Yan's post on His her story, and had a good laugh, so I decided to share this joke:

A Visit From Grandma & Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa were visiting their kids overnight.

When Grandpa found a bottle of Viagra in his son's medicine cabinet, he asked about using one of the pills.

The son said, 'I don't think you should take one Dad; they're very strong and very expensive.'

'How much?' asked Grandpa.

'$10.00 a pill,' Answered the son.

'I don't care,' said Grandpa, 'I'd still like to try one, and before we leave in the morning, I'll put the money under the pillow.'

Later the next morning, the son found $110.00 under the pillow. He called Grandpa and said, 'I told you each pill was $10.00, not $110.00.

'I know,' said Grandpa. 'The hundred is from Grandma!'

Lump of soil

She was really excited when she came home from school with this "lump of soil".




But I wasnt. It was her children's day gift from school. How can anyone be thrilled with a gift like this? But she was. She wanted to open it immediately.

I thought of all the small bits of soil falling all around the house. She chose to open it on the rug. Sigh. If any soil drops on it, it will be there FOREVER! Wont be able to see it as the rug is patterned.

You see, the school gave them this vegetable growing kit.



And you have to loosen the soil before planting. Fortunately, big sister agreed to help. They both got down to the job of loosening the soil, planting the seeds and watering it.

This morning she woke up and checked on her vegetable. Disappointed that it hadnt grown at all - no shoots - NOTHING! Insisted on watering it again, with a LARGE GLASS of water, spilling along the way.

You are probably wondering why I wasnt happy with the gift. Well, it just means more WORK for me. I know I should be thrilled, but the thought of "dropped" soil on the rug, mopping up spilled water, and explaining over and over again that the vegetable wont grow overnight, probably having to take over the watering and sunning of the plant (once the excitement wears out and they forget all about it - which is probably in two days time) and tending to their disappointment is really NOT my cup of tea. (That makes me a horrible Mum, right? why cant they just plant it in school, and only bring home the vegetables!!)

I know I should look on the bright side - they learn about plants and how they grow. Maybe they would happily EAT what they grow. I am keeping my fingers crossed. But now, I have another "BABY" to take care of. And I dont have green fingers.

As Lou Erickson once said: Gardening requires lots of water - most of it in the form of perspiration.

And, if, instead of talking to the plants, I yelled at them,
would they still grow, only to be troubled and insecure?

And here's the riddle of the week:
What is the difference between boogers and spinach?







You can't get your kids to eat spinach :D

Have a great weekend!