Land Of Ozz

Almighty Cuteness

2012-02-13T00:00:00.000+08:00

Aaargh-esha!

2012-02-12T00:00:00.000+08:00

Another one of Caitlyn's many pieces of eigh-art!

My 41st B'day.... Queen for the day.....

2012-02-11T00:00:00.000+08:00

Pleased As Punch

2012-02-10T23:10:00.001+08:00

This is what you get when you have a bored 11 year old with a Nintendo 3DS and a 7 year old who loves his Finn Mc Missile...

A Little Too Hot To Handle

2012-02-09T09:51:00.000+08:00

Day: Yesterday, 8th February 2012

Time: 5ish pm

Location: TOO DAMN CLOSE TO HOME!

This was taken at our backyard. There's a bit of a bushy area a street away from mine and we think it was the work of an arse-son.

Water dump

And another.... Luckily the fire was put out within the hour or so but the smell still lingered for hours despite the strong winds.

Fell Off The Wagon

2012-02-08T00:00:00.000+08:00

I took mom to Harbour Town yesterday and boy did I shop and bought stuff! The last time I shopped like that was back in July 2009. Well, I've worked hard for the past year and I deserve it damn it!

Oh by the way, we only had time to browse through 1/2 the shops there. Will take mom back there another day do browse the other 1/2..... and then I can indulge in some kick-ass retail therapy again.

From A Secret Admirer!

2012-02-07T23:52:00.000+08:00

A dozen roses from a secret admirer! :)

Under The Weather....

2012-02-06T00:00:00.000+08:00

Have been feeling a little bit unwell for the past week. No fever or anything, just having a bit of upper respiratory tract infection. So I'm now Barocca-ing up everyday with a glass of OJ and topping up another 500mg of Vit C. Can't afford to get sick. Counting down to 28th February. Not looking forward to it but it's inevitable.

In a blink of an eye, January 2012's gone. I don't think February being a leap year will make any difference. It's still the shortest month of the year. I hope I can stop and smell the roses this year. I've worked really hard last year..... with studies, working 2 places, working full time, it was hard on the family.

I'm working 4 days a week only, from this year onwards. I hope I get to spend some time with mom & the family and catch up with my friends whom I have not caught up with last year. Now, to make a list on who to call up first.....

Happpeeeee!

2012-02-05T00:00:00.000+08:00

Caitlyn couldn't wait for me to get home, so she followed Derrick to Honda Melville. She is thrilled, can you tell?

One After Another

2012-02-04T00:00:00.000+08:00

First it was Christmas, then came my birthday (oh by the way, I'm still waiting for my Christmas present from a certain someone who promised me one). Valentine's day's around the corner and after that, Bryan's 8th birthday. I feel awful. I should. Caitlyn had all the birthday celebrations.... swimming party... literally... Rolloways, Mc Donald's... BUT Bryan never had one with HIS friends. This year, I want to do something he wants to. I owe him that. He's been good for the past 2 days at school. Then again, it's just the start of the school year. So far so good.

Caitlyn's loving school. She's been selected for the Primary Extension and Challenge (PEAC) program again this year, Year 6. This year, it's Dare 2 Lead, where she will be learning all about leadership which will groom her to be a Student Councillor in Year Seven.... I'm not pushing her at all. I just tell her to enjoy what she's doing and to take baby steps.

For me, I've got to hit the books again. Need to brush up on work stuff. I'm very happy to be working at the hospital where every member of staff is so supportive and hardworking. I am truly blessed.

Here's Lucille!

2012-02-03T00:00:00.000+08:00

This is CAITBRY's third car... each one better than the last.

Today's handover was smooth, no hassles. The car is smooth I give it that. My first Auto transmission. Who wantsa riiiiide?

First Day Back At School......

2012-02-02T00:00:00.000+08:00

Love it or hate it, it's the first day of school. On the one hand, kids are OFF to school! Yay! On the other hand, parents of littlies have to wake up early, pack their lunches, haul them out of bed etc.... you know the drill.... Bryan woke up early..... a bit too early for my liking... try 5.30am for size. He poked his head into my room and in my usual grumpy why-the-hell-did-you-wake-me-up-at-five-freaking-thirty-in-the-morning gruffy voice, I asked him... and he answered without missing a heartbeat "I just wanted to see if you're here". Now how do you react to that? I just went "oh go back to bed.... NOW! It's too early"... and off he went... it was not till 6am I woke up to a bit of rustling sounds coming from the kitchen... there he was, iPad in hand, watching caterpillars on YouTube....Why O Why......

Fast forward 8.15am, reached the school, Caitlyn took off like a bullet. I was looking around for Bryan's new classroom. Very confidently, he strode up to the new building block and said "it's in here mummy!" and I went "no Bryan, your class is at one of the demountable...." I walked to the said demountable, no Mrs Faulkner... then an EA poked her head out and said "HI BRYAN!" Another EA also said the same... Gosh... EVERYBODY knows Bryan.... Sheepishly I asked where Bryan's class was..... and they pointed... to the new building block....

Lesson #1 today for mom: Always trust Bryan's sense of direction... Autism 1 Mummy 0

Ushering In the Year of The Dragon with a Dragon Dance on Chinese New Year

2012-02-01T00:38:00.000+08:00

Iesha in Ange's chinese baju sewed by Yee Mah back in the 70s

The Chin Woo association troop waiting patiently....

One drum a-drumming

I've always loved watching lion and dragon dances. The noise doesn't deter my kids either, especially Bryan. Surprisingly, he can tolerate the gonging and the banging of the drums but he still can't stand the sound of rain and howling winds. Sigh.

YAY! Lucy Snr Is Ready!!!!!!

2012-01-31T10:13:00.001+08:00

My Honda Civic Si-L European design in Urban Titanium is finally here!!!!! It's dark and like the new owner, very kinky.... it's clad in leather on the inside.... ooo la la! Looks like a 3-door but it ain't.. Mom had quite a bit of a tough time looking for the back door handles. Will take more pics when I pick it up on Thursday. I miss my Lucy already.... :C

1 more day.... just one more!

2012-01-30T21:08:00.001+08:00

This is exactly how I feel.... knowing that school starts this Wednesday. Cruel, I know. In any case, Caitlyn's very very excited to see her friends again. Bryan? I can't tell really. He's just looking forward to his 8th birthday coming up. Well, back to work for me.. still have 4 pages of report to go.... front and back!

This Ol' Thing?

2012-01-29T22:56:00.002+08:00

I bought this dress from a Toa Payoh heartland shop in July 2010 and it fit me well then. I've not worn it before actually. One and a half years later, look at me.... I'm like a bak chang. I wore it to church and I thought I was going to pau thai whenever I sat down. Sigh.. I guess I have to accept that ageing + gravity = not a good combo...

Well my Cardiologist has cleared me.... so I'll be starting an exercise regime soon... after I finish my 7-page report which I have to churn out in 2 freaking days.... heaven help me!

What Was That Salt 'n Pepa Song Again?

2012-01-28T11:04:00.001+08:00

"The TALK!" Gasp! Every mom's...and dad's nightmare.....

I've put it off long enough. Caitlyn finally dropped the S-bomb on me at the dinner table yesterday. I knew that day of impending doom was coming. I've avoided it before and I've circumvented the issue before and finally, as loud at thunder, she asked, "mufummeefee, hafaf yofoo hafad sefex befeefofore?" (she was tactful.. she asked in F-Language, which translates to "Mummy, have you had sex before?"). I hummed and hawed for a few seconds and finally said, just equally as loud, "of course Caitlyn, that's how I had you and Bryan". Her answer "Ew that's gross". Just like that, end of story. No more after last night.

But then after a long hard thought, I thought I'd better set the record straight.... I had it all planned out.... I'd tell her in the morning that she came out from the Toys 'R' Us Baby Catalogue or Formulated from "Baby Formula" or the classic "The stork brought you to us".... or something.... ANYTHING to get out of the whole "Birds and the Bees" talk.

Fast forward to this morning, she came in (they love coming in for a huddle and cuddle in the morning when I'm in bed), had my iPod in her hands, harvesting Smurf crops, I plucked up my courage, put on my artificial pair of balls and asked her why she was curious about sex. She said she has learnt about puberty, the changes in a child's body to adulthood, sperms and eggs (which by the way, she thinks it's disgusting... Woohoo!). She then said that the news she heard yesterday about the "guy and his 2 girlfriends on TV" (Yup, you know which one THAT "guy" is.... Hint: Think Pollie). So you see? Kids do pick up rubbish on TV. Anyway, I told her that that's one way of making babies.

Caitlyn: Then why do they have to take off their clothes?
Me: Cos it's warm and the clothes get in the way......
Caitlyn: But that's disgusting!

Then I went on telling her about the Anatomy and physiological aspect of the human reproductive system (ahem!... it's just a fancy term for the hooha, penis, the balls and where the little soldiers & eggs are stored). I also took the opportunity to introduce to her the same-sex-union aspect of relationships, Stranger-Danger, rape and statutory rape and how she has to keep safe all the time. She was very intrigued... At the end of the little graphic-less lesson, I asked "anything else you want to know about sex?".... to which she replied, "no mum, you've grossed me out enough"... and went back to harvesting her potatoes.

Quick Guesss No 2: Guess what song Ange was singing?

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000+08:00

What song do you think would get Ange into the mood? Quick! Guess!

(Yes, she shaved....)

Angie, you can't play.........................

Reunion Dinner Part Quartre: 4 Ls ~ Longan, Lychee, Lambutan, Leong Fun and a token L'atap Chee

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000+08:00

My fave!

Reunion Dinner Part Troix: Quick! Guess What We Had For Reunion DInner Dessert!

2012-01-25T00:00:00.000+08:00

Hint: Look at Cait, Ange, Simon and Mom

QUICK! Guess!!

Boo?

2012-01-24T23:12:00.002+08:00

Reunion Dinner ~ Part Deux

2012-01-24T00:00:00.000+08:00

Steamboat, for the second year in a row. The food, the lovely people and the great company. What a combo!

See anything similar in every photo? .....................................everyone's in red!

New Year's Eve ~ Reunion Dinner at Casa Adie...

2012-01-23T00:00:00.000+08:00

Yue Sang

A must on every Chinese Reunion Dinner table. Mom added carrots and the raw salmon. It was just simply scrumptious!

Bryan and his Kung Fu pose in his Kung Fu costume.

I bought these costumes in July 2010. I purposely bought them 3 sizea larger. Caitlyn's cheong sam fitted her nicely but Bryan's size 12 baju & pants were 2 sizes too small. Look at his pants! Mm cheong mm teun.

Preparation of the Yue Sang....

Marinating the salmon....

Plum sauce.....

Ready, get set...........

GO!

Tucking in to the Yue Sang....

A glimpse of what's to come.......

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

2012-01-22T05:42:00.000+08:00

Dear family, friends and all who happen to stumble into my blog,
May 2012's Year of the Dragon bring you happiness, wealth, love, good health and prosperity. May family ties bond stronger than ever, may friendships continue to blossom and grow, may love continue to knock on your door and wealth.... ah wealth..... may it be abundant, and not forgetting good health.... may this year be better than the last.

~ Adelene

Turning 41

2012-01-21T00:00:00.000+08:00

Dear mom cooked noodles for me... Cheong sau meen... well sort of. Well it's just yee see on my birthday. I had fun at work too, my patients sang me the birthday song, it was spontaneous and fun. I have decided, for the 2nd year in a row, not to make any New Year's resolutions. Nada. Come what may. Last year was memorable, adventurous, lived out of my comfort zone, took charge of many new frontiers and worked hard. This year will be all of those things x 2. So 2012, bring it on!