Confessions of a so-called expat wife

Tossing the yee sang

2012-01-19T18:28:00.000-08:00

The yee sang is a sort of salad dish commonly served during Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year or Spring Festival as it is called elsewhere). What you do is get ready with your chopsticks and then toss the ingredients together as high as you possibly can while shouting all the stuff that you want to achieve in the coming year. Great fun. Last night, I had a Chinese New Year celebratory dinner

International schools in Kuala Lumpur: Alice Smith School

2012-01-18T00:03:00.000-08:00

Alice Smith is one of the schools I'm looking at for Connor once he starts Year 1. Fortunately it's still a few years away so we have some more time to put money into his school fund. Have you seen the fees!!! Anyway, they're having an open day on Feb 29 for primary school and Mar 1 for secondary school. I'm definitely going just to check the school out as I have only seen the website. We

Connor says: Penis

2012-01-11T17:19:00.000-08:00

Our flights to UK last month included a stopover in Dubai. So while we were there, I grabbed the chance to go to the toilet and took Connor with me. The toilet was crowded but everyone patiently waited their turn. When it was my turn, Connor obediently followed me into the cubicle and immediately pointed to the loo. "Mummy, it's a toilet! Don't touch the toilet, it's dirty!" "Yes, that's

Tips on potty training

2012-01-09T17:36:00.000-08:00

Now that Connor is almost fully potty-trained, I feel that I am more than qualified to dispense advice to mums who are seeking to potty train their little ones. I have been through the ordeal! And survived! Therefore my words of wisdom are.. erm... true! *lightning flash and thunder* Okay. When you read all the books, they all say the same thing. Rewards. Buy the potty. Buy training pants.

The sweetest thing

2012-01-08T17:27:00.000-08:00

My in-laws were married one lovely Boxing Day many, many years ago. We were at home with them in Liverpool for their anniversary just this past December and I'd gotten Manjarina Art to custom make a card for their special day. My father-in-law has vascular dementia and his memory has been failing him more and more lately. Sure that he would not remember to get Mum a card, my husband had nipped

Connor is a...?

2012-01-03T18:49:00.000-08:00

Me: Daddy is a...? Connor: Daddy is a gwailo! Me: What about Mummy? Connor: Mummy is a Chinese! Me: What about Connor then? Connor is a...? Connor: (thinks for a while) Is a me! I thought that was a very good answer from our little boy.

Back in KL again

2011-12-29T18:32:00.000-08:00

Arrived home at midnight and finally went to bed at 2am. My Connor is still fast asleep in bed. I'm hoping he'll recover quickly from jet lag this time, it usually takes him a week to re-adjust. I'd been enjoying the cool winter conditions in the UK in December and after waking up this morning feeling overheated, I've decided I prefer winter. Back to unpacking. Will post more later.

Potty training with Connor

2011-11-25T18:12:00.000-08:00

Right after Connor turned 3, we started potty training. Diapers are soooooo convenient but they get really expensive as your child gets bigger. Plus I was pretty sure Connor was more than ready for potty training as he's shown regularly that he understands he can't pee in the condo pool. It's quite funny to see him suddenly drop all the pool toys, climb out in a hurry and pee somewhere away

My Christmas diet plan

2011-11-24T17:42:00.000-08:00

I knew I had to lose the excess weight I'd been carrying ever since we got back from our UK holidays in June. Especially so since we're headed back to the UK and: 1. I need to fit into my layered winter gear and STILL fit into the doorway 2. I need to make room for all the Christmas goodies that I will surely stuff my gob with when we get to my mother-in-law's kitchen So I embarked on a

Hurray! Christmas in UK!

2011-11-23T17:33:00.000-08:00

I'd been asking and asking to spend Christmas in UK with my in-laws ever since Connor was born and we're finally doing it this year. I come from a Buddhist family so Christmas is pretty much a non-event for us. So I've always wanted our son to spend Christmas with his paternal grandparents. I think it will make for lovely memories for everyone. We're headed back in Dec and everyone (except the

A busy weekend!

2011-11-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

What a super social weekend Mummy had. First I had brunch with the girls. Two of them were friends I'd made when we all suffered together in the corporate world. One was a friend I'd known since I was three. The fourth was a new friend and a sort of link for me as she knew the two different sets of friends I had sitting at the table. I'd never had a brunch with the girls and yakked about the

Kids Stuff: Racing car beds in Kuala Lumpur

2011-11-21T03:32:00.000-08:00

Connor trying out his new bed when it arrived Okay, the wording on the car was kinda dodgy (Armani??? WTF???) but what can I do... these were the only designs in the shop Connor had outgrown his cot a long time ago but we put off buying a big boy bed because we were doing some work in our apartment. When everything was finally completed, we went out and bought Connor his big boy bed.

How to wear sky high heels all night long

2011-11-20T22:49:00.000-08:00

I think I've finally cracked it. I've figured out a way to wear sky high heels all night long without screaming in pain. First you have to buy a pair of extremely uncomfortable heels. They have to be so high they give you nose bleeds when you wear them. They also have to pinch your feet in every place possible and make you sigh longingly when someone talks about how the Chinese used to bind

Coming Soon: Connor's School Concert!

2011-11-20T19:54:00.001-08:00

Oh. Oh. OH. It's COMING! Mummy so excited. Daddy can tell because Mummy trying on outfits like mad. Sorry mega blur picture.

How to tie your hair in a bun

2011-11-19T18:24:00.000-08:00

I finally learnt how to tie my hair in a bun. About freaking time.

Christmas Gifts Wish List: Leather pants

2011-11-18T00:05:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas and it's time for presents! Buy this here at the US Burberry site This is one item on my wish list that doesn't make any sense. Why? Because I'm a good ol' pear shaped woman and the skinny pants trend is one that doesn't look good on me. Try putting cling wrap on a pear. Does it look good? No. But I want it anyway. I hope the hubby is reading this. Teeheehee.....

When princesses fight

2011-11-17T23:59:00.000-08:00

Where were my seven bloody dwarves when I needed them? Princess Leia kills Snow (not so) White with one swipe of her lightsaber.

From the Telegraph.co.uk: Meet the most elite assistants in retail

2011-11-16T17:27:00.000-08:00

From the Telegraph: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG8870347/Meet-the-most-elite-assistants-in-retail.html The Hubby once bought me an Armani jacket and matching pants set. They were gorgeous (and in a SALE!) and we saw them as once-in-a-lifetime pieces, something you buy once and wear over and over again because they are timeless. Something to hand down to a daughter or

On Crosby Beach, Liverpool

2011-11-15T22:05:00.000-08:00

I love this photo. This was shot while we were on holiday in the UK this year in June 2011. This is what a summer's day on a British beach looks like. Sigh. The figures you see standing out there aren't people. They are the famous sculptures by Anthony Gormley. Beach was littered with dead jellyfish. I put my foot down for a size comparison, I'm a UK

Happy 3rd birthday Connor!

2011-11-14T21:53:00.000-08:00

He loved the car on his birthday cake. We saved that bit for the last. We got him really expensive birthday presents last year so we erm... dialled back the budget this year. Besides we're spending Christmas in the UK this year for the FIRST TIME EVER!!!! - so we'll be spending then. He still loved his presents, the cost doesn't matter to him. Our little boy is

Mid Autumn Festival Sept 2011

2011-11-13T21:43:00.000-08:00

We were at Solaris Dutamas for their Mid Autumn Festival event in September this year. We brought Connor's dragon lantern but unfortunately the lantern walk was too late for our little boy and he was tired out by 8pm so we left early and never got any shots of him with his lantern this year. All we got are some shots of him catching bubbles blown by a toy stall vendor. Lanterns for

Afternoon at the pool

2011-11-12T21:40:00.001-08:00

Crocodile Creek backpacks are awesome!

2011-11-03T20:19:00.000-07:00

Connor's Skip Hop zoo backpack was starting to fall to pieces so I started looking around for another. Check these Skip Hop backpacks out, they are so cute! We own the zebra design. This was when I discovered it's virtually impossible to find a kid's backpack in KL that hasn't got Ben 10 or Thomas or Buzz Lightyear on it. I didn't want to buy a backpack with a cartoon character on it as

Connor at school: Happy Deepavali!

2011-11-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

When we got to school on Tuesday morning, there was a notice saying that there would be a Deepavali dress-up day on Wednesday. For those of you not in the know, Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights, the celebration of the triumph of good over evil. While I was delighted there was going to be a dress-up day at school for Deepavali, I was also left wondering where I could find a costume for

Connor Says: The Letter O

2011-10-20T17:28:00.000-07:00

Connor's been learning more about the alphabet in his new class and has been coming back saying all sorts of random things about letters and words. Connor: O... O... O is for ambulance! Me: No, darling... A is for ambulance. Connor: (firmly) O is for ambulance! Me: Connor... A, A, A... aaaambulance! Connor: (in exasperated tone) O for ambulance. Ee-oh-ee-oh-ee-oh! O is for ambulance! Me