Abalone Noodles

Thank you to hubby for helping me to cook the A1 Abalone noodles. Though it was an instant noodles, I appreciate him cooking for me while I just packed for work stuff. I felt "hungry" after watching the MasterChef Asia. Not sure if it was an excuse or I really felt hungry but I just felt like eating. Even thinking about ordering Mac delivery but we would need to order quite a lot for the delivery to take place. :(

Anyway, the noodles managed to satisfy my "hunger pangs" for now. I better go sleep soon so that I don't start searching for more food!

Cycling at East Coast Park

Evans had a 3 week's break from his Heguru class because the teachers went to Japan for training. With the free Sunday morning, I joined Evans and hubby to the East Coast Park, with Evans cycling while we strolled alongside with him. Has been a while since I joined them; usually hubby will bring Evans with the in-laws and I will rest at home.

It felt nice joining my 2 "men" at the East Coast Park. Evans continued to enjoy the ride at the Road Safety Park, although he was pretty much going through the same routine. He really loved it when he saw hubby running towards the "bus-stop" and flagging his bike. It was cute.

In the car and Evans was still guessing where we were heading to

While hubby was finding a parking lot, we started off with the Road Safety Park first.

I realised Evans has grown in terms of moving around in his bike. He is now more confident and smooth. He is also very familiar with the roads and rules. He was leading me around the park while waiting for hubby to come back from parking. And when hubby was running towards the "bus-stop", Evans was very amused.

On his way to the petrol station to pump some oil for his bike

The little big refilling his "oil tank"

The Sunday morning was windy but also very hot and humid. It was a good workout for me after so long. I feel lazy and tired some times to get started on my exercise regime. So this walk was good for me as I tried to catch up with Evans.

Resting under a pavilion

Lunch was at Old Town and it felt extremely good to enter into the air-conditioned eatery; filling our stomach with food and quenching my thirst with coca cola!!!

A great way to spend the Sunday morning and afternoon like that. I felt good after the "workout" but I felt really hot the rest of the day even though it was really windy!!!

With the long holiday coming to an end, I hope the week to come will be productive and with lots of positive energy!!!

Breakfast at The Garden Slug

Revisited The Garden Slug for breakfast because I felt like going there somehow. Coincidentally Facebook reminded me of a photo taken 3 years ago at The Garden Slug. So it would be apt to retake the photo today. :)

The photo reminded me how chubby Evans was and from little baby boy to a young boy who can eat the toast bread on his own. Kids grow up fast.

Missing its breakfast platter though I just had a sinful breakfast set at Wild Honey a few days ago. It was a luxurious breakfast for me, with a platter for 2. There were sausages, grilled tomatoes, scrambled eggs, toasts, mushrooms, bacons, smoked salmon and coffee/tea/hot chocolate.

Evans did not like to go home straight after breakfast so hubby thought we could drop off at a nearby playground which Evans used to love. He still loved to play there. He was so excited seeing the familiar playground.

Acting sulky when we had to leave

It's a Good Friday!

Another long weekend with the Good Friday holiday! Felt really liberated but it would have been "bestest" if I need not think about work...

The weather has been sunny and the trio went for a swim together. Evans had a lot of fun and I am glad to see how much he has progressed from being fearful of water to so much kicking, and now he can go faster with his float. Rather cute! Haha!

For dinner, hubby suggested that we go to the Airport; it has been a while since we went there. Evans was elated and he kept "yay-ing" when he was told we were going to the Airport!

"Oh is the train moving already!?"

Hubby told me his little conversation with Evans. He asked Evans if he was angry with mama as I was muddle-headed when I forgot to bring my handphone earlier on; I had to rush back to take it. Hubby asked him this because when hubby forgot something, Evans told me very seriously that he was angry with papa because of his absent-mindedness, and he would not want to sleep with papa anymore! Guess what, when hubby asked him, Evans shook his head and said he wasn't angry with me because he loves me. Aww!!! What a sweet little boy. But it is also hilarious to hear.

The noodles lovers

The foodcourt at T3 was packed and it took us a while to find a table. All was good and we got to fill our stomach. Evans and hubby really love to eat noodles.

The very little cowboy

After dinner, we took a walk and shopped around. I shopped for quite a while in Watsons, one of my favourite places to shop. Haha! The good thing is no GST!

We also took a "rest" at 1983 Coffee & Toast at T2. Bought some light refreshments. Evans requested to order the Chee Cheong Fun, which looked really black (sauce). We had the peanut butter toast. Its homemade lemon tea was refreshingly sour but I would think the food was average. Perhaps their main course like nasi lemak was better.

Dirty little boy

Love this photo by me!

It was a "good Friday" for me. I had fun with hubby and boy boy, despite feeling a little tired and "stretched" after swimming and washing up some of the napkin cloths and clothes today. I guess more importantly Evans has been a good boy always, making it easier for us.

Evans took this for us, and I think he understood the 2/3 rule? LOL!





Helpers of the Community

After the staycation, I did not rest much because I had an "assignment" pending. Another of Evans' school work during the March holidays, and this time we were supposed to make "Helpers of the Community". Did a google and then understood what it was about. So in short, you have to make those occupation whom contributed to helping the community like Policeman, Fireman, Nurse, Doctor, etc.

So on Saturday night, I was busy figuring out how to make it with recyclable materials. Accompanied with the HK drama on TV, I managed to do it and tried to involve Evans in putting the tyres together, just for formality. LOL!



Personally I think the assignments during school holidays are a little too much to manage. It is only a week of holiday and we were given 2 assignments. The other one we were supposed to make the rice dumplings but thankfully, my papa helped me take care of it. Too bad, Evans could not be part of it due to time.

If the intention is for us to build bond with the kids, I thought things can be done more differently. Keeping it to one assignment will be helpful as we can be more focused. And the English and Chinese teacher can help them with the “show and tell” using the same assignment so that the kids can adapt to the different languages, describing the same object. That is my feel and I must remember to share this during the parent-teacher meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Missing the Staycation

Back from our 2D1N staycation at the York Hotel. Due to serious "miscomm", we were not able to fulfil our cruise dream so as consolation, bro organised a staycation for the family. This was what I have been looking forward to, a break from the routine and it ended so fast!!! But thanks to bro for paying for our accommodation. Our first time at York. I would not say it was luxurious but it was not too shabby. I am like Evans; who wished that the staycation could last a little longer. I really miss the time spent together at the hotel and the places we went.

What welcomed us at the hotel lobby was a long queue to the White Rose Café. We planned to bring the family there for its traditional buffet lunch but this period it was the Penang Hawker Fare special. Still I did not expect the crowd. After tasting the food, I was even more puzzled for the rave and its popularity. For each pax $34, I seriously did not find the buffet very fascinating. All you could have are the simple hawker items like Fried Kway Teow (which by the way had the longest queue); Oyster omelette; Prawn Mee; Kway Teow Soup; Ice Kachang; Chendol; Min Jiang Kueh; Penang Laksa; Lor Bak; Fruit Rojak; Kang Kong cuttle fish; Pasebur (some sort of salad). Woah I pretty much named all the items. My personal popular items would be Oyster Omelette and Prawn Mee which at least tasted decent. Noticed many patrons were aunties and uncles whom I guessed might appreciate the food for its history or as a celebration?

Happy that we have settled the check in and finally entered the restaurant after the long queue

Hungry boy savouring his kway teow soup

My papa got Evans a piece of the min jiang kueh, which he loved and hubby thought it was the best item in the buffet.

Papa, hubby and bro went to queue for the buffet food so that we all could fill our stomaches fast... each could only get 2 portions each time but with the limited food choices, we pretty much covered the entire line rather fast.

In celebration of the Penang Hawkers Fare, while hubby filled up the lucky draw dip, we figured to have a little fun with the props. I got 2 lucky dips but only got a non-woven bag.

After lunch papa brought Evans to his former workplace - Goodwood Park Hotel to visit his old colleagues. And the boy came back with a plum fruit and a piece of very expensive strawberry shortcake ($9.10)! Luckily they got it at 50%.

The 1st afternoon at the hotel was free and easy. While Evans was taking a nap with hubby; parents resting in their room and bro suntanning by the pool, I went to shop a little while at the Far East Plaza. Came back with a melon tea for bro, a KFC froyo yogurt ice cream for me and OCK snacks... It was a furiously hot afternoon, the skin could tear!

My parents and bro's room was at the Annex Tower and ours was at the main tower which mean we had to take a different lift and it made it more troublesome for Evans to "visit" them. LOL! But their room was really spacious with a queen size and 2 single beds! Facing the Hotel Quincy, it was quite nice and cosy. Bro helped to "upgrade" our room size to one that was slightly bigger which to me, no complaint, I enjoyed the space, though could tell our room was a little older. Its showerhead really bugged me. I was trying very hard to manipulate between the cold and hot water to put a bath for Evans. It felt like some rocket science to even reach the "right" temperature!

My parents and bro's room - Premier Quadruple, really spacious!

What we did for the night was simple but it was memorable for me because how often does the family get this chance to walk along Orchard road, with no concern of the time and rush for the transport, since we just stayed a few streets away. I recommended bro to The Ship for dinner and glad that the family enjoyed the food and ambience. It was one of my favourite lunch places and I thought they might like the place too. Though it was a busy evening, the service provided was decent and prompt. The Ship has always given me a positive impression with sincere service, not overly attentive but reasonable.

All set for dinner and oops, photo bombed as the lift door opened. LOL!

The dinner sets we had

Photo by Evans

Another photo by Evans

A scary photo by Evans... LOL!

A very happy boy

He really loved spaghetti!

All happy after the dinner

The lights along Orchard Road, captivating.

After going to Takashimaya to get some stuff from the Baby Fair, we slowly strolled back to our hotel. It was a nice and easy stroll but it got rather long. And to think we did not get any supper back to hotel because seriously we were quite full. But when we were back to the hotel, after settling down, hubby tempted me, asking me if a Mac would interest me. @)*@)$&*#... and it did. And so he did to get me the burger while I tried to make Evans sleep. Guess he was too excited, but he was also very excited to set the alarm for the next day's breakfast. The sleep felt all at home but not when Evans kept kicking me away because he thought I was hubby. (Hubby and I switched positions on bed so Evans thought I was him.)

Like Evans, I too looked forward to the breakfast. At staycations, I always look forward to the international buffet breakfast, the time to indulge in the spread of bread and main courses. Evans woke up, in extreme happy mood and was having fun playing with the hotel lights switch. He said he wanted to "surprise" papa with the lights when he woke up. Funny boy. When hubby played along, Evans let out an adorable giggle. 

Now that Evans could drink milk direct from his cup, he finished the milk more quickly and we were all ready for breakfast at 8.30AM so we gathered with the rest of the family at the lobby. Breakfast was at the White Rose Cafe.

Evans, woke up a chirpy boy!

Mama, enjoying her porridge

Evans and the bread with jam

Evans with jiu jiu

One of my favourite combo... the waffle was really crispy and fragrant. Topped with the peach dessert, it was really yummy!

Papa commented that the breakfast at Marina Mandarin was better but of course, the price was different too! As the morning crowd grew, we had our fill and decided to just go back to our rooms to rest a while before heading for the pool. The pool was big enough for Evans and hubby to have some fun. :) Mama and bro were amused by how Evans swam. The way he kicked his legs and the way he chuckled brought smiles to our faces. He seemed to be swimming a lot fast at the pool there, perhaps the pool wasn't big so it made it easier for him to maneuver? 

Finally we had to say goodbye to the staycation. Should be thankful that we were given late checkout time till 2pm. But still it's always hard to say goodbye to a break/holiday/time off work. Hubby brought the family to Dome at Dempsey Hills for lunch before we called it a day. I almost forgot how good its club sandwich was! Oh and the sweet potato fries were also great and they went really well with its salsa and tar tar sauce. I had the Mango Passionfruit freeze which was totally refreshing and made me feel "happier". 

Ending our staycation with Dome

Funny Evans and his selfie

But when we returned home, I felt a little depressed (and tired). I really miss the staycation very much somehow. Well I think I miss every staycation but this time, I felt it stronger. Maybe it meant a lot to me for this break off work or it meant a lot to me that my bro planned this for us... I just miss this lah! No other words to put it across. Certainly hope we can do this again sooooon!