Racial Harmony Street Parade 2009

It's the annual racial harmony street parade and we are so looking forward to it. Grandma came over and we head straight to the RSAF booth where joelle, had for the past two years, took photos with the uniform. This year we introduced isabelle to the show. She looked really cute in the oversize uniform and was pretty happy and relaxed until she had strangers fussing over her with badges and helmet and camera. She freaked out and refused to stand there for the photo so daddy had to join her in the photo-taking.


Joelle, like a veteran posed for the photo willingly, knowing how happy she would make her silly mummy. Anyway that was our first stop every year. Then it was time to play!




Since they behaved pretty well that day, the girls got themselves a candy floss each and you just know how much they enjoyed their treat by the look on their face! They should be since we queue quite a while for them. Daddy went back to rest the minute we decided to queue for the treats (he never like queues). Moreover he had injured himself after a game of soccer. Poor daddy, he felt aged.


Finally for the first time in our life, we ate our dinner by the side of the road (which was closed for the event) while watching the street performances. We did not have to queue too long for the food as most of the people had already gotten their share by the time we were ready to sit down for a rest. It was good timing for us really. The weather was great for an outdoor event like this (I thank God for that) and I applaud the committee for organising such fun-filled activities for the children and residents. Kuddos!

Grandma's new flat...

is almost close to completion. We are all so looking forward to it. Joelle's first question to grandma..."is there a swimming pool?" and grandma's reply..."just a bus-stop away". That's not a lie because redhill swimming complex is just like she said... a bus-stop away. This place is a little far from where we are but it's so convenient, I think we might be here often. Anyway I was hoping that in time to come, I can gather my mum and my dad (my in-laws will have to be convinced by their son) closer to where we stay so visiting them will also be... a bus-stop away.

Daddy's 35th birthday.

It's daddy birthday and we had a mini celebration with him. Cooked his favourite pork belly in prawn sauce and calamari. We had another beef dish, a vegetable and a nice soup. What a dinner. Simple but satisfying. We were so full we could not really enjoy the cake. Unlike previous years, we bought a fruity cake from bangawan solo this time. The girls enjoyed the singing the birthday songs, blowing the candles and cutting the cake. It was a cosy little celebration indeed. With this, I would like to give thanks to the good Lord for keeping my husband in great health. I also appreciate the love that God showered on him even when he's not baptised. He is trying everyday to be a great dad and husband (I know). Despite his shortcomings, I thank God for making him mine. We love you daddy-o.

Daddy @ Work

Mummy had to deliver tapes to daddy's shoot location one day and decided to stay around for a while. It's been a long time since I'm at a set (besides those my daughter did). I took out my camera and snap a few shots of my man at work. A small part of me missed the times when I was a film/TV producer. A big part of me knows the work is no longer suitable for me. While I was there, I was able to spot mistakes that the assistant producer did not even realised. I still have the feel of things and the eye to details but I lack the energy. I lack the speed. I lack the spunk. I knew then that my days of being a producer is finally over. Am I sad? I should be, I believe I make a pretty decent producer. Now, I'm happy to be the woman behind a successful cameraman. It's funny how things worked itself out. I brought my husband into this industry many years ago and now I'm supporting him (strongly behind) while retiring from this same industry. It was my game and now it's his. I'm happy he's enjoying his work and I believe that together, we make a perfect solution. He's the man in front and I'm the woman behind the name CROSSROAD PRODUCTIONS.
My man deep in thoughts.

Joelle's merlion

Joelle went on a field trip with the school to the singapore river. They also went to kampong glam, chinatown, little india, the history museum and the merlion park. When I asked her to draw out her trip, this is what I got.

The girls @ marina bay

Our family do not really enjoy hanging out at crowded places and so most of the time we avoid going into town on weekends (unless necessary or in need of body contact). Most of the time we will shop while most are working. So one thursday, we head to marina square for lunch, tea and some shopping. It was a nice sunny day so we head out to the bay area where the girls could take a look at the marina bay, the financial area (where their yiyi and kim kim and pak leong works) and the construction of the new IR. But the hightlight of the day was bumping into daddy at the esplanade where he was working for that day. It was a chance meeting as we did not know he would be at the esplanade and he did not know we would be shopping at marina square. It was a pleasant surprise for the girls to see daddy at work.

Chalking the floor

The girls have a new outdoor activity indoors. Do not be confused. It is just an activity they can do out of the house but under shelter. Yes, chalking the floor. The nearest chalkable floor is the corridor and we could either watch them from the door or continue our chores in the house. They can have fun outside the house and still be safe. Usually mummy will watch them from the door (low crime doesn't mean no crime) and encourages them to draw freely without reservations. Joelle was initially afraid of dirtying the floor (she's a socially responsible child) but after I show her that the chalk can be easily removed by washing it with recycled water from the laundry the next day, she felt more comfortable with the activity. Mummy tried unsuccessfully to participate in chalking the floor with them but unfortunately mummy is still very afraid of the chalk. Yes, it's something from old school days. I dislike the sound of the chalk screeching the blackboards and the weird feel of the chalk's powdery texture. On the first day, I actually wore a glove but I just could not overcome that "fear". It's skin deep. I was hesitant in getting them the chalks but decided that my "fear" should not be imposed onto the girls. So I expose them to this chalk art.




Check out joelle's drawigs. Pretty impressive. She takes great pride in her drawings too. But it still depends on her mood. I'm encouraging her to be more patience in art. At least that's something she shows interest and talent in.

Day3 @ Roxy

We request for a late checkout on monday so we could spend another morning swimming with the girls. As it is daddy's off day, he joins us at the pool. After the last two days, I decided I need help with the girls in the pool. It is really tiring holding on to either one of them so I went across to the shops and got them each a $3 float. It is a life saver indeed. We should have gotten the floats on the very first day! We are almost hands free that morning with the girls in their floats. What a beautiful monday, a rarity for most.


We have a funtastic weekend and we would like to thank my uncle stephen and auntie juliana for generously giving the girls a local holiday at the hotel. We have a great time and a healthy one too. It was swimming everyday and some leisure shopping too. A nice break for all of us. If time and money permits, I think this local holidays might just work for busy folks like us. Daddy can still work on his projects and join us when he's free. Help can reach us anytime and there is no need to worry about almost anything. What a nice weekend.

Day2 @ Roxy

After joelle's chinese language class on sunday, we head to the hotel and have an afternoon of swimming. This time my mum and auntie join us for the swim. With more hands and eyes around, I am able to take more pictures. Isabelle plunge into the pool many times and she gets better at holding her breathe with each plunge. We're so impressed with her "guts" and control. Joelle on the other hand is still fearful of the water but for the sake of competition, she would try whatever her sister did. The two elders are kept very busy that afternoon and the girls enjoy themselves very much. Another beautiful sunday indeed.

Isabelle kicking the ball and plunging into the pool. Look at their different expression including the elders! Joelle timidly plunge into the arms of my auntie (at very near distance, she insisted) and splashing around. I just love to see the expressions of everyone.

When it is time for me to leave the hotel, isabelle whispers into my mum's ears "I want to go home". I am a little surprise as she stayed the night before without any problem. But I happily carry my little baby back with me and promise joelle we'll be back the next day with daddy.

Day1 @ Roxy

Isabelle is very excited today as she is going on a holiday and it is her first stay away from home without us. She is going for a 3D2N stay at a local hotel with my mum and my auntie. My uncle stephen and auntie juliana are members of some club and they have a couple of nights accommodation at selected hotels. So they booked a 3D2N stay at grand mercure roxy hotel at parkway and just nice for the girls to wrap up their june holidays.

Isabelle happily posing with her luggage for the weekend stay. It's inclusive of her milk and her favourite dog "polly". Joelle is very upset but surprisingly she did not cook up a huge fight that day. Daddy took her to repair the bicycle while I drove my auntie and isabelle to the hotel. As this is isabelle's first "night out" without me, I'm apprehensive about her willingness to stay. I'm even prepared to drive out to the hotel in the middle of the night to fetch her home.

We head to parkway as the room is not ready for check in. My mum and auntie have their late lunch while I spend some $80 worth of isetan vouchers on swimming suits for the girls and other stuff. Once we check into the room, we change out and head to the hotel pool. The water is cold initially but as we play on, it doesn't feel that cold anymore. Isabelle is amazingly not afraid of the water. We even have a dance together. She's so happy today. I love this baby.

When it is time for me to leave the hotel, she kiss me goodbye and I promise I'll be back the next day with her sister. My phone did not ring in the middle of the night. Thank God.

Isabelle draws...

Finally I'm able to post pictures. So the story goes...

I'm starting to pay more attention to isabelle's "art-time" and I must say that I'm pleasantly surprise with her progress. Her first human figure isn't a typical stick-man. Well, it's still a stick-man but it's not the typical one line with stick-hands and stick-legs sticking out. Hers looks really cute. It's a head on a "H". Creative right? She even drew an entire page of people and animals for her sister during their time apart. As she tells me what they are, I try to write them beside the drawing. I truly enjoy our "art-time" very much. It's really fun.

No show!

Something is terribly wrong with (my) blogger. For the past three days I was unable to post pictures on my blog. The pictures were uploaded to picasa web album but they just would not show on the blog post. I posted a S.O.S to blogger but no response so far. So to all who check in, I apologize for the "no show". The Chans have many updates to share and hopefully blogger will get this problem fixed. Meanwhile... a little picture of the girls at marina bay for you to enjoy and continue to dream with us.