Sunday, August 30, 2009

My faithful Avent Manual Pump

Bought the pump more than 4 years ago (when I was expecting Cherylin). Prior to the purchase, did consider if I should buy an electric one as friends had feedback that it's good - less tiring and less consuming than manual pump.


Decided on getting a manual pump because I was not sure if I would be successful in breastfeeding. Hence, better not invest so much upfront. If need be, then I could always buy a electric pump.


Never regretted getting the Avent Manual Pump. It's really cheap ($48.50 after discount) and good (effective in clearing my breast within reasonable time - at most 30mins, usually 15 to 20 mins; don't find it tiring at all). Am actually quite amazed that it had served me for so long. Also, it's very convenient for use when expressing in office since there's no need for a electric socket which means i could express as long as there's a room :)


The pump had finally 'retired' a couple of months back when I successfully stopped the milk flow.

The land of the rising sun

It's the 'to go' country in my list of countries this year. Halt the plan due to the influenza outbreak in late Apr this year. With more people starting to travel again, it makes me itch to travel again.

Finally, booked a 7D Central Japan tour covering Disneyland, Sanrio Land, Factory outlet etc. Paid a total of $4629 for 2 adults, 1 child and 1 infant (infant fare is $430 which I find it ex) travelling in early Nov. With the fall in airport taxes (down from $400+ months ago to abt $75 now) and promotion of 50% off for 2nd adult, the money saved should be enough to offset the higher Yen as compared to 2 years ago (1.27 vs 1.53).

Believe Cherylin will be very happy to see lots of Hello Kitty when in Japan :)

Afternote: I had wanted to go on F&E for our visit to Japan. However, YC is not comfortable doing so with 2 kids, 2 luggages and 2 stroller to take care of. Hence, I am agreeable to join a package tour (since it's my first time, no harm going with a tour group first). Should we decide to visit Japan again, probably we can consider F&E :)

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Sparkling Nite (1 Aug 09)

As usual, the welfare team in my company had organised an evening session for staff and family members to get together for makan, quiz and viewing of fireworks from our office premise.

This time round I've included mum. When I told her so, she didn't want to attend. There's a new policy this year - whoever signed up and didn't turn up will be fined - there must have been many instances where staff didn't turn up and hence wasted on $ that were spent by the organising team. Hence mum agreed to join in the fun after I told her about the penalty that will be imposed. Keke.

We arrived at about 6.15pm (event started at 6pm). Upon registration, each of us was given a goody pack comprising box of raisin, flag, flag tattoo, bag of gems biscuit, etc. We then went to the staff lounge for the refreshment that was catered for all.


There was a quiz session where participant who gave the correct answer will receive a prize (questions were on Singapore, quite cheam i thought, e.g. how big is singapore (in km square), who is the longest serving president, how many merlions are there in singapore, etc). We managed to get a correct answer (there is a total of 5 merlions in singapore) and got a prize. Cherylin was happy to receive the prize (it's a multi colour pen btw).

There was also a birthday celebration (Singapore birthday as well as those who are borned in August) with a huge Singapore Flag design cake. Each of the birthday guy/gal was given a present. Something funny happened while the organisers were giving out the present: Shawn suddenly dashed into the birthday group and stood right in btw the group. In the end, he received a present as well (cos he was so natural that the organisers thought he was within the group). Really funny. Me and mum were laughing at that. When Cherylin saw that didi had got a present, she wanted one too. Told her she can't. Anyway, the present ended up in jie jie's hand (it's a 5-in-1 game board).







Fireworks started at about 820pm. Felt that it's shorter than what we used to see 2 years ago. Everyone was cheering as the fireworks were displayed. Shawn was saying 'pa pa' and yet shouted the cheer (by saying 'yeah') when the rest did so. This funny boy of mine seems to be 'pa pa' of anything that's not familiar to him (just like when Cherylin was a toddler).

The whole event ended at about 845pm.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Cherylin's first on stage performance (18 Jul 09)

Cherylin was asked to participate in the Racial Harmony Day at BV (held on 18 Jul 09, Sat). Since her teacher requested for her to attend, we agreed. I thought it was like the previous event (known as "BV ok") where the kids were just there to show support.

On the day itself, we arrive at 7pm. All the kids then gathered for a rehearsal. Only then did I know Cherylin was going to perform. "Oh no', I thought to myself. I forgot to charge my camera batt. Hence, I didn't get to take many pictures of Cherylin's first on stage performance :(

As to how Cherylin had performed on stage, she didn't show any sign of stage fight. In fact she said she enjoyed being on stage. She was jumping while waiting to sing/dance. She even laughed out loud when the microphone in front of them drop on the stage.

Mum went to support Cherylin too. She left shortly after the performance while we wait till the end of the event. We were all famished by then and headed to BK an HV for supper. Shawn enjoyed the junk food as much as his sister did :)

Friday, August 7, 2009

Gathering with Tour Mates (20 Jun 09)

We had a gathering with our tour mates from the Europe Trip on 20 Jun 09. It's a steamboat dinner at a restaurant in East Coast Road. We enjoyed the company as well as the food. To my surprise, our tour leader actually attended the gathering (i take it that he really find us to be a bunch of nice people, hence he turned up).

Looking forward to our next gathering in mid Aug. :)