Bean that moves

Nikki was disappointed when she didnt get to go on her class excursion to the supermarket last week, due to a sudden closure notice issued to the school from the Ministry.

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has said cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease (HFMD) have been rising over the past weeks.

Last week, some 900 cases were reported.

This brings the total number of cases since the start of the year to 18,000. That's 67 per cent higher than the same period last year

The XXX has been ordered to close for 10 days from Friday to break the chain of transmission.
Teachers were up till 9pm on Thursday to inform parents of some 500 children in its pre-nursey to kindergarten 2 classes about the temporary closure.

The closures affected childcare centres or kindergartens which have had more than 16 HFMD cases or an attack rate greater than 23 per cent, and a transmission period of more than 24 days.

Source: CNA 15 August 2010

Having more spare time, she create this on her own after learning one from church last week.

"What do you call a bean that moves?"..........Anyone wants to make a guess? Mummy, Noinoi, AZYY and Uncle Darren will not be eligible to participate (You should know the reason...and the answer oredi!)

"Trailing the Blaze" Adventure

We had fun when on the "trailing the blaze" adventure this morning. We managed to catch up with the torch relay after sending mummy to her office. We caught up with the contingent outside Compass Point, we tried to race ahead of them at Sengkang West which we finally did near the church. In the rush, daddy actually left the camera in the car!

We decided to catch them again at the next stop which is at Buangkok. Along the way, we saw many relay runners waiting patiently for their turns to take over the torch baton in the light drizzle. That's the spirit of true sportsmanship! We finally captured some pictures of the fire that travel such a long way to Singapore, it is such a great honor to be able to be in such close contact with the symbolic flame!






We didn't know where is the contingent heading next, but the advance party gave us a good lead, it was heading towards our grandma's house. We decided to charge forward again and we were way ahead even before the advance party. Coincidentally, grandma and our cousin also came down to welcome the contingent. We all stood at the side, clapping and singing to the tune of the YOG official song as the entourage proceeded past in front of our eyes.

During the adventure, Nikki asked Daddy if he needs to go work in the office and will he be late? She mentioned that work is more important than the adventure. That warms Daddy's heart and find it all worthwhile!

Sailor Moon

It has been such exciting two weeks we had since the start of the registration for Nikki's primary school. No matter which parent we meet, the common topic has always been the same...i.e. the primary school registration. Mum and Dad registered number 20 for Nikki at their first choice school but were told that they need to ballot for the remaining vacancies which was still an unknown number.

Finally all the excitement came to a settlement last week when Daddy's friend drew Nikki's ballot number 4 on the balloting day. Nikki got the 10th place out of 12 remaining places. And there goes again rounds of congratulatory messages and phone calls ringing for the next couple of days.

When Dad came back from work to tell Nikki the good news that she will be going to the first choice school, Nikki replied: "I faint!". Puzzled daddy tried to convince her that their uniform is very nice just like the "Sailor Moon",
she replied: "I faint again!"




















Nikki seems to be getting more and more cheekier nowadays, when AZYY brought her friend to our house the other day, she teased her husband's name as "Paul the octopus, "Pour?" gesturing that she's pouring water.

Mummy was out of town last weekend and when the news reported that there was a bomb attack at one of the shopping centre, Noinoi eyes turned red according to Granny and she wanted to call mummy immediately. Thank God that everything was safe and peaceful where mummy is staying. She came back yesterday with her promised rewards for the us....our favorite Princess dresses!

Remember once there was a "Wonder Woman"?

Getting ready!

Nikki received her "Full Pack" for enlistment?? It is the first item in the list of things she needs to get ready for Primary 1.

She collected her first school bag that Ah Ku bought her as the reward for her accomplishment during the rock climbing.

Not too long ago, Daddy also received the eligibility letter for registration. Mummy also mentioned a list of documents that she needs to prepare for the registration day. Counting down to the balloting day, many aunties shared their tips such as not to go in the early morning on the first day so that the balloting slips will not land up at the bottom of the balloting box and etc. (Wise advice!) Noinoi will say "Good, Gooder & Goodest!"

Another message from Nikki & Noinoi

welcome to our home. the youngest girl is noinoi. Her new name is call Ben and the older girl named nikki is called gwen and mummy name become mum and daddy name is dad remember to call us our new names when you call us or come to our sweet home.

A Short Story by Nikki

Reaching for the Peak

It was a tearful beginning but it's definitely all worthwhile! Today's the day that we are back for our the rock climbing adventure. The rock wall is divided at 4 different heights from the lowest "Slope", "Hill", "Mountain" to the highest "Peak".

Nikki was rather hesitant and nervous when she was asked to start first after the warm up exercises. She didn't retreat and even started her first few steps before she finally broke down in tears.

Noinoi then took over confidently while Dad and mum did rounds of prep talks with her before she decided to takes on the wall again.

It was like the last 30 mins dash and Nikki tried 3 rounds with a short break during the intervals. Her first try, she reached beyond the "hill". Second time was better, she did it with Noinoi and both started at the same time. They both touched the "mountain" and they even shake and hold hands while hanging at the "mountain" top. The final round was breathtaking, Nikki took on the wall like an amateur in full speed. Eventually she not just reached the "Peak" and she even went beyond to touch the end of the wall! Bravo! Way to go! Peak conquered!! All thanks to Kor Kor Allen, Ben 10, Zee and Jie jie Andrea.

For all our sweats and tears, Mum and dad rewarded us with a sumptous lunch. Coincidently, the real Ben 10 was there too (Not the Ben 10 Kor Kor from the Rock School).

Noinoi was trilled to meet Ben 10 but she wouldn't want to take a picture with him. You gotta ask her in person if you really wanna know why. For the rest of the day, Noinoi and Nikki gave themselves a new name: Gwen & Ben 10.

The Bold meek and the Generous Giver

Mum attended the Parent's & Teacher's meeting today at our school, as usual, Noinoi got lots from feedbacks from her teachers for being extremely outspoken in class and very witty! She told her teacher in charge that she needs to be at the front of the queue when going home otherwise her granny would reprimand her for coming out late (Huh...that's a lie!). Her mother tongue teacher also commented that she's always one of the first to hand up her worksheet because she's too impatient to write her chinese characters and she would scribble it through (Like Daddy).

Nikki also has her fair share of feedbacks from her teacher, remember the day that she led the class in reciting the Chinese children rhymes during one of the celebration concert? Her teacher said she volunteered herself! That really blew mummy down!

Now let's guess who's the generous giver? and the answer is......Nikki!

Last week, teacher called mummy that Nikki have left behind some books in school and Grandpa have to make an additional trip to the school to pick it up. Teacher told mummy the full story yeserday during the meeting that her classmate had asked her if she could give him the books and she readily agreed! When the boy's parent questioned him on whom does the books belongs to, he threw them at the corner and said he don't know! It was the teacher in charge whom later picked it up and called for mummy to collect them back.

Two Firsts

Zhen Yiyi and Uncle Darren treated us to our first indian meal at the Samy Curry Restaurant at Dempsey road last night. Surprisingly, we got accustom to the unique taste pretty quickly. We love the freshly made papadams and using the special "plate" called banana leaves!

Our second first,we almost tried our hands on our first rock climbing adventure today. We were all geared up but Nikki didnt get to make it to climb the rock wall. It started to drizzle when Noinoi was still trying to conquer the wall. For safety reason, the instructors call off the training immediately. We were told to reschedule the session. What a pity!

Girls are from different worlds?

Noinoi got her first unofficial complaint from her teacher this week!

Daddy sent us to school the other day and met Noinoi's teacher outside the school. She told him that Nikki and Noinoi are worlds of difference from each other. Nikki is so gentle and quite and Noinoi is so out-spoken and witty. Just last week, Noinoi made one of her teacher very angry and upset. The teacher told Noinoi that she wants to tell her parents and asked her who should she tell, Daddy or Mummy? Noinoi replied "Tell lor!". That answer fumed the poor teacher!

Having said that, she was very doing pretty well for her swimming class. After learning freestyle, even though not exactly can swim on her own without float, her coach is starting to teach them backstroke.

As for Nikki, she hasn't fully recovered from her cough. As a matter of fact, after three weeks of antibiotics from the ENT specialist, she's showing no signs of improvement but instead her cough is getting worse than before.

Next day, Daddy decided to bring her back to Uncle Terence's clinic to seek his advice for a second opinion. Uncle Terence said usual cough caused by bacteria or virus will not last more than a month especially with the suppression from the antibiotics. He seems very confident that it could be caused by allergies of the airways.

Praise the Lord, she seems to get better slightly today. Daddy told her that she must give thanks to God for the healing because Daddy prayed for her and Noinoi every morning. Nikki was very sweet to thank Daddy for his prayers!

No more boss, No more work

Nikki was reading the newspaper about the demise of The Salvation Army's Territorial Commander when she suddenly exclaimed "Daddy, your boss die? just then Noinoi added "Daddy, so you dun need to work anymore? Daddy quickly explained that the one who died is his big big boss and his boss is still around, so he still needs to work. Well, that disappointed us.

After dinner, we went to the airport to send the wife of Daddy's big boss off as she accompanies his remains back to their hometown in United Kingdom. Both Nikki and Noinoi was puzzled when they see only his wife and the send off party at the airport. Nikki asked if they have sent his body to the post box and the postman will send his body back to England?

Noinoi was no better, she kept asking why she never see the big boss? She said her friend's grandma also had heart attack and died. Her friend and her parents has to go back to India for a month and have not come back yet.

Chapter Books

Noinoi is catching up with Nikki on her reading, she just started her first chapter book titled "Tallulah, the Tuesday Fairy". Seeing that her sister is catching up, Nikki is also spurred to start another new chapter book.

Speaking of Nikki, Daddy brought her for her reviews last week. Her eyes sight has improved and Dr Lam gave her an open appointment till next year. But not at Dr Chan's clinic, her cough is not totally cleared yet. Dr Chan has requested for another week dosages of antibiotics for her. Pray that it will be cleared before the next review.

When taking the lift from the carpark to Dr Chan's clinic, Nikki exclaimed: "Daddy! You are so smart!" Daddy was puzzled until she explains further...."You know how to find the lift, mummy took us on the escalator so many rounds the other day!"

Daddy didnt stay very long on her good books though. She crossed him out totally that very evening when they were practicing piano together. She practiced each song diligently five times as Daddy requested. Until the fifth time, Daddy suddenly realised that she forgot to play one note at the sharp key. He pleaded for her to play another time but she simply refused and got so angry, insisting that Daddy broke his promise! Daddy eventually managed to pacify her with a treat!

Adenoidectomy

Daddy just got home from the hospital after Nikki's "Adenoidectomy" surgery. Both he and mummy understand not a single medical term that Doctor Chan mentioned. If anyone's interested to find out, check out this website link: http://www.pediatric-ent.com/learning/problems/adenoid.htm

All they know was Nikki's middle ears are swollen and one side even have some pus in it. That explains why Nikki have been turning a deaf ear on Daddy's lectures! She also not lending a ear for mummy's screamings!

Once again, Daddy is full of praise to the Lord for blessing us with such a passionate and caring pediatrician Uncle Terence Tan. He was the God sent "Guardian Angel" whom Daddy met at the A&E in the wee hours of 3am when he and mummy sent Nikki to the hospital emergency 5 years ago.

Nikki have been coughing for the past few weeks. All the GP's medication including Yehyeh's medicine failed to work on her this time. Out of desperation, Dad brought her to Uncle Terence's clinic on Monday. As always Uncle Terence asked Daddy to give him an update on her progress few days later which he did yesterday. On hearing the Nikki's fever is still recurring every morning, Uncle Terence requested Daddy to bring her back to the clinic for review the very afternoon. But Daddy couldn't afford the time as he was out on assignment.

Finally, when mummy brought Nikki back to the clinic this morning, Uncle Terence advised and referred her to the ENT specialist, Dr Chan whom confirmed that she's having Otitis Media, infection of the middle ear on both sides. He suggested to admit Nikki for a day surgery to drain out the water retention and do a "wash out" of the pus before the swelling rupture itself and may hurt her ear drum.

Nonetheless, just before the surgical procedure, Dr Chan came out of the Operating Theatre to seek Daddy's and Mummy's consent to remove the Adenoid for the entire passage from her ears to the nose are more badly infected than initially expected when examined at the clinic.

Despite all the dramatic turns of situation, Daddy still have the Almighty Lord to thank for taking control of the situation and praise Him for His guidance, providence and protection. Hallelujah!

So much about Nikki, we didnt forget Noinoi also. She's sleeping over at her cousin, Ray's house tonight. Last week, in her baby's accent and laughters, she told Daddy and Mummy that one day, after drinking so much in school, she burped so loud that all her friends laughed at her! She's certainly enjoying all their attention for that!

Chao Tar (Burnt) Food & Cancer

Mummy's new stock of books arrived last week. One of the chinese book titled "Wishing you Happy Birthday" is about how a boy's encounter with a cancer stricken girl. When mummy was reading the page on how the girl describe how all the injections and treatment made her lose all her beautiful hair.......& etc.

Just then.....Nikki exclaimed that she knows that "Ai Zheng" in English is cancer. She further added that Gong gong told her not to eat too much burnt food for it causes cancer. At that very moment, she paused instantly and stared into mummy's eyes and asked innocently, "Mummy, will I get cancer if I've ate just a little bit of "chao tar" food?"

Her question reminded Daddy of the MTV "Nothing Scared" sung by Russell Watson. We ought to give thanks and glory to God for giving us, our healthy body and gives Him all the honor by taking good care of our body, His temple! May the Lord's healing power flow and work miracles now in every bodies of His little suffering angels regardless where they are now be it in the hospital or at home, on the streets or even in the slumps. Have mercy and heal them or even to take them back, if it's Your will. Lord, let no child suffers such torment and we pray this in Jesus most precious name, Amen!

Lesson from the NE MRT Line

Daddy couldn't fetch us for swimming class last week so mummy brought us on the LRT. Nikki was reluctant at first citing that it will be a long walk from the LRT station to the swimming complex. Nevertheless, it was quite an enjoyable ride afterall.

On the train, Noinoi gave us an interesting lesson on one of the instructional sign pasted in the cabin. She said: "Pregnant woman must stand! Mummy carrying little children also must stand. Only the elderly and physically disabled people can sit on the train!"

Huh...... Daddy wonders why are those young and able people rushing into the cabin to sit when pregnant woman and mummy carrying children even have to stand in the train! "SBS Transit Cares?"

The KLKK Lion's Walk

Nikki was selected by her teacher to perform the Lion's dance in school. She was extremely excited about it. She tried so hard to sleep extremely early last night and woke up earlier than ever this morning, all ready to put up a good performance.


She put up such a wonderful performance that daddy believed that no one in Singapore had ever done it before.....Daddy named her performance "The KLKK Lion's walk". A very relaxing monster got nothing to do but walk left walk right...yes literally walking. Sigh...Daddy tried so many times but just cant get the video uploaded still.



Having said that, Nikki have another recent fun question, whenever she's with daddy or mummy, she loves to ask: "Am I in the right family?". Not sure she's been reading too much, but she thought it's very funny!

Lion Dance & Fireworks

Today is the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, we had reunion dinner again, this time with Ta Gugu's family and Shushu. We had our dinner at the SKW Lunar New Year Dinner event held at AVCC.

This year the event highlights are the lion dance performance and fireworks. Nikki and Noinoi were not really prepared for that.

Nikki never expected the fireworks will have such deafening loud bangs when watching it live. Perhaps because, we have been watching the soft sounded NDP firework display from a distance from our house window for the past few years.

Though Noinoi beening telling us that she has been practicing her Lion dance in her school, she even complained because we dun have the lion dance puppet at home, that she could not do her practice. But she too never expected the real Lion dance is so noisy and fierce looking!

Pleasant surprise!

Nikki gave daddy and mummy some pleasant surprises when they came back from work this evening. First, she left a note saying: "I don't no (know) want (what) page is Yamaha homework page." Guessed where she left the note for them? in their room's toilet!

On their writing table, she left another note that says: " Welcome....and....kids.....??? ????" Japanese characters? Ah Zhen Yiyi can you help to translate that?

Happy Birthday & Chinese New Year

Nikki is smiling from cheek to cheek today, Daddy even caught her smiling to herself more than once in the car and on the bed. She is happy that all her birthday wishes has been granted. Daddy and mummy gave her long awaited remote control car and Papa and Mama also gave her the remote control helicopter.

Today is also CNY eve, mummy bought us a very cute printed bedsheet, it is printed with two girls, one with 2 long plaited hair sitting on the tree branch that looks like Nikki and the other shoulder lenght hair sitting on the swing looks like Noinoi. In the afternoon, Daddy also helped to put up the CNY decorations made by Nikki & Noinoi at home.

During our reunion dinners, mummy bought a Winx Club birthday cake for Nikki at porpor house. At our Granny house, our pretty Gugu bought her a Swensen strawberry ice-cream cake and 4 slices of Starbucks chocolate cake. Even Zhen Yiyi and Uncle Darren also rushed over to our Granny house to join in the birthday celebration. Nikki is so blessed to have so many beloved Uncles and Aunties. Before she sleeps, Daddy reminded her that she must be thankful for all her blessings.

The Big Day

Yesterday was Uncle Darren and Ah Zhen Yiyi's big day, Noinoi & Mummy attended the Solemnization Ceremony in the morning. Daddy and Nikki could not be there as Daddy has an prior community event to attend and Nikki needs to attend Chinese class.

In the late afternoon, we went separate ways with Mummy, as she has gone to mama's house for their make up and hair styling session. We headed straight for the final wedding rehearsal after fetching Adam.

Upon reaching the club, mummy and the rest happened to reach there about the same time. Nikki simply couldn't accept Mummy's new look and kept asking her not to "paint" her face and eyes again. She still prefers Mummy's usual look. She even told Hazline jiejie that she doesn't want to put on cosmetics when she grow up. (But......)

After reaching Ah Zhen Yiyi's bridal suite, the makeup artists were busying helping Yiyi to style her hair. Mummy asked if they could help to style for Nikki and Noinoi also. They are so friendly and helpful that they readily agreed.....

(Little did we know.......that they are the renowned celebrity makeup artists for many international celebrities......) Mummy only realised today after seeing their photos on D.Gan's blog)

They even offer to tap some light makeup for Nikki (Thought she just told Hazline jiejie that she will NEVER wear makeup? Traits of a woman....fickle minded....sigh - Oops that was Daddy! Hazline Jiejie secretly laughing at the side also) Poor Noinoi was so shy that she refused to let the renowned artist to put on anything on her face except her hair.

Mummy regretted for not having us to take a photo with them as we were rushing down for the rehearsal then. Nevertheless....Thank you! Makeup Korkors, of course not forgetting our beloved Ah Zhen Yiyi and Uncle Darren for the wonderful party!