Jelly-Making Day with Jamie!

It's a rare mid week public holidays and we wanted to do something "special" together!

Hmmm.. I know she wants to make pancake or do pancakes together. However, we do not have an conventional oven nor any pancake ingredients.

Dug through the kitchen cabinets and found a packet of jelly powder.

Jamie was really excited and kept saying "Mummy, this is my first time making jelly together with you!"

She smiled happily as she assisted in the making..

Step 1: Pour in the Powder

Step 2: Pour in 1000-1250ml of water slowly and stir the mixture until powder is dissolved

Haha.. After this step Jamie ran off to "rest" and I completed the rest of the steps. 

Step 3: Boil the mixture at high flame until boil. Then boil for another 3min in low flame. Off the stove.

Step 4: Add in Malic Acid and stir evenly. 

Step 5: Pour the warm mixture into smaller containers. 

Step 6: Cool down mixture and put in fridge. Ready to eat in 3hrs time!

Happy Jamie and her Jelly!!! 

Jamie 5th Party - Countdown

Recently, I really don't feel like blogging. Somehow I feel what's the point of voicing out when no one really bothers to listen. I was really hurt and down...

But nevermind, the bad times are over!

The good time is here! 明天会更好！I believe I will gradually recover and to trust people again ^^

And now is the celebration seasons! It's just few weeks more to my princess, Jamie's birthday! 

My parties used to be planned at least two months ahead. But I am late AGAIN this year! But guess I am so used to doing things within tight schedules these days that I am not feeling as stressed. 

Like what Jamie always sings:

"Let it go.. Let it go..."

We have to let certain insignificant stuff go when planning important events. What's really important when planning events is to ensure your objective(s) are met. For birthday parties, the key objective is that the birthday girl/boy must be HAPPY! 

I used to be worried whether my adult guests would be happy or comfy too. Well, I slowly realized that anything/everything that makes children happy, sometimes simply inconvenient and or even upset adults. 

But I still believe there is a way to compromise somehow. One way is to be sincere and tell my friends (without kids or with too young kids) about my challenges and 1) hope they understand 2) excuse them for eventually deciding not to attend the party. 

Like one friend always says, those who want to come will come, no matter how inconvenient the venue/arrangement is. Those who don't want to come, won't come no matter how much compromises you make to please them... So true...

This year, we decided to try a different party concept. Over the last five years, we tried chalet twice, once at my bro's condo function room and once at my Punggol place. All were located in indoor pre-booked areas. It was easier to book catering and plan the programme. 

However, this year we will be having a 'free and easy' birthday celebration at Port of the Lost Wonder, Sentosa (POLW).

We were struggling with the option whether to book the party package (inclusive of a party tentage, simple deco, simple invitation cards and entry & food for 15 kids) OR to depend on our luck and walk-in to get space at the restaurant to do cake cutting and simple dinner/teabreak reception. 

We even did our reccee at the POLW before we confirm our decision. The only available party tentage (Party Cove) was not very impressive and we saw many adult guests left standing, though the party coordinator tried to provide more seats. But I think the party tentage was far to small to accommodate seats for 15 children and 15 pairs of parents. We saw a very bad review on this party tentage but we also saw it for ourselves too on last Saturday.

There is another party tentage which was big and able to take 20-30 kids and the adults too. But 1) it was booked for another birthday party on 9 Nov already, 2) it was quite far from the action (water play area.

Party Cove 

Celebration Island 

We compared it to the Port Belly restaurant which has a open but sheltered seating and an indoor air-con seating. The staff were not very friendly nor helpful and said we cannot make reservation in advance to use the place as there is only one restaurant in the whole of POLW. We were not upset because the party coordinator had told me the same piece of information prior to my reccee. But we thought they were really inflexible because we are willing to pay a deposit to make reservation. Well, rules are rules I guess? 

Picnic Area

We saw some picnic spots too where my guests can just sit around. But we are concerned of the insects and wet weather...

Too much uncertainty so dropped the idea of picnic...

Port Belly

Likely we will just have to walk-in earlier to chop the place for cake cutting and refreshments before or after the water play. Well, I haven't really sort this part out... From my experience on Saturday, not only the kids were shagged but we were shagged after two hours of water play! And seriously the weather was not even hot! 

So I am considering whether to do the cake cutting and tea reception before the water play starts, so 1) everyone looks good and fresh on the photos, 2) those who needs to leave earlier can leave earlier...since it will be a party on a Sunday afternoon. 

Sounds good eh? 

Hahaha.. Let this idea stays in my mind till the end of the weekend and see if I come up with better idea! 

See how happy my J&J were last Saturday!!! Hope they are even happier on 9 Nov!!! 

Happy Children!

Oh Yes! I must really compliment the ticketing staff!! They were so patient in explaining how advanced ticket booking works and even gave Mickey an adult's wristband! See how happy Jamie is! Finally someone else understand how she treats Mickey as a 'friend', not a toy! 

Happy Parents!!!

Yummy Food from Port Belly

Stay Tune for a Birthday Party Review after 9 Nov 2014

Birthday cake and Party theme 

Oh yes! How can we have a birthday party without a theme and birthday cake. 

Jamie had wanted a mermaid party but since there will be a significant number of boys at the party, I think these little boys will definitely be turned off with this theme. So I explained and convinced Jamie we should not choose an exclusive theme. Jamie was happy to have the Mermaid and Pirates theme instead.

We chose the cake and placed our order already too! This year the options are few but I was so happy Jamie found exactly wanted she wanted - Mermaid theme.

No, I am really excited to share the photo of the sample design of the cake but No, we will wait till her birthday then I take photos of the actual cake. Hehe...

Meantime will crack my head on the logistics and details 

Planes 2: You never know what's out there for you...

It's been a while since I last watched The Planes 2 but I still feel like sharing about this meaningful movie.

I always feel that the script writer of Cars and Planes had never meant the movies to be for children. The morals behind these two movies series are too chim for children to digest or cheer about, 

Even as an adult, it took me a while to digest the show. Honestly, it was not among the top list of my must watch movies initially. But I didn't regret watching it and I highly recommend everyone who is experiencing unhappiness at work or at a career crossroad to watch the movie. 

I was feeling unhappy over my previous job when I watched this movie. I was also feeling nervous about the job change too. I didn't know if I was too old to change a job and if I was just fighting a lost battle. 

After watching the movie, I felt inspired and assured that a change maybe after all the 'correct' step/route to take. And no one is ever too old for a new change or to take up a new responsibility. Dusty, the crop duster, worked so hard to be finally a world winner but he decided to give up his dream career to be a fire-fighter plane in order to save his town.  This shows that 牺牲小我完成大我 can turn out not only heroic but also a better career than you thought it is. 

The movie also tells that everyone has a past but we have to learn to let go of the baggage so that we can soar high and 'free'. This is easily said than done though. But if we don't try, we will never get a step closer to our destination. The leader of the fire-fighter planes was once a tv star until mishap happened to his co-star. But he learnt to let go and try out something new as an alternative career. It turns out he has ascended from a fake tv hero to a real fire-fighting hero.

The movie tells of the danger of forest fire and the 'excitement' of the uncertainty that lies ahead. Though we never know how bad the situation would be but as long as we take precautions, remain alert and work as a team, things will work out just find. Being in a new job for Dusty he felt left out and he sometimes tells himself that he had to do this job because he has no choice but eventually he became good friends with the other fire fighters and believes he can be one of them too. 

Being humble and selfless will bring people to you. Selfish people only think for themselves hence in time of danger, people fled from the selfish people. However, Dusty knew he was injured and he was unable to fly very high, but he did not tell his team mates about it and still push himself to the max limit. We thought he would die since his engine is out of production already. However, turned out there is a hidden gem among the fire fighter who could custom-made a new engine box for Dusty. When you give your all to others, others will give their all to you too. 

AND, we must always look out for the 卧虎藏龙 in the office.. People may stay low and humble but these gems have lots more to teach the newbies than the loud and proud ones. We don't need people to praise themselves so as to be taken noticed of; we can open our ears to hear who are the ones that others are singing praises of, to know who are the real gems. 

When Others fly out, Heros fly in.., 

Being in the social sector is never easy. As the world becomes more critical, complacent and demanding, sometimes we may get a bit discouraged. Sometimes we may wonder if it makes any sense at all. 

But this movie kicks me a bit and makes me understand that: 

Yes... Because we are the Heros, so we will definitely continue to plunge in and do our best for the society ^^ 

Zooooommmm........

尽力而活

启发来自韩剧《49天》。

它的开始就在家公病终的期间，它的结局也刚好碰上了家公的49天。

这部《49天》的剧很凄美、很无私、很有启发。就如《来自星星的你》的结局一样。它并不美满，但却很有启发。

两部剧都教导我们珍惜眼前的一切，因为岁月不会为谁而停留，而生命也并非我们所能掌握。《来》里的都敏俊明明就是可以很完美的一个全能外星人，但是他却无法和爱着的地球人亲热；他也没法决定自己的生死、去留。《49天》里的申智贤明明熬过了49天的考验得到了三滴真心的眼泪，但是6天后她还是会突然暴毙而终。

你可能会想如果明知还是难逃一死又何必给活着的人那一丝希望呢？好不容易得到了，又突然失去了，那不是一件很残忍的事吗？

可是，生命不就是件让人不解，又很残忍的事。

不过，生命也可以是可笑的一场戏。

就因为这49天，她在暴毙前机缘巧合下帮她的父母找回失散的姐姐，更有了6天的机会和父母道别，也可以和真心喜欢她的人表白心意。。。

不是每个人都可以有机会和亲人道别，或和真心喜欢你的人在一起。

中秋节应该是家公很喜欢的一个节日。我记得他总是会在中秋节时买猪笼饼给孩子们，又会大包小包的尽管行动不方便还是会从店里提着柚子回家给大家吃。我们卖月饼回家时，他也会吃得很开心。今年，他错过了他喜欢的这个节日，也没法买猪笼饼给孩子们了。昨天我经过了蛋糕店看见了猪笼饼，我决定帮他延续这个买猪笼饼的传统。

这几个星期都听到一些关于朋友生病的消息。老实说，我很生气。生气为什么我的朋友那么善良、那么好的人会经历那些病痛。她们更是起居饮食都比我健康的呀！

昨天我更有感而发，哭得稀里哗啦地问老公我会不会突然死掉？他竟然说人都难免一死，重要的是有没有在有生之年尽全力而活，或有没有昧著良心愧对自己而活。他说他为自己下的目标并不是非达到不可；达不到也无所谓，重要的是享受奋斗过程中的乐趣。他说如果人生没有目标让人奋斗，那么就太无趣了。每个人都可以有不同的目标，即使是做好一个妈妈也是个不容易达到的目标。因为毕竟在每个人的心里对“好妈妈”的定义都不一，所以只要你认为自己做到你想为孩子做的就是个好妈妈了。不需要用别人的尺来衡量自己的价值与成功。

我很庆幸我的朋友都熬过了。我希望我身边的亲人朋友可以都能到上天的保佑，健健康康地继续活下去。好人不就应该活得比不好的人更久一点吗？但是活久久的当儿，记得一定也要尽力而活。

所以我们一定要惜福，也同时继续 Go Go Fighting!!! 

35天 . 想念

35天了。

我们失去他已35天了。

虽然大家每天努力地活着，努力地珍惜眼前的亲人，甚至若无其事地谈笑风生。

但是我们都知道我们的心还是痛的；我们都在努力不让彼此知道我们静下来的时候都会不禁偷偷哭泣。

大家都很想念您。

但是请不要牵挂，也不要担心我们。

我们会努力地活着，努力担起这个家，努力地照顾家里的每一个成员。我们会代您为她们做嫁衣、办喜事。我们会抽出更多的时间陪她、带她出去走走与旅行、照料她的一切。

孙子们也都想念着您。

弟弟不会说话，但是您有看见他向您挥手说再见对吧？弟弟现在上学后有变乖哦！老师和校长也都认为弟弟进步很多，弟弟不再是那个好动不听话的弟弟了！

姐姐换了新学校，上课第一天就认识了许多新朋友。她很懂事，很体贴。她知道爷爷不在了，她就像管家婆一样关心奶奶每天几点回家，有没有吃饭。她也常常和我们说她梦见了您。您一定很想念她对吧？她也很想您。

您现在就在西方的极乐世界廖望我们，保佑我们对吧？您就再也不会有什么病痛，您也就可以得到真正的快乐对吧？

虽然无法停止对您的想念，我们却也会因为您得到快乐而快乐。。。