Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to visitors of my blog.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Eager beaver
















After commuting between KL and PJ for about 7 months just to send Wyng for his Robotics class, our travelling woes were over when Cr8 has finally opened a franchise outlet in Cheras.  We couldn't say no to an eager beaver like Wyng.  

He will always asks to attend the class on a weekly basis. As the fee is based on attendance, we have the flexibility to come when convenient. Hence, most of the time Wyng attends it on fortnightly basis.  No doubt he asks to attend it on Saturdays and Sundays, ie twice a week, but his wishes never come through!

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Mom is a parasite

It happened last month on the second when Hoe's aunty ie my sister dropped by our house.  My sister's daughter ie my niece works in Singapore and occasionally her mom drops by my house and chats with her on my smart phone.

My niece suggested using Hoe's iPod to chat on Facetime as the reception was clearer.  Despite Hoe's objection, I borrowed his iPod.  After chatting for more than one hour, Hoe asked us to hang up as our chatting had caused the wifi connection to be lagging and disrupting his online games.

Of course, we did not bother much and continued chatting. On and off, he came over to us and urged us to end our call which we of course ignored as we were too engrossed in catching up with each other.

At last after two unsuccessful verbal attempts to stop us, he walked over to my sister and 'snatched' his iPod from her hand. He blurted these at the same time, "You took advantage of me. You used my iPod and talked for so long. You are like a parasite."

Lesson to Mom: When the kid is in a computer game, he will do whatever it takes to get undisrupted access to it.  They will not hesitate to tell anyone, be they his parents or siblings, off just so as he can enjoy his games.  Let's put it this way,  kids are 'blind and deaf' to their real surroundings when it comes to being in a game. So, it's best that Mom stay away from them if she doesn't want to get 'hurt' by them. 

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

I convinced him not to quit - Part 1

I remember drafting this post from my gmail account and sent it to my blogger account on 11 April this year. And, I was glad I documented my conversation with Hoe. After some editing, I am publishing it now, more than 6 months after it happened.

Another bombshell...he broke the news to me. Still in his school pants, half-naked after coming back from school, he was sitting at the staircase trying to catch a moment with me while I was rushing through my dinner before my tuition class with my students.

"Can you do me a favour?"
This question didn't sound good at all.  At that moment, I knew something must have gone really wrong. 

"Can you write a letter to school saying I want to quit IGCSE?"

"Why!"

"I cannot cope. I don't want to waste your money."

"Paying for education is not a waste of money. And, you don't decide that it's wasting our money. What happened?"

"I just don't want to waste your money."

"What happened? What's wrong!"
It was not a tone of concern. Rather it was an impatient tone, searching the truth.

"I can't cope. There's a lot of homework. This teacher gives a lot of homework."

"Why can't you cope when you hardly do your homework? It's not that you stay up until 11pm or midnight to do your homework. What nonsense is this?"

"She asks us to do a lot of work and I can't cope. She walks in and say things like, I don't know what to give you all. Do this..."

"It's not that you can't cope. You are just plain lazy and you are finding excuse to avoid extra work. So, you 
choose to quit."
"IGCSE is a very important subject. You qualify to take it and not many people can enjoy this privilege.
English is your strong subject and now you want to quit."  
"What else are you left with?  You should quit English Lit or other non-core subjects, not IGCSE. People pay a lot to sit for this exam and you want to quit?"
"I will not let you quit." I was very firm.

"If I have to go and see your teacher and Mr Wong to make sure you attend your class, I will do it."
"What about the first class you joined? The teacher kicked you out of this class. Will she accept you back
into her class?"

"I don't know. If can, I want to go back to Puan N."

"She gives you all less homework?"

"Yes."

"You go and see her. Talk to her nicely and politely whether she can accept you back into her class. Never badmouth your teacher in front of Puan N. Just say you want to go back to her because you can't cope with Puan R. If she refuses, then I will go and see her."

"You have to change your attitude. Youngsters change when they are 16.  You don't seem to change for the 
better. "They mature and know what they want as they reach Form 4. But, you are still the same. You always avoid work."

"Don't regret in future."

It was the usual squabble with him. Each such session with him is never easy. I have to relentlessly emphasize
a point. Repeating my message, again and again. It ended with somehow, an expected silence from him. I will take that as an agreement from him to either talk to Puan N or continue on with his usual class.

When things cooled down, I went to him room and speak to him in a comforting tone. 

"Hard work always pays off." 

Whether he listens and decides to turn over a new leaf is yet to be seen. I was greeted with silence, which can be interpreted as something positive. He was at his desk, taking out a few exercise books, as though ready to complete his backlog (I suppose it's backlog as he never does his work).

All I know is I will continue to be by his side to 'remind' him relentlessly.  

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Kid's myopia

On 21 April this year, when he got his new pair of glasses due to his broken old pair, his power was

250-150-10 for his right eye and
300-150-10 for his left eye. 

Previously, approximately about 6 months ago, his power was

200-150-10 for his right eye and
250-150-10 for his left eye

No increase in astigmatism but slight increase of 50 in myopia which was considered good for a kid like him, according to the 'optician' at the shop.

Irrepairable.....the string holding the lens was broken 



Sunday, July 21, 2013

Aurora as companion

I have not seen such beautiful and colorful sky on a normal day.  I have learnt to appreciate clear blue sky. This scene mesmerised us.

We were having seafood dinner at Kuala Selangor.  We didn't really plan to dine here. This impromptu decision took us to the riverside for a simple dinner.

It was a blessing in disguise actually. The first restaurant we stepped into was full. Adjoining to this is another restaurant where we found a corner table just beside the river. It was unfortunate that nature is not spared by culprits who do not appreciate clear and clean river. The river was sadly polluted.  It looked dull and lifeless with barely any active marine life.

I was about to take my first spoon of rice when a pinkish background behind Daddy caught my attention. My hand phone was what I reached for to capture that rare sight (at least to me) before it faded.

"It's aurora," Wyng told me assuringly. "It's a mixture of red, pink, blue and turquoise," he added.
I feel blessed enough to be having this meal with my family, with the vast colourful sky and river (though murky) as companion.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Indulgence

It's not sushi, it's not white chocolate or any pricey food. It takes just two pieces of nyonya kueh to satisfy my munching urge.

Savouring these in front of our 32" (yes, only 32" for the time being, the movie still is the same) TV felt like heaven.  So easy and cheap to keep this Mom contented.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Cleaning woes are gone

Phew! My saviour has finally emerged. A short and plump lady but with seemingly strong hands from Indonesia.

With her around, my stress has been greatly reduced. Looking at the toilet, cooker hood which by now is coated with a stubborn layer of grease and the unironed clothes does not give me headache anymore.

Our house is sparkling clean and spotless at most corners which used to be covered with dust.  Gone were the browned corners of toilet tiles, the brown rings in the toilet bowls, greasy cooker hood and stained basins, dusty shelves, windows and grills.  No more complaints except that to fork out some money to enjoy a stress-free life.  The money is worth the stressless moments considering that I only see her twice a week, the most.  It's not the same having a stranger at home.


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

I'm a meatarian

A meatarian!

If a vegetarian eats only vegetables, then you should be able to guess what is a meatarian.

Such is a concoction created by Wyng one morning on the way to school while I was commenting
that he eats only meat and not even a single tiny piece of fibre in his body.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

I am glad he can make it home

Not 16 yet, he's going out with his friends to watch a concert at klcc.

Forgetting to give him a curfew time, I took no chance to text him to remind him to be back early. I have to insist that he come back before 12am or he would have to face the music, which I warned him could be disastrous.

He didn't reply me immediately. When he finally did, it was 11+ and he was already in the train. I heaved a sigh of relief.  At least, he could make it back on time.  I don't mind the 'work' to get him to comply, at least this time, it's not so strenous,  mentally for me.  He got back almost on the dot.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

I can finally keep his iPod

He finally surrendered his iPod to me.  Breaking his first promise late last year of letting me keep his iPod during the weekdays, this time he had no more excuses.  He was made to agree that his iPod will not be his close companion during the weekdays if he fails to achieve reasonably good result in his first term tests.

As expected, he wasn't able to perform (again, academically) up to expectation.  After a few stern reminders, he had to surrender his gadget to me for safekeeping.  He even bargained that he would be giving it to me on Monday morning when I asked for it on Sunday night.  What difference does it make? Huge difference for him, I suppose.

I hope he will keep his promise and would not 'steal' the gadget from me.  It's now in a secret hiding place, a safe one, I hope.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Kodu Workshop


It was a very productive holiday for Wyng.  He was able to attend Robotic's Kodu Workshop, one which will be able to help him program his own game, as a beginner.  The workshop was for a good 3 and a half hours.  Whilst he was at the workshop, Mom took the opportunity to spend some time with Hoe.  

We bought tickets to watch a movie, Oz And The Great Powerful.  As the movie started only from 12.30pm  (two plus hours long) and the workshop ended at 1.30pm, I had to exit the cinema to take Wyng to continue with the movie.  Of course, Wyng was pleasantly surprised as he was whisked from one of his favourite activities to another of his favourite activities.

Monday, March 11, 2013

What a good shot!



Looks can be deceiving! Don't believe with some of the looks you see here.

I love this photo so much. Of course, we were in for a pleasant surprise when we saw this photo displayed at the exit of the theme park.  Without hesitating at all, Daddy decided to purchase it.

Legoland is a good place for the family.  Well, we have yet to explore the entire park.  Legoland, you'll see us again.


Friday, March 8, 2013

Now you see it, now you don't


Be patient when you watch this video to get the best out of it.

What a way to survive? Observe how the fish 'spat' to drop the anchovy to the water and ate it.  We were at Kukup, Johore.  This is an eye-opener for all of us.

How amazing can creatures be when it comes to survival?

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Water woes change our life

I've been poorer than now but I have never, ever needed to wash my dishes outside my house, at the car porch. Can you believe this? Squatting down at the car porch to wash dishes.

This was just one of the inconveniences we experience during this water crisis which affects Ampang and Cheras residents, to the hundreds of thousands.  I consider myself lucky as we still have water supply at the main pipe but not in the house as the water pressure is too low to be pumped into the water taps.

My sympathy goes to those people who are plagued with dry taps and have to endure days of 'filth', discomfort and inconveniences.

We were told that the water shortage will last til Chinese New Year.  So, when is the authorities and government doing something to ease the 'rakyat's' sufferings?

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Celebrating New Year with Grandma

Mom with the guys
This year, we counted down at a restaurant a stone's throw away from our home. All of a sudden, that place was abuzz with tables of people waiting to count down to a new year.

We were no different, we just wanted to join in the crowd. My mom, as enthusiastic as the kids, joined in too.  When it was 10 seconds before the clock struck 12, she even walked closer to the spot to catch a closer look at the fireworks.

As for me, as usual, always preferring to be at my familiar and comfortable spot, waited at the table for Daddy, the kids and Mom to come back to the table after the fireworks.

Followers