I bought a new Yamaha U1 Piano

I make my decision to buy a Yamaha U1 piano after looking for a piano for two years. Initially, I wanted to look for a second hand, however, after visiting 2nd hand shop, I realised second hand piano is not cheap at all. For such a different of price 2k-3k, I would prefer to buy a new one. The second hand dealer claim that their pianos are imported from Japan, nicer sound, blah and blah. In fact, all the pianos are above 10 years old.

Some close-up of the piano.

The free gifts from the shop are 3/4 cover cloth, cloth and solution for cleaning the keys, metronome.

Because I am the first 100 buyers from yamaha sale, I got the free yamaha desk top audio system. I am wondering whether this sound system is useful. It serves as docking station to ipod and iphone.

Derick: First Time Joining Camp At Church

Today is first school holiday. This year may be the most busiest school holiday for Derick. He is joining church camp. It is an in-door camp which means he is staying overnite at the church.

He requested to join the camp this year. In contrary, he refused to join last year with the reason that he was too young and only want to join the camp when Mommy could accompany him.

He even took the public bus to the church himself this morning. Sam waited with him at the bus stop until the bus arrived. He hopped in the bus himself and waved at Sam. The church is about 4 bus stop from our home. About 30 minutes later, I send sms to the teacher to check whether he has reached. The teacher informed me that Derick is with them now.

Tomorrow, we will be visiting Der and watching him to perform a small performance to us. Perhaps, he will sing with his classmates on the stage. On Wednesday, Der told me that he would go back on his own. I reminded him to keep his student card properly, drink water, cover himself while sleeping, inform teacher if he feels unwell. Der also informed me that he doesn't need to bring a blanket as he could easily zip himself in the sleeping bag. All the camper sleeps on the sleeping bag. Every one has to bring his/her sleeping bag. In such a coincidence, Derick got a free sleeping bag from school during Children Day.

My baby has grown up. I really hope that by joining this camp he would learn to be more independent, neat, and discipline to himself.

Bye-bye my maid

I will be sending my Pinoy maid home today. She has finished her contract and I decided not to renew her. Initially, she made initiative herself to express her willingness to renew. However, after a few months I informed her that I will renew her, her attitude has changed. She became so inpatient with Joshua. Once, when Joshua refused to drink milk and pushed away his hand, he spilled some milk on the floor. She became so mad and bang the kids' room door twice and went outside home by closing my grill door hard. Subsequently, she hide herself and day dreaming near the rubbish chute. As a result, I scolded her upside and down and decided not to renew her. I could not tolerate with such attitude for another two year.

She is my first Pinoy maid and could be the last as well. I compared her to my previous Indo maids, she is not as capable as them. I trained her to do housework and cooking so hard, to-date, she is still not able to match my expectation. I didn't comment much anymore about how her work is, I only can lower my expectation and accept all her shortcomings. She is very good attitude and kind in the first year. That is the reason I keep her until two years.

I am getting tired with maid. Every time I get a new maid, I have to train again. I always tell myself that I only need to endure for another 3 years. By the time, Joshua goes to Primary school, I may not need a maid anymore.

I hope that the new maid would be better in terms of maturity, emotional, and capability.

Kebaya and Batik Ladies

Our church has Indonesian Ladies Fellowship every week. This fellowship is opened to Indonesian domestic helper living in Singapore.
Last Sunday was Mission Sunday. We sing together with the domestic helpers on the stage to support them mentally.

Somebody from our church has uploaded the video in youtube. Can you spot where am I?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5-2uuZJk3A&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Updates on my Two Darlings

It has been quite a while I never update my blog. I have been too busy with my work lately.

I took two child care leave today and yesterday. I taught Joshua some of the alphabets, tracing the letters, matching blocks. He has been hearing me slowly. He has been starting to show that he is willing to learn. This is a good sign. When I showed him the letter 'U', he turned the letter another way and become 'N'. I am so surprised of him.

Joshua will be going to nursery next year. I even has called the teacher in-charge to arrange Joshua in the same class as in Sunday school. I hope this arrangement will make Joshua feel secured and adapt easily with the teacher and friends.

Derick is such a lazy and messy boy. I threw away all the rubbish in his school bag and guide him how to arrange his books properly. I know I guide for nothing. He will repeat his messiness again. He never learn for his exam. His score this term is the best. He didn't score full mark though. He always lost 1-2 marks.

Shopping for slim and fit :)

What did I buy from Sportslink this afternoon?

I want to exercise while watching tv using the hula hoop and dumbells. Just in case if you are interested, price for hula hoop and dumbells are $49.76 and $16.05. Price is before 10% discount during Great Singapore Sale ("GSS").

Since I moved to new company

Since I moved to this company, I hardly have time to blog. If I got time, I don't know what to write. I am not able to pen my ideas and thoughts. I feel I have become less creative too. Everything that I do seems to rigid. What happened to me?

Now, I realised that I enjoy moderate business traveling and meet with different level of people. I am wondering whether I can have such job again. I may be day dreaming.

Meanwhile, I have deleted the chat function in the right bottom side of this blog. Because I noticed that I got so many spam messages in my YM. Initially, I thought I add the chat function in this blog so that we can chat if you feel that you have share the same interests to what I wrote. Since the chat tool doesn't serve its purpose, I decided to remove it.

My First Cup Cake Decoration

I attended my company's financial training which was conducted at Orchard Hotel. One of the purpose of the training is networking amongst other colleagues within asia pacific. Hence, they have some social events after the training. First social event is decorating cup cakes which was taught by one of hotel's chef.

The picture maybe too small because I copied from my facebook. This photos was taken from my iPhone and Sam's laptop can't read my iPhone. Therefore, the easiest way is copied and pasted from Facebook.
Second social event is visiting night safari. That was my second time to visit night safari. Nothing special but I have to go since that was one of event included in the training.

2nd Day of CNY

On the 2nd day of CNY, we stayed at Orchid Country Club. The room is so huge.
My parents took some pictures at Sentosa Flower Exhibition. One photo for sharing.

Happy Lunar New Year 2011

This year, my parents came to Singapore again.

We spent our CNY eve at Resort World Sentosa. We stayed one night at Festive Hotel. Joshua and Derick were happy to climb up the loft bed.

We made a tour to Sentosa Flower Exhibition on the 1st day of CNY. We were considered earlier amongst the rest.

We enjoyed this CNY festive season very much. Derick post CNY is always seen with a smiling face. I asked him why he is happy. He told me that because Mommy is always with him. My cute boy.

Year 2011

Today is the 2nd day of the year. I brought Josh to LW at United Square this morning for attending Speech and Drama Early Bird One. If I compare with other kids, Josh is far behind in terms of vocal development. Most of the kids in the class can express very well while Josh is still talking a few words and not very cooperative with the teacher. Actually, I am satisfied already when Josh can sit inside the class watching without crying and pointing to the door want to go out. I didn't hope too much from Josh. Derick was in the class too. Derick has been a great helper to me and companion to Josh. With Derick inside the class, Josh will not feel the class as alien to him. In other word, I make use of Derick to let Josh enjoy the class. You will never know how's the parent feel when the kids keep crying and pointing to the door want to go out whilst other can enjoy the class until you experienced yourself. I experienced that before once when I brought Josh for Kindermusik trial class at his 1 year old. That's enough for me.

My biggest achievement last year is completing my ACCA. I am proud of myself can complete this course. I admit I am not a genius, however, I am quite determine to pass and I did it. I don't shy to admit that I still went for exam despite of my almost bursting tummy. I even asked my gynae whether it was safe for me to go for exam 2 weeks earlier than my due date. My gynae was quite wondering what exam I wanted to take. But he gave me a go ahead because he is not conservative type. I have chosen the right gynae this time.

I am quite happy that I can met my parents at Batam to celebrate CNY together in Feb 10.

In April 10, I brought my mom to do a facelift surgery at Hatyai. This was the first time, I traveled with both Mom and Dad together.

I bought this bench to shed off my fats. This bench is dual function. 1st. for sit up; 2nd. as a slide for Josh. I manage to shed off 1-2 kg only.

Derick is able to swim independently now. Thanks to one of the mother in the M4M to recommend the swimming instructor to me. I never met the mother though. The instructor is great and patient.

One thing I have not achieved is taking up photography course. My DSLR is a white elephant now.
I hate it to be; hence I brought the DSLR to capture some memories during our Xmas gathering with churchmates. I will try to post the photos in the new post.

I have set some resolutions for this year without too ambitious. Hopefully I can achieve them.

Derick
Pass grade 1 piano exam.
Better result at school.

Joshua
Develop his language ability.
More expressive.
Independent.

Me
Stay slim and fit.
Always take things easily, don't stress out myself.
Build up my career.

Hopefully I can achieve them, and wish my readers a blessed new year!