The Legends at FORT CANNING PARK

will be where I'm heading to for these 2 days.

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Hmmm......It's a wonderful experience again to return to school........I mean the opportunity given by the company for us to take time off our regular work to attend this 2-day training.......a refresher course under a marvellous relaxing atmosphere. Yay!

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We're attending a Service based training conducted in Lavender Room I on the park level. The ambient is superb, very conducive for learning and training.

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Don't we all agree especially when we're all offsite and almost surrounded with constant supply of food and drinks?!?

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While I appreciates the training contents, I'm taking this opportunity to appreciate my ambient.

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I wish I can be back here again for another course!. Hee.......I'm in love with the ambient, totally!

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The vain boy in my abode

We can't believe my little baby is turning into a vain little boy........and here's why the Mummy says so, with evidence:
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At times, he's even seen smiling at the TV whenever a commercial of a pretty girl is broadcasted.
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.....Gosh, Mummy can sense her headache coming soon.......
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Time to Say Goodbye

to our boy's teacher in charge - Mrs Yvonne.

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Today's her last day of service in our son's daycare as she's leaving the centre to join our dear ex-Head Teacher - Ms Christine (she had recently embarked on a new daycare located near Pasir Ris park. The new centre is also formed by the previous team of the centre).

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As parents and working class, we welcomed her decision as it means lesser travelling time for her. Mrs Yvonne's new workplace will be nearer to her home so she can spend more time with her loved ones. Last but not least, she able to team-up with Christine again (since Chris was the one who earlier introduced Mrs Yvonne to the centre).

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On the other hand, we're regretted that our child had to get used to a new teacher. We know it would be another challenge trying to work with the new teacher again but a departure is part and parcel of a worklife cycle. All unforeseen situation is possible.

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Who knows, this change is also good for the children? Keep optimistic though. To our Mrs Yvonne, thanks for the job well done.

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Shivers

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It's finally my turn to feel that chill and cold-sweat running down my skin. There's a slight fever but well-controlled by my regular paracetamol.
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While my dear ole & young Masters ANG had recovered from their own sickness over the weekend, may I also get well soon.............
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"Ah Choo!!!"
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What's Up on a Saturday Evening

The House of ANG settled for a simple dinner at a nearby coffee-shop earlier since Master ANG is still feeling lousy - due to a persistent fever and flu which caused him several days of "konked out" sleeping session at home.

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Dear son, Kiet is also recovering from a persistant phelgmy cough which started nearly 2 weeks ago; after returning one fine evening from daycare.

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The best of all, despite completing almost 2 bottles of prescribed Mucosolvan, Mummy is left with no other alternative but to try this chinese medicine called "Hou Zao San" (猴棗散). It was recommended when at the medical hall as an effective action against clearing Heatiness, eliminates Phlegm; calms Fear; calms asthma; Expels toxins etc.

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Well, when you don't try, you won't know right so without delay, Mummy invested $30/- on a puny bottle of khaki coloured powdery 猴棗散.

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Faced with the two sick babies at home, Mummy is typically stressed out! Fingers crossed..............hoping that they'll recover SOON.

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月高高

Fell in love with this song & its lyrics after listening to it for a few times.

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It's an ending song of the current serial "聊斋奇女子" showing on every Saturday and Sunday evenings. This song is performed by the duo group named "因果兄弟"

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The lyrics goes:

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月高高 星寥寥

拂微风 云飘遥

孤江边 心邈邈

两世牵 谁人晓

回首间

几多欢笑昨夜天

残忆追旧年

而如今,

人事早飞远

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Daddy Daddy Day

First of all, dear son and Mummy would like to wish "A Happy Daddy's Day" to our Master ANG!

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Thank you for all the efforts you've made (in a BIG or SMALL way or another) to the House of ANG (洪). We love you super-dee-duper much!!........hee hee.....

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Funny Videos
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Next up, also wishing "A big big Happy Father's Day" to all the Daddies out there.

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Little Builder / Workshop Assistant

After returning from the supermarket, Daddy and son had their breakfast while Mummy quickly fixed-up ingredients meant for lunch - Pumpkin Chicken Rice.

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When Kiet is done with his usual "Doraemon" on TV, Mummy & son next embarked on "the Builder" theme.

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The intention was to use the work-tools to relate a builder's job hence we took out the workshop toy in the late morning and had fun play-pretending!

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From the toy-box, we drew out the work bench table and Mummy helped the excited boy assembled it while explaining the purpose of the bench table. (Hopefully the right explanations.....HA HA!!)

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Next up, we took out the nuts & bolts, the saw, the hammer, the screw-driver, plier and clamp and many more......., setting up the work station one by one for my little builder.

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Throughout the play-pretend, he was soooooooooo interested with the tools. It's a pity that Mummy is not a technically trained person. Some questions he asked regarding the use of that particular tool is so challenging......Eh...got to deploy his "Daddy-do" for HELP. (You get the hint already Daddy?)

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Workshop tools is really fun for kids. It helps them get creative and I guess using play-doh with the tools would be fun. Like making materials out of the tools? Hmmm.....I bet my boy will request to play with the builder tools again tomorrow!

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Little Shopping Cart Assistant

Most of our routine in the evening is to drop by the NTUC supermarket after dinner for some fresh produce since the family whip up our simple dinner fare on most weekdays. Last evening, our little boy followed Mummy to the supermarket but without daddy in tow since he was at work.

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This trip to the supermart gave us the opportunity to try out the new shopping cart that Mummy brought recently. [As part of the initiative/objective/conscious effort to save our earth and in support of NEA's campaign to reduce the usage of plastic bags, we've purchase a mini-cart to assist us during our evening routine grocer trips!]

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The feeling of being able to play a little part in saving the environment is great especially after reading the facts about plastic bags. From the way each of our household uses our "resource", I cannot live to imagine how the living conditions will be like for my future generation, my other future generations, so on and so forth! [Thinking too much? Not really.....]

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We can definitely start to do something now to help reduce wastage of plastic bags and conserve resources. Like the objective highlighted in the campaign: Educate shoppers to use reusable bags instead of single-use plastic carrier bags whenever possible.

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Friends, reusable bags are now readily available for sale at low cost by most participating retailers. Otherwise, like the House of ANG folks, make a deliberate conscious effort: buy a mini-cart that is foldable, light-weight and affordable at less than SGD8.00!!

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People, why waste plastic bags? Help to contribute to our environment and our future generations in a small way. Bring along reusable bags or a mini shopping cart in your next grocer trip now!

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[Oh, this is not a sponsored post by the way....hehehehe]

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The Dino’s "Let’s Imagine Live!"

Woo Hoo!!!

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The House of ANG, along with little Poh Ong & family are meeting Barney & Gang today in Suntec Convention Hall at 11.30am!

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**Drum-Rolls**.........now use your imagination...........the theme music starts and we go singing...........

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Barney is a dinosaur from our imagination

And when he comes

Is what we call a dinosaur sensation

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Barneys hows us lots of things

Like how to play pretend

ABC's, and 123's

And how to be a friend

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Barney comes to play with us

Whenever we may need him

Barney can be your friend too

If you just make-believe him!

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Barney's dinosaur friends (Baby Bop, her big brother, B.J.) flown into Singapore specially for their 20th anniversary party. This time, we also get to meet Cousin Riff at the party! Riff is a talented 6-year-old Hadrosaur and is B.J. and Baby Bop’s cousin.

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Cousin Riff is all about fun and music and his crest blinks with light when he’s excited. We understand that he is exceptionally good at making music and can even imitate sounds from nature. Extremely creative and inquisitive, Riff loves figuring out how things work.

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The children were enjoying themselves so much...................

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that the morning was really super-dee-duper-fun! Look at his expressions!!

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On the whole, it was really a great experience for Kiet and us since it's his FIRST 'Live' show and our FIRST TIME watching a 'live' show with HIM!

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Palawan Beach

Yesterday, the House of ANG and Kiet's maternal grandma found ourselves checked into the Sentosa Island early in the morning.
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We were planning for a family cum grandma's day out to the beach hence decided at the last minute on the Palawan Beach (since it's themed to be the Singapore's Happiest Family Beach) in Sentosa to relax and "Nua" around.

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The excited Mummy, who is bringing Kiet for the 2nd time to Sentosa but with grandma this time, got up early to get things ready. There's sandwiches, hot water for beverages, towels plus extra change of clothings, sunblock lotions, finally not forgetting the beach ball & sand-play toys for the young active boy. Basically, the family is geared and all excited for a whole lotta' good beachin' fun and morning sun tan!

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Ok, honestly before deciding on Palawan Beach, Mummy did not check the weather-man out. The family arrived at Palawan Beach only to find the sky rather overcast. That nevertheless did not dampen our moods; we continued to set up and eat our breakfast, followed by sand & water play. Daddy ANG also took the opportunity to educate Kiet while picking shells and seaweeds - It's Kiet's first time doing it though and we can all tell he is very excited!!
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Oh, not forgetting to mention that our mischevious boy got to run after a free-roaming peacock - oooppsss!!!!!!!!!!!..........luckily it's merely him after the poor peacock instead of our boy running after it with his stroller!! We cannot imagine the peacock passing green stools..........after being so scared stiff [*hee hee* - Relieved]
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From where we ate our breakfast, we can see this suspension bridge linking to another puny islet known to be the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia, or Asia's closest point to the Equator.

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We had originally planned to check out that islet but the sky started to turn more clouded. Without much choices, we had to pack our things and move on to the showers, while also seeking shelter from the impending rain.

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Of course before entering the showers, we "pushed" Kiet into the children's dippy ground for a quick-dip. Why push him? Isn't he supposed to like water-play? Well you see, we didn't know he'll feel shy in front of a few mummies who were also tending to their kiddos........In the end, instead of enjoying the dip himself, he found more fun watching the others dipped!

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After shower, the rain started to pour and was splish-splashing heavily. While we sat around and waited for the rain to stop; the adults get to enjoy chit-chat over a cuppa' while dear son fell soundly asleep in his stroller. It's simply blissful and relaxing, watching the rain-drops wade the morning away.

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For lunch, we opted for Chinese food at the Silk Road of the Sea restaurant. The food is alright except that we found the service staff un-familiar with their food menu. Oh well, we were expecting some quality from the Chinese restaurant though.

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After a sumptuous lunch-treat, we departed the island for home sweet home (So dear son can get some late afternoon nap).

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Till then, we left the Sentosa Island with more copies of the detailed island map; to be ready for the next Beach visit! How about day camping there? hee hee.......

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Soccer player in the making

Both Daddy & Mummy are not a soccer fan to start with. We'll never stay up late or wake up in the wee hours especially during the World Cup or European League season just to watch a match. Nah, not even any single match whether local or overseas.

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In fact yesterday, while we're switching channel, the family came across Channel 5 telecasting the "Live" game between Singapore and Uzbekistan in their 2010 World Cup qualifying match. Our dear son immediately got up from his seat and started to display his "Butterfly Kick"........no no no, too exaggerated..........it's his soccer cum dance kick.............Heh Heh Heh...

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So we watch in awe, amazed & absolutely amused by Kiet's actions. We didn't finish the match though. About 15 minutes later, we diverted his attention and successfully made him read story-books instead.

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Through the papers today, we read that the national soccer team were thrashed 3-7 by rampant Uzbekistan last night. I guess we expected this type of result. It's somehow granted through our past memories that the Lions remained very much ill-prepared in most matches.

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Let's hope there's more future positive talents in the soccer arena though.

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Nojoud Muhammed Nasser

is a pretty and adorable 8-year old yemenese girl.

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Her life and future could have been very bright like any other 8-year olds but this unfortunate thing happened to her - Not under her own wish.

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She was asked by HER FATHER to marry a man 22 years her senior but instead of marrying him, she was raped by him. [Sick, whoever you are, you're hopeless!!]

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My heart sank and is full of regret of what happened to her after reading from the media:

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SANA'A, April 9 - An eight-year-old girl decided last week to go the Sana'a West Court to prosecute her father, who forced her to marry a 30-year-old man. Nojoud Muhammed Nasser arrived at court by herself on Wednesday, April 2, looking for a judge to handle her case against her father, Muhammed Nasser, who forced her two months ago to marry Faez Ali Thamer, a man 22 years her senior.

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The child also asked for a divorce, accusing her husband of sexual and domestic abuse. According to Yemeni law, Nojoud cannot prosecute, as she is underage. However, court judge Muhammed Al-Qathi heard her complaint and subsequently ordered the arrests of both her father and husband. 'My father beat me and told me that I must marry this man, and if I did not, I would be raped and no law and no sheikh in this country would help me. I refused but I couldn't stop the marriage,' Nojoud Nasser told the Yemen Times. 'I asked and begged my mother, father, and aunt to help me to get divorced. They answered, 'We can do nothing. If you want you can go to court by yourself.' So this is what I have done,' she said.

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Nasser said that she was exposed to sexual abuse and domestic violence by her husband. 'He used to do bad things to me, and I had no idea as to what a marriage is. I would run from one room to another in order to escape, but in the end he would catch me and beat me and then continued to do what he wanted. I cried so much but no one listened to me. One day I ran away from him and came to the court and talked to them. ''Whenever I wanted to play in the yard he beat me and asked me to go to the bedroom with him. This lasted for two months,' added Nasser. 'He was too tough with me, and whenever I asked him for mercy, he beat me and slapped me and then used me. I just want to have a respectful life and divorce him.

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'Nasser's uncle, who does not want to reveal his name, is following the case now as her guardian. According to her uncle, after Muhammed Nasser, the girl's father, lost his job as a garbage truck driver in Hajjah, he became a beggar, and soon after suffered from mental problems.

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Thamer is in jail now. 'Yes I was intimate with her, but I have done nothing wrong, as she is my wife and I have the right and no one can stop me,' he said. 'But if the judge or other people insist that I divorce her, I will do it, it's ok. 'So far, no accusations have been made against her father, who was later released due to health problems, or Nasser's husband, who will remain in jail for further investigation.

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'So far there is no case and no charges, as Nojoud arrived by herself to court asking just for a divorce,' said Shatha Ali Nasser, a lawyer in the Supreme Court who is following Nojoud Nasser's story. Shatha Ali Nasser confirmed that item number 15 in Yemeni civil law reads that 'no girl or boy can get married before the age of 15. 'However, this item was amended in 1998 so parents could make a contract of marriage between their children even if they are under the age of 15. But the husband cannot be intimate with her until she is ready or mature,' said Nasser. 'This law is highly dangerous because it brings an end to a young girl's happiness and future fruitful life.

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Nojoud did not get married, but she was raped by a 30-year old man.' Nasser confirmed that Nojoud Nasser's case is not the first of its kind in Yemen, but it is the first time that a girl went to court by herself to ask for a divorce.

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'We are not planning to return Nojoud to her family. Who knows? Maybe after a few years the same thing will happen to her again,' said Shatha Ali Nasser. 'We are planning to put her in Dar Al-Rahama [an non-governmental organization that works with children], where she can have a better life and education. We do not want her family to pay her expenses, as they are poor.'

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Which Breadmaker ?

I am so enticed recently with this thought to buy myself a breadmaker.

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All thanks to the "yummilicious" pictures posted by mamabliss. Pauline really works her breadmaker (Breville) so well that the produce bakes wonderfully and looked so yummy. I can almost smell the scent of bread from where I'm seated and simply salivate by looking at the pictures.

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Nooooooo........I can't resist anymore but I'm going to get a machine for my household too! Yum Yum...........

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Oh, but then there's this dilema I faced, which label manufactures a trusty breadmaker?

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A quick search in the www returns with a number of bread machines manufacturers in market like Breville, Cuisinart, Kenwood Limited, Morphy Richards, Panasonic, Sunbeam Products and our Japanese favourite Zojirushi.

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At Tangs recently, I chanced upon Morphy Richards but did not manage to see any other due to time constraints. I would still like to review the other available brands sold in Singapore before coming to a decision hopefully soon!

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I'm however in my mind, attracted to a few shortlisted brands like Breville (should be a trusty one since Pauline's bakes are so successful), Morphy Richards and Kenwood Limited. Although my favourite in their other consumer products, Zojirushi's machine is a tad way my budget.

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Fresh apples and Blueberries

There's another office mass order going around in early May.
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Without hesitation, the ANG Mistress joined in of course. Imagine the New Zealand Apples and gourmet Californian Blueberries tagged with a cheaper price-tag.
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Where to find?? Hee....Hee...
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Dr. Henry James Jones, Jr.

Our family dated Dr Indiana Jones yesterday.

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Haha, it was actually Mummy; who had to report to work (in the early morning) at the Vivocity GV Max (a huge theatre though!!!) due to her company's movie event. Hence the House of ANG get to "movie-date" Dr Indy Jones at 10am.

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It was Kiet's first time in the local cinemas and he was very behaved throughout the screening. Most of the time, he was nicely seated in-between the parents, occasionally leaning towards the ANG Mistress, munching the popcorns.

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It was a lovely Saturday morning we had at the theatre, followed shortly by a quick grocery-shopping (food for dinner-time) before heading home for Kiet's post lunch-nap.

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In fact after this experience, we're looking forward to hit the move-theatre again, this time with Kiet tagging along - perhaps we'll need to select child-friendly movies this time. Hmmmm.......the upcoming movie called KONGFU PANDA?

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Good & Rich Cake Roll

I was recommended this durian swiss roll by chance since the colleagues gave it a thumbs up and they're doing an office buying poll.

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Out of curiosity and the love for food (opppsssss, watch that waist!), I ordered a box of durian swiss roll to give it a try.

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When the goods arrived, my first impression after looking at the packaging of the box is; very plain and simple, will the swiss roll really taste nice? Well, after tasting a piece, I'm convinced about this saying that "one should not judge by it's cover". The sponge cake is soft and it'll melt in your mouth while the spread (durian) is just nice - not too thin nor too thick. The durian tasted rich and pungent but it's exactly the way you'll expect from durians isn't it.

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I understand that the bakery is located at 24 Kandahar Street. Their Telephone number is: 6294-3324.

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Each footlong swiss roll costs $6.50/box (for the durian). The forever curious me have also found some other reviews in the web of this cake shop; in case there are other interested food-lovers like me looking for testaments:

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1) Eat Like Us’s Weblog

2) Sparklette.net

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Watching the Washing Machine

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is one of Kiet's favourite 5 mins past-time these days.

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He'll sit, squat or stand in front of our washing machine and stare at the small front-load 'window', while the machine does it's 'splish, splash, splish, splash', churning those bubbly bubbles as it launders.

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As the boy watches on, his Mummy's favourite past-time; she watches her boy. Hee Hee......**shyless**

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Happy Birthday Master ANG

and not forgetting that you'll be blessed with many happy returns!
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We hope you'll:
.....get whatever you wish to have/own;
.....be blessed with family love and warmth;
.....be happy and live a fulfilled life;
.....have many more wishes to wish for..........heh heh heh
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Joyeux anniversaire !
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HAPPY VESAK 2008!

to all fellow buddhist brothers and sisters out there.

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May the qualities of The Triple Gem give refuge and bless all mankind.

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Our family pray that all the unfortunate victims of Myanmar Cyclone and Sichuan Earthquarke rest in peace and attain spiritual liberalisation.

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To the fortunate survivors & the surviving families, we pray that you'll stay strong for the sake and in support of your loved ones. Although we know that no amount of words can comfort or make up for the loss of their loved ones, we pray sincerely that there will be happiness and bliss to all mankind.

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Sunday

Yet another typical Sunday for us both, Mummy & son.

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We did the usual. Ate our breakfast, watched half an hour of "Doraemon" on Channel 8 at 9.30am, then embarked on an activity - Colour Painting.

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Ms Christine, Kiet's ex-Head Teacher used to tell me this: One of the ways to instill creativity in the child is to let him play with colours. Painting is one good activity for free-expression. The number ONE rule to note is try NOT to restrict the child in whatever he likes to do with his brush and colours, just let him doodle whatever he wishes and guide him along as he gets better.

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With that advice in mind, I asked Kiet to doodle with colours for a start. As he gradually warmed up, I tried to do painting together with him. Hence, I suggest that I share his piece of paper. He'll doodle on one side while I do mine on the other. Yes, he's receptive and happy with my suggestion....hahaha....

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(Master-piece by Mum & Son)

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Later, I progressed to suggest that we draw shapes and colour on them. Yeah, Kiet is happy. He even named those shapes to me while I draw it with a marker. After that, both of us worked our paint on the shapes and of course I tried to encourage the son to paint most of the shapes! HEH HEH.....

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(can anyone tell who painted the shapes?)

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This "Kia-Su" mummy definitely didn't leave out the chance to revise his phonics. I took out a picture of the banana and asked him to ask lustre to it too!

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About 30 mins later, he's showing signs of getting 'bored' with painting. He's reluctant to doodle or draw anything when I suggested it to him. Alright, that means time to stop then. At the end before packing up, I showed him how to 'write' his name.

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After I'm done, I requested him to hold it to pose for a picture. He's delighted and yes, he posed with a big wide smile.

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(See my two row of teeth)

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During clean up, I asked if he was happy to paint today. Gosh, he gave a loud YES!

We're Off

to.....Krung Thep Mahanakorn Amonrattanakosin Mahintara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phonoppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasatan Amorn Pimanawatan Satit Sakkathattiya Witsanukamprasit. Ahhh, in short to the Land of Smiles - Bangkok.

We're packin' our bags and getting ready to depart home in another 4 hours!!! This time, we'll not bring our little boy as we know the challenges we'll face in view of its climate and weather. We'll survive.....till then, check us out later.
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Mama's Day Gift from a 3 year old

I'm utterly touched by my boy's hand-made mother's day gift when I receive it this evening at the in-law's.

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In a transparent holder lies 2 pieces of little bread finished with a heart-shaped card that reads "Happy Mother's Day!"; the bread is spread with butter and some colourful sugar rice, all lovingly made by Kiet under his teacher's guidance.

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I am so happy & delighted to hold this little handmade from my child for the Mother's day! Oh well, it's kind of hard to describe the feeling but just more than delighted is all I could say.
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Thank you Kiet, Mummy is so proud of your thoughful gift & I love you much much!!!
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Graffiti Saturday

Another much looked forward day of every week has arrived!

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With Master ANG at work this morning, both mummy and son decided to start their day late! Not long after waking, Mummy brought Kiet out to collect some shower cream orders (staff purchases at value prices!!) from Mummy's colleague at Toa Payoh - Aunty Jen.

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Due to the unbearable humid weather, Mummy decided to abandon the idea of shopping but head straight home after the collection.

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Mummy started preparing for lunch after arriving home while the cheeky boy embarked on his artistic session on the whiteboard with radio music playing in the background.

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He was found shaking his buttocks while scribbing on the whiteboard! The very amused mum hence quickly grabbed the cam and took a couple of photos.

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Nobody could guess what he's drawing - Kiet says it's a snake. Mummy says its "Graffiti" - Expressive art form artist in the making.

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