Results and Rashes

This week has been dominated by the 2 Rs. First......

Today #2 received his PSLE results. He tried his best and manage to pass his exam. H and I are very happy he passed. That he do not need to resist the exam again. His results are not good, his aggregate is very low.

#2 is very happy he is just able to enter secondary school. Although it will be the Normal Technical course. Which means he will be sitting for the N'levels in 4 years time instead of the O'levels.

We have been expecting this, because we know that he has no interest in his school books at all. Hopefully in the Technical Course he will be able to do better.

In any case our worries are gone for now. Until the next time......

Meanwhile pop over to #3 to have a look at what had happen to him.
He is still as active as ever, no lost of appetite, no signs of fever. Although he complained of headaches once a while. But as soon as I mentioned medicine miraculously the headache is gone.
Knowing him it is his fear of taking medicine. So far I have been monitoring him and he is OK. The Doctor said there is no medication for this infectious disease. Just treat the symptoms as they occur.

Fading Memory

I have been scanning some old photos to my computer. Came across lots of photos that my memory can't recall. If it were not for those photos that memory is lost forever. Just like this one here. I know whose tomb it was. Who was with us that day but I can't recall who was behind the camera. Or why we paid a visit ? Looking at the date I had wrote behind it - it was not during the tomb sweeping festival (Qing Ming).
My H denied being there as he has no memory of being there. He asked if I had cut and paste ourselves there ? - Sickening man !!

Our human brain is fascinating. But it looks like there is a limit to our memory space. We are able to recall significant, major or recent events. Smaller, insignificant events seems to have been lost.

School Is Out

School is out...only for #1 since 2 weeks ago. The other two still have to attend classes until end of this week. Mean while they are already enjoying themselves with no more lessons. #2 went on school excursions and just had a school farewell party the other night. #3 is just happy he I do not go after him with his school work.

In the weekends they play computer games, goes to the neighbourhood pool or claimed the best seat in front of the TV.

#3, before going to school he will watch kids programme on TV. If you can recognise the characters I had posted the pictures here. This is his favourite programme - Sesame Street.

Not only #3 watches it without fail every morning. Since #1 do not have to attend school he too will watch it with #3. I asked why is he watching this where as the rest of the morning programmes are labeled 'lame' by him.

He said he do not know why but he just like watching Sesame Street. Especially Elmo, the Grouch and even Cookie Monster.

Frankly speaking if you asked me I too will say that that programme is for pre-schoolers. I remember I have a faint memory of watching it when I was a child. As a mother I too had sat down with my boys(while they very, very young) watching Cookie monster devours anything that is made of cookie. Now off hand I can name a few of the characters in that programme. Just shows how deep an imprint it leaves in our memory.

Other than watching TV and computer games #1 fools around with his brothers in their room. Like wrapping himself up with the blankets.

Who is he trying to portray ? I have no idea but his brothers were laughing their head off non stop.

Today's Breakfast.

This morning we went out for breakfast. No where fanciful. Just in our neighbourhood. The boys said they want something other than the usual which was bread or cereals. So we trooped down to the local hawker center in our neighbourhood. Mine you it is not often we eat out for breakfast. Especially with the economic down turn eating out is like a treat to the boys. Plus H is not that keen on my choice of breakfast either.

While waiting for our food the boys whip out their hand held games. #2 not very happy to have his picture taken (see the frown). #1 did not have his picture taken as he was helping H with the trays of food. If he was around he too won't allow me to snap a picture of him. I notice as they grow older they do not want to take any pictures other than those they want to - pictures of themselves making monkey faces. Real hard of me to get a proper picture of them.

Hmmm....wait I will wait for the day they have girlfriends. I will show their girlfriends pictures of them with their monkey faces or those they deem uncool.

Yes ! I think I will just do that.

Hehehehee......

Anyway these are the breakfast we had this morning - roti prata aka roti canai.

Wanton noodles.
Nasi Lemak.

I Am So Smart....

I have been surfing and came across this." how-many-countries-can-you-name" in 5 minutes ? Type in the name of the country and hit the key enter after each name. If you don't do that your result is worst than miserable. Remember spelling counts too.

So with some time on hand tried it out and I failed miserably. :(
I only got 41 guesses correct out of 195 countries

And here I thought I know it all.

Guess I am not as smart as I thought I was.

ERP Song

This another one of those local made video about the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) in Singapore. Look at the official website regarding Singapore's erp for a better understanding. The singing might sucks but you could actually see some of the scenery of Singapore (where the ERP locations are).

AYE (Ayer Rajah Expressway), CBD (Central Business District), PIE (Pan Island Expressway), ECP (East Coast Expressway). Certain section of these expressway and the whole CBD are the places where motorist had to pay if they use the roads or need to enter that area.

AMC Demo

Yesterday we went over to my sister-in-law's place. She was hosting an AMC demo. That is the grand name for some pots.
She had bought 2 sets for her 2 daughter-in-laws. She invited her relatives and a few friends over. So there was one big happy gathering. With everyone staying for dinner after the demo. She prepared other dishes using some other pots. As you will see later on the food from the demo was not enough to feed about 20 heads including children.

This was one of the pots, standing over a ceramic hotplate that comes with a fancy name. Atmosfera 400. It is run by electricity, with some sort of keypad beside it to control the temperature. It can be used for many things from baking, steaming and roasting. The picture above it is being used for steaming eggs .

This was the lady doing the demo. Not my SIL but one of the agent/sales representative.
If you are wondering why was she kneeling on the floor beating the ingredients for a cake with a whisk - I have no idea why too when there was a dining table a few steps away ! With an elctrical outlet next to the table too.

The hotplate and the whole pot is turned upside down halfway into baking the cake.

This one here is where a slab of meat is going to be roasted- 'siew yuk', roasted pork.

While the food was being prepared and cooked we found out that the whole set up set my SIL back by a couple of thousands dollars. The hotplate itself alone cost $900++. One of the small pot cost $300++. But of course you can use the pot with out the fanciful hotplate. Just that the heat will not be well distributed.

Blah, blah..... all those sales talk.

While the ladies were watching the demo, the men with a beer in hand yakking away. And they say we women talk non stop ! The children were all in one of their cousins room playing computer games. They always like to gather in that room because of the big TV screen which they can use for their games.

These were the dishes that was prepared using the AMC pots and hotplate. Roasted pork, pizza, a pandan cake, steam eggs.

Frankly the food was so-so. The only good thing about it was the roasting part. Not much cleaning to do compare to if it was roasted in an oven.

Was I sold by all those sales talk - nope. Although a few sales were made that day. Looks like not everyone are that affected by the present economic down turn. Or a need to worry about the rising electricity bill !

A picture of the 3 eldest cousins taken while we were waiting for our husbands to bring the car round. One of those staircase sort of picture - age wise that is. With the eldest on the right. Did not actually arrange them to stand that way. It just so happen to.

#3 The Calefare

Last Friday I had the pleasure of attending my youngest boy's speech and drama performance. His performance so happen to be the last on the programme. The 2 older boys tag along to support their brother but soon got bored with the so call 'lame' performance. Reminded them that they were in that same position before.
"Really ? We will never do such lame things ! "
Guess they have conveniently forgotten it since they are now older and trying to act cool. Although the things they do don't look that cool to me. Heheee...
"Please..... don't embarrass us"

I took a video of the performance but it is too long to post here. Don't want to bore you to tears. :)

By the way if you are wondering what does 'calefare' means - it is our local slang for actors with small parts. But I am still very proud of him. He did very well with no stage fright or any sign of shyness.

After the whole thing had ended it was photo taking time at the school parade square. He was so happy to see us. Too bad H was not able to attend. He was on duty but was shown the video I made with my camera eagarly by #3 the next day.