Photo Credit It’s one of those phone numbers I saved for ease of use but interestingly, when it flashed on my phone early one Monday morning (ya, Monday), I wished I wasn’t staring at the very number I saved, because it sent thousands of alarm bells ringing in those 3 seconds or so that it was flashing - ‘School’. It couldn’t that she had forgotten to bring something important as we had personally gone through the schoolbag the night before, including forms to submit and a twig she was to … [Read more...]
The Singapore Airshow 2016: Where dreams take flight
You know what they say about having to involve a whole village to raise a child? Well…hold on to that thought. The Singapore Airshow returns this year with displays and aerial showcases that promises to be bolder, better. Judging from what we saw at the preview hosted by our very own RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force), that promise is certainly a reality. Even as we prepare ourselves to be impressed by the latest aerial acrobats and marvel at those magnificent flying machines the … [Read more...]
I could have done a million things – An ode to purposeful abandonment
I could have done a million things. Yes, those readings, assignments, all piling up without mercy. I could have done a million things. Yes, those adult 'paperwork’ - bills to pay, emails to reply, deadlines to meet. I could have done a million things. How about coffee with some old friends? Aleric, Carol, Eric....Haven’t met them for awhile now. Wonder how they've been? Maybe they are busy too, who isn't? I could have done a million things. Uninterrupted 'me-time' to … [Read more...]
Travelling with children…Why We Do It
We started travelling with our eldest child when she was barely 7 months old, when I went on an overseas shoot in Melbourne (and the wife and daughter tagged along). Back then, it was because we had no reliable help and having been through a series of child-losses, we were very risk averse when it comes to their safety. We were worried to leave them behind, fearing they might become instant orphans if anything untoward should happen to us. As we traverse the world with our children, from … [Read more...]
Confessions of a Primary 1 Dad…Real Struggles Faced By P1 Kids (& Their Parents)…
We were at a dinner function when I glanced from the corner of my eye and saw my daughter, all of 7 year old, reading intently a write up on Taylor Swift and bobbing her head to the singer’s tune which I eventually learnt to be ‘Shake it off’. Funny, that was exactly what I had trouble doing - ’shaking off’ the reality that my daughter, who barely a year ago, was still singing musical highlights from Rodgers and Hammerstein with me in the car, has just added the likes of ‘Tay Tay’ and One … [Read more...]
Crazy Christmas – Have a wonderful, ROTFL* Christmas
Let’s face it…Christmas can be quite a stressful period for adults. Behind all that warm smiles and festive greetings hide the stresses of gift buying, jostling with the crowds (and traffic jams everywhere), occupying the kids (no thanks to school holidays), packing and unpacking (for those lucky ones who go on trips!) and finally to face the reality of paying the Christmas bills and getting the kids ready for another hectic school year. All that while being bombarded by the 10000th variation of … [Read more...]
What Christmas means to me…
What does Christmas mean to me? Actually the short answer to that is "Nothing”. Really. Nothing. The hyped-up commercialization of Christmas where everyone, from family members to colleagues, Christians or otherwise, exchange gifts while uttering ‘Merry Christmas’ has made this day where we commemorate the birth of Christ, into a feel-good merry-making event that has missed the mark by a far stretch. A quick visit to the Daiso store yesterday for some stationery, seeing the snaking queue … [Read more...]
When Two’s a Company – A Tangram Tee Giveaway
Sometimes seeing how our 7 year-old takes to her brother kind of makes us regret. Don’t get me wrong...We regretted not getting her a sibling much sooner, though it was something beyond our control. She loves playing with her younger brother, running around and even carrying him. She loves reading to him and talking to him. She helps us babysit him (to the best of her ability) and looks forward to the day they can swim together but due to the large age gap (she’s 7 while he is just 1 this … [Read more...]
Ping’s TeoChew Seafood Restaurant, Bangkok – Out of Singapore but Feels Right At ‘Home’
When we heard the impending closure of Sashlik, we felt a tinge of sadness for it will soon join the likes of other iconic restaurants like Mong Hing, Boon Lay Rajah among others who have shut their doors and along with that, the loss of their heritage dishes soon to be gone forever. Fortunately not too far beyond our shores, there are still amazing heritage dishes to be found. For travellers who frequent the shopping haven of Bangkok, there’s a Chinese restaurant serving exceptional Teochew … [Read more...]
A Letter from Prison: How Parents Want The Best for Their Kids
“Please Sir; please let me know how she is doing in school...” As an educator for close to two decades, I’ve interacted and conversed with scores of parents of all backgrounds and from all walks of life. From talking to them about their child’s progress at Parent Teacher Meetings to at times, listening and trying to help them find a way out of domestic issues at home. But never have I come across this, a handwritten letter penned from a Mother who is currently incarcerated in Changi … [Read more...]
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