Mid-Autum Festival

Aunty Amy invited us over to their house today for the Mid-Autumn festival. Such a lucky thing that Ko-ko is back, so you can meet up with the relatives.

The dinner menu is steamboat. There were 2 tables to feed the 19 of us. As usual, Aunty Amy prepared a lot of food for dinner. *Oops.. I'd forgotten to take photos of our dinner*

While we were waiting for our food to settle, Uncle Sin Chuan whipped out his liquour. Even Tou-tou was given a cup of brandy. This time Abigial made sure to watch her closely and ensure that she does not finish the whole glass in one gulp!

Then it was time for dessert.. the whole table was full of all sorts of mooncakes (jelly, traditional flavours such as lotus paste and red bean, non-traditional ones like bak kwa filled, chocolate filled), fruits and red bean soup.

Tou-tou enjoying the red bean soup

Cute jelly mooncakes

It's always nice to gather with family. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.

Happy 14th Birthday, Evelyn

We managed to buy large prawns when we went to Jaya Grocer on Monday evening. Lucky you.. so tonight's dinner was something special as it's your birthday.

Prawns grilled on daddy's new favourite little barbecue grill. Chef of the night is Ko-ko as daddy was busy in the kitchen with other food to cook:

And this is the spread we had for tonight's dinner:

Beautifully grilled prawns

Baked potatoes

Pan-grilled salmon

Grilled chicken

And all of them assembled on my plate:

Rested a little to let our very satisfied bellies settle and for kakak to clear away the dinner dishes before we sang the birthday song and had cake:

Cheeky girl!

Posing with the cake you picked and added more decorations to

Daddy lighted the candle again to see who can blow off the candle first

Cutting the cake and making a wish

Happy birthday to our baby girl. All grown up, and yet sometimes cute and always our little baby.  💖

 

Happy Belated Birthday, Ah Kong

We headed home to continue with the cake. 

Evann with Ah Kong

After we'd sung the song, time to blow out the candle, cut the cake and make a wish.

Happy Birthday, Ah Kong. 

Cheers to many more years of good health, wonderful celebrations and great food!

Double Birthday Celebration

It's such good timing that Ko-ko had a week long break around both yours and Ah Kong's birthday. Daddy asked if you were ok to have a combined celebration at Moo Point. You were happy with that arrangement since you also enjoyed the food there.

Again, we were seated at the same table as before. My babies

My handsome 20 year old

And my beautiful soon-to-be 14 year old

Their menu is quite simple, but even then we had a bit of a time trying to pick the steaks.

Cauliflower and blue cheese soup

Wagyu tartare - Evelyn's special request

Sourdough with smoked butter

Green Leaf Salad

(I forgot what this was.. it's salad with baby potatoes)

Rib (and the cabbage appetizer at the top of the photo)

Wagyu

MP Steak (I think..)

And I forgot what cut this is.. 😓

Of course, no steak dinner is complete without wine. We brought two good wines:

And we finished up with desserts. Complimentary ice-cream:

In the Mood.. for Braids

Yup, we were a little late today because a certain little girl decided that she needed braids for school today.. That's why you got ready faster than usual.

Humpty Dumpty

.. and that is daddy. He had a fall on Sunday while playing golf. Unlike what he'd usually do which is to say wait and leave it be, he sure was in a rush to get whatever medications to help his recovery. 

Why? Because he has a golfing trip coming up!

This bruise appeared a few days later

Braids

We were talking about braids and I said that I could tie Dutch braids, but not as well. Well I ended up tying for you. And you went to sleep with them and to school today in them!

Karate Brown 2 Grading

Today is grading day. This year it's held in SRJK Kong Min Cawangan 2 in Air Itam. I happily told daddy that it was the school where you had your karate camp back in May. Well, we sure were surprised when we arrived since there was no car there. And then I realised the photo did not look like those sent by sensei!

Well, we quickly checked the messages and turned on Google maps to bring us to the correct location. We still made it with sufficient time to settle down before the grading started. It was a combination of Brown 2 and Brown 3 students.

First was the kata. Could not get a good photo of you since we're seated at the back and you were quite far to the front. The examiner this year is stricter, asking you all to do it correctly and even coming down to correct certain students. I guess the technique must be more correct as you go to higher belts.

Next is the kumite. Your sparring partner is your friend from the dojo, Angelynn. 

The exam timing went further than the allocated time. After everyone completed the kumite, the examiner gave you all a brief talk about the importance of karate and doing it properly and time for a quick group photo before calling it a day:

Then we hopped into the car and headed for breakfast before going home.

P/s: Sensei proudly announced that everyone passed that day.

Final Day in Singapore with Evan

Got up today, packed up after breakfast and headed to the hostel with my luggage. And surprise, surprise, our young man.. hasn't even showered!

Ah well, while you showered, I loaded the luggage which I was going to bring back to Penang with me. Then we hopped into a Grab and headed to Vivo City. We were trying to decide on where to go, and ended up going here. Found a nice steak place. It even had set lunch. So we ate our steaks here.

We wandered around looking for some necessities for your room. Picked a present for Evelyn, tried a shoe which didn't have in my size (then got them to help reserve at Jewel Changi). You even bought a box of chocolates for everyone at home. Since we still had time, we sat down at this Italian restaurant for coffee. We also ordered take away for your dinner. 

Finally it was time to pick up some groceries for you and then we called a Grab and headed back after returning to the restaurant to pick up your order.

Sat around the room chatting and then it was time to call my Grab to head to the airport. You did not plan to go with me. And just as we were about to call for Grab, it decided to rain and then the ride got more expensive. As there was still time, we decided to try to wait for the rain to stop and for the prices to go back down. Unfortunately, it just rained on and the prices kept going up 😭

We finally had to bite the bullet and pay for an expensive ride, and it was quite a bit of a wait too.

While sitting around, waiting for the ride, you suddenly decided that you wanted to follow me to the airport.

Together at the hostel 

The Grab finally arrived and the traffic was building up. We arrived at the airport with sufficient time to settle the bag drop then head over to Jewel to pick up my shoe and have a very hurried dinner together.

The food was not too bad, except that we both didn't have much of an appetite, considering we'll be saying our goodbyes very soon.

Well, I tried my best not to cry, but I couldn't help it. I'm leaving my baby behind while I'm headed home. And that made you cry too. Haiz... daddy gave me an earful for that. Haha.. 

Monday at Orchard

Yesterday you asked your floor leader about the next day's plans. He told you there will be lunch and dinner provided. You asked if you could skip one of the 2 meals, and he said should be fine. So today, Chim Poh and I would be meeting Uncle Dennis and 2 more of her friends from Ipoh for lunch. Too bad that in the end, you were not allowed to skip either meals. So we did not get to meet for the day.

We met Uncle Dennis at our MRT station and hopped onto the MRT and headed to Orchard Road. There we made our way to ION to search for her friend. Took us a while and we finally met her.

Then Chim Poh headed with this friend Aunty Irene to look for another friend and told Uncle Dennis and I to head to the restaurant to get a seat first. We finally found it "Udon Shin" and were told that we would be seated once our whole group were present. Ok then. A short while later, the 3 ladies arrived.

The noodles were nice. No wonder Chim Poh says that there's always a long queue waiting to dine here. One of the lady, Aunty Annie paid for our lunch. Uncle Dennis offered to treat us to cakes, so we headed upstairs to this really atas looking place. But Chim Poh persuaded Aunty Annie to go elsewhere for cakes and coffee. And so we ended up here:

We sat there and chatted about anything and everything. What a nice bunch of people to chat with. Then we headed to Atria to a boutique as Aunty Annie wanted to exchange some clothes she had bought the day before. Did a little shopping and then we headed to Paragon where we were to have dinner with Aunty Irene's cousin. Had some time before dinnertime, so I managed to buy some kitchen utensils for you. 

Yes, dinner was at Din Tai Fung.. and it costs SGD200+. Gosh, imagine spending RM700 here!

We said our goodbyes to the two ladies. They hopped into a cab which brought them back to Aunty Annie's daughter's place where they will leave for Ipoh tomorrow.

Look at the pretty skyline we spotted just as we headed to the MRT station.

One thing about Singapore, it was very dark and quiet when we arrived at our MRT station near Ah Pek's house, but it feels safe. No worried about being mugged as we walked home. 

Hostel Check-In, Vivocity

We opted to try to check in as early as possible. The 4 of us hopped into Ah Pek (already packed car.. yes, we loaded the car yesterday). And off we went to the hostel. It took us less than 30 minutes to reach the hostel.

The NUS sign just as we turn in

First sight of PGPR

Got into the carpark, unloaded our stuff and tried to find Block 17. It was rather confusing as the signs dissappeared halfway. We did meet a young man (senior?) who pointed us towards the correct direction.

Everyone helped to carry your many bags of things

Stepping into the room. It's a corner unit.

View from your room

We then left the things and took a quick peek at the bathroom and pantry before heading off.

We went to Takashimaya to look at the portable air-cons in the other Best Denki there. We met a nice lady who eventually sold us the 8000 BTU Europace model. Paid for it and told them that we'll come back to collect it after lunch.

Then walked to Ion where we met up with Ah Mm and the girls and Uncle Dennis for lunch in Taste Paradise. Menu is dim sum. 

After lunch, Chim Poh went off to meet with her friends, while Uncle Dennis came along with us. We headed back to the electrical shop to pick up our purchase then headed to the car then to the hostel. Ah Pek dropped us off and we had the 2 strong men to carry the aircon to the room:

Then you got to work to put up the seal. I quickly helped to set up your bed and the small items. Uncle Dennis even commented that he's around to help out everytime you check into your study accomodations (Geo and now Helix House).😂

Here's a quick peek of the room:

After all was done, we walked to the center of the hostel block and waited for our Grab. 

The canteen

Waiting for our Grab

The ride wasn't too long, but the crowd in VivoCity was crazy! Uncle Dennis brought us to Torikizoku for some yakitori and nice cold beer. We even met the CEO of the company which brought this chain into Singapore, Uncle Dennis' friend.

Then we took the MRT back to Ah Pek's house as we'd planning to have dinner with them at home.

After dinner and a little rest, Ah Pek sent you back to the hostel where you slowly unpacked the rest of your stuff.