Chinese New Year started on Sat 2 Feb for us, as we drove to PJ. After 2 nights in PJ, we returned to Singapore on Mon 4 Feb because Grace was on standby duty for Monday night. We had great food and family time in PJ with YowCH’s family and also in Singapore with Grace’s family.
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We got out National Dimension 4 Genius 35L microwave-convention-grill oven back in 2001 at about $700 when we moved to our place at Redhill Close. The magnatron finally died, although the convention/grill heating element is working fine. Here’s the over that served us well over the past 17+ years:
We replaced it with the new Panasonic Dimension 4 Genius 42L microwave-convention-grill oven, which is larger, for $935. However, the baking or grill mode must be on a turn-table rather than trays.
We also got ourselves an acoustic bass guitar, an Ibanez, for $350, through Carousell. It is not fantastically built, but sounds reasonably good. It comes with built-in pick-up and once amped, the bass is nice and clear.
We played some songs together, and with the bass, the music is certainly richer.
Here is Samuel with his Lego set, he can follow the instruction and build the three different models:
On Sunday, 20 Jan, the three boys had their distance swims. Samuel had 8 laps, Joseph had 60 laps and David had 80 laps.
That was the start, spirit was high and good!
Samuel completed 8 laps (400m) in 31 mins 38 secs, way below the 60 mins passing time.
Joseph completed 60 laps (3.0km) in 1 hour 33 mins 55 secs, which is just beyond the 1 hour 30 mins passing time. Examiner says he may still pass if the exam board agrees to take into consideration his height (short) and age (10, most take 60 laps at 12).
David completed 80 laps (4.0km) in 1 hour 38 mins 12 secs, which is below the 1 hour 45 mins passing time.
Esther, Grace and YowCH also swam to accompany the boys, and to pace for them. Esther swam about 20 laps total, Grace did 32 laps and YowCH 10 laps (very hard swims, after recovery from 2 weeks of flu). Overall, the boys did very well for their swims! We had a nice lunch at Henderson after the swim.
In the evening, we visited the Lims for BBQ, a birthday party for Ezra. The evening started with the children in the pool.
Then it was great food!
We contributed mala chicken, Bloody Mary, cider and shandy.
The fellowship and food was great.
That’s the birthday photo with the children.
The night before, Grace made a draw-string bag as present for Ezra. The bag was done very nicely, and the Star Wars fabric was really cool.
Esther received her O-levels results today, 3x A2, 3x B3 and 1x C5, good enough for Junior College as her L1R5 = 15 (lower than 20) and she gets 2 more points off for activities.
She will start school in Catholic Junior College on 1 Feb 2019 (Friday).
We thank God for blessing her with good results and letting her continue her studies in CJC.
Esther also received Meritorious Service Award for her duty as Deputy Head Prefect, and Commendable Service for her role in the Choir committee.
Here’s another photo, now with all the boys. Esther is still waiting for her O-levels results and start of Junior College.
On Saturday, YowCH went cycling as usual, but noted that after about 200km on the roads, the rear tyre has worn out. He will swap front to back shortly.
The usual weekend activity, we had Soccer training, and in this first session of the year held on 6 Jan, the children had games and training at Clementi Stadium, while the parents met with the managers and coaches to discuss the year plan at West Coast CC.
YowCH spoke on safety and proper behaviour.
At 5:30pm, the children reached West Coast CC by bus (David helped coordinate), and we had dinner together.
Grace helped with the food orders and serving.
The following weekend 13 Jan 2019, we had dinner with the Yongs for Siu Hei’s birthday. Esther was absent as she was in Cebu with Church on a mission trip (more details later).
At the end of 2018, YowCH and his colleagues in KTP managed to secure 3 new projects – 2 North-south corridor expressway contracts under LTA, and 1 HDB masterplan and flats. The Infra team will start 2019 very very busy.
On 31 Dec, we had a simple dinner at home. Esther was in church for prayers, and David was suppose to be in church, too, but he had fallen to virus attack.
At night, the 2 younger boys joined YowCH and Grace for the countdown to 2019, and we watched it on TV.
On 1 Jan, Grace had to work afternoon shift. YowCH went for a run at 6:00pm but a sudden rain storm with heavy lightning ended the run early. He clocked only 1.0km in 4m45s. First run of 2019.
For dinner, we ate at Wee Nam Kee chicken rice before picking Grace from work.
After dinner, David did some last minute ironing of his new uniform. YowCH also ironed on Joseph’s name tags.
2 Jan, first day of school for David (upper secondary now) and Joseph.
Esther is still waiting for O-level results (school starts in Feb) and Samuel is at home as Grace is off today.
We celebrated Christmas with service at church in the morning. We attended first service at 8:30am (after breakfast at the West Coast hawker centre). Then YowCH and Esther sang in the choir for the Chinese Service at 10:30am.
Right after that, we rushed to the children’s programme at 10:45am where Esther and David were in the worship band and also helped with games.
In the afternoon, we prepared dinner and had a nice Christmas dinner with Grace’s parents and Gene. We cooked white wine clams, mala baked chicken, saugages, beans+mushrooms, steak, cucumber, ABC soup and century egg.
We had fruits and wine, too.
And at the end of dinner, we had a fruitcake (bought from Han’s) soaked with XO and Cointreau (we infused on Sunday, so there were 2 days of soaking).
After dinner, we enjoyed singing Christmas carols.
Finally there is a toy with Bumblebee at Volkswagen Classic Beetle. Very nice! We got this in a sale, only $25!
Esther and David were in the Church Youth Camp at Bethany Christian Church at Kota Tinggi from 10 to 14 Dec 2018 (while YowCH, Grace, Joseph and Samuel were in The Shorea).
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We have been married for 18 years on 16 Dec 2018!
A simple lunch at Brinda’s and then a simple dinner at home.
