Any Other Fool

My papi loves this song. To him, the Ultimate Love Song.



It is a Classic, it is Timeless and Beautiful. Finally, the Sax is Blown by an Asian. Dun play play.

Of old cheena and ang mo movies

My papi was an avid movie-goer and still a movie buff. Even my mummy has stopped grumbling about not visiting the cinemas anymore. Must be the over-arching effects of looking me. Hee hee...

From my papi... about the good ole cinema days.... the dimming of lights, the never ending commercials, the “compulsory” in case of fire, how to run out of cinema ad, and so on, and on, and on…. then, the interval time, everyone goes for pee break.

Screening resumes, still, no movie. It goes like for eternity… longer than Ben Hur, Gone with the Wind and Godfather Part I, II and III combined. Until the last frame of the final tedious commercial, then the film bops out.

He love those days, his grandma aka my great-grandmother, grand aunties, mother, cousins and siblings all in tow to watch the latest mushy movies acted by Zhen Zhen, Alan Tang, Qin Han, Lin Feng Jiao, Ku Ming Lun and many others. He loves the free seating at the now defunct Kok Wah cinema at the old Fifth Mile, in the Serangoon area. He love the delicious yong tau foo push cart stall there and the hot tau suan.

In his even younger days, there was also the black and white Cantonese Tornado Palm re-runs on telly. This set of 50’s film series, chronicles the adventures of an overweight swordsman called Long Gim Fei. It had those goofy “cling cling clang clang” swordsplay, actors in gorilla suits, and those 50ish state of the art effects – animated flying poison darts painted to the film footages. The cast includes the evil Shek Kin, Chan Poh Chu and Siu Fong Fong.

Education opens him up… to new horizons. No lah, he got more exposed to ang mo-ish culture. After some six years in primary school, he was quite tuned to or I say, become suitably westernised. He started to listen to Casey Kasem’s America Top 40 over Rediffusion. He begin to like Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady and Al Pacino in Godfather. He discovered Alfred Hitchcock, in turn he got scared stupid seeing Norman Bates do that heinous smile in Psycho. He love the "finger-pointing" that John Travolta did in Saturday Night Fever. He also love Kevin Bacon’s dancing in Footloose.

He's gotten out of this zone now. He said it’s hard to find a fellow old-time English movie buff with whom he can strike a meaningful conversation. Life gets lonesome when one keeps watching video re-runs of those each and every Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Liz Taylor, James Dean, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly classics.

My mummy is no old-time English movie buff. Ha ha… I wonder how they could end up together. She’s more to the Chinese movie type. Tell her about classics like Giant, Roman Holiday, Indiscreet or Singing in the Rain would draw a blank face from her. It’s okay. He love her dearly. They can still catch up and watch ChungKing Express or The Millionaire’s Express. He love those Chinese movies too and can be more in-sync with her.

The Worst Workout Video... Again

Week 22 summary

Here is Week 22's summary of my dearest mummy's part-time work.

Mon, 23 Aug 10
1.5 hours

Tues, 24 Aug 10
1.5 hours

Wed, 25 Aug 10
1.5 hours

Total is 4.5 hours at $8 per hour. That works out to $36 for the 22nd week.

Oh, mummy did not go to work for the last 2 weekdays of this week. Stayed at home to look after me after I vomitted on Wednesday.

My 1st exam of any kind

My parents brought me for my usual ballet class this afternoon. Or say, the 14th lesson.

Well, they enrolled me for the official Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (CSTD) Ballet Examination. It should take place sometime in mid-November and costs $100.

Okay, meanwhile, I will practice hard. Hee hee.

Abuela's turn to drop by...

Oh my, abuela came to see me in the late afternoon. She made some French Toast and fed me. We then watched Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck cartoons together.

Didn't take my afternoon nap, as there was massive drilling in one of the units. Doing renovations... this is what happens when HDB flats are more then 5 years old.

Papi worked late tonite... it was near 9pm when he bought dinner home, it's more like supper. Ha ha.

At home... doing arts & craft

I am at home today, never go skool... because my parents decided so.

Papi must be very free... he called us during mid-morning and asked us (me and mummy) to do Happy Teachers' Day cards for my teachers. I think it will fall on 1 September. Later on, another call... to make a birthday card for 舅舅. Yah, today is his birthday!

Well, here is a photo of a flower which my mummy has made for my teacher.

奶奶's visit

I didn't go skool today as I am on MC. Felt much better today and luckily, no vomitting.

Mummy gave me biscuits, light porridge and plain water throughout the day.

奶奶 spring a surprise and visited me in the late afternoon.

My parents said no skool for me tomorrow. They want me to be well rested...

Vomit, vomit

Oh my, I came back from skool today, ate my porridge lunch and then... started vomitting.

It was bad enough... mummy quickly brought me to see Dr Sim.

Dr Sim prescribed me with Oral rehydration salts and Domperidone (Suppository). Total medical bill was $35.

I requested for fish soup for dinner. Papi bought it from Maxwell market, I ate a bit and threw out again.

I am feeing down... luckily, got MC for tomorrow.

Yummy, yummy

Today is the fifteen day of the Seventh month (鬼月)in the Chinese calendar. My papi took afternoon leave to help abuela to carry the 7th month groceries. This is his practice for many years... you know, the rice, cooking oil, biscuit tin, and other stuff are just too heavy for abuela to bring home by herself.

Before all this, my papi went to Chinatown Complex and ate his favourite yong tau foo soup for lunch.After his hearty lunch, he went to City Square and bought groceries from NTUC. He came home and told mummy that Astons is opening soon at City Square.

He rested for awhile, and off he went to Toa Payoh Lorong 8 with abuela for the 7th month festivities. Lastly, he bought delicious mixed rice dinner from Ocean Fish head Curry there.

Shattered Dreams

Oh dear, the Singapore Team lost 0-2 to Haiti in the YOG semis. The hopes of a nation for a Gold is gone...

Next, I think many will say they are the Golden Generation, about keeping them together, and then, World Cup qualification...

Ha ha... my papi don't quite care. He is delighted Arsenal pumped 6 goals last nite. But, not quite happy that Chelsea and Newcastle did the same feat too. Isn't he selfish?

Week 21 summary

Here is Week 21's summary of my dearest mummy's part-time work.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
1.5 hours

Tues, 17 Aug 10
1.5 hours

Wed, 18 Aug 10
1.5 hours

Thur, 19 Aug 10
1.5 hours

Fri, 20 Aug 10
1.5 hours

Total is 7.5 hours at $8 per hour. That works out to $60 for the 21st week.

Hey, the September holidays are coming soon... Mummy will be taking her week's break with me. Woohoo...

Grandma's birthday lunch

All of us, that include abuela, 伯伯 and 姑姑 went to Old Hong Kong Kitchen at Square II today for an early lunch. It was to celebrate abuela's 70th Chinese Birthday. About a day late, but then, it was difficult to get everyone for a meal during weekdays.As it was grandma's 70th chinese birthday, we had 寿桃 too.Total meal costs $158.

After lunch, my parents brought me for my 13th ballet class. As usual, my parents will wait for me outside the dance studio. It is always my papi dozing off and mummy reading the papers. Today, papi complained to mummy that the incessant talking of two PRC mamas kept him awake. He was very bey song with them.

Papi went to Mustaf alone in the late afternoon and bought his $59 CK Man EDT spray.In case I forget, papi bought durians yesterday. I think we hadn't eaten durians for quite sometime.

Happy 69th Birthday, Grandma

Today is my dear grandma's 69th birthday.

We celebrated with a durian birthday cake last evening. My papi took leave yesterday afternoon. We went to United Square later that afternoon and bought a D24 durian cake from Bakerzin.Had dinner at McDonald's and then headed to abuela's place.

I sang the Happy Birthday song to my grandma and helped her to cut the cake.After that, my grandma gave me a $60 ang pow. In turn, my papi passed me a $150 ang pow and I gave to grandma, wishing her a 生日快樂.

Lots of things done today...papi took his medication today, the SingTel guy came and fixed up our house phone and we got grandma a birthday cake! Everybody is HAPPY.

I have a bad case of diarrhea

I saw this video over Jay Leno last evening. Pestered my papi to upload this video to my blog here...
Super funny.

Week 20 summary

Here is Week 20's summary of my dearest mummy's part-time work.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
2 hours

Thur, 12 Aug 10
1.5 hours

Fri, 13 Aug 10
1.5 hours

Total is 5 hours at $8 per hour. That works out to $40 for the 20th week.

My new nightie

My parents bought me a "Minnie & Daisy" pink nightie yesterday.

I overheard mummy telling papi, Oh God, it was a good break from those Princess Aurora stuff...Yesterday, I also went for my 12th ballet lesson. As usual, I enjoyed myself tremendously. Couldn't quite understand why some other girls were sobbing in the studio.

The Ra Ra Show

Papi went to work as usual today. However, today was a bit special. He told me he is gonna do the ra ra show at work today.

What is ra ra show? Guess it is not that Kumar and Koh Chieng Mun show back then. Ha ha... that infamous seat belt scene. Anyway, I wasn't born yet.

In my papi's context, ra ra show is creating some over-hyped event beyond one's normal work routine. Of course, ra ra show must have Guest Of Honour (GOH), preferably a Minister. That would be good.

I laughed and laughed... However, papi insisted that ra ra show is important in one's working life. A good ra ra show got mileage, he said wisely... I can't believe it... coming from him.

Papi got skool today

My papi is attending a one day course on Service Excellence today. Since class starts at 9am, he walked me to skool this morning.

As usual, I was talking, talking and talking away... I think papi is happy. He was smiling as we were walking towards my skool. He must be thinking... no need to go to work today.

Well, talking about Service Excellence. I think, in a gist, it meant the willingness to put the interest of another human being over your own. Ya, easier said than done. In my simple mind, maybe, it may be translated as the rich to give up their fortunes, and give them to the poor.

Still on National Day celebrations... here is my skool-made flag!

Post-National Day holidays

Woohoo... Today got no skool. Oh, it is also the start of the Seventh (7th) Month in the Chinese Calendar.

Talking about the 7th month, here is an informative post on this topic by LOL8.

Happy Birthday, Singapore

Today is Singapore's National Day. I am at 爷爷 and 奶奶's house, watching the NDP on telly. Quite nice...Btw, my papi attended his cousin's wedding dinner at the Conrad Centennial last night. Heard it was very grandeur...

The Ironman & the Horse

Here is my crazy papi at Toys R Us in United Square earlier this evening. We went there after our dinner at Nam Kee.He should be called the Iron Horseman! I bet he must be feeling like one of the famous 4 Horsemen in wrestling.

Doc again...

Once again... I coughed wildly at night. My parents brought me to see Dr Sim again.

This time round, he gave me antiboitics. Thank God, this one got a fruity peach smell. I will be fed this together with the oral inhaler.Total bill is S$35 for today.

I went for my 11th ballet class this afternoon. When class ended, my teacher handed to us an exam sheet. My papi read and said, WOW! Got optional ballet exams in November. Well, they are considering if I should go for it...

We got home, rested and then we headed to Nam Kee at Thomson for dinner. As usual, the pork chop is yummy.

Week 19 summary

Here is Week 19's summary of my dearest mummy's part-time work.

Mon, 2 Aug 10
1.5 hours

Tues, 3 Aug 10
1.75 hours

Thur, 5 Jul 10
2.75 hours

Total is 6 hours at $8 per hour. That works out to $48 for the 19th week.

No skool, outing... luckily, got nu shooz

I coughed rather badly last nite. It was bad enough for my parents to decide not to bring me to skool. Thus, I missed my 1st ever National Day Celebrations.

Gosh, even my Changi Airport outing got cancelled.

We had lunch at Whampoa Market. I didn't eat much of the porridge. No appetite. We went to Shaw Plaza after that. As most of my outing plans were shelved, my parents bought me a Princess heeled sandals from Bata. It costs S$26.95.I am happy.

My machine gun cough

My cough is still persisting... Mummy told papi in the afternoon that I want to see Dr Sim again.

Fast forward... the clinic was very crowded. Finally, got to see the Doc and after taking my medicine, it was near 9pm.

Today's medicine is more... costs my papi S$85.

I got Fluimucil satchet, Salbuair inhaler, Cetrizine and Becloasma inhaler.It was pretty late when we reached abuela's house for dinner. It was more like supper. Saw 伯伯 and 姑姑 there.

Well, a quick recap, I was at mummy's office this morning. My mummy brought me there after skool.

Let's pray that I get well soon... Tomorrow, my skool got National Day celebrations.

I gave skool a miss today

I woke up this morning, coughing non-stop. Nose was runny too. My parents decided not to bring me to skool today.

It was time for me to get ample rest. In short, to recover fast. My papi is on leave this Friday. Heard that my parents want to bring me to Changi Airport for an outing.

Yes...yes... I must get well soon.

Chin chow

Abuela told papi that chin chow is healthy and bought a chunk for him today. She ordered papi to eat a portion daily. She claims it is healthy food.

My abuela's eyes are okay

My dear abuela went to the Eye Clinic at TTSH this afternoon for her eye check-up.

She told papi that the place was very crowded. The doc checked her eye and commented that she may not need to go for her cataract operation as her eyes are quite okay.

I think she must be happy.

Cost of Education: August 2010

My parents paid my S$88 skool fees for August 2010 today.

So far this year, it is $992.40 + $88 = $1,080.40. It has hit the One Thousand Dollars mark already.

Mummy just called papi and told him that my teacher said I was naughty today. Aiyo...

Week 18 summary

Here is Week 18's summary of my mummy dearest's part-time work.

Mon, 26 July 10
1.5 hours

Tues, 27 July 10
1.75 hours

Wed, 28 July 10
1.75 hours

Thur, 29 July 10
1.5 hours

Fri, 30 July 10
1.5 hours

Total is 8 hours at $8 per hour. That works out to $64 for the 18th week.

Her wage for July 10 (28 Jun 10 - 30 Jul 10) is a total of 42 hours and $336. Woohoo!