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Author: Zhiwei

Boliao Things We Say

Boliao Things We Say

In the study room.

Me : ok! I’m done! (Switched off my Mac and leaving the room)

As I was closing the sliding door from outside the room…

Hub : waaa! I just saw a huge mosquito! It must be your pet mosquito that sits on your shoulder.

(He has this warped theory that a mosquito sits on my shoulder and feeds on me all the time. I’m usually the first one to get bitten by mos and hv the most bites. He’s convinced that it’s actually the same one and calls it my pet mosquito. Lame arh?! But that’s part of his charm wahahaha)

Hub : hey! What are you doing to the door??

Me : oh making sure that there’s no gap for it to escape.

Hub : you are locking me in the room with the monster mosquito?!?!?

Me : ya! Make sure you kill it before you leave the room!

Meanwhile, I go back to my room to see who emerges as the victor from the bloodbath.

Ok… End of bo Liao story….

小小宝贝’s Milestone – First Haircut

小小宝贝’s Milestone – First Haircut

I intended to hold off his first hair cut as long as possible (cheapskate – to save money lar… I don’t see why I should pay someone to snip off his fringe??!!) and trim his fringe (so that he can see without having a curtain of wispy hair obscuring his sight) myself.

 

It seemed that it was no longer possible when…

 

for the last few mornings, when he sent 宝贝 Jie Jie off to school, the schoolbus auntie started greeting him, “Morning Mei Mei!” and “Bye Bye Mei Mei!” That bad meh?! Did he look like a girl??!! Granted that on some days, he was dressed in 宝贝’s hand-me-down pyjamas which were, erm, a little on the red side.  (OK OK.. fine! Sometimes a tinge of pink…)

 

His Daddy thought that he might turn into a sissy and really treat himself as a girl after continuous brainwashing… So I brought him to the same hairdresser who cuts 宝贝’s hair as she needed a haircut too.

 

But when I walked in with him, the 2 hairdressers exclaimed, “Aiyo! Mei Mei is here to cut hair too??” WTH?! Mei Mei?? This time he wasn’t dressed in pink, in fact, I dressed him in the most manly attire I could find in his wardrobe – Blue romper and jeans. Which Mei Mei wears blue and blue?!

 

“Erm.. He’s a Di Di.”

“Ohhh… Di Di! He’s got yu xiu features (delicate features) like a Mei Mei! See! Big round eyes, long eyelashes and fair skin!”

Hmm… so it’s not his clothes…

 

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There he is… All wrapped up and sitting quietly in the chair, in anticipation for the next… adventure?! Just a sidenote : Does he look like a girl?!?!?

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And so.. it began.. Like the sheep shearing I saw in Australia and New Zealand.. Lambs up on the block! :p

He felt a strange sensation and heard the weird humming sound of the shaver and so what did he do?!

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He turned around to look for the source of the strange sound.

And he turned and he turned and he turned… It was quite amusing to watch him turn left right left right, trying to find the shaver only to always not find it.  Hahaha. Mean mom here.

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Much easier to look at himself in the mirror.. Ah… starting to look like a boy now!

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Final dusting…

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Final Product : I’m a BOY!!! (He’s in BLUE ok!!)

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He behaved beautifully during the cut.  Of course, the hairdresser Jie Jie cut at lightning speed.  The only thing he did was just to turn his head left and right during the cut to find the shaver.  I would have cut his ear or something, and that’s precisely why I’m not a hairdresser… :P

 

Back to being a boy again!!

Sequel to the LG Refrigerator Saga

Sequel to the LG Refrigerator Saga

The maddening call to the LG customer hotline on Saturday morning left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.

I vented it out on social media and felt much much better. No need to practise yoga. Bitching on social media is also a form of destressing….

I stuck the photo of the burnt hole on the LG Singapore Facebook page and on Monday I received a follow up message in my Facebook mailbox and then a phone call from them.

Ok folks, ditch the hotline number. The service center is useless!!! Just go to the Facebook page!! Thank you Mark! For making a difference to our lives by starting Facebook!

They sent a Korean specialist to my home today to check out the Fridge foc. According to my Mom who was present (I was at work) the Korean was very “gan jiong” about the condition of the fridge and swore that it’s the first time it’s ever happened in the LG history. Gee! I must really go and buy 4d for this. So lucky ya!

He called me up and apologised profusely and offered to loan us an LG fridge until my new one arrives on Thursday. According to him, they were bringing the fridge back and were arranging for a team of specialists to fly in from Korea to investigate this.

What a vast difference in the attitudes! Compared to the laissez faire self righteous attitude of the LG customer hotline staff (backed by the various parties he consulted) this was indeed a 180° change.

He promised to let me know the results of their investigation.

The replacement fridge arrived in 2 hours. Pretty impressive turnaround time.

Meanwhile they should look into their hotline staff’s attitude. A lot can be done to it. And yes, the hotline personnel pissed me off. Big time!!

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Adding On to 小小宝贝’s Purée Repertoire – Asparagus Purée

Adding On to 小小宝贝’s Purée Repertoire – Asparagus Purée

小小宝贝 has finally sprouted 2 tiny teeth, after 12 months. He’s a late “teether” just like his sister, for his Mama (yours truly) was an even later “teether”. According to my parents, my first tooth sprouted when I was 2 years old. They were going to make dentures for me as they suspected that I would be going through life without teeth!!

The good thing with having a late “teether”, especially when I’m breastfeeding him, I don’t get bitten. And the teeth start deteriorating later.

So I’m still putting him on purée diet although I’m now making his purée more chunky. And some soft fruits and vegetables like bananas, strawberries, pumpkins etc, he’s started to take bites out of them instead of being purée fed.

And I’m expanding his food repertoire so that he gets to taste a wide variety of food in their natural form without mixing them together.

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Asparagus is low in calories and is very low in sodium. It is a good source of vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium and zinc, and a very good source of dietary fibre, protein, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, rutin, niacin, folic acid, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese and selenium, as well as chromium, a trace mineral that enhances the ability of insulin to transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells. The amino acid asparagine gets its name from asparagus, as the asparagus plant is relatively rich in this compound.

I chopped them up in small pieces. Steam them for 15 mins then blend.

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All yummy and ready for consumption!

Food diary summary…

LG – Where’s Your Sense of Social Responsibilty?

LG – Where’s Your Sense of Social Responsibilty?

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Check this out. Would you freak out if this appeared in your refrigerator?

I did. My LG refrigerator showed an error message on the display. I called up the LG service center and gave them the error code. They advised me to switch off the refrigerator, let it de froze for 4 hours and clean it.

Fine. Being an obedient customer, I did it. While cleaning it, to my horror, I found a burnt hole, 10cm long in the freezer compartment, near the bottom part of the wall. Something obviously caught fire and burnt the plastic wall! I could even see the blackened metal parts behind it!!!

I was so lucky!!! It could have caught fire and burnt the house down!! Worse, burn the house and all of us in it while we sleep!!!

So I called up the LG customer service and alerted them to this problem.

Their reply : since my warranty was over, I’ll need to pay for a technician to go down and investigate.

My point is : I’m going to buy a new refrigerator. (It gives me the shivers that it may catch fire even after it’s repaired assuming that it can be repaired.) so why should I fork out extra money for them to investigate this matter??

This is obviously a product fault. Even if the warranty is over does it mean the fridge can be allowed to start a fire?? They should at least send someone down to investigate, in case there’s a severe problem with this particular model of refrigerator. I mean I’m lucky. But someone else who’s using the same model may not be as lucky as I am!!

LG where’s your social responsibility???

They didn’t even ask me to email them the photo. They just brushed me off as a complaint call. Because to them, it’s my fridge, my problem. In fact the customer service officer even consulted various departments, including his superiors to arrive at the same conclusion – if I don’t pay for the technician to come and investigate, it’s not their problem.

Imagine how many of such cases have been swept under the carpet?! Fwah!!

I fear for your consumers! Perhaps there’s been calls on my fridge model and I wasn’t alerted because LG refused to investigate.

This is the last time I’m going to buy LG products because I’m not going to introduce time bombs of fire hazard to my home where my loved ones are.

I’m totally disappointed with LG’s lack of social responsibility.


If you are using refrigerator model GR-B208BVQ, good luck to you!

If you are using other LG product, all the best to you!

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

Wow! I found this half written draft amongst my published posts. Let me finish it before 小小宝贝 wakes up.

Making homemade ice cream is much easier than you think. I’ve always thought that I need an ice cream machine. Actually I bought one like a decade ago. It’s probably still in my Mom’s storeroom. Still not opened… *faint*

Here’s what you need : strawberries. Haha. No brainer right?!Freeze them overnight.

The food I produce are usually no brainers, based on my less than illustrious track record in home economics. (Makes a mental note to list my home economics exploits/disasters one day)

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Frozen strawberries. Rock hard!

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I added some bananas to it to give it a natural sweetness, in case the strawberries are too sour. Add a dollop of natural yoghurt and milk. Then blend.

It works for various kinds of fruits. Just remember to balance sour fruits with sweet ones, such as bananas.

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It feels more like sorbet though. But it’s yummy and at least I know what goes into it. No artificial sugar or preservatives.

You can freeze it if you are not eating it immediately.

Holiday Homework

Holiday Homework

Sunday Morning

Me : 宝贝, Zachary and Gabriel can’t go to the Children’s Garden with us today because Gabriel didn’t do his holiday homework and he has to hand it in tomorrow.

On the way to the Children’s Garden…

Hub : Wow! The ECP is so empty today. Where’s everyone??

Me : At home lar.

Hub : For what?

Me : Trying to finish up their kids’ holiday homework before school reopens tomorrow??

Hub : Oh, you mean the school holidays have started.

Me : It has ended you mean?! =.=”

Ok ok… this joke doesn’t sound as funny as I thought. I will try harder next time. Ganbatte!

 

Scammer or Psychopath?

Scammer or Psychopath?

It all started with a phone call… and now it’s stretched into a saga… I can’t exactly complain that my life is too boring.

17 March 2014 Monday 1pm

“Hi! I would like to speak to Zhiwei.  I’m Adams Chew calling from Globalonline…” Then he rattled on about something.  I had already tuned out, because I was up to my neck with work and it was probably a sales call, until he said, “I met you when you were in One Fullerton. Are you still with XXX?”

Me : Yes. (Not very interested to talk to him plus I was trying to multi task.)

Mr Weirdo : So is your office still at One Fullerton?

Me : No. (Monosyllabic and super sian tone – Doesn’t he get the HINT?!”)

Mr Weirdo : So where is it now?

Me : Republic Plaza

Mr Weirdo : Oh is it on XXth floor? (Trying to pull a fast one huh? He obviously knew where my office was and tried to pretend that he didnt?! Alarm bells ringing!!)

Me : Yes.

Mr Weirdo : Ok I want to know what you are selling now.

Me : Same thing as last time. No change.

Mr Weirdo : I want to know what’s your latest projects. I will put you down on my calendar at 3pm. I will come to your office.

Me : Sorry. I have a contract signing appointment at 3pm. I’m not free.

Mr Weirdo : Ok I will come at 4pm.

Me : I may not be finished by 4pm. (Oh Wow! This is the first time, someone is so desperate (drop dead desperate) to invest with me and I’m turning him away.)

Mr Weirdo : I will call you.

Me : …….

17 March Monday 4pm

He really called my hp!! I refused to pick it up and sent the number to my iphone block list. I was trying very hard to clear all my work so that I could meet my hot date for dinner!

Then my office phone rang.

My HR manager called me,”Zhiwei, are you expecting someone here at 4pm?? There’s someone here to see you.”

OMFG! He actually showed up at my office!! I decided to allocate 15 precious minutes to send him away. So, resignedly, I walked to the reception…

Eh… he’s not there wor.  Phew!

My HR manager asked me, “There’s this weirdo by the name of Adams Chew.  He showed us your namecard and told us that you are meeting him at 4pm.  Do you know him?”

Me : Noooo! He just called me out of the blue and sounded desperate to invest with me!

HR : Anyway, I told him that if you are meeting him, you would have been waiting for him at the reception.  I sent him away and told him that you were not in the office. (At this, my eyes were filled with tears of gratitude.) By the way, this is not the first time that he’s been here.”

Me : Nooo?? (And the saga unfolds.)

HR : He was here last week to look for E and W.  He asked E to give him $50 and refused to leave.  In the end, E gave him a scolding and sent him off.  He also stalked W outside the office.

Me : Fwah!!! I have been saved!! Gam Sia Gam Sia!

And so, I thought that’s the end of it.  Having blocked his calls and all.

Then I saw on my brother’s facebook that he met a weirdo.  We crossed references and found out that it was the same guy!!! What’s he doing?! Calling all the investment consultants in Singapore?

He posted a blog post on his encounter. After that, friends did CSI and sent me his picture.

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I forwarded the picture to my HR manager who sent it to the receptionists so that they could keep a lookout for this dodgy character.

18 March Tues

I had a blissful call free Tuesday from him.

Apparently, after my brother left him high and dry without paying for his lunch at Coffee Club, he called my colleague W to go down to pay for his lunch?! I’m not sure if he’s bonkers or what.  Anyway, ICA, please look out for him.  He may try to gatecrash the JB customs again like the rest who pleaded insanity.

19 March Wed 950am

I was in the sales area, just minutes from a project launch.  I received a “no caller id” call and took it. And his voice boomed out at me! He’s become smarter.  He must have known I blocked his call and called me from another number!

Mr Weirdo : I came and look for you on Monday, your receptionist said you left the office?

Me : Yes. I was out of office.

Mr Weirdo : Ok I will come and look for you at 11am.

Me : Sorry I’m busy.

Mr Weirdo : What time are you free?

Me : Why do you want to meet up with me?

Mr Weirdo : I want to know about your new projects.

Me : You have already tried to contact my colleagues so you already know about the new projects.  There’s nothing new for me to share with you. Besides I have many clients and I am already very busy.  I have no time to take on new clients.

Mr Weirdo : ….

Meanwhile, all the associates in the sales area were staring at me with their mouths open. Hmm… This one arh! So atas! Turn away clients!! Waaaa!!! Sigh… If only they knew the full story….

*Pat myself on my back* You’d think this is the end right?! Noooooo….

19 March Wed 11am

Received SOS from HR manager.  The receptionists sounded the alert when they realised that Mr Weirdo walked into the office, looking for E.  We had an event at 12 noon. And he had self invited himself for the event, giving the excuse that E invited him and that he would come back at 12 noon again.

So our big boss (my hero!) decided to end the nonsense once and for all, instructed the receptionists to put him in a secluded room to “Pia zui”! No lar.. just kidding.

19 March Wed 12 noon

He appeared on the dot. We were all summoned to the room while the big boss had it out with him.  He stuck to his story about having a lot of money locked up in Uk and wanted E to give him $600 to unlock the funds so that he can invest with us, and all the shit etc.

Big Boss told him to stop harassing us, to stop asking us to go and pay for his lunch or to ask for $600 etc. And that, if he comes again, we will call the police.  And then he was escorted to the lift.  He loitered around the lift lobby and refused to press the button. ICA take note hor. Potential customs breach. E helpfully pressed the button for him to summon the lift up.

Meanwhile, all of us lined up at the door to send him off.  The associates thought we were expecting some VVIP because the big boss was there personally at the door.

FWAH! Talk about Tw drama saga. This is real life ok!!!! Anyway, hope that this is the end of it.

Meanwhile, take note of this and BEWARE!!!

19 march wed 140pm

I was retelling my brother what happened…

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Weaning off Breastmilk – Almond Milk

Weaning off Breastmilk – Almond Milk

My target for breastfeeding 小小宝贝 was 12 months. He’s now 14 months old. Hmm… Seems like I’ve exceeded expectations (in corporate terms ?). Anyway the breastmilk has been dwindling and he’s deriving more nutrients from solids than BM anyway. So it’s more like a good to have but not a necessity.

And it’s more of an emotional connection for me. It’s great to feel needed. ☺️That’s why I’ve been delaying the weaning. For 宝贝 I wasn’t given a choice. She refused to latch on after I was away for one week. We will see how it goes for him.

I’ve reduced my pumping to just 12 noon lunch time and evening 6pm.

Due to experiences with 宝贝’s food allergies and eczema, I’ve been reading up a lot on nutrition, diet and whathaveyous. So instead of formula milk (cow’s milk) which has a lot of additives, I’ve decided to go with plant milk, almond milk.

Although it’s low in fats, but it’s extremely high in calcium and other forms of nutrients. In fact, even higher than animal milk. Fats can be easily replaceable through other food.

The only concern is – is he allergic to almond which falls under the high allergenic group, nuts.

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I bought this from Iherb, original, unsweetened almond milk.

I tried it myself… Eh! Quite nice!!

So I gave both of them some, in the morning. In case allergy develops, I’ve time to bring him to the clinic for anti histamine.

And guess what, both of them were fighting to drink it. Good news!!! After 3 days, it’s been confirmed that he’s not allergic to almonds. Time to try other nuts which are full of wonderful stuff! ??

The bad news is, Iherb discontinued this right after I bought my first packet. Sheesh!

So it’s off to cold storage to buy the expensive Silk brand almond milk. $15 per packet.

Food diary summary

My homemade almond milk recipe

The Digital Age is HERE!

The Digital Age is HERE!

When we were choosing locks for our doors, before the renovation, I was fiddling with the digital locks at the shop.

“It’d be so cool to have one of these!!! Look! Fingerprint!!” I said wistfully as I played with the locks.
“$1000 each lock leh! Already busting the Reno budget!”
Sigh… So that was the end of the story.

I hate, hate, hate the basement lock. That’s where we enter the house if we drive. And usually it means that we will have our hands full with bags, groceries, carrying children AND we still have to fumble for the keys.

Ok maybe it’s just ME! My hub has never had any problem with locating his keys. I just keep misplacing them. Heck! I even misplace my car! Ok ok that’s yet another story. Let’s not start there.

It was so bad that I ordered everyone not to lock that particular door if I wasn’t home yet. Everyone left the door unlocked, EXCEPT my hub. I swear he’s doing it on purpose so that I’d learn the importance of keeping my keys at the same place in my huge bag. But it’s sheer torture!!! I contemplated hiding his keys one day so that he’d know the feeling of not being able to get in!!! Must make sure that he’s holding like 10 bags at that time!!! Muahahah! My secret torture fantasy.

One fine day, I saw Fred’s Facebook post “Yale digital lock on promotion!!” Yes!!! Probably the universe has received the numerous signals I’ve been fervently sending out.

Mai tu Liao!! I called him to order the lock!!!

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Here it is!!!! I fingerprinted the whole family and dumped my keys…somewhere. Except my hub’s prints. Well he was at work when the lock was installed. He had to scream for help. Really made my day!!! *evil cackle*

Now, if only there’s a way to get rid of my car key too… Hmm…. Any car that locks by fingerprint???

Then I can go keyless!!! Bliss….

For now, this is good enough!!!