Toilet Humour!
I came across this in a toilet in Manchester, UK. It was stuck on the lid of the toilet bowl.
That’s my shadow there. Haha. The cubicle was just too narrow to avoid that.
That’s a fine English toilet humour there! Lol!
Carpe Diem! Seize the Day! Make Your Lives Extraordinary!
It just so happened that when I opened my Facebook this morning, the first piece of news that I read was the death of Robin Williams. Initially I thought it was a hoax (some bo Liao people start death hoaxes about celebrities all the time) and I googled about it. To my dismay, the major news channels were reporting it.
“The world has lost a great actor” was the headlines of most news articles (with slight variations). I grew up with Robin Williams’ movies. It was during my “age of freedom” (the beginning of the time when parental approval was freely given to go out with my friends) so I watched a lot of movies and that was the peak of Robin Williams’ acting career. As a result, I watched a lot of his movies, from comedies to inspirational ones.
My favourite Robin Williams’ movie would have to be “Dead Poets Society”.
I love his rousing performance as John Keatings who inspired his students to think, to feel, to live! Perhaps it was because I could identify with the impressionable youths as I was one myself at that time. It was exhilarating to see a literature teacher being so unconventional (I was petrified by my very fierce English teacher at that time. I hope she’s not reading this…). It also helped a lot that the movie had some really good looking actors. I was quite enamoured with Ethan Hawke at that time.
Although when I watched the movie again as an adult, I felt that he was not being totally responsible by being too extreme.
Nevertheless, the movie was inspiring enough that vivid scenes reappear in my mind at the mention of Robin Williams or Dead Poets Society. That is, perhaps, one of the greatest gifts that Robin Williams has given me.
The most memorable scene :
I call it – standing on the table scene.
When John Keatings started standing on the table, reciting, “O Captain my captain!”
“Why do I stand up here? Anybody? I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way.” It’s almost as synonymous as Scout Finch “To kill a mockingbird” to wear that person’s shoes and walk around in it.
“Carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.”
And the final scene when all the boys started standing on the desks one by one, as John Keatings was leaving the school.
That was indeed a moment of courage and gratitude.
Other less well remembered quotes :
“I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.”
“Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Don’t be resigned to that. Break out!”
Thank you Robin Williams for delivering the lessons of life through your movies. Rest in Peace.
101 Sleeping Positions – Position #3
I haven’t been posting 小小宝贝’s quirky sleeping positions. So here goes.
He started off sleeping in an orthodox manner – head on small pillow, feet pointing towards the bottom of the bed.
At this moment –
There were a few transitional positions before he arrived at this one. He was virtually going 360° on the bed. Mind you, it’s a king sized bed. And the “debris” strewn all over the bed due to his cartwheeling moments.
Now he’s ended up on my side of the bed with his “dirty” feet on my pillow. Hmpf!
Just have to kick him back to his side of the bed.
My sweetie sleeping soundly. Poor little guy’s battle scars from a recent mosquito attack. I’ll miss him sorely when I transfer him to 宝贝’s room. But we need our bed back!
宝贝 – Being Reprimanded!
Me : (one hand lifting 小小宝贝’s poo-encrusted bum off the soiled diaper, the other hand trying to pull a stubborn wipe from its container) 宝贝 can you come and help me with this??
宝贝 : (very obligingly) ok. I’m coming. (As she was holding on to the container so that I could pull the wipes out) Mama do you know why it’s so difficult to pull the wipes out??
Me : no, why? (Expecting some scientific revelation)
宝贝 : (in a parental reprimanding tone) it’s because you lost your temper this morning and you threw it across the room. That’s why it’s like that. You must stop throwing things.
Me : (feeling very guilty and much chastised) orh. I mustn’t do that again.
宝贝 : It’s ok Mama. Just don’t do it again.
Ha! Caught you! Ya.. It’s a tale of the mother being reprimanded by the daughter. I need to keep a rein on my temper. Aside from that, 宝贝 has the makings of a top grade mom.
Singapore – This is Home Truly!
9th August – This day, every year, I feel proudest to be a Singaporean. This is the day when all political parties set aside their differences and celebrate as one country.
This is the day the whole nation waves flags at the national day parade or sits glued to the television watching the live telecast. (Oh and the day you find the social media filled with proud declarations of Singaporeans!)
On this day, everyone waits for the arrival of our MM Lee Kwan Yew and cheers exuberantly as his face appears on the screen. I look forward to see him for more years to come! Yes! Call me a LKY die-hard fan for he’s truly an enigma and has worked relentlessly with his comrades til today to propel Singapore to what we are today!
9th August is the day when I look back and be thankful that
– I was born in this country where everyone, regardless of race or gender, is given an opportunity to receive education and to excel if one truly works hard.
– I can walk safely (still with vigilance) at most times of the day, free from fear of war.
– I can travel to many countries in the world easily without the need of applying for a visa.
– I can arrive at Changi Airport close to midnight and still marvel at the life, vibrancy and efficiency of a world class airport.
– when I see the homeless in developed and developing countries, Singaporeans have basic shelters over their heads.
– when friends from overseas complain about their social welfare system supporting parasites who refuse to work, simply because of the generous dole payout, to know that Singaporeans still strive to support themselves. Although I do acknowledge that more can be done to help the ones who have slipped through the holes of social aid.
So, everyday, while we bitch and complain about our jams, mrt breakdowns, expensive car and home ownership, I still look forward to the first glimpse of the Changi control tower as the plane flies towards Singapore.
This is where my family and friends are. This is home, truly.
Mama I have a BAD Headache!
宝贝 had a slight temperature in the afternoon so I dosed her with paracetamol before her nap.
Tossing and turning on her bed…
宝贝 : Mama, I’ve a very BAD headache!
Me : Really?! (Took her temperature with the thermometer) no. It’s only 37.0°C. No fever.
宝贝 : (giving me a very agonized look) but… I have a headache! I need the pink medicine.
Me : (looked at her suspiciously) you can’t drink that unless you have a fever.
宝贝 : It’s my favourite medicine!!! (She wailed)
Me : It’s not fruit juice ok!!! Ok ok, I’ll take your temperature later. If it goes up, I’ll wake you up to drink the medicine.
宝贝 : What time are you taking my temperature? (Looked at me hopefully)
Me : 12:00
宝贝 : so late?! 11:00 ok ok???
Me : =.=”
Did she think that I’m a 3 year old?! Her intention was so obvious!
Don’t understand why she’s so gian Peng to drink the fever medicine…. ?
Sunday Morning Snapshot – Giant Snail!
Sunday. Rain. ?cool weather.
Lounging at the dining area, watching the raindrops ? splitter splatter on the balcony, when we spotted a brown patch on the wall.
It’s huge! Check out its size in proportion to the plastic milk bottles on the bottom of the picture!!
There were lots of squealing and exclamations ⚠️⚠️. Because we are a bunch of suaku urbanites. Even though my childhood was spent catching tadpoles, grasshoppers and other-unnamable-bugs in the gardens, I haven’t seen such a huge snail. The ones I’ve seen were usually half its size or flattened ones.
Check out a close up shot of it! What a beauty!! Ok ok it’s not exactly a masterpiece shot. I was carrying a wriggling 小小宝贝 (who happens to weigh 11kg and was excitedly waving his arms and gesturing at the snail) with my left arm, and trying to snap Mr. Snail from an awkward angle so that it’s not against the light. So, ya, that’s the result of it.
One of the little things to appreciate in life. Taking time off to smell the roses and snapping snails.
Coincidentally, 宝贝 and I are in the midst of reading this book – the snail and the whale.
A fine good read by the same author who wrote the award winning “Gruffalo”. Beautifully illustrated with a simple yet thought provoking storyline and wonderful rhyming words. How a whale brought a little snail on an adventure around the world and how that tiny spelling snail eventually saved the life of the huge whale.
Moral of the story : Spelling is important. Every creature counts, even small little ones.
Dyshidrotic Eczema
It all started with a few tiny blisters on my palms and my soles. Just mildly irritating but nothing more than that. I started getting worried when more appeared.
The last time I had this, it was HFMD (hand foot mouth disease). But… none of my children was down with it this time. And I had neither fever nor sore throat (well, I did lose my voice and it’s still hoarse because I overused my voice box. Over 10 hours of continuous usage with little chances of water drinking. I need to give myself a gag order!! ?) This time I couldn’t have been so suay or “cannot make it” to get it when no child in the household had it, right?! *rolls eyes*
I googled (no one uses the word “search” anymore. Google has pulverized the usage of search. Even 宝贝 says,”Mama if you don’t know anything, just google loh!!” ?) on the symptoms – red rash, impossibly itchy, blisters on palms and feet soles. The search results turned up with hfmd but only if it’s accompanied with fever and sore throat. Or else it’s dyshidrotic eczema.
Gosh! How I hate this word eczema. It’s been plaguing me (because 宝贝 has it) for years and years. It’s probably due to something I ate. But I’ve been eating all kinds of food everyday so it’s kind of hard to pinpoint it.
I have this once every few years. The last time I had it was probably 5-6 years ago. So rightly, I should be very thankful that it’s so occasional.
I just have to endure the itch and pinprick pains when the little blisters combine. The dastardly things don’t itch in the day, but torment me at night!!! I can now totally empathize with 宝贝 now when she scratches her arms. It’s unbearable for me, as an adult and I’ve pretty high tolerance for pain and itch.
It’s been more than a week. Some of the early blisters have dried up yet new ones have been appearing. They have started to spread to the back of my hand.
It appears to be healing though. I pop the occasional antihistamine when it gets unbearable and I’ve hijacked 宝贝’s supply of anti itch sprays and creams.
Once all the blisters have dried up, the skin will flake and peel off.
So looking forward to that day.
I promise I’ll henceforth, stop giving 宝贝 the frown and impatient look, tsk at her, “ooi! Stop scratching leh!!” On the bright side, maybe I got it so that I can live through for a few weeks of what she’s gone through for years.
She gently takes my hand and strokes it. “Mama if it’s itchy, tell me ok?” Then smiles empathetically with her Bambi eyes. In that very moment, I’m the most fortunate mother on earth and yet I’m so humbled. She will make a better Mom than I am in future. That’s my darling girl…
Ming Ming’s Diary – Singapore Roll!
I woke up nice and bright this morning!! Mr Sun was up late though. This Mr Sun is getting lazy, making Mr Moon work overtime. Tsk tsk. But it’s ok, when Ming Ming is up, everyone gets up too.
??? Wakey Wakey everyone! Rise and “shine”!!
Eh eh! Mama! Wake up! *nudge nudge* Papa!!! 起来！
Hmmppffrr!! I’m being ignored!!! ??? *Papa’s snores*
No one ignores Ming Ming!! This calls for drastic measures!! ?
So I rolled..
On Mama! Mama shouted “what the heck?!” Hee hee! Then I rolled…
And rolled…
On Papa. I was rewarded with a “ooh!!”
And yes! Everyone has woken up. Morning call folks!! ✌️
What?? Too early?? Only 5am? Oh ok! Everyone please go back to bed again.
Ming Ming’s Diary – The Early Bird Catches the Phone!
The early bird catches the worm. Some people (who try so hard to be funny, unlike me. I’m a naturally funny baby) will say “that’s provided you are not the worm.”
Anyway I’m very sure that I’m the extremely cute early bird. Everyone else is still zz in the house. The whole house is mine!! Mine!!! Muahahah! And guess what I’ve found!!!
A Samsung phone!!! It even has my picture on it!! It’s meant to be mine. Most have been a belated birthday present (ppssst! My birthday is on 4 jan. I accept presents for my next birthday. ☺️)
Now I don’t have to borrow Mama’s phone to update my blog. I’ve my own phone now.
This blog updating is serious matter. *press press*
Hang on! Why am I in pink?? Mama why did you dress me in pink?? I told all my girlfriends in school about my blog URL. Now they are all going to see me in pink! Omg!!! How am I going to Kao girls from now on?? *face palm*
Nnnooooooo!!!! Take it off!!!
Hmmpphh! I’m not Mr Pink!!