Lord, thank you for the opporunity for Nars to be with her mother. Father, we plead the blood of Jesus over her doors and windows that no demonic spirit may come into this home where Your Spirit resides. Bless her children, protect her soul from deception, protect her ears from the entisement of the enemy. Let your love and light shine through the darkness and accomplish it's work. May her mother be useful to the kingdom, in Jesus name.
Thank you, BK!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Maid's gone
The Day Before
Where's Mum?
Day 1 - Tuesday
Maid can't stay
Decision was very clear last night from Mum's outburst that maid had to go. While my plan was for her to leave at the end of the month after the kids' SA2 (and thus give me some time to find a new maid), I realised that I couldn't wait till then. The maid clearly heard what Mum said last night. She was very quiet after the outburst last night and again this morning, going about her work with extra diligence and some sniffles. I guessed she knew. I was also afraid, in a sense, 'cos she might be mentally unstable with handling what Mum accused her of, whether it was true or not, only Mum and maid both know. I wasn't keen on leaving kids alone with the maid, especially Tiff 'cos she's younger. So I cancelled my meetings and stayed on. I finally told her about 11 in the morning when Tiff was having lunch that she had to go. She cried, of course. I told her, she had to pack and that the agent would come pick her up at 1.30pm. In the meantime, I called various agencies half-heartedly. I was in a daze too.
Day 2 - Wednesday
Buying the kick-scooter
ATM out of order.
Found the maid
Day 3 - Thursday
Chinese Tuition
Rushing to the maid agency
Dinner
After I fetched the kids from school, I brought them to Crazy Angmor to eat western food. Decided to give them a treat for having to eat out every meal and to thank them for being so understanding and helping me out with household chores without being asked. Toby had juicy cheese burger with mashed potato (4.90), Tiff had fish and chips (6.50) and I had chicken chop with mashed potato and poke egg (5.90); total 17.30. They enjoyed the meal even though the burger was very peppery. I think next time we'll order 2 meals and share since we couldn't finish the food. Happily fed, kids scooted back on both scooters. The new one is very nice since the wheels lit with blue and red lights when moving.
Day 4 - Friday
Sis to the rescue
Had to be in office this afternoon and had a call at 11am. What this meant was that I had to arrange for Toby to stay back and I had to find a way out for Tiffy's lunch. Sis offered to pick Toby up from school as she was on half-day but I asked Toby if he would take a bus from school to the bus-stop outside Sis' place and her maid would come out and fetch him after picking up Ash. He happily agreed. For lunch, Tiff and I went at 10.30 to the coffeeshop opposite to buy lunch back to eat. We took 10mins to get there, running part of the way. Chose ready-cooked food (just pick and pack) and we went back, arriving less than 5mins before the call started. Tiff ate lunch while I had the call. I ate a few mouthfuls while putting the call on speaker mode. After the call ended about 12.05, we rushed to prepare for school (bringing laundry in, close windows, change, pack etc). Brought Tiff to school and reminded her to be at the front porch so that Toby can find her when Sis+BIL come to pick them up this evening. Thereafter they'll be with Sis till she sends them back about 9pm. I gave Tiff a set of house keys since I would still be at cell.
Day 6 - Saturday
The trap
I was very upset when I discovered it. Balanced on the little kerb at the bathroom door and leaning against the door. Why did she have to do this?
Day 7 - Sunday
Will Mum cook dinner?
I was wondering about this from few days back. Would she sulk and refuse? There are so many conflicting thoughts going through my head till Sis messaged me on Saturday morning before she flew off. Imagine, Sis is flying off to work on Saturday and still thinking of us so early in the morning. Anyway, BIL came with 3 nieces and maid for chicken porridge. During this dinner, Mum claimed she cooked "douya" and not "bean sprouts". Anyone care to explain the difference to me? This is even more mind-boggling than "ownership" vs "responsibility".
Day 9 - Monday
Need to be in the office in the afternoon
I thought this would be another day of rushing about with a call 10-1030 and 11-12, meaning we had a 30min window to rush out to buy lunch like last week. Thank God the 11am call was postponed and we didn't have to rush. It started to rain heavily though and it was so cold that Tiffy brought the Rafflesia cape. We walked out in the rain to go for lunch at 1120 and had Char Siew rice at the Butter-chair coffeeshop. Since Mum's birthday is on Thursday, we went over to Prima Deli and placed an order for a blueberry cake. 500g, $22 before UOB credit card 10% discount. I like discounts. Tiffy chose a rainbow and choc rice bun ($1.20) for recess making the total $21 which is still lesser than the original $22. We walked to the back gate and met a little girl Fahar who didn't have an umbrella. Amused her with the '1 Pear'. Tiffy walked off talking to her new friend and I went to work. Slept on the bus. Thank God for long journeys when I can sleep on the bus.
Almost late
I arrived early for the 2-5pm meeting. Had a brief discussion with HH and we went for the meeting. What was supposed to be a short meeting, ended at 5.24 and me rushing to pack up and catch the next 506. 506 comes at 15min intervals and the peak had just started. With traffic building up, I might not be able to reach school in time to pick up kids at 6.35pm. Though there was no rain, the average speed was like 50km/h on the PIE, typical peak hour. I was worried but so tired that I fell asleep and woke up a few stops before school (thank God!). Checked phone and realised that I was early, yeah! Alighted from the bus at 6.28pm, knitted for a few minutes before they came out. I'd planned to leave office earlier so that I could bring the kick-scooters but, well, plans are plans. Kids wanted to go to 'Crazy Angmor' but I had a 7.30pm call. We went for prawn noodles instead - kids having the normal and me having the fried tanghoon with prawns. Lady there was so amused by the kids' ordering of food, especially with Tiffy. We shared a Kickapoo so total cost of dinner $3x3 + $1.20 = $10.20. We got home by 7.25pm for the call.
Day 10 - Tuesday
Agent confirmed last night that the maid would be coming on Wed night. Somehow, I'm no estatic about as I thought I'd be. To me, it's a whole new set of problems. Would the maid be able to cope? Did she lie about her abilities? Will I be able to trust her? Will Mum chase this maid away too? I know I should lay all these at the foot of the cross. Especially so, since I'm not able to do anything about it. But I'm human, I worry.
Day 11 - Wednesday
Sis to the rescue again
Praying that maid will be fine
This is the day when the maid's expected to arrive. After 8pm, the agent said.
Where's Mum?
Day 1 - Tuesday
Maid can't stay
Decision was very clear last night from Mum's outburst that maid had to go. While my plan was for her to leave at the end of the month after the kids' SA2 (and thus give me some time to find a new maid), I realised that I couldn't wait till then. The maid clearly heard what Mum said last night. She was very quiet after the outburst last night and again this morning, going about her work with extra diligence and some sniffles. I guessed she knew. I was also afraid, in a sense, 'cos she might be mentally unstable with handling what Mum accused her of, whether it was true or not, only Mum and maid both know. I wasn't keen on leaving kids alone with the maid, especially Tiff 'cos she's younger. So I cancelled my meetings and stayed on. I finally told her about 11 in the morning when Tiff was having lunch that she had to go. She cried, of course. I told her, she had to pack and that the agent would come pick her up at 1.30pm. In the meantime, I called various agencies half-heartedly. I was in a daze too.
Day 2 - Wednesday
Buying the kick-scooter
ATM out of order.
Found the maid
Day 3 - Thursday
Chinese Tuition
Rushing to the maid agency
Dinner
After I fetched the kids from school, I brought them to Crazy Angmor to eat western food. Decided to give them a treat for having to eat out every meal and to thank them for being so understanding and helping me out with household chores without being asked. Toby had juicy cheese burger with mashed potato (4.90), Tiff had fish and chips (6.50) and I had chicken chop with mashed potato and poke egg (5.90); total 17.30. They enjoyed the meal even though the burger was very peppery. I think next time we'll order 2 meals and share since we couldn't finish the food. Happily fed, kids scooted back on both scooters. The new one is very nice since the wheels lit with blue and red lights when moving.
Day 4 - Friday
Sis to the rescue
Had to be in office this afternoon and had a call at 11am. What this meant was that I had to arrange for Toby to stay back and I had to find a way out for Tiffy's lunch. Sis offered to pick Toby up from school as she was on half-day but I asked Toby if he would take a bus from school to the bus-stop outside Sis' place and her maid would come out and fetch him after picking up Ash. He happily agreed. For lunch, Tiff and I went at 10.30 to the coffeeshop opposite to buy lunch back to eat. We took 10mins to get there, running part of the way. Chose ready-cooked food (just pick and pack) and we went back, arriving less than 5mins before the call started. Tiff ate lunch while I had the call. I ate a few mouthfuls while putting the call on speaker mode. After the call ended about 12.05, we rushed to prepare for school (bringing laundry in, close windows, change, pack etc). Brought Tiff to school and reminded her to be at the front porch so that Toby can find her when Sis+BIL come to pick them up this evening. Thereafter they'll be with Sis till she sends them back about 9pm. I gave Tiff a set of house keys since I would still be at cell.
Day 6 - Saturday
The trap
I was very upset when I discovered it. Balanced on the little kerb at the bathroom door and leaning against the door. Why did she have to do this?
Day 7 - Sunday
Will Mum cook dinner?
I was wondering about this from few days back. Would she sulk and refuse? There are so many conflicting thoughts going through my head till Sis messaged me on Saturday morning before she flew off. Imagine, Sis is flying off to work on Saturday and still thinking of us so early in the morning. Anyway, BIL came with 3 nieces and maid for chicken porridge. During this dinner, Mum claimed she cooked "douya" and not "bean sprouts". Anyone care to explain the difference to me? This is even more mind-boggling than "ownership" vs "responsibility".
Day 9 - Monday
Need to be in the office in the afternoon
I thought this would be another day of rushing about with a call 10-1030 and 11-12, meaning we had a 30min window to rush out to buy lunch like last week. Thank God the 11am call was postponed and we didn't have to rush. It started to rain heavily though and it was so cold that Tiffy brought the Rafflesia cape. We walked out in the rain to go for lunch at 1120 and had Char Siew rice at the Butter-chair coffeeshop. Since Mum's birthday is on Thursday, we went over to Prima Deli and placed an order for a blueberry cake. 500g, $22 before UOB credit card 10% discount. I like discounts. Tiffy chose a rainbow and choc rice bun ($1.20) for recess making the total $21 which is still lesser than the original $22. We walked to the back gate and met a little girl Fahar who didn't have an umbrella. Amused her with the '1 Pear'. Tiffy walked off talking to her new friend and I went to work. Slept on the bus. Thank God for long journeys when I can sleep on the bus.
Almost late
I arrived early for the 2-5pm meeting. Had a brief discussion with HH and we went for the meeting. What was supposed to be a short meeting, ended at 5.24 and me rushing to pack up and catch the next 506. 506 comes at 15min intervals and the peak had just started. With traffic building up, I might not be able to reach school in time to pick up kids at 6.35pm. Though there was no rain, the average speed was like 50km/h on the PIE, typical peak hour. I was worried but so tired that I fell asleep and woke up a few stops before school (thank God!). Checked phone and realised that I was early, yeah! Alighted from the bus at 6.28pm, knitted for a few minutes before they came out. I'd planned to leave office earlier so that I could bring the kick-scooters but, well, plans are plans. Kids wanted to go to 'Crazy Angmor' but I had a 7.30pm call. We went for prawn noodles instead - kids having the normal and me having the fried tanghoon with prawns. Lady there was so amused by the kids' ordering of food, especially with Tiffy. We shared a Kickapoo so total cost of dinner $3x3 + $1.20 = $10.20. We got home by 7.25pm for the call.
Day 10 - Tuesday
Agent confirmed last night that the maid would be coming on Wed night. Somehow, I'm no estatic about as I thought I'd be. To me, it's a whole new set of problems. Would the maid be able to cope? Did she lie about her abilities? Will I be able to trust her? Will Mum chase this maid away too? I know I should lay all these at the foot of the cross. Especially so, since I'm not able to do anything about it. But I'm human, I worry.
Day 11 - Wednesday
Sis to the rescue again
Praying that maid will be fine
This is the day when the maid's expected to arrive. After 8pm, the agent said.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Kids' Names
Toby and Tiffy have many alternate names like
- Darling and Sweet
- Sunnybunny and Funnybunny - can't remember how this started. Toby calls his sis, Funnybunny.
- Bucky and Barky - this originated from Tiff when she returned to Sakae Sushi after washing her hands and said, I'm Bucky (I'm back, in kiddy language). We started calling her Bucky and she then gave Toby a new name, Barky (pronounced Barrrrrky)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Kids are breaking my heart
Maid left yesterday when agent picked her up about 2pm. She had to go 'cos mum kicked up such a fuss that I couldn't keep the maid and I'm now left stranded with many loose ends to tie up. With so much on my mind, the kids .... started making me cry
- Toby's in the morning session and Tiffy's in the afternoon. Usually I bring Toby to school and Tiffy's still sleeping at home. Now that the maid's gone, there's no one to be at home with Tiffy and she's only 7. So I asked Toby if he would go to school on his own and he said this : Mummy, I'll leave later, about 6.45 instead of 6.30, because there will be more people then. This was in response to my asking him to cross the roads with the other people. In the end, I decided to wake Tiffy and we'll all go to school together.
- Tiffy, after breakfast, decided to go prepare what to bring for recess later. She chose watermelon and packed the last few cubes into her lunchbox and went to wash up the container that was empty. She couldn't reach the draining shelf and climbed up to put it there. She also filled the glass teapot with water from the WTS so that there'll be room temperature water for her water-bottle and for us to drink.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Prayer for me
Abba Father, i pray that you build a wall around Nars hse such that the smoke doesnt go into her hse. you are our Heavenly Father who hears all our prayers even for such little matters as long as it bothers us. Thank you Abba Father. Amen!
Thank you, SL!
Thank you, SL!
Holiday Plans
We're going to Hong Kong with Mum and Sis. The last time I was there was before Toby was born. Am thinking what else to do besides that trip. Spoke to TnT and told them about the Sentosa chalet costing $200/night. Why it's almost as high as a hotel stay on the mainland, I do not know. So the choice was 2 nights ($400) or 1 night ($200) or no stay. No stay means we'll take the $400 and spend it in other ways, possibly
Event Calendars
- Sentosa chalet - $200/night
- Cable Car (return trip) - $12.90 (A), $7.50 (C) - $$27.90
- Singapore flyer - $29.50 (A), $20.65 (C) - $70.80 (total)
- movie - I still have 10 tickets from the NDP promotion. That would be 2 trips to Eng Wah for us with Belle and Ash.
- Duck tour - $33 (A), $17 (C) - $67 (total)
- Zoo (admission with tram ride) - $23 (A), $9 (C) - $41 (total)
- Zoo (Park hopper 2-in-1) - $30 (A), $15 (C) - $60 (total)
- Zoo (Park hopper 3-in-1) - $40 (A), $20 (C) - $80 (total)
- Science Centre - multiple entries since we now have membership
- Tinkerer's Lab
- West Coast park
- Jacob Ballas Children's Garden
- Children's Technology Workshop
- Kranji Countryside
- Nature activities by Cicada Tree
- eXplorerkid
- Hotel Equatorial Melaka
- Crystal Jade $20
- Swensen's $20
- Sakae Sushi $30
- Popular Bookstore $40
- Passion Card - Underwater World, Singapore Flyer, Sentosa Luge & Skyride
- Island Cruise (Package A - Island cruise, river cruise) - $22
- Island Cruise (Package B - Island cruise, river cruise, Duck tours) - $50
Event Calendars
- Uniquely Singapore
- ArtReach - outreach and community programs by National Arts Council
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Toby had chest pains
Tiffy and I picked Toby up from his classmate's birthday party at 7.30pm after our dinner at Mayim. He mentioned then that he had a stomach ache but not the type that he needed to go to the toilet. More like gastric he said. But he was hunched over, walking so slowly while clutching his chest with one hand. He also said he wanted to throw up. We waited beside a drain but he didn't vomit. As we walked, he shuffled along and still had a hand on his chest. We sat at a bench by the road and as I prayed for him, a passer-by even asked if he was ok.
There were no cabs when we were. I had only a $10 note in my purse. When we managed to get a cab, I dug out some more coins to be able to pay. We rushed to KKH A&E. Clinics nearby were closed and I wasn't sure how far Toby could walk with the pain he was feeling. On the way, I SMSed for prayer from my cell group.
KKH A&E Triage was pretty fast, we were attended to almost immediately. The nurse arranged for an ECG (result : normal). The doc (Patsy Chow) came over and mentioned that she'd give him a painkiller after she observed tenderness when pressing gently on Toby's ribcage during physical examination. I can't quite remember what she said, something like, if the painkiller doesn't take away the pain, it could be something worse (what, I can't quite remember).
Toby was given brufen and we went for the x-ray.
Sis called and said she'd come and pick up Tiffy to bring her home. I updated my cell and ex (a father who couldn't be bothered to go to the hospital to see his son). The cartoons were a distraction to the long wait and anxiety.
Finally, when we saw the doc again after the x-ray (result : normal), she said, nothing conclusive but what she felt was that Toby had an inflammation of the cartilage. She wrote a letter for the family doc (I'm thinking of bring Toby to Chang clinic) for follow-up in a week and 2 wks of excuse from PE.
There were no cabs when we were. I had only a $10 note in my purse. When we managed to get a cab, I dug out some more coins to be able to pay. We rushed to KKH A&E. Clinics nearby were closed and I wasn't sure how far Toby could walk with the pain he was feeling. On the way, I SMSed for prayer from my cell group.
KKH A&E Triage was pretty fast, we were attended to almost immediately. The nurse arranged for an ECG (result : normal). The doc (Patsy Chow) came over and mentioned that she'd give him a painkiller after she observed tenderness when pressing gently on Toby's ribcage during physical examination. I can't quite remember what she said, something like, if the painkiller doesn't take away the pain, it could be something worse (what, I can't quite remember).
Toby was given brufen and we went for the x-ray.
Sis called and said she'd come and pick up Tiffy to bring her home. I updated my cell and ex (a father who couldn't be bothered to go to the hospital to see his son). The cartoons were a distraction to the long wait and anxiety.
Finally, when we saw the doc again after the x-ray (result : normal), she said, nothing conclusive but what she felt was that Toby had an inflammation of the cartilage. She wrote a letter for the family doc (I'm thinking of bring Toby to Chang clinic) for follow-up in a week and 2 wks of excuse from PE.
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