I'm Going on a Bear Hunt

I've always loved the book  We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, as well as the song. When I was teaching Speech & Drama, I used to do that song activity with my kids, and they all LOVED it. Always had such fun with it. Fun and educational. Gotta love it!

So when I discovered that it was one of the productions in Kidsfest 2012, I decided that I simply had to go! Decided to book tickets for the 11th, and contacted cousin!G to see if he could get me the staff discount. To my very pleasant surprise, he got me complimentary tickets!

I figured that at 4 and a half, Neal is at the perfect age to be introduced to the story, since he didn't know it. Plus, he loves drama and has S&D as one of his kindergarten classes.

He loved it.

It was a fun and interactive performance, and most of the kids (and big kids!) really got into it. Neal is a really interesting audience member. Unlike most of the kids, who were loudly participating in the interaction, Neal just sat there with a really serious expression on his face. I was concerned that he wasn't enjoying himself, but the few whispered conversations we had convinced me otherwise. He was just being enthralled! But after the performance, he could reenact scenes, sing the songs and explain the story, so he was clearly just absorbing everything. He'd also picked up on set details that I'd completely missed!

We treated ourselves to cupcakes afterwards, then enjoyed a walk along Clarke Quay, followed by a lovely train ride all the way to Punggol, where we met the rest of the clan. All twelve of us (the clan minus Bro) went for seafood at Punggol Marina. Well, eleven and a half. Godson didn't eat the seafood, seeing as how he's only one year old. I did give him a taste of prawn though, and boy, did he love it!

There was SO MUCH FOOD. But oh so delicious. And all the food was so amazingly fresh! The only things I didn't eat were the crab (because I didn't feel like dealing with the mess) and the fish (because fish).

Hung out at Sis-V's place after that, and enjoyed cake and wine. And fun with the kiddies. Neal and Godson are sooo adorable together. When  Neal started throwing a cranky fit, he was crying for Godson, who then toddled over to him and cuddled him. Cuteness overload!

What a great day! Note to self: get book and CD out of bookshelf and let Neal read/listen to them.

We're going on a bear hunt; we're going to catch a big one!

Food & Sleep. Too Much of Both.

I'm glad this past weekend was a long one. Well, technically, I didn't get a long weekend, seeing as how I was in the office all day Saturday. Still, I had Monday off, which worked out really well.

On Sunday, we went to see a play by We Colour People, which is a non-profit theatre society. They've staged an annual production since 2008, and I started attending them in 2009. I adored the past two productions, and was looking forward to this year's. It was called SABOsTAGE, an improv comedy which was pretty much Whose Line, only with a local flavour. Although I do feel that improv has a long way to go in Singapore, on the parts of both actors and audience, I quite enjoyed this production.

After that, we adjourned to Newton Circus for Singaporeans' favourite hobby (well, after shopping and complaining, of course). Foodage! And oh my gosh, there was so much foodage. As is the case whenever BIL!S is around! His motto: "Don't think; just eat". And eat we did.

Barbecued chicken wings, oyster omelette aka or luak, barbecued stingray with lots of sambal, fried squid, mantou, which were lovely when dipped in the lala (clam) gravy, all washed down with sugarcane juice. Oh, and I think there were vegetables too, of which I didn't touch.

We were all stuffed! And we couldn't even think of dessert. Until the table was cleared. My family, being the OCD sufferers that we are, had to get the table cleared before we could relax. After that, all of a sudden, all of us had room for dessert! BIL!Mike and I shared a bottle of really, really cold beer, and there were bowls of ice kachang all round.

Good food, great conversation, excellent company. What a perfect way to spend a Sunday!

Finally got home about 1, where I vegged out on the couch while putering. Staggered upstairs to bed about half 3 in the am. Thank goodness Babygirl let me sleep in yesterday!

Wouldn't have made much of a different if I hadn't slept in.... instead of going to IKEA as previously planned, I ended up napping all afternoon, catching up on some much needed Zs.

Not sure how I managed to get to sleep last night, after having slept so much in the day, but I did sleep well. And woke up bright and early this morning for work. Got to the office at 7!

Of course...now I'm started to get tired again...

London Itinerary

My itinerary is filling up fast! I've scheduled a few things that are must-sees for me, and certain things are only on particular days and times. Plus, there are the things that I've made reservations for.

Yve and I have made reservations for afternoon tea at The Wolseley, so that's been blocked out on my schedule.

I've booked tickets to see Les Misérables, and I've been looking forward to that. Have wanted to see it for ages, and I'm finally going!

Neko shoots me a text today, to ask if I like musicals, and if I would watch Wicked. Turns out, she wanted to buy me a ticket for an early birthday present. Bless her heart, she bought me both the ticket AND dinner!

This is shaping up to be a brilliant holiday, and I'm not even packed!

3 sleeps to go before I fly, and I'm going now to cut that number down to 2.

Goodnight!

Rapturous Weekend

Went to see The Lion King with Mum yesterday, at the Sands Theatre. We left rather late, so it was a rush to get there. Thank goodness we made it on time, although I felt really bad about Mum having to hurry so much.

It was a brilliant production. Although the acting and singing were good, they didn't really blow me away. The set design was amazing, the costumes were breathtaking, and the orchestra was fantastic though, so I enjoyed myself tremendously. The most important thing is that Mum loved it, so mission accomplished!

I'll have to admit though, the theatre has a long way to go to achieve the kind of standards I'm used to, after going to the Esplanade so often. Although the foyer is quite opulent, and the theatre itself is huge and equipped with great technology, I think that the Front of House was nowhere near as professional and friendly. I did encounter one FOH personnel who was helpful and friendly, but the rest of them seemed... well, it just seemed as though they weren't trained enough. Hopefully they'll improve in time, but I was less than impressed.

We went to the food court after that. Now that place is pretty impressive, with loads of stalls. We might as well have gone to a restaurant though, for the prices of the food at the food court!

I did drop by the chocolate shop though, and picked up a couple bars for Mum and a bag of Revels for me. They're so nommy! But I've been quite disciplined lately, which means that I actually still have some more left! I just can't figure out which one I like best.

I enjoyed a wonderfully lazy Sunday today. I did bake brownies though! Half a tray for my home, quarter tray for Sister2, and the last quarter for Shoes, whom I'm seeing tomorrow.
They turned out pretty well, if I may say so myself!

It was quite amusing though. I measured out the brown and white sugar into a bowl. Then I sifted the flour and cocoa into another bowl. Then I opened the fridge to grab the butter...and realised that I didn't have enough. So I had to run to the shops to grab a block of butter, and decided to drop by my sister's place to pick up more chocolate chips. Because really, there's no such thing as too much chocolate.

Making brownies really is so fun with my Baker's Edge® All-Edge Brownie Pan. I have a ton of recipes to try out in that pan, I can barely wait.

I'm going to enjoy the rest of my weekend now, whatever's left of it. What a shame the Rapture didn't really happen yesterday. It just means I'll have to go in to work tomorrow after all.

Although I did have an apocalyptic dream last night, so perhaps it was an omen of things to come.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Woke up much later than I'd planned, which left me very little time to do all I needed to do.

Rushed to the shops for ingredients, and made my way home to start on brownies. Such an easy recipe, but what delicious brownies! Plus, I got to use my Baker's Edge® All-Edge Brownie Pan for the first time. What a great brownie pan! It really makes me want to bake so much more!

Also made Rice Krispies Treats, which are easy and quick, and everyone loves them.

Reason for my sudden baking spree? Picnic in the park, of course.
Went to see the Scottish play down at Fort Canning Park today with Missty and her mates.  (Everyone loved the brownies, yay!)
It was a pretty good production, all in all. It was a great set and the space was used really well, the lights were pretty well done, the sound was pretty good for an outdoor venue.

The acting though...the acting left much to be desired, I think. It doesn't help that I know the play really well, having read it for my GCE "O" Levels, and that I've seen other productions. Lady M is such a powerful character, and the actress playing her just wasn't of the calibre that Lady M deserves.
I usually love Adrian Pang in all his roles, but I do think that Shakespeare isn't quite his forte. He just didn't quite bring out the raving madman that Maccers had become by the end.

Verdict: It was a great way to spend an evening, but I was left with a vague sense of disappointment.

Got home, and the Ks were over (sans kids). Gave them some brownies (I made so many that we couldn't finish them all), and they loved them. When Foodie!BIL says they were good, it's high praise indeed!


I think I'll watch me an episode of QI before turning in. I just hope I can fall asleep, seeing as how I woke up so late today.


"Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep!"

Blackbird

Went to see Blackbird on Thursday, produced by the Singapore Repertory Theatre.

I am not talented enough to put into words just how amazing this play is. The synopsis, from Wikipedia:

At his workplace, 55-year-old Ray is shocked to be visited by a young woman, 27-year-old Una. 15 years earlier, when Una was only 12, the two had a sexual affair, for which Ray was arrested and imprisoned. He has managed to establish a reasonably successful new life under another name, but Una recognized him in a photograph and tracked him down.

Ray takes Una to the office break room, where the two engage in a long and difficult confrontation involving Una's continuing struggles to understand and come to terms with the affair and her intensely conflicting emotions. These rocket back and forth between anger, curiosity, confusion, and even a persistent attachment to Ray, whom Una loved and believed loved her. The fearful Ray parries her demanding questions and descriptions of her feelings and experiences, all the while uncertain of her intentions.


Daniel Jenkins, whom I first saw in The Pillowman (which totally blew my mind), plays Ray. I did expect quite a bit from him, and he delivered. Emma Yong played Una; I'd never seen anything she's done, so I had no idea what I could expect from her. Her performance astounded me.

The setting was simple; the dynamic, powerful.

Some parts of the play were rather strong triggers, which brought tears to my eyes. The build up for the first hour or so was slow, leading to a rather intense and harrowing climax which left me shaken and speechless.

I love that there were only two players; we only saw two other people with a few lines each. I love the use of space - it was a simple set on a small stage. The dialogue was well-written, and well played. It was one of the few plays that truly captivated me; it took quite a few minutes for me to come back to myself after the curtains fell.

Blackbird goes on my list of favourite plays, right up there with The Pillowman and Bent.

So much has been happening over the last few weeks. I feel as though I’ve barely had time to sleep!
I’ve been keeping myself busy with family, work and classes. The folks are doing well – kinda worried about Dad though. I wonder how his new job is going; I think I’ll talk to him tonight. Mum’s been busy with preparation for Calis’ birthday. She’s turning 23 in less than two weeks. It’s a huge deal for us – at least it is for me. There was once a time I didn’t think she’d make it this far. Calis continues to be the star in my life; as annoying and frustrating as she can be, I have no idea what I’d do without her. She’s just amazing, she really is, and never fails to make me smile and laugh.

Work has been...well, it’s been work. Great days, good days, bad days, I-want-to-shoot-myself-days... same old same old. I’m glad I’ve found such an interesting group to work with though. They’ve taught me a lot – about work, about office politics, and about myself. I’ve learnt to be a little more tolerant. Why, the same people and things that used to really annoy me don’t affect me as much anymore.
(All bets are off when I’m PMSing though...) I’m getting along better with certain people, and standing up to someone in particular...well, that’s resulted in him being a little more polite and respectful to me.

I can’t wait for the end of the project though. It’s been dragging on for so long, and I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. At this point, I wouldn’t mind if that light turns out to be a train; it would add a little excitement to the procedures!

Classes are going really well too – I’m having a blast with it! Meeting new people, getting closer to the people I’ve already met. No matter how tired I am at the end of the work day, going to class infuses me with a blast of energy. Trainer J is easy-going and friendly, never minds me joking around in class, even teases us for our individual quirks. She seems to really respect us as adults (which most of us are!), and treats us all the same, regardless of age, experience or ability. I really do like her, and had have a huge amount of respect for her.

I did consider taking up a Saturday module as well, so as to finish all the modules sooner. That would mean 3 classes a week, and a shitload of assignments to do per week. After careful consideration, I decided against it. It’s a shame that I won’t be done until the end of August, which puts a damper on summer vacation plans, but it’s better than stressing myself out, rushing through the assignments and ending up not doing as good a job as I’m actually capable of.

Haven’t really been socialising much, outside of colleagues and classmates, but I have found the time to catch up with friends now and again. There’s always the Geek Family – I tutor the oldest kid once a week, and the entire family entertains me in various ways. I have great conversations with kid’s grandmother (who knows my mum and grandmum from way back) and mother. Kid’s father is the resident geek, who provides me with my geekfix (aside from Doof, who always provides that anyway). And the kids? Oh wow, how do I even begin to describe the kids? They’re all SO MUCH FUN in their individual ways. I’m crazy about those kids, all four of them.

Had dinner on Wednesday with Bella Dee and Tenten; it was lovely to catch up with Bella after so long. After that, I watched The Tempest with Tenten, and it was brilliant. I hadn’t realised how many lines I’d actually remembered, until I watched it, and found myself mentally quoting the dialogue along with the actors. Good acting, interesting use of props and music, and altogether a most enjoyable evening.

I have tickets booked for Chicago: The Musical! Going with Mum; it’s my treat, as a birthday present mostly. Looking forward to that; I don’t recall the last time Mum and I spent time alone together! (and isn’t “alone together” a great oxymoron?)

Right then, that’s about it for this update. I’m sitting at Mykii now (would have been Coffee Bean or Starbucks, in that order of preference, but the Saturday crowd was insane, so I took refuge in this peaceful corner of Holland V), and the dinner crowd is hitting full force. Time to post and get outta here.

Oh, and I really like Mykii’s teas and desserts. :)

Marching on!

How time flies! My life is a veritable whirlwind of activity!

Well let's see. I think what I'm most excited about now is that I'm starting classes tomorrow! I've been toying with the idea of taking up TESOL classes for the longest time, but never could commit to it. It was almost a spur of the moment thing - I looked at the website last Wednesday, I gave them a call and set up an appointment for Thursday. Met up with them on Thursday, signed up, got a verbal confirmation, received written confirmation on Friday...and I start classes tomorrow!

It won't be easy, what with work, family and tutoring, and now classes 2-3 times a week. But I'm loving that life is so full and productive.


I went to see a play yesterday with the family, put up by We Colour People Theatre and Company. I really enjoyed it; it was funny, thought-provoking, and heart-wrenching. The acting was marvellous, the small space was well-utilised and the minimal props were used to good effect. And that local flavour was delicious!


I'm finally gaining control over my finances. 2010 is the year that I finally get out of debt! I've started saving; Not a whole lot just yet, but the ocean is made up of drops. Baby steps...I'll get there soon enough. And if one good thing has come out of the family sorrows of 2009, it's that I now truly understand how important health/life insurance is. I've met a great financial advisor who actually listens and cares about what I want/need, and is helping me along the path to financial independence. Plus she's great fun, and meetings with her always leave me feeling happy and energised.


I love where my life has taken me. I love the promise that the future holds. I am eager and excited to see where my path leads, and definitely enjoying the ride.

I've fallen in love with life, and I suspect life has fallen in love with me. ♥

Beautiful Sunday

What a wonderful way to close a weekend.

Slept in today, yet again. How glorious it is to wake up with the sun streaming in! Had to hurry quite a bit; I hadn't planned to sleep until so late!
Was going to see the play Rainbow's Ending by We Colour People Theatre; had tickets for the 3pm show. Obviously I had to rush!

Made it there early though, and met Sof shortly after. The play was a lot shorter than I'd thought it would be, so we were out of there a lot earlier than expected. Strolled down to Raffles City and wandered the mall for a bit. We were starving; neither of us had eaten, but we had dinner reservations for 6pm, so didn't want to sit down for a meal. Ended up getting donuts.

There was a sign at the counter that said "If we don't give you a receipt, you get a free glazed donut on the spot". Well...I didn't get a receipt! So I got a free glazed donut! Cheap thrills man, cheap thrills!

Made our way over to UE square, where we worked on Sof's school play for a bit. The poor child, she gets to be in charge of her school play, and she needs to write the script. Of course, she enlists the help of her old partner-in-crime, who's only too willing to oblige.

It's always been great working with Sof. She and I are on the same wavelength most of the time, and I love how being with her means that I'm kept on my toes and yet I can just chillax and by myself all at the same time.

Buffet dinner at Minori! Slightly over $30 a head, and so many items on their menu! Wow, we ate so much that we practically staggered out of there. Their California handrolls are lovely! And...other stuff was pretty damn good too!

We decided to hang out at Starbucks after that, to get some work done on that play.
Sad to say, we didn't get as far as we'd have liked, but we did make some progress.
Of course, me being the pig that I am, just couldn't resist having a slice of cake.
Mmmm....cheesecake!


Today's Thanksgiving:
I am thankful that it was a simply gorgeous day out today. We would not have been able to stroll about like we did had it been raining.


Happy Moments of the Day:
- Waking up and discovering I've been sms-spammed via email

- hanging out with Sof

- seeing my bro walk out on stage to put down props and feeling a burst of pride for him

- free donut!

- Japanese food

- cheesecake

- great Sunday night music!