On her actual birthday, I bought her some cupcakes from Melbourne Central and had a mini celebration with family. We lit up five candles and put them on the cupcakes representing five years old.
The following day, we invited some of our friends over for a party in the afternoon. As it was very near X'mas, we were not optimistic about people turning up. Plus the weather forecast for the day was rain and thunderstorms.
It turned out to be fine weather after some morning rain. The kids even got to go to the nearby playground in the evening.
Shannyn was very happy and when someone asked her age, she answered "I'm five!".
I also overheard her asking one of the kids "Do you know it's my birthday? Did your mum tell you?"
When I asked her what a birthday means, she said "A birthday is about party, cards, presents and you turn another year old like when you are two, you become three". Quite good interpretation I reckon.
We bought her two barbie dolls. As we could not decide which one to get, we got two! We got them last X'mas but kept it till now. Because she had a simple doll earlier and she ripped it apart. So we decided to keep it for later.
This was her ballet concert's costume. She wanted to wear it on her birthday party. Good choice. We get more 'mileage' out it.
We brought her to the cake shop and she chose this Barbie doll cake.
The cake was the tastiest although it would be perfect if it was bigger!!
We chose a really good day to move. Dad even went to the Guan Yin temple to pray and make sure.
Excellent indeed, it was the hottest day of the month, in fact, of the year so far.
It was a sweltering 39 degrees in Victoria. We survived the heat, thanks to the wonders of air-conditioning, one of the greatest invention of man-kind.
Now the new house has lots of boxes and luggage to be unpacked. It feels like boxes of gifts for us. When I open up a box, it is like I am unwrapping a big box of presents!!
The most funniest thing was this. I could not find my black flats! So mum and I searched high and low for it.
In the end, it turned out in the most unusual place.....
It was underneath the two-tier black shoe rack! Because it was all black, it was extremely well-camouflaged!
I'm sure we will discover more surprises as we unpack.
Bella did not win the competition. She was the last one eliminated before the grand finals.
Shannyn seemed pleased about that. She thought that I could then play with her and not watch the show. But because it was the grand finals, I had to watch it.
"Skinny Love" by Australian X Factor 2012 contestant, Bella Ferraro.
She sounds like the Cranberries or Faye Wong. Love love love her voice.
I heard the original version. Bella sang it better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Skinny Love lyrics
Come on skinny love, just last the year Pour a little salt, we were never here My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer
I tell my love to wreck it all Cut out all the ropes and let me fall My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my Right at the moment this order's tall
And I told you to be patient And I told you to be fine And I told you to be balanced And I told you to be kind
And in the morning, I'll be with you But it will be a different kind 'Cause I'll be holding all the tickets And you'll be owning all the fines
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/b/birdy-lyrics/skinny-love-lyrics.html] Come on skinny love, what happened here? Suckle on the hope in light brassiere My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my Sullen load is full, so slow on the split
And I told you to be patient And I told you to be fine And I told you to be balanced And I told you to be kind
And now all your love is wasted Then who the hell was I? 'Cause now I'm breaking at the britches And at the end of all your lines
Who will love you? Who will fight? Who will fall far behind?
Come on skinny love My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Best advice to my younger self is ..... to take better care of yourself.
My earliest happy memory is..... brother teaching me how to ride a bicycle.
Best bit about getting older is.....getting wiser and wiser by the day.
My most life-changing decision is..... to move to Australia. That are so many life-changing decisions but I reckon this is the most challenging. I can ratter on and on about this but this is meant to be a short post.
I'd most like to learn how to...... make pumpkin soup. Seriously, I have never even bought a pumpkin. That day, my Australian colleague said she would be making pumpkin soup for dinner as she could not be bother making anything else and I asked her for her recipe. I love pumpkin soup. Home-make ones will be awesome.
I'm most forward looking to..... moving to our new office!
Went for a sneak peak earlier. Everything is so clean and new. New
furniture, new kitchen, new toilet and high ceilings. I can't wait!
Unblocked scenic view of a little hill behind seems so peaceful, especially on this foggy morning.
One of our criteria when we were looking for a house was to have a big backyard with unblocked view behind (no neighbours, more privacy).
The downside is that during summer, kids playing in the reserve may throw their balls, toys and even chips into our backyard. And there would be occasional knocks on our door by kids asking for their balls. Sometime back, the council created walking path in the reserve and kids no longer play behind the back fence.
p.s.: Thanks to all for your recent well-wishes and kind words. I now feel as serene as this picture and ready to move on. Life is short, be happy!
Here is a photo of Shannyn in Kindergarten.
Shannyn tells me that she likes going to kinder very much. So I bought her the class photo taken by the school to remind her of her happy memories in school when she grows up.
I remember mum bought a photo of me in Kindergarten too and I like it. It reminds me of my PAP days, mostly fond memories.
As a kid, I looked forward to going to school everyday. I also looked forward to brother fetching me home. When I saw brother's eyes by the window, I'd know it was home time!
And we would have some fun on the way home by trying to catch some small fish by a drain with small nets. Looking back, it was quite dangerous as we would be washed away should there be flash flooding in the drain.
I would like to dedicate this song to my family and friends.
Nine years ago, this song was played in our wedding. As newly weds, we walked into the room with this song playing and all our relatives and friends there.
One of my friend told me she has never heard this song and it was such a beautiful song, she was very touched by it. In fact she said that she cried.
If you were having a difficult time, remember that whatever happens, always think positive. For as time goes by, pain will heal.
No one knows what the future holds. Only time will tell. We just have to live life to the fullest and enjoy the very best.
Only Time Lyrics
Who can say where the road goes
Where the day flows, only time
And who can say if your love grows
As your heart chose, only time
Who can say why your heart sighs
As your love flies, only time
And who can say why your heart cries
When your love lies, only time
Who can say when the roads meet
That love might be in your heart
And who can say when the day sleeps
If the night keeps all your heart
Night keeps all your heart
Who can say if your love grows
As your heart chose
Only time
And who can say where the road goes
Where the day flows, only time
Few weeks ago, Shannyn asks me if she can marry Sean.
The conversation goes like this.
Shannyn: Mummy, can I marry daddy?
Me: Why do you want to marry daddy?
Shannyn: Because I love him.
Me: You can't marry daddy. He is married to me.
Shannyn: Then why did you marry daddy?
Me: Because I love daddy.
Shannyn: I love daddy too!!!
Me: Why don't marry me?
Shannyn (let out a laugh): Girls don't marry girls.
Well, I am reading a book named "Women, Work and the Art of Savoir Faire" by Mireille Guiliano.
Very often, I will borrow books from the library (as part of going green, save the Earth etc).
However, this is a recent acquisition. For only AUD5. Recently, I discovered a bookshop with all its books at AUD5. No need to think, just grab and go.
It turns out to be quite a good buy.
Talking about working women in a male-dominated workplace.
The author is a French lady senior executive who has worked in America and France.
I have only started reading and find it very interesting and easy to digest. The lady is very humble in her achievements too (despite being French).
The author has also written "French Women don't get Fat" and "French Women for All Seasons". I am eager to read her other books already.
I don't want to make any reference to any websites here so if you are keen to know, just goggle the books.
Well, I love reading. I remember being super excited when the Toa Payoh library opened.
Mum said she was happy too because that meant she didn't have to bring me to Popular bookstore anymore. She said I would stand there for hours to read and that she dreaded the long wait and tiring stand.
The library is definitely a lot more cosy for reading, with nice sofas and seats at reading areas.
I like the library so much that I memorised its opening hours. My library here opens 10am-9pm Mon-Thu, Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10-3pm and Sun 2-5pm.
Free books, mags, DVDs, CDs. I wish there is a cafe there and we can all chill out.
Few years ago, Sean and I bought a book each, went to a foodcourt, found a quiet place and starting reading our books!!
I remembered that was the same book which my brother later bought too.
I saw the book in his bag and asked him "Oh, did I lend you this book?" He looked me, surprised and said "No?? I bought it!!!!!"
I asked him again and he said the same thing. Then I realised what he was really saying. It was the first time we bought the same book, of all books in the bookshop. How funny!!!!
In my last home-cleaning, I chucked out two big boxes of magazines. I reckon there were more than 50 magazines. It was such a waste, so many trees were killed. Now, I borrow them from the library whenever possible. But there are some books I just got to buy (can't find in library) or I really want to keep it for re-reads. Yes, I re-read my books.
15 years ago, a friend gave me 'The Adventures of Tin Tin' comic book which I have kept till now. It is the first edition of the comic and Oui, it is in French! Classic!!
I remember being a kid and wish that I grow up faster.
That day, Shannyn asked me to dance, and I asked her why? And she said "Because we won't grow old if we dance". Then I realise that it is from the lyrics of one of the Chinese pop songs.
OMG, she is still a kid. She actually believes the words of the lyrics.
Yesterday, we bought her a toy, a glowing magic wand. I said "Shannyn, we found your magic wand" and she responded with "Thanks Mum!". She was very excited and kept smiling.
When I opened it, she shook her wand at Sean. The next thing, she asked "Why is this not a real magic wand? I want a real magic wand!!" She was so disappointed.
I said "What do you want to change dad into?" and she said "A toad".
She was really disappointed that it was not a real magic wand.
I shake my head (still am shaking as I recall the incident) and realise that she is overall, still a kid.
Posing in front of the Chip and Dale cartoon characters.
At the cinema.
Parents having lunch with beer.
Shannyn could not resist her favourite chippies!!
The fabulous chicken parma.
Fish and chips with salad and chips!!
Shannyn and PoPo!!
We spent two Sundays doing the same activities.
Last Sunday, we went to watch "Puss in Boots" in the theatre early in the morning. Fearing that we couldn't get the tickets, we left early and reached the cinema even before it was open!! And I decided to get next week's movie tickets too while there.
After the movie, we went to have lunch at TAB. It is value-for-money. Chicken parma with chips and a drink for only AUD10. We ordered the Fish and Chips (dearer at AUD15) for Shannyn which comes with a drink too. But all she ate was the chips.
Today, we went to watch "Happy Feet Two". During the movie, she said that she wanted to sleep and laid on me. To entice her to sit on her seat, I gave her a lollipop (Thanks to mum who put one in my bag before we left home)!!
After the movie, we went to have lunch at the same place, ordering three chicken parmas. They were so good!
It is so simple to spend two Sundays doing the same thing. Not much planning required. I can do this over and over again!!
