CNY 2015

This year's CNY holiday (Thu-Fri) was extended through the weekend, we did a whole 4 days of visiting!

As usual, we had sumptuous reunion dinner at in-laws' place on chinese new year eve. Oh boy, the prawns, mushrooms and fish were humongous! We were missing DC's brother and family as they went on a staycation. A ate with interest at the food table while B who was having a mouth ulcer didn't feel like having much...

Day 1
We only managed to leave home at 11am as A didn't feel well and kept coughing that morning. As a result, the itinerary of the day were pushed back and we were not able to go to my uncle's place this year. The kids greeted the grandparents, and some rice before going to DC's uncle's place.

At their granduncle's place, the kids had fun riding the "fire engine" and playing with sparklers before they went home for their nap.

After nap, we brought them to the third grandaunt's place where they had their fill of bah kwa, chocolates and soft drink.

For a change, this year's dinner was not at the kiddos' first grandaunt's place. We had dinner at home.

At night, DC baked some delicious yummies...

Day 2
The kids had their lunch at my parent's place before we go to my uncle's place for lunch. Mum's porridge is the best! B forgot her ulcer pain and ate her pig skin and quail eggs enthusiastically.

Lunch:

After the kids' nap, we went to my aunt's place for another round of yummies! My favorite abacus (pictured below):

Our Selfie pic in the lift:

Kids in the playground:

Day 3
We went to the nanny's place on day 3. The kids stuffed themselves with lots of jellies and chips and took home a lot of sweets there! Their cough worsened that day!

We had a nice family photo there. See my cute A and B in their traditional chinese costumes:

Their third grandaunt came over for a visit and they were too excited to take nap even though they were tired!

After nap, we went to the small grandaunt place. B was terrified by the uncle there whom always ask her for sweets that she hid and cried! LOL!

Look at the chips that B had in her hands. The kids loved and ate non-stop... They even brought home one small container home!

Day 4
Day 4 was a short one. We went to my brother's new place for buffet lunch. Our family photo there:

Tomorrow will be back to normal work day for DC and me, and school day for A and B. I feel the blues already, the 4 days passed too quickly!


Related Posts:
CNY 2014
CNY 2013
CNY 2012

CNY Ang Pows 2015

 The 2015 handmade limited edition CNY ang pows are out! :)

This year, I had the fun experimenting with different PS techniques e.g. changing the colour of A's Polo shirt from grey to red, creating texture/ patterns for the background, embossing words, etc...

I did not want my ang pows to look too commercial, so this year, I involved my precious A and B in the making too! I got them to do finger painting on the ang pows... I guess it was not difficult to guess which paint colour was done by who. :)

I then did a few finishing touches on the ang pows such as outlining the "yellow" ingots, branching the "pink" flowers, adding smaller darker pink sparkling flowers and making the gold accessories that B had sparkle using gold pens.

For a change, I actually wanted to devise a couplet [金玉洋洋到、满堂喜气来] but DC preferred the old school greetings. So, I stick to the usual family greeting that I usually used for the ang pows.

Anyway, I think the results was good! The thought that each ang pow was unique and done by the little hands made me warm! :) Good job, kiddos!

Related Posts:
CNY Ang Pows 2014
Ang Pows 2013
CNY Ang Pows 2012

Before warranty ends

For about the past 6 months, I noticed a clicking sound when the car steering wheel was turned. So before the warranty ends this March, I decided to get it fix asap.

Waited 2 weeks for the parts, I had to write an email to complain about the poor response as VW didn't call me back even after I called in twice ...

Car was down for 2 days. A went with us to drop the car off at VW Macpherson before heading to school. It's a huge inconvenience as we waited 15 min to get a taxi to A's school.

Related Posts:

Fixed?
Car Repair

On the spot

Lately A has been toilet training very well ... sometime too well ... He will ask to go pee every so often ... sometime, we just have to 就地解决 ...

Before-After

A comparison of the before and after.

3 months after move-in, things already start to clutter up but still, the home was comfy and "enjoyable". A kept saying "New home nice"!

Our interior designer, Patrick and his assistant Loh, was rather accommodating with our requests. Rectifications was also done promptly and with proper follow up. Some items I find rather expensive but yet relatively cheap for others, so I guess it balanced out overall.

They were also rather easy-going, a plus point because when I was frustrated, our id was able to maintain his composure and helped us out. I also thought Patrick had good EQ, He didn't outright criticized our ideas but I think I could infer he didn't agree with some of our decisions :)

At the end, it was a good working relationship, unlike the previous one 10 yrs ago. I had to write a letter to them, threatening legal action .... also quarreled with the id back then ....

Related Posts:
Bathroom Accessories

Digital Door Viewer - A High-Tech Home

UHD TV 

Wall Mount

All Ready ... Almost
Going Digital

A Must Have

Balcony Wood Deck
Open Wardrobe System ... Stucked ...
All Things German
Let there be light
Quartz and it does not mean a watch
Out with the old

Moving Along Nicely

The worst may be over but still must keep tabs

CityGas ready
Since when did things become so expensive
Halfway through
All for the savings
Mayhem
Renovation is tough work - Part 7
Renovation is tough work - Part 6
Renovation is tough work - Part 5
Renovation is tough work - Part 4
Renovation is tough work - Part 3

Renovation is tough work - Part 2

Renovation is tough work - Part 1

Rectification

Stop Work Order

Torn Down
New Home Original Layout