Happy 48th Wedding Anniversary

Happy 48th Wedding Anniversary, Ma and Pa!

My parents have been married for 48 years since 1970. 

IPS Forum

I was invited to the IPS Forum on Parents and Schooling. I attended the forum both as a parent and as a researcher. Learnt a few interesting thing. 

Off to England

My parents are off to England for a 3 months' break. Enjoy yourselves! See you back in Singapore in October! 

84th Singapore Company Girls' Brigade Enrolment Service and Parade

Today is Juliane's enrolment into the 84th Singapore Company Girls' Brigade. 
There was a marching parade, followed by service and enrolment of the new recruits for the 84th Singapore Company Girls' Brigade at SCGS. 

Juliane in her GB uniform

Juliane and her fellow recruits watching the parade from the stairs

Juliane (in the middle) waiting her turn

Juliane saluting her GB Captain, Mrs Jayne Tan

I am pinning the GB badge on Juliane's uniform

Juliane is officially a member of 84th Singapore Company Girls' Brigade

Proud mother of a GB girl

I couldn't be more proud to be able to participate and witness this milestone with Juliane. I was surprised by Juliane's decision to join Girls' Brigade but whatever it is, I will support her decision. I hope Girls' Brigade will bring her a sense of belonging and identity, happiness and personal growth. I hope Juliane will develop to her fullest potential and be a servant leader to all. 

P.S. She does look smart in her GB uniform. 

SCGS Parents' Briefing 2017

I attended the Parents' Briefing for Secondary 1 students at SCGS in the evening. Lots to take in about school matters. 

Breakfast with Principal

Marieann's school had a Breakfast with the Principal session for the Secondary 3 students this morning. I was the earliest parent to arrive haha. Occupational hazard of a former teacher. 
Lots to think about for Marieann's future life options. 

Happy 46th Wedding Anniversary

Happy 46th Wedding Anniversary, Ma and Pa (Grandparents)! 

Childhood Memories: Woh Hup zichar

Tonight, I am a child again. :) I had dinner with my parents at Woh Hup zichar, Hong Lim Market and Food Centre. My parents used to bring my younger brother and I to Woh Hup for dinner, especially the fish slice been hoon when we were young. It's a wonderful childhood memory for me, especially tucking into the small bowl of fried lard pieces! :P 

Fish slice bee hoon and the delicious fried pork lard pieces

The pork ribs are yummy

What is missing tonight is my brother who has been in UK since his secondary school days. YM, come back to Singapore soon with your family and we can relive our childhood days. :) 

SCGS Parents' Briefing 2016

I was at SCGS's P5 & P6 Parents' Briefing 2016 this morning. It started at 8am and was followed by Form and Co-Form Teachers's Address, Science and Chinese Language Workshops. It ended just after 12:30pm. 
Juliane followed me to school and managed to finish her homework when I was attending the Parents' briefing. I made her sit in at the workshops at the suggestion of my former SCGS colleague who is now HOD haha. It makes good sense, Juliane will be the one going through PSLE so it will help her to understand what's required of her. It was also good practice for her to take notes during the workshops. :) 
For today, I am really happy to be a parent and put down my hat of an educator.    

Happy 45th Anniversary!

It's my parents' 45th wedding anniversary today. 
Happy Anniversary, Ma and Pa (Grandparents)!

Frequent Flyers

My parents are off again. They returned in mid October after a 3 months' stay in UK. Now they are going to Xiamen for a month and a half. Yes, my parents are frequent flyers. :)

Home!

My parents are back home after a 3 months' visit to England to see my brother, my sister-in-law and my nephews. Welcome home, Ma and Pa. 

PS. Yes, we are going to have delicious food again! :P

Every Parent a Supportive Partner

That is the theme for MOE Work Plan Seminar 2015. 
I was happy to have attended it as it really resonates with me both as a parent and as an educator. 

I was also happy to catch up with MOE HQ friends and school leaders that I have known over the years since my MOE HQ days. :)

Family Visit

My parents are flying off to England tonight to visit my brother, my sister-in-law and my nephews. The last time my parents were in England was two years ago. My parents are really excited to see their son, their daughter-in-law and their three grandsons again in person. They will be in England for three months. 

Bye, Ma and Pa. Have lots of fun in England! :)

Dinner Party

My parents gave a dinner party to their friends from Xiamen who are currently in Singapore visiting their daughter and her family. My girls were amazed why my parents, their grandparents have so many friends and are entertaining every so often lol. 

Olive rice, chicken stuffed with mushroom & chestnut, beancurd salad, prawn & tang hoon

Happy Belated 44th Wedding Anniversary!

Yesterday was my parents' wedding anniversary! They have been married for 44 years! Marieann's posting to her first choice was the best anniversary present for them! They have been rather anxious for her too.
 
Happy Belated 44th Wedding Anniversary, Ma and Pa (Ah Ma and Ah Gong)! :) 

Taiwanese style Lunch

My mother invited some of her friends over for lunch. She just loves to cook despite the trouble. :) Well, we are not complaining as we get to eat too! :P

Fish soup with vegetables: Tasty soup with fish, yam, pumpkin, mushroom, cabbage

Fried Tang Hoon with prawns

Taiwanese Kou Rou Bao/ Kong Bak Pau (扣肉包): place the garlic, grounded peanut, pickled veg and pork belly in between the bun

Savory glutinous rice

Back!

My parents/ the girls' grandparents are back in Singapore from their two months' holiday in Taipei and Xiamen! :)

Spring Cleaning

Completed, well more or less lol. I realised that this is the last weekend to spring clean before the girls start school next week, and especially before my parents/ their grandparents return home next week from Xiamen. :P Well, although there is another four more weeks to Chinese New Year, no time is a good time than now to start the spring cleaning. :) Of course, with my parents coming back SOON is also a great motivation to spring clean now (in order to avoid scolding from them for messing up the place lol). 
We, meaning the girls and I, have managed to tidied up their study materials, their art and craft materials, and their toys and re-organised into the various boxes. We also threw out and recycled a lot of their past year study materials. Just a little touch up here and there in the next few days, our spring cleaning for Chinese New Year will be done. :)

Back Home

My parents are back home after 2 and a half months away. They were in England visiting my brother, my sister-in-law and my three nephews. They reached home at 6pm after their 12-hours flight. The girls were happy to see their grandparents. I am happy to see my parents too. Finally, someone to take over the nagging and scolding of the girls haha. :P
After settling down, we skyped with my sister-in-law and my youngest nephew, Yeun Zhen who missed my parents terribly to inform them that my parents have arrived safely in Singapore. The other two boys, Yeun Yi and Yeun Song were in school, I think.   
 My parents thoroughly enjoyed their stay in England with my brother and his family and they especially enjoyed their time spent with their three grandsons. :)