A Family "SWEET" Treats...

Recently I have exchanged 2 haagen dazs ice-cream vouchers from my starhub points. Since the days to my kid's birthdays are drawing near, plus Jeremy is not as busy during year end, I thought it will be nice to have a family ' Sweet Treats'. Sat was a good time to enjoy ice-cream together. It was a surprised that Jeremy suggested the outlet at Holland Village. He nevers likes to drive there since parking has always been an issue. But I supposed the new ERP parking system, and no valent service at Holland Village does help smoothen the traffic and parking difficulties. We did not wait for long to have a parking space. Ashley is excited and longed to eat ice-cream. However, I inisisted that we must have dinner before the treats. Eventually we ended up the same store where I used to dine with my colleagues from Nokia... Katong Laksa with added cockles was always been our orders. I had the same, while Jeremy and Ashley shared the nasi lemak. Little Cirean? Well..he ate his cereal I bought for him, and pinched a little food from the nasi. Cieran can never satisfied with his own portion of food. He's more keen on own food than his own...haha! After our dinner, we stroll around the arcade before landing our feet in the haaden dazs stop. Ashley was blushing with smiles. She happily went in and look at all the flavous on display. I followed her, while the father & son settles comfortably on the sofa couch. We spent more than 10mins browsing the menu and eventaully made our order. Cant't remember to beautiful descrbtion and name of the item, but it was brownies and 2 scoopes of ice-cream (chocolate and choc chips). Ashley's face glow with delight when the waitress placed the ice-cream on the table. Cieran immediately responsed with pleasure seeing 'FOOD'! Impatiently, he makes little groaning and attempted to get the ice-cream himself. What a little greedy fellow! But, can't blame the little fellow... it's his 1st time seeing an ice-cream, moreover it was so well decorated. The look of it spurs out the temptation buds! The 2 kids enjoyed their sweet treats.... mummy can't help but busy taking snap shots of them. We have a fun family sweet treats.... eventhough it was drizzling outside.

Some thoughts about my Job...

I joined International SOS on 2 June'08... it's been almost 5 months, and I have arranged 4 Product Induction Trainings to date. Suddenly, I have the thought that I should write something about my job, than mostly on my 2 little angels. I have enjoyed my work so far, with the 'no travel' as priority. At this stage where my kids are young, travelling around is no longer my priority. Unless, travelling foor leisure, that's a total different story. Hehe! :-") Anyway, arranging regional trainings in Singapore (or across APAC) has always been my job profile, besides a minor portion of delivering. In this company, the administration is definitely not a challenge for me. However, I enjoyed working with several nice people in the company. As a medical service business, it's not always the case to work with nice people (if you get what I mean), afterall they are the 'Professionals'. But, I have encounter high professionals like doctors with heavy weights (Medical Director, Group MDs, GMs..etc), they are humble and courteous people. While planning the training agenda, very often I have to work closely and communicate with specialists regarding the training agenda and very luckily, I have not encounter any difficulties working with them. Coordination work can be such a hassle when comes to confirming sessions with presenters, get their responses etc, but I have been performing all such smoothly. I believed this is part of the company culture that has been nurtured. Among all the companies that I have been into, if I need to rank them (don't consider the hospitality inductries), Nokia is the No 1, International SOS is No 2, Cargill No 3. Nokia wins by good employees' welfare with longer annual leaves, flexible benefits package and shortest working hours (9-5pm officially!). They have really taken in to account of employees' welbeing, with a working gym in the office, and facilities for breast-feeding working mums. Not many companies equip themselves with such facilities. I like to comment that working in Cargill is an eye-opener for me. I was exposed to travelling, especially visits to business such as oil plantation in Malaysia, animal nutrition farm (in Siam Valley Thailand). It was definitely an experience that last. Back to Int'l SOS... besides sales & marketing training, I am also handling medics training. Unfortunately, I have not been very much involved with the doctors attachments in the MAC (medical alarm center). Eunice has been taking care of that since I am rather tied up with new profiles. Oh... 1 new program under my care recently was the PGEMC (Program in General Emergency and Medical Care) which was co-host by SGH PGMI, DUKE NUS and Duke University. It was a 4 year CE (Continuous Eduction) program, and we had the pilot session in Oct. This was a new challenge.... If you asked me what I like in my job, it will be : the flexibility in training and I enjoy getting to know a lot of people across the different regions. What I dislike will be : the entertainments which I prefer not to attend during training periods. BUT, where to find a perfect job to match a person's liking? ..... can't complain much...haha!

Sabrina... a "Long Time No See" friend....

It was a nice surprise when Sabrina contacted me that she will have a meeting in Batam and we could meet during her meeting trip. It's been so long since I last meet up with her in Singapore!.... I think it must have a least 3 years. I look forward to this meet up, and have been thinking...what could be a nice gift for her. Thanks to my few colleagues who gave several suggestions, and in the end, I bought a pack of our local bak kwa for her. That day (24 October'08), finally we met up... at my place. Both Ashley and Cieran was still active and usually sleep later than usual on a Friday. We have a nice chat with Ashley-the little host, happily showing Sabrina her baby photos, delivering drink to her... Cieran on the other hand, was always 'disturbing'. He is either jumping up and down, crawling around, or trying to snatch things from us. Ashley played a memory game with Sabrina while I am trying to keep Cieran away from them. It was a cosy and nice gathering, however time is short. Look at the photo of Sabrina and me! It was taken by Ashley. Not bad yah? She managed to capture all of us in a 'rather perfect angle', plus... Cieran is smiling happily! A pity that Sabrina has another appointment with friends for pepper crab thus not able to stay long. We drove her back to Aljunied mrt where she meets her friends. On our way home, the 2 kids went to dreamland in the car....

The Kit-Kok...Kit-Kok....

Kit-kok....Kit-Kok.....where's this coming from? You'll never missed this scene happening in the house, or in fact almost anywhere when there's little Cieran around. Little Cieran is in action! He simply likes to "ride a horse" at this stage. He could, from sitting position, push himself to stand with hands holding on something, and starts shaking himself forward and backwards. Alternatively, he could at sitting position, do the same kit-kok movements. He is a forever-not- tired baby. Active and mischievuous....haha! Coz he has that 'naughty' smiles....

Cieran is a boy without fears. He could released his hands from standing position and fall backwards! You always have to keep a closed eye on this active boy. But, he knows when he can do such, and when he's not suppose to. On hard surface, I have witness him instead of realsing his hands, he bends down, and slowly move himself from standing position, to sitting. Unlike when he's standing on my bed, he just let go and allowing himself fall backwards, on the bed. Not a silly little boy afterall...haha! Cieran enjoys rides in those springy scooter at playground and never afriad of falling. Ashley at his age never enjoy such ride. Cieran also enjoys those moving rides (where you need to put coin in). It's a joy watching the little one at play. Time flies, Cieran is 10months now and soon...will be a year old. His first words are "jie jie", no matter how hard I try to tecah him the word "mummy"...I just ave to be patient. ;-0 Most of the times when I bringCieran out for play, comments I received from other parents are "He's a big boy at his age", "he's tall"....true, Cieran weighs 9.6kg now with a above average height since birth. This is good news I suppose, coz guys are suppose to be tall to be charming. I look forward to Novemember, not coz it's my birthday... but it's little Cieran's. He's turning 1 in November. I have been busy at work with numerious trainig programs, once they are cleared, it's tim eto plan for Cieran's 1st birthday bash... can't wait! :-)

The kids @ the Playground

One of the favourite spot I like bringing my kids will be the playground. Love to watch them at play, especially now that Cieran is able to join Ashley. Though not all the play area Cieran appreciates at this stage, there are few which he does enjoys. One of it will be the springy scooter where he sits and knows how to shake to make it move. Another will be the red bowler (suppose to swing in circles 360 degrees) where he comfortably sits in there without having me to hold him. I simply move the bowler from left and right gently. Cieran also enjoys the slides, with me holding on him (sitting on my lap) and slide down together. As for Ashley, she's old enough to play all that's available in the playground. She has fun running and climbling. Occassionally, she will stops by and play with her little brother, before she goes wondering around on her own pleasure. I enjoy watching them play and play with them, though I easily get all sweaty in just 10mins. Sometimes, I just wished the clock will stop and the kids will remain at this age-never grow older.... and of course, having me not growing older too! Hahaha....

Celebrating Dad's 70 Birthday @ Singapore Flyer!

It was incredible! It's Dad's 70 birthday this year... I wonder if I will live to this age. We plan and decided to celebrate his birthday with dinner and a ride on the newly opened Singapore Flyer. It was arranged on 13Sept (not actual day) and reservations at the restaurant was pre-arranged. The kids are excited and all in the family are aware of this celebration, except, of course dad was kept in the dark. To him, it was just to experience the Singapore flyer. We have been thinking what to do on his birthday, especially this year was his 70 birthday-which is consider big for Chinese. Not easy, since dad don't really enjoy going out and having the day 'big'. Thus, we have the celebration with just the family members. Dinner was set at Jalapenos Pepper which was rated as one of the healthy choice restaurant by Ministry of Health. Looking at the restaurant's site earlier, it does looks interesting and colourful. The menu was more of western style with a healthier manner of cooking. We each other our food, with little Cieran being an exception. Well, nothing much is suitable for him of his age. Nevertheless, he was pleased with his baby biscuits which I bring along for him. We had our fill before boarding the Singapore Flyer at 9pm. We requested for a cabin for ourselves and was granted. Thanks to the 'less crowded' situation and, the family number we have-can you imagine? We have 11 members! It was a pity that we are unable to have red wine/champagne along with the flight. Anyway, it was glad we have the whole cabin ourselves. We had fund taking pictures, looking at the night scenery. The flight took about 30mins before we are on the ground again. Felt like in the airport landing, as we are headed to souvenirs shopping once leaving the cabin. Besides the pleasant experience we had on board Singapore Flyer, we left the place with a family photo on Singapore Flyer which was taken well by the staff there. That, was a memory token for Dad....

On 19Sept, dad's actual birthday...all members are back to celebrate with him. Not a enormous celebration, but a sweet and beautiful one with a "Shou Tao" cake from crystal jade bakery. The cake was of a shape of peach, with 8 mini peaches by the side. Very unique and nice cake suitable for this event. We sang birthday songs (kids are trilled) and dad made his birthday wish. The day ended with laughter and cheers in the house. Wish dad have a wonderful birthday ever!

Cieran is a buddle of joy!

Cieran is 8months now... he has been such a bundle of joy in the family. Just his smiles alone will melt your heart and made you forget your sorrows. Almost everyday I have been hearing 'happy updates' on him from my mum. "your son was calling others loudly along the way to home from the market", "he's very happy today, he has been calling and playing with you", "the auntie at the market gave him a packet of biscuits seeing him cute", "passerby who doesn't know him, will stop and play with your boy"...etc. Cieran has been charming almost everyone with his smiles and friendliness. I wonder how many girls will be falling on his charms in future. :-) It has always been a 'look-forward' home feeling each day when the clock draws towards 6pm. Cieran always gives me a welcoming cheer when he sees me. Well, or I should say, not only to me. He gives anyone a welcoming cheer when a new person enters the house. He happily roll over to the entrance (if he is on his walker), or sits with both his hands waving.... of course with his little voice calling you! He would want the person to walk over to him and carry him. Several times, we like to disturb him by instead of walking over to him, we called for him to crawl over. This little fellow is not always obliging.. sometimes, he would just crawl halfway, and stopped. Either being distracted with other sounds, or expects you to make the halfway route as well. Cieran adopts some of the 'piggy' habits since he is born in the year of pig. He never rejects any food. A better way to describe will be, he expects to eat whenever anyone is eating. He will drops his toy (if he is playing) and crawl to you for food if he spotted you chewing. Yesterday I have fun watching him. I am playing with Cieran when Ashley joins us with a slice of apple on her hand. Cieran spotted the apple, drops his toy and turn himself over to his sister. He looks at her at interest, making light noise..asking for a bite. His attention is fully on the apple and won't stop pestering Ashley till he got his bite on. It was hilarious watching the two kids-one avoiding, the other pestering. Cieran is overall a happy boy. He is contented with just a string as a toy and that string can amused him for quite a long while. He sits playing with it, turning round in circles with his legs and butt, on the same spot (amazing right?). Each child has their own manner of play and growth. I see the difference between Ashley (when she's little) and Cieran. It has been a wonderful parenthood, eventhough there are also tough times handling the kids.

They made my life fuller.

New skills/development this month was : 2 new teeth-total 4 now, holding on bars in standing popsition-shake himself forward&backwards, wave bye-bye and shake hand.