Thursday Trivia: What's our favourite colours?

This week, on Thursday Trivia, we're doing some Tan Family Trivia! Colours are a very personal thing. Different people like different colours, and there's really no explaining why. It's one of those things in the universe that you can't really explain. It is really quite individualistic. Do you know what our favourite colours are? :)

Isaac @ 4 years 8 months, circa April 2012

Isaac didn't really have a favourite colour till he was about 4 years old. Red was a clear favourite. He was very vocal about it and would consistently choose items that were red in colour, if he were given a choice. Sometimes he would come back from school and tell me how upset he was that he didn't get to get the red piece of paper to do his artwork on coz a classmate had already taken it. He was seriously into red.

Then toward the end of his 4th year, he started to say that he liked the colour blue too. That when he was 5 years old, he would like blue, that blue would be his favourite colour.  Red was his 4 year old favourite colour, he said. Blue was 5 years old favourite colour. He seemed to think that you had to change a favourite colour every year. Later, I found out that one of his friends had a change in favourite colour, so maybe that prompted this about. So I explained to him that, yes, he could change his favourite colour if he wanted. but also that it was okay to be 5 years old and still like red. "See, Papa, so old also still like red. It's okay." I told him. 

After awhile he stopped harping on his change of favourite colour. And it was clear to us all that his favourite was still red. However, now, whenever he is choosing something and red is not available, he would say "Okay, I like blue too." so that's good. At least he has a second backup choice, and won't throw a fit over not being able to get something in red. I remember how he used to do that, and my sister, trying to coax him out of his tantrum would say to him "You don't need to have everything in your favourite colour red. You like to eat chicken rice right? But it is not red, right?" 

Hmmm... he likes to eat char siew rice even more than chicken rice nowadays...

Asher @ almost 2 years old, circa December 2012

This Incredible Hulk above, is our dear Asher. Guess what his favourite colour is? That's right! It is green! Asher is amazing. Even before he turned 1 year old, he liked green. He luurrves green. No, wait a minute. Isaac lurrves red, Asher, he is obsessed with the colour green. He likes it so much that he wants everything in green. Everything. He's worse than Isaac in his colour obsession. And it's really inexplicable that he likes green coz he is not exposed to it at all. Neither hubbs nor I have a preference for the colour green, and neither does Isaac. As a result, almost none of Isaac's clothes (which get passed on to Asher), is green. 

So poor Asher, who loves green, didn't have any clothes that were green. AT ALL. None of his clothes, toys, bags, shoes, whatever, were green at all. So, whenever I buy anything new for Asher, it'd definitely be green. And he loves them. When I was printing out masks to make for the kids' Halloween costumes last year, I just searched for green characters for Asher. Think I had Incredible Hulk, Shrek and Oscar the Grouch - he chose the Incredible Hulk. He loves that mask and still plays with it constantly, to this day.

When he was younger (than 3 years old), this green preference of his proved to be a big problem when we played boardgames with the kidzes. Coz Asher would just take the green components and run off with them! He refused to let us play the game properly coz he insisted on holding on to those pieces, or cards, that were green in colour. Thankfully he has outgrown doing that, and now allows us to play the game in peace without kidnapping any of the game bits.

Shawna @ almost 3 years old circa December 2012

What really amazed us about Asher and his green obsession is that he developed it at such an early age! Before 1 year old! We wouldn't have believed it if it didn't happen to our own son! Now, Shawna doesn't have any clear favourite colour yet. Generally, she likes and is okay with pink, yellow, red, purple... But I feel she has no clear favourite. Not yet.

My theory as to why she currently likes those colours is coz that is what the colours of her clothes and stuff usually are. Whenever people get the twins anything, they usually buy blue and pink: blue for Asher the boy twin, and pink for Shawna the girl twin. Clothes for girls at this age tend to be generally all pink in colour too. My sister has three girls, Rebecca, Isabelle and Natalie, with Natalie the youngest being the same age as Isaac. And Natalie's favourite colour is yellow. So lots of the girls clothes, bags, shoes and stuff that gets passed to us for Shawna... is pink and yellow. So! My guess is, that Shawna has come to associate the colours pink, yellow, purple, sometimes red, as HER stuff. Not so much as that those are her favourite colours. 

If you ask her "What's your favourite colour, Shawna?" She will usually have to think for awhile... before she answers. And sometimes she says yellow, sometimes pink, sometimes purple. Often, I notice that she will pick up on a suggestion that the person questioning her proposes. Like:

"What's your favourite colour, Shawna?" 

"Erm... let me think..."

"Is it yellow?"

"Yes! Yellow!"

I have heard that same conversation in the colours pink and purple too. Hence my conclusion above. :p  It'd be interesting to see what she eventually chooses to be her favourite colour. Or maybe, she never will.

 
And what about hubbs and I?

Hubbs likes red. Clearly. Like Isaac, yes. When we only had Isaac, before we had the twins, I used to be convinced that the reason why Isaac liked red, is coz hubbs likes the colour too. So yes, hubbs would have lots of red tees that he wears. His road bike is red and he would have no qualms with carrying a red water bottle or something.

As for me... when I was a child, my favourite colour was blue. Right now, one of my favourite colours is black. Black started to overtake blue as a favourite colour when I was in late primary school, secondary school time. Black = Gothic ya know, and back then, and to me now, actually, Gothic's kinda cool. More than half my wardrobe is black - as most of you would attest to. Black makes me look slimmer!!! See this picture above!? (Well yes, it helps that hubbs is blocking me with his body... but still...).

But being sentimental me, I have a secondary school best friend whose favourite colour is maroon. And because of that, I started to like the colour maroon since secondary school days. Now, decades on, maroon is one of my favourite colours too. It is my favourite shade of red. So when we got married and was thinking of a dark shade of colour to paint the wall of our home theatre - I suggested maroon. And since hubbs liked red, maroon was fine with him. We even have our curtains done in maroon. My sister even said to me:"Considering you practically hated the colour red when you were young, it's quite ironic that so much of your house is in red!" "Maroon!" I said "There is a difference :p"

Just the other day, we were driving home from school when 

Isaac:"Look Mummy! There's a maroon coloured car!"

Me:" Yes, it is."

Isaac:"Hey! That's your favourite colour, right? Maroon?"

Me:"Yes, that's right! You remembered!"

I'd been trying to teach him the proper names of different colours like cyan, maroon, vermillion... I was pleased he remembered the colour maroon, and that it was my favourite colour :)

What are YOUR favourite colours? :)

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Tuesday Ten Tunes Test!

Are you ready for your Tuesday Ten Tunes Test!? Let's see how well you do this time?!

1. “I can go where no one else can go. I know what no one else knows”
2. “Please lady, please, lady, don't just walk away. Cause I have this need to tell you why I'm all alone today..."
3. “I’m not denying. I’m frightened as much as you. Though I’m barely touching you. I’ve shivers down my spine...”
4. "With all my heart, I pledge my love forever. You've got my word. You and I will always be together..."
5. “She’ll see I’m not so tough. Just because I’m in love with an…”
6. "The rain has stopped, the storm has passed. Look at all the colours, now the sun's here at last..."
7. “He walks on, doesn’t look back. He pretends he can’t hear her”
8. “Though it’s hard to let you go In the Father’s hands we know That a lifetime’s not too long…”
9. “Sometimes I just forget. Say things I might regret. It breaks my heart to see you crying”
10. “”When you comin’ home?” “Son, I don’t know when. We’ll get together then…” 

Ah hah! I bet you think this is sooooo easy! But you know what? This week, we shall not ask you for the singer nor the song title - that's really too easy! No, now, you have to give me the next line, or any other line in the song! So if you know the songs, you'd be able to provide any other lines in the song... And that would give additional clues to others who don't know the song, and are trying to guess it! :) So scroll down and click on "Comments" for some clues!!!

Fire away! :) 

MMMM: The Sound of Music!

Monday's Movies Music Memories: The Sound of Music!

One movie that holds many memories for me is The Sound of Music. This is one of the earliest movies I remember watching. No, I didn't watch it in the movie theatre, we watched it on tv. It is one of my mother's favourtie movies, you see. So I recall, she would say "Oh! Quick switch on the tv, it's The Sound of Music!" and my sister and I would sit there and watch the movie with her. And we would do this every time it was shown on tv - and that was quite often indeed, well, at least once a year, during that period of time. Eventually, my mother tape recorded the movie so we could watch we whenever we wanted to.

We loved it, my sister and I. We loved the songs and coz we watched the movie so many times, we more or less knew the lyrics and could sing along when the musical segments came on. So, one day, my mummy came home from work, and handed us this sheaf of papers - it was the lyrics to the songs in The Sound of Music! All the songs!!! I don't know how she did it. But this was back in the days where there was no internet, so things like lyrics were not easy to find. But somehow she did it, she found the lyrics for us. On hindsight, this was how my mum showed her love for us. She is not the sort that was big on hugs and kisses, but this was her way of showing us she loved us.

We were ecstatic! For many nights, after we finished our school homework, my sister and I would pore over the lyrics singing the songs. Now, when my sister and I were young, we had more than our fair share of quarrels and fights, but this was a rare time that we would do something together and have fun together. Over and over we would sing together. And the song Sixteen Going On Seventeen - I would sing the male character and she would take the female character and we would sing the night away. Thus, because we grew up singing the songs with the lyrics in front of us, I knew the lyrics very well indeed.

Now that I'm all grown up and married... Guess what is one of hubbs' favourite movies? That's right! It's The Sound of Music! I must admit that I think he loves this movie even more than I do! Every now and then, when we get a little tired of watching animated movies on our movie nights in our home theatre, hubbs would put on The Sound of Music dvd. In fact, it goes on often enough that even the twins Asher & Shawna know how to sing along to some of the songs! Isaac can read already, so he karaokes along to the songs since we make sure we turn on the subtitles. Often, we fast forward the movie to go from one song to the next, when we see the kids get restless during "the talking bits". 

 

One of the songs that the kidzes love to sing along to is, of course, Do Re Me. It has easy to learn lyrics and even though the twins get the lyrics jumbled up sometimes, they have a great time singing it. It's also one of those songs that we like to sing when we're out in the parks or are hiking or something... along with The Lonely Goatherd - which will definitely have its lyrics butchered like nobody's business, but lots of fun singing along to that.

Another song that we often sing is My Favourite Things. I often sing this song to the kids at night, when we're trying to get the kids to sleep, so the lights are off, but the kids are still quite awake - then I start singing... I remember how, in the movie, Maria tells the children, that if one is upset, all they have to do is to sing about their favourite things, and they will feel better. The scene where there was a storm, and the kids all go to Maria's room to huddle together, is one of my favourite scenes in the movie. It is the turning point in the movie of when the children started to like Maria. Very heartwarming. The scene below is the reprise version of the song, when Maria comes back.

The thing about having so many lyrics in your head, is that you start to sing the song when you are doing a related activity? Like...

Searching for something: "Climb every mountain, search high and low, follow every rainbow, till you find... YOUR SHOE IS HERE ASHER! How did it get here!?"

While hiking:"Climb every mountain, kill every mosquito, follow every ant trail, till you wanna go...pee pee! Who needs to pee! Got toilet here, please go and pee and poo if you need to!"

Talking to Shawna: You are just 2 going on 3 years old, you are not a queeeeen, yet. Please be a good girl, don't scream down the world, you drive me so crazy..."

But sometimes, in our more loving moments, I would serenade to hubbs Something Good

Perhaps I had a wicked childhood
Perhaps I had a miserable youth
But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past
There must have been a moment of truth

For here you are, standing there, loving me
Whether or not you should
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good

Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could
So somewhere in your youth or childhood

You must have done something good - ALSO! 

HAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA...

And of course, one of our favourite songs from The Sound of Music, is when the children sing So Long, Farewell... We can't wait till the kids are older - we will make them sing and act out this song, and we'd record a video of it! :) 

In searching for the links for this post, I found the official website for The Sound of Music. Apparently it is based on a true story. It's quite interesting really. It's got loads of information in there so do go take a look. The Sound of Music is such a classic that it's really entered into popular culture. Now, if you only watch on video from this post, let it be this one below. It's really cool! I love it!

"More than 200 dancers were performing their version of "Do Re Mi", in the Central Station of Antwerp. with just 2 rehearsals they created this amazing stunt! Those 4 fantastic minutes started the 23rd of March 2009, 08:00 AM. It is a promotion stunt for a Belgian television program, where they are looking for someone to play the leading role, in the musical of "The Sound of Music"."

Bloggers! Do you have a movie/music memory to share! Join us on Monday's Movie Music Memory! :)

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Save money by driving fuel efficiently!

Trivia Thursday! Thursday Thrift Tips! Thursday Ten!

Hubbs and I have this mini competition going on... do you know what is it about? It's to see who can stretch our petrol litre the longest way!  That way, we save petrol, save money, and save the earth!

We averaged 14.7km per litre of petrol for almost an entire tank!

Well, okay, so it is not exactly a competition... But, you see, Hubbs has perfected the art of driving in a certain manner so as to maximise the mileage, the distance per litre of petrol. He has gone as high as 15km per litre on our 3 year old Honda Freed. But he admits that he could achieve that coz he drove without the aircon on. 

Previously, I was not as conscious about the way I drove. As a result, I was unnecessarily heavy footed and this resulted in an average of about 12km per litre of petrol for our tank of petrol, despite hubbs' best efforts to raise the average when he drove.

Lately, as I am behind the wheel more often now, I began to realise that hubbs' driving habits truly, effectively contributed to the car having better mileage and improved fuel consumption. (I thought he was just taking the mickey outta me for constantly ribbing me on how fast I drove.) So I started to observe how hubbs drove. I also started to take note of that "km/l" fuel consumption line while I drove, so I could observe how our car behaved in relation to the fuel consumption at that time, and how hard I was pressing on the fuel pedal...

After much trial and error and putting into practice the things I have observed... I am proud to announce that I have gotten the knack of driving in an fuel-economy way! So it became quite common for me to ask hubbs to look at the fuel efficiency figure at the end of a day if I had increased it that day. This picture above is the result of my hard work last week: I manage to obtain an average of 14.7km per litre for almost our entire 40 litre tank of petrol! This was quite an achievement! 

So! Do you wanna know how we did it? Here's a Thursday Ten on how to drive in such a way as to have better fuel economy for your car!

1. There's no need to speed to the red light, nor when you're going downhill... Once you see the light turn red, lift your foot from the accelerator and let the car cruise...Similarly, when you're on a downward slope, you can lift your foot from the accelerator a little... For contrary to popular belief, your car doesn't just run on fuel, it also runs on momentum and gravity as well!
2.  Accelerate slowly... I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but it's not. Okay, maybe I should say "accelerate constantly" - just depress the accelerator up to 1500 rpm and keep it there, the car is gaining speed slowly but surely, with much better fuel economy than just depressing the accelerator pedal as hard as you can go...
3. Observe your car's fuel consumption line/meter. Different cars probably behave differently. For our car, I observed that driving at the speeds between 70 to 90km/h is the most fuel efficient - the meter goes up 20 - 30 km/l. So when I drive on highways, I slowly accelerate up to a speed of 90km/h and stay at that speed on the middle lane.
4. Change your mindset. I used to think hubbs is wasting time coz he drove so slowly. But now, on hindsight, you really don't save a lot of time by speeding to the red light. Occasionally, we do miss a green light, yes, but that'd delay you by... 5 minutes, at most?
5. Adjust accordingly. Okay, so you know you might take a slightly longer time on the roads, so, leave home 5 minutes earlier. And if you aren't gonna be the speed demon you were before - do get used to driving on the middle lane or even the extreme left lane...
6. Plan your route. Going up steep slopes tend to suck fuel like crazy. So if we have an alternative route to take that has less slopes, we'd take it. Similarly, if there is a carpark lot on the ground floor, just park there rather than driving up a few floors at the multi-story carpark.Fuel consumption is greatest when trying to get a car moving from a complete stop - so, avoid routes with lots of traffic lights!
7. Switch off the aircon... Hubbs does this. But personally, I don't coz I hate the wind mussing up my hair and some days are just too hot to bear, and oh, I hate exhaust fumes. But yes, apparently switching off the aircon does save fuel, so if you don't mind, you could try it too.
8. Be selective. Try to make this your new driving habit so that you can achieve fuel efficiency, yes. But if you're traveling in a convoy (wedding? traveling in groups overseas?), do stay close to the car you're supposed to follow and not lag too far behind. Or if it's an emergency, just speed away (with care!).
9. Don't take it personally... when other drivers start to overtake your car - especially while you cruise to the red traffic light. You are the one saving petrol. They are the ones wasting petrol when they accelerate quickly in order to overtake you just so they could be the car before you, at the red light. So ignore unsavoury characters on the road who glare at you, high-beam you, finger you (erm, that sounds quite wrong) for not burning fuel as quickly as they are doing....
10. Be conscious of how you drive. Practice practice practice!As you know, practice makes perfect!  After a few weeks of practice, it will come naturally. Nowadays, I realise that I do not have to be so conscious and aware about it anymore, and yet still drive fuel efficiently automatically

There you go! Drive your way to using less fuel! Petrol is so expensive nowadays! Save money! =)

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Monday's Movies Music Memories!

You know how everyone's into Candy Crush the online game recently? Well, I'm not. I intentionally ignored all Candy Crush play requests coz I really did not need another time sucker... coz I already have one! I've been on Dragon Story for quite awhile now, so I don't spend a lot of time on it everyday now. I play it on my iPad. It's basically like a super evolved form of Tamagotchi, except that we raise dragons. Okay, technically, it's called breeding dragons. There are all sorts of pretty dragons which you can breed to get new types of dragons etc... 

Anyway, I digress. The thing is, in Dragon Story, each player has their own set of dragon islands, and we each have our Wall - much like a Facebook Wall where you can leave messages for one another. It's limited to a short two line messages, and no pictures allowed. So, usually, players simply visit each other's islands, and leave a message on the wall to say that they have visited, hoping that this player would return the visit. (When you visit other islands, the other party gets coins etc). 

Some people write rhymes, some people type jokes, most people simply say "Played" or insert a smiley face or a general greeting. I used to type "played", until I learnt how to Copy & Paste using the iPad (yes, yes, noobie me...). Then I started to think of things to say that played on the word "play" like "Played hopscotch with your dragons today!" - but that got tiring after awhile... Then one day in early March, there were some song lyrics that were stuck in my head, so I just typed that down, and said "WHAT SONG?" - and people actually started to reply on my wall, guessing the song to the lyrics I just wrote!

And since then, everyday, I would change a new song everyday, and pasted the lyrics of the day on other players' wall, when I went visiting. I would choose lyrics of songs that I liked very much and that were relatively popular. The response was amazing! People started guessing and having a great time. On days when I was too busy to play, some people would even drop by just to ask "No song today?". A few of us started sharing which part of the world we were from and there were people from USA, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Pakistan... it was amazing.

What really struck me, was how music transcends borders. Someone wrote, that I reminded her of her late mother, coz she loved the song I just posted. Another said that the song of the day made her a little homesick that day coz it reminded her of home. Yet another player said that she thought of me the night before, because she heard the song that I had posted a few days ago...

Hence, I started thinking that this would make an excellent blog meme. Music and Movies are so entrenched in our culture that it dredges up memories of the past.. but first, do you want to see the sort of lyrics I have been posting?

THINK YOU KNOW YOUR LYRICS?
Let's see how many songs you can identify from the lyrics below without resorting to googling them for the answer! Bonus if you know the title and artist/s too!

1. "Before this river Becomes an ocean Before you throw my heart back on the floor..." 
2. "Lay a whisper, on my pillow, leave the winter on the ground."
3. "So don't stop me falling It's destiny calling A power I just can't deny..."
4. "But you gave away the things you loved and one of them was me..."
5. "I'd live and I'd die for you. I'd steal the sun from the sky for you. Words can't say what love can do..." 
6. "I don't want to be tied. To anyone's strings. I'm carefully trying to steer clear of those things..."
7. "Then it happened one day, we came round the same way. You can imagine his surprise when he saw his own eyes" 
8. "But there's a pretty little thing Waiting for the king. Down in the Jungle Room..." 
9. "There was blood and a single gun shot. But just who shot who?"
10. "If I made you feel second best, I'm so sorry, I was blind..."

Now, how many of that did you know? :) Better yet, what sort of memories did those songs bring up?

Update: Song titles & Artist answers to the above songs are already submitted in the comments section, in the first comment by MummyMoo.

Hence this concludes the inaugural post of Monday's Movies Music Memories.All bloggers are welcomed to grab the badge and code below to join in the fun! Remember! This is not a movie review nor a music album review - rather, it is about the memories or thoughts and feelings that a song or a movie makes you feel. If there is a youtube video of the song you're writing about, be sure to link it so we can enjoy the song too! :)

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Lucky to have someone to share with!

You know how, when you have three kids, one of the things you HAVE to get them to learn - is how to share. Share share share. It's like a mantra. We repeat it all the time. The kids fight over it all the time. It goes on and on. But then, it is part and parcel of growing up.

The kids have good days and bad days. On bad days, they quarrel and fight over every seemingly insignificant things... who gets to play with the empty toilet roll telescope...  who has held on to the rolled up tube of paper light saber for too long... who gets to press the lift button first... who gets into the car first etc...

Isaac, Shawna & Asher, circa October 2012
Isaac @ 5 years 2 months
Asher & Shawna @ 2 years 9 months

On good days, they share very well, give way to each other. We make sure that we single out such good behaviour and praise the kid for it.
"That was very generous of you, Shawna, to let Kor Kor see your party hat the moment he asked for it. Thank you!"
"Thank you Asher, for waiting quietly and patiently for your turn to read the book on sharks. That is very good behaviour. Thank you!"
"That's nice, Isaac. I saw how you gave Asher some of your chocolate when he dropped his. Thank you for being a very good Kor Kor and taking care of your little brother like that. Asher and Shawna are so lucky to have you as their Kor Kor!"
We have found that doing and saying all this goes a long way in encouraging the kids to behave well. Thus, thankfully, the kids have more good days than bad days.

But sharing has always been particular tough. Short of buying every child the same item, there is no way of getting around it. Three sets of everything?! That's just a waste of money.So inevitably, one day, I heard Isaac say: "Why must I always share with Asher & Shawna?" Usually we'd give him the "Because they are your brother and sister." spiel. But I don't think he really buys that, and so now and then, he would still repeat his question in frustration.

Ring a round of roses, pocket full of posies,
Asher, Asher, we all fall down!

One day, after I picked the kids up from school, and Isaac was telling me about his day in school. I can't quite recall, but we must have just spoken about sharing when...

Isaac:" Mummy, you know this Morton, he very lucky you know, he says he doesn't -"

Somehow when he said that, I knew immediately what he was going to say. I knew that Morton (name's changed to protect identity of innocent little boy!) was a single child (his parents married late). So I somehow just KNEW that Isaac was going to tell me that Morton was sooo lucky that he didn't need to share his toys with anyone... So I quickly interrupted him -

Mummy:" Oh, yah, Morton, he doesn't have to share his toys with anyone, is it?
Isaac:" Yah!!!"
Mummy:" Yes, yes" I said in a very sad voice "So poor thing, isn't he?"
Isaac:" Huh? Poor thing?"
Mummy: "Yah, so poor thing. He has no one to share his toys with... coz he has no brothers and sisters. Toys are more fun when you have someone to play them with, right?"
Isaac nodded, still a bit stunned on why I said his best friend was "poor thing"
Mummy:"Yes, so you are very lucky Isaac, that you have Asher and Shawna. Because you have Asher and Shawna, you have someone to play with from the moment you wake up, right up to the minute you fall alseep at night. You three are always playing and having fun, all day! But Morton? So poor thing; he only has his toys to play with. But no one to play with him. So poor thing, right?"
Isaac nodded. His eyes widened infinitesimally as the truth of what I said sunk in...

Mummy:"So, yes, he is lucky he doesn't need to share. But that is because he has no one to share with. You are lucky you have someone to share with, to play with, to laugh with, to have fun with. Isn't that great?"

Isaac nodded, and was quiet,  lost in his thoughts after that conversation. Since this exchange happen a few months ago, Isaac has not asked his "Why must I always share with Asher & Shawna?" question as much as he did before. And occasionally, he even turns to me and says:"Mummy, I am so lucky to have Asher and Shawna so that we can play together, right?" "Yes, Isaac, that's right :)"

Sasuke Singapore down under!

I was talking to a friend of ours who is a trained psychologist. Her daughter used to be classmates with Isaac, and we had grown close over the years. Her reaction to this story:"Hahaha very good! You re-framed it! Well done!" Ah! I didn't know there was actually a clinical term for this! Cool!

So this morning, I was really this excellent post on the Scissors Paper Stone Blog, and it reminded me that I had to write this post! :) Hop on over to read the post that prompted this post!

Oh wait, first, I must put in my disclaimers. I am in no way passing any judgement on people who choose to have only one child... I was just trying to present the situation to Isaac in the best possible light for his own csituation... Besides, not everyone who has only one child has one child out of choice. And even if they do, I am sure they have their own reasons for it.

Beautiful Mama Blog Award!

Today, I got a surprise in the mail from the lovely MummyEd: Tan Family Chronicles has been nominated for the Beautiful Mama Blog Award! :) yay!!!  And nope, I don't need you to send any smses, nor like any facebook pages in order for me to 'win' coz - in the case of this beautiful award - nominate means "win" already! Double yay!!! So honoured!!! Thanks Edlyn! *muakz*

I followed all the buttons to track back all the nominated blogs to see how this all started. Apparently, Valerie of AtlantaMomOfThree started this. I think it is a fantastic idea! Love it! :)

Three things I love about motherhood

1. The kidzes. They're the best, absolutely the best. My Isaac, my Asher and my Shawna. They're all different and unique in their own ways. They make me laugh all the time, they make me angry sometimes, and I often scratch my head thinking of how to answer their many questions and queries but I love them all to bits (that's what happens when I bite their backsides one too many times).
2. Motherhood brought out the best in me. Yes, I really think so. Being a mother has started me on this fabulous yet trying journey of bringing up children. I have done things I never really thought I could (er, like tandem breastfeeding and producing more than enough milk for 3 kids?!) and I have no doubt being a mother will continue to spur me on to more superhuman feats.
3. Motherhood has brought me closer to other mothers. It's true. Motherhood to mothers is like National Service to men. It's an experience which brings us closer to one another, and there's always loads to talk about. More importantly, motherhood has brought me closer to my own mother, and my sister - both of whom I was never really close to growing up. Now that my sister and I are both mothers, we are closer, and also to my own mum as well. PRICELESS!

There are so many fantastic mummy blogs out there, and I am happy to note that quite a few of my favourite blogs have already been nominated! Here are more deserving blogs! (and many more out there!!!)

• Beanie N Us
• The BottomsUp Blog
• Life is in the Small Things
• Little Blue Bottle
• Mum in the Making

Let's give them a hand!!! *APPLAUSE* clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap

Ladies, to accept the award, please do the following things:

• Click the above award image, save it and use it in your acceptance post.
• List 3 things you love about motherhood.
• Nominate other deserving mamas; you may choose as many as you like. (And let them know of the nomination!)

Mr Samat, the man with thousands of daughters!

It's the Chinese New Year season in Singapore right now. Usually, I love this season, as Chinese New Year is always a fun time. I get to shop for new clothes for everyone in the family, there are gatherings with family and friends. There's lots of delicious snacks and tonnes of mandarin oranges for me to devour... But this year, amid the usual new year cheer, there is a nagging unease and sadness in my heart and mind.

My teacher is in hospital, you see. In a coma.

You may have seen the article above in The Straits Times on February 2nd, 2013. That's my Sir, my secondary school teacher, Mr Samat. He got seriously injured recently, in a freak accident in school while supervising some students throwing the shot put. Mr Samat is, and has always been a very careful teacher - he is very mindful of safety procedures, sticks to them, and makes sure that we understand what we're doing and that we follow safety procedures as well. I should know. Coz I was in Track & Field, and I am a thrower. Javelin, Discus, Shot Put - I threw them all. And I know that Sir would have taught the students well, on safety procedures, just as he taught me 20 years ago.

I'm a Crescent Girl, a Crescentian. Mr Samat taught at Crescent for more than 30 years, retiring 4 years ago from Crescent. He must have started teaching part-time again coz he's the active and restless sort who likes to keep himself busy. He was also incredibly fit and healthy.

If I'm not wrong, over the 30 plus years at Crescent, Sir taught mainly Malay Language and Physical Education (PE), and coached the Track & Field team, and the Hockey team as well. Over an average Crescentian's four years in Crescent, one would have almost definitely been taught by him before; though it's probably the Malay girls, Track & Field girls, and Hockey girls who were the closest to him. 

He would always call us his daughters. 

Like:
"My daughters, my daughters, what do you think you are doing? Don't think that by hiding here, you can escape PE okay!? Go and change into your PE attire now!" 

He was more than a teacher to all of us - he was like a father to us.

Regardless of language, race or religion, he treats us all as his daughters. It didn't matter whether we were Malay, Chinese, Indian or Others, whether he still taught us that year, or that he had never taught you before - he would talk to each and every one of us. And he would listen. When we get into trouble, or if we hurt ourselves, we would go and look for him. 

Like:

"Oh shit. How?! Let's go look for Mr Samat!"

"Urrrghh, sprained my ankle again. How?! Let's go look for Mr Samat!"

I remember, when I was in Sec 4, and I saw some of my seniors (who have already graduated) in school. They went to look for Sir, sat talking to him, and one of them started crying. And the rest of the girls, were so distressed, that they too started tearing. Later, I found out, it was some BGR (boy girl relationship) issue, that they had returned and confided in Sir about it. That was the first time it really struck home to me, that not only does Sir treat us as his daughters - we treat him like a father as well.

In Crescent, and the years after I graduated, sometimes, when I feel down, I would go look for Sir. And hang around talking to him. He would know if something was bothering me, and he would ask. But if I didn't want to elaborate, he would be okay as well. I would ask him about what he was doing, and he would entertain me by telling me about how track practices were going or about something funny or exasperating that the girls did... distracting me from whatever it was that was bothering me. But just before I left, he would ask:"You okay, Pam?" and I would say:"Yes, Sir, now, I'm okay."

Limited edition Crescent Bear that was sold in 2011 to celebrate Crescent's 55th Anniversary.
This particular Crescent Bear now has the honour of being that Crescentian that can jaga Sir day and night!

Thanks to social media, the news about Sir's accident spread fast, and wide. Some of us had set up private whatsapp groups updating each other about Sir's condition once any of us visited him. Crescentians were asking each other whenever we met, about Mr Samat's condition. It was very good that his son, Hisham, quickly set up a Facebook Page entitled Sir, Cikgu, Uncle, Father Samat as a means to provide quick updates to all those who care for Mr Samat. 

As a result, I have been checking that fb page everyday for updates. I have also been using google's online translator quite a bit, to translate what the Malay girls have been saying, into English. There's a lot of us who have been talking about our experiences with Sir when we were in school. The things he says to us etc. It's amazing how all of us have our own stories to tell. And how varied they are! But there's a similar vein through it all, how he treats us all as his daughters.

Reading all the stories on the fb page, brought back memories of my own experiences. And the things I remember - it's quite funny - coz it's so varied too! 

I remember, during my four years in Crescent, that Mr Samat didn't have a car. For at least most of those four years anyway. I think he might have had a car during the early years of my Sec 1 days, and perhaps towards the end of my Sec 4 days. But in between, no car. He sold it. 

"Sir, why did you sell your car?"

"Because my sons were getting too fat."
"Huh?"

"Too fat. We take the car here, there, everywhere. Never walk. Too fat. So I sell the car, exercise is good. Wait till they slim down, then maybe I will buy a car again."

And so during my time, Sir took the bus and the train with us everywhere. And somehow, it would always stick in my brain, and made me aware how having a car can make one fat. Recently, on my first trip to see Sir in hospital, I saw his two sons, both Hisham and his brother. And you know what? They were NOT fat at all! See, Sir knows best!

Incidentally, there was one time, after I graduated from Crescent, a friend and I went back to visit Sir. And it so happened that that day was the (I can't quite recall) heats, or national finals. And Sir had some logistical problem, something about him needing to chaperone the girls on the bus to go to the national stadium, but then he needed his car later, or something like that. In the end, Sir actually trusted me to drive his car to the national stadium for him! Quite unforgettable, that!

Sir was also very adamant about us drinking hot drinks (teh tarik, anyone?) and taking baths with hot water (instead of cold water). He said that doing these two things is good for our bodies. So even till now, when my husband grumbles about me bathing with hot water (coz when it's his turn to bathe, the water is still hot, and he likes bathing with cold water) - I tell him "Bathing with hot water is good for your body okay!? Who says? My Sir say one! You don't believe my Mr Samat?!"

And he'd back down. Coz he believes. He knows how Mr Samat is probably the fittest person his age in the whole of Singapore. Hubbs is a teacher, not a PE teacher, no, but he's heard of Sir before. And I think probably all PE teachers in Singapore knows Sir. He seems to know everyone! When we are outside with him last time, we would inevitably run into someone who knows him. He'd stop and speak with them, even if only for a short while. And it's not just the thousands of Crescentians that he knows. But people from all walks of life! And in the early to mid 90s, you know what was best? He knows the Singapore national footballers!!! 

We were having Track & Field training at the national stadium and guess what - the national football team was there too! We all had our own favourites: Fandi Ahmad, Abbas Saad, Alistair Edwards, Nazri Nasir... my favourite was Steven Tan the Super Sub, as he was known then. And because they all knew Mr Samat and respected him so, they actually agreed to his request to allow us to have photographs taken with them! The girls were all ecstatic. And Sir was grinning all the way as well, seeing how happy we all were.

Pictures used with permission from Mr Samat's family.

This is a perfect picture of Sir. This is exactly how he looks. His twinkly eyes, laugh wrinkles, and extremely toothy grin. But he's usually in a sports polo tee, track pants, and running shoes. I remember how, every year, he'd bring us all on a shopping trip to Queensway where we would buy our running shoes. He'd teach us how to choose good shoes. Or at least he tries to teach us. Most of us would just choose whatever looks nice to us, and show it to him. He would fold the shoe, look inside, look at the sole, then give us his verdict. Good, can buy. No good, sigh, put back and find another one. And then, coz he knows the shop owner, and coz there were so many of us buying, he'd help us bargain for better discounts.

Sir is also well known for how he points at people. He doesn't use his index finger. He uses his thumb. He holds his hand in a fist, and points the thumb at you. Usually, he will match that with a stern look - his eyes and thumb, in line. We asked him why he does that and he explained that it is rude to use the index finger to point. So he would use his thumb. We used to joke with him that it sometimes looks like he's trying to box someone :p

We joke a lot with Sir. We like to tease him, to karcheow him. Just as he liked to 'father' us with his concern and fatherly advice, we like to 'take care' of him as a daughter should. Different girls would have their own things to say, of course. This is a sample of what we'd say to him:

"Sir, your PURPLE track pants very... happening leh... Plus your bright yellow top. Wah liao..."
"Sir, your teeth very long leh. You must not brush up your gums anymore! Later expose your root then you know!"

"Sir, your hair style so many years never change. Wanna change or not? We help you style?"

"Sir, you comb your hair, once in a while must change parting one leh, otherwise you start going bald along your parting line."

"Wah, Sir! Wear so handsome! Today phototaking ah? Damn retro leh!"

"Sir, you phototaking every year use the same tie one ah? Very boring leh. We buy you a new tie lah!"

As you can tell, teenage girls are a fashionable lot :p

I also remember that Sir came for my wedding. But he didn't stay long, he appeared, spoke to me, congratulated me, and before I knew it, he disappeared. But at least he came. Now, thinking back, I think he must have been very busy attending the weddings of his thousands of daughters. No wonder he could only stay for awhile!

Map taken from Khoo Teck Puat Hospital website http://www.ktph.com.sg/

At the time of this post, Sir is currently warded in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. When he first entered, he was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Thankfully, his condition has improved somewhat and he is now warded in a normal ward at Tower A, Ward A51, Bed 25. Visiting hours are strictly 12nn - 2pm and 5 - 8pm, daily. Join this Sir, Cikgu, Uncle, Father Samat Facebook page and keep an eye on it to receive updates on the status of Sir's recovery. Please note that no photography, and videoing, is allowed in the ward.

I wanted to bring the Crescent Bear and give it to Sir the first time I visited him in hospital, but I was too distraught and forgot to bring it. So I went back again last Friday, and gave him the bear. Now, Sir will always have a Crescentian with him 24 hours a day. 

He is in a coma. But the doctors say he can hear us, and encourages us to speak to him. His family also tell us that he is showing little signs of recovery, slight movement hands and eyes. In my second visit there, I witnessed Sir making some jaw movement, like a swallowing action. I saw the movement of his eyeballs beneath his closed eyelid. I saw him cry. He was tearing. I was talking and I couldn't help myself but cry. I think maybe he heard me crying and he cried too. Sir's wife was there, and she said that they have seen him tear before as well. That's also how they really know that Sir is listening, and he is trying to get better.

I said this to Sir when I visited him, and I will say it now again. And again, when I go and visit him again...

Sir, please wake up. We are all waiting for you to wake up. We know you are trying hard and working hard, to get well and wake up. You have to keep trying, okay? Don't give up! We are all waiting for you. I want to introduce my husband to you. He's a teacher, also, you know. And very into sports, you two sure have a lot to talk about. He took over from you - now he is the one that prevents me from getting fat. And I want to show you my three kids! Yes, I have three kids now, never expected that Pamela would have three kids, right? Do you know WQ just had her third boy, three boys! ZD has two kids. XZ has one. MH has two, LY has two also, I think. You see! You have so many grandchildren! Once you wake up we can organise a party! So you must quickly get up!

Don't make us scold you okay. So many people very worried for you, you know. You make all of us cry. So you must quickly wake up, and tell us everything is okay. After you wake up, and get well. It's up to you whether you want to work or not. Don't want to work, also okay. If you want to work, also can. Up to you. What is important now, is that you must wake up. Not so good to sleep for so long, okay? Wake up already, still can rest. We'd make sure we plan a schedule so that we space out all the parties you're going to have with the rest of the Crescentians okay? We'd take loads of photos and have lots of fun.

Please wake up, Sir. We know you can do it!

Linking with:

Tan Family Kidzes Sasuke Singapore

Ever since Asher and Isaac saw this guy, dressed like a ninja, running the Sasuke Singapore course (view video here), they have been 'playing' "Sasuke Singapore" - meaning, they start to do a series of "kungfu moves", calling it Sasuke Singapore!

Here're two videos showcasing The Tan Family Kidzes' Sasuke Singapore!!! Have fun viewing the videos!The kidzes are so cute, but then again, I'm biased! :p

Oh, and Happy New Year to you too!



 

Don't Talk Nonsense

You know how kids like to talk nonsense. They think it's funny. So far, when the twins "talk nonsense" they sprout gibberish. And they find it hilarious and would start giggling away. Isaac never really used to talk much gibberish. But I have noticed that the twins, especially Shawna, likes to do it. They do it for a laugh. It's quite silly really.

So, just yesterday evening, on our way home, in the car (see illustration above)...

Shawna:"Asher! Let's talk nonsense!"

Asher:"Okay!"

Mummy:"What nonsense?! Don't talk nonsense!"

Shawna:"Asher, you start first."

Asher:"Okay! Backside! hahahaha"

Shawna:"Kookoobird! hahahaha"

Isaac:"Poo poo! hahahaha"

Asher:"Kookoobird! hahahaha"

Shawna:"Gina! hahahhaa" (She call the "vagina" by her own short form of "gina")

Isaac:"Shee shee! hahaha"

Mummy:"OI! What nonsense are you all talking!? STOP IT!"

I was part amused and part aghast, really. Previously when they "talk nonsense" it was just gibberish. Since when did it become verbal body-parts and bodily-discharge slinging?! The twins are just three years old, and Isaac is only five plus. I can't even "blame" Isaac for starting it, coz he didn't. And the stuff he says are even milder than the other two! *faint* 

It also struck me how, even though they are so young, they could "tell" and "sense" that these are sorta taboo words that you don't throw around... which is of course why they are doing it...

So I told them to stop. But amidst their laughing and giggling, did they listen to me? Of course not.

Shawna:"Backside! hahahaha"

Asher:"Kookoobird! hahahaha"

Isaac:"Poo poo shee shee! hahahaha"

Mummy:"STOP IT!"

*pause*

Shawna:"Okay, cheekyboomboom. hehehehe"

Asher:"Yes, cheekybumbum. hehehehe..."

Isaac:"Yes, cheekybambam hahhahaha..."

Shawna:"You, cheekybuttbutt!!! hahhahaa..."

Sigh, the stuff I put up with.