thehappyplc

Windsurfing, KiteSurfing at Changi Beach

2009-10-24T06:32:00.000-07:00

During the months commencing November to February (give or take), the North-East Monsoon arrives on our sunny shores bringing out the kiters and windsurfers in full force. Packing continuous winds between 11 to 16 knots, its the time of the year we look forward to. During these months, we head out to Changi Beach on the weekends where the hubby gets blown away, literally, the kids get salty and covered in sand while the mummy reads, rollerblades and enjoys her nicely chilled can of beer.

Kids looking on as daddy gets equipment into water.

Without a doubt, the next generation to get blown away. See how dedicatedly he cleans daddy's sail. The many kiters with their array of colourful kites and the windsurfers amongst them.

Kiters aplenty while photographers record the action.

Its a bird, no its a plane. Its a kite being blown away by the winds and getting caught on the tree.

Appealing to daddy to take him out. He gets his wish.

The season is fast approaching and I eagerly look forward to the squeals and delight of the children as they head to the beach, the big panting smiles of satisfaction as the hubby comes back to shore and the many nicely chilled beers that will sit in my cooler box calling out to me.

I'm Back

2009-10-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

Hello out there. It's been more than a year since my last post. A lot has happened. The kids are a year older. Singapore has just completed hosting its second F1 night race and F1 Rocks event (which by the way...I SHOULD HAVE GONE!). Michael Jackson has passed on - bringing with him vivid memories of my childhood as I sit scrambling infront of the TV & video casette recorder with the remote trying to record the Beat It & Billy Jean music video - and of course playing it back over and over again till I'm sure my parents had their heads knocking on the wall. Lets see, what else? Oh yes..Barack Obama took office, my grandad turned 88, I celebrated my 10th year wedding anniversay and a whole lot more I probably will recall later...and amidst all that happening.. I'm not finding myself very far off from my last post. The kids final semestral exams are approaching, I'm pulling my hair out, I'm reading, googling, flipping, searching for meanings, facts, anything that can throw light on a mind-boggling question as we, yes we (my daughther and me) prepare for the test that will eventually propel her to the class of her choice in 2010.

But, surrounding all that madness, the activities with the kids are getting more adventurous and with that more FUN as this mummy continues to strive for the much needed work-life balance for the family and herself.

Its GREAT to be back and I look forward to sharing the FUN... Beginning with Billy Jean (let's all move to the intro beat in our chairs!) xoxo

Its Time For Fun & Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-09T01:17:00.000-07:00

The mid-term examinations have just ended & its time for fun, fun and more fun!

With the month long school holidays coming up in about 2 weeks, this mummy is busy planning.

After burying her head in past year examination papers of other schools for practise, my 8 year old deserves a good break! We will begin the month long fun with a holiday to perhaps Beijing or Taiwan, its still not decided. The challenge for me is to plan the acitivites when we are back. TO keep them occupied and leave this mum sane :)

To all mummies out there.. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!! All mothers DO DESERVE a GREAT PAT on the back!!

Breast-feeding may boost children's IQ

2008-05-07T03:28:00.000-07:00

Study provides new evidence that nursing makes kids smarter.

WASHINGTON - A new study provides some of the best evidence to date that breast-feeding can make children smarter, an international team of researchers said.
Children whose mothers breast-fed them longer and did not mix in baby formula scored higher on intelligence tests, the researchers in Canada and Belarus reported.

The above is an excerpt taken from MSNBC by Reuters 6 May 2008. To read on click on the link.

Give this mummy a pat on the back! I persevered for 2 years!

My Crazy Eights

2008-05-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Dette to deliver 8 random things about myself. Hmmm...Have your seat belts on?...Here we go!

I'll watch anything by Edward Norton, Kevin Spacey, Will Smith, Ben Stiller, Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt & Denzel Washington.

I still become an emotional wreck when i watch ET..and I've seen it like 6 times.

I came out TOPS at the AUDI Quattro slalom race that I took part in & beat ALL the men! One of the rewards was a hotlap round the race track with a professional race car driver in the AUDI TT. The experience was OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD!!

I use to get the best thrills on dirt bikes through the terrain tracks as a pillion in my younger days. I have 4 abrasive scars to show for it. My son is SO NOT going to get close to any motorcycle!

I breast fed my little boy for 2 years whilst working full time. Two of the 4 bags that I lugged around with me besides my laptop bag & handbag was my handy back-pack containing the electronic breast pump and the breast milk cooler bag. I was an emotional wreck filled with guilt when i finally stopped breast feeding but now am glad those days are over!

I am trying to get back to my pre-kids weight..way back from 8 years ago. Check back here to see if I can accomplish this task!
I have almost 2000 fav photos that I've kept aside to scrap with. And I have still not started.
Before I kick the bucket, my bucket list (the movie 'The Bucket List' staring Jack Nicholson & Morgan Freeman was thoroughly enjoyable) would read like this :

go white-water rafting in crazy rapids, skydive, do a wreck dive (well.. do a refreshers then wreck dive), go on a baby blue Piaggio scooter (with a pretty basket in the front) ride along the sandy paths of the Italian countryside, master the art of kite-surfing... (I'm constantly adding on to this list... again check back often :) )

TAGGING RULES:

Each player starts with 8 random things about themselves. At the end of your post, tag 8 people and include their names & links. Those who are tagged will would post about their own 8 random things, including these rules as well. Don’t forget to leave them a comment on their blog and tell them they’ve been tagged, and to come back and read your blog for the whole story.

If you're up for a game of eights, I'm now tagging...

From The Cheap Seats
BusyDad
Tales Of A Neurotic 30 Something
Jogging In Circles
East Coast Life
Lilhandmades by mamabliss
Of Life, Love & Being A Mother
The Wise Mommy

Sentosa Luge & Skyride

2008-04-27T00:53:00.000-07:00

Sentosa Luge & Skyride is a must-visit! The reactions you're going to generate from the kids are worth the trip. I logged in good points in their books for this effort!

For families with cars, I strongly recommend to drive into Sentosa & park at the Imbiah Lookout carpark (located just behind Images of Singapore attraction). Beats the shuttle!

This mummy here had loads of fun..of course when the kids were not looking..manoeuvred sharp corners at speeds not characteristic of "mums out to set a good example on safety for kids". It was THRILLING! Managed not to get flung over! (NAH..just kiddin! :). Hey but I think I experienced this thing called 'drifting'.. woohooo!

The Skyride which you take to go back up the start point is another thrill! Similar to the lifts you find at the ski slopes, the feeling of having your feet dangle with the support of only a steel bar infront of you to hold on to while you are being transported in mid-air was enough to keep my 2 year dumbfounded through the whole ride. I think he was scarred out of his pants! My brave little-one did shriek with delight immediately at touch-down..he loved it!

The entire family had such a wild time,we did the LUGE four times!
Here is the link
htttp://www.sentosa.com.sg/explore_sentosa/attractions/sentosa_luge.html
should you want more information.

The End Product of The Art Of Mess

2008-04-23T00:30:00.000-07:00

The end product of my 8 year old's art piece. Thought it deserves a post all on its own. Mummy is proud.

The Art of Mess

2008-04-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

Its a Saturday yet again. A welcomed one after 5 days of hectic work. Every Saturday is 'WE' time & today we are goofing around with paint. The kids delight in getting all messed up whilst I'm busy mixing up the paint mixture bought from their playschool. The colours, giggles, screams, snatching, spills, cleaning & finally the big display of their creation on their bedroom wall..priceless.

This mix-it-yourself power paint is a fabulous find! Economical. Dries with a nice finish. Washes off like a breeze.

Painting the Family

My budding young artist

Procreation At Its Best!

2008-04-12T02:09:00.000-07:00

Beetles tend to flock to our home like bees to honey & my little boy has a blast every time he catches one to keep in his containers. Last night i caught yet another green beetle & i added it to his collection. The beetles must have been bored cos they ended up 'doing the do'..look what i stumbled upon..

Its educational to know that the 'deed's' position is quite similar to that of humans. The male must have been quite frustrated with me for i moved them around quite a bit to get the shots :) (i thought i caught him staring at me at one pt) & they stayed glued to each other throughout. Looks like my little boy will have more than he bargained for .. hee hee :p

fyi..the biscuit is what my little boy feeds them..

Forest Adventure

2008-04-09T08:15:00.000-07:00

I first heard about this tree top adventure place from a lovely friend of mine. Located in the Bedok Reservoir area behind Temasek Poly, its within the reservoir park. Lots of open spaces for the kids to run and monkey about. Its really like an Outward Bound set-up scaled down for kids. Adults can also get a go at the tree top adventure on the Grand Course as well.

The course available challenges the kids & builds their confidence all in good fun. Min height required is 1.1m and recommended age is from 5 yrs on. Here is the website http://www.forestadventure.com.sg/ where you can get more info.

Pulau Ubin / Chek Jawa..Here We Come!

2008-03-28T08:37:00.000-07:00

We love the outdoors!! Pulau Ubin & Chek Jawa presented us with much to explore!! The kids were THRILLED!!
It was a day filled with anticipation of adventure as we were getting ready to set out. The eager young hearts were racing with excitement..

1st stop : Fuel the little ones stomach at Changi Village Hawker Centre (a lot of energy was going to be required as we were off to explore Ubin on the 2-wheelers).
Tip :: There is ample carpark space at the large public carpark at Changi Village. Bring all that you'll need as you leave the car as you'll be able to walk to the jetty which is right at the end of the hawker centre.

2nd stop : Changi Point Ferry Terminal
Tip :: Take the bum / tug boats which are usually operated by individual owners who will charge $2 per pax & who will set out to sea upon having 12 passengers on board. Ride to Ubin is approx. 10-15 mins.

3rd stop : Bicycle Rental Shops (choosing your mode of transport)
Tip :: Upon arrival into Ubin a host of bicycle rental shops will greet you. Some shops stock up newer bicycles so do shop around till you find something you are comfortable with. For those who do not wish to cycle, you can also find taxi services awaiting for you (unless all are already engaged). The taxis come in various makes & models eg. vans, jeeps, cars. Do establish the cost to hire one before hopping on.

The sunshine was on all our eager faces as we secured our belongings to the bicycles. Then after slapping on enough insect repellent that will probably cover Andre the Giant, we were OFF!!

4th stop : Ubin's NParks Headquarter
Tip :: Get maps to Ubin here & plan your route.

5th stop : Chek Jawa
So much has been heard about Chek Jawa so it was unanimous that we will check that out first.

The ride there was a challenging one and definitely not for the faint hearted or on an empty stomach. The terrain was pretty hilly and bumpy at some points. You will have to leave the bicycles at the entrance to Chek Jawa as only exploration by foot is allowed. Once in, we chose to take the Boardwalk route. Check out the photos!

We were all tired out by the time we were finished with Chek Jawa. My little boy was completely knocked-out in his baby seat as we headed back to the jetty.

Tip :: Try to get to the jetty by 6pm as Bumboats run from sunrise to sunset. Special arrangements will have to be made with the boatmen for after dark departures.

It was a day of FUN FILLED ACTION for the whole family!!

Here are some websites you can check out for more info..

http://www.wildsingapore.com/ubin/
http ://www.nparks.gov.sg/CsubPage.aspx?prv=Y&pg=117
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/activities/pedalubin/
http://chekjawa.nus.edu.sg/ria/text/shore.htm

Live SPARKLING everyday!

2008-03-20T20:55:00.000-07:00

What makes me sparkle? For the most part, is when i see my children smile, laugh, sweat, all rosy & tired out / knocked out at the end of the day as we head home from our itineary of FUN!

To get started, always plan ahead (though some impromptu diversions are inevitable). This will make sure that our butts get out of the door & head out. Procrastination often sets in when prior plans are not made. We find ourselves encountering fruitless discussions & brainstorming with our better half on what to do for that very day and in so doing waste precious time.

Get a sheet of paper, better still keep a FUN diary, customise it the way we like & start planning. The advantages of a FUN diary is we can always go back to refer to earlier outings & use them again at a later stage (warning : repetition too soon can make your entourage whine!).