Crazy Times

The news over the past few days have been focused on the same things: the earthquake in Christchurch, the uprising in Libya and the latest tax on carbon in Australia. Not very good news, especially the first two.

My heart goes out to our kiwi neighbours, whose unfortunate geographical position has caused much disaster and devastation over the last 6 months. I am saddened by the many losses of lives, many of them probably had no chance of escape when it happened. They did nothing wrong, except to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. This leads me to reflect, once again, on the fragility of life. Here one moment, gone the other. How small we are compared to the forces of nature. This tragedy has a humbling effect on people and we can only accept that we don't control Nature but instead is subject very much to it.

On the other hand, some thousand of kilometres to our northwest, in Libya, people are trying to take control of their destinies from a tyrant leader. For the people there, I say 'jia you' (fight on)! It's time to say enough is enough. They deserve to live in peace and prosperity just like everyone else. I cannot imagine what it must be like to live under the rule of such a crazy control freak of a leader for so long. And I can only fear for them if this leader do not get defeated and has a chance for revenge.

Nearer to us, Australia's PM has just annouced that there will be a price to pay for carbon emission from next year. Companies will be taxed, a fixed rate initially, on the carbon emissions they produced. This increase in cost for them will no doubt be passed to the consumers at the end and have a direct impact on our livelihoods in terms of increased prices on basically everything that involves carbin emissions in its production. While I agree that we must reduce our carbon footprints on earth and this green policy is aimed as such, I'm not sure if it will be effective enough to have a visible impact. Companies will still produce what they need to produce because there is a demand for consumption. Will they really try to research for alternative 'greener' methods of production to reduce their carbon tax or won't it be easier to just pass on the increased cost? At the end of the day, even if it is effective, the benefits of such a policy on climate change will only be felt in the long term. For the time being, perhaps in our lifetime, all we'll ever feel is the pinch to our pockets. Nonetheless, if we are buying the future for our children, then perhaps the sacrifice will be worth it.   

XX Loves School

All ready with schoolbag and hat

What a difference 1 year makes. Last year this time, we were struggling to send a reluctant and tearful XX to experience 'school' two days a week at a childcare center. We gave up after about 2 months. He wasn't enjoying it and obviously not ready to stay somewhere unfamiliar, away from us, for a prolonged period of time. 

Based on my experience with KK, I knew XX still needed more time. When I tried to send KK to playschool at age 2, he didn't like it either and we stopped. When we sent him to nursery the next year, he was so much better. So for the rest of 2010, XX stayed by my side. This year, however, there was no more excuse to delay his entry to official kindergarten. I was both eager yet anxious to know how he will react about going to school now. 

I had enrolled XX for a two-day kinder program that stretched for 5.5 hrs each day. Versus the three-day, 3.5hrs program, I thought this would give me more free time at a stretch and less hassle of bringing him in and out. Well, it was a decision based on my covenience and as the day approached for the term to begin, I started to regret if I had been too selfish and if I was subjecting XX to torture. Would he be able to adjust suddenly to spending 5 long hours at school? Furthermore, he had swimming lesson on one of the days before school. Would he be overtired? What a bad mummy I was.

Washing his hands after hanging up his bag

Luckily, after I voiced my concern to the teacher, she was pretty understanding and suggested that if he can't cope, I could bring him home earlier and slowly lengthen the amount of time he spent in school. At home, that first day, XX was pretty excited about preparing his lunch box, a present he got for his 4th birthday. I made him a ham & lettuce sandwich for lunch and packed some cransins and biscuits for snack. He happily packed the Thomas Train lunchpack it into his rollerbag and obediently dressed up. No fuss, no tears. Good start, I thought.

XX sniffing on the floor with his tissue

On the way there, I took a few photographs of him and he posed like a pro. Inside the class, he looked a little distracted by all the toys and kids around. After hanging up his bag in his designated "mouse" locker, I brought him to wash his hands and led him to the play area while waiting for the teacher to organise everybody. I already saw 2 other boys clinging tightly to their moms. (Notice it's boys again?) XX was still looking cool until I said that I'll have to leave soon. Then he started to wipe his eyes. He knew the inevitable was coming. As the other mommies started to leave, one of the clingy boys started to wail. He was comforted by the assistant and immediately distracted with a basket of toy trains, which was good cos I was worried that XX would be affected and start yelling too. I hung around for a while as the teacher started to talk to the children. I had given a tissue to XX and I watched him busied himself with it clearing his nose. After a while, I waved goodbye and walked out. As I closed the door, I heard fresh wailing. Phew, it wasn't XX but another boy who just realised his mom had sneaked out with me.

I stayed around for another 30 minutes outside, talking to another mom and secretly went to peep at him again. He was eating his lunch. I couldn't see his face but I saw his swinging legs. A relaxed posture. About 3.30pm, after I picked KK from school, I couldn't resist dropping by XX's kindergarten to check on him again. This time, they were having their snacks outdoors. I saw him, (he didn't see us) sitting under a tree with the teacher and other kids. The teacher saw me and came to update me that he was doing very well. No sign of distress and tiredness. She reckoned I should just let him stay till the end.

  

Yay, we finished our first day! (XX and Callum)

From that point on, my fears were thrown out of the window and things got better and better. By the 2nd week, XX declared he LOVED school. He even asked him when is it time to go to school and would say 'hurray' when I told him today he's going to school. On the day itself, he would keep bugging me if it's time yet. At school, he's still abit uncertain as he didn't know everyone yet. So he told me "Can you stay until Callum (his only friend)  arrived? Then I'll stay with him." When Callum came, I said goodbye and I got a big hug and kiss and a happy wave from him. I cannot ask for more. This is the perfect scenario already. My toddler is going to kindergarten and enjoying it and I have 3.5 hours of free time all to myself.

          

Pregnant Flower

Did you know that some flowers have gender? I didn't know that until recently. I have a pumpkin plant in my garden, which grew from the seeds that we kept from the Japanese pumpkins we eat, to this gigantic crawler with leaves the size of my palm. They started flowering recently, lots of them with huge soft yellow petals. Unfortunately, they wither after a day of bloom and then drop off. None of them produced any pumpkin. I read up a bit and discovered that only female flowers will bear fruit. Apparently all those flowers that bloomed so far were male flowers. Obviously you don't get babies from males. This rule is pretty consistent with plants as well. I was a little disappointed even my plants were like me, no luck for female flowers.

A few days ago, I finally saw it! A flower with a 'baby bump' below it! A tiny pumpkin! My pumpkin flower is pregnant! And not just one but three of them!! Finally, the babies are arriving! This might be interpreted as an auspicious sign for those who believe.....I'll take this chance to wish all who are wishing for babies a fruitful and productive year ahead!!

      



The female flower - see the bump below?

The male flower

Raining Rabbits

February burst in with a torrent of activities in much the same way as the flood waters rushed into Queensland. I found myself caught between enjoying the festivities and having to deal with the weather at the same time. It was an interesting period.

Combined Steamboat Reunion Dinner

Friends over on the first day of Rabbit Year

The spread on reunion

Starting from the eve of Lunar New Year, I frantically washed two washing machine loads of bedsheets and blankets after suspecting I was bitten by bed bugs. Hubby suspected me of having Chicken Pox thanks to the red itchy dots on my body. In fact, they were heat rash due to the warm humid weather recently. They didn't prevent me from enjoying my combined steamboat reunion dinner at a friend's house though.

The next few days activities revolved around celebrating the Chinese New Year and going back to school routine. Symbolically, I dressed everyone in new pyjamas on NYEve and new clothes on the first day. Yes, there were ang pows and mandarin oranges, not forgeting my home baked CNY cookies that filled a corner of the dining table. I tried to decorate my house a bit but I only had about 3 greeting cards and the ang pow lantern I made was quite pathetic.

XX in his new PJs

On the first day, instead of watching Chinese New Year variety shows, I tuned in to news on how Queensland fared after the devastating Cyclone Yasi. The Prime Minister came on TV talking about another fatality in Afganistan and Australia's war against terrorism. Not very auspicious news but this did not stop us from wishing our Singaporean Chinese friends the auspicious "Gong Xi Fa Cai" when we meet or call.

We had dinner at a vegetarian restaurant on the first day. Nothing religious about it, my friend suggested and I agreed as I miss my mom's standard 'zhai' vegetarian dish which she cooks every 'chu yi'. I must get her to teach me so I can cook some too myself next year. We ended the night early as the next day was the first day of school for KK. I could have let them skip school since it was a Friday and the 2nd day of CNY but I felt the first day of school is important to have a good start to the school year.

KK's Glow in the Dark PJs that reads
"Caution: Grumpy in the mornings.
Avoid conversation."

XX officially started school too that day, though it was just an one-hour orientation. More about his big day at Kindergarten next time. After school ended, the Chinese New Year activities took over. We set off to the city hoping to catch some lion dance and festive mood by the river. Unfortunately, after making our way there by car and tram, the rain came about 15 minutes later and everyone rushed indoors. It turned out to be a big storm. When the rain came, it was like a dam broke overhead. It took only a few seconds to get soaked from head to toes. Luckily, we were quite near the shelter and managed to run in without getting drenched. But others were not so lucky. And it turned out, there were many other victims of the storm that night.

As we came home, we saw many trees branches lying on the roads, and even some sign posts. There were flash floods on several roads and the Shell petrol station and MacDonalds near our place were in total darkness due to a blackout. Part of our street had a blackout too as there were no street lights. It was rather eerie driving down the road with everywhere dark and quiet. I was expecting something to happen to our house but thank God, except for a drenched backyard, no water came inside the house and there was still power.



The CNY decor at Crown Casino



The weekend came and went quickly with a mix of normal activities (like Chinese school for KK) and not so normal events (like going for a party till past midnight and making a second trip to watch lion dance in the city). That's how we usher in the Year of Rabbit down under - blending east and west, a happy adaptation of tradition and invention.

XX getting ready to go out in new clothes.

KK in his new clothes

Another makan session at friend's house.

Lion dance performance outside Crown.

Fire crackers too loud for XX.

Happy New Year, Gong Xi Fa Cai!