I'm Back!!!

After spending the last 1.5 years on Facebook, I'm back. Will start to post a bit more if time permits.

Gerald Gets a Piano

After a month of serious consideration (forgoing $100 of NTUC voucher), we finally decided to go ahead with the purchase of a piano for Gerald. Its a brand new Yamaha YM5.

We decided that we should buy him an exam model instead of an entry level piano to get his fingers used to playing a piano and to spark his interest. He likes it.

N95 Resurrected!!!

Got the spare part today. Didn't connect the flexible ribbon for the LCD screen properly the first time. So nothing appeared on the screen. I was so demoralised. But took the phone apart and started connecting from scratch. It worked!!!

N95 Autopsy... Cause of death determined.

A snapped data flex ribbon is the cause. Ordered a replacement part from a vendor in Malaysia for $43 (incl postage). Will be receiving it probably next Wednesday.

Anyway, my experience with Nokia Service Center left me pretty puzzled. I called the call center to ask for the cost of repair. I was told that it could only be determined at the service center by their "expert technician".

At the service center, I was greeted by what I would consider to be a receptionist or some kind of front desk personnel. After looking at the phone, I was told that the repair would cost $80 to $150. I asked if they would call me to inform me of the exact cost before going ahead with the repair. The answer was no. I then asked what caused the problem with my phone. I was told that its a faulty LCD screen.

After taking the N95 apart, it apparently is not the case. It leaves me wondering if we are sometimes causing unnecessary wastage due to some company policy towards repair. (one that encourages replacement and not repair)

Gerald's Performance

So proud of our son.

Gerald's Big Day!

Gerald will be performing in his Preschool class concert today. He's so excited about it he couldn't really sleep last night. Its so wonderful seeing him enjoy every bit of his life. He'll be doing the Hawaiian Dance with his classmates in Nursery.

Going to wake him and Mommy up soon. Got to send them to the school and rush to work by 830am. Will post some pictures after the concert.

Gerald's Monthly Medal Competition

Woke Gerald up at 730am to prepare for this Monthly Medal at NSRCC. Tee off time at 9.10am. He was obviously tired. We all slept at 12plus last night because Mommy and I were busy making headdress (Ah Li Shan type) for her K2 pupils.

Ra didn't do well with 18 putts for 4 holes. His usual bad habits took over again (according to his instructor). He did well for Hole 1 with even par. Probably one on and 2 putts into the hole. That means that he hit and average of 5 to 6 putts per hole over the next 3 holes! Instructor said that he was too eager to putt the ball and did not set up properly.

Looking back, I probably have to shoulder part of the blame. Didn't really have time to practice with him after Super Juniors in Oct. Too bogged down with work. Have to start his night practice routines again. Anyway, hope that he does better next time.

Nice cosy place at Pasir Ris Park

Found this place after my 3E6 BBQ. Martini now going 2 for $12. Quite a nice mix, I had Soursop Martini and Mommy had Lychee. This is supposed to be our little 7th Anniversary (Customary) Celebration.

Sand Castle Beach Part 2

As promised, I brought Ra back to the sand castle beach again. This time, the place was filled with activities. As there was no parking space, we had to park at the car park near to the lagoon. It was a good 10min walk away from the castle beach.

Upon reaching the place, we went straight to the little makeshift booth to buy the sand castle making set. It cost $38. Went on to have some fun with the castle making set. The boss of the place, Alvin Lee gave some sort of "free" sand castle making demo at the beach. Gerald was attentive. But the attentiveness was pretty short lived. He wanted to get back to making his castles.

A very happy Gerald with his "Beach Works" Sand Castle building tools.

Gerald's new friend.

Gerald's first castle... with lots of help from Daddy of course.

Guess the meaning of this sign... as seen from Gerald's Eyes.

Answer to be revealed in subsequent posts.

Early Beach Outing

The whole family woke up early this morning to send Mommy to Harbour Front. She's going on a day tour to Batam with her childcare teachers. Ra and I headed for East Cost Park after that. Went to the beach near to the food centre. At 9plus, both of us felt hungry.

After cleaning up (Ra had sand on his whole body), we drove back to Compass Point to have Mac breakfast. Ra is now in ZZZ Land. Gotta think of what to do after he wakes up. He want to go back to the beach because the "Sand Castle Shop" will be opened later in the afternoon. But, I'll probably bring him for a ride on the Singapore Flyers again (Family Membership, gotta make full use of it).

N95 Finally Died

Screen of my trusty N95 suddenly went blank today. Maybe it caught a could during the water games at choir camp (lol!!!). So RIP. The phone now has no trade in value. So it means that it's autopsy time. Gonna take apart everything when I've got time. Who knows... maybe its some kind of mechanical failure.

Got myself a new N86. But it cost $200 more than it should. $100 for the trade in value that my N95 is supposed to have, and $100 as both Mommy and my plans are not eligible for upgrade yet.

Internationl Water Homes Finally Ready!!!

Our water chalet at Port Dickson is finally ready or occupation. Really excited about staying there for a few days over the December holidays. There was some issues with the free night stay and the use of voucher... but luckily for me, I read the contract.

http://www.legendiwh.com.my/

To Buy or Not To Buy

Thinking of buying a piano for Gerald to practice on. A new entry level piano from Yamaha cost about $3500. Saw one second hand piano on ebay selling for $3000 (cost about $9000 when new). Now "Xin Yang Yang".

Lucky Gerald... Mommy and Daddy giving him the things that we never had the chance to get when we were younger. (or at least it remains one of my regret in life that I did not get a chance to learn how to play the piano when I was younger)

A very expensive cotton bud

Was cleaning Fluffy's ears this evening. At the end of cleaning... stuck a cotton bud into his ears to clean and dry the inside of the ear canal. @#%#$@% cotton bud came off from the "stick" portion and the lump of cotton bud was left in Fluffy's ears. No way to take it out alone. Had no choice but to drive all the way to Mt. Pleasant at Whitley Road. Had to pay emergency consultation charges as its already 11pm. It cost me $300++ to take out that cotton bud from Fluffy's ears. I could have easily bought a whole lifetime of cotton buds with that amount of money.

After that, Fluffy and I reached home at nearly 12midnight. He looks like he just came back from the pub after a long night of drinking. (he was sedated to prevent him from struggling while the vet took the cotton bud out of his ear) So poor thing. Stayed out at the living room till 2am to wait for him to "sheee sheee" the sedative out before going to the room to sleep.

"Hao Ming Gou"

Gerald's Little Golfing Success

This has been a hectic year for everyone in the family... Yup... that includes Gerald. Wanna share my joy of the little success which Gerald has achieved in Golf. He cleared the Super Juniors 2009 Qualifiers and went on to play two rounds for Finals. He came in 2nd runner up. Was very proud of him... especially when he did his best to hit the ball over the pond (about 15m... quite far for a 4 year old).

During the qualifier... didn't even want to try as he totally freaked out when he saw the player on the same flight hit the ball into the pond. In spite of the reassurance that we brought enough balls, the still didn't wanna try. To a 2 shot penalty for that (drop ball)

During the 1 round of final... he finally plucked up the courage to try... SWING!!!! .... flew straight into the pond... could see the disappointment in his face. But kept telling him that daddy is proud of him cos he's tried his best.

For the 2nd round of final... initially wanted to use his pitching wedge... but changed it to a 7 iron instead. Gerald tried again. Could see the determination in his eyes... the swing came and wow!!! Could still remember that moment of happiness and excitement when the ball flew. It landed on the fringe of the green. Victory for Gerald!!!

Here's the link to the Super Juniors Website with some photos of Gerald.

www.superjuniors.com

ARMY OPEN HOUSE

Brought Gerald to the ARMY OPEN HOUSE today. It was a great experience for Gerald. He especially enjoyed the low wall at the SOC (Standard Obstacle Course)... But could see that his idea of a soldier is one who marches at the national day parade. Haa... But still... he wants to be a soldier when he grows up.

He also had a meal at the cookhouse. Food was from SFI. Still though that the army giving away free fresh ration. Wah... wrong man... $6 for army food. Sigh... who ask me to be so cheapo...

Mommy attaining divinity at the Singapore Flyer

Gerald's First NE Show

Brought Gerald to the NE Show today. Thanks to Jivaan. He's got tickets as he's one of the motivators for the NDP2009.

Tried to get Gerald to take a nap in the afternoon. But he was so excited that he couldn't fall asleep. He finally couldn't take it at the floating platform while waiting for parade to start. He slept on my lap for 45min.

After the NE show... he said to me, "Daddy, I want to be a soldier".

Gerald Turns 4

Happy Birthday to Gerald.

Happy Birthday to Gerald.

Happy Birthday to Gerald.

Happy Birthday to Gerald.

Teaching Gerald how to protect his rights

Sigh... during the Chinese New Year visits, it dawn upon me that in meeting our demands of being disciplined and nice, results in him being taken advantage of. Ball would be snatched away from him, etc.

This is a dilemma... do I let Gerald practice the law of the jungle and have total disregard for others (using the excuse that he's only a child) or do I continue to teach him to be nice to others. I decided that the correct thing to do would be to teach Gerald how to protect his own rights and voice his displeasure. I'm so proud of him just now that he was able to practice what I taught him last night. 

A little girl on the bus sitting behind Gerald was kicking the chair and literally screaming her head off while her parents turned and blind eye. The last straw came when she climbed on the chair and looked over at Gerald... still screaming away. Gerald turned around and to the little girl that "that's not nice... I don't like what you are doing!

Way to go Gerald!!!

Posting by DADDY