Elizabeth and Anna

Meredith met up with Elizabeth and Anna for the first time and they clicked instantly. For their mummies, it was a reunion after nearly 16 years! It was nice to be chauffeured to the restaurant in a big "family car". The grown-ups had so much to talk about, the kids had to find their own fun.

The girls were first extremely delighted when they were served with princess cups..."Wowwww!" they all said.




Then they decided to play hide-n-seek...

Hiding under the tables, Xmas tree...etc

Luckily we managed to persuade them to do other safer and quieter activities...


The kids look so cute all squashed up at the back of the car. But you know, they said the car ride was the most fun!

Fire and tears

How my sentiments exactly!

We have finished emptying our house and its contents is now on its way downunder. It was tiring and nearly stressful.

But the concert we attended was a nice treat. It got better this year, more orderly I think. They had a pram station and had some teenagers to help usher around.

It was splendid to listen to a 'live' orchestra again. Even nicer when you can tap, swing and clap along with your kids.

Like previous years, kids could go up and mingle with the musicians at the end of the concert when the orchestra play their final treat. This time, Meredith was brave enough to go up there by herself. She said she saw the violins, trumpets, double basses up close in action.

What I saw...was quite hilarious. One kid actually went up and close up the score and pack up the score of one violinist. That made the violinist lose his track and had to scramble to his partner so that he could continue to play the music. Some others stand right in front of the musician's music, blocking their view. All these, the musician could not do anything but giggle and didn't seem to mind at all. Some little mess this kids would have caused.

Going home

We had a lovely flight back. No transits. Reegan decided to greet every passenger as they board the plane and everyone liked this little new flight attendant.


The flight seemed so much shorter. Maybe next time I should pay a bit more for another airline that doesn't transit.

Reegan slept a lot more this time. Check out his hairstyle after the nap. He also had a baby friend, who was sitting next to us and they spoke to each other in baby language, with clear turn taking techniques. It was quite hilarious!

The last but best

Just before we head back home, Uncle Stanley decided we should meet up. And as usual, he was late. He came at about 1:40pm for our noon appointment. But its ok cos I got Reegan and Meredith to have their lunch first.

Uncle Stanley took us to Springvale, using his new gadget, the navigator. He took us to Gold Leaf for yum cha. I have had so many yum cha this trip but this last one was the best. I was relaxed and could actually enjoy the food and order things I like to eat.

Reegan was also very happy. Uncle Stanley was really good with kids. I hope their plan for next year will come easy.

Visitors

We had families from Adelaide, Malaysia and Singapore visiting us today. Caitlin got along really well with Meredith. They wanted to sit together at church and sit together at lunch. But Caitlin comes from Adelaide. They are visiting because their uncle had come from Malaysia.

After church, we all went to yum cha. But poor Mummy could hardly eat anything because Reegan and Meredith is keeping her real busy. That's ok though, Mummy just had to eat whatever is given. By the time she is ready to eat, everyone has finished eating and had stopped ordering. It was a big group. And it was nice meeting with them.

Olivia

Among the kids at Eastside, Olivia is the only girl. Now that Meredith is here, they now have each other to play with. It's great that they are also the same age, and both are starting school next year.

See how they have started to act silly together.

We went to the city today

We took a train to the city today. We wanted to get a good vacuum machine and Aunty Carol said the stores in the city have more variety. Meredith was excited because it was her first time taking the train here.

This is them at the Auburn station. We were so glad today was nice and cool, just 16 degrees.


When we arrived in the city, we saw Krispy Kreme. When they first opened, they used to have queues and people had to wait for an hour to get their donuts. That's just like the current donut craze in Singapore. But Krispy Kreme was good. Well made and has that nice soft texture.

I think the best part for Meredith must be the rides in the malls. Now that its Christmas, the big stores each set up an area for kids. This one is at David Jones. She had the carousel all to herself. How is that!

Over at Myer, it got better.



They had a mini train that goes round. And the place was nicely set up to look like the real thing.


Even the enthusiastic train driver was looking good!


Of course Reegan would protest. He could only sit in his pram while Big Sister got all the fun.


Luckily, there was a even minier train for him. And he could drive it himself!

It's a torture Malcolm!

One of the things we need to do before Meredith goes to school is to make sure she is fully vaccinated. So we visited the clinic to get a certificate from the GP. Then we realize Meredith is still short of 2 needles. In Singapore, these would be administered when she turns 6. But here, kids need to get it in before they start school.

So there Meredith had it, 2 needles at one go. Of course she went hysterical. The whole clinic could hear her screams.... "We could hear her..."....

But Malcolm was patient and really good with kids. But it was still a torture to Meredith. 2 needles...of course.


Today also I started to give Reegan red meat. I think it went ok. And this is the bag that came with the meat I got from a 'good butcher'.

MGS

We attended an Information Session for parents. And got to take a look at the school. In the morning, we met with the head of the Junior School. She asked Meredith some simple problem solving questions and had Meredith draw a picture of the family. Meredith did very well and the Leonie said she is all ready for school.

This would be the classrooms...



This is like a refurbished chapel. Nice.

Its got a big field. So unlike the school I came from.

We didn't know its the culture that kids should not be present at such meetings. Indeed no kids were there except for one baby. We met with other parents and the teachers. Hope all will go well from here...

A new era

We have been here for a week. Daddy has got a place and a car for us. We have done most of the "7 things you must do when you arrive". Meanwhile, I've been going around getting to know the place and to see what the shops here have. Its always interesting when things are still unfamiliar. There are many wonderful things here for kids and the house. I just love it.

This is us at the Singapore airport checking in. You can see a group of very tall basketball players. They were travelling with us. They are very tall!


The kids did well on the plane. It's Reegan's maiden flight, and he was good.


Here's the frustrated Reegan at Perth. He was finally contented after I passed him the biscuit. Perth was 39 degrees that day!!!


Here's the lift to our rented apartment. It's uncommon to see lift in old apartments. And ours come with one. We live on the 3rd storey.


This is the inside of the apartment. We are still thinking what to put at this big space... piano and dining table? Computers? Printers?


We have not moved in to the new apartment. We are only getting the keys next Saturday.

Meanwhile, summer is well on the way and it is certainly getting warmer.

More teeth

Reegan is getting good with his bicky. Today, we spotted the two top teeth. No wonder he has been making the strange tsk tsk noise...

What's become of an Old School

The place where it used to be my secondary school, has yet again changed hands. At one point, it used to be an international school for Indians.

Today, its called the Old School, and is housing art galleries and restaurants. The place has been refurbished. It looks very neat and clean.


The Clock Tower, where we had our weekly chapel, and where we took the 'O' Level examinations, together with the birds fluttering and having their own game of chase above our heads. And very frequently, they splatter their pooh on us.


This used to be the classrooms, now housing individual galleries and art or design studios.


Look at the evenly-spaced trees, now aged but still standing tall and strong.


This is where we had our dinner. The restaurant is called Recess. They serve simple food like sandwiches, pasta and snacks. The food is simple and good. The restaurant was barely two weeks into operation and we were told the furniture just arrived.

The only thing I do not like, besides not having the very basic chilli flakes... they do not have a non-smoking zone for alfresco dining, ans indoor, there's only 2 tables. What a waste. When the crowd started to come and the smokers started puffing, we had to go.


We hopped over to the next restaurant, where they have indoor dining. It used to be our Science Laboratory. This one is a little more upmarket, and had interesting decor.

They still kept the now ancient iron doors and windows...


And look inside... check out the hanging lights...



Its like going back to time. It was a cool and peaceful evening catching up with friends. The kids had a great time... and some drama. When we were leaving, the Malay waiter could say, "Bye bye Didi!"

Hi! Are you my friend?

As the books say it... babies love mirror... Reegan had so much fun here!