The Apple's Diary!

This is the last year we can go on a holiday during the non-peak period, hence this year we will be doing 海陆空 holidays. Voyager of the Seas  For 海 (sea), we chose to sail with Royal Caribbean . Since we booked relatively early, we got to choose our cabin.  cabin #1694 So we picked a Deck 10 Junior Suite at the rear and it turned out to be wonderful, except for the vibrating engines at night. Looking in from balcony looking in from the doorway the sofa transformed into another bed shaded big balcony - Perfect! the tiny wash area Deck 10 was good because we were a level below the Windjammer restaurant, the swimming pools and the open deck. Taking a suite at the rear, meant we got a big balcony which was shaded. This proved to be ideal because we like to hang our wet swim suit and towels at the balcony. Even if it rained, we were sheltered. We boarded the ship on a Monday before noon and headed straight to the Windjammer ...

4 women - Tricia, Jenny, Wilma and Jane - knew each other since primary school. Their friendship spanned across 3 decades. They had gone separate ways for a while and somehow God pull these 4 women back again. They had seen how each other fell in love, fell out of love, eventually found the man they married. They were elated for each other when wedding bells rang and soon eating the red eggs from each other. They are so different, yet so similar. They went through the ups and the downs with each other. They held on to this friendship tight and gave thanks to God for preserving this precious friendship. However, they soon realised instead of getting more joyful with each year, their life went the other direction. With a tinge of regrets, they looked back at their youth days and wondered what mess they had got themselves into. Jenny is stuck with an alcoholic husband. She is holding back on separation because of financial difficulties and children's sake. The emotional abuse ...

It's the annual MindChamps Family Day. Ever since Jon started at playgroup level, we had been attending the annual event. Every year the teachers worked hard to prepare the activities and rolled it out with the champs and their families. It was hard work and most of the time, weather didn't help in such event. This year, instead of an outdoor event, it was held indoor at the Delta Sport Hall. Wow... that saved a thinking cap for bad weather plan and I soon realised that being indoor was indeed a much better venue. For the very first time, we actually stayed from the beginning (okay, we came in late and missed the morning zumba) to the end. We played all the games and stayed on for the photoshoot. Classes' banners Guess whose banner is who's? completed all 6 stations - our 1st ever This year's choice of an indoor venue couldn't be better. Being indoor and confined to the sport hall also meant that the kids could run wild and parents need...

This Straits Times article caught my eye. " Mums have meltdowns too, let's just move on. " by Clara Chow. Since Good Friday weekend onwards, my 2 children weren't behaving well. I mean they have usual tantrums and fights but the past 2 weeks were a new level of growing up. They fought very badly with each other, scratching each other, biting each other and the younger one started to use his legs to kick his brother. But nothing has quite prepared for yesterday, the biggest meltdown ever by the youngest one. The triggering point was a "No" to the library because the timing didn't allow a trip to the library after their Berries class. I proposed an evening trip which was refused. So there he stood and not inching any step. His father was starting to be frustrated and just huddled him into the car. The entire drive home had him constantly scratching me and even biting me. It was mayhem. By the time peace had restored, both myself and the husband ha...

We decided to spend Easter Day with a brunch since helper is on her off day. As usual by the time we were ready to leave the house, it was already 10.30am. So a quick google on great places for brunch led us to Paddy Hills and I recalled cousin-in-law posted her gastronomic experience a day ago on Paddy Hills. To make sure we would have a table when we reached, I called for reservation which was politely told, they were not able to take in reservation on weekends. Nonetheless, we went ahead and was lucky to find a parking lot in shop of the cafe. Unfortunately, the menu I had googled had changed. What we were given is a transition menu that has fewer items on it. So the kids had only 2 choices - bolognese and Chicken Little bolognese with tube penned Bolognese ($12) came first and Jonathan enjoyed it, much to my relief. It wasn't very saucy and on the dry side. The good thing was the capsicum was chopped in bite size so it was easy for me to suss out for fussy Jon. ...

April is still cold in Munich, but for some reasons, it didn't occur to me I should bring along my winter clothing. So I came barely dressed for the cold temperature and rainy weather. Marienplatz It has been hectic since mid-March till now... with local conference, training and a work trip to Munich. On my arrival day, I explored their tram and S-, U-barn system and got some help to purchase a ticket for my tram ride. I had been to Munich 2 years back and thus still have some recollection of the shopping areas eg. the Marienplatz and the central Munich train station. The weather has been real cold and I have been surviving by layering on. The hotel (Ibis Parkstadt Schwabing) I am staying is in a great neighbourhood. Parkstadt Schwabing is our equivalent of business park. Major international companies set up their offices in this area. There's residential places, supermarket and even kindergarten, all within walking distance. Tram station is about 5 min walk from...

Moving on to the 2nd Quarter of 2017  with Maid... So it has been a month since she joined us. Minor hiccups here and there but overall, I have nothing to complain. She has her handphone with her all the time, she asked for wifi nightly for 2 hours, she probably nap in the afternoon when no one is home. She could be also chatting over her hp  while working but I am not going to bother so long work is done and no monkey business from her. It could be a good match for both of us. She prefers to be left alone, quietly working and I like to leave her to work in the background. We can communicate, no language barrier makes it so much simpler to convey my wishes. She's easy going and I appreciate that. Cross my finger that all will be well from now on. The boys... we are still doing our nightly routine which has now become part of their life. They automatically just sit at their table and wait for me to start their nightly revision. Even if they have some grand plans on buil...