One IFA

was the theme of our long overdue AGM. Its a restructural meeting on how we should work together as one to beat the recession and was attended by both the SG and BKK offices.

One-half of One IFA

...with drinks afterwards at New Asia Bar. Gotta love the sunset from the 71st storey!

Singapore production team

with last 2 standing bachelors- DC and Danny from Eurovision. Any takers?

Godma Pimmie, before the shots fried her braincells- tehehehee

I stayed a decent amount of time at the after-party until other patrons started giving strange looks at the pregnant woman seated amongst a rowdy bunch of people who were ordering shots after shots, bottle after bottle. The drinks bill alone came up to $5K, thank you very much, my MD keeps shaking his head when he looks at his Mastercard bill up to this day.

Now if only we have time to upload more pictures... I'm still waiting for the 'decent' AGM pictures peeps.

School's In

Day 1:
My sit-in trial period is over but Arissa has been absent from school for a week with a whole host of illness from loose bowels to fever to runny nose to cough that I got a bit worried how she would handle going back to school again. And alone this time no less.

But worry I need not be. She was positively jived up to be with friends.

Nosey girl (in white tee) checking out the boys.. ;)


I'm so thankful to have found out that My First Skool @ Serangoon North, literally 5 minutes drive from Mum's, has a Malay principal and a Muslim cook and really g-r-e-a-t teachers who are gentle (i.e. do not yell) and bond well with the kids. Their playgroup class of 25 kids is handled by 3 teachers and 2 helpers and it isn't just lip service- at any point in time I really see at least 3 adults in the classroom.

It's nestled within a large compound in a peaceful estate and each group has its own dedicated classroom. Arissa's class is fairly spacious.. with lots of nooks and corners that houses books and costumes and innovative toys, even a play theatre.

Thursdays are water-play days where they bring out tubs of water for the kids to play fishing in and Fridays are sand-play days (haven't yet seen what this is all about). There're Mandarin classes and the centre stays open until 8pm on weekdays and 2pm on Saturdays... all these convenience for just $240 after the full subsidy entitlement.

Day 1 ended on a very positive note: the verdict from the teachers is that she is very 'settled'.. so settled in fact that she actually napped with the rest of her classmates. Mummy on the other hand, had separation anxiety attacks, and missed her KPE exit at Nicoll Highway and had to make a big detour into Tanjong Katong. Heee...

My Second Life

If I had a Second Life avatar, I would be a princess now. :)

Why didn't I think of moving back to my parents' house earlier? Hafidz is constantly working and I've been lugging bub and belly back and forth to and from Mum's house daily (and alone) that my energy is sapped. I end up tired, cranky and really just pissed off at everything and I think Arissa is getting perplexed by my sudden mood changes.

So on Monday I made the bold move of packing a week's worth of work clothes, kissed the hubby goodbye and said I'd see him over the weekend. He is supportive of the move but looked forlorn at the same time- what?! no babies to kiss when he gets home from work at 1am!? No wife to massage his aching calves?!

My parents are excited to have us, I have valet parking service courtesy of Dad, I have nutritious home-cooked food courtesy of Mum, we're closer to her school, I get up an hour later than usual and I get to spend more quality time with Arissa before her bedtime. The only sad thing is hearing her chatting to her Daddy on the phone every night "I luv bu.." she would remind him and my heart would ache.

But all's cool, I'm happy to be regenerated, Arissa is happy to have a happy Mum, Hafidz is happy to just go home and get a good night's sleep before another chaotic day at work. And besides, I'm no floozy princess.. my avatar would be more appropriately this (pfft):


The Warrior Princess

D is for Dropout

I thought I had it all planned out. I would send Arissa to daycare and give Mum a break before the 2nd bub arrives in 3 months time. She will cry for awhile (Arissa, not Mum- the latter would be jumping for joy at the prospect of 3 months tot-free, can travel time) but one day she'll wake up with a smile and tell me "Mummy, I want to go to school". And I will be so happy that IT has finally happened- the day she willingly ventures into independance-dom.

So I enrolled her into Jamiyah Daycare Centre which happened to be the only Muslim daycare centre within a 2km radius of Mum's house. The fees were so cheap my eyes popped, I thought "Hah! Finally I can afford to buy some LVs and Guccis".

But not before being assured of the basic providence- there would be 1 teacher to 12 students, there would be outdoor play and all sorts of activities that would stimulate a young mind from science to music to art. I paid the deposit and went away proud that I had found a gem of a place that costs me almost nothing!

First day of school came but Mummy was more nervous than tot, she was more than happy to have gotten a new Minnie Mouse schoolbag.

It started smoothly enough, she was understandably anxious to suddenly be surrounded by so many kids her age who were palming her spanking new bag but soon warmed up to a Desiree, a little girl who doesn't say much but smiles endlessly.

Desiree, being a relative newbie too, and her decided to explore the school but with me in tow of course- she wouldn't lose sight of me. But when class started I got a really bad feeling about the place. Maybe my standards were set too high- she has had 1-on-1 care since 3 months old and to be shoved into a realm of facelessness for me was unacceptable. I counted 20 kids and there was only 1 teacher who spends most of her time scolding her charges. What happened to 1:12 ratio??

There was too much waiting- the teacher has to make lunch and distribute food and clean up after, she has to change them for the afternoon shower- and not enough activities. Where are the music classes, the art classes?? I see no books in the classroom and when Arissa and Desiree took a few from the reception area, they were promptly reprimanded and their books taken from them. I was appalled- was my 2-year old to sit still for 20 minutes at a stretch with absolutely zilch to do but 'talk' to her peers?

I left in a hurry at the first opportunity, dropped Arissa at Mum's and went straight to Putra Putri, a private school we saw that was slightly beyond our budget. But to hell with it, I'd rather wear Poccollini then risk my daughter's education. They said ok to a Friday trial session where I'd see if Arissa settles in with her 3 other classmates. A small group would perhaps be more palatable to this overprotective? Mummy, plus it reminds me of how much fun I had at Zion Kindergarten (despite the ham sandwich incident) which was housed in a bungalow with its own compound and stocked with colourful books and stimulating play areas.

This episode begs the question: Am I asking for too much? I wonder if I'm actually ready to send her to school and the answer, after much soul-searching, is an inevitable YES! provided I'm assured that she is given enough stimuli, the basic food for a thinking mind, something I'd have personally provided myself if I was a SAHM... activities like puzzlework or pretend play.

















Having said that, I am far from ready to pay $600 monthly for Kinderland daycare, not only will Mummy be wearing Poccollini, I would have to cycle to work and eat Digestive biscuits along the way.


(';')

PS: Anyone who has any good/bad feedback about Putra Putri, please email me at rina_harman@yahoo.com.au