Red & White Days

On Wednesday Anthea and Anders childcare celebrated National Day and children were advised to wear Traditional Costume in the morning and Red & white combination in the afternoon.

Both of them were very happy to be able to wear home clothing to school and also looking forward to the celebration in school.

For these few days, both of them have being singing the National Anthem at home & also reciting the pledge:

In English

We, the citizens of Singapore
pledge ourselves as one united people,
regardless of race, language or religion,
to build a democratic society,
based on justice and equality,
so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and
progress for our nation.

In Chinese:

我们是新加坡公民，
誓愿不分种族、言语、宗教，
团结一致，
建设公正平等
的民主社会，
并为实现国家之幸福、繁荣与进步，
共同努力。

So far they can recite the English version pretty smoothly and correctly but when it comes to the Chinese version, they mumbled over it. Shame to say, I don’t know the Chinese version so I can’t help them, now that I managed to goggle it, next time I will help them with it.

Today we celebrate Singapore 42nd Birthday. Since Adrian needs to work, so it was only the children and me. Well, in the morning, we stayed home because the sky was a bit threatening. After their afternoon nap, we went to the park and they had good fun playing with the sand at the playground.

Dinner was at my in-laws house as we planned to watch the National Day Parade “Live” on TV.

Anders was all excited, as usual, when he saw the helicopters and aero plane flying. He kept telling me: “mommy, tomorrow we go and see national day parade, ok?”

Overall, the 2 ½ hours show was quite good but I think the 3D show would be seen better at the Bay itself as the commentary there are much better.
2007 National Day Parade has left a remarkable impression on Aces Family as we are partly involved due to Adrian. This I know I will remember for a long, long time.

FUN DAY @ ND Street Carnival

In celebration of the National Day, our constituency had a mini Street Carnival. Both Anthea & Anders also received games coupon via their childcare. Also for the residents, we are given a coupon as well, via the mailbox.

Needless to say, after Anthea’s swimming lesson, we went home and brought Anders along to the carnival. Both of them had a good time at the games stall. They tried “fishing” the fishes – this is a giveaway because it is a very easy game. They collected nice prizes from the games.

There were stalls selling toys and various items and the prices of these toys are very affordable. I believed the monies will go to the constituency fund. Anthea bought a Hello Kitty stamp and Anders chose for himself a toy truck.

After all the fun, we headed home for lunch. It was an unforgettable lunch – reason being Anthea was playing her elder sister role very well. She fed Anders his lunch and at the same time ate her own.

I was telling Adrian “wow. Today is our lucky day…must go buy lottery… hee : P “

When they were done with the lunches, Anthea brought in the 2 empty bowls and proudly announced “mommy, anders and I finished our lunches.” I said “thank you, jie jie. Mommy is very proud of you. “

Then they were off to play with their new toys. Guess what ….. Anders ended up with Hello Kitty stamps all over his hands and legs…ha-ha.

In the afternoon, 2 of them took their usual nap and woke up around 5pm. We went downstairs to see the Parade of colors; the street was closed for the parade. The Guest of Honor was PM Lee. The children had fun playing with their bubbles and we took 2 mini Singapore flags. At 6pm, we went home for a bath and changed of clothing before we met the families for dinner.

Our dinner was at Por Kee at Sam Poh lane (波記冷気海鮮酒楼). This is a family restaurant and the foods served were very nice. Adrian and I especially like their Champagne Pork Ribs – it was yummy.

On dinner table Father In-law reminded me that the TOTO BIG Draw had amounted to $6.8 million and told me to buy before 9 pm on Monday night.

We left the restaurant, feeling happy and energized once again. I saw the newly renovated Tiong Bahru Market – it is now a doubled storey building with a food centre and wet market. It seems better ventilated then the old one, next time must go and try all the famous food in this long historical market.

Splendid Weekends @ Swissotel The Stamford

Saturday afternoon, parents in law came by and picked the children & myself up to go to the Swissotel for our weekends stay.

We arrived around noon time and Mother in law managed to get 2 rooms. One with the Harbour View that can see the NDP Fireworks and the other is city view for the Aces Family to spend a night. The 2 rooms were on the 54th Floor. This is another 1st time for the Aces Family - staying at Swissotel the Stamford and room on such high floor with PRIVATE Balcony.

We checked in to the city view room as the other room was not ready yet. I was impressed with the room size. It was BIG and i think it can put in another set of Queen sized bed. Good thing with big space, Anthea and Anders can run around the room and enjoy the room.

After lunch, i had wanted Ander to have a power nap but i think he was just too excited and happy with the hotel stay that he could not sleep. He kept going on the bed and off the bed.

At 5.15pm, Anders and myself got ready for the NDP Preview, we walked over from the hotel to the Marina Platform. Most of the people were dressed in RED, so were WE...hee : )

There were FUNPACKS given out and we had 2. The show started at 6pm, Anders was ever-ready to see the helicopters & F16 flypass. He enjoyed the show. I felt the the Preview audiences were not as spontaneous as the crowd we had during the Combined Full Dress Rehearsal. I didn't felt so warm like before. Anyway, after the 1st hour of the show, we returned back to the comfort of the hotel to watch the Fireworks.

Around 8.15pm, the fireworks started. It was nice but a little disappointed because at one point, it became too smoky and we can't see the fireworks as it was behind the smoke. Anyway, the important part is Anthea and Anders had a Great Time watching the Fireworks and enjoying the hotel stay.

On Sunday, we had a good buffet breakfast at the Kopi Tiam, then we returned to the room for Rest & relax before going for a dip at the pool.

After lunch we checked out around 2pm and headed for Home Sweet home. We had another relaxing weekends and we are now looking forward to our holidays in mid August. Also the very 1st time that Aces Family will be travelling on our very own.

Twist of Luck - We GOT IT...

On Friday evening, when the TV programme flashed some of this year NDP show, Anders was very interested in the helicopter displays and he said : "mommy, i want to see National Day Parade leh. "

I told him that he has to asked papa for the tickets. Anyway, we had seen the full dress rehearsal and to me, that is quite an achievement for a family who has no interest in NDP....hee

: P

This year i tried E-balloting for the Preview show but was unsuccessful. Anyway, as consolation, my In-Laws had booked Swissotel the Stamford for this Saturday to see the fireworks display on the NDP Preview. We are all ready for another fun weekends stay at the hotel.

Yesterday, to my surprised, i received an sms from Adrian "I have 2 tickets for the Preview". My first thought was : Wow...Anders wishes has come TRUE. I am very happy but in a bit of dilemma. 2 ticke mean only admit 2 person and ticket stated clearly that :

- CHILDREN, Including infants, require separate tickets.

So this mean that i can only bring either Anthea or Anders. So after some discussion with Anthea, she seem ok not to go to the NDP, instead she will stay with my in-laws at the hotel and enjoy the facilities. Hopefully she will not change her mind on this Saturday.

Now, I am looking forward to another fun filled weekends ahead. I know this working week will pass really fast....hee.

I had collected my Dinner & Dance Lucky Draw prize - a Mini Blender. ( Sure hope that i had won shopping vouchers instead)

Aces Family 1st National Day Parade

This year NDP is going to be held at the Marina Waterfront. I tried to ballot for the NDP Preview tickets but was unsuccessful.

On Thursday, i received this in the letter box. It is the tickets for NDP Combined Rehearsal, 30 June 2007.

Since April, Adrian had been busied with the NDP trainings and many Saturdays he worked till late in the evenings, missing out all the family dinners & Gatherings.

I guess for this sacrifice, the NDP organising committee is rewarding the family members for those sacrifices.

This evening, i brought Anthea and Anders to their 1st National Day Parade viewing. As it is a Full Dress Rehearsal, we were treated to a very good show minus the VIPS & Fireworks.

We reached the parade place around 5.30pm and got ourselved seated. Then the 2 of them started to enjoyed the tidbits from the party pack that was given by the organisers.

Then at around 6.30pm, the show started. Started with the parachuters flying in, then the march-in. Then follow by all the special Helicopters and the F16 flypass.

Anthea and Anders love the 1st part of the parade with all the 3D and special effect show. When it comes to the Mass Dance Display, they got a bit bored, i think they can't really see much from the platform.

After the performance, Adrian met up with us and we had dinner at McDonald at Marina Square. After that we headed home, very tired but happy.

Overall, it was a good show and i am happy that Anthea and Anders has the 1st chance to watch it and our next opportunity to watch it will be at Stamford The Plaza for the NDP PREVIEW.