Friday 28 November 2008

Settling-in New Nursery

Name of nursery : King's House Nursery
Start date : 8 Jan 2009
Age group : 3-4 years old
Teacher-student ratio : 1 to 6 students

This is a NEW nursery set up by King's House school. Yes, everything is brand new!! Gabriel will be the 1st batch of intake, how exciting!!! KHS is a private school for age 4-13, it is a good school according to what I can read and hear. Well, we will see.

Today Gabriel went for his 1st settling-in. I appreciate the effort Mrs Sally Crawley (head of the nursery and the main carer to be for Gabriel) made to arrange an early trial session for Gabriel as he won't make it for the actual trial on the 6 & 9 Dec. This impressed me on the staffs' enthusiasm. Plus Mrs Crawley and Mrs O'Brien were both teacher in KHS junior so with their experiences I have good feeling and confidence.

OK, what happen today.......

free play...



Mummy truly love this picture that Gabriel drew.....he said to mummy he also draw the hair and leg!! Mrs Crawley said this is an excellant work!!! I took this picture home with Mrs Crawley written remark. Can you see the hair and the leg?....artistic eh ;-))

meeting new friends and trying the 'uniform' - the smock, which cost 25 pounds!!! (my jaw dropped when they told me the price!!)


snack time....


Gabriel likes this cuddly doggy. Mrs Crawley took this pictures so that we could talk about 'going to school' while away for holiday.


Yes these pictures will be good help to prepare my son about going to school when we are away for long break in asia. We have great time today. Gabriel enjoyed playing and mummy met other mummies, hopefully we could become closer sometime in future.

Checking around.....the outdoor play areas is under construction, due completion in 3 weeks.



The overall set up is nice, warm and cosy. I like this nursery. I like the teachers. I like what they have to offer. Nice environment BUT really it is how Gabriel would enjoys and how he could learn that matter most. The previous nursery at Happy Times didn't turn out as what I like. It is a nice nursery with excellant environment but the staffs and services failed me. Gabriel didn't like going to school then though feedback said he is always happy. I really really hope Gabriel will enjoy this new nursery, happy and positive.

It is emotional when I look at this picture. My son is so grown up, he is such a big boy now he is GOING TO NURSERY!!!!! How time flew by just that........


I LOVE YOU Gabriel....no words can express how much mummy love you!! You are growing so fast and that remind mummy to treasure every moment with you.

Monday 17 November 2008

New friend

Joshua and Gabriel......are they cute??




They met on 11 Nov with Joshua's mummy, Joanne. We all met for 1st time. Joshua is 2 years old - he is one year junior of Gabriel but they are almost same height and weight. I am glad Gabriel played well with Joshua and shared his toys. He likes Joshua and didn't want him to go home. Gabriel was talking a lot about Joshua when daddy was home ;-)

Aunty Joan connected Joanne and me. We met for 1st time and.....

My heart stopped for moment when Joanne told me she lost her husband.

I crashed when learnt that Joshua only seen daddy for 2 months.

My heart cried for Joanne for the huge trauma she went through.

It is heartening and I know.....

I want to keep them close and help as much I can.

Joshua is a very lovely boy, very polite and very cute!!

Joanne is a paediatrician, she is nice, open and friendly!!

For me and Gabriel, we are very happy to know them as friend and playmate. Thanks aunty Joan for connecting us!!

Look at the boys - they are lovely, aren't they?!


....aunty Joan is a widow and is actively involved in Wicare helping widows. She has 2 sons (Daren's cousins), and she has a big kind & warm heart to everyone. She is an extremely lovely lady that I don't think anyone on earth will find anything bad about her! She has always been our favourite aunty!! I am taking this chance to say THANK YOU for all her love and concern to us all these years.

Friday 14 November 2008

....no childish frivolity!

knock knock knock.....parcel!!!

This arrived on Tuesday.




















This is not a piece of playful toy....neither a childish frivolity.....



It is a device to help track your child in the crowd.



We have been looking for a wireless device that track the distance of our child and found the following :

(1) Helix PS4070
(2) Wireless Child Guard
(3) Bosieboo Child out of Distance Measure
(4) Digital Wireless Child Tracker

After research of each model we decided to get the digital costing 40pounds (most expensive of the 4). I am not sure how user friendly it is but it has all the function we need with additional strap at separate cost to monitor extra kid (up to 4).

I am taking Gabriel away to asia soon so this will come very useful. I am paranoid about kid wonder away from guardian. With my son's passion to play hide-n-seek, this tracking thingy may be my saviour.

Next.....

I-Robot - automotive vacuum cleaning machine.



We got this last month.

My feedback...

Very good. Very useful. Very very helpful!!!!

My advice...

For family with kids and no maid - GET ONE!!!

I-Robot helps unload floor-cleaning work off your shoulder - that says no more vacuum, no more mopping. Since we got this, we program the robot to vacuum every day at certain time. As the floor being vacuum everyday it save the mopping work too!! Honestly it has saved me huge energy and time!!!! Really should have gotten one much earlier. We were thinking to get another robot with mopping function but with the house so small, one machine work well.

Verdict - extremely useful for busy mum who cried for maid!!





Monday 10 November 2008

A Perfect Friday

Last Friday was a perfect day for us.

Daren has a meeting in central London so Gabriel and me tagged along...

First Daren dropped us at Harrods at 8.30am. Gabriel and me spend a warm and luxurious breakfast at Patisserie Valeria cafe. It feel like a breakfast meeting with my son - like those white-collar in ultra smart jacket having their cup of tea with smile chatting away with peers, business partner, or boss perhaps?! I feel very good at that time even I was not in that corporate suit - having Gabriel with me at the 'business breakfast' make things special ;-)

Then we head for early shopping at Knigthbridge. Only 45min to spare. It was enough to window shop with a 3 year old.

Next stop - science museum and Daren proceed for 2nd meeting. It was a gracious 2 hours at the museum. This time we cover things in detail - include the flight, space and ship exhibition. Gabriel enjoyed the flight exhibit most!! And of course, the garden at basement!!

Daren picked us at 12.30pm. I was tired but certainly up for good lunch as promise by him. However we didn't eat out but take away - lame BUT it was the right things. We had sushi, a very very sumptuous set lunch at the comfort at home.

Yummmm.......good food, good time!!

Gabriel didn't rest and waited for Kiddikicks class. We were tired but managed to enjoy the kicks!!

I love this Friday, so much we did, so much we enjoyed!!!!


Sunday 9 November 2008

Little heartfelt words....

Gabriel has been fair in sharing his love....

mummy : Gabriel do you love mummy?
Gabriel : I love daddy mummy
mummy : who is mummy 'bau pei'?
Gabriel : me only!!


We are working for baby#2 knowing it gonna be challenging. To prepare Gabriel for this, mummy started talking to him about baby....

mummy : Gabriel do you want a didi or meimei...
Gabriel : no I dun want didi or meimei...
mummy : why....didi and meimei can play with you, very fun
Gabriel : no I dun want didi meimei, I want the BIG DINOCO!!!!


We have 2 cars. I drive the Honda and Daren drive the AUDI. Gabriel prefer to sit in Honda as mummy has always bring him 'kai kai' in that car....

daddy talking to mummy : tomorrow I need your car...
Gabriel : NO...I dun want daddy drive mummy car
daddy : why...
Gabriel : I dun want daddy drive mummy car because I need muumy car to go tumble tot!!


Gabriel is a crazy fan of Disney car. He has a huge collection of the toys but it never seem enough for him. At Tesco today....

Gabriel : mummy I want to buy the big Dinoco...
mummy : not now Gabriel....
Gabriel : ok...Christmas mummy buy the big Dinoco for me ok....OK OR NOT!!
mummy : ok, is a promise!

(every trip to Tesco Gabriel goes straight to the Disney car section and ask to buy. It is only after long-hard-persuasion and discipline-with-tear that he come to term with 'buying the extra car for special occasion -Christmas'!!)



It has been fun & interesting talking to the 3 year old. I had once worried my son don't talk and now, he is a little chatter-box. I love you Gabriel, you have grown so much!!!!

Saturday 8 November 2008

The summer that just slipped away....

A sunny day at Richmond Deer Park.....




Beautiful blue sky......



A perfect day for cycling....




At home....


Gabriel enjoys reading recipe book.....




Entertaining himself.....




Funny shot....





















A Friday nite out dinner with daddy - he was so happy!



FARM HOUSE......?? nah......


A FUN FAIR!!!!



This is interesting.....



A beautiful day at Pool by the Park....



All things children....



Daddy & mummy love it too...but too hot for mummy!



This is cool!! Look what great fun he had....


Going to School.....






Farewell to Jason, Ayako and Keita....they went back to Japan.



GOODWOOD Festival of Speed




The keen admirer....


The junior....


Couldn't resist.....who could?!



Looking lame with the racer.....he was tired.


At Cambridge Park, we go there often for outdoor play


This Disney Car set of ball & bag is a gift from grand aunty Alison


Happy Sunny smile....


All time favourite - cycling!!


Garden work at home.....
















My son love to water the plant and we do it everyday when it is sunny

















Trying the new pair of jean....not nice, I returned it but Gaby looking good in this pic!






Funny shots.....




Taken in Old England Hotel at Lake District, this my favourite - he is so cute!



Intimate reading time with daddy....



Benjamin and Gabriel at the hotel lobby.....


August with uncle Lawrence & family.....


Summer is gone....Gabriel wonder why so fast????