My Girl

I watched a few movie recently, I like this one the most - My Girl. This is a Korean series, a comedy about love and family. I have never like a Korean movie like this one - I like so much that I watch for 2nd time ; - ) My Girl is very un-Korean - you don't cry but laugh through all way until the last bit of show, your heart wrench. A good mix of fun for laugh and moment for tear. The story line is unique, and I really really enjoyed the chemistry between GongChan and YooRin. YooRin (by Lee Da Hae) is so beautiful - she is drop-dead gorgeous!!! I love her images in the show and it make me want to change my outfit for this winter and laugh sweetly like her. She fit impeccably in the role as YooRin, her acting skill is GOOD. I like GongChan (by Lee Dong Wook) for his mature and inflexible self but bring you sense of security and romance. I like the rest of the characters too in the show...JungWoo is cute, YieYie is funny, even the secretary is so nice looking. One last things, the songs are very very nice!! You know, I guess I will probably watch for 3rd time...silly me, ha!!

Legoland - Windsor

We went to Legoland last Sunday, part of Gabriel's birthday treat. It was a very nice day out, weather was perfect - warm with gentle breeze. This was our 1st trip to Legoland, we like it!! It is a good family destination, with lot of green for picnic, rides for thrilling scream, things to see, feel, touch and enjoy!! We will visit again next year, and plan to purchase the annual ticket - cheaper!!

Gabriel and Thomas in the souvenior shop...

Daddy and baby in the green...

Mini Legoland - London miniature...

Few things that we learnt from this trip, not to repeat the 'mistake' for next visit :-

...Pack your own food for picnic. We tried the food there, sorry to say, it is completely tasteless!! Sitting down on the green having your own big feast is far more fun!!

...Visit the shops 1st thing if you intend to buy any Lego things!! as in the end of the day, there will be big rush of visitors poping in and hanging round to buy souvenirs.

...Avoid visit at peak period, the crowd is big even during non-peak!! Queueing for ride is a pain, so if you don't mind a few more bucks to spent, get the priority ticket, you can junmp the queue, save the time.

...Bring extra clothes for kids, there are water-fun play area, too good to resist, adult like it too...so why not get wet.

I think Gabriel will enjoy more when he get older, so next year.....I will do all the above, but not priorty ticket. We are not too far away, plus the annual ticket, we can visit anytime!!

Gabriel love the wheel and the car....

The handsome horse-riders....


If you have not planned Legoland this year with your boys and girls, do so soon before they close for winter. It is good time to visit now, sure you have fun!!

Ghost

This is a documentary about the tragic of 23 Chinese cockle-pickers who drowned in Morecambe Bay in February 2004. They are illegal immigrant. This documentary highlight the reality of their life - the works they do and the living condition. It gave a clear and honest account of the terrible plight these Chinese immigrants are shouldering. They are burdened with huge debt when they sail painfully to UK - a big sum money the 'traffic-agent' charge for the logistic. This film uses non-actor cast. The people are immigrant themselves and one of the cast, AiQin (one of the lucky survivor), is the real person in this incident. She travelled 6 months from Fujian to UK. It was heart-wrenching to watch her story and her experiences. The cruel separation from her young baby is enough to put you in tear. These immigrants have no social status, no identity, they are a shell the society do not recognise - they are what the documentary named, "Ghost".

We watched this last nite on Channel 4. This is a very powerful and moving documentary. It touch me and Daren very very deep, and put us in extreme sadness for the people and their family. We would like to lend a helping hand but do not know how and where. This film help reflect our life, help remind us we are very blessed to live in a comfortable zone, indeed. So next time when I complain, I must think of people who live far far worst than me. When I see AiQin in the show, I cried. As a mother myself, I can sense her desperation for her son. The amount of stress and fear she carried was enormous. Alone in foreign land in her condition is complete hardship and pain. AiQin make me feel DEEPLY GRATEFUL to able to stay together with my family, in touch with all my love ones.

Daren and me think that this film should be broadcast in China. To let the Chinese know that 'the grass is NOT always greener the other side'. Chinese like to think that the 'west' is easier money but this is not true. The hardship we see in this film tell us it might not worth the cost of leaving family behind, let alone when they risk their life for the extra money?! I hope all 'potential immigrant' can see this film and learn the lesson. For now, I want to hold a minute grief for the 23 Chinese who died in this incident. For their family, we feel extremely sorry, great sympathy for them.

Happy Birthday

Gabriel turn 2 on 7 September. Time whizz by incredibly fast, two years back I was holding him in my arm, now he is a full grown happy cheeky boy! It is very emotional when I recall my journey as a mother, I feel proud!! Now, everyday is full of challenges, fun and pain. The learning curve is huge and steep but I am very blessed to have strong support from Daren. I won't be able to sail through this far without him. We enjoyed Gabriel from day 1, and our love grow everyday. He bring enormous joys to our life. Happy Birthday Gabriel - our angel, our sweetheart!!

Baby growing at an amazing rate......

...new born









...one year old

...two year old

See how much he has changed - the charm is always the same, only get more cute! His smile is the sweetest things anyone could resist!! Daddy is truly deeply madly in love with him!!!

Gift from daddy mummy....

We had a small celebration at home, very exclusive family time, very warm, very loving. Mummy brought him big presents, daddy took him to Legoland, we went Tooties for birthday lunch and Indian Memory for birthday dinner, plus pre-birthday treat at William Curley - wow, long enough list for his birthday?!...quite eventful huh!!

I made a resolution at Gabriel's birthday - to treasure every moment with my little boy, less angry, less temper!! Time is a cruel factor and only when we live to fullest that we could prove 'past' is fully worthy, with no regret. This is hard. Now I need to tame my temper.

Birthday fun.....





And more fun..............

...Happy Birthday Gabriel!! Daddy mummy want you to be happy and healthy,our love to you is indescribable!!

William Curley

I ordered a birthday cake for Gabriel from William Curley in Richmond. This time I ordered the Strawberry Frasier - not the signature dish but perfectly pretty to attract me.

William Curley is famous for its die-for-it chocolate and pastry. If you are a chocoholic, it is a must, I think it is better than Godiva. The truffles....melt in your mouth, and not too heavy!! They are very expensive but I assure you, it is worth the taste.

Don't think any girl (boy too) on earth could resist the deliciously splendid look of William Curley goods. So I decided to sit down, have drink and a cup of the chestnut mousse that I have been eyeing! This is a pre-birthday treat for Gabriel, not really, mummy love it too!!!

I love the colour, the look, and the taste...........

See the following expression.......

.....wowowow......

.....ah....yhum....

.....hmmm....yummy!!!


OK, the chestnut mousse is not bad, the taste is good but I don't like the chocolate chunk bottom, it don't go well with the mousse - oh not that I am a chocolate connoisseur ; - )

100% Daddy Mummy

This is fun - you can see your child look more like daddy or mummy...the meter determine and let you know. Gabriel is 50% daddy 50% mummy, very fair! And I wish he is 100% daddy brain plus 30% mummy hardwork....superb ideal!! ; - ))



Will do another check next year, see how he grows.

Holiday?

We just came back from our short trip in Barcelona. Should we call it a holiday?? Mmm...Daren and me ponder for a while and decided it was not - not with a 2 year old, or to be precise, 3 days to 2.

We don't mind the extra trouble manoeuvring our little sweetheart, but because he reach the age of massive exploration, we had 10 times extra effort to get him to listen.

Gabriel fell in love with 'boat' in Barcelona. When he saw them, his mood heighten and he ignored us completely. His 2nd love - car. When he see AUDI and HONDA, he call 'daddy' excitedly to tell us it is daddy's car. If you ignore him, he will explode into a monstrous state. His 3rd love - ball, this include anything come in the shape of ball. If he see any of them, you are in with him for a roller-coaster ball-search ride! SO....on top of our sightseeing trips on foot, our days in Barcelona were to deal with his interest chases, plus his occasional tantrum outburst - by end or mid of day, we were a wreak.

The beach.......

Barcelona beach is beautiful. It was packed with beach lovers, largely holidaymakers. We are not beach person, so no sun bathing. We stroll along the beach while Gaby slept soundly in the buggy. By time we came to end of beach, he woke. I brought him to the beach - for a fair bit of Barcelona-sand experience.

Barcelona is a seafood paradise, but no chilli crab for Singaporean ; - ) Market Boqueria is very interesting and attracting. It is a good place to have seafood the local way. We didn't experience eating in the market, no way with a 2 year old!! We love seafood paella, so does Gabriel. You can find paella everywhere but taste vary largely. We were disappointed as the seafood weren't fresh as we expected. Must go to right place for good taste. This restaurant is good, must rememeber in case we visit Barcelona again, it is call ' '.

We had good time in Barcelona as a family. Most memorable was the nite at the beach, daddy and son were playing catch with the penguin. The scene is warm and beautiful, with Gabriel giggling loudly. City walk was not easy with Gabriel, but the running about at the port proved to be fun, and challenging.

Generally, holiday with toddler is tricky. You get to learn the challenge but before you are able to respond, new things come up. Everytime I said 'this will be last'....but it is hard to say no. Before I recuperate energy, I think for next holiday, swear to be a better one. I must say for all trips we did last 2 year, despite the catastrophes we attracted one after another, we never fail to enjoy our time with Gabriel, however short and exhausting! When you see his smile, your heart melt.

...the following photos are edited, they are my favourite.

We concluded from this trip - no more city tour with Gabriel until he is older. So next holiday we will be planning around Disney....until then, next travel to asia in Dec, visit home.

The slide is a good memory for Gabriel for his 1st visit to Spain.

...Gabriel, you drained daddy mummy completely during this trip but you had good fun. You were excited to see boat, you enjoyed so much at the port. Mummy wonder would that be an indication of you becoming a sailor one day?! Please let mummy know how you think. I love you.