Bu Xiao Zi

I had tea with a friend today and we were talking about how the younger generation will have a different earth.. with different solutions but they will also have their very different solutions tat we cannot imagine ;)

Inspired by this... our family was having a discussion in the car...

I told Max that as I think back upon all the three 信约 stories （从唐山到南洋/动荡的年代/我们的家园） I watched on TV (It is the 3 parter that Mediacorp did to celebrate our SG50), I thought about all the storylines in the stories and saw how big a contrast each generation is from the next.

It is like the first generation will totally not be able to imagine what the second generation can enjoy or experience.

Max says of course... our parents probably never thought one day just a small flat thing can play games, take pictures and do so many things...

"Yeah.. I think the world Ace will grow up in is very very different from our world..." I agreed

And then just to tease Ace... Max added..."I think the world in the future is going to be very different indeed. I think in future, parents have to kneel down and beg for food from their children before they will be fed hor, Ace?"

And to my surprise, Ace replied in CHINESE... "Of course not lah... 以后如果我这样，就会被人家说是‘不孝子’咯！“

Wah... very impressive leh.. know wat is ‘不孝子’ leh.... Must be all the chinese tuition is finally working!:) hahaha

Previous Post: Spicy And Very Nice!

Spicy And Very Nice!

We  went out with our friends and had a champagne brunch together... ;)

Alas, Max is vegeterian and so there was not much he can eat...

So by time we left to go for dinner (brunch took very long cos one of our friends had too much champagne too fast and spent a long time in toilet..), Max was crazy hungry and ordered TOO MUCH FOOD! So there was alot left over. I tot dun sayang so asked to dabao home...

Meanwhile, we dropped Ace off at Popo's house and somehow, Ace was under the impression that we will be bringing him out for dinner.. he told Popo NOT to cook his dinner and waited for us till we fetched him at around 8pm which is way past his dinner time.

But leh, he only told us that he did not have dinner when we reached home.. and I was scratching my head about what to do because the vegeterian beef fried hor fun I dabao is quite spicy actually...
 I asked Ace if he wanted to wait for me to cook something and he said no he wants to eat the hor fun...

He eat hor.. till his whole lips swollen like a hotdog cos it was too spicy but still gave a thumbs up!:) wahahahahaha.... Even tell me is "Very spicy and very nice!"

Seems like hunger can really change a person's taste buds:) hahahaha..

Previous Post: Top 10 In Chinese

Top 10 In Chinese

And so, because I wanted Ace to score well in his CA2 so that he will feel confident about his Chinese again, I made him sit down to prepare for his Chinese test and even though he goes to tuition, I still read through all his chinese text with him...

And then he was somewhat prepared for his Chinese test.

When he came home, he told me he is quite confident of passing. But I told him that the goal that we set for Chinese is to score a 80% because usually CA tests are easy to score one as there is no composition factored in.

And he said he feels he has a chance of scoring that well too...

Fast forward to two days later when the results are out... he told me that he scored 32 out of 50 for his Chinese and he was quite pleased that he passed his Chinese...

When his dad came home, I asked him if he has told his dad about his Chinese results and he did this.

 

Wahahahahahah.... sibeh haolian lor

And the he went into detail that he was top 10 in his class because he got 32.. many of his classmates failed... and his teacher said given that he scored 24 out of 50 for his first test ever.. this was considered very good improvement...

I told him 32 means only 64 out of 100.. it was short of our 80 marks target. I went through his paper with him later and realized he lost some marks to carelessness... if he didn't, might have scored 70 or so..

Most people were encouraging or impressed when I posted this on FB...

He went for his chinese tuition and when he came home, I asked if his teacher said anything about his results.. he said, "Ya, she said she expected everyone to score 80 and above.. so we all need to continue to work hard.." Hahahahahaha... I like this teacher!

Previous Post: I Love Buffet!

I Love Buffet!

It all started with me bringing Ace to a restaurant that serves a drink buffet.

He was so excited that there is free flow of drinks and he was most excited about the fact that he can mix all the various drinks and so he started to ask to go again...

Somehow, the word "BUFFET" now is very attractive to him.

The other day, after his swim lesson, he asked his dad if we can go to a BUFFET... I asked him if it is because he wanted to mix his own drink and he sniggered...

His dad did some research and decided to visit a vegeterian buffet place we haven't visited in a long time.... We went to Lotus Vegeterian at Balestier and when Ace reached there and saw all the desserts and drink options and he went absolutely crazy!:) hahahaa

He attacked the food and I suggested tat he try the superb veg chicken rice they had. He did but went for another round of white rice with his favorite chap cai peng stuff... and then spent most of his time mixing and matching desserts...

His own creation... Jelly with Ice Cream...

Ice cream slush...

Jelly with fanta grape...

Dunno he is go there to eat food or to eat desserts lor..

Now everytime we say we are going to eat out, he will ask.. "When can we go to the vegeterian buffet again?" Hahahaha

Previous Post: The Search For Gobi Manchurian In Singapore

The Search For Gobi Manchurian In Singapore

We are constantly on the search for GOOD gobi manchurian in Singapore.

That is essentially an indian dish... Gobi means Cauli Flower and Machurian is actually a type of sauce tat is supposedly part of the indian remake of "chinese" food.

This is Ace's favourite dish and it there are too many steps and too many spices needed.. and so it is not quite possible for me to make it ...

While we were spoilt for choices in Dubai, since returning to Singapore, it as been a long, hard search for good gobi. Most that we tried were not really fantastic :( And they are sadly, not that common in Singaporean Indian Restaurants.

We found a decent one in Punggol Settlement area but that is too far for us to visit often or whenever Ace has a gobi manchurian "craving"...

The other day, Max noticed that there is a "Curry House" at Singapore expo and when Ace mentioned he had a gobi manchurian craving, we drove there to try it out...

Imagine our pleasant surprise when we sat inside and felt right at home... as if we were in Dubai!:) hahahahaha...

The setting is almost the same... the menu also almost the same... only thing different is that we were served by a chinese server from China!:) hahahahaha

 And the Manchurian is not too bad too! We are most certain to come back again ;)

 But leh, Ace shares a different opinion. While Max gave the gobi a thumbs up... Ace said it is not up to his standard.... that is him posing and showing off his "HIGH STANDARDS"...

But we told him dun set so high standard lah.. we not in dubai now leh:) hahahaha.. But leh, when I miss Dubai, I will visit this restaurant again.. hahahaha:)

We actually also managed to find some pretty decent deep fried okra! I am now thinking how I can rmake this using an airfryer:) hahaha..

Previous Post: Selling Flags Again- Flag Day LHE 2015

Selling Flags Again- Flag Day LHE 2015

After doing so many flag days (once for LB in 2014, and once with Stormtroopers for LHE in 2014),  one would think that Ace is a seasoned LAO JIAO when it comes to selling flags to raise funds for charity:)

But he is mostly still very shy.

He told me the last time he did it with his dad.. he just stood there and put the tin out. I told him that works as well. HOwever, if he were to approach people and ask if they will like to donate, the chances of them donating his higher and encouraged him to try approaching people.

We walked along orchard road and decided to stand near this junction where there are two traffic lights. And decided this will be our fengshui spot:) haha..

Ace says must put the picture on the outside so that people can see.

There were alot of people walking but many are not interested to donate... so Ace was a little ill at ease and did not know what to do. I suggested that he just asked the if they will like to donate and showed him how to do it...

You will walk towards a person and ask them, "Donation for the Lions Home For The Elders?"

Ace saw that indeed the rate of donation is higher when you asked and he was convinced.. but he was still shy and lacked courage.

He was also anxiously waiting for his friend Lele to join him.

Lele and his parents were really innovative!

HIs mum brought along her Harry Potter memorabilia so that people can take picture and donate...

When Ace saw the quidditch broom.. he said he wanted to take picture:) hahahaha

Lele also came up with an idea.. where by if people donated more than $2, he will give them a free toy from his own stash of toys. Such a wonderful boy with such a big heart.

The two boys tried to hang around together but it was apparently not very effective as Ace was still shy and Lele, while he was not shy... and was happy to ask people if they want to donate, he does not really know how to approach people.

Poor Lele was so disappointed when many  did not want to donate and kept asking his mum why people did not want to donate... he kept asking me if I wanted to donate and I told him that I already donated:) hahahaha...

And then Ace said he will be Lele's first customer.. cos he wants a toy! duh!

After about half an hour of hanging around together, we decided that we will go seperate ways and me and Ace went back to our junction while Lele and family tried their luck across the road.

Anyway, during our time together, KP met this cute and handsome guy who smiled and just donated $10! Handsome and have good heart leh! KP says she wants to intro him to her single friends:) hahahahaha...

Anyway, me and Ace's plan was simple. When the traffic light had a green man... people will walk towards us... we call that THE WAVE.. after wave of zombies in Plants Vs Zombies game.. hahahaha... And then when this happens, Ace will walk towards them.

SOmehow, after about 2 hours of doing this.. he gathered enough courage to ask people if they wanted to donate.

Ace approaching THE WAVE...

And we just repeated this again and again..

Just to encourage him, whenever he completes one wave.. if there was no donor, I will high five him and tell him GOOD TRY... if there were  donors, we will high five and give ourselves a pat and say "GOOD JOB!"

In doing this, I hoped that Ace understands that sometimes, certain things are a numbers game. As long as you take action, results is sure to come.. have to look at the big picture and not the one or two small seeming failures.

Ace was not very good at keeping a lookout and seeing who wants to donate or not. Usually if hand inside bag or pocket and you walked up, chances of donation is very high one.. but he always not observant.

So hor, the people who donate to him usually is they really want to donate one cos they have to chase after him to donate! hhahaha...

We met a few interesting characters..

Like there was this aunty who said she used to do this as a student and even gave me her number so we could inform her of our next flag day:)

Then there was this tourist from America who saw us and asked me if $2 is ok... (he was afraid it was too small an amount..)

Another tourist from Philippines... he put hand in pocket.. but Ace did not walk up to him.. so he walked away.. about 10 min later, he came back.. asked if we took coins and donated all his coins to us... and told Ace to keep up the good work.

Also met this group of tourists from China who asked us what is this about and after explaination, donated generously...


Saw another group of ang moh kids and did not think they will donate.. as in my experience, families with children and old folks are more willing to donate. Youths usually just smile or treat us as transparent. They walked with their skateboards and went past Ace.. But they made a Uturn and asked Ace what is this... and then when we explained, they each took out a dollar to donate and told Ace..."You are doing great work man.."

Met a couple in their twenties who encouraged us and asked us to jia you... I think they must have sold flags before!:) hahahaha...

I guess some donated cos they can tell Ace was really sweating his guts out and really working hard. He kept saying that his legs were in pain but he never gave up. I told him we can rest 5 min every hour of work we do and he really rest and got started again. I was quite impressed with Ace actually:) haha...

After back-breaking four hours, it was time to rush to his tennis lessons...

I asked Ace how he felt about the whole thing.. he said he thought it was VERY BORING.. but it was worth it!:) hahaha...

Previous Post: Missing Lan Kwai Fong

Missing Lan Kwai Fong

The other day when we were out supermarket shopping with Ace, Ace asked if I can buy brinjal because "I miss Lan Gui Fang... I want to eat brinjal with toufu..."

LKF is the chinese restaurant that we visit most often when we were in Dubai. We were there so often tat the owner, a chef from HK whom we lovingly refer to as Dai Gor will ask us if we want coffee and give us free soup everytime we go:)

So I bought the brinjal lor...

I decided the other day to do a "We Miss LKF" theme and make the two dishes we ordered most often when we visit LKF in Dubai..

They are the three egg brocolli and stir fried toufu with brinjal...

Alas, I have been unable to recreate the same taste for the brinjal and toufu dish as I do not know wat goes into the sauce and I am not that great a chef to be able to just taste and tell what taste is it...


But we just got a air fryer and I must say it is dam good for frying toufu! Crispy and tasty.. sedap!!


If only I can still contact Daigor and find out exactly what goes into our favorite dish! This time I tried chilli bean paste with oyster sauce...

Next time I will try less bean paste.. more oyster sauce plus soy sauce and see if there is a difference...

All we are missing.. is ribena with soda water and lychee!:)

Previous Post: I Love My Family

I Love My Family

Ace found his scratching craft paper and made this...

Nice hor?!:)

Previous Post: M Visits Singapore!

M Visits Singapore!

 Ace as been missing Dubai terribly... every now and then, he will ask me if we can visit Dubai and visit his friends... I asked him who is going to pay for our air tickets and he went, "Daddy lah.."

Hahahaha... I reminded him that we said we will go back to visit on 2020 and it is not very far away mah:) So he took out the Expo2020 magnet we have and made a earring out of it by sticking my tweezer on the otherside...

The other day, one of his classmates, M, skyped him and said that he is now in Malaysia visiting friends with his family. So Ace asked if we could go visit them in Malaysia and then they were chatting on off on the internet and somehow, we were unable to agree on a date to visit them...

Then suddenly, I got a message from M saying that they were coming over to Singapore and we made a date to meet up.

Unfortunately for Ace, it has to take place during the weekday and it will take place one day before his science test. But I guess the good thing is about Ace is that he NEVER puts any test in his heart one.. wahahahaha:) So he was free to enjoy the night out.

 He brought along his gun and was very excited while we were waiting for his friend to arrive:)

 That is Ace pouting... because he came after tuition and he said he wants me to carry his tuition bag for him as he finds the tuition bag very "aunty". He wants to look cool in front of his friend and when I said his bag is very heavy and so is mine.. and asked him to carry his own bag, he pouted...



Buay tahan this guy... since young always want to "look cool".. But dun want to wash his face or cut his hair.. how to be cool?:P hahahahaha...

We tried to walk from City Hall to Suntec but the boys kept getting distracted! I thought Ace was the only fan of fancy stationary.. so is M.. hahaha:)

THey had so much fun looking at all the nice stationary and the cute little things... M's mum says that is a very dangerous shop! Hahaha..

Then we walked past this NTUC thingy where you can write a note to the hero in your life and place it in the big SG50 birthday cake...

And they got distracted again when they walked past a shop selling phone covers..

We wanted to go this playground place with restaurant in suntec but by the time we reached, it was 7 plus and they close at 8... so leh, we decided to adjourn to Ace's favorite place-- Mac Donalds! hahahaha...

The boys had their meals...

And shared a milo afterwards...

No playground.. so play with the ipad..

Part 2: Wandering around Toys R Us and having fun!:)

Ace was suddenly excited... cos he saw the gun he wants to buy because it is very "limited edition"... bleah..

I say take picture first lah... think about it or save up for it...

Duelling in Toys R Us.. hahaha

Heng the shop not many pple so they can run around and do what they like... just like in Hamleys in Dubai...

Time to go and asked them to pose for a picture.. but so hard lor!

On way to taxi stand, they also wasted no time!

They even skyped their classmate who is overseas right now too:) hahahaha

Apparently, earlier on, they did something silly... Ace took a photo of M and sent it to this friend using his new skype account with a message... "I got your friend!!!! Give me money!!!!"

Made the friend so worried he kept trying to skype them.. hahaha

All in all, Ace had a fabulous time and said it was the BEST NIGHT EVER!


On a totally unrelated note... I was quite hungry when I got home... so made some guacamole for supper after Ace went to bed! Haha

Previous Post: Brother-hood