Sis-in-law and I are both expecting, and the most pleasant twist is that we are both due on the same date :) How is that for coincidence?
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Happy Birthday Gong Gong!
We headed back to KL over the weekend to celebrate Gong Gong's birthday. Kau Fu Chai (mother's younger brother - or uncle - in Cantonese) recommended a small contemporary Chinese restaurant in Bangsar Village 2.
I have not been to Bangsar in....years. The area has changed so much. My brain was buzzing trying to recall what used to be in each spot. Sweet memories, that place.
The Chans and Soongs
I have not been to Bangsar in....years. The area has changed so much. My brain was buzzing trying to recall what used to be in each spot. Sweet memories, that place.
The Chans and Soongs
These two pictures of the grandmas and grandpas were taken by Sophie. Notice how naturally, beamingly happy they were to pose for her. So much nicer than when YL and I, their own direct flesh and blood, take their pictures. Humph!
Sunday, July 05, 2009
This is my Baba
This is what YL looks like to Sophie.
Such an uncanny resemblance, don't you think?
Notice the pains she took to depict his shirt buttons...
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sophie the linguist
Apparently Sophie have been correcting everyone's pronounciation - not just English, mind you, but Mandarin as well. She informed her Popo the correct way to pronounce fever in Mandarin is "fa shao" instead of the corrupted Malaysian way of "fa sao". She gently pointed out the difference between British and American pronounciations to her teacher in school.
Now if she would only teach her Baba to speak proper English.
Now if she would only teach her Baba to speak proper English.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
"New" Home
We moved into our very own apartment over 4 months ago, and since then it has been messy, messy, messy, then busy, busy, busy, then lazy, lazy, lazy. Finally here are some pictures if you are curious how we have settled in.
Before - Renovation mess
After - Ordered mess
The showcase of the apartment - Sophie's room
YL's domain - The kitchen
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Renewing Passport at the Malaysian High Comm
I am writing this down so that hopefully 5 years later when I go through the whole ordeal again, I will remember why we should only have to go through this once every 5 years.
1. Download the application form from the Malaysian High Commission website.
2. Prepare all the documents according to notes found on website. Include photocopy of Singapore IC.
3. Arrive at High Commission by 7am to pick up your queue number from the security post. I arrived at 7:25am this morning and there were at least 30 people already in the queue. The submission of forms begins at 8am.
4. Proceed into Immigration hall.
5. If you have not brought photos, get a queue number from the guy who mans the instant photo booth. Cost is S$6 in either notes or coins. I recommend to bring lots of S$1 coins.
6. Photocopies cost 30 cents if you forgot to bring any.
7. At about 7:55am, someone will start hustling people to queue in front of Counter 1 according to their queue numbers.
8. The purpose of this counter is simply to check that your documentations are complete. The (very rude & impatient) lady behind Counter 1 will issue you with another queue number after being satisfied that your questions and pleasantries have been thoroughly ignored.
9. You will also be asked to write your Singapore address & phone number at the bottom of the form. But I won't recommend doing this unless being instructed to do so, since I expect they change their practice every now and then depending on the phase of the moon.
1o. Sit down and wait for your new queue number to be called.
11. Submit all documentations when called.
12. Proceed to payment counter with exact change in cash. The amount today was S$128. This changes apparently with changes in exchange rates. It was a good thing that I hoarded all the small change I could find in the past week in preparation for this visit. Imagine going through steps 1-11 and finding out that you do not have exact change...
13. If you are lucky, you will get to see all the wonderful people at the High Comm again in the same afternoon to pick up your brand new passport.
14. Surrender your security queue number at the security post when you leave. Despite what my husband says, you cannot keep the queue number for collection in the same afternoon.
15. Keep fingers crossed that your new passport will be issued correctly at the appointed time.
The advantage of doing this while I'm pregnant is that I could get a "special pass" which are also issued to the elderly, and other needy people who cannot take the stress of dealing with Malaysian High Comm staff (hmm....). You have to specifically ask for them at the security post, though. So I was catapulted from a normal pass No. I039 to special pass No. E002. I waltzed straight to the start of the queue, to the indignation of everyone behind me.
The disadvantage of doing this while I'm pregnant is that my Rudolph-worthy red swollen nose is now immortalised for 5 years in my passport.
1. Download the application form from the Malaysian High Commission website.
2. Prepare all the documents according to notes found on website. Include photocopy of Singapore IC.
3. Arrive at High Commission by 7am to pick up your queue number from the security post. I arrived at 7:25am this morning and there were at least 30 people already in the queue. The submission of forms begins at 8am.
4. Proceed into Immigration hall.
5. If you have not brought photos, get a queue number from the guy who mans the instant photo booth. Cost is S$6 in either notes or coins. I recommend to bring lots of S$1 coins.
6. Photocopies cost 30 cents if you forgot to bring any.
7. At about 7:55am, someone will start hustling people to queue in front of Counter 1 according to their queue numbers.
8. The purpose of this counter is simply to check that your documentations are complete. The (very rude & impatient) lady behind Counter 1 will issue you with another queue number after being satisfied that your questions and pleasantries have been thoroughly ignored.
9. You will also be asked to write your Singapore address & phone number at the bottom of the form. But I won't recommend doing this unless being instructed to do so, since I expect they change their practice every now and then depending on the phase of the moon.
1o. Sit down and wait for your new queue number to be called.
11. Submit all documentations when called.
12. Proceed to payment counter with exact change in cash. The amount today was S$128. This changes apparently with changes in exchange rates. It was a good thing that I hoarded all the small change I could find in the past week in preparation for this visit. Imagine going through steps 1-11 and finding out that you do not have exact change...
13. If you are lucky, you will get to see all the wonderful people at the High Comm again in the same afternoon to pick up your brand new passport.
14. Surrender your security queue number at the security post when you leave. Despite what my husband says, you cannot keep the queue number for collection in the same afternoon.
15. Keep fingers crossed that your new passport will be issued correctly at the appointed time.
The advantage of doing this while I'm pregnant is that I could get a "special pass" which are also issued to the elderly, and other needy people who cannot take the stress of dealing with Malaysian High Comm staff (hmm....). You have to specifically ask for them at the security post, though. So I was catapulted from a normal pass No. I039 to special pass No. E002. I waltzed straight to the start of the queue, to the indignation of everyone behind me.
The disadvantage of doing this while I'm pregnant is that my Rudolph-worthy red swollen nose is now immortalised for 5 years in my passport.
Monday, June 08, 2009
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