Small Performance

Saturday can be a busy day for many kids.

A lot of them would have different enrichment classes to attend.

For the happier kids, they just have fun and free time with family and friends.

For Zyan, he has swimming and art lessons on Saturdays.

However, earlier this afternoon, he has a violin performance session with his orchestra class, which is his Sunday activity.

Thus, we had to re-arrange his schedule.

Morning 9am, swimming as per normal.

Art class shifted to 12pm to accommodate for the violin performance.

Violin performance at 5.30pm.

Just nearly a whole day event, that’s all. :P

Since it is a performance, the orchestra has been practising for it since May or June.

Well, at least it is an avenue for him to keep practising his musical talent. LOL

不要太像杀鸡就好了。

Well, all the members need to be dressed for the occasion. So had to prepare for his white long sleeve shirt, black long pants, colour bow tie, black shoes and socks.

He doesn’t like to wear too formally. Usually in his crocs and t-shirt and shorts all over the town.

Keep complaining very hot, very tight. Blah blah blah …

Anyway, we reached there just after 5pm. There were already some students there.

All were placed in a waiting room, laying out their musical instruments, and then they run around and play.

What do you expect? Practice? Hehehe

Then it is time for a rehearsal. It’s a full dress rehearsal just 1 hour before the actual performance at 7pm.

Since it is at the lobby area, it is a public area where anyone who goes there can stop by to take a look at the performance.

The fact that there is a performance there at 8pm helps to put some public crowds there to watch the children perform.

It’s a good experience.

Without further ado, one of the 3 songs Zyan’s group performed at Singapore Conference Hall concourse area.

Bus Alone

What have I done today?

I'm starting to get busier lately.
Being sold to a new company, and starting to embark on a project.
The whole thing disrupted my original schedule to transit Zyan to start taking transport home from school next year.

I've been on arrangement for past 1 year plus to do work on 'half-day' basis, allowing flexibility on my part to handle personal stuff.
In particular, more with Zyan due to some exciting adventures from him within school last year.

Anyway, things have been a lot more smoother on that aspect.
During the start of the year, we also stopped the school bus transport for him, as the bus operator said the pick-up time for him would be about 6am, if we use their service.
Crazy right? School is 1.X km away, and he has to be picked up at 6am to go to school.
Instead of making this senseless arrangement, we decided to do the transport ourselves with my 'half-day' arrangement. :P
Going to school is not a problem. Coming back from school is, as it is still within normal working hours.
The flexibility helps, for the past 1 year plus.

With this new company, although still flexible in some sense, I don't think I can exericse it with the same flexibility as I had previously.
Thus, have to hasten the process for him to take bus.

Today, left working place to go to Zyan's school and waited for him.
When he came out, I gave him a task.

I told him, he has to take bus home himself.
Gave him his student pass for transport, and passed him my other mobile phone.
Took his bag, and told him I would wait for him at the bus stop near our house.
Bade him farewell, and drove off without him.

In between traffic lights, when reaching home, and walking to the busstop, I have to message him to make sure he is ok.
Whatsapp messaging with him:

Simon: Make sure call me if got problem
Zyan: Orr
Simon: Good luck
Zyan: Just missed bus
Simon: So sad
Simon: Message me when u are on bus 13
Zyan: Orr
Simon: Is it exciting?
Zyan: I'm on the bus
Simon: Great. I will be at the bus stop
Simon: To welcome you
Simon: 欢迎欢迎 热烈欢迎！
Zyan: ?
Zyan: Still rd
Simon: cool

There I was, waiting at the busstop.
Bus 13 finally came, and off came the little hero that took bus himself for the first time without his parents.

Had wanted to take a picture of him stepping down from the bus, guess I was too slow. :P
Well done my son!

I told him, will have to do a few more times, and thereafter, he should be good to do it himself without me around.
That would be the final desired outcome! :P

Went back to work after that. LOL

Happy Penny-versary

Happy Penny-versary!

It’s been one year! Yes!

Last year this day, a new family member joined us.

I remember I got bitten by her right on first day of her arrival at our home. LOL

Over the past 1 year, I had been bitten a few times. Likewise, Karinna and Zyan were not spared as well.

Come to think of it, the last anyone of us was bitten was around September last year? I think so.

More than half year of non-biting case.

In between, she had scratched Zyan perhaps once or twice, act of biting, but at the end was just scratches. Lucky him.

So would this be considered good?

In certain sense, I do think so.

Her biting cases has reduced. Good!

Her barking cases at dogs passing by our home front, still happening. This would take a long time I guess. Need to keep spraying vinegar at her to help her distract. :P

She is still a fierce dog.

So much so that when there’s visitors to our home, we have to keep her in the playpen. I think that is like a safe haven for her. She doesn’t bark when she’s in there. Amazing!

Also, we have to keep reminding visitors DO NOT touch her AT ALL!

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

We do not know when she will snap like Thanos. :P

Other than these few things, she is actually quite obedient. Just hard to show affection or play with her, even when she wants to. LOL

At least, the lump on her cheek had been removed, and she had been sterilised as well.

She seems much more relax now. Very good.

Still a long way to make her more docile. Would that be possible? J

Pokemon Go Safari Event Sentosa

Ever since Pokemon Go announced a Safari Zone even in Sentosa about 1.5 months ago, Zyan had been waiting for the day to come.

That time, he kept pestering me to register for the event. The mosquito was working around my ears again.

Then I checked and saw that it was during the Good Friday holiday period. I deliberate chose Good Friday itself, since it is public holiday. So clever right? :P

And when the even was drawing nearer and nearer, the mosquito kept asking me if I received the confirmation for the event.

Ahhhh! 吵死人！

As they say, time flies.

19 April 2019 has arrived.

This morning, we left home in the morning.

After a lift from Karinna, who went on some things of her own, Zyan and I headed towards Vivo City. Well, it was quite crowded in the morning. Not sure if this is a normal scene on public holiday morning. I would attribute a big factor with the Safari Zone event though.

We had some simple breakfast at BK before walking to Sentosa. I thought it should be good to have some food before walking around in Sentosa. Maybe can have a slightly later lunch at 2pm or so after walking around the island.

Anyway, we went into Sentosa via the Sentosa Boardwalk. I have not walked on path into Sentosa for a very long time already. Quite interesting to see the travellator along the way into Sentosa. Times have changed.

First stop into Sentosa, had to look for the Check-in area.

I very suaku, was thinking Niantic setup a booth to do check-in for players?? Hmmm.

It turned out that just spin some specific Pokestop, and the game will ask for the QR code to be scanned to enter into the Safari Zone.

My son knew. Ohh! Why? Coz' he watched youtube where people showing their games.

Without the approved confirmation code, normal play will only experience normal gameplay.

With approved code, players will have the chance to get Tropius, which is usually only found in Africa region.

Also, Unown will also appear, but not sure if it is for all users.

LOL. Not that keen to find out anyway.

After checking-in (feels like going into a hotel….:P), we walked again. Walked across towards the Merlion Statue, and headed down towards the other side of Sentosa.

Zyan’s objective is to increase his Pokedex with Tropius.

Of course, his excitement can be felt when he sees an Unown around too!

There are soooooo many Pokestops. Sooooo many Lures. Soooooo many people.

The 3 Team Lounges at Tanjong Beach

We actually walked all the way towards Tanjong Beach area. And ohh!!! The scorching sun!

It can actually be a non-stop catching of pokemons.

Battery life of phones have limits. Extra battery charger required. LOL

Some random pictures Zyan took during the walk:

It’s good when time passes fast under the hot sun. By the time we walked to Tanjong Beach, and back to the Beach Station, it was already close to 2pm.

In between cannot do without rest periods.

And when we wanted to look for lunch place, oh my goodness! Everywhere is crowded.

Good that we had some breakfast before starting the whole thing.

So we decided to each have an ice-cream and sit around shady area to rest.

Kids usually hard to resist ice-cream right? LOL.

Due to his cousin wanted to bring him out for cycling in the late afternoon, I told Zyan we had to leave Sentosa early to reach by by 4.30pm.

Since he had achieved most of what he wanted to achieve for the Safari event, it was not an issue to go home.

Anyway, cycling should be more fun for him lah.

So we made our way back to Sentosa Boardwalk, and towards the MRT station.

Made it home before 4.30pm.

Zyan went to wash up a bit, and at around 5pm, his cousin came to pick him, and off he went.

Ohhh! What a tiring day for me.

As for him, he is not tired. :D

Platinum Suites

Yesterday, we went to watch Shazam!

Well, partly because we were given some tickets from our financial advisor few months back, and the ticket vouchers would be expiring on 31 Mar 2019, thus, made some arrangement to make use of the ticket vouchers.

It’s actually for the Platinum Movie Suites. Being a ‘suaku’ for the movies, didn’t know what it actually is. We had one pair of the tickets.

Had actually went to try to make use of the tickets last Tuesday, and then I was told it cannot be used for the ‘normal’ cinema suite. And the shows available that day for the Platinum Suite are only Captain Marvel and Us.

We had watched ‘Captain Marvel’ in JB during the school holiday. ‘Us’ is not suitable for him.

At the end of it, spend some money to watch ‘The Kid who would be King’ on that day.

Well, it was pretty much entertaining for Zyan.

Yes. It was a father and son date. :P

And yesterday, I just happened to check the Platinum Movie Suite for shows. Then I saw Shazam!

Saw the trailers that day when we watched ‘The Kid who would be King’, and it seemed pretty interesting.

I told Karinna the plan while she went to attend some class.

After Zyan finished his swimming class yesterday morning, drove down to The Cathay to get the tickets. Check online it said 4 tickets left. So go early to get the ticket should be a wise choice.

Well, managed to book the tickets. Using the one pair that we had, plus bought one more ticket.

That’s family movie outing. Not much of a choice with the seats. We were left with the first row tickets. :P

That one more ticket cost $38 for weekend show. But it comes with some snacks and finger food during the show. Weekday I think it’s $28.

Show is at 8.15pm.

On the way home, I teased Zyan that he had watch quite a few movies during March.

Yeah. He said 3.

Then I said: OK, so next 2 years no more movies!

He laughed and said: Dream on …

D’uh!

Forward to evening 7pm, we left home to head towards The Cathay.

Of course we reached there early.

Then I remember read somewhere there’s a waiting lounge area in there.

Went in, seated at the waiting area.

Pretty nice place, rather than standing outside and just waiting for the door to open.

We were told to choose one set from their menu. 3 sets to choose from.

Zyan had some Chicken Bites. I chose Teriyaki Chicken. It would come with cold drinks. Karinna had an ‘upgrade’ to another set of menu of meals to choose from, and with beer.

Needed to top-up $4 for that.

Well, OK, just for the experience of it.

Then a couple of other movie-goers came in as well. Seated within their own choice of area and waited.

At 8.15pm, an announcement was made for us to go into the movie suite.

Well, with the online review etc, I knew roughly what to expect.

Little Zyan is thrilled with the seat. Leather sofa seat, adjustable.

And there’s blanket provided in case you feel cold. Blanket was of no use to me.

I am too hot. LOL

As we were seated, the staff would slowly bring the drinks in, the nachos or popcorn as well.

Then the chosen meal to all the people watching the show. Simple food.

Munching away while watching the trailers and then the actual show.

Not here to comment for the show, but pretty interesting.

On the whole, the experience was pretty awesome.

Emphasis to Zyan for the night was, an experience.