Cantabile 2016

Actually, I don't know such a word until recently. So chim.

Zyan has been learning violin for one year-plus.
This year, the school asked if we would like Zyan to be part of their annual concert.
We said yes. And it's today!

His concert attire was borrowed from a friend. Hehehe.

It's held at Lee Foundation Theatre, NAFA Campus 3.
We had to bring him there around 2.45pm, so that he can join for the last rehearsal.
I dropped off Karinna and Zyan at the place, and then went in search of cheaper parking place.

Alamak, the various road works there give me headache. Circled a few rounds, and didn't find a good parking place.
In the end, settled at some distance away from the concert venue. Not too far, about 5-10 minutes walk away.

After we left Zyan at the rehearsal, we just find some place to chill and had coffee.
Had to wait till about 5pm, then we were supposed to pick up his dinner pack, and let him have his dinner before the concert.
They released the students a little late.
Anyway, I passed Zyan his food, and got him to take his dinner himself at the auditorium.
We just left him there like that. *glee*

Karinna and myself then went for some vegetarian dinner at Fortune Centre. :P

Finally, at 7pm, we were then able to go into the auditorium to wait for the start of the concert.
Even brought the seldom-used DSLR camera to put into its good use. ;)

His group of violinist happened to be the first group of performers.
Was joking to Karinna that we can go home after that. Hahaha.

There were many different groups of performances. Most of them are doing violin and piano.
There's 1 boy doing cello! Cool.
And some guitars and vocals.

It's a good platform for these young people to experience performing on stage.
Some of the better ones were given chance for solo performances too. Some trophies were given to them as well.
Hope it boosts their confidences in playing the instruments and improve further.

At the end of the concert, there is a finale.
It's all the performers coming together and singing "What A Wonderful World".

My little Zyan sang quite loudly too. From where we were sitting, I think I heard his voice.
Well, I could have heard wrongly though. :P

There were supposed to have some videos taken by Karinna for Zyan's group performance.
But I don't have the files with me.
Probably will put one of them up in FB when I get the file.

Till next year ... ...

Project Sunshine

Every year, our NC here has an event called Project Sunshine, to visit the less privileged, old folks, or orphanage etc, to help spreading some sunshine to them.

This year, we had it at Thye Hua Kwan @ Eunos, which is a place for the people with some disabilities and needed assistance.

It was done this morning.

Jason and myself went to the CC to help pick up the gifts for the residents.
It's just some colour pencils, and drawing book. Bought from Popular by Ashikin, our constituency management executive.
She is very helpful.

So first thing we did is to put up the banner.
Had to figure out where to hang the banner, in the end, sling over some light feature on 2 of the beams, and Irwan came in time to help out.
It didn't turn out too bad.

Due to sensitivitiness of having the residents in the pictures, most pictures cannot be posted on the web.
The picture below is cropped to show only the faces of the volunteers. Hahaha.

 

The first part is to let them do some sand art.
Most of the residents are happy doing these kind of things apparently.
From what I can see, they really enjoy themselves doing the things.

Actually, they are all very welcoming for us to be there. Most of them when first see us there, walk up to each of us and shake our hands, asking us "How are you?".
Some of them have many questions. Asking where we come from, how many volunteers are there today etc.

Anyway, they played with the sand art, with volunteers around to help them along the way.
Some needed more help than others, but otherwise, everything seemed to be going well.

At the end of the session, some put their art work on a table, and here's a picture of what they have done with the sand art.
Some of the pieces were really nice. :)

Then it was time to give them their lunch.
They really can eat. Hehehe. And they liked the food. Cool.
We gave out the presents while they were about to finish lunch.

Then there was karaoke session for them.
Wow! Some of them really had fun.
Some of them just danced around to the music, very carefree to do what they felt like doing. That's nice.
Some of them keep hogging to the microphone, so that they can sing. They just trying to enjoy what they want to do.
One of them keep bugging me, and then I realised she wanted to sing.
But I cannot understand what song she wanted to sing. :(

After some time, I saw her getting the mic, and the music started play Wonder Girls' "Nobody".

Then you see a group of people prancing around near the karaoke system. Having loads of fun.

The chairman of the home also dropped by.
He said the residents simply loves it when there's karaoke like this. Cool.

It's yet another humble experience.
Many thanks to the many volunteers involved.
Next year, not sure where the sunshine will go to.
I think I will be there again.

P1 Orientation

The day is nearing.
The day for Zyan to start his primary school education.
The day for him to be more independent in his school life.

Today is the day for the Primary 1 Orientation from his new primary school.

So we brought him to his new school in the morning. We reached there about 8.40am. The talk from the principal is supposed to start about 9am.

Anyway, we went up to the auditorium at level 3.
Saw our neighbour's daughter. She is also a teacher at the school.
So we have to remind Zyan in future have to call her as Mrs Tan in school, but at home can call her auntie. Hahaha

So the kids were seated on the floor in front of their new class. Zyan's is in Joy class, 1Joy.

He is quick to make friends and play as well. :P

At the end of the various presentations from the principal, some of the heads etc, we went down to pick Zyan from his class.
This picture is taken just before the teacher dismissed them from the class.

We then went to arrange the after school care for him. Zyan will stay in school after classes. The after school care will help to get them do their homework (not teaching them). This is good for us now. :)
Will he be in the after school care for 6 years? Don't know yet. For now, it shall be!

The school bus arrangement hasn't been fixed, as the operator hasn't worked out the full logistic of their operations. They will call us.

Now left the school uniform. Supposed to collect today, but they ran out of stock.
Funny. It was supposed to be arranged to have the collection done today. Wonder how their logistic work actually. Have to come back again next week to do the collection.

After that, we went to the canteen. Let Zyan bought his food. We bought ours as well. Have not been in a school canteen for many years. Cheapthrill lah. :P

Once the episode at the school is over. We went to do some payment for a camp we registed for him in December. The payment location is at Simei.
Thus, I decided to bring him to Changi Airport after that for a short while.
There is some Pokemon @ Changi event at the airpoirt. So let him enjoy the day.

We missed the Pikachu Parade though.

Don't you think he trying to make himself look like Snorlax? Hahaha!
The size doesn't gel though. :P

Just let him play around the airport, especially at T3 free slide area.
Once he had enough fun, it is easy to bring him home.

Hope he had his fun today, and will have different fun in the next 6 years of primary school!
*wink*

Day Trip

Yesterday, we went Legoland again.
It's good to be an annual member of the park. LOL.
Need to maximise the ROI of the membership.

We reached there just about after 10am.
Went to look for SIM card first. It's a need to have data, as roaming data is horrendously expensive.
We needed 1 that can last till next month, as we will be going to Awana in December.
Once after gotten the needed SIM card, it's fun time for Zyan.

I mean, he has been Legoland a few times. Most of the things he would have done before. We were there in June, and then in September we went there again before going up to KL. And yesterday, it's another visit. Not sure if December we will come again or not. :P

One of the main attraction was to go to the new Ninja-Go ride. But what luck, it was under maintenance when we went there.

We were ambitious. We wanted to do the dry and wet parks on the same day.
He kept saying he loves the wet park, so we have to include that at our best effort. :)

At one of the ride, our Zyan acting cool.
Whole ride one gesture only. Hehehe.

A few more photos taken from the dry park.

After the dry park, went out for lunch at KFC just opposite Legoland.
Then it rained.

Told Zyan that if it rained, may not be able to go to the wet park. Then his face turned a little sad. Why little sad only? Because there's still Pokemon to play. LOL.

Anyway, lucky for him, the rain did stop. So we proceeded to our wet park adventure.
No picture was taken, as everything important essential items were put in the locker.

By the time we came out from Legoland, it was already about 6pm.
We then headed to Bukit Indah for dinner. We had wanted to buy some medication from JB, so just headed to where we are a little familiar with.
Dinner place was also decided by Zyan. Dinner wasn't that bad. The coffee there was good though.

Why all decided by Zyan?
It was a celebration for his graduation from K2.

P1, here we come!

P1 Preparation

Last Thursday, it was  the day scheduled to go to Zyan's intended primary school for preparation work. It was scheduled at 2.10pm.

I took leave.

Morning, brought Zyan to Science Centre. It's free to citizems on non-peak days. Means not school holiday lah. I cheapo 1 mah. Hahaha
It's the second time I brought him there. The first time also due to some event that Zyan didn't go to school, so have to find things to make him occupied.

This time, we cannot do full day like the last time. Had to go pick Karinna at around 1pm, before we head for lunch and then to Ngee Ann Primary School.

Still, he had his fun share at Science Centre. He ran around like a monkey. Hand so itchy, everything also want to press. :P
Chanced upon this table, and he wanted me to help him take a picture of his body-less head. :P

There's some kind of Marvel theme happening at end of the month of something. So there's a hulk exhibition there. I think it is starting this coming weekend.
Anyway, won't be there again so soon lah.

There he had fun, playing with the exhibition. He didn't read much to the science of how some of the things work. Kids mah.
There's a demostration of how powerful electricity can be.
It can wireless-ly light up some light tubes. It can also burst balloon from a distance (not so far away lah).
The balloon is filled with hydrogen (if I remember right, is 15 times lighter than air), and when the current starts, the 2 balloons burst into flame and poof!
Helium is about 6 times lighter. But Hydrogen is combustible.

Anyway, we only spent about 1.5 to 2 hours there, and before we left, he had some fun taking picture of himself. Voila!

Soon after, left the place and went to pick Karinna up.

Anyway, we reached the school before 2.10pm.
Filled up some forms for his P1 preparation.
Giro application to pay his school fees.
Edusave account approval to deduct any other fees that may be required.
blah blah blah.

Of course, not forgetting purchasing the school books, school uniform, name tags etc.
Some books are not available yet, but already paid for, and will get it when the school starts.
Add this add that, just for the books and uniforms and shoes blah blah, it was probably close to $300.
Terok right?
Still have to check out school bus, and also after-school care service within the school.
Can only have more idea on 18 Nov, which is the orientation day for the P1 students and parents. :P

After getting all the P1 preparation done, went to Changi Village for a drink, and let him catch a bit of pokemon. At that hour, no special pokemon appear.
I do not know about the spawning of specific pokemons, so it is just pure luck (or no luck for that matter). LOL

Then headed to IKEA. His final playground for the day.
Not sure how long more he can play at IKEA playground. The height limit is between 90 - 130 cm.
He is already 120+ cm, so maybe next year would be too tall to enter, unless the staff there can close 2 eyes for little children that are taller. :D
When  the time comes, then I will know.

Anyway, we had our dinner at IKEA before going home.
At least, for now, we are more or less ready for P1 next year.

Graduation 2016

It's coming to an end, to Zyan's pre-school schedules. Yes, next year he will be going to his new primary school.

Thus, yesterday was his kindergarten's official graduation ceremony.
This is the only year that he is in St Hilda's Kindergarten. Previously, he was at the childcare centre near our home, Praise Kids @ Katong Presbyterian Church.
In his previous childcare education, every year there's a Thanksgiving concert, and I had been to each and every one of them since he started.
Always so cute.

So he had been told to be in school yesterday by 11.15am. Coneert only to be started around 12.30pm.
So we brought him there, then both Karinna and myself went for coffee nearby, and had a bit of lunch.

Then we came back around 12.20pm, and seated to wait for the start of the concert.

You know, kids being kids, it's always so nice to watch them do performance.

Kids waiting for the start of the session

Can you find the little Zyan. Quite easy though. :P

I estimated that every class had about close to 20 minutes of performance.
For his class, Honesty class, the finale piece is a dance performance on dream and ambition.
童真。。。那么的。。。真诚。。。

Each class took its turn to do performance, and also to don the graduation gown.

 

And so, our son has graduated from his pre-school eduation.
New life awaits for the young man next year. Ngee Ann Primary School.
There's some preparation arrangement to be done next week at his new school. Well, next week then say. :P

He had a busy day yesterday.
After the concert, had to go to Marine Parade Community Centre for his abacus class. This was just started last week.
And then, he had an extra lesson class for his Taekwando, as he will be taking his green belt grading test today later at 10.45am.
There goes his whole day and afternoon.

In the evening, we went to Plaza Singapura, wanting to get some stuff there.
And to end it, we gave our little Zyan a little surprise.
Brought him to MBS area, to let him have his little zyanic time for his pokemon catch. LOL.
Think the next time he will bug me to bring him to Sentosa and Changi Village. And no, not yet Hougang.

And that's it, his very busy schedule on his kindergarten graduation day.
His parents also busy like that. hehehe.

写

小时候， 经常都会有作文作业.
老师也常督促学生们多读报纸和各别书刊。
我记得报章以前有些专栏， 刊登一些文章， 都是从读者那儿寄来的。现在可能也有吧？我不知道。我现在没读中文报了。
 
以前读的时候， 有时会想象会不会有一天也会有我的文章。想终归想， 行动可从来没动过！ 哈哈！
我只记得在报章上看过同学的发表， 很羡慕。
那个家伙， 好多年的同窗。
陈年旧事。
 
看看现今的社会， 网际网络有部落格。你爱写什么就写什么。 只要不触犯法律， 也不违背自己的良知， 谁都可以任意发表自己的观点和想法。当然， 还是有一部分的人， 专门故意制造一些莫须有的论文， 为何？
 
说到自己， 嘿嘿， 写的有的没有的， 有时候也不知道在写什么。
有写就好。有写有进步， 可是没写也不一定退步。
写或不写？看啦！又在胡扯了。
 
为什么会弄个部落格呢？
真正的原因是因为当时无聊。也有因为想试试的理由。
那是2007年， 将近十年了。
 
十年之前， 我不认识你 。。。 啦啦啦。。。会唱吗？ 😁
 
从早期的每隔几天都写， 到如今的每几个月才写， 可见那股热诚已渐渐淡去。
渐渐的少了。
慢慢的忘了。
懒懒的算了。
 
写与不写之间， 你的选择是。。。 。。。
看心情了。。。