Labeling Frenzy

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Last week before school started, I had this idea of using a label machine to label all of D&P’s school books this year. So I went and brought a Dymo Label Machine from Popular for $39.90. Since this was an offer price, I could not use my Popular Card and get any more discounts. Went home and started labeling all the books. By the time I was done with D’s books, the label cartridge that came with the machine was finished and the AA batteries that I had to use was also low. So had to stop and wait till I got new cartridges plus batteries. The next day while waiting for D to finish her ballet lesson, I went once more to another Popular outlet and brought not just the paper cartridge, but also one in plastic – this will come handy in the kitchen I thought. The paper cartridge was around $6 and the plastic one was around $12. Also got some rechargeable batteries from Mustafa. I am actually thinking of buying some more of these batteries!

So now I’m all set to label everything around me….

First Day of School

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Today is the start of a new school year here in Singapore. Children born in 2004 also start their formal schooling from today. When I went to drop D&P at school today, I saw the new Primary 1 cohort coming in to school. P as well as D were excited as well as a wee bit apprehensive about moving up to P2 this year. The incoming P1 students and their parents reminded me of what S and me did last year when our two started school. P1 was a mixed year for P&D. They didn’t do as well as expected, but in a way I am glad that they got their bad start now so that they can improve on it this year. I strongly believe that a slow climb up with the child peaking at 12 (when they write their Primary School Leaving Exam or PSLE in acronym addicted Singapore) rather than peaking too early and then starting their decent down.

Now that school has started, life becomes a lot more hectic for both the children as well as me. Their schedule for the week looks like this now (All these are after school activities. They return from school at around 1:45 pm on all days except Tuesdays when they will be back around 3:30 pm):

Monday – Kumon

Tuesday – Ballet (Exam classes for D)

Wednesday – Chinese Tutions (this will move to Fridays from February)

Thursday – Kumon

Friday – Free this month so will go to the library

Saturday – Hindi in the morning and Carnatic music in the evening

Sunday – Ballet for D

It’s a jam packed schedule but in a way I am glad they can do all this – after all this is the age where you get exposed to the most activities in life…..

Dreams…..and then reality!!

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‘Subah ka sapna hamesha sach hota hai’! This muhavra or saying in Hindi means that what you dream in the early hours of the morning will come true or that it is your subconscious giving you an indication of days to come. The past few days I’ve been getting some real vivid dreams and this is an anomaly for me as sleep is usually dreamless. I’ve been actively seeking a new position for the last fee months as the atmosphere where I work in has become toxic. Nothing has come of this search yet but hopefully this will change in 2011. Now about 2-3 days back I had this dream just before I woke up where it was probably my first day in the new place.

I am sitting with someone from my old place, let’s call him ‘A’ and we are discussing something – some marketing strategy I assume – when I make a suggestion. At that A turns to me and says “brilliant”. I knew getting you here was perfect. Then I am called to a meeting and the meeting is led by an Indian woman and the rest of the people also seem to be Indian. Now this looks like a scene out of india as all of them are wearing indian clothes.

What do you make if this? I decided to put this down here so that I can test the efficacy of whether morning dreams do come true.

Pray for me willya?

Happy New Year

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Happy New Year 2011. A new year and time for new beginnings. As usual, here are my resolutions for 2011

1. Be a better person – a better mother, wife and employee
2. Make time to take care of myself – both physically and spiritually. This will mean exercising regularly, going for facials regularly and also keeping my faith.
3. Blog regularly.

I think these should cover pretty much everything. Let’s hope I am able to fulfil these resolutions this year.

Happy Birthday Sweethearts

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D&P turn 7 today. My babies are growing up and not the toddlers of yesterday. Last night while putting them to sleep, I told them their birth story, which they love to hear.

They share their birthday with Minister Mentor Lee Kwan Yew, the man who is credited as being the architect of modern Singapore. MM Lee turns 87 today so here’s wishing him a very Happy Birthday too! My wish for D&P is that they emulate the man they share their birthday with and even if in their lives, they achieve a quarter of he had achieved, I’ll be a very happy mom.

On another note, last month when they had their medical check-ups in school, they were asked to visit the School Health Services’ Refraction Clinic. We made the trip on Monday and now both D&P have to wear corrective glasses – P for myopia and D for Astigmatism and myopia. They started wearing their new glasses from last night and looked so cute in it, if I may say so