Easter Break at Peak District : Day 1

We spent our Easter Break last week at the Peak District with some close friends of ours. The journey from London to Peak District takes about 3.5 hours drive. It rained the WHOLE day but we didn't let it dampen our spirits.

Here's the British Countryside, as seen from our car on the M1

Signboards to our destination, exit 26.

We have arrived at Bakewell! A picturesque town nearby to our accomodation. It was still raining when we arrived, and hungry! We quickly found a place (Italian) to eat and that place did not disappoint - the good was good!

I was so hungry after the 4-hour drive that I could eat a horse! 

After a very long wait, my main course finally arrived. We waited a little bit for our starter and this main course. When the starter arrived, we were extremely pleased that it was so good. My main course of Pan Fried Sea Bass Fillet (comes with warm caponata, new
potatoes, gremolata dressing) was extremely good, and matches our expectation after the starter. I guess it was all worth the wait.

 

The kids had ice-cream each after their main course.

 After a satisfying lunch, it's time to head out... let our legs run free! (Afterall, we've been stuck in the car for almost 4 hours)

After a short walk in Bakewell, we drove to Darwin Forest Country Park - our accommodation for the next 4 nights! What an amazing place. We booked a log cabin with 4 rooms. 

This brand new (only 2 months old) lodge with waney edge larch, has oak floorboards throughout the living area and bedrooms. It has two double and two twin bedrooms. One double bedroom features a flatscreen TV. The light airy lounge has full length patio doors. The lounge is beautifully furnished with the latest soft furnishings. It has two modern, fully fitted bathrooms. The contemporary kitchen has stainless steel appliances and all the mod-cons. 

Double bedroom that Meng & I occupied. Views out to the countryside. ♥!

Bathroom #1.

The kids already "choped" this room... see their respective teddies/soft toys occuplying the bed! This was the other double bedroom, but comes with its own flat-screem TV!

We were so smitten by the place.

 

Shean Wenn was smitten by the fireplace.

Beautiful larch (a type of log used to make the cabins in Darwin Forest Country Park) throughout the cabin.

 Outside on the patio.

3 of us outside our rented log cabin : This brand new (only 2 months old) lodge with waney edge larch, has oak floorboards throughout the living area and bedrooms. It has two double and two twin bedrooms. One double bedroom features a flatscreen TV. The light airy lounge has full length patio doors. The lounge is beautifully furnished with the latest soft furnishings. It has two modern, fully fitted bathrooms. The contemporary kitchen has stainless steel appliances and all the mod-cons.

 In the evolution spa, they have a swimming pool & above it, a state-of-the-art gym (much better than MY GYM!).

Kid's playground!!!

Climbing stuff.

A stream runs parellel to our lodge, not too far away. So breathtaking.

The woods area near to our cabin. You can see our cabin in the background if you look hard enough.

At night, Laura made pasta! It had been a great day. Day 2, we explored the Peak District. I'll upload more tomorrow.

End of Spring Term 2012 : 30 Mar

Shean Wenn's kindergarten held an Easter Day event on their last day of the term it was the usual - circle time, songs singing, meals around the table with home-cooked pastries and fruits & water. The top photo shows Shean Wenn holding the hand-puppet she made during King's Children time. She now also learns sewing (yes, with a real needle) and has sewn a felt daffodil. Will show photo another time.

The highlight of the day was of course the Easter Egg Hunt when, for about 20 mins, the kids ran about in the garden, bathed in warm sunlight (but yet not so hot that it melted the chocolate Easter eggs) searching under bushes, trees and hidden nooks for the hidden eggs.
(Shean Wenn with her basketful of Easter Eggs she found around the garden! Her teacher says she's the "Queen" of Eggs-finder which made her very happy and she has thence repeated the story many times the whole of that day)
After the Easter Day event, I brought the girls home and had lunch. It was such a sunny day that I thought it would be a waste if we stayed in - so I brought them out to the park about 5 mins drive away. I actually meant to bring them further to Canary Wharf but halfway there, I realised I left my mobile phone home and had to make a u-turn to get it. So I wasted about 15minutes doing that and decided to just go nearer home.
The girls get to run about, scoot around and played in the playground for a bit before I told them to head to the cafe. On our way there, I could hear them already hinting me for some ice-cream. Oh, talk about plotting their way!

Their conversation goes like this :

"Oh, it's such a hot and warm day today."
"Yes it is!"
"Do you know what will be good for such a HOOOOT day?"
"I know! Maybe some ice-cream?!"
"Yes, Ice cream is a good idea"

It goes on repeat. I pretended to ignore them and answered with "You can have water" or "We'll see"

So they walked into the cafe, and headed straight to the two ice-cream chillers. Kaye : "Can I have one scoop of chocolate ice-cream and one mint please?"
Shean Wenn : "Can I have one chocolate and one vanilla?"
Me : "NO. You both share. So choose one flavour ONLY"
SW & Kaye : "That's not fair!.... " and starts to protest.
Me : "Then you shall have none!"
SW & Kaye : "Ok then! We'll have chocolate!"

Kids, they do know how to bargain!

The most interesting conversation that day however, was while driving to the park. I overhead the two of them chatting behind.

SW : Kaye, I wonder who laid all the Easter Eggs around the kindergarten just now?
Kaye : I know, it must be my sister!
SW : Your sister?
Kaye : Yes, she's a rooster (born in the year of the Rooster)!
SW : Joyee can't lay eggs?!
Kaye : Yes, she can! She's a rooster. Chickens lay eggs.

I almost laughed out loud when I heard it. They are really an interesting bunch of little people!

"I Love You Infinity Plus 9"

Yes, so the Little Missy has learnt the word "Infinity" from her 2 friends - sisters Joyee & Kaye few weeks ago and has been using it quite a lot lately.

This afternoon, after being reprimanded by me for trying to destroy one of the new books that I bought for her, I found her standing infront of the kitchen one hand holding her Bunny soft toy named "Hoppy" and almost bursting into tears. I knelt down and stroked her hair. "Yes, darling?"

She burst out into tears and mumbled "I only love you twelve"
"What? Oh, I love you too!"
"No! I love you only twelve", she said adamantly between sobs.
"And I love Hoppy infinity plus nine!"

Then I had a conversation with her about that - she said that she didn't think I was nice to "raise my voice" at her about the book. But I still told her, it's ok, I still love you. :) And went on about how she should be respecting her things - whether it is toys, books, or even food.

It's funny how she thinks she is punishing me now by loving me Infinity-plus-three less than her Hoppy. Haha. Well, in no time she'll love me Infinity Plus Nine again! I am sure of that!

SW's 1st McD Party

(Published 2 Sep)

You gotta love McDonald's : Ice-cream, french fries, chicken nuggets & face painting! The ice-cream keeps them quiet for awhile.
"I'm Loving It!"

(The happy, the ladybird, the lion, the birthday girl (butterfly) & her sister)

Last Saturday Shean Wenn attended her first McDonald's party. The birthday girl Joyee turned 4 and is a very girly girl, her fav colours are pink, purple & she loves cats! So I got her a pink watch with cats on the dial & strap. I think she should like it. Shean Wenn enjoyed herself, she even handpicked her outfit - the dress & the boots. She loves her boots, this girl.

A guide to Summer BBQs

A mishmash of activities happening since the start of summer, which is marked by the first of many BBQ gathering! ("Hooray, summer has started, let's bring out the charcoal & skewers!")

Tip #1 : EVERYTHING IN BALANCE & PERFECT HARMONY
Yin & Yang, Colours & Monochrome, Left & Right. Balanced.
Tobey & Shean Wenn refueling after a very extensive play time over the weekend at Sam's birthday BBQ


TIP #2 : LIVE LOVE LAUGH Kaka & Shean Wenn sharing a laugh and rolling on the newly laid grass at Sam's house over at the weekend!

Last weekend we were invited to Sam's 2nd Birthday held at his parent's house in Northampton. Their backyard boasts a newly laid grass which were so soft! Shean Wenn really enjoyed running around or in the case above, rolling about on the grass. No, it isn't prickly at all.

She napped a little on the way there and was recharged so she had a fun time playing with her other little friends : Sam (the birthday boy), Tobey, Bernice, Brandon & Kaka. Halfway we ventured upstairs and Shean Wenn was fascinated by the aquarium. She tried to count fish! Actually she can "count" now, she will go like this "One, two, three, four, seven, eight!!" And then she will rejoice by clapping her hands!


TIP #3 : DRIVE A MEAN MACHINE!

TIP #4 : DO THE TWIST! 1st photo : SW twirling, twisting & dancing with her friends at Ryan's Full Moon.
2nd & 3rd photos : Tobey showing how you should do the twist!

In June, we attended Tobey's 2nd Birthday Party held at their house in Cambridge. The weather was a little chilly but it subsequently became clearer & sunnier as the day progresses. Shean Wenn was pre-occupied with all of Tobey's toys. She especially liked Tobey's red car (is it Roary?). These days she is quite fascinated with "driving"- and her sound effects are pretty "thrilling" - she seemed like she is driving pretty fast! Ooooh... perhaps an F1-driver in the making? I have to "tell her" she's "driving too fast. STOP!"Haha..

We also went for Ryan James's Full Moon at Milton Keynes where she met more new friends! We had a good time sans daddy - he had to catch up with work & we went with Simon & Mich instead. The journey there was pretty crazy! Two 2-year-olds with me at the back seats, them screaming almost consistently & perpetually, me almost pulling my hair out. Shean Wenn was screaming "Mannamory Mannamory" (Balamory, her favourite Cbeebies programme now) or "Josie Jump! Listen (to) Josie Jump!" (Her fav character from Balamory). It was quite stressful, I almost leaped out of the car when we arrived! :P

(Photos taken by Chek San, Michelle Lam & Tsu Lin)

Water Play : SW at the pool

1st JUNE 2009

On 1st June, I made my way down to the park with SW. I had looked at the weather forecast and knew that today & tomorrow (2 June) were the only days with brilliant spell of sunshine & high temperature (mid-20's) this week. I slapped on sunscreen for the both of us, brought some essentials down (some toys, water, baby wipes , etc) and headed to the park. The walk to the park can be interesting if I bring her along the "longer" route, via the pathway next to the Thames River - she likes to glance and tell me what she sees on the way. For example "Momma, ants!", "Boat", "Bird chirp chirp, fly!" (she will also clasp her mouth and laugh when she says certain things **rolls eyes** - she certainly is a very chatty & happy toddler).

(Our "longer route" to the park, along the River Thames)

However, on that day, we didn't go the long route. I arrived and met my friend - a nanny to two gorgeous girls (their parents are Malaysians). MZ was there and she was all prepared, ie the kids were donned in swimming suits and playing happily in the shallow pool there. Now, I don't usually allow SW to go into the pool because it always looked a little dirty to me. But that day I had a better look. They changed the water everyday and since it was early part of the day (around 11am), the pool's water was still very clean and only another 3 or 4 other kids were playing along.. SW pleaded to me to let her in. Actually she had been pestering me to bring her "swim swim" for the past week - I kept hearing "Momma, go outside swim!!" (Yes, she manages to speak in sentences now. Very very interesting.) I thought "Why not! Don't be such a spoil-sport".

Needless to say, she happily went in and played in the water and an hour later, I had to drag her out kicking and screaming. Ok, maybe not kicking but she was not very pleased. I had to reason with her that she needs to eat lunch and drink some water, besides, KaYee & JoYee (her friends) are already dressed. SW agreed.
We had so much fun that the next day I made plans to go to another nearby park with Mich & Kaka. But 20mins before we left the house, Jessica called and told me she's in the park next to our place so we all headed there again. The three kids : SW, Kaka & Xin Yi splashed about for almost 2 hours (stopping for rest-breaks a few times). I think SW enjoyed it the most, she seems to be the one in the pool longest. Always finding something to do or be happy about. Jessica commented that SW is really such a waterbaby! She is right. I am now looking for swimming classes to bring her to. The local leisure centres usually have this "Aquatots" classes for baby & parent. For kids below 4, you need to accompany your child and since I love swimming myself, I really look forward to this. Hope I can book us a slot.

Oh, and I cut my hair the week before. Nice? It feels lighter, that's for sure. And shampooing these days takes just 10secs. Best is no more tangled hair.

Afternoon Tea

On Wednesday, my friend Michelle invited Jessica & I over to her place for tea. Actually it was to thank Jessica for baking the lovely cake for Kaka's Birthday.

After attending the playgroup, I met up with Jessica for lunch at the nearby cafeteria. Then, we headed to the bus stop and took a bus (it was a 45min ride from there to Michelle's place) over to Michelle's home.

Michelle was going to bake us English Scones & Jessica brought over some ready-made ingredients for her egg tarts!

The process :
Kneeding the dough for the egg tarts into their mould.

Pour egg-mix into the top. Bake.


Enjoying ourselves!


Voila!! Yummy scones fresh from the oven.


Egg Tarts.


What were the kids busy doing? Doing what they know best - PLAYING!


Showing off their masterpieces (I'm just there to be in the photo :D I didn't contribute making them at all.)


By the time the scones & tarts were done, the wind has died down a little. It was still a tad chilly and it wasn't a brilliant day, but at least it wasn't raining so we decided to have our Tea outside, English-style, of course. Scones with clotted cream & jam, English Tea (with milk) & Egg Tarts & soya bean drink! Haha.. it's a case of east-meets-west. Sorta.


We enjoyed it so much although by the time I went home, I was KNACKERED! We reached home at 645pm and that night, we had simple dinner because I didn't have time to cook a proper meal. Shean Wenn was so tired she slept from then to the next morning, waking up around midnight so I made her a bottle of milk since she skipped dinner.