Spring : Season of fun!

Date : 21 Mar 09
Temperature : 15c
Weather : Sunny

Two reasons why we decided to head out to the park last Saturday! Glorious sun (not gonna last as I just checked and starting tomorrow for the next 4 days there are rain clouds!), perfect for spending the day outdoors. After lunch, Meng drove us to a new park - somewhere we've not been to, a park at South of the River Thames.





She, obviously enjoying basking in the sun, jumped up & down imitating the duck's quack and hopped around like a kangaroo or a bunny (see photo below of her "being" a bunny). My little <開 心 果> "hoi sum gor" (cantonese for "Happy Chappy"), she is.




There were ducks & fowl aplenty in the park and Shean Wenn, being an animal lover (she knows most of the animals in her book, even different kinds of birds - ie she knows her owls frm her parrots) went close to have a look at duck & geese swimming in the pond. But then, suddenly the geese started to honk! She retreated and pat her chest signalling she is scared! Haha.. that was funny. I guess she can't tell from the books or telly how loud a goose can honk!

We strolled around and allowed her to play in the kid's playground for awhile. And slowly walked back to the car. Overall, a very pleasant 2 hours to spend a Sunny Saturday outdoors.

Reminiscing Summer : BBQ & Jewellery Fair

The hub's friends - a couple who live near us, invited us over for BBQ one weekend (one of the last few summer weekends available). It was a perfect Summer Day, especially for a BBQ in your backyard with LOADS of good food and drinks. Our second this summer! (Very hot and sunny day - remember your sunnies)


(Shean Wenn was fascinated by the flowers in their well-manicured garden, exclaiming "Fwawa fwawa!")

SW eyeing the BBQ pit - "When can I get my BBQ stingray with belacan sauce???!"

The couple - actually the husband - did all the cooking. He's got belacan sauce for dipping, a whole assortment of BBQ stuff - stingray, salmon, the usual chicken wings and etc, all very delicious! The wife did a mean Pimms-mix (ice lemon tea?).

SW - "Too warm, let's go into the house...." See how she makes this like her own home, she even wore her shoes running around inside.

There was one other toddler amongst the group of friends, Joshua who is almost 2 years old. At first both of them didn't acknowledge each other but after warming up to each other, both of them were chasing each other aorund the house. At one point, their favourite activity was climbing up (and down) the stairs. Of course, little Joshua is a confident and expert climber (and he can go down the stairs), but they both enjoyed the race, anyway.

Later, after she was tired of running around the house, or of climbing the stairs, she decided to go out to the garden again. She loved the water feature and dipped her hands into it despite me telling her not to. Can't take NO for an answer now, this lady!

Rolling around the grass! How lady-like!

*****

I have also came to know an asian family (from Hong Kong) from around the neighbourhood. They have a little girl, Karmen who is more than 1 month older than SW. Michelle, Karmen's mom had tickets to the International Jewellery London and asked me to go along. We made the journey to Earl's Court that day and both the little girls enjoyed it immensely! Since both of them have been seeing each other so often, Shean Wenn has become very sociable around Karmen. Karmen, on the other hand, has always been a sociable and friendly baby.

See the two little future diamond traders in action!

(What do you think of this lot of items, Karmen?)

("Well, they look ok, but look here, I see some speck of impurities on the pearl...")

Little Miss Vain

From the diary of Miss Shean Wenn (aka Miss Vainpot) :

TIPS : ACCESORIES

There is a reason why they say your hair is your "Crowning Glory" - a hairband is great way to accesorise the hair.

Look how I am transformed!

And how your eyes are the windows to your soul - and to preserve the beauty and sparkle of these "windows", do keep a pair of sunnies in your bags (or in my case, my mummy's bag) to shield it against the harmful UV rays of the sun!

If you can, please invest in a good pair for protection and it'll be a bonus if it matches your outfit! **wink**

Wishing you everyday of good-hair-day and eyebags-free,
Shean Wenn
Style Guru

Credits : Layer masks by Katie Pertiet

This post is part of the "Little Miss" Series

Our Sunday out with the family

Last Sunday's lunch, SIL Alicia made reservations at the chic Yauatcha Chinese Restaurant. The occasion : to meet up with her God-mom (and her husband) who were here for a holiday from Australia. We, party of 8 (including Shean Wenn) were seated at a corner near to their, may I say most tantalising, dessert bar.

(The dessert bar)

Squaremeal reviews of the restaurant "With its alluring, sultry nightclub-style decor, Yauatcha remains one of London’s chicest restaurants & is also one of the few to serve dim sum throughout the day."

I was abit disappointed that they didn't offer highchair for babies/kids. I don't know many restaurants in UK that does not offer this. Just shows they are clearly not interested in the "family"segment of customers.

Here, my Shean Wenn had to sit on their sofa chair, with us - with NO restraint.

("This is my cousin Patreeya", Shean Wenn looking adoringly at the photo of her new cousin)

She is obviously very happy here!

After a most hearty lunch, the 3 of us went around to look and choose our desserts

Shanghai Lily

Our 3 desserts, the third is Passionella, only photographed partly on the top right corner.

Kum Quat something

After lunch, we went for a short shopping spree along Regent Street. We got tired after 2 hours and decided to head back to SIL Alicia's pad in the city, just 15 minutes walk away. But because we drove, it took us faster with low traffic.


Shean Wenn resting somewhere near Alicia's place. She is seen holding the keys to the apartment.

Thanks for the great lunch, Alicia!! :D

Shean Wenn's Birthday Celebration : Part 3

(The grounds of Leeds Castle, in the foreground is a lake where goose and ducks and other fowls roam freely; background is Leeds Castle itself)

The celebration continues … The grandparents found out from SIL’s friend about this place to visit, so on Monday 23 June, we all drove up to Kent to Leeds Castle (the name is misleading, Leeds Castle but not in Leeds?).

We hesitated at the entrance as the entrance fee is £15/person. We went in anyway, the £15 entrance fee is valid for one year which makes it somewhat reasonable. But really, we soon found out that it was all worth it.

Upon entering, we were greeted by lush greenery which we would find out really soon, that it stretches for MILES - a garden (probably a really understatement) which is so well-kept with all kinds of plants from wild flowers, to fragrant botanicals to colourful bulbs and a great habitat to peacocks (and peahens) and other captive breeds wandering and mingling with visitors. And the castle, is also a "living castle" ( a place “where people met and things happened”) - quite extraordinary. Let the pictures speak for itself!

(Shean Wenn finally get to see what a goose and duck are, coming alive from those in her books)

Shean Wenn was really excited and happy with her first encounter with the various types of ducks, geese and swans are, pointing happily when we asks her where is the swan!

We also let her roam around the big open space where she happily walked, tripped and got back up to continue her frolic around.

The castle ground is dotted with trees, waterways, lakes, moats and bridges.



According to their website, the castle "is set on two islands on the River Len in the heart of Kent."

Inside the castle : as it is a living castle, some rooms were not open to public as it might be used for conferences or banqueting.

All strollers have to be left outside in their pushchair-shed. So SW had to be carried along in the castle, we didn't let her walk around as we just zipped through their rooms quickly, stopping by to take photos occasionally. We love the layout and size of the castle as it was not too big for us to walk around (some places are so huge, you get bored after visiting a quarter of the place). And probably the best thing is, you can take photos ANYWHERE in the castle except in the chapel. I took full liberty of doing so.

(This photo was also taken for "Doing the Karen Cheng" group)

That photo taken when we were in one of the rooms in Leeds Castle - I love the imposing mirror, the grand chandelier, and the fact that I also got the hubs, MIL and baby SW (doing her own version of "Doing the Karen Cheng" in the mirror behind me) in the same photo is too cool!

(Courtyard with a water feature)

(I love the staircase leading to the 1st floor. It's all wooden)

(I love this photo of SW and her dad - so candid!)

After the castle, we had lunch in the nearby restaurant/pub. After that we took more walks on the grounds, admiring the swans, goose, ducks and basking in the sunshine!

(Careful not to step on any bird poo, SW!)

We then took a slow walk back to the car.... I observed that there were many people who took the liberty to lay out the picnic mats and their foldable deck-chairs within the castle ground having their own picnic or just chilling out enjoying the sunshine.

(A family of ducks chillaxing)
A nice family portrait at the end of the tour of the castle. It was taken in a room full of books (Library perhaps?). Gorgeous.

A proud peacock sent us off at the exit of the grounds. What a parade of colours!

What a great way to spend a sunny summer day - If we go back, I would definitely want to check out the "Maze, Grotto and Toddler's Play Area" and the high wire forest adventure. Thanks Angela for introducing this place!

If you have visited this place, please tell me all about it! Share.

SW attends her friend's 1st Birthday

It was Tobey's 1st Birthday party on Sunday. The weather, extremely glorious sunshine throughout the day. I think Tobey's mom could not ask for more! There was home-cooked food and SW's daddy's favourite bit - BBQ!


Shean Wenn enjoying herself outdoors, and yes, with barenaked feet. As she has outgrown all her "baby shoes", we bought a new pair for her last weekend which is for walking. One day while out with me, she must've kicked it off while I was shopping. So she lost her brand-new shoes. We will search for another one for her next weekend. (We can't allow her to be a walking around with no shoes, can we?)

(SW obviously loving the texture of the grass and enjoying the great outdoors!)

And yes, she can walk now. My little girl started to walk since last week. She loves her new found skills and have been diligently practising whenever she has the chance!

(She having a go during Tobey's opening of pressie)

With daddy and mummy at Tobey's house. Look at the balloons... so colourful and happy.

("Mummy, when is it my turn to have a party with lots of presents??")

Answer : In 2 week's time, darling!
To our dear friends, please look out for the invites in your post.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-


After the party, we had a dinner appointment at Patrick's luxury apartment. He was cooking for us. We arrived slightly past 6.40pm and was led into the living room by Mrs Patrick. Shean Wenn could not contain her excitement! She was pottering about the room as though she owns the place. She squeeled a few times in delight. I guess she really likes the big spacious hall (his hall is probably more than twice the size of ours!).

Dinner was fabulous and we couldnt wait to get to use the swimming pool next time - Teeheehee!

(This weekend has been great! We had meals at friends' place 3 out of 4 meals. I can get used to this)