Last hotel of the trip and wanted something uniquely Japanese. So picked a capsule hotel that turned out to be an absolute gem!

December 18, 2016 at 08:27AM via Facebook

Ang Charn Hsiang hopped out of the train to buy some bentos and got left behind. Thought this only happened in movies!!

December 17, 2016 at 06:04PM via Facebook

A play area for kids while their parents check in - what a wonderful idea! And wait till you see Miri's photos of our Happy Magic room :) #hiltontokyobay

December 05, 2016 at 10:29PM via Facebook

Two movies, one episode of CSI Cyber and one of Big Bang Theory later, we are finally in Tokyo and on the bus to Disneyland! P.s it's Matty feeling cool, not me.

December 05, 2016 at 02:25PM via Facebook

All ready for our trip to Japan tomorrow, including a thermal-sensitive colour-changing gel manicure, absolutely essential for alerting us that it's cold. Miri's turns a gorgeous green when icy; mine a darker blue-brown purple (sadly not so obvious. Or perhaps holding my nails against a cold drink is not enough!). Let's see what a Tokyo/Kyoto winter can do :)

December 04, 2016 at 09:23AM via Facebook

Never too old for slides.

December 03, 2016 at 02:47PM via Facebook

Matty digging into his milo dirt pot. New meaning to "lah sup jiak lah sup dua"

December 02, 2016 at 02:17PM via Facebook

"The current trend of micromanaging every bit of a child’s existence and being a helicopter parent isn’t the answer. Strict, well-managed plans don’t work with kids, and they’re not the best thing for them. Why?" Good article about what your kids need at different stages.

December 01, 2016 at 07:04PM via Facebook

Excellent squid ink rice and good deals for students! Plus Matty loves the love seat they gave us :)

November 28, 2016 at 01:04PM via Facebook

The problem when people disagree but can't explain why, and end up saying things like "Everyone's entitled to their own views" and "I don't want to argue with you".

November 27, 2016 at 10:10PM via Facebook

This sums up what I feel about the media bashing and scapegoating in this election. "I pay attention to sources, because I’ve been a journalist covering all kinds of government for about 25 years. I know the source of information is crucial. If your source cannot be trusted, your story can’t be trusted. And I think this, right here, is a big part of what has gotten Trump where he is. As the media landscape eroded with the arrival of the Internet, all kinds of questionable websites and “news outlets” have cropped up. FOX News paved the way with its “fair and balanced” (wink, wink) reporting – which my dad listens to non-stop and recites. No longer do people just watch the evening news and read the daily newspaper to get their news. They can pick and choose whatever kind of news matches their opinion. In fact, for several years I worked for one of those new news outlets. Sold as investigative journalism, Watchdog.org sought to fill the increasingly wide gap in coverage of U.S. statehouses with what it sometimes called point-of-view journalism. Over time, I learned this nonprofit was funded by right-leaning libertarians who liked things like fossil fuels and charter schools. I saw how these news outlets work to further the causes of those that give them money, but ironically, many people no longer trust the “lamestream media” which tries to keep a wall between advertising and the newsroom." Bingo!

November 21, 2016 at 11:34AM via Facebook

"While many Americans see Trump’s election as part of a cultural shift against multiculturalism, Stewart believes its the continuation of a fight the country’s been having since its inception. “America is not natural. Natural is tribal,” Stewart said. “We’re fighting against thousands of years of human behavior and history...that’s what is exceptional and this aint’ easy.” Stewart believes the election of Trump shined a light on a national problem that existed well before he arrived on the political scene. “His candidacy has animated that thought that a multi-ethnic, multicultural democracy is impossible,” Stewart said." Come to Singapore :)

November 20, 2016 at 08:47PM via Facebook

Conversation in the car on our way home. Mic : Why do buses need diesel? Me: Because they don't run on air. Mic: huh? But cars use petrol. Me: ah.. then you should ask, more accurately, why do buses run on diesel and not petrol. Otherwise it's like asking why do humans need food? And I will answer you the same way. Because we don't run on air. Matt: ALONE. #cantarguewiththat #sohewaslistening

November 20, 2016 at 08:26PM via Facebook

It's double duty for Ang Charn Hsiang and me today. While the boys (and grandpa Allan Kang) were at Micah's school, Susan Kang and I were at Raffles Girls' Primary School, watching Mirella Ang receive her hard-earned and well-deserved prize. Very proud of you, sweetie, for your hard work and persistence this year!

November 18, 2016 at 11:07AM via Facebook

Madison, again: “To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people is a chimerical idea.” It would be equally chimerical to suppose that a people could become virtuous unless its leaders model virtue, especially in difficult times, which is why the Founders united behind George Washington, the epitome of virtue in his day, as the first president." Sounds more like our Asian than typical Western expectations of our leaders. The world is changing!

November 14, 2016 at 11:21AM via Facebook

"Resentment is no excuse for bald-faced stupidity. America is still the land where the waitress’s kids can grow up to become physicists and novelists and pediatricians, but it helps a lot if the waitress and her husband encourage good habits and the ambition to use your God-given talents and the kids aren’t plugged into electronics day and night. Whooping it up for the candidate of cruelty and ignorance does less than nothing for your kids."

November 10, 2016 at 03:35PM via Facebook

TNG.

November 10, 2016 at 08:57AM via Facebook

Wei Ying Wong Some good news to make you feel better.

November 09, 2016 at 02:14PM via Facebook

Just when Amazon is finally coming to Singapore :( "However, Trump could achieve many objectives on his own. A President has the unilateral authority to renegotiate a nuclear deal with Iran, to order a ban on Muslims, and to direct the Justice Department to give priority to certain offenses, with an eye to specific targets. During the campaign, he has accused Amazon of “getting away with murder tax-wise,” and vowed, if he wins, “Oh, do they have problems.”

November 09, 2016 at 01:30PM via Facebook

What's going on in America? I think Trump's right - it's rigged!

November 09, 2016 at 12:39PM via Facebook

#MakingAmericanGRATEagain

November 09, 2016 at 12:04PM via Facebook

Mirella Ang what a good sound track can do ... with amazing cinematography of course.

November 08, 2016 at 06:53PM via Facebook

Part II - the all-American horror movie

November 07, 2016 at 06:02PM via Facebook

Both, in their own ways, are all-American - the best and the worst of the country's culture.

November 05, 2016 at 09:59PM via Facebook

A tough race and they survived :) Miri did especially well - too 5 finishers in 11-13yo category and the fastest girl. Well-done!

October 30, 2016 at 11:44AM via Facebook

Broken promises. Again.

October 29, 2016 at 12:02PM via Facebook

Where you can find Bubur Chacha hot or cold - double advantage, double gold :)

October 27, 2016 at 04:15PM via Facebook

Trying out ayam buah keluak after reading about it in Sherlock Sam. Post-exam treat! #lunchdatewithMicky

October 26, 2016 at 03:28PM via Facebook

Post-PSLE treat for Miri :) thanks to Ang Charn Hsiang. Love alternative reality stories and Wicked is turning out to have quite a few verbal gems : Elphaba: " . . . No matter how shallow or self absorbed you bretend to be-" Fiyero: "Excuse me, there is no pretense here. I happen to be genuinely self absorbed and deeply shallow."

October 09, 2016 at 02:53PM via Facebook

Yes! Another calamari convert! Bwahahaha! Mirella Ang you're the only one left ...

October 05, 2016 at 04:10PM via Facebook

D-Day. Chance to show off months of hard work. 5 days that can boost or derail the dreams of a 12 year old, those they may not even know they had. Too heavy a burden for such a young age? But kids are growing up faster these days ... So Bonne chance Mirella Ang and all the P6s in Singapore, and Bon Courage - there should be a better English equivalent than "Be Strong"; "Keep calm and carry on" doesn't quite capture it. Maybe Shakespeare's screw your courage to the sticking point. But pls don't murder the paper :)

September 29, 2016 at 07:57AM via Facebook

Matty finally bitten by the book bug. Bibliophilia, my dominant gene :)

September 21, 2016 at 01:08PM via Facebook

Preparing for school - getting $6 haircuts at our favourite neighbourhood salon. Wishing Mirella Ang can look so groomed everyday!

September 11, 2016 at 08:25AM via Facebook

Finally got the video of Micah's performance at the National Gallery uploaded :) #sing50 #zhangde #nationalgallery

September 07, 2016 at 09:45AM via Facebook

First Pilates class . Trainer said - good to see 3 generations exercising together. And that grandma had v funky pants.

September 03, 2016 at 10:27AM via Facebook

So it's test time for primary kids and I decide to be a kiasu parent and print past papers for Micah to do. To motivate him to do them properly I give Matty a copy to do as well, just for fun. Verdict: Matty needs help understanding what the question is asking but his math is sound; and Micah is VERY careless. Which reminds me of Mirella Ang. And me :P

August 22, 2016 at 06:57PM via Facebook

If this is what unlimited youth looks like then I was born old.

August 17, 2016 at 08:07PM via Facebook

Going to show this to the kids the next time they complain about maths. Happy World Elephant Day!

August 12, 2016 at 06:12PM via Facebook

Solid siah! But what is confirm plus chop??

August 10, 2016 at 05:24PM via Facebook

I knew I was born in the right country.

August 10, 2016 at 05:19PM via Facebook

Comes close to beating Kit Chan!

August 10, 2016 at 05:11PM via Facebook

Going home to test my eye sight now.

August 10, 2016 at 05:05PM via Facebook

Ah Peng Ryk Chew

August 06, 2016 at 01:17PM via Facebook

So Matty and I have an hour and a half to burn while Micah's in class. What do we do? Drive to the nearest mall? Sit down at the nearest cafe and play iPad? Nope. I drive to the nearest MRT, park my car, and hop on the train to a bus interchange. Make that two bus interchanges. So Matty can complete his collection of bus guides. #thingsmumsdofortheirkids #givemeyourbusguides #tampinesisnext

July 27, 2016 at 05:55PM via Facebook

Young interns - any more volunteers? #hookeebakchang

July 24, 2016 at 06:12PM via Facebook

Mirella Ang has a part time job tomorrow. More customers welcome.

July 22, 2016 at 09:21PM via Facebook

Micah halfway through his poster for school. Sigh. The irony. #tryharder #spellingsux

July 11, 2016 at 05:11PM via Facebook

"Most military cultures—and people in general—seek to impose values and control over what they encounter. What made the Mongols different was their ability to weigh each situation objectively, and if need be, swap out previous practices for new ones. "

June 27, 2016 at 11:09AM via Facebook

"M is for ________?" *wonder how long more can I persuade them to agree to do things like this?

June 25, 2016 at 11:54AM via Facebook

Think those who thought Brexit would never triumph overestimated the pragmatism and underestimated the ethnocentrism of the British people.

June 24, 2016 at 02:46PM via Facebook

On a long long long journey home - Matty is taking me bus-hopping. We get off after 5-6 stops and he chooses which bus to take next. We are hitting as many buses as we can in search of bus guides and finding out that there are indeed many alternative routes to get home. Thank God for distance-based fares!

June 23, 2016 at 05:49PM via Facebook

Matty and me enjoying our favorite noodles - respectively beef and tom yam U-mian. #lunchdatewithmatty

June 20, 2016 at 01:07PM via Facebook

The kids have enlisted! They've always looked good in blue :)

June 16, 2016 at 08:27PM via Facebook

Organic soft serve ice cream with organic honey. I only wish he eats his meals as fast!

June 16, 2016 at 07:36PM via Facebook

When did carrom become a 'traditional childhood game'? Considering how much time we wasted on it, Wei-yen Lim, Andrew Teng, Wei Ying Wong. When did they start to disappear?

June 03, 2016 at 03:00PM via Facebook

Getting into the festive mood - always wondered what 端午节 translates to, surely not 'Dragon Boat'?

June 02, 2016 at 04:55PM via Facebook

Sushi? Mochi? Sochi?

May 31, 2016 at 01:31PM via Facebook

At RGPS' biennial concert yesterday, supporting Mirella Ang's possibly final performance as a drummer, I met Selina Heng, Adeline's sister, who says she recognised me not because I looked the same but because of the way I walked. Which got me now obsessing - what is the way I walk??

May 29, 2016 at 03:03PM via Facebook

Picking Micah up after his French lesson yesterday his classmate tells me "Excuse me Micah was very naughty in class today." I ask Micah what he did and he replies that he got scolded for drawing naughty pictures. Me: "Where did you learn that from? Who taught you?" (Frantically wondering if any of his Horrible Science books featured reproduction) Mic: "Nobody. I looked at myself. When I'm bathing." Me: "Didn't I teach you about private parts and why they are called private?" Mic: ... (silence probably thinking something like I keep MY parts private those were the boy's parts I was drawing in.) Mic: "I thought it was funny." Sigh. Help.

April 21, 2016 at 01:14PM via Facebook

I will miss seeing these beautiful sunrises from my bed once the office block is complete. 😔

April 16, 2016 at 07:04AM via Facebook

Micah's 8th birthday party on a gloriously hot day at the party pavilion pool.

April 11, 2016 at 07:42AM via Facebook