School Outing

Today, WF will be visiting the HealthZone with his CH School teachers and classmates. The theme for this month has been health, nutrition and safety, so I think this outing has been planned along with the theme of the lessons. This is good.

Although the HealthZone is a commendable public-education effort by HPB, its exhibits are, I think, so-so only. Nevertheless, I hope the children will have a great afternoon there all the same. I believe WF will tell us tonight about the 'giant' food pyramid and dental models which he will see there.

By chance, I saw this in the ST this morning:

Dutch amusement park sends visitors on voyage through human body - OEGSTGEEST (Netherlands)

STRAP on 3-D glasses and watch holograms of cartoon sperm sprinting to fertilise an egg. Climb inside a gigantic nose, enjoy the smell of fresh hay, then feel the wind blast on your neck when it sneezes.

Walk across a bouncy rubber tongue complete with taste buds and realistic burping noises in the background.

This all might sound weird or flat-out gross. But the makers of 'Corpus,' a new attraction in the Netherlands, are hoping that a combination amusement park and health education museum will encourage kids to take better care of their own bodies.

Even before Corpus officially opened March 20 in Oegstgeest, 21 miles southeast of Amsterdam, it was already a local landmark. The building incorporates a 35-metre high seated human figure into its structure. But the roughhewn Corpus exterior isn't much to look at: all the detail is on the inside.

All the walls and halls are modeled with fiberglass to resemble the inside of a giant human body, giving visitors the sensation of being shrunk down to a tiny scale, like the characters of the classic science fiction film 'Fantastic Voyage.'

Visitors begin their tour via an escalator that carries them through a wound in the giant figure's calf. Once inside, they see an exhibition on what happens when a wood splinter pierces the skin.

Then it's on to the sit-down 'Uterus Theatre.' That's the one with the cartoon sperm race.

'We chose not to show sexual activity, but actually just the fertilization of the egg cell by the seed cell and how that develops' into a foetus, said Dr Tom Voute, one of a raft of physicians hired as advisers on the project.

He said the information in Corpus is medically accurate, if not always highly sophisticated.

'I think that it gives information that will give people the itch to learn more,' he said.

When the show is over, the entire theatre platform is lifted to the next floor with hydraulic pumps.

Next is a display on digestion, featuring blocks of cheese, the Dutch national treat. After visitors watch a video showing stomach acid dissolving them, the curds' progress through a hallway-size intestinal system is charted with lights and narration.

While the cheese is heading downward, visitors progress up to exhibits on the heart, lungs, mouth, nose, and ear.

Visitors reach the summit in - where else? - the brain, where they take seats around a cluster of display panels built atop model neurons, which then project images onto a larger screen at the top of the domed space, to give an impression of how consciousness might work.

The project is the dream of businessman Henri Remmers, who arranged US$31 million (S$42.7 million) in private funding and won the endorsement of the Dutch Health Ministry. The cost of entry is US$25.50 for adults, US$21 for children under 14.

Children younger than 8 are not permitted.

On the way back down, there are more displays on health and diet and games - for instance one where players attempt to knock out bacteria on a big screen display by tossing bean bags at them.

Other machines let visitors monitor their hearts while they exercise, or measure blood pressure, heart rate and body mass index.

Mr Remmers said he hoped when people learn more about the 'unique mechanism' that the human body is, 'then you'll have more respect for your own body, and possibly treat it a little more carefully.' -- AP (pictures from ST)

Wow, isn't it?! Sounds very interesting, hor?! Based on the description, though, I can imagine how the HealthZone will be a 小巫见大巫 vis-a-vis this new Dutch park.

.... erm - how much does it cost to fly to the Netherlands?

............

Kind Man On 2 Wettest Days!

photo from ST

R flew to Bangkok on a working trip early morning last Tuesday.

That day, WY had to go for his Wushu training and so arrangement was made for Mother to take him to school and then bring him home after the training ended. I brought WF to CH School by taxi in the morning before going into my office.

From late morning, it started to rain cats and dogs. The rain continued through our lunch hour and the skies cleared up a little only about 4pm or so. As it later turned out, however, that this was only a brief respite because as we headed towards the MRT station after we had knocked off from work, it started to drizzle again.

I took the MRT train to the station nearest to our place. As I crossed the overhead bridge, the raindrops got bigger and bigger and finally, it started to rain again. I was very fortunate to be able to get into a cab before the rain got heavier.

The driver was an old Malay man. He was a very 'relaxed' driver and put on his brakes about 10 car-lengths from the traffic junction when the traffic lights turned amber. Then he started to talk a little about the rain, how the weather these days change - maybe this is for the better, he said, because..... 'God knows what is best for us'!!!

By the time I reached CH School, the skies had cleared and once again, it was ok to walk without the umbrella. I got WF and all his bags (on Tuesdays, he has 2 an additional bag for his Kindermusik lesson and a rather bulky musical instrument called the Dulcimer) and then we started to walk to the main street to try to hail a taxi.

No available ones came. So after standing by the road for about 10 minutes, we started to move along, turning back every now and then to watch out hopefully for any taxi that might come along.

Just then, a black Honda MPV pulled up beside us. It turned out to be one of WF's classmates called K! At K's father's invite, WF and I hopped on and hitched a ride to the bus-stop next to B125 where they stay. (Initially, K's father had offered to drive WF and I all the way back home, but I declined because that would have easily added another 10 minutes or more to their drive home. Anyway, the sky was already beginning to clear up by then and so I decided against troubling K's father.)

WF and I took a leisurely stroll back home from the bus-stop at B125. On the way, we saw that there are no more of the big, tall cranes which used to be stationed at the KPE worksite nearby. Only a handful of smaller excavators now remain on site.

WF also asked me where his classmate lived. I pointed out to him and he said, "Mama, I would like to go to K's house. Can we go next time?" Of course I said no, we haven't got any invitation! The cheeky little one replied, "Let's get K to invite us!"

Anyway, we got home before the rain came on again that evening. Shower, dinner and the other routine chores followed. R didn't call back as promised, and so WY called him instead.

The next morning, I overslept. As CP had planned to come back to give tuition to WY that morning, I let WY sleep longer. I woke WF up and got both ourselves ready for school and work. Luckily, there was no rain and we successfully flagged down a taxi relatively quickly after we reached the Boys' Club.

Almost as soon as I left CH School, it started to drizzle. I quickly got into a taxi and was soon on my way to work. The rain got heavier by the minute and stayed that way throughout the day. Even when it was time to go home, the rain refused to let up.

My colleague had wanted to go visit a friend at the hospital and so wanted to hail a taxi. Given the new rule (requiring taxis in the CBD to stop only at designated taxi stands only), she had to take a 150m walk to a new taxi stand which is located on the way to the MRT station. Despite my offer to lend her my office-umbrella, this colleague of mine decided to make do with her 'New Paper' instead of a proper umbrella. Stubborn woman, she is!

As I was headed towards the MRT station, I offered to shelter her to the taxi stand. As we trodded along, taking care to avoid as best as we could, the puddles of water that had formed by the roadside, the rain got heavier and heavier. It soon became very clear that her 'New Paper' would never do and so I had 'no choice' but to stay with her at the taxi stand until her taxi arrived. The rain started to splash onto us both as we stood by the roadside taxi stand, huddled closely under my single umbrella.

Very few taxis came by, and most of those which did, were 'on call'. After about 10 minutes, one finally pulled up at this roadside taxi stand and my colleague then went off. She was very grateful for my help, of course, and kept thanking and waving to me even after the door was closed. (She told me the following morning that the taxi driver later actually gave her a 'discount' of about $3 for her 'effort' waiting for his cab at the taxi-stand! Hahaha.)

I took to the MRT station as quickly as I could. When I reached the platform, an unsually thick crowd had already formed. I wondered why, but this became a no-brainer when I looked up and saw from the electronic-display board ahead that the next train was expected to arrive only 6 minutes later! I overheard 2 other women exclaiming to each other that the message had earlier been that it would take the next train another 7 minutes to arrive!!

Just then, I got a call on my handphone. It was WF's form teacher, who asked (rather weirdly) if I would like K's father (the one who gave us a lift home the day earlier) to pick WF up! She was barely audible because the station platform was so jam-packed with people who were getting increasingly impatient by the seconds.

"Oh, but the train is somehow delayed today, so I won't be there until about half an hour later," I had to 'shout' into my hp because I could hardly hear myself in the din. Then, I continued, "Erm, maybe if K's father is already at CH School, then perhaps he should just go ahead. It's not so nice for us to hold him back."

The teacher explained, "K is not in school today. He has gone to stay with his grandmother in Malaysia. K's father is asking whether you would like him to go and pick WF up. He says he is just nearby."

"Ha?! K is not in school but his father is offering to go into CH School specifically to pick WF up?" I thought the din at the platform must have been really bad, so bad that I must have heard wrongly.

But I told the teacher to thank K's father for his kind offer, but it wouldn't be nice for us to hold him up. So, with that, the teacher hung up the phone.

Seconds later, she called again. "Hello, WF's Mummy. K's father is suggesting that he will come to pick WF up and bring him to his house while he waits for you. When you reach the place, you can give him a call and then just pick WF up from his place. He will bring WF downstairs at his block when you arrive. Is that ok?"

"Oh, " I was a little dumbstruck, didn't know what to say, except, "Erm, ok, that will be great. Please let WF go with K's father then. I will meet them at K's block. Please thank K's father for me," I said hesitantly. After that, WF's teacher gave me K's father's hp number.

It was another 5 minutes or so before the train finally pulled in. It was so packed that I thought there wouldn't be any breathing space even if I managed to squeeze my way in. But then, I didn't have much of a choice - the crowd moved me in anyway. In fact, I think it would have been dangerous to try to remain on the platform - the impatient crowds had already started to surge forward just as the train doors were about to open!

Anyway, I tried my best to keep my balance (no poles to hold onto) amidst the sweaty people all sardined together. It was a wonder that I didn't faint from the stale stench of semi-dry clothes worn by some drenched people standing around me, and the stingingly-nauseating 'chao-sng' smell of unwashed hair of a woman standing right next to me! Yucks!

By the time I alighted from the Kallang station to catch a bus to K's block, it was already 6:25pm or so. There was no sign of the rain subsiding - in fact, if at all, it looked like the rain was going to get heavier and heavier. Sigh.

Luckily, the bus which I took was one of the newer ones which has plenty of standing space (the area meant for passengers on wheelchairs or with baby strollers etc). So this time, I could breathe better.

The walk to K's block took only about 5 minutes. When I reached the convenience shop at the void deck, I called K's father on his hp to ask which floor he is located. "1-5," he said.

WF was so happy to see me when I got up to the 15th floor. And he happily told me that like him, his friend K had Bob The Builder lego toys! After he put on his shoes, he proceeded to try out the swing at the lift lobby on this floor.

I thanked K's father profusely for his kind gesture, of course. He was very jovial and said that given the weather, he thought it would be quite unrealistic to try to get a cab today (which was what I had planned to do). I think he was right, lah. And it was really fortunate that we had him bring WF out from CH School in his car.

I am really grateful to K's father for being so considerate and kind - I mean, he didn't have to go in to the area that day because his son was away in Malaysia, but he actually 'bothered' to make that special trip because he knew from our brief conversation the day before, that R would be away till Thursday! Yes, it may well have been little trouble, but how many people would have 'bothered', right?!

Anyway, WF and I left the place after a while. We still had to use the umbrella to shelter ourselves as we made our way back home. On the way, WF told me, "Mama, you said yesterday that K had not invited us to his house. But today, K's father brought me to his house!" "yah, that's very kind of K's father," I replied.

So WF gleefully said, "So I get to see K's house. K's father showed me K's room, which was IN A MESS!!!" Hahhahaa.... this cheeky little fellow....

Incidentally, K's grandmother stays at B123. According to K's father, they have been long-time residents in this area. And from what he knows, many of the residents in B123 did not support the MUP plan for the multi-storey carpark because it was totally unnecessary. The carpark space was more than ample for our use. Also, there was a lot of concern that the increased cost of a multi-storey carpark would be an unnecessary additional burden to most users etc etc.

So, now we also hear about why that 'big, grand carpark with a big, beautiful roof-top garden' was not really completely welcomed by 'everyone' (yah, that's what they had said to us then!), lah. Heng ah.....

On Thursday morning, I received another call from K's father. He asked if I would like him to bring WF back to his house to wait for me as on Wednesday. I told him that R would be back by afternoon and so would be able to get WF in the evening. So we wouldn't need to trouble him that day.

What can I say of this man?.... Rare to come by, especially these days, hor?

'Restful' Sunday??

WY and WF's 文化艺术团 classes start at 9:15am on Sundays. So, unless everyone gets up early enough to have breakfast at home before their showers, the boys would usually have a very light breakfast 'on the go'. Beverage 'on the go' will usually be either tetra-packed Milo or UHT milk.

Last Sunday, WY had some kuehs which Mother bought from the market before we set off. So only WF had his breakfast 'on the go'.

After the boys went off to class, R and I headed for HDB Hub. We had planned to get some groceries and a loaf of bread for Monday's breakfast. But as our breakfast took us a longer time than expected, we didn't get to do any grocery shopping at all. Luckily, R managed to visit the popular hairstyling outlets for a 10-minute haircut.

WF's 文化艺术团 class is dismissed 15 minutes earlier than WY's 1st class. And then, WY's 武舞班 will start about 30 minutes after that. Usually, R and I would bring WF to the library at Toa Payoh whilst WY attends his 武舞班 . During this time, I would usually also buy lunch for WY. After WY's 武舞班 ends at 1pm, he will change out of his soaking-wet clothes and then after freshening himself up, we would be on our way to LW School at United Square.

Last Sunday, we didn't go to the library. Instead, we went to CP's place to pick up the luggage because R has been scheduled to go on a working trip to Bangkok from 11 March to 13 March. Whilst we were at CP's place, we gave WF his favourite fishball noodles and bought fried rice for WY. Needless to say, WF helped himself to his usual chest of toys during our hour-long stay at CP's house.

At LW School, WY and WF went for their EL lessons as usual. This week, however, we attended a PTM with WY's LW teacher. The teacher's feedback was mainly these:

1) Unlike some of his classmates, WY's foundation in EL is quite good. He has no major problem with grammar etc.

2) However, WY's creative writing skills need to be polished because his writing is rather 'flat'. He needs to learn to use more adjectives and exciting descriptions. According to the teacher, boys' writing tends to be more 'flat' as compared to girls'.

3) WY's handwriting is atrocious. His 'wormy' scribbles will need to be improved if he doesn't want to be penalised in examinations. The teacher even said in jest, "I have had to either use a magnifying glass to read his work or to photocopy to enlarge his scribbles in order to read them!" (We already conveyed this feedback to WY.)

At my request, the teacher agrees that WY may submit to her some of his compositions which he may write in school or at home, so that she may give him her comments. The teacher was quick to add, however, that a maximum of about 2-3 works per term would be realistic; any more than that would not be feasible.

After WY and WF finished their lessons, we proceeded to the ACT 3 Theatre at Cairnhill for a very interesting puppet show. This 'black light' puppet show called Circo Koriak was part of the Prudential Children's First Festival and was very entertaining. WY and WF, who sat amongst children right in front of the stage, enjoyed themselves thoroughly. WY even volunteered his compliments on the feedback forms placed outside the theatre, after the one-hour show ended.

On Saturday evening, WF had asked YP if she would allow him to go to her place on Sunday to play on the XBox. YP had agreed that it would be ok and that she would prepare our dinner, too. And so, after Circo ended, we headed for YP's place.

When we arrived, we saw that WS had a newly-acquired 'toy'. He was fiddling with it and we all became quite curious. Whilst the table was being laid by YP's maid, I suggested to WS to show us what this new gadget is all about. And so he did before dinner.

Later, I learnt that it is something called Guitar Hero. It actually is another control for a guitar-playing game. WY, YP and I also tried our hands at this game after dinner but none of us did well - in fact, our skills were nowhere close to WS'!

After a while, WY joined WP at the PC in the room; WF logged onto YouTube using YP's laptop to watch some Thomas & Friends video clips.

At about 8pm, R and I went out to get our groceries. When we returned, WF was done with the laptop. So we told him and WY to get ready to go home. Suddenly, WF went into the room and started to cry - because he hadn't had the chance to play his promised XBox Lego StarWars game yet!

Sigh, and so we persuaded WS to allow WF some 10 minutes for his Lego StarWars. Eventually, the 10-minute extended to something like half an hour. Playing this game with WP always makes WF chuckle so much that when we really had to go off, it actually seemed very 'cruel' to peel the boys off the consoles.

Anyway, we finally went home at about 9:30pm, which was our original estimated time to arrive home that evening.

Just Another Saturday

Our usual Saturday routine is to send WY to Katong Mall for his CL lessons in the morning and then proceed to Marine Parade for WF's music lesson. There is usually time for WY to have his breakfast at home before we set off. WF usually has his breakfast 'on the go'.

Last week, however, there was no music lesson for WF because it was a PTM session day. So after getting WY to his CL lessons, R and WF proceeded to have some hotcakes at McDonalds whilst I went for the PTM at Yamaha (after I took a quick bite at McDonald's, too).

The PTM was attended by only 4 out of 9 parents. Despite the small turnout, our discussion with the teacher was rather interesting and fruitful. We shared our experiences and ideas on how to better encourage our little ones to improve on their music playing and singing etc. It was good that I attended this PTM session - I had missed 2 others last year.

When I re-joined R and WF, they were at the playground just outside McDonald's. WF and another boy were standing on this 'rolling-pin', 'running' on the 'rolling-pin' like they were on a treadmill machine. R was right behind WF. When WF saw me, he stepped off the 'rolling-pin' and came running to me.

R wasn't sure if it would be safe for the other boy, who remained standing on the 'rolling-pin' to remain on the 'rolling-pin' and so R tried to coax him to come down too. But alas, instead of stepping off, the boy started to 'run' on the 'rolling-pin' for a good 20-30 seconds before hopping off the spinning 'rolling-pin'! Both R and I were totally amused and amazed by this boy's action - I mean, he must have been a pro at this station at this playground, man! And there we were, trying to coax him to come down for fear that he may slip or fall after we walk away! Hahahahaa....

We took the car from the carpark and then made our way to Katong Mall. WF then proceeded to his CL class whilst R and I took a 5-minute walk to Roxy Square nearby for a back and foot massage. There were of course the usual ooh's and aah's as the masseurs kneaded our aching shoulders, back and calves.

Actually, I have suggested to Mother some time ago to consider going for these massages on a regular basis. I offered to buy her a package deal so that she can go at her own convenience. Afterall, there are many outlets across the island and she can join her friends (she mentioned before, that some of her friends go for these massages on some weekday afternoons) when she feels like it. There is no expiry date in the package deals.

Not surprisingly, Mother has declined my offer, saying that she doesn't want the massages. Her underlying concern, I think, is that the massages are not exactly cheap. I didn't insist, but after I had raised it a few times, I am not pursuing it anymore now. Especially now.

Anyway, after R and I were done at Roxy Square, we returned to pick WY and WF up from their CL classes. We had a simple fried-beehoon lunch at the small cafe at the basement in the same building and then went back home.

WY and WF played for a short while when we got home. Mother was busy in the kitchen, so I avoided the place as best as I could. WY took his shower and got ready for his tuition with CP who returned soon afterwards. But the tuition ended abruptly very soon after it started - because WY had fallen asleep in a 5-minute break given by CP!

I gave WF his overdue haircut followed by his shower, when I was done with the ironing. By then, it was almost 5:30pm. All the while, R was busy building the prototype of WY's toy-making project. Something about a pulley-system.

YP arrived much later than usual that day. I think it was after 6:30pm. We were all surprised to see that she had come only with her maid and the 扣肉包 which she had cooked. It turned out that BK had brought WS and WP to the IT Show at Suntec City to check out some bargains at the IT Show. So they arrived later at almost 7:30pm, all famished and tired out (having had to jostle amongst the thick crowds, which WS said was quite overwhelming).

Mother prepared crabs for dinner that day. So everyone had a hearty meal. In fact, R had 2 helpings of the crab and even after that, there were still some leftovers of the non-spicy version meant for the children.

The boys took to their computer games and tried out some new ones which WS and WP had picked up at the IT Show. WF also tried his hands at some of these, I think. Meanwhile, I logged onto KAM and showed Mother the latest photos we saw of J and S.

Later, YP gave WY his haircut, too. Then we all had our desserts - fresh fruits and iced longan-rambutan cocktail. Some of us also had some canned drinks - it was good that I remembered to have them chilled in the cooler-box before dinner.

YP and the rest left at almost 10pm. CP didn't want to stay over for the night; she said she could sleep better at her own AMK place, so she also left soon after that. WY and WF went to bed late that night despite my reminders that we would all need to get up early the next morning.

Friday Last Week

R and I took leave from work on Friday last week. We got up early and brought WY and WF to Toa Payoh. After a quick bite at McDonald's (at WF's suggestion), WY sped off to his piano teacher's house for his lesson.

Then R, WF and I went to a wet market in Lorong 2 to grab some handmade 包子 for the colleague who had just given me (and another colleague) a treat at Shang Palace the day before. Whilst at the market, I also picked up a new potted plant for my office table and a bottle of flower-enhancing hormone for our collection of potted plants in my office.

After that, we returned to the piano teacher's place to pick WY up before dashing over to my office. My colleague, who is a big fan of the Toa Payoh 包子, was more than thrilled to receive the snacks for her breakfast. She later told me that she took some of the 包子 for lunch that day as well!

Then, we raced to KHS as fast as we could - WY had arranged for a meeting with his project partner for a discussion on their toy-making project (due for completion and submission soon after the March school holiday). R and I were scheduled to meet WY's form teacher for the Parents-Teacher-Meeting to discuss WY's performance in class and his progress so far.

Our original plan was to first send WF home to stay with Mother for the morning, before we all went to KHS. But somehow, we were behind time and so eventually, R drove WF back home only after dropping WY and I at KHS. R returned to KHS to join me for the PTM only later.

WY's project partner failed to turn up at the agreed time for the discussion. What a letdown! WY ended up playing hopscotch with a classmate in the school's parade square instead. Whilst waiting for our turn to see the teacher, I visited the book fair at the school canteen. The Chinese readers recommended by the CL Department seemed interesting and relatively easy to read, and so I bought 4 titles for WY to 'try'.

The review session with the teacher lasted about only 10 minutes, but those 10 minutes felt very long and 'heavy'. I don't know about R (who was on his hp half the time!), but I came out feeling quite crestfallen. Sigh, I hope WY wises up very soon.

On our way home after the PTM, we made a detour to the bookdrop at the library at GE. It is goood that these days, NLB allows us to return the library materials to any branch regardless of where we had borrowed the items from. This 24/7 bookdrop system is one truly useful improvement from the old library practice.

When we reached home, we got the boys to shower. When everyone was ready, R, WY, WF and I set off for the 3:20pm screening of the movie 'The Water Horse' at Kallang. The movie had a very touching story. I enjoyed it.

By the time the show ended, it was almost 5:30pm. Whilst driving out from Kallang, we decided to go check out Courts and Ikea at Tampines for 1) materials for WY's project and 2) ideas on how best to re-organise the room for Mother's occupation. We wanted to see if other options (apart from fixing built-in wardrobes) were available or more suitable for us.

Courts was a little disppointing - they had nothing much to offer because their range of wardrobes etc was rather limited. Quality also seemed rather poor. The only saving grace was that the service staff were quite polite and ready to answer our queries. We left after a while and headed for Ikea next door.

As we were all quite hungry by then, we decided to have our dinner at the Ikea restaurant before doing anything else. Prices of the food there have rocketed since the last time we visited. Sigh.

At Ikea, R and I browsed the many storage and wardrobe systems available. We even went through some options for bookshelves and tried to visualize if these could be adapted for use as wardrobes etc! Some of the systems we examined were attractive and affordable but we weren't sure whether they were really suitable for our purposes, and so we didn't decide on any particular item.

R and WY later also scoured the children's area and the home decor area for suitable materials for WY's project. By then, it was almost 10pm and poor WF had already fallen asleep in the shopping trolley. We headed for home soon after payment. The carpark at Courts was almost deserted by that time.

We finally went to bed after our shower about half hour past midnight. ZZzzzz....