I was once at a party talking tattoos when someone cut in to let us know her “all grown up” crowd talks marriage and homes instead.

It’s been over 10 years, we’ve just sold our flat and I can finally tell you what “valuation,” “COV” and “OTP” mean. Of course I’d still rather talk tattoos and am not averse to telling someone what she can do with her mouth someplace else, so I don’t think I’ve grown up very much after all.

Grown up I may not be, but useful — now that I can do! Read on to see how we got our flat sold: Read More »

$30 is a lot to pay to enjoy a couple of animated shorts and to see a Toy Story zoetrope in action. (It’s $60 for the “Family Package” — two adults and two kids; this doesn’t include entry to the 3D feature-length films or the rest of the Science Centre.)

If your kid is four and below, I’d say skip it. Instead, turn on YouTube and watch these Pixar vids:

Tin Toy (Layla loves this!)
Luxo Jr
Red’s Dream
The Adventures of Andre And Wally B
Knick Knack

I’ve finally found a phonics teacher that fulfills all of my requirements!

A. Has excellent diction
B. Uses music and stories to spark interest
C. Gets results

Oh, and did I mention Emmy winning as well? Read More »

“Blue One” = Greece

Didn’t help the score — not that I minded!

In my mind I’d like to travel more, but truth is I like staycations. I mean, really. I love it when Layla’s gone to bed and I can hook up with my laptop to watch whatever and catch up with whoever. I like using my own shampoo and having access to a clean bathroom and knowing where everything is. And I actually do like being alone at home, possibly more than most people. Read More »

Venture into the abortion threads on Singapore Motherhood and you’ll see the crusaders in BOLD CAPS screaming “Don’t abort! Give your baby up for adoption!”

I guess they don’t realise that for the many moms who let their children go to someone else, the loss is possibly greater.

“[M]y son’s mother, Holly, observed that birth mothers have to accomplish in one day the monumental task of letting go that most parents have 18 years to figure out. Days after his birth, when I struggled with letting go, Holly sat with me and cried — for the children she never got to have, for the fact the adoption would bring her joy while causing me pain, and out of fear that she had already grown to love a child I might not give her.”

From Open Adoption – Not So Simple Math (NYTimes.com)

It’s beautifully tragic although no lives were lost.

So take a few minutes, forget “How could you!” and “You deserve this!” and everything else that you haven’t earned the right to say.

Feel a mother’s pain.

Here’s why the Singapore Art Museum’s “Art Garden” is 100% fun for kids.

Having friends along makes all the difference in the world:

Me + Layla and our friends Jessica + Brian = 2 full hours at the Singapore Art Museum
Me + Alf + Layla = 15 minutes at the National Museum

Btw if you’re headed for the art museum, try starting your day at Food For Thought (a new restaurant at the museum’s new wing), which serves up a hearty breakfast for a good cause.

If you’ve never rescued an animal before, you’ll probably think it’s a simple affair.

Step 1: Call SPCA or some pet society.
Step 2: They arrive almost immediately and whisk the animal out of your sight and you’ll never have to think about it again.

That’s what I used to think. Read More »

All on our floor — we should charge admission! (There are fishes and turtles too!)

Of the pets above, the rabbits and my dog Love were abandoned by their previous owners. In fact my neighbour’s helper found the three rabbits yesterday — they’d been thrown out on the grass along with their cage. Even used furniture gets chucked in the shade. Cold indeed.