QooFamily Blog

Pizza

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:33:00 +0000

They named it the Bang Street. I have absolute no idea why BANG...
It is supposed to be the F&B level of Grade A office building in CBD.

A few google searches define BANG as A sudden loud noise, Noise made by Bump ,猛敲；砸 etc.. Maybe they want to create impactful Bang for the opening.

Anyway, they organized a Make The Pizza Family Day last weekend. I brought LeLe there, hoping it will stir up his cullinary interest and he can learn to cook for mummy next time(just like his dad!)

Look Mum! I made this!

Hmmm...smells good yah?

It's never too young to start learning...

I can walk?

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:52:00 +0000

I have no idea why daddy mummy and ayi were making a fuss of me yesterday.They go'一二一‘ and kept taking pix videos of me...Is walking that important? I still prefer to crawl leh..

Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:08:00 +0000

Finally..Halloween Day is here! oh yes, I managed to get the Carebear costume for Meranda.;)

We organized a dinner @ Rumi.It's the first time I arrange a dinner for so many people - 19 adults and 10 kids!

Everything went smoothly except for the initial table arrangement - a super long table for All the adults and another table to cater for the kids only! How are the babies going to feed each other huh?? After 10 minutes of me 'teaching' the waiters how to do the proper way, the restaurant manager came and apologized for all inconvenience.

Lucky the dinner was reasonably decent and the kids had fun.

QooFamily get dressed up!

Groovy Mummies

With my most 八卦 friend and her girl

Meet The Parents

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:05:00 +0000

Yesterday was Meet The Parents Day at LeLe’s childcare.

Most of the mummies I met in China agree with me that it is very difficult to find a school with decent professional teachers, especially the “Laowai Teachers” .(If you miss my previous complaint, please refer to http://qoofamily.blogspot.com/2008/06/laowai-english-teachers-in-china-sigh.html)

After our bad experience with a so-called international school, we decided to send him to Oxford Baby. It is a local private bilingual childcare. At first I was skeptical about it, as I worry about the teaching standard. However LeLe has been enjoying himself everyday, keeps sharing with me about his schoolmates and Teacher Daniel.

Attending today's session tells me why.

Teacher Daniel is passionate about teaching. The kids love him, so do the parents!

He told me that he is impressed that LeLe can recognize and read simple keywords, such as Brother, School , Father, etc which is rare for kids studying here. I'm glad to hear that. Our constant daily efforts of reading books to him have paid off;)

For parents who do not believe in blowing RMB120k per year (that is more than a year of Uni fees!)on international school education for a 4 years old, and do not mind your kids studying in an environment with mostly local Chinese students, I recommend Oxford Baby. It is not tagged with a well-known brand, but at least I can feel the teachers are serious about their work.

See the girl in Pink longsleeve? That is LeLe’s favourite. He likes girls with big eyes, not one that looks like his mum

Bubble Bath

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:40:00 +0000

We let the kids have bubble bath together and they really enjoyed it! They will soak for at least 20 minutes and refused to get out.
Pro: They helped wash each other's hair. Mummy does not have to lift a finger
Con: Meranda starts her sex education ..err..too young. She pointed at gor gor's little thingy and gave me a cheeky grin.

What to wear for Halloween?

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:15:00 +0000

Halloween is approaching. Before I’m a mother, dressing up as witches or monsters is not my type of fun. But now as a mum of two, I started to search for costumes weeks before the ‘big-day’.

What should I dress the kids as? Skeleton? Goblins? I surf good old Taobao and found some interesting costumes. I love the Carebear suit a lot, too bad it does not come in Meranda’s size.

Finally I decided to dress her as a Rat, since she is born in the year of Rat. LeLe shall be dressed as pirate, though some say he is too pretty and fair-skinned boy to be a pirate. ;o Shall apply some charcoal on his face. Haha!

Su-En and I decided to plan dinner at some kids-friend restaurant, instead of signing up for some overpriced ‘expatriate kids’ party’. Will post more pictures of the actual day.

My first deal

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:12:00 +0000

I closed my first deal. It means a lot to me even though I will not get any commission, since I have not hit my quota yet.
I have lots to learn in doing business in China, and am glad that my team leader is helpful and willing to share with me his negotiation skills. I almost lost the deal, due to me being too kind-hearted and too eager to please. However, my team leader helped to turnaround the situation.
Learning to negotiate all the legal terms with a lawyer is also a skillset that I never pick up.(This is so tough!)

Shall pen down what I have learnt, so as to constantly remind and improve myself

1) Be firm. Do not give too many options to customers/agents. Only 1 or two
2) Do not be too ‘customer-centric’ and be led by nose by 3rd party agents
3) Learn to understand all the legal terms in Chinese
4) Speak like a Native Chinese. While being a foreigner may be advantageous to
me in handling clients, but get real, most of the clients and agents don’t
speak English.
5) Learn to read behind the lines. 1 is not equal to 1. It may means 1.2 or 1.5
6) Learn to say 'No'
7) Never think that by saying‘No’, you will lose the deal.
Do not be too eager to please.
8) Do not be too honest. Learn to tell harmless lies.

11.5cm Booties

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:00:00 +0000

I saw this pair of booties at Reiss at Sanlitun Village, while waiting for Kerin for lunch. Love at First sight! But it is too high for me. 11.5cm. I can’t walk in such heels. I have no sense of balance, I fall easily…;(

Btw , this is Kerin! Very instresting lady! First time meet her though we have been gossiping over MSN for years about industry news, bitches about who slept with who, who marry who etc..haha.

Need help in autumn dressing

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:19:00 +0000

I'm hopeless when it comes to autumn/winter dressing.I know how to dress up my kids, but not myself.
This morning, I stared at my wadrobe for 5 minutes and still have no ideas of what to wear. How can I look chic with layering, without feeling like a "Bah Zhang"?(Rice Dumpling) As I'm a real estate broker, I have to dress the conventional way. (Recently went to a networking event, every broker turned up in black suits. I'm the only one in white pants suit).
I ended up wearing a grey sweater, black pants and blazer.(boring)

Have been following Jane's blog for some fashion sense. Simply admire her chic, funky style. She looks great in almost every outfit! Oh yes, her mum is classic glamour too.
http://seaofshoes.typepad.com/
http://atlantishome.typepad.com/my_weblog/

If you have any more cool sites to share, let me know. I need more fashion guidance.

So Kawaii

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:44:00 +0000

Weekend dressing is always fun...Here is Meranda's latest style..
Funky Kawaii style =)

New bag 2009

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:44:00 +0000

Despite me 'complaining' that hubby is turning naggy and superstitious, he is still my very sweet guy..*mushy mushy*
He got me a Gucci bag for our 5th year annivesary pressie. (Chenyi helps him to buy in Italy)..
It is my type of colour and I think it goes very well with corporate suits, casual wear etc.
Yippie!! =)

Getting Old and Superstitious

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:32:00 +0000

Believe it or not, my hubby is getting old and superstitious.

Baby Dylan is celebrating his 1 month old this coming sunday.As good friends of Ng Family, we are looking forward to attend this joyous occassion.

Then... hubby says Meranda cannot attend. Why ?

He was brought up by his super superstitious mother, thinking that it is inauspicious to go to ManYue and birthday parites until age 12.

He actually had to hide under that table to eat the birthday cakes else his mum will nag at him. HUH??

Knowing that I do not believe such stuff, he had not practised this 'rule' on LeLe for the past few years.

Now that we have 2 kids, he makes it an excuse to at least let Meranda follow this 'traditional rules..'

I'm obviously NOT going to deprive my 2 kids of such parties and let them lead pathetic childhood.

So, we came to a compromise that this illogical rule shall bend when she turns 2years old.

Can't believe that he is into such old woman's tales..*sigh* ;(

girls' nite out

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:19:00 +0000

It's so good to catch up with good old friends each time I came back. My schedule was packed with the 2kids, but I always make it a point to catch up with these few.
We had dinner at Waraku - they serve yummy affordable jap-style pasta, followed by jap dessert. And drinks at Clarke Quay..did not stay till wee hours, but still, i had fun!

The Wedding and The Dress

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:05:00 +0000

Last Sunday was Peter and Kia's wedding. Before the trip, Bernard told me it shall be held at Sentosa, but he never told me any details about it. Just one day before we took the flight back, I saw the invitation card and the fashion code reads something chic, comfortable, sandals, no heels etc.. Oh no, I have already packed my evening gown and heels which does follow the rules, and now i got to think of what to wear again.
I nagged at him for not telling me earlier on, and he assured me I can find something before the day.
Until Sunday morning, I still have not found the dress and already start to resign to fate that I shall wear inappropriately to the wedding.
Then, I stumbled onto this tube flower Maxi dress at some neighbourhood stall at CCK...It is so my style and ..it is CHEAP! Only S$7!!!Cheaper than China's pricing??
Sometimes, last minute shopping can turn out well ;)

Enough of the dress, the Qoofamily extends our heartfelt congrats to the most mushy couple in bj and wish them happily ever after..

dress up hair

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:50:00 +0000

I always wanted to have a baby girl, even before I got married. Why? So that I can doll her up..Dress her up in frilly dresses, put on girly clippies, plait her hair etc.. I have a recent addiction - source for pretty hairbands and clippies for Meranda. Look at her and her recent hairbands. Doesn't she look sweet?
..i'm such a vain mummy..

8th day in singapore

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:42:00 +0000

I'm now in singapore,at Dale's apartment. This is my 8th day, left 2 more days before we go back to china land.

Past few days had been super busy and 'miserable' having no ayi to help me take care of my 2 kids.( I'm already so used to such life,,help!) Got to literally beg parents for help, take turns with bernard on who to take care of them. Life really changes after motherhood. You do not have your own life, your life belongs to your children. Schedule evolves around them, and no leisure coffee breaks and shopping with gfs...

but hey! I'm Not really complaining..despite all these, they are still my #1 and I still love them dearly.;)

Since i'm in SG now, shall make use of the chance to do as much blogging as possible,before I return back to city of banned websites..

Free Drink

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:42:00 +0000

i meet alot of funny people everyday.

Today a man pop by our leasing office.
He is dressed in suit and told me he is here for interview at the company besides us.
(That's none of my busines right?)

He:"你好，我有点口渴，你们这里有没有一些水给我喝？"(I'm thirsty, Do u have water for me?)
Hey! This is a leasing office, does it look like a restaurant to you?

Me: "对不起，我们这里没有提供这种服务"(We don't provide such service)

He:"这水可以喝？" (Can I drink this water? ) He points at the water cooler behind me

Me:"可是我没有杯子给你！"(I don't have paper cups for you!)

He went directly to the water cooler, grab a 'empty but stained' bottle found besides the cooler, pours some water and walk off! OMG,,such people actually exists , just walk into office and grab some free drinks!

5 minutes later, he came back.

He:"小姐，这瓶子之前是装了什么东西？是消毒的？" (What does this bottle contain previously? Is it some detergent?)
Goodness! I think he is going to get poisoned and I'm Not going to be responsible for that.

Me:"我不知道，我没有叫你喝，谁叫你随便拿别人家的水来喝？"
（I have no idea. I never ask you to drink. Who ask you to anyhow drink our water with this bottle?)

He put the bottle back besides the water cooler, and walk off...

*Sigh*, wierd man.

check out the rest of the Windows Live™. More than mail–Windows Live™ goes way beyond your inbox. More than messages

Family Day

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:31:00 +0000

7th sept:
it's nokia's family day.
When I was young,,I used to hate family days, thinking that such events are boring, host silly games and are packed with boring people who have no dates on weekends etc.
Now, i am a mom of two, i actually find such events fun and am impressed at how the whole event is so well-organized with huge turnout.
The only disgusting part is the huge crowd rudely shoving through the buffet table, and piling up heaps of food on their plates. Well, some manners can never be changed.
Anyway, i will say it is a success and thumbs up to the committee.

Meranda is all dressed up cos she knows daddy is going to show her off to his colleagues

Here is our new friend

Grandma is tired after shoving through the buffet table to grab more food for the kids

Ms Ceramics

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:28:00 +0000

6th sept : we had a potluck cum birthday celebration for stella..As it shall be her last birthday before motherhood..
we decided to make it memorable and invited tons of good friends to our humble house..Families with kids, preggies, newly weds , happy singles etc..
beeleng brought along a guest from NewYork,,and it turns out that she is my long distant relative!!!

can u imagine we have not seen others for almost 20 ++ years but she can still recognize me?
err..u mean I still looked the same as before?? lucky my mum was here to verify that she is really my aunt..

so, who is this lady? someone whom my mum sings praises of for the past few years..
says she is very capable, was intereviewed by Straits Times for her outstanding pottery works in new york,
has strong academic background(she has a phd degree..) etc etc..
Finally I get to meet this mysterious aunt. It's really such a small small world to bump into each other at a foreign land.

As a scientist-turn-artist, she taught me one thing . Never think you do not have a talent for certain things, you just need to discover yourself.

Anyway, here is her blog about ceramics.. i know nothing about such stuff but i believe her works must be good..just look at her numerous awards..
http://www.ceramicus.com

Finally...

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:40:00 +0000

I simply do not understand why blogspot, facebook is banned from access in china,
This makes me feel so isolated from the rest of the world. My friends don't know if i'm still kicking alive, I can't update my blog properly,
be it my business or personal blog. my blog has zero postings for more than a month, which gradually make my friends in SG lose interest in
reading it , thinking veron's life is getting more boring..
so when I learnt from stella last saturday about a new method to blog, I was thrilled! Finally..
I shall now slowly update what has been going on in my life for the past XX weeks...(if whoever is still keen to know)

Centro vs Xiu

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:43:00 +0000

I love Centro. This place reminds me of Posh Bar @ Fullerton Hotel (Is it still there?). It is a good place for after work drinks, a place to admire beautiful well dressed girls, to observe how the Laowai picks up the Chinese girls, a place where chambers hold their regular networking events...

Friday was usually packed, but last Friday was a disappointment with empty seats around.
On Tuesday, I was there again with my colleagues. Again, half filled. I ordered my favourite drink – Che. (Centro offered the best cocktails in bj!), and chit chat with our customer(a Malaysian boy who is 10 years old than me. Damn! i’m so old). Business is really badly hit by Xiu – the latest IN place for expatriates, the rich, the beautiful. I joined Evelyn at Xiu for our ladies night.
I realized my alcohol intake really deteriorates . I only had a glass of strawberry daiquiri and I was blur the next day. *sigh*

Well,, i believe Centro's business will pick up eventually. Nobody is going to dance at the rooftop bar at Xiu during Winter. Anyway, I will continue patronize Centro, since it is a stone away from my office.

Boating @ Chaoyang Park

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:20:00 +0000

Highly recommend this weekend activity during Summer. LeLe really enjoys being Caption Cook.

Here is my dad and 2nd uncle.

Meranda又跟老爸撒娇

13th Aug

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:16:00 +0000

Birthday Pix@BC

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Preparing for Baby Meranda's Birthday party

noreply@blogger.com (QooFamily Blog) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:04:00 +0000

Days before Meranda’s Birthday bash, I was having unnerving stress over the whole thing.

What type of cake should I get? Where do I cater the food? Do I get enough balloons? Will my guests enjoy the party? Will Meranda know it’s her party?

We decided to host a simple hello kitty theme party at our apartment yesterday(9th Aug- Singapore national day).

It is difficult to get professionals that specializes in children party. Everything got to DIY, from decoration to catering. I searched for party ideas, design the poster, and decide on the menu....

I never slept well the night before, keep thinking there is something missing..I woke up early in the morning at 6am to decor the house,prepare the food, blow the balloons etc..

At 11am , the cake arrived. It is a total DISAPPOINTMENT!! It is not what I expected of! The “hello kitty “looks old, sad and ugly! And the nose is not round! ;( It is definitely NOT Hello Kitty, It is just a Cat! DAMN IT!! Can never trust the local standard for a proper cake! Very upset about it...

Besides the disappointing cake, everything went on smoothly. Our friends enjoy the party, or at least we enjoy their company. The kids have fun with the toys. Most importantly, Meranda enjoyed playing with uncles, aunties and her 小朋友

Thank you my friends for attending Meranda's party and also your little gifts. Meranda gives u a big hug and kiss!

p/s : Will post the pictures tomorrow