Its not easy being a mum, maid and musician wanna be all rolled into one. 3M. Recently I had become even more organised and efficient as ever. Ever since I was in my pre-teens may be from 7 onwards I became rather conscious of TIME. I started multi-tasking so that I could DO more and play more. I am forever PLANNING my week ahead and day ahead so the less idle time is lost. I remembered I would read on the buses, usually magazines and study when I was most alert 11pm to 1am.
My family sleeps late. Anyway I felt more secure knowing my parents were home safe and sound after closing their food stall for the night. Most days they would be home around 2 am. So while studying I would pray for their safe return, the prosperity of their business and many others. In fact, I enjoyed my time with God, reading the bible and praying alongside solving math problems. Thankfully I did very well in school.
I am also a checklist person. Till this day, before i shut eye and drift into blissful sleep, I would consciously or sometimes sub consciously go through my mental checklist. Homework? check Bible? check Exercise? check Beauty? check etc. As a result,I seldom forget and yet i often finished what I planned to do efficiently with little hiccups. I am one efficient worker and I enjoyed the sense of achieving what I set out to do. Of course there are days of unexpected interruption which God allows to show me that HE is BOSS and I need to depend on him to get through the terrible chaotic messy day.
Now as a mum, i thank God for the experience in work scheduling and planning. It is why I managed to clean the house, prepare the meals, care and coach my child and yet have time for music theory, bible reading and violin practice. Now I am adding to all these my long missed French.
Someday I pray our family will live in Paris. Coincidentally Yan loves french too and had studied the language at A levels. I believe one day our family will visit Europe for a long long long vacation and best that we make it our second home country. ha
Btw, young rachel loves Ratatoullie. She is capable of pronouncing the rat.tat.too.ee so well its really French. I would prefer she study French than Mandarin as a second language. Wait a minute, we should be able to teach her some basic french ourselves. Hee
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Sunday, 26 August 2007
Finding Rest in Him
These days I am kept so busy with my ever active toddler. Yesterday I was learning to sing the Pokemon theme song for her and we were watching youtube disney cartoons for their theme songs. Her favourite is Tarzan's You'll be in my arms and all the Shrek songs while my favourite is Mulan's Reflection by Christina Aguilera. I want to sing like her!!! "who is the girl I see staring straight back at me, why is my reflection someone I don't know...."
The recent National Day Rally also made me somewhat anxious. Afterall, the CPI is the highest in past 12 years at 2.9% meaning that $ is losing value faster and the price of almost everything is getting higher at the same time. (If i am right it also means that in less than 50 years money more than halves its current value.)
The government is going to legislate rehiring older works, provided physically and mentally they still "can do" and deferring retirement age from 62 to 65 and soon probably 70 and above. In the papers today there were many 100+ super centenarians, OMG there are more than 500 of them in this tiny nation. GOSH!!! Pls God DON"T let me live that long. Imagine they outlived not only their savings but their children and some grandchildren.
Having left a career while pregnant at the age of 30 and having little CPF money, I kinda felt anxious. What can the measures like increasing CPF interest rate do for those that do not contribute CPF in the first place, like my dad, food seller and my hubby, freelance music teacher. Being self employed, we do not have anything to draw down at 62 let alone defer drawing down.
With the current property speculation fever and the super hike in rental, one can only trust God for his super abundant blessings. Yes, despite all these increasing costs of living, more ERP gantries and charges that add to taxi fare, we are learning to find REST in the Almighty God and worry not.
Yes, we believe that God will provide the next place for us complete with a music studio or two. Fully soundproof rooms that we can practise piano and violin and really sing aloud in. When we are not able GOD is more than able and nothing is impossible with him.
In You Lord Jesus, we put our trust. Thank you for your abundant blessings.
The recent National Day Rally also made me somewhat anxious. Afterall, the CPI is the highest in past 12 years at 2.9% meaning that $ is losing value faster and the price of almost everything is getting higher at the same time. (If i am right it also means that in less than 50 years money more than halves its current value.)
The government is going to legislate rehiring older works, provided physically and mentally they still "can do" and deferring retirement age from 62 to 65 and soon probably 70 and above. In the papers today there were many 100+ super centenarians, OMG there are more than 500 of them in this tiny nation. GOSH!!! Pls God DON"T let me live that long. Imagine they outlived not only their savings but their children and some grandchildren.
Having left a career while pregnant at the age of 30 and having little CPF money, I kinda felt anxious. What can the measures like increasing CPF interest rate do for those that do not contribute CPF in the first place, like my dad, food seller and my hubby, freelance music teacher. Being self employed, we do not have anything to draw down at 62 let alone defer drawing down.
With the current property speculation fever and the super hike in rental, one can only trust God for his super abundant blessings. Yes, despite all these increasing costs of living, more ERP gantries and charges that add to taxi fare, we are learning to find REST in the Almighty God and worry not.
Yes, we believe that God will provide the next place for us complete with a music studio or two. Fully soundproof rooms that we can practise piano and violin and really sing aloud in. When we are not able GOD is more than able and nothing is impossible with him.
In You Lord Jesus, we put our trust. Thank you for your abundant blessings.
Latest Wang baby
My latest niece was born last wednesday. She looked so lovely and tiny (compared to rachel at birth) and is blest with obvious double eyelids. Already with her cute high nose, I think she will be yet another beauty in the Wang family.
Come to think of it, I can still remember vividly speeding down to NUH with my mum once she received my brother's call in the early morning that his wife was in labour. BOY! We were so excited, we WAITED for the birth of my parent's FIRST grand child. After lunch at the hospital canteen, the labour was still in process. After waiting almost a whole day, finally, my super elated beaming brother was carrying my first niece, Cheryl in his arms. What a lovely baby! Now I handled a lot of new borns and toddlers in church but nothing beats carrying your own niece and the first grandchild in the family until one day you carried in your arms the infant that you had been carrying for almost 10 months (40weeks and 2 days). Your own flesh and blood. WOW
Suddenly, another 4 grand children later, the NO 1 Cheryl is going to Primary One next year! How time flies! She was a tantrum throwing toddler at my wedding and now such an obedient girl and a Big sister to Celine and she loves to play with Rachel too. Rachel looks forward to meet with her Big sister and watch VCDs together at Grandma's place almost every week.
Come to think of it, I can still remember vividly speeding down to NUH with my mum once she received my brother's call in the early morning that his wife was in labour. BOY! We were so excited, we WAITED for the birth of my parent's FIRST grand child. After lunch at the hospital canteen, the labour was still in process. After waiting almost a whole day, finally, my super elated beaming brother was carrying my first niece, Cheryl in his arms. What a lovely baby! Now I handled a lot of new borns and toddlers in church but nothing beats carrying your own niece and the first grandchild in the family until one day you carried in your arms the infant that you had been carrying for almost 10 months (40weeks and 2 days). Your own flesh and blood. WOW
Suddenly, another 4 grand children later, the NO 1 Cheryl is going to Primary One next year! How time flies! She was a tantrum throwing toddler at my wedding and now such an obedient girl and a Big sister to Celine and she loves to play with Rachel too. Rachel looks forward to meet with her Big sister and watch VCDs together at Grandma's place almost every week.
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Family Movie Affair
Just back from catching "Secret" starring Jay Chou with baby and Yan between his lessons. Well the movie isn't exactly my type being in mandarin so I was reading the English subtitles throughout while Rachel slept on my lap. Another thing was the irritating Taiwanese type of casual conversation that sounded very "duh" and gave me more goosebumps than the ghostly twist in the plot.
Kudos to Jay playing the the piano in the duel scene, as many classical tunes are now recognisable only don't ask me for the titles as yet. Unfortunately the main character was no where near good-looking or handsome and everybody looked 10-15 years too old to be in school uniform. But for a rookie film director, I must say this movie is worth watching again for the many salient details. I will get the video when it is available.
Talking about piano movies, our first was Il Mare. The spa like music actually moves me and I was watching the movie in this same Lido cinema with yan who at that time was becoming more than a close buddy. Il Mare featured an architect character with a beautiful seaside apartment and Yan studied the same subject and was soon to be working in that field upon graduation.
Unlike the many girls both in university and in church who were head over heels for him mainly because he played the piano well, I was only coincidentally an older sister in christ in the same worship ministry. We had a common friend, young Daniel who was 18 at that time and who was very briefly my pop music teacher. Well I had no budget for "real" lessons and he needed more pocket money. Hahaha. The 3 of us, Yan, Dan and me, we even recorded a song or two and submitted to the worship director. Hahaha. It was the good old days, me an older sister to the two young boys age 24 the other 18.
Both yan and I we loved foreign movies and we watched a few piano movies as well. The previous "The heart that skipped a beat" French movie was particularly inspiring as the lead actor struggles with learning classical piano when he is also a gangster. What a huge contrast when he was playing the beautiful Bach Toccata and when he was threatening overstayers in his dad's apartment with huge rats. The actor who had no music background learned to "master" the piano and I think he played so well. I am totally captivated during the movie with my itchy fingers wanting to play the same piece.........One Day!
The other more serious piano show was "The Pianist" by Adrien Brody. I loved Chopin, yes beautiful romantic chopin music like the Fantasie Impromptu and the Nocturnes, I can listen to them over and over again and again. Yes, I will play chopin one day too. However this horrible war movie was quite scary to me. Those scenes where the pianist was sick and starving and Oh boy, I was munching the yummy nachos. For a moment i lost my appetite and my ex friend ate all that remained nonchalantly. She was the type that never say NO to food, any food. Hahaha
Please someone..please make a good movie or write a good book on David Garrett. My official violin idol. A childhood tantrum got him a violin at the age of 4. Soon he was performing for presidents and governments. The German government even gave him a San Lorenzo Stradivarus dated from 1718 currently worth US$4.5 mil when he was only 12. After he graduated from the prestigious Julliard School in New York, having the privilege of being one of Itzhak Perlman's pupil, he is now performing all over the world, both classical favourites like Paganini 24 Caprices and self composed crossover pieces. And WOW, this David is a handsome, tall 1.88 ex Elite model for Armani and is only 25. I will gladly pay to see him perform in the Esplanade soon. Hopefully by then Rachel is at least 6 and can get to see him play again "live" (David is currently fully booked throughout 2008...GOSH)
Kudos to Jay playing the the piano in the duel scene, as many classical tunes are now recognisable only don't ask me for the titles as yet. Unfortunately the main character was no where near good-looking or handsome and everybody looked 10-15 years too old to be in school uniform. But for a rookie film director, I must say this movie is worth watching again for the many salient details. I will get the video when it is available.
Talking about piano movies, our first was Il Mare. The spa like music actually moves me and I was watching the movie in this same Lido cinema with yan who at that time was becoming more than a close buddy. Il Mare featured an architect character with a beautiful seaside apartment and Yan studied the same subject and was soon to be working in that field upon graduation.
Unlike the many girls both in university and in church who were head over heels for him mainly because he played the piano well, I was only coincidentally an older sister in christ in the same worship ministry. We had a common friend, young Daniel who was 18 at that time and who was very briefly my pop music teacher. Well I had no budget for "real" lessons and he needed more pocket money. Hahaha. The 3 of us, Yan, Dan and me, we even recorded a song or two and submitted to the worship director. Hahaha. It was the good old days, me an older sister to the two young boys age 24 the other 18.
Both yan and I we loved foreign movies and we watched a few piano movies as well. The previous "The heart that skipped a beat" French movie was particularly inspiring as the lead actor struggles with learning classical piano when he is also a gangster. What a huge contrast when he was playing the beautiful Bach Toccata and when he was threatening overstayers in his dad's apartment with huge rats. The actor who had no music background learned to "master" the piano and I think he played so well. I am totally captivated during the movie with my itchy fingers wanting to play the same piece.........One Day!
The other more serious piano show was "The Pianist" by Adrien Brody. I loved Chopin, yes beautiful romantic chopin music like the Fantasie Impromptu and the Nocturnes, I can listen to them over and over again and again. Yes, I will play chopin one day too. However this horrible war movie was quite scary to me. Those scenes where the pianist was sick and starving and Oh boy, I was munching the yummy nachos. For a moment i lost my appetite and my ex friend ate all that remained nonchalantly. She was the type that never say NO to food, any food. Hahaha
Please someone..please make a good movie or write a good book on David Garrett. My official violin idol. A childhood tantrum got him a violin at the age of 4. Soon he was performing for presidents and governments. The German government even gave him a San Lorenzo Stradivarus dated from 1718 currently worth US$4.5 mil when he was only 12. After he graduated from the prestigious Julliard School in New York, having the privilege of being one of Itzhak Perlman's pupil, he is now performing all over the world, both classical favourites like Paganini 24 Caprices and self composed crossover pieces. And WOW, this David is a handsome, tall 1.88 ex Elite model for Armani and is only 25. I will gladly pay to see him perform in the Esplanade soon. Hopefully by then Rachel is at least 6 and can get to see him play again "live" (David is currently fully booked throughout 2008...GOSH)
Saturday, 11 August 2007
Delays Delays Delays
I recently found out that our princess would not be eligible to attend pre-nursery until she is at least 3.5years. That means she had to be in the waiting list of this arts kindergarten along Upper East Coast Road for almost 18months until it is her turn. GOSH!!!! I cant imagine how her Pri One will be like as there is no way I will volunteer for any school. Yan prefers she attends international school where there is less academic teaching and less time wasting CCA. Already, we felt the best education is one the gives the child more time to play and learn rather than ca,sa and exams. Most of yan's students are so busy doing nonsense CCA in school that they have no time to rest let alone practice their pianos.
I was actually looking forward to Jan 2008 when I can have 4 hours a day Mon to Fri to work out in the gym, to do some serious shopping, attend make up courses and whip out a mean western meal or two. Sigh. My plans are delayed by another 6 months!!!
Music Theraphy
The good thing is I had already started violin lessons. When I do my lesson, Daddy will play with baby usually art and craft or swimming until I finish practicing soon after the lesson. At least once a week i can breathe an hour or so. Personal time is a rarity these days. In a way I was glad i did shop a lot, bought a lot and watched movies alot and travel a whole lot while i was still single.
Now that rachel is older and much more manageable, we do shop and watch movies but really it is to buy toys, play toys, get baby items, her clothes and watch movies like Shrek 3 and Mr Bean Holiday. Before our baby came along, attending classical concerts were our favourite activity. Now we attend only select concerts and spend almost half the ticket price for professional babysitting. Afterall, until she is 6, she is not allowed into the Esplanade or Victoria Concert Hall. I am so looking forward to the day she turns 6 and our family can attend a classical concert together, for the first time!!!
In the mean time till she attends pre-nursery, Rachel will be shopping, watching dvds (cartoons, piano and violin performances) and enjoying art and craft lessons including water colour painting. Plans to let her learn violin or ballet are put on the hold for the time being until she is older, may be 3-4. After all, she is still in diapers and needs at least one night feed (3-4am) a day. Going forward, she need to be weaned off the breast and had her diapers removed permanently first before any structured lessons.
The Magic Flute
I've watched most of Mozart's famous operas with my hubby and I loved the Le Nozzle De Figaro and the Magic Flute the most. So when GV is going to screen The Magic Flute by The New York Metropolitan Opera end of this month, our family was really excited. We should be able to bring our toddler along for this event since there are no "restrictions" for the Big Screen. Already Rachel can sing the "pa-pa-pa"song that Papageno and papagena sang after watching Amadeus several times with moi. Hee. This is also the song that she sometimes sings when she awaits daddy to be home from work. "pa-pa-pa"
She's cute!! Altogether Lovely!
I was actually looking forward to Jan 2008 when I can have 4 hours a day Mon to Fri to work out in the gym, to do some serious shopping, attend make up courses and whip out a mean western meal or two. Sigh. My plans are delayed by another 6 months!!!
Music Theraphy
The good thing is I had already started violin lessons. When I do my lesson, Daddy will play with baby usually art and craft or swimming until I finish practicing soon after the lesson. At least once a week i can breathe an hour or so. Personal time is a rarity these days. In a way I was glad i did shop a lot, bought a lot and watched movies alot and travel a whole lot while i was still single.
Now that rachel is older and much more manageable, we do shop and watch movies but really it is to buy toys, play toys, get baby items, her clothes and watch movies like Shrek 3 and Mr Bean Holiday. Before our baby came along, attending classical concerts were our favourite activity. Now we attend only select concerts and spend almost half the ticket price for professional babysitting. Afterall, until she is 6, she is not allowed into the Esplanade or Victoria Concert Hall. I am so looking forward to the day she turns 6 and our family can attend a classical concert together, for the first time!!!
In the mean time till she attends pre-nursery, Rachel will be shopping, watching dvds (cartoons, piano and violin performances) and enjoying art and craft lessons including water colour painting. Plans to let her learn violin or ballet are put on the hold for the time being until she is older, may be 3-4. After all, she is still in diapers and needs at least one night feed (3-4am) a day. Going forward, she need to be weaned off the breast and had her diapers removed permanently first before any structured lessons.
The Magic Flute
I've watched most of Mozart's famous operas with my hubby and I loved the Le Nozzle De Figaro and the Magic Flute the most. So when GV is going to screen The Magic Flute by The New York Metropolitan Opera end of this month, our family was really excited. We should be able to bring our toddler along for this event since there are no "restrictions" for the Big Screen. Already Rachel can sing the "pa-pa-pa"song that Papageno and papagena sang after watching Amadeus several times with moi. Hee. This is also the song that she sometimes sings when she awaits daddy to be home from work. "pa-pa-pa"
She's cute!! Altogether Lovely!
Monday, 6 August 2007
Happy, Happier and Happily Ever After
My happiness index is soaring.........
This is especially so since I bought a new violin, its German hand-made by Franz Sandner in 2004. I especially like its antique looking hand painted varnish and most importantly the mellow voice that seems to click with my heart.
Buying a violin is something totally new to me. While I did surf the net and seek the advice of my violin teacher, eventually its a matter of personal preference and of course the all limiting BUDGET. A word i did not like since my college days when i studied principles of accounting.
Every day I tried to practice on my new love. My heart actually warms to the sound!!! Come to think about it, I am quite sensory and auditory in nature. My dreams almost a daily affair since I was a kid were like movies, full colour, with sound track and of course my emotions. (my mum ever said her dreams were black and white which I cannot relate to since she watches so much colour TV.) Many a times, I remembered the tunes in my dream and would hum them while I brush my teeth when I wake. Other times, i just feel as I hear the music mostly classical orchestral or solo piano or violin and wake up with my feelings evoked!
Last night I dreamt that yan bought a small boat the type people use in lakes. In my dream, every where was flooded, and the waters the mad rushing waters were rising so high up to almost few metres. (now I am forever dreaming of being safe from floods since I was in my teens). So as I tried to seal the windows, I noticed on the left slip road cars, MPVs, being washed away by the torrential waters, somersaulting as they went. One car was turned turtled with the crank shaft so visible from the apartment window. While I feel sad that the weather was so freaky and people are really inconvenienced, I was feeling pleasantly peaceful that our family is safe and on dry ground and the head of the family had secured a rescue boat just in case. This dream spoke of God's protection and provison and peace in the midst of unexpected chaos. Thank You Jesus!
Now my life is simpler. Apart from cleaning the house, trying to cook a meal or two, teaching rachel through all sorts of play including water colour, its exercise and music and of course the usual must haves : newspapers, coffee, daily communion (communication) with my God.
I look forward to having more time to practice when Rachel attends pre-nursery next Jul. At this moment, she either imitates me on her toy violin or gets angry when I refuse to let her play mine. "exchange" She would say and when I say "next time when you're older Mummy buy you a violin, this one is too BIG for you." She would throw herself to the floor and wail. In the mean time, I appease her with highly supervised moments as she saws the long bow over my beloved violin on the bed for a few minutes. Seeing her chuckle with joy, she knows the huge difference between a toy violin, a spoilt old violin and mummy's new craze.
This is especially so since I bought a new violin, its German hand-made by Franz Sandner in 2004. I especially like its antique looking hand painted varnish and most importantly the mellow voice that seems to click with my heart.
Buying a violin is something totally new to me. While I did surf the net and seek the advice of my violin teacher, eventually its a matter of personal preference and of course the all limiting BUDGET. A word i did not like since my college days when i studied principles of accounting.
Every day I tried to practice on my new love. My heart actually warms to the sound!!! Come to think about it, I am quite sensory and auditory in nature. My dreams almost a daily affair since I was a kid were like movies, full colour, with sound track and of course my emotions. (my mum ever said her dreams were black and white which I cannot relate to since she watches so much colour TV.) Many a times, I remembered the tunes in my dream and would hum them while I brush my teeth when I wake. Other times, i just feel as I hear the music mostly classical orchestral or solo piano or violin and wake up with my feelings evoked!
Last night I dreamt that yan bought a small boat the type people use in lakes. In my dream, every where was flooded, and the waters the mad rushing waters were rising so high up to almost few metres. (now I am forever dreaming of being safe from floods since I was in my teens). So as I tried to seal the windows, I noticed on the left slip road cars, MPVs, being washed away by the torrential waters, somersaulting as they went. One car was turned turtled with the crank shaft so visible from the apartment window. While I feel sad that the weather was so freaky and people are really inconvenienced, I was feeling pleasantly peaceful that our family is safe and on dry ground and the head of the family had secured a rescue boat just in case. This dream spoke of God's protection and provison and peace in the midst of unexpected chaos. Thank You Jesus!
Now my life is simpler. Apart from cleaning the house, trying to cook a meal or two, teaching rachel through all sorts of play including water colour, its exercise and music and of course the usual must haves : newspapers, coffee, daily communion (communication) with my God.
I look forward to having more time to practice when Rachel attends pre-nursery next Jul. At this moment, she either imitates me on her toy violin or gets angry when I refuse to let her play mine. "exchange" She would say and when I say "next time when you're older Mummy buy you a violin, this one is too BIG for you." She would throw herself to the floor and wail. In the mean time, I appease her with highly supervised moments as she saws the long bow over my beloved violin on the bed for a few minutes. Seeing her chuckle with joy, she knows the huge difference between a toy violin, a spoilt old violin and mummy's new craze.
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