Family Activities During the School Holidays

It has been a long month full of activities since November 22 when we took off for the East Coast. After coming home from Tanjung Jara and Dungun, we have had a couple of days free in between family visits, boys at camp and year end holiday down south (Muar and Singapore). The activities have left me so tired as I have not been sleeping well the last few weeks.

Having said that, we all had a wonderful time with family. For Jordan and Johan, it is new found friends at the Youth Camp.

Down south in Muar, we spent 2 nights with Father (Grandpa) and visited nephew John's fish farm to get 2 nice patin fish. Mila cooked 1 (2 kilos cut into slices) half in masak lemak and half in masak asam. It was so yummy the boys kept asking for more and more. Of course, it was Winter Solcetice Festival, so I made some thong ren (saw ngee) for Father and the boys.

After 2 nights in Muar, we departed for Singapore on the 23rd. We got into Singapore after a long wait at the Singapore Immigration (had to stop the car for 20 minutes as all came to a complete stop entering the island). We headed for Auntie Lucy's immediately, found our way to Jalan Redop, and brought her out for lunch. Then we headed for Uncle Lee's at Serangoon North to spend a night. The boys dived straight onto the laptops after saying hi to Benny who is a Warcraft fan. We all ate at home and squeezed into Sarah's little room for the night.

On Christmas eve, we went out for breakfast, went to a new shopping Mall NEXX for a walkabout and lunch, then made our way to Kembangan to spend Christmas with Derrick's uncle's family. George and Gwen were wonderful hosts and the boys had a fine time with their young uncles and auntie (Gavin, Gabrina and Gareth). The highlight of the visit was Christmas eve dinner, prepared by the talented Gwen. We had turkey, ham, mac and cheese, potato salad, salad and smoked salmon. Then it was opening presents time! The boys got lots of Chocs and biscuits.

Went to church on Christmas morning and the boys did behave themselves rather well for the hour in mass. We visited Gwen's mom in the afternoon at Mt Sinai. This classical lady is so humble in her fine home. She is truly a wonderful person with lots of wisdom to share.

On Boxing Day, I went to church with George and Gwen (a 2nd time in a row). After breakfast, we all went to Sungei Buloh Wetlands for a walk. This wetlands is close by to Kranji and directly opposite Johor Baru. We saw lots of monitor lizards, migratory birds and spiders amidst the swampy land. Late lunch was Ampang Yong Tau Foo with chicken rice. Then a bit of shopping at a closeby mall.

Dinner was an other course of dishes prepared by Gwen. They had invited Choo's family as well as George's foster family. There were some 20 over people in the house.

On Monday, our last day in Singapore, we went to Woodlands to look at food suppliers which Gwen told us about. We bought ham, salami, smoked salmon, sweet meat, brownies, etc. to bring back home. We left Singapore at about 2, got in a jam at the causeway on the way in to JB. Then it was all the way back to Muar for another night with Father. We had to make this trip as we needed to collect our frozen fish from Parit Jawa before Christmas. It was nice to spend another night with Father. We are planning to bring him to Singapore during the coming CNY.

And yesterday, we left Muar at 10.30 after breakfast, got to Catholic High to get Jordan's uniform, bought him his shorts from Professor and came home to home sweet home. We unloaded, put the clothes to wash, and went over to Marg's place to put some stuff in her freezer.

Got back home at 5 to finally shower and rest. By now, I had a fever and body aches...