Your first violin performance

Dearest Phoebe,

You had your first group violin performance at the Arts House in Parliament on 26 Nov. Although the performance was less than ten minutes, we were really proud of you and seeing your little confidence manifested on stage. I was particularly touched as it has been a roller coaster ride guiding you in this instrument since you were 3 year-old. You started from showing tinge of enthusiasm, to protesting when going for violin classes and now you are at a stage where we see you growing with the instrument. No longer do we need to bribe you to practise daily and at times, you would improvise certain pieces yourself, bringing about joy and laughter to us. Daddy and I hope that you would continue to play the violin for many more years to come. There was this quote "Music is the vernacular of the human soul". Even though it is not our aspiration for you to be a professional violinist some day, we do wish for the day when we could see you picking up the violin and perform for those who seek comfort or solace in music.

Luv,
Mummy

Loving Sydney 2010 ( 30 Nov - 6 Dec)

Dearest Phoebe,

As 2010 comes to an end, we decided to treat ourselves to another family holiday. This time, we went on a package tour to Sydney. It was probably one of our most relaxing and enjoyable holiday so far. We love the fact that we did not have to spend much time navigating this time round and we had fantastic tour mates in our group. It was also an educational trip, visiting the reptile park, shark and ray centre, and coming up close and personal to a vineyard and understand how wine is being brewed. We saw how you have become more independent as you bravely followed the sand dunes instructor to learn the technique of sand boarding.

As this was your first time travelling with a group, you enjoyed their company alot and on our free days when we ventured in the city on our own, you often asked us where they were etc. One of the families that we met who left a deep impression on us would be Mr and Mrs Lam, an elderly retired couple. Mr and Mrs Lam have only one grown-up daughter and Daddy and Mummy can't help but think of how the day will come when our overseas holidays would be without you as you pursue your career or have your own family. Daddy chatted with them and on our last day, Mr Lam told you:"You are very lucky; your daddy is very knowledgeable and he can pass on his knowledge to you," Somehow those words are stuck in my head and I really hope with your inquisitive nature, you will continue to deepen your wealth of knowledge, not just from Daddy but people around you.

Luv,
Mummy

Love beyond logic

Dearest Phoebe,

It's been a while since we last wrote. To put things in perspective, we are approaching the tail end of 2010, usually that time of the year when people wrap things up and plan for the coming one.

Next year will be a year of more changes, we may know which primary school you would be attending or rather where we will stand a better chance in and moving to a new home after settling in to our current one for almost 1.5 years. 2010 will probably be remembered as a year fraught with uncertainities and surprises.

There are furtive whispers of a double recession and a coming General Election for our country. And this brings to mind a sad tragedy that occurred being in the untimely death if e wife of our Minister Mentor Lee. Her name is Kwa Geok Choo and she was fondly remembered by her daughter who is a highly trained neurologist.
She wrote that " The mother- daughter bond is too strong and it goes beyond logic." I read that article and I re-read it, hoping to find some deeper understanding of that bond she mentioned.

It's definitely beyond logic but it's definitely not complex. It's just love.


Be good and smile pretty,
Daddy Dearest.

Tokyo Dreaming 2010

Dearest Phoebe,

It was yet another beautiful holiday for us, albeit the cool and rainy weather in Spring Tokyo. Mummy had never expected the weather to be this cold during spring time. Some days it was as cold as two degrees. However, it was a blessing in disguise as we managed to catch sakura in Hakone and you had fun playing with snow in Mount Fuji.

During the 6D4N stay in Tokyo, we had a whale of time and i think you loved the amusement centres the most. Almost everyday, you would ask to go to the amusement centre at Ikebukuro. Compared to our last trip in Hong Kong, you definitely ate more in Tokyo as you love the Japanese noodles and your favourite ebi fry. At Tokyo disneyland, we waited almost two hours to have a photography taken with Mickey Mouse but I think the wait was worth it. We also bought you a chocolate ice-cream, bucket of popcorn and a helium balloon there too,

The trip seemed to have ended a bit too soon, and it almost felt like a dream. Mummy and Daddy always wonder how much of these holidays would you remember when you grow up. Well, even if you don't, we are just glad these trips have formed part of your beautiful childhood which we just want you to have. This is probably what keep us going everyday.

Luv,
Mummy

Me and My Painting

Dearest Phoebe,

This was a photo of you taken at an ice-cream joint after your first lesson at the Artboot Camp. We love the colourful painting you did and how you proudly showed it to us at the end of your lesson.

Mummy was glad you finally decided to return to Art lessons after we stopped your art class at LPN for over three months. Somehow, we trust and allow you to make certain decisions with regards to your enrichment. So when you decided to start your art classes again, Mummy immediately looked around for such lessons for you, with the help of Auntie Michelle of course :-}

Have fun painting my dear.

Luv,
Mummy

Look of Contentment

Dearest Phoebe,

Mummy likes this photo of you taken at a restaurant at Liang Seah street. You love the noodles there as well as the Lu-Rou.

Most importantly, you look very contented in this photo, not just because of the food, but we just brought you to your favourite Art Friend shop at Brash Basah Complex. You are like the little artist, busying yourself with choosing the art materials that you need and asking about the difference between poster paint and acrylic. Silly girl :-)

By the way, sitting with you is your "Mei-Mei" whom your bring along now wherever you go.

Have fun and smile pretty always.

Luv,
Mummy.

Little Girl at the Little Gym

Dearest Phoebe,

This is probably the best enrichment that we have signed you up for. Your laughter and your exuberance at each little gym lesson never fail to put a smile on our face. And seeing how much you enjoy the class makes us feel it's money well-spent and we hope you will continue to increase your confidence level and agility through such gym classes.

Luv you,
Mummy.

Me at Max Brenner

Dearest Phoebe,

by the look of your expression, there is no doubt you really love your chocolate drink at max brenner@esplanade.

Luv,
mummy

Our Little Girl at 3.5

Dearest Phoebe,

We love this photo of you taken at the HK hotel. You are not very photogenic but somehow this photo brings out your features :-))

By the way, you don't like it when we call you our little girl. And even though your birthday is still six months away, you like to tell people you are already four years old!

Looks like you can't wait to grow up!

Luv,
mummy.

HongKong (Jan 2010)

Dearest Phoebe,

We kicked off the year 2010 with the "coolest" holiday in HongKong. Frankly, Mummy was rather apprehensive prior to the trip as we never felt HK was a place for family travel especially with young kids. However, it turned out that the cool weather and the festive season made it the perfect holiday destination for us.

A few interesting incidents happened during this trip: Most would have expected HK to be the place where there would be no dietary issues since there is a deluge of 'Cha-Chan-Ting'. But this didn't apply to our little girl whose diet depends alot on japanese steamed-egg and western sausages especially when eating-out. Hence, on that evening, we braved through the chilling streets of HK in our windbreaker to look for your chawanmushi. And the funny thing is the Jap restaurants in HK didn't seem to know how to whip up the chawanmushi dish and we ended up with a sausage for you from 7-11 and that was almost 10.30pm by then!

While at Disneyland, Daddy was very sweet; he actually wanted to surprise you with a pooh-bear helium-filled balloon. Before he could do that, we were out from the store and we let you chose the balloon you like. Naturally you chose the pooh bear balloon. Unfortunately, we could not bring back the balloon to Singapore and we gave you a choice of releasing the balloon on our last day or deflate it. Even though you chose the former and was happily holding it with you on our last day, the balloon flew off as the string went loose. It was a pity as we would love to see you release it yourself.

Throughout this trip, you were carrying with you your pooh bear soft toy which you brought from home. You were carrying "her" and according to you, the pooh bear is your little sister and she is real! By the way, at our last Perth trip, you brought along another pooh bear soft toy too. Looks like this is your SOP for every holiday to bring a soft toy with you.

On our last day, we had breakfast with Disney Characters at the Enchanted Gardens restaurant.. Though very pricey, the experience was worth it. Like Eric Carle's Hungry Cateprillar, you gulped down two bowls of cereal, one glass of skim milk, one sausage, one french toast and one hash brown. Hours before our flight, you were so reluctant to go back to Singapore that you requested to visit Disneyland for a quick stopover. Needless to say, we obliged even though it was raining.

Being a full-time working mum, holidays like this really bring us closer together. Each time we see the smile on your face and your laughter, we know it is you that will make all our holiday destinations so special and so memorable.

Luv you,
Mummy.

Up

Dearest Phoebe,


this is a photo we took when you were a toddler at the tender age of three and a half years. You were attempting to fly the balloon like a kite just a stone's throw from the main entrance of Disneyland Hong Kong. It was our second overseas trip in early Jan 2010. You took a liking to balloons, especially those helium filled ones and kites. The gist of the story behind this picture is probably a reminder to you to remain grounded but at the same time, to aim for the sky.

Phoebe, there will be times when you feel lonely and isolated, this is especially so as you are an only child. I hope you can find strength, courage and love from the sweet memories of your childhood. And if the daily grind of life really gets you down on some days; please, just look up!!!

PS: We love you a gazillion times as high as the balloon can fly! 8-)


Be good and smile pretty,
Daddy Dearest