birthday – trippingdifferently

March 14, 2025March 14, 2025

Happenings in Feb 2025

There has been another 6 weeks of no posts on this blog… not back on usual schedule yet… LOL…

It’s been a busy February. The week after Chinese New Year was filled with packing. No, we are not moving again. Hahaha.

There was a need to rewire my mum’s flat so that we could change new water heaters (the old one in my mum’s room broke) and we decided to do a few other things as well; such as put in air-conditioning in the rooms, new kitchen lights and bathroom lights (they were just naked bulbs before), new CAT6 cables (Hubby’s request for faster internet cables and points in each room) and to finish off painting the kitchen and living room.

Initially, we were just going to live with the mess, taking refuge at my Godma’s during the day and coming back to sleep among the mess. But Hubby decided it’s best to get out completely so the Son and my mum moved to my Godma’s. Hubby, my brother and I moved to a serviced apartment for a week. It’s easier for Hubby and my brother to get to work from the serviced apartment location.

Next was the move back in and clean up. I am still slowly getting all the stuff we moved out back from storage.

Soon after all that was my mum’s and Hubby’s birthday – we had a nice celebration in a nice DimSum restaurant. Thanks to the staff at Chao Yun Xuan Dim Sum (Capitol) for their efforts in making such a lovely presentation piece for the birthday celebration.

The next weekend, the Son and Hubby were off to Japan for a ski trip – all very last minute , but they had fun, even if it was a completely new country for both of them and they had to find their way around.

My brother and I attended a career fair, both of us, looking to give our careers a little boost. It was helpful to have gone but now I need to decide what areas I wanna upskill in. I am not yet looking for a job, but since the government has given upskilling grants, I thought I should take the opportunity. Let’s see what happens.

And now here we are – the middle of March already! April is shaping up to be a busy time too… looking forward to friends from Switzerland visiting and maybe a big family get together, plus our shipment arrives (so more packing – sigh, my life for now).

Hope your days are filled with joy, even in the busyness of life.

syc

June 21, 2023

Final Teen Year…

So this was a month ago, but still relevant… in some ways, it’s good to blog about it today, which is the summer solstice and the last day of Tobias’ final exams.

Yep, a month ago he turned 19 and today he finished the last of his exams for his pre-university education.

It seems like such a long time ago that we were sending him to his first day at kindergarten and yet at the same time, the years have just flashed by. Such a clichè thing to say but nevertheless it’s true.

Are there things I wish I could go back and redo or unsay? Of course. Has it been filled with heartache and tears? Some of it. But it was also filled with joy, laughter and adventures.

In a few months, he is off to serve NS (National Service) in Singapore. A whole new chapter of his life and our journey as his parents, as a family.

I wanted to link to all the previous birthday posts but decided it was too much. So I am going to link to just this one – for his 9th birthday, 10 years ago, where I also mentioned clichè and comtemplated if I would be ready for him to venture out on his own.

I don’t know if I am 100% ready but I know it’s a great next step for him to take out into the big wide world. Are you a parent whose children have flown the nest? How was it? How did you manage the complete change in lifestyle and focus? Care to share?

Here’s a few photos from Tobias’ 19th birthday:

syc

May 31, 2022

Legally an Adult…

Well, at least in Switzerland, my boy is now considered an adult at 18 years old!

Oh my, where did the time go? 18 years ago, we welcomed this little chubby baby into our lives and what an adventure it has been. From the uncertainty of first-time parenthood to his first steps, from his first day at kindergarten to two broken arms, through the frustrations and the joys of being a family (every family has its moments), from growing pains to pride, he is now on the brim of adulthood! Wow!

He decided that for his 18th birthday party to have just a couple of friends over for some food and games. So we bought his favourite sushi and added on some KFC to make sure that hungry teenagers are well fed. Of course, the must-have red velvet cupcakes was made and consumed. Very low key but that was what he wanted.

We did break with tradition and instead of me cooking a nice dinner at home, we went out to a lovely restaurant by the river and had some lovely fish.

Sigh! My baby is now an adult. This will take time to sink in. And while I mull over that, here are a few photos…