CAT Patrol

For the 2nd night in a row, the neighbourhood cat came by the gate and remained at the driveway, guarding the cars. It happily purrs away whenever anyone came by. Daughter #1 had a good conversation with it, each MEOWing away. (Didn't know that she had mastered a 2nd language whilst in Aussieland).
As this is being written, the little kitty place itself between the two cars making sure no one drives it away. Hopefully, this tame looking animal is also a KINGFISHER Killer !!!!

Traditional X'Mas Day outing

We have been doing these for years. It the usual visit to our God-daughter's place followed by our God-parents place. With Richard & Julie moving closer to Novena, hopping from their place to the Lau's resident was much simplier. With college/classmates from CJC, the 6 families have traditionally met every X'mas day for dinner since the kids were young. Getting X'mas gifts for all of them then, was really a major exercise.
Now, all 16 of them are in their teens and X'mas gifts are no longer the SOP for the get-together. The snap-shot of 6 boys + 10 girls was taken at the dining area ... both for head-count and face recognition. The PHUA Siblings (Michelle, Amanda & Matthew) with the TEOs (Sarah-Marie, Aaron-James & Clarissa-Anne) met up once again and the shot by the Christmas Tree ...sealed the day's event, before we left for our Godparents's place.
Finally, we also had our annual X'mas Day family photo, with a borrowed tree .... but the with the same X'Mas spirit.

X'Mas Lunch 2011

The annual Tjoeng Family X'mas gathering commenced with a heavy downpour. That kind of cooled the day. With a nice gentle breeze blowing through the house, the food was quickly consumed before it got cold too quickly. Aside from the usual excitement of gift distribution from under the tree, it was simplified with a little "action item" by each of the "cousins" before it was dished out.
The annual photo was also a little easier with the split level dinning/living area. MERRY X'MAS everyone !!!

Its a BIRD !!!

After weeks of "missing fishes" decided to rig-up a net over my little garden pond to temporarily protect the remaining fishes from some pesky kingfishers that have been helping themselves to free breakfast, lunch and dinner. Came back today to find a young kingfisher, all tangled up by the net. Had to cut the net to dislodge it before bringing it to the neighbourhood bird shop @ Serangoon North as the Bird Park didn't want it. Fortunately, the mouse trap came in useful, to transport the feathered intruder to the bird shop. Since, its in the X'mas period, brought the bird to the nearby bird shop (No !!. It was not gift wrapped nor tied with ribbons !!!) where they will find a new home for it. According to the bird shop, its a "Collared Kingfisher", but a quick search via Goggle seem to suggest that its a "Common Kingfisher". Quite an action packed week !!!

A STAR, a star !!

After seeing it at IKEA and not finding it there, the search was on for the STAR. Finally found it @ Hougang Mall. With a re-cycle wire, a bulb holder and a much "dislked" LED orange bulb, the lighted STAR found its place in front of the house, overseeing the little fish pond. "LET THERE BE LIGHT !!!

Itsy Bitsy Spider

New foreign talent found @ my pond .... a rather hardworking Itsy Bitsy Spider has not only moved in to the neighborhood but has also brought its entire kampong along, each constructing their own little webs among the reeds. Occasional visitors/tourists (some without immigration clearance !!!) such as the dragonflies, grasshoppers and (the latest), a kingfisher also popped by !!! No real heartaches with the insects but that pesky kingfisher need to be arrested !!
Already having some great ideas on how to "sentence" that kingfisher.

Man "hunted"

It was supposed to be dinner but the hint hint was to have dinner in town. Before knowing it, we were already at Abercrombie & Fitch. Mum & daughter in line for a photo-shoot with "some" dashing topless guy. In the line were some 90% of "women" of various ages, all looking forward to the photo-shoot !! It was really "mind over matter". If HE does not mind, it does not matter !!

She zzzzzz !!!

From young, whenever "she" says that she is sleepy, believe her .... for within the next few minutes, she will just fall into dreamland. As a baby, she sleeps throughout the night, without having to wake up for a midnight feed. She can sleep in supermarket trolley, at the sofa, by the pool, in the car .... etc. (Really, user friendly !!!) Now, 17 years later .... .... she still sleeps wherever she likes and in any position. Here's the latest. Wonder if she was praying before she zzzzzz !!! Amen !!! ....

.... there's more !!! It gets better all the time.

Yeap .!!! This one, "style ada !!!" This was the scene two days after the above shot and it gets better by the day. Legs up on the bed but body remains on the floor. Handphone in hand, in case of urgent call. Not sure if this was the way she cleans her room but that patch where she slept on, certainly looks cleaner after her "nap". Probably, this is one sure way to get blood to the head !!! Way to go !!!