The world's two biggest brats were at my dive center today while waiting for their older sister to complete her final exam.  They were running rampant. 

 

They walked to the back to play with the dive gear that's stored there.  They took my magazines off the shelves and didn't replace a single one.  They ripped a page out of one of them, for crying out loud, because they liked the picture.  They played with my fish puzzles that are meant to be for display.  They broke my plastic ruler because they were using it to shoot bits of paper at each other.  They used my cushions to have a pillow fight and knocked my brochure stand off the display shelf.

 

I was ready to call in the SWAT team.  Or chuck them out of my first floor window into oncoming traffic on the street below.

 

I told them nicely once.  I told them nicely twice.  Then I really surprised myself by telling them nicely for a THIRD time.

 

And then I told the sister to keep them under control.

 

She couldn't.

 

I sent her home in the middle of her written exam with the two monsters, and told her she can make another appointment with me to complete her final exam.  And I told her that if she brought her two brothers back the next time, I would not open the door to let them into my dive center.

 

I hope she goes home and complains to her mother because there are some things I would really like to say to the mother.

 

 

 

 

My sister left and took with her both the Prince and the Princeling last Monday night - sad. 

 

I miss the Prince's spontaneous hugs and impulsive kisses and cheeky grins and impish glances - him calling out "Tai Yee!!" and our chats at night during his bath time.  

 

I miss the Princeling's chuckles and gurgles and smell, and how he always has a smile for me and the way he falls asleep in my arms with his chubby fingers still holding on to my hair or t-shirt.

 

But while I miss them tremendously, I don't have much time to brood about it.  I am finishing off some Open Water students (oooh, somehow that didn't quite come out right - infact, it sounds rather mafia-ish!) who need to complete their training before our December trip to SWV.  I've had bunches of fun with them, they're such a blast.

 

And then there are Advanced students too - another great group of people - and I have had to get their theory discussions over and done with before the trip as well.

 

Then there were some issues with the government permit to dive Sipadan - and we've had last minute additions to the group, which meant some shuffling on my part in terms of room arrangements and dive logistics - and so now our December trip consists of 28 pax!!  3 instructors though.

 

But I'm psyched about this trip.  Of course I can't wait to get back to my hometown that's SWV, so that's one of the things that I'm looking forward to.  But also because I think this is going to be a great group to take, social-wise.  The demographics all kinda melt together and it's wonderful when that happens because then we can entertain each other and I don't have to worry about how everyone is going to get along with each other.

 

It'll be a blast!  Can't wait!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Took the kids to the Butterfly Park today.  They've raised the entrance fees, so for adults, it is now a whopping RM18!!  Which was a bit of a rip off, but hey, the kids had a blast, so it was worth it, in that sense.

 

 

It was a rather pleasing, green environment, which was a change from the shopping centers and skyscrapers of KL city.  If I can't be by the ocean, then green is the next best thing!

 

 

 

And there were a lot of different butterflies in a myriad of colours and sizes ...

 

 

My sister's comment was - "a bit of a change from your underwater pictures, isn't it?" ...

 

Some were even tame and friendly enough to come and sit on you ...

 

 

There are also turtles ...

 

 

And fish ponds scattered throughout with some huge-ass fish in them ...

 

 

My only grouse then is that the place is terribly disabled-unfriendly.  There were loads of steep, narrow staircases, no ramps for wheelchair access, and the paths within the park itself are narrow and made of stone and cobbles.  It was tough going for us because of the Princeling's stroller - which is only less than half the size of a regular wheelchair - so I would imagine it would be close to impossible for the disabled to visit the park.

 

A bit of a shame, really.  Hopefully the relevant authorities will do something about it.

 

All in all, quite a fun way to spend a couple of hours!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My filmstar auntie bought us lunch today at Hanazen, which is a really yummy Japanese restaurant in Jaya One.

 

 

We shared a crab salad - tres delicious!  It had chunks of fresh, succulent crab in it - as well as tomatoes, lettuce, some caviar, onions - and it had what tasted like a sesame seed olive oil thing drizzled over it.  Very tasty indeed!

 

 

Then we had the usual teppanyaki sets - beef, salmon, chicken ...

 

 

We had a beef roll wrapped around straw mushroom thingy, smothered in fried garlic, which was divine as well, though the beef was a little on the tough side ...

 

 

And we had fried rice ...

 

 

And fried veges ...

 

 

And steamed egg custard ...

 

 

Mustn't forget the sashimi ...

 

 

So here we are, stuffed to the brim ...

 

 

And what do we do after lunch?!

 

Buy the Prince an ice cream from Secret Recipe, and then pop over to Starbucks for cookies, eclair and coffee!!

 

Gluttony is a sin ... and penance is to go for a 5 km run on the treadmill to redeem yourself!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mel went to collect her UPSR exam results today ... I'm not sure who was more nervous - Mel, my mom or me!!

 

In any case, we arrived at her school - some parents and kids were already there - the results were supposed to be out at 11am.  At 11:15 am, we were told there would be a slight delay.  Nonetheless, you could sense the anticipation in the air.  There were teachers hanging around.  There were also some secondary school students there - to give moral support, I assume.  Talk about school spirit!

 

Then her principal walks in.  There is a heightened sense of excitement in the air when the students see him.  He announces that the UPSR results for 2008 surpassed that of 2007 - the average overall scores were better, there were more students who scored 4 and 5 A's.  The parents and students cheer and applaud when they hear this.

 

Then some teachers walk in with the envelopes containing the individual results.  The students were told to queue up at the desks with their classrooms labelled on it to collect their envelopes.

 

There were shrieks of delight as students opened their envelopes.  Kids were hugging each other.  Parents were hugging their kids.  There were tears.  Some of joy - some of relief that it's finally all over - perhaps some of disappointment even.

 

And then there's Mel.  I was sitting with my sister, and Mel comes up, grinning away.  We ask her together ... how did you do, Mel??  And Mel's answer was ... would you believe it ... "I don't know how to see!!!!" ...

 

So my sis and I all but snatched the envelope away from her - and Mel's friend was there as well, trying to help her read her results - and Mel pulled out her school leaving certificate, and a progress report, and a testimonial ... then finally this white sheet of paper from the Ministry of Education ...

 

 

She scored straight A's!!

 

More shrieks of delight .. teachers were congratulating the students ... more hugs ...

 

It was very very chaotic, but a fantastic moment.  Mel worked hard, and she really deserves these results.

 

 

Yay Mel!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

After observing my sister with the Prince and the Princeling for the last two days, I have to admit that she is very much like my Saint Mom.  Motherhood comes so naturally to her.  Firstly, travelling hundreds of kilometers with a three year old and a three month old in tow is an amazing feat on its own accord.  Secondly, dividing your time between the two of them, with their individual needs, is no joke.  She is so nurturing, knowing instinctively when to say the right thing, how to do the right thing - at all the right times - so that neither child feels neglected or left out.

 

Mel woke me up at 4:30am this morning with a stomachache.  I am not the type of mom who is instantly alert when her child needs her - particularly between the times of 1am and 6am.  I am more the type who then tries to deal with whatever issues the child has, whether a really bad nightmare, or just wanting a cuddle, or - as in Mel's case last night - feeling unwell - in a hazy twilight zone-ish state of mind.  My mom and my sister would be in instant combat mode, and would know instinctively what to do to appease the child.

 

Motherhood does not come naturally to me.  I am not naturally selfless, giving, sacrificial. 

 

Mother's Day was created for people like my mom and my sister.

 

BUT .. I will say this much ... I ADORE the Prince more than ever ...

 

 

... and having finally met the Princeling - OH MY GOD ... he's just a bundle of chubby cuteness.  I've taken to calling him my "little no neck wombat" - because he is SO chubby that you can't see his neck ...

 

 

 

... and he's always gurgling and chuckling and being happy ... like the laughing Buddha ... infact, there are similarities ...

 

 

So I'm really enjoying their company, and the Prince's cries of 'Tai Yee', and the chuckles of the Princeling ...

 

Nothing like having the family together!  Would have been complete if only my brother-in-law had been able to take more time off work to be with us too.

 

 

 

 

The most meaningful part of a dive trip is the people you meet, the friends you make, and the relationships you build.

 

The most meaningful part of a dive is being still enough to be able to hear and understand what the ocean is trying to say to you, and the moments of acceptance by a marine animal into its personal space.

 

The most meaningful thing about reading a book is the ability to identify totally with the author, and to relate what you read to your own life experiences.

 

The most meaningful word in the English language is 'family'.  

 

The most meaningful word in Chinese is 'Tai yee' .. !

 

The most meaningful phrase ever is 'See You Soon' ... !!

 

 

 

 

 

I've just received some glorious news!!  The Prince and the Princeling are coming for a visit THIS SATURDAY NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

So please forgive me, my Advanced students, if I'm a little distracted at the class Sat morning! 

 

I am MADLY in love with the Prince - I adore him with my whole heart - and we're true soul mates like you would not believe.  When he goes "Tai Yee!", my heart melts.

 

I'm also really looking forward to meeting the Princeling for the first time.  Babies have that yummy smell of baby soap, baby powder and sweet saliva - can't wait to sniff all that!

 

So no time to brood about being back in KL and no time to withdraw from diving at SWV - they'll be here for 2 weeks, and after that, it'll almost be time for my Dec trip back to SWV ...

 

Yay!!

 

 

 

 

Mel did her 30th dive this trip, and the local divemasters celebrated her achievement with her.

 

This is her underwater photo with Rika ...

 

 

And these are her on-land pics ...

 

 

 

Well done, Mel!!!