Chinese - my archilles heel

Thank God for the person who invented handphones with Chinese characters. I sincerely thank him from the bottom of my heart ..........

Everytime Meg sits down to do her Chinese homework, I have to take my handphone with me and sit next to her. That's because there's always this every other word, I don't know how to write or a certain hanyu pinyin (similar to phonics) that I am not sure about :p

I know you guys couldn't agree more when I admitted that I am hopeless with Chinese. When I try to join a group and starts speaking in Mandarin, they will inevitably look at each other then at me, before telling me that they feel a whole lot more comfortable if I spoke in English again -_-"". (I think it was only a couple of weeks ago that Kelly just told me that!) Although I would think that my command of spoken Chinese had improved tremendously over the years (or at least that's what I like to think :p).

So today while reviewing Meg's homework, I told her that 1 character and 1 hanyu pinyin was wrong. She adamantly insisted that she's right and told me to check my phone instead. And if I am wrong, she scores 2 points against me. And guess what ........ she's right on both counts! GEEZ .............

I told her that give it a while more and we would have to trade places. She should be the one coaching me instead. Meg was highly amused when she heard this and nonetheless brightened by this prospect :D

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

SYNOPSIS
Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate - a life and a role that she has never questioned… until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister - and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable… a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life… even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less?




MY RATING (4 OUT OF 5 STARS)
This book is just so freaking sad! I think I had never cried like that for a book or a film in a long time.

The thing I love about Jodi Picoult is that her novels are mostly about some of the most controversial topics in life. The whites, the greys and the blacks; I would debate within myself and then try decide which is which. Most of my attempts are usually futile though.

The book starts a tad too slowly for my liking but it builds up towards the end and more than makes up for it. The twist at the end was totally unexpected and I applaud her for it. Gosh ..... the ending had me gutted. It brought heart-wrenching sobs from me as I devoured the last few chapters. I wish I had a little more time to cry for the characters after I put down the book but a pity, situation doesn't allow. How I wish at times, I can dictate my own timing, live life at a leisurely pace and pause when I want to. *wistful* (oops, going out of point here.)

A definite tear jerker.

Happy Birthday Ju!

It's Juliana's actual birthday today. And I wish this precious darling friend of mine, a most wonderful birthday and a beautiful life ahead! *muacks*

Taken at Ju's chalet last weekend - stole this pic from Andrew's blog as I didn't bring my cam.

Weekend getaway

These photos had been with me for a while now but as usual I can never blog as fast as the speed my life is going :p

Brought Liz, Jon & Meg out on 1 of the weekends in March. All deeply engrossed in the DS Lite.

Prawn fishing in Pasir Ris Farmway

All got terribly bored as no one caught anything. At the end of it, we got only 3 prawns. 1 courtesy of Meg & 2 from me! (Meg caught the 1st one.) But we gave it away cos it's kinda pathetic bringing home only 3. We swear never to go back again & stick out our usual fishing haunt instead. To make up for it, we brought them to Timezone (& we know it couldn't go wrong there :p) But all in all, it was a great day & I'm looking forward to the next one as much as Meg is!

Decided on an impromptu weekend getaway in Batam with my darlings in end of March. Disappointed that Ju couldn't make it though.

Thanks to Kelly's connections, we paid minimal for this trip.

Our 1st stopover in Batam - A&W! And guess what our last meal in Batam is? A&W again of course!

Next stop (You won't believe it) - Hypermart! Wahahaha! We bought many toiletries to cart back to Singapore because it's too cheap to resist! Cheapos! :p

Took a tour around the largest temple in Batam. I wrapped my most trusted, never-leave-home-without-it accessory (shawl/ blanket/ sarong) around me cos I felt inappropriate to be in a temple with a pair of shorts.

Headed for seafood at the famous Golden Prawn Restaurant

Gorgeous babes :D

A guy was really nice & offered to take a pic for all of us without us even asking

Our hotel - Pacific Palace. It's very new & some areas are still under renovation. You can't see it from here but the exterior is shaped like a cruise.

The grand interior

All of us still full of energy at the end of the day even after a full day of shopping & massages. I think all of us makes very good travelling companions to each other. We always look out for each other & gives in to one another. And the whole trip was about having good fun! (so unlike my other trip :p) I cherish Mar & Kelly much more after this trip & not forgetting Ed who was such a great travelling mate as well :)

Breakfast, the next morning

So early & all already making funny faces

Bless Kelly for taking care of Meg this entire trip. She single-handedly brought Meg to the pool so that I have a chance to get ready & give Ken some time to rest.

Mr & Mrs Peck

Trust Meg to come up with all kinds of ideas when taking a photo

Hee~ Meg's sunglasses with Little Mermaid at the side

Busy cam whoring

While Ken chills out

Suppose to act shock but think Ken got influenced by Capt Weihao :p

Testing Meg's acting abilities - acting out the various emotions. Haha ..... she's so cute!

All of us suppose to take an angry shot.

But erm ...... Edmund???

These babes are the closest to my heart

Waiting for the ferry back to Singapore. And I fell in love with that Elle luggage that I simply must lay hands on. Do you know we're already planning our 2nd trip? ;)

Visited Siti & her bundle of joy. Here's Liza holding on to the sweet lil' thing.

Well done, Siti my dear! My heartiest congratulations!

89 down

I have been seeing road accidents everyday for the past week and never once had I expected that my turn was coming up.

A Lexus crashed into us on the ECP after Fort Road while on our way to work this morning around 8am. And so if you were stuck in a jam there, most likely the cause was us :p

That Lexus must have been going fairly fast because we were pushed 4 car lengths ahead. Not only the rear was damaged but both sides of the car as well. The doors on the left were jammed due to the rear crushing inwards and the right banged into the side railings on the road. Poor Ken who was driving the car, felt pain in his neck and wrist. We are scheduled to consult a doctor tomorrow and I hope it's nothing too serious.

Too many accidents recently and it's real scary. So all of you out there, DRIVE SAFE!

The rear

Our ICE (in car entertainment) is most likely not salvageableLeft doors unable to open

Right banged into side railing