Movie Night - with Stardust! (updated)

The Aged Ps managed to score some free tickets to 'Toy Story 3' and we're going to take Stardust along with us.  His very first picture show!

I hope he enjoys it.

I hope we enjoy it too!

I am going to bring along his milk and a few snacks, in case he starts to get loud.

(updated 10:28pm on the same day)

Well, that was AWESOME!

We were a little worried because it was a 3D movie and required glasses - and we weren't sure if Stardust would tolerate wearing the glasses for the whole film.

It turns out that the theatre had mini-glasses for little mini-people, so he was pretty chuffed that he had his own little pair and he kept them on most of the time.  In any case, the film was still 'watchable' even if he took the glasses off - it just looked a little blurry around the edges.

Here is Stardust's review of the film:
Nice movie!  It had toys - nice toys.  The truck came and went 'Thump!'.  There was a boy.  Baby picked up the toys.  Liked it.

Children's Season at the Museums

A week or so back, I wrote about visiting the National Museum and International Museum Day 2010.  Stardust and I (and the reluctant Aged Ps) did actually go to the National Museum that day, but it was crowded and noisy, so we wandered through a few exhibits and decided to call it a day.

I promised Stardust that we would visit the museum later that week so that he could really enjoy the new Children's Season exhibits. 

We went with a friend of mine and her little boy whom Stardust affectionately nicknamed 'Mr Happy'.

Mr Happy was unfortunately not so happy during our outing as he was feeling very tired (which is why he doesn't feature in any of these pictures).  After patiently struggling with him for nearly an hour, his mum wisely decided to cut our playdate short and run off home. 

I didn't really mind because Stardust was quite happy to enjoy the museum by himself.

Here he is by the giant felt wall in the lobby, playing dress-up in a chicken-insect constume (you can see that he is clutching a Thomas the Tank Engine toy which is his new best friend). 

We did not spend too long at the National Museum because there were some unfriendly children around who refused to share toys, and the 'facilitators' were too busy messing around with their antibacterial hand wipes to notice.  I left when one of them chucked a wooden block at Stardust's head and then ran crying to his mother when Stardust (quite rightly) said "NO!  Don't throw blocks!  It hurts and I don't like it!". 

I walked him round to the Art Garden at 8Q, which was four floors completely dedicated to child-centred installation art. 

It was awesome!

Stardust was very excited about the giant rabbit mascot, Walter, who was perched on top of the building.

There were lots of interactive exhibits there, but Stardust's favourite was Floribots, the robotic flower garden that responds to the 'mood' of the people in the room.  He was running around and jumping and the flowers reacted by growing and blooming.  It was really cool.

Here he is standing straight and still so that the plants will also stand straight and still.

We will definitely visit again before the end of Children's Season in July!

International Museum Day 2010

So, this Sunday (23rd May) is International Museum Day 2010 and all the museums in Singapore are having an open house!  It's a good opportunity to bring along the family and have a day out.

My dad is a big fan of museums and I have inherited his love for them.  I remember the first museum I ever really loved was the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum - just seeing the Spirit of St Louis hanging from the ceiling was enough to fuel my imagination for days.

Stardust has already been to visit the National Museum, the Peranakan Museum and the Singapore Art Museum.  It's a good way to expose him to new ideas and visual concepts, and to have a platform to teach him about art, history and culture.  My dad loves to watch Stardust's response to the exhibits and listen to his interpretation of what they represent.

I will probably bring him to the National Museum and the Singapore Art Museum this Sunday, but if we have time, we might visit the Philatelic Museum as well.

Have a great weekend!  Maybe I'll see you at the museum.

Ground control to Major Tom

The world must look really different from up there.

Swinging free

I have not seen any swings at any of the playgrounds in Singapore for a long, long time.

MDH and I think the absence of swing sets in Singapore is due to the overwhelming presence of concerned parents who view swings as the breeding ground for Broken Bones and Nosebleeds.  However, I am inclined to believe that these parents are hardly likely to bring their kids to the outdoor playground which is full of Germs and Dirt, so I'm not sure why the swings have disappeared.

I miss the swings wholeheartedly and I speak as one who has received a broken arm as result of a fall from a swing set which I was using in a non-orthodox manner (i.e. serve me right).

At this playground that we visited in Mollymook, there was not only a swing set for big kids and tiny kids (a seat with a belt - Stardust used it quite safely, as you can see in the picture below), but also a wheelchair swing (no pictures because there was a shy little boy using it)!

How cool is that?

Singapore has a very long way to go before it becomes a child-friendly destination.

A day by the sea

So we met up with my mate from Northern City and spent a day along the coastline. 

We found this secluded beach and saw, in the distance, a pod of about thirty dolphins leaping and somersaulting their way across the bay.  They were too far away for us to take a picture and even though we joyfully ran along the beach trying to keep up with them, they were much too fast.

As my friend and I caught up on news, MDH and Stardust squatted in the sand and drew pictures using twigs.  Well, to be accurate, MDH drew pictures with twigs under Stardust's supervision and direction.  

As you can tell from the picture, Stardust is really into the 'Mr Men' book series at the moment (his favourites are 'Mr Happy' and 'Mr Bump').  Can you identify all the characters?

We wandered through the gum forest and along the coastal pathway, chatting about the migratory routes of people.  Stardust had an encounter with a very large green grasshopper that was sitting in the middle of the road.

Afterwards, we retired to a cafe which boasted gorgeous views of Port Phillip Bay, and had coffee and chocolate chip cookies whilst watching the boats drift lazily across the waters.

Strawberry Fields Forever

We visited a strawberry farm today but it was too wet and muddy to do any berry picking. 

Instead, we tasted Rebello strawberry wines and liquors at the cellar door, and then sat down to eat a gloriously decadent strawberry parfait and wait out the rains in the cafe.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show 2010

I have ALWAYS wanted to go to a county fair ever since I read about them in 'Farmer Boy', 'Charlotte's Web' and 'Blandings Castle'.  I really like the idea of families from the farming communities coming together to show off their superior skills in animal husbandry, agriculture and craftsmanship...and I've always wanted to witness a pumpkin competition.

We got to Sydney just in time to catch the tail end of the Royal Easter Show and I was really excited about bringing Stardust along.

It was AWESOME!

We ate baked potatoes, whilst sitting on bales of hay and watched a sheep-shearing demonstration, then Stardust met a family of prize-winning pigs...

...watched some dancing horses...

...rode on a hundred-year-old wooden carousel...

...and touched a GIGANTIC first prize pumpkin!!!!

Photo of the day: Trains and hats

Photo of the Day: A Healthy, Hearty Breakfast

The voice of Ozzie youth expressed through sidewalk graffiti.  Wholesome.

Flying for 8 hours

Prior to takeoff:
Explain to Stardust that when the 'Fasten your seatbelt' sign is on, it means that he has to be buckled up in the seat.  Prepare biscuits for takeoff.

During takeoff:
Allow Stardust a free flow of biscuits to encourage him to swallow and balance his inner ear pressure.

Hour 1:
Watch 'Fantastic Mr Fox' on video.  Stardust does not appear to understand the concept of headphones but is having fun wearing them and honing his fine motor skills by plugging and unplugging the headphones.

Hour 2:
Some turbulence occurs and the 'Mr Fox' video is disrupted - time to bring out a small box of raisins to keep Stardust distracted.  Stardust is happy to eat raisins and drink diluted apple juice through a straw.

Hour 3:
Lunch is served.  Stardust is unimpressed by the pasta but eats some of it.  I get to eat the chocolate biscuits that come with his meal as he has rejected it in favour of the fruit salad from my adult meal.  Travelling with a health-conscious child has its perks!  After lunch, I change his nappy and take out his small toy train for him to play with.

Hour 4:
The videos are back online so Stardust resumes watching 'Fantastic Mr Fox' from the beginning but without the soundtrack - he has dismantled his headphones.  Stardust doesn't seem to be bothered about the story as long as he gets to see stop motion anthropomorphic animals going about their business.

Hour 5:
Stardust is tired of watching the video, so we take out the colouring book and crayons and he does some scribbling.  He insists on wearing his broken headphones - I don't argue because it doesn't bother me so long as he is quiet.  He drinks up his milk and after this I change his nappy.

Hour 6:
Stardust is getting tired but he doesn't want to sleep so he lounge on a pile of pillows that I have arranged to cover the armrest (for some reason, the armrests will not lift up and out of the way).  I wrap my arm around him and he asks to watch 'Fantastic Mr Fox' - but I notice that he isn't looking at the screen but at his own hands. 

Hour 7:
Tea is served.  Stardust is totally unimpressed with the pancakes and sausages so I eat them.  He drinks diluted apple juice and eats some raisins.  After a nappy change, he decides that he wants to watch the Fox programme again, but instead of watching it, he holds up his toy train and pretends that it is part of the show.

Hour 8:
Stardust is very restless now and very tired of sitting in his seat for so many hours.  The plane is beginning descent so he is starting to pull at his ears as the cabin pressure changes.  I distract him by getting him to pretend that he is a shark eating up a big school of fish - he is able to decompress his inner ear by opening his mouth as wide as he can.  The video is switched off much to his distress but now there is much to see outside the aeroplane window.  We watch the lights of the city as they get closer and closer, until....

We finally arrive at our destination!

Packing for 8 hours

In my carry-on luggage:
8 disposable nappies
2 sets of long sleeved pyjamas
2 sets of mealtime equipment (bowl, spoon, fork, sippycup)
1 box of wetwipes
1 sweater (for me)
1 tube of lip balm (mostly for me)


In Stardust's carry-on luggage (yes, he has his own bag now):
10 books
4 finger puppets
3 toy cars
1 toy robot
1 trinket keeper containing random junk treasures
1 ziplock bag containing 10 arrowroot cookies (for take off)
1 box of raisins (for pockets of turbulence)
1 colouring book
1 set of crayons
1 set of markers
1 set of stickers

Onward, we go!

Wet feet

We loves the wading pool, we do, we do indeed.

Music in the Park

About a fortnight ago, the Aged Ps took us to the Botanic Gardens for the Big Band Bash.  We had so much fun!  We brought Stardust's dinner along to keep him occupied and we took turns holding and feeding him so that each of us had a chance to relax and take in the atmosphere.

It is such a privilege to be able to take Stardust to listen to live music in the park - the informal setting means that he can enjoy the music and be a feisty little boy at the same time without irritating other music lovers.

If anyone is interested, the Singapore Symphonic Orchestra is holding their first open air concert of the year at the Botanic Gardens this coming Easter Sunday, 4th April, at  6-7pm.  More details here.

If you are going with a little one, here's what you will probably need:
1. One large waterproof mat to sit on (the grass can be quite wet)
2. Plenty of snacks and cold drinks or dinner in tupperware containers
3. Mosquito repellent (this is Singapore, after all!)
4. Something to help you keep cool such as a cold face towel or a handheld electric fans (this is Singapore, after all!)
5. Quiet outdoor toys to add to the experience e.g. bubbles, glow sticks
6. Plastic bags to throw away your garbage before you leaveand help keep the garden looking tidy!

Have a great Easter weekend!

Cycle and seek

Stardust loves his tricycle. He has started pedalling on his own and is quite good at steering around obstacles, which means that we have started playing 'cycle-and-seek' - I run and hide behind a pillar and he cycles round to find me.

Now that the Outlaws have come to stay, he has been having so much fun playing with them. Grandpa likes to hide in corners and leap out at Stardust as he cycles by. Grandma tells Grandpa off for potentially frightening the wits out of the boy who is shrieking with laughter.

Dilly dilly

Norfolk Lavender
Originally uploaded by Sunshine follows me.

This picture was taken at a lavender farm in Norfolk. The farm, from a distance, is a stone building drowning in a hazy purple-blue sea.

It was a warm day, and the scent of lavender was so heavy around me, I felt I could roll myself up in it like a blanket and go to sleep.

Forever

Norfolk, originally uploaded by Sunshine follows me.

Sometimes, on a very clear day, you can see forever.

The day I took this picture of the arable fields of Norfolk, I was feeling peaceful and very glad to be part of this huge, huge, wonderful landscape.

In all its moods

Somehow, the sea always seems to reflect my mood.
The day I took this picture of the North Sea, I was feeling sad, cold and incredibly homesick.

Mmmm...

There is nothing like fresh strawberries. These beauties were handpicked by the In Laws in the morning, and served up in the afternoon, along with homemade scones.

Mmmm...Strawberries with creme fraiche and sugar. Strawberries with melted chocolate. Strawberries pureed with orange juice and bananas and yogurt. Strawberries crushed on top of vanilla icecream. Or just plain strawberries, sweet and juicy, staining fingers, mouths and chins.

And scones, still hot from the oven, crumbly, with thick clotted cream and raspberry jam.

Cream teas are wonderful!

Seeking

Today MDH and I are going house-hunting. Again. Hope we find something nice this time.

I yearn for the day when we can stop paying rent and start paying a mortgage.

*sigh*
~~~~~~~
(11 hours later)

So we drove for 3 hours and when we were within 20 minutes of our destination, the estate agent called to say that the owners of the house had bailed on us and gone out of town instead.

AAARGH!!! *scream of frustration*

Unfortunately, that particular property was the only one we were interested in, and none of the other estate agents had anything to offer...so instead we had to content ourselves with driving around the town and familiarising ourselves with the roads (and note down places that we could investigate in greater detail after we move into the city).

I was really disappointed about not being able to see the house - although we did drive in front of it to check out the neighbourhood and find out how far it would be from my workplace. It looks nice, but we'll probably have to arrange to see it another day (grr).

I really felt like I had wasted a whole day of annual leave, so MDH allowed me to have a 'grumpy half hour' (I'm allowed one half hour of grumpiness a day), and then we left for home.

We dropped by this beautiful rose garden on the way back - over 300 varieties of 'old-fashioned' roses, all in full bloom, a myriad of colours and scents. It was late afternoon by then, so the fragrance was truly incredible.

MDH and the Aged P found a thrush's nest hidden away under some ivy and amused themselves by making the nestlings pop their little beaks in the air, whistling shrilly. I pottered around admiring the blossom-heavy plants and watching the bumblebees as they whizzed from bloom to bloom, drinking nectar and filling their bags of pollen.

We sat by the fountain in the middle of the garden, listening to the sound of trickling water and enjoying the gentle breezes.

Later on, we wandered by the nearby brook and fed our leftover stale bread to the fish. Occasionally, an overenthusiastic rainbow trout would spring out of the water to catch the crumbs, its flanks flashing yellow red and silver blue in the sun.

Perhaps it wasn't such a waste of annual leave after all...