While the hubby's away

I need motivation.

I need to hold the family fort for at least the next six weeks.

The hubby, DaddyS, is heading over to the United Kingdom for a working stint, for a minimum of six weeks, with a possibility of it being extended to two, even three months.

It was a bittersweet feeling as I watched him pack over the weekend. While I know this is a good career opportunity, I did not relish in the fact that he was going to be away for a long time. Thinking back, this would be the longest period we will be apart as a couple, definitely as parents. It is a sudden trip, and DaddyS had just a few days to prepare. We are lucky that we have our own parents and helper whom we can mobilise quickly to help out. But really, despite the ready help, it is not the same without him. I will miss him, the kids will miss him. Thank goodness for Skype and FaceTime, at least we can communicate digitally.

Looking at the time, DaddyS should be sitting in the plane now, waiting for take off. I wish him a safe trip, and to come back safely to us. We all miss him terribly.

In the meantime, I will be mummy and daddy to our kids during this period. It will probably zap more of my energy, but I believe I can do it. Ganbatte!

Linking up with:

Loving my spot: Going down memory lane in Holland & Bukit Timah

My neighbourhood, where I spent most of my life until I got married. This space embodies every bit of my memory. I always love going back. It accompanied me through thick and thin, witnessed how I grew from a girl who crawled the drains with the boy next door, into a young lady who found love in a boy she knew for over twenty years. It will always be my home.

The neighbourhood I call home is not considered an old neighbourhood with great food, quaint cafes or laid back alcoves for relaxing. Smack in between of Holland and Bukit Timah, it is an extremely sought after neighbourhood, simply because of the branded schools nearby. Think of Nanyang Kindergarten, Nanyang Primary, Raffles Girls Primary, Chinese High, National Junior College and the like. You get what I mean. 

This journey, or mission if you would have it, is one of reliving memories of the places and the food that I love so much.

So let me start my trip down memory lane by introducing my favourite wet market/food centre. It is the only wet market/food centre I never tire of going - Empress Road Market. I love the smells and the familiar buzz that resonates there. I know every crack and corner, and which stall to get the best eggs and fruits. Most of all, I love the food there. From the chicken rice to the fish ball noodles, everything is the best there. I simply cannot resist the breads (chicken floss and red bean in particular) from Fresh Bread Shop (#01-77) and Ipoh horfun (plus four additional shui jiao) from Ah Wing's Wanton Mee (#01-106). And though I am living so far away now, I always like to visit the friendly Dr Yap of Yap Medicare (#01-03, at the block just next to the market) every time I'm sick, just so I can visit him and let him see how I am doing.

As long as I can remember, McDonald's has been around for as long as Serene Centre. The Tierney's supermarket was one of the few upmarket supermarkets then that stocked extremely fresh and hard-to-find produce. Serene Centre was also known for another popular culture icon - Comics Mart. Back when it was still in operation, my brother would head there almost every day. Now, besides Mcdonald's 7-Eleven and Island Creamery, I only know it for Bibinogs Preschool.

Adam Food Centre - my usual haunt for supper. These days, it is my wish-I-can-go-tonight haunt for supper. I simply love the ice kacang from Teck Kee Hot & Cold Desserts (#01-31). You know you are having good ice kacang when you take a bite of the red beans. They cannot be too mushy, but yet, they must be of the right crunch and not be harder than a peanut. The ice kacang here is the best I've ever had. Even the syrup is yummy!

I haven't been back for a long time so it felt good to savour it again. I know it has been a long time because the portly son of the founder, who now manages the stall, has white streaks in his hair. I hear he makes good cheng tng and tau suan too, just like his father.

Not only is Coronation Plaza a favourite of the many students here, the NTUC FairPrice is a long standing icon of the area too. It is another destination for photostating services, or just for hanging out, simply because it is the nearest thing to a shopping centre in the neighbourhood. A shop I used to frequent, Cherish Bookshop, is still there, and it was nostalgic to walk amidst the shelves of assessment books and ten-year series.

At the corner, there used to be a Shell station. That's gone now, replaced by Starbucks, Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe and Eat.

Opposite Coronation Plaza, at Coronation Arcade, are two yummy family eateries that are a must go - Thai Noodle House and Penang Kitchen. I especially like Thai Noodle House, as I feel I've gone to Thailand every time I'm eating there. The Thai owners cook really good Beef Noodle Soup and Pad Thai. Their Mango Sticky Rice is absolutely heavenly - the best I've ever eaten in Singapore!

Another reason I love my spot is its proximity to Holland Village.

It used to be family trips there for lunches or dinners followed by shopping at Cold Storage, or a walk through Holland Road Shopping Centre. Then during university days, it became a favourite haunt for supper and drinks, such as the lip-smacking good chicken rice and Ipoh horfun from Yi Bao (31 Lorong Liput). Katong Laksa just next door is also very popular. And who can forget about Wala Wala, Coffee Club or Crystal Jade, familiar landmarks that hold a million memories.

Further up the road is the Botanic Gardens, which is also accessible from the Bukit Timah side. I love going there for a walk to hear the the birds chirp, watch the swans glide across the water and admire the wide variety of plants and flowers.  I am most relaxed at moments like these, enjoying the beautiful yet simple nature around me. If you go there in the morning, you might just bump into the French ambassador and his wife.

Since becoming a mother, the Gardens has become even more popular with my family. We love it that   Jacob Ballas Children's Garden is just at the door step from my favourite neighbourhood.

It's a garden haven for all kids, and it's lots of fun. My darling Becky obviously agrees.

I now live in the east around the Marine Parade / Katong area. It's a cosy spot, with great food and a certain vibe that is full of unique character. Yet, in my heart, the neighbourhood where I grew up in  remains extra special, and I relish every opportunity to hang out there, even for a minute. It will always be my spot.

This post is part of a Blog Train hosted by Sarah at The Playful Parents. Do hop over to check out  other wonderful spots in Singapore!

Coming up next!

Adeline is a SAHM and was recently inspired to blog about her roles as a mother, wife, daughter and friend. Apart from creating and selling handmade jewelries from home, she also enjoys taking photographs during her spare time.

And what better way for her to showcase her photos on 'Loving My Spot'! Join her as she shares an awesome place in the east that is great for the whole family!  

Adeline blogs at www.accidental-mom-blogger.blogspot.com

Sakae Sushi @ Parkway Parade

It was our usual supermarket day last Saturday, so we headed to Parkway Parade to have lunch first before doing the chores. Little EV was excited to be daddy & mummy's little helper, as you can see here.

Lunch was at Sakae Sushi, and we discovered that there was a new menu. What I liked about it was that, there is also now a dedicated kids' menu. Items included Chicky (skewered chicken, egg sushi, smelt roe sushi and fries, $8.99), Garden (fried chicken, sausages, octopus ball, omelette, avocado and fries, $8.99), Mini Udon (tempura prawn, egg plant & snow crab stick, udon with fishcake, $9.99) and Junior (egg sushi, smelt sushi, snow crab stick sushi, fries and sausages, $7.99)

It was an easy choice, since EV loves udon. So while waiting for her Mini Udon, EV couldn't hold her hunger any longer and tucked in to some 'adult' food, such as chawamushi and tamago sushi.

EV even tried using chopsticks to pick up the sushi rice. She obviously had fun doing that.

When the Mini Udon came, she gave a loud 'wah', obviously attracted by the fishcake. 

She finished most of the udon herself, while daddy and mummy helped her with the tempura. When asked if she like the udon, she gave an enthusiastic nod.

The dining experience at Sakae Sushi left such an impression on her, that when we were at Parkway a few days later and having afternoon tea at the nearby Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, EV pointed to Sakae Sushi and said 'remember?'. 

A parenting gripe though: I wished the booster seats that Sakae Sushi uses could be secured to the seats or the tables. Currently, the seats are just that - booster seats. They only boost the child up to the level of the table, and does not offer any security at all if the child moves. This means that the child can easily lift herself up, a potential danger.

Other than that, I think Sakae Sushi is a moderate choice for a sushi place. I have definitely eaten better sushi, but since it is the only sushi place at Parkway Parade, it was our only choice. Having said that, I'm glad that they have included a dedicated kids' menu. Beats having to comb through the menu trying to find something suitable for EV.

Sakae Sushi

B1-84B/84C Parkway Parade

Tel: 6348 6218

Opening times:

Mondays to Fridays - 11.30am to 10pm

Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays - 11am to 10pm

Mum's day out at the Harry Potter exhibition

Have you taken a mum's day out recently? With the demands of motherhood, it is easy to get caught up with family and kids, and completely forget to take time out to recharge. We all need a little time to ourselves, to relax and do what we love, so that we can face each moment with a fresh new outlook.

Last Friday was mum's day out for me, and I went to the Harry Potter: The Exhibition at the ArtScience Museum. As a big fan of the nemesis of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, I was accompanied by a huge fan, my sister, the best company because, as she describes herself, she knows all the books inside out, up and down, from front to back.

No photography was allowed inside the exhibition, so I took the opportunity to take any possible photos anywhere. I even took photos of the tickets prior entry.

... And of course, the Flying Ford Anglia.

Before entering the hall, we could take a photo at the official photo booth, while wearing a scarf. There were two to choose from - Gryffindor (scarlet and gold) or Ravenclaw (blue and bronze). Both of us chose Gryffindor, of course! 

The exhibition covered all the main characters and scenes of the movie, with dedicated areas for the Dark Arts, Forbidden Forest and Hogwarts School's Great Hall. There was even Hagrid's hut on display, complete with 'screaming' mandrakes that you can pull up from their pots. For the uninitiated, a mandrake is a plant with a root that looks like a human and screams whenever it is unearthed. The scream of a mature mandrake can kill, while that of a young mandrake will only knock one unconscious. We even tossed a Quaffle in the Quidditch area. We almost wished this game was real.

Huge and big fans will go through the whole exhibition, reading every single comment and admiring every single costume or artifact on display. That took us about one and a half hours. Thank goodness I didn't bring the kids, otherwise, I wouldn't have had the luxury of time. Neither of them would understand or appreciate anyway. A not-so-big fan will zoom through it and be done in probably half an hour.

Which fan can leave the exhibition without a souvenir? They are quite expensive, I must say. Here are the costs of some of the souvenirs:

Collectible Wands (with choice of characters) - $75

Hooded sweatshirt - $60

House scarves - $40

Beanie - $32

Marauder's Map - $60

Practical me got myself things that I could either use or eat, as well as one item that could be displayed. I got a mug ($20), a Chocolate Frog ($5/6), a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans ($5/6) and the photo taken earlier ($20). 

My sis got the Frog and the Beans, as well as a exhibition guide ($30) that included a limited edition print of Harry's Hogwarts acceptance letter. She even got herself a quill set ($65).

A photo in front of the museum before leaving...

Mum met us after, and we had a very yummy lunch at Din Tai Fung. Love the food there.

I truly enjoyed myself, thankful for those few hours away from the kids, and the chance to spend some quality time with mum and sis. It's a mum's day out that felt so good, it was almost 'magical'.

Harry Potter: The Exhibition

2 Jun - 30 Sep 2012

ArtScience Museum

Opening hours: 10am - 10pm daily (Last admission at 9pm)

Ticket prices (hourly entry):

Adult: $24, $20 for Singapore residents

Senior (65 years and above): $21, $18 for Singapore residents

Child (2-12 years): $14, $13 for Singapore residents

(A valid ID has to be presented for purchase of Singapore resident tickets)

Website: Harry Potter: The Exhibition @ ArtScience Museum