"It's for my cough, Mummy!"
28 June 2009
26 June 2009
Tidiness, Revisited
Hmm, although he is very tidy and precise about some things,
he seems to want to make a huge mess with respect to others....
Yesterday we had some friends over to play. Kate was so excited to play dressing up she had everything prepared before they came.
Here's a picture of the princesses (face disguised as I'm not sure her mum wants her on the internet!)
And finally, by special request from Charlie (no reason at all!):
he seems to want to make a huge mess with respect to others....
Yesterday we had some friends over to play. Kate was so excited to play dressing up she had everything prepared before they came.
Here's a picture of the princesses (face disguised as I'm not sure her mum wants her on the internet!)
And finally, by special request from Charlie (no reason at all!):
24 June 2009
Graduation!
Kate's class had a little graduation ceremony yesterday...
Note how she is surrounded by only boys at the little party afterwards...
Note how she is surrounded by only boys at the little party afterwards...
They Did What I Didn't Want Them To Do
So we have the news that the HK Government has declared all schools to be closed for the summer. Hm. The quote was: "The number of swine flu cases is increasing and there is a sign that it will become the major seasonal flu". Now, Im not sure about anybody else, but it seems to me that even when seasonal flu is hitting everyone really badly (like in England last winter), governments don't close down all the schools for two months.
It's not that I'm bitter about having to occupy my kids' time every day (no!). I can come up with things to do. But schools are better, especially pre-schools. There are more things to do. Each child is not limited to what the other one wants to do. The kids get to see all their friends at once. They need socialisation. One-on-one playdates are great, but they need to be limited in time, as the kids end up alternating between arguing and playing well. That's fine sometimes, it needs to occur, but it is quite taxing on the adults (you try not to lose it when it's the 15th argument about one child wanting something that didn't seem interesting until the other child picked it up!). In school there is a little microcosm of society and the kids learn to self-police: if someone is too bratty, bullyish, etc, the other kids don't want to play with them. They learn a lot faster that way than when I'm nagging at them to share and play nicely. And games are a lot more fun with more kids involved.
So we'll be doing playdates, swimming, craft...
It's not that I'm bitter about having to occupy my kids' time every day (no!). I can come up with things to do. But schools are better, especially pre-schools. There are more things to do. Each child is not limited to what the other one wants to do. The kids get to see all their friends at once. They need socialisation. One-on-one playdates are great, but they need to be limited in time, as the kids end up alternating between arguing and playing well. That's fine sometimes, it needs to occur, but it is quite taxing on the adults (you try not to lose it when it's the 15th argument about one child wanting something that didn't seem interesting until the other child picked it up!). In school there is a little microcosm of society and the kids learn to self-police: if someone is too bratty, bullyish, etc, the other kids don't want to play with them. They learn a lot faster that way than when I'm nagging at them to share and play nicely. And games are a lot more fun with more kids involved.
So we'll be doing playdates, swimming, craft...
23 June 2009
Maybe Home Schooling Isn't Such A Bad Idea
Yesterday was a bit of a stressful day, as it rained all day and we REALLY wanted to go to the pool. We kept looking out, hoping to see some blue sky, but it remained cloudy and wet, and thundery and lightningy, all day until about 6pm. So we did lots of crafts and watched some DVDs. There is now glitter everywhere, even Charlie's ears. Still.
It has been hard to keep them occupied. And when it is stiflingly hot outside or raining, it makes it worse. We've been to Wise Kids Playroom (nearby educational playroom that has hour and a half sessions), lunch with daddy (who is in London this week), swimming, watched DVD's galore, cycled and scootered til their legs almost fell off, watched more DVD's, been to Ocean Park (it was great that James took a day off and my cousin came to visit!), watched TV....now I'm all out of ideas. We'll have to loop around on the ideas now. But I'm not sure what I will do long-term, as today I read in the South China Post that:
The two-week suspension of kindergartens, primary schools, nurseries and special schools was due to end on Thursday, but sources said schools would remain closed until the next academic year in September because health officials believed the move would better protect children.
Are they SERIOUS?!?!?
Someone just shoot me now.
It has been hard to keep them occupied. And when it is stiflingly hot outside or raining, it makes it worse. We've been to Wise Kids Playroom (nearby educational playroom that has hour and a half sessions), lunch with daddy (who is in London this week), swimming, watched DVD's galore, cycled and scootered til their legs almost fell off, watched more DVD's, been to Ocean Park (it was great that James took a day off and my cousin came to visit!), watched TV....now I'm all out of ideas. We'll have to loop around on the ideas now. But I'm not sure what I will do long-term, as today I read in the South China Post that:
The two-week suspension of kindergartens, primary schools, nurseries and special schools was due to end on Thursday, but sources said schools would remain closed until the next academic year in September because health officials believed the move would better protect children.
Are they SERIOUS?!?!?
Someone just shoot me now.
22 June 2009
Ocean World
Went to Ocean World with Uncle Oat when he visited. Kate was our official navigator.
It was hot as an oven though.
It was hot as an oven though.
What Will I Do When He's 15?
When Charlie does something naughty and I catch him out, he can't look me in the eye.
When he does something only slightly naughty, though, he looks down, then looks back up at me out of the corner of his eye and gives me a cheeky grin. Either way, it's hard for me to stay cross.
When he does something only slightly naughty, though, he looks down, then looks back up at me out of the corner of his eye and gives me a cheeky grin. Either way, it's hard for me to stay cross.
17 June 2009
Getting Closer....!
Received our helper's visa approval in the post yesterday. Went to the immigration offices to collect it this morning. Took it to Thai Consulate for processing. Going back to Thai Consulate to pick up "Brown Sealed Envelope" tomorrow morning. Will FedEx to helper, to arrive Friday. Hopefully she can be here next week! The process has seemed interminable.
I know some people will think it's all a bit whinge-y to complain that one doesn't have a helper, but it is really limiting to not have one in HK.
Babysitters are non-existent outside either the babysitting agencies or helpers who have a night off and want to make a couple extra dollars. Agencies charge astronomical prices (when we've used them, it adds immensely to the cost of our night out - quadruple the cost of a movie with popcorn, and more than double the cost of an average meal) and helpers with a night off are few and far between. We have used the helper of a couple of friends of ours a few times, but it is only when they are out for the night, so our social life either revolves around our friends', or we pay an outlandish premium to go out for a night.
That's just to get me out of the house once in a while. Running errands revolved around the kids' school times, and now that there is this self-imposed quarantine of schoolchildren in HK I am lucky to be able to run one errand in a day. That is usually to buy food. James had to stay home with the kids this morning in order for me to trek around town, getting the helper visa sorted.
And disciplining one child ends up punishing the other and not really disciplining the first one - for example when Kate was acting like a hormonal teenager the other day, I told her she was not allowed to go down to the play area and use her bicycle. But then that meant poor Charlie couldn't go either, since I had to stay at home with Kate. So I had to think of something else fun to do at home, which then negated the punishment for Kate. I actually think there will be fewer tantrums and bad behaviour once we get a helper and having to stay at home actually means something, as the other child will then be allowed to go out and play with their bike/scooter/see their friends.
I know some people will think it's all a bit whinge-y to complain that one doesn't have a helper, but it is really limiting to not have one in HK.
Babysitters are non-existent outside either the babysitting agencies or helpers who have a night off and want to make a couple extra dollars. Agencies charge astronomical prices (when we've used them, it adds immensely to the cost of our night out - quadruple the cost of a movie with popcorn, and more than double the cost of an average meal) and helpers with a night off are few and far between. We have used the helper of a couple of friends of ours a few times, but it is only when they are out for the night, so our social life either revolves around our friends', or we pay an outlandish premium to go out for a night.
That's just to get me out of the house once in a while. Running errands revolved around the kids' school times, and now that there is this self-imposed quarantine of schoolchildren in HK I am lucky to be able to run one errand in a day. That is usually to buy food. James had to stay home with the kids this morning in order for me to trek around town, getting the helper visa sorted.
And disciplining one child ends up punishing the other and not really disciplining the first one - for example when Kate was acting like a hormonal teenager the other day, I told her she was not allowed to go down to the play area and use her bicycle. But then that meant poor Charlie couldn't go either, since I had to stay at home with Kate. So I had to think of something else fun to do at home, which then negated the punishment for Kate. I actually think there will be fewer tantrums and bad behaviour once we get a helper and having to stay at home actually means something, as the other child will then be allowed to go out and play with their bike/scooter/see their friends.
14 June 2009
A Discourse On Digestion
Charlie after shoving a giant piece of Pomelo in his mouth:
"Mummy, my mouth BIIIIG."
"Yes, Charlie, that was a huge piece you just put in."
"It go down my tummy."
"Yes, it's going down to your tummy!"
"It go in my poo."
"Yes, that's right - it will be in your poo!"
"It go in my nappy."
"Yep, you got it."
"Mummy, my mouth BIIIIG."
"Yes, Charlie, that was a huge piece you just put in."
"It go down my tummy."
"Yes, it's going down to your tummy!"
"It go in my poo."
"Yes, that's right - it will be in your poo!"
"It go in my nappy."
"Yep, you got it."
Yum Yum
Our lovely fruit plate yesterday.
Charlie had already plowed through most of the blackberries. He tends to hoover up blackberries and blueberries as fast as he can so that no one else can have any. Yesterday he had a fork in each hand.
Charlie had already plowed through most of the blackberries. He tends to hoover up blackberries and blueberries as fast as he can so that no one else can have any. Yesterday he had a fork in each hand.
12 June 2009
This Little Piggy Went Wee Wee Wee Wee Wee...or, The Sky Is Falling, The Sky Is Falling!
So the kids are home for the next two weeks, due to swine flu. I can't decide if I think it is scaremongering or prudent. The WHO has been very clear that the declaration that swine flu is a pandemic does not mean the virus is in any way more deadly or more virulent. A BBC article mentions that swine flu seems to be crowding out seasonal flu cases. Which makes me wonder. Could swine flu have been around for a lot longer, years even? The only reason it seems to have hit the radar now is the cluster of fatal cases in Mexico and the panic that inspired. Every year people die from contracting the flu. Who's to say that this virus has not been around for years and caused other deaths? Deaths that were attributed to 'flu' but not investigated any further because it was assumed to be 'seasonal flu'. And why is 'seasonal flu' not considered a pandemic? It seems to tick the same boxes: human-to-human transmission, across several continents each year (I know this for a fact, because my mother and brother went home with flu last Christmas, contracted in England!), thousands affected. So I'm not sure I'm convinced about this new version of flu being the first pandemic in 41 years. Or that we should all be panicking and closing schools right and left.
What I am convinced of, is that the next two weeks are going to be a test of my ability to be creative in distracting and entertaining two young children!
What I am convinced of, is that the next two weeks are going to be a test of my ability to be creative in distracting and entertaining two young children!
11 June 2009
A Lovely Sentiment
This morning Kate came out in a great outfit. I gasped and said,"Kate, that is fantastic! You look incredible today!" Charlie looked over from his Weetabix and said, with a very full mouth,"You boo'ful Kate!"
She was beside herself with pleasure.
She was beside herself with pleasure.
10 June 2009
Don't Let 'Em Fool You - Ain't Nobody Is Perfect!
I am incredibly impressed with Hong Kong's efficiency once one has purchased/requested something.
For instance, if you do your grocery shopping in the morning and find that you have too much to carry, you can get your groceries delivered. They will tell you,"before 6 o'clock" every time, and every time they will deliver it by 1pm, no matter what time you made your purchase (I did test them one day by going at 12:30pm!). Very efficient.
Arriving in the country and getting into town from the airport is every traveller's dream. Articles have been written about it. It is highlighted in all the travel guides. Very efficient.
Buses run on schedule. Traffic is minimal except in extreme situations. Tradesmen show up within 30 seconds of the appointment time. Our new bed came a week early. We can usually walk into a restaurant and get seated within minutes. I can make an appointment with my hairdresser for either the same day or at least within 24 hours. Life has been pretty easy here.
However, all was not as it seemed.
There seems to be a lack of proactivity that makes me wonder about how much thought people put into their daily activities.
Things like getting a phone line have been a slight disappointment. I spoke to the sales rep and everything was very efficient when it came to set-up and installation of broadband, etc. I was highly impressed. Until we tried to make an overseas phone call. Strangely, the rep did not think to set up international dialing capabilities even though I had told her we would be calling the UK and US quite frequently, as well as Thailand (I was hoping that there would be special 'friends and family' rates, but she told me there was none). So that was the first lesson I learned - you must specifically ask for something and make sure everything you asked for is either repeated back clearly, or listed on a piece of paper.
The other non-proactive tendency I am discovering, is in relation to applications. Like credit cards. If they have a question about something on your application they will set the whole set of paperwork to the side of their desk until you call them, frustrated from hearing nothing, a month later. Then they will tell you that they need additional information and inform you of the information needed once you ask what that is.
And visas. We sent in our helper's visa application a month ago, expecting it to take two weeks to process, as anecdotally related to us by friends. Finally, after seeing nothing in the post, nothing in the post, I followed up. Ah, yes, ma'am. We need additional documentation for proof of address. I see. They had been sitting on the application for three weeks, with our phone number, email address, home address, etc. but waited for us to get frustrated at lack of news and call them.
So my new philosophy is: if I am sending in any paperwork I will call the next day to confirm receipt, ask if everything is in order and if there is anything further needed.
My two new lessons learned are common sense, really, but I think I had been lulled into a false sense of complacency after experiencing all the other efficiencies of this great place. No one is perfect, nor should I expect them to be.
For instance, if you do your grocery shopping in the morning and find that you have too much to carry, you can get your groceries delivered. They will tell you,"before 6 o'clock" every time, and every time they will deliver it by 1pm, no matter what time you made your purchase (I did test them one day by going at 12:30pm!). Very efficient.
Arriving in the country and getting into town from the airport is every traveller's dream. Articles have been written about it. It is highlighted in all the travel guides. Very efficient.
Buses run on schedule. Traffic is minimal except in extreme situations. Tradesmen show up within 30 seconds of the appointment time. Our new bed came a week early. We can usually walk into a restaurant and get seated within minutes. I can make an appointment with my hairdresser for either the same day or at least within 24 hours. Life has been pretty easy here.
However, all was not as it seemed.
There seems to be a lack of proactivity that makes me wonder about how much thought people put into their daily activities.
Things like getting a phone line have been a slight disappointment. I spoke to the sales rep and everything was very efficient when it came to set-up and installation of broadband, etc. I was highly impressed. Until we tried to make an overseas phone call. Strangely, the rep did not think to set up international dialing capabilities even though I had told her we would be calling the UK and US quite frequently, as well as Thailand (I was hoping that there would be special 'friends and family' rates, but she told me there was none). So that was the first lesson I learned - you must specifically ask for something and make sure everything you asked for is either repeated back clearly, or listed on a piece of paper.
The other non-proactive tendency I am discovering, is in relation to applications. Like credit cards. If they have a question about something on your application they will set the whole set of paperwork to the side of their desk until you call them, frustrated from hearing nothing, a month later. Then they will tell you that they need additional information and inform you of the information needed once you ask what that is.
And visas. We sent in our helper's visa application a month ago, expecting it to take two weeks to process, as anecdotally related to us by friends. Finally, after seeing nothing in the post, nothing in the post, I followed up. Ah, yes, ma'am. We need additional documentation for proof of address. I see. They had been sitting on the application for three weeks, with our phone number, email address, home address, etc. but waited for us to get frustrated at lack of news and call them.
So my new philosophy is: if I am sending in any paperwork I will call the next day to confirm receipt, ask if everything is in order and if there is anything further needed.
My two new lessons learned are common sense, really, but I think I had been lulled into a false sense of complacency after experiencing all the other efficiencies of this great place. No one is perfect, nor should I expect them to be.
Funny Boy
Sometimes I can't help but laugh and laugh.
Putting coins between his toes.
Ready for his swimming lessons.
And now a bit more grown up - with his new game.
Putting coins between his toes.
Ready for his swimming lessons.
And now a bit more grown up - with his new game.
08 June 2009
(Not) All Grown Up
Sometimes I forget how old(young) Kate really is. Even her school supervisor commented to me how confident and mature she is, and how she just made herself at home and made friends immediately. She is so mature for her age, I tend to expect her to act like an adult, which can be a bit hard on her, and I keep having to remind myself that she is only five years old. I hope I don't traumatise her by expecting so much of her; I will probably have to pay for years of her therapy as an adult, when she needs to learn that it IS ok to not be perfect!One of the things she does which makes her seem so much older, is mother everyone. She looks after her little brother all the time - he was struggling a bit with getting on the school bus for a couple of weeks, but what made him get through it was knowing Kate was at the other end, waiting for him at school. They have a little system now: I put him on the bus and buckle him in, and when he gets to school he heads straight for Kate's lunch room, where she welcomes him and takes him to his classroom, helps him hang up his rucksack and waits til he settles in, before sneaking out when he's not looking (much like I used to do!). And now in the mornings, if I am a bit rushed preparing Kate's packed lunch, breakfast, etc., Kate will get herself dressed, Charlie dressed, and both their teeth brushed. Soon I will be able to sleep in and Kate will sort everything out herself!
Neat Freak
How many cars does this child have?
As I have posted before, Charlie loves to line them all up. He is such a tidy boy. Note the coaster - I had nothing to do with that.
Most people are really impressed that he is always the first one to start when it is time to tidy up. He's going to make someone a great husband one day.
As I have posted before, Charlie loves to line them all up. He is such a tidy boy. Note the coaster - I had nothing to do with that.
Most people are really impressed that he is always the first one to start when it is time to tidy up. He's going to make someone a great husband one day.
Superdude
I went to Stanley Market and found all sorts of cool jammies for Charlie. The all-time favourite seems to be Superman - he wore it all day Saturday, and it seemed to really give him superpowers. Super-confidence in his powers, anyway. He took on Kate's friend's dad in the play area; the guy was at least 10 times his size.
01 June 2009
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