Back to SF, back to work - Jetlag

Got back to SF yesterday, after an 18 hour flight on SQ through Seoul.
We had the first row in the last cabin, with the bassinet seat for Nathan. Unfortunately, he didn't really like it, and the arm rests could not be raised between the seats, so we all didn't get much rest as it was quite uncomfortable.

If you were following my eating list, I am sad to announce the I didn't manage to eat everything on the list. Near the last few days, it was getting really difficult. So I had to decide what I really should eat and what I can forgo this time round.
For the record, these are the items I missed.
1. Old Chang Kee Curry Puff
2. Beef noodles
3. Yu Tou Mi Fen (fish head rice noodles)
4. Durian
5. Chee Cheong Fun
6. Duck Rice
7. Steamboat
8. Bak po

Anyway, it's coming up to 6 months since we left Singapore. I need to write a 6 month report soon. So many things have happened, so I'm kinda at a loss as to where to start. I have to go back and look at my old blogs to try to remember.

Next week, we have 9 students for our first 2 week summer video production course for the middle and high school students. I need to prepare all the powerpoints in the next few days for the course.
After the course, we are all looking forward to going up to Vancouver to visit my sister Julia and her husband Adrian. Ju told me recently that she's pregnant, so we are looking forward to congratulate her in person. It's going to be a long drive up to Vancouver from here.

Relaxing time

Spent the last few days in Singapore in the most relaxing time at home and eating (see list of food and my progress on eating them below).
On Thursday, I went out with Fred to run several errands.
1. Go to church to meet Evelyn and Jimmy to look at the tech problems and for putting up the antenna for the world cup showing.
2. Lunch at Jalan Tua Kong - Char Kway Teow - yum!
3. To the electrical store to buy some 1/2" PVC pipes for Fred
4. To Gary's office to deliver his Centrum
5. To Nick Koh's office to deliver his books from Amazon (unfortunately he was out running errands too)
6. To Sim Lim square to buy the following.
i. DVD player for Aunty Iris
ii. Printer for Aunty Iris
iii. USB hub for Aunty Iris
iv. New watch for myself
After that, went home for dinner.
That was the most productive day this week.

Yesterday, my family, my parents and my sister's kids went to Raffles Marina for a nice afternoon swim and dinner where I had Mee Goreng... another one down on my list.

Will be going to church later. It's been almost 6 months...

Home sweet home

Arrived back in Singapore yesterday morning after a very long 18 hour flight from San Francisco. The leg between SF and Hong Kong seemed to go on forever. Due to the strong jet stream (unusual for this time of the year), we had to fly up through Anchorage, Alaska, then over the Kamchatka peninsular of Russia and Sakhalin before turning into China, over Beijing and due south to Hong Kong.

Anyway, I've already started my food quest. Yesterday, I ate Chicken Rice, Laksa, Mee Soto, and for dinner with the family, we ate fish head curry too.
Not bad for the first day.
Woke up at 4:30 am after sleeping at 9pm last night. Glad I was able to make it through the day without sleeping early.

Food to eat in Singapore

As I'm getting ready for my 10 days in Singapore, I've made up an initial list of food to eat while I'm there. I just have to remember, food eating during vacations have no calories and will not make you put on weight or raise your blood cholesterol level. Here's the list.
1. Laksa - Done
2. Mee pok dry - Done
3. Fish ball noodle - Done
4. Nasi lemak - Done
5. Wonton mee fr frankel - Done
6. Chicken rice - Done
7. Mee soto - Done
8. Roti prata - Done
9. Murtabak - Done
10. Mee rebus - Done
11. Fish head curry - Done
12. Otak - Done
13. Old Chang Kee Curry Puff
14. Beef noodles
15. Char Kway Teow - Done
16. Chai Tow Kuay - Done
17. Yu tou mi fen
18. Chilli Crab - Done
19. Mee Siam - Done
20. Satay - Done
21. Durian
22. Chee Cheong Fun
23. Bak Kut Teh - Done
24. Har Cheong Kai
25. Hokkein Mee - Done
26. Mee Goreng - Done
27. Duck Rice
28. Yong Tau Foo with Laksa soup - Done
29. Long Beach or Jumbo Seafood - Done
30. Nasi Padang - Done
31. Chui Kway - Done
32. Bee Hoon mee with egg and meat - Done
33. Marine Terrace porridge - Done
34. Steamboat
35. Bak Po
36. Nasi Briyani - Done
37. Prawn Noodle Soup - Done

Matthew washing the dishes

What a change Matthew has gone through in the last 6 months. From being dependent on the maid, to the independent boy he is now. I'm so proud of him.

Pictures and video from Ju and Adrian's visit

Ok. So what does Nathan do with all the time he is here. Click on the video below to find out.



Watch out. Janitor in training.... be careful where you throw the rubbish!!





Caught red-handed raiding the supplies drawer


A bunch of Nathan's pictures. So cute!










Matthew's goldfish eyes!!


Family picture at Monterey

Pictures from Easter Conference 2006 a.k.a. Church Camp

Here are the camp pictures

Too busy to blog....really

Yes. Everyone's used that excuse, but I truly was really really busy.
Let's see, what has happened..

Sunday April 9 to Wednesday April 12, was the Easter Conference or in other words Church Camp for the adults at Mission Springs Camp and Conference Centre in Scotts Valley, CA which is about 1 1/2 hours drive away from SF in the Santa Cruz mountains. It was a nice getaway for our family and the first time that we've really gone anywhere since we arrived in SF. Went to Gilroy outlets for some shopping before going back home.

Wednesday April 12 to Saturday April 22, my sister Julia and her husband Adrian came to visit and stay with us from Vancouver. We had a great time of followship and they helped with taking care of Nathan, cooking, washing dishes and most of all, doing the endless loads of laundry. Went to Gilroy again for more outlet shopping. Also went to Monterey for sightseeing.

Sunday April 23 to Thursday April 27, I went for the National Association of Broadcasters' exhibition in Las Vegas with 3 co-workers- Phil, Peter and Dennis.
The halls were huge and took us 2 days just to work one round all the halls. On the third day, we were very tired and our legs were very sore from all the walking, so we went back to see what we needed to get more info on, and then went for a good Chinese lunch at Sam Woo and then to the Pro Bass Shop where Peter had a great time looking and buying fishing gear. This shop is the largest outdoor/fishing/camping/hunting/boating shop that I've ever seen. They even sell boats indoors

Saturday April 29, Li Soon and Nathan went back to Singapore where Li Soon will be working with NUS/A*Star on a project that she was working on before we came. Matthew and I are staying here until June 11 when we will fly back to SG for about 10 days. Thereafter, the whole family will fly back to SF again where I will teach the video production summer course.

3 months in SF

Wow. It's been 3 months since we arrived in San Francisco on Dec 27th. The feels like it's both been really fast and yet seems like a long time. We have gone through a lot in these 3 months. Adapting to the new environment, getting all the necessary things to get settled in, getting settled into work and a more routine home life and especially for Li Soon, making a major adjustment to a new environment of looking after Nathan and the home.

Sztos visit

Tim Sum brunch with the Sztos during their brief visit to SF.

Alan Goh's visit

Alan visited a couple of weeks ago and we had a chance to meet up for lunch and dinner. We don't eat out much to save money, so when people come, we take the opportunity to enjoy some good restaurant food.

Lunch at Banana Island - Singapore, Malaysian, Thai restaurant


Nathan smiling


Li Soon enjoying lunch


Matthew and Harry


Alan enjoying his Prata


Alan and his sea urchin at dinner in Japanese Restaurant


Close ups of the food
Sashimi!!

Lighting training pictures

Chinese New Year with the 2 Low families

With Wing Kong's Family, Kok Leong and YY at the Banana Island Singapore restaurant on the 15th day of CNY 2006.










View of the studio from my office


Me at my desk


Li Soon and me in the studio set


Li Soon and YY