Graduation Concert

My school had a Graduation Concert in the 1st week of December.

thought it'll be a good post for the close of the year 2009.


Where are my parents?
see me trying to find my parents in the audience in this video.



Once I found them, I gave them this super huge smile.
Mummy was impressed that I continued with my dance moves and didn't wave my hand at them.



你对着我笑， 我对着你笑


我们欢天喜地一起哈哈笑


哈哈笑，哈哈笑，我们一起哈哈笑


See us dance in the video below:

For the finale, all the children went on stage.
I was blocked by the toddler stars at first but I popped out my head to see my parents.
I even say "I love you" to Mummy.
was surprised that she can "hear" me from the audience.
Actually she lip-read.


To See other children from other levels in this concert, click this album.


This one's for you, MinMin Ah-yi:

My papa made me do the dance again and sing the song when we got home.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Merry CHRISTmas!, originally uploaded by lastboltnut.
~ taken by my papa at the Auckland's Santa Parade 09.

Yup. CHRISTmas is about Christ.

It's the celebration of Jesus Christ's birthday.

In the mist of giving and receiving presents, have you accepted the biggest present of all? prepared for you by God, waiting for you to unwrap...

Jesus is God's present for you.

Jesus said that "...I have come that they (i.e. you and I) may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

Check out God's present for you this CHRISTmas.

This is not a movie in a cinema, Manners matter!

Not Hann but Hann's Mummy said...

We were late for Narnia The Musical.
I told Hann that we have to wait to go in.

actually I was surprised to see so many people late!

even more shocked when a woman burst out shouting at the usher for not allowing her to go in and demanded to know when she can go in.
When the usher replied that we can only be allowed entry after the 1st act, she does not accept it and shouted that if the act is going to be so long, she should be allowed in, why is she not allowed to go in, blah blah...

At this point, people who were gathered near the door suddenly all backed off, leaving the lady woman, in the centre of a circle.

I said loudly, but not loud enough apparently, "it's because you are late."

Isn't this basic theatre etiquette?
If you are late, you jolly well wait til an appropriate time to go in.
If it's going to be long, that's too bad cos you are late!

In some performances, you will not be allowed entry until intermission time.
even in concerts, you're lucky if they allow you to go in in-between selections.

She thinks this is a cinema where u can walk in anytime.
even when it's the cinema, don't you find it disturbing when people come in late?
The lady woman was shouting so loudly I wonder if the audience inside can hear her.
Actually I don't under why she's kicking a fuss cos there's a monitor tv outside and you can see live, what's going on on stage.

Theatre is not just about watching a show.
It's arts appreciation and a cultural experience.
If you don't have basic manners then u're not very cultured loh.

Even if it's just a children's theatre or a school production, etiquette is part of it and should be taught to our children.
maybe we can't stop our children from talking (asking questions), but at least if we're late, have the courtesy and common sense to wait for an appropriate time before trying to squeeze past audience who were on time to get to your seat.

click to read THEATRE ETIQUETTE FOR AUDIENCE - GENERAL GUIDE.

btw, I apologize for being late or arriving on the dot for the past two performances.
This is something I have been working on - arriving early.

Next time I help you guyz buy tickets, try to get it from me before the performance day so you won't have a heart attack waiting for me outside the theatre/concert hall.

Trade in for BPA-free bottles

Parents, if your child is still using bottles, it's time to change to your Bisphenol-A (BPA) leaching bottles (click for list) to BPA-free bottles.

Mums & Babes (United Square and AMK Hub) is offering a trade-in: You can purchase a BPA-free Medela milk bottle for $6.90 instead of the usual $10.90.
They are great for breastmilk storage too.

For those who doesn't know what is Bisphenol-A (or BPA)...
BPA belongs to a group of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors that mimic or block the actions of our natural hormones, especially oestrogen. ... Children, especially unborn and
newborn babies, are at the greatest risk from such chemicals because imbalances of hormones can have pronounced effects during their critical developmental stages, although many of which do not reveal themselves until much later in life.
~ taken from Migration of Bisphenol A (BPA) in Baby Milk Bottles by Sun, C.L.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore
Click to read his full report.

For those who has been following my blog for a long time, you'd had read about

My mummy's struggle with BPA bottles when I was younger.

Wave House Sentosa

Think I haven't post on my outings for sometime...
this one's more for older kids.

Guess where my buddy, Joseph and I are at?

Pardon the bad photo. but can you see what people are doing at the back?

I didn't know what it was.
Mummy told me they are surfing.
Wow! looks like great fun!

Look! they even have an alfresco lounge.

See me relax on the seat.
My friend, Joseph didn't enjoy as much cos he doesn't like sand on his feet.

We're at Wave House Sentosa - Food, Drinks, and Man-made Waves - one of the new attractions at Sentosa.

Hmm...Looks like they don't have anything for children like me.

You must be over 110cm (42") to bodyboard on the FlowRider and over 135cm (52") to ride standup on the FlowRider or ride the FlowBarrel.

Wonder when I will be more than 110cm tall.
Meanwhile, my friend, Joseph and I will just enjoy watching people ride the waves.

Check out prices and other details at Wave House Sentosa here.

my 1st still life

Happy me going home from Teacher's place with my art work -
my 1st still life, on canvas.

I love this piece so much, I asked Mummy to put it near my bed so I can see it everyday.
So she hang it on wardrobe door in my room facing my bed.

Oh yes. I can spell and write my name for quite some time now.

Maclaren strollers recalled in US over lost fingers

not hann but hann's Mummy said...

Received this sms from a friend yesterday afternoon:

"not sure if u're using a Maclaren,

there's a product recall for all its strollers, after 12 kids got their fingers amputated in the hinge.

Call 6844 1188 to ask for a repair kit."

a search on the net comfirmed the authenticity this news.
It's a voluntary recall by Maclaren. Read here.

News of US recall was actually out all over the world on Tue.

---
irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 13:05

Maclaren recalls 1 million buggies

A Maclaren buggy that has been known to cut off children’s fingertips will reamain on sale in Ireland and the rest of Europe (hann's mummy adds, "and Singapore") despite being recalled in the US.

UK-based Maclaren today said the umbrella pushchairs were safe to use and reassured customers they are safe when opened or closed correctly.

---

Frankly, how many of us use our pram/ strollers, or anything correctly?

I think most of the time, we abuse (abnormal use) our things.
that's why designs are multipled by a safety factor.

Hubby and I are never fans of Maclaren.
We think it's overpriced, for one.
Two, as design engineers, we think it's mechanically unsound. (see picture below)

~ picture taken from http://www.maclarenbaby.com/

due to the slanting frames, there is an unbalanced moment at the handle.
hence, the stroller will tend to fall backwards.
This is be even more so if you're those kind who like to hand your bags, shopping, etc at the handles of the storller.

Users, please comment whether u find this true.

As for amputating the fingers...
some of the Maclaren stroller frames are made of square cross-sections hence has relatively sharp edges as compared to Most Combi prams which has round cross-sections.
So, when u are shutting stroller which a square cross-sention, it's a bit like operating a pair of scissors.

Well... Maclaren or not, square or round cross-section,
of cos we know we should keep the baby/ child away from the stroller when we're keeping it
but as with anything else to do with children, u can never predict where their hands will swing/ end up.
I think it's especially difficult to "keep children clear of the stroller when opening or folding it" when u are travelling alone with the child.

All I can say is... be more careful when u open and fold up ya strollers.

at the local scene,

Local distributor of Maclaren baby strollers issues safety kit

Channel NewsAsia - Thursday, November 12

...

Maclaren, however, is not extending the recall to Singapore as its strollers meet safety standards here.
Nevertheless, the local distributor of Maclaren strollers — B.I.D. Trading — will issue safety covers to pram owners for free. The safety cover will sit on top of the hinge.
The manufacturer advised parents to keep children clear of the stroller when opening or folding it — to prevent their fingers from getting caught between the joints of the pram.
B.I.D. Trading said that it received several enquiries from parents on the safety of the pram.
"From yesterday till now, we’ve already received about hundred calls from parents. So we have already jotted down their contact numbers. So once we receive the covers we will give them a call and they can come here and collect," said Grace Eng, product manager, B.I.D. Trading.
— CNA/sc

click to read source.

so actually, it's not "Local distributor ... issues safety kit"

but "Local distributor ... is going to issue safety kit"

Worried Maclaren-using parents, call 6844 1188 to book ya kit.