I decided this week [...]]]> It has been a mad year and a bit, and last night I was commenting to Naomi that I feel as if I’ve been run off my feet. It could have been tiredness from work. It could also have been the beers and wine I took trying to ameliorate the tiredness.

I decided this week to observe the traditional Chinese observation of the winter solstice because it was probably the only Chinese custom my mother observed diligently and consistently. So last night, Naomi and I went and bought rice flour to make the glutinous rice balls (tang yuan), pandan leaf for the syrup/soup and beetroot to make the coloring for pink tang yuans.

It was a double treat for Kai especially as he got to make the tang yuan himself before walloping three helpings for breakfast (Starch and sugar is an awesome combination for an active 2.5 year old, and I left for work so Naomi could experience the effects on Kai all by herself).

Naomi’s mum says that winter solstice tang yuan are special because they can automagically tell whether your age is an odd or even number by the number of tang yuans in your bowl, no matter how randomly you scoop them out of the pot.

It worked for Kai, Naomi and our helper, but I spoiled the stats by eating everything before remembering to count them.

My mother, being the Malayan-born western-educated ethnic-Chinese career woman that she was, used to tell my siblings and I when we were young, that this observance was known as “Chinese Christmas”, and that if we didn’t wake up early to roll the tang yuan and finish off the balls, the “real” Christmas wouldn’t come, which meant Santa wouldn’t deliver the goods.

This is the first Chinese Christmas without my mum. I miss her, but I think she’ll be happy her observance and special back story will have some more mileage with Kai for a while.

So I’m saying sorry to those who’ve waited and waited for an announcement on who’s won a Let’s Rock Elmo from my Let’s Rock Elmo Contest several months ago, and offering even more apologies to those who’ve [...]]]> There’s seldom a time when I don’t say I’m completely swamped with work and other obligations.

So I’m saying sorry to those who’ve waited and waited for an announcement on who’s won a Let’s Rock Elmo from my Let’s Rock Elmo Contest several months ago, and offering even more apologies to those who’ve waited, forgotten and now have been reminded that they’ve been waiting almost three months. (And sorry to Hasbro too).

But today’s a special day, and I’m declaring a winner! Have fun, little man!

This and other interesting facts about our CPF money over at YouSayISayWhoConfirm.SG

 

]]> Just not in the form it used to be, so not counted as CPF money.

This and other interesting facts about our CPF money over at YouSayISayWhoConfirm.SG

I was already running late getting to the north end of the premises, where the map of the event said I should head, when I got stuck in a queue [...]]]> I was actually taken by surprise when I tried to make my way on time for the Golf GTI35 Party at Kallang Airport last night.

I was already running late getting to the north end of the premises, where the map of the event said I should head, when I got stuck in a queue of VW Golfs trying to get into the premises as well.

I felt like an imposter (I drive a Volvo) trying to gatecrash, but I was helpfully guided by a flustered valet operator asking me to try my luck coming in from Nicoll Highway.

I managed to park a distance away and walk to the entrance of the party, which I might add, was really quite impressive. This had to be one of the more flamboyant car events I had ever attended.

mrbrown was just as impressed as we walloped the food on offer in between taking photographs of the cars and people.

Even if you’re not a GTI fan (there’s a gallery of GTIs from Marks I to VI), you’d appreciate the scale of the party (today and tomorrow 10am — 9pm) — there’s food, games, stilt walkers.

And don’t worry about the inclement weather we’ve been having — most of the party is under cover in Kallang’s old hangars. Go join in an have some fun!

Programme for 26 & 27 November 2011:

Party starts 10.00am
Band performances 11.00am, 2.00pm & 5.00pm
Stage games 12.00pm, 3.30pm & 6.00pm
Golf GTI E35 shows 1.00pm, 4.00pm & 7.00pm
Lucky draws 1.30pm, 4.30pm & 7.30pm
Miss Golf GTI pageant 3.00pm
Party ends 9.00pm

Map and info here. Free shuttle from Midpoint Orchard & MBS.

A friend commented yesterday about “Volkswagen” being literally (German) “People’s Car”.

Well, one of the “People’s Cars” has grown up, and in fact, turns 35 this year. You could call the Golf GTI the “Sporty People’s Car”, and you could say you think of it when you think about hatchbacks.

There’s a party this [...]]]>

A friend commented yesterday about “Volkswagen” being literally (German) “People’s Car”.

Well, one of the “People’s Cars” has grown up, and in fact, turns 35 this year. You could call the Golf GTI the “Sporty People’s Car”, and you could say you think of it when you think about hatchbacks.

There’s a party this weekend at the Old Kallang Airport (Stadium Link) where there’ll be food and fun and even a beauty pageant (Miss Golf GTI — you can check out her hatchback or her boot). Free food vouchers for the first 10,000 registrants too, so you might want to hurry and register here.

There’s a map in case you’re driving and don’t want to end up at the National Stadium demolition site, and information about the programme as well. Better yet, there are shuttle services to and from the event from various locations around town.

I’ll be checking out the event at a preview this Friday evening, and I’ll keep you posted on how it turns out.