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Write 31 Days Challenge 2018 for a summary of the challenge.
Day #8
Library
We are so blessed to have libraries all over Singapore which have up-to-date fiction and non-fiction titles. It has helped to keep our home from overflowing with books. What I also appreciate is how the books are more often than not in pristine condition, bar a few that have been manhandled and defaced.
But while I am glad at the that there is a wide range of books offered, I must also warn that one needs discernment when letting the younger children lose in there. I guess in responding to what is popular and current, the library has accumulated many books on witches and magic, too many for my liking. But browse a little more and some gems can be found.
As expected, we often max out our loan allowance. But now that the children are older, they can carry back their own haul of books. Previously, I had to bring our wet market pull-a-long trolley!
Day #9
Wet Market – Vegetable Stall
When I first had to cook for the family, I shopped at NTUC and Cold Storage Supermarkets because they had labels on their food. Why did that matter? It mattered because it meant that I did not have to guess what I was buying. Yes, I was that bad at grocery shopping and cooking!
However, I slowly summoned up the courage to shop at the wet market. Fast forward 20 years later (yes I only learnt how to cook when I had my oldest!), I much prefer shopping at the wet market, especially for the vegetables as they really seem fresher than those sold at the supermarkets.
Plus, I often get freebies thrown in as regulars to the wet market would know. Free chilli, lime, coriander leaves, spring onions, and even lemongrass! This means I often get grind my own chilli paste for free. Sometimes, I get a further discount on top of all that. NTUC will never do that, eh?
Day #10
ActiveSG Credit
In 2014, the Singapore Government gave all Singaporeans $100 ActiveSG credits to encourage us to lead more active lives.
The credits can be used for booking courts and entry into swimming pools. Since we had children taking swimming lessons at the nearby Bishan Swimming Complex, the credits have been helping to offset the children’s entrance fee into the pool since then! The already cheap entrance fee for public pools ($0.50 for children on weekdays/$1 for adults) is now free! The older children have utilised their credits to book badminton and table tennis courts.
So grateful for the government’s generosity. For more on ActiveSG, check out the ActiveSG website.
Day #11
Ironing
I love ironing. Most days.
I love seeing the creases of the clothes uncrease under the heat of the iron. And I still do it, although I have delegated most of the household chores to the children. It gives me a chance to watch YouTube Videos or listen to podcasts without feeling guilty. And did I mention I love seeing the clothes being ironed out? With our family size, I have to iron twice a week unless I want to stand for 3 hours at one go. And so, I do it on Mondays and Thursdays.
Looking for a podcast to listen to while doing household chores? Check out our Sound Cloud Archippus Awakening channel. It is also available on iTunes. Search for Archippus Awakening.
Day #12
Coffee
I started drinking coffee when I was about 19 or 20 while in NUS. It seemed the hip thing to do and it helped me stay awake when I had to study for the exams. But it was an on-off affair. It was only after I started working that coffee became a regular thing in my life. But at that time it was always coffee with milk.
Sometime later, I realized that milk was causing nasal congestion and sniffles. So I switched to coffee with sugar. And my nose cleared. Then I went on the GAPS Diet for the bad eczema outbreak I had back in 2011-2012. Coffee was allowed but not sugar. So I went cold turkey.
Without sugar or milk masking poor quality coffee, I can now taste how good or awful a cup of coffee truly is. You should try it!
Yes, I know coffee is a drug. Yes, I know too much coffee is bad for health and affects sleep quality. Still, I am grateful for coffee. Actually, I think the people around me are grateful for coffee too!
Could I do without coffee? Sure! But at this point in time, I can drink it and I am grateful.
But let me state for the record that despite me often posting pictures or status updates about coffee on the various social media platforms, I actually only drink one cup a day. No sugar. No milk. Very rarely do I drink a second cup. Or even a cappuccino. Well unless I am at The Caffeine Experience! It is da bomb!
Day #13
Self-checkouts
Every Saturday, before her ballet class, this not-so-little-one helps me with grocery shopping at NTUC. Not only does she know where almost everything is by now, but she also handles the self-checkout. However, in order for her to do the self-checkout, I need to split our groceries into two baskets instead of piling them all in one trolley. Then she will scan-bag-pay all by herself.
Day #14
Ballet Rehearsals
At the end of the year, the ballet school is staging a concert, Christmas With Hope on 21st and 22nd December at Kallang Theatre. This means lots of rehearsals and waiting around for the girls. The older two handle their own rehearsals since they are able to take public transport on their own. But I am still playing chauffeur to the younger two. And since they are in different items, there is lots of waiting. And so, we head to the food court where they whip out their books and I whip out my laptop.
Rehearsals bring back fond memories for me. And I believe that being so involved in ballet and rehearsals kept me out of trouble in my teen years. I had no time or energy to get into too much mischief since I spent many days and nights at the ballet studio rehearsing. Those were fun times and I am grateful that my girls get to experience it too.
…to be continued
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