Beach Holiday - The Beach

First Cheryl didn't want to leave the hotel room. On seeing the beach, "wow this is great" , she didn't want to leave the beach.

But with the horses and their droppings, you wouldn't want to spend much time on the sand, would you?

Merdeka

Our country celebrates 49 years of independence this month.

I got some minature flags and gave one to Chastan who went running around waving it and shouting "(Ma)laysia (Mal)laysia". Anyone seeing this can be excused for thinking "How patriotic". But this thought came to mind, "if only the Powers that be (read UMNOPutras) allowed us to be so "

Nevertheless,

Happy Merdeka

Beach Holiday - The Hotel

We managed to get a room at the Holiday Inn Resort though not at the beach wing. For Cheryl, it did not matter, as long as it was a hotel room, "this is great dad. I don't want to go to the beach. I want to stay here" she said as soon as we entered the room.

As we unpacked, I was overjoyed when I noticed the little note on a wire at the table saying 'Internet Access'. Taking out my laptop, I quickly plugged in to test the connection speed. After a few minutes, the Holiday Inn website came on. I had to register??? Read T&C, WHAT ?RM1.90 per minute ? Oh my gosh! With Chastan and Cheryl around, it may cost me RM19.00 just to view all of Holiday Inn Penang's facilities on their website and another RM19.00 just to google Penang attractions. No way I am going to allow myself be robbed.

The buffet breakfast spread was okay. For a change, we did not have to get up in wee hours of the morning and Q for toast, like whats usually happens in Genting.

Chastan (2)

Chastan ran a slight temperature, 38.4, with a runny nose yesterday. When he is ill, he always wants to be carried and walk about, no sitting. He clung on to dad, refusing to go to Mummy or Kakak. But he was understanding and agreed to go to Mummy when I told him I had .to go and have a shower.

Beach Holiday - The Mistakes

Its common to make mistakes planning a trip. Well, so did I make some big ones on this holiday trip.
First, the biggest, I forgot to get information on Sunday Church services and more importantly the whereabouts of Catholic Churches in Penang. Imagine just driving around Georgetown looking for a Church, finding one, you go in to discover its not Catholic. So drive around again till we found the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows. We were late, very late, Offertory that is, but what to do, it was about 10.30am, so better late than never.

Second big mistake, I forgot about getting road maps especially of Penang. But managed to obtain one of Georgetown which assisted in one above.

No maps, no problem there are sometings called road signs, my third mistake, relying on them. Not just relying, but trusting them to be available when needed. It took us 2 hours from Bukit Mertajam to the hotel at Batu Ferringhi. OK OK, must discount the jam at the world class bridge. What else to discount? Missing road signs? - could not find the sign leading to the Plus Highway in Rawang. Misleading road signs? - to touch your nose, you guide your hand around the back of your head and come in front and touch your nose - know what I mean and this is no joke. Wrong turnings? - whose fault?

Beach Holiday - On the Way

We had promised Cheryl a beach trip during the school holidays. So Saturday 18/8/2006, the children were up early without prompting, how we wish it could be this easy on Sundays. All packed and we were on our way, 1st stop at Amma's place in Selayang.
Cheryl: "Why are we going here?"
Mum: "We haven't been to Amma's house for sometime so we stop for a while, OK."
Cheryl: "Short while ok." Then soon, no, sometime later (another post on this), we hit the Plus highway.
Along the way, as I overtook a trailler,
Cheryl: "Wow, dad you cut the truck."
Then we overtook some more slow moving vehicles.
Cheryl: "Cool Dad, this car the fastest. You are the fastest. Cut the red car. Now cut the big truck."
Dad: "These cars are going slow."
Cheryl: "Dad, you are the fastest in the whole world. Cut the car in front"
Dad; "No, we should not go so fast. There is also a speed limit."
Cheryl: "Why."
Dad: "We don't have to go so fast. Its better to be slow and safe." I didn't expect this five year old to understand this but then,
Cheryl: "Dad, slow, slow down don't go so fast."

Just before we reached the Ipoh toll, "Cheryl, look at those mountains."
Cheryl: "Hills, like in my book?"
Dad: "Yes, but mountains are bigger, hills are small."
Cheryl: "Cool, this is so gigantic." Then on reaching, Sg Perak R&R, dad said "We'll stop here."
Cheryl: "Why?"
Mum: "We will take a rest."
Cheryl: " But why, I'm not tired." Can anyone argue with that?
Mum: "Daddy wants to rest".

Sometime later on the way to Bukit Mertajam. Cheryl: "Is this the way to the hotel?"
Dad: "No, we are going to look for St Anne's Church."
Cheryl: "But why?"
Dad: "We'll go and pray. Remember Mummy's operation, we must give thanks."

Soon we were on the way to Penang Island with some more "Are we there yet?" and "Is this the way to the hotel?" from Cheryl.

Trampoline

Cheryl received a trampoline as her birthday present from Aunty Sharon and Uncle Siew Too. Cheryl was so excited that she insisted Dad assembled the trampoline immediately.

Cheryl: "Wow!, Dad can I tell my friend I have a trampoline?"

Dad: "OK, you must also say it is a present"

Cheryl: "Ok dad"

Dad: "Cheryl, remember you must thank Aunty Sharon for this present when you see her the next time"

Cheryl: " OK daddy"

Dad: "So what must say when you see Aunty Sharon?"

Cheryl: "Hi"

Phone Talk - Cheryl

This evening Mummy found Cheryl's homework assignment incomplete. So call up Sherryl Siah's home. After talking to Sherryl's mum, Mummy asked Cheryl "Do you want to talk to your friend?" "No" she replied. Anyway, the phone was passed to her and this was what we heard.

"Hello Sherryl Siah"
"Can't"
"I have a lot of stuff at home"
"You can come to my house and play"
" Sorry, I can't come to your house now. I have a lot of things to do. I have to do my homework"
"Ok, school holidays"
"Bye"

Today she did not want to speak on the phone. Guess three to four years from now, she will not want to STOP speaking on the phone

Booked

Yesterday on the way to office was stopped by the Police, the so called Enforcers of Public Order and the Guardians of Peace, for an alleged traffic offence.
This is how it went.

PC: "IC." Taking my NRIC, he said "Lesen." After writing something, he gave me the book and said "Sain." Note license not checked.
On taking the Saman from the PC I said to him "Terima kasih" and the person sitting next to me said "and you want to thank him".

The PC spoke 3 words, I spoke 2 words and the person not involved spoke 6 words. Isn't it great, this world.

Cheryl's School Sportsday

Cheryl doing the "A Go Go" dance routine with her classmates on Sunday 13/08/2006.

Cheryl with her best friend in school, Sheryl Siah.

Some her friends won two trophies. Doesn't matter, she is so happy winning her 1st trophy eventhough it was only 2nd place in the 'Dress Me Up' event.
Monday is school holiday for her. "So daddy, are you taking us to the beach?"
We had promised her a beach trip during the school holidays.

This morning before we left for office. "Daddy, will you stay home with us today?"

How I wish I could

Friday Scare

On Friday Chastan would just sit on the floor holding his left knee and saying "Pain Pain" and wanting to be carried which was unusual of him.

There were no bruises or marks of any kind on his leg and so I pushed the panic button. The doctor too could not find anything and said it was probably a sprain.

Coming back from the doctor and stopping over at the playground, there was a remarkable change. A very quick recovery indeed. The moment I put him down, he immediately ran and climbed up the slide together with Cheryl.

Next morning (Sat), once again he sat down holding his left knee and saying Pain. So another visit. to Dr Low this time as Cheryl too needed the doctor's attention for her flu.

After that, nothing. I don't know what to make of it. If he was acting, he sure was very good at it. Guess will just have to monitor.

Happy Birthday

May the Good Lord bless you

May the Good Lord bless you

May the Good Lord bless dear Cheryl

May the Good Lord bless you.

A very Happy Birthday to Cheryl Marie Rethual who turns 5 today.


You bring us more joy each day you grow older
Despite your retaliations which are coming bolder
And your fights with Chastan, your little brother
Does not stop our love for you today and forever

Surprise Party

Last week at Amma's (Grandmother) house, Cheryl playing with her toy tea set.

Cheryl: "Chastan, don't disturb. We are having a tea party."

Cheryl: "Aunty Rose, I'm having a surprise party for Chastan. Can someone keep him busy? I don't want him to ruin the surprise."

Last Saturday just before going to Amma's house.

Dad: "Cheryl, we will go to Amma's house and cut your birthday cake."
Cheryl: "Is it going to be a surprise party?"

Dad: "Well yes, we can have a surprise party."
Cheryl: Ok, Dad, you keep me busy and Mummy, you can decorate the house."

So dad had to keep Cheryl busy while the others got ready the lovely cake which Aunty Rose had baked for Cheryl. As the weather was fine, the cake was cut in the garden.




Cheryl about to blow out the 5 candles on the cake.

Cheryl - Hair Cut

Before


After

Now we are wondering 'WHAT' will be the reaction from Selayang.

Chastan

Searching for a recent picture of Chastan, I could not find any with a smiling face. In nearly all the pictures, he looked stern.

Only this one picture, where he is captured watching his favourite cartoon, which indeed says something of him.

.

Conversations - Cheryl (2)

Last night on the way to music class.

Cheryl: "Why you need the car lights?"
Dad: "So we can see the road"
Cheryl: "But, dad, there are lights here"
Dad: "You mean the street lights?"
Cheryl: "Yes, its so bright"
Dad: "You have a point there. Also we need others to see our car"
Cheryl: "Why? I can see in the dark"
Dad: "You can?"
Cheryl: "Yes, just like daddy and mummy"
Dad: "What do you mean?"
Cheryl: "Just joking, hahahaha".

Lucas Meta 1st Birthday

Attended this bash on 29/07/2006. Great party, though I doubt Lucas would have enjoyed the 'Clown' and the 'Magician'. The other children definitely did.

Dad: "So Cheryl, how was the party?"
Cheryl: "Cool".