Home Office

I stopped working last week, but I'm possibly busier now that I don't have official work than before. I have now moved into my "home office" and am cracking on my large to do list.

I have my laptop open, printer connected, and ipad next to me for quick facebooking. I have a bag of open chips, a cup of coffee, water, and a finished bag of Pods. ( Pods are wonderful).

I'm really working! Not just pretending to do so since I'm unemployed! Facebooking is real work.

20 things to do before your move

It's 2 months before the big intercontinental move and I really need some way of organizing the many things I should get done before I leave. Anyone else in such a position probably is feeling the buzz like I am. My mind is constantly worrying about what to do with this or that.

2 months before your move

1. Speak to and select your moving company
2. Update your passport if it has less than a year in validity. You don't want to be settling this soon after you arrive in a foreign country. It is probably easy to do but may require you traveling to a particular city, or neighbouring country to collect your passport. 
3. Decide on which big items you are bringing, and arrange to sell or give away the things you are leaving behind.
4. Organise your important receipts and warranties, as this may be helpful for filling out that insurance form for the move.
5. Fill in that dastardly insurance form.
6. If you haven't already done so - Resign/ give notice to your employer/ landlord
7. Give notice to your helper if you do employ one
8. Start making use and finishing up any packages you may have already bought and paid for - pedicures/ facials/ gym training...etc
9. Meet all your friends!

1 month before your move

10. Cancel unnecessary bank cards/ credit cards
11. Speak to your insurance agent
12. Ensure you have necessary medical coverage for travel/ the move
13. plan on forwarding your mail to another address Redirecting your mail through Singapore Post
( forward it to friends or family until you are settled in your new address)
14. Go paperless -  speak to banks/ other necessary services if they can send you paperless statements

2 weeks before your move

15. Organise the things for your move -  throw or donate what you don't need.
16. Decide on what you need to bring along on your flight
17. plan for the cancellation of gas/power/cable/internet/mobile

week of the move

18. Consider staying in a friend's place or a hotel during the moving days. Ensure you child has other activities and others to watch him during this stressful time.

On arriving

20. Once settled register your new address with Singapore - Registering your overseas address

New boss - he is young and good looking.

 Today, I hung up my stethoscope ( more accurately my son grabbed it out of my bag to play) and my run as family physician at my current work place has come to an end. I returned my work pass to the clinic and it feels real now.

 The constant working, studying and pushing has come to a slow down. For the first time since primary school I'm faced with no datelines of someone else's making. Or am I? I have a new boss now. The boss I left this job for. A real slave driver he is. Makes me work 24 hours and has sometimes unreasonable requests at 4 am. He is a real heart-throb though and I can't help looking at pictures of him when I'm away from my office. It's really tiring working for him, but since I appear to have fallen in love with him, I think I will stay on in this job for as long as he needs me. 

I'm sure you know who my boss is. Many of you have already met him. He isn't very tall, has good looks, and gorgeous curly hair. He is a real flirt to boot. I miss him already and am running back to work for him now as it is soon his nap time and he needs some serious cuddling. 

.

.

.

.

My 

New

Boss

.

.

.

.

Singapore Day 2014 will be in London

Singapore Day 2014 will be in London this year on the 29th of March. I know I've barely left Singapore but I am not going to miss the chance as I'll be visiting a friend in London anyway. 

Singaporean expats, have you registered? 

Singapore Day in London 2014

Looking forward to a chance to meet Singaporeans who have been in Norway as well as other expat singaporeans. Can't wait to share and learn about their lives and experiences. Not to mention to pig out on some Singaporean food before I reach Norway! 

How to baby led wean - the good, the bad and the messy

1. You have to wait till baby is developmentally ready. Sitting up on his own and able to reach for food and bring it to his mouth. Guidelines advise starting at 6 months but some babies may take longer to reach that stage.

Getting familiar with utensils at 6 months the week before solids were introduced.

2. Equip yourself with knowledge by attending an infant first aid course. Send your family members for one too. Myself, my sister and my husband had all attended this. Go for this even if weaning the traditional way as you can never tell when an emergency might occur.

3. Start slow, be patient and babies don't eat much. 

Shredded apple was great as one of the first few foods. Grabbed and shoveled into the mouth. Of one grated apple maybe two spoonfuls made it into his mouth. 

4. Be prepared for mess. Give your baby the freedom to explore taste, textures and motor skills. Buy a good baby safe all purpose cleaner and be prepared.

Messy but easily and quickly cleaned while baby is being bathed by his papa.

5. Always keep in mind the textures of foods you are presenting to your baby. I steam my fruits and vegetables and ensure its possible to grip but mashable by gums. Crinkle cutting can improve grip.

The joys of carrot.

Sweet potato ain't so bad either.

6. As baby's skills develop so does the type of foods and textures

7. Trust your baby's abilities, but be careful not to push him beyond his ability.

8. Read Gill Rapley's Baby Led Weaning book or Gill Rapley's page

9. Enjoy this laid back easy way of introducing food to your child.

10. Eat out without worrying about preparing porridge or puréed foods in advance. I would sometimes bring suitable fruits and vegetables depending on the stage he was in.

Gnocchi- fine dining like a pro ( yes some mess, so pick baby friendly restaurants)

Slurping noodles

Remember though that with weaning either the baby led way or the traditional way, it is best to read up about choking hazards and be prepared for this possibility. I'm very afraid of round foods and though my son eats like a champ, I panic at the sight of a whole grape or tomato in his reach. Always consult trusted professionals that you know if in doubt about the sensibility of this method. 

This a light hearted post and has not delved into the deeper aspects of weaning and what led me to decide to go down this route. I'm happy to share the resources I used and my own experiences with anyone who wants to chat about it. Just drop me a note on the comments or Facebook. 

Share your weaning experiences with me and photos too! :) 

The mystery of the choked toilet

Friday morning the toilet in the master bedroom suddenly got choked. The water was not draining as it should. I looked at my son suspiciously. He looked back like this:

"What? I didn't do anything mama." 

Hmmm, we watch him like a hawk in the bathroom. He has an agenda when in the bathroom. 

Usually, it's to head straight to the toilet and throw the toilet paper next to it into it. He generally pulls it off in pieces, and that is not too bad. 

I had to call the plumber and $250 later found the culprit. 

The number 4 stacking cup, one size smaller than this one was retrieved from the toilet. Hmmm. 

I look at him suspiciously now all the time. Twinkle in his eye, and I'm on my guard. 

Kindergarten (Barnehage) in Singapore

When moving one of the first things on the mind of a parent with a young child is Kindergarten/ Barnehagen. I can share my very short but defining experience of an infant care centre in Singapore. This was one of the better/ fancier infant care centers I found where in theory they recognized the importance of play and so on.

My son was about 9 months at the time, and we had to find alternative childcare arrangements than what had been working for us before. I was extremely torn about placing him in anyone else's care other than my own. We lasted 3 days. I pulled him out due to the emotional stress of separation and a few things I noticed at the centre that helped me make up my mind. We could have persevered and my son would have gotten used to it, but there were certain things that made me decide on a live in nanny who could cater more to his needs.

1. I saw a child reach out and gently touch another child. The staff moved the other child's hand away and positioned her away from the other kid. ( Are we teaching our children not to share touch and emotions? Would this environment train my son to be afraid to approach others?)

2. Almost no outside play time. (I've seen many kindergartens bring the children out to play for about 20 mins. My son sometimes plays with them, but he is usually at the playground for an hour and a half in the mornings. With only 20 mins, my son would get cabin fever. )

3. Extremely restricted play and movement indoors, for fear of children hurting themselves. (My son is a thrill-seeking dare devil. However, because of his adventurous spirit he has good mastery of his body for his age. I cringed at the level of unnecessary safety these centers practiced.

4. Children were often sitting in a circle staring at each other, playing by themselves in a very controlled environment. What made up my mind was the restriction the toddlers faced. A good amount of physical activity and exercise outdoors is obviously important in early development. Sadly this is just not available in Singapore.

 We are looking for Barnehage for our little one soon. I hope Norwegian culture is less risk averse than Singaporean culture. I hope he has a chance to run and play, and fall in all weather.