Qiqi and Xuanxuan's new handphone : Apr-09

Today we switched Shin Yang's mobile service provider from M1 to Starhub and re-contracted my mobile line. Benefits? Qiqi and Xuanxuan each got a new touch-screen handphone, a pink Sumsung F480...

Shin Yang learning to cook!!! : Apr-09

Not sure if it is out of boredom or curiosity, my dear wife is learning to cook!!! (Sweat!)

A few years back she started to cook her own version of porridge, throwing in the things she likes, for eg. apples, purple cabbage, broccoli... Until today, the gals still have fear in taking her porridge whenever she suggested cooking again.

I think this time round she's a bit conservative and her food is more acceptable also. Xuan Xuan says "At least these are better than your porridge." Well, I have suggested that we should be strict to Shin Yang this time and give her all our kindness comments so that we could strive to a 'win-win' situation.

To be honest, i thought the soup is pretty tasty this time, veggie could be improved. :P

JP Morgan Run : Apr-09

16-Apr-2009 was Singapore's JP Morgan Run and it was my second time participating in this event. I remembered the last time was in 2006 and I merely went there for a fun 5.6km walk and it took me about 60 mins.

This year, I took an extra 3 weeks effort to prepare myself for this jog and targeted to complete the race at about 40mins. I started off the jog a bit faster than my usual and when I was at the 3km mark, I was breathless! Uncontrollably I took a break and started walking to catch up my breathe... To be honest, I was a bit disappointed with myself but managed to pull up and started jogging again.

When I reached the final mark, my timing was 41:09, a minute more slightly but not too bad i thought... I was then told by a colleague who recorded the distance using his GPS watch that this year's distance was about 6.04km instead of 5.6km.. which meant that I actually had reached my personal target! Anyway, It had been great fun, and I am determined to bring my timing down to 35 mins next year.

Harvesting our bean sprouts : Apr-09

Google and you will find that sprouting green beans (also known as mung beans) yield 15 times the weight of the beans... cool right? Just 4 days and we're able to harvest about a kg of bean sprouts... definitely worth trying... :P

Mangoes everywhere in the neighborhood : Apr-09

Probably due to the heavy downpour and the great sunshine recently, the mango trees around our neighborhood have blossomed so well this year. You could see mangoes all over the trees and very tempting to pluck some. In fact we saw a lady throwing her slippers in hope of getting some mangoes to fall, such a funny sight.

Planting and Sprouting around : Apr-09

From what we have read : "Sprouts are one of the most complete and nutritional foods on the planet. They are rich with vitamins, minerals, proteins, and enzymes and deliver them in a form which is easily assimilated and digested. Interesting, since sprouts are live foods, they will continue to grow slowly and their vitamin content will actually increase after you harvest them. Compare this with store‐bought vegetables and fruits, which start losing their vitamin content as soon as they’re picked and often have to be shipped thousands of miles."

Since last week we have been experimenting to grow some sprouts, namely Alfalfa, Beans, Wheatgrass and Broccoli... To our delight, they're very easy to grow and yield 100% success. We are targeting to have some on our dining table soon.

Alfalfa Sprouts


Stevia - a natural sweetener plant


Broccoli Sprout


Wheatgrass

Enjoying jogging more : Apr-09

I had remembered how I hated jogging since my schooling days.... the kinda agony which drove me crazy; terrible stomach cramps, muscles aches, breathlessness just to name a few.

Then... A few months ago, Shin Yang and myself were exploring for some exercise options to maintain our lifestyle a bit healthier and hopefully put our weight under-control as well... And so, we started with some slow jogging along the riverside opposite our house (one of the cheapest option). Surprisingly this time round, we were able to sustain this exercise...

Personally, I started to enjoy the jogging sessions more than ever in my life... not sure why? due to age? Anyway, we started to involve the gals as well and they could finished 2.2km without much difficulties... We would do this as a regular weekly event, as for myself, I would try jogging at least once every 2 or 3 days... On 16 Apr 2009 , I will be running the 5.6km JP Morgan Run... Definitely glad that as a family, we are living healthier.

Mavello : Apr-09

Ta-da!! Today we have installed a water purification and ionizer system at home!

Hahaa.. half a year ago, we would never have thought that we will have one of these things actually installed in my home! We chose to believe that simply boiling our Singapore potable water is the least controversial best water we can drink.. heheeh, actually that is the easiest thing to do.. that is until Mummy was diagnosed with cancer once again.

This humble-looking machine actually dispenses Alkaline Ionic Antioxidant water and Acidic Ionic water. In other words, it splits our tap water into 2 portions - one alkaline drinking water with all the alkaline minerals & dissolved oxygen but minus the chlorine & floride; the other acidic water good for washing, disinfecting and other external uses. As our body needs to maintain slightly alkaline for our immunity to function at its best yet we are constantly feeding our bodies with acidic food, drinking alkaline water helps to maintain our health!

As for Mummy with cancer, drinking this high oxygen level, alkaline water helps her combat her cancer cells as cancer cells thrive in an acidic body with insufficient oxygen. So thanks to Mummy, we are all more aware of better health and how to get it. :)

Xuan teaching En'en Elmo Song : Apr-09

Xuan Xuan gets so excited about teaching En'en the "Elmo's Song" and En'en is also very receptive in learning. Just look at the high level of energy demonstrated by these two gals, I am sure you will be influenced by them and enjoyed as much.