Conversation with Stacy

During lunch today. ..

Me: Stacy, mummy so sick still has to bring you to play at the indoor playground. Thought I told you that mummy needs to rest to be well but you insisted you want to go.  And then mummy also hurt her thumb and still have to cook for you and Erica.

Stacy: (look here, look there)

Me: why you bully your mummy?

Stacy: but you're always bully me... today is my turn.

When your mood are down, buy wall stickers

Recently the kids kept getting sick and then recovered and then sick again. This has been taking a toll on me and Ken. As expats with no help from parents or friends,  both of us couldn't afford to get sick. Going to see a doctor is a dread...with language barrier and having to drive there with 2 sick kiddos, drive us nuts.

So in order to stay sane and positive,  I went to buy a wall stickers - online shopping! My favourite past time.  I chanced upon a lovely sticker on the website and thought this will be perfect for the living room area.

Tada!

I got it from http://www.wall-art.com/en/Wall-Stickers/Inspirational-Words/
Whenever I come down from the stairs or when I come back home and I see these words,  I feel so much better. Totally in love with it!

Hope it give me courage to deal with insanity around me.

My experience driving in Toulouse

Well, after reading the headline, you probably be yawning and thinking, 'so?'. Haha...

I got my driving license 10years ago. It didn't comes easy. I have failed don't know how many times that I couldn't even remember, changed driving instructors and even changing the venues of the learning routes. All these during my polytechnic days, I kept my driving lessons a secret from my parents. I don't know why I did that but I'm glad I did, consider the number of times I failed...

After I gotten my license, I did not have the opportunity to drive a car anymore as buying a car in Singapore is so so very expensive. With my salary, I couldn't afford it. My teenage dream was crushed.

Before I came to Toulouse, I have 3 lessons of driving refresher course.  Not going to help. So when we came to France, I was even more shocked to realize that the cars are mostly manual transmission. I did took manual car license in Singapore but I tell you the narrow road lanes, driving on the left hand side and slopes on most traffic lights junctions were a nightmare for me. Ken was very encouraging, he leased 2 cars (for him to drive to work and the other for me to bring the kids around). For nearly 7 months, I did not even drive the car (ok, once and it was horrible experience for Ken). He thought very hard about it and decided to check out the market for an auto transmission car. We are in luck, my car came from Spain and is semi-auto. honestly, I wonder why they can't just make a full auto car and what is semi-auto? Haha

So here, I am driving the car around speed of 50km/hr. It's the correct speed when I'm driving around neighborhood. At the moment, driving on highways, is a no-no for me. I guess, if I'm alone without the children, I don't feel as scare. I don't want to put them in danger, also their noises, crying and talking sometimes distract my concentration. There will always be a first time but I need to gain confidence first.

Just yesterday, I had an accident, luckily it was not serious but I got a very nasty flat tire. I was on the way to Stacy's school to pick her up, Erica was with me. I was driving along a curvy road near a construction site, suddenly, 'BAM'! The car swayed to the other side of road with oncoming cars coming at me and horning me, causing me to freak out and I steered too near to a kerb and then I stopped the car. I came out to find a flat tire on the front passager side. At that moment, I'm really at a lost. Can I move the car? Who should I call? Erica is with me, who is going to help us? Stacy is still waiting for me at school. This is lunch hour, nobody is around and I couldn't call any mechanic at this time. Maybe I can call a taxi? Oh, well, it's lunch time.

I called Ken to fetch Stacy. A kind passerby came and usher me to move the car to a safer place. I took Erica and walked back home. Luckily, it took me 10mins to walk back. Do you know, unlike Singapore, we have to change the tire ourselves. Singapore is truly blessed to have 24hrs car services throughout the island.

Ken came back with Stacy and went out to change the tire himself . My hero.

Oh yes, my teenage dream? Is to drive a really big family car so that I could drive my parents and siblings around and bring them to place of interests and nice restaurants once in awhile. Ok.... Until the day I have the money to buy that kind of car in Singapore and to drive safely.

my car, came with an adorable model. Haha

Symptoms of hand-foot-mouth disease in France!

Since Saturday, Stacy started to develop rashes on her arms. She was ok in the morning, then we decided to bring the children out for a drive. Stacy came out of the car with rashes or red spots on her arms. We brushed it off, thinking it was just the heat from the weather. When we were having dinner, she felt cold and feverish. We again brushed it off, thinking she was just tired and needed to sleep. Sunday came, no fever but some tiny blisters developed on her sole of her foot. We thought she recovered from fever, she should be fine. Went to school on Monday, more rashes on arms and legs and her blisters on one foot seem worse. I told teacher she was a little cranky as she felt pain on her foot. And silly me, I kept thinking it was her shoes that caused the blisters.

Today, as usual, she went to school. Stacy even told me she was happy to be going to school. Ken and I already thought we should take her to the doctor after her school and see what the doctor say. When I picked her up around noon, I was shocked to see her in a tantrum, crying loudly (I mean, really loud and all other children came out to see the commotion) and even rolling on the carpark ground. Yes, I was embarrassed as so many people were watching us and the teacher kept asking her to be quiet. But at the back of my mind, I had a feeling she could be in pain.

Her appointment with the doctor was at 1.30pm (the receptionist told me on phone in French, of course). Ken came home during his lunch hours so that he could drive us to the doctor's. Reached but was told on phone by doctor this time round that consultation hour was at 3.15pm. Sigh... Maybe my French was that bad and I mistook what the receptionist had said. Ken went back office and I had to drive the kids to the doctor at 3.15pm.

So glad to see the doctor but he could only speak French. I brought a little book of basic French to utter a few words on the conditions of Stacy. Hehe... It was really difficult for me, I broke out in sweat.

Doctor suspected Stacy has hand-foot-mouth disease (hfmd) and said it was contagious but could resume school on Thursday. Wow, that was fast! Do you know in Singapore, hfmd) is a serious thing? Apparently, It got so serious, some schools closed down because a lot of children got infected. Toys and furniture have to be sanitize, children's hands are wash very often during these period of time. Children infected have to be at home, no party, no going out, some serious cases have to be admitted to hospital and even parents got infected by their children. Seriously, i do not know much about this hfmd but I know you will get fever, blisters on tongue, hands and legs. And it is painful, you can't eat and drink.

But in France, I heard from a friend, it's minor, closing down of schools are unheard of. Some people have not even heard of hfmd. Hehe, it make Singapore sounds like a third world country. I blame it on the weather and climate. Singapore is humid (more than 95% humidity) and hot, a breeding ground for germs and viruses.

        Her arms covered with red spots

blisters on her foot

Sores on her tongue

... stacy is still energetic. Drawing her face with a magic pen and said she is an elephant. And went on to draw on Erica's face and said she is a monkey. Lol.

I just hope Stacy recover soon. Now Erica is also feeling feverish.

Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival in Toulouse

Today is the chinese Mid-Autumn festival. I was a little homesick...

Every year, I will celebrate by going home to my Parents' house, have dinner with them, 'admire the full moon' and eat mooncakes with my family. 

Chinese people believe a full moon is a symbol of peace, prosperity, and family reunion. On Mid-Autumn Festival night the moon is supposed to be the brightest and fullest, it is often known as the"Day of Reunion" . 

When I went back to Singapore in July, I bought some paper lanterns and my auntie gave the children batteries operated musical lanterns to bring back to Toulouse. I'm glad I did.

Paper lanterns bought from Singapore

Me showing Erica a Paper lantern with a Lighted candle in it

A confused looking Stacy holding on to batteries operated lanterns

Photo of mooncakes and other goodies taken by my brother in Singapore

Photos taken by my brother in Singapore

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 

Preparing School for 3 years old

Summer holiday is ending and we are now preparing stuffs for Stacy to go to school. In France, children go to school at 3 years old. Unlike Singapore, children or even toddlers go to school before  they are even 3. We are anxious parents. Haha

We managed to enroll Stacy in an English and French speaking Montessori school as we thought it will benefit her better as we will still need to go back Singapore after ken's work contract ends. The school fees of cause come with a price - yes, price is money.  We have to scrimp a lot to put her in this school. In France, the privilege of studying in a public French school for young children is free. Private French school is what I heard is around 100 plus Euros. International school is out of question for us as it is very costly. We are definitely lucky to get something 'decent', speak both English and French and 6mins drive from where we stay! Yippee!

So we received this email from the school telling us what to prepare and bring on the first day of school. I'm not sure whether it is like that for most schools but definitely Singapore school system for young children are not so complicated ... Or maybe we are just being 'pampered' in Singapore? I always thought that children just need to show up in school and that's it? No. Haha. Read the list below:

For all the children :

• Slippers, marked with the child's name
• Rain boots, marked with the child's name
• Sneakers and sweat pants for P.E. to be left at school, marked with the child's name
• 2 boxes of tissues
• 2 kitchen rolls

For the 2/3 years old:

• 1 packet of baby wipes
• 1  packet of cotton wool - large square
• 1 napkin with elastic, marked with the child's name
• A change of clothes
• For those who nap, 1 blanket and 1 pillow, marked with the child's name
• 1 small notebook

For the 3/6 years old:

• 2 packets of baby wipes
• 1 napkin with elastic, marked with the child's name
• A change of clothes
• For those who nap, 1 blanket and 1 pillow, marked with the child's name
• 1 plastic folder - A4
• 1 blue plastic folder with plastic sleeves
• 1 red plastic folder with plastic sleeves

Ok, weekends is shopping for the above items. Not that we don't have some of these items but things like slippers, rain boots, sneakers and sweat pants that need to be left in school, surely we need to get extra so that Stacy can wear these during non-school days. I guess stationary shops will run out of blue and red plastic folders as ALL the children needed to buy this. Hehe. 

Another thing on the email, which is very important. It also mentioned buying your child a school insurance and presenting the documents on the first day of school. What?! We got to buy our own insurance? Ok, in Singapore school system, during registration, when the schools request for the child's birth cert, health booklet, etc, they are also using it to buy the child's insurance for you. So we only knew about this recently and only a few days to settle the insurance part before school open on Tuesday! Aiyo!

Stroller or baby carrier?

Today a friend asked whether the use of stroller in Singapore is better or using a baby carrier to get around is a better choice. She asked these questions as it arises from a petition going on the internet about allowing unfolded stroller up into buses. In Singapore, a lot of people take the public transports so at times, it can be really crowded. Of course, the bus company rules that stroller (except wheelchair) must be folded before getting on the bus. Now, when a mother hands are full with shopping bags, carrying the baby, tap the ezlink card, etc etc - the stroller better be a one-hand easy fold version.

When Stacy was born, we used a baby carrier more than the stroller. Singapore has become very crowded with people and pushing a stroller around, especially in a shopping mall is never easy. You got to wait for the lift to go to another floor and the mall could be 4, 5 level high, which means waiting time could be long and when the lift door open, it is crowded with people.  And when Stacy grew too heavy for the baby carrier, husband and I will take turn to carry her - once in awhile use the stroller. So that's why our first stroller was still very new looking.

After Erica was born, we bought a 2nd baby carrier and another easy one-hand fold stroller (we decided to give away the first stroller). Getting around Singapore, in the car, taxi, bus or train - baby carrier still seem to be the easiest for us but not our back and shoulder. Haha.

Until we come to France, every parents seem to be using the strollers. Baby carriers, only seen on foreigners like me. Lol. Everyone or most people have a car, getting around from one point to another with kids were easier. Just pack the stroller in your own car and go. As buses are not as crowded like Singapore, unfolded strollers are welcome on the bus and even trains. I see that it make sense too, especially during Autumn/winter, you will be wearing thick padded winter coat, it is abit uncomfortable to strap babies in the baby carriers.

So I started investing in a double stroller - baby sits infront and toddler sits behind with the option to stand too. Very sturdy stroller, very easy to maneuver the children around. Bad side, is that it is a little bulky to fit in the car. Now another problem comes, Baby Erica has grown and wants to walk on her own and wants to do what Stacy does. Both fight for the seat behind because she can stand on it too. So my grocery time or going to the park with them can take ages to reach....

I use the baby carrier to carry Erica when I take the bus and Stacy will walk. Sometimes, Stacy is really tired and wanted to fall asleep as the bus journey is long but I have to force her to walk home. I felt sorry for her and regret not bring the stroller. But the bus that I usually take, need to climb a flight of stairs, cross the bridge and then reach the bus stop. There is simply no ramp for the stroller. Seriously, it's for the fit and able people or you find an alternate route.

So stroller or baby carrier for me? I simply have no idea which is better