Long distance relationship

No this is not about Sharon. Of cos it is a long distance relationship for all of us...but today's column is about MY long distance relationship with Iggie. Last night, I was on the phone with Iggie. And I really mean I was on my cellphone in HK, and he is no the cellphone in Singapore. NO webcams.

I mean initially I thought it will be a good idea for me to help Sharon, by talking/entertaining Iggie over Skype in the evening. But since logging into Skype is certainly not as intuitive with picking up the phone, we did it directly over the cellphone. And it was really quite interesting...we talked a little about my day at work, and his day in school...and what we are doing now...of course, it is not a "focussed" chat, with Iggie constantly drifting into other activities. At one point, I was speaking for quite a few minutes without response, only noting that he was on his bottle.

Point here is...it was really quite an interesting (and long) chat! But I think we probably pushed it a little too far, when Sharon went for a shower...That was after I was on the phone with him for twenty minutes??? Sharon left Iggie in the bedroom to speak with me on the phone. But soon after, I found myself holding on the phone for a good five to eight minutes ALL alone ("me simply saying..Iggie...are you there...where are you...")...I figured he must have been really bored and left the room to play somewhere else:P

Struck by "helpless"

My dear wife went back to work on Monday...yes, THE DAY for us has arrived. On Tuesday, after exchanging a couple of emails with her, I found myself agonisingly stuck in drafting an email reply to her. It was no longer than two lines...but I was stuck on my keyboard for a good fifteen minutes. On one end, I know Sharon is stressed to the brink, trying to balance the challenges from new job scope and responsibilities, and on the other trying to deliver herself to our boys...and doing so without help. And of course I can only say I love you from afar. Whilst I meant every ink droplets forming the word "LOVE", how much can does it help? Does it make her feel better?

As helpless as I am now, I shall ask for, and pray for, everything at home to be fine. Iggie, Nick...Daddy knows that you will join me in making all this possible...love and appreciate your dear mother...for we could not have asked for anything more.

Waking up alone...

Waking up this morning was a little difficult. I have neither bored Nick wanting some human to talk to, nor Iggie asking Daddy to make milk...so I slept in till now (12.30pm). The wierd thing is...I somewhat prefer the former???

What are those moments...
1. When Iggie first ran out from the arrival gate, I was so thrilled. I was actually living the scene that is always played out on TV...I waited for almost an hour before my pretty wife and healthy kids appeared from the arrival gate. Healthy could have been a little understatement, because I almost could not recognise Iggie, for Iggie looked a little .... too chubby:) But smartly and cutely so...
2. The immediate "horror" theerafter, as we made our way home. Iggie fell asleep after holding up his tired body to enjoy the flight...and we had to wake him up to take a taxi ride home. So he went into his whiny self...whilst Nick demanded to be fed...and Mr Daddy could not help in any feasible way...
3. We went for our first family dinner in HK...and we chose a very modest setup...a local porridge stall. Nothing fanciful, but it was the first in HK...
4. The beginning of the stack of credit card transactions that I will be confronted with very soon:P ......
5. The wonderful times we had in Disneyland. The long ride from Sai Wan Ho to Sunny Bay... and many delicious meals we have at the cafe and restaurants. Of course, how can we miss Iggie's favourite....nooo not exactly Mickey Mouse....it's the train ride in Disneyland! For the record, we went to three times (or was it four...) to Disneyland.

I think I will lose count of all these moments. But these are my top three:
A. When Iggie was so angry with Daddy, for restricting his bathtub time..."Daddy, I dun wan you to come near me. If you do, I will throw you into the box, close the cover, and PUT A STICKER on it...so that you will not be able to come out????"
B. Iggie watching Polar Express for probably the eighth time of the day (yes, just in a day...we probably lost count on a cumulative basis), and yet being so engaged in every detail. Think the sweetest moment is when he sings along a segment of the show (alright, I have not even watched the whole show even once...)
C. Iggie holding back his tears...and crying out loud when the show ends...(WHAT SHOW)....Finding Nemo... yes, he does that even watching it the second time. According to Sharon, Iggie is upset that Coral (Nemo's mother) was eaten up...and he is also upset that Nemo's Daddy let Nemo touch the bottome of the boat...and Nemo got caught by the Dentist later. So for the whole night, and morning after, Iggie refused to talk to me...???

Of course, you may think I am all Iggie...My interaction with Nick nick is not sooo little okie...I mean I wipe his backie (once)...I touch his "poo" almost everyday (since his runny poo always leek out from his pampers)....and he loves to munch munch and suckle on my hand.

But guess what is the loveliest moment - EVERY!

The Next Moment - 1600 hrs

I knew that it will be a hard moment, when all the dust fall, when all's quiet again. But I did not know it will hit me even earlier than the actual word "bye bye daddy" reaches my ears...

Yesterday, when Sharon and I were getting the bags ready for the flight home today, Iggie decided to also pack his little bag. So he stuffed it full of his favourite - 香香bolster, blanket, toy cars, telescope (make belief using calendar), straw and toothpick...then he wore the same outfit that I received him just a fortnight ago at the airport...and before he could say anything, I found my eyes welling it fast. And when he said "Bye bye Daddy, take care...", I was already sobbing pretty uncontrollably.

And this morning, when we were about to leave the house to head for the IFC city check-in, the whole emotional wave hit me under the belt, and I found myself sobbing off in the kitchen...for I know all these mess will be gone...soon. YES I am addicted to whining Iggie, crying Nick Nick, soiled pampers and washing their pieces and pieces of clothes.

In two weeks, my apartment went through an overhaul and a fine test-run. I now have 3 TVs, 1 steamer, toys, books, female clothes, shoes, kids clothes...and we lived the last two weeks on a totally different platform - what I shall call - as a family.

Meals were cooked by Sharon for Iggie, Sharon's favourite Japanese fried rice and Iggie's favourite grilled salmon were eaten at our lovely dining table (converted from our TV delivery box...) and Polar Express played out on our new TV at the background...Sharon asked me if I would be bored rushing home everyday if she were shift up here...and why would I be??? She's concerned that I should lead a more "enjoyable" life whilst seconded in Hong Kong; drinks after work, eat-out with colleagues, etc. But but but... That's not what a husband and father with two kids have in mind... I can go to the playground every night, I can go to Disneyland every weekend, I can watch Polar Express whenever Iggie wants...but I wun need to and will not want to be drinking everynight (ok except for a Friday night cool-off drinks)...

So that leads me back to...the EMOTION again. We checked in our luggages early at IFC this afternoon, and settled into a Viet restaurant... The funny thing was that both Sharon and I chose this restaurant...and it was certainly a good choice. Nice decor, nice sittings, and excellent food... Sharon, Iggie and I enjoyed the place and food soooo much. Anyway, I kind of knew tears would not come at the airport today, and indeed when Iggie said bye bye and take care, my tears held up. I knew I will be more worried if Sharon made it to the boarding gate fine with the two boys...But once they left, and I headed to the Airport Express...my tear glands just released the dam gates, and I was sobbing once again. For you see, it is the start of "reminders"...we went riding on the MTR so very often, till Iggie learnt how to say "请不要靠近车门...Please stand clear of the door...", and I was aptly reminded of Iggie when I stand waiting to board the airport express. And every step along the way home reminded me of Sharon and kids...at the Maxim cake shop at Central-HK Interchange (when Iggie threw tantrum and got scolded by Sharon when we were heading to Disneyland...), the last carriage that we took so that we have some space for the push chair and Sharon with Nick....

And yes, I reached home sound and safe, but not before another wave of emotion hit me when I started to pack up the "mess" left behind...arrrgghh...and when I finally spoke with Sharon at 2045hrs. knowing that she and kids survived the flight... I was again crying off as I spoke with her, hearing Iggie on the background wanting to tapian, and Nick nick sleeping off from the medicine he took on the flight... All's quiet again at Unit D. 43 F, Tower 1, Grand Promenade...

The Moment - 1515 hrs

I am holding my breath...imaging Sharon flying now with our two boys now...in another two-and-half hours, I will be carrying our boys in the airport!!! I am trying my best to keep my emotions down, but how can I? But alas, a conference call just got wedged into 1600...which means I will have a HIGH moment, and immediately have to rein in my happiness to attend the conference call. To discuss accounting issues, what else:p

Iggie is so special :)

I know this is an oft said statement. But I have proof that Iggie is really special. As the arrival date is getting closer, I decided that I could not just do my search after work. So today, I further "fine-tuned" my routine, by including a quick hunt after lunch-bite (no it was not pret sandwich today). Having decided to splash $350 for Iggie's potty, I went on to track down one of the last, but very important item - his toys!!!

Well, my apartment is understandably deviod of toys...and it is not practical to bring his toys over as well...so Sharon suggested I buy something related to his latest love - POLAR EXPRESS. Sharon just bought him the POLAR DVD, so that he can watch over and over and over again (isn't that Sharon...anyway). And she went on to tell Iggie that there is a HK POLAR EXPRESS...so my task is to look for toys related to it.

BUT..and this is a big BUT...POLAR really did not have any spin-off merchandise. I walked the big stores, specialist stores, kids store - NOUGHT. I googled "polar express merchandise" a while ago, and I finally confirmed it...There really wasn't anything, other than the obligatory cup. Then it struck me that when the film was released, it only garnered "ahem" modest viewings....So isn't Iggie special....his acquired choices in films...Did I also mention one of his favourite animal is the Alligator???

A potty for you?

I started this week by ditching the "lifestyle" I led for the past three months... I started going home early - left office for the past two days at 1900 hrs.

You see, I am like a born-again Daddy. I am so very excited about this Friday, seeing Sharon and kids at HKIA. For so many months, I am just waiting for this day; for them to be with me in HK. I mean, every single decision had been made for the family since I arrived...the choice of apartment, the furnitures (or the lack of it, I should add), etc. So I am determined to ensure every detail is worked out before they arrive. VISA checked, medical card checked, kicthen appliances checked...and the list goes on.

But Mr Potty is still missing...and I am keen to nail him down tonight. Well, my efforts paid off finally as I cornered Ah Boon a few hours ago...Ah Boon was practically screaming for me to take him home...but for a price of HK$300+ He may be too pretty for one to take a dump on it (But his name surely does not complement the clean design - I mean, "BOON"??? come on...http://www.booninc.com/potty.html)

Anyway, at that price, I decided to leave it alone for the time being, and went ahead to locate Ms Balneum (Moisturiser) and Ms Eucerin (Bath oil). Elegant names they have, but surely it was hard for me to ask directions from my friendly Chinese dispensaries at Shau Kei Wan. Tonight, I walked the entire main-street visiting close to six dispensaries, and none of them carried the brands Balneum and Eucerin. But all of them were only too eager to help..."BAL meh ah?....U meh ah?...." In my limited Cantonese, I thanked them and moved on.

So here I am, checking on the internet and "mums & paps" discussion threads, looking up where in HK do they carry Balneum and Eucerin. Not much luck though, but it was evident from the discussion threads that we are not alone in endorsing these two brands. I am sure I have seen it...was it in the clinic>>>Hmm the hunt continues...and I am sure Ah Boon will be in my dreams too...

INSTANT weight GAIN program ...

whilst the world goes crazy about losing weight and many offering instant weight loss programs / formulas... i have got an instant weight gain program here!!!

yes! you heard me right! right before our very eyes ... everyday the change is noticable!! ... just take a look at the before and after photos!

so what's the secret formulae? ... well, take a bath tub, fill it with 3inches of cool water, add a drop of Johnson & Johnson Top to Toe, add another 1 inch of water, mix it up (give it a good swirl), and finally insert "object" into mixture and wait for 3 minutes .... right before your eyes the object will change ... repeat process everyday for 1 month ... to further enhance the effect, ensure there is singing and talking to the object before, during and after treatment.

ta-da!!! INSTANT weight GAIN!!... and as you can see, i have a very VERY happy customer here!!! hahaha!! and testimonials from past customer - refer to picture with red tub!







its amazing how they change day by day ... often times i think we have missed out on the details even when we are with them everyday ... they grow without us knowing ... and it never fails to amaze me when iggie suddenly repeats something i just said .. and sometimes it is not what i want him to learn! ha!

in the speed that we fly through the day, we often forget to stop and watch these miracles that happen right before us ... so today i am going to relax, stop, and watch my own miracles ... what about you?