Better tonight

So Kate was indeed slightly better tonight, than last. After her milk at 10pm (rather late but she was too hyper-active anytime earlier and she adamantly shook her head every time we offered her milk), she took half hour to fall asleep.

In that half hour, she talked to herself, called me and the husband many times, rolled over us many times (we were both playing dead in the darkened room the entire time), climbed off the bed and back on again many times, flung herself on the bed several times, played with the curtains some times, tossed the adult-sized bolster about several times... at least there were no teary wails and frustration.

She's well but her temperature seemed a little high, gotta keep monitoring her.

Seeing red

That's what the husband saw when Kate played with the "safety" nail-trimming scissors for children!

I didn't see it with my own eyes (just as well, I don't think I want to) but the husband told me that Kate cut herself with the scissors today and that she bled and her whole hand was red.

Gulps.

"What was her reaction?" I asked.

"She was still cutting," he said.

Oh boy.

She doesn't seem to be suffering from any trauma or upset or anything really, post the episode. I guess it's great that I wasn't present cos as it is, I seem to be the one most affected!

Unhappy Kate

Kate's been a fitful baby pre-sleep. I'm not sure if it's because she's over-stimulated and/or over-tired, but over the weekend, she's been a very restless and unhappy baby before going to sleep. She cries, she struggles, she wants to walk around and well, she doesn't seem to know what she really wants. All I know is that she is terribly grumpy, very frustrated and very unhappy.

Dear Kate,
I hope you settle down and go to sleep happily like you used to. Is it because Mommy's upset you with me having gone away and come back to you again? You seem confused when you cry and ask for Papa, then me, then Papa, then me repeatedly. Are you feeling uncomfortable/unwell somewhere and are not able to express to us what it is that is causing you distress? The last time you behaved this way, it was when you were ill and teething. Whatever it is, I hope that you feel well again very soon so that you aren't so unhappy. I'm sad seeing you behave in this incoherent manner.

Be happy soon, my dear.

Love, Mommy

Cool weather makes you happier

I really believe that. Cos I was a happy monkey the 4 days that I was in Hong Kong!

Kate, very happy and amused in this luggage-pram thingy at the airport (amazing things that are catered for kids). This was at 7.30am in the morning, btw.

A close-up: "Smile baby!"

After we said our goodbyes at the gates, I headed to purchase travel insurance via the internet terminals. The husband was kindly helping out to ensure that I managed to get coverage and phew, I'm glad I managed to. It's more a safety than a real need, but that's insurance for you. I managed to squeeze in time to pop into the duty-free cosmetic counter and got myself a Dior tinted lipstick. I made it to the gate 15minutes before take-off and my boss was so alarmed that I hadn't boarded that I got a call from her just as I was walking through the gantry to the plane. *oops The flight to Hong Kong was uneventful, and I found the time to myself absolutely luxurious and enjoyable. I caught the movie "The Town" which I enjoyed. The food served was yums and the dessert was Magnum ice-cream! Totally enjoyed it. The flight to Hong Kong is only 3.5hours, painless and swift.

Upon arrival, my colleagues and I headed to the hotel via cab and with an hour+ to spare before the work gig, I headed out to the streets of Tsim Tsha Tshui to revel in the Hong Kong air (and very cool air). Within 50metres of the hotel, I sighted my first Levi's logo on a random banner! Haha I had to take a picture.

Spot the Levi's logo

After roaming the streets for an hour, I was pretty familiar with the general layout of the area. In that hour, I managed to buy 3 pairs of (very cheap) shoes as well as a (rather cheap) scarf.

Happy June, post-shopping. Spot my new scarf around my neck.

Back at the hotel, I washed up and met up with the colleagues and headed for an early dinner. We had tomyam noodles soup. I got to see the Levi's office building (not the office itself, just the building) and we departed from there (a chartered bus) to the event venue.

Now, this event marks the celebration-cum-introduction to the new branding platform that Levi's is going into. It was a fantastic opportunity for me to immerse and experience the brand wholly.

Stage

With Margaret (product manager) & Gina, (my boss, division manager)

I had an early night after the event, and I was up and hitting the gym on Monday morning. I'm so glad that I packed my shoes despite people telling me that I'd not have any time to work-out! The gym was spacious and of hotel-quality, and it was quiet so I felt like it was my personal gym! Awesome. After the work-out, I went for breakfast with my colleagues. It was my first local meal of nai cha, polo bao and dan tart. Then we launched into the first day of work. It was fun and enlightening, opening up my eyes and mind to the possibilities of what can be done; as well as what the brand is all about.

At the end of the day, I headed straight to shop at H&M and went mad shopping for myself, the husband and the baby. I also invested in gifts for friends' children. I then met up with my ex-uni mate, Iva. She came along with her fiance, Daniel (my first German friend) and they shared the happy news that they're tying the knot on 2 April. It was a night of great fun talking and catching up and making a new friend. I've met up with Iva once before since we left school 10 years ago, and that was in Tokyo where I was holidaying and she was studying in 2008.

With Iva. The lovely couple treated me to dinner of Peking duck *yums

Tuesday was a full-day of work. While Monday was more a look-and-see to absorb and watch, Tuesday was the day I had to engage, interact and work through the day for the marketing workshop. It was excellent getting to meet and know the marketeers from all the Asia-Pacific offices, and interacting with them that day. I gained a lot by the end of the day.

Workshop at the W Hotel

After this full-day workshop, I was knackered! I hadn't expected to finish early, and when I did, I decided to venture out to Mongkok on my own. I rang up a local friend at the last minute and he very kindly agreed to meet up with me, together with his wife. That night, I had a late dinner with Andy and we had drinks with his wife, Irene & her girlfriends. I hadn't expected to hang out so late, but by the time we paid up and left it was past midnight.

I spent my last morning in Hong Kong at the hotel gym again. After the work-out, I headed out to the streets to do last-minute shopping. I was driven to the airport and I completed all my shopping there (food items) and it was final call by the time I reached the gates to board! I guess I cut it slightly lean by packing in so much to do but I really needed to eat my dan tart & drink nai cha before I left Hong Kong.

The flight back was great, again. I caught the movie "Convicted" and by the time I cruised back to Singapore, I was energised and eager to see my loved ones.

Great experience, happy moments, awesome trip.

Angsty baby

Simple pleasures

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this work trip to Hong Kong has been awesome in many ways. Not only did I get to immerse myself in new experiences that enrich my understanding and passion for the job, I also totally enjoyed the time outside of work. I hope to have time to jot those memories and moments down, but for now, I have to dedicate time to talk about my favorite foods in Hong Kong; breakfast. Specifically, polo bao, dan tart and nai cha.

I love food and I eat everything, but I think breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. And what's not to like about authentic nai cha & dan tart in the country that makes it so good?

Breakfast on day 2, at a cha can teng: my half-eaten egg tart with the ginormous polo bun. They were not exceptionally good though the egg tart was better because it was served warm. I daren't ask for the polo bun to be warmed up for fear that they'd spit on it or something. The tea was the yummiest item in this meal, which unfortunately does not make a cameo appearance (though you can see a bit of it in the top corner of the pic).

I didn't get to have this breakfast set on day 3, because I was rushing to the work thingy. But, thanks to a very sweet colleague from Malaysia, I got to drink yummy nai cha cos she tapau-ed it for me!

Day 4: I invested time at the gym and shopping, so I didn't manage to eat anything until I hit the airport. I'm pleased to have that 10minutes of quiet time to breathe and enjoy the food - it was truly good.

Warm egg tart bought from a bakery at the airport - it tasted much better than what I had before, the crust was thinner & buttery. I held the egg tart scouting around the place for a coffee-counter and was very pleased to locate one that served local tea. Aaahhh, nai cha with dan tart...

Dear nai cha, I'm sorry that I couldn't finish drinking all of you, & in fact barely drink half a cup. I usually cannot finish a whole cup (and you were pretty much) because I'd get caffeine OD, not to mention that it was already 1pm and I'd have developed a headache as well as not been able to sleep if I'd finished it all. It's not how much I drank, but how much I enjoyed you!

Missing you

It's the third and last night of me being away. As much as it's rather fun & exciting, I'm still looking forward to being back with you two.

See you very soon my babies.

Love!