Saturday, February 26, 2011

Defensive Driving course by FootWorks

Some call it Defensive driving, others call it Advanced driving.
Objective is still the same, to allow the driver to get intimate with his ride, and understand how the car behaves during "emergency". Students go through drills to train themselves to react "instinctively" to incidence.

Briefing session for the day. Courses, meal time, and toilet location :p
Organised by FootWorks, the itinerary includes :

1) Shalom - you try to cruise zig zag through obstacles
2) Emergency Brake - understand what is ABS, and application
3) E-brake and swerve - try to avoid impending collision
4) Handbrake Turn - how to swing your car around, Fast!
5) Reverse flick (J turn) - opposite of HandBrake Turn


At Kranji Turf club, cars from all made and drive came for the full day course.

Navigate the Shalom at speed. You have minimum reaction time during swerving intervals!


Instructor show us how easy it is to execute a Handbrake turn. Just hard-right and pull up your handbrake (sounds so simple right)

But how to do a Footbrake turn?
( some MPV comes with Footbrake, instead of Handbrake! )



Waiting in line. Ok, next.

Daddy found an old acquaintance with his GTI :)


Some people think advanced-driving means we want to drive faster and be reckless, because the stunts drills look dangerous! Daddy will recommend this course to friends for the following reasons :

- to discover our weak areas and brush up
- to identify bad driving techniques or seating postures which has been cultivated over years. It is definitely not cool to press your chest 15cm from the steering wheel !

- different cars handle differently. Advanced Driving allows us to understand our cars better. Adrenaline is pumped up during drills, but we are all learning how to handle our cars better.

- most importantly, we "feel" how our car behaves during out-of-control situations. We can train our reflexes to react instinctively during an emergency!

- that extra 1 or 2 seconds can save lives!!


Topless action woohoo!

Are you ready for reverse flick?


Starlet and Forrester does it with gusto (read one wheel in the air!)

Sounds simple, just reverse till 50kmh and do a hard right turn. Your front and butt should have flick 180 degrees.
myspace graphic is done on Gickr.com


Suddenly it rains, but we shall carry on.

A little time trial. We are supposed to combine all the tricks we learn today.
Timing will be taken, to add to the pressure.

Video : how teacher does it


Video : How newbies does it



Video : Daddy had fun with screeching wheels and smelly rubber. Shiok !
The drive looks slow, but Daddy was sweating in the cabin, and there are no time to ponder over your mistakes :p



Now, when can Daddy parallel park in style?


For more information, do drop Chris an email --> niknat@singnet.com.sg
Footworks is also organizing a lot of road trips to Malaysia!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Project Old Playground #5 - Toa Payoh Dragon

From some other playground-passionate bloggers, we decided to attack Toa Payoh one Sunday. Those in the neighbourhood will know what Wen Yi is navigating.


We are going to disturb the neighbourhood again :p
Wen Xin (girl) join us, as she did not want to be left behind.


We found these creatures basking in the hot sun.
#Playground 5a - Lor 7 Block 1 - Animal stools

The kids found shelter under the stools. Super Cute !

Video : round and round


She is not heavy, she is my sister

Humble playground kept the kids entertained for 45min.

Everybody hop on !


#Playground 5b - Lor 6 Block 28 - Dragon with sandpit

This dragon is a short 5 min drive away.

The only difference between Toa Payoh (TP) and Ang Mo Kio dragon, is TP comes with sand.

Sand or no sand, we still had Fun, except princess (so dainty)

Video : Dragon roars !


Daddy love the colourful steps

Dragon conquered !

Across the bridge, lies another iconic dinosaur


#Playground 5c - Lor 6 Block 27 - T Rex and Velociraptors + eggs

Video : Dinosaur hunting !


T Rex is fiercely guarding it's egg from the raptor.

.. then some mischievious kids from Sengkang disturb the dino's playground.

You want Sunny side up or Omelette?

Egg fun !

We got the ingredients for Mummy's prehistoric soup !

We hide, we tunnel, and we jump.


Daddy declare Toa Payoh playground project a big success !



Project Playground #, the oldest playgrounds :
#1 - Dragon Amk - http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2011/01/project-playground-singapores-oldest.html (how our Project was born)

#2 - Elephant Pasir Ris - http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2011/01/project-playground-2-pasir-ris-park.html

# School of Hard Knock Playground exhibitions at Esplanade Tunnel
http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2011/01/m1-singapore-fringe-festival-school-of.html

#3 & 4 Seal Dakota Crescent, and Adventure playground Jalan Tua
http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2011/01/project-old-playground-3-4-airport-road.html

# Some other playground blogs we found along the way
http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2011/02/this-coming-sunday-we-are-roaming-toa.html

#5 - Dragon Toa Payoh and Dinosaurs
http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2011/02/project-old-playground-5-toa-payoh.html

#6 - Pelican at Dover
http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2011/03/project-old-playground-6-dover-pelican.html

#7 - Merry-Go-Round at Tiong Bahru Park
http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2011/03/tiong-bahru-parks-train-and-merry-go.html


More photos of Old playgrounds!
# Our fanpage --> http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.271947186155766.85268.194377613912724
# Our Flickr album --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/41885413@N04/sets/72157626194436982/

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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Golden Village GV family friendly cinemas

Before we become parents, movies was one of our dating options. We can always catch the midnight show, go for supper before walking home.

That was then. Now parents would know how challenging it is to bring your toddlers to a movie.

- Is our child really expected to sit quietly for the next 2 hours.
- Parents might be embarrassed if our kids make too much din during screening and disturb other patrons.
- Are we really going to enjoy a family movie screening?


SPRG is promoting Golden Village's "Mum and Babies" pro-family package. It allows parents to bring their kids to a screen, and Daddy quote from GV website:

"WARNING: Screenings will be held in a conducive environment. Babies crying and running toddlers are to be expected."

How cool is this !
There is even a mini pantry area, where you can make milk or change diapers, with complimentary wet wipes.

Is this for real? (Adult $6, children under 90cm free)
In case anybody is interested, please drop by "GV Plaza or GV Grand" for their screening from now till May.
~~~ ~~~
01 Mar
Gulliver's travel
12 April – How to train a dragon
26 April – Did you hear about the Morgans?
10 May – Toy story 3
24 May – Dear John

~~~ ~~~

Daddy will be accompanying two boys for Gulliver's Travel next Tue.
We do not intend to use GV's pantry service, but no harm experimenting another type of movie setting.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank SPRG's Adlena for informing us about GV's pro-family cinemas. Now, there is another place to visit with the toddlers!

#update 08Mar - read our Gulliver Travel experience @GV

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

When children fall sick, how does Daddy cope

When children are sick, they tend to get closer to Mummy, and they cry easily. Daddy got a few tricks to share, on how to comfort the kids.


Crying is very common, when kids do not know how to express themselves.
Example when they wake up, Xin will be searching up and down for Mummy (who is working).

1) Daddy has to collaborate and help her open up all doors and cabinets, until Xin is convinced Mummy is not at home.

2) Sometimes, a sweet or two can help toddler to settle down.
Lullaby, cartoons, drawing, we need to pull out all the stops to distract her.


3) If all fails, the age old scary-monger kar-kar (monster in closet) trick always works.
4) If your kid is one of a kind, last option is to bring her outdoors for some fresh air :)


So you see, taking care of kids is not so difficult, we just need a Ton of patience.
Video : Teaching Xin how to Share


When Kids have settle down (momentarily) , and are not screaming anymore.
Daddy can confidently sms Mummy "Victory"!
Sometimes Mummy will reply : Daddy has won the battle, but the War is far from over haha!

**note the above methods will fail miserably when two kids are crying together

Monday, February 21, 2011

Batam Indonesia is sleazy ?


Somehow Batam always sound sleazy to Daddy. No Thanks to media's high profile coverage of mistress-villages, and how retirees spent their CPF monies on the island... you get the drift :p


So, when Daddy spotted some friends holidaying in Batam, I was very curious to find out more. Seems like Batam is also famous for Seafood, Massage, and family-friendly resorts !


Read our friends reviews :
Holiday Inn --> http://parentimes.com/?p=11535
Harris --> http://bpdgtravels.blogspot.com/2010/11/batam-trip-harris-resort-day-1-part-1.html


We will be having a short break this coming Mar, if you have more recommendations for us, please drop us a note. Only "healthy" activities will be entertained, we are a family blog haha :p

Credit
cat pic from --&> http://www.guashan.com/openurl.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.massagetherapyfoundation.org%2Fresearch.html

**updated 21Mar2011, we are back
http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2011/03/we-are-back-from-batam-holiday-inn.html
http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2011/03/batam-holiday-inn-day-1.html

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Happy Birthday Mummy!


Mummy's Birthday hooray !

Video : Sing Song

Kids got a lot of cakes for February.

Who want to kiss Mummy :)

Wen Kang volunteers to be our assistant camera man