The Boy in The Hat Part II

This was Asher's Christmas hat escapade, but here's another unexpected one!

He may have heard several Michael Jackson songs, but I really don't think he's seen a picture of MJ. Nevertheless seems to know of the MJ-style :)

Asher picked up the plastic container which he normally pretends is a steering wheel, and decided today that it was a hat! We find that with Asher, we're always asking ourselves, "Why bother buying toys?" :)












That's something I've been noticing lately - he's able to generalise and extend his knowledge of something to other objects. Anything round became a steering wheel (this container, a coaster). Then later on, anything at all could be a steering wheel (a square container cover, a toy chair even!). A ball can become an apple (he'd pretend to eat it), and he can 'eat' the pictures from his books ('grab' the picture and 'eat' it, very cute to watch) :)

I think this is something I appreciate, cos I often feel that the newer toys sometimes limit children in that it dictates to them what this or that button must do, the keys of the piano must play a tune instead of just a note (this one I really don't get), etc. I like the toys that leave room for imagination, and everyday home objects fall into this category :) I've noticed Asher seems to prefer (maybe cos that's what he's mainly been supplied with), toys that allow him to decide how he wants to employ it, instead of being rigid in its use.

Having said that, some commercial toys are really good. Case in point, the evergreen, and always wonderful LEGO! I remember spending hours playing with those when I was younger. Am super keen to get Asher started on Duplo sometime, and eventually move on to Lego when he's older. All in good time :)

Bolivian Baroque

It was meant as a treat for Jon & I. I booked tickets to Bolivian Baroque: Music from the Missions of Chiquitos and Moxos Indians concert in Singapore at the Esplanade Concert Hall. It was performed by Britain's period classical group Florilegium and several Bolivian Soloists.

I had heard on the radio that the music was as stirring as some of the 'greats' in the classicial music world, so was interested to go and listen to them. It was a one night only show, and I was surprised to see that the ticket sales were so poor. When we got there we were told by the ushers that they were 'dressing down' the house, so we got a ticket upgrade! Great for us! And the first time I've experienced such a thing in Singapore. I remember in London we regularly got pushed up whenever there were empty seats in front. But it really was very empty. The attendees filled up mainly the stall and a few of the circle 1 seats. Which is also okay for us, cos it made the performance more intimate, but I wondered how the performers felt.

Anyway, the music was spritely and as they played I had scenes of ladies and gentlemen in their elaborate costumes dancing in a castle somewhere in England in the 17th Century. I particularly enjoyed their pastoral pieces (can't rem the title right now, will go dig it up), and absolutely loved their encore piece which was a rendition of a traditional Bolivian song. That tune stuck in my head of most of the night after the concert.

Besides the music, I loved watching the musicians perform. The other concerts I've been to usually had a conductor directing the orchestra. But this was a small group with no conductor. Instead, through nods of their heads, or just looking at each other's eyes they'd coordinate and play together. They were animated too! Almost like watching a dance (but of course much less feet movement). It was music and passion mixed into one. There has to be passion for them to decide to devote their life to the study of period music. The violinists (Bojan Cicic and Jennifer Morsches) in particular were wonderful to watch. They really had chemistry on stage. And Ashley Solomon (the Director of Florilegium) truly brought the recorder to life! I remember playing the recorder in primary school, and I could never make it sound like that! He was such a beautiful flute player too, handling the instrument with a light and expert touch.

The Bolivian singers were varied in their styles, but complemented one another well. The complexity of some of the vocal arrangements made the singers very much a part of the orchestra. It's was really a case of their voices being an instrument.

I'm glad we went and had a sneak peak into the world of Bolivian baroque music that was lost to the world for such a long time, and has now be resurrected for the enjoyment of all!

Don't Eat the Towel!

Who would have thought that statement would make Asher chuckle non-stop? :)

JJSB took this video last night after dinner of Asher laughing away as I tried to take away the towel he was chewing. It wasn't exactly the cleanest towel in the world, but he insisted on chewing it anyway.

Giggling Rampage

Jane passed me some pictures from infantcare when she went to pic up Titus the other day, and she snapped some pics for me of Asher giggling away as the teachers and her played catching with him :) In her words, he apparently went on a "giggling rampage" around the play area :)






















Whew...tired out

Mindy's Wedding

Wedding number 2 of 2010 was Mindy's. My mum helped to watch Asher that night, so I was free to enjoy dinner and conversation with my friends. At Priscilla's wedding, if you recall, I was hardly at the table. I really had a ton of fun that night chatting with the girls.

We had never met Mindy's husband before, but through their interaction we could all tell that they were a perfect match for each other. And when we shook hands with the groom at the end of the dinner, I think most of us said, "glad to finally meet you!" :)))



Me and the girls before dinner. See Mindy in her gorgeous gown?





Plenty of conversation























A group shot for keeps!

Iris & Colin's Wedding

Most people usher in the New Year with a series of celebrations. In out case, it was a series of wedding celebrations! 1st Jan, Iris's church wedding; 2nd Jan, their wedding dinner; 3rd Jan Mindy's wedding.

Iris & Colin have been together a long time, and it's sweet to see them finally get married. It was particularly sweet and meaningful when they sung a song together about building a loving Christian home :)










Galilee Church was dressed so beautifully in pink and purple flowers. Asher was fascinated with the balls of flowers and after the wedding was happily walking up and down the aisle spinning the flower balls.



















"Bird!" Asher would say.

With the pretty bride










Dinner the next day was a hilarious affair. The company at my table was fun. Joe Mok, as always, was ever so sporting and help the bride and groom with a game by acted out some verses from Song of Solomon with gusto! Who'd have thought the bible would be great for charades!

Infantcare Pictorial Update

Little monkey

Christmas party in school complete with gift exchange :)