bayswater

April 2014

E, the master planner for all our weekends booked two tickets to Kew Gardens for Easter Sunday. Apparently, they had some activities going on like an Easter Egg Hunt, Charlie and Chocolate Factory- Design your chocolate and a few others. I was quite excited about it but the wet weather was just a dampener to everything.

We only managed to reach Kew Gardens by 1pm and by then, the egg hunt was already over. Not much of a loss for us since the weather was not very kind- it had been raining the entire morning. Boohoo.

My two cuties!

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CLIMBERS AND CREEPERS AT KEW GARDENS

As it was raining rather heavily, we spent most of our time at Climbers and Creepers, an indoor playground at Kew Gardens. The kids had fun. The thing about kids is that they are satisfied very easily.

Family selfie!

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DESIGN YOUR CHOCOLATE BAR WORKSHOP

Ryan enjoyed himself the most at the ‘Create your own Willy Wonka-inspired chocolate bar’ workshop. After designing his chocolate, he insisted that we asked the chef to take at look at his final product, which of course came along with praises that he love.

Gillian’s chocolate and I did the work since my baby girl is too young for such intricate work.

Ryan’s master piece.

Little boy, proud of his chocolate design.

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WHITE PEAKS CAFE

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After our break, we continued on our adventure as we thought the raining was getting lighter. Unfortunately, we thought wrongly. Initially, it started off as a light drizzle but the raindrops came faster and heavier pretty soon.

Managed to visit Kew Palace, which used to house George III during his infamous episodes of ‘madness’.

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Just as we wanted to leave Kew Gardens just as walking around under the rain with two young children proved to be impossible, the rain became torrential. We had to take shelter at the indoor playground again. Baby Gillian and Ryan were definitely happy with that decision.

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We only left Kew Gardens as Creepers and Climbers was closing at 5.30pm. On our way home, E suggested that we bought a roasted duck from Four Seasons for dinner and that was the best decision for the entire day. Boy, that was yummy. As for Ryan, he enjoyed his occasional Chu Xian Yi Ding and Baby Gillian had her instant Ella food pouches. Although we did very little that Sunday, it was sure draining with such a lousy weather.

While the wet weather did cast a cold blanket over our plans, it was still nice for Ryan and Gillian. Both of them looked like they liked Creepers and Climbers and they definitely loved the chocolate workshop where they could taste some sinful decadence. But perhaps, the day was still perfect for them since their dad and mom had to spend the entire time with time, playing with them, carrying them, pushing the stroller…. Just being by their side and not fiddling with our phones and being preoccupied. (And, Mister E, don’t be so sensitive. I am not referring to you. Hahahahha.)

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December 2013

The first London post is surprisingly going to be about Four Seasons, a reputed Chinese restaurant in London. We went there on our second night in London. The standard and quality of Chinese food served at Four Seasons was impressive! The Peking duck in particular was so yummy!

Me and Lil’ Ryan, preparing to leave the hotel for dinner.
(Dressing the kids up for London is still a chore. Just imagine layering the Ryan AND Gillian. Followed by myself. Absolute madness. Back home in Singapore, Ryan is not one of those dress-y kids. He loves to be just wearing a top and his diapers. Initially, I was worried that Ryan would be resistant to wearing his jacket and all. Apparently, kids are really adaptable. When we came out of Heathrow Airport, it was freezing and Ryan actually requested to put on his jacket! Wow wow!)

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Us, on the tube to Bayswater for dinner. It is convenient to travel on the tube without kids. With kids(one weighing around 8ishkg and the other is 15ishkg), two diaper bags, one huge stroller(not the lightweight umbrella type but a Quinny Zapp) and flights and flights of stairs, taking a tube was a back breaking job. Thankfully, there were two men- Mister E and my dad around to carry most of the heavy-weight stuff.

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Making our way to Four Seasons. You can see how I was carrying Baby Gillian in the i-angel carrier(strapped with a wind stopper) and holding Lil’ Ryan. For the next two years, I will somehow develop some strong back and arm muscles. (-_-)”’ If I am not wrong, it was only 5ish in the evening but the sky was already dark.

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Finally!
Spot E and Ryan in matchy-matchy jackets from Uniqlo!
(Thanks to Evie and her beautiful friend in helping us to get our winter items at a discounted rate!)

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Looking at all these photos just make me miss my family so much more. It has been two days since they returned to Singapore but it just feels like yesterday. We spent 22 days together in the London apartment, seeing each other every morning when we wake up and before we sleep. *sigh* I miss them so much.

Basically, when you have two kids and winter, it is very very very difficult to dress up. This is a concept that I think most people(or is it just Kimberly) who finds it difficult to comprehend. Kimberly feels that I should put in more effort in dressing up or possibly slabbing on some makeup on my face.

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Food peektures!

Seafood Noodles.
We ordered Hor Fun as well but I suppose Kimberly forgot to take pictures of it.
Both noodles were so so so good. The prawns in it were very succulent.

Stir-fried beef.

Crab meat and fish maw soup. It may look ordinary but it is definitely one of the best soup I have ever tried in my 29 years of life!

Who ordered vegetables? E did. Hmm… Nice, according to E and my mother. But I am not much a fan of greens. Hmm…

Peking Duck- Perfect. The best I ever tasted.

Ryan enjoys helping everyone but himself but himself wrap their Peking Duck.

Baby Gillian munching on cucumber.

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After the heavy dinner, we had a short stroll to Hyde Park. Did not manage to make it to Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park because it was freezing and the kids were asleep. Took the tube back to the apartment.