Exams Are Over!

Final examinations for Big Bee were over 2 weeks ago, and we rejoiced jovially. Not that we were cramming and mugging in a last minute way, as I prefer a consistent approach to revision. But it was liberating not to worry about academic homework and just indulged in whatever we wanted! 

Hence, we enjoyed a marvellous weekend - and an extremely busy one too! Here were what we did: 

Saturday, 15 October

1) Big Bee's ballet open house

She will be taking her Grade 3 CSTD exams next month, and moving on to Grade 4 next year. Time truly passes fast! In Grade 3, her solo sequence was a lot more complex, and the main tenet of performance ballet must be showcased - that brilliant, glorious, carefree dancer smile. I remember my younger days as a dancer in school when a megawatt smile could easily distract an audience from wrong dance steps! However, Big Bee, being at a self-conscious age, was so reluctant to smile, so she was dancing the entire sequence with her usual serious yet sweet look. Let's hope she puts on a big smile for the examiner in a few weeks' time! 

2) Shopping! 

We had an early scrumptious Mexican lunch, and brought the Bees shopping in Plaza Singapura, replacing their old shoes and stocking up on cute stationery. The Bees were ecstatic, although I was having a hard time controlling shopaholic Little Bee who wanted to buy almost everything she fancied! I had to request that she learned to make decisions and choose her purchases wisely. 

3) Delightful Afternoon Tea

Shopping was indeed tiring work, so the Bees were fatigued by 3pm, during which we chanced upon a lovely, cosy cafe where we had a peaceful and relaxing afternoon. The Bees were lounging on the comfortable sofas, whereas Hubby and I could sip our refreshing Moroccan mint tea in serene repose. They had both reached a stage when it was such fun chatting and bantering with them, and I felt like friends with them! 

4) Movie Time! 

After tea, we adjourned for a 4.20pm movie - Johnny English Reborn! The girls were thrilled and were enthralled throughout the entire movie. They were squirming with anxious anticipation over some thrilling and suspenseful parts, which was really amusing to Hubby and me.

Sunday, 16 October

1) We woke up bright and early for a breakfast at Rider's Cafe, where we munched on delicious fried eggs and bread, sipped coffee and stared with captivation at the myriad horses around us. 

2) We stopped by Botanic Gardens for a little while, and wandered along the sprawling verdant meadow beside the tranquil lake where we used to breakfast beside little cygnets. We decided to amble towards the new Botanic Gardens MRT and took a ride on the Circle Line spontaneously, much to the Bees' delight!

3) We took about 3 stops to Bishan - just a swift ten minutes! - and strolled gleefully around Junction 8 for a little while before heading back, still amazed at how fast we could reach Bishan from Botanic Gardens. The Circle Line was so new and uncrowded, and the Bees enjoyed themselves tremendously. 

4) Headed home for lunch, before scooting out in the afternoon to my in-laws' house for an afternoon visit, where the Bees frolicked and pranced around with their thrilled grandparents.

5) Went to our old regular restaurant haunt by the beach at South Changi (which had recently been renovated), and were captivated by the boundless sea that strayed right up to the diners, as well as the enchanting lavender-clad twilight that was mysteriously descending on us. Dined on yummy Indonesian food. 

What a f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c weekend, and we need not even go for a holiday, as we could get all these fun in Singapore! Will write about some of these places in more detail soon.