Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Turkish Crash Test Dummies
Having lived in Istanbul for more than 19 months already, I thought I'd seen the worst drivers possible.
I kid you not, these are daily sights on Istanbul roads. As funny and incredulous as they sound, they are true!
Cars REVERSING on long stretches of highway, in the middle of SPEEDING traffic, just so they can take the exit they missed. Never mind that the last exit was more than 500m behind.
Fully loaded dump trucks speeding so fast (100km/h), with their cargo, often sand or gravel UNCOVERED so it's flying and spilling all over the road.
People driving while holding babies/children IN THEIR LAPS.
Well, on Thursday, here's what I saw on the way home from town. Luckily I had my camera with me!
No door + no seat belt = crash test dummies!
I kid you not, these are daily sights on Istanbul roads. As funny and incredulous as they sound, they are true!
Cars REVERSING on long stretches of highway, in the middle of SPEEDING traffic, just so they can take the exit they missed. Never mind that the last exit was more than 500m behind.
Fully loaded dump trucks speeding so fast (100km/h), with their cargo, often sand or gravel UNCOVERED so it's flying and spilling all over the road.
People driving while holding babies/children IN THEIR LAPS.
Well, on Thursday, here's what I saw on the way home from town. Luckily I had my camera with me!
No door + no seat belt = crash test dummies!
Friday, February 6, 2009
My 1st Birthday Cake & Yu Sheng!
Hello all!
It's Julien again. Now that I'm back in Istanbul with Mummy, Daddy and Cookie, I really miss my family in Singapore! Especially Mama and Kong Kong.
Here are some photos from my 1st birthday party! Koo Koo Mark and Ee Ee Wendy bought me a yummy chocolate cake and Chunky Munky ice cream! But Mummy didn't let me eat any! Hmmmph! She says I'm too young, so I was a bit grumpy. (see my scowl?) But when Mummy was not looking I tried to sneak some cake! Too bad she caught me ;p
Hmmph! Why don't I get to eat my cake?
Me trying to sneak some cake!
After my birthday, we also celebrated my first Chinese New Year before we left Singapore! Wow! The yu sheng was bigger than I was! Since I'm a bit too short to do the lo hei, Mummy helped me with the chopsticks. (But I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon!)
It's Julien again. Now that I'm back in Istanbul with Mummy, Daddy and Cookie, I really miss my family in Singapore! Especially Mama and Kong Kong.
Here are some photos from my 1st birthday party! Koo Koo Mark and Ee Ee Wendy bought me a yummy chocolate cake and Chunky Munky ice cream! But Mummy didn't let me eat any! Hmmmph! She says I'm too young, so I was a bit grumpy. (see my scowl?) But when Mummy was not looking I tried to sneak some cake! Too bad she caught me ;p
Hmmph! Why don't I get to eat my cake?
Me trying to sneak some cake!
After my birthday, we also celebrated my first Chinese New Year before we left Singapore! Wow! The yu sheng was bigger than I was! Since I'm a bit too short to do the lo hei, Mummy helped me with the chopsticks. (But I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon!)
Saturday, January 17, 2009
I'm one month old!
Hallo everyone!
This is Julien writing.
I'm sneakily typing this on Mummy's Powerbook while she is taking a nap.
(I wonder why Mummy is always zonked out whereas I never want to sleep! Sleep is sooo overrated.)
I'm one month old today! Yippeeee!
Very soon I'll get my licence to ride around in the big boys car seat.
Although it's MY birthday today, I gave Mummy a big BIG present...the BIGGEST, smelliest, yellowest POO ever!
Thick, gooey and overflowing.
WOW, she sure was overjoyed when she saw my gift.
She was SO worried cos I haven't pooed for 6 days and it was freaking her out.
So I thought I'd give her a surprise today.
Kong Kong was so happy too..because he came home from hospital today after having his first round of anti-cancer treatment.
He had to stay there for 5 days and he said he missed me so much. He was also so happy I pooed that he wants to buy a cake for me to celebrate. (Hahah...my Kong Kong is so funny!)
Anyway, for all my adoring fans, here are more pics of me. Yes I can read! I'm a big boy. (well I just look at the pictures really, Mummy reads the words out loud for me)
Hmmm....maybe I should make the tongue thing my trademark. I was already doing it in Mummy's tummy!
Ta ta for now!
Julien :)
This is Julien writing.
I'm sneakily typing this on Mummy's Powerbook while she is taking a nap.
(I wonder why Mummy is always zonked out whereas I never want to sleep! Sleep is sooo overrated.)
I'm one month old today! Yippeeee!
Very soon I'll get my licence to ride around in the big boys car seat.
Although it's MY birthday today, I gave Mummy a big BIG present...the BIGGEST, smelliest, yellowest POO ever!
Thick, gooey and overflowing.
WOW, she sure was overjoyed when she saw my gift.
She was SO worried cos I haven't pooed for 6 days and it was freaking her out.
So I thought I'd give her a surprise today.
Kong Kong was so happy too..because he came home from hospital today after having his first round of anti-cancer treatment.
He had to stay there for 5 days and he said he missed me so much. He was also so happy I pooed that he wants to buy a cake for me to celebrate. (Hahah...my Kong Kong is so funny!)
Anyway, for all my adoring fans, here are more pics of me. Yes I can read! I'm a big boy. (well I just look at the pictures really, Mummy reads the words out loud for me)
Hmmm....maybe I should make the tongue thing my trademark. I was already doing it in Mummy's tummy!
Ta ta for now!
Julien :)
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Facing the Big C
On New Year's Eve, my Dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 liver cancer. The doctors give him 6 months.
They can't operate because the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
His options are to try a new type of radio therapy...SIR SPHERES.. where the radioactive material in injected into the cancerous mass. At the same time, he will also take an oral drug which acts like chemotherapy to treat the lymph nodes.
The news came as a huge shock to us. Totally unexpected.
About a month ago, Daddy had gone for a routine health screening bcos he complained about pains in his stomach. Which turned out to be 2 ulcers.
But the screening also showed up a mass in his liver, which we now know is cancer.
The doc told us it is caused by Hepatitis B.
Cancer must be the sneakiest disease on the planet...it just creeps up on you and throws U a whammy.
Dad has been trying to remain positive and focus on recovery rather than the negative.
I guess as with many diseases, the human spirit plays the biggest part in recovery.
No matter what doctors may say, the will to live is what matters the most.
Above all, there is always hope.
They can't operate because the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
His options are to try a new type of radio therapy...SIR SPHERES.. where the radioactive material in injected into the cancerous mass. At the same time, he will also take an oral drug which acts like chemotherapy to treat the lymph nodes.
The news came as a huge shock to us. Totally unexpected.
About a month ago, Daddy had gone for a routine health screening bcos he complained about pains in his stomach. Which turned out to be 2 ulcers.
But the screening also showed up a mass in his liver, which we now know is cancer.
The doc told us it is caused by Hepatitis B.
Cancer must be the sneakiest disease on the planet...it just creeps up on you and throws U a whammy.
Dad has been trying to remain positive and focus on recovery rather than the negative.
I guess as with many diseases, the human spirit plays the biggest part in recovery.
No matter what doctors may say, the will to live is what matters the most.
Above all, there is always hope.
Friday, December 26, 2008
A Star Is Born
Astrophysics tells us that a star starts out as a black hole in the universe in an area where a mass has formed to such a great amount that its gravitational pull becomes immense. So powerful is this force that even light particles at their high speeds-286,000 miles per second, cannot escape it and are drawn to the mass. Eventually a massive explosion occurs, changing the solid matter into a brilliant fireball and a a STAR is born.
In this season of Advent, exactly a week before Christmas, amidst an explosion of emotions, a universe of choices, a milky way of tears and a supernova of love, our own little star shone his light into our world.
Meet our son,
JULIEN ANDRE CHASSIN
Born 17 December 2008
In Singapore
At 4.15pm
Weighing 3.97kg
Measuring 51.5cm
Mummy and Baby's First Kiss
What a big strong little boy!
In dreamland....
Some privacy please paparazzi!
My favourite photos of Julien to date...they look so serene and contented together, my two boys :)
To the AP people at TAG HEUER, listen up!...Ditch Lewis Hamilton & Uma Thurman....here are the models for your next ad campaign..the Chassin boys!
In this season of Advent, exactly a week before Christmas, amidst an explosion of emotions, a universe of choices, a milky way of tears and a supernova of love, our own little star shone his light into our world.
Meet our son,
JULIEN ANDRE CHASSIN
Born 17 December 2008
In Singapore
At 4.15pm
Weighing 3.97kg
Measuring 51.5cm
Mummy and Baby's First Kiss
What a big strong little boy!
In dreamland....
Some privacy please paparazzi!
My favourite photos of Julien to date...they look so serene and contented together, my two boys :)
To the AP people at TAG HEUER, listen up!...Ditch Lewis Hamilton & Uma Thurman....here are the models for your next ad campaign..the Chassin boys!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Dum dee dum STILL WAITING
Our little baby boy is still not out yet.
Am now 41 weeks and 2 days.
Will see Dr Chong 2mrw and he will start induction by sweeping the membranes.
After the drama of last week (trying to sort out JF's flights was a nightmare cos the Turkish SQ office was CLOSED THE WHOLE BLOODY week thanks to the Bayram (Hari Raya Haji) and SQ in Singapore codn't get in touch with them AT ALL) we had to lose both JF's air tickets and he thankfully sorted his work schedule and got his boss blessing to stay on with me in SG till baby comes. PHEW.
He was supposed to leave on 12 Dec and back again in SG 22 Dec. So now he's staying right thru til 3 Jan.
We have tried everything over the past week that's supposed to induce labour:
1. Spicy Food (had Indian food, nasi lemak with super hot sambal, more curry, fresh cut chill....)
2. Lots of walking & squatting (gravity helps) and rolling on my birth ball
3. Eating a TON of pineapple
4. Religiously drinking Clarysage tea (thanks Jana!)
5. Almost 2 litres of Red Raspberry Leaf Tea everyday (damn heng that I like the taste of herbal teas)
6. Pressing acupressure points
7. Massage
8. Singing, talking to baby, telling him to come out
9. Other stuff!!
Schirin (who was due 16 Dec) was the first one in our Hypnobirthing group to give birth.
And last week Lori had her son Caleb on 12 Dec.
This morning, reading Lori's birth story on her blog was very encouraging...she had a short, easy, comfortable birth just liked Ginny said was possible :) And they went for a waterbirth too.
Hope Julien will come just as easily and quickly.
Am now 41 weeks and 2 days.
Will see Dr Chong 2mrw and he will start induction by sweeping the membranes.
After the drama of last week (trying to sort out JF's flights was a nightmare cos the Turkish SQ office was CLOSED THE WHOLE BLOODY week thanks to the Bayram (Hari Raya Haji) and SQ in Singapore codn't get in touch with them AT ALL) we had to lose both JF's air tickets and he thankfully sorted his work schedule and got his boss blessing to stay on with me in SG till baby comes. PHEW.
He was supposed to leave on 12 Dec and back again in SG 22 Dec. So now he's staying right thru til 3 Jan.
We have tried everything over the past week that's supposed to induce labour:
1. Spicy Food (had Indian food, nasi lemak with super hot sambal, more curry, fresh cut chill....)
2. Lots of walking & squatting (gravity helps) and rolling on my birth ball
3. Eating a TON of pineapple
4. Religiously drinking Clarysage tea (thanks Jana!)
5. Almost 2 litres of Red Raspberry Leaf Tea everyday (damn heng that I like the taste of herbal teas)
6. Pressing acupressure points
7. Massage
8. Singing, talking to baby, telling him to come out
9. Other stuff!!
Schirin (who was due 16 Dec) was the first one in our Hypnobirthing group to give birth.
And last week Lori had her son Caleb on 12 Dec.
This morning, reading Lori's birth story on her blog was very encouraging...she had a short, easy, comfortable birth just liked Ginny said was possible :) And they went for a waterbirth too.
Hope Julien will come just as easily and quickly.
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