Tuesday, April 29, 2014

My darling Amy's 6th Birthday is TODAY - oh my goodness, where did those years disappear too???

Oh my gosh my beautiful girl turns 6 years old.

Where have the years gone. 

She is still my best friend, my companion, the one who makes me laugh constantly, the one who uses "Dad" 450,000 times a day, the one who loves to sing - now in her own bathroom, and now "Let It Go" over and over again, the one who loves to dance, the one who is the sweetest little girl I know of.

BUT - things are changing.

"Dad you are not allowed in my room when I am changing, this is a girls room..."
"Dad you cannot come in to the shower when I am in there as you can't see me naked."

But it is fine the other way round when Daddy is in the toilet and a certain young lady walks straight in for a chat, or sits there playing on her iPAD. Hmmmmm!!!

So no more, "How old are you Amy?" - "Five and a half".
You are now 6 years and one day.

Happy birthday my love from Daddy, Mary, Ollie and Jude xxx


OK it is 6am and we're unpacking.

Thanks to Mum, Nan, Uncle Darren and Auntie Claire. We clubbed all the monies together and went shopping on Sunday. Boy did we go shopping. She took me to about 5 shops and we shopped til I dropped, not her and boy did she do well. Ready for what she got?


A pink swim suit with a very cute kitten.


A silver glittery tutu - very nice!


Some Heelies.

Killing three birds with one stone;
1 - she needed new trainers
2 - she wants to learn to tie her laces
3 - she wanted roller skates just like her brother


A budgie t-shirt - cute!


A butterfly dress (you getting the picture here...?)


"Man this sellotape is tough Dad..."


Pink glittery pumps - perfect for school - cough cough.


Some earphones - yep pink of course!!!


And one final one I didn't get a picture of - bright pink shoes. Now I spotted these and chose them for her. She fell in love. They were pink, they were glittery, they had heels, they looked like tap dancing shoes. She was hooked. Everywhere we went she was dancing (yes she chose to wear them) - it was like shopping with someone in clogs, clip clop, clip clop, clip clop everywhere we went.

Happy birthday gorgeous girl.
All our love Amy Boo. xxxx


This is now where I become a bad parent as I had to work late with a client so missed the party at home in the evening. Poor little Amy had also come home from school sick with a sore tummy. But luckily made a miraculous recovery. Lucky too was that my darling Mary had decorated and got cakes, pizzas, and gallons. How special does this look. So from now this is interpretation not actual experience as yes yours truly was not there - bad Father!!!


Check those cakes out - little Hello Kitty's and pizza - yummy - you lucky thing Amy.


Hello Kitty with candles - make a wish darling!!!


Happy Birthday Sis - although I look very surprised.
"Who is that taking the picture?" says Jude.


Where am I - damn!!!
Lovely picture.
Happy Birthday Amy.


Final one of Amy reading her birthday card.
We now just need 8 days in a week for her to wear all her new stuff ha ha!!!

Party is happening 10th May. Yes sorry for short notice and delay.
Ollie's film kept us very busy last weekend.
She has loads of other parties this weekend.
10th May it is.

JellyBean party - magic show, party games, glitter tattoos, piƱata, swimming pool - phew.
Our first party at the new place.
What a wonderful first one to have.



Saturday, April 26, 2014

The Oscar's? Nah better than that it's the Oliver's...

Two years in the making people.

Two years.

Then our wonderful, dearest friend Sangeeta pulls it out of the bag.

A Gran Plan is going to have a showing. Yes at the cinema. Yes over 5 shows. Yes to 2500 people. Yes it's all proper like. Yes with popcorn. What was it like.

It was off this planet, believe me. Seriously people if you live in Singapore and have some free time Saturday or Sunday get along to Golden Village, Marina at 1600 or 2100 showings - only 4 left as it is already Saturday today. I will be there again today at 1600.

Sangeeta has changes the film somewhat - or 'made it tighter' as she calls it. It is incredible. Music has changed, a new song in the middle, it changes to B&W for effect at a certain point in the film, certain edits etc to shorten but really make it punch high above it's weight.

It was just incredible.
Sangeeta my friend you should be so flipping proud of yourself - goodness me!!!

It was so funny an experience as nerves and adrenaline were pumping high as you'd imagine. Poor Sangeeta could not even watch the film she was so paranoid and nervous. She seriously has nothing to worry about.

So please book a ticket and come see what potentially is the 1st and last showing of this award winning film, starring No1 son opposite Farida Jalal, of yeah and yours truly for a sort of cameo role too. Come on, how could it get any better right!!!

Let me share the experience with you a little...

"No red carpet? Don't you know who I am? I am Oliver Kennett, famous actor..." 
Dear me!!!

The arrival, Golden Village is a beckoning. Nice that he dressed up huh!!!


Two of the actors in the film have a huddle. Yes I was in black tie and jacket, but jeans as my bloody trousers were too big and you can't wear a belt with em, damn!!!


The cast of the kids - how grown up they have all become since the film was made two years ago. My son and daughter right in the mix in here ha ha!


Gifts were given by Sangeeta bless her.
Say no more - what a lovely message.


How cool is this seriously. 
The bill board has 'A Gran Plan' showing at 2100. Uber cool!!!


Even the bloody film gets a poster and check this out it is nestled next to Johnny Depp no less. WOW!!!


Here they are - the double act.
Our dear friend Sangeeta and her No1 actor for this film, Brian Kennett.

Whoops so so so sorry I mean Oliver Kennett!!! (He He)


Nice one you two...


Amazing now the starlets started coming in asking for pictures with the stars.
Here is some small child, Dev I think his name was, and some Filipino called Mary I think.
Purely after a kiss and an autograph.
I think Ollie could get used to this...


One of the other actors now stalked by the same Filipino.
Has she no shame.
They are just human beings, that need space sometimes too love.
Nice photo though - he's gorgeous.
Does he have a 'big part'? Oooer!!!


Again lovely one of the kids.


Our other dear dear friend, and Ollie's ex teacher - Miss Atima comes along for the show too. Nice photo. Ollie how crazily tall have you got since Eton House - WOW!


It's official.
Tickets on sale - with A Gran Plan plastered all over - it really is about to happen.
So excited!!!


Now to me breaking EVERY copyright law in the world - but hey, it may only happen once in my lifetime - so arrest me!

Here it is - the opening credits and there he is Oliver Kennett just after Farida's. WOW.
He truly is a star now.


Hold on a minute - who's that, quite small writing, can't quite see, seems to be a big star in the film though, need squint, who is it, who is it...

BRIAN KENNETT

That's who - ha ha!!!


One of my all time favourite scenes of the film.
No not telling why or what the scene is about - you'll just have to book a ticket won't you.
Suffice to say, get your hankies out, Sangeeta beautiful cinematography - WOW


And my other absolute favourite - "You don't laugh from here, You laugh from here..." Boo Hoo...


Hold on a minute who's that - Jude Law??? 
He looks amazing on big screen who ever he is... Cough Cough!!!


Closing credits - here he is again...


And that other bloke with a small part.

HEY who said that....


Best mates, proud mates, in fact tearful mates when I gave her a kiss


A gift from Sangeeta - never a truer word typed on a t-shirt - well done Ollie, seriously pal that was one of the best films I have ever seen and you were just truly amazing


Co-Actors in the green room sharing a beverage to celebrate the Premiere - NICE!!!
Proud Proud Proud


Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Very short term visitation

A very short visit from Yuko and Miz - our Ogichan and Obachan.

In Saturday morning, and off Monday evening. Literally a shopping trip package, so they had to do a tour of Orchard Road 1st thing in the morning Saturday.

Of course a number of firsts for them this trip;

We were able to show off our new place.
We were able to show off Siglap. I think they really liked it.
We were able to show of Baby Jude - he smiled and smiled for them.
We went to the local food court, and ate and chatted over a few beers.

Just look how big Ollie and Amy are now - quite incredible.
And are those really all Ollie's beers???


A very nice chap saw us trying to all take pictures of each other and offered up his services David Bailey style. Nice shot below Sir thanks. No Mary as she had disappeared to Parkway to get a last few bits and pieces before she disappears to Philippines early Monday morning.


Jude when I said have an Apple I did NOT mean that!!!


So a very nice weekend.
Not enough time of course.
A full house then became a very employ house with Mary & Jude leaving us for circa 10 days on Monday at 0600am, the 1900 the same happened with Miz and Yuko.

So from a full, happy, vibrant place, it all seems a little empty and flat now. Thankfully I still have my Ollie and Amy to keep me company.

A apology in the making though is to Dani and Simon, and of course Edwin. We are so sorry to have missed his 1st birthday. We just had such little time to all be together in our new place. So very sorry.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

It's official we are in!!!

It has to be said a painful few days - both in the pocket and in the legs.

But folks we are in. The Kennett's have landed in Siglap and we're loving it!!!

Major massage this morning after two days of intense removals, and more unpacking today. So day three in and I reckon we are about 90% complete with really only the kids bedrooms to go. I think that is quite impressive actually. 7 years worth of gear moved and installed in less than 3 full days.

Thanks to Mary and Glenda and thanks to the kids for keeping out of the way.

So you saw the before - now here (caveat again - after only 2 days) is the after...

Living room now looking 'liveable' - like it!!!


And one from the other side - not bad eh?


The stairs to the dining room - now with me and Mr Bourdain adorning the walls.


Balcony looking rather inviting I feel.


Master bedroom - OK a little cramped but again getting there.
Thanks to Tezla and Michelle for the Jude 'corner'.


Work in progress clearly ha ha!
Amy's room is being unpacked as I type this - tomorrow will be a different photo.


Dining room looking uber cool - nice!!!


Kitchen again a little cramped but because of no more galley style I can get my butcher's block wheelie unit - more prep surface - very important!


And again No.1 son bedroom needs some work. If ever Ollie was at home he might even invest some time to actually do something to help. Hmmm!!!


So there you have it. Happy days.
Lunch at hawker today after Javanese massage all 5 minutes walk away, then back to unpacking. 
Deep joy!!!