by Sharlene

It’s Monday (August 23, 2021)

The kids started school last Wednesday. It was both exciting and bit worrying being back in school. So many kids! So many adults! But the school district has required masks to be worn by students, staff, and parents when on the campus. And they’ve staggered the lunch times so there’s less crowding in the cafeteria. The kids also get to eat in the outdoors amphitheatre now, which they were happy about.

The school district said that 95% of the teachers have been fully vaccinated so I’m just glad that we are all working together to keep our kids safe.

The kids were excited to see friends that they haven’t seen since March 2020, when the schools here closed. They’ve met up with some friends regularly but there were plenty they haven’t seen for a long time.

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The air quality the last few days hasn’t been the best. It was better over the weekend, but we tried to stay indoors after school last week. I am thankful for the amazing firefighters who are working so hard to put out these fires. Hopefully the weather continues to cooperate so that the fires can get put out – it’s currently about 5% contained…

Some things last week:

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From bottom: belachan kangkung, KL-style Hokkien mee, char kway teow, satay chicken

Singapore’s National Day is August 9 but because of the pandemic, the National Day Parade got postponed to last weekend. So we got to watch it on Youtube. And we had to watch and eat with Singapore food!

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We had to pick up something for the kids in the neighbouring city, so we ordered lunch too. There’s panfried dumplings, xiaolongbao, snowflake gyoza, zhajiang mian. Not pictured was the deliciously spicy beef noodle soup. The photo looks a bit orangey as my patio umbrella is orange 😛
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I bought myself some flowers – a reward for surviving the mad rush to get the kids ready and out to school, perhaps? I loved the vibrant green chrysanthemums and the contrast with the purple and white carnations!

Currently…

Reading:

The Disaster Tourist – Yun Ko-eun

The Wolf and the Woodsman – Ava Reid

Watching:

Every week, Hospital Playlist‘s new episode (last week’s was especially good!). Also I started watching The Good Place season 4.

Listening:

No audiobooks at the moment.

Eating and Drinking:

Had some toast for breakfast. Am now drinking coffee.

Cooking:

I just placed a Weee! order – it’s an online store specialising in Asian and Latino groceries. So I hope to make some bak kut teh, a Singapore dish that’s essentially a pork soup with herbs and spices. It’s eaten with rice and vegetables. And youtiao or fried dough sticks.

Last week:

I read:

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Last Words from Montmarte – Qiu Miaojin

Oh well, guess I only finished one book last week. I’ve got so many going though…

I posted:

Reading: Last Words from Montmartre by Qiu Miaojin

Library Loot (August 18 to 24)

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. This meme started with J Kaye’s Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. 

3 Comments

  2. I’ll keep a good thought for the kids as they head back to school! My little nephew is starting kindergarten, and the baby’s in daycare for the first time, so it’s all feeling pretty anxious. Hopefully the precautions everyone’s taking will be enough.

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