Time flies. Its been 3 years already since our very first #GoingOut photo at our lift lobby. It started as a let’s do something fun while we wait for everyone to be ready to go out, then it became a let’s see who is last, then it became a let’s take a different pose, sometimes we are just waiting for the lift, then slowly it became a regular thing.
It’s really nice to see our kids progressively growing up. I can’t imagine how they will look like 10 years from now.
Quite fun to look back on what they wore on different days as it gives a hint on where we were going, also its clear not every day is a happy day. Sometimes someone don’t want to wear a pair of shoes, someone step on someone’s feet, someone have yet to wake up, but the best is when all are in high spirits and I get a good picture.
Once I hit 5 years, I think I’m gonna print all of them out, exhibit it somewhere or maybe create a microsite for it. For now, if you wanna have a look, you can see them either on my Instagram or on my public Facebook album.
I’m glad we did this. Pls copy this idea and do it for your kids too starting today. :)
Clarisse, Pearl, Nick and Melody Singapore Lindy Revolution 2015
For those who do not know, the Singapore Lindy Revolution 2015 is a major Lindy Hop event in Singapore. Pearl and I got hooked onto Lindy Hop since last Christmas and we have been taking classes seriously since Feb ’15. Now 6 months after, we are somewhat ready to attend the SLR15 together with all the dance workshops conducted by multi world champion International Teachers.
Roti Prata and Mee Goreng with the Gordon Webster Band at 2am
My SLR15 journey started a little earlier as Desmond Khoh the event organiser is also my Lindy Hop teacher and is also a close friend of mine, so I helped out to ferry the dance teachers and the band to their hotels, joined them for dinner, brought them to MBS and even brought the Gordon Webster band out for Roti Prata and Mee Goreng at 2am. The weekend started fantastically on Thursday.
Nick and Pearl at SLR15
Pearl and I simply love swing music. Back in our Uni days, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, the whole swing and big band music is what we love. Only until recently because of Desmond did we get to know about Swing Dancing / Lindy Hop. We dressed up for the 3 night parties over the entire weekend.
Our Lindy Hop Classmates
The first night’s party was themed “Hellzapoppin” and this is one of the most famous Lindy Hop videos on YouTube. Have a look and you will know why.
So we are to be dress as cooks, waiters, postman, etc. I came as a cook with a simple apron. Pearl wanted to come as a waitress and brought an apron along as well, but I think she looks great without the apron, so I guess she can be the guest of my restaurant. lol.
The music was great and the teachers were introduced. Just looking at the teachers intro alone, we knew its going to be an amazing weekend.
Later in the night, there were many shenanigans. Have a look yourself. lol. Thanks to Anthony Mak for all this videos on YouTube.
Day 1 Lessons with Max Pitruzzella & Annie Trudeau, JB Mino & Tatiana Udry
Day 1 lessons, we started intermediate dance workshop with Max and Annie in the morning. The class was fairly big and there were people from several countries that flew down just for Lindy Hop.
I have to say Max and Annie’s class was pretty technical as they taught a semi big combo routine which had simple steps and also some new steps with style. The amazing thing is that they look all professional, but they are very nice and friendly people.
With just about 20mins of lunch time, we started the next lesson with JB Mino & Tatiana. They taught us some very important fundamentals of Lindy Hop. Connection, Feeling the music, mixing Quick step, Slow steps and Triple Steps. Very useful for us as that really helps with our dance vocabulary.
Dressed up for the big party
After classes, we went home, looked at our kids for a brief moment, had our dinner and started dressing up to get ready for the big party that evening. I’ve not worn a vest in ages and don’t you think Pearl’s outfit + hairdo rocks! So so cool.
Our Teacher and Lindy Hop Inspiration Desmond Khoh
Arriving at Le Danz where the event was, you can see everyone dressed up really nicely. The ladies looked smashing and the guys looked sharp.
The Gordon Webster Band feat Hetty Kate
The Gordon Webster band is simply amazing. I’ve bought almost all their albums already and still can’t get enough. Hearing them live was even more amazing. Managed to have dinner with Jesse and Brandi earlier in the week and also managed to spend sometime with Gordon, Andreas, Danny and Jack over prata. I’m intrigued by the life of musicians and here in the flesh are super accomplished musicians. It was great talking to them and I really appreciate their honest sharing of their musical journeys.
I wanted to take pictures with everyone but somehow did not manage to get a photo with Brandi, so took a picture from my friend Pamela’s Instagram account.
The evening was great. There was Jack and Jill competitions, Showcases and the teachers performed too. Here are some really awesome videos from the nights.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5jLUH6XSPE
One of the best evenings in my life.
Day 2 Class with Todd Yannacone & Laura Glaess
Day 2 lessons started with lots of aching in our Calfs and Thighs. Everyone started the class already tired from the previous days full day of dancing, but I think the passion pushes us on.
Todd & Laura allowed the class to social dance for a while and observed what we did then gave the class an option to voice out if there are anything specifically we would like to learn. In my mind I wanted to learn Texas Tommy variations, but wanted to see if anyone else had ideas too. No one said anything and just as I was about to voice out, Todd suggested Texas Tommy Variations. BOOM! Amazing. Loved the class.
OMG Charleston Variations
The next class was with Nicolas and Mikaela and at this point everyone is already super super tired. My legs were jelly already and guess what, the class was on Charleston Variations where we knew there was going to be lots of kicking and jumping/skipping. OMG…
Day 2 Class with Nicolas Deniau & Mikaela Hellsten
We started off the class with some basic Jazz dance movements, got into the basics of Charleston and they taught us some 8 and 6 count Charleston exercises and I think it a real valuable lesson. We did some combo moves then ended the class with stretches and sitting around practising some musicality. Great class. My current dance idols and you can’t help but smile when you see Nicolas and Mikaela.
After class, we were super super tired, rushed home and slept for a while, our legs really had an extreme workout for a weekend.
There was a dance party again at night, but we managed to arrive there at about 9:30pm only. It was a “shorts” themed party, so everyone came dressed down.
As usual the music was great and mid way thru the set, Gordon Webster dedicated a song to Desmond and Pamela knowing that they will be getting married in a few weeks time. Of cause the couple had to dance.
Such a beautiful way to end the weekend.
Overall, really really Awesome job to Desmond, Jingyi and Taufan for organising and pulling off this amazing event.
many many steps taken at SLR15
We got home and when I was on my bed I recalled that all the time when I was dancing, I had my phone in my pocket, this means that the pedometer on my iPhone would be able to tell me how many steps i’ve taken over the last few days. I took out the iOS health app and was pleasantly surprised yet vindicated that the Singapore Lindy Revolution weekend made a mark not only on the app, but also our lives as budding Swing dancers.
We made so many new friends and started viewing all the videos and photos coming thru the event page and reliving the weekend again.
If you want to learn how to swing dance, check out Strictly Lindy SG on Facebook, maybe there will be taster classes announced there.
Looking forward for more dance classes and social dancing. See you at SLR16.
It was a timely thing as my wife and I have been hoping to upgrade as we feel we needed more space as our 3 daughters are growing up quickly and if possible shift nearer to my mom’s place in Katong. So I was personally looking forward to see more condos and also know more home loans people from the bank.
The day started with a quick briefing to let us know of the “challenges” we need to do. It was a bit like an amazing race type fun thing but each team had different places to go. Instead of trying to win, we wanted to see where we could do fun and “interesting” things. You know when dads come together, magic happens. lolz.
Being introduced to our ride the Volvo XC90
We got a short introduction to the car and I have to say, lots of technology and being such a big car, it was really comfortable. Got SUN ROOF somemore! :)
Must have PowerfulPassword
The car can become a wi-fi hotspot, so of course we tried it out, but first we need to set a “PowerfulPassword”.
Group photo outside D’Leedon
Our first destination was D’Leedon Condo designed by the internationally famous and multi award winning Architect Zaha Hadid, she even got the most prestigious “Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004” in her list of awards. I heard so much about this development but did not have the chance to go, now we get a chance to see the PENTHOUSE!
Ok, I missed the turn going into the small street to access the condo, but found this perfect spot to take a good group photo. How, EPIC right this photo. :)
4 dads in a car = super random banter
So we talked lots of nonsense in the car of course, from hoping that the car have a Hokkien + Singlish add on for navigation to testing all the different technologies on the car like its Adaptive Cruising mode. We even used the Sun Roof to wave at our fellow competitors.
Living the life at D’Leedon
I have to say D’Leedon is super chio. Very sci-fi-ish modern. Even the car park feels like a set out from Star Wars. But I have to say the best part of this visit is getting served by my man servants. lolz.
Summon Uncle in action
Next stop Reflections at Keppel Bay. When we arrived, our fellow competitor’s car was parked just beside ours, so of course we need to give them a small surprise.
Making a Singapore Sling at Reflections
The challenge at this stop was to make a Singapore Sling (non alcoholic *sigh*). We must more pattern then the badminton and this is our kind of group shot at that stop.
The view of Singapore from Sky Habitat
Last stop was Sky Habitat at Bishan. My wife and I actually went to see the show flat for this development earlier in the year and we really liked it. It’s location, the furnishing, the uniqueness of the terrace concept. Glad I managed to get up there and see an actual unit. The view also quite shiok so have to take a panorama but kena photobomb.
OCBC Home Trail Final Race!
The last station was back at Orchard Gateway and there was an RC race with obstacles where all team faced off. Let’s just say our team managed to finish the race.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbAHka1yIrs
It was overall a good fun morning together with other Daddy Bloggers from Daddy Matters. Reflecting on our life stage, the cost of living in Singapore, the desire to provide for our family a better home and of cause lots of shenanigans.
I’m looking forward to our next adventure.
If you need any advice regarding Home Loans, do speak to the people at OCBC and I’m sure they will be able to give you good advice. Just FYI, they don’t offer interest free housing loans, I know, because I checked.
Clara Pan spent one month and managed to collect five stars after completed writing five pages of words as her homework from daddy. The deal was for a toy (not too big one) as a reward if she kept to her side of the deal and we both kept to the deal.
We spent 2 hours today pacing up and down through all the toy sections at the nearby mall and she could not find something that she really wanted for the effort she put in to have earned this reward. Suddenly spending her own hard earned reward is a lot more difficult then we all imagined.
I saw her frustrated. I saw her helpless. She looked like she could not find joy in any of the toys available in front of her. It felt as if her effort is worth a lot more then any of these colorful plastic in front of her.
Both my wife and I could sense her sadness and offered to buy her anything she wanted, but she could not decide. She honestly could not find something she really really wanted.
We left. Headed home. Empty handed. And on the way home, she fell asleep in the car, frowning.
