BYE BYE LIS! (15 FEBRUARY 2007)

Lis has left our household to work for an expat family. Lis has been with our household for 5 years, and before that another 5 years with my Grandaunt's family (after running away from home when she was 15 years old). She moved to my family just before my parents got married. She saw Mummy through her pregnancy, and looked after me from the day I was born (technically, a few days afterwards, since the nurses cared for me for my first few days of existence).

Needless to say, I'm very attached to Lis. I should have been really upset when she left this morning, but I wasn't. Today sailed by really uneventfully for me because no one told me the truth! One day when the truth emerges, I'm going to feel so cheated!

This morning, Mummy dropped Lis off at Tanglin Shopping Centre (where her agency was) with all her barang barang, and Ipa and I went along. I went along unsuspectingly because everyone just said: "JinJin, let's go for a car ride." When we got to maid agency, the agents said we had to say our goodbyes quickly because the new employer was due to come any minute to pick her up and there were some documents which Lis had to sign, etc. Lis turned and told me: "Ok, JinJin, Lis is going to take an aeroplane. You see all my bags are here. I'm going to Indonesia to buy keropok for you." Mummy held me whilst I waved Lis goodbye and said: "Bye bye Lis. Buy keropok for me." Keropok works miracles. Ipa then bade farewell to her sister, Lis, with teary eyes. With the agents hurrying us, we left Tanglin Shopping Centre shortly.

Mummy had to do some shopping at IKEA, so Ipa and I went along. There was a Ball Room at IKEA and I wanted to play with the thousands of colourful balls there, but the lady at the counter said: "I'm sorry. You're too small." She ushered me to a measuring tape and I tried my best to stretch myself to the desired height, but to no avail. The lady said: "Sorry. Go home and drink more milk then come back one day." I was really disappointed, but c'est la vie.

My vocab in French has been improving after watching Brainy Baby's French DVD repeatedly, and I'll surprise everyone with a few words here and there occasionally. A few nights ago when I was feeling really tired and sleepy, Mummy asked me what's "tired" in French. I thought about it for a little while then answered: "Dormir" (which is to sleep in French). Mummy corrected me by saying that "tired" is actually "fatiguee", but I was close! I will sometimes translate a particular word from English to Mandarin to French.

Pics of Lis and I at the playground which were taken last month. I held onto that monkey bar for 30 counts:-