Kid's day out at Pacific Place

Today, M and I took the kids to see the new Christmas movie, 'Rise of the Guardians'. 

After, Prince PTT added himself to the Lane Crawford window display much to the amusement of Princess PTT and his friends.

Quirky Lane Crawford Christmas window displays...

Pacific Place always does something pretty spectacular for their Christmas display. This year, its a gorgeous wintry ballerina theme. Here's where Santa will be appearing...

You get to sit on the lounge with the big guy himself...

Of course, Hong Kong can't put up a shopping centre display without some subtle reminders...

Yours,

Pseudo Tai Tai xx

School Christmas Fairs

Most of the Hong Kong schools host their annual fairs between now and Christmas. Prince PTT's School's 'International Bazaar' was Friday night.  

They always have an 'injury booth' which I find quite macabre. Naturally its popular with the kids! Here's Prince PTT and his BFF showing off their injured arms. 

In other news, Princess PTT has discovered the joys of cotton candy. She lined up on her own for 30 minutes to get a whip of sugar bigger than her head and devoured every morsel.

Here she is with her BFF...

On Saturday we went to the City Kids Christmas Fair. They push the boat our with excellent cheap activities for the kids. Here's Prince and Princess PTT blinging up some baubles for the Grandparents' Christmas stockings...

My friend M ran the cookie decorating stall. Naturally, Princess PTT went for bulk sprinkles...

Whereas Prince PTT went for artistic perfection. Says something about their personality doesn't it?

Princess PTT went all Martha Stewart and created this gorgeous bracelet for me...

I might start flinging some Christmas things around the flat this week. My Poinsettias are getting lonely.

Yours, 

Pseudo Tai Tai xx

Jamia Mosque

I picked up Prince PTT and N's Daughter, H, from their drama rehearsal and on the walk home the Jamia Mosque up the escalator was having an open day. After living here for five years, I've never seen it open to the public, so we took a quick look. The kids' open minded inclusive schooling paid off as they marched straight to the front and started to prostrate 'Muslim' style, much to the amusement of the Mosque officials!

I loved the stained glass in the dome.

It's gorgeous to see something so old and stately in Hong Kong. Jamia Mosque was built in 1849. Normally, they don't respect old buildings here and pull gorgeous renovation projects down to make way for yet another crappy high rise that will start to crack in five years time.

Also loved the other character filled on the site...

Yours, 

Pseudo Tai Tai xx

Mother's Day 2012

I had a lovely Mother's Day with my darlings. 

It started with a sleep-in as we were at Mr F's birthday party at N's house until 3:00am. Prince and Princess PTT have become very talented at getting themselves up on a Sunday and preparing their own breakfast - a definite life skill in my books!

On waking, I was presented with flowers, chocolates, hand made cards and breakfast in bed. 

In case you are wondering what I look like front on... Prince PTT drew this extremely accurate representation of the two of us: 

Princess PTT's card was more abstract.. she included a picture of fruit bat on the far right...

Inside Princess PTT's card was a portrait of me. Apparently, she has portrayed me in a lift going for a 'night out with my friends'!

Prince and Princess PTT's Mother's Day wishes were included in our building's foyer collage...

In the evening we strolled down to Pizza Express for dinner. Princess PTT loved herself sick in her new twirling skirt...

Yours,

Pseudo Tai Tai xxx

School Holidays - Hong Kong Style

We had a couple of days in Hong Kong before school went back and I took Prince and Princess PTT out shopping for the day. On the way down from mid-levels we just had to detour down Pottinger Street aka "dress up street" for a quick browse and to get inspiration for future parties...

Then we went to IFC shopping mall. Strangely but amazingly, their central display for this month is of Lyuba - a preserved 40,000 year old baby wooly mammoth. Prince and Princess PTT were fascinated and I loved the fact that we could combine a unique and exciting museum visit with my yoghurt and lamb chop purchases...

 Only in Hong Kong, right?

Yours,

Pseudo Tai Tai xx

A family that exercises together, stays together

On Sunday we took Prince and Princess PTT for a walk around the top and then down the Peak. It was icy cold but that's what you get this time of year.

Revelling in nature...

Yet Hong Kong city is not very far away...

Playing 'can you spot our apartment'?

Naturally rest time was at every seat opportunity...

Can you believe this is Hong Kong?

Ah yes! You can believe you are in Hong Kong when you see questionable signage like this along the way... Why is the Picnic Area 'Temporary'? It has been open during the four years we have lived in Hong Kong - is it now permanent? Why fully landscape something so temporary? Why erect such a fancy sign?

Naturally we couldn't help but take the opportunity to teach Prince PTT his 'Place Value' facts... (i.e. 'What is the Place Value of the 2 in this number?). I like to take my home schooling 101 out of the classroom.... In case you are wondering - No! I don't home school but Prince PTT's school expects you to do a lot at home so sometimes I feel as if I am a homeschooling parent!

Princess PTT ended up being chauffeured by the end... typical!

Yours,

Pseudo Tai Tai xxx

Happy Valentines Day

It's all go this Valentines Day at PTT's Hong Kong Headquarters...

Prince and Princess PTT were surprised with 'big hug' chocolate hearts at breakfast....

Princess PTT then had her annual sports day at the Hong Kong Football Club

Prince PTT celebrated his 100th day at school. Here he is playing a dress up game to see how many clothes he can put on in 100 seconds...

I then caught up with M and N to see 'My Week With Marilyn".

Mr PTT and I are deferring our Valentine's Dinner to Friday night. Even the smallest restaurant in Hong Kong seems to roll out a 5+ course extravaganza on V-Day to ensure that the get maximum dollars in a night. The menus are packed with so much foie gras, oysters, wagyu and chocolate that you are hardly in a romantic mood at the end of the food orgy.

Yours,

Psuedo Tai Tia xxx