another new thread for chinese mums

[csa]

gong xi fa chai!

a new thread for a new year? (good idea yingers)

hope everyone had a good celebration this weekend. us? the closest celebration i got to was speaking to my family on new year's eve and hearing about their reunion dinner

Hey Tootsieroll, I'm in Richmond. Why do you ask?

Snowsmum,
Just curious. Forum's a bit slow, I have to say

Hi Snowmum, great to hear from you and I agree this forum has been a bit slow.

Funny you mentioned that your DD started to say No cos my that's my DS favourite word at the moment. No to everything and it's very funny. He has started to understand a few chinese words too, I am just so amazed how much he can actually understand, i just cant wait for him to speak probably now.

How's your DD sleeping? My DS is still waking up every night. He doesnt wake up for long, he just has a little moan or cry for a few minutes and then he will go back to bed. Is there anything i can do to help him to sleep through through the night. What am i doing wrong?

Anyway, enough moaning from me ... hope to speak to you all soon.

I'm just so tired!!! So haven't been on the website for ages. DS has had 4 ear infections in the last 2 months and we are now taking him to see a ENT specialist just in case. We're very sleep deprived

Heybaby, poor DS (and poor you). Hope the ENT specialist sorts things out. On a happier note, how was your hols to New England?

Wyls, like you I am getting impatient to hear DD speak properly. Understands loads (only when it suits her though!) Also doing a mixture of chinese and english, just hope the poor child doesn't get too confused.

DD sleeps quite well, rarely stirs once she's been put to bed until the morning. Does your DS wake at a similar time each night? Could it be a habit? I remember from the Tracey Hogg "Baby Whisperer" book (we can talk about her right?) she used a wake to sleep technique for breaking the waking habit. Never used it so no idea if it works.

hi everyone ... i was wondering what had happened to all of us. i really really havent posted in years.

so have moved back from paris (to london) - its been 1 year now. DD1 will be starting school in January and DD2 is now 15 mths - already a strong-willed, very cute toddler.

and i'm pregnant with baby number 3!! due in april next year. everything is going well with bump.

in terms of the chinese speaking to the girls, it hasnt happened and have kinda resigned myself to the fact that i probably wont get round to teaching them we'll just have to see how things plan out.

have changed name also!!

Autumnlover, who were you before. blossom2? Congratulations for baby no 3.

Heybaby, hope you are ok, it must be hard and you have gone back to work too? How's that going?

I have no idea why my DS stirs so much at night, the thing is my ds doesnt stay up for long, he literally wakes up for a few secs and then he will go back to bed, it's almost like he needs the reassurance from us and then he will go back to bed. I do leave him until he started to cry so i dont rush straight in, i have no idea and just hope that he will grow out of it soon.

Hi Everyone

Thanks for your messages. DS is better and the ENT diagnosed him with "glue ear" (whatever THAT is!) and gave some eardrops. I've actually put him onto ricemilk instead of cow's milk as some of the literature suggests cow's milk makes kids more susceptible to ear infections etc. Might all be a myth but we're trying it out (probably negated however by the fact that DS loves yoghurt and eats some every day). DS LOVES the ricemilk though, but on the downside it is pretty darned expensive.

The big news is that (... no I'm not expecting number 2) ... we're heading back home to Australia in January 2007! We've so excited to have made the decision even though we're in for a pretty busy two months now. Can't wait for DS to meet his extended family again.

Better run. Hope you are all well.

It must be that planning hols time of year! DH and I have finally agreed to go to HK for chinese new year. Thought we might as well go before DD turns 2 (June 07) and make the most of infant air fares. Been busy surfing for flights and hotels. All done now, after HK we're off to Thailand for a beach break - will need it after the endless rounds of relatives to visit. Can't wait! Anyone got any tips for longhaul travel with a toddler? Apart from strong nerves!

Hi everyone,

I'm really excited I just found this thread as well as the Malaysian thread . I'm Chinese from Malaysia, been in London 7 years and currently lives in West London, and has a dd who's 6 months old. I've been on the West London thread for the past 2 months.

Whereabouts is everyone? I would love to meet up with people who are in the London area just to yak about life in London. I don't know any Malaysians. I only knew a few people from HK.

trying2bgood, I think MrsB mention you on the West London thread.

bump

wow, this thread has been a bit quiet of late. I have been away with the fairies, no, just having two means have had far less time than I expected so have been away from mumsnet for quite a while now. How is everyone? And blossom2 are you autumn now? Congrats on the third! I am in awe as I cannot imagaine having a third at all!

Mellow - welcome, think this thread is much more quiet than the west london one. I am chinese and born and bred in london! Family originally from HK. Do you have family here?

No, I don't have family in the UK.

I posted this on the West London thread.

"t2bg, you mentioned that there's a local chinese school near you on the chinese thread. Where is that located? Is it in West London? Dd is only 6 months but I'm planning to send her to chinese class when she's a bit older. I know she'll hate me for it.

My mum used to make us do chinese lessons on weekends and school holidays and I used to hate it. But the smattering of chinese I picked up came in useful when I lived in HK."

Do u speak cantonese or mandarin? The school is based in acton high school which if very close to acton town station, both located on gunnersbury lane. I try and speak to my girls in cantonese as much as possible but not sure how much they are picking up. My parents do as well but also return to english as soon as dd1 say 'what are you saying pour pour?" LOL

welcome mellowandreadyforchristmas!! your name perfectly describes how i feel about christmas even though i have my inlaws this year!!

just found out that MIL wants M&S vouchers for xmas (yet again) and discovered that she spends them on food - what is that all about?!?!
firstly i hate vouchers, i just think is shows lack of thought and then to spend them on food - why why why ????? am i silly in finding this disrespectful and odd.

i've never spoken to my girls in cantonese but they hear it alot at my parents & relatives. DD1 (nearly 5) has recently started to recognise her hertiage and tells everyone she is 'chinese' . she also tries to speak chinese but doesnt have the patience to learn. its actually quite funny and very heartwarming.

so yeps, autumnlover now since i signed my real name on a post some time back - felt needed to change my name although i dont think anyone else posted!!!

yes the thought of having 3 kids this time next year is very scary. i've got my 20 week scan in a couple of weeks and we're debating as to whether we'll find out the sex!! i didnt think i'd have 3 kids (considering i'm one of 8). But i'm coming round to the idea that we'll be a family of five. it feels more complete than two..... what the hectic am i babbling about?!?!?! i'm just crazy !!!

at least we've got the 7 seater - a mazda 5 and its lovely. feel very guilty about driving it so but do love it.

both DDs are doing fantastically. DD1 will be starting school in january and DD2 finally slept through the night at 12 mths!! live is good actually, no real stresses at the moment. maybe its just pregnancy-related euphoria hormones!!

wot a ramble...

t2bg, I speak both Cantonese and Mandarin. I used to speak better Cantonese when I lived in HK though. But I'm speaking exclusively to dd who's only 6 months in Mandarin as that's my mother tongue.

I had to say for the 1st 3 months I felt I was like this mad woman talking to myself but I'm used to it now. I do think my out laws (who are English) think I'm a tad rude when I'm jabbering to my dd in Mandarin as they're not used to hearing me speak a foreign tongue.

autumnlover,
Congrats on the 3rd baby! You're making me broody
When dd was a newborn, I really wanted her to grow quickly but now I wished I had treasured those moments when she was newborn and precious.

Do the both of you fancy meeting up? I'm game for dim sum, coffee etc. It would be nice to meet up and chat.

bump

hiya apologies its been a hectic weekend and its only saturday!!!

i would love to meet up although i have to admit we havent managed it. unfortunately my schedule is complicated because DD1 goes to nursery in the afternoons. but if we arrange a day i can get a friend to pick her up. i'll have DD2 with me though (her nickname is hurricane!!).

dim sum on a weekday sounds good, or i can do a saturday by myself as dh takes the girls swimming.

what do you fancy?? sorry i havent read the whole of this thread in ages, so how long have you been in london and which area are you living in??

Weekday dim sum sounds fab. I would love to meet ur dd2 too. How old are your dc? Let's see if t2bg would like to join us before we organise a day.

Where are you based? My fav dim sum restaurant is Royal China in Bayswater. I think it's very authentic HK dim sum. Would it be convenient for you to get to Bayswater?

I've been in London 7 years and I live in Brentford which is near Kew Garden.

Welcome mellowandreadyforchristmas - wish I was like your logon, just discovered yesterday I am hosting xmas lunch for DH's entire family including my in-laws!!! Never cooked xmas lunch before so this will be a baptism by fire, will have 12 adults, 4 kids and a vegetarian to accommodate. Off out later to library to get Delia Smith's Christmas cookbook.

I am from HK and can speak cantonese altho born and bred in UK. I have a DD who is 17 months old. I'm in London too and would love to join you all for the weekday dim sum. Royal China in Bayswater does lovely food. I live quite close to you in Richmond - you fancy going for a buggy stroll in Kew Gardens one day? I've been meaning to go for ages but having got round to it. Is there a West London thread on MN? I really should explore MN more.

Hi snowmum,

It would be great if you could join us for dim sum, the more the merrier. Yes, I would love to go out for a buggy stroll. I think Kew Gardens is going to have to wait until I sort out the annual membership though, probably by Christmas.

What about Richmond Park or is there anywhere closer to you? I'm quite happy to come to Richmond.

I made Christmas dinner for my in laws at their house last year. We had goose. It was quite stressful as I've never cooked such a large bird before but the goose turned out okay.

This year, I think we're going to have them at our flat as my mil dropped not so subtle hints about it being time we hosted Christmas dinner. I'm not looking forward to it as our flat is tiny but luckily there'll only be 4 of us and dd who migh be able to enjoy some brussel sprouts and roast potatoes.

The West London thread has many threads but the main one is this .

I hate to be honest and say that bayswater is a little far to me as i'm in south east london. so anything in chinatown would be better. sorry

i'm hosting this year too, although only 8 adults and 3 kids with my in-laws and then my SIL's in-laws (who only eat chicken). i'm planning to cheat as much as possible i.e pre-prepared stuff from marks & spencers/sainsburys. i'll probably cook turkey even though i hate it. i'm just looking forward to having DH at home.

my girls are nearly 5 yrs and 16 mths.

That's not a problem. It was cheeky of me to assume that everyone can get to Bayswater. Where do you fancy meeting up in Chinatown?

I also may be hosting xmas but am trying to get out of it as my dh likes to be able to leave!!!!

Would also like to meet up but like autumn, my schedule is tight with dd1 at nursery on some days and weekends pretty much always tied up with family matters. If you go to the west london thread, you can see I have been pretty appalling at turning up at their meet ups too!!!

Autumn - sorry to hear like me, you don't have perfect in-laws! My aim to now ignore it all!

Morning all

t2bg,
Do you know where I could get more details of the Chinese classes at Acton High School. Is there a website or a phone number I can ring? Dh says he's interested in learning Mandarin (after we've been married 7 years!) because he wants to be sure he'll understand dd when she starts talking.

Has anyone been to Ping Pong before? It's on Great Marlborough St near Liberty. My trusty food guide rates it highly.

Autumn, Snowmum, t2bg
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