Almost Brangelina

The instructions were simple enough. These are the keys to the house, the switches are here & there & everywhere, and the alarm system is really not that intimidating. You arm it, then you just have to bypass the areas which you do not wish to arm and these initials stand for all the different zones in the house. Ok,... get it? And don't forget the kids' art and swimming lessons, feed the fish, pay the kids' fees, make sure the wine chiller is at 16 degrees etc, etc Ciao!!! See you in 9 days.

Now begins our life... in a big designer house with high tech alarm system, 5 kids to look after ( 2 are our own ), 2 maids etc etc. This is almost like Brangelina.

The first 2 days were days I call adapting to new habitat. Philip & I kept getting the switches mixed up. I have to keep telling myself. When the switches' blue lights are on... it actually means off. This is day 3 and I am still grappling with the switches!!! How can a house have soo many switches?!?


The 1st nite before bed time was “ Get that dog outta here before I grill it” nite. A neighbour's dog had somehow strayed into the compound & Philip and I had to chase the creature out of the gate and there we were with brooms and mops running round the compound trying to scare the creature out of its wit and fur!!! Alex's relatives must think that we are really nutty. Only the 1st nite and there we were flying round the garden like witches on a broom. Jac had warned that once the alarm is on... any creature roaming around will be picked up by the sensor & this would trigger the alarm. I don't mind dogs but I was adamant that no 4 legged creature was going to ruin my sleep!! I am sure Brangelina don't do this bit... they have their bodyguards to do the running for them but we have not reached their status as yet...so for now we'll have to do the chasing ourselves.

We have our own version of papparazzi as well. Very often Alex's relatives (young & old alike ) would drop in and this includes the relatives' maids bringing their young charges as well as they all live nearby. So there goes my privacy. I have to make sure I look presentable at all times. At home I normally wear my crummy clothes and my hair would be quite scarecrowish but I can't afford to do that for 9 days. I have to dress properly and make sure my hair is not sticking out here and there!!!

To look after 5 kids is really draining on the body and mind. Philip & I are out of steam by late evening and the 5 are still bright eyed and bounding with energy. Even during the Raya break, they are all up by 6.30am. So I have no choice but to drag myself out of bed and brace myself for another marathon day of kids. They are lovely kids but my energy level is definitely not on par as theirs. I need to chew on ginseng to keep up with them!!!

This “Almost Brangelina” lifestyle will certainly stick well in our memory.