The Day The HDB Approval Came

One of our biggest headaches in this renovation was the approval for hacking down a couple of walls. According to the ID, it had to do with this area (Bedok), which was supposedly notorious for being troublesome.

Well, it finally came and the team lost no time in knocking the walls down. We were, after all, very delayed in our schedule.

Balcony sliding door removed

Living room wall hacked to reveal new living room

Kitchen wall hacked to reveal new kitchen entrance

I literally jumped for joy!

Logistics before homeschooling

After a whole lot of homeschooling research this evening, I realise that we really need a proper schoolroom or school area before we can start schooling in earnest. Up till now, for most of Tot School we have been playing/learning anywhere and everywhere in the house, which is not too good because there are lots of distractions from his siblings and other stuff happening in the house.

When we moved to this flat, we had planned to have the two boys share a room in future (currently both boys sleep in my room although the big boy actually has his own bed in the other room). Big boy already does his homework there, since all his stuff - school, clothes, toys etc are there. He just sleeps with me. The opposite side of the room from where his desk is is actually supposed to be for the Mouse when he grows up and goes to school, but there's a toy cupboard that takes up lots of space.

So we are seriously going to have to do some major rearranging of furniture. I've been procrastinating (surprise, surprise) till my parents move house and my stuff that's at their place needs to be brought here, but now I'm motivated to try and get it done these June hols.

Stay away from me, Korean dramas!

About the new fridge (and starting it up)

And here is the new, bigger refrigerator! It came yesterday, much earlier than expected, and I am now all smiles.

My new SHARP SJPC54 in a gorgeous, classy black

I learnt something new yesterday. My neighbour told me she'd been instructed by her fridge delivery guy not to open the fridge doors for at least 3-4 hours after he had plugged in and switched on her new fridge. This completely boggled me so I turned to my good friend Mr Google. 

From Stack Exchange:

"The short answer is to check with the manufacturer. That way you can be sure to stay within warranty guidelines.

The longer answer is that it varies from model to model. When a refrigerator is placed in a non-standard position (for example on its side), compressor oil can run out of the compressor and up refrigerant lines. So if you don't stand it upright and wait, the compressor will pump without sufficient oil -- not good.

-M"

Apparently, most standard refrigerators (like mine) are always transported upright, so the risk of this happening is lower. However, sloshing may occur during transportation, plus they do tilt the box when loading or unloading it from the lorry, so my delivery man told me to wait at least an hour before switching it on. No problem, as long as I can clean it first.

I guess my neighbour's delivery guy didn't know what he was talking about. She's rather pissed (many years too late).