6 years young

For my sixth birthday, I invited some friends from school, and a few relatives. My cousins Zach and Maya, Uncle Desmond, my Gugus and Grandma were there. So were Hugo and Danelle, two old friends from my Judo group.

Happy Birthday to me!

Grandma had ordered my birthday cake specially in the form of Lightning McQueen, and it was encrusted with soft fruit.

my cake

Back in Hong Kong

School broke up for Christmas holidays, Gugu took me to see the Nutcracker Suite. I also went last year, but this year was the first time for Duncan and Maya. The next day, we boarded the train for Nanjing, where my other Grandma and Grandpa live. Like our last trip to mainland China, we went on an overnight train. We spent two weeks there. We were hoping to see some snow, but we were disappointed. I was hoping to have my front teeth in time for Christmas, just like in the song, but Santa did not grant me that wish. My grandparents often took me and Duncan to the zoo. They also took us to the Nanjing marine park.

We arrived back in Hong Kong yesterday. I showed Mummy and Papa my new teeth, which started to poke out during the train journey home. I was so thrilled to get home, because I had been so looking forward to finding what Santa put in my Christmas stocking. I got some small toys, some candy, and a robot. This year, I got two lemons, and so did Duncan.

I didn't want to get up this morning, but it was a school day. Papa let me take some of my candy to school to share with my friends.

Dear Santa

Speech festival

Mum took me to some hotel basement where there were a lot of other children and their parents. For several weeks, I had practised my poem for the speech festival at Kids' Gallery.

Shell

Myra Cohn Livingston

When it was time
for Show and Tell,
Adam brought a big pink shell.
He told about
the ocean roar
and walking on the sandy shore.
And then he passed
the shell around.
We listened to the water sound.
And that's the first time
I could hear
the wild waves calling to my ear.

All the other children recited the same poem.

Dad asked me if I was scared going on the stage. I told him it was fun.

Speech festival

I competed in the HK Schools Speech Festival today. All the children are to recite the same poem. I've been practising it for several weeks now – Papa has been helping me with it at home, and Teacher Andy has been helping me rehearse it at Kids' Gallery. I enjoyed being on stage, and wasn't the least bit scared.

The poem goes like this:

'Shell' by Mary Cohn Livingston

When it was time
for Show and Tell,
Adam brought a big pink shell.
He told about
the ocean roar
and walking on the sandy shore.

And then he passed
the shell around.
we listened to the water sound.

And that’s the first time
I could hear
the wild waves calling to my ear.