The Orange Tree

You Are My Sunshine

2011-07-14T14:13:00.005+08:00

12 July 2011 was a really special day for me.

My son came up to me and planted a kiss on my lips. He then walked away and returned with another kiss on my lips again! And it happened again and again and again! I had actually lost count of how many times my son had kissed me.

Oh, dear son! You've stolen mommy's heart!

Javier at 12 months and 29 days. A day before he turns 13 months old.

You are my sunshine.

My only sunshine.

You make me happy when skies are grey.

You never know, dear.

How much I love you.

Please don't take my sunshine away.

Look how much Javier has grown!

2011-06-13T21:27:00.001+08:00

Meet my son after almost 6 months! My baby is 11 months and 30 days old. In another few hours, he will be ONE!

I've been busy and (too) lazy to blog. But for the sake of my baby, I decided to document these special moments before I completely forgot about them.

These are the significant events and milestones my baby has achieved since the day he was born.

1. 9 Dec 2010 (5+ months) - Rolled over on his own.

2. 11 Dec 2010 (5+ months) - Had his first taste of semi-solid food.

3. 14 Dec 2010 (6 months) - First visit to the Underwater World at Sentosa.

4. 27 Dec 2010 (6+ months) - Ditched his pacifier.

5. 31 Dec 2010 (6+ months) - First visit to the Jurong Bird Park.

6. 14 Feb 2011 (8 months) - Crawled backward.

7. 5 March 2o11 (8+ months) - Crawled forward.

8. 12 March 2011 (8+ months) - Got into sitting position on his own.

9. 25 March 2011 (9+ months) - Pulled himself up in standing position.

10. 26 March 2011 (9+months) - Fed himself with finger food.

11. 22 April 2011 (9+ months) - First visit to the zoo.

12. 8 May 2011 (10+ months) - Called "Mama".

13. 14 May 2011 (11 m0nths) - Clapped hands when told to do so.

14. 15 May 2011 (11+ months)- First ride on the bicycle.

15. 17 May (11+ months) - First swim in the pool.

16. 5 June (11+months) - Walked 5/6 steps without any help.

Alright, mommy better be more diligent in blogging.

Javier's First Christmas

2010-12-26T14:51:00.002+08:00

We had a blast last night! There were so much joy, love, fun and laughter in our humble adobe. We had two special guests. Aunt and Uncle from Sabah were in Singapore visiting their daughter and family. So we invited them to our house for Christmas dinner. We also had a very very special last minute guest - The Santa Claus (aka the hubby). The kiddos were so tickled when Santa Claus made his appearance!

I'm grateful to have our family and dear friends celebrating Christmas with us. And I'm thankful for having an extra little person in our household this Christmas. My little precious, mommy knows you enjoyed yourself last night. You were showered with so much love, hugs, kisses and gifts from everyone. You're truly one blessed baby!

5 Months 25 Days!

2010-12-16T09:08:00.002+08:00

Yes! My baby can finally rolled over on his own! Yay!
And yes, mommy is anticipating more exciting times ahead!

Javier's First Haircut

2010-11-22T09:02:00.002+08:00

After 5 months and 1 week, I finally agreed to shave away JJ's hair. According to the Chinese tradition, we have to shave away baby's hair on the day he turns one month old. I didn't as I couldn't bear to let go of his au naturel spiky hair. But soon after JJ turned 4 months old, his hair started to fall. The hubby and I could see visible thinning of hair at his sides. So yesterday, we brought him to United Square and had his first haircut at the Junior League Hair Services.

JJ was very well behaved except towards the end when he started to fuss. I guess he didn't like having hair on his face and he couldn't turn his head as and when he liked. But overall, he was cooperative. Good job, JJ!

Anyway, the hubby and I took a good look at our son after the haircut. We couldn't stop laughing. He looked just like a shaolin monk! The hubby kept commenting how cute his son was. Well, that is how much the hubby loves his son. For me, I couldn't get used to having a monk as my son. I looked JJ in the eyes and asked him several times, "Are you my son?"

What a cute little monk!

My Little Precious

2010-11-20T19:40:00.004+08:00

Meet my son, Javier Ong Hao Zhe. Born on 14 June 2010, 1753hr, at Mount Alvernia Hospital.

I was hoping that my son would be a July baby like me. But he decided to arrive sooner than expected. In fact, he was a premature baby, delivered at 36 weeks and 4 days. I was in labour for about 5 hours and gave birth to my son without the use of epidural. I will write more about the day Javier arrived in another post. For now, take a good look at my son. Isn't he the most handsome-est baby on earth?

My son at 5 months 4 days old.

Capturing Life's Treasured Moment

2010-06-07T14:40:00.005+08:00

At 32 weeks pregnant, the hubby and I went for our maternity photo shoot at The Studio Loft. I was quite uncomfortable posing in front of the camera initially because mommy just couldn't smile naturally and looked so stiff. The photographer had to delete all the photos she took as she exclaimed, "Aiya! All not nice." Luckily, the situation improved when the hubby made me smile and laugh uncontrollably with all his funny faces and remarks. After the shoot, we got to chose the photos we wanted. They were really well taken and I couldn't help admiring them over and over again. I can't wait to show these pics to JJ when he's a little older and tell him, "Look! That's you in mommy's tummy!"

These are some of our favourite shots.

...more favourite shots...and there're more.

6 Years

2010-06-06T23:04:00.000+08:00

...and I count my blessings every single day.

It's amazing how you make me fall in love with you over and over again. Thank you for being my friend, my lover and my husband. I know there will be more blissful years ahead.

Breakfast made with love. Priceless.

Happy Wedding Anniversary. I love you.

Simply Lovely

2010-04-10T11:24:00.005+08:00

JJ, mommy brought you to dinner with a special group of people last night. They were once terrorized and tortured by my undying love. Look how much they have blossomed. Don't they just look great?

BB Ong @ 27 weeks

2010-04-08T21:58:00.002+08:00

I stared intently at my tummy while lying on the bed, anticipating miniature waves surging across my tummy. Repeatedly, the tides rose and fell. Then it came to a complete calm. I waited for the next round of upsurge to begin. But I was getting impatient. So I poked at my tummy. The little fella stirred and sent waves across it. I poked again. He stirred again. I poked yet again and he did it again.

JJ, are you playing with mommy?

Nostalgia

2010-04-05T14:54:00.004+08:00

Going where the hills are green

And the cars are few and far

Days are full of splendor

At night you can see the stars

Life's been moving oh-so-fast

I think we should take it slow

Rest our heads upon the grass

And listen to it grow

(Lyrics taken from Splendor in the Grass by Pink Martini)

Inflation

2010-04-04T19:33:00.001+08:00

No. I'm not referring to the rate at which prices of goods and services is rising. I'm referring to the new accessory I've acquired - my bump.

When I look down, I'm amazed by how much my bump has inflated. It hasn't become a hindrance yet in the sense that I could still go on with my exercise routine, walk normally and not waddle, bend down to tie my shoelaces, sit on the floor and get up in a dignified manner and cut my toenails. I wonder when my toes would become invisible while I'm standing up. I guess by then, inflation would have hit its peak.

For posterity, I must record down in pictorial form, the rate at which my bump has inflated.

(From left to right)

11wk 3d.

13wk 1d.

(From left to right)
17wk 1d.
19wk 3d.

22wk 2d.
These are my fav pics so far.

And the lastest...26wk 3d.

Babymoon in Phuket

2010-04-03T13:51:00.012+08:00

This post is long overdue. But for JJ, I must document it down so that when he grows up, he knows that daddy and mommy brought him to Phuket when he was just 21 weeks and 2 days in my womb.

Our 4 days 3 nights babymoon in Phuket was pure indulgence. We stayed in a private pool pavilion at Indigo Pearl, a 5-star boutique luxury resort, located at Nai Yang beach. The room was lavishly decorated in a modern contemporary style where rich wood and stone interplayed. Just outside our room, there was an outdoor bathtub where one could simply relax while soaking in it, taking in the sight and sound of nature in the open air. We even had our own salt water private pool in the courtyard complete with double sun lounger and a comfy daybed.

The hubby and I spent all day swimming and lazing by the pool. When we got tired, we retreated to our room and took our naps. We read to JJ, listened to music and watched DVD at night. And of course we stuffed ourselves silly with so much scrumptious food that when I returned back to Singapore, my sis and bro-in-law were shocked to see a much bigger me.

We even attended a Thai cooking class during our stay at the resort. There were 6 of us in the class. Two were from Belgium and the other two, who just got married, were from England. They were such fun loving people and we enjoyed every minute of their company while cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

Everything we needed could be found at the resort or at Nai Yang Beach. So we didn't venture out of the resort very much. The only time we went out was during our 2nd night in Phuket. We got a cab from the hotel and went to a Thai restaurant highly recommended by a hotel staff in Phuket Town. It turned out to be a huge disappointment. Fortunately, I spotted a signboard of MK steamboat while we past by Central Festival shopping mall. So to satisfy our cravings for good food, we decided to have our second dinner at MK which was great!

Our stay at the resort was such a fantabulous experience and I hope it could be longer. I told the hubby we should bring JJ back when he's old enough. Perhaps when he turns one. I think that would make a wonderful birthday gift for him.

On a separate note, as I'm blogging this, I have a sudden itch to fly again. So Darling, do we have the time to do another babymoon? *wink wink*

JJ at 21 wks. 2 days before babymoon at Phuket.

Pic taken during the FA scan.

JJ was so cooperative during the scan. He acceded to mommy's requests to turn to proper positions so that the scan could be done once and for all and at the shortest time possible. Good job, baby!

(from top left: Clockwise) Indigo Pearl Resort Lobby.

Beautiful chandelier suspended from the ceiling at the lobby.

Babymoon essential: PSP for daddy. Magazines for mommy. DVDs for daddy and mommy. Music CDs and storybooks for JJ.

Our room at Indigo Pearl.

Spacious bathroom with indoor shower.

Daybed and outdoor bathtub at courtyard.

Double sun lounger with sun umbrella at the courtyard.

Salt water pool at the courtyard.

Private beach club for guests at the Nai Yang Beach.

At Nai Yang Beach.

Food glorious food!

(From top left: Clockwise) We dined in twice for dinner at our own pavilion.

Very good spread for buffet breakfast at the Tin Mine. We could do without lunch after a heavy breakfast!

MK steamboat! Love the green noodles.

Thai cooking class conducted at Moo's kitchen.

We had such a great time learning and cooking with Teacher Su and our friends from Belgium and England.

We can cook and so can you!

Tadah! Presenting our masterpieces!

Papaya salad, Phuket seafood fried noodles, green curry and fried bananas sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.

We are officially experts in Thai cooking! Yay!

Bringing home the apron from Moo's Kitchen as a souvenir.

Last pic in our pavilion before heading to the airport.

Goodbye Phuket! We'll be back...with JJ!

More Books for JJ!

2010-03-26T12:18:00.004+08:00

Darling, I think we need to get more book shelves when we move back to our nest.

BB Ong @ 25 weeks

2010-03-25T20:52:00.004+08:00

My baby is exactly 25 weeks today! Sis accompanied me to the gynae for my routine check. We didn't get to see JJ's face. He was facing inward and didn't want to turn around. But we saw him shaking his head. How cute! I love you, baby.

Because of JJ's position, the gynae couldn't get a nice pic of him for Daddy. This pic shows the back view of JJ. And btw, JJ now weighs 759g.

This is for you, my Darling.

2010-03-20T15:07:00.003+08:00

We said we'd walk together baby come what may
That come the twilight should we lose our way
If as we're walking a hand should slip free
I'll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me

We swore we'd travel darling side by side
We'd help each other stay in stride
But each lover's steps fall so differently
But I'll wait for you
And if I should fall behind
Wait for me

Now everyone dreams of a love lasting and true
But you and I know what this world can do
So let's make our steps clear that the other may see
And I'll wait for you
If I should fall behind
Wait for me

Now there's a beautiful river in the valley ahead
There 'neath the oaks bough soon we will be wed
Should we lose each other in the shadow of the evening trees
I'll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me
Darling I'll wait for you
Should I fall behind
Wait for me

(Lyrics from "Should I Fall Behind" by Bruce Springsteen)

Of Books and Music

2010-03-13T13:45:00.006+08:00

The previous post reveals how active my baby is. But my baby has a quiet side too. He is absolutely calm and peaceful when I read to him and when he's listening to music.

I started reading to baby JJ when he was just a teeny weeny peanut in my womb. As I had morning sickness and felt tired most of the time during my first trimester, I didn't read to him as regularly as I do now. Our first book was The Ersatz Elevator from A Series of Unfortunate Events. Then the hubby bought a set of storybooks by Roald Dahl from the bookstore at T2 before we boarded the plane for our babymoon. We are almost done with them except one particular book which is meant for daddy and son bonding time. I plan to buy the rest of the books from A Series of Unfortunate Events and other books by Roald Dahl simply because I enjoy the stories (and I think JJ does too).

JJ listens to music too, mostly classical. Sometimes, he would be exposed to other genres. Depending on mommy's mood, it could be jazz, latin or even pop music. Every afternoon, I would just let the CD play while I lounge on the couch with eyes closed and rubbing my tummy, feeling totally relax.

The reason why I expose JJ to books and music is not because I'm a kiasu parent who can't wait to cultivate a love for reading and music in my child. I'm doing this because both are great ways to bond with my baby. I want JJ to recognise my voice (and the hubby's) even before he's born. I want him to feel close to us. I want him to know mommy and daddy love him very much. And THAT is the most important reason of all.

For my baby JJ.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

This is for Daddy.

JJ says, "Daddy. When are you coming home? JJ wants Daddy to read "The Magic Finger". JJ misses Daddy's voice. I love you."

JJ's waiting eagerly...

I Like to Move It, Move It!

2010-03-13T12:14:00.002+08:00

"...She likes to move it, move it. He likes to move it, move it. You like to MOVE IT!"

That would be a very apt song for my baby. This little fella is always moving or kicking or punching in my tummy. I first felt him move when he was exactly 18 weeks. It was past midnight and I was lying on the bed, trying hard to fall asleep. And it was then I felt that first momentous sensation of life. Some preggers have described fetal movements as flutters. For me, it felt like bubbles bursting in my tummy. It was an amazing feeling. And I felt so blessed to have the privilege to carry a new life inside me.

Since that night, my baby's movements have become more regular and obvious. I've also noticed a pattern in his movements. He moves when I eat. He moves when I'm in the middle of pilates class. He moves when I go to bed. He moves the moment I wake up in the morning. So you can see he is such an active little fella! And I haven't even taken into account other erratic moments when he just feels like moving.

My gynae has assured me that an active baby is a healthy baby. He once told me during one of my routine checks. "Good! Move more! Good!". Well, I guess it's true. As long as my baby JJ is healthy, I'm happy.

FB Scandal

2010-03-12T14:19:00.006+08:00

The Jack Neo scandal has triggered some great imagination in me.

While I was 'stalking' some folks on FB, I discovered that the hubby actually created a FB account some time back. I could tell it was a dormant account. There was no profile picture and hardly any activities listed on it. There were only two friends on the friend list. (How pathetic!) And one of them was a common friend of ours. The other one was a lady by the name of V Ong. Her profile picture showed her carrying a chubby cute little boy. And it was then my imagination started to run wild. Very wild. Insanely wild.

The hubby called from Algeria last night and an interesting conversation began.

Me: Darling. I wanna ask you something. Tell me honestly. Do you have a woman outside? And you even have a son with her?

The hubby: Huh?!? No! Don't have!

Me: Then who is this V Ong on your FB account. Besides M (our common friend), she's the only friend on your friend list. And she is a woman!

The hubby: Oooh...V Ong is my primary school friend.

Me: Don't bluff! She is your mistress right?! She even has a son with you right?! That's why she called herself V ONG right?! As in Mrs ONG right?!

The hubby: (Begins to laugh uncontrollably) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Me: When did you create this FB account? How come I don't know about it?

The hubby: I also don't know when I created it. I think some time back lah. I forgot already.

Me: You're lying. That V ONG is your mistress right?

The hubby: (Begins laughing again) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!!! Aiya! You add her and ask her who she is lah. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!

So you can see, this nutty wifey had actually made the hubby very happy that night. Thank you, Jack Neo!

Lunar New Year & Valentine's Day

2010-02-16T16:51:00.003+08:00

Lunar New Year 2010 is a special one for several reasons.

1. For reunion lunch, it is a first for me to have so many people crowding around a dining table. My bro-in-law's family came along and the kids had a separate table for themselves. The only person missing was the hubby. He called from overseas while we were enjoying our food and wished everyone a Happy Lunar New Year. I'm sure he misses home.

2. I ate for two instead of one.

3. Valentine's Day falls on the first day of Lunar New Year. I received a lovely surprise from the hubby - a bouquet of purple tulips and Singtel cash vouchers. The kids were deliriously happy too because the hubby did not forget about them. He bought them toys.

What a sumptuous spread for reunion lunch!

The hubby sent me a beautiful bouquet of purple tulips on the eve of Lunar New Year .

And Singtel cash vouchers!

The kids love their toys too!

Us on the second day of Lunar New Year!

The Guessing Game

2010-01-27T17:55:00.004+08:00

The guessing game began on the day when I first experienced morning sickness. Because I was puking and couldn't eat meat, my mother-in-law was pretty sure that I was expecting a baby girl. She claimed that she was exactly like me when she was expecting my two sis-in-laws. When she had the hubby and my bro-in-law, she had no morning sickness at all. Thus, she concluded that baby must be a girl.

The hubby too predicted that I was having a baby girl. I asked him why during one of our overseas phone calls. He said it was just a gut feeling. I was thinking perhaps I was having very 'gu niang' symptoms such as puking, no appetite, picky about food, always craving for sour stuff that led him to make that prediction. The hubby had been referring to our baby as 'she/her' ever since then. We even had a name for her. It was such a beautiful name I couldn't wait to call her Baby Jxxxx.

On the other hand, my doting Sis was pretty sure that I was expecting a baby boy. I asked her why. Without explaining herself, she gave me a very serious look and insisted that baby must be a boy. Looking at how confident my sis was, I thought perhaps my mum-in-law and the hubby were wrong.

So it was 2 against 1. And what prediction did I make? Seriously, I had no idea. Sometimes, I thought it may be a boy. Other times, I thought otherwise. Frankly, it doesn't matter whether baby is a boy or a girl. All I want is a healthy, happy and normal baby.

Anyway, I had my routine check at my gynae's 2 weeks ago. That visit put an end to the guessing game. Right or wrong, everyone's happy with the results. But I guess my Sis was especially happy. Yup. She hit the jackpot!

Farewell

2010-01-15T15:20:00.001+08:00

It was a painful decision.

You were ill. We brought you to the vet several times and tried to nurse you back to health. For a while, you were better. Then there was no escape from sufferings.

Please forgive us, Roxie baby. Believe me, it isn't easy for us to let you go. But we know we have to. We have to save you from misery.

There's no news of Peppy till today. We guess she must have gone to a better place. You will meet her there. Take care of each other and we know both of you will be happy together.

Rest in peace, mes bebes. We love you.

Roxie baby at the beach.

Peppy and Roxie.
Thank you for bringing us so much joy. You will never be forgotten.

This is for Dou Dou!

2010-01-10T16:44:00.006+08:00

The hubby returned home for two weeks and we didn't have time to do two important things.

1. To visit our god daughter, Sumana aka Dou Dou (little beanie).

2. To visit our other daughter, Mika, our doggie.

So before he left, we made a video of the hubby with his two sidekicks, Gwendolyn and Glenn. No need for rehearsals. All I did was a briefing before the recording began. And we made a cute video with just one attempt! Here's the link to the video http://www.flickr.com/photos/janjoey/4290390692/

As for item no. 2, we'll have to wait till Feb when the hubby returns home. Sorry, Mika. We're bad mommy n daddy.

There's A Muffin Baking in the Oven!

2010-01-01T22:00:00.004+08:00

Yes! We're having a baby! It's going to be an exciting 2010! We are absolutely looking forward to the arrival of our little muffin in July!

Happy New Year to all! May 2010 bring you joy, happiness and good health!

BB Ong @ 12 Weeks 6 Days

2010-01-01T04:07:00.001+08:00

I had my OSCAR Test yesterday at NUH. It involves a NT (Nuchal Translucency) and a blood test. Results are good and I am extremely happy. I slept really well that night, knowing that my baby is growing well in my tummy. I didn't even wake up to go to the loo - not even once - which I always do three or four times during the night.

I guess it's time for the little fella to make his debut.

BB Ong @ 12wks 6d.

Doesn't my baby look more like a little human now? His nose is now visible and the hubby loves the shape of his head.

Where Are You, My Peppy Gal?

2009-12-30T12:56:00.005+08:00

The hubby and I received a very sad news tonight. Peppy was shot by an Algerian. We do not know who did it, how it happened, when it happened and where it happened. Nobody saw her body. All we know is that Peppy did not come home on 27 and 28 Dec 2009. My driver then heard from someone that an algerian had shot Peppy and that she was dead.

I do not know if Peppy is really dead since her body was not found. Deep in my heart, I'm still hoping that she is alive. Maybe she managed to escape and is hiding in somewhere safe. Maybe she wandered too far away from home and couldn't find her way back. Maybe she found herself a partner and decided to leave with him. I do not know. My only wish is that my Peppy gal is still alive.

Where are you, my Peppy gal? Please come home if you are still alive. I miss you.

BB Ong @ 10 Weeks 1 Day

2009-12-11T20:13:00.005+08:00

My mum-in-law, Sis, Gwendolyn and Glenn saw BB Ong for the first time at my gynae's this morning. BB Ong was very active! He was kicking his tiny legs the whole time and even waved at us! It's so amazing to see how much my baby has grown in 2 weeks.

My sis took a video of BB Ong. I'm going to upload it on Flickr so that the hubby could see how active this little fella is.

I'm Thinking of...

2009-12-10T16:24:00.007+08:00

Penne Arrabiata from Pasta Fresca.
Tom Yum Goong Noodle from Secret Recipe.
Roti Prata Kosong with Thick Spicy Fish Curry (no fish meat, please).
Mee Tai Mak Soup cooked by Sis.
Any Authentic Penang Assam Laksa.

These are the stuff that have been swirling in my head for days.

I am so hungry BUT I can't eat. Sigh.

BB Ong @ 9 weeks

2009-12-03T14:01:00.007+08:00

BB Ong is exactly 9 weeks today. I'm looking forward to my gynea appointment next Friday. From what I've read, a baby's heartbeat might be audible by the 10th week. I hope I'll be able to hear BB Ong's glorious heartbeat by then.

As for me, I've been well except when afternoon sickness strikes and lasts throughout the night. Usually after the first meal of the day, I would feel nauseous. Sometimes I would puke out the food I've had but mostly it's all water and saliva. I have also developed an aversion to all kinds of meat which includes seafood. So, goodbye cheese burger. Goodbye KFC. Goodbye bak kwa. Goodbye chili crab. I'm officially a vegetarian for now. I've read that morning sickness will be gone for most women as she enters into the second trimester. I hope it holds true for me. I need to gain back my appetite else BB Ong will be deprived of all the nutrients he needs.

Apart from afternoon sickness and poor appetite, I've been feeling a little down and weepy occasionally. The compulsive worrier in me has become more evident. I worry, I fear and I cry for irrational and illogical reasons. Perhaps my mood swings has been exacerbated by the fact that the hubby is away. But I do recognise that the emotional ups and downs that I'm going through is attributed to all the surges of pregnancy hormones.

Alright. I think I'm making myself sounds like I'm in severe depression. Don't worry, I'm not. I'm still emotionally stable and is fully capable of feeling the joy of having BB Ong growing inside me.

BB Ong BB Ong, Mommy can't wait to see you next week!

Meet BB Ong!

2009-11-23T22:02:00.008+08:00

I saw BB Ong's heartbeat for the very first time this morning. His heart was beating at a super fast speed. From the ultrasound scan, he looked so tiny and really cute. I'm happy that BB Ong is growing well in my tummy. I can't wait for the hubby to return home to see our baby.

BB Ong at 7+ weeks

Goodbye, H.

2009-11-07T16:03:00.004+08:00

I wish it was all a joke.

I cannot believe that you are gone forever. There is so much I want to know about you. And there is so much I want to share with you. I'm sorry I didn't treasure the times when you were around. We hardly met up for the past few years. And even if we did, I hardly knew what was going on in your life. I should have tried harder to be a better friend. I really should have.

I've been thinking alot about you - your laughter, your lame jokes, your signature dance moves. The thought of you put a smile on my face. I'm thankful for the friendship we used to share. You may be gone but never forgotten.

I will always miss you, H.

Taiwan

2009-11-05T15:51:00.005+08:00

The trip to Taiwan was a spur-of-the-moment decision. The hubby and I were walking along Orchard Road on our second day in Singapore and I suddenly exclaimed, "Let's go get air tickets now and fly somewhere for a holiday!" The hubby looked at me and asked, "Where?" Without any hesitation, I said, "Taipei!". I have been to Taipei before and I miss the yummilicious street food. I thought since the hubby loves food, it would be nice to go on a food safari in Taipei.

So instead of heading to the brand new SIA office located in Ion to get the tickets, we returned home and booked the tickets online. I called my eldest brother to inform him about our sudden arrival the next day. He suggested we stayed with him in Taichung for a night before continuing with our trip in Taipei. I immediately agreed. It would be nice to spend some time with my nephews and to visit my brother's new apartment for the first time.

We didn't visit any major tourist sites in Taichung. The main objective of our trip to Taichung was to visit my brother and his family. We had a great time hanging out with my nephews at the Feng Jia Night Market. It is the biggest and most popular night market in Taichung. We went there mainly for the delicious street food and of course we ended up stuffing ourselves silly. I especially love the mouth watering glutinous rice sausages. I'm still thinking about it till today.

Before we headed back to Taipei, we also had the opportunity to visit the primary school which Ian and Sean were studying in. Ian was part of the school's Chinese orchestra. He played the cello. The hubby and I had the privilege to watch him play with the rest of the members. Ian even took us for a mini tour around the school.

We returned to Taipei on our second day in Taiwan. By then, there were warnings about the impending heavy rain and strong wind brought about by the typhoon. True enough, it poured for the next few days. But the wet weather did not deter us from venturing around Taipei. We had our raincoats and wore them everywhere we went. We visited several tourist sites and most importantly we ate to our hearts' content! I have a feeling that the hubby and I will return to Taiwan for more tantalizing food very soon!

We had to take a high speed train from Taipei to Taichung. It was an hour train ride.

Street food at Feng Jia Night Market. Left pic shows a stall which sells glutinous rice sausages which I LOVE so much. Oh! And that's my all time fav street food on the bottom right pic - Stinky Fried Tofu! Woo hoo!

More street food at Feng Jia Night Market.

We visited the primary school which our nephews attended on the day Ian had Chinese orchestra practice.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei.

Taipei 101 on a rainy night. We went up the building to the 89th floor but it was so foggy we couldn't really see the panoramic night view of Taipei City.

More glorious food from Shilin Night Market.

Shopping, eating and massage at Xi Meng Ding.

More glorious food from Yong Kang Street and Shi Da Night Market.

Popular dessert shop (top 2 pics) and Gao Ji Restaurant at Yong Kang Street (bottom left).

Thankful

2009-11-05T12:21:00.008+08:00

BB Ong is such a lucky little fella. Even in his early stage when he remains a blur in the ultrasound scan, there are already so many people who care and love him.

This morning as I was still lying in bed, Ah Gu called and congratulated me. He said a prayer for BB Ong over the phone. I was really touched by his prayer. I am reminded of how blessed we are to be surrounded by family members and friends who love us unconditionally.

Right now, there's nothing else I can ask for except to count my blessings.

Now, Tell Me What Do You See?

2009-10-29T22:07:00.007+08:00

Can this be real???

I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane

2009-09-28T20:42:00.007+08:00

...without my babies.

I'm leaving you for a while. I don't know for how long. But I do know I'll be leaving my heart behind. J'taime, mon cherie.

Answer to "Bo Liao" Question

2009-09-22T03:16:00.004+08:00

No one has answered my question. Why? Never mind.

Here's the ultimate truth.

The hubby and I were having lunch one day. While chatting over our lunch, I did it. I burped and farted at the same time, to which the hubby exclaimed, "Brilliant!!!"

This is what I called multi-tasking. Heh.

Ermm...Food For Thought?

2009-09-12T07:23:00.003+08:00

This is a "bo liao" post. If you have nothing better to do, read on.

Some time back, the hubby's colleagues and I had a discussion over this topic. I think we were seriously bored then.

"Can one fart and burp at the same time?"

All of them concluded that one could not do both simultaneously. What do you think? I would very much like to hear your take on this. Come on! Leave a comment, will ya?

Read This

2009-08-20T20:41:00.004+08:00

http://www.dayswithmyfather.com/

It's poignant and hauntingly beautiful.

The Hubby is Famous!

2009-08-17T20:20:00.009+08:00

Not quite actually. But his face did appear amongst many others in a photo published in The Straits Times today. Here's the link:
http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/sp/nationaldayrally2009/090817_singaporeans_are_ready_to_rough_it_out.html
In case the link doesn't work and for posterity's sake, I copied the pic from The Straits Times Interactive and posted it here.

The 1st guy from the left in the front row is the hubby.

(Pic taken from The Straits Times Interactive)

I was extremely excited to read the article and at the end of it, I thought to myself. "Eh some info not correct leh." Hmm...I think ST should speak to me personally.

I Never Truly Knew

2009-08-16T00:35:00.003+08:00

I never knew
the anticipation
the anxiety
the hopes raised and then dashed into smithereens
the frustrations
the agony
the mind constantly tormented with uncertainties
the pain
the tears
the fears of the unknown and the dire thought of never getting there
I never truly knew until today

Let Me In

2009-08-11T00:24:00.006+08:00

Roxie has been spending alot of time in the house. So much so that it has become a habit. If we refuse to let her in, she would scratch the door, whine and cry in the most pitiful manner. And in the end, we or rather I would always cave in.

That day, Roxie was let into the house again. She fell asleep soon after and this was what I saw.

Now, how could anyone have the heart to kick this cute little pup out of the house? I don't. So Roxie still gets to come into the house during the day and sleeps over occasionally.

Singapore's 44!

2009-08-10T06:45:00.002+08:00

This is how I celebrated National Day in a foreign land.

Made a few paper flags. Gave some away. Stuck one on our front door. Dressed up in red and white. Gathered patriotic Singaporeans outside our house. Posed in front of the door. Smiled and clicked! Followed by more clicks. And when the rest went back to the office, I retuned to the house and sang 'Count on Me, Singapore' with gusto. Happy Birthday, Singapore!

Happy 44th Birthday!!!

We're proud to be Singaporeans!!!

French

2009-08-04T20:56:00.002+08:00

That day, I sent a SMS to my driver. I attempted to write in French.

This is what I wrote:
Pouvez-vous m'aider acheter les legumes, une poulet et 2kg boeuf s'il vous plait? Merci.

The next day, I asked him. "How? My French good?"

"Good. But a little bit fault," he replied. I wonder which part of the sentence is "a little bit fault". Oh well. At least he understood.

Cesky Krumlov

2009-08-02T06:17:00.009+08:00

Cesky Krumlov is breathtakingly stunning. Some said it's like a pocket-sized Prague. But I have to add that its beauty surpasses that of Prague. This quaint little town has a fairy tale feel. The story of Hansel and Gretel immediately came to my mind when I stood in awe as the picturesque scenery unfolded before me. I was completely enthralled by the lovely cottage-like houses and even imagined myself living in a gingerbread and candy cottage. It was so surreal.

Isn't this quaint little town awesome?

The Vltava River (top left pic) and one of the many riverside cafes and restaurants (top right pic). If you are game for some action, rent a canoe/raft and cruise down the meandering river (bottom left pic). The last pic on the bottom right corner shows a house which is on sale and I am still wondering how much it costs.

Cesky Krumlov Castle and the Castle Tower.

Courtyard of Cesky Krumlov Castle. It's a pity photography is not allowed during the tour of the castle. The rooms are opulent and impressive.

Look how lovely these houses are.

Prague

2009-07-31T00:10:00.020+08:00

This post is overdue for almost a month. Mrs Bum has been busy lolling around lately hence the delay. Nevertheless, she managed to squeeze out some time to blog amidst her hectic schedule.

I had an early birthday celebration in Czech Republic. Why Czech Republic? You may ask. There are several reasons to my choice. First, Mister Busy aka the hubby only had 10 days of leave. Besides going on a birthday trip, we wanted to head home to be with our loves ones as well. So we had to chose a destination where the main tourist sites could be covered within 4 to 5 days. Second, considering we had chosen to stay in a 5 stars boutique hotel in an excellent location plus flying by British Airways and not some budget airline, it was a bargain. Third, for the obvious reason that Prague is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway (but some would beg to differ I'm sure).

Prague is a gem. The stroll along Vltava River in the evening is especially unforgettable. I marvelled at the elegance and exquisiteness of the architecture and was deeply enchanted by the magical view of Prague Castle. I like the stroll across Charles Bridge too. It's kind of romantic but you have to visit it in the late evening or at dawn when there're less tourists. Another of my favourite place is the Old Town Square. It's such a lively place with so many activities going on, you could sit all day at the sidewalk cafe just to people watch or simply soak up the atmosphere.

Enough said. I'll let the pictures tell the story.

I was dazzled by the beautiful architecture as the hubby and I took a leisure stroll along the Vltava River.

Powder Tower in Old Town.

Tyn Church with its distinctive twin Gothic steeples.

The atmospheric Old Town Square which comes alive with its many on-going activities and throng of tourists.

Clock Tower of the Old Town Hall where the astronomical clock entertains tourists on the hour with its parade of apostles and a bell-ringing skeleton.

Wenceslas Square (Top left pic) dominated by the statue of St Wenceslas on horseback (Bottom 2 pics). At the back of the statue, stood the iconic National Museum (Top right pic).

The hill-top Prague Castle.

The impressive St Vitus Cathedral.

The Golden Lane - A 16th century tradesmen's quarter of tiny houses built within the castle complex. The tiny houses are now transformed into souvenir shops.

Sculptures found in Kampa Park (top right corner) and Prague Castle courtyard and garden (remaining pics).

The hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed the delicious food served by this restaurant called Kogo. We had our dinner there the first night and went back again the next day.

On the second night, we watched a play called "Aspects of Alice". We saw a long queue at the ticketing counter when we walked past the theatre. We thought since it was such a long queue, the play must be good. Besides, it was a mime performance - a language we all understood. So we bought tickets to the play. It was a brilliant performance and we were shocked by the last scene. We didn't expect an innocent storyline to have such a provocative act.

The famous and elegant Charles Bridge which is graced by 30 statues dating from the 18th century.

We were told that all our wishes would come true if we were to touch this particular statue at the Charles Bridge. We did and so did the many hopeful tourists.

The Charles Bridge is lined with jewellery stalls, portrait artists and street performers.

Like 2 mischievous teenagers, we goofed around, laughed and (secretly) made fun of our tour guide. Thank you for the beautiful memories. I can still feel it. Love is in the air and it lingers on...

Roxie

2009-06-29T22:39:00.004+08:00

The hubby's colleague found a helpless little pup in the middle of a road 2 days ago. He brought it back. The poor pup must have lost her way and got separated from her mommy. We decided to adopt her and name her Roxie. Now, we have 2 doggies and Peppy has a playmate.

When Peppy first met Roxie, she barked ferociously at her. Poor Roxie was so afraid of her and refused to go near her. We guessed that Peppy must be jealous of Roxie. Afterall, she has been the only dog which has gotten so much attention and love from us. With the new addition, she felt threatened by Roxie's presence. We made several attempts to let both dogs get to know each other and eventually they became friends. But Peppy still gets jealous over little Roxie sometimes.

My Peppy gal, we still love you okay? And Roxie baby, welcome to the family!

Roxie.

Irony

2009-06-24T22:33:00.001+08:00

"I have won. The price is high and the victory hollow. The line between truth and lie had blurred. In search of the truth, I, myself have become a lie." - The Little Black Book

I Carry Your Heart With Me

2009-06-22T22:46:00.002+08:00

"I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)
I am never without it (anywhere I go, you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me, is your doing, my darling)
I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)
I want no world (for beautiful you are, my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of a sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope and mind can hide)
And this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)"

- E.E Cummings

Demise

2009-06-22T00:06:00.005+08:00

Someone lost a son, a husband, a father and a friend. I wonder how many out there are suffering the same fate, mourning for their loss.

It has been 9 days since he passed on. I do not know him. I can't put a face to the image of the man who lay lifelessly on the hospital bed. But I can imagine how devastated his loved ones are. Even more so when they are unable to be reunited with him after his death.

I'm sorry. He couldn't come home. He remains in the soil of a foreign land - a place where he doesn't belong. Perhaps, only in their dreams, could they be together once again.

A Better Life

2009-06-13T06:07:00.003+08:00

He broke the news to his beloved wife.
"I have to leave. It's for us, our child, our future.", he said.
Tears welled up in her eyes. Her lips trembled. She wanted him to stay. But for the sake of a better life, she had to let him go.

With only one luggage, he flew a long way to a foreign land with dozens of fellow workers. He didn't know any of them but it was comforting to know that at least they spoke the same language. A man in his late thirties, picked them up from the airport and they were transported to their living quarter. He was assigned to share a room with 3 others. It was a small shabby room with only four single beds and a wardrobe placed in it. That night, he couldn't get to sleep. He had never felt so alone in his entire life.

He was a hardworking man. He never once complained about work. Everday, he buried himself in his work. He only rested when it was time to do so. Keeping himself busy was the only way to take his mind off his family. But work only provided a temporary respite. As night fell, the pain of missing his family began piercing through his heart again and again.

5 years slipped by. But it seemed like eternity to him. The day he had longed for had arrived. Tomorrow, he would be going back to his homeland - a place where he called home and a place where his heart belonged. He couldn't wait to embrace his beloved wife and son. He wondered how much his son had grown. Had he put on weight? How tall was he now? Would he still be able to recognise me? He couldn't stop smiling thinking about his one and only precious son.

Finally, it was the end of his last working day. He was eager to head back to the living quarter to pack his luggage. But he never made it back that day. He fell into a deep hole and was pronounced dead. He could never hold onto his beloved wife again. He could never get to kiss his precious son again. The promise of a better life had taken away his life.

Whoever you are and wherever you are, I wish you and your family well.
May you rest in peace.

5 Years

2009-06-06T21:16:00.006+08:00

5 years ago today, she was dressed in a gorgeous white wedding gown, glowing with happiness and waiting for the man she was madly in love with.
5 years ago today, he was in a smart black suit, looking incredibly charming and feeling a tad nervous of having to sing infront of a crowd so that he could get to kiss his lovely bride.
5 years ago today, she was deeply moved by his fabulously awful voice and made a promise to be his one and only greatest fan.
5 years ago today, he finally got to kiss his bride and made a promise to love her forever.

Today, she could no longer fit into that gorgeous white wedding gown. Her arms' flabby. Her waistline's expanded. And her hair's perpetually slightly dishevelled.
Today, he could no longer fit into that smart black suit. His tummy's inflated. His hair's grayed. And his face's showing signs of ageing.
But today, she is still his greatest fan and he still loves her more than ever.
And today is the day they count their blessings and remind themselves how fortunate they are to have found each other.

Happy 5th Wedding Anniversary.

Run! Forrest Run!

2009-06-02T04:29:00.003+08:00

I bought a new pair of running shoes. Wore them out for a run this evening. I FEEL slimmer now. And Oh! I THINK my collarbone is showing. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

My new pair of Nike. Run! Run! Run! I gotta RUN!!!

Barcelona

2009-05-28T19:15:00.010+08:00

Barcelona is a dynamic city pulsating with energy. There is something for everyone, be it the divine food, great shopping, vibrant arts scene, exciting nightlife or the blue glittering Mediterranean sea of the coastline. You won't be disappointed.

This dazzling city is strewn with historic and modern architecture. It's so beautiful that I found myself busy snapping away during my stay in Barcelona. And for the first time, the hubby actually declared that he would love to return to Barcelona again - something which is rare as no city/country has so deeply captivated his heart. I can understand why. The reason is obvious. It's simply too hard not to fall in love with this city.

The hubby and I went for a half day bike tour on our first day in Barcelona. I enjoyed it very much although I was struggling with the bike most of the time. I even crashed into a stone wall at the start of the journey. It was embarrassing but what the heck! I had fun anyway. The pic on the top left corner was taken at Arc of Triumph.

Gaudi's masterpiece - Temple of the Sagrada Familia. The church is Barcelona's most famous building. Construction began in the 19th century and the church is still under construction. It is estimated to be completed around 2025.

The different exquisite facades of the church.

Beautiful stained glass windows (from the left, 1st and 4th pic). The columns of the church resemble that of tree trunks and the ceilings are of the shape of flowers (from the left, 2nd and 3rd pic).

Food glorious food! How can we resist such tantalizing food?!

Amazingly gorgeous buildings. (Top left corner) La Pedrera, another of Gaudi's work. (Bottom right corner) Casa Lleo Morera.

(Top left corner) Plaza de Toros where bullfight takes place. (Centre pic) Casa Batllo, another of Gaudi's work. (Last pic from right) Palau de la Musica Catalana. This exuberantly ornamented redbrick holds hundreds of concerts each year.

Las Ramblas. The pedestrian boulevard is exploding with life. It's lined with street artists, musicians, news kioks and vendors selling accessories, clothings, flowers and even small pets.

Mercat de la Boqueria. A fresh food market which is one of Las Ramblas' highlights. I was happy just by looking at the numerous variety of food on display. It's one of our favourite places in Barcelona.

Barcelona's waterfront. (Top left corner) Rambla de Mar, a floating walkway. (Top right corner) Alfresco dining at the waterfront. (Bottom pics) Port Vell, a place for relaxation and leisure.

The Gothic cathedral of Barcelona which is under renovation at the time of visit.

Facades of medieval architecture spotted in the Gothic quarter.

(Top 2 pics) Characterised by its arcades and palm tress, Placa Reial is a beautiful square ringed with restaurants and cafes. (Bottom 2 pics) Placa de Catalunya, a circular plaza with fountains and sculptures, is a perfect place for people watching, feeding the pigeons or listening to Latino buskers.

The hubby and I took a cable car to the peak of Montjuic and from there, we were blown away by the panoramic view of the city.

Mes Que Un Club which means 'more than a club'. The hubby is a fan of FC Barcelona hence we definitely had to pay Camp Nou a visit.

Avila and Segovia

2009-05-27T09:19:00.011+08:00

Segovia
======
The hubby and I started our visit at the majestic Roman aqueduct. The aqueduct is 894m long and 28m high. According to our guide, it was built without a drop of mortar. It's so incredibly amazing and I wonder how they had managed to construct such a massive piece of work.

From here, we made our way to the heart of the town where the resplendent Catedral was. The church is a magnificent building inside and out. While I was in the church, all I wanted to do was to sit on the bench and admire its beauty.

Our last stop was the fortified Alcazar. Inside is a collection of armour and military gear. We also got to see the ornate interiors of the reception rooms. What I love most about the Alcazar is the fact that it's like a fairytale come true. You see a castle and you begin to imagine a knight in shining armour riding on a horse, galloping towards the castle on a mission to save the ravishing princess who was imprisoned in the tower by the wicked queen. And in the end, they lived happily ever after.

The town of Segovia. Walking towards the Roman aqueduct.

The majestic Roman aqueduct.

Another pic of the aqueduct.

The enchanting town of Segovia which has a picture-postcard look.

The hubby bought a lottery ticket hoping that he would win 1 million euro. I would have been a taitai now if he really did.

Approching the Catedral.

The magnificent Catedral.

The Alcazar.

Knight on horseback.

Avila

=====

Avila reminds me of San Gimignano. Like San Gimignano, this pretty old town is huddled behind intact medieval walls. The hubby and I visited 2 main tourist sights - Basilica de san Vicente and Convento de Santa Teresa. The town is known as the birthplace of Santa Teresa, a mystical writer and reformer of the Carmelite order. There's even a small museum where people can know more about her life. The most intriguing piece of exhibit is a piece of Santa Teresa's ring finger. Her finger was actually cut off after she died, preserved and then displayed in the museum.

Basilica de san Vicente.

Entrance of Basilica de san Vicente.

The splendid Basilica de san Vicente.

The city walls of Avila.

Walking through the laneways of Avila brought back many fond memories of my Italy trip.

Convento de Santa Teresa. It was built in 1636 at the birthplace of Santa Teresa.

One last pic taken outside the medieval walls before saying goodbye.

Mansion

2009-05-25T08:11:00.004+08:00

Peppy has grown so much in 3 months. She's a big gal now. Her makeshift cardboard kennel is a little too small for her. So the sweet hubby built her a beautiful mansion. Now, whoever says 'a dog's life' is miserable must be wrong, isn't it?

We do not know exactly how old Peppy is. But we guess she's about 8-9 months now.

Isn't that a mighty awesome kennel? It's huge enough to accommodate at least 3 dogs.

A Night of Flamenco

2009-05-25T04:15:00.006+08:00

Many of flamenco's top names perform in Madrid, making it an excellent place to catch a flamenco show. So the hubby and I decided to watch some passionate dancing before we leave Madrid.

We asked the hotel staff for some recommendations on where to see an authentic flamenco show. They suggested Corral de la Moreria. It is the oldest tablao in the world and is considered the "Cathedral of Flamenco". Besides winning several awards, it has an impressive list of celebrities as its clients, amongst which are Sandra Bullock, Richard Gere, Michael Douglas and Hugh Grant. We checked the price and thought 36 Euro per person (without dinner) was rather reasonable for such a reputable tablao.

The hotel staff helped us with the reservation for the 10pm show but it was fully booked. Only the 12am show was available. We had to catch an early flight to Barcelona the next day hence the hubby and I were deliberating if we should catch the show. In the end, we went ahead with it. We thought it would be such a waste if we decided to miss it. And true enough, the flamenco show did not disappoint us. It was superb! I was completely blown away by the powerful vocal of the singers and mesmerised by the rythmic hand clapping and feet stomping. The flamenco dancers were brilliant! Every step executed by the dancers utterly took my breath away.

At the end of the show, I was hoping that they would do an encore. Sadly, they didn't. Anyway, I recorded several parts of the night's performance and I could watch them over and over again back home. Ah...it was such an amazing night. I wish it never ended.

The hubby and I made our way to Corral de la Moreria by foot as it was only a 15-20 minutes walk from the hotel. The streets of Madrid seemed so peaceful and even more beautiful at night.

Can you spot the moon in the dark sky?

We just had to order some tapas cos we never got tired of them. Yummy!

Flamenco dancers performing their first dance.

Solo performance.

I am in love with the outfit.

And the fan too!

Hola Madrid! Adios Melancholy!

2009-05-21T23:03:00.019+08:00

Enough of mourning already. I decided to embrace the rest of the holidays in Spain with zest.

The hubby and I hadn't visited any major tourist sites although we were into our second day in Madrid. Our first stop was the Catedral del Nuestra Senora de la Almudena which was located opposite Palacio Real. Honestly, I wasn't impressed with the church and its museum. It's still worth a visit but its beauty is nothing compared to Notre Dame, Duomo, St. Paul's, St Peter's Basilica or even the Catheral in Barcelona.

Next stop was Palacio Real. By the time we were done with the church, there was already a long queue outside the ticketing booth. We waited for about 30 minutes before it was our turn to get the tickets. A man in black suit at the counter asked us where we were from. We said we were from Singapore. And he gladly declared that we would be Europeans for that one day and handed us two entrance tickets to the palace for free! The hubby and I were pleasantly surprised! Apparently, the palace is opened for free to EU citizens on every Wednesday. So we got to save 20 Euros for that day! That was a good start for the day eh.

There are 2800 plus rooms in the palace but only about 50 are opened for the public. We visited several rooms and soon got bored. The initial enthusiasm gradually died off. We found ourselves zipping through room after room towards the end. No doubt, the palace is a magnificent building with opulent rooms, it isn't quite as majestic as the Buckingham Palace. In fact, the Buckingham Palace left such a deep impressive on me, I still think about it sometimes.

The most memorable part of the visit to Palacio Real was the changing of guards ceremony. I was lucky enough to witness it although I only got to see part of it. Marching soldiers, guards on horseback and pipe music - I got them all recorded down with my digicam. I'm going to show it to Gwen and Glenn when I returned home.

The hubby and I also visited the Prado Museum. The museum has a seemingly endless parade of priceless works from Spain and beyond. I may not fully appreciate all of them but my favourite piece is Adam and Eve - 2 separate portraits which makes a complete piece of art. It's so provocatively beautiful. I actually bought 2 sets of Adam and Eve fridge magnets from the musuem souvenir shop. One of them is for my sis. I wonder if she would stick them on the fridge. I'm sure Gwen and Glenn would be so tickled by it.

Plaza Mayor was our last stop for the day. Ringed with numerous cafes and restaurants and packed with people, the arcaded Plaza Mayor is an atmospheric place. There were artists displaying their works and people sitting around at the square soaking up the sun. The hubby and I decided that our aching feet needed a short respite so we sat at a spot doing nothing except enjoying the warmth of the sunshine and each other's company.

Later, we had dinner at one of the restaurants at the square. It was still early for dinner, considering that it was about 7pm then. Dinner usually starts at 8 plus for the locals. So we were the only customers at the restaurant. One quick scan through the menu, we knew we had to order the mixed tapas - a little of everything on the tapas menu. It didn't disappoint us. It was delicious and just the right proportions for the both of us. In fact, it was the best meal we had in Madrid so far.

After dinner, we did some grocery shopping and bought some stuff for Peppy from a pet shop. And when we got back to the hotel, we got a wonderful surprise! We got back our luggage! I was so overwhelmed with joy I thought I was a little hysterical. I even shook hands with the hotel staff while repeating 'Thank you! Thank you!' for several times. To think I was about to give up all hopes of getting my luggage back and then unexpectedly, it was found! Yay!

To whoever who had taken our luggage by mistake, thank you so much! You are a good man or woman! Whatever! Gracias!

While on the way to Plaza Mayor, we saw this candy shop which sells candies of all shapes, sizes and colours.

Check out the candies. So cute and colourful! I couldn't bring myself to eat them!

One of our favourite shops in Madrid. We saw several such shops which sell all kinds of cheese, smoked meat and sausages. The hubby and I would stand at the display window with our mouths salivating.

The Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Almudena.

View of Palacio Real from the 2nd floor of the cathedral.

I was indeed lucky to witness the changing of guards ceremony although I only saw part of it.

Plaza Mayor. According to the guidebook, the equestrian statue dominating the plaza's centre depicts Felipe III and was placed there in 1848.

We must have tried more than 10 times to take a pic of ourselves at the square. This is one of the better ones we took.

Tapas! We love tapas!!!

Mourning in Madrid

2009-05-20T10:22:00.002+08:00

So the hubby and I arrived at the Ganivet Hotel without our luggage. While we were waiting to check into our room, we informed the hotel staff at the front desk that the airport staff would send our luggage to the hotel if it was found. To be honest, we weren't quite confident that we would ever going to get it back.

The hubby and I took a breather, freshened up and got ready for some shopping in Sol. We needed to buy some clothings and toiletries. I wasn't excited about the shopping at all. I didn't have the adrenaline rush when I saw pretty clothes on display in the windows. Usually, I would drag the hubby into the store and scout desparately for the prettiest clothes on the racks. H&M! Zara! Mango! Bershka! Topshop! Massimo Dutti! Nothing entice me anymore. Shopping no longer made me happy. It was more like a chore than a pleasure. All I wanted was to have my luggage back.

By dinner time, I was ready to call it quits for the day. I just wanted to return to the hotel and continue mourning over my lost luggage. So after dinner at KFC, we headed back to our hotel. And yes, it isn't a typing error. KFC. We went all the way to Madrid to have Kentucky Fried Chicken. And it wasn't that finger licking good. Such a disappoinment. I think KFC back home still taste the best.

We returned to the hotel and the first thing we did was to inquire about our luggage. "Nothing from the airport", the hotel staff shook his head while he broke the cruel news. My heart sank. The sweet hubby held my hands and comforted me. "Tomorrow. We'll get our luggage tomorrow", said the hubby. Sigh. I could only wish it would be tomorrow.

The Beginning of Our Adventure in Spain

2009-05-18T21:44:00.011+08:00

Sometimes, I think I am a psychic. Who would have thought my premonition would really come true?

The morning before we left for the airport, I asked the hubby to find something distinctive to tie it at the handle of our luggage in case someone had mistaken it as theirs since our luggage was of such a common colour and design. I couldn't explain why but the thought of losing our luggage had been bugging me the whole night.

We touched down at the Madrid airport after a two hour flight and waited for almost an hour for the first luggage to appear on the conveyor belt. Already, there were several passengers standing around the belt waiting impatiently to retrieve their luggages. The hubby walked over to look out for ours. We waited and waited as the number of luggages circling on the belt gradually diminished. Soon, there was only one luggage left going round and round the belt. It looked exactly like ours but it didn't belong to us. Instantly, I knew I had lost my luggage!

I reported the lost of luggage to the airport staff and while waiting for him to finish up the paperwork, I almost wanted to burst into tears. All our belongings were gone just because of someone's negligence. Why didn't that 'blur sotong' double check the luggage before he left the airport with it? We were left with no clothes, no toiletries but fortunately, we had our valuables and important documents in our hand carry bag. The airport staff informed us matter-of-factly that there was nothing we could do except to wait for the person who took our luggage to return it to the airport. The airport staff would then send it to our hotel.

So we left the airport in a cab with no luggage. The cab driver must have thought we were some weird Asian fugitives who had run away in a hurry. What an exciting way to begin our holidays in Spain!

Madrid Airport - the start of our adventure!

Treasures

2009-05-15T00:37:00.004+08:00

There're some changes here since the day I returned from Spain. Whether it's for the better or for the worse, I do not know. But it sure seems like a battlefield here. Poor hubby.

Now, for happy thoughts. My sis sent me a big box of 'treasures'! At least, some things never change - MY SIS LOVES ME!!!

A Good Read

2009-04-23T20:51:00.007+08:00

"Time is the twine to tie our lives into parcels of years and months. Or a rubber band stretched to suit our fancy. Time can be the pretty ribbon in a little girl's hair. Or the lines in your face, stealing your youthful colour and your hair. But in the end, time is a noose around the neck, strangling slowly."

The above is extracted from the book "A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry. The story's so enthralling, I'm reading it for the second time.

Q&A

2009-04-16T20:05:00.006+08:00

I have one question.
Do your eyes grow smaller as you age?
I think mine did. Boo hoo!

Lovely Spring

2009-04-11T21:25:00.005+08:00

Spring is here. The weather is lovely and the countryside is bursting with vivid colours. We have been exploring the countryside, driving from one mountain to the next. It's amazing how the landscape changes as we travel from one end to the other. I can never get enough of such spectacular scenery.

This grand bungalow stands alone in the vast greenery overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Imagine waking up to the sound of the waves every morning and admiring the breathtaking view of sunset before dusk. Ah...that's life!

Notice the different shades of blue from the Mediterranean Sea to the sky. Lovely.

The vast greenery is covered with tiny pretty flowers donned in yellow, pink, red, purple and white.

Girl You Are My Love

2009-03-31T01:00:00.004+08:00

Girl You Are My Love - Pink Boy

I LOVE this song. It's oh-so-orbit! And very ah beng/ah lian! But I HEART it! Such upbeat and catchy tune! It's stuck in my head all day long! Let's hit the dance floor, baby!!!

Lost & Found

2009-03-25T02:35:00.004+08:00

Peppy went galavanting on the beach one day and did not return home. I was worried sick. That night, the hubby and I drove around the vicinity, armed with a torchlight, in search of our missing dog. She was nowhere in sight.

I couldn't sleep. I kept bugging the hubby with the same question: "Will Peppy come home?". In his attempt to comfort me, the hubby said she would.

The next morning, I woke up hoping to see Peppy lying at the basketball court like she always did. But all I saw was an empty court.

The hubby and I figured that Peppy would not have lost her way. She always made her way home after she got tired of roaming about outside. The only possible reason could be that she was caught by the Chinese construction workers who were dog-meat lovers.

So after 48 hours of futile search and what seemed like a long agonizing wait, we decided to look for her at the Chinese workers living quarter. And that was where we found Peppy chained together with another puppy.

I was relieved and extremely happy to see Peppy. She would probably end up on the dining table as a hot steamy plate of meat if we didn't manage to find her. Phew! Lucky us!

Peppy chewing happily on a huge piece of beef rib.

Clueless

2009-03-20T02:31:00.006+08:00

I did a "Which profession suits you the best?" quiz on Facebook. I normally wouldn't bother to take a second look at such quizzes. But this afternoon, I did it. That is, after much hesitation. And I feel absolutely silly now.

Anyway, the results says, "NO CLUE". I thought that is so apt at this point of time, to be specific. Seriously, I have no inkling on what I want to do when my NPL ends. Do I want to continue moulding the next generation? A part of me says 'yes' yet the other part says otherwise. As much as I miss my teaching days, I am clearly aware of what I dislike about the job. Ah...I feel as if I'm suffering from mid-life crisis - lost in a big big world, desperately searching for the right career. And now I feel silly all over again for being silly. Ignore me, pls.

Reminiscence

2009-03-10T19:15:00.002+08:00

I was looking through some pictures my ex-students took during a recent camp. And I realise how much I miss those days.

A Note to Myself

2009-03-06T04:23:00.004+08:00

There's so much beauty in this world yet life is too short to relish

all the wondrous work God has created.

Savor the moment while it lasts.

Pisa and Lucca

2009-03-04T03:47:00.011+08:00

PISA
====
When you are in Tuscany, you definitely have to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which is known as one of the top 5 Tuscan treasures. We even went up the tower and I tell you, I was a little scared when I reached the top. (Ok. Maybe not a little.) I felt so unsafe as if the tower was going to topple anytime soon. I had to hold on to the hand rails while my trembling legs took me from one end to the other to take pics of the panoramic view of the town.

Tower aside, we met a kind soul while we were in Pisa. At the Pisa train station, a Chinese man who's in his early 50s came up to us and warned us to be careful with our belongings. Apparently, he noticed that a few teenagers who were pickpockets were ready to strike on us. He then asked us where we were heading to. We told him we were heading to the Leaning Tower of Pisa but had no idea which direction was the correct way to our destination. He kindly offered to show us the way as he was also heading there. During our journey, we had a lovely chat. We learnt that he was actually from Penang and had stayed in Italy for the past 20 odd years. He came to Italy to study, met his wife who's a Taiwanese and decided to settle down in Italy after they graduated. He is now an owner of a pub cum restaurant which is located near the Leaning Tower of Pisa. He even brought us to his pub to take a look! It was a spacious and tastefully decorated pub. It's a pity I forgot to take a pic of it and even forgot to ask for his name. Never mind. If we do return to Italy, I'm sure we would visit him at the pub.

Here you can see the cathedral, baptistry and tower.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa. I never knew my little finger was so strong! Hee!

On top of the tower. I wasn't holding on to the hand rails cos I felt safe standing next to my knight in shining armor.

Captured this beautiful view of the river while we were blissfully lost in town.

This is one of my fav pics taken during the Italy trip. Isn't that a lovely church?

LUCCA

======

I am in love with Lucca. It's a quaint little town whose charm I cannot resist. I am captivated by its beauty which I simply cannot put into words. I love the long stretch of medieval wall which greeted me when I walked out of the train station. I love the romantic park which is lined with bare trees. I love the beautiful square where happy kids sat on the carousel. I love getting lost in the winding cobblestone lanes. I love dreaming about living in one of those gorgeous houses I came across while walking on the street. I love Lucca.

Long stretch of medieval wall.

It would be such a delight to jog in this beautiful park.

Streets of Lucca.

I can only dream of living in this house.

Statue at a gorgeous square.

Siena and San Gimignano

2009-02-24T22:42:00.011+08:00

SIENA
=====
The hubby and I made several day trips to other parts of Tuscany. We visited Siena, also known as the Gothic City, which is an enchanting medieval town. I love Piazza del Campo. Its unique sloping, shell shaped square serves as a communal sunbed to scores of day trippers on a clear sunny day. It was a pity that it had to pour that day. Otherwise, we would love to have a little picnic on the square and bask in the sunshine.

Medieval buildings which exude character and charm.

The Plazzo Pubblico.
Soaring above it, is the tower Torre del Mangia and on the ground floor is Museo Civico which houses a rich collection of Sienese Art.

The slanting, shell shaped Piazza del Campo.

The spectacular Duomo.

SAN GIMIGNANO

==============

We also visited San Gimignano. This tiny hilltop town is registered on the list of Unesco's world cultural and natural heritage and it is famous for its numerous soaring towers. Originally 72 towers were built as monuments to the town's wealth but only 13 remained today, with Torre Grossa being the tallest one.

I love the charming cobblestone lanes. Strolling with your loved one in such a romantic setting is definitely an unforgettable moment.

The romantic street lined with bare trees outside the medieval town.

Entrance to the medieval town.

The town is registered in the list of Unesco's world cultural and natural heritage.

Peppy

2009-02-22T21:55:00.005+08:00

We have a new addition to our family - Peppy.

Peppy is about six month old. She was caught by the China workers and was chained behind the kitchen. We knew that Peppy would be served on the dining table when she grew bigger. So we released her. But Peppy came back and refused to leave. We then decided to adopt her.

Peppy is smart but lazy. She learnt how to 'sit' on command within an afternoon. She spends most of her time basking in the sunshine and refusing to move. However, she will gladly obey your command if you offer her a treat. She's such a glutton!

Welcome to the family, Peppy! All the uncles and I love you!

Florence

2009-02-18T19:56:00.007+08:00

Florence is an essential stop on everyone's itinerary. It is a charismatic city with nary a skyscraper in sight. The city has the world's greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art and is also home to the great Micheangelo. Although Florence is pretty much surrendered to tourism, it retains its old charm such that one would be sorry to miss it. Its beauty will linger in your memory long after you left.

Florence's Gothic Duomo.

The majestic red, green and white marbled architecture is one of the world's largest cathedral.

The enormous octagonal cupola of the cathedral. I never get sick of looking at frescoes. Again, I was in awe while admiring such wondrous work.

This picture of the Arno River is one of my favourite.

I could sit all day long at the river enjoying the serenity.

David, the famous scuplture done by Micheangelo at Piazzale Micheangelo.

Breathtaking view of the city from Piazzale Micheangelo.

Another awesome view of the city from Piazzale Micheangelo. Here you can see the Duomo and the tower at Piazza Della Signoria.

I love this romantic park lined with botak trees. How I wish we had one back home.

Rome

2009-02-17T22:21:00.018+08:00

The hubby calculated we walked at least 9km per day. We were in Italy for 9 days so in total we walked at least 81km throughout the trip. That's one of the most exhausting trips we've had so far, especially in Rome, considering that we only used public transport twice. But I dare say all the torture that our legs were subjected to had not gone to waste. We got to see so much more walking from one destination to the next.

Rome boasts thousands of years of visible history. From Rome's greatest known monument, the Colosseum, to the medieval winding streets of Trastevere, practically every inch of Rome is saturated in history. But Rome is not all about its historic past. It's avant-garde and fashionable at the same time.

The hubby and I have pretty much covered most of Rome - or at least the sights mentioned in our guidebook. We stood in awe while raving at the structure of the iconic Colosseum, amazed by the amount of ruins left behind by the Roman empire, marveled at the wondrous works of Michelangelo at the Sistine Chapel, had our necks strained from admiring the frescoes on the ceilings while we hopped from one museum/cathedral to the next, soaked in the artistic atmosphere at Piazza Navona, made our wishes at the Trevi Fountain crowded with tourists, burnt a huge hole while shopping at Via Condotti near the Spanish Steps, savored the most delicious gelato in the cold winter, stuffed ourselves with delectable Italian food, romanced in Rome's gorgeous park, Villa Borghese and the list just goes on. It's impossible to blog everything that we had experienced in just one entry.

In spite of the wonderful time we had, there were some unpleasant incidents. We learnt that when taking a cab, we had to pay the driver the exact amount or else the change, no matter how much it was, would automatically be treated as tips. The cab driver won't return you the change. He bade you farewell with a swift 'Grazie' that left you in a daze. Then you began to wonder why on earth you had given him 5 Euro dollars worth of tips (which amounted to 10 Sg dollars!).

Another unpleasant incident took place when the hubby and I decided to do a very touristy thing. We longed to ride on one of those horse carriages we came across at the Colosseum. We finally got on one at the Spanish Steps. At first, a man in his fifties told us it would cost 120 Euro and he promised the ride would past by many main tourist sights. Our jaws nearly dropped when we heard the price. We merely wanted to take a short ride near the vicinity. We told him it was too expensive and he wasn’t interested to lower the price. As we walked away, a young chap approached us and told us he was willing to take us around at a special price. We told him a ride near the vicinity would suffice and he quoted us 60 Euros. I bargained with him and finally with much reluctance, he agreed at 30 Euro. I felt like a royalty riding on the horse carriage, waving and saying ‘hi’ to the people on the streets. Never did I expect there was a price to pay for being a 15 minute royalty. At the end of our ride, I handed 30 Euros to the horseman. He took one look at the money and said, “Madam, it’s 30 Euro for one person. 2 persons, 60 Euro.” Instantly, I knew I was ripped off. The hubby and I didn’t want to argue with him. So we gave him 60 Euro in the end. After that incident, each time I saw a horse carriage, I would look out for that con man.

The last unpleasant incident happened at the airport. We were at one of the tax refund counters when the lady announced that they had run out of Euro dollars and we had to wait for an hour or two for her colleague to return from the bank. How was that possible? No Euro dollar at the tax refund counter? It was a joke! Annoyed, we went to the next counter. The lady at the next counter told us she would only refund us cash for the purchase made in XXX shop. Cash refund for purchases made in YYY shop could not be made in this counter. Plus cash refund could only be made in US dollar, Pound and Yen. No Euro dollar again! I seriously think that the authority is making it difficult for tourists to get cash refund. That's terrible! Anyway, putting unpleasant experiences aside, I still had an amazing time in Italy. If I were given another chance to retun to Italy, I wouldn't hesitate to say 'yes'!

Swiss guards at the Vatican City.

The glorious St Peter's Basilica. Its grand dome was designed by the great Michelangelo.

The Vatican Museum.
The hubby and I walked at super fast speed in the rain so that we wouldn't miss the admission time. We were out of breathe by the time we got to the museum.

I love the grand spiral staircase which leads to the exit of the Vatican Museum.

Rome's greatest known monument, the Colosseum.

It's a little smaller than what I've imagined it to be.
I thought it would be as huge as the one shown in the movie 'Gladiator'.

Ruins at the Roman Forum.

The Trevi Fountain.

A coin thrown into the fountain (over your shoulder while facing away) would ensure one's return to Rome. A second coin grants a wish.

View of Via Condotti, one of Rome's most elegant and expensive shopping streets taken from the top of the Spanish Steps.

A ride on the horse carriage which I would never forget.

The Patheon's dome. According to the guidebook, the oculus in the middle allows in light and was built with concrete that becomes lighter in colour the closer it gets to the oculus, dispersing light.

The huge fortress, Castel Sant'Angelo.

I love the bridge leading to the fortress.

The hubby and I decided to cycle in the gorgeous Villa Borghese.

The hubby was cycling the whole time while I was busy snapping away and enjoying the breeze blowing against my face.

Back but Unready

2009-02-15T00:28:00.005+08:00

I've been on a hiatus from the blogsphere for almost a month. Not that I have nothing to blog about. In fact, I've got alot to share cos the past month was one of the most exciting ones I've had.

So, what did I do? I had the most exhausting and amazing holiday in Italy, returned home to celebrate Chinese New Year with my family, bonded with my nephews whom I had not seen for 2 years, had our family photo taken in a studio, spent time with Mika, enjoyed pigging out, met up with good friends and celebrated some good news.

With so much happening within a short span of time, can anyone blame me for not blogging? I guess not. Now that I'm back in Ali Baba land, I should have all the time in the world to blog. But I guess not too. Cos I'm too lazy to organise my thoughts. So just let me indulge in indolence. Just for a little while more.

P/S: Happy Valentine's Day to all. No flowers, gifts or chocolates today but I'm showered with TLC all year round. =)

La Vita e Bella

2009-01-16T00:53:00.005+08:00

Alright. The itinerary for our Italy trip is finally done! I hope I'm not being too ambitious.

Checked the weather forecast in Rome and Florence for the next 10 days. One good news and one bad news. Rome will be wet wet wet! And Florence, clear and sunny! The forecast may not be 100% accurate so I'm praying for good weather throughout our stay in Italy.

Rain rain go away! Shoo! Shoo!

5 more days before we say, "Ciao Italy!".

Happy Birthday

2009-01-14T06:20:00.006+08:00

This card is priceless. Never mind the lack of creativity. Never mind the lack of aesthetic appeal. Never mind the stick figures which even a 2 or 3 year old is capable of drawing. It's one of the loveliest piece of work which I have ever done.

Happy Birthday, my Darling! You know that is more than just a card. Je t'aime.

Bizarre or Not?

2009-01-09T11:46:00.004+08:00

Sometimes, I have these bizarre thoughts swirling in my head. Here's some of them on my list.

1. While I watched the heartwrenching footages on the war in Gaza, I announced to the hubby that I would like to be a humanitarian aid worker in Gaza to help the civillians. I want to be there physically in the war zone, helping the victims of this brutal war. And this afternoon, I learnt that there were demonstrations held across the world against the Gaza war. Immediately, I wished I were one of the protesters voicing my anger while we took to the streets.

2. I've been thinking how wonderful it would be to bring an Algerian kid back to Singapore for a holiday. I won't be greedy. Just one kid will do. It would be an eye opener for him/her. Imagine how happy the kid would be to experience life outside of Algeria!

3. I imagined the hubby and I leaving everything behind so that we can go backpacking around the world, covering each and every continent. That would be an experience of a life time.

4. I imagined myself getting a tattoo on my back. Not a teeny weeny one. But one that is huge enough to cover the whole of my back. I haven't decided on the design. Maybe I'll go for a dragon or maybe a fairy or a butterfly. I don't know yet. I will leave it to my next bizarre thought.

War

2009-01-04T06:06:00.004+08:00

I've been following the developments of the war in Gaza on TV. It has been 8 days since the brutal war began. Can someone please stop the onslaught? The war has taken away many innocent lives, amongst which are helpless children. I am upset with the footages I saw on TV - Dead bodies. Chaos. Blood. Wounded civillians. Please stop the bloodshed.

The Princess in School

2009-01-02T20:38:00.004+08:00

Sis sent me a pic of Gwen's first day at school. Sis said the strap of her new school bag broke but luckily she didn't cry. =)

The Princess Goes to School!

2009-01-02T08:00:00.001+08:00

My princess is officially a primary one student today! How time flies! Sometimes I wish she hasn't grown up so fast. I miss those days when she was just a toddler. She would insist carrying my black Sisley bag during shopping trips and refuse to let go. And she would cry each time I said goodbye before we went our separate ways. Aw...she's such a darling!

Gwendolyn will be in Ai Tong School, my sis' alma mater. I hope she's having fun on her first day of school. It's a pity I am not around to give her a big fat kiss and a bear hug before she heads for school. Sis sent me pics of her in school uniform. She looks absolutely cute!

My princess Gwendolyn, I hope you've made many friends and is having fun.

Yiyi loves you very much.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T22:29:00.004+08:00

It's a brand new year!!!

Have a fantastic 2009!!!

And I know I will. =)

F.A.T

2008-12-28T23:57:00.011+08:00

Fleshy. Chubby. Elephantine. Pudgy. Plump. Swollen. Whalelike. Rotund. Obese. Gross. Corpulent. The list is not exhaustive. I could go on and on listing words that are associated with the notion of being FAT.

I fear putting on weight. Not because I am fat. But for someone whose weight has never hit over 50kg in her entire life and hovering around 44-46kg since in my twenties, gaining an extra kilos of flesh can be quite detrimental emotionally. Like any painfully vain bimbo, I embrace the idea that being slim is beautiful. Before anyone points his/her finger at me and accuses me of being a bitch who ridicules at inflated human beings, let me clarify that weight issues concerning others do not bother me at all. In fact, I think some people who have more flesh than usual do look beautiful and stunning. And I am envious of the fact that they have boobs.

I've gained a few pounds of flesh since my move to Algeria. For the first 6 months here, I've lost a considerable amount of weight due to several reasons such as difficulties adjusting to the new environment, lack of variety of food, missing home etc. But ever since I returned to Algeria after my trip back home in July, my weight has increased. And it has been heading north since then. On my recent trip back home in October, my grandmother-in-law told my mum-in-law that I was more fleshy. My mum-in-law then complimented on my weight gain and that I looked better with more flesh. But I was rather disturbed by the flattery. My ex-students whom I met up with also commented that I looked chubby in the face. That really upset me. I spent a good few hours staring at myself in the mirror the next day and asked myself life's most perilous question - AM I FAT?

So a few days ago, the same question started bugging me again as I've been feeling bloated from over consumption of carbs and chocolates. I decided to scrutinise the pictures of myself taken months ago and compared with the recent ones. Yes. It's confirmed. My face is rounder and chubbier. The pictures said it all. Alas, a catastrophe has befallen me.

Project "Celebrate with a Child"

2008-12-26T09:04:00.014+08:00

Christmas is a time to celebrate the spirit of giving and sharing. So on Christmas day, each of us (me + the hubby + hubby's colleagues) invited 1 kid to join us for Christmas dinner at our usual pizza place in town. There were 12 kids in all. We rented a bus to pick them up from home before heading to town.

It was a night filled with joy and laughter. The kids enjoyed themselves and loved the goodie bags filled with candies. The smiles on their faces brought joy to all of us. It was indeed a very meaningful way to celebrate Christmas. I'm looking forward to next Christmas. Hopefully we could include more kids the next time round.

Group pic before heading to town.

Let's dig in!

Christmas logcake in Algerian style.

My driver, Ammar, and his daughter, Nabila.

Me with the lovely gals, Amina and Fatiha.

I love this pic! Look how happy they were. Too bad Taufik wasn't smiling.

(Left to right) Amine, Mohamad, Jason & Hussien.

Group picture before we said goodbye.

It's Done!

2008-12-24T07:47:00.004+08:00

Yay! It's done! Not the prettiest tree around but at least I have a Christmas tree on my first Christmas in Algeria.

HAVE A MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS
& A FABULOUS NEW YEAR!
MAY THE NEW YEAR BRINGS YOU JOY, PEACE & LOVE ALWAYS!!!

Mee Siam

2008-12-22T04:41:00.009+08:00

I attempted to cook mee siam for the very first time. The results?

WOO HOOOOOO!!!

SHOIK AH!!!!

*SLURPS*

Christmas Tree

2008-12-20T08:00:00.008+08:00

Today is a happy day. My driver brought me to the mountain to chose a Christmas tree. I have been pestering the hubby to get me a real tree for weeks. I finally got one this afternoon.

It isn't the most good-looking tree but I chose it due to its manageable size. The ones which I initially wanted were all tall and huge. It would be a tedious task for my driver to unearth it and carry it to the car. And from where we were, it wasn't exactly near to the place where we parked the car.

My driver working hard to unearth the tree.

Mission accomplished.

The locals do not celebrate Christmas. There's no way we could get Christmas decorations for the tree. So I have to make them myself. Mostly, I used aluminium foil as the main material. I made a star out of a cardboard and wrapped it with aluminium foil. The star was placed on top of the tree. I also crushed the aluminium foil into balls and hung them on the tree. I intend to add a touch of gold to it. It's a little too boring with silver all over. So I'll be getting ferrero rochers and hanging them up on the tree. After Christmas, we could all enjoy the chocolates. I haven't bought the lights yet and will get my driver to buy them from town soon.

I was rather satisfied and happy with the progress I had made for the decorations this evening. I thought the tree looked lovely. But the hubby's colleagues obviously thought otherwise. While I was away, they sprinkled flour onto the tree to give the 'snow-on-branches' effect and drape serviettes all over it. They even added scraps of unwanted paper on it. How creative is that? I wasn't angry. In fact, I thought they were rather cute to come out with such an idea to 'surprise' me. I supposed men will always be boys somehow.

I haven't removed their masterpiece yet. I have decided to showcase their talent and creativity for a day more.

That's the boys' masterpiece. It doesn't look too bad from the pic eh.

Eh Mister!

2008-12-18T04:52:00.004+08:00

Eh Mister!
Would you please grow up?
Don't be a whiner when your fat belly growls.
The belly is yours.
The responsibility is yours.
So stop all the complaining
And act like an adult.

Eh Mister!
Would you please grow up?
Your mind is corrupted.
Your breath smells like trash.
So clean up your act
And give others their due respect.

Eh Mister!
Would you please grow up?
Your yakkati yakkati yak has ended.
So let's not start another round.
Speak only when you are told.
For the noise would only do damage to the soul.

Eh Mister!
WOULD YOU JUST GROW UP?!?

Blackout for 18 hours

2008-12-18T02:39:00.006+08:00

Last Sunday was the coldest night I had experienced in my whole life.

The weather was cold and wet that day. And of all day, we had to live without electricity that night. The blackout took place at about 10pm. There was pretty much nothing we could do except to go to bed and hid under the duvet. And to show how cold it was that night without our electric heater, I had on me 3 layers of clothings excluding my thermal wear and wore 2 pairs of socks.

The hubby began his symphony of snoring once he hit the bed while I tried very hard to get into a slumber. My attempt was futile. The harder I tried, the more awake I was. It was simply too cold to fall asleep.

At around 1.30am, there was a sudden deafening sound of rapid succession of beats on the roof top. The sound was unlike the pitter patter of the rain and yet it sounded familiar. I thought it might be a hail. I got out of bed to check and true enought it was hailing! Overwhelmed with excitement, I woke the hubby up. The hubby went to the front door to confirm what I had told him. When he opened the door, what lay before our eyes were hailstones on the ground! I couldn't help but squeal with joy as I witnessed hailstones raining from the sky. It was the second time we had a hail!

I could not remember when I fell asleep but when I woke up the next morning, my eyelids were heavy and I felt as if my whole body was frozen. There was still no electricity and it was pouring outside. I refused to get out of bed and decided to be a polar bear that hibernates during winter. At about 2 plus in the afternoon, I finally quit being a polar bear. The sleep proved to be too much for me. I could feel there was a dent at the back of my head.

I tried to read while waiting for the electricity to come on. At about 4 plus, we finally had electricity! I was overjoyed! Imagine living in freezing cold for 18 hours! I hope I won't ever go through such torture again!

My Hero!

2008-12-11T02:28:00.008+08:00

"Are you at the dentist? What did the dentist say?" I sent an SMS to the hubby. After about 10 minutes or so, my phone peeped.

"Wah! Took out already! 10 sec. Can't talk now." I would imagine the whole procedure to be rather frightening not to mention of extreme pain. If I were in the hubby's shoe, I doubt I would have the courage to let an Algerian dentist extract my wisdom tooth. I just don't think I would be in safe hands. My hubby is truly brave! He's my hero!

So after several hours, the hubby came home a mute. Once he stepped into the house, I bombarded him with numerous questions which all suggested one main concern I had - if it was safe to extract the wisdom tooth. I read on several websites that there could be some complications involved removing a wisdom tooth. The nerves could be damaged if not done properly.

Unable to speak, the hubby nodded his head and replied a weak 'Yes' and 'Ok' just to assure me that he was fine. He then took out his wisdom tooth all wrapped up in tissue paper. I know I run the risk of sounding like a bimbo but I have to say the wisdom tooth looked rather huge for a tooth. The first reaction was an "eeeekk!" followed by the must-take-pic reaction. So, here's a pic of the hubby's wisdom tooth.

Isn't it huge? Are all wisdom tooth about the same size?

Later that evening, the hubby made a confession over dinner. The hubby told me that his heart was actually palpitating wildly when the dentist was about to extract the tooth. I asked him why. He said he was afraid that it would be painful. When I heard that, I was laughing secretly inside my heart. "Heehee...u also scare of pain!", a voice sounded in my head. Then I told myself, "Never mind lah! You are still my hero!"

Eve of Eid al-Adha

2008-12-09T23:01:00.005+08:00

My friends and goddaughter donated some stationery for the kids studying in the primary school near my place. So I decided to give them these lovely gifts on the eve of Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). In Singapore, this day is also known as Hari Raya Haji. I thought it was a perfect day to celebrate the spirit of giving.

Besides the stationery, we also brought with us chocolates. The kids were so happy to receive the gifts. I could see the joy on their faces which made me even happier. Some of them even remembered to say 'thank you' - something which I had taught them when they received something from someone. I was really delighted. I felt like a teacher all over again while I was in the classroom. It is truly a blessing to give than to receive!

Posing for the camera while receiving the pen.

Doesn't she look sweet?

This little cheeky monkey is absolutely adorable and he's definitely good at posing for the camera.

It's Raining Ice!!!

2008-12-05T23:11:00.006+08:00

I experienced my very first hailstorm on 2 December, Tuesday. The pellets of ice which were like the size of a M&M choc landed like marbles on my rooftop. In a split second, the pitter-patter intensified and became deafening. I stood by the windows, taking in the sight and sound of my first experience of a hailstorm. In less than half an hour, the ground was covered by a layer of ice. It looked as if it had snowed. Beautiful!

The beginning of a hailstorm. Can you see the hailstones amongst the gravel?

More hailstones raining from the sky.

It was starting to look like snow on the ground.

Footprints on the ground which seemed as if the ground was covered with a layer of snow.

Noise Irks Me

2008-11-24T00:00:00.007+08:00

yadda yadda yadda yadda...yak yak yak...

The mouth never ceased to shut. It was constantly moving - Opened. Closed. Opened. Closed - in a monotonous manner. How unexciting!

All these yakkati yakkati yak are pure fluff. Would you just shut up and do your job? All the noise you are making fail to impress me.

Now, for more interesting details worth mentioning. A stylish leather jacket. A satisfying kebab meal and stunning night scenery on top of a hill on a freezing night.

A hidden gem we discovered on a hill at Tlemcen.

I Want to be a Farmer

2008-11-20T22:07:00.003+08:00

About a month ago, I scattered some tomato and capsicum seeds on my flowerbed. The plants began to sprout a few days later and now they are growing pretty well. It takes 100 days for the plants to bear fruits. I need to wait for another 2 more months before I can see the fruits of my labour. I bet the tomatoes and capsium will taste sweeter and better than any others. But on the other hand, I'm wondering if this is a suitable season to grow tomatoes and capsicum. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

That's my small little flowerbed which I initially intended to grow lovely flowers. I ended up planting vegtables cos I want to be a farmer.

Farmer J trying to look hardworking while loosening the soil.

Another Farmer J who is Farmer J's assistant NOT pretending to be hardworking but was taking his job very seriously.

My Thoughts

2008-11-20T02:43:00.005+08:00

I've been thinking alot about Shin lately. Shin is not a friend of mine. I do not know her yet her story touches my heart and makes me cry. Her story reminds me of my mum and confronts my fear of dying a slow and painful death.

Shin has breast cancer twice and so did my mum. Since the day my mum passed away, I have been living in fear that I would someday suffer like my mum did and eventually die of breast cancer too. I try to shake away that thought from time to time but my attempts are always futile. At the end of the day, I'm still haunted by it. I reckon there's no way I could rid that fear within me. Perhaps the only way is to accept the fact that human beings do get sick and eventually die. That is life.

This morning, as I lay on my bed, I thought of my mum. I remember her bringing me to a family living opposite my block of flat in the morning while she worked as a laundry lady. I remember the outfit she wore when she attended my primary school story telling competition which I took part in. I remember how my mother helped to support the family by bringing odd jobs home to do. I remember the times she brought my sis and I to Toa Payoh where she would buy us new clothes. There are many things I remember about my mum and I'm glad those memories did not fade away as time passes by. On the contrary, images of my mum become more vivid.

Each time I think of my mum, the guilt in me resurfaces. I have probably never told this to anyone except the hubby. I feel guilty cos I was never a good daughter when my mum was sick. As a fourteen year old teenager, I was self centered, selfish and insensitive to my family needs. I cared more for my friends rather than my mum who was dying. I did not share the responsibilty of looking after my sick mum with my sis. My sis was the only one who took good care of my mum while she struggled to study for her 'A' levels. My sis probably hated me for this but I don't think I would ever know. We never talked about our feelings towards my mum's death. Even after so many years, I find it hard to talk about it.

I wonder if my mum did blame me for being a selfish brat. If she did, did she ever forgive me? Was I forgiven? There's no way I can know the answer now. I wish for a day when my mum would appear in my dreams and tell me that I was forgiven and she still loves me.

Back to Shin's story. Hers is a story of courage and hope. Read it and hopefully you will learn to live a life of no regrets. http://shinscancerblog.blogspot.com/

You've Got Mail

2008-11-17T02:41:00.004+08:00

I spent the afternoon writing Christmas cards today. You must be thinking I had written a huge bag full of cards. The truth? I only had less than 10 cards. The lack of efficiency was partly due to the fact that I was distracted by the documentary showing on TV. Another reason was I had difficulty penning down my messages. It has been a long time since I last sent out a Christmas card. Besides 'Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!', I couldn't think of anything else.

I remember during my primary school days, I used to make a list of friends who would receive my Christmas cards. I would go shopping for Christmas cards and be intrigued by the wide array of designs. I usually took a long time to chose the cards, making sure that my best friends would get the best designs. Those who were categorised under 'just friends' would receive the 'not too bad' ones. Such effort in chosing cards and categorising friends! Ha!

I can't remember when I had stopped sending Christmas cards. As I grew older, the excitement of buying, writing and sending Christmas cards gradually died off. I guess I didn't have the time to shop for cards. Besides, it's such a hassle to find out my friends' home addresses and to buy stamps. There's always the most convenient way of sending Christmas wishes via SMS or email. There's no need for snail mail anymore.

But there's something heartwarming and special in receiving a card in the mailbox. That irreplaceable feeling puts a wide smile on my face. I feel loved. It may just be a simple card but I fully appreciate the effort in sending it out.

This Christmas, I want to revive sending my Christmas wishes by conventional means. I hope my family and friends would feel the same way as I do when they find that little envelope filled with love in the mailbox.

I'm Back!!

2008-11-15T22:20:00.004+08:00

Finally! An entry almost after a month! I'm back to being the bum cum cannot-make-it housewifey which explains why I'm finally blogging.

I spent 2weeks back home and I wish it had been longer. There were so many things to do and some of them I didn't manage to accomplish. I didn't even visit my dog and I'm still feeling guilty about it. I'm a bad mommy. Period.

I brought back with me 65kg worth of toiletries, food and stationery. Isn't that impressive? Fortunately, we didn't have to pay for the extra 25kg cos we were entitled to an extra 30kg. Thanks to frequent flyer program. I have the license to bring back more stuff from now on which means I can set up a mini ali mama shop here already. It's a good way to earn some extra pocket money since I'm jobless. Hmm...

I've stashed away all the food in a cupboard. Every now and then, I would open the cupboard and admire the colourful packagings. That's when my face would crease into a smile. I feel happy by just looking at all the food I've had, especially the junk food section (Yes! SECTIONS! You've heard it right. I've organised the types of food I have in sections.). It's like I've gone grocery shopping in Cold Storage/NTUC. The experience is simply exhilarating!

I'm not sure if anyone out there feels the same way as I do. Maybe I'm just being weird or food deprived. Anyway, I'm absolutely ecstatic with all the food I have. I can cook up a storm in the kitchen! I can stuff my face with all the junk food! I can make jelly! I can fry keropok! Woohoo!!!

I'm Innocent!!!

2008-10-16T23:23:00.005+08:00

The mayor came and created an uproar. In the end, the donkey was pulled away to somewhere safe.

Apparently, some inhuman Chinese nationals bought a donkey and kept it at the back of the kitchen. They were planning to kill it and serve it to all of us as lunch/dinner. We, the Singaporeans, did not know anything about the donkey until the mayor came. Some Algerians (I suspect he/she must be one of the kitchen helpers) had obviously told him and hence, he came to rescue the poor donkey.

I was appalled when I learnt about the shocking news. I couldn't believe anyone could be so cruel to kill a donkey and eat it! And they were planning to feed us (Singaporeans) with it without letting us know what it was! Well, perhaps they could stomach a donkey but definitely not us! This is absolutely barbaric! What's more! The poor donkey was left in the torrential rain for several days before the sky finally decided to clear! How could they have the heart to mistreat a living breathing thing!

Now, I'm seriously going to scrutinise the food I eat, question what they are and where they come from. Or I can boycott the food from the common kitchen.

The Chinese nationals have definitely earned themselves a really really BAD reputation. HUGE. BIG TIME. They are infamous for eating dogs and now I guess, they could add donkeys to their menu too. And the bad thing is the Algerians think that we, the Singaporeans, are like them. I seriously wanna wear a huge sign board around my neck that says, "I'm innocent! I don't eat donkey!!!"

I Miss Summer

2008-10-13T03:25:00.004+08:00

The weather’s been wet and cold for the past few days. I could hear the angry waves crashing against the shore in the wee hours while the wind howled. For several nights, I lay wide awake on my bed, shivering with cold and wonder if the hubby and I would be attacked by a tsunami. If we did, we would never have the time to run for our dear lives. We live less than a kilometer from the beach.

Yesterday, there was a drastic change in weather. The sky was gloomy all day but it didn’t rain. Instead, we had a mini sand storm. The wind was strong and warm. It was uncomfortable staying outdoors. Not only did I feel dusty all over, at some point, I felt suffocated by the warm air. Besides, everything from afar looked hazy. It was my first experience of a sand storm. Thankfully, it was just a mini one. I wonder what would happen if a real sand storm comes knocking on our door. Nah. I would gladly give that a miss.

Rainy Days & OranguT-A-N-G

2008-10-08T22:37:00.004+08:00

There's a new programme on TV whenever it rains. Here it is:

So just a few hours ago, I couldn't watch TV and the internet was down. So basically, it was back to good old primitive days when technology didn't exist. But the good thing is, I don't have to water my plants on rainy days.

Now, the rain has stopped and I finally get to watch TV. I'm watching a programme on saving the Orangutan on 101 East. The narrator irks me when he says 'OranguT-A-N-G'. Why can't he just pronounce OranguT-A-N? Repeat after me, please. 'O-RANG-U-TAN!' Get it?

Is it October already?

2008-10-06T09:56:00.003+08:00

It seems not so long ago that I experienced my first winter in a foreign land. Then spring came along, followed by the bright summer sky. And now, it's autumn already. I couldn't help but shudder at the thought of how fast time has slipped by. Very soon, we'll have to usher in the brand new year.

The past 10 months were filled with many memories which would take more than a lifetime to fade away. I would never forget the first few months in Algeria - the fear of walking on the streets while men stared at me hostilely, the frustrations of having to adjust to a new environment where time stood still 10-15 years ago, the many times I cried cos I missed home terribly, the first experience of a bitter cold winter and the excitement of exploring new places. I doubt I would ever have such an adventure if the hubby and I hadn't decided to move to Algeria. I remember a few of my friends were skeptical of our decision. 'It's a hardship posting, isn't it? Are you sure?', they asked. I cannot deny that at some point of time, I was indeed unsure of our decision. It is afterall a 'not-so-galmorous' place to work in, considering it a third world country. Besides, terrorist attacks are common. Will it be safe to live in Algeria? But the hubby and I eventually stick to our decision.

This may sound cliche but living here has made me realise how fortunate I am. The folks here lead a simple life. For some, a difficult life. Taking a shower may be a luxury for some. Having mineral water to drink is pure bliss. Being able to attend school is a blessing. For many, it's a struggle to even provide the basic necessities for their family. I looked at the household appliances I have in the house, the food in the fridge, the cartons of mineral water at a corner and asked myself, 'Is this a hardship posting?'. If it is, then life would have been more than miserable for these people. Indeed, I am and we are ALL very fortunate in many ways compared to the folks here.

I'm glad we made the decision to move out of our comfy little paradise. It's a paradise here as well - just a different kind from home. It's a good break for me from the usual routine back home. I get to do whatever I like and I'm thankful to be able to travel too. And I get to spend more time with the hubby. Afterall, we only have each other here. =)

So, it IS October already! And that's good news! Cos I'm going home soon! YAY! I can't wait to see my family. Another 16 more days to go! WOO HOO!!!

This is one of my fav pics I took during my first few months in Algeria. It's a pic with sheeps grazing on green pasture and the deep blue Mediterranean Sea merging with the blue sky. It was beautiful.