Our Last National Day Gathering at Casablanca

Feeling a little nostalgic writing this now. This is the first home we set up but soon, we will say good bye to it.

This home redeemed us from some bad decisions we made after getting hitched. This home saw a maturing of our relationship. It witnessed the ups and downs, the silent struggles from rejection to acceptance, from being self-centred to being more generous. This home weathered the storms & grew with us, as we grew with each other. This home exemplified some values we still hold fast to - sacrifice, prudence, meticulation, conscientiousness and organisation.

So as my folks gathered around for the last National Day celebration at my home -I looked around & counted my blessings. Some things were torn, broken & were discarded. But these were just furniture. The kids have grown. We have grown older - but wiser, more experienced in the delicate dealings in life. Our parents have aged more - but simultaneously more settled into passing on their legacy, into nurturing the younger generation. Contentment was written on their faces.

What could I ask for more? More love, more tolerance & more generosity from myself to others I guess. When this house is finally emptied out, I would like to bring with me the spirit of self-awareness, the willingness to adapt, to make changes - into the second home in which I will plant my roots.

I thank God for this house, this home.

Patriotic citizens - rise to your feet!

Reciting the pledge.

Ashley is an August baby.

Just love the kids' expressions & actions.

Di Di just wants to help... enthusiastic!

Fred's Homecoming

Thinking that one has a lot of time on hand is usually an illusive idea. When Fred left for London 3 months ago in April, I thought I would have lots of personal time - 'me' time. For re-creation, for relaxation, for reflection. Alas! The 3 months were up in the wink of an eye. I didn't do much reading except loads of guidebooks for the Venice-Rome-Paris trip, didn't do a single baking - which I thought I finally had lots of free time to; didn't actually meet up with the frens I planned to as well. Hmmm... somehow, time just slipped through like sand through one's fingers.

Back to Fred's homecoming, it's sort of bittersweet. Sweet cos finally, my soul mate is coming home! Missed rubbing his cheeks every morning, or pecking them at night. No need to endure the irritating, constant disconnection from skyping. No need to rely on CNA for company every night before bedtime. No need to reconsider whether to watch a late-night ghost movie or just Criminal Minds.

Bitter cos hey! absence makes the heart fonder & familarity breeds contempt. Haha! All married couples know that. The taking-each-other-for-granted syndrome always slowly creep back into routine living. Less thank you, less I-love-you, less I-appreciate-you. Rubbing-each-other-on-the-wrong-side occasionally & inevitably plays out in the family drama. I am a realist. It's back to tolerance & real love. Not just passion or the fondness cos of a brief separation.

Anywaz, life returned to normal the day Fred came home. I have even less personal time (imagine I dun even have kids - how horrifying will that be if I have them 2 or 3 kids??) ... my concerns are back to OUR concerns, OUR future plans. Marriage itself is bittersweet.

The kids waiting for Fred's appearance at the airport.

My MIL couldn't wait for her son's return.

Fred missed driving his 'economical' car.

At Lavender Food Centre... Tris waiting patiently for his food.

Ting & Rob took time out just to welcome Fred home. I can't ask for more affectionate siblings, can I?

My cheery folks.


Notice Fred's 'Shanghai Beach' hairstyle... he hadn't cut his hair for 3 months - oh well, London was cold & a simple hair cut would have set him back by 30+ pounds.

Tris tried to show me a figure 8.. Oh, he was determined to be precise!

Homecoming dinner. All folks present.

Our Summer in France & Italy - Seine River & Jardine du Luxembourg

Fred was extremely pleased with the river cruise. The only part of the trip that didn't require extensive walking. While he truly sat back & relaxed, I was trying to capture whatever I could with my camera. My camera - my eyes, my memory. I have a bad case of terrible episodic memory. I don't know why. Maybe it's more a case of a lack of retrieval cues in normal routine living to recall such pleasant moments. Without my camera, it would be tough for me to relive all my pleasant moments.

The Jardine du Luxembourg was a surprise find. We dropped by only the morning of the day we were flying back to London. The atmosphere was totally relaxing, therapeutic and casual. Fountains & greenery - just the perfect outdoor combination. It would have been nice if I were a Parisian & could come here on the weekends just to chill out with a book in front of one of those big fountains. Back home, it's the lack of space. The vastness of an area that could contain the crowds but yet have them spread out so each still has privacy for retreat.

The wonder of the parks & gardens in Paris is the vastness & of cos, for an equator-dweller like me, the cooling climate. Maybe I will return for the Parisian parks in Spring or Autumn, some day.

Our Summer in France & Italy - Eiffel

The top floor elevator was closed by the time we reached the ticket counter -- after standing in a queue for a long long while. Well, we still enjoyed ourselves & thought it wasn't too bad for a cheaper ticket. By the time we made it to squeeze into the elevator for our descent, the skies had already turned dark.

Our Summer in France & Italy - Lourve

My third time in Lourve. Maybe the last. It's still as charming as the times I remembered it. It's not just the art collection but the palace grounds & the Tuileries nearby that makes it a crowd-puller, no matter what season.