Wax Lyrical about Tristan's & Ashley's Talents

I can't imagine how anyone would not rave at the talent of their niece & nephew, if they have any. This Christmas, I received the most amazing card from my nephew, Tristan. He is 4 years old but he writes and reads like a school-going child. Honestly, I thought hard about it but no, this talent didn't come from me.

If you look closely, the boy's shirt has the initials TT, which means Tristan Thor (Ashley told me). And when Tristy Darling saw this card proudly displayed in my living room, he grabbed it & read it out loud, obviously pleased & full of admiration for his own work of art: "Love, Tristan Thor, 5 December, musical note, 10." Now, a certain level of self-obsession is usually present in every genius. Heh!


Tris is not just advanced in literacy and numerical skills. He is also beginning to express his unabashed talent in kinesthetic movement & oh well, urge to respond to music publicly. He danced to music along Orchard Road. He did it again at 'That CD Shop'. I know for sure this is talent & personality of a free-spirirted young child.

Enough raving about my nephew. Let me catch my breath for oxygen ... Ahh, my 8 year old niece. My little angel, who's not little anymore. I give her a few more years & she's gonna grow taller than me (it's not tough to do tat but then, still an achievement). This gal is not just scholarly, she has never stopped drawing & designing since the day she learnt to pick up a pencil, or pen (whichever). She is either reading her book & walking at the same time (so I had to hold her in case she bumped into a lamp-post) or she is using my iphone app to design something.


Ashley's self-portrait





Her latest creative attempt that I know of was this dish below. Her contribution to our Christmas Home Party. Am I proud of her or not? Apart from assistance from Popo to boil hot water & cook those macaroni, she did everything else herself. From cutting the sausages to cutting the apples. Now, this is simply advanced culinary skills at her age. I learned to cook at 33 (haha). So? I know for sure this is talent.



This dish is hereby named 'Apple-licious Macaroni with Sausages'. Ash didn't like my suggestion of 'Ashley's Amazing Macaroni with Apples & Sausages'. Mmm... yeah, admit it's kindda clumsy-sounding... talk about creative juices. I give her As!

The amazing thing about Christmas, about the end of the year, is when you sit back & review the milestones these dear ones have crossed & you just wanna laugh (cos it's funny the things they do sometimes out of spontaneity) and cry at the same time (cos you see them grow smarter & more resourceful). That's why I love Christmas. Every year without fail.