Home

I’m home, and it feels so incredibly nice to be home. I stepped off the airplane yesterday and was hit by that familiar wave of dreaded humidity, but hey, I thrive in the heat.

It feels nice to be home. For 3 weeks, there will be no work, no household chores, my clothes will disappear into the blackhole and re-emerge clean, pressed and folded neatly in my wardrobe; dishes will magically disappear from the sink, the bathroom floor will be meticulously scrubbed everyday. What can I say, it’s pure bliss.

I love the feeling of knowing that everything is taken care of. When I arrived home last night, the fridge was stocked with bottles of liang teh and the pantry had my favourite Gardenia nutri-multigrain bread. It’s the only kind of supermarket bread I eat here. Thank you, my superhero sister.

Then in the afternoon I will be whisked off like a princess to shop for my wedding dress, and when I come home dinner will be ready.

3 weeks in Singapore – it’s suddenly feeling a little too short. I really could do with house-help a LOT.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

I’m headed off to Singapore for 3 weeks and in preparation for that this is what I did today:

Wake up, clean, scrub, wash, drove down to Coles, looked for ham, went to Kmart, walked back to Coles, couldn’t find ham, looked for nuts, bought nuts, clean some more, scrub some more, wash some more, started to pack, migrated brother’s trash to my house, cleaned some more, packed some more, drove to Jon’s, dropped by Safeway, looked for ham, found ham, bought ham, had dinner at Jon’s, ate, barbequed, washed, drove home, cleaned some more, washed some more, scrubbed some more, packed some more and now I’m here. Zonked.

And you wonder why.

Done and Dusted

The last of my parents’ 3 children graduated yesterday, marking the end of over a decade of financial bondage for the sake of our education. Ah, my noble, sacrificial parents indeed.

We celebrated the occasion with a massive phototaking session at the University grounds and ended it off with a fabulous spread over at Grossi Florentino – The Grill. There really is no better place to celebrate an occasion than a meal at Grossi.

Where in most cases you either sacrifice food quality for service or vice versa, Grossi scored top marks in all aspects – the food was nothing short of excellent, the service impeccable and our waitress was attentive, personable and sincere, and the ambience was perfect because we had the window seat with a full view of the street front.

I can’t wait to post more pictures of the food and I can’t rave enough about the restaurant, but for all the times we’ve been to Grossi (whether The Grill or The Cellar Bar), and that is quite a lot, we have never suffered from any disappointment (ok, maybe that one occasion where the antipasto platter was mediocre but even that wasn’t bad enough to put us off; we’ve had it again on another occasion and it was back to its perfect self).

All in all it was a perfect day. The graduation was sweet, the weather was an absolute star, the dinner was perfect and the pinot grigio that was recommended to us was perhaps the best white wine I’ve ever had.

Truly, I don’t think the day could’ve been any better than this.

Next Stop: Reality

It’s Thursday the 18th of December today; it is also the day that my (not-so-)baby brother graduates. Today is a very significant day (and not to mention liberating) because it marks the end of my parents’ long journey of financial bondage to the Australian education system and the fluctuating exchange rate.

I can imagine how elated they must feel, and having slogged for 12 years to put us through uni, I hope they treat themselves to a very nice and very long holiday after this – something well-deserved.

Meanwhile, we are praying that the weather holds up. Grey skies and regalia don’t go hand-in-hand.

Stop.

I had grand plans of heading out for a run but was struck by a bad wave of gastritis. So I’m sitting here at my computer doubling over in pain and pondering about random things. Like the chipped paint on my fingernails and how I should probably get them fixed soon. The sun is peering through my blinds as if mocking me in my plight. After all, I’d waited this long all week to run.

Perhaps God is trying to tell me something – stop. And smell the roses.

[Post-edit: The gastric pains subsided and I ran my fastest mile in the longest while.]

Love At First Sight

Arigato

Found this while surfing over some food blogger’s posts. This is the epitome of Japanese humour – so lame, but ohsofunny.

How To Eat Sushi

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Gingerbread cookies with snow-white frosting. It took me this long to FEEL like Christmas is around the corner, and yet momentarily I forgot -

Jesus is the reason for the season.

Christmas – it’s about the cradle; the cup; the cross; the crown.

My Little Nephew

Dearest J,

I will be seeing you in a week for the first time in my life, and the first time in yours. You may have seen me on the 1 or 2 occasions your Mom and I chatted over Skype, but you looked a little too drugged out by your milk feeds to realise that I was on screen. Or you might’ve sneaked a peek.

I am excited about meeting you; unlike your older sister, I didn’t get to shake your hand or kiss your forehead the minute you were cradled out of the operating theatre; I vaguely remember I was in a meeting room when Grandma sent me a text message that you had finally arrived after 8.5 long months. I swear I could’ve danced around in my seat if not for the fact that I had managers in my meeting.

But that’s okay. I’m seeing you in a week and that’s all that matters. I’m excited yet nervous all at the same time. Will you like me? Will you feel comfortable when I carry you? Will you be awake when I greet you? Will you flash a smile for me or chuckle when I tickle you?

My Little Nephew – Corrinne May

It’s funny how one thing happens
And changes your whole point of view
Everything that seems to matter
Has been cast aside for a better truth
You’re growing faster with every minute, second, photograph
I wish I could spend more time with you
My little nephew

Everyday a new discovery, I’m a child again looking through your eyes
With every step you’re teaching me how to fall and cry, get up and smile
You’re growing faster with every minute, second, photograph
I wish I could spend more time with you
My little nephew

But you’re far away and I am over here
Memories are lost in these span of years
so, when I go will you miss me?
when I go will you remember me?

You’re growing faster with every minute, second, photograph
I wish I could spend more time with you
My little nephew

See you’ll learn to tie your shoes
Say the sky is blue
And that your best friend has Winnie the Pooh
My little nephew

Shit Happens

But it’s pretty good shit.