年夜饭

今年年夜饭，妈妈下厨，简单但丰盛。

帝王鸡，烧肉，五香，鱼柳，肉骨茶，清炒冬粉。

五人围桌，人数熟悉但也感觉陌生。

但如往的气氛最终没变：琐碎的话题，时不时的冷笑话，分析来年各家人生肖的运程，打包剩菜时的讨价还价。

家，就如此。幸福，珍惜。

有鱼有肉有菜，样样齐全

Carpe diem

Because sunny days are so rare in winter Luxembourg, you really make the most of it when the sky clears up.

No time to procrastinate. Hurry up, change and bolt out the door. 

This was the best weather I had throughout the entire stay, 3 days before I leave. Heh. AH, les beaux parents and me took a look at that sky from the dining table after lunch, swiftly got up, changed and were out in 10 minutes, record time.

Really teaches one to savour the moments and not waste a single minute. 💖

Rare blue skies

💙

This sign tickled me so much

Love the outline of the botak trees

Soaking in the quiet

Love walking in Luxembourg, where there is a special stillness and quiet in the streets and the expansive landscapes. It fills the heart with a quiet joy and calm, and familiar comfort. 

Soaking these up as much as I can, when the weather and schedule allows. 

Hearts.

Bestie time!

Bestie was back for a week last month and as I knew she had many people to see, plus family being her main priority for this trip, was so stoked and touched that we got to spend an entire evening plus a lunch the following day together. 🥰

The bestie and I have been maintaining our long distance friendship for over 10 years now, so we are used to long periods of not seeing each other in person. But the past 3 years must have been the longest in quite a while as we normally would have at least seen each other once a year when she passes through Singapore or comes back for a visit. Damn this pandemic.

We do converse quite regularly so she is well attuned to my favourite haunts and Singapore-based chums, so dinner at DOP seemed like a no-brainer given how much I have raved about it (and how often I'm there either for a solitary meal or for meals with friends). I thought she would also enjoy meeting dear S and P who have been absolute rocks for me over the past year, not to mention the best company. Dance BFF L was unfortunately taken ill at the last minute, but I gleefully also arranged for the darling Sassoons to join as a surprise, all of whom were already acquainted with Bestie. What a fabulous dinner group. 💖

Over the evening, the drinks and conversation flowed so easily even this being the first time some of them have met. Not forgetting that food and service were top notch. We ordered all my favourites so the Bestie could try them all - a burratina platter, alongside the best spicy sautéed clams, pasta as well as pizza. And plenty of roast potatoes on the house just because they knew I love my taters. Haha. 

After we rolled home at the end of the evening, bestie did our usual of rambling and chatting into the whee hours of the morning, soaking up each other's company, a treat that we both savoured. There's really nothing like being in each other's presence, even when video calls and messages are a luxury we have enjoyed, from the days we used to exhaust international calling cards and phone bills jacked up by the nonsense MMSs we sent each other. Heh.

The following day, we got to meet the rest of our 7 sisters group for hotpot too, and it was a different type of bliss catching up with this group who are really like family - we are a funny mix of personalities that grew even more different as we ventured from teens into adulthood, but time with these peeps are always enjoyable and wondrous each time to see how we banter and chat through life updates.

At the end of all these time spent, I had so few photos taken, a sign of energy fully focused on the company. But I do want to document more of these moments though, so I really should be more conscientious about non-random photo-taking. 😬

Precious time spent with loved ones are always salves for the soul. May we have more of these now that we have nearly done away with social distancing and travel restrictions. 

It's been a while since it was just us 7! 💜

Bonne année 2023

 

My favourite photo of 2022 (Chamonix, France)

I'm so prone to long naggy posts that I decided to keep my new year one a much more succinct one. :D

To my dearest (and whoever chances upon this)

Sending my best wishes that the new year be one of the pinkest of health, bountiful adventures, heartiest laughter, warmest hugs, and an abundance of times spent with cherished company. Do what counts, focus on those who matter. 

Happy new year. 💖

too smooth

I've always prided myself on being quite a "gritty" individual, who is resilient and adaptable to change.

After all, most things I've achieved in my nearly 40 years of existence have been accomplished through working hard and putting in the effort and sticking with the end goal in mind. I could barely remember any incidence where anything was handed to me on a platter. Mind you, I say that with no measure of resentment though (well maybe just a teeny bit). I love that I have the drive to be what I want to be, to be able to say that I've worked for nearly everything, material or not, that I have.

Lately however, I keep feeling that grit smoothening out. It's like what happens to sandpaper when you keep using it - even the toughest ones will lose that abrasiveness. It just seems more and more like a chore to muster up that "hustle", quieten the ever rambling mind and just zero in on what needs to be done, step by step, task by task.

It's just too easy to let the cheeky procrastination monkeys take over and rampage all over the overcrowded to-dos packed in this tiny brain of mine.

It's a battle that I used to win much more easily, this internal fight between the sensible adult and the petulant child. How is it that as I get older, that inner brat seems to be triumphing over the inner voice of reason? TSK.

It's almost like I've achieved that outer level of ultimate Zen, where nothing fazes me. Not even when time is running out and I have a trillion things to do.

I need to rekindle that sense of mild panic, if only for the purpose of spurring me into actual action, and not just idly watching and deciding to settle for less - achieve less, do less, care less.

Guess that's that infamous mid-life crisis?

It's no way to live, all that time wasted away on meaningless drivel when it could have been utilised either doing activities that actually bring joy, or improve oneself. Time is no longer a luxury and I really need to learn to use it more prudently.

When all the previously tried and tested methods to beat this inner evil sloth fail, it simply means it's time to try out some new approaches and motivational methods.

Not giving up. You can hide, but I will find you, grit. And have fun doing it. Just you wait.

See you, eventually, if not soon. 

Almost done, 2017?!

The clock struck 12 at noon today, and the dependable test chime played nationwide on our Public Signal systems to signal that all is well, and the systems are working fine, for the last time this year (it's sounded at this time every first day of the month). While hearing that always brought a sense of comfort, I couldn't help but sigh a little with incredulity.

How is it already December, the last month of the year?? As much as I always accepted that time just flies by faster and faster each year, it still feels surreal that we are nearly done with 2017 and before you know it, it will be yet another brand new year.

Somehow, for most of the loved ones, including myself, it seemed to have been a huge year, full of drama and big changes. Now that we are in the final stretch, instead of winding down, things just seem to have gotten even more intense as everything culminates to the end of 2017.

Time to buckle down even more and maximise my achievements and goals for the year. Go go go! May we have lots to give thanks and be proud of when we reflect on the year past, come 31st December. :)

Starting the holiday: Slow the pace

After travelling for over 12 hours via two flights, AB and I really needed to stretch out the legs from all that sitting around, and took a stroll out to the beach which was a short 10 minute walk from his parents' place in Bordeaux where we stay for this trip.

It's so refreshing to walk down a near-empty beach, taking in the sparkle of the sun reflecting off those blue waters, breathing that clean sea-scented air, and looking down at the time to see that it's nearly nine pm and the sun was just starting to set.

I always love summer in non-equatorial regions. Those long daylight hours make you feel like there is just so much to do, and you actually have the time to do them - even when you have a tow of procrastination monkeys always out to distract you. Heh.

The blues

The greens

A random passerby - love this candid shot!

Happy hours

There's always something satisfying about the size of these mugs

The bar by the river often has one-for-one promotions for its draft beer, so we took advantage of it one leisurely Sunday evening to grab some Hoegaarden - Blanche for me and Rose for the rest. The latter flavour is nice but usually just a tad too sweet for me. It's usually reserved for days when I don't mind beer for dessert. :p

It's nearing the end of AB's parents' stay, and it's been quite a pleasure getting to know them better. Whilst the language barrier can be challenging, I think we made a good effort on both sides to get better acquainted, and also respect each other's space. It's really nice most of the time to watch and listen to them interacting anyway - I may not be able to contribute much to the conversation, although I can catch the gist of the dialogues just about half the time.

Quality time together is very much cherished, especially since they don't see each other in person for most parts of the year. It's time to make the most of every moment before they head back.

Sunny day in Yangmingshan | 艳阳天，游阳明山

It was nice to see that Murphy (or the weather god) wasn't completely heartless and blessed us with a full day of sunshine. So off to Yangmingshan we bounded. It was a gloriously sunny day, so bright I had to edit my pictures as they all turned out overexposed, and so hot that I was sweating and walking around unglamly with my leather jacket over my head as shelter from the sun. Oof.

Still, it was a good, good day. : )

Pretty blooms.

Dainty blossoms against that blue sky.

A stolen moment. Sweet love.

Blinding sun

A happy dog

Smokey and pungent

Perspective

Ripples and waves

So, I dropped a bomb last Friday. 

Only, I was not prepared for the extent of the reactions triggered. 

Ripples, waves and whirlpools that have already been brewing, now seem to be gathering force. There's no telling where or how this would end or develop. 

I am in the centre of it, but then not really affected. Of course I am deeply heartened by the extreme reactions of shock and dismay, and even more surprisingly, the concerted efforts that have been shown, by not just a handful, but the majority of powers that be, to try and keep me. That's truly beyond flattering. I knew my work was valued, I just had no idea how much, till now. 

No matter, I have weathered my storms and went through many rounds of reflections, ruminations and navel-gazing. It's the right time and space for me to move, so I shall just watch how things unfold, from the eye of the cyclone. 

The end, begins

Just a post to mark this date - the commencement of the end of a chapter.

There are remnants of angst, and some loose ends to be tied, or severed, we shall see.

But mostly, the heart is leaping and cartwheeling with relief.

Such lightness, and joy. A brilliant start to the weekend. :)

Happy day!

A piece of most uplifting news arrived in my inbox today. I could barely contain my grin or jubilance. 

A new chapter awaits. Filled with hope, sunshine, and a refreshing breeze. 

I know it will not be all peaches and cream, of course. There will be plenty of challenges and lots of learning involved. I need to reset some of the things I had gotten a familiar grasp on, and rehone the senses to gain new sets of knowledge, establish new networks and relationships. 

All a tad daunting, but also so exciting too.

:D

I can't wait, but in the meantime, I need to close the preceding chapter and make sure that's done nicely, gracefully and graciously. Because I wouldn't and couldn't do it any other way. 

That's all I can say for now, but more will be revealed in time. Stay tuned!  

Day out at sea!

Gorgeous!

To celebrate the dear girlfriend's birthday, her partner conspired with a group of us privileged Faeriefolk to organise a day out over the weekend past on a boat. 

It was a stunningly beautiful day and despite the slightly rough waters, everyone had a blast. :D

Although it didn't turn out to be a surprise as originally planned, the birthday girl enjoyed herself immensely (according to all accounts), and that was really the most important outcome. 

On my part, it was lovely bonus to also catch up with some dear chums whom I haven't seen in a while, and also getting to know some of these Faeriefolk whom I have seen, talked to and drank with on numerous occasions. I also just generally love being near and in water, so it was an amazing afternoon. 

The girlfriend had been mildly worried about confining a mixture of outgoing friendly peeps with the quieter reserved ones, but her worries were unfounded. Heh. I'd like to think that being part of this precious circle of trust of this woman we all love, meant we were all very decent characters with varying degrees of snarky/witty humour. It wasn't hard to make conversations, and actually enjoy them too. 

Besides, the perks of being on a yacht with ample space also meant that introverts like me can do the sneaky cat thing and wander off quietly into a corner with my thoughts, staring off into the expanse of those blues and greens, glass of beautiful whisky in hand. Mmm. 

What a splendid day and I was glad to be part of it. Twas a rather perfect celebration, methinks. 

Queen of logistics even brought along condiments so us spice fiends aren't deprived of heat for our food. Hurhur.

Rain-washed

I love rainy days.

There's something refreshing and comforting about watching sheets and drops of water falling from the skies onto the various surfaces on earth. Be it spectacular thunderstorms or gentle drifts of light showers, there's just something wondrous about it, and how the colours of everything just look a bit brighter, yet gentler as well after the rain. It cleanses while it softens too.

Snapped this picture at the end of a rainy day while I was making my way to the train station, of the waterlogged field just next to the office. The field had been transformed into a tiny pond, and it just looked rather scenic to me. Temporary beauty captured on the handy phone cam.

Such things make me smile. Simple beauty and nature's grace. :)

I guess this is "ponding".

Real snow!!

As we drew the curtains aside in the morning to reveal that gorgeous white blanketing the town, and the little flakes gently swirling in the air, I squealed and bounded to the window, hopping from foot to foot in glee. It's snowing!

It was the second day of the new year. The previous morning, I had woken to frosted trees and cars, and mistakenly thought that some of the frost that was being blown to the ground from the trees by the wind was snow. AB stifled a grin as he gently told me it wasn't snow. Chehh.

But this morning it was real! He stared at me gazing in awe at the snowflakes dancing outside and asked, amused, "Is this the first time you are seeing snow??" I grinned, "YES! Well there was a short burst way back in 1993 outside Beijing airport where the flakes were as tiny as dandruff so that doesn't count. THESE are proper snowflakes!" The man's eyes widened and he just smiled indulgently, and ruffled my hair.

At the breakfast table, I couldn't stop staring out into their garden, transfixed by the frosty white that is now falling in greater intensity. I must have spent an hour just looking at the scene in wonder. It's amazing, how each flake really is of that special shape and pattern that I used to only see in emojis. Such beauty, that's from nature. It's spellbinding, and humbling at the same time.

This will definitely be a memory cherished for a long, long time. ^^

A short snippet for memory's sake. :')