light, love and translucency




this weekend was one of family and love + a lovely husband who cooked dinner for my family who came over. we had a wonderful evening celebrating mama's birthday - pictures, london bridge, narnia, prawns, light and fluffy cake - and today, husband and i went to have ramen. we also bought a crumbly-topped cream puff from tampopo deli at the basement of liang court. we both agreed that while it was quite alright, it wasn't exceptional, not like the kind we bite into and stare at each other with big, eureka-moment eyes and not speak to each other until the titbit is devoured - this time there were a few quizzical moments of trying to figure out if this was really the cream puff.

source

Some more things...I love:

+ spending time with the family - the siblings, the parents, the babies.
+ cool wind in morning as I write from home, after a wash of rain
+ reading good writing
+ husband coming home and lots of hugs
+ husband's mega headphones to envelope my world with aimee mann/ ash/ cardigans while I write, and while I sense the writing coming together, and while the air is still cool, coming in through the window in an unexpected rhythm of whispers

i had a great pre-birthday weekend with the family coming over to bring the kids swimming, as well as the debut of the passionfruit meringue cake we had (thanks love!) that melts in your mouth and looks deceivingly huge but has this delicious foamy light texture that melts in your mouth. on sunday, the in-laws celebrated my birthday along with father's day with mini magnums.

plus a new issue of monocle!

now i have to think of how to maximize my real birthday day. i think it will include a bike ride with husband.

on friday i went to my ex-client's housewarming party at the house i was working on. at the end it's always worth it, the little bit more time spent on designing that little detail, etc. i think in design one always has to look at the long-term. my clients are dream clients really and it was fun catching up with ex colleagues. i think their two boys will have such fun growing up in that house, peering through the little openings at the car porch garden to the dining terrace below from their study desks. the house is compact but so open within and without. i'm glad my husband came as well.


i know most people say father's day is overrated and we should appreciate our dads everyday, but it does help to remind us in the midst of our busy schedules to remember all our dads have done for us. a happy, carefree childhood and education is underrated and for my dad to provide that for all of us without complaint is a god-sent. i really appreciate my dad for all he gave to us and when i recall even the smallest things he has done for us, i think that is better than gold.

beginning and end


this chinese new year was bittersweet. ironically it was one of the saddest and happiest new years in my life. on the first day we went to our grandmother's as usual. my grandfather was in hospital and had been in and out for some time. i should have gone in earlier to the house then i might have gone with my grandmother for a short visit to the hospital nearby. egos and what-ifs.

on the second day of the new year we went to my grandmother's house again, this time for a funeral. my grandfather had passed away near midnight the day before. my grandmother was tired with grief but she is a strong women. she didn't go to the crematorium on sunday. at the wake she kept asking if we had eaten, and she kept awake late to talk to guests.

throughout the three days at the wake, i met relatives and elderly friends of my parents/grandparents i never knew about. i heard about family histories. i spoke longer to cousins i normally wouldn't have. my heart was more forgiving towards some relatives I had condemned as mean. i met relatives i would have missed at this new year, and the last. the funeral was simple. there was no complicated mourning rituals or bad blood that tends to surface at such times. the mood was bittersweet - a non-verbal understanding that my grandfather was old and ill and perhaps it was good that he had to go, but at the same time, worry and sadness for my grandmother - her only concern the last few years was to look after him. she didn't want to leave the house because of that, not even for our weddings, because he couldn't leave the house. gradually over the years he stopped recognising us - sometimes when we mentioned our names, it seemed as if he knew; he couldn't see clearly anymore.

funerals are neutralisers cos the feelings are more genuine, sometimes, then new year meetings.


photo source

home


i don't know if chrysanthemums go with orchids but i was i a hurry so these would have to do, for an evening with my friends from jc - jo, sammie, shuying and liling with their partners, and jo brought her two little girls. we hadn't met each other, cept for shu and jo, for so many years. the conversation topics vary now, to marriage, kids, etc. but we always reminisce about the teachers, the fun in school, jo and her chicken drumsticks with denise in the canteen. there is something nice about meeting up with old friends and so in the midst of being busy, i'm glad i arranged for this.


...some pictures up finally at my study table, of post cards i got from booksactually with a birthday voucher.

+ + +

i met my family for dinner at tony roma's for a belated birthday celebration for my father. with a large family meet ups area always boisterous and now we have two little boys testing out funny sounds they discover. it's always such a delight to play with my nephews and see them express new emotions or actions every time we meet.