I love my camera. I love being able to take photos. I love being able to take photos of specimens like this! Isn’t this lovely? I used to call it the Atlas Moth.
Most of them are bigger than the palm of my hand. This was no different.
And it stayed there, a few feet above my head, on the door frame, just waiting for me to snap away.
As my Arrow would say, “Naise!”
Hubby and I just finished having a chat on Skype with our eldest who is now in England. It’s quite fun for him right now – for the first time in his life is experiencing snow! He and his friends have built a snowman taller than they. This was something neither Hubby nor I have had the chance to do. It hardly snowed where we were.
We wonder what other experiences he will have in his time there. Will he jump into a pile of fallen leaves in autumn just as I did in Hyde Park? Will he get to play conkers? Will he discover the joy of riding horses? Hmmm riding horses will be unlike playing in snow and fallen leaves. You’d need more preparation and equipment. Such as learning about the english horse tack and how to use it. I can imagine him getting a sore bottom!
Till the next Skype session then….
Today saw the start of a conference here. It’s about leadership and succession.
As the speaker went on, I was reminded of my (much) younger days. Accomplishments which brought in numerous trophies and certificates. Some of which were hard-fought for. Others were almost run-of-the-mill things. Yet each has a history. And though I don’t look at them anymore, I can still recall the days when I would step up to the starting block, adrenalin pumping.
I believe being so involved in a sport gave me the edge and drive I have today.
And succession? That would be my youngest sister who set out to, and succeeded, in breaking all the records I set!
It is customary during the Chinese New Year that the married folk give gifts to the unmarried. Called the ang-pow, or red packet, it is the norm which all children look forward to. In some cultures, parents will still give to their married offspring. Mostly however, over time, it is the grown up children would give to their parents.
This year, after thirty years of marriage, surprise surprise. A stranger decided to give me an ang-pow! Was I wearing my poorest, oldest looking top? Who knows? It’s not much, and quite fun!
February is upon us! Where did January go!
The church that I attend has an anniversary celebration in the middle of the year. That’s not too far away now! For us, this event in some way even surpasses Christmas and Easter in celebrations and preparations because it is a day of giving. This year, however, instead of the usual gifts we which give away, I am wondering about anniversary gift baskets. I will need to convince the people in charge!
She had followed us to the shop. We were a group of about 10 people. Breakfast was nice. The chitchat was fun. We laughed as we ate. Some were sampling the menu for the first time. Most decided to return for more.
We all got up to go. She followed us, getting into the car with us.
Half way to our destination, she suddenly squeals. She had left her bottle behind at the shop. Her lovely new red bottle.
She wanted us to turn back, but we would have been late for work. So we pressed on.
That was four months ago. FOUR MONTHS.
Hubby and I went back to the shop a few months later. We had our breakfast there.We left.
Then we went back again in January. Recently.
As soon as we sat down and placed our orders, the lady of the shop came over and put this in front of us.
“It’s yours”, she said in Mandarin. “It’s your daughter’s”
“No”, I started to say. But then Hubby said “Yes!”
But I knew we didn’t ever own such a bottle. Hubby smiled and explained – it’s was daughter’s friend’s bottle … and then i remembered.
Four months later. The lady of the shop not only kept the bottle safely, but she remembered who the bottle belonged to!
Why didn’t she give it to us in December? Well, when we went that time, she was unwell and was seated at a table nearby with her head resting on her arms. For the entire half hour we were there. she was resting. getting a nap.
You can imagine the reaction of the girl when she was told that her lovely new red bottle had been returned to her, in pristine condition.
It happens. In the city where I live.
What with Christmas and now the Chinese New year, I have to get back to the gym.
My regime is simple. I am certain professional trainers would stare and possibly wonder how I could possibly imagine to making any effect….
Well, I do a brisk walk for 20-25 minutes. I stretch and move my arms as much I can as I stride.
Then, amply loaded with adrenaline and feeling stronger, I try to jog 5-10minutes. I can’t do more because my knee, or hip or back will (loudly) complain later. It’s only a little jog. I don’t run.
Then I also do some light weights for my legs, back and abdomen.
And of course I stretch to finish.
After that, it depends. I might grab a drink, pick up my kit, and head for the showers.
I hope to do this a little more often these days. Then I might feel better about putting away all that extra rich food…. especially this Christmas Cake!
It’s the new year.
Some people make resolutions. I stopped doing so a long time ago. Some were rather unrealistic!
Some people celebrate to usher in the new year. I stood from afar to watch the exploding fireworks, I covered my ears to shield from the thundering ones overhead. The neighbours have money to spend!
Yet others would quietly let the night slip into day without ceremony. In some ways, I have done that this year.
It’s been physically tiring. And the next day was a busy day. So… I slept.
What did you do?
It’s that time of the year – a frenzy of activity in the schools which are normally silent during the final month of the year. Cars are parked outside and inside the building compounds. Adults and youth alike are mingling, gravitating towards notice boards. A mixture of emotions are observed. It’s exam results time.
This time, it’s the national exams. For those who do well, they might want to use graduation announcements to trumpet the good news. For those who haven’t done as well as they’d hope, well, alternatives will have to be found. In these days, there are more choices out there…. another school, a different college, and, if you have the finances, even a differnt country.
What is a media-musical event, you might ask. Well, it’s a combination of a media and a musical presentation. A clever mixture to tell a story. In this case, a story about a Prodigal Father.
Prodigal. Extravagant. Wasteful.
In some ways it can be rather negative. But in the case of the Father, his only extravagance is his love being poured out.
Oh, and it got featured in the local papers.
Arrow #3 was one of the dancers.
Yours truly ended up being roped in to do the announcements Haha
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