Did I ever mention that I own a sewing machine? Well I do.
Did I ever post about knowing how to sew a little? Straight line stuff. Hate the zips and buttons bits.
Did I upload any photo of this new toy I have? Hubby bought me a new sewing machine. See?
Nice eh? This is me sewing up some velcro straps for this stringy curtain to be hung at the door leading into Arrow #3′s room! “Naise” as some of the youth would say!
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….
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!
Don’t laugh.
In my pursuit of good health and better shape, I decided to do something pretty desperate.
I went for my first ever ballet class.
Did I think I would be svelte and graceful and slim and lovely to behold after one session?
All it did was to emphasize my thick hips, clumsy footwork, awkward arms, terrible posture and uncoordinated limbs.
At least the first lesson was free!
Says my friend, “T is figuring her English out…. ala french.” T is just over 2 years old. Bright kiddo.
“Mommy” she says “Mr Behaving.”
Mom, partly humouring her and partly wondering what T meant, replies, “Who’s Mr Behaving??
There came a thoughtful look, followed by a sage-like reply “Hmmm…. mis-behaving”
T is the best!
It is good to let your hair down once in a while.
It is good to maintain a child-likeness at times.
And sometimes, it is just good to really go wild
And let it all out.
These guys? They are ganging up on Arrow #3. Good friends do that. Haha!
We have some friends who have been playing web games on their iPads – Angry Birds, Cut the Ropes and whatever. (I don’t play but I hear these phrases bandied around!) Whilst they think it is fun, the poor iPad has to bear with all their smacks and shakes. As an observer, I wish I had my camera ready!
Then they discoverxbox 360 kinect! That just blew their minds! No wires, no touch! You play as you would in real life all the games – from golf to dancing. Why, in Star Wars YOU can be Luke Skywalker! It all works by body movement sensors…. Now that’s what I call gaming!
She came with her parents. Lovely, lively, chatty, exuberant and full of life.
There was a time when she was on the verge of death’s door. Double meningitis it was. What a time it was!
Now to see her all bubbly and interested in everything around her just warms the heart.
Spontaneously we played the game. I threw cushions on her as she lay on my settee. She lay still as I called out, “Where is Tina?” with every throw. Slowly but surely she got covered up. Then she began to giggle. And to fidget. And to toss about. Like a monster shaking of puny humans, a dinosaur shaking off tiny reptiles holding on to its back….
OK, OK, so my imagination worked overtime there.
But hey, we had a good time, playing this repeatedly.
Of course, the skill is to know when to stop playing it so that you leave them wanting for more.
Which is what I did. Haha!
Well, our main event is over. Now to clear up!
So we got the cloths down, the decorative plants cleared and then took down all the balloons.
As with the past two years, we loaded up a van and drove to the nearby children’s hospital. There, we hoped we brought some cheer to some of those really ill children.
These are just under half of the balloons!
We go in more often than this of course. It’s not just once a year – some members go in regularly. That’s much appreciated by both the staff and the parents.
For me, I just love being “Santa Claus” in the middle of the year! Haha!
We had a celebration recently. Lots of us got together to decorate the place. Young and old, we pitched in.
Took us ages to get loads of balloons up. We had balloons hanging from the ceiling, along the staircase, and yes, at the entrance. We transformed the whole place into the theme of blue and silver.
It was our 10th anniversary. I didn’t get home till half past 11 at night, but our efforts, together with that of the hotel’s made it all worth it. The reaction of the people the next day made it really worthwhile. But for me, it was the time of interacting with the folks who helped to put it all together.
I really appreciate them. Working together transformed my thinking of each one present – I knew they were gems, but what wonderful gems!
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