Hong Kong December 2005

It came and it went with a snap of the finger. I could almost hear the whoosh go by in my years. And no i'm not refering to the past year, i'm refering to what may be my last holiday till some time to come.

Hong Kong was super. I've been home for three days now and i still regurlarly float back and forth to certain bits of the past week there. Like i reverse play on this movie in my head. Having gone during winter was one of the best decisions. Nevermind that i froze my arse off, and walked around completely wrapped up in layers. At first i felt a little self concious, Hong Kong is brimming with the fashion trendy and vogue and there i was looking like a potato sack - but after awhile it made more sense just to stay warm. The streets were enveloped in wonderful christmas decorations and lights filled the night sky. It was exactly like what you see on the idiot box. We had a terrific bunch of individuals who graciously gave up their time to take us around and do all the ridiculous tourist-ish stuff and that just made the trip even more memorable. The workshop too went on smoothly. Of course, more people were keen on meeting and listening to me because i was Logan's sister, and as much as i tried to break away from that it was that relation that they remembered most. I must admit though, it is a social headway.

Disneyland was magical!! We paid an exorbitant fee because it was christmas season but i tell you it was well worth it. I did, really feel like a child again. Watching the parade i felt like i was in the cartoons, i could suddenly remember the scenes, the costumes, the themes. There was a certain thrill to riding Cinderella's carousel (that carousels are for children is a bloody myth) and a certain regalness to dining in the Beast's dining hall (from Beauty and the Beast). The whole place is replicated exactly like its in the cartoons, and the only thing i was missing was the costumes. And we saw Buzz Lightyear!! Whoa.. And the Disney parade.. the parade.. if the one in Hong Kong itself can get me so tuned up i wonder what the US Disneyland will do to me!

I didnt enjoy the food so much, i think i prefer the chinese food thats been tempered with and localised to suit the Malaysian tougue. I found the authentic chinese food we got there a little bland, and well.. sweet. But the dimsum was heavenly.

Pictures will come soon, i promise, i have over 500 of em

Its going to be a very merry honky Christmas!

Its finally here

After all the hair pulling, screaming, finger nail biting, creative accounting and endless hours of information surfing - I leave for Hong Kong tomorrow!

I have a string of las minute things lined up to do (still!) and am itching to get going. Times like this when i wished i listened to the mother and not procrastinate.

Will be having my first Christmas with now family. I know Christmas in South Africa was away from KL too but least then i had the brother, so some family ties were maintained. Plus then i had the voices gang with me, who at that time were like family (still are still are). Judging by how we used to do almost everything together - breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner, supper - I saw that bunch more then my actually family. This will be the first time ever with zip family, but thank goodness for Aji. I guess, its kinda like new family huh.

Anyway, I will try to update this lil corner from HK whenever i can to indulge you all, yes even if there may be just three (yes you, you and of cos you). In the meantime, Merry Christmas and have a smashing new year!!

Bravo to us

Today marks two and a half years. Not to brag, but i think its pretty darn good for a couple who haven't had the simple luxury of being in the same location together for more then 10 days in a stretch.

In your face all you sceptics who told us long distance never lasts.

In. Your. Face.

Tiss the season to be jorry - fa ra ra ra ra, ra ra ra ra

What with the season of giving and sharing being around the corner and all.

I have got my Chirstmas list almost done. This year however, the element of surprise is practically removed from the whole gift unwrapping process. I'm getting my family things they need more then things they want. My mom is getting a new mobile phone from her children, she knows and she's also getting the joy of picking which model she fancies ( we are trying to keep her withing our budget thought..hmph). My dad, got shoes, how much more practical can it get. He already has them cos he had to try the size and all that jazz. My brother, is getting a dvd burner. He says he needs it, though most people would claim it a want more then a need. As long as it makes him happy. So, there may not be many actions of ripping through pretty patterned christmas wrapping, but at least everyone will be over flowing in joy.

I've also recently got hooked on a different kind of shopping - online shopping. Airasia tickets particularly. It all started with the darn 2 million tickets going for free craze, and i thought it would be good if i could snag tickets to Langkawi, for the Asians weekend, when i go visit and get my fair share of duty free sin. But it was madness just trying to get through the darn site and it became like an obsession. I had to get in and had to get the darn tickets. Every one around me in the office was hooked. I finally got it yesterday. And one would think that i'd be satisfied and move on with life right? No, now i want more - and more and more.

So as i revisit Annie Lennox, i shall try again.

If the karma gods get their way..i'm screwed

I really really think i need to work on my social skills with the aged. Because i beleive in karma, and with my impatience with my grandmothers now, i will be doomed to face an old age of loneliness, rudeness and who knows, maybe even abandoned!

My other grandmother had a small accident a couple of weeks back and broke her wrist. She's had it in a cast for the past two weeks and is increasingly uncomfortable about not being able to use her left hand. She's 86. She doesnt understand the need for the POP cast. She doesnt understand that her bones are weak and brittle, thats how she can break her wrist even though she was just getting out of bed. She doesnt understand that even her body weight is too much for her bones to handle now. She doesnt understand why its been a few weeks and its still hurting.
And how many times have i visited her in this past two weeks? Twice. She lives a mere 5 minute drive away and 20 minute walk away from my house. My mom tries to coax me to go, (she visits the MIL more regularly then my dad does) but i usually decline, till guilt envelopes me. I dont go because she complains and complains, because she's (i think) going senile and repeats the same things over and over again, because every time i'm there i have to hear how my deceased grandfather is calling her, and also because sometimes she pisses on the 'modern' clothes i wear. But the point is, i just dont have to patience to entertain her, so i keep it to weekly visits and always go with someone else sto its regulated and i dont blow up and say something i'd regret.

My granny, who broke her hip a few months ago is still staying with me. Aside from needing the assistance of a walking stick, the rest of her is pretty much back to her normal self. Which also means she's back to being hard headed and somewhat demanding, wanting to go back to her old ways, which she cant and finds hard to accept. With her also, i limit conversation. I usually have idle chit chat with her when i come home from work just before she goes to bed. That also assuming i've had a good day at the office. If she tries to make conversation with me under one of those scenarios, she'd get short crisp replies. Then when she goes to bed i'd feel bad. Plus she almost always without realising will catch me at a bad time, and i would have some smart ass retort. I always feel bad after.

I swear, now i'll only feel bad. But the real hurt will come one day in the future, when my own grandchildren treat me like i'm just another person who lives in the house. Or like its ok to come over once a week, have tea and go back home.

Change la CHANGE!! Must.. change..

Rawkin'

My new hero, she totally rocks!