On Vacation

It's the big trip tomorrow. I hope everything goes well despite current conditions of IK, Winnie and I.

Everything has been sorted and I can confidently say we are set to go:

• Taxi booked.
• Passport + e-tickets + USD packed.
• Plants watered.
• Camera + electric toothbrush + iPod batteries charged.
• Laundry sorted.
• Perishable goods removed from fridge.

The only outstanding item right now is deciding on the 'right' handbag to bring. (Sorry blonde moment). By right I mean the colour - to match all outfits and size - not too big to carry around but not too small to be able to fit most of my junk.

IK is fast asleep; I need to tuck in too - taxi will be here at 5 a.m.

***

Winnie please get well soon.

The Joy(s) of My Life

One of Those Days

At home:

* Dad arrived safely today although he is a little under the weather.

* Winnie is slowly recovering from the unfortunate mishap from two days ago; Mumsy is truly a gem being nurse-in-waiting i.e. making sure Ninnie is as comfortable as can be. Times like these make me wish I could be home (in a jiffy).

* A friend is relocating to Dubai in Q2 08. It is shocking how everyone is leaving the motherland for greener pastures; brain drain crisis in Malaysia indeedy.

At the Wharf:

* I am feeling a little harassed at work, but what’s new eh.

* I am also a worried about the 'little discovery' at Bayswater over the weekend and how we can’t improve the current condition.

* I certainly cannot understand the concept of travelling light try as I might.

* Unconfirmed 'speculations'.

In early Q4 07 last year I booked a holiday to the city I have been dying to go for the longest time since watching ‘You’ve Got Mail’ and Carrie Bradshaw & Co. However, due to all the worrying and unresolved issues mentioned above, I am feeling anxious, troubled and ill at ease.

And am subsequently dreading the holiday and the travelling preparation that comes with it.

Blurgh.

Let's hope for a better tomorrow.

Trivia on My Family

Dadster has been in Bali for the last six days, spending time with sibling number three and youngest grand-dot.

Mumsy's at home with Winnie and Cleo, the other two grand-dots (of the furry kind). I've been calling home twice daily just to make sure she is alright until Dadster returns on Monday.

This is a 'trivia' about my family that nobody thinks it to be acceptable or 'normal'. Let me explain:

• All siblings have left the nest and there is no helper at home.


• Cleo + Winnie keep mum + dad company (read: busy) at home - they clean cat litter, take Winnie upstairs for bed time, accompany Cleo for meals/pee/poo/play in garden, take them to the vet, buy cat biscuits etc etc.


• Both furballs are terrified of strangers (and even of certain family members).


• Therefore we never leave them in cat boarding/vet/pet hotel/anyone etc for fear of the trauma it may cause them.

Hence holidays for Mum/Dad are never spent together. One person has to stay at home to cat-sit while the other goes on holiday. All the time.

People may not say it to my face but I know what they are thinking (as their facial expressions are a dead giveaway) when I tell them either Mumsy or Dadster is at home cat-sitting. They think my family is mad, putting up with that sort of arrangement i.e. Dad and Mum having to travel alone/without each other.

It gets awkward having to explain to anybody why Mum is here with me and Dad isn't and vice versa. I am sometimes tempted to jeopardise the family image and blatantly claim that they are separated.

In the Garden

I am theWharfer and I am a Shopaholic

My sinful shopping spree began way before I went home for Xmas.

At the wharf before leaving for home, I managed to grab some pre boxing day sale bargains:

• L' Occitane toilettries
• 2 pairs of Jones' wedged heels
• Gap cardi + T
• Oasis T + clutch bag + a sling bag + brown work trousers

At the duty free in LHR:

• Clairins moisturiser
• M.A.C make up
• Cuff links from Tie Rack

On the plane, MAS had a 10% discount and I got myself the Touche Eclat No 2.

At home, more damage:

• Some G2000 work trousers
• MNG wool turtleneck
• Zara T
• More M.A.C. make up
• Patent shoes from Vincci

Back at the wharf , January sales have been irresistable too:

• Pretty tops from Monsoon
• A handbag + a pair of flatties from Accesorize
• Scarf from Next
• Warm hat from John Lewis
• Cath Kidston Bird carry all + key fob
• Oasis melange wool short sleeve jacket

The extent of the damage done is clearly significant. I do realise that it all looks rather frightful. I must practice some self control otherwise I will perish in this soul-less activity of indulging myself in material happiness.

IK does not have a complete picture of my spending to-date. After this, I can assure you he will not be impressed.

I hope this confession will not end in divorce.

2008 Hopes

I wanted to write something exciting for the first post of 2008 but I don’t have anything special worth blogging about really.

My new year’s eve was spent at home teaching Dadster how to use the internet/skype/emails. Nothing too exciting but certainly proved to be a challenge. My folks are so techno-phobic! But he’s done well and we’ve been chatting via skype everyday since we got back…not too shabby, the old man finally got the hang of it. I was even accused of being cikgu garang. Haha. Well worth the snide remarks I say.

New Year didn’t start with a bang for me. I stepped into 2008 inconspicuously; no big parties, no fireworks, no count down at all. It was a very low key, 'discreet' satay-dinner in the garden with the family. You can tell I am old. Gone are the days of big celebrations to usher in the New Year.

It was more of IK and I desperately trying to enjoy and soak in every precious moment of being at home with the family, cherishing the lazy days, the fun times shared with the cats and everything that we’d miss once we are back at the wharf.

It is Day 5 at the wharf but we are still recovering from missing home tremendously.

We discussed how we were really happy back home playing with the cats, enjoying Mumsy and Dadster’s banter. They truly give us endless joy.

Unlike here, it appears that we only derive material satisfaction – exciting travels, decent money, interesting and diverse lifestyle (and fabulous shopping!). But very very lonely lives with no family (and cats) nearby. Back home we get the non-material type of happiness – great company of mum, dad and kitties.

We wonder what we should do now; stay here longer or just leave when the time comes. What is more important and essential to us? Is it the material pleasures or is it the emotional joy and contentment we get from home?

It’s a pity we cannot have the cake and eat it as well. Life is such they say. We certainly have a lot to think about in 2008.