Chef Alina & the rest of the stretched day...

*hats off to Alina*

Boy, can she cook! Although this isn't the first time I've tasted her cooking, I still literally drooled just by looking at the dishes! They were absolutely delicious!!

I was at her place with Thea this afternoon for lunch. Shamelessly invited myself over for lunch since she was still on holiday, plus Thea and I wanted to pass Caitlin her Christmas present. I know, I know, it is a little early... but I figured that once Alina started working next week, coupled with some upcoming weddings and stuffs that is already starting to flood my diary, I doubt that we'd have the time to chat up with each other one-on-one anytime soon. She is the busy career woman; and I am the busy housewife! Lols.

She cooked her famous Cottage Pie, and Penne with Chicken Ala King sauce. She explained that she normally cook her Chicken Ala King with buttered rice, but she prepared penne for us instead. Was nice anyway, and Thea being a fussy eater, came back for more! She loved it! It thrilled me! :)

After lunch, while watching the girls play and watch tv, we sitted ourselves comfortably on her big ass sofa and started chatting about stuffs. Mainly about careers. It was an interesting chat. Alina is my only friend amongst the rest who'd share her career experiences with me. And this is one topic that we could dwell on for a long time each time we start. Now, I kinda know her boss, her job descriptions, her colleagues, her ex-colleagues and all.. Lols. Really an eye-opener for me, especially since I had so long retired from the industry. Lols!

It was about 4pm when I decided that it was time to go. Adorable Caitlin kept shaking her head and said, "no aunty, no chea chea", meaning she doesn't want us to go home. Awww... touched me! Now I know how other people feel when Thea shakes her head and said, "No, I don't want you to go home". We waited out for another half hour or so since Thea insisted that she wanted to finish watching the 'Little Einstein' episod before we finally left. Caitlin was really cute. She was climbing up her gate... Lols. She is absolutely cute and adorable. I don't think I could ever get bored of her expressions. I was just so mused watching her, oh ya.. watching Alina AND her TOGETHER!! Lols..

Met An & Lee at Taipan on the way to pass them a little something before heading home... Promised to get together soon for the kids to play. :)

Met Kok Fai & his lovely family, Melanie (wife) and Daniel (son) for dinner and had a great time laughing... This couple is just one of the funniest couple I've ever met... So blessed to be in their presence. And guess what, they went home after dinner to shower and then came over to our place again. Lols. It's nice to have friends living nearby (They stay 3 minutes from my home). :)

Ah, such a wonderfully stretched day today. A little tired now, but absolutely love it! :D

La..De..Dum... Shopping... Shopping...

Planned lunch with Terri today since last week. Knowing my erratic timetable, better plan ahead. Lols. Also, an excuse for me to take a drive to Pavillion to get a few stuffs; one of the most important, hubby's Anniversay & Christmas present. Thank God our Anniversary is spread out across the whole month of December and not just a 'date', so that gives me time to think, think, ahem... or rather, feel what to get for him. An inspiration came last week, after I've made plans with Terri, so the plan to carry out the 'mission' after lunch with Terri. Lols.

Lunch was perfect. She looked great, and she said I looked great too! Such wonderful reflection.. lols. I teased her that it could be because she was missing me *winks*. Lols. We accompanied each other after lunch to do some shopping while she still had time. It was really nice. I remember the last time we walked so casually and freely a few years ago was when we were both single. We 'shopped' at Taipan because it was near to her house and also cheaper. Lols. So, although we were shopping at Pavillion today, it felt like the good old days - comfy. Nevermind the 'atas' or 'bawah' feel of the gifts we bought for our loved ones, we bought what we wanted to because we were inspired to do so as a token of appreciation for our loved ones. :)

I spent almost another hour at Pavillion all by myself after Terri left for work. Fun man... walking here and there, buying this and that... Lols. And by the time I left Pavillion, it was only about 3pm. I noted the joy within as I drove out of the car park and headed home. I still feel it now, as I am typing away. :D

Now, I am excited. I am waiting for hubby to come home so that I could ask him if he wants his gift now, or later. Too bad, it's gonna be an Anniversary cum Christmas gift.. Lols. But I am sure he will love it anyway!

Thanks Terri, for the wonderful lunch and a short-shopping-spree moment. I loved every moment of it. Can't wait for our next date already!! :)

Power of Forgiveness

Alice forwarded me this. It touched her, so she decided to share with others. It touched me, so I am now sharing it with you...

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Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Non-violence, in his June 9 lecture at the University of Puerto Rico, shared the following story as an example of "non-violence in parenting":

"I was 16 years old and living with my parents at the institute my grandfather had founded 18 miles outside of Durban, South Africa, in the middle of the sugar plantations. We were deep in the country and had no neighbours, so my two sisters and I would always look forward to going to town to visit friends or go to the movies.

One day, my father asked me to drive him to town for an all-day conference, and I jumped at the chance. Since I was going to town, my mother gave me a list of groceries she needed and, since I had all day in town, my father asked me to take care of several pending chores, such as getting the car serviced. When I dropped my father off that morning, he said, 'I will meet you here at 5:00pm, and we will go home together."

After hurriedly completing my choires, I went straight to the nearest movie threatre. I got so engrossed in a John Wayne double-fearture that I forgot the time. It was 5:30pm before I remembered. By the time I ran to the garage and got the car and hurried to where my father was waiting for me, it was almost 6:00pm.

He anxiously asked me, 'Why were you late?' I was so ashamed of telling him I was watching a John Wayne weatern movie that I said, 'The car wasn't ready, so I had to wait', not realizing that he had already called the garage. When he caught me in the lie, he said: 'There is something wrong in the way I brought you up that didn't give you the confidence to tell me the truth. In order to figure out where I went wrong with you, I'm going to walk home 18 miles and think about it.'

So, dressed in his suit and dress shoes, he began to walk home in the dark on mostly unpaved, unlit roads. I couldn't leave him, so for five-and-a-half hours I drove behind him, watching my father go through this agony for a stupid lie that I uttered. I decided then and there that I was never going to lie again.

I often think about that episod and wonder, if he had punished me the way we punish our children, whether I would have learned a lesson at all. I don't think so. I would have suffered the punishment and gone on doing the same thing. But this single non-violent action was so powerful that it is still as if it happened yesterday. That is the power of non-violence."

"Forgiveness is giving up my right to hate you for hurting me."

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Namaste.

An Anniversary :)

6 years ago on this date - 5th December 2003. That's the date we met. Technically, today, being the 6th anniversary of our 'know-each-other' date is not at a complete cycle yet because we were only introduced at about 10-11pm. And it is only 615pm according to my laptop clock. Lols.

Flowers received today to mark our 6th anniversay. Pretty huh?

We never really did anything on this date all these years, because we got married the following year in the same month. So we just celebrated our matrimonial date - either the registration or ceremonial date. To us, or at least to me, it was all the same because it was all in the month of December, just difference in dates; which is why I am surprised to receive flowers today! I guess he wanted to surprise me, so surprised I am! Lols!

We did nothing 'special' today - but did our usual routine as we would if he was around - spending time with each other either alone, or with Thea. Time spent like these are already special on any day, as long as it's spent together - whether we talked alot or kept silence in each other's presence. It's comforting, sweetness and love. :)

It's wonderful how despite the ups and downs, we stand side by side each other, supporting and loving each other. Albeit there are times where we (ok, ok, mostly me) feel that we are bounded by limitations, but when we managed to surface from the darkness to light, the unconditionality prevails. Today, our relationship is more meaningful to me because we have grown so much with each other, yet independantly - supporting each other's life journey whether in ways of open discussions, or hurtful disagreements. I remember telling some of my friends this before, "as long as you love, don't let go; unless it is peace that you feel when you let go". Although disagreements, temptations or fights sometimes cannot be avoided in a relationship and residuals of such may linger further at times, as long as we are willing to take responsibility for our own hurt, the miracles sort of unfolds by itself. I've experienced it. This is my evident.

I am thankful and grateful that I am blessed with a wonderful hubby. When I tear down my old ideas of how my husband 'should' be, and finally see him for who he is, I find that this old hubby that I married, is a new hubby to me almost everyday - allowing me to witness and learn new qualities about myself through him and vice versa. We are binded together in a way, yet free... Come to think of it, it is quite a gift!

When we wished each other 'Happy Anniversary' earlier and kissed each other, Thea looked at us curiously and asked us why we kissed each other. Hubby said, "It's our anniversary, Thea." And she said again, "anniversary??" Hubby explained, "It's the day that mommi and dada became friends!" Thea want, "Orrrrrr... I see....". Lols. Don't know what would be running in her mind.. lols.

Yes, we became friends and the friendship deepened. Until today, although we are labeled as husband and wife by law, he is indeed my very best friend; an all-rounder who is willing to play the hero and the enemy; the teacher and student; the observer and the observed; the reminder to always love and accept myself and of course, the man who loves me so.

I am indeed blessed. Thank you hubby, for loving me so; and for being in the Game with me *winks* I love you very very much. :)

Nail Therapy

Angeline came down to KK today. We spent the longest time together outside of Clove&Clive today in KK. Lols. We ate, drove around KK, saw houses, had bubble tea, talked and laughed before we came home to my place. She wanted to play the 'Nail Beautician' today. :)

The priviledged was no other than.... Princess Thea...

See how professional and dedicated she is? Thea was totally awed.

Great job done huh? Thea now has pretty fingers. :D

Angel & Thea

Before Princess Thea was awaken from her nap, Angel & I surfed the internet for the absolute craziest stuffs - Kevin Cheng included. Lols. Ya, she was one of them who absolutely adored Kevin Cheng. Great minds think alike! ;p We laughed a lot more surfing the net about other stuffs too. It was a very rare kind of activity to be doing while spending time together, but nevertheless, fun was all we had. I think, we were like little girls again... Lols.

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To think back, we only knew each other for 1 year and almost 3 months. By sheer fate, willingness and acceptance we got to be really close to each other. Although we are very close, we are also aware not to entangle ourselves in each other's experiences. We serve to be constant reminders to each other (well, we try to, at least ;p) to look within ourselves, supporting each other in our own journey. It's wonderful how whenever I feel lost, she shares her wisdom and inspirations with me :), and how on a 'normal' day like today, she is a silly girl being silly with me... Oh yes, not forgetting, being the nail professional, beautifying Princess Thea's nails! Lols.

Role play; multiple personality -  ah, to acknowledge the aloneness, and yet not feel alone. So wonderful, so supported, so abundant. Angel, I appreciate myself for creating you in my hologram to reflect my inner world, to give me insights and to have me tag along with you in your experiences. Love you always. :)

Namaste.