He makes all things beautiful..... in His time

A new chapter

2010-07-04T11:47:00.001+08:00

The boy and girl got baptised today...
grateful to be surrounded by family and friends.

Then, they had a lovely supper - an antipasti plate at Jones the Grocer before they bid each other farewell.

2010-06-22T14:59:00.008+08:00

back from europe! i think i'm suffering from pvd - post vacation depression. a day of rest and i have to dive back to work tmr. in fact i'm working on some lesson plans now :(

brief reflection:

London - the boy told me i'd love London (he was there previously and he loved it, more than new york & tokyo) i can see why. it's beautiful. i can see myself living in London. i find every moment of the 5 days there inspiring.

Paris - i've heard from people that Paris is overated and the streets are dirty. well... it isn't. It took my breath away. the people were really friendly too. it was everything i imagined it to be and more. we made a side trip to montmarte and that was real lovely. the boy,"London is beautiful and liveable but Paris is simply breathtaking."

Lucerne - a night walk around Lake Lucerne. hot swiss chocolate. gorgeous views of mountains, cows on green green hills and pretty little houses.

Venice/Florence/Rome - it was lovely revisiting these places again. it's amazing how the boy can still remember the directions to our favourite restaurant in Florence.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable & meaningful trip spending time with the boy and his family. exploring London on our own and following the trafalgar tour from Paris to Rome. we made many American and Aussie friends. Also, the boy and i bought many paintings and collected knick knacks along the trip.

detailed updates to follow soon :)

i can't believe this but i actually forgot all about the wedding prep until the boy reminded me on our cab ride home that we gotta do the save-the-dates!

London dreaming...

2010-05-10T09:34:00.001+08:00

"Beautiful Aurelia, I’ve come here with a view of asking you to marriage me. I know I seems an insane person – because I hardly knows you – but sometimes things are so transparency, they don’t need evidential proof. And I will inhabit here, or you can inhabit with me in England."

- Jamie in Love Actually

almost.

2010-04-12T14:57:00.002+08:00

i signed up for a facebook account 10 minutes ago. after accepting requests from friends, and getting through the various steps and realising how tired i got from all that, i've deactivated the account. so there you go, i was a facebook member for a whole of 5 minutes.

thank you

2010-03-23T22:04:00.004+08:00

for making me laugh. for wiping my tears. for driving me home. for all the pretty flowers. for loving the things i love. for making me happy. for being happy for me. for holding my hands. for watching my back. for walking with me. for asking me to be your wife. for the eight lovely years and for the rest of our lives.

2010-03-22T22:18:00.002+08:00

the insanity has consumed life for the past month. so as i take a teeny weeny breather now before it resumes tmr... here are some snippets of what was, what is and what will be.....

i fainted. recovered. found out i'm anaemic. ate lots of steak at the advice of the doc. am happily settled in the new home. loving the view of bishan park. growing a pot of hydrangeas. waiting patiently for the flowers to bloom and discover the colour. heart to heart with the twin. cuddling up to Love Happens. the little munchkin turned one. caught up with sandra and clydie at cedele. received pretty journals from sandra! can't wait to start journaling in europe. shopped at the baby fair with the cly who is three weeks away from giving birth. amazed at the type of products offered to mummies to be. i can't wait to see baby asher!!!! delighted at the fellowship of the young wives club - loving organised by mummy-to-be. looking forward to more fellowships.

on a wedding prep note,

i've tried a few more gowns and am in a dilemma. a good dilemma. met mili and she has kindly accepted my request to be my coordinator and it's hilarious how we went around shopping for wifey stuff (household items and groceries). we have engaged and confirmed our wedding photographer! we love this quirky husband T and wife G duo and can't wait for the photoshoot in sept. received my first etsy package delivered right to the doorstop... a surprise gift for the gals :)

i think the most meaningful thing we've done was attending our church's marriage preparation retreat. a two day retreat with other couples and our pastors, deacons and their lovely wives. We went into the retreat with several issues yet to resolve and hoping to spend time with God. and God being God...so amazing and incredible...spoke to us and planted loving people around us to share, guide and mentor. we've learned new things about each other and also developed a close friendship with another couple and had such real and heartfelt fellowship. a wonderful time indeed. the boy and i have put what we learned of each other and of God into practice - learning to approach every decision and every possible challenge with "Let's prayerfully consider this."

and... i'm so excited to be flying off to europe again in June. for a holiday with the boy's family. i'm looking forward to London & Paris, having missed these 2 cities out the last time. the best thing is returning to Italy... i cannot wait. :)

amused

2010-03-15T22:03:00.007+08:00

remember how i was so hooked on Jack Bauer some time ago... completing the entire 6 seasons (144 episodes) in less than a year.

I have finally convinced the boy to watch the forth season (first 3 seasons still the best i reckon) cause my brother has the complete season 4, 5, 6 dvd set.

right at this moment, with 2 episodes left to season 4, he is officially a fan. He just called me to tell me that he is really tired after watching 2 hours of Jack in action and wants to sleep but had to drag himself back to the couch because his parents are hooked and they insist on finishing the season.

I am smiling to myself right now. this entire situation is too amoooosing.

Life: a portrait

2010-01-21T11:33:00.003+08:00

being the amateur yet obssesive shutterbug that i am, i'm therefore excited at seeing fiona's professional hands at capturing me. i love the natural colours that shine through and do miss her very much. And... i really wish i can turn back the time and reclaim the {life} that i had over that weekend.

Today

2010-01-20T10:08:00.003+08:00

has given me another reason why i shouldn't be where i am.

this is probably my exhausted heart talking

but perhaps...it's about time i listen to my heart.

December

2009-12-27T10:43:00.002+08:00

four weddings. furniture shopping with the family. that pretty coco inspired dress. the mug i've been eyeing from cly. hanging intricate ornaments on the christmas tree. two amazing movies. hot chocolate at borders bistro. playing tennis with the boy. learning to drive around braddell. outing with the kids at kallang river. the funny jordan and joey cookies baked by the crazy kids. sharing the joy and heartaches of the young ones when the results were released. the most yummilicious chocolate almond daim cake from lane. delicious food with the dg. the christmas ritual of watching Lord of the Rings. the boy and the ikea dog we've decided to call 'funny bunny'. the toffeenut frap at novena starbucks. the cozy dinner at the rustic la villa. the quick walks in the rain. the not so nice quarrels that in the spirit of christmas are quicky resolved. the birthday at fourseasons. the giant ham. playing uno as we count down to christmas. the family buffet. the gifts. japanese lunch with the herdies. catching the year end flu. resting at home. wishing i'm samantha brown. going on the american road trips with jamie oliver, being amused silly by the lads in top gear and last but definitely not the least, forever dreaming of europe.

eat. drink. be married.

2009-12-11T12:04:00.000+08:00

2009-12-08T13:25:00.006+08:00

i am...

2009-11-09T11:47:00.028+08:00

in love with the little cousin. i think it is pretty evident by now how i can't stop gushing over her. indulge me please. she is coming to 8 months and has just started learning swimming...or rather floating... in a tub. she is starting to look more like a boy. an uber cute one, therefore, the need to dress her up in girly hats and pastels. i'm not sure about the blue frock in the last pic but still...she is too cute. her eyes are HUUUUUUUUUMONGOUS. needless to say, i simply couldn't resist putting up one more. oh yes, if you're wondering about the hair.... let's just say i had little hair when i was a baby too. so i'm not too worried. :)

daydreaming about the lovely day. after browsing through my favourite sites for endless inspiration, I am more or less set with the colour palette and ideas for invites

listening to Bruce Springsteen and adding this to the list of songs

awed at this gorgeous glass chapel (Thorncrown Chapel) via mandy lynne. what a stunning place to wed.

feeling crafty. arranging flowers after chancing upon the brilliant blue chrysanthemums.

also writing a report... that is causing some damage to the brain. seriously. i've sat on this... stared at the screen for eons... and the words are taking an awfully long time to materialise.

smitten with Little Part 1 cafe... flowers. glass jars. fairylights. chalkboard.

looking forward to

- five weddings over the 2 months! 27th, 28th Nov. 12th, 13th, 25th Dec.

- moving to the new place at the end of dec after staying at aunt's place for some time now.

- December. the season of peace, love, joy. of fuzziness. hot chocolate. endless fairylights and friends.

lifted up by this which gives me hope,

"Last week, a very hateful group announced that would be protesting outside my college's center for Jewish life. They planned to carry hateful signs and to jeer at Jewish students. When they arrived, they were met by 1,000 students and professors standing in the rain, and left quickly because they could not be heard over the songs of love."

tickled by buddy and the boy

thankful.

moments

2009-10-30T09:41:00.000+08:00

visiting Hoppy and baby aashna. she has pretty long eye lashes and falls asleep in the most adorable way in her daddy's arms. here is Michelle carrying the baby. looking forward to her wedding in 2 weeks!

celebrating the birthday of the boy and Aunty Kim, our bible study group's resident chef. she whips up the most delicious food every dg - honey mustard chicken... homemade otah... popiah... thai curry... penang goodies....the list goes on. we are very pampered indeed. we had dinner at BTC guild house. the boy discovered the place while teaching there. the food is absoooolutely amaaaaaazing. former les amis chef. set dinner (5 courses for about 40dollars is a steal) presentation is lovely. the food - yummilicous.

Mr Chng's birthday! and the long awaited class photo.

I will miss you all.

2009-10-10T22:05:00.000+08:00

it's time for the baby cousin :) she's growing beautifully. uber big eyes and cute cheeks. she likes to stare out of the window for eons looking at birds flying. i'm trying my best not to fall into the whole goo goo gaga peekaboo thingie and talking to her like an adult... so the walk along the corridor with her in my arms goes like this, " wow...look at that... what is that? that's a tree... and this over here is a rose... a pink rose... here's a plant and this is the leaf!" i hope she doesn't find it annoying. love her loads.

step back in time ...

2009-09-27T22:33:00.000+08:00

in shades of blue.

shower of love

2009-09-23T20:28:00.012+08:00

June 7th

after the surprise, the boy and i went for a lovely morning eggs benedict at choupinette. after that, we headed down to Far East Flora and picked out the flowers needed for the shower. Went back home and started the arrangements, using ikea glass bottles. We had lots of fun and were so excited to see the eventual effect. pretty blue and white hydrangeas. LOVE LOVE LOVE HYDRANGEAS (:

Fosters rose cafe is beautiful for such an occasion.

wood. flowers. vines. tea. scones. a bunch of girlfriends. polaroids.

a radiant bride.

SIMPLY PERFECT.

i do and farewells...

2009-09-17T12:47:00.005+08:00

HG is one of the boy's best buds. He met na in the second year of university and their relationship has blossomed into a beautiful love story. i was really glad when na became a familiar face in our group gatherings, that i'm no longer the only gal around. So, when the call came in march from Hg when the boy and i were at Night safari that they were getting married in May, we could not contain our excitement. HG had to leave for the states to do his PHD in August so the fact that they could pull off the wedding in two months was simply amazing. The wedding was a beautiful affair to remember. The solemnisation took place at the gorgeous Raffles Lawn.

My favourite shot of the couple.

making the grand entrance as husband & wife

toast to the couple and a chat till 2am

Before they left, we had a fabulous staycation at The beautiful Beaufort.

The sun. the sand. the sea. the fun. the joy. the laughter. the food. the friendship. the love.

farewell dinner days later at Little India

a farewell gift

the buddies

Adieu.

a letter to Mrs Haiks.

2009-09-15T11:36:00.008+08:00

hello Mrs Haiks.

another year has passed. happieeeeeeee birthday! something's different this year. You're married! You and Haiks look so sweet together. I'm still thinking of the day of the wedding. you look breathtakingly beautiful and i'm so blessed to be there to witness the journey every step of the way. can you believe that it wasn't that long ago that we were sitting in starbucks talking about boys. and tada! you're with a fabulous boy! forever and ever! did i tell you how much i adore your chic bob? i will blog more of your bridal shower and wedding when i see the photos!

We will dance

When the sun is shining

In the pouring rain

We'll spin and we'll sway

And we will dance

When the gentle breeze

Becomes a hurricane

The music will play

And I'll take your hand

And hold you close to me

And we will dance

------------------------------------------------------
Love is an ideal thing.

Marriage a real thing.

Love, Joey.

a tale of apples and gender...

2009-09-09T13:19:00.007+08:00

the afternoons and evenings of revision have come and gone ...

the blood. the sweat. the tears. yes. it was a battlefield.

nagged. shouted. reminded. nagged.

'did i not go through this before?'

frustrated. overwhelmed. weary.

marked. pushed. nagged. again and again.

'cher, you must give us motivational cards ah...'

and so, channelling my inner martha stewart...

with Panetta and Zvonareva slugging it out on the court.

i cut. i wrapped. i tied. 40 apples & cards. 2.5 hours.

-------------------------------------------------------------

finally. as of one hour and ten minutes ago,

the fours have completed their papers.

if there's one thing i learned in this entire process...

when receiving a prettily wrapped apple,

the boy tears away the wrapper, crushes it and munch on the apple.

the girl puts the apple in her bag, careful not to ruin the wrapping and bring it home.

2009-08-14T14:28:00.000+08:00

.hello little munchkin.

daydream...

2009-08-13T08:20:00.004+08:00

plenty of updates.

weddings.

farewells.

new beginnings.

but for now

I'll give anything to have

that cup of latte again

in venice.

i {heart}

2009-07-10T16:13:00.002+08:00

a completely random post of the loves and experiences over the past 6 months. to ease me back into the blogging world after the long hiatus.

here's a snippet of life outside the insanity. the little cousin arrived after much anticipation. seeing her when she was three hours old was the most awesome experience. being there for her baptism was wonderful. the aunt has stopped me from spoiling her. she is becoming very naughty. sigh, i can't resist. she's too adorable.
a trip to the night safari where we finally caught the creatures of the night show, having missed it the previous time when we spent too much time on the tram. they have a 'flight theme' going on. makes for pretty pics.
received a gorgeous basket of white roses from the bride that brought a much needed smile on that crazy night in school. the surprise gave me the opportunity to work on floral photography {inspired from Kari Herer and her breathtakingly beautiful vintage inspired photos of flowers}

watching Rachel Ray on weekend mornings. Her bubbly personality is infectious and her recipes are delish. reading 'A thousand days in Tuscany' for another reason why i will always dream of having my own B&B in Tuscany (will write more on that).

inspiration from {Frolic} and wishing for UK based 'toast' for their delicious frocks, especially that blue coat in the picture.
loving sarah michelle's hair and dress.

cozying up to Paris Je Tai'me and falling in love with Paris 18 times over.

Nat Geo and my current obession is Nat Geo Traveller. for the travel bug in me. for comprehension passages. for those short breaks in between. for those insanely pretty photos. for the next trip. tablescape - bright yellow chrysanthemums & Shakespeare's The Art of Love: a collection of his sonnets and love passages. Getting lost in - The National Geographic Museum at Vivo! loving the most beautiful table ever, all the way from Florence. the boy thinks it's a great place for first dates. :) catching rainbows.

Simply Bread - for its sticky buns! cinnamon sweetness! a lovely discovery introduced by the boy's friend. adore the one at cluny court. white white walls at a small little nook. more reasons to love cluny court.

Date -The boy and girl do not have the tradition of celebrating love day. However, a usual drive to dempsey a week prior to love day for ice chocolate and tea at Dome cafe inspired a moment of spontaneity. At the entrance of Jones the grocer, the boy turned around and instructed, "we have 15 minutes to pick out a gift."
After fifteen minutes of secrecy, stealing looks at each other... they finally revealed their gifts. the boy shocked the girl with a bold amaranth rose bloom. Puzzled, the girl looked around the cafe, certain that there weren't any flowers for sale. The boy had convinced the cashier to give him one of those lovely blooms on display at their window. And so she had flowers and a box of chocolates, he had 'Mondays-Sundays' butter bear biscuits. And they were happy.

La Proposicion

2009-06-07T23:10:00.001+08:00

Thank you for the magic

and loving me the way you do.

2009-05-05T09:13:00.007+08:00

back after the insanity and still in the midst of it.

leaving you here with the latest love of my life- little miss cousin.

{seven}

2009-03-23T20:50:00.003+08:00

{stealing moments}

2009-03-06T23:09:00.007+08:00

we had so much fun with {little miss niece}.

she had so much fun with {little miss chatterbox}

she couldn't stop giggling. neither could we.

the boy had monday blues and so it was the girl's turn to spring a suprise. I grabbed the white bucket off my desk after school. rushed down to my favourite florist and bought the pretty blooms. this time, i fell in love with the sweetest bunch of tiny white flowers. florist calls them qin ren hua {lovers' flowers} sometimes she calls them starflowers. how could i resist? so with the cheerful orange yellow gerberas, quintessential forget-me-nots and a bunch of those romantic stars, i went home and started on the arrangement. even with the insanity at the back of my mind, i was really happy. doing something i love for myself and for the boy. pleased with the result :) i wanted to create the wild flowers picked from fields look. showed up at the boy's spanish class with the bucket of blooms. mission accomplished. sitting bright and pretty on his work desk now :)

{the sky} from Boat Quay as colleagues got together for a break.

beautiful bright sunny conditions make for pretty pictures.

{ joey is }

2009-02-26T21:39:00.011+08:00

trying to get her life back. She is trying very hard to be an octopus except for the fact that she really doesn't want to be one at all. She is struggling to balance expectations...expectations... expectations. she is trying to be good at what she is doing but she feels torn and inadequate. she loves the young ones and hope she can spend more time with and be there for them. She miss her friends very much and is grateful for that piece of sanity from the bride-the only friend she has met up with two weeks ago at fosters. yes. the only friend she has met in the past two months... since the beginning of 2009. she is really sorry for missing out. she misses the herd. she misses the twin. she misses the one whom she promised to discuss Shanghai with. she misses the dg whom she can only meet in the third week of march. Because she leaves school at seven every evening and returns home to continue with the insanity, weekends to her are precious. she loves to spend time with her bible study mates on saturdays but sometimes those moments are lost when insanity knocks on the door. When she does get some time to breathe, all she really wants to do is breathe. and when she does get that little more, she would like to spend it with the boy. even then, the insanity persists...that lesson to plan, that essay to mark, that email to pen. when Anna, her daily inspiration, announces that she's taking a break, joey is sad that she will not be reading her posts for some time but is happy for her that she will be spending time with the most beautiful ones in her life. she remembers the promise she made to make time for all things beautiful. fresh new flowers every week. a rich book. a lovely song. a mesmerising film. a pretty dress. a breathtaking photo.

she is determined to claim her sanity {life} back. one flower. one book. one song. one film. one dress. one photo. one friend. at. a. time.

{ a note to self }

2009-02-23T22:04:00.008+08:00

"Make up your mind to be happy even when you don't have money, even when you don't have a clear complexion, even when you don't have the Nobel Prize. Some of the happiest people i know have none of these things the world insists are necessary for satisfaction and joy. Why are they happy? I suppose it is because they don't listen very well. Or they listen too well-to the things their hearts tell them. They glory in the beauty of the earth. They glory in the rivers and the canyons and the call of the meadowlark. They glory in the love of their families, the stumbling steps of a toddler, the wise and tender smile of the elderly. They glory in honest labour. They glory in the scriptures. They glory in the presence of the Holy Ghost. One thing i know for certain: the time we have here goes by far too quickly. Don't waste any more time sitting on the bench watching life pass you by."

- Joseph B. Wirthlin (Lessons learned in the Journey of Life.)

{pretty bed of green}

2009-02-19T16:09:00.017+08:00

Priscilla Ahn - Dream

I was a little girl alone in my little world

who dreamed of a little home for me.

I played pretend between the trees,

and fed my houseguests bark and leaves,

and laughed in my pretty bed of green.

I had a dream

That I could fly from the highest swing.

I had a dream.

Long walks in the dark through woods grown behind the park,

I asked God who I'm supposed to be.

The stars smiled down on me, God answered in silent reverie.

I said a prayer and fell asleep.

I had a dream

That I could fly from the highest tree.

I had a dream.

Now I'm old and feeling grey.

I don't know what's left to say about this life I'm willing to leave.

I lived it full and I lived it well, there's many tales I've lived to tell.

I'm ready now, I'm ready now,

I'm ready now to fly from the highest wing.

I had a dream.

{a lovely anthem for the girl... oh yes that's a little of nature's green in her mouth}

2009-02-16T22:01:00.000+08:00

2009-02-15T14:52:00.003+08:00

{today}

2009-02-11T19:06:00.008+08:00

was pretty rough.
i'm really tired.

heartful of daisies

2009-02-07T09:57:00.001+08:00

the boy surprised the girl with a glass full of daisies on monday night... turning her monday gloom to monday bloom. the boy recounted his highly amusing ordeal in his attempt to find those flowers. The girl was touched and brought those blooms to her desk the next morning. She sniffed at those petals and she smiled. Lessons came and lessons went. She sat at her desk at the end of the day, bent forward and sniffed at them again. She smiled. Her heart was glad.
She looked up from all the typing and marking. There they were... smiling back at her. white. orange. yellow. purple. Her heart was glad.

They brought her beautiful memories. past. present. future. She made a promise to herself that she will always make time for all things beautiful.

Friday came. The girl bid them farewell. Knowing that they'll welcome her back on Monday, her heart was glad.

2009-02-03T17:17:00.002+08:00

i don't think it will ever go away

but i want you to know that it's ok to hold on...

baffling

2009-01-29T17:14:00.007+08:00

I need clarity.

I need simplicity.

I need things to be less complex than they really are.

Why do people insist on 'politicizing' the simple matters?

2009-01-28T22:11:00.003+08:00

i miss you so much.

a lesson in the rain

2009-01-18T11:55:00.007+08:00

we set off at 9am on the second day. ready to conquer the mountain. Gunang Pati. They call it. 534 metres tall. a four and a half hour trek up, including a trecherous rock wall. the kids were divided into two groups- major A and major B with about 150 students in each group. my class made up the last group of major B. the kids made the trip of up a thoroughly enjoyable one with jokes, songs and stories. being the last group of the entire column meant we could take our own time, soaking in the surroundings and admiring every spider web and unique flower we came across and analysing creepy crawlies along the way. three hours later, we reached the rock wall - the summit just above. the climb up will take each major an hour and a half. With major A ascending the wall, major B started on their outdoor cooking of maggi mee, sausages and baked beans. my eyes popped at the weird concoctions my kids came up with. after a satisfying meal, major A had successfully reached the summit. it was time for Major B to ascend. At that moment, the first droplets of what was to become of a heavy downpour fell. our hearts sank. No it couldn't be. Confirmation came. We had to return. Dark clouds were descending, we had no choice but to turn back. I was disappointed... for the kids but i think even more so for me. With the summit in sight, the phrase "so near and yet so far" had never felt so tangible. i was really sad. But the kids really surprised me. when the instructor asked them how the felt, one went," we're ok but i think miss lim's really sad we couldn't make it to the top." For the journey down, the kids were so thoughtful and positive, making sure i was ok and helping one another to manoeuver down the steep, slippery mud which by that time were filled with leeches. I was so proud of them and so grateful to Mr Chng for catching me when i almost slipped and finding me a hardy stick to stabilise myself. They truly lifted my spirits and when we reached our base camp 5 hours later at 7 pm, i was so proud to declare that we had completed a 8 hour trek and covered a distance of 30 km. They've taught me it's really the journey that matters and i'm glad we had a good one. Most importantly, i'm thankful that we all made it back safe and sound.

love

2009-01-06T22:06:00.001+08:00

i dream of a max wanger snapshot wedding

Let your hearts be glad

2009-01-02T22:11:00.000+08:00

Christmas in 2008 was a meaningful one with family and friends. It was also special because it was the first Christmas with the dg. After 6 years in arpc, the boy and girl have finally settled into a dg. Really thank God for the lovely six months of nurturing leadership and fellowship, yummilicious food and of course the one and only Buddy.

this christmas...

2008-12-25T23:18:00.000+08:00

I'm thankful for my brother's health. He was on vacation with 8 friends in Phuket. The mini bus they took on a road trip collided with a motorcycle causing the bus to spin and crash into a mud wall. All 9 of them were sent to the hospital and two had surgeries. Now they're all safe and sound and the brother's back resting. He has to do physiotherapies for his back but all is well.

I'm touched by the bride's gift. handmade with lots of love.

I'm stuffed with food from a high tea with mummy and the boy.

I'm surprised by the boy's gift of The Nutcracker ballet. The boy realised that I've missed the show with Clydie because of a wedding dinner and i was fooled once again into thinking that we're having a special dinner. so lo and behold when he opened his wallet and took out the tickets :)

I'm amazed at the ginormous ham that the boy's mum bought.

I'm looking forward to reading the books i got. I finally found Spain: A culinary road trip in Kino!Delicious pictures. delicious food. along with Marley & Me. Letters to Sam and A long way home: Memoirs of a boy soldier.

I'm reminded of Christ's love for us.

and that I'm loved.

2008-12-17T10:38:00.004+08:00

I'm giving wordpress a shot and loving the snow that falls on the page!

a christmas reunion

2008-12-17T00:40:00.007+08:00

a long overdue catch up with the tutor and the girlfriend. exciting new beginnings with one moving on to another jc and the other getting married!!!!!!! really looking forward to the next gathering. I am anticipating the conrad desserts that the tutor keeps raving about.

shanghai soiree

2008-12-15T00:18:00.015+08:00

day one

takeoff! adorable little tot on the plane who amused us throughout the flight. we took the maglev from the airport to the city. went up to 420km/h. the houses blitz past us. it was incredible.

The beautiful hotel. I love the traditional big christmas tree.
After a fitting with the seamstress, we went in search for the famous 'xiao yang shen jian'- a bigger bun version of the xiao long bao along Wujiang Rd. It was gastronomically delicious. We thought it was small so the boy ordered 20 of them. 1rmb each. abt 20 cents sgd. we got a shock when we saw them. they were huge and i think the patrons around us were just as amused. In addition, we had a bowl of beef glass noodles. yummy yum yum. Especially good in the wintry conditions. The queue is long but absolutely worth the wait. A nice long walk along the bund. Stunning at night with the lights beaming from Pearl tower and Jinmao. We got one of the best views from the 18 on the Bund. We explored the buildings and bars along the bund. The staff are friendly and they welcome visitors to explore the places and admire the panoramic views of the bund from their balconies.

8 sec night exposure. love the magical winter wonderland feel.

Hot chocolate and sparkling wine at New Heights along the bund. They boast a magnificent view of the bund too. love the hanging light bulbs from the ceiling. creates such a beautiful glow.

2008-12-06T16:37:00.006+08:00

i am officially addicted to polyvore. it allows me to create these yummy palettes. from choosing the items i love and arranging them like a piece of art. i love it. i shall start a series of palettes based on colours and cities. first up... lavender and london.

2008-12-06T15:14:00.004+08:00

i love

.red.white.gold.

mixed & matched via polyvore.com

2008-12-03T17:27:00.001+08:00

I'm in love with

dreamy pretty fairy lights

off the beaten track

2008-12-01T17:09:00.006+08:00

2008-11-23T22:59:00.002+08:00

ok. i need to take you home.

2008-11-23T20:14:00.002+08:00

adieu. the ones close to my heart. the first form class. every beginning teacher's blessing and dream. thanks for making my first six months a meaningful and encouraging one. the saddest goodbye to Mr Chua. there's less laughter in the staffroom when you're not around.

2008-11-17T21:58:00.004+08:00

the day went by with new experiences and the familiar ones... i got so involved with what's going on and so engrossed in the conversations surrounding the dinner table... so much so that it wasn't until i got home when i realised there was something ungodly about my role in the midst of all that... somehow i wish i could turn back time.... the heart is heavy.

two martinis please...

2008-11-13T14:08:00.012+08:00

Under a wooden canopy, they sat. As they sipped from their glasses, the boy and girl talked about their dreams...sharing a quote she came across earlier...

"There are people who put their dreams in a little box and say, 'Yes, I've got dreams, of course I've got dreams.' Then they put the box away and bring it out once in awhile to look in it, and yep, they're still there.

These are great dreams, but they never even get out of the box. It takes an uncommon amount of guts to put your dreams on the line, to hold them up and say, 'How good or how bad am I?' That's where courage comes in."

They realised that while there are a few things they would like to do, they're pretty close to their dreams. And there's really no place she'd rather be than right there. beside him.

2008-11-12T14:47:00.005+08:00

the ones who make me laugh all the time even when i try to be angry.

thank you for the memories.

and for reminding me that i am indeed... retro.

i'm glad you peeps are still around for another year.

2008-11-11T11:25:00.006+08:00

Our super organic healthy dinner.

Introducing Mr Sandhu. The Chief Invigilator. And his Christmas tree.

The superheroes of the exam hall. The Hair. The Mum. The Night Owl. The 'I don't care.' The Chief.

Really blessed. The classparent has been serving up treats from coffee bean & crystal jade daily. I'm sad that he's leaving. He's a great teacher with a towering presence and the rowdy ones listen to him. i wish he'd still be around next year to calm my rowdy bunch.

2008-11-09T22:29:00.015+08:00

:: Literature feeds the soul ::

Finally, i know a little about Homer's Iliad.

Lit festival.
Captain Hook.
The Princess.
Cleopatra.
Truckloads of fun.

the pink lilies that blossomed at my place and disappeared after a stormy night.

cupcakes from Pat. Natalie's a month old. how am i going to eat such pretty things?

the walk back from church.

2008-10-29T09:24:00.005+08:00

I'd love to be part of the wacky quartet of Mario, Gwyneth, Mark & Claudia.

dancing lights

2008-10-14T14:30:00.005+08:00

2008-10-13T21:14:00.006+08:00

Pat and her precious little girl.

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.-- Vincent van Gogh

Falling slowly

2008-10-13T16:20:00.010+08:00

rare it is when a love story comes along and touch the boy and the girl's heart like this one. every scene etched in our minds. every song etched on our hearts. poignant. achingly beautiful. haunting.

Take this sinking boat
and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice
you had a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along

2008-10-06T12:21:00.005+08:00

Love doesn't make the world go round.

Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

- Franklin P Jones

Happy 25th.

Have a great one.

a message to cliff

2008-09-26T10:11:00.007+08:00

Thank you Cliff for the lovely words. My heart skipped when i saw your message. Thank you for those beautiful pieces with Heather and Michelle. On the day when i walk down the aisle and take my first dance, I know it will be that much more special and magical because of those songs. PS: I'm loving Gravity for Grace.

when i was six years old...

2008-09-26T09:42:00.005+08:00

If just one person believes in you, Deep enough, and strong enough, believes in you... Hard enough, and long enough, before you knew it, that someone else will think "If he can do it, I can do it." Making it: two whole people, who believe in you Deep enough, and strong enough, Believe in you. Hard enough and long enough There's bound to be some other person who Believes in making it a threesome, Making it three..... People you can say: believe in me..... And if three whole people, Why not -- four? And if four whole people, Why not--more, and more, and more.... And when all those people, Believe in you, Deep enough, and strong enough, Believe in you... Hard enough, and long enough It stands to reason that you yourself will Start to see what everybody sees in You... And maybe even you, Can believe in you... too!

2008-09-25T12:11:00.010+08:00

remember to...

watch ONCE with the boy. drink lots of water. pen Barcelona posts. plan a surprise. shop for prezzies. capture last memories of this campus. play Michelle Featherstone & Heather Rigdon on that day. add Sleepless in Seattle. Scent of a Woman. Under the Tuscan Sun. Il Postino. Paris, je t'aime(soundtrack too). to the collection.

Fall in love.

2008-09-23T10:23:00.006+08:00

shall we sail away?
just you and me.

2008-09-22T16:55:00.005+08:00

I can't wait.

the little cousin.

wish she was here.

Getting lost

2008-09-17T12:36:00.004+08:00

in the grandeur of this amazing architecture is what I want to do right now...

to the lovely bride to be...

2008-09-13T22:07:00.010+08:00

Da Paolo Il Giardino at Cluny Court. bamboo. wood. candles. water. glass.

:: 'bridal' bouquet ::

lovely bride to be.yummy bread. fantabulously delicious pasta.

camomile tea. heart to heart. candle light.

Dearest bride to be,

In ten months, you shall be a queen to a wonderful boy. Thank you for being there through everything. I miss our nus days... and this photo sure brings back a whole load of memories. thank you for being there through every tear and every giggle. for every hug and every flower. for those painful times of loss and heartache. for those beautiful moments when our hearts are in sync in appreciation of all things beautiful. Thank you for being the warrior princess that you are. for trudging on in the face of trials. for doing what you're doing. for going forth and fighting for Him and walking with Him in faith and in grace. for being my inspiration. for loving me. you know what dearie... my world is definitely a prettier place because you're in it. I thank Daddy for you!!! Here's to your birthday! to our sneaky snaily days long gone and church bells ringing days to come.. cheers!

Happy birthday my friend

Here's to all the years we've shared together

All the fun we've had

You're such a blessing

Such a joy in my life

May the good Lord bless you

And may all your dreams come true

mid autumn magic

2008-09-13T21:27:00.006+08:00

i'm used to staying in school till nine working on scripts but on this night it was different! We had a Mid-Autumn Festival! The night was magical with lights and lanterns strewn across the parade square.. reminds me of those old school carnivals of the past.

The girls had an opportunity to perform for the festival. Here's us in the dance studio... bright and cheery before the madness and chaos as we rush to put on make up for the performance.
.snappy happy.catching the chemistry teacher before she leaves. so glad that nat was there too. thank you for your lovely company and being my supper buddy- of mooncakes, tea leave eggs, chinese tea and ramly burger!

the dance! the dance! pretty colours. the girls put in lots of effort and i'm so happy it went well and they had fun. :)

my cheeky boys who brought me a lantern!!!

my favourite shot of the night. with Nat, lantern and ch posing at the back. I love the lantern. I love how it glows. so apt for this night :)

2008-09-09T13:46:00.008+08:00

keep this lovely family in prayers

2008-09-08T22:34:00.001+08:00

it's pouring outside. cool breeze and rose scented lotion. puts me in a "missing you" kind of mood. when the madness is over... we shall meet! meanwhile... i miss...

Mili. I do miss you very much.

Let's do porridge, eggplant and snowpear again.

the herdies! when can we get together again. boys in school. girls at work. crazy crazy world. i miss you bs!

teresa and kevin. my dinner buddies. yes i do miss you both very much. apologies for being MIA for so long.

Kailin dearie. i miss our heart to heart conversations. I cannot believe we are into our 12th year!

the dancers. Pei who left last month for Michigan to do her Masters. miss you dear and hope you're settling down well.

liling. somewhere in India now doing her medical degree. come back soon!

but most of all. i miss Florence. Trattoria Anita and our funny Italian waiter we affectionately call Mr Bean. the boy and i loved the place so much that we went there for dinner twice on our 3 day stay in florence.

2008-09-05T10:04:00.014+08:00

along with cy, we brought the girls to an evening of chinese dance performances. the walk by the river brought forth plenty of oohs and ahhs as the girls immediately whipped out their camera phones and started snapping away.

that gave us the cue to pause and admire the river coast. The view from cavanagh bridge never fails to take my breath away. lights dotting the river bends. shimmering in the waters.

say cheese...the bunch of girls i've grown to love over the two months. getting the hang of mothering them. from running after consent forms and calling parents to make sure they are aware of the daughters attending evening concerts :)

victoria theatre. those signature red chairs. my lovely girls from my form class. 13 beautiful performances from the Guandong province dance troupe. a surprise! seeing wq dancing on stage as part of the local Honglei dance troupe.

the night sky outside victoria theatre. a long bus ride back home. to exam papers that i need to vet and correct. thankful for the US open to accompany me through the nights.

evenings at bukit timah

2008-09-03T09:56:00.019+08:00

walking back from church. so glad to move back to adam rd.blue skies. white clouds. lush greenery.beautiful. beautiful. God's daily masterpeice.

dinner date at Hanabi at crown center. sashimi and wasabi. warm green tea on a cold evening. watching the raindrops trickling down the window pane.

a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e Buddy & his very own companion. beloved little bugger that belongs to our bible study leader. no. he's not the reason why we attend bible studies. yes. the boy & the girl plan to kidnap him.

Luis Miguel's Mis Boleros Favoritos and Alejandro Fernandaz's Veinto a favor from That CD Shop... determined to get back in touch with spanish after The Dreadful Term 3 has claimed another love- having only attended 1 lesson in my 10 wk elementary course. on repeat mode.

the joy of taking empty buses even if it means alighting a stop further. the serenity of the walk home. cool evening breeze. leaves rustling. moon peeping through the branches. lamplit pavements.

Second to Cluny Park, Peperoni Pizzeria is our favourite evening hangout. 4th time this year. with work packed to the brim, what used to be movies & dinner dates are now evenings moments in a little eatery. tucked away in a little island at Greenwood. away from the hustle and bustle of town. near enough for the boy who has to send me home. perfect for a quiet and lovely evening.

::on a sidenote:: i love Bukit Timah and all the quaint little eateries we would retreat to- Tin Hill for tea and cakes, Choupinette for eggs benedict, Island Creamery for blackforest ice cream, Greenwood for pizza, BT plaza for laksa and last but definitely not the very least, RailMall for ba chor mee.

because it's worth it

2008-08-29T23:10:00.002+08:00

to my graduating class
thank you for the memories
for some of us, it's a road to more hellos
for some of us, this may be the last goodbye
No matter what happens,
Let's finish this marathon.
See you at the finishing line.

i love reunions. a reunion with those who inspired me. my beloved JC teachers.

Thank you Mr D Yeo and Ed Koh. For being the ones who truly inspired me to be who i am today. I seek to be as passionate as you both and i hope to ignite that same passion in my kids. Thank you Mr Yeo. I marvel at all the chance or rather timely encounters we had in the unlikeliest of places- from bumping into each other in NIE to Vivocity to Holiday Inn all in the space of 8 months. Thank you for the 1 hour chat we had. for listening to my fears and insecurities. most importantly, thank you for simply believing in me.

2008-08-25T18:49:00.005+08:00

Drowning: in work. Feeling: overwhelmed. inadequate. emotional. Crave: alone time. without anyone breathing down my neck. Serenade me: Luis Miguel. Yearning: for that Calatan Sun. Walking down La Rambla. Sitting at the steps of Santa Maria Novella watching couples dancing in the streets.

2008-08-23T09:00:00.002+08:00

If i were a piece of clothing, I would be a cardigan. My collection of cardigans has increased dramatically with my entrance into teacherhood. I'm definitely not complaining because I love cardigans and it gives me an excuse to add to my collection. I love how they are so pretty and soft and yet so functional. They keep me cozy in the staff room..prim in classes..proper enough for formal sessions..dressy enough for a date. And most of all...I love how they make me feel so snuggly and feminine.

On another note.

On this day.

Happy anniversary.

2008-08-20T18:07:00.007+08:00

Doing: what i've been doing for the past few days. Not looking forward: to vp ob on tuesday. Thankful: for my oral examiner partner M. who shares the same frequency with me, shares delightful stories of his relationship and experiences. simply being one whom i can whine to about marking coz he's in similar situation but from another school. who blames me for making him fat from all the yummy canteen burgers i've been encouraging him to eat and how he needs to work off those calories to fit into his suit for his december wedding. for making the 11 days bearable.

Accompanied by: Sara Bareilles

Set me free, leave me be. I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity...Here I am and I stand so tall, just the way I'm supposed to be... But you're on to me and all over me...You loved me 'cause I'm fragile... When I thought that I was strong...But you touch me for a little while and all my fragile strength is gone...I live here on my knees as I try to make you see that you're everything I think I need here on the ground. But you're neither friend nor foe though I can't seem to let you go. The one thing that I still know is that you're keeping me down....something always brings me back to you.

2008-08-18T19:49:00.009+08:00

I'm working on: 30 essays. 80 summaries. in the staffroom at 7.35pm. I've been: grumpy, sleepy, coughy, prickly. I need: a long uninterrupted sleeeeeep. I miss: sundays without marking. a nice date. friends. me not being grumpy, sleepy, coughy, prickly.
Listening: The Wreckers "Do you know i cry... and it's not the good kind."

Do you know the ending scene in You've got mail where Meg Ryan walked through a park of pretty blossoms and a dog came running towards her... and Tom Hanks appeared eventually. That's River Park West 91st street, New York and that's precisely where i'd love to be right now.

Funny how I feel more myself with you

Than anybody else that I ever knew

I hear it in your voice, see it in your face

You’ve become the memory I can’t erase

You could have been anyone at all

A stranger falling out of blue

I’m so glad it was you

2008-08-15T12:17:00.008+08:00

Counting down: 160 scripts to go.

I need: a long break.

Listening: Rachael Yamagata

"The Reason Why"

I think about how it might have been
We'd spend our days travelin'
It's not that I don't understand you
It's not that I don't want to be with you
But you only wanted me
The way you wanted me

So, I will head out alone and hope for the best
And we can hang our heads down as we skip the goodbyes
You can tell the world what you want them to hear
I've got nothing left to lose, my dear
So, I'm up for the little white lies
But you and I know the reason why
I'm gone, and you're still there

So, steal the show
And do your best to cover the tracks that I have left
I wish you well and hope you find whatever you're looking for
The way I might've changed my mind
But you only showed me the door

So, I will head out alone and hope for the best
We can pat ourselves on the back and say that we tried
And if one of us makes it big
We can spill our regrets
And talk about how the love never dies
But you and I know the reason why

2008-08-12T11:11:00.008+08:00

Working on: no 8 of 240 scripts.

All to be marked by next monday.

Looking forward: the weekend

Daydreaming: Lavender fields of Provence

Screen: NYtimes.com

Listening to: Amber Rubarth

A quirky blend of narratives in songs :)

CHRYSANTHEMUM SONG

I found a little pot, took it in the kitchen, filled it with some dirt, planted a chrysanthemum. And you should’ve seen how it turned my mood to yellow, it turned my mood to yellow in a day. I read about a boy how suffered depression, his parents hung a mirror inside his bedroom. And they made him smile at it three times a day ’til it took his depression away. And it goes to show that there’s a natural way of healing what we’re feeling inside. It goes to show that before we prescribe we should first try a simple smile. So I drive out to the middle of nowhere and I turn little as I stare up at the stars in the sky. And these heavens erase any worries I face if I look up once in a while. And it goes to show that there’s a natural way of healing what we’re feeling inside. It goes to show that before we prescribe we should first try a simple smile. Give it a smile, smile, smile. Just a little smile, smile, smile.

2008-08-11T09:53:00.011+08:00

overwhelmed with marking. frustrated at how slow it's progressing. happy on the other hand to start saving for the boy and the girl's nest. I'm yearning to go away. soon. Cambodia Dec 2008 maybe. London June 2008 is off. Israel/Jordan Dec 2009 is on. A long wait. For the sake of the nest, i shall wait. Oh yes, I want or rather i need more flats.

2008-08-09T21:32:00.002+08:00

Clarity through the tears.

two things happened at work on thursday. one came in a letter. it left me feeling extremely encouraged and affirmed my calling as a teacher. the other left me emotionally drained. my first brush with work politics. a conversation with the boy after brought forth a torrent of emotions and i realised that it was a lesson i needed to learn from so that i can protect my heart in the future.

After putting down the phone, i was suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude and tears for His timing and love. For only He knows how important it was for me to recieve that letter prior to the dreadful encounter and I know His hands are at work.

For even when i can't see His hands, I shall trust His heart.

2008-08-08T21:00:00.000+08:00

Happy Birthday Singapore! :)

2008-08-06T19:13:00.007+08:00

I want to...

get my hands on Heather Rigdon's cd and play that song at my wedding... watch all the seasons of Gilmore girls and stuff myself silly with Ben & Jerrys.

"It should be magical. There should be music playing and romantic lighting and a subtle buildup to the popping of the big question. There should be a thousand yellow daisies and candles and a horse and I don't know what the horse is doing there unless you're riding it, which seems a little over the top, but it should be more than this."

- Lorelai in Gilmore girls

p.s: How cool is it to be able to bump into clydie at the contemporary dance appreciation series with 26 of my chinese dance girls in tow :) something tells me there's more of such surprises to come.

2008-08-03T19:25:00.002+08:00

"Living is like tearing through a museum. Not until later do you really start absorbing what you saw, thinking about it, looking it up in a book, and remembering - because you can't take it all in at once."

- Audrey Hepburn

2008-08-02T17:42:00.000+08:00

Chris worried about the toll his condition would take on Dana. He told her,"It's not fair for me to put this burden on you." And she said, "You have love for me, I have love for you, and you're still you."

I think the only reason Chris didn't pull the plug on himself was because of Dana's love and her belief that they could make a life for themselves.

On September 25, 2004, Chris celebrated his 52nd birthday. Fifteen days later, an infection stemming from another pressure wound raged through his body and stopped his heart. Devastated, I met with Dana, and we just embraced for a long time and cried.

It was the next month that she told me she had lung cancer.

Dana had had so much more than her share of adversity. In February 2005, four months after she lost Chris, her mother died after ovarian cancer surgery. That November, while her father was visiting for Thanksgiving, he suffered a stroke. It seemed unfair each time something happened to this giving, beautiful person.

A month later, Dana died, on March 6, 2006, at the age of 44.

I had this feeling that Dana was called to be with Chris. Maybe she did too. At her husband's memorial, Dana had looked up and said, "I'll be there with you one day, Chris."

A few months before she died, Dana taped an introduction to a documentary. She told viewers, "For years, my husband and I lived on - and because of - hope. Hope continues to give me the mental strength to carry on.

- Remembering The Reeves by Ken Regan in Reader's Digest (Nov 2006)

a waltz in the night

2008-07-26T21:59:00.000+08:00

A night not so long ago, the boy and the girl watched a magical love story unfold before their eyes. The lovers waltz with the moon and stars against the beautiful nightsky. The boy and the girl were enchanted by what they saw. They walked away, keeping a little magic in their hearts.

2008-07-25T19:47:00.005+08:00

today we celebrated International Harmony day!!!!! The humanities department put up a fabulous program and of course, to show our support, we turned out full force in our ethnic/international costumes :) sweet teresa lent me her kimono but sadly it was too long so i had to dig out my primary school dance costume-the lovely kebaya. my class had a good laugh when they realized i didn't grow much. my height has always been a source of amusement to many of the boys. They have now learnt to use "petite" instead of "short" to describe me.

the 3 amigos

2008-07-24T07:59:00.006+08:00

"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew."

- Atticus Finch, TKAM. Harper Lee.

2008-07-23T13:37:00.011+08:00

You never really understand a person until

you climb into his skin and walk around in it.

To kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee

his turn

2008-07-13T12:31:00.002+08:00

*incredible photographs courtesy of Haojie (on the left) :)

once more...

2008-07-11T14:32:00.006+08:00

to my dear fellow friends, colleagues and teachers... it has been a great year attending classes with all of you. you have made my time in NIE an ultra super duper memorable, unforgettable one.... literature and english lessons are bearable and fun because of you peeps. I'm grateful for such an amazing array of characters...

the ones i have lunch with

the literary ones.

Pat - the hot mama to be (due in oct!) and Juansa - super efficient lit rep. :)
the english ones
the 'i want to meet for tea but haven't got a chance to' one
the one who likes to come between us
nuff' said.

2008-07-07T10:23:00.005+08:00

It's been two weeks since school started. going through a whirlwind of emotions is an understatement.

wk 1: really thankful. I'm thankful that i don't feel stressed even though i do stay past 6 everyday. In fact, i do enjoy staying till 6 in my cozy little cubicle. I'm glad that this little nook of mine is a haven for the other newbies to take a break and relax... away from the conversations surrounding work and prying eyes of the other peers, and perhaps indulge in the occasional whining... thankful also that the ever reliable CK is sitting next to me.. one whom i go to for the latest announcements and important meetings.

wk 2: a little stressed - yesterday saw my first almost breaking down moment. overwhelmed by expectations. slept early. cried a little. plenty of giggles - my first lesson today got me into giggling fit. the sec 3 class continued their harmless but extremely infectious clowning around. usually, i can control myself and remain firm. but with the incessant exclamation of "miiiissss liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim.........." in an insanely high pitch tone by the resident class clown (a boy), and lo and behold, i lost it. I started giggling and that was the cue for my class giggler, yes, the class giggler. Did i just coin that term? She went into her giggling fit. I lost it. completely. I had to excuse myself from the class for a minute to empty the laughter and the tears that came with it. strongly encouraged - I have been giving intensive N level oral practices for the sec four class. Even though it means staying back till 6.30 just doing that, with security guard having to lock up after me, i love the fact that it gives me time to bond with them and in the process have heart to heart exchanges and it really does makes my heart smile to see them willing to wait for my oral time keeping duties to be done so that they can practice oral. :) In the midst of one practice session, my student actually walked up to the principal as she walks past and started dancing in front of her. My heart almost leaped out at that moment until i saw the principal break into laughter. And after that, i just couldn't stop laughing. As much as they make me want to pull my hair out during formal lessons, I just can't get angry with them :) settled - prayers answered. matters and expectations clarified.

the break: this was a much welcomed break though i knew it was also time for me to catch up on my marking of which i have tons of. but..... i'm glad our dg is back after the june break. studied Romans 8 and was reminded of the fruits of the Spirit. i'm glad to help out at children's church. the kids are simply adorable. and i'm glad for the time we had sitting on the couch, watching the nail biting, nerve wrecking wimbledon finals till 4am.

In the midst of it all, I'm longing to go back to Europe. 3 of the herdies are travelling there and i'm yearning to go back. take me back to the lovely Siena... a cup of tea... soaking in the rays... sitting and pondering as the world goes by...

2008-06-23T23:06:00.001+08:00

Our little pot of orchids. we named it 'dos' coz only two were blooming when we bought it. So with our tender loving care and sunshine from the boy's balcony, little dos has bloomed into a pretty stretch of purplish pink blooms! I love how they look like they're blushing.

[what would i do without the 'flower mode' on fuji-f50!]

there were seven

2008-06-22T22:29:00.001+08:00

and now there's four.

pretty amazing memories.

Hopping in love

2008-06-11T20:08:00.001+08:00

Hoppy's wedding last week. we had the privilege of attending her traditional ceremony at the temple. It was beautiful. I was awed by the vibrant colours. so pretty. Those cotton candy saris and punjabi suits...

The strikingly gorgeous Hoppy in her exquisite sari.... deep reds and gold embriodery...designed by her mother. :) Dinner reception was held at The Pines. It was a cozy and pretty affair filled with teary toasts and plenty of dancing.

the babes and their boys.....All the couples were invited to the dancefloor.

It was also the first time the boy and I danced - a slow couply dance.

.completely smitten with the boy.

Weddings

.joy. bubbly. crazy dancing. tears.

.curry.laughter.candles. roses.

.what a wedding should be.

2008-06-09T22:12:00.000+08:00

Have a sparkling good time in europe!

2008-06-04T21:44:00.000+08:00

.music. fairy lights.

.white hibiscus hanging from above.

a girlfriend to pour your heart out with

in an english rose cafe

makes for a lovely evening.

Barcelona vs Real Betis [Day 4 - Spring 2007]

2008-06-02T13:41:00.000+08:00

Parc Guell [Day 3 - Spring 2007]

2008-05-26T10:28:00.018+08:00

day trip to parc guell. thoroughly amused by the winding roads and escalators.we couldn't contain our excitement everytime we find the sign that tells us of the distance left in our climb.

the breathtaking backdrop.
the air is so so fresh.

the famous gaudi formations in parc guell.

gaudi museum

pretty purple flowers

walking away from guell and towards the metro, we saw kids playing basketball in the nearby school. authentic catalan life.

something old, something new

2008-05-24T21:29:00.007+08:00

March 2005
Our first celebration.
turning three.
by the lake, under the stars
picnic basket. fresh flowers.
light coming from the laptop.
watching before sunrise.

July 2006
the one
before you left.

valentines 2008
clinking of glasses
monochrome love

Cluny park.
A spot so familiar to us.
I can walk the same path a million times and know that every walk with you is just as special as the previous one.

----------------------------------------

Our new haunt.
rustic surroundings
quain little houses
green green grass
complete with art galleries
few restaurants and a piano bar

we could laze around on those soft cushions all day basking in the sun and digging into the rich chocolate ice cream of Laurent's cafe & chocolate bar.

A place with swings is definitely one worth visiting! love the gorgeous greenery.