In memory of Rain.
Rain was four months old when we got her from Pet Symphony.
She had the nicest eyes and Sandy Shek and I were immediately mesmerized by her. Those eyes were really pretty. She became close friends with Beatrice Shek as Beatrice doted on her lots.
She played with anyone who visited Marine Terrace.
Playful she was and many times found herself in trouble for biting shoes and stealing food.
We remembered she gobbled up a packet of Bah Kwa as well as mooncakes on a separate occasion and hid herself under the table knowing she did something really wrong.
As usual, she ended up being caned. But she hardly learns her lesson and it'll happen time and again.
She loved catching balls, bones and sitting next to us whenever we watched television. She also loved sitting with the sisters as they played mahjong.
She didn't like cigarette smoke. She didn't like children. She would often snarl when kids approached her and I was often worried she would hurt children trying to be friendly toward her.
She was the one who greeted us when we returned home.
To be honest, I've neglected her since Luca came into our life and in recent years it pained me to see her in poor health.
Thankfully MC Shek had all the patience to care for her. Rain ate not only dog food but cereal and fruit.
She went blind last year, wasn't mobile and died at the ripe old age of 16 years old today.
A big regret Sandy and I had was not visiting her over the weekend despite tell tales of her not being able to make it much longer.
We apologize, Rain.
We love you Rain and I've heard all dogs go to heaven I'm sure
posted from Bloggeroid
So Sunday mornings are now set aside for music class with Luca and after attending the second lesson with him, I realized he can be quite a fast learner if he wants to focus.
It is funny how he is the only boy in the class and given such bad mix of gender ratio I decided to teach him how a gentleman should be like.
As usual kids always fight to be first and Luca is no exception. He frowns whenever he doesn't get first priority. It's a good opportunity to teach him the need for 'ladies first'.
Let's see how he'll perform next week and if he will remember the rules of engagement with female counterparts.
I can't remember how it all came about to plan a visit to Ipoh with the entire family. Perhaps someone casually remarked about its prized hor fun.
My dad's roots were from Ipoh where we still have some relatives and like how life really is some have left us. Obviously there too were new joiners.
I guess the visit was primarily catching up with the folks there and also to revisit the places my grandparents used to take us - food.
There were numerous occasions when I felt the presence of grandma who passed away last year and it kinda brought tears to my eyes. Maybe I miss that old lady especially when I stepped into the house she used to stay in whenever she visited.
Grandfather was missed too as we went to perhaps one of his favorite coffeeshop in Ipoh for hor fun and satay.
Nevertheless we had lots of fun and Luca's first visit to Malaysia was kind of fun although he did say he missed home.
Throughout the trip he hardly threw any tantrums except when he wanted sweets and cold drinks.
I guess we can always plan another trip with the clan next year but for now it is time to plan a trip just for the three of us.
6 years ago on this date and day, I made a vow to love the woman my son now calls his " lover ".
In a flash, my boy is 4 years old and I've been happily married for 6 years now.
I still remember the events that took place on this special day - the down pour, the buddies, the sisters, my dressing, the Thank- you speech, the tea ceremony, the drinking, the partying and the guests who made it to witness our promise to love one another.
Well how can I forget that special day.
Days after the wedding, we headed out for our honeymoon. The best trip we've made so far .... Unforgettable and lots of funny memories.
I wish we could do it again. The trip I meant. :)
For me it just seems very difficult to forgive myself whenever I do something which would result in me being hurt some way or another.
Not sure about you but I just get this irritable voice that keeps reminding me how stupid I was although I know this voice eventually subsides, fades away and dies only to resurrect when I make the same mistake again.
Learning from mistakes haven't really been a forte and perhaps I am a slow learner who is stubborn. That on its own kills it all.
Let's put it this way, I have a learning disability. I need to be reminded of my mistakes occasionally because after so many attempts it still fails to register that a stove is hot when on top of fire and so is boiling soup.
I've scalded my tongue once again.
I'm typing this from Mumbai.
It's been a very long time since I've last made an entry here ... What used to be a habitual expression of thoughts and sharing has now taken a dive into a world of laziness.
Lazy in making short sentences long. Lazy in having to restructure words and juggling with wrong grammar usage.
Basically just plain lazy.
So it is the new year and many have asked how I've fared in 2013. Well, I guess I did alright. Nothing much to complain about nor any big achievements made which need announcing.
But yes, thinking back I've indeed made a big decision in 2013 which made Sandy so happy. Not telling you so don't bother even asking. A secret we both share.
As for Luca, he surely conquered a few firsts. Beginning of 2013, we enrolled him in school and of course with a few weeks of tantrum and cries of pleas he did adjust to school life.
He is growing up really well. Health wise he had a bad bout of flu which occurred right after his birthday celebration at Sentosa.
We can only assure ourselves that all kids fall ill time after time and nothing to be surprised over nor be alarmed.
In the middle of the year, he had to change his milk from cow to goat. It's a blessing he was happy to drink goat's milk even when I presumably felt it was kind of difficult to put in my mouth and swallow it. That taste too overwhelming for me.
I can't remember exactly when this happened but Sandy and I had one of the worst arguments ever in our lives. It was terrible. And it wasn't even money related nor me having an affair. It was just a trivial matter that got blown out of proportion because neither of us wanted to give in.
That scene will always remain in the back of my mind to serve as a reminder never to stay firm on certain principles especially towards my loved ones. Peace and harmony is all that matters. And of course - LOVE.
Now that I mentioned the four letter word, I can possibly confirm that LOVE is Luca's first word he learnt to spell. Hopefully he will learn to know the true meaning of that simple word. Being both a receiver and a giver of love.
In December, Luca performed on stage for the first time. Two songs on the violin - Twinkle Little Star and Lightly Row ( I think ).
I would say I had more butterflies in my stomach than he had and I almost lost sleep the night before worried that he will not cope on stage on performance day.
I'm glad he did well and enjoyed the applause from the audience. Different from the times he cried at rehearsal. Phew!
2013 was a good year. From Thomas the Train to Lego toys he is able to build on his own. He is learning. And growing well. Surely equipped with an inquisitive mind and perhaps a boy who wants to free himself from my shouts which I'm learning to manage.
2014 will be a better year for us all. And I'm sure the arguments between the wife and I will be much lesser but with the growing rascal it'll be too many.
Am hoping I'll win most of the time .... :)
All the best for 2014. Best of heath and lots of happiness.
Surprisingly Luca sat through May Day's 3 hour concert shaking hands and tapping his feet.
I was really afraid the little fella would just lose his patience. He almost did when he commented to the mother asking why are they singing so many songs.
Nearing 1030 pm, he looked tired and sleepy. Biscuits and water worked for him and of course his favourite tunes too.
It was a great outing.
I asked if he wanted to watch May Day again and he said once is enough.
But he did say he will want to watch X-Japan.
Fabulous.
Yes. Life is uncertain. It is unpredictable no matter how much effort has been put in to plan a grand finale.
Don't get me wrong. Not going be talking about the economy but just things in general.
I've been wanting to sit by the pool in the weekends to enjoy the sun and read my book - one of the simplest enjoyments in life but every time I start making plans clearing the weekend of father / driver duties and running errands for the family, the weather just seem to change the moment I slip into my swim shorts. (Yes, I don't wear trunks ever since my orange ones when missing)
I guess the Chinese saying 人算不如天算 sure makes sense.
9 minutes before the new year ... am seated in my bed with Luca lying beside me fast asleep.
It's the quietest countdown I've ever had in years.
Even as a child, I will join my parents at their friends' place for a new year party.
Things are so didn't now after having a kid.
Looking back at the year, I can only say it went past really quickly.
Quite a bit to cheer about -We moved to a new place. Luca is speaking well and learning the violin. Sandy is a homemaker ( For a while more at least ) and everyone's health is so far so good too. Work went pretty well so career is stable.
Looking forward to 2013 and wishing the year will have lots of happy surprises for Sandy, Luca and myself.
Wishing everyone a Happy 2013!!!
It's 2 am and am trying to fall asleep.
Luca woke up half an hour ago requesting to visit the bathroom and perhaps I reacted too slowly, he wet his pajamas.
It's a first for me as the mother usually tends to his bathroom needs while I continue to sleep but this time round it is my responsibility to tend to the boy because mummy has fallen ill.
I grabbed a set of pajamas of two different colours which didn't match. Why bother since it was bed time and not some fashion show. (For those who know me, my colour coordination is pretty poor and I never cared) Got him a new piece of diaper and sent him straight back to sleep.
Failed. The boy wanted mickey mouse clubhouse - on television.
He knows my weakness and thus was given minutes to catch a glimpse of his favourite rodent.
Only after fast forwarding the show could I get him to sleep.
Tossing and turning I had to pat him to sleep.
Tiring. A mother's job is indeed not easy.
Wishing my wife a speedy recovery so I can quickly get my good night's sleep.
Parenting is no simple task. It is a lifetime of mixed emotions. A lifetime of responsibility.
Yes. I knew clearly what was coming when the doctor congratulated us in 2009 - a lifelong commitment.
Luca is now two and the half and he is a spoilt brat. A child that behaves like a tyrant and wants things his way.
Thus the biggest showdown ignited between father and son with both badly hurt tonight.
The kid - painful scars of cane marks.
The father - a heart of regrets.
Like most Asian kids, Luca gets his fair share of beatings but tonight seemed to be the most he has ever received.
The outcome of endless screamings and the refusal to behave appropriately.
This showdown leaves me thinking - thinking of the best possible way to teach my son.
Obviously his behaviour reflects how we have raised him thus far. Endless pampering, endless giving - the best formula for a spoilt brat.
We have many times tried persuading him and tried talking sense into him but somehow it seems the message just won't get across - maybe it does but it just doesn't stay in the inbox. (perhaps went straight in the spam box through his high powered filter)
Perhaps it us. Maybe we have been cultivating the habits. Bad ones.
The child has too many protectors. Too many people to spoil him. And he gets cocky.
That cockiness needs an evaluation. It needs to be put down.
Just over the weekend, Luca had a fall which resulted in a rather big cut on his lip which also left him bleeding for awhile.
It happened at our new home when we decided to play hide and seek. Maybe I was at fault, I shouldn't have chased him but boys are boys.
They need to run. They don't know how to walk. Thus I am a bigger boy than he is and surely less clumsy.
I didn't see him fall nor did I hear a thud. I only heard him wail out loud.
Mummy realised blood gushed out from his lower lip. He probably landed on his chin and bit is lip. Ouch.
Mummy was cool. Didn't panic. And asked me to serve the rascal ice cream to soothe the pain. I wasn't sure if it'll work but Luca stopped crying at the sight of ice cream.
I have to say he is a brave little fella. I thought the cut would have caused him a loss of appetite. I was glad it didn't. He ate as if nothing happened.
His tolerance for pain is high.
That also means when I have to hit him, it'll have to be much harder.
On the same night, he cut his toe while playing with the sliding door.
I guess boys are indeed boys. Boys need scars.
Just look at me. I have just too many scars. Pimple scars that is. :)
