Home Sweet Home

It's been eight years since my last move. I have completely forgotten what a pain it is and as a result, have grossly underestimated the work involved. What a lesson!

The old landlord, upon hearing my decision to move, wanted me to move within the week or pay an extra month's worth of rent. I bolted as quickly as I could pack. The new place was not as fixed up as it should be, rushed as I was to move in. Problems surfaced one by one. First, the stove, then the toilet. (Drum roll) Then, I sat on my glasses and the laptop crashed.

What's even worse, when I picked up the kids at the boarder's, Blessing had chewed her foot pads raw, from anxiety, chemical, God-knows-what. My heart almost stopped when I saw her bloody footprints on the kitchen tiles. Man, what had I gotten myself into, everything was spiraling out of control...

I was tired, frustrated, ill-tempered, damn right exhausted. The unpacking took weeks instead of days. It was a nightmare living among boxes. The desolation, hopelessness and futility of it all was complete. There I was in my new pad feeling like a drifter.

Will this place ever feel like home?
                                  *                             *                                *

We've been out the whole day, the kids and me. It's the first time we have ventured out aside from our daily walks. The kids have an overdue appointment at the groomer's. I have the afternoon off.

At first, it's exhilarating, four hours of freedom! I picked up my glasses (very important as I haven't been able to see clearly for a month). I haven't felt so good in months, things are falling into place and life is making sense once more!

I went browsing in a bookstore and ended up with two great reads. What's even better, they were redeemed from bonus points, no money out of the pocket! Armed with my goodies, I sat down for a coffee. Whoa, only an hour had passed? I was so ready to go pick up the kids.

I dived into my new book, read a chapter of it, checked my emails, wrote in my notebook, all too ready to pick up the kids and go home. Huh, only forty-five minutes went by? By this time, I was getting antsy. I didn't want to stay out anymore, so I went back to the groomer's. The lady was running late and the kids would take another hour longer.

I left with my bags, wondering how much more I could drink without exploding. Suffice to say, when the groomer called to say the kids were ready, I went right away. I could see the kids were tired, no food, water and nap the whole afternoon. We hopped on to the next taxi and went home.

I dropped everything on the sofa while the kids went to the water bowl. Porky then looked at me as if to say "what a day, I am exhausted!" Tell me about it. I could see Blessing relaxing the moment we stepped in the door.

The kids were ravenous. Both had a big treat after dinner and they're asleep now. I had not envisioned myself saying this when I went out earlier today, "Boy, am I glad to be home with the kids!"

Today's outing has given me a new perspective on things. Little did I appreciate the fact I had a roof over my head. Instead I keep whining about the unfairness of life. I guess I should have fixed my glasses sooner so I could see how blessed I am.

Boy, am I glad to be home. Home sweet home!!

(pic taken at flower show)

New Pad

It's been a zillion years since my last post. I have moved to a new neighborhood, after living in the old one for eight years. It's quite a change but funnily I am back to where I first moved out in my 20's, Central!! Everything is familiar yet new.

Took the pic at the flower show, hyacinths are featured flowers this year.

Voila, first post from my new pad in 2012!!

There's You

Someone Up There has the wryest humor. Never have I loathed myself more than the past few weeks. Desperate, destitute, desolate. Drowning. What a batch of defeat. 


Now, toss in a generous dose of despised, decried and defamed, then crown it off with a good sprinkle of disgust. Put the batch in a pressure cooker. And voila, a complete recipe for Disaster. 


Life rarely gives us what we want when we want it. Back pedal a few years, a career, name and money somehow can't compete with "a" significant other. What I'd give to have and hold the elusive. My life would be complete. So I thought, then. 


Now, when I have no job, no money and will very likely be forever etched in ignominy, there's you. I don't know if I should laugh or cry, but thank you for being here. Thank you for making me feel I mattered and thank you for giving me a reason to smile. 


There's you. 
No longer elusive but actually here. 
Hey, you.

Scent of X'mas



Pink Snapdragon



Guaging from the onslaught of X'mas catalogues stuffed half hazardly in the mailbox, the festive season has officially begun. 

I love the goodness of X'mas. People are more generous at this time, not only with gifts but in spirit as well. Guess it has to do with the expanse of goodness and well wishes at this time of the year.

I love the smell of X'mas, it's so snugly. It is said the memory of scent lingers, thereby associating us with different times and places. X'mas fills my memory with candles and potpourri scented with tartly sweet berries, spicy nutmegs, cinnamon, clementines, frankincense and evergreens.

I love the warmth of X'mas. Sipping warm apple cider by the fireplace, nibbling cranberry pies fresh from the oven, snuggling under throws, wiggling toes in thick terry socks, wrapping gifts and stuffing stockings.

Cozy and homey and good.

Pour moi, c'est Noel.

Some Advice



Gerber Daisies, love the art deco hue



Found this lovely bouquet on sale at the flower stall. Heck, my place desperately needed a pick me up after two months without a helper. Important lesson learnt - Never, ever, ever heed to advice you innately felt wrong. Ditching the helper was a bad move. I went nuts picking after the kids and myself. I was cranky and tired and the situation felt hopeless. Yes, it was that bad and it was hell.

I finally called my ex-helper. The day she came I fell ill with a pounding migraine. I was running on adrenalin the past two months, strained to the max. String loosened, the tiredness finally caught up.

It's a stupid decision made at a moment of weakness and I still berate myself for it.

What is right for everyone else does not mean it's right for you. Practice listening to yourself and backing your beliefs. Reiterating encore une fois - Never ever, ever heed to advice you feel wrong. Am I glad everything is back in sync. I have a life now.

Lip Balm

This lip balm is hand made with goodies like olive oil from Italy, Shea butter, pure honey and vitamin E. The ingredients are completely natural with no preservatives nor fragrance added. To top it all off, it really works.

A light application is all you need to feel its magic. The balm literally melts and moisturizes your lips, for hours. The texture is not oily nor gluey and a slightly thicker layer can last through the night. Lips feel pampered.

A must have for the drier and cooler weather.

You can find Nymph HK here.

Love Affair with Yorkies

Blessing after her first grooming session

Hong Kong Dog Rescue's charity event 2010
Adoption Saves Lives

Inquisitive Blessing at tenth week

I've always had a soft spot for Yorkies. Back in college, I had a Yorkie named Di Di, then there's Kobe and now Blessing.

I learnt about Blessing from an HKDR (Hong Kong Dog Rescue) newsfeed on facebook. Blessing, then Minka, was surrendered and in need of a foster over the long weekend. There was no photo nor details except that she was a senior. Somehow I sensed the urgency of the message and I contacted HKDR right away. After a couple back and forth emails and phone calls, I picked Blessing up at the vet that afternoon.

That was ten weeks ago. My foster turned into a permanent adoption and Minka was renamed Blessing. The vet gave Blessing a clean bill of health. As a 14-year old, she's mighty healthy. The pressing thing then was to get her weight and spirit up.

Well, she's passed with flying colors on both counts, gaining a whole pound and a half. She's also come out of her early wariness and shyness and shown herself to be a true Yorkie. I found the following on a Yorkie site and the description could not be more Blessing. 

"Yorkshire Terriers are lively and inquisitive, physically and mentally quick, and spend much time trotting or dashing around checking things out. Lovers of comfort, Yorkshire Terriers enjoy snuggling into soft pillows. Keen of eye and sharp of tongue, they won't fail to announce strangers, often in a high-pitched voice [incessant and loud as well]. They are bright and quick to learn, but are rather willful and opinionated [definitely the latter]. Housebreaking is notoriously difficult with Yorkies [tell me about it!!]."

Despite having have to clean up after yet another kid, and a messy one at that, I am truly happy to have adopted Blessing. Call it a love affair with Yorkies or serendipity.