Halloween 2015

Ok, so 12 days in I seem to have run out of things to write about. WHAT?!! I hear you say. 

Just kidding!!

Let me tell you how Halloween played out this year. Last year in Singers, if any of you was paying attention, we went the whole way and decorated with bats and spiders webs and hanging lanterns. We gave out eyeballs we had painted and loads of different kinds of things like colouring pens and eraser in addition to a few sweets.

This year was a rather less handmade affair. When discussions about Halloween began in early October Kid was pretty gung-ho about making things but when push came to shove we were so busy marshalling the mess of unpacked boxes that we agreed it would be absolutely fine to substitute most of the making with buying this one time. 

So we made and put up the Boo sign but I bought the eyeballs (ones that lit up, and ones that were bouncy balls) and some spiders to add to the decor. I found 3 small pumpkins in the supermarket and we bought one at school (ridiculously priced and I won't be doing that again). 

On the day Kid dressed as Captain Rex from Star Wars - a character he has never watched in action but has been handed down a costume for. Since he owns a light sabre bought for a fancy dress birthday party a few years ago he thinks it's just fine! He wasn't keen on going out to trick or treat but thinking it would be a good way to meet a few new kids V took him to a few levels of our building. He promptly came back in 15 minutes and emptied his bucket into our give away basket and waited patiently for the hordes to arrive. 

It wasn't planned very well and people had a hard time figuring out which floors to go to. Something that a simple list of signed up apartments could have solved. But they did come and within the two hours we were out of eyeballs and candy - and we had seen everyone from a popcorn box to a vampire, Peppa pig to a ninja. 

I'll leave you with some pictures so you can see what it looked like. 

Glass lanterns, basket, green beads and checked orange and white cloth from last year. Vallaka's permanently outside our door. 

According to Kid, without hanging bats what is the point. I guess next year I shall have to make more effort. Hopefully, I won't have moving as an excuse....

A Hong Kong Diwali

It's our first one here and I'm really not the worlds most festive person. So no breaking out the decorations and dressing to the nines for me. I'll join in the traditional celebrations when family is around (last year was case in point - we were in Bombay in V's brother P's home with parents, other brother R and all the kids in attendance) but to me and my own childhood memories it's essentially a festival of relaxation and food.

However in honour of being in Hong Kong I decided I would at least carry out my threat of 'food'!!! So instead of our traditional bar of chocolate as a sweet, I braved the Internet and made a 6 ingredient kalakand. The results are below and now mainly in our tummies! 

Last night I sent out an impromptu email to the 6 women I know in my neighbourhood and invited them for brunch at 10 this morning. Then without waiting for any replies I got the ingredients for papri chaat organized, soaked some sabudana and boiled some  potatoes. 

This morning 4 of these friends turned up and we spent 3 hours eating sabudana (sago) tikkis with dhania (coriander) chutney, plates of papri chaat with glistening pomegranate and squares of kalakand. 

They left and I got onto getting dinner ready before Kid got back from school. I and my lovely helper have cooked (in record time) Channa, Kashmiri dum aloo and Ulli Theeyal. It sounds haphazard (north south combo) but I decided that I didn't care much if they didn't match. It's what I wanted to cook and I have. Rice and paranthas, salad and raita, pickle and papad, to accompany the mains. I think food coma is round the corner. 

That's the moment the FRIED potatoes went into the fennel seed gravy. I can't tell you how divine it all smells. An agarbati of food so to speak! I'm stuffed with food but waiting eagerly for dinner. 

I thought the house was all set up. Lights fans and handymen have been the focus for an age. But a set of lights for each of the bathrooms and the kitchen were delivered today. Light delivery on Diwali, auspicious, no?! 

In other Diwali news I have been reading a book about it to my reluctant little Indian. It's called 'Amma, tell me about Diwali' - the story of Rama and of Lakshmi. It's a good book but I can't get my head around the little boys name - I know no one called Klaka - and so I change it to Karan or Karthik every time I read it. I really like the simple way the story is told and the illustrations. Kid has been enjoying it - we have re read it for the last three nights. I thought he was getting into the story, asking a few relevant questions. 

This was our conversation shortly after reading the book last night (in the run up to bedtime):

Kid: Mama, I remember when we celebrated Diwali in P tauji's house. We had firecrackers.

Me: shall we go back to celebrate there tomorrow? 

Kid: NOOOOOO. 

(This is the tauji that squeezes these cuties out of love!)

Pause

Kid: So will we have firecrackers tomorrow?

Me: No.

Kid: Why?

Me: Because we haven't bought any.

Kid: SERIOUSLY!!!! What is the POINT of this Diwali then?! 

And he stormed off to his room. To say I'm dreading the teenage years is an understatement! 

Happy Diwali to you and yours, from me and mine. (Forgive the Hallmark sounding greeting). May your year be filled with love, laughter, learning and light. 

Mini Adventure

I had pre- arranged to go to Sai Kung today, to visit the home shop of Hollie from BookBugz. Her online prices seemed almost too good to be true. Of course my only comparisons are exhorbitant Singapore bookshops and fairly expensive bookshops here. I don't have the luxury of Amazon here and I don't find Book Depository as cheap as everyone says. So a little schlepping to check it out was called for.

One shuttle bus, an 8 minute walk to the train station (including asking for directions), getting on the right line but train in the wrong direction, getting off at the next station, changing platforms, getting on the right line with train in the right direction, getting off at an interchange, waiting getting another connecting train, hunting for the non signposted taxi stand at my final train stop, finding out I needed a green taxi and not a red, switching to the long queue, waiting for 10 minutes while taxis dribbled in and it was finally my turn, then driving to her house - about an hour and 20minutes in all. 

Well worth the journey. An adorable place in a green, village like setting. Quaint little house, down a quiet side road, built around a little car lot and each home draped in greenery. And being (technically) in the New Territories, I had my first green taxi ride! Certainly an experience of new things (that are not handyman related) was a great way to start my day.

She has rescued an adorable little kitten which thinks it's a puppy and was happily leaping about looking for some playtime. I spent considerable time in her shelves of books, finally choosing about 18 books for Kid. There is a reason for this large purchase and in a few days I shall explain myself. 

For today I'm a happy camper because I reminded myself that I often like nothing better than exploring places I haven't seen before and meeting new and interesting people while doing so. Buying all those books for my child is just the very bright light above our reading chair. 

And on that note, may great light love and learning come into your homes this Diwali....

Lists of lists

Being a person of Lists I always think of moves as a large collage of them: sorting list, disposing things old unwanted broken list, (different kinds of) packing lists, people to tell list, farewell meal list, utilities to be dealt with list, important documents to be sorted list, things to see before we move list, restaurants for one last meal list. And so on and so forth. And as move day approaches I wait in anticipation of final things to be ticked of in order to bring one side of things to a close. 

Of course on the other side there are new lists. Set up lists. And these are usually administrative things like ID cards, school set up, banking and the like. V and I have a pretty good system going to tackle these and in the first 6 weeks of service apartment living I could concentrate on getting huge swathes of these done swiftly and with a modicum of efficiency. 

Usually the move into a rented home has meant an additional set-up list: utilities of various kinds. However, unlike previous rented apartments we had lived in this one had no fittings - no lights, no fans, no curtains. Another list was written up. I organised blinds to be put up the day we moved in (serious forward planning mode) but we only looked at lights and fans cursorily and came to no decisions before moving in.

And then the unpacking revealed a number of broken things, television panel, feet of a chair, salad servers, sagging bookshelf, bits of the iron and so on. So two new lists: find original receipts for insurance claims and start looking for replacement products.

It would seem that the 18th of December is the last day of set up. Just over 3 months from move date. While I've spent many a day with handymen installing fans and watched electronics being replaced, while some boxes have been slowly unpacked and things rearranged to fit new spaces it is the last 4 sets of lights that will go up on that December day. All material lists will be ticked off. And frankly that's not a day too soon.

The walk

Since the beginning of the year, in anticipation of turning 40, my body decided to begin a slow downhill ramble. I can feel some creaking bones. I found out (quite by mistake) that I had high blood pressure. I found out my family genetics and love for prime burgers and anything rice caught up with me - I'm now borderline diabetic. The list of other small niggling things is long and boring. 

The long and short of it is that most of these things are fixable without medication or much intervention. Turns out that my diet is actually quite healthy - no cholesterol or thyroid problems. The problem is in quantity - and I say this with no apology because I L.O.V.E me my FOOD - timing and exercise.

I'm lazy. You know this. Sloth like almost. I'd rather do nothing than anything at all. I have phases of 'doing' - walking swimming yoga spin gym etc. - but none that I have kept at consistently. I start, keep at it for a bit, get bored, move on to the next thing. Lather rinse repeat.

Turns out that now I have little say in the matter. Short of having to prick my finger multiple times a day and eat any medicine in the long term, it seems I shall have to up my game. At least I am fit in that I have energy and can walk great swathes or do 90 minutes of hot yoga or swim 50 lengths - all without collapsing. 

Well now I have to do something three times a week at the minimum, more if I can manage it. I've been at it a few weeks now, but just a few days a week. This weekend I decided to work another bit in and walk while Kid went off to school to play badminton. 

One of the loveliest things about Hong Kong is all this greenery. I went to Tai Tam Tuk to walk. This is a huge reservoir park with multiple 'memory' bridges built across the reservoirs and dams. It has barbecue pits, benches, scenic picture taking spots and multiple trails to pick from - one of which goes all the way to Parkview where we stayed temporarily. It is a verdant green, lovely trail and felt peaceful to walk on. Did what I could and thankfully finished just as 4 bus loads of tourists arrived. 

In time I would like to do the whole trail and not have to turn back at any point. Who knows what I am capable of? (I can see my mother nod and say 'I know' - but she is seriously biased!). Hopefully I won't get bored before I get better.  

Two pictures and few words

I thought I'd write about my first evening out in 3 months but my head is groggy with the first glass of wine I had in three months. The description will have to wait. 

Instead I have photographs. Pretend to be excited won't you?

Panoramic photograph of our view, taken amidst the unpacking, from our small, low level balcony. Credit: V, an iPhone and no apps

An early morning sunrise from the same spot; he turned a bit to the left. Credits: same as above.

I'm off to eat some dim sum at Maxims City Hall. I hear it's just the ticket for a lightweights hangover. 

Move day madness

We had hired man and van on the weekend to bring all but a bag of overnight and school things to the new place on the Sunday. We had discussed where furniture would be placed. We had convinced Kid that the Master bedroom would be more suited to us and the big room with the mountain view the perfect backdrop to his Lego collection. I had done a short grocery run for essentials. We were ready.

A more clear, welcoming, bright and sunshiny September day could not have appeared if Santa himself were bringing this good kid their presents early.  Kid had skipped off to school happily this morning with instructions on the new bus for the return. A quick breakfast and last look for stray Lego bits and socks hiding in drawers before we checked out and drove to our new Hong Kong home.

The packers arrived on time and the set up of padding lifts and stairwells and floors to avoid damage from all that pushing pulling dragging began. It was 10.30 by the time the first load of stuff made its way in. The supervisor informed us that they had scheduled just this one day to unpack. Ridiculous considering it took them two and some days to pack. V was on the phone trying to sort this out and keep up with his work.

The crew of 4 quickly began to divide and conquer. We directed the boxes to the correct rooms and ticked numbers of inventory lists. They unpacked at a feverish pace. It was a dusty job, of cardboard dust and packing paper and odd things turning up in the wrong boxes. A quick lunch break and it resumed. 

Kid got back, slightly bewildered by the 4 minute bus ride and the entire bus spilling out at our building. He and I popped loads of bubble wrap sheets, made a little box tunnel for two cars to play under and watched our store of Peppa Pig and Thomas the Tank engine on the iPad for entertainment. 

The afternoon crawled on. Every box was soon in the flat despite the tall tower having only one working lift. But we were far from unpacked. The boxes were stacked ceiling high in most rooms and they began the process of putting together some of the furniture we had. 

V ran out and bought back pizza for an early dinner. At past 6 it became evident that there was no way to finish this unpack tonight. Many words were exchanged calmly with supervisors and people in office. It was agreed that they would have to leave by 7.30pm not just for the peace of our neighbours but also for Kid to stay within a routine that would allow for a productive school day the following day. They could only come back in two days to finish the unpack and assembly. So be it.

We were in. And our floor bed was moored in what felt like a disorganised camp site. Yet we slept soundly, with the whooshing of the waves keeping tempo with our dreams. 

House find

And so we were back in good old Singers, admiring our very large apartment with very open eyes. Palatial in comparison to the postboxes our meagre budget could afford. 

We had the weekend to make our decision. It seemed that we had definitely picked the building close to school, the one with all the outdoor and indoor facilities, the shuttle that would take V to work, the one with rooms in proportion to each other. Now we just had to pick an apartment from the 3 we had seen.

Our first pick was the highly over budget one. It had been renovated and was ready for someone to move in within weeks. Suited us as we were about 4 weeks away from move day. It was a bright and airy duplex, perfect in every way with a largish kitchen and all new fittings. The only problem seemed to be that there was no bedroom on the ground level of the apartment and this would mean visiting parents would have to take the stairs multiple times a day. 

Our Second and Third choices were slightly smaller than the duplex apartment but all on one level and manageable if we stretched the budget. 

After lots of to-ing and fro-ing it turned out that pick One would not work. They were unwilling to budge on price and realistically the duplex would have been a pain for the parents. So we agreed to disagree and instead choose between Two and Three - which were identical in every way but on different floors. Now, the beauty of this building is certainly the sea view. Three was being renovated and Two needed renovating. Choice Two was on a higher (but not by much) floor but even if they began renovating immediately it would not be ready till mid September. Choice Three was on a much lower floor but would be ready earlier as they had already begun and we could be in with a minimal hotel stay. 

In my making of many plans I would have liked to have been in our apartment before the start of school. Certainly our sea shipment could have been there within a week of our arriving in early August. But after much discussion we decided we would rather wait for for the higher floor for it was a view we would have to live with for years to come. The long game as it were. 

An entire month of legal wrangling to get the contacts in language both parties could agree to. So while we packed up our lives and divided it into Sea, Air and Suitcase shipments, while we said goodbye to our family and friends and everything now so familiar, we still had no confirmation of where we would eventually live. 

And all this time I couldn't help but think of how First World our problems were; deciding which apartment would suit us more, having a CHOICE, agreeing to wording and commissions and filing paperwork. All while watching the news of a different part of the world where people were being forced to flee their homes and everything they held dear, to flee countries and regimes for no fault of their own, to cling to plastic dinghies in choppy seas, to walk for miles and miles, to pray someone would let them enter a safe place and most of all show them some humanity. 

I find this world strange beyond fathom in so many ways. The state of the world has made me yet more thankful for what I have, being less of a complainer, more appreciative of the luxury of freedom and choice. It certainly put this move in greater perspective than the ones before. 

A pause

No, I haven't already given up (although given my track record I can see why you would think that).

A very dear friend of mine lost her mum to cancer a few days ago. I just found out today. And a few weeks ago my mum lost one of her cousins. He was elderly and unwell. And then the most tragic of all was an accident taking away a young person who I did not know directly but who was very dear to a whole family that is dear to me. 

With each of the previous two, my uncle and the young man with his whole life yet to be lived ahead of him, I found myself reflecting on how fickle life is. Today's news has piled atop these and the weight of sadness has broken me today. 

I have no words. 

House hunt

Or as I like to call it, wild goose chase.

The die was cast. The move was on. All my administrative prowess and planning neurons were firing on overtime. I like nothing more than the challenge of a move; cranking all those cogs into alignment to make sure our puzzle remained intact over the change of table.

V's company began to arrange for the removals company, scheduling a potential househunting trip, settling final move dates and the like. After a long conversation amongst ourselves we decided that the Mid-levels would be the most appropriate setting for our first Hong Kong home - the commute for Kid seemed just a tad longer than his Singapore one and V could practically leg it to work or jump in a taxi for the short ride. The Mid Levels sit in the mountain slope just above Central and the numerous parallel roads are joined by thin lanes of steps and a long escalator system. 

And so we landed in Hong Kong on a house hunting mission. Day 1: Monday. The relocation agents provided the estate agent and while V went to work that first day this lovely lady lined up 14 properties to view in the Mid Levels. It turns out that space is an expensive and rare commodity. For double our Singapore budget we were being shown places half the size, with rooms entirely disproportionate to each other. Kid was a trooper (and I carried small Lego toys, pad of paper for him to draw the house plans and snacks). I had prepped him thoroughly on the plan, making it sound like an adventure (mainly so I didn't have to hear any whining) and asked that he give me his input at every flat. He took this job very seriously by walking into the Master bedroom of every flat and declaring that it would be the perfect room for him! Day 1 ended in exhaustion, hot baths, room service and an early night for Kid and me. Nothing we had seen seemed even remotely right. 

Day 2: Tuesday. Sadly was more of the same. Small flats, uninspiring buildings and ridiculous commute times. By flat 8 of the day we had seen only one apartment that could potentially work and when V was asked to come round and do a second viewing with us he vetoed it bringing us back to square one. The biggest problem was the condition of the buildings (poor), followed closely by the school bus timings (a look at last years schedule showed us that in fact the commute was much longer than last year and would need Kid up and out at a ridiculous hour). 

Our spacious apartment in a beautifully maintained Singapore condo had clearly spoilt us - I could hear myself say no time after time and by lunch time I knew this was now a goose chase. And no golden egg laying goose was to be found in the Mid Levels. 

After lunch we came back to the hotel and decided to call it a day. We bid farewell to our estate agent and agreed we needed a day off to recuperate and think about what the next steps should be. So while tired child curled up on the bed and watched a DVD I called a HK friend and had a mini vent. She recommended seeing another Estate agent. And perhaps looking at a different area. I got in touch with her recommended agent immediately, who then said she would confirm that evening if and what she could show us in one day. 

Day 3: Wednesday. Luck was on our side as Estate agent II was the opposite of the previous lady. With fewer years under her belt this young thing was enthused about the HK property market and talked continuously, trying to gauge our interest and sell us an area we hadn't even considered. It would bring Kids' commute down to silly close and make V's commute longer. Certainly worth considering in view of the previous choices. 

V joined us for the day. Having not really ventured out of the bustling Centre of Hong Kong, the new area she recommended was an unexpected twist: coastal, bathed in sunshine and greenery, like a countryside venture being sold to us. We saw a number of apartments, all with amazing views - not quite the bustling harbour views of Central and Mid Levels - instead the leisurely gait of kayaks and sail boats and dragon boats cruising along the south sea. But one does have to look beyond amazing views for it is with and not in a view that one must cook and lay down ones head. Everything I liked was beyond our budget - a wonderful trick Estate Agents use to force the hand of compromise. 

And then right in the middle of the afternoon she showed us a building where we ticked off nearly everything on our list. Our budget would have to grow but the rooms were well proportioned, the building and grounds beautifully maintained, a huge pool and marvellous facilities on site. The size of the apartments were larger than anything we had seen in Mid Levels (see how quickly we learnt to compromise!) and as luck would have it we had 3 units to choose from. 

And so we (Kid and I) spent the next day (what would have been Day 4 of house hunting) just goofing off - or rather looking at a few serviced apartments, eating nice meals, taking tram rides and checking out the bookshops and toy shops around the hotel - before heading back to Singapore on Friday to stew over our decision. 

The goose chase was nearly over. 

A service apartment life

In the heady days of my youth there were a few years of extensive work related travel. From LA to Sydney I had the chance to visit many cities and stay in all kinds of fancy and boutique hotels. At the time and for many years after I thought I could happily live in a hotel for an extended period of time. Like years and years in a beautiful hotel suite, with laundry and cleaning and multiple food sources at my disposal. That sounded great to me. Like a good life.

Well the move to Hong Kong brought me that chance. The need to get here in advance of school beginning and our chosen apartment being renovated meant that we would be living in a service apartment for a month and a half. Now, I know a service apartment is not a hotel suite but the one we chose was as close to a hotel as you could imagine. 

Perched atop one of Hong Kong's many hills, the Parkview Suites is an enormous tower within the larger Parkview complex. The rest of the complex is a series of residential towers and within this rectangle of towers is a wonderful club, with multiple swimming pools, indoor playrooms, tennis courts, squash courts and other facilities like gym and spa. The complex has an inexpensive shuttle bus plying into Central HK every 10 or so minutes. And as residents of the suites we had unfettered access to all these marvelous facilities alongside a plethora of restaurants and room service. There was a daily maid service (like a hotel) and they did everything from change the sheets and towels to vacuuming and washing up whatever dishes we might have used in our tiny galley kitchen. 

The apartment itself well proportioned. Beside the bedrooms we had a good sized living and dining room and a narrow galley kitchen. A huge supermarket within the complex meant never having to venture far to stock up on groceries. Between the basic kitchen and the restaurants available it was pretty easy to maintain some semblance of a healthy diet for Kid. The decor however was not to my taste. It had blingy crystal chandeliers and large leather chesterfield furniture, both dwarfing the rooms. Bright red, ivory and gold striped wallpaper and an assortment of top hats, old book piles and busts of Churchill on the kitchen counter made for an 'interesting' theme. Decor apart there was enough storage for our 3 suitcases to be emptied and for new school related paraphanalia to be stored comfortably. 

Within a week we had found our feet and settled into a routine. By week 2 we had begun to meet the other school families that had also just moved in and were waiting for their own apartments to be ready. And so, post a school orientation and with a few play dates under our belt, it was the middle of August and the beginning of a new school year. A bus stop of new kids all in it together made it much simpler for Kid to feel secure and within mere days the bus was a safe and comfortable 25 minute commute to school. 

V's commute was relatively simple too and we all used the shuttle to explore a little. The Parkview owner is apparently a serious art collector and clearly a generous man, for all around us, in the lobby and on a special floor were wonderful pieces of art and sculpture on display. From Van Gogh's to Monet's, Picasso's to Dali's. This wonderful horses head by Dali sat firmly in the lobby being used as a pillar for running around by small children while the parents looked at it in awe. 

So a hotel stay this was in every way possible. The main thing I missed were a fully equipped kitchen - just for days I wanted to cook something more elaborate than soup or pizza. And the smaller space meant on weekends we all tried to stay outdoors as much as we could to not constantly be under each other's feet. The lack of space to play anything spread out like car racing and train tracks and Lego cities was Kids greatest frustration. But what this prolonged stay did teach us was this: it was entirely possible to live with less; less furniture, smaller space, fewer possessions. We never once had the crib of missing 'our stuff' and that taught me a lot about myself and this little family. Yes we like our things, electronic gadgets, Lego and books would have been sorely missed had that container sunk but actually without them we weren't suffering/ feeling lost in any way. And that we didn't have huge emotional connections to things. Knowing that they were arriving helped Kid focus on this being a temporary situation and look forward to the new place but even he never asked for them as such. I saw it as an opportunity to disconnect and take a break from ownership of 'stuff'. Marshalling a household worth of contents can be a burden and the break from it revealed how little hold those contents had over me. 

Yet despite my earlier wishes long term hotel/ small space hotel living isn't for me. What I did miss and what I did think on the last night before the big move was this - I didn't miss my stuff but I did miss the space that a whole apartment affords you. A big kitchen to cook in. A study to write in, a playroom to build worlds in. Separate rooms for us all. A balcony to perch on. 

Down the corridor from us and in the same class as Kid was a little girl and her family. They have lived in these service apartments for 3 years. 2 adults and 3 kids. The mum was telling me how this was so convenient with the maid service and not having to buy furniture or worry about maintenance. And that as this was a pit stop on their life journey, maybe a 4 year stint in all, this made economic sense rather than invest in the very pricey HK rental or buying markets. 

I see her point. Property is insanely expensive here. But I would trade my money for space is the conclusion I drew.  At least now I know I don't need oodles of things and that cap on my 'need for things' shopping means we can spend our rental dollars with a bit less guilt. 

Starting at the beginning

My laziness caused me to rush through and only write tidbits of the move. With a month of writing stretching before me I'd do well to tell my stories in their more wholesome avatars. So here are two intertwined stories - of our decision to move and within it how our Kid coped.

Our move was sudden, no years or months of planning went into it. I'd say I just about felt totally at home and in control of my life in Singers when the offer to move came. We could have said no but V and I, well we are always up for an adventure. And much as we love our family and friends in Singapore the cold harsh reality of life is that these are the best years to live in new places and line our nest egg if possible. So when an opportunity offers you better and new and all considerations like excellent schools and healthcare permit it, it would be foolish not to at least consider the offer.

Kid was in an excellent school and that was my biggest sadness; leaving an institution not just THAT well regarded but also one where Kid felt at home and we felt part of a community. He was thriving and for him the wrench would be greatest. Leaving school, his condo friends and most of all his 'brother' P (1st cousin extraordinaire, cousin in genetics only as he is what made Singapore home for Kid) were certainly going to be cause for sadness.

So pros and cons were carefully and quickly measured and all factors considered. We thought about it over a few evenings and after much discussion decided it would be a good idea so long as we could sort out the school situation.

Looked through many a school choice over the next few nights and narrowed it down to 4 suitable ones. Quick calls revealed that all 4 would be willing to accept applications but that 3 of them already said we would be on impossibly long waiting lists unless we had corporate debentures. We didn't do it was a mere exercise in throwing away our money in the hope of a miracle.  The 4th (and our 1st choice of school) told us to submit documents and come in for an assent before they could put us on a wait list. Apparently Grade 1 is crazy busy.!

We did it. Got all the papers together and got his current teacher to directly send in her reports. Then we booked ourselves a 2 day trip and told Kid we were going to check out the school because we might move. Cue the tears. 

Now I am much more a 'validate your feelings kind of person' so my tack was its ok to feel sad and cry but this is reality and we are moving. V is much more the pragmatist - 'we are moving, come on lets go play Lego.' Of course in the darkness before bedtime I had the plethora of questions and comments - mainly in the vein of 'I will miss P, I will miss school, I don't want to go etc'. I carried on in my vein of feel your feelings/  this is life/ where our family lives is home/ people move all the time/ this is how we can say goodbye/ keep in touch/ family is always family/ friendships are forever etc.

Between our two approaches Kid processed whatever he needed to and as a result went into his school assessment for an hour believing he was going to show them everything he had learnt and how doing their puzzles was going to be fun. He knew it was for the possible move and I arranged to have a quick walk around the school with him before the assessment. We talked about the old school and this one in tandem - comparing all the fine features. He came out from the assessment beaming and the assessor said they would let us know in early June about a spot on the wait list. 

I fully expected to be put on a wait list for Grade 2 in August 2016. We then discussed with V's Company that Kid and I would continue in Singapore till an appropriate school place became available while V commuted. In principal they agreed. 

Back to Singapore and birthday party was arranged for before the summer escape vacation began. Last day of May and as I prepped the party V called to say they had offered us a place. And so it was that we spent the birthday party saying goodbye to school friends. June and July too passed in a whirr of goodbyes and farewells and sorting through our lives and returning to apartment hunt and wading through the sheer administrative burden of a move. 

The start of August saw us here in Hong Kong, ready for this chapter '@ home in Hong Kong'. 

New leaf

Boo! Bet you weren't expecting me, Queen of Procrastination, back anytime soon.

I wish I could say that all I've been doing since I last wrote was lying curled under a duvet, reading. The reality however has been vastly different. The move has been hectic by sloth standards and it is only this past week that many of the pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place. I hear a  Duvet calling. 

A wonderful morning spent chatting with my visiting friend M, on a sun dappled day bed, has spurred me to write. She has an incredibly high octane life as mother of two Star Wars/ Lego loving boys, working part time and running a lot of the time. Her incredibly busy existence forced me to re-examine my sloth like situation. And I decided that one of things I want to do (and not just talk about doing a lot) is get back to writing. So as a first step in that direction, and as I take paper to pen in the real world, I'm going to blog in this virtual world. And so, in November I'm going to blog every single day. Yes, you read right, E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y.

So scroll back up and look at that Boo sign. I mean it. Be afraid, very afraid, for who knows what I might say...

I am Indian

I can live anywhere. I can travel all over the globe. I can hold any passport. But my heart is always Indian. Love this:

http://youtu.be/sPxsf_Ib7gs

Happy Independence Day, India

HK life: impressions and facts - 1

Tomorrow is a week and a half since we got to HK. Here are some snippets of what we've seen/ done/ feel, facts and impressions from this short time. 

1. It's green. I thought Singapore was green but my goodness HK beats that one hands down. Apparently, and I read this is a newspaper magazine this week, more than 80% of HK Island is covered in greenery. The reason this seems to have escaped my sharp eyes is that we have always taken a train from the airport to Central which is the crowded heart of this city. This time however we had moving scale baggage so the train was not an option. Also we weren't going to Central where the tall buildings stand in each other's shadow and any greenery is overshadowed by concrete. We were collected by a big SUV type car and drove the 55 minutes over bridges and hills. It helped that it was a bright sunny day with very little traffic. In musical words my brain was singing 'the hills are alive with the sound of music'; green verdant and hilly / my new impression of HK. So so green. 

2. We are staying in a service apartment, part of a larger complex with many residential towers and a huge sports complex. We are atop a hill and the views are lovely, both of the pools and greenery and the hills on all sides. The complex seems very self sufficient with its own supermarket and a shuttle bus service. Our apartment is decorated a bit bizarrely for my tastes with red upholstery, fake chandeliers and top hats lining a wall for decoration. But aesthetic sense aside it is a lovely 1 bedroom place with a galley kitchen and a seperate nice living and dining room. Enough storage and space for us to play/ read/ cook/ eat. And a full hotel service of cleaning and linens and tidying and washing up in our kitchen. Now if only someone would iron I would be a happy girl! 

3. The whole of last week was busy. All the mundane administrative tasks that come with a move needed to be tackled. To be fair I played and swam and read and grocery shopped and cooked with Kid while V took care of the many details. We met him everyday, to interview for ID documents, to open bank accounts, to organise our helpers hire from the Philipines and to get mobile phones. But essentially I was just signing documents and going to meetings he had already organised.

4. Talking of meetings it's certainly my impression that men tend to ignore women when their husband is around. More than once, but never as keenly as at the bank, questions about me were directed to V while I sat right in front of them. I was SAT RIGHT THERE. Is your wife a housewife? Is your wife going to have her own account? Is tie wife going to work? I mean it was cray cray....and I almost said something but didn't because my simmering anger would have come out as rage.

5. Disneyland. We went. again. We took the train which was convenient and quick and inexpensive. We got annual passes. We got there at opening time and it wasn't too crowded. We spent a fair few hours re-living last years visit. The train around the park was open unlike last time but such a disappointing slow ride with not much to see. It got hotter as the day dragged on and we abandoned the idea of the parade and left. We were glad to get back and have a dip in the pool. 

More tomorrow. 

Packing day

In the words of my ex boss I am an excellent administrator. I love lists and work with speed and efficiency when the moment calls for it. But my basic sloth like tendencies (can I blame my 40s?!) have left me scrambling at the last minute for this move. 

I have lists and those lists have their own sub-lists but today was Day 1 of packing and really only 85% of my list was marked off. Anyway, I found that efficient hat this morning at 4am when a stress headache woke me. And by the time the inefficient packers arrived at 10am I was ready as can be. Suitcases packed, air shipment sorted and sea shipment culled ruthlessly so we can learn to live with less. 

The packers grew in number as the day wore on and what should have been a 2 day pack and a 1 day load has turned into a 1.5 day pack and load. So by tomorrow afternoon it should be done giving me more time to enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea (NOT). Instead we have handymen, electricians, cleaners, inventory guys and agents to deal with. 

Spent our last night in the apartment yesterday. Feeling a bit nostalgic. I love this house. Now safely ensconced in RT&Ps home, where hot showers/ food/ lots of chat & laughter are freely available. Last 5 days of this Singapore Adventure here we go! 

Million dollar question: where are we going? It's Hong Kong. Am I excited? Hell yeah! 

Good morning, I'm 40 in 2015

I've woken up in the luxury of a hotel bed having arrived in Bangkok last night to spend 4 days celebrating with V, Kid, his Cousin (referred to in real life as 'brother') and his parents. A merry bunch of 4 adults and 2 kids. This is what Birthday week is about. I've been given some stupendous gifts by two friends and my sis in law last night so I'm well chuffed.

The last time I was here in the city properly I was 6 years old - we lived here from when I was teeny tiny till about 6 and I have some quite clear memories of places. I intend to find the building we lived in and see some other things and meet some people I've known my whole life. But that is not today. Today is about turning 40. Today is Wat Pho (to see the reclining Buddha which is what I remember clearest), some divine Thai food at Nahm and a massage. And I'm going electronic free from 9am - 9pm (post this post). I cannot think of a better way to celebrate turning the Big 4-0. As my cousin B would say, 'Happy to me'.

Starting early, starting well.

Just so you know, in the real world I'm hotly denying all knowledge or happening of my birthday next Wednesday. No answering the phone, replying to texts and whatsapp. Just head in the sand. Or a book.

But for the sake of this ageing blog I will do anything. And so tonight in an effort to begin the celebrations I and V have polished off delicious steaks with sides of creamed spinach and herbed fries at Cut by Wolfgang Puck. Followed by this beauty:

A chocolate molten cake with cream and ice cream on it. Trust me this picture does not show you how big this is. It's a small saucepan, like the size of a small child's head. And bitter and sweet. Divine. 

Starting tomorrow it's birthday week, people. I'm celebrating turning 40 only for blog fodder, not because it marks a decade. I'm so selfless (haha). 

Looking, Searching, Seeking

Singapore is a city of Expats. Many many come for 2 or 3 year contracts, 'hardship postings' (which they so ain't) to the 'unknown Orient', their far away sojourn softened by the large plush apartments, readily available help and paid for prime international schooling. Others come for the adventure, a chance to gad around  Asia on a dime and fall in love with clean, green, efficient-like-nobody-else Singapore. It has honest folk, tropical weather that allows for thundering cool downs and warm water pools, seafood galore and a friendly environment. They stay, for as long as they can, sometimes for far longer than they envisaged, making local friends, joining clubs and participating in the local ways of life. 

My friend L and her hubby have been here 18 years. They say that going back to America now would be like being expats in their own country, so much has its landscape changed since they first left. Even the yearly Target shopping trips and family vacations don't feel like a homecoming but a stopover for goodies. Singapore has become their home and their child, born here, identifies himself as Singaporean. 

I often meet new people here and one of the first questions to swap is how long we have been here and where we came from. 6 years, 8 years, 7.3 years, all with a sheen of deserved pride (and sweat!). I keep meeting people who are so pleased to have found their place, their home, their country. There is that sigh of relief, or an imperceptible look shared with their partner - an acknowledgment that this is home, they feel at entirely at ease, settled and secure. I sometimes wish I was that person. Or that there was such a place for me. Or that I could stop looking and be happy with what I am in. Actually that's inaccurate. I am happy where I am for the most part but I'm always interested in the new or the idea of new.  I can't look forward and see very clearly where the Kid or us will be in 10 years. I see flux, waves of the unknown and the oscillating ideas of change. I see adapting and adventures and new horizons. I can even honestly say I don't share Vs love of the UK and his desire to go back to Blighty. I don't know where we will end up but I'm loving all these stops on the way. I honestly now believe that at this time, in this age, my home is wherever V and Kid and I live. Whichever apartment, whichever city, whichever continent. Geography is wonderful. 

The time has come to move on from Singapore. We've been here 2.9 years. Shorter than we envisaged. And much as I love this place I readily admit I already had itchy feet when talk of a move began. In a month and a half we will be in a new city. And no, I won't tell you here or on Facebook or whatsapp which city, quite yet. Just suffice to say I'm brimming with excitement - and suffering through the stress that moves bring. I'm trying to be all zen and mainly making it look easy while inside I'm a cauldron of nerves. I'm at the airport as I write this, leaving in a jet plane, to go find an apartment. 5 days of estate agent wrangling should be quite enough. Wish me luck! 

P.S: Pictures of packing boxes in 2 weeks. And of course turning 40 tales, as that should be fun, drinking wine out of plastic glasses on the floor of an empty apartment. 

In a month

...I will be 40. Always 30 in 2005 but an added 40 in 2015. Gosh I feel like I should feel old. I look back at some of my earlier writing and I'm shocked by the childish nature of it, shocked by how many friends this blog has made me and shocked by how I've grown in maturity.

I'm processing all the things that are going on at the moment in a very busy life, making plans for the future and pondering the best ways to celebrate what is surely a milestone of sorts. And even though my body has recently boarded the shuttle bus for Old People-ville, my heart and mind are strangely walking, no, make that running in the opposite direction. I feel in control and as if the cliche of 'age is but a state of mind' might actually apply here. Isn't that weird? I am known for my curmudgeonly outlook, my realist views and a not so optimistic inclination but as I approach the 40s I am strangely filled with confidence and hope and joy and interest. How can the 40s beat what have been a wonderful decade of 30s? I can't wait to find out. 

Tale of two cakes

The Balloons arrived. She had done a great job, listening to my brief, and produced 4 'minion clouds'. 

I can't tell you how wonderful the party was. It went to schedule, all 38 kids that showed up were polite and seemed to have a great time. We played in the pool for an hour (3-4pm); or rather the kids played while our young High School student, a qualified lifeguard (I hired him for the hour) watched on and the mums and dad sat and chatted poolside. I had loads of pool inflatables and diving rings and fish for the Kids and baby ducks and floaties for the littlies in the small pool. 

Then everyone got out of the pool, changed and helped carry up the inflatables. 

We played two games; minion bowling (best game ever) and pin the pocket on the minion (bought off amazon). 

Please do not miss the minion duct tape marking the bowling lane! Best purchase ever.

Then it was time to eat but before I show you our laden table I must show you our cakes. Simple sheet cake with 'water and the beach' icing and crumble, topped with minions megablocks assembled by Kid. Super simple but looked fabulous. And tasted divine. Not a crumb remained from the party. 

We turned on Despicable me 2 for the kids to chill out to while they ate. Parents snacked on the Indian goodies I had catered. Then we cracked open the piñata full of m&ms, mini Mars and kit kats, chocolate wafers and smartie rolls and distributed return presents and game prizes. Everyone left by 5.30pm, exactly on time. We tidied like crazy, vacuumed, mopped, put away food, took down decorations, chatted with our houseguest and my brother in law, got an overexcited and very tired Kid ready for bed. Then the exhaustion of not having been well and of being on the move all day hit me. I spent the next two days recovering, taking long naps and chilling out at home, eating left overs and reading. 

I can't tell you how wonderful the party was. Till next time.....

Could I be more Minion?

More decorating this morning. Party is in 2 hours and I'm blogging as I await balloon and snack deliveries. Here's what's on:

Minions ready to be bowled over. They had a makeover last night with authentic silver paint for their goggles. The minion bowling track has been laid down with Minion duct tape - my favourite cheap find! 

Then we will play four corners where everyone dances in the centre till the music stops and a non watching referee calls out a corner and everyone in it is out. A slightly less violent and less cheat able combination version of musical chairs and freeze dance. Also we don't have anywhere near 45 chairs! These are the four corner signs:

And finally the table is getting a makeover. Being blue anyway I'm not covering it up with a table cloth. Glass is easy to clean of grubby fingerprints!

Till after the party, ciao! 

Attention, Minions

Tomorrow Kid is celebrating turning SIX. He turns 6 only in July but since school breaks for the summer in a week he wants to celebrate with his pals before pretty much everyone is away for their vacations. 

So party prep is on in earnest. 45 kids have RSVP'd 'yes'. So an hour in the pool before they come home (yes, home, you heard that right. I had a function room booking FAIL!) with one parent (at least) each. And this is what awaits them:

Then a table whose main motif is:

Followed by 3 games, of which 1 is homemade bowling, recycled cola bottles with rajma to weight them down: 

I've not lost all my marbles much as it may seem so. The balloons are being delivered as are the snacks for the parents. 

Off to buy some pool toys and decorate the cooled cake! See ya, minions! 

3 busy weekends

We have had 3 weekends in a row away but all to places we have been, some more than once, so in my mind they don't count as holidays but trips.

Trip 1 was taking advantage of the long weekend and giving in to the fact that bil, sil and their cutie hadn't been to Kota Kinabalu. They were going anyway and we decided to tag along. A tense wait for a new passport and data transfer in the Singapore system and off we went to the exact same resort in KK, the Shangri-la Rasa Ria. The renovations of last time are complete and except for a few service issues it was even more marvellous than before. Jet skis, swims, beach walks, castle building, long meals and chats, naps, spa treatments - just the perfect getaway for 3 days. 

Trip 2: The next weekend we left on Sunday and took a few days off work/ school to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the in-laws. They have had a rough ride with their health in recent times and despite not being very well made the trip to come see us and then to mark the momentous day. The other bil and family flew in from their vacation in Japan and the Herd spent 3 glorious days in a big beautiful villa. Again it was days of eating, chatting, swimming and a photography sessions to mark the day. Simply wonderful - the best bit easily the long chatty meals - at the one on their anniversary they each told us their 5 favourite things about the other. For 2 people whose marriage was arranged with very little say and so young these were life affirming things and very touching to hear.

Trip 3 was just the 3 of us. Not a holiday for V but instead a mid week jaunt for work to Hong Kong. We hadn't been in ages and now that school is winding down we decided it wouldn't harm Kid to have a few days off. So off we went, and he and I entertained ourselves in the pouring rain with lunch at Din Tai Fung, a visit to dads office, a couple of pre-planned visits, walks in the rain and hot tub baths. Kid and I really relaxed although poor V was working away. We got back in time for a relaxing weekend at home before this weeks madness. 

In between all these trips we had a lunch and carnival day at the Club celebrating their 150 years. And a school art show that was more impressive than I imagined it would be. And an endless stream of houseguest to enjoy chats with. 

This will be the first weekend after 3 when we will stay home. It's a long weekend for us but because I am clearly not satisfied with just relaxing we are hosting a huge birthday party for Kid before school is out and all his friends have left for their summer vacations. So an hour of pool play followed by 3 games and food and a movie in our living room is the plan. Would you believe we have 45 kids and a parent each attending?! Saturday Madness I tell you. 

Timing is everything

V and I have been so upset and shaken by the Nepal earthquake. The sheer guilt and thankfulness for him having followed his dream and come back safely to us while for so many it has been a fatal journey is currently overwhelming. It is the way of natural disasters that one looks instinctively for their own loved ones in the face of knowing that others who are not ours in the same sense are at risk / losing their lives/ livelihoods/ shelter. It is not without guilt though that I want to hold him and give thanks that he is alright all the while knowing that for so many families their loved one is not. And similarly he has spent the last 3 days tracking down friends he made who were preparing at the Base Camp and Camp 1 for ascents to the Peak, porters, guides and organisers who helped him on his way and friends who set off on other treks in the majestic Nepalese mountains. Only last night has everyone been accounted for, safe and sound.

I had a huge fight on a whatsapp group with a classmate from college. He first asked everyone to contribute to an NGO his wife runs (which is fine, I understand direct fundraising) but in addition thought it best to keep sending messages announcing how NASA had predicted an earthquake to hit India/ Nepal at 3pm/ 8pm, today/ tomorrow etc. Scare mongering at its very worst. Stay outside from 7.50 to 8.30, I'm sure a big earthquake is going to hit etc. This ability to predict things is blatantly untrue and just the perfect fodder for whatsapp groups. It made me crazy and I lost my cool while trying to not lose my cool (if you know what I mean).

On the other side though there has been an outpouring of love and thankfulness for V's safe return on FB, via email and text and whatsapp from friends and family around the globe. Warms the heart knowing we have a little world of our own that cares enough to ask/ check/ love. 

There is also the question of how does one help. How do you choose between disasters or needy causes? It is the subject of my years of fundraising - how do I get you to care about (ie donate to/ promote) my cause? I guess the knowledge that it could have been you had you stuck to the original plan is a powerful tool. While V does his part in helping Nepalese causes now so near and dear to him, I am this week contributing to a cause dear to me. My friend is living on £1 per day for food in a fundraising bid to raise awareness and money for Action Against Hunger. By day she works with vulnerable women and via this project she is living on a £1 per person food allowance in an attempt to see/ show how very little that is. And how so many women make that stretch to feed themselves and their children. She reminded me of school holidays and how children who would normally get a free and hot breakfast and lunch at school then have to eat at home putting untold pressure on their £1 per person budget. This leads to mothers subsisting on cups of many times brewed tea as replacements for entire meals or skipping meals to feed their children. My friend is an E14 hero and I hope some day to be back in that neck of woods and drinking a cup of tea with her. If you want to contribute to her cause please click on the link. Every £ counts: https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/nadinepain

To support the search for survivors and the delivery of relief to Nepal click on this link: https://www.redcross.org/combined-donate?donationProdId=prod9150029&campname=donateNepalEarthquake&campmedium=aspot_dis16

There isn't much more in life than our families, friends and these lives we hold so dear. It makes all other things seem so inconsequential. Kiss your spouse and hug your children, call your parents and email your friends. You are not alone and may you never be. 

Bucket lists

So two Friday's ago Kid and I said goodbye to V and boarded a flight to Delhi to surprise my parents. An hour later V boarded another flight, to a long anticipated, much prepared for trip.

Just over a year and a half ago, to coincide with turning the big 4-0, V sprung it on us that it's long been his dream to climb to the Everest Base Camp. Well a year and a bit in the making he was off. He had trained and I had shopped for energy bars (amongst other essential supplies!) and he had heard and read stories of how tough yet exhilarating it was going to be. 

We had made an illustration to show us his route up and down, how many km's and hours each day. Kid was excited but I think it was/ is all theoretical to him. He doesn't understand distance or time in quite the same way yet but he was caught up in the excitement and bless his little heart he told everyone his dad was climbing Everest! 

In Delhi, the parents were suitably surprised and while it all started very well, we both promptly had a mild form of food poisoning. But we soldiered through with Smecta/ podophyllum/ Lacteol Forte. Met a few (the most important) people but not as many as I'd have liked.

We talked to V everyday on a local Nepalese number. It was clearly a tough slog despite the training and he sounded exhausted and exhilarated all at once. We got back the following Friday and V was still two days away from Base Camp, slogging it through the snow and beginning to sound disheartened that he might not make it thanks to the inclement weather. 

Sunday afternoon he finally made it. HE MADE IT TO EVEREST BASE CAMP! Called us briefly, his voice breathless with 50% oxygen and joyous with his accomplishment. Then began his descent - and finally on Wednesday night I went to meet him as he got off his flight from Kathmandu, mountain beard added and so many pounds lost. 

He spent the next 4 days exhausted, sleeping 12 hour stints, playing with his delighted son and eating all the things that he had abstained from while he trained. We've been looking at the incredible pictures and hearing the stories. It's truly an achievement and a serious bucket list item knocked off. 

Talking of bucket lists it would seem I am not inspired enough by my very fit Better Half! We went to watch the very very funny Russell Peters live in Singapore last night. Watching him live was on my (very sedentary) bucket list and he was every bit as funny as I expected. We had expensive but pretty bad seats, had to strain our necks to see him live (as opposed to on the giant screens). But we saw him live and he can really get the audience laughing so even the seats I was willing to forgive. It's been a busy time of year for us all. 

We've both crossed things off our lists this year and it would be fair to say V is an absolute WINNER in my eyes! 

Fish and rain

This year Easter is a bigger deal in Singapore than any year before. Almost like the Expat and local communities have suddenly got in stride at the same time for a little party. There are egg hunts and painting parties galore, exhibitions of painted eggs of all sizes in various spots. 

Spent the morning at the aquarium with Kid. A whisk through while it poured buckets outside. Surprisingly non-crowded for a Sunday morning.The aquarium is celebrating Easter in its own way. These large / giant eggs are sitting patiently in many tanks and Kid found this so amusing he asked to take a picture of each, on his own, with my phone. Here they are:

His favourite is the 4th one - 'the two sand sharks are trying to get under it and topple it over. That is so cute!'

LKY was laid to rest post some brilliant eulogies. I often feel like people should have a chance to hear their eulogies before their passing - it would be so cheering to leave life knowing how wonderful it had all been. It poured as his coffin was led through the streets. It didn't deter an adoring public from lining the streets to mark their respect. And the heavens clearly agreed it was a loss for why else would it rain torrentially. 

It was a day of many parts. It included a trip to the airport to collect friends off a long and tiring flight from London. Nothing like friends from old to cheer one up. Kid and his friend behaved like they had never been apart. The innocence of kids who have indeed forgotten each other but willed themselves to remember using pictures and stories from their parents arsenals of childhood tales. More later. 

Time escapes us all

There is nothing like the experience of a bad plane journey to get me grumbling again. And so here I am.

But before I get to that its the week that Singapore's founding father, it's Titan, lost his battle with age and ill health. Mr. Lee Kuan Yew died last weekend and even in this anticipated death (he had deteriorated rapidly over the past few weeks) and the wonderful precision with which this city state is marking its loss there would be no accounting for this outpouring of love and gratitude that has emerged. We were in India but I've followed closely by newspaper/ television reports and the social media feeds the show of respect for this wonderful man, who took a tiny swamp land, and in defiance to a stronger Malaysia made it a force to be reckoned with on the world stage. This country has been my home for over two years and every day I am thankful for its security, it's cleanliness and diverse people. The lines to visit his body lying in State in Istana run 8-10 hours long and despite warnings to not join them people continue to do so. And while people wait in these long snaking lines it is others that provide water, umbrellas and food, urging them to continue, to continue on for this one last time, the paying of respect a small token of appreciation of how much he has done for this Nation State.

I've spent this afternoon at the closest community centre to us looking at a beautifully curated exhibition in rememberance and signed the condolence book. I've seen lovely people both old and young crying and nodding in agreement over this loss, telling stories of their kampongs, the opportunities given them in their youth, the education afforded every citizen, the rousing speeches to work hard and honestly given by this man. I've read tributes and followed his sons speech as he held back his private emotions in grieving for his father vs. the Father of this nation. I am moved by this show of emotion, to say the least. No one shall ever be able to say this is a cold emotionless country without drawing ire. The funeral is tomorrow and we shall all wear black to show our respect. It's the very least we can do.