Books and Movies

Spent the last 10 days reading; Kawabata's The Sound of the Mountain and Beauty and Sadness, John Mortimer's Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders, John Berendt's The City of Falling Angels and "chick-lit" Kathleen Tessaro's Innocence and Sophie Kinsella's The Undomestic Goddess.

Also got round to watching 3 1/4 films. 'Pride & Prejudice' was a let-down. I fell asleep halfway! 'Memoirs of a Geisha' was much better although a little too dark (literally) for my liking. (Ahh, but that Ken Watanabe was really cool...)

I read very positive reviews of 'Being John Malkovich' in my 2 volumes of book on movies, so decided to give that a shot. It's fantastic, one of the more intelligent and inventive films I've watched of late.

And a friend recommended 'Something's Gotta Give' which I watched at a friend's place over the chinese new year. I enjoyed the first half an hour, then was interrupted by the arrival of a friend who then engaged me in an hour long conversation about this and that, which means I missed most of the witty conversations in the film and shall have to watch it all over again... (it's also highly recommended in my books on movies, that's why...)

Daddy's Girl

Zerlynde is every inch her father's daughter. She loves watching tv and she loves eating.

Zerlynde: [clutching a bottle of pickled plum in her tiny hands] Open, open, open
Mummy: [pretending not to understand] What?
Zerlynde: [cocking her head to one side and look pleadingly] Please, please...
Mummy: [still pretending not to understand] What? What do you want?
Zerlynde: [getting more exasperated] mum-mum, mum-mum, mum-mum, mum-mum...
Mummy: [still teasing] Huh? What?
Zerlynde: [trying her best] Eat, eat...
Mummy: Okay, okay... [finally giving way]

Can anyone leave such creative efforts unrewarded?

My Little Ballerina

Zerlynde's First Few Steps

At 17 months, Zerlynde decided that it's more fun to walk than to be carried around.

Chinese New Year Story

Kitty bought us loads of decorative items, so in the afternoon of the eve, we put them up to create a festive feel. Jonathan and Zerlynde were both very intriqued with the plastic "pineapples" which in hokkien sounds like "ong" meaning luck.


Jonathan and Zerlynde helping to decorate the house


Jonathan swinging the "mystic knots"

We had the traditional steamboat for our re-union dinner, comprising of prawns, fishballs, meatballs, abalone, fish maw, pompret and 'tau ki" (taufu stick)



Everyone on board except Hooi Yie, Hau Yee and K-Ying who were in JB


Then, we went to join Kenzu's family for their re-union dinner.


Zerlynde with her paternal granddad

Zerlynde with her handsome uncle Kenzin

Near midnight, cheeky Jonathan visited Zerlynde in our room wearing a pigtail and teased her incessantly, which tickled not only her endlessly, but all of us adults watching them as well. Ahh... who can resist these 2 lovely babies...

They were both so cute that we decided to dress them up for more snap-shots.






Came first day of the lunar year, 3-month old Shaun ushered in the Year of the Dog dressed like a doll...



Then, we prepared to go visiting our relatives, Zerlynde clutching her lovely bag to store her angpows.



At our uncle's house, we took an extended family portrait.



And Zerlynde demonstrated her Taekwondo kick.



Later in the afternoon, we visited Kenzu's parents again to "pai nien".


Zerlynde admiring the beautiful bouquet and showing off her kick


After that, we came home for our customary tea ceremony.


Proud grandparents

"May you be blessed with good health"

Of course, Chinese New Year is not Chinese New Year without poker for the guys.



The following evening, good friends came visiting.


Uncle Kim Heng playing with Zerlynde

Old Friends from primary and secondary school

Zerlynde admiring auntie Mee Lin's beautifully pedicured and painted nails


And last but not least, for our family, Chinese New Year is a lot about togetherness.

Cousins, first and second generations...

Find a Guy...

Find a guy, who calls you beautiful instead of hot.
Who calls you back when you hang up on him.
Who will stay awake just to watch you sleep.

Wait for the guy who kisses your forehead.
Who wants to show you off to the world when you are in your sweats.
Who holds your hand in front of his friends.

Wait for the one who is constantly reminding you of
how much he cares about you
and how lucky he is to have you.

Wait for the one who turns to his friends and says,
"...that's her."