How do one understand

Tonight I am going to visit a friend I have not seen in 19+ years.  She is one of those that I totally lost touch with after attending my wedding banquet in Feb 2000.

What was life like for her in the past 2 decades?  I hate to be pretentious, so I shall say, without shame but with full of regrets, that I will never understand..

学着放手

Last Friday, secondary one students taking 3rd language are supposed to report to language Centre.  It wasn’t clear on the letter as to what was to do done, as in if it’s just registration, or buy books, or if there's orientation.  I read online forum that they are to buy books, and that the books are very expensive.  Anyway, due to stock-take at office, I decided to let Lynn go by herself.

I told her to send me updates when making her way there (in case she get lost), so she sent me a photo when she got there.  Then she WhatsApp me a lot, when she was filling in the registration form.  Soon after, she went home. 

That night, I found out from her that she bought a stack of books (I thought only one textbook).  They costed $155 in all!  She paid with her new ATM card. 

I'm very happy that she handled this by herself.  I hope she enjoys the new found freedom and responsibilities.  I'm learning (very well) to let go. 
 

Diary

Oh no, I am one year behind on my blog..  Bhutan was Oct last yr, and I left the posts hanging at Day 3..

I should revive my blog, review the security settings.  This morning while having breakfast, WK said that we had not been to Malacca for CNY for a few years already. I searched my blog and proved him wrong (we were there 2017).  I read the entry with a smile on my face, and doing that reminded me that I must update my "online diary”. 

Some random photos before I plan for catchup, hah!

Sweetie attended a Ginger bread decoration class at the CC last Monday.  The ginger bread biscuits were pre-baked already; the kids merely decorated them with icing, mash-mellows, M&Ms and other stuff.

Sweetie also attended a 2 days (5hrs per day) art class - "2D landscape design".   She enjoyed this class thoroughly. She was taught how to draw and colour on canvas with acrylic paint.  I am very happy with both the process and the result.  So glad that she enjoyed, she learned, and she's satisfied with her work.


A plant that we bought during the weekend we visited sec school open houses and submit application.  The posting result will be out in … 5 days!

Hello again

"Change is the only constant", we were all taught. Changes make life interesting, bring surprises, learning and growth. Changes can make one feel sad too. Do people change the world, or do circumstances change people?

My Bhutan trip oct 2017 - New and old friends

(Words written on 27 Jan 2020, backdated posting to April 2018.  These pictures and the title were already in the draft post, with only one line of writing: "This is the concluding post of my Bhutan trip.")

This is the concluding post of my Bhutan trip.  An interesting aspect of this trip was that we made friends with the guides.  Lili has the ability and tendency to make new friends easily, while I don't.  I wonder what's the point.  Up to now, Sonam (our guide) still text us on WhatsApp.  I wonder if people from such different culture and background can have sustainable friendship.  Maybe I'm thinking too much.

As for my very very "old" friend Lili, it has been quite an intense 2 years, in terms of work and relationship.  She thinks that we (at 45-46, as in now..) are at the peak of our mid-life crisis, i.e. the most unhappy part of life.  I think I'm past that stage, having experienced that when early forties.  I feel rather helpless in seeing her sad.

A legend of bravery and it's amazing architecture

(Words written on 27 Jan 2020, backdated posting to April 2018.  These pictures were already in the draft post without writing)

On day 6, we went to Bhutan's most famous tourist attraction - Tiger Nest.  The architecture's amazing.  It symbolised perseverance, hardship, and belief.  I wondered and I pondered, it is all real, or is it all in our minds.. 

Top of the world

(Words written on 27 Jan 2020, backdated posting to April 2018.  These pictures were already in the draft post without writing)

On day 5, we went Chelela Pass.  It was my happiest day of the trip.  I love this place, it felt like top of the world.  At one of the peaks, it is a site for sky burial for little children.  It was a frightening climb for me, but I was very touched.   How far was it from the plane in the sky? How far was it to your dream?