WOW! I WAS IN OSAKA!

I found myself wandering in Osaka, Japan - The Land of the Rising Sun with Alyssa .
What a magnificent place! People all over were clicking away, like having a photo war!!!!!!! Oh no! I realised I did not bring my camera, but ah ha! I got my phone! But the battery was running low! :( I hated myself to the core.....I felt so lousy..... Then suddenly, I poofed into a buffet line with lots'a delicious, mouth-watering Japanese delicacies! But before we could sink our teeth into any food, we somehow teleported to a street with people donning kimonos, yukatas etc. like in a period drama. What a sight, what a sight. I noticed two Geishas approaching ME :D 1 of them had her face covered. Then, Alyssa whispered "Eh, what if it turns out to be a ghost?!" So we turned an ran .................................................................. And then, I found myself back home, lying in my bed. I must have been heavily influenced by the article about the Geishas to have such a dream. Don't mind having more ....

Ikebana lesson No. 6

Variation No 4, Upright Style at position 1
Flowers used: Helicona, Typha leaf, Kuna leaf
Shin (Typha leaf 15 deg fmd), Hikae (Kuna leaf 75 deg fwd)

Slanting Style- too drained to do!

Ikebana lesson No 5

Variation No. 3

Flowers used: Carnation, Pussy Willow, Bamboo and Tea Leaves.

Upright Style and Position No. 5

Shin (P willow 15 deg fwd) Soe (P willow 45 deg forward) Hikae (carnation 75 deg fwd)

Slanting Style at Position No. 7

Shin (P Willow, 45 deg fwd) Soe (P willow 15 deg fwd) Hikae (carnation, 75 deg fwd)
Suggestion: replace the 5 carnation with 3 chrysanthimums.

Top view
:

Right: Arrangement by advanced students.

Heavenly Pork

I was at Isetan after appt and 1 copi-O, 2 eggs and one kaya butter bread.

Still, I ordered a bowl of Tonkatsu Ramen from the ramen kiok - for the sake of tasting the pork. The ingredients were fresh, the hard boiled egg was so so (without extra charge), but the soup tasted great and the Pork - merely 3 slices - was sooooo heavenly! Got to skip dinner.

CNY long ago

CNY is approaching. I could vividly recall after grandma had passed on, CNY particularly during secondary and JC days were spent in cooped up our tiny room with Janet while father and Terence were out with their friends. We had sausages & wax duck and rice for our lunch as well as dinner.

Fading

I could sense another fading away.... lower your expectation and it'll hurt less. do not place high hopes and you will have less dissappointment. let go. pretend.

Lamenting

Since the turn of 2011, it's been an energy sapping (more so mentally) having to make fresh arrangement for the two kids. Many a times, the burden falls on me - from major issues like extra classes, runnng the errands and making the decisions to the trivia such as reading newsletters from school... such lonesome feelings.

Ikebana lesson no. 4

Variation No. 2

Flowers used: Roses & Ruscus

Upright (reverse/position 2): Shin (rusus) 15 deg, Soe (ruscus)75 deg, Hikae (rose) 45 deg

Heavy rain. Fortunately there's a walkway. Unfortunately, the floor was wet and slippery. Me being accident prone met with mishap =(

Slanting Style (reverse/ position no 4): Shin (ruscus) 45 deg rt fwd, Soe (ruscus) 75deg left fwd, Hikae 15 deg rt (rose)

I failed to hide the kenza....

Volunteer Activity on 8 Jan 2011

It's time for volunteer activity. Joined some colleagues to help an elderly couple to clean up their flat. It turned out to be a major overhaul - decluttering, cleaning, painting (floor, walls and ceiling), washing, repairing. It was 10 hrs hard work. After washing hundreds of dishes, I even sustained some bruises! Another colleague stepped on a nail - yucks!!! I think many of them must have backache....but we were glad to serve and were satisfied with the outcome.

Ikebana 4 Jan 2011

Ikebana 3 Jan 2011

Ikebana Lesson 3

Variation Number One Upright Style: Shin 15 deg, Soe 45 deg, Hikae 75deg

Flowers used: Chrysanthimum, Cytissus Broom



Slanting Style: Shin 45 deg, Soe 15 deg, Hikae 75 deg

2 Jan 2011

Going shopping

We Decorated a Cake

at Tampines One on 29 Dec 2010 and had fun!!!

1 January 2011

The first half of New Year's Day was spent quietly at home with Alyssa, Alexus and Savier. In the evening, we were glad to play host to Richard. It was peaceful with no other visitors. I enjoyed it. Look! Uncle Richard is so excited with his new iphone.

Let's eat....

New Year Eve

New year eve was very chaotic, having invited Sis' family - incl children and grandchildren, Brother, Sharon and all, Janet, Daniel, Father and Mr Joe............................ Got to start thinking of CNY eve.

Christmas 2010

Father, Mr Joe, Janet and Daniel joined us for dinner on the Eve and again for lunch on Christmas Day together with Tony, Sara and families. Mr Joe is so cute.

Advent

Last minute shopping................................................................

Eager to unwrap............................