I'm like a bird

or a yeti. Depends on how you look at it.

Of warmth and sitting in the sun

No, no, the weather situation hasn't improved. It's still snowing sporadically, hovering at -1 degree celcius, and specifically is grey and foggy and depressing today.

So, here are some pictures of a lovely afternoon in Paris some (many, many, many) months ago with Mi and Kesh, when we could still sit outside, watch the people pass and drink icy drinks. Good times, real good times.

I WANT TO SIT OUTSIDE AGAIN!!!

Again!

Just when I thought Spring was on its way, it started snowing again yesterday. 

A helpless smile. 

Waterproof boots. Waterproof jacket. Waterproof bag. 

Will I ever get to be fashionable again?!?!?

New Toy?

I'm debating whether or not to get a kindle.

I know, I know. I love the smell and feel of REAL books as well. But at the rate I go through a book (i.e. really, really, really quickly) I can't help but feel that a kindle would make my bags MUCH lighter, especially when I travel. It's batteries even supports ONE MONTH of reading without charging! How cool is that?

Then there's a part of me (the idealistic, old school part) which feels like I'd be selling out and betraying the soul of books if I started reading electronically.

Then again, there's another part of me which also feels like a Kindle would be a much more environmentally friendly option instead of the trees I'm contributing to killing when I buy a 932 page book (like Shantaram that I'm reading now).

Decisions, decisions...

*Ipad et all not an option. I want to read, not act cool :p

221b Baker Street

When Paopei was here in December, I had to find lotsa indoor activities for us to do because we were most of the time basically and literally snowed-in.

One of our more intellectual activities was this:

Where we pretended to be Sherlock Holmes in a race to uncover the murderers, the motives, and the murder weapons of lotssss of grisly murder cases.

I think I was black and Paopei was red. Something like that.

Reading the clue book. 

 

Our clue note pad

 Paopei reading the Case of the day.

I think it's fun, albeit slightly slow, and the cases weren't as easy to solve as I imagined it would be and I really needed to work very hard to prove that the older sister is smarter than the younger one :p

Recommended if you're after a brainercise. I got mine from amazon uk.

I dream of...

 

My funny valentine

 I love this song.

Not that I am ever going to be able to celebrate Valentine's Day properly anyway. Not that I particularly want to. But yeah, even if I did, it wouldn't be typical.

Because I am married to my Super Chef. And Super Chefs are busiest at these commercialized times. BUT the main thing is, 14th February is also my Super Chef's super birthday. And I need to spoil him at least once a year, so I give him a break, and have decreed 14th February William's day, not Valentine's Day.  

Since he can't normally have dinner on his birthday, I always need to celebrate it with him a day earlier. This year, I got our closest friends in Luxembourg to give him a surprise birthday dinner.

 The usual suspects

 the pot au feu. OMG. so so so so so so so good.

the cake. *hearts*

Then the next day, when he had a small break in the afternoon, he came home to a newly decorated wall which was his birthday present. 

*pats self on back for not breaking any nails whilst hammering*

Then at night, I got two friends to join me for dinner at Mahi Restaurant to watch the lovebirds who make my husband's work possible. 

The restaurant was full, and so was I :)

Happy birthday boo! Love you love you love youuuuu :)

I know...

... my husband loves me cos he buys me flowers for his birthday. *smug* :p

And Daddy ah, he loves the card you made him. Silly thing was so touched he almost cried this morning when he saw it.

Kisses and hugs to the ones I love this Valentine's Day.

illuminate

Even after all this time, The sun never says to the earth, 'You owe Me.' 

Look what happens with a love like that, It lights the Whole Sky.

- Hafiz via Dr Wayne Dyer

CNY in Luxembourg

The past week's been like any other week. Just that internally, I know it's CNY back home, and I'm trying very hard to mentally to 'feel it' as much as I can with no CNY atmosphere here at all. 

*reminder to self: stock up on CNY deco when I go home next time*

I would also like to announce that I am very proud of the fact that I spring cleaned the entire apartment myself before the 3rd, dusting every inch of dust away to welcome "spring" - though winter seems set to stay for the whole year here in Luxembourg.

I even managed to have a reunion dinner here on the night of the 'nin-sam-sap-man' with those I love best in Luxembourg, though on the menu was sauerkraut and not chicken and fish and yee-sang. And on that night, I taught everyone to say Gong Xi Fa Chai. Friends who care about my little traditions make being away from home feel a little better.

Oh! And again, I'd like to say thank you to the most wonderful invention in the world, Skype. How else could I have gotten a dose of family and mahjong? :)

But I must admit we 'broke' tradition a bit by having our haircuts and colorful clothes only on the 4th day of CNY. Better late than never :)

Gong Xi Fa Chai! Miss you lot back homeeee!!!!