Hahhhh! The elusive swing

I realised that Australia is indeed a good place for the kids. There are ample space to run around, endless activities due to the 4 seasons. And very importantly, the swings! I discovered that most of Perth's playground do come with swings. I can't resist the tempation and told my sister one day that I would like to have a swinging good time with it. So we went to this particular spot , near the lake and not so crowded place. And Ryan and I had a blasting good time that afternoon. In fact it was the best feeling for the longest time as I sat on the swing and then swing myself away. the sky was beautiful, with clouds. Seagulls were nearby, taking a rest. As I swing myself higher, I feel I can touch the sky. A beautiful illusion but nevertheless an inadequate 1. I can feel my burdens or troubles flying out off me. And I was a little girl again. And it was wonderful.
At that moment, I wish Singapore government would just build more swing in the playgrounds. The kids of present days Singapore doesn't really play with swings anymore. they are a rare sight in Singapore. So rare that I can't even remember where could I find 1? Ryan doesn't even know how to play the swing properly. it took him a few tries before he could get it remotely right. I remember kids of my generation do not even need lessons. We took to the swing like a monkey to a tree. it just come to us naturally. And it was so much fun. I could stay there for hours. But now, it is a .. dare I say a luxury? Oh to forget my adults burden and to be a carefree child again. What would I give in exchange? Probably not a lot. I just need to travel 5 hours by plane again.
Maybe we should start an online petition asking the gahmen to build more swings so children can be children again ,And not just play and lose themselves in modern video games who can't be doing too much good stuff for their development and as for adults well, we can temporarily forget all our troubles. Who knows it might be an antidote for those so called society depression.

A fashionista is inborn ! Or should I call it as an obession?

Amber had been stomping around in her new pair of rainboots. This particular pair of shoes was a gift from my sister and when I gave it to Amber with 2 other new pairs of shoes and 2 very cute Ts. She was already besotted with the rainboots. It has the colors of the rainbow and was very cheery. She had been wearing them for days.
I remember when we went to GW, there was another girl who was holding the hands of her mum but keep staring at Amber's boots as her mum tugs her along. And for some strange reason, I feel that Amber sense the envy of the little girl cause she purposely walks near to the little girl. I felt she was flaunting it. Next another boy falls for the charms of it. I definitely can feel the swell of Amber's pride. Even the adults weren't spared from it. I can hear women whispering to each other telling each others what a cutie she is, and look at the shoes blah blah blah!
I wanted to laugh out loud at my realisation. Since young, the fairer sex must have got instilled in them the power of the shoes. Otherwise why would women willingly put their feet through torrendous heights, uncomfortable swaying of the hips etc? And the hype of SJP's obessions with all the Jimmy Choos, Manolo Blanik. Tsk Tsk Tsk

A pleasant surprise. And oh so precious!

The sunday that just passed, I was actually in Perth's Fremantle beach. It was slightly after 3 pm and as Ryan and my sister was playfully digging booby traps on the sand. I was listening to my Ipod. As I sat there listening, I was also looking out to the waves that came crashing up onto the shore. I was thinking about my father.
Somehow it seems like a good time to think about him as it was so quiet in my world. And partly because I remembered the dream about my father walking away from me at a beach. It was very windy even though winter had ended and spring is here. I wanted to film the waves but run out of memory space in my digital camera. So I set to delete some pictures. As I was going through the old pictures and videos, there was 1 that caught my eye. it was a video of Amber celebrating her 1st year at my father's house. As we were singing her songs, I was also taking video and I happen to have a 2 sec ( My regret) glimpse of my father in the background, singing and clapping his hands. it was not too long after his surgery And he just came home from the hospital not too long. He was all bundled up with gloves and socks. Although it was short and I had clearly forgotten all about it. I was happy. I eagerly showed it to my sister. Somehow I feel that it was not an coincidence, the beach and me lamenting to my sister a couple of weeks ago, telling her I hadn't dreamt of him since the beach dream. I feel maybe he was trying to send me a signal that he is really here with us. I think he was there with us. In our hearts.

A wake up call

My sister came home to an empty house after sending me off to the airport. Her roommate and friends had gone off to have dinner without her. I felt a bit sad, after all it was her big day and we had been so looking forward to it for months. Anyway, it was over. I had wish that we could or should have stay a bit longer. I could not. Sigh!
Throughout the trip, I had cautioned her about her room mate. I was telling her that she had seem unreliable and should not be dependable on for important things. She came across as someone calculating. I have never like people like that as I feel this type of people would only do things that they could only benefit from it.
I do not wish her to go through the process of being hurt although life is full of it. I understand and accept this is just another chronicle of what Life is all about. We cannot stop it but we can prevent or minimize it. Still I must say, I am indeed proud of her.

16/09/2009

The past few weeks had been an endless rounds of activities. As the time to depart for Perth draw near, I not only does look forward but also I feel a tinge of sadness as it would be the trip my Dad had been looking forward to the past 2 years.
Last night as I sat in at my sister's convocation, I couldn't help it. But I desperately hope and wish my father would be able to see it. As she walks up the steps to shake the hand of her chancellor. My eyes got a bit misty. I didn't get to see her walk down as I had to dab at my eyes. Ryan got it down on video. I get to see the replay after. The rest of the family weren't there to see her take her place and wear the gown. As I see the surrounding near us, I truly understand why my father had repeatedly requested in the case that he couldn't come to attend the ceremony, he would want me to be there with her. He said in his own words " On no accounts, must she attend her convocation alone. She had done well and we should be there to celebrate with her."
I asked her what if I couldn't be here, what would she choose to do. Her answer was perhaps she might not attend at all then. As I look at the faces around me, everyone's faces was radiating with a certain happiness. But there was a hollowness in our hearts. Still the night was truly hers.
I think I will try to be back next year for her convocation. I would like to be a part of this in this lifetime. If not for my father's sake, at least for her.
We took this photo on the way to the graduation's ceremony. I hadn't noticed the sun peeking out til I went through the photos. Somehow it seems significant to me that perhaps my father might be peeking at us through the clouds