Sorry!
Just want to say sorry to everyone who has been visiting and finding no new posts here. As I told Mamafami when she asked me why no new posts?.... I said... No 1 - I am lazy... No 2... my laptop charger died and was waiting for new one to arrive.
It has arrived, so please be patient for a few more days. I will try to post on Sat.
Thank you very much for your patience!
Showing posts with label Musings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Musings. Show all posts
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Thursday, 1 April 2010
April Fool's Day
April Fool's Day
Sigh. Why sigh? Because every year for as long as I can remember, my late brother Francis will call me and my mother and when my daughter was big enough to understand, her as well, to try and play a joke on us. Most of the time, my mum would be taken in as she would forget that it's April 1 and the laughs that we will get when he or she repeats the joke to us. As for me, most of the time, I will be waiting for his call and don't get caught!
Francis was good that way, remembering birthdays, anniversaries and even April Fool's day! It's gone just past 6 months that he has left us and it's times like this that it hurts most.
Back to the present... Mother Nature did a u-turn yesterday, it was back to winter - (read snow)for places up north and for us in London, daytime temperature was less than 10 degs.
It's sunny now but hope it's not an April Fool joke that Mother Nature is playing on us.
We will be having a loooong weekend as we get Easter Monday off as well.
Sigh. Why sigh? Because every year for as long as I can remember, my late brother Francis will call me and my mother and when my daughter was big enough to understand, her as well, to try and play a joke on us. Most of the time, my mum would be taken in as she would forget that it's April 1 and the laughs that we will get when he or she repeats the joke to us. As for me, most of the time, I will be waiting for his call and don't get caught!
Francis was good that way, remembering birthdays, anniversaries and even April Fool's day! It's gone just past 6 months that he has left us and it's times like this that it hurts most.
Back to the present... Mother Nature did a u-turn yesterday, it was back to winter - (read snow)for places up north and for us in London, daytime temperature was less than 10 degs.
It's sunny now but hope it's not an April Fool joke that Mother Nature is playing on us.
We will be having a loooong weekend as we get Easter Monday off as well.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Finally
Finally
Whew! Managed to nearly complete my tasks for today. Did 5 loads of washing today. Made sugee biscuits, acar and also a strawberry shortcake.
Wanted to do the strawberry shortcake for valentine's day tomorrow but since Katrina's future parents-in-law were coming to tea, thought I'd make it today. This is the first time we are meeting them, so...
Last 2 things left to do. Bake one more batch of pineapple tarts - jam already done this morning, so just have to make the dough and then wipe down the glass of the extractor fan and I think I'm done!
Whew! Managed to nearly complete my tasks for today. Did 5 loads of washing today. Made sugee biscuits, acar and also a strawberry shortcake.
Wanted to do the strawberry shortcake for valentine's day tomorrow but since Katrina's future parents-in-law were coming to tea, thought I'd make it today. This is the first time we are meeting them, so...
Last 2 things left to do. Bake one more batch of pineapple tarts - jam already done this morning, so just have to make the dough and then wipe down the glass of the extractor fan and I think I'm done!
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Snow
Winter Wonderland?
Snow last year was early. Since I have been here, it normally snows after Christmas but last year, it snowed on 21 Dec. That was the day I was due to arrive back from Singapore. Boy was I worried because normally when I go to Singapore even in winter, I do not take a coat with me as it is too bulky and I always think that Pat will pick me up, so that will not be a problem. But on the morning (0600) that I was dur to arrive, the forecast was for -5 deg. Yikes! I only had my cardigan with me but with 2 pcs of T-shirts underneath, I managed to brave the cold and got picked up without being frozen!
Then the same day because it was snowing so badly in the daytime, Pat could not leave his office as the roads were so jam packed. He finally got home around midnight. When he arrived home the next day he told me when he drove to work in the morning, there were cars literally abandoned on the roads. Because it was so icy and because of the jams the night before, people just left the cars and walked home!
As for me, because I have a rear drive car,it will not take me up the slope outside our house, so I was snowed in for 3 days. I was panicking as I had not done my Christmas food shopping yet. Pat was working and could not take me until 23 evening. Whew!
These are the pictures that I took yesterday but the first one was taken last year in Feb when Liana was still here and when we built the snowman together.
Taken from doorway
Snow last year was early. Since I have been here, it normally snows after Christmas but last year, it snowed on 21 Dec. That was the day I was due to arrive back from Singapore. Boy was I worried because normally when I go to Singapore even in winter, I do not take a coat with me as it is too bulky and I always think that Pat will pick me up, so that will not be a problem. But on the morning (0600) that I was dur to arrive, the forecast was for -5 deg. Yikes! I only had my cardigan with me but with 2 pcs of T-shirts underneath, I managed to brave the cold and got picked up without being frozen!
Then the same day because it was snowing so badly in the daytime, Pat could not leave his office as the roads were so jam packed. He finally got home around midnight. When he arrived home the next day he told me when he drove to work in the morning, there were cars literally abandoned on the roads. Because it was so icy and because of the jams the night before, people just left the cars and walked home!
As for me, because I have a rear drive car,it will not take me up the slope outside our house, so I was snowed in for 3 days. I was panicking as I had not done my Christmas food shopping yet. Pat was working and could not take me until 23 evening. Whew!
These are the pictures that I took yesterday but the first one was taken last year in Feb when Liana was still here and when we built the snowman together.
Taken from doorway
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Back in London to snow
Back to snow
First before I start, I would like to wish my beautful daughter a Happy Birthday. Sorry Mama cannot be there to share it with you!
Arrived safely back to London. From 30 deg in SG to a sudden drop to 0 deg. hmm...
Monday night, Pat only managed to get home at around 11.30 as all the roads were closed as they could not manage to grit the roads and too many cars on the roads were abandoned as they were skidding and sliding all over the place. Luckily, Pat has a 4 wheel drive, so it is manageable.
But I have been stuck at home since arriving back on Monday and the road outside our house is a slope and because it is a private road, it does not get gritted and because I do not have a 4 wheel drive, I CANNOT GO OUT! Arggh... I need to do my grocery shopping for Christmas lunch. And the supermarkets will be like crazy. It is only 1 day of public holiday but the way the people shop here, you would think that they were preparing for a famine or war or something. Their trolleys are full to the brim and mind you, the big trolleys that we have here are really BIG! I tried ordering online when I arrived back, but all the delivery slots were filled up till 27 Dec. But even if I did manage to order, they would not be able to deliver due to the reason I gave above. sigh.
Hopefully I will be able to go out tonight and get my stuff.
First before I start, I would like to wish my beautful daughter a Happy Birthday. Sorry Mama cannot be there to share it with you!
Arrived safely back to London. From 30 deg in SG to a sudden drop to 0 deg. hmm...
Monday night, Pat only managed to get home at around 11.30 as all the roads were closed as they could not manage to grit the roads and too many cars on the roads were abandoned as they were skidding and sliding all over the place. Luckily, Pat has a 4 wheel drive, so it is manageable.
But I have been stuck at home since arriving back on Monday and the road outside our house is a slope and because it is a private road, it does not get gritted and because I do not have a 4 wheel drive, I CANNOT GO OUT! Arggh... I need to do my grocery shopping for Christmas lunch. And the supermarkets will be like crazy. It is only 1 day of public holiday but the way the people shop here, you would think that they were preparing for a famine or war or something. Their trolleys are full to the brim and mind you, the big trolleys that we have here are really BIG! I tried ordering online when I arrived back, but all the delivery slots were filled up till 27 Dec. But even if I did manage to order, they would not be able to deliver due to the reason I gave above. sigh.
Hopefully I will be able to go out tonight and get my stuff.
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Too good to be true
Too Good to be True
We had 2 wonderful weeks - around the end of May with temps going up to around 27 at one stage, sun shining, blue skies, etc. Went downhill after that. Today it's only 16degs. Sigh. That's London for you. Summer's gone! - oh no, I do hope not. You know every year, they forecast a hot summer and this year it's no different, they forecasted the hottest summer on record and well, fingers crossed, hopefully it will change soon.
And now for the latest news.. they will be having a 48 hour tube strike which started tonight at 1900 and ending on Thursday at 1900. So, moi will be working from home as I do not fancy fighting my way in the chaos in London.
We had 2 wonderful weeks - around the end of May with temps going up to around 27 at one stage, sun shining, blue skies, etc. Went downhill after that. Today it's only 16degs. Sigh. That's London for you. Summer's gone! - oh no, I do hope not. You know every year, they forecast a hot summer and this year it's no different, they forecasted the hottest summer on record and well, fingers crossed, hopefully it will change soon.
And now for the latest news.. they will be having a 48 hour tube strike which started tonight at 1900 and ending on Thursday at 1900. So, moi will be working from home as I do not fancy fighting my way in the chaos in London.
Monday, 5 January 2009
First day of work and snowing
First day of work after a 2 week break
For 2 weeks, I had the luxury of waking up at 8 or 9 every morning, hmm.... then this morning and for the next how many hundred mornings, have to wake up at 6 to get ready for work. Went into the bathroom and as we have a velux window there, saw some snow. Did a double take and walked back to the bedroom to look out of the window to get a better look... yup... it snowed throughout the night. So anyway, continued getting ready and when it was time to leave, got into the car and reversed out onto the road. Oh before that, K called to say that the slope onto the main road was icy so beware of sliding around. To continue, reversed out to the road and then nothing happened, car moved a few meters and stopped... my jag simply couldn't make it up the road. Aiya, wasted my time earlier cleaning the snow off my car. So went back in and changed cars with Pat, he has got a 4 x 4 and my goodness, what a difference it made, with no effort at all, I was at the main road and continued my journey.
For 2 weeks, I had the luxury of waking up at 8 or 9 every morning, hmm.... then this morning and for the next how many hundred mornings, have to wake up at 6 to get ready for work. Went into the bathroom and as we have a velux window there, saw some snow. Did a double take and walked back to the bedroom to look out of the window to get a better look... yup... it snowed throughout the night. So anyway, continued getting ready and when it was time to leave, got into the car and reversed out onto the road. Oh before that, K called to say that the slope onto the main road was icy so beware of sliding around. To continue, reversed out to the road and then nothing happened, car moved a few meters and stopped... my jag simply couldn't make it up the road. Aiya, wasted my time earlier cleaning the snow off my car. So went back in and changed cars with Pat, he has got a 4 x 4 and my goodness, what a difference it made, with no effort at all, I was at the main road and continued my journey.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
I slipped!
We will be having a conference in Brugge next year in March, so I flew to Brussels on Monday morning. Wanted to check out the hotels and see which one was suitable. From Brussels airport, it is half hour into Brussels and then change another train for a 1 hour ride to Brugge. Left home at 0645 to catch the 0855 flight. Arrived in Brussels around 1130 and got into Brugge at 1345. Timed it very well as made it to my first appointment in time. Went to see 2 hotels, the Crowne Plaza and Golden Tulip. So second appointment finished at 1615 and since I was a little early, strolled down the street to see if I could find some of the restaurants that were pointed out to me that I should check out. Unfortunately, didn't find them and it was almost 1700 and I should have been heading for the station. To cut a long story short, as Brugge is a little town, most people either walk to their destination or they drive. So I walked back to Crowne Plaza and asked them to book me a taxi. Got to the station and the airport in time and flew back to London. On my way out of the airport, when I was within metres of the exit, my left leg kinda slipped and I lost my balance, and.... I was sent flying face down to the floor! Bruised both knees and my little finger got bruised and grazed as well. Luckily there was only 1 other person in front of me (so not much embarrasment there) and she helped me up and asked if I needed help. Told her that Pat was outside, so it was ok.
Got into the car and went home. On arrival and after taking off my shoes, I found that my left inside ankle was swollen! Then my wonderful daughter asked me to re-enact my fall and when I showed her the position I fell, she laughed till she almost cried! Hmmm... instead of pity from her, I get laughter! haha.
Anyway it's been 2 days since the incident and I have almost stopped limping but my both shoulders are still sore.
Thought I'd share this with you in lieu of my food pixs which I have not yet downloaded.
Got into the car and went home. On arrival and after taking off my shoes, I found that my left inside ankle was swollen! Then my wonderful daughter asked me to re-enact my fall and when I showed her the position I fell, she laughed till she almost cried! Hmmm... instead of pity from her, I get laughter! haha.
Anyway it's been 2 days since the incident and I have almost stopped limping but my both shoulders are still sore.
Thought I'd share this with you in lieu of my food pixs which I have not yet downloaded.
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Back in UK and thank you to my friends
Arrived back to UK on Sunday morning at around 0530. Boy, what a change in temperature between SG and London. I was around 1 deg C and snowing!
As my dd is still in SG and having my laptop, I am writing this in the office (lunchtime). Just want to thank all my friends for taking time off to have lunch or dinner with me. Time is just too short, but that's all I have, so I have to be contented that I am able to be there yearly! It was good to be able to catch up with you guys and gals.
This is going to be a short post but over the weekend, I will post the recipes that some of you have requested for.
As my dd is still in SG and having my laptop, I am writing this in the office (lunchtime). Just want to thank all my friends for taking time off to have lunch or dinner with me. Time is just too short, but that's all I have, so I have to be contented that I am able to be there yearly! It was good to be able to catch up with you guys and gals.
This is going to be a short post but over the weekend, I will post the recipes that some of you have requested for.
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
It's official! Winter is here. Our clocks turned back last Sunday, so we are now 8 hours time difference with Singapore as opposed to 7 hours from March to October.
Autumn was pretty mild - temperature averaging around 15 deg C, then wham, on Monday, it dropped to around 9 deg C. Last night when I left the office at 6.30, it started to hail, but when I reach home, it was sleeting! Then sometime in the middle of the night, it started snowing (goodness gracious - it's only end October!) not much at our place but just 1/2 from us at the foot hills - it snowed quite heavily as the motorway there had to be shut because the roads were not gritted which caused some accidents!
Let me tell you about my drama this morning - walked to my car and when I tried to open it, I found it was frozen shut. Called out to Pat and he asked if I had tried the other doors, which I promptly did, but to no avail. So he came out and ran his nails along the rubber of the door and managed to pry it open. Then I tried to scrape off the ice off the windows but as it was frozen, couldn't. So had to get Pat to get me a kettle of water to pour on the windows. That done, I was on my way.
As I was driving along, a sign flashed on my dashboard - "passenger door open" - remember earlier I tried opening all the doors? Well, because they had defrosted, the door was quite loose and I could hear the traffic outside, so no choice but to stop the car and close the door. So on my way again I went. As I was nearing the station, I thought I saw another sign flash up - this time it said my rear door was open! Horrors! - but as I was already quite near the station, just continued on my way . Reached the station and made sure this time all the doors were properly closed before going to work!
So my friends, that was my little drama for today!
Autumn was pretty mild - temperature averaging around 15 deg C, then wham, on Monday, it dropped to around 9 deg C. Last night when I left the office at 6.30, it started to hail, but when I reach home, it was sleeting! Then sometime in the middle of the night, it started snowing (goodness gracious - it's only end October!) not much at our place but just 1/2 from us at the foot hills - it snowed quite heavily as the motorway there had to be shut because the roads were not gritted which caused some accidents!
Let me tell you about my drama this morning - walked to my car and when I tried to open it, I found it was frozen shut. Called out to Pat and he asked if I had tried the other doors, which I promptly did, but to no avail. So he came out and ran his nails along the rubber of the door and managed to pry it open. Then I tried to scrape off the ice off the windows but as it was frozen, couldn't. So had to get Pat to get me a kettle of water to pour on the windows. That done, I was on my way.
As I was driving along, a sign flashed on my dashboard - "passenger door open" - remember earlier I tried opening all the doors? Well, because they had defrosted, the door was quite loose and I could hear the traffic outside, so no choice but to stop the car and close the door. So on my way again I went. As I was nearing the station, I thought I saw another sign flash up - this time it said my rear door was open! Horrors! - but as I was already quite near the station, just continued on my way . Reached the station and made sure this time all the doors were properly closed before going to work!
So my friends, that was my little drama for today!
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