I finally found a new coffee tumbler alike my old one that I had for at least 12 years and left in the hotel in South Korea. For more than a year I was searching all the Starbucks that I come across for the same type of tumbler but was unsuccessful.
Of all places, I found it in a Starbucks in Paris. Wasn’t even intending to step into a Starbucks in Paris but I had to go to a shop nearby and it only opened at 1430. I planned it such, that I found a restaurant within walking distance to have lunch and since I had some time still to kill I stepped into the Starbucks across the street to check out the carrot cake and maybe get a speciality coffee just to try something new. Lo and behold, right in front of me, when I stepped in, the tumbler! It is the opposite if my old tumbler which was green with a black rubber band. this one is in black with a green band. I am so happy I found it again.
Among all the other tumblers that I have bought and the 3 other ones I bought from Starbucks, none of them survived more than a few months. The drinking lid always broke off in a matter of months. Never locks well enough and I always encountered leaking unless I hold it. I could never leave it in my bag without fearing it would spill coffee all over. The other tumbler in the photo is one such tumbler. Also from Starbucks but the drinking lid is broken and it doesn’t lock as securely as the other one.
Just wanted to sing praises and thank the universe for listening to me when I was desperately searching for a new tumbler. Now I can have my hot/cold coffee without fear again. I am a happy camper!
Found this while scrolling through FB and it brought me joy. I didn’t realise that I missed reading good, beautifully written poems.
Everything now is short, concise and precise. We don’t write letters anymore. We write emails and messages.
The art of storytelling. There is such beauty in the images that words evoke in our imagination. Something only the written word can do.
The piece that I found:-
In English, we say: “I miss you.” But in poetry, we say: “I trace the shape of your absence in the spaces where your laughter used to linger, and let the echoes of you fill the hollow hours.”
In English, we say: “I don’t know how to let go.” But in poetry, we say: “I carry you in my chest like a stone— heavy, unyielding, and carved with the sharp edges of what once was.”
In English, we say: “I feel lost.” But in poetry, we say: “The compass of my heart spins wildly now, its needle drawn to places it can no longer call home.”
In English, we say: “I wish it were different.” But in poetry, we say: “I water the garden of could-have-beens with tears, waiting for flowers that refuse to bloom.”
In English, we say: “I hope you’re happy.” But in poetry, we say: “May the sun that warms your days be as kind to you as the first kiss of dew on the dawning light upon the leaves of the laurel that we once made love under”
In English, we say: “You hurt me.” But in poetry, we say: “You planted thorns in my chest with hands I once trusted, and now every breath feels like an apology I shouldn’t owe.”
In English, we say: “I wanted to stay.” But in poetry, we say: “I lingered at the edge of your world, a star burning quietly, unnoticed in your vast, indifferent sky.”
In English, we say: “I’m trying to move on.” But in poetry, we say: “I untangle your name from my veins each morning, only to find it woven into my dreams again at night.”
In English, we say: “I’ll be okay.” But in poetry, we say: “I gather the shattered pieces of myself like broken glass, knowing someday, even scars can catch the light.”
With poetry I write paths through gardens of grace with words in ways my body dare not go as a whole.
It has been a week into 2025 and it has been quiet. Not much fanfare welcoming 2025 as I was sick and we were up in the Dolomites mountains freezing our asses off welcoming the new year. We literally just left the hotel and made our way to the town centre piazza at Campitello about 20 minutes before and by 20 minutes later we were back in our rooms and under the covers. Quite a contrast to last years’ new year celebrations where we were in Slovenia holed up in our room as it was raining cats and dogs out. It was also too cold and not worth getting ourselves all drenched just for a 10 minutes welcome of the new year.
So far, for me 2025 is going to be one of the best year yet. Not only do I believe so, I know so. Also, I am manifesting for it to be one of the best yet and out of this world amazing year. For manifesting to work I also need to have it written down in black and white and reminding myself daily like a mantra. Sending the vibes out to the universe and wait for it to come back to me with an answer.
I also always think it is more of a mind over matter thing. Which is why I believe it is and will be a great year. I have always felt that I am lucky and have been blessed in my life. Being a mostly positive person, sure helps matters. Even the worst year in recent times, definitely referring to the dreaded COVID-19 times, I felt that it was a blessing in disguise in many ways. Of course, financially it wasn’t a great year or even a good few years after but what came out of that time for me personally was a moment of discovery and personal growth that otherwise wouldn’t have happened.
Planning on continuing the journey on personal growth, I can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for me. With the few things that we have already planned, I believe it is going to be one hell of a ride and I am going to enjoy riding the wave of 2025!
Happy New Year to you peeps and sending you positive vibes for a great 2025!!
A few weeks back, after my class, as I was making my way to the parking lot to get my bike, I happened to glance at the sunset, something I don’t usually do as I am mostly rushing home, and I caught sight of the sun gently setting behind the lighthouse, the Lanterna, a symbol of Genoa.
In all my years here, I can truly say, I have never seen this sight my my own eyes. Of course I have seen the sun setting over the horizon out at sea, but never from this vantage point. Also because I don’t live at the historic centre, so to get this exact view point would be quite impossible for me. I had to act fast as I know the sun sets pretty fast and I had all my groceries hanging off both arms. I didn’t want to miss the chance to photograph it. So, with groceries hanging off both arms and zooming in to not take the steel grills fencing where I was, I tried to hold my phone steady and get the sharpest picture possible. Though still quite out of focus, I managed.
I posted a few weeks back on my Instagram, wondering how many more sunsets I would get to enjoy, I am glad I managed to get this one. I don’t usually get any sunrise photos. I am not much of a morning person, if I can help it. I am a night owl, I tend to stay up late and if I can, sleep in. Kids, have changed things a little but being busy with the morning school run routines, I don’t even realise the sun rising. Wake up when it is dark. Wake the kids up. Morning routine, breakfast and then off to school. By that time the sun would have risen and it is all bright and bustling.
Getting carried away. Back to the topic. Photo of the day, sunset behind the Laterna. The Genoese lighthouse harking back to its glorious seafaring past, where its navy was the domineering force in the Mediterranean sea.
Everything starts with a first step. So, today, I am taking that first step in starting my blogging back up.
I have the app on my phone, on my tablet, on my computer and I stare at it from time to time. Sometimes, I even “compose” my entry in my head and tell myself that I should sit down and post. Never got round to it. Another year has passed. I also realise that I haven’t been posting much as well on other platforms. I shall just give the excuse that life got in the way. However, we all know that I am just a lazy ass. No excuses. Everyone can make time when they want to and obviously this lazy ass here has not made time for it.
If you have been following me on Instagram, or Twitter, you would probably know that I am now back in University and I should be graduating by this academic year. I am a year behind as I divided my last year workload in two. I realised that I would need time for my final thesis and that I didn’t need to rush things as, unlike the other younger students who needed to graduate and move on to further their studies or get a job. I, on the other hand, am doing it for my own satisfaction. A personal goal. A personal achievement that if something came out of it in the future would be just an added on bonus.
Although I got to say that I previously had reservations on posting as my life revolved around my children so much that I practically did not have a life outside of children, home and work. Work is sometimes boring and not really something I would want to post here. Would probably be better suited to be posted on the company Instagram or LinkedIn.
My kids are a little older now, so in theory I have more time. I just need to now get a routine going to dedicate time to posting. Just recently, I had a reminder of an old post on FB and I clicked on it and went down a rabbit hole of my old posts. It reminded me that I should, one way or another start to document my life, especially my travels again. It was good to read about my travels and my thoughts and reflections on it. Places I have forgotten that I have even visited. Food that I completely erased from my memory.
Re-reading the posts, brought those memories flooding back. The emotions – the awe that I felt, the anger, the disappointment even my taste buds were tingling as I read some of my food reviews. This flood of emotions has swept me up and floated me back here.
It is now almost the end of the year. Would it be the same if I try to make a new year resolution at the end of a year? I guess, a resolution is the same whether at the beginning or at the end of a year. Starting the resolution and keeping it is the key to making resolutions.
I am such a procrastinator! Here is to keeping to the resolution and keeping it consistent.
The recent spring cleaning has unearthed some gems!!! Ah….such memories!! One of the best times in my life. Met the most wonderful people from all over the world in a beautiful country at an amazing university! Best times!! ❣️🥰 . . . . #University #universitylife #MahidolUniversity #Thailand #Salaya #Tailandia #Università #besttimes #greatmemories #ricordibelli
Have always been a little fascinated with tiffin carriers. The antique ones are so beautiful! Have you seen them? These are some of the tiffin carriers I grew up with. Though we never used them in my family but I see them in my relatives’ homes and in my grandparents homes. I love those enamel ones with all those intricate designs. If you click on the link you would be able to read up on the story of tiffin carriers in Peranakan Malaysia.
I never knew porcelain tiffin carriers existed. They probably did but I never saw them before. To think they used this to bring food to different quarters of the home. Some Peranakan homes or old rich Chinese homes are huge and these were needed to send food.
Many years ago, I bought 2 tiffin carriers for myself thinking that I would use them someday. All in all, I have probably used them about 10 times in the last. I used them twice in the last week alone! So proud of myself. It is the Covid situation that got me busting out the tiffin carriers. Brought food to the office for M and myself.
My tiffin carriers are the new version one. Airtight and insulated. I love how the handles are fully incorporated in the full length of the carrier. Though I would have loved to have an antique one but I think these suit my needs better. I travel around on a scooter so an airtight and insulated tiffin carrier is more practical for me.
Lunch today Homemade wholemeal bread with sunflower and pumpkin seeds with chia and goji
These was lunch today. Fruits – kiwi and apple, beef with ginger and broccoli, vegetable curry, tofu and mushrooms and salad for M and last but not least my own homemade wholemeal bread.
Lunch last week. Hamburger under the egg
This was lunch last week. Fruits- kiwi, apples and grapes, peas and broccoli with smoked bacon and onions, hamburger and a bullseye egg.
This Covid situation has made me the home maker I never was. I love cooking and baking but I was never that good. I definitely upped my game this 2020 lockdown. I used my oven and kitchen the most in 2020 than I have in my last 13 years in this house. I could never successfully make bread before 2020. My cupcakes were also a miss or a hit depending on my luck. Now I consistently churn out bread, cakes, biscuits like nobody’s business! So proud of myself. 🤟😆
The best thing I got out of this whole Covid situation is that my children get to eat my food and they love it. Asking me to make them this and that all the time. Even M. So happy. I post some of my cooking and baking on my Instagram. I am still to shy to post them all. Also, I take horrible photos of them so they don’t do them justice. So I rather not. But rest assured they were devoured with relish.
I am just going to go off and enjoy lunch and the feeling of accomplishment now. 😉
Some time back I received a beautiful package in the mail. In the midst of the horrible pandemic of 2020, a little box of joy dropped in to say hello from @bathstories.sg. Have you ever seen such a beautiful piece of soap? It reminds me of a very famous painting. Do you know which painting I am talking about? Though it reminds me of a painting, Simone, the beautiful soap maker found her inspiration from a photo by Babak Tafreshi. This photo is the cover of the photobook “The World At Night”.
This particular piece is made of lavender, neroli and patchouli. When I first opened it, a burst of intoxicating perfume filled the room. For the next few days, till I kept it away, it filled my hall with its beautiful scent. It worked just like an room incense. I had to keep it away cause while it was pleasant for me, it was a little to overwhelming for everyone else. Also, the kids kept playing with it and it was too precious to me for them to play with it and it will probably be “lost” among their toys later. So I kept it away until it was time to use it.
I didn’t use it right away as I had others I need to finish up first. I don’t like too many opened items around, all half used and nothing finished. So, I patiently waited. Though I kept it away, I kept it within sight so that I won’t forget to use it once my other soaps finish. The moment it did, I whipped it out of its box gleefully, like a kid in a candy store. But it was a few months later, hence the late posting. I got it back in October and only started using it in December and only now am I posting it here. I did already post in on my Instagram.
It was quite a change for me to use bar soaps as we use liquid soaps cause of the kids. Way easier and the kids can soap themselves without dropping the bar everywhere. Also, my elder child has sensitive skin so bar soaps are a “no no” for her. Dries out her skin too much. But with the linen bag that comes with it, I can keep this bar of soap away from those prying hands and hang them way up high, away from them. Now it is my own personal soap bar.
Now, let me sing its praises. This bar of soap not only looks nice it leaves my skin silky. I absolutely love it! It is perfect for my “lazy to put on cream” days. So perfect for winter! Though it leaves the skin silky, I still won’t share it with my girls. 😛 shh….don’t tell them. Someday they might read it here but by then it will be ancient history. 😀 It is not only good for the skin but the bar of soap becomes more beautiful as you use it. In one of Bath stories’ posts, you can see how beautiful it becomes with each use. It looks like a pebble weathered by the flowing waters of a stream.
Bath stories have so many more amazing bars of soaps. Hop on over to her Instagram and get one for yourself. Of course, you don’t have to take my word for it. Get yourself a piece and see it for yourself. You will love it and be so sad when the bar of soap finishes. I am already a little sad as I see my bar of soap getting smaller by the day. I should get myself another piece but with lockdowns and Italy’s “amazing” postal service I am hesitant. I would rather fly to her and get the bar of soap myself, in person. I shall be back to see the soaps for myself, Simone. Keep some for me!
Toodeloos everyone! I will be here patiently waiting for the borders to re-open to fly back to Asia to stock up on everything, especially hugs, kisses and love and comfort food from my family back home.
Look what came in the mail today!! An amazing care package arrived with all my favourite goodies sent with love 💘 all the way from the UK. 🇬🇧
A little of Malaysia in a box making this Malaysian a very happy Malaysian. 😄
Best of all I get my Ipoh white Coffee!! Because of the lockdown on international travel, I couldn’t stock up this time but a good friend with a huge heart got me my fix. Am super happy!
Sending my care package angels lots of love, hugs and kisses!
All done!Finished stuffing every pack with somethingThere was more chocolate than anything elseHiding their designsDon’t look mama!
My eldest wanted to make her own advent calendar this year. Not that we have ever been making them all these years. She just decided she wanted to make one this year. Mind you, we are not religious. So much so, that this year is the first year we have a Christmas tree at home. We just never got round to it before. We were usually never home anyway for the holidays. But we are doing it this year for the kids.
I bought all the items needed and got them to design their own boxes. It took them 3 days to finish colouring everything. Then one morning when the girls were in school I packed and stuffed each packet with stationery and chocolate.
Now every evening after school, they will run to the boxes to open their surprise for the day. Sometimes it is fun but sometimes they fight. Kids! Though I put in the same things for both boxes but because they get to choose their boxes everyday, they both get different items each time.
What most interesting about this whole thing was that M doesn’t know what an Advent calendar is? I looked at him incredulously and laughed. I mean, he is the Christian in this house and he doesn’t know what an Advent calendar is! Now he knows. 😄
This is our Advent calendar adventure. Our first, and I see it, the first of many more to come.
mouseytong 