HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Merry Christmas one and all.

Well I'm surprised - very pleasantly surprised how many people are still checking out the blog for news. THANK YOU!!

Mum is doing very well. She has visitors every day - sometimes 3 lots of friends a day. She recently invited 2 couples - friends of mine who have adopted her (Sue and Tony, Pam and Gary) for dinner and she cooked up a Greek storm for them all - yes 85, cancer, heart attacks, angina and dinner parties (unbelievable isn't she????) She also recently hosted a get together of her 10 neighbours in the units to say thank you for being so welcoming and warm and yes....- she catered! Believe it or not, she still drives - with her doctor's blessing. The only problems she is facing is that she continues to lose weight, is very boney and therefore cannot get good rest in bed. When her carers come back from sick leave and holidays I'll talk to them about getting something more comfortable, so she can enjoy sleeping and actually rest her body.

Now to us. George only had one business trip this whole month and that ususally was a short one. Mya and I took him to the airport and she had a complete meltdown on the way back to school. Some time with her friends and she was back to her happy self. School is just holiday programme at the moment so lots of fun.

Christmas was rather limited this year as we decided to just do presents for ourselves. It was fun. I went to my favourite store and put aside everything I wanted and George and Mya followed after the signaling phone call and bought them from the cashiers. George bought his from duty free on his trip to the Philippines and I had to sneak out and buy Mya's whilst she was at school- hers is a large children's swivel chair from Ike and it's been driving around in the boot of the car because she'd find it in the house.

Now the story about the Christmas cards. We did do some Christmas cards until our steam ran out. They were ready 2 weeks in advance full of creativity etc etc and I had some left over Cardboard Christmas trees I'd cut our so I took them to school for Mya's teachers to make up with the kids. They asked for our cards to show the children. That night I forgot to pick them up and the following day was a weekend, and the following day was a student free day at school, so on Tuesday I drove Mya to school, forgot them again and drive back and picked them up. I finished addressing them and found out where the best post office was with parking. I picked Mya up after school and we went to the post office and Murphy's law... there was no parking because they were repairing the ar park. So I drove around the block, around the back and parked illegally. It was pouring down rain and again Murphy's law the umbrella had just broken. We ran to the post office envelopes getting drenched, and got in the door to see at least 20 in the queue. The only two slow postal workers in Singapore were working at this post office and therefore we had a good 20 minute wait. We were only one person away from the counter, and my gorgeous little sweetheart who had been patiently reading whilst we waited in the queue pipes up....."mum, I need the toilet and QUICK!" I grabbed her and we ran back to the rain further drenching the Christmas cards and raced for our home 10 minutes away, just making it to the toilet in time......and the letters were NOT sent again. SO I figure everyone can get their cards late this year- due to 6 year old bodily functions taking priority! SO here we are - her interpretation of Christmas.

We are having a quiet Christmas, just the 3 of us at Raffles Hotel for lunch. I think we are going to have to get up before Santa arrives to open all the presents in time to make it to lunch. THANK YOU to everyone who has sent Mya presents. Our Chrtistmas tree is looking a lot fuller underneath since the previous blog picture. Thanks to everyone for undestanding I can't do the Christmas present rush this year.

Yesterday Andrea and Rachelle came to lunch - it was the first time I'd really cooked since I got back. We made minced pies for George and choc chip almond muffins. MMMM Missed my cooking and baking. Last night we were all invited by Cecilia and Ohmo to my Singapore family's birthday celebration for my Singapore mum. George came back too late to join us. There were 40 family members, Mya and me (the only Caucasian) they were so sweet, I am very honoured when they include us in the "family-only" events. ... my Singapore mum turned 75 - we went to the Changi Beach club and ate and ate and ate till 10.30. It was lovely to watch the tide come in under the restaurant where we were eating.

Oh I have something funny to tell. Mya's been a bit reluctant to go to school - occasionally since we returned to Singapore and she asks to stay home with me. The other day was a public holiday and school was closed. So we stayed home and I told her she had to help me do my chores. We spent the WHOLE day just cleaning her bedroom, and sorting what she didn't want any more and putting aside good clothes for a family we're being Santa to this year (they have 4 children and an unemployed father). About half way through the day, she says, Mum if I don't go to school, do I always have to do your work. "Yes" I said, "and no play and no play dates and no videos like today". "Ok Mum" she says...... and I could see the cog wheels in the brain ticking away thinking "I'm never going to say I don't want to go to school again."

Another classic was that Mya has been vying for a pet. George said he had a German Shepherd for many years. Mya, quick as a pin, trying to impress us that she would be a good pet owner said "If I had a German Shepherd, I'd teach him English straight away Dad".

Have a great Christmas if you are celebrating it, and may 2008 be a happy and healthy year for all.

FAIRY SKATEBOARDER:

this photo is a blurry one sorry - but it's gorgeous. Mya in her fairy dress that Yaya gave her last year, with her protective gear on her skateboard, barefoot in our lounge room!

Here's Mya's interpretation of Christmas. She's delighting in the festivities and Orchard Road as usual has a fantastic light display which we've driven through several times. We love Christmas.. The best part of bringing Mya up in Singapore is that she is brought up respecting Islam, Buddism, Christianity and other religions equally. She was praying in front of Buddha the other day..."dear God"......... Well, we all have more to learn in our lives.

And last but by no means least, a picture of our new home. We so look forward to moving in early January. The address is on the bottom of your last e-mail. Take care.xxxxxx