Simple and white!

My order from Amazon has arrived! Actually it arrived 2 weeks ago but I have it now! I was looking for a jacket to bring for my Tokyo trip and did not have much luck finding what I want. A simple but white jacket. I decided to give online shopping a go and found this jacket which fits the description of what I had in mind perfectly! It fits nicely with a good allowance for thick clothing. There are 3 pockets outside and 1 inside. The stuffing is made of down and it has got a nice weight to it.

All in all I am quite pleased with this purchase. Once I packed in my dogi I will be all set for my trip!

You got the better of me (for that day)

A few days before Chinese New Year, I was driving on the highway back home after a function. I wanted to overtake a car in front of me and so I indicated to the right. As I was nearly halfway into the right lane the car behind me indicated and started to move to the right lane as well. The car looked as if it was accelerating at a speed much faster than mine so I moved back into the left lane. As the car behind me overtook me I saw the passenger (who presumably was the driver's wife and was holding a baby instead of placing the baby in the car seat) give me an angry stare.

Usually, I would just brush off these stares as nothing more than a waste of time and energy. But somehow I was very annoyed by the unwarranted stare. So I indicated once again and moved into the right lane. I started catching up to the car and it moved to the left lane. As I passed that car I looked at the driver, who was keeping his eyes straight ahead, as if trying to avoid me (or just being a safe driver). I zoomed off and within a few minutes I was back home.

As I parked my car I asked myself what have I accomplished by doing what I did? Did it make me feel any better? What did I actually get out of it? Nothing much, except for giving my car engine a good short run.

I would have never batted an eyelid on something like this and I honestly thought that I am beginning to mature, in a sense of seeing things as they are and not attaching any emotions or judgment to it. I felt so bad for letting my ego take over and doing something so pointless.

Guess I still have some way to go...

Hello DD 2011

 Enjoying her avocado

 Daddy is..

 

..the fun factory!

The comfort of mother's embrace

Chinese New Year Lunch and Party at the office

One of the team's mascot. It won a prize for best design.

A scrumptious lunch

After lunch there was bingo.

Rabbit making competition. It was good fun but a waste of the oranges.

Another one of the 4 rabbits made by the teams.

Timekeeper.

A lovely gift from one of the partners.

I need more time to recuperate

It was my first night back at training after what seemed like a long week. I wasstill not feeling 100 per cent despite having had a slow Sunday. I reckon that if you have been deprived of sleep for the last 7 nights resting for a day is not really going to bring it all back! Whatever it was, I said to myself that I will attend training. True enough, my performance at the session was, well, not so good. I was sluggish and tire easily. No matter, after I get back to my routine I should be up and running soon enough!

I took out the new hakama and belt that I order from a good friend in Tokyo. I was expecting to only collect when I see him at the end of next month but my brother very nicely offered to bring it them back for me :). So I get to break them in before the Hombu Instruction Tour. Speaking of which, I better get my fitness up because it will be an awesome but grueling seminar.

Finally I got the right length!

With your name on my belt, I am constantly reminded of your perseverance, dedication and unyielding spirit that defined you and inspires me. I love you.

Honno kimochi

Thanks bro for the lovely gift!

Getting some rest.

What an exhausting week it has been! I am glad to be able to get some rest today and recuperate before starting work tomorrow. My brother has just came back from Tokyo and bought us a lot of goodies to enjoy. I really miss Japan and it does not help seeing pictures of friends having a good time holidaying in Japan either! Well, I will be in Japan again soon enough so I will get to enjoy myself AND train!! 

Have a great Sunday everyone!

 

 

Tis the season to be busy

So I will see you after a few weeks when thing are settled. Have a great Sunday!

Little Jack

Yaaay I got to visit Mazzy and little Jack! Mom and baby are looking good. Jack is a handsome little boy! Whilst Mazzy and I caught up with each other I got to spend some alone time with Jack and take pictures of him, in and out of sleep. Enjoy!

 Jack and mommy

 Smiling in his sleep

 

 Who are you and what's that black thing you are using to point at me?

 Oh it's a camera. Ok I will smile and show you the dimples that I inherited from mommy.

But my patience quickly wears thin and hence I will show you something else that I inherited from mommy ...The classic M frown.

Warming the heart.

The year is still new but somehow I can't wait for January to be over! There are many things happening at work and it has brought my stress to a whole new level. Saturday was another full day for me and I have to attend a night meeting before I could hit the sack. It so happened that the meeting when long (well that and the after meeting chat. 

What cheered me up alot was opening the post box and finding greeting cards from some friends and teachers. One in particular I thought was very special. It is an advent calender card with pull up flaps showing the sights, tastes and toys of regional Japan. I think it was very thoughtful of the sender to give me this greeting card considering the fact that I told her I will be brining my mother (her first trip) to Japan for a holiday. Thanks Kana-chan!

 

Aftering admiring and sharing the card with my mom I decided that it was time to go to bed. In my room, I had a look at the books on my bookshelf to decide on bedtime reading. My eyes casted upon a wrapped bundle and I took it out of the shelf, unwrapped it and lay the book on the study table. I received this book as a gift from my dear Chin who made it herself, nearly 3 years ago. I kept the book for a purpose but it seems that the book will remain in in its unused state for some time. Hahaha. You will never know, there will come a time when I know that it is the right time to use this special book.

Chin, thank you again for taking the time to make this book for me. It is one of the items I cherish very much.

 

Alright. Off to bed I go. Goodnight everyone!