Getting away with it

 I added another year to my life a couple of days ago. It was a three-day weekend here in NZ as we celebrated Labour Day. So off we went to a holiday home near Paraparaumu beach!

We're still in the cusp of winter though so the water was chilly.... and so was the wind! We just had a recent storm pass through and we were still feeling the effects. But we made the most of the time with friends we invited over.

It was nothing fancy. No extravagant celebration. Just simple home-cooked meals (adobo and rice, anyone?) and lots of story-swapping. It's actually funny that we all recalled how we all got together last year for my birthday and then this idea came up that we were all going to save up for a trip to Rarotonga when I turn 60. Well, the idea lost steam and then it came up again. We would have saved a year's worth for the trip by now! I wonder if we will revisit this idea again next year, or actually have something solid to work on this time around?

So what's different about me this time? Physically, I do see the signs. The wrinkles on my forehead and eyes are more pronounced now. There are times when my eyesight gets blurry. And there was one time when I was up til 1am because we were entertaining guests and the next morning I was hoarse. I also realise I like resting a lot more now. Afternoon naps especially. Or even evening naps when we're at friends' homes. They'd let me take a nap, then join back in.

This year had not been particularly good for me health-wise. I had the worst sprain ever, and then a bad case of the colds a couple of months back. These things do make me think of my mortality, and that I need to do more to keep fit and stop myself from having a third serving of rice!

Oh, and there's this DIY kit that was gifted to me. I had to ask my daughter for help with deciphering the instructions which are a bit small for me to read. And there's the kit itself which is a miniature version of a pop-up shop. But challenge accepted! Just give me a day or so to complete!

(I'm still not done with the kit after three hours working on it hahaha)

It's also this year that we had some friends leave our prayer group. Small misunderstandings can mount up, rumors can create hatred, words can hurt. Perhaps there is some truth to 'familiarity breeds contempt'. And this paragraph is the only amount of time and effort I will expend to this dilemma. Life is too short to muddle over such things. If they want to part ways, who am I to argue? I hope that in their journey they will find peace and reconciliation.

On the positive side of things, I'd like to believe that I've managed to gain some wisdom. I guess having a mortgage can do that to you. And friendship challenges. And a major sprain.

I've gotten back to reading again. Lunchtime walks bring me to one of my favourite places on earth: the library!

And I intend to take on a new hobby. Perhaps not on collecting stuff, but learning a new skill. I'm still thinking what that ought to be.

So here's to another year of adventure!

***

So here's the story behind this post's song choice. I'm a huge fan of Pet Shop Boys music - they were my introduction to synthetic pop in the 80s. In the 90's, one of my high school best buddies - shout out to Sonny! - said I should also listen to Electronic. I've searched for this band, but to no avail.

Now, thanks to Spotify, I discovered Electronic recently! So this song is so spot on for today's post. It reminds me of a time so long ago when I got hooked with the music of my generation.

Yesterday I got so old I felt like I could die

 Day 2 of staying on my sickbed. The past couple of weeks, I've been having headaches, which wasn't  normal. I alluded it to sleeping late (for the past 5 weeks), so I ignored what my body was telling me. By Saturday evening, my body made it clear it's had enough. So here I am with a severe case of the colds.

When I'm unwell, I would normally just take half day off work to rest and be fine the next day. And when I'm off work, I would busy myself tidying up. This time though, my energy level is a zero.

It's about time I start thinking about myself and my family. Which is what I said at the start of 2025. If only the people around me would also listen. :-(

(Yes, this is a rant post)

I remember yesterday, the world was so young....

 And just like that, my son turned 20 and my daughter turned 14. He's practically a grownup, and she a teen.

Oh, the many birthdays we prepared for them when they were kids! With their birthdays just 3 days apart, we'd combine it into one and they wouldn't mind.

The most memorable party we did was the Angry Birds party. We prepared weeks in advance, with custom invitations and a pinata. He had friends over and they said it was the best party ever! Then we left the decors up for my daughter's birthday with the Titos and Titas.

At the other end of the spectrum was the birthday party that was supposed to be bigger and better. We rented a community centre hall for the occasion. But when the day came, we found that the keys did not open the hall! Rather, it opened a small reading room adjacent to it. What a disaster. We urgently called the office, who had to ask someone to come over and open the hall. But it would be over an hour before it was opened and guests have started arriving. 

We even rented a magician. We were obviously panicking. But the guests made themselves busy and the magician performed at the reading room instead.

When the hall finally opened, everyone helped set up chairs and prepped the food. After the birthday song, we finally had time to eat.

I had half a mind to ask for a rebate due to this inconvenience but it was too much hassle of an incident I would rather forget.

On a couple of occasions we went to an activities centre with ice skating, bowling, and arcade games. A much more convenient way to celebrate. The kids had fun, and so did the adults who would just sit and chat.

As they became older, children's parties gave way to intimate dinners either at home or in a restaurant, and the occasional small group gathering. It becomes more difficult (and more expensive) to plan parties for teens and grownups.

Looking back at these birthdays past, I do feel it is important to mark these special occasions, no matter how simple it may be. These are milestones that also help build happy memories which I hope the kids will treasure.

Time for some birthday wishes.

I wish for my son to be successful in his studies. May he find the passion to pursue his interests and go out more.

I wish for my daughter to have good friends, now that she is in middle school and in a new environment. May her passion for music and crafts flourish.

And may they both continue to have a love for maths. It will always come in handy.