Helen Plus Three

moody blues  amid green trees coloured lights  and glitter for  a wet not white  Christmas.... Street decorations, festive lights, giant Christmas trees are out and the festive mood is slowly encroaching on me. I've been trying to put it off but not for long. Advent is here. Not been able to do much with the kids for lack of leave, that's depressed me more I think.  My company starts off leave with a miserable 10 days a year. Well I remind myself, give and take. 5 days of leave translates to 2% a year of not working. So the long-timers here essentially work 2% to 4% less every year compared to those 'new' like me. If you are in a job that constantly practises ROI,  how should one interpret that.. It's the mood, how does one get into it, when you're still slaving away at work, without much leave days. It's depressing. Whether you like it or not, pull up your socks, time to make out that shopping list, gift list, dig out the tree and ornaments...

Mine doesn't always work.  Do you have a sense of humour.? Not everyone does. One of my three kids does not I discover, somehow I am not surprised, sad but it's not his fault. It's something one develops (or not) as a consequence of life, at the right point in life. I only hope one can develop it and it 's never too late. I think if you are happy enough and secure enough in your own shoes you probably would have one already. Nothing is more curious than the almost savage hostility that humor excites in those who lack it. ~George Saintsbury So can you laugh at yourself ? If you can then you are well- adjusted. Who else would agree with me ..... Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place. ~Mark Twain Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is. ~Francis Bacon

I've been reading the Screwtape letters, slowly but surely I get a clearer(more reassuring) picture of God through the eyes of Screwtape, the demon. It's dark I'll admit but there's an upside and really it's hilarious, because humans are so accurately portrayed. The psychological meanderings of our minds and physical weaknesses are depicted chapter after chapter. Would you get drawn in the wrong way?  I doubt it, because our wonderful God the Father is painted with quite lovely descriptions really of love and mercy, and we are forever hopeful in his eyes rather than hopeless; created for the purpose to be one with him. It paints a need for our purpose to be deserving of that oneness with him. On the reverse it also shows us the workings of the evil mind. The blatant self-serving is juxtaposed against the selfless which becomes clearer as you read. Says Screwtape.."He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself ...

Mind-blowing onde onde yummy..Ondeh Ondeh, I luuuuve them.   click on the link title.. to see where to find the good ones..

Today as I went through some practice maths with Alr (getting the logical side of my brain to work), I'm thinking my folks never really sat down with me, not close to 10% as much as I have to now with the kids. Is the curriculum harder or are the kids softer ? We have to check on their bags,  remind about homework, packing worksheets etc etc ..... nag nag nag to clean up after themselves.. toys and books.  I don't remember as much, I don't think we were that good. Or I think we just didn't have that many things . They need to be entertained more and can't seem to do so by themselves unless it comes with a game console attached. Board games only hold their attention for so long and reading instructions seems painful. More sheltered, I suppose too.  Last Saturday, Alr and I caught a cab to go to Sengkang. It was a 20 minute ride at best. The thing is, there was a stench in the cab. The smell was something like dried(preserved) fish or prawn, some passenger bef...

The new house is quite cozy, the first informal house warming was today. There's still a bit of work to be done, but it didn't get in the way. Dad's got a lovely view out his study window, there's a huge green tree with a good distribution of branches, a breezy sway today and feels very cool.  Settling in with his TV sets and electronic gadgets.  Still lots of wires to go into place.  Soon he'll be putting his plants in and smelling the roses. Mum's finally getting comfortable. Soon her spanking new kitchen will be filling up with the old smells of spice, curry and onions. I thought it would feel small but it didn't, it felt comfortable, it felt like home.  The contractor took close to two months and it's not totally completed, odds and ends still not done yet. It will be my turn to move house soon, I'd better start making notes and get advise on good contractors.

Lord, if what I seek be according to our will, then let it come to pass and let success attend the outcome. But if not, my God, let it not come to pass. Do not leave me to my own devices, for you know how unwise I can be. Keep me safe under your protection Lord my God, and in your own gentle way guide me and rule me as you know best. Amen. Call me a 'tired old' Catholic, but I am trying,  the sentiment would apply as to a very elderly person It's been a long two weeks, now and another long week to go... .