A good year ahead

Clean house. Good year.

- Ancient Chinese Belief

As the Lunar New Year arriving soon, the focus for most of us begin with cleaning and decorating, from each's threshold into drawers and cupboards. Jolly, the house would be de-cluttered determinedly, cleaned sparkly and decorated with all sort of lucky symbols to usher the family in a prosperous Chinese New Year. Dirt, residue, negative attitudes, unpleasant words and disrespect are to be swept before or after the celebration.

Along with the clean house, I suppose one's mind must also be refresh and optimistic. Only honeyed thoughts should come out of one's mouth, and the little minds are not reprimanded or scolded during the celebration period. 

Cleaned shelter, honeyed thoughts inject positivity from one to another. And so we all prosperously embarking into a good year. 

Here, I am not going to tell you how my physical house being cleaned up significantly. What is more meaningful, in my opinion is, cleaning up the house of my soul from last year. I started of jotting down things in a year I plan to do since last year. I felt that it solidified the year for me to live on: purposefully, happily. So, here I am again, wrapping up 2014, which I believe it would help to led me to another meaningful year of 2015. Planning for the year is all over the place. 

1. I had been cooking a lot more than before. Sometimes, I can even handle a meal for 6! The routine kicks in so naturally now that, I hardly hear my girls mention about dining out.
2. I jogged regularly, kept sickness at bay.
3. I've saved up the money according to the plan. The question is, what's next!
4. Together with sc and little bomber, we cafe-hopping whenever we had time and had fun throughout the year.
5. I had a great trip with my good old friends in Bangkok.

Look back, it was a great year! Fruitful and fun! I got sick very little the entire year! And I learn that not all cafes are skilful enough to brew an excellent cup of coffee. Even though we didn't travel far last year, but our trip back to Penang and Malacca were not any less fun compare to other oversea trips of ours. Locally, we discovered Venus Loop of MacRitchie and Duxton Hill, Duxton Road excellent fun for little family like us to hang out. 

On top of the above, my very wonderful husband is also a great father, took over in coaching our elder daughter's study as well as wrapping himself for the tumult, keeping my sanity.

Speaking of Jiejie and her studies, science in particular, we tried but could not reason her scientifically. She struggled, and screeched. Right before her SA II last year, we decided to send her for help with one experienced ex-teacher, Catherine. She began to gauge the concept, learn the thinking skill and progressed well since then. 

Beyond academic, I snuggle my tumultuous, soon-to-be-teen daughter a lot more these days. It dawns at me that we have not been close to each other for a long time. Partly because Little Bomber demanded a lot of my presence, my cuddling and hugging times went to her more than jiejie. Now that Little Bomber is a toddler herself and less clingy, the big sister on the other hand seems lost in her emotional roller coaster. Sometime, I don't seem to recognise my own daughter. I zip my mouth more these days, instead of pitching my voice louder than hers. There is no point in talking or screaming while she is emotionally disturbed. Usually SC and I would reconcile with her when she calms down thereafter. I would give her a tight hug, reassuring my love. I hope I am doing the right thing. I hope this is just an another phrase for me to go through as a mother. 

So what's for 2015? As I am wrapping up my 2014, I am now with a refreshing year...

I intend to take up a sewing project, or maybe two. I have not been sewing, only mending some apparels and upholstery in the past year. After seeing many inspirations from other mom-bloggers, and do a little more research, I am targeting this and hoping to complete it beautifully.

Our family of four will be embarking a trip to UK. While searching information on interesting places to visit, I learnt the difference among England, Great Britain and United Kingdom. It slowly led me to read about the Monarchy and its history. I have been hooked on the documentary about British Royal family's history during my daily transit. Besides learnt about the unsuccessful attempt to depose Queen Elizabeth I and replace her with Queen Mary, I was intrigued by my elder daughter and learnt that King Arthur is a legend and folklore of a Celtic king who fought to defend Britain from Saxon invaders in the 6th century.

As a result of reading so much about England/Britain/United Kingdom, SC and I have selected the television series of Sherlock to watch during our couple-time. I haven't read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, but I guess I should. 

I wouldn't deny that I am an anglophile and I am keen to immerse into the arts and cultures. However, for the first time, I am going to take a ten-hours flight. God helps me. It was decided over SC's mileage redemption. I'm not sure how will the trip turn out either. I need to read a lot MORE.

As for writing, I might be blogging (ever) lesser, as work be will dynamically busy. I've already feel the stress. And my mojo to write and to scrapbook are not cooperative much these days. I like the fact that I have a platform to ramble and to make like-minded friends through blogging. But I can't cope. Often, I need more time to publish a writing here; I could not multitask well too, the quality time with the girls at night jeopardised when a supposedly-2-hours-composing ended up with 2 weeks of still-drafting. Besides, I am kind of one-man-show in term of daunting house chores, meal planning and execution, kids' personal chafferer (pick-up from daycare via public transport), their story-reader, emotional stabiliser, happiness generator, etc. On top of that, I make it a point to spend time with my husband after the girls doze off, before our bed night. My plate as a mum and a wife is very full and I seem don't have the ability to handle complexity.

Lastly, I hope to do a blood donation this year. I stopped donating blood since my weight dropped below 45kg. The last I did was during my university time. As I age, my body metabolism is slowing down, I have been putting on some weight and now, exceeded the mark! SC is a regular donor, and there is one blood bank nearby. This should be easily strike from the list-to-do for 2015;). Of course, I have to keep a healthy body prior to that. I have not been running since the year started, it's boring, imo. I have it replaced with regular yoga class, which I like it a lot. Fingers crossed that i will sustain the routine for very long.

Clean house, good year. Before doing the cleaning (organising and penning down the thoughts), I was pretty lost. Mundane day in day out lost me, the house was chaotic. Though it is small and simple.

I try to keep it simple. Remember? I can't handle complexity;).

A good year to ALL, too!