Years ago not long after I left the army I worked for a couple people who ran their own property marketing firm. I was just a kid, 22? I knew nothing about anything. Never exposed to the world of sly deals and easy steals it was all a bit of a shock to my system. Flush with cash, young and irresponsible I pissed whatever I had on drinking and well at the time there was rather alot of gambling. Am I proud of myself? no, but do i beat myself up about it the answer i no. We grow, we learn, we make bigger and better mistakes but we cant live in the past. We can only look back with hindsight and say phew thank god i am not that guy anymore.
The great thing that came out of that period were the relationships, one of my best friends is someone i met during that time. When I met her all those years ago she was preggers with her first child and today its 3 children later for her and 2 for me. I mean we didn't think past next week in those days much left the 15yrs we have known each other. We are a lifetime away from being the kind of people we were then but we are still good friends to each other and been there for each other through some tough times.
The other great relationship that came out of those days is my love for the Amoy street area. Amoy Street, Club Street, Boon Tat Street and jingle bell lane. When i walk these streetsI am nostalgic for those heady days of promise, a young man making his way in the world. A babe in the woods so to speak. When i look at the buildings today its like looking at old friends and in my mind i think of my barber that used to sip tea with me or the coffee shop where we used to grab lunch, the spot i used to wait for a ride home., the pillars my friend brad and i used to walk past at 3am as we left the office to grab a bite. Some nights we slept in the office. I spent many happy hours since those days walking around and feeling the vibe of the area but it seems even that has changed. That happens i guess life moves on its impossible to ignore.
If your wondering what the wooden box is well that's what triggered these memories. I bought that a thrift shop a couple of years ago along boon tat st i think and every time i open it to get some of my paints out i think of that place, and those days. You cant live in the past the best you can do is to look back and say phew I am glad i was that guy.
The Machado's, Russel, Caitlin and I took a lovely walk this evening.
The bigger kids were shy to carry lanterns but i think by the end of the walk they came to terms with the perceived shame!
Caitlin Really enjoys spending time with her cousins and as i put her to sleep after our walk she made me recite everything that we did from the start of the walk to the end.
No Lanterns were hurt during this walk.
I have to admit i am rather proud of my earlier post. This one is for fun. I drew Caitlin a squid to colour tomorrow and did ont for myself. I think i need a new red mark cause this one is fading.
I finally completed one, i do think some of my unfinished stuff is better but at least i finished one! I realize that this is probably amateur hour or art class 101 but having no background in this kind of thing it means EVERYTHING is new to me. Painting, drawing etc were never a large part of my life growing up its not that we were discouraged mind you its not that we were encouraged either. In my house it was always more crafty then art :).
So as you may know Caitlin had to undergo an operation recently, to remove her adenoids and ultimately her tonsils. It seemed like pretty straightforward stuff but her underlying conditions were really a source of concern for us. She did well and was really brave, I think braver then her mum and dad. And being a proud dad i wanted to giver something she would like so instead of books or toys i asked my colleagues wife to make her a nice and simple cake, nothing fancy just a red cake with a lovely chocolate interior. So after dinner on Friday we sent her to her room turned off the lights, lit 4 little candles and brought her out. She was very excited when she saw the cake (cake as you may not be aware is now one of her favourite things). As sweet as the fondant was she ate a huge slice!
I dunno if you can, but the look on her face is poor excitement.
Trying to smile with a huge bit of cake in her mouth.
This little bundle here, is smiley. She loves her big sister , her doggy, her parents and now we know for a fact the beach as well. She laughed out loud every time a waved splashed on her tiny feet. (and boy does she look cute in that hat)
I had the day off from work on Saturday so we went to the botanical gardens for a lovely picnic. I think everyone had a good time lol i know I did. We went for a very nice walk around the pond and of course Caitlin was thrilled to have her beloved cousin Michael holding her hand much to his embarrassment. We have decided that next time we will find a flat piece of land and maybe bring the frisbee .
