The Cage

The boys (cousins, cousins-in-law and their friends) organised a soccer game again last weekend. It wasn't really soccer soccer, really, more like mini soccer. Not the real thing. The field is smaller. Actually it's all played within a cage (It's actually called The Cage). And the grass is fake. I dunno what you call it. Kayestercan says it's futsal. Whatever it is they had fun la. RT sat this one out cos he sprained his ankle from the last session.

Here are some pics from the previous sessions...

The boys in the cage...

The spectators, mainly made out of the players' family members.

Their energy sources and thirst quenchers...

For the spectators, it was like a mini picnic.

The first session, we had RT with a sprained ankle, and my cousin-in-law, J with a black eye.

Last week, there were 2 casualties....a sprained ankle that's now in a cast, and a double arm fracture that was operated on.

The Cage sounds like a dangerous place. Can play meh, this kind of sport?

Valentine's Day

This day used to be a really big thing. What to buy? Where to go?

Not that it isn't a significant day now, but if it came and went by like any other day, it'd be absolutely fine by me. The "What to buy?" and "Where to go" have become "Don't waste money on flowers and expensive dinners.....anyday also can be Valentine's day". Like Kayestercan said, "Celebrate dinner on V day now, very heng meh?"

I guess we've outgrown the commercialisation of Valentine's Day.

Nonetheless, this was what greeted me on the morning of 14 February this year.

It was a lovely surprise. Thank you RT for the lovely bouquet! Roses in my favourite colour. :)

Dinner was spent with the extended family, to celebrate my niece, Little S' birthday as well as my cousins' housewarming.

Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary!

In our generation (mine at least), it's hard to come across a marriage that has stood the trials and tribulations of 40 years.

So when my Aunt G and Uncle F hit their 40th wedding anniversary, it was a much celebrated event. They had the whole works ... from the walking-in with an entourage of flower girls to the exchange of vows and the cake cutting.

And because there are 40 years of marriage between them, they had extra performances put up by new additions to the family that came along the 40 years. Being a very female dominated family, we got the only 2 male cousins and our 5 foreign-imported male cousins-in-law to put up a song and dance.

Not to be outdone, the 7 female cousins, decided to sing a song for the couple. We had wanted to sing "Edelweiss" but someone beat us to it, so we picked "Top of the World". Then, just so we did a little bit more than the guys, we dedicated a song to Aunt G, an ex convent girl.....the IJ school song! Led by the current IJians, my 2 nieces, who also happen to be my aunt's granddaughters.

And just so the guys didn't get hold of the microphone and do another dedication, we concluded the song with, "And that was the last item". Simply because we didn't want to hear the RI song. Uncle F's a Rafflesian, and among the boys, the Rafflesians outnumber the ACSians or the Josephians, so........

Kiasu right, the IJ girls?

Actually, we needn't be afraid, cos the women in the clan would have won hands down.....check out the handmade wedding cake! Every piece of it is edible!

Happy New Year!

And just like that, another year went by.

The last day of the year is always something I look forward to. Countdown spent with family - the extended one with aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces. Nice.

On 31 Dec 2008, I was however a little under the weather and slept right through the countdown!

Nevertheless, I could still hear the counting down from my room, the popping of the champagne, the singing of the Auld Lang Syne and this year, there was something extra..... I heard "Yam Seng"! So funny!

Well, here's wishing everyone a great 2009! And like Vandice always says, "May the coming better the going."

Long Overdue Egypt Pics

We've been back more than 2 weeks. These are way overdue. But the thought of having to resize the pitcures before uploading them put me off. Ha.

Here are some of the pictures. No everyday-diary-like-detailed entries simply cos it's been too long and yes, I'm lazy. If it were a short trip like BKK, I might still do it. Anyway, here we go...

The Pyramids of Giza....extremely picturesque from this angle. Amazing how people in ancient times managed to complete these.

The Sphinx - Man head lion body - the Guardian of the Pyramids.

Sunrise from our room on the cruise by the River Nile....

The Temple of Philae - one of the many temples we visited. It's a little like the Cambodia trip. After a while, temple fatique sets in. You see one and you've seen them all.

Some coloured carvings still left after the thousands of years...

An oasis in the middle of the desert...

and part of the arduous journey through the desert...

Part of our Bedouin dinner under the stars being prepared by the Bedouins (people who live in the desert) - roasted baby lamb and their "pita" like bread. Served with Hibiscus tea.

And one of the most uncomfortable modes of transport ever! A short novelty ride in the city of Aswan was fine. But to take one of these for an hour up Mount Sinai was ass-breaking!


Sunrise and the mountainous view from the peak of Mount Sinai. WE woke up at 1230AM, took the camel for an hour or so, trekked up the remaining way of Mt Sinai, reached the peak at 530 am in the morning just for these!


And then we trekked down another 3 hours or so to the foot of Mt Sinai to visit the monastery of St Catherine where we saw the site of the trsnsfiguration.

Back from Mummyland!!!

Finally, we're done with zucchinis, tomatoes, beef / chicken / mutton prepared with the same sauces and herbs, salty soup and back to the land of char kway teow and mee pok.

We're also glad to be far away sand, mountains and stones galore!

And for me, I'm sure I'm rid of the "lau-sai" I've been having in Egypt.

Actually, it's wasn't too bad a trip - one of those places you must visit in your lifetime. I'll be posting pictures soon. For now, it's back to sleep. I'm still jetlagged.

Legally, Officially....

As of today, I have legally and officially become Mrs RT.

Which explains the lack of entries for such a long time...I've been busy with all the wedding preparations.

So now, I enter a new phase in my life. I'm sure it'd be wonderful. :)