JE just picked up her award for last year's class placing. She expects this award to be the last one though. Since she did well, she got to move to the top class and she wouldn't be able to outshine her new classmates.
Good job, my big girl!
JE has been a k-pop fan since she was 9. Hence Korea had been one of her target travel destinations. I was in no mood to plan anything since the unexpected loss of hubby. She argued it this way:
This was a BIG activity taking many weeks.
First part: After our maid Jane left. I noticed her room was like a store room, containing boxes of books/toys and luggage bags containing clothes and more bags. I brought one bag down - hubby's things, which I asked him to check. He decided to throw some and keep some. But after this ONE bag, I concluded it would be better to wait for our new maid to arrive before proceeding with the rest. There would be too much work to clear so many things.
Second part: After hubby suddenly passed away. I had to find out what was in the house since there was now nobody who would know. Hubby owned a lot of stuff - he'd always liked buying things and apparently also liked storing them beyond their usefulness. Strange how items which were important to a person loses much of their value once that person is gone. I wondered if he was looking at me from somewhere while I went through his personal belongings. I wished I could brandish items at him and ask what is this, why did you buy this for, why are you keeping this. I held things thinking he'd touched them before. Suffice to say this task was emotionally difficult for me.
Third part: Toys the kids have outgrown. The decision to be made was whether to keep, donate or throw. JE generally said to throw everything so her part was over quickly. SE looked through each item, reminisced on them, set some aside to give to her friends, even wanted to keep some for her future kids hahaha.
We disposed of many items - to charity, to the trash. Almost there now, only a few more items to go.
As always when birthdays fall on a weekday, the birthday person gets to pick a weekend meal as well. I remembered this in time to claim my additional pick heh. Well my original choices were derailed by free birthday stuff from various places - perks of joining loyalty programs. Wataiwan was offering a free Taiwanese chicken chop - sure, I'll bite!
JE wanted this milk tea bingsu which I was expected to share. Quite nice, just that it was a lot for only the two of us.
The next weekend happened to be my turn to pick. Chose 103 coffee which was offering a free slice of cake. Picked the alcoholic kahlua tiramisu - oh this was very good.
Right after CNY 15th day was my birthday. I have always been emotional on this day. The uncertainty whether colleagues would arrange lunch or I would somehow be alone (possible when colleagues happen to be stuck at meetings). The uneasy anticipation of a birthday cake and when the cake-cutting would happen. I take leave if possible to avoid that kind of stress and to do whatever I want on my 'special day'.
This year marks my first birthday after hubby passed. I kept thinking of this day back in 2025 - my disappointment when hubby couldn't be discharged yet from hospital post-surgery, my annoyance that he continually requested things to be done for him until I had to have a dismal dinner due to food having run out at the shop downstairs. I told myself that it was ok, I would make up for it in 2026.
I never expected 2026 to turn out like this. No more hubby to pamper me with food, a massage, sometimes presents (I often don't want anything). I tried, but still spent most of the day in tears. Walked past CBTL and decided to redeem my birthday cake voucher because why not.
