tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307242182024-03-07T15:48:12.640+08:00The Eyes Have ItThoughts....musings....ramblings....reflections of a green-eyed woman in Hong KongFionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.comBlogger462125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-55760513448976085012015-12-14T11:06:00.001+08:002015-12-14T13:21:48.808+08:00My Sister is Gone<br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rhona Kilburn Alexander</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">27 June 1963 - 12 December 2015</span></strong></div>
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Rhona passed away on Saturday in Tenerife, of a suspected suicide (Xanax overdose). We are all stunned and in disbelief. There are some things which lead us to suspect this wasn't a suicide and I'm going to go to the ends of the earth if the person we suspect of doing something to harm her, is found to be responsible. <br />
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Whatever the autopsy result, he damaged her soul in such a way, she had no hope. He battered her physically and mentally for six years. And sadly, she thought she didn't deserve any better so kept going back to him. There were glimmers of hope now and then but in the end, he always was able to draw her back in. I tried every which way to get her to see the truth but she fought against that. I did manage to separate them late last year and things seemed to be improving for her, she had a flicker of lightness about her, but I learned recently they were back together. I have always feared the worst from this relationship and sadly, in whatever way, it has come to pass.<br />
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Rhona and I had an often troubled relationship as you all know, but I always loved her. She drove me mad sometimes and we spent some time not speaking, but as sisters we were bonded for life. When I told my brother (from whom she was estranged) he said, well Fiona it's just us now. Strange feeling that. <br />
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Rhona, I hope you have finally found some sort of peace, hopefully with all the animals who left before you and are waiting to greet you. Maybe Mum and Dad are there - if so, no doubt Dad will give you a bit of a talking to! 52 was way too young to go. Especially the way you left, whether by mistake, on purpose or at someone else's hand. Those truths are yet to come.<br />
<br />Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-12631972670237716472015-11-30T13:22:00.003+08:002015-11-30T13:26:02.029+08:00<br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Why, when a decision has been made so easy, </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">does it become the hardest thing to do?</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Anyone?</span></strong></div>
Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-52262933845154119642014-03-24T18:08:00.000+08:002014-03-24T18:09:37.527+08:00Six Years<br />
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Six years ago today, I married the man I thought I would grow old with. The man I thought I could entrust with all that is me. The man with whom I promised we would never hurt each other, never lie to each other, never be unfaithful to each other.<br />
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Less than four years down the road from the day we married, he tested me to my limits, my absolute limits. I dug deep, deeper than I have ever had to, and found a way to forgive and move forward. Part of moving forward was being a better partner to each other. During the counselling I listened, took note and made a decision to give our marriage another chance. I made my changes. He didn't make his.<br />
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Close to a year ago, just two weeks after our fifth anniversary, I found myself in the midst of his continuing betrayal, he had just become a bit more clever about hiding it. It has made me question our entire relationship and the reasons he married me in the first place. We are living apart but see each other as friends. I am determined not to become a bitter, angry woman. I want to believe there was love between us at one time, for both of us. And so I want to be able to live a life without hate or blame. All my questions to myself of 'why', come up with the same answer, because he could and because he thought he would get away with it. While he may not have set out to destroy our marriage, even though he knew his actions would do just that, he still made the decision to put it all at risk. Every single wonderful thing we had together - and we had a lot. But just not enough for him. <br />
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It has been a funny sort of a day. We actually both forgot it was our anniversary until it popped up on FB. He actually wished me 'Happy Anniversary'. Which made me feel even more distant from him. There is no understanding of what I have gone through, and am still going through, for him to wish me 'Happy Anniversary'. We aren't where we should be at six years of marriage and we're certainly not in the place where 'Happy Anniversary' is appropriate.<br />
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Very strange emotions inside me today.Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-72418245994864018432014-02-24T19:04:00.002+08:002014-07-30T18:55:08.679+08:00Sisterly Something<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My sister came to visit me in December - or so I thought - after having messed up her plans for July (she tried to travel with a defaced passport and was surprised when she was denied boarding on an international flight).<br />
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So December comes and I ask her why she bought a one-way ticket and not a return. Her response: "Don't worry Fion, I'm not staying!!" Yeah right....two weeks into her one-month stay where she is living with me, in conversation with a friend of mine, she drops the bombshell: "I'm moving to Hong Kong". I told her that she can't just move to Hong Kong, you have to be allowed to live here, it's a special visa either based on work, training or study and there has to be a sponsor for each of those. Her plan, instead, was to apply for permanent residency as she was born here - well, born in British Hong Kong that is. I explained the rules have changed, they no longer - and haven't since 1997 when we became part of China - recognised the same right to residency. And that she wouldn't be able to get it based on the fact she left over 30 years ago and it would be impossible to convince the Immigration Department that she had maintained links with Hong Kong to allow such residency now.<br />
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Well blow me over, they gave it to her. I'm not sure how or why. It even bamboozled a visa expert here. I am wondering if she used my residency in some way, not that I signed anything. So anyway, here she is.<br />
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My sister turned 50 this year and has never truly taken control of her own life. She must find blame for her own shortcomings, in fact we had a conversation recently where she assured me that she smoked, and can't give it up, only because she grew up in a household where our parents smoked and they passed it on to her, it's in her genes. Hello hello HELLO. It's called choice. Because if her rationale was valid, why do I not smoke? Same thing with the drinking, not her fault, can't stop, etc., etc. Now I realise there is a school of thought about drinking/disease/addiction but at the end of the day, truly, it is neither air, nor water, nor food so it is indeed possible to live without it. In fact our aunt, at 82, has just given up after 60+ years of smoking. I lived with a hardened alcoholic many years ago and I even managed to get him dry - until his sister gave him a beer, just one beer Fiona, there's no harm in that.....oh yes there is.<br />
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So here she plonks herself. Loses it several times over the smallest, most insignificant thing and oh Fion I need your help. Well dammit I don't want to help her navigate her life, I don't want to have her drop by anytime she feels down (that would be all the time), I don't want to have to explain how life works here, I don't want to be surrounded by the smell of smoke in my own home (she only goes as far as the stairwell outside even though I've told her not to), I don't want to run out of red wine to cook with because she's taken it all, I don't want to spend time with someone who is drunk, I don't want to have to transfer money from an account I hold for her because she's never taken her inheritance into her own account, I don't want to get phone calls that she needs me to book her boyfriend's trip to Pattaya from Bali where they are holidaying and obviously have once again, broken up. And the list is endless.<br />
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We should love our siblings, I know, but I can't do it with her. She gave my parents many years of absolute hell, always asking for money, calling them in the middle of the night half-way around the world telling them that she's going to kill herself. She needs me now as she finds herself at 50 and without any job, not that she ever did anything much beyond waitressing for a few years, without emotional resources to live in a new country, and most of all without the core ability to look after herself. I want my freedom, I want my life in my beloved sparkly home town, I want to move forward after two years of quite frankly a very shitty time. I'm ready.<br />
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And now she arrives to drag me down. Or at least make every attempt to. I cannot deal with her way of life, her habits, her choices. Yes, her choices. I am a bad person in her eyes, maybe in other eyes but for so many years people have told me to look after myself before I look after anyone else and I'm finally finding a way to do that.Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-43004352996138097312014-02-18T14:40:00.001+08:002014-02-18T20:36:45.364+08:00Rolling Up My Sleeves.....<br />
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Well, now seems as good a time as ever to delve back into my little blog, open the windows wide, get rid of the cobwebs, sweep all the dust off the floor and maybe even give it a fresh coat of paint (that one will have to wait).<br />
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I read this quote the other day and it moved me. I'm certainly no believer of big-g god and I haven't found religion, the quote stood apart from its source. These words touched a nerve.....<br />
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<em><strong>I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.</strong></em> <br />
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Yup, it has certainly felt like that for almost a year, perhaps more. I've loved as best I could but lost another anchor, my dearest boy crossed over the rainbow bridge, work has been challenging to say the least, I've been in hospital a few times, I've had surgery on my foot and almost on my knee. I'm bent (literally) but with certainty I'm not broken. Not even close.<br />
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What doesn't kill you makes you stronger? Indeed. And while it certainly doesn't feel like that at the time....too much anguish and pain to even think about ever being strong again....in time the grey fades away and colours start to dot the landscape. You realise that it wasn't all your fault, hell maybe even none of it was. We're adults, we made choices, we live with the consequences and we give chances. But we don't repeatedly offer ourselves up to being emotionally whipped time and time again. Once, even twice at a squeeze. But when you hear that whip cracking the third time, well get me off the grill, I'm done.<br />
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Sad, yes. Bitter, no. Disappointed, yes. Vengeful, no. Chalk it up to another of life's experiences. The Horse year is supposed to be a good one for us Dogs so.....Hi-Yo, Silver! Away!
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<br />Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-82626482960950416082014-01-09T18:03:00.000+08:002014-01-09T18:16:46.405+08:00Getting Through It All<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can't move forward, or even make good decisions, unless everyone is dealing with the same set of facts. Which means you need to know the truth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And only then can you make the right decision. </span><br />
<br />Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-32824936511397925522013-11-15T13:43:00.002+08:002013-11-15T13:46:01.531+08:00When You're Just....Not EnoughI revisited my little blog recently and had a read through all the posts. Some lengthy, some short. Some happy, some sad. Some questioning, some confirming. Lots about growing in love.<br />
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How quickly things can change, how easily things can become something else, altogether. I'm not perfect, never have tried to pretend that I am. But I have always done things from a point of being honest to myself and my loved ones. Even my not-so-loved ones and that is perhaps why I am now not-so-loved by them. Aaaaah honesty, how I wish you had been present more in others.<br />
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In life, you trust. You trust your commitments, you trust those close to you, you trust your decisions. Sometimes all those trusts are broken along with your heart. When you're just.....not enough.<br />
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I'm constantly reviewing the past two years in my mind....what if I had, what if he had, what if we had. But when someone constantly chooses another person, the same person, over you, it's time to realise that you're just....not enough.<br />
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Why wasn't I enough? That's the part I don't understand.<br />
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Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-67041558511676647282013-04-05T18:50:00.001+08:002013-04-05T19:01:10.355+08:00A Cautionary Tale<span style="font-size: large;">When texting both your wife and your girlfriend at the same time....make sure you haven't put the message for your girlfiend in your wife's whatsapp window before you press send.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh and probably not the best idea either to refer to your wife in said message by using the girlfriend's derogatory name for her.</span>Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-70050904796526835152013-03-04T18:03:00.000+08:002014-04-23T12:12:39.973+08:00Love and Lupo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One cold Spring day, I found two little bundles of fluff dumped behind my apartment entrance gate in Tenerife. Little did I know the impact they would have on my life, my sister's life and Anders' life.<br />
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Anders fell in love with little brown baby, and called him Love (Loo-vay) in Swedish. I had already fallen in love with the poorly little black baby who was much smaller and not very well.<br />
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Scroll on 13 years. Love passed away late last month unexpectedly after a short illness. They discovered a tumor on his spleen and when they opened him up to remove it, found a large tumor on his liver and Anders took the heart-wrenching decision to let him go and not suffer through the pain after surgery for a very short life expectancy. With my heart in my throat I immediately took Lupo to the vet and he was quickly booked in for an xray and ultrasound. <br />
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This was done on Saturday and the worst of the worst has been discovered. While there is a growth on his spleen similar to his brother, what is much more worrying and serious is a primary lung tumor which has been detected, plus some other lumps in his chest area and an enlarged heart. More investigation is to be done, still to decide between a needle biopsy, CT scan or going in with a scope and taking a sample then. The vet has said I am probably looking at six months, barring a miracle.<br />
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I'm putting this here instead of on my FB page because I haven't told my sister yet...she's his second mama, having looked after him for me for almost 8 of his 13 years. So please don't mention it there if you know me here and there.<br />
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I know I should be grateful for 13 years of life with Lupo. But my heart is breaking at the thought of losing my sparkle-eyed boy.<br />
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Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-56338307949137859832012-01-31T16:19:00.000+08:002015-12-18T08:09:22.158+08:00NewnessIt's 2012, almost six years since I first wrote here.<br />
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I miss you my little blog, my escape, my sanctuary, my channel to express. And sometimes my rubber room.<br />
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Maybe with the New Year, 2012 and Year of the Dragon, I'll make time to come back and write again.<br />
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Happy New Year everyone and wishing you all a wonderful Year of the Dragon - a very auspicious year.Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-30272561533480656982011-12-15T12:54:00.001+08:002011-12-15T12:54:25.498+08:00Pushing Off<br />
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I sank to the bottom and felt like I was drowning.</div>
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I saw the me I had become.</div>
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So I pushed off hard from the bottom, breaking through my
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Replacing it with the me I need to be.</div>Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-25547945522088110522011-12-01T12:31:00.002+08:002011-12-01T13:08:36.282+08:00Running My Fingers Across the Empty 'New Post' Box<div>
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and here.</div>
</div>Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-57110314491481471042011-03-08T09:30:00.011+08:002011-03-08T16:41:34.801+08:00A Dog Named SamWarning: <a href="http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-national/a-dog-named-sam">This</a> is very, very hard to read. But everyone even thinking of buying a dog should read it. Everyone who has ever turned from rescue organisations and gone into a pet shop, should read it.<br /><br />For Sam, and so very many dogs just like him.<br /><br />Adopt, don't buy.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581520116640325938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-u5LWHI7uUcdV2wral9KImkPNqp1LtF-BCsMoXAhD_k3U_JocUlNhUEAbJ9eTT56aEQAGmdha0iS7FvAhKbt9EV4qCSqxVOO-Dm-EcTb6I98AclJSGMHWD8nKF4zrs36aEZo/s320/Lupo+%2526+Love.jpg" /><br />My Lupo (above, right, just after I found him and his brother dumped on the street) could have ended up just like Sam. And I can't begin to tell you how he has enhanced my life, and that of everyone who comes into contact with him. He gives me, and Steve, so much more than we would ever be able to give him.<br /><br />I love my darling boy so very much!<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581518014865104450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZO444NLUEmOg3j_V9Z_DQO170jvA9fJ87xhD46XNpma6rb6Flin-uYT6w1TN_QV8rHh1JDyJdMWTD0eDYez4xfNhq7awqsSrHxk4-kKO1ojKBrucj6A3v0_03wY_cHfyBw0/s320/Lupo+at+home+after+his+long+Peak+walk.jpg" />Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-56637440824389010892011-01-17T18:20:00.004+08:002011-01-17T18:37:45.809+08:00SadnessI hired K way back in 1991, a young, quiet, sweet woman with a beautiful smile and gentle soul. <br /><br />Five years ago, she came down with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Today, after a long and incredibly brave battle, we lost her, at 45. This is one of five cancer cases I'm dealing with, in a population of less than 180. It's way too many. She's the first one we've lost and it has hit us all very hard. <br /><br />In HR there's so much to deal with, apart from the medical side over all these years, the sick leave, the hiring of a temp to keep her job open for when she was able to come to work over the years. And now, the death benefits, the administration of closing her file, ending her relationship with us.<br /><br />As a company, we stood by her. As individuals, we stood by her. I'm proud of all of us for being who we were to K. But it's hard. I wish the outcome had been different. I wish we'd see her smile around here again. We will miss her. <br /><br />RIP, K.Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-59997080767084309022010-12-23T14:08:00.007+08:002010-12-23T16:33:42.401+08:00Patsy's PostToday, in my short trawl through my favourite blogs, I found Patsy's <a href="http://wanderlustgyrl.blogspot.com/2010/12/easy-for-you-to-say.html">post</a>.<br /><br />And it made me think, long and hard, about love and finding love and growing in love and living in love and, well, about all the aspects of love.<br /><br />Patsy referenced a movie she'd just watched and liked this quote:<br /><br /><em>That's just it. I don't know that Paolo's the love of my life, but I've decided to give him the chance to be. Maybe true love is a decision. You know, a decision to take a chance with somebody. To give to somebody. Without worrying whether they'll give anything back. Or if they're gonna hurt you, or if they really are the one. Maybe love isn't something that happens to you. Maybe it's something you have to choose.<br /></em><br />I know I've been very silent here since Steve and I started our life together. Some of you may be wondering if everything is OK between us. I'm glad to say it's more than OK, it's wonderful in every sense.<br /><br />I'm not saying it's perfect, goodness knows we have our ups and downs like everyone. We have our differences in opinion. It hasn't been an entirely smooth ride, I'm not breaking any confidences by saying this and I know Steve reads my blog, still. Tempers do flare, without a doubt, and we argue sometimes, too. But we have weathered all the little bumps with a great sense of humour, an understanding and an acceptance of all we are and always will be. As individuals and to each other.<br /><br />I often reflect on the the slim thread of fate that brought us together, a thread that could so easily have broken before anything happened. I reflect, too, on our decisions and how they could have been different, or influenced, or even rejected by one or the other. Getting to the place of our future together was also fraught with obstacles and was not an easy journey. But we got there in the end and I still smile when I remember our trip to Santa Fe in March 2008. What started as an opportunity to spend a few days together ended up with us joined together for life.<br /><br />Most of all, this imperfect woman reflects on the imperfect man I'm married to, and whom I will grow old with, and I thank my lucky stars that we're together. I still wake up during the night and look over at him, and smile. My heart is at peace. My present and my future are filled with affection and respect. Love binds, but love also frees.<br /><br />At our wedding ceremony, the minister closed with this:<br /><br /><em>Apache Blessing:<br /><br />Now you will feel less rain for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel less cold, for each of you will be warmth for the other. Now there is less loneliness, for each of you are companion to the other. Now you are two individual persons, yet there is a joined life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. May happiness be your companion and may your days together be good and long upon the earth. Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness, which your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives; remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight. Go now to your dwelling place, to enter into the days of your togetherness, and may your days be good and long together. </em><br /><em></em><br />I loved the words, the ideology. We're living it now and to this, I say:<br /><br /><div align="center">Hell, yeah!</div>Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-32255340564708982972010-12-09T09:44:00.004+08:002010-12-09T10:10:58.008+08:00Belated Food Post<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMP3_K-dfXW-qGJ5VEs6X-WWvL8EZcxhfIt9zma4BclRoc4dW5jtPkYk9jUi76P1hVgmDXJ2G0ZvXWDpLLJoISrD_-igtq4MjNpkoTQ81wvPxERVot3P-nREK7weJUXQAvBQ/s1600/hotpot2010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548499108221909314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMP3_K-dfXW-qGJ5VEs6X-WWvL8EZcxhfIt9zma4BclRoc4dW5jtPkYk9jUi76P1hVgmDXJ2G0ZvXWDpLLJoISrD_-igtq4MjNpkoTQ81wvPxERVot3P-nREK7weJUXQAvBQ/s320/hotpot2010.jpg" /></a><br /><div>We hot-potted to our hearts' content last weekend, in celebration of a very wonderful man, my best friend's dad. I love spending time with my adopted family, not that they had any choice in adopting me, I adopted all of them :)<br /><br />Hot pot is a wonderful meal option whereby you cook your own food - and food for others if you're so inclined - in a large boiling stockpot (or two) at the table. What you see there is about a quarter of the food we gorged upon.<br /><br />Not for the faint-hearted though, those prawns resting on a bed of ice were still alive, despite having bamboo skewers up their arses! </div>Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-4203766893413605682010-12-06T11:55:00.003+08:002010-12-06T12:03:33.791+08:00Music, Beautiful MusicWe are being inundated with excellent live musical choices here right now.<br /><br />Booked so far:<br /><br />18 February<br />Eric Clapton<br /><br />5 March<br />Elvis Costello<br /><br />11 March<br />Michael Buble<br /><br />and then....gasp...<br /><br />18 March<br />Eagles<br /><br />Set List:<br /><br />How Long<br />Busy Being Fabulous<br />I Don’t Want To Hear Anymore<br />Guilty of the Crime<br />Hotel California<br />Peaceful Easy Feeling<br />I Can't Tell You Why<br />Witchy Woman<br />Lyin' Eyes<br />The Boys of Summer<br />In the City<br />The Long Run<br />No More Walks in the Wood<br />Waiting in the Weeds<br />No More Cloudy Days<br />Love Will Keep Us Alive<br />Take It to the Limit<br />Long Road out of Eden<br />Somebody<br />Walk Away<br />One of These Nights<br />Life's Been Good<br />Dirty Laundry<br />Funk #49<br />Heartache Tonight<br />Life in the Fast Lane<br />Encore:<br />Take It Easy<br />Rocky Mountain Way<br />Desperado<br /><br />oh boy oh boy oh boy, there's going to be some singing and grooving that night :)Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-55116075357224655702010-12-02T15:07:00.004+08:002010-12-02T15:29:43.378+08:00Thanksgiving No. 3Well, Thanksgiving just past was our third together. I pushed the boat out and did the whole Thanksgivingy thing again (I had a break last year).<br /><br />I imported, at great expense, an organic bird, fresh from the green farms of Amish country. The organic, free-range, no hormone, everything natural really does make for a tasty bird for eating. They've developed good muscles, felt sun and rain on their feathers, gobbled around good time for a while, just generally been turkeys, before ending up on my table.<br /><br />I decided this year, to shoot for a 'fusion' Thanksgiving and threw in some Scottish special effects:<br /><br />Scottish smoked salmon to start<br /><br />Black pudding which was supposed to go with the roasted brussels sprouts, but I left on the side as our honoured guest, my galpal, didn't really fancy eating blood with her dinner<br /><br />Haggis, served as part of our trio of stuffings, or 'stuffing, three ways' as is so gastronomically correct these days. And for my wonderful husband, yes, Stove Top was available.<br /><br />We also had creamy mashed potatoes, orange glazed baby carrots, caramelised baked pear with red onions (thank you, Martha Stewart, for this one), gravy, cranberry sauce.....the usual culprits.<br /><br />Followed, somewhat painfully even after a respectable time lapse, by pecan pie (thank you Renu for supplying this) and vanilla ice cream (mmmm Häagen-Dazs).<br /><br />Thanks was given, quietly and individually, mainly because I forgot, after all those hours in the kitchen, that that was part of the 'deal'. Oh well, I'm thankful to many and much - and you all know who you are and for what.<br /><br />There will be NO more turkey until next year, forget Christmas - actually I quite fancy the more traditional continental goose for Christmas...hmmmm. This year, not a scrap went to waste, what with hungry relatives, dogs, neighbourhood cats, ourselves and our dinner guest.<br /><br />Not right then and there, you understand, when we're talking about a 14-pounder, but over the next few days ;)Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-80813497537872457652010-11-15T12:00:00.004+08:002010-11-15T12:06:27.951+08:00Best buds<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwl4e_Tm7i4YzXzQVfvCjXhOMq75IPRVOhyphenhyphenh4F_v1LcJ_KGmBIyH1WisIrWdKJnjslVU9s2K77NVATqVVdUFYH0QhUCiK3NwcOwW33Rqny9Wy96uXaUwO_OkFXnA97JFh6zE/s1600/cats+and+dogs+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539621492098146978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwl4e_Tm7i4YzXzQVfvCjXhOMq75IPRVOhyphenhyphenh4F_v1LcJ_KGmBIyH1WisIrWdKJnjslVU9s2K77NVATqVVdUFYH0QhUCiK3NwcOwW33Rqny9Wy96uXaUwO_OkFXnA97JFh6zE/s320/cats+and+dogs+2.jpg" /></a> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539622667212749570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiog_b-ZCkpZIE4U9t8DZc-wEedjZ2IZJ1d_zZfX9waVF-kx6Vnq2A0UBbCmKKo6JbHHiSsSCsjk-GId3n_DDEF-3SerOMa4Wo4avgDf4zccCgVyOTsE9WRkxFEASCgERucJj4/s320/cats+and+dogs+3.jpg" /></div><div>*oops, please excuse the hole in the dog-proofing system for the sofa*<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vqVtHEFhmkGLtjgRw-ky5DOJ62HvvYPbEUMxVFobDv8uKYLG1n-yb7NEgOQlR6HNe6aZNFaAepXnI8b1ZF9GIUcAFRxMG1MS8wXMsUSsm2FeAkKX38HTROyHn4wpRvj3IU4/s1600/cats+and+dogs+1.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-1357991890765328202010-11-09T10:42:00.004+08:002010-11-09T10:59:33.252+08:00The Magnificent Michael Bublé<div align="center">.... is coming to Hong Kong<br /><br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537376700900176514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OrWzjGpZnGGJ_TkuRY_1prYYs4yTnr0Yv6XEwn7nLC5fDIzp5-wSwTLFq3RpY_PncOUImPvAXq2b4SxfQYsL7AGBKi9WNOSC18U52A2gO4WeEx4KlMG8UYDZD7m3fGtUfWE/s320/michael+buble+4.jpg" /> <p align="center"><br />on his Crazy Love Tour, on March 11<br /><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 168px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537376702615809426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxn5Q-F1zhO282e2H3EVAOvQIfQHT4mQ_3Uf6Ck93W9jPWldegU6ieY5Qnv1DzxhyEF6csmewYECrL5YbEQh2ga2cFwCWjMgnLvbQ9MjGOhit6kBPBlZMcDeNXPkVu8bVuuW4/s320/michael+buble+2.jpg" /><br /><div align="center">and I have just managed to score<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537374853997336994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0b-AgOhY3H7AijOC52DrJuLYgwau8D47qI3CnH68rhb25Ht1D9tU3RSAKmhLRXIno2LOpxWsJ5eYnIz9PN_oC8fMyIXelDJWRwRmd_dpKdishAzgDJvdOkn8gPDBugUemOI/s320/michael+buble.jpg" /><br />tickets in the front centre section </div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwayLJbtkI307vMFzCQU7RFJLte9wxRJa_mNPlRYboTusRIg-MOV6dmHq225m_YUErKkNZeVQAR89EpP8C8va6t9W1GP4MVhsaB9MUiDNe6OwC_veEaICIse8a5K6GQz78kM/s1600/michael+buble+2.jpg"></a></div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537376698034548002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgRctifYm03CM2_4uJ_viAF3Xle_uZ5Pgm9MCXdxfI0Y62W1jaIFapXszxyzpIv7PUYCnuNJ-HlGeQXwNyGkycCWUp6ohRqqHi7ogl9jHNivcRyJRKhnp2RrTcUbRyLHB0DM/s320/michael+buble+3.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0b-AgOhY3H7AijOC52DrJuLYgwau8D47qI3CnH68rhb25Ht1D9tU3RSAKmhLRXIno2LOpxWsJ5eYnIz9PN_oC8fMyIXelDJWRwRmd_dpKdishAzgDJvdOkn8gPDBugUemOI/s1600/michael+buble.jpg"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div align="center"><br />only five rows from the stage!</div><div></div><div></div><div><br />My cup runneth over right now.<br /><br /></div><div></div>Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-24979668194262354152010-11-05T11:05:00.009+08:002010-11-12T18:38:02.602+08:0052nd AnniversaryHard to believe but I'm only two weeks away from celebrating the 52<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span> anniversary of my arrival!<br /><div><br /><div><div>We thought long and hard about what to do to mark the occasion.....dinner in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hong</span> Kong....short trip somewhere like Bangkok, Tokyo, Singapore....and have settled on a quick excursion over to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Macau</span> to catch the new show, <a href="http://thehouseofdancingwater.com/en/#/home">The House of Dancing Water</a>, as I really want to see it. A confirmed 'O' fan, I'm <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">eager</span> to see how this measures up.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535903234210925858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8aRLcltcyF0oMoFsGrzutbqHt34lzxlrvh8obft0S8_VPltkyEnBGyMEkf4AO9Gaz2E1sH_NZw_0E2oExMVljPyTB8bAgv46YlzZAKDZVYIFjJRu0vL92vF5pkjJzNvcqxw/s320/hdw1.jpg" /><span style="font-size:78%;"> this will be the view from our seats - I can now see why they are so pricey!</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 169px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535903259044618050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgQjXoXsON4BrW6uKYc5eKx0sEbIcz8P4k1JURcmAlUSfCpcOOvuNhmyhmWb08M8yniAIcnic9lVGxpCre8FGvhjJBZEkj9PMlXiXYjfTIvYoMa_lfPE4aweVuvR0M44ALf8/s320/hdw4.png" /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535903250079350994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEt_N4DR2U8hZNoLI87YPj76OPAvi8o2iIKSxe_ipP3pcNlW4Eh-ozBgM7Ak0wHmIKrSF3xEOQ3Ww7W4G0wiUntcBaBMuUMq_w6NKvsXFAL6RmonbeWGaed0Ey28zVJVB1WT4/s320/hdw2.jpg" /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 187px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535908231577556546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VIBc5VTib_cXTW_-RGe2t9XI-N8po_vC-aQJG3QFdJhu8rDWEemnbf4l6f_9BBV1FWvNswWgVTcOFtXfFqkyXcrnzirLGk5X_nnpGyRh_YjJ_cp8joDnFRhTkaLRBco6Z4w/s320/hdw6.jpg" /></div><div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535903264851662258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmI5uVTODS7bidqNaSGJnB8_qDLJaaduGb7xa0zFpU2-90it6zAS77_SzbKwjLjaQiFM5QKzC2z7781fZVtDfSwibq59-xEdeCaWa8r93t4iq-4SrMIwpTd1FWFmOm3oUsC9s/s320/hdw3.jpg" /></div><div></div><div><br /><br />The plan is to go over on Friday afternoon, see the show that evening (managed to secure hard-to-get best seats), relax the next day, do some sightseeing, maybe dabble a little in the casino, definitely fit in some spa time, eat some good <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Macanese</span> food, overnight again and return on Sunday afternoon. We've chosen the Hard Rock Hotel as it looks like fun.</div><br /><div></div><div><span style="color:#3366ff;">Update - duh me, I forgot they're holding the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Macau</span> Grand <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Prix</span> on the very days we will be there. Rule out the sightseeing, the main roads will be turned into a racing circuit from 6am to 6pm - never mind, the spa and slot machines will keep us entertained....plus there are loads of food options out where we'll be. When the hotel GM told me it was a busy weekend but he could still take care of me, little did I realise!</span></div></div></div>Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-89177175432271040792010-09-13T13:51:00.003+08:002010-09-13T13:54:29.343+08:00Blue on blue on blueI want to be back there right now, floating in the pool ......<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516271886052441298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-PMVW1pB3xXHA_VjZcKBQw8JIGCshXyuiX4QzpX8bl5vvkY1tyNKpPvL-S5vCeC2dOwX60lLrp7HJnWcX8eOM5Apre177y_2TjrGK7-LtsUyoBJqdOI8UKfXPwQGIBNNFcg/s320/BT1.jpg" /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516271768128445266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlzLlI4W-USAZMXDIsANuKVBoifbFR6T7o3QvMalz_qdLabLMR16vpWZwxCy8LnZEUu_FsY4jt6QGXo5AB8g1RZLztHGmq0eiCqxDzEW6Evc2QjHkDjGuPqyXHJxhVUKA208/s320/BT2.jpg" /></div>Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-62744540173928557862010-08-02T11:46:00.009+08:002010-08-02T12:19:37.615+08:0012 more days....<div><div><div><div>and it can't come fast enough.....<br /><br /><div><div></div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500654052128416274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwysiPHBGqy1MvicW8b4MsVEybvtDvmTDRO_cu9OQH03EDkkb_q2cqmnGt6_vbs7qsna3l2qasvMgJgjgaN__6j0QdJq7aZKQ-fhcg-UJIZpkX3WIz0gCxVypvqnNfmUg4kE/s320/banyan%2520samui.jpg" /> <div align="right">.....we are ready!</div><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><div align="left">Especially for some spa treats<br /></div><br /><div align="left"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 92px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500661696556600514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbnzTp1xGWEWef7pb-wA8SIfmsYRk6EL7DUEtAN1G8ydPqEkHJ6dOsrd7NqcX7ZJarBRZMm9M3F947m4rRk-e-L8uNmviXGOaUUTBp7UoARS-xFU2AHIyZfBAOjhC-ve6q4k/s320/1170659760_outlet_bannerEN.jpg" /><br /><div align="right"></div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Then on to two nights in Bangkok, in a bed like this....</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500656263471609778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuh7BVP0vNXZczEOItAG2jT-9jrYappR9xruHE9vu7NLngx6dj6731yQI-emD4n2TPeeUhxp8cU1ebd9sXCD7iRzgZVFJNkHQSkS0QkDU-K5oRfykEMz_gu8BDKYLe4zOlkk0/s320/thaisuite1.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-68157313537102971262010-07-19T18:28:00.002+08:002010-07-19T18:32:33.414+08:00Vacation Days AheadFinally, some time away for Steve and I. <br /><br />Mid-August - leave is secured, flights booked and hotels arranged.<br /><br />Five days at the <a href="http://www.banyantree.com/en/gallery/samui">Banyan Tree Samui </a>and two days in Bangkok on the way home.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 188px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495562538513698722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAzew3S5SmOooLitw5KeIQNBXsnxKGaEqtOwU8hhcR9UWtYw4ZbFQm1Fd4D-eC8jpZjmLiFzd9q_ARcQwmcmij4HeZsT_1jwgbIKSfp6_KRcFHwDYggeQy_CQFgjtiKZCvpc/s320/btsamui.jpg" /><br /><br />Aaaaaaaah, I can smell the fresh sea breezes already.Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30724218.post-48228263104944510222010-07-16T15:20:00.003+08:002010-07-16T15:39:18.012+08:0098 Hours<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwUR1ts7r4RKdlN14ExazhpoQICgrD5M8r6phXkjArTPeN7MiPk3yovt4L-CWRrkebQV6S1mUqjfZUCo4LpIRQIel-DhqQF_ejYkv52wspSUUtLFsAznq1Ihw92pYmd_KIU8/s1600/2010+HR+Conference+Group+Photo.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 219px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494401559088646882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwUR1ts7r4RKdlN14ExazhpoQICgrD5M8r6phXkjArTPeN7MiPk3yovt4L-CWRrkebQV6S1mUqjfZUCo4LpIRQIel-DhqQF_ejYkv52wspSUUtLFsAznq1Ihw92pYmd_KIU8/s320/2010+HR+Conference+Group+Photo.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii25wDMuV1WH-Havtx9G6w0rKswVBwn_VzXOX5xd0jfg5kdHRax9ycZxUoXhiYUQP3w5JIDGWQSUzvXZg6UTD-V9EpJCa7_Am8hnpjMo8pWe0UkklMLJQPoE-SFVim-rtma6M/s1600/2010+HR+Conference+Group+Photo_2.jpg"></a><br /><div>I've just spent 98 hours without fresh air. I walked into the hotel on Saturday afternoon and didn't walk back out the doors until Wednesday evening.<br /></div><div></div><div><br />We were holed up in Manila, at the HR Conference, where we shared a wealth of learning, one typhoon, six calorie-laden, delight-filled tea breaks, several wonderful meals and both new and renewed friendships.</div><div></div><div><br />And dayum, it was good to get home yesterday!</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727596416170770024noreply@blogger.com1