Spymama @ Mamakshop

Today is Valentine’s Day. How are you celebrating it, may I ask?

When Spypapa and I were in courtship decades ago, we celebrate Valentine’s Day like most couple did. A fine dinner, some flowers, gifts to each other and we would take time off to spend with each other. Now that we are both growing old as a married couple, Valentine’s Day is almost non existent. It is the truth.

Of course, we’d like to have all that romance like some married couples who still actively celebrate their Valentine’s Day as a married couple but somehow along the way in our lives, busy with kids and work.. it somehow got buried away. And we just do not have the strength to get excited with gifts, dinner and romance when priority to daily activities become a struggle.

Thus, if you are still very early into the marriage, best is not to let it disappear like Spypapa and I did. Those who kept it alive and kept their communication of romance alive, I really take my hats off to. Because, just like other special occasions like Christmas, Birthdays and Anniversaries if you forget one or two of these occasions, chances are they remain to be just as easier to be left alone as years go by.

A special occasion does not have to be like those commercial advertisements of wine, bouquet, dinner, expensive present. It can be a special time spent together even at the local eatery nearby. Roses or flowers do not really equate to remembering one. Time does. It makes sense to want to spent a quiet dinner or meal with your other half and it can be just by the park or holding hands in a quiet stroll.

So how did you actually spent Valentine’s Day? Everyday is Valentine if you take the time out for your special someone/few people. Material does not matter. A little poem or card is worth just as much. And for all the missing Valentine’s poem that I missed, perhaps I’d dedicate one to all of you here.

Valentine’s Day

Awakens my heart

Letting love come my way

Even if it drifts apart

No Valentine should sail alone

This special time celebrates love

It shall not darken or destroy

Nor break it’s arrow from above

Every day is Valentine’s Day

Chinese New Year, Gong Xi Fatt Choy… these are the very common greetings you will see in many blogs these few days. For the Chinese people, reunion dinner will be held on the eve, which is the 25th this year. Chinese New Year’s official day falls on 26th February 2009. Each year’s Lunar New Year is calculated based on the chinese calender thus, it will fall on a different day for every year.

So I would like to wish all those who celebrate Chinese New Year a very Prosperous Lunar New Year. Year of the Ox will be a year of steady growth. We all have to work hard to see the rewards but it will be worth every effort. Ask any Ox!

A year of health, wealth, prosperity and love for all my readers. And for the non Chinese, have a good holiday.

Spymama had a peaceful Christmas, staying home this year. There were few visits from friends, close friends and it was nice. We had a family dinner, nothing lavish. We didn’t gorge on too much food, cooking just enough for a dinner for the family. We didn’t get any Christmas logcake but we had Christmas Cupcakes from Prima Deli. It was simply a very simple X’mas. In this 30 days alone, there are Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year celebrations and in 3 major celebrations, an average probably spends as much as 3x the amount of what he or she would do on any normal month.

With an economy that is kinda bleak, perhaps we should be watching and monitoring our expenditure. Even our Singapore Flyer gave up on us just before the New Year starts… and had so many people stuck for 6 hours! Poor things… lucky Spymama had never wanted to go on the Singapore Flyer for these reasons:

1. Spymama is afraid of heights
2. There is no toilet and Spymama worries that she may not hold the bladder
3. It is quite expensive
4. Spymama feels that she may fear being locked in a cubicle high up with no Prince Charming to rescue her. She has no long long braided hair either.
5. Spymama has seen a bird’s eye view from the SIA planes so what difference is there..

So, not that the Singapore Flyer is that bad but these are solely her excuses. And for those who have experienced it, well done. Anyway, I do hope it gets to working order once it has been deemed safe to run. Never mind the length of time. However, according to the newspapers, the poor retailers and businesses there had a drastic drop of 90%.

Anyway, it’s only 2 days to a New Year. Have a wonderful one and may 2009 brings you endless Happiness, Joy, Love, Fortunes and whatever you wished for, come true.

It is Christmas eve. I have to complete one more gift and I’m done! Today, most of the shops will be closed by 6pm as in Singapore, majority of the people celebrate Christmas. Orchard Road will be closed to traffic as well. But I will stay away from Orchard Road as it will be congested with people! The MRT is going to be packed like sardines! I’ve had this experience before when I used to hang out with buddies when younger and you can’t really move around much. If you have not an oune of energy, you won’t even fall as you will be propped uprights by all those who are around you!

I remember when the Singapore Swing at Orchard was going on and people were dancing on the street on festive occasions. It was fun when you are younger, single and hangs out with lots of friends.

This Christmas season is going to be a quiet time for us as this year. We should be counting our blessings for the food we have on the table. I didn’t order a large log cake this year either. I am going to get a small one. Too much food is being wasted the previous years so this year will be a simple one. Cherish our loved ones, food on the table and some simple gift exchange is good.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Today is Hari Raya, a Special Day where all the muslims celebrate end of Ramadan. I would like to wish all my readers who celebrate this occasion as well as those who are visiting their muslim friends for some yum yum tum tum and also those who will still get their day off, since it is officially a Public Holiday in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

Have A Good Hari Raya, Have A Good Holiday. Let’s Wish for Peace and Harmony for all races.