HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

This is a time now to sit back and relax with our family and friends.

As I am writing this post on the eve of Christmas in my pajama’s , I thought what a wonderful time to be home with my son, and just do nothing, no routine , no hurry,  no busy kitchen and no crowd, just the two of us.

For some of you, it might sound quite weird, or maybe you will find the silence deafening, but I had been in this state every christmas for sometime that it does not bother me anymore.

All my family are in far-away countries, scattered all throughout the world map, that it is not possible for annual gathering on this holiday season.

But I still keep the family tradition I grew up with and made sure that the values are intact and long lasting.

I wish everyone a happy happy holiday and in whatever situation you are in, if you try to look at life in an optimistic way, you will find meaning even in the middle of a deafening silence , that’s the irony of it all….trying to find meaning in simple everyday things that’s get left in the dust because of  the hum drum of a busy life.

I look forward to a more bountiful year ahead and hope you feel the same way.

Have fun ! while I try to make a home made lasagna for the first time for Christmas eve tonight.

This coming 2010, I know most of you know that  Canada is hosting the 2010 Olympics, and this picture above is a scenic view of Whistler B.C.

Who among you think Canada is well and ready to be the host country this 2010?

I am glad to have the Olympics done here but I am sad to say that I might not be lucky to get in the venue for  sneak peek because of the number of people coming but I am keeping an open mind, things…might well..uh, change and then I have to be there…you know.

Our popular Canadian Geese..that never failed to let us know winter is on it’s way

Children in Canada waiting for the Olympic torch to pass by

The Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay

 

I am glad to be back finally here.

It had been long since my last post.

There had been numerous situation that denied me the time and opportunity to do what I love best- blog my mind out.

Fortunately, the flu scare at home is over.

One family member experience flu-like symptoms that sent us to panic  due to the current H1N1 pandemic  preparations here in Canada.

We thought it could have been it, one trip to the clinic solved the puzzle.

It was a sigh of relief to know it was just another normal seasonal flu.

The best part, I am finally blogging again.

Though, Remembrance Day here in Canada had been on November 11 and I am quite late with my post I still want to stress the significance of that day to so many Canadians.

Every year here in Canada Remembrance Day is solemnly observed.

A day when schools will be closed and some offices and businesses closed for a day too.

This is something many Canadians felt compelled to observed dating back to the second world war when many Canadian soldiers died and even up to this time with many soldiers who lost lives overseas specially in Afghanistan.

Canadian soldiers are best known throughout the world for their peacekeeping roles and the public support for soldiers here is overwhelming.

They are admired, valued and became an important aspect of  Canada as a nation right now.

Every year, hundreds and thousands of people flock places to observed this day whether it be in a school assembly or public gatherings.

One of the  things that reminds me that once again Remembrance day is coming is the sight of a red poppy everywhere.

 and hearing the popular

I am so proud to be in a country where we have dedicated and willing soldiers to carry on the legacy of nation known for peacekeeping role all over the world.

 

 

Yesterday is my special day, the day I was born.

I seldom very much celebrate it but decided to make it special this year  because I am 35 years old which many people don’t really believe when I say that.

The sad truth is I am a 35 year old woman gone past the days of  wild   youth partying and drinking  as most younger generation is of now.

I am now a mother and my mindset totally shifted to a more focus,mature and dedicated to the goal and job at hand – raising my son alone.

I wanted my son to be a better version of me and most of all to have my strenght and few of my weaknesses.

I wanted him to grow up confident and ready to face the challenges growing up brings.

I wanted him to feel secure in his own abilities and limitations.

Best of all, I wanted him to reached the pinnacle of success farther than I ever did in my own life.

That I guess, is the best gift anyone can give a child.

For some of you who didn’t know when I started this blog, I was still waiting for the result of my application for citizenship.

I want to chronicle each event in pictures.

Studying the night before…..must pass the citizenship test….

after studying…prepared the clothes we will wear for OathTaking ceremony

the Judge accompanied by the RCMPThe Oathtaking ceremony…taking place…

The other 55  new Canadians

It was afterall, a day of rejoicing……

Going  home to celebrate the day we became a Canadian Citizen…

Prince Charles  began his first visit to Canada with the Duchess of Cornwall on Monday by making an impassioned appeal for global leadership on climate change. Charles and Camilla will embarked on an 11 day tour that includes four provinces such as Newfoundland,Ontatio,British Columbia and Quebec.

Before long, the wait is over- for some die hard fans of the  Royal Family.

The Royal Family suffered a devastating shame and embarassment when the royal children-particulary in terms of their marriages succumb to failure.

And now, the Prince of Wales is in Canada right now for his Canadian Tour of four provinces with none other than Camilla.

Before the anticipated arrival, there had been numerous surveys done and the result over the radio, print media, television showed a shocking revelation of  unity-  that Canadians care less.

Was the public reaction even here in Canada somehow still trigger the Diana effect ?

Much to my surprise, most people still treasured the fallen DIANA and I love the feeling of being able to relate to that sentiment though I would rather be more discreet at pointing my fingers to blame.

Almost  more than a decade, after the death of the Princess of Wales – as far as Canada, Diana is still very much missed, revered and love.

On the other hand, I admire Camilla’s strong will to take the stone cast being  thrown at her even up to now….

 She no longer is the mistress who was dubbed the  family wrecker…she is now the wife to  Charles, the Prince of Wales….for some reason Camilla seem to find it hard to win the public sympathy and admiration.

The public  sympathy, admiration and adulation that had followed Diana even up to her untimely death seems to be illusive for Camilla.

I realized, people forgive…..but they don’t forget.

Most people , mostly women from different part of the world, across languages and culture had been captivated by the life of  Diana Spencer- merely because they all can relate to the personal injustices and experiences Diana went through and weathered the storm and emerged victorious only to have life snapped out of her so soon in the end.

Such was the tragic end for the lovely Princess, that even now up to this very moment of the Prince of Wales visit to Canada….Diana’s memory looms everywhere…

It was his visit….but he seems to bring up Diana’s memory even more and the public seems to still harbour those bad old feelings for him and Camilla.

People can be unfogiving, that is the lesson maybe the Prince is finding .

There are some people who are more forgiving because afterall he was the son of the Queen, our Head of State and in a way he represents her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

I look forward to a successful end of his Canadian tour.

A few glimpses of the famous tour of Princess Diana and Prince Charles in Canada before…

Every year, Halloween is one of the many events I came to love.

And would you believe it, I always do trick or treat with my son.

Nobody knows once I am dressed in a costume that I am a mother.

The fun thing is that most houses that we do trick or treat-ing thought I am just a big sister to my son.

And my son and I got  bags of goodies-which I would presume most kids are after for when they do trick or treat-ing.

My son and I shared the same passion for love of adventure and experience.

It was the fun and excitement of the experience that we dearly besought every year and not the goodies .

And I want to keep it that way and I want to be remembered  as a fun-loving  mother.

It is a tremendous experience to be once more be child-like and share the fun with your own child, something intangible, something unique in it’s own way, something that will remain in a child’s memory.

And as long as there is Halloween, my son and I will keep that as family tradition until age became a defining factor  for him to stay away from doing the “kids trick or treat” stuff.

The art of trick or treat….as shown in pictures as how it is done here in Canada

my son as a spider man and I am the witch

here's a sample of the art of trick or treat

the other trick or treaters and me standing on the side

checking the goodies after trick or treat

Finally, I’ve got the car I wanted for so long .

Only, it was not brand new, it was not the latest model.

It was in fact the 2001 version.

Lots of  newer versions complete with newer features managed to sprung up the Automobile industry to drum up sales of the make of a car for the last 5 years.

If  I am in a different financial circumstances…I will be probably driving those newer version,

But alas, this all I can afford for the meantime, in this stiff economic downturn of the century…I am trying to tighten the belt load.

If only my car had not been damaged by that terrrible hailstone we have here last summer in Manitoba, I could still be driving it.But life really have many surprises and there are just things that happen thatis beyond our control.

Here’s what I end up driving now…and here’s what  I tried to readied for winter for the last several days, putting winter tires and installing remote starter and the list go on…I just hope everything  I just did will get me to summer without any car problems…

Time flies by.

Kids grew up quickly

Friends move away soon

This is the reality of life.

Life sometimes can be unfair.

The only thing good to do about it -is to triumph with effort  on every brink of hopelessness and despair.

Sometimes, we only knew how strong we are once we survive life’s ordeal- good and bad.

When was the last time I took the time to ponder about life ?

Long lost times ….

My pondering moments are getting more and more lately….

Our careers have taken away so many precious moments to stop and reflect about it.

Until  then we realized, we can’t stop the clock and reverse our life back.

Don’t let your job take away your precious time meant to spent to the people that is close and important to you. ….sometimes we lose that wonder…and sometimes we only found ourself again after something really either bad ot terrible that we tend to get back to our senses.

Sometimes, when we lose our way…that is when really  find our way…

After all I went through , I finally found I am a stronger person.

At the start of making this blog, I wanted to put my thoughts , just all of it…it liberated me of the burden I had so long carried with me…and in the process found and form some friendships here.

I want to appreciate everyone’s little precious time spent on  reading my entries. Though it still puzzles me to see that I have lots of  visitors from all over the world, the thought alone made me realize that we can find friends in any way, in any manner, in any mode….there is always someone we are destined to meet that will make us smile.

Life is short.

I felt I have no right to take it for granted…I can only wish….to be grateful each day.