S is back in Singapore from a week-long trip to India. While he was away, it was just us and R at home. Mornings were quite easy as there was no lunch to be prepared, so life was quite easy!
There was some issues with their tickets as S’ aunt is handicapped and had booked preferred seats for them, but since she was also a wheelchair user, the airline arbitrarily cancelled her seat. Then there was a flurry of calls between me, the airline and S in India to sort out the issue. Long story short, they gave them the front row bassinet seats and refunded the preferred seat cost.
I saw a sea of difference between the way S behaved when he was not in town. I have traveled more for work compared to S, and I behave so differently! I don’t know if this is because I am a mum and he is not, but irrespective of the place I go to, irrespective of the time difference, I make it a point to speak to the children at least once a day, usually in the morning. Earlier it used to be in the morning because the children didn’t have a smartphone and S’s schedule meant I could not speak in the evening. I remember waking up at 3:30 am just to speak to them before they leave for school and waiting late at night to speak to them. S just messaged me a couple of times, but didn’t speak to BB & GG. Is this because guys and dads are just wired differently? S said his phone connection was not very good there, so I am going to give him the benefit of doubt here.
I am come very dangerously close to one year of unemployment. I really hope I don’t go too long before I get a new position. Keeping all fingers and toes crossed and hoping for the best!
Have a wonderful week folks!
In a land of exotic splendor, a young Englishwoman finds herself the guardian of an orphan child believed by a dying maharajah to be endowed with magical gifts. It is a role that will take her on a perilous journey into a kingdom’s walled city to protect a child she doesn’t know from a culture she doesn’t understand…
Abraham Isaac, teacher of Latin, philosopher and father, has, after many years, a young pupil. Teaching pulls him back into his memories: of Rose, his first love; Mercy, his stubborn sister; and most of all of Rani, his beloved wife. Of days of youth and promise, when he threw himself into the politics of Singapore in the 50s and 60s. Days when temperance and restraint gave way to action and desire. Days when the culture and society of Singapore were defined and moulded. Days when he believed he had a valuable role to play as a proud citizen of a new country. But now he is old, and the burden of his years weighs on him heavily. Distanced from a present devoid of idealism and obsessed with power and money, Abraham is estranged from his strong, successful son. Descending into the past, Abraham is led from the promise of youth, through cynicism born of experience, to an understanding and reconciliation of his life and times hard-won in maturity.
