Happy 71st birthday, my dearest Papa.

Yes. See, I am making my darnest effort to get into the spirits of writing again and pumping some life into this forgotten space.

Let’s see how long this phase will last before something important; say, the launch of a new game or when the US television season returns, come along and bring with them my compulsive obsessiveness.

So how’s new year been going? A random thought came to mind today when I was having that depressive thought about growing older, and then I made a stubborn, sulkish promise to myself that in the year 2012… I am refusing to grow up.

Hmphf, yes, I don’t care. I just don’t want to. If it sounds disgusting to you, imagine me saying that when I am 40 and you’d feel better already.

Anyway, HAPPY NEW YEAR! There’s really not much point to the above except that all the blarblarblar I read these couple of days everywhere and everyone sounded mad positive and repetitive that I started questioning myself.. WHY I SO OLD STILL SO LOSER ONE?!!

So the thoughts ding-donged here and there, then I self-consoled myself that nevermind, who cares right? Who wants to grow up seriously?!

Don’t judge me. If you are, WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?! You probably have some growing up to do too. Hurhur.

Ok. Onto mushy stuff.

Eventful is probably the way to sum up the relationship between my dad and I in the past year, where we actually had our first cold war since late 1990s, which is like OMG! ALMOST HALF MY LIFETIME AGO. Less than half, but still… it IS a lot, unlike those who are still in school whose half a life-time ago was AFTER this space’s existence.

Anyway.

A part of me know absolutely well that as morbid as it sounds, time is running out. Even if he has 20 or 30 years ahead of him, time is never enough especially when you see how age catches up with everyone around us.

Of course there is always uncertainty in life which the last year had taught me much, that I have to constantly remind myself (I do find it a challenge most of the time) to -prep yourself for the cliche- treasure every single moment I have with my parents, and Minibean too.

No massive fan fare this year, as my parents headed out in the evening for a function with Minibean (it’s midnight and they are not back, my parents are indeed much more happening than I am!), and the little moment as I sat by the dining table talking to my dad, sharing loud whispers (his hearing is not optimal these days) of gossips about my mum was probably the major highlight for me.

Dad sat around to relate his travelling experiences, of the various mountains he had scaled. Dad is an established traveller, and he spoke of Canada, and how he enjoyed Vancouver the most because of this skii mountain that offered the most fantastic view. I supposed it was Whistler he was speaking of animatedly.

I secretly seething that he didn’t bring me along. My apologies Minibean, now I know why you always so sad when I didn’t bring you on my trips. BUT now being Minibean’s mum, I can SOOOOO totally understand why Dad didn’t bring me.

We were chatting when Minibean showed him a clip on the iPhone, playing a Christmas animation with a Bollywood-ised version of Jingle Bells (watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i6JPIfDoWU) one of them clips that will make you go “NOOOOOOOOO SWITCH IT OFFFFFFFF!” because you know how it is gonna cling to you like a psychotic ex-girlfriend and plague you in your dreams.

I have no idea why Minibean is so fixated over the clip and the song, and she loves to giggle with her hand over her mouth (Why so shy?? Why so embarrassed?!) and would try to dance to it.

Side track a lil, I am bewildered why in the clip, they point middle finger one?!

Why so rude one?! Tsk tsk.

There was this particular moment when my eyes went moist when he laughed together with her like a kid, and he lifted his arms and flapped them in the air just like the minions/humpty dumpties/creatures are doing.

There and then, it became my favourite song.

What the freaks are they anyway?!

Okay, back to THAT moment. I saw the faces of both grandfather and granddaughter as they skipped heavily together, danced clumsily, laughed unreservedly as they looked at each other while I looked on, wondering why didn’t we have more of such moments and I wanted to freeze-frame that moment (in my memory, I already did).

Isn’t it amazingly beautiful how when people get older, they actually laugh unbridledly, without guardedness, without agendas, claiming back their birth rights of innocence?

It was more of such precious moments I want to see.

I am glad to say that the past 2 years has seen an improved relationship between my parents and I and though not significantly, there was definitely an increase of quality time spent with them.

I wouldn’t say everything is perfect, but in retrospect, things are certainly better than it was in the past.

I passed him a Gucci keychain as a gift and in some ways I think it is awfully insincere, so let’s hope shopping in Europe is gonna be fruitful enough for us to find something, though I do have something in mind…

Dad and I had decided to keep the trip a hush hush from my mum cos she tends to over-react even with the good things. We spoke discreetly, chuckling as we shared secrets round the dining table as I tried to suss out what are the places he would like to see, how heavy an itinerary he would like to take.

It was pretty hilarious as we were sitting by the table, and he explained why he was still home at 2pm in the afternoon. He played mahjong till4am early this morning, and he joked he won enough to cover the trip and gave me a child-like victorious grin.

I confessed sheepishly that I had just reached home from a night of mahjong playing. What did they say about genes again? Yes, I drove home from Marine Parade (where wouldn’t I go for mahjong, seriously?!) at 2 freaking in the afternoon after heading over to Lee’s place last night.

Ladies and gentlemen, for all the back-breaking efforts, I won a grand total of $14.

Nothing awesome, but a tiny win to set the new year plus plenty of good company was something really precious to me. I think last night was one of the nicest sessions because I thought what we spoke about were really heart-felt and I know they are people who actually understand, do not judge and most importantly, do not share things about for sake of gossiping.

And in 2012, I show that I still have IT. It = the stamina for marathon mahjong session. Honestly, I thought it ended a tad too early. HAHAHA.

***

New Year’s Eve was quiet and reflective, and it came before I was even aware of. When I went to the kitchen to find some guilt-induced junk food to chomp on, I checked the clock to realise it was actually *gasp* 12.10am.

I remember going to Dad’s room to wish him Happy New Year, and the very first thing he asked me was where was the iPad and if I could charge it for him.

I stayed up the entire night drawing up my itinerary and I am thankful after struggling for couple of nights, things are beginning to take place. All air-tickets are booked, and I have 3 different itineraries since not all of us are flying back on the same day, and everything has to be meticulously planned.

Some of the bookings are done. I have to say how amazing it is to fly to London by Emirates and returning from Vienna costs only S$950, inclusive of taxes!! All our tickets worked out to be less than S$1000 per pax. And air ticket to Rome from London, inclusive of charges for excess baggage, costs about S$80 per pax.

  HAPPY LIKE DON’T KNOW WHAT! I KNOW RIGHT, I AM SO AUNTIE HUH! The hotel accommodation in London is costing me about 20 quids per night works out to be less than S$50? Don’t you just love Winter deals?

So yes, surfing for deals require energy and time, thus my New Year’s Eve, was spent doing so in the day, dinner with family in the evening, and then back home doing the darn proposal while trying to get away from the darn iPad’s Birzzle Pandora game.

By the time I got some sleep after ushering the new year, daybreak beckoned.

Not quality sleep, but good enough for me to continue staring at the monitor doing my researches.

Went to pick Minibean from her grans after they brought her to church, and I made a spontaneous decision to bring her to Johor to pick my mum up, and off to Jaybee we went!

The car ride was harmonious and filled with non-aggressive banters with mum, which only lasted till the time she got home and we argued yet again, but since it is the new year, I will just not talk about it, cos by the time I saw her this morning, all’s well, so *shrugs* I guess that’s the way it is.

Now, it’s about time for me to return to my itinerary planning and accommodation booking. I had a planning crisis cos I had booked the tickets and THEN realise I am a tad apprehensive visiting one of the places I had originally planned – because the weather is are-you-freaking-kidding-me-minus-ten-degrees.

Once the itinerary is firmed up, perhaps I will share the details to my next adventure. A massive adventure for the meaning it holds.

I hope your new year has been much more happening than mine! Happy 2012 everyone!