The Good Old Days

The last couple of days felt like it was the renewal of the old days. Not that I wanted to have these nostalgic memories back, it was that the reality it hit in the face too quickly that I wasn't ready for it. I mean, I knew they were coming back on a specified time, but it expected to get my documents back prior to the return of the kids. I am still stuck and based on my sister's conversation with those people this morning, it is going be so for the next two to four weeks. It's so unfair because I want it to be done now! 11 years and it's not enough for ya?

This morning was one of those scenes that crept through to the new year. The girl was being stubborn, didn't consume her brekkie, which made me angry. I didn't explode like I would have done like the previous year, because I could manage to calm down. But still, the episode was bad enough.

Today, K and I drove to Otahuhu to have her bank card replaced. Then we headed to have the $5 burger combos at Wendy's, next was going to ask for the replacement card for the driver's license. We could get it because K didn't have original ID with her. All these troubles are because of moi, being the clumsy person that I am, I lost her purse on the twins' birthday almost two weeks prior. My sis didn't get mad, but I am so red with myself.

This Saturday my sister and I are invited to go to a dinner party for her friend, TD, who came back from Oz for two weeks. Since she had lost her license card, it would be difficult to go clubbing with them, so our presence there would only aggravate the situation like what happened last weekend.

My sister planned on not going, but I insisted that she should go. It's her friend's final day here, and she wanted to be normal. The reasons are overwhelming.

Yesterday, the douche and the o came back from work. They worked on the shed some more as it hadn't been completed. I should have helped out but they didn't ask and I didn't realise they were working on it until it was mid way through. It all looks bad.

We didn't do much after they returned from work. It seemed like the norm has returned. K was glued to the computer while i was doing my best imitation of the couch potato. The good old days.

Buying School Stationery

Jude walked into the room at 2 o'clock in the morning. She was crying and was calling out my name. I was too tired so I couldn't make out the cry at first. I even thought I was still dreaming. Apparently, the girl was locked out by her parents. She slept early the previous night and she was sleeping in her own room, rather than her parents. So when she got up, didn't see them, she walked to their room and found she was locked out. I don't know why the room was locked, but I presume that they knew she'd go to them during the night.

Anyway, she came in and cried for her mum. Naturally, we asked her to come in bed and sleep. She calmed down and got on the bed but as we were all trying to snooze off again, she was beginning to weep for her mum so more. Annoying as that was, K ultimately let her go to her parents. She knocked on the door until the d opened it. That was a tiring experience.

When morning came, I woke up to cook congee for the kids. They are going to school today. I thought that they might have one day rest after having just arrived from their vacation yesterday. But no, even the o herself is going back to work immediately.

I prepped the kids' school stuff, while my sis tried to wake them up. Jord is really stubborn. He didn't want to get out of bed. I guess as they as grow older they get more rebelious. The morning reminded me of why I didn't want to be here. It was that morning when the children are doing their best not to pay attention to you in the while you try your best to get them to school. We had lots of these mornings last year, which made me felt saddened and angry. The sentiment has returned. Well, I still love the two kids, so that is part of the norm.

Today we will go get stationery for the kids. It'll cost alot. Looking at the list, it'll be an exciting event. The kids, as well as the stationery, need shoes, bags, lunchboxes, and PE uniform. My sis had already spoken to the couple about it and they said we pay first and they'll remedy the payment afterward.

The Imaginary Well and Night Out

I was meaning to blog yesterday but upon returning from the city, it was really late that I couldn't get online to do so. Anyway, here I am now writing about the events that happened. And I have to admit, it was quite eventful.

In the morning I woke up at around 8.45. I looked at the clock and I was still in the droozing phase. I told myself that I still had spare time to waste before going to counselling, so I went back to have more sleeping time. AT nine, that was when I truly had my body dragged up and went to brush my teeth. I told K to prep as I knew she'd take longer than myself. She did take her time, and by the time she came back from the bathroom, the time already reached half past ten. I had only thirty, but I still wanted to shower. All this added up to me being to see Bridge, my cousellor. She even called as we were making our way there. I was embarrassed, ok.

Anyway, the counselling for this session was focused on an imaginary hole. She told me about a five chapter story which focuses on the telling of your situation. Here is how the story went:

• Chapter one- you are walking down a street. You fall into a hole. It's not your fault. You can't get out of it.


• Chapter two- you are walking down a street. You fall into a hole. It's not your fault. You can see how you fall, but you don't know how to get out of it.


• Chapter three- you walk down a street. You see the hole, but still you manage to fall into it. It's your fault, and you can't get out of it.


• Chapter four- you walk down a street, you see the hole and you evade from falling into it by walking around it.


• Chapter five- you walk on a complete different street.

Bridge asked me which chapter does my situation belong in. I thought about it for a few minutes, my mind was circling on either chapter one or two, and I resorted to telling her that I believe I am in chapter two.

We talked further into more details about the image of the hole. She asked me questions like what does the hole look like, what colour is it, is the sky dark or light time, the weather, etc. Is there a tunnel? I said that the hole is dark in colour, there are stars in the night sky, no tunnel as I see it being a well.

"Does the well have water?" she asked.

"No, it's dry and deep"

We explored the imaginary well some more. She questioned about the location of the well. She added is there anything or anybody that could help out of it?

"Umm...I don't know where the well is, but I do know that it is sitting in an isolated place. I believe the only person who can help me get out of it is my sister. But at the same time, I don't want her to be that person because I am afraid she could end up in there with me."

"Where do I stand in all of this picture," asked Bridge.

For a moment I thought Bridge was trying to ask whether seeing her helps. But when I told her that I imagine her at the top of the well, she further investigated on why I said that. I told her it was because I see her as somebody who is wholesome, having a great family, well educated and ultimately happy. She let out a little tear and thanked me. She said she does have a wholesome family and she is grateful for it. She was happy to hear from me.

Bridge said she could help me. She's got the experience and the tools to aid me out of the well.

For the rest of the session we talked about the family dynamic. We talked about the douche being like a dictator in my eyes, and aunt is his servant. We talked about how he is putting on a facade, so people on the outside looking in will see how perfect he is, which does not truly reflect the reality. We also talked about how my leaving the house would reflect on the parents, the kids, and myself. I told her that I feel like a leech in their house, something she said it is not true, being that the species itself clings onto a host until the host becomes useless then it releases from it. I couldn't help but feel that way, I said.

By the end of the session, she gave some homework to do. First, she wanted me to draw an image of the well. Write down words that make me feel inside that well, and have her and my sister's images on the top of the well. Next, she wanted me to do some thinking. Think about the possibilities of things that could happen when I do decide to leave the house. If leaving is bad, how does being stationary help?

After the session, I paid the fifty five dollars, and K, who was waiting pour moi outside, and I returned back to the house where we had the clothes hung on the line. We went to have lunch at the junction near our house.

Stupid me that I forgot to bring money, so my sis couldn't get her pie. We once again came back to the house to retrieve it. After that we headed to the stationery warehouse to purchase school material for the twins($100 ripped off).

We got to the libray but didn't borrow anything. K found out that she needed to an id to get a replacement card. I lost my sis' purse last Saturday after the twins' birthday dinner. I hate that.

We went back home and we stayed there until 4.30. This time, we headed to uncle Kong's house because we had to give him the stationery that we bought from earlier. K and I kinda hoped that he'd pay us but it wasn't the case.

For dinner, we ate at the Taiwanese restaurant. We ordered the same thing as last time when we were there with my sister's friend, SL.

My sis, lately, is abit cautious about health. She now insisted that we take a long walk after dinner. That was what happened when we directed the car to the park near our house. There, we walked for a very long time. At one point, we managed to take route that led to nowhere.

While we walked, we also talked about random topics. On that randomness, we ventured on the topic about my sister's friend who resides in oz. Then, and there, I made a phone call to her. I don't what got into me, but I felt the call was free anyway, so what was the harm. Beside, K had to contact her eventually.

The call reached an answer from a familiar voice. My sis spoke into the phone, but the answerer was in a crowded and noisy place, so she could hear. But it was obvious that the friend was now back in NZ.

My sis texted instead, telling her that she wanted to speak to her. The friend we will call TD replied and said they should meet up that night. I think K wanted to go anyway, so I pushed her to meet with her friend. It turned out the friend was having dinner with a bunch of other friends from school whom my sister knew, she said for my sis to go there. We did that as my sister was anxious and excited at the same time.

We drove for forty minutes to reach and parked near the restaurant. My sister went in while I waited in the car. For a little bit, I did walk around to kill the boredom. When my sis came back, she invited me to join them as the crew was heading to the casino. I agreed, and i met my sis' old friends; MD, TD, this guy from her accounting class, TD's couple of male friends, FA and AC. These people were very kind because when K and I, who didn't have IDs, couldn't get in there, they also didn't go too. We went to the DECK club and saw some performances. My sister was loaded with elation and jubilations. She couldn't stop talking and laughing. She even went to dance at the dance floor!!

At one stage into the night, my sister pulled TD aside to tell her the truth about the last few years. MD walked in on them and she now knows about it too. At least, K can now relax about telling her friends.

I learned that TD only came back to NZ for two weeks to have her visa renewed. It was funny how I called on the night that she came back and partied with the people who knew K. What a coincidence!

About my sis' friends, they are accoutant geeks. All but one took accounting in uni. The other one does nursing.

We got kicked out of the DECK because of the lack of IDs from K and I. We were party poopers really. We decided to meet up again next Saturday and this time we were told to bring the IDs. After the events tonight, one cannot forget to bring them.

We departed by this point. It was a lovely night. My sis loved it, and that is all it mattered.

Awkward In the Car

The phone rang in the morning to inform us that the car was ready to be picked up by 5.30. K and I planned on cleaning the house and then walk to pick it up ourselves. My bro and his wife were in Ham so they were out of the window for choice.

We had noodles for lunch. Then we cleaned the house. Well, my sis did majority of the cleaning and I was lazying around, doing the perfect imitation of a hippo.

Beside eating and cleaning, we also did watching tv and trying to connect to the internet. It was funny that it all took us quite some time to do them. My sis had another task from the douche to do. She was supposed to call the council. We couldn't contact them, the reason being that we couldn't find their number. We did manage to give Apple a call. It was to repair the ipods.

Around 2.45, we began to walk to the garage. It was my sis' idea. the length is very far but still we planned on walking all the way to Otara, eventually catch the bus to our destination. Before that, I texted my brother to ask him when he'd return. He gave me a call, somewhat angrily when spoken to me.

We agreed to meet up so he could take us to the mechanic. We decided then that we'd go to my uncle Kong's house. We took another route than our usual one, and walked until we reached the house 35 minutes later. When we got, my brother and his wife arrived in no time.

They looked mad, especially my sister in-law. She looked stoic and stared into the blank. It was apparent that they had an argument. It was really awkward. As soon as we arrived at the mechanic's, we got out immediately. I didn't want to be in that situation again after my previous encounter on Tuesday.

The car was fixed according to the people there. They said that there was a problem in the sensor (not sure what that is). We drove out of the garage and my brother left by driving off. We went to Korean supermarket and had an ice cream each. Got home afterward, and then headed to my uncle Kong's house.

After having dinner with uncle and aunt, they gave us a red envelope each. They are my idols, man. This is my first and only envelope that I receive this year for Chinese New Year. Thanks uncle and aunt!!

Car Problem Revisited

K, my sister, was late for work. It was not the usual her going there late intentionally. She had to be at the labtest to have her blood taken. She then headed to repay the amount due when she couldn't pay for the medicine yesterday. In that between travel time, her car began to act funny. It was then that she stopped on the side and called me.

I was sitting in front of the tv and the computer when the call came. I picked it thinking it was possibly my brother who wanted to ask whether I'd go to his house or not. When she voiced, I knew it was my sister and I knew she got in trouble. She told me that her car was troubling and she had to stop near our old shop. She was using the phone at the dairy near there.

I immediately phoned my brother telling him to go pick K up. He said he'd come to get me first, so I had to prepare before he gets there. I did as told, but still had the delay when he reached at the house. We drove there in about 10 minutes.

Once there, K asked me if I called the douche to inform him about the car problem, thus she wouldn't be at the shop on time. I of course said no, which she then did the call herself. The conversation was brief and I knew the douche was angry by the sound of how my sister responded. She told me later he was snobby and talked like she was wasting his time. His current nickname is well deserved.

What happened next was Ken calling the towing truck. They charge $90. The towing truck followed us to the mechanic in Otahuhu, where we told them about the engine returning to its problematic past. They took it in and had a test drive which, to them, was fine. Nonetheless, the car would remain there for a day where they would have a proper checkup. K had removed her valuables into Ken's car.

After having talked to the mechanic, we drove to K's work. She was dropped and was told that my brother would go pick her up in the evening. She denied, wanting to take the bus after work, but my brother adamantly insisted. He and I then went to the club to play snooker.

I am now sitting in the living room with L's computer. Ken and she are in the city centre to see the seller. I stayed behind because I don't want to be intrusive in their dealing.

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone who is celebrating it! Our family is not one of those sadly because the o and the kids are away. Still, nothing stops you from enjoying but yourself. Have a good year!

Morning and Naming

The Hole in the Rock

This morning I woke up to the ticking clock. It read 7.30. I couldn't help but wondered if I should go help out with the twins, and their going to school. I asked K whether she wanted to go. 'Not,' was her answer.

We instead headed for the doctors. She had an appointment with one of them. I think her throat was infected. We stayed there for forty five minutes.

I came back to the house, after rejecting my brother's invitation to see him today. I know it's bad of me, but still... the whole yesterday fiasco, and the fact that I could potentially spark up more fires if I saw my sister-in-law, so it was best to remain home.

Onto another topic. It's my idea that I wanted to start a company selling T-shirts. I realise that there have been many, many t-shirt selling companies out there. But my interest in the preservation in the quality and dignity that is the classic tee itself, I should go into it. Ok, that last sentence is bullsh*t, still though, I still want to to try it out. My sister is apparently made the co-founder.

To begin a company, one obvious thing to consider is the name. I have been pondering about it. I thought and thought, and the names, though they improve each time, still sucked. I want a cool name, with good symbolism behind it, like Apple. The task itself seems simplistic, it is way more difficult than thought. But in the end, there was one name that stuck and I think it is the one. I can't reveal it now until I have set up everything.

There are of course many other things to consider when one wants to start a business. I can' t help but get thrilled by these challenges. In the least, t-shirt business is not so expensive if things don't go accordingly.

Crumbling Bridge

This photo was taken during the stop on the Oreta Island in the Bay of Plenty

Heartache!!

So what happened today is something I don't want to mention. Yet, I do want to. It all started when K mentioned about D was coming to the house to pray as it is the tradition to celebrate Chinese New Year. I was going to be at the house, but I didn't want to be there when he comes. So I asked K to call my brother to ask him I could come over or not. I didn't call myself, being that I was hesitant to do so.

He called and replied with yes. So there we went to his house. Once there, I gave him a signal on the phone. L came out instead of him. What?! I felt awkward in seeing her. I thought she was at work during this time. It was quite bad because I sensed a negative energy. I entered the house anyway.

They ate breakfast. I waited there, then Loan began callling various numbers of plumbers. Her house had leakages when the tornado Wilma hit where we live last weekend. She spent quite some time on this task. It was discovered that there was a company who was willing to make a house call without charge. She booked them for tomorrow, as a result.

My brother, his wife and I then headed to see their lawyer. They went inside for an hour, and I waited in the car as the yoosh. What happened next was the beginning of a fun afternoon...

They began to argue. About what? A bridge. A freaking bridge. So what happened was that my brother wanted to see the opening of the bridge in the place close to the butchery they were going to buy. L had other plan, that is the appointment with the plumber for tomorrow. They started arguing over how either of them could rearrange their plans. Both were stubborn and massive explosion started to erupt.

I don't know who to fault here. My brother is probably the one to get most blame, being that he should've delayed the trip to see the bridge to another day or the day after. It's just that simple. My sister in law could've postponed the appointment with the plumber. Either way, they both would've avioded the whole fiasco.

Rather, they yelled at each other, directing each others' faults. It led to more arguments, more pain. My sister-in-law was very shouty. Her voice echoed loudly and my brother, in turn, voiced out his. I felt completely out of place. Will, who was also present, was using his computer as though nothing had happened. It was painful to be in the middle like that.

I don't know truly of the future for both of them. They fought before and they reconciled eventually. I can't see them being together again, because the argument was too much painful to not be accounted for. I hope it won't be true, though.