Monthly Archives: July 2009

If our little one shows up…

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Still awaiting some feet to fill them in...

We have come a long way as a couple since September 11, 2004. Yes, don’t ask why we choose of all dates that particular one to meet up…but I supposed being a weekend was a convenient enough excuse, no?

The trials of being in a (first) long distance relationship and then (second) an interracial relationship, the madness of being half of an equation and the joys of being with someone…and now, the challenges life has thrown us both as a married couple.

Two years of married life plus the experiences of a new country, a lost job, and soon, a baby.

Two years have come and gone – I like to think that we can still be as silly with each other as we have been when we first met. After all, it is only with someone you are truly comfortable with that you can be yourself – silly, awkward and well, just you. As corny as it sounds, I’m happy that we can still laugh together, tickle each other to death, be free to argue over the silliest of things yet be comforted in the knowledge that at the end of the day, we have each other to return to in times of need and joy.

Now if our little one shows up, it would be the perfect second anniversary present, don’t you think? But if she doesn’t, I don’t mind. I like to think that we already have the right gifts for each other – ourselves.

:)

Stashie stash!

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When Ravelry’s database put my stash count at 192 skeins (including braids of fibre), I thought nothing much of it – it was just another figure.

That all changed recently…well, after this morning actually. I have managed to filled in at least six boxes of varying sizes (the smallest being around 120 x 150 x 200 mm to the largest nearly 480 x 600 x 800 mm). Of course a good three of them contain my shop stock so I can’t really count it as just for stash but still, with the ziplock-vacuum pack thing, those 192 skeins finally materialised.

Nil finds it amusing that I have little inkling as to the amount of stash I have. He being a non-knitter (and obviously someone who doesn’t understand the obsession some people have about yarn stashing) sees things more clearly than myself I guess. But then again, this is someone who is willing to drive to Germany to buy beer if given the chance. Granted though it’s not far – about two hours by car.

I did try my luck when he said he was thinking of making the trip there with Dad – the ever sought after Wollmeise yarns are now making their appearance in the form of a real life store but alas, Nil would only be crossing the border instead of heading inward (and this store is located in the Bavarian area).

O’well, I have another three medium sized bags to go but I think I’ll probably give those away instead of sending it to Singapore. We’ll see how it goes. After my stash, the only thing left would be my clothes, books (knitting, cookbooks and such) plus things like my shoes and all. I might donate some of my older clothes and shoes but yeah…talk about stashing yarn and fibres.

Definitely need to run a “knit from stash” thing once they are out of them boxes!

Moving tales – Part III

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We started packing up stuff in the guest/computer room today – mostly yarns (transferring them from their plastic storage to ziplock bags) and bedlinen. We managed to clear away everything into two medium sized boxes (max 25 kg each) – of course we have some more left in the form of documents and my WIPs which I figure will sit well together with some other smaller boxes in the carton we got.

While sorting out the WIPs to bring to Singapore, I pulled out the suitcase which I would be using to go to Singapore and to my shock, found a rubber hose that Mum brought with her in June sitting in the suitcase. Why the heck did she bring a bloody rubber hose??? And what I am going to do with it now? Trash it? Yeah, sure…so much for not wasting money. Sorry folks – I may come across as stingy and tight-fisted but really, to me, every cent counts. Money thrown away just like that is money wasted and I don’t print money – ringgit or otherwise. Some may argue that it just costs a few ringgit to buy a rubber or hose or anything else but add it up and it can amount to a lot back at home or here.

And I DO NOT like the idea of wasting money – contrary to popular belief, Nil and I aren’t swimming in gold and I wish people would stop thinking that we are. And folks, when buying things for people, never assume that you know what they need because chances are you don’t. Things, situation, lifestyle and so forth here even the health insurance leads are all different. Always ask before buying and accept it graciously when people turn your offer down.

Then of course, next to the suitcase is the box of disposable diapers, cloth nappies, baby wipes, hankies and all those things related to baby care which she sent from Malaysia. And that got me to thinking about how to carry all that back to Singapore. Mum naturally volunteered to carry them back but really, what makes her think that it’s going to be that easy considering that she and my dad are heading off to Spain after the trip here for a tour? And then what? Make the bi-monthly, tri-quarterly trip to Singapore just to drop off baby stuff because it’s “cheap”. It’s not – after calculating all these unnecessary costs, it would have been more cost effective to buy them in Switzerland, factoring the move OR not.

It’s not that I don’t appreciate gifts and such but buying disposable diapers and other babycare items when you can find them here is NOT PRACTICAL (we’re not talking about super expensive things like a crib or stroller – even then, I draw the line between buying them in Malaysia versus buying in Europe) – as much as my parents think it is cost-effective and practical, it isn’t!!!

So really, in future, if anyone, ANYONE, tells you that they want to send things over from Malaysia just because it’s cheaper, quote them my example and how I am a living proof of what a nightmare things can be when it comes to storage and relocation.

Crochet: Mary Jane Skimmers

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Crochet: Mary Jane Skimmers (0 months)

Mary Jane Skimmers
Pattern | Mary Jane Skimmers by Sylvia Schuchardt
Yarn | Puppets Cotton 8 ply in white
Needles | 3.5mm crochet hook

I was itching to work on something other than Nil’s one side sock but didn’t want the burden of having an unfinished WIP on my hands. So I thought, hey, why not work on another bootie for little Eva? I made two pairs for her – three months and nine months – but have nothing suitable for a newborn. I figured that these little skimmers would do the trick even though some may say that she’ll outgrow it fast. I don’t really mind actually since it keeps me busy plus it helps me dip into my stash. Not that my stash got really dented in the process. This project took up very little yarn and is great for leftovers and such – if you have tons of those.

I didn’t do a two-sole bottom as called for by the pattern because I wanted to keep it soft and such. Also, the center strap was lengthened by one to two stitches (two stitches was a mistake). When the two were complete, Nil remarked that it looked a bit tad on the small side and feared that our little one may not fit into it at all. I don’t think it’ll be an issue since cotton is stretchable to some degree and the yarn I’ve chosen to work with is quite pliable and soft to boot.

Now that this is done, it’s back to the packing and this time, we’ve continued on with the clothes – I’m so tempted to just the unwanted pieces with a wholesale clothing store – and our books. Clothing-wise, there are my work clothes which I brought from home (totally useless if you ask me). I might take a few pieces with me but otherwise, the rest will probably end up in storage like the winter clothes or just given away (especially the older pieces). Book-wise, Nil will be passing off his French comics to his mum while I get to bring over my cookbooks plus craft stuff. Huzzah!

And yes, now that Eva is full-term, the waiting game begins.

Moving tales – Part II

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Packing
My wheel has finally been dismantled and is now awaiting storage with some “stuffing” material in the form of towels, bed linens and such. We’ve packed the nuts & bolts plus loose items in a separate ziplock bag so that it doesn’t go missing (at least everything will be together) and with any luck, I’ll see it again in around two to three months’ time.

Nil is also checking out things like truck rentals and such to help with moving our furniture back to France. It looks like we’ll be leaving Switzerland a few days before the middle of August for the family home in Mazel Girard since it’s too hot in Lyon.

Apparently, my father-in-law called recently and complained about how unbearable it’s becoming there. Here where we’re higher than sea level and are therefore seeing cooler conditions, the days are getting warmer – today, the temperature is still alright at 25° but yesterday, it was around 28° in the shade and higher out in the sun during the day. Mind you, no fan and definitely no air-conditioning here. Yes, Malaysians are a spoilt lot! (Just kidding!) So imagine how it is like in Lyon…crazily hot. In fact, so hot that Nil’s grandma used to spent the entire summer and up to early autumn in the family home in Mazel Girard where it’s much cooler.

So yes, we’ll be moving there before the middle of August – baby, myself and my parents – and Nil will probably drive back again to clean up the place and pass the keys off to the next tenant (a bit of drama there, as you will see if you read on). The biggest concern I have with this plan is should she arrive on her expected due date, it means that part of the confinement will have to be carried out in Mazel Girard which will make life difficult for my parents and as well as baby & myself (no Asian stores, no proper utensils, and so forth). So really, Nil and I are hoping that she’ll show up earlier – preferable this week onwards.

Tenancy
Our rental agency is crappy. It’s official.

Apparently a prospective tenant was told that Nil never mentioned anything about quitting the place when she called to sign up for the place. Luckily she called us back to ask us if what they said was true and as you may guess, Nil flew into a fit of sorts. He called the agency this morning and was promptly given excuses like “I don’t understand”, “I don’t know” (did I mention how I abhor those words???) and so forth. Now, if you must know something about the Swiss, it is this – they do not like it when people throw tantrums (unlike how it is back in France and Malaysia where you HAVE to throw tantrums in order to get things done).

So yeah, he managed to sort it out with the agency but still, talk about crappiness. I felt like asking him to ask them if they were intentionally sabotaging us or just have idiots working there. =.=

Keeping sane
I’m still knitting away in front of youtube movies, Murder, She Wrote and so forth, and am happy that I’m close to finishing ONE side of Nil’s blasted socks. The trouble with going back to knitting is that my attention tends to wander to stashing and checking out all sorts of things related to buying like outdoor lighting sale, sock yarns, nursing bras, and so forth. Online window shopping is great and all but you seriously need plenty of self-control!

I’ve also cut back on the cooking by a lot – nothing “too” difficult or complicated. Yes, you could say that I’m getting lazy these days although I suddenly am now craving for a good dish of fried rice with some squid, prawns, watercress and fish cake topped with sliced chillies! *drools*

Oh, for those of you who are reading this, please pray for an early (and smooth) delivery for Eva – we really really need her to make an early appearance in the next two weeks!