For the full story, click on the pic.

Our love story got featured in Cleo’s June edition, thanks to Elsa Samuel who interviewed me via email in March. She had actually approached me earlier, before the dinner reception in February but I guess the article wasn’t slated to come out till much later. By the time I arrived in Switzerland, it was too late to do anything in person so we communicated mostly via email.

I had actually forgotten all about it until Su Yin (and a bunch of other girls) told me about it… Thanks to her, I also got myself a soft copy of the supposed article.

It’s not too bad really, except for the part where they spelt my name wrong and the detail about Nil’s “job” - he was actually on holiday in Cambodia, not working there…plus there are some typo errors and vagueness here and there. O’well…you can’t win them all.

Still, it’s rather nice seeing yourself on print.

No, I don’t mean IT (that horror movie) or it (as in the noun that refers to an object/animal)… I mean I.T. or Information Technology, a common abbreviation that people use to refer to computers and the knowledge that comes with it.

So, what do things like patch panels, IT and my hubby have in common?

At this very moment, nothing.

Nil’s computer just went through another bout of battling Trojan Generic viruses; and the owner, as usual, blows his top because he wants to be in front of the computer, punching (rather banging) the keyboards instead of his wife helping him solve the problem.

The funny thing is this - I can easily do the same without him throwing a tantrum when he’s in front of the computer and I’m sitting next to him. Sometimes I just think he wants to feel in control of his computer.

It is at times like this that I’m reminded of one fact - some men just don’t do well without control, especially when the control is handed over (willingly or otherwise) to their wives.

A week has gone by since the incident. Since then people have enquired about how I have been coping…

I am doing just fine.

No, not sugary over the top kind of fine but the type of fine where…

…you know life will go on with or without you.

…you learn that it happens to the best of us for a reason.

…you find out that you’re alone.

…you are certain that good things will come again.

…

It is spring here, officially, even though on paper, spring was like weeks ago. But now there are green leaves everywhere, my flowers bulbs and corms are sprouting leaves, and my ginger is running out of house and home (it needs a repot, badly!)…and in case you haven’t noticed all those things, the fact that women AND men shed their clothes easily for the sun is definitely an indication that spring is here.

Nil enjoys the sun - it’s a luxury over here since winter days are often gloomy and sun-less - and it seems strange to grief during a time of rebirth and renewal. So to cope, I planted additional dahlias and freesia. I just hope they don’t grow into giants which require repotting!!!

Before you think all is dandy and perfect, word, I still haven’t been able to touch my baby knits - so I decided to start with other knits, like the socks I owe Nil, and other crafts, such as cross-stitch. Will tell more when it arrives in the mail but lets just say the walls won’t be so bare soon…

Things are…just going good…

To cut the long story short since I wrote about it here, a visit to the hospital’s emergency section yesterday and then, a transvaginal ultrasound scan revealed that I have “anembryonic pregnancy” commonly known as a blighted ovum and that my body was basically aborting the sac - cervix dilated and well, expelling of uterine wall lining.

In short, I’m going through a loss. I think I’ll be back on the road regularly in the next few days, even though I’ll be putting up some money earners. Need to recover and well, just enjoy the long weekend.

I’ve closed comments here so if you like you can leave comments at the original post here.

My first memories of the magnifying glass was watching my wrinkled grandfather attempt to read a newspaper with something that looked as old as he was. Since he passed away, the magnifying glass he often used is left hidden away in one of the drawers at home. I never thought much about it…or him until I got this assignment.

Magnifying glasses have come a long way since my grandfather’s death. They have them on watches and in all sorts of sizes and shapes. If he was alive, my grandfather would have been the most stylish old gent around…at least in my eyes.

Truth be told, I don’t really know him that well. He passed away when I was around ten and before then, I didn’t speak much Hokkien (a Chinese dialect) so we weren’t exactly conversation buddies. I did remember my dad talking of his carefree personality and how he loved all his grandchildren, especially my brother and myself. We were the only ones in the family that carried names he personally gave…my other cousin’s names were bestowed by my grandmother.

I like to think that he was a gentle-hearted man who gave his children little material things but many important qualities like diligence, hard-work and appreciation for life itself. It was a pity that he died bedridden, after suffering from two strokes…but come to think of it, God must have loved him well enough.

Sometimes I think despite the fact that he used glasses to read, he could see clearer than any one of us. I wish I got to know him way better than I did.

Maybe in the future…

Do you see a little addition to the thescarfer.net family?

Hint: It’s near the top of the sidebar.

If you still can’t see it, well, hop on over here. It’s still very new and in the middle of plugin tweaks but it ought to look just about homey…

I honestly can’t wait to add more there…

…but guess anyway, even though it’s pretty obvious.

It isn’t easy…or at least that’s how I see it from observation.

I haven’t been married for long (three weeks after the end of a married LDR) but I can slowly see how keeping the flame alive can be difficult. Even more so if you have children in the picture. Those candlelight dinners, the sexy outfit(s), even the whole “going at it like bunnies” can become mundane and routine, lacking sometimes in spontaneity and mostly, well, effort.

The move to Switzerland and the whole living together in an ultra small space (think 25 square meters to be exact) has put somewhat of a damper on the romance bit. I used to complain about having to think of tonnes of ideas to keep the flame alive during our dating days…now that we’re married, I noticed that each one of us or both run into this habit of taking each other for granted.

Maybe I could be wrong and couples do stay in love and in perpetual bliss forever…

But it never helps to build some passion & romance into a relationship…even a new one such as mine. These days, my parents are filled with advice and well, romantic ideas…things like…

• Have a candlelight dinner or a picnic somewhere quiet.
• Go for walks together.
• Walk your partner to work every day (this only works if you work nearby!).
• Wear something sexy!
• Don’t forget to kiss your partner every morning and night (before work and bed)
• Go on a date once a week.
• Write an “I love you letter” (well, if you don’t know, there are plenty of ideas on the Net, like on that link!)
• Have your meals together (it’s hard to stay angry with someone you eat with)!
• Leave romantic messages on mirrors, in lunchboxes or even Post-Its!
• Surprise her with a gift (flowers, books or even something handmade).
• Cuddle and kiss (you don’t have to have sex to keep the intimacy alive)…

And naturally, my parents always end with these words…

When you’re married, it’s all the more reason for you to keep the flame alive. This is one of the reasons why marriage is hard - it’s all about effort!

Hm…speaking of which, it’s cuddle time at my place!