幸福的味道

。。。就是简单。

And truthfully, it's not so 简单。The effort that goes into preparing the dishes - takes planning, thinking, marketing, preparation, cooking, washing. 

We were truly blessed last night, with a taste of nostalgia. The food... I woke up this morning thinking about the cabbage and the peanut-lotus soup. Everything was so good. I loved the cabbage the most, but the rest - equally yummy. The "dir-ka-bee-hoon", curry chicken, lala, salted egg sotong - and having the peanut-lotus soup go along with it. 

And we topped this up with Orh Nee, and also with 2 bottles of red wine. At the same time, the oldies were playing in the background - 张学友，张国荣， 张昕泽。 hahah... how come I only remember all the 张s?

This is what 幸福 looks like. 

Little Lucas must have been feeling so happy too. The boundless energy and wanting to play and "go balcony" throughout the night. :-D

Truthfully, life gets better and more enjoyable with good SG food. We've been so blessed in the last 2 months by Lawrence. It wasn't just the foldie transaction. His generosity, warmth, kindness, and him being a great master chef - definitely brought a lot of tummy yummy to the SGPs around him. Steve and I are officially unabashed to say that we would return all the containers, so that there would be more to come! 💗

Me and my Dahon

This must be one of the best things that happened in the last 2 months - my silver 小红 Dahon. It's beautiful and sleek, and I've been bringing it out on rides with Steve and friends, and also - me-rides!

And I am just too happy with it. This morning, I woke up to the super-painful after effect of HIIT on my arms. It's so sore and so painful, especially on the right arm. I was thinking if I should run, but given that I woke up super early again, perhaps biking is easier and less strenuous. 

So, I did a me-expe!! So lovely - weather was good, early morning freshness, lone runners and cyclists passed me by along the pcn, and then, me with the worship songs, the sermons, and the audio book for "First 90 days". 

I love it. 

The feeling of having the whole day in front of me. The choice to bring the 小红 out to explore different parts of Abu Dhabi, knowing that if I am tired, I can just fold it and SOS. 

The sun was beating down on me gradually, and it was a superbly nice feeling. I pray - that I can continue to enjoy the outdoors - run, cycle, swim - for a long long time to come. 

And - a surprise pick-up to have morning coffee. :)) Impromptus are the best. 

And - tonight, looking forward to having dinner at the master chef's place and seeing little Lucas. 

F45 and Eid Mubarak!

Such a wonderful start to Eid!

I finally did my first HIIT at F45 with Ildico. Kinda nervous, after I looked at the videos last night, and then, thought to myself - 可以的。 While I haven't done HIIT before, I have been pretty active, and so I was also looking forward to the challenge. 

And then, I woke up like at 515am again. These days, strangely, I have been up so early. 

The F45 session was for 45 minutes - I did the Triple Double. And... it was tiring. Double (repeat), of 52 sets of 30 seconds each exercise, with 10 seconds break in between. I think I did ok, could still continue (not hiit, but i think cycle or run, no problem). I just followed the sets, and then, 45 minutes was up. :-D 

I can tell you - the after impact of the Double Triple - was on the arms. While showering - haha, I felt that even holding up the shower head was sore business. The rest of the body - seems fine for now, but I can feel my thighs acting up too. :}

And Ildico gave me a beautiful pair of gloves, and it's in my favourite colour combi - black-gold. And then a while back, she gave me a Lululemon waist pouch too. So blessed. :)

And.... then, I received yet another urgent SOS call from Daphne. It's so good to just see the folks, even for a bit. And drinks, at 10.10am my time. :-D 

Beautiful morning!

Arabic 101

The covid threat seems to be worsening, with the latest focus on India. There have been more cases in Singapore too, and just these last few days, it hit closer to home. We received an email from the school stating that our instructor was tested positive, and that all of us needed to get our PCRs too. 

So I did that earlier today. And the nose still felt pretty itchy even as I am writing this post. Thankfully, there was not a lot of crowd at the PCR station earlier. 

And therefore, the Arabic lessons will be suspended temporarily. :)

I have started my lessons just last week, and learnt the alphabet, and how to do simple greetings and introductions. It was fun and nostalgic, reminding me of those days where I would do my JLPT 1 lessons at Ikoma Language School in Orchard area. Then, I remember how after work, I'd take the mrt down to Somerset, buy a canned coffee and old chang kee currypuff and sotong balls, and then tried to concentrate in class. Well, I remember the crammed small classroom, the textbooks with the kanjis, and this time round, it's a similar feel. I had my canned coffee, and the textbook and jotter book. Instead of 漢字, it is now filled with scribbles and shapes and lines and curves, and the script is from right to left. 

So tonight, I am supposed to be in class. But because of the covid scare, I am at home now, thinking if I should do some Arabic learning and practice the script. And so, I shall do that, and then reward myself with some NF thereafter. :))

Wired for Waiting

It's been possibly 2 fastest months this year - March, April. And this weekend too, I did quite a lot of necessary admin, and had some adventures with my new monster, with the handphone overheating, and the gps shutting down whilst on the highway. 

And with the 2 months zipping by, I must say that I am all the more thankful, for the understanding husband, work team, and plus the beautiful new friendships forged... and also, the very good short staycay break. 

We, just decided to do a short staycay at the newly-opened Hilton@Yas last week - and it was so good. Maybe because it's Ramadan, and there's no one. We were told that there were only 10 rooms occupied on Wed and Thurs, and as we were there from Wed to Fri, it almost felt like the whole place as surreal, and the newness - can be smelt and felt. 

The staff were so attentive, the meals were lavish enough, the pool lounging was good. Steve and I really enjoyed the quiet time out. Many moments, I sat at the balcony just to read and journal. The night time at the balcony was almost magical - so quiet, so still. Many moments too, it was at the morning breakfast table just reading and having good breakie. And also, at the poolside lounging with some prosecco. 

Yet, whilst just taking a break, I suddenly felt that I was so free - as there was no email access. And for a moment, 有点不习惯。Still, it was such a good time of rest until I had to return to reality last Sunday. :) 

This short staycay also reminded me that 我们都老了。With it were 2 amusement park tickets and we went to Yas Waterworld and Warner Brothers. The water rides were fine, and fun. But the WB ones - we started with just 2 3-D/4-D rides, and the 2nd Batman ride just nearly zapped all out of me. The remaining Friday and even Saturday, I felt like puking. 真的是老了。And, I'll never do such rides again, hopefully. 

I have quite some 感触 through March and April. But they are not so easily describable in one post. Perhaps, one of the most poignant one was that all of mankind is made "wired for waiting". This was so much felt through the Easter weekend and these 2 months. We wait for the Messiah's return. A single person would be waiting for the right person. A barren couple wait, believing for a child. A sick person waits, to be made well. A jobseeker waits, for the role to materialize. We wait, for Covid to end. There are so many examples. In faith, we wait, for healing, for love, for our prayers to come through. The toughest part is always - how, and what we can do, through the waiting, in faith, trust, prayers and action. And then - acknowledging that the waiting can also lead to nowhere, and accepting that it is ok because it then means that God has other plans for me that I cannot see for now. 

As I was reading and reflecting during the staycay, I was also just super thankful that life has brought me such experiences and adventures. I wouldn't ever ever have imagined that I'd ever be able to sit at Yas Island, in sunny UAE in the Middle East, one week in April 2021, reading and thinking about life at the balcony. This process of reflection, is in itself, so therapeutic and good for me. This has been an amazing 2 months of thanksgiving for me. 

Foldie Fun

I've had a packed 2-day weekend, with weaving in 60km in all, on 2 new foldies. :) This is so much a recent want. Our Terns are in Singapore, but.. somehow, in the last 1 week, we managed to get a Camp from Lawrence, and then a Dahon, and then the necessary helmets. 

And so, this marks the start of some cycling expeditions here in the UAE. :-D

On Sat - with Lawrence and his road bike, and the Camp bike we bought from him. 

And on Sun - with @Steveywonder - who always knows what I want, and would research, find, check, advises on the best decision to be made. And so, besides Camp, we got a Dahon. :) Mine is the Silver-Red Dahon, and his is the Black-Gold Camp.

While it was a weekend that left me with a sore back, tired arms, and a painful butt, it was well well worth it, especially since we have limited days till the scorching heat. 

And when the body is on fire, the best ever is to just rest, have a good meal... and end it with a great massage. 💓

Earliest Saturday Morning ever

My earliest wedding ever, and I am so happy for Trinette. Known her for the last couple of months at work, and today is her big day. Tech bridges... this is not my first youtube wedding, but definitely, the earliest. It's so beautiful to watch her walk down the aisle with her dad, and then, for the groom to take over her hand. And to witness this matrimony together. 

This last week was a good one. I felt  more rested, and I keep thinking about how I can develop the people in my team, how I can help them grow. And - with a number of such conversations in this week and the last, it just cements so much what I believe in - to do my best to love people. 

I caught a very amazing picture of Kenji on Wed. I was walking him in the early morning, and as I was just breathing and taking in the beauty of the day, Kenji sat down... He. just. sat. down. And it was as if he were also just wanting to be a part of the amazing dawn and daybreak. He does not sit outside (he is a pretty clean dog), but on Wed morning... he just did. :)

I am so happy to spend time in the early mornings walking him, and spending time with him

And - as I enter this weekend, I can just saw I am thankful again. 心の中での一つの願いは神様に信じます。

And the skies behind me are slowing changing its hues, from black, to blue-ish grey, and now, more blue. The cold season is over. The weather is breezy and cool now, and I have officially spent 1 full year in Abu Dhabi, enjoying its full season. My right foot is recovered... and I will start my weekend routine with my earliest Sat run. :)

Earliest wedding... earliest blog writing... earliest Saturday awake... earliest run. 💗

Entering my 41st

I can only say I feel thankful today, and for the past 1.5 week gone by. He somehow read my mind, and this morning, for a change, we went out for coffee and breakfast after my run. I cannot express enough gratitude for little actions of love. And especially after the very draining Thurs evening episode. 

This Drvn cafe is really quite nice and popular - the coffee was good! But... price is too ex, imo. It's the kind of places you hang out with in the weekend, to chill, eat eggs benedict and drink atas coffee. 

So... the week really just passed me by so quickly, in a whirl, with the birthday greetings, and with me feeling roller-coaster emotions, and having to wake up super early 4 out of 5 days. I was particularly roused on Monday - and to some super great extent, felt all the d-words. And yet, somehow, through the midst, I really felt I had a very purposeful and meaningful transition into my 41st. 感謝です。

In the cray cray 1.5 week past, I've had 4 really wonderful conversations and gatherings :)) 应该如何形容呢？ 有些感触，那刹那的感动，就只能好好珍惜。Super thankful to the friends and loved ones here, whom I believe God has brought into my life for a reason, and are meant to be cherished.  

Chronologically - I had a most wonderful catch up with Commander Ong last night. :) Never knew we could talk so long, and we were the last ones to leave the place. He also give me 正骨水 for my leg. This morning, I think about the stuff we talked about... it's really about life, time, meaning, and injuries. I only know that conversations like this means we 老一些了。

And the weather is now not as cold. :) It was nice to sit outside and have a beer. The 正骨水 looks like some sauce for the food. Haha.

And - then, last Sunday! Ildico and the kids gave me such a sweet sweet surprise. Tada!! They packed a love box filled with things they think I would enjoy, and then Ildico walked Kenji with me. :)) K really was so happy, and so am I. And - I really love the cute drawing of K, and the beautiful letter. 💓

And last Saturday!! Steve and I met up with a wonderful couple from church who just moved to AD for work. First time we met them, but there's that 熟悉的感觉。Really felt so good to hear their story and journey here, and we certainly hope to meet up again soon. 

And finally, a really great catch up with Robert. 点点滴滴。有说有笑。好不同的友谊。创业人的心声。

March 5th came, and went. And when friends asked me how I celebrated my birthday, I said I really didn't do anything special. It's the normal and the little things that I am already grateful for. The cakes, flowers, the champagnes and beers I received are wonderful surprises - but 最重要的 would be because I know the folks that I love and care for are doing life together with me. 

And as I think about the year ahead, I think I have only 1 wish for now. @Steveywonder, I want a bicycle. :-D 

My first biking exploration!

Today, I woke up feeling that my right foot didn't ache as much as the past week. :) That was such a good feeling, and I'd attribute it to the light exercise Ildico had recommended me to do. So, it was off to some mini cycling adventure this morning. 

It's my first time riding here, and the PCN really is not bad! The weather was super nice - breezy, with that tinge of warm sunshine. We rode and talked - and as I don't have a bike here, I used her daughter's bike and we just pedalled and pedalled. 

Ildico is my new German friend. :) We've met each other a couple of times - the hi-bye neighbour type until pretty recently, when she struck up a conversation with me at Costa. And then, the texts came, the "shall we do sports together came". And yesterday, I brought Kenji up to her place whilst she examined my right foot, and Kenji had so much fun with her kids. :))

So, back to this morn. 

Truth be told, I woke up feeling some levels of ストレス, and I know it's inevitable. もうじゅうぶんかなと思います。こんらんな気持ちずっと、特に最近。And so, I muttered a little prayer as I walked K in the morning dawn. And it was so good to be out exploring Abu Dhabi on the bike. :)

We passed by the Defence exhibition area, and the whole conference had completed. We continued cycling and soon, passed by Mushriff, was headed towards Corniche and we made a left turn to cross a bridge to one of the recently-opened islands. 

The whole ride certainly made me feel more thankful. Talking to her husband at the breakfast ending point was also good - he is a neurosurgeon and shared some thoughts about his practice here. I remember too that focusing on others, and giving my time and love to others makes me forget about me, and that is such a powerful thing. 

Crossing the underground tunnel - and stealing a shot. 

Pedaling away, the whole PCN path. The highway is just to our right. 

Crossed the bridge and at the highest point. This reminded me a little of my Japan cycling trip, where I did a cycling trip across 7 islands, and ended the trip with a well-deserved onsen. See the nostalgic post: http://olenju.blogspot.com/2007/04/lets-enjoy-bike-riding-i-have-just.html, and boy, that was such an adventure. 

And then, we finally reached the destination - Hudayriyat Island. It opened last year. The feel is similar to the ECP feel, a little, with restaurants lined up. 

My first time here, and besides restaurants, there are lots of food trucks. Was told that this place gets really crowded in the evening. 

Ildico's husband had arrived earlier, and met us ladies for breakkie, and to send us back too. :-)

Haha, first time meeting the man for a meal, and it was a nice chat and get-to-know. The conversations on Europe, brain science, exercise, etc. Just nice to get to know different ways of living and culture.

And finally, breakfast time. :)

I thank God as always, for times of refreshing like these. 

For the sure healing on my right foot. 

For some concentration and focus today as a little prayer was heard, and answered. 

My leg pain

Okay, it should be right foot pain.

疲れたな。。。
今日も。週末の時間では大分寝てしまった。

でも今ちょっと元気になった。たぶんもうすぐ晩ご飯のイメージがあふれるから。美味しい魚を作るから。

今日も足が痛いです。みぎのほう。。痛いです。😣

もう一週間ぐらいです。

走りながらあの痛みをかんじる。。。

Gotta rest the right foot for a while. I read online that it could be some tendon pull, or a misfit in the shoes. 

This whole day, I could hear the aero jets and I even managed to catch some displays of the jets. It's the defence exhibition, and it's a 10-15 min run from my place. 

I recall that when we first moved here and were staying at adnec area, we saw the exhibition for the first time. This year, the exhibition continued despite covid, and it's open to the public this week. As I explored this place on my sore feet, and rested at a nearby part, I saw some jet acrobatic displays too. Anything that seems to defy nature is always marvellous to watch. It wasn't just me. There were passers-by appreciating the display too. 

All part and parcel of this morning's running exploration. 

And the weekend's ending already. Tmr, another full work week ahead. Thankful, for the weekend and all it has brought, including a 久しぶり tennis session with Ernest and folks. Been so so long. :)

Cold no more

He kept super quiet about it. This week Monday, the doorbell rang, and I kinda ignored it as I was in a meeting, and then few hours later, he came in carrying a super huge package with..."Black+Decker". Haha - He said that this is a V-day present, Bday present - all combined. I said - this is belated Christmas present, no??

And... it is a ... heater. 

We are quite late into investing in one, but still, for the first time this month, we saw the temperature rise up to 21.5. But, the heater's life-span to serve us this winter... is almost gone. The temp has been going up slightly, but steadily. Morns and nights are still brrrrr... but apart from that, it's that really nice weather and temperature. We are transiting into spring. 😍

And yesterday - I realized, I am growing old. 

He: Eh, how come you also have stomach?
She: Eh, what do you mean? You mean my stomach "pok out"?

He: Yah - I thought you always no stomach.
She: What do you mean. If I fat, then you don't like me? 

He: To be honest, I dunno, cos I never see you fat before. 

She: What? You 90kg I also stay with you. 

He: Haha... You want to eat "ice-cream"? 

She: Ok. I go buy. 

And this conversation happened after I drank beer, ate Fish n Chips, Wings, Calamari. :-0

All the nonsense mundane rumblings and the 心情 on a Friday evening. :)

And we had chocolate ice-cream after that. 😍

Growing old = stomach pok out. 

I discovered a PCN-alike

I must have been feeling some levels of stress, and yesterday, woke up at 6am. Friday's conversations were still etched in my mind, and so, because it was still so early and cold, I decided that the best thing to do, would be to read. 

I finished Educated, and decided to read "A Gentleman in Moscow". This year, I will aim to read 12 non-work related books. :) And I cannot believe I started my first few pages in bed, at an unearthly 6am. 

As I journal about the weekend, I also feel much better already. A weekend to recharge, recalibrate, realign is very needful. In fact, that's why a sabbath is so absolutely necessary. It is also about trusting in God, when I have done all I can in the week. 

I found a most amazing running connector yesterday. :) Yay, so happy, as I discovered a newly opened PCN, very similar to SG's PCN. I was actually thinking that maybe a round around the mosque would suffice, but as I found the running connector, I decided to just explore. It led to ADNEC, and I thought I could just run on and on, and maybe I will reach Mushriff. :-p. I will certainly try it one day. 

The morning runs really are very helpful for me. I listened to a Chinese sermon yesterday, and today, the Economist. Most runs will see me end at the beach, the tracks, or at Rihan's LD, and the best part of the run is the end of the run, with the stretchings and with listening to some really nice music, or WA-pping good friends. 

That feeling is usually one of thankfulness and simply joy. 

Spot Rihan - it's a speck in the distance. :) And this really feels a little like the PCN in Singapore. I met a few runners and some cyclists too. 

And, the expressways above me at one point, with paintings of skies. Haha, it feels nice to enter such a space. And also, with flamingoes and Wu Guis. 

And one of them, staring at me. Haha. The back is the actual beachfront, which is an extension of where I usually cool down. :)

Extension works in progress.. it would be great if there's really a full connector all the way to town!

I ran all the way until the end of the beach and where it started to join the highway. 

I think I can still run on; I saw cyclists continue the path, and if I do, I will reach Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). I'll do it next time and then loop back to Rihan. 

And the "vaccination" slogans are starting to appear everywhere. 

And along the running trial are all sorts of motivations painted. :-D

There was also "No Pain, No Gain", etc, etc. And as I keep stopping to take pictures, I am just so happy with my Saturday mini-adventure. 

The weather's also gotten slightly warmer - like 1 - 3 degrees? :-D

Mornings and nights are still terrible, and this past week, there was wind, sandstorm, fog. The good thing is that I think the worst is over, and possibly, it's gonna get really nice with a little more warmth, very soon!

冷

The common theme throughout this month is - 冷。 

It's just cold, and reports say that this year's the coldest Jan ever here. And I woke up 1 night to Steve rumbling through our packed winter clothes, for heat tech and a wool jacket. 

The problem is that it's almost cold 24-7, except for a short window in the afternoon, when the sun shines most intensely. It's cold because it's just cold outside, and in the house, there is no heater... so the temp in the house goes down to 10+ too. And so everyday, I am decked in long sleeves, and in jackets, in sweaters. Haha.... some days, it is more tolerable than others, and there was this one night, I just couldn't sleep, despite being wrapped in layers, and having socks on, and under the comforter. 

Still, I am genki. :)

This morning, was beautiful. It was 13 deg, and I went for my run. It was a misty morn, and I am decked in UA long sleeves and tights. And boy, I just ran. The place was foggy, I can't see a lot in front of me, but I met neighbours and runners, and we were all running around the mosque. Saw the mosque shrouded in the mist, saw the early risers and joggers, and... it was just something to relish. I ended at the tracks, looking at a lone Japanese sprinter, and many kids having their track classes. (The kids are all shrouded by the fog)

This week, I had to content with some emotions. And especially, on Friday. I started a new year resolution to journal and had bought a small journal book for that. Each day, I write a page, covering my key prayers, work highs and lows, my learnings, my fitness and activities, my food intake, and my 心情字数。 And of course, I have the oura ring to track my sleep. I just wanted to be more conscious of how I live my life, and how I calibrate my thinking and my devotions. It's really great. :) I have kept at it for 15 days. Continuing this discipline. 

And.... I became friends with a German lady. :) We have been neighbours for a while, and she struck up a conversation with me recently, and we chatted more. She's a teacher, and has 2 lovely kids, and is one of the ladies around my area into cycling and sports. So... yay, next week, we would be going to try Aerial Gymnastics. She sent me the below. Ahahah, so exciting. I had actually penned it down as one of the things I want to do this year... and so, it will happen, next Sat. :) In shah allah. 

This morning was beautiful too. I spent time listening to a sermon on Mark, and then read Educated. It's gotten more and more exciting. The thing is... circling back to the cold, I am still cold. Haaaa. so I have to read in the balcony, and with the sun rays on me. And I feel better. :)

Beautiful Saturday indeed.