Mika

..our lovely Mika, Dom, or Dominique is turning 5 this year. 

this talkative niece of mine is a bright little girl and has a really kind generous heart. (whatever she has, she always shares it and gives it to anyone who aks for it).

i am so thankful to have spent time with her this year, and i just fell in love with her even more.

she can carry a tune,too. oh, my heart. she definitely captured it.

a photo of her doing her favourite activity: swimming! 

i miss her. i cant wait to spend time with her again.

purpose

lotus man...tamil nadu,india (2010)

listening to your calling,giving in to your purpose --is hearing out your own soul speak to you.

pre graduation night

monday early evening, the 16th.

we travelled all the way from norfolk to essex, to stay at a friends' house. the same friends who were coming in to witness my graduation because i already paid for two other tickets for my mom and my sister (who by the way could not make it--ahh,well, plans).

it was nearer to leave from their house to my university, which could take an hour in a good traffic. (because of the olympics traffic however, it took as 15 minutes longer to get to uni the next day).

we arrived expecting just two of my friends in their house, but i wasnt expecting another friend and her partner to be there,too.

it was a happy reunion. one over stories, and food and gifts-- all a surprise to/for me.

when in a rush, make-up has been the normal sacrifice of late.

i couldn't sleep that night. its that feeling of just having had a great night, the buzz of a wonderful evening took a long time to wane, not being in your own bed and the anticipation of an event i would have loved my family to witness but they couldn't.

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the next day, i received my degree. with second highest honours while my friends and husband looked on with pride.

medium rare

Adrian and i are quite fond of our meat, especially bloody steaks that is on the rare side.

Last Friday,the 6th, Adrian and i came home really late from my GP appointment and from doing the groceries, so we arrived home after 8pm. The initial plan was a takeaway. But i mentioned to him how a good steak sounded more appetising. One phonecall later to my friend L who has been a Norfolk guide for me, and told me to get on to a restaurant she highly recommends but said it was a miracle to book a table at the time, on the same night on a Friday.

I rang the place by 9pm thinking that the first sitting would have gone by then, and luckily enough i was right, they indeed had a space for two diners.

When we got there at about 20 minutes to 10pm, groups of parties were just coming out merrily from the restaurant.

Pictures of the night.

have a lovely weekend, loves ;-) x

cultural sensibilities

i was browsing through my india photos, and i saw one which tickled me in particular.

i remembered why i had to do this.

and it wasn't because i was prude.

NOTE:
it wasn't the people that made me do that though, it was more of the surroundings. it gets some quite of getting used to, i suppose. its not good on a funny stomach.

we were in a queue to go inside a temple that day..my friends who were with me laughed because they said i look so authentic in my head gear and face cover..discreet, thats what i call it;-)

the royal opera house and covent garden dinner

after soho, adrian and i decided we want to eat dinner in town..

we took the underground and ended up in covent garden.

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we love the Royal Opera House facade..one day, i shall watch an opera show there..just waiting for Carmen or Aida to show again...

busy as ever, the Square at Covent Garden

entranced

decided on dinner..

scrutinising the menu

Adrian's choice of starters and main

mine.

one afternoon in NatGeo cafe

browsing for maps. Adrian and i want to get a world map that can cover an entire wall.

(ps. backlog photos)

National Geographic classic souvenirs

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kind and dependable. that's his name

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the National Geographic cafe's ceiling has some hanging lamps from different countries

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it was a rain-sun-rain-sun kind of afternoon

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after this was a dinner date at one of our cheap chinese buffet haunts.. sometimes, the need for MSG is too much,i have to have them,hehe.

(no photos of the chinese buffet though...grease was better without the sequel, *wink*)

missing my sister Ana and Spitalfield market

after work tomorrow, i'm off to the city for some banking business.

and i will be on my own.

i remember the time, exactly this time last year, my sister was here enjoying the sunshine of spring with me.

i cant wait until i'm having her here again.

her and my mama. i cannot wait.


**
saw these photos on my external drive.

photos from last year:

lunch at the Real Greek

at piccadilly circus

having coffee and cakes at leicester square

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sorry for these late posting,Kai. i tend to post special items quite late as i savour their meaning on my own for a long time. these photos are special because they hold so much meaning for me.

i miss you.