Time flies..

It has been slightly more than a year since I last had an entry in this blog. As much as I had wanted to share about what has been going on in my life, time was simply not on my side. Let me now try to recall what had happened since the last entry:)

I managed to submit my thesis on time in July. Went for a 14 day Europe trip with hubby who went to bring me back home. We visited Rome, Budapest, Prague and Barcelona. It was in our plan to visit Crete, a beautiful island south of Greece. But the flight was cancelled due to workers' strikes. Ah well, we managed to travel with just 2 trolley backpacks and it was indeed a great experience. From the delayed budget flights to walking on the Budapest streets past 12 midnight with our bags looking for the apartment. But we did enjoy the learning journey despite missing babies. Looking back, we were indeed on a free and easy mode while travelling. A count on the countries we visited since my short stint in Cambridge counted to 6. Including England, we also visited Stockholm with Juvena and Kelvin, who were the best hosts we could find in London. Then there was the Europe trip. Nothing beats being a full-time student!

Upon arriving back home, I was involved in celebrating our nation's birthday - National Day Parade. Usual duty applies and I was most happy to have met old friends and colleagues:) Then I reported to my new branch but was told that I was seconded to the inaugural Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore. That was for an entire month but it was a great experience. Then things started to get back into pace and I was soon back to working on weekdays and busy with kiddos' activities on weekends. Work was not at all easy but I managed to get myself acquainted to the job and made new friends.

Everything seemed to be on clockwork until something drastic happened in the family. My father-in-law passed away suddenly. It was so sudden that I soon find myself supporting hubby whole-heartedly without any fears and qualms about my health. I guess that's what love is all about and the greatness that comes with it. It took us a while to resonate with the passing and we are still living the shock of the incident. But am sure with the support we give each other and those that came from my family, nothing is too daunting. I still live in the nightmare of the entire process from staring at death and acknowledging it to sending the coffin into the furnace. I do get flashbacks now and then and It did affect my well-being. Despite the fact that I am after all just a daughter-in-law, and nowhere was I near to being a daughter, I wore sombre colours to mourn after the funeral, it was all out of basic duty and respect. It was mentally draining to open my wardrobe each day to pull out only black or whites. I felt like I was going through depression but elders at home insisted that it is a must. For your own good it seems. So it is.

Nothing ever came as close to such an encounter even when my work expects me to be emotionally and mentally strong to handle critical crisis. I am indeed not as strong as I thought I am or would be but I always believe that nothing beats your own will to live and to live a life full of happiness.