Out and about over Dragon boat weekend...

We had a fantastic weekend over Dragon boat...though I didn't eat a sticky rice dumpling one of my favorite things to eat over this festival... We ended up going to the Art and Science Museums simply because these are family friendly spaces...D ate an ice cream at the science Museum...here are some pics...

Above: Dylan with his favorite book at the moment...he holds it up to your face to see what you look like as a lion or zebra...

Shrek the Third...

We went to watch Shrek the Third which was okay... D is a big Shrek fan...we are so proud of him sitting through another Movie theatre experience...He really seems to enjoy the expereince...popcorn....juice...it was cool!

Painting with Dylan...

So we bought D a paint set...thanks to Crayola Non-Toxic watercolours....yipeeee! We had a ball, us three playing around with some paint on a A2 paper...Dylan 'got it' quite easily thought he mostly preferred to put more and more water into the paint tray...soon however he was making his mark...kinda worried since he has been watching Curious George a lot of late and always coos in approval when George doe s his wall painting stint...

Working with Dylan watching...

D loves hanging out and watching as I work...busy illustrating second book. I love having him climb over me while I work and it doesn't distract or bug me though he can be really demanding at times...he is super inquisitive and likes being in the thick of things.

Playing with water on our new balcony...

Our balcony has been encapsulated by beautiful sliding windows and brand spanking new mosquito nets...courtesy our landlord...thus extending our apartment. Now we have a wonderful sun area where our garden is growing in blissful harmony...and where Dylan, on very hot and muggy summer days, can splash around to his heart content in a wading pool...He discovered the joys of splashing people with water...great fun! It is nice to have a safe area to play with water...his friend Ivo will probably enjoy this new development too...

Above: Naughty but very nice...Dylan loves having fun with water...

untitled...

You once were the earth tree,
stretched to the sky,
holding the glorious sun in your hands
like the proud possessor of a glorious truth,
it burnt a hole in your hands.
Those things you believed
about the things you cared about the most
can no longer be held.

You once were the bird man
who flew high and higher still,
till encased in the light you reached out to find
space where there should have been an embrace.
You loved but the sky could not hold you
in her tender arms,
so she spat you back to the ground
where you lie in longing unfulfilled.

Alone
with nothing but thoughts,
head dull in pain and realisation,
heart bursting with a lament of loss,
but was it loss?
For to lose one must have
and now don't you suspect you never did.
Prone on the floor, hunched and cornered.
You held on for a moment
then deep a soft rising wave,
peaking without any way to
stop,
you sob.

Alas poor child, unconsummated and misunderstood,
you have no more faith,
no more tears.
You reached out for everything
for that is what you gave,
but in return all you get is to be part of...
not the uncompromising everything
that you so desired.
The balance is out,
your back is broken
and ground to dust
and ashes.

Wednesday real early...

Saw in daybreak today...haven't slept a stitch the whole night and I'm feeling rather zoned. I had a hectic night and couldn't get to sleep...so I shuffled around the living room and kitchen aimlessly. Went onto the balcony at about 4:15 and saw daylight touch the landscape at about 4:25 - 4:30. There is a first time for everything I guess. Did my yoga routine and took a shower. The day begins in about 1 hour and a half and I'm shaved, clean and ready to go. This is one for the world record books.

Always with me...

The theme song to 'Spirited away' is hauntingly beautiful...I never tire of hearing it.

Always with Me - Yumi Kimura [lyrics by Wakako Kaku]

Somewhere, a voice calls, in the depths of my heart
May I always be dreaming, the dreams that move my heart

So many tears of sadness, uncountable through and through
I know on the other side of them I'll find you

Everytime we fall down to the ground we look up to the blue sky above
We wake to it's blueness, as for the first time

Though the road is long and lonely and the end far away, out of sight
I can with these two arms embrace the light

As I bid farewell my heart stops, in tenderness I feel
My silent empty body begins to listen to what is real

The wonder of living, the wonder of dying
The wind, town, and flowers, we all dance one unity

Somewhere a voice calls in the depths of my heart
keep dreaming your dreams, don't ever let them part

Why speak of all your sadness or of life's painful woes
Instead let the same lips sing a gentle song for you

The whispering voice, we never want to forget,
in each passing memory always there to guide you

When a mirror has been broken, shattered pieces scattered on the ground
Glimpses of new life, reflected all around

Window of beginning, stillness, new light of the dawn
Let my silent, empty body be filled and reborn

No need to search outside, nor sail across the sea
Cause here shining inside me, it's right here inside me

I've found a brightness, it's always with me

Itsumo Nando Demo
Yondeiru Mune no Dokoka Okude
Itsumo Kokoro Odoru Yume wo Mitai
Kanashimi wa Kazoekirenai kedo
Sono Mukou de Kitto Anata ni Aeru
Kurikaesu Ayamachi no Sonotabi Hito wa
Tada Aoi Sora no Aosa wo Shiru
Hateshinaku Michi wa Tsuzuite Mieru keredo
Kono Ryoute wa Hikari wo Dakeru
Sayonara no Toki no Shizukana Mune
Zero ni Naru Karada ga Mimi wo Sumaseru
Ikiteiru Fushigi Sinde Iku Fusigi
Hana mo Kaze mo Machi mo Minna Onaji
Yondeiru Mune no Dokoka Oku de
Itsumo Nando demo Yume wo Egakou
Kanashimi no Kazu wo Iitsukusu yori
Onaji Kuchibiru de Sotto Utaou
Tojiteiku Omoide no Sono Naka ni Itsumo
Wasure takunai Sasayaki wo Kiku
Konagona ni Kudakareta Kagami no Ue nimo
Atarashii Keshiki ga Utsusareru
Hajimari no Asa Shizuka na Mado
Zero ni Naru Karada Mitasarete Yuke
Umi no Kanata niwa Mou Sagasanai
Kagayaku Mono wa Itsumo Koko ni
Watashi no Naka ni Mitsukerareta Kara

ride the earth, shoot for the sky

I ride the earth like a dragon.
I shoot for the sky in bliss.
As soon as I am in
the moment that I forget
my limitations
bold and unflinching,
like a god riding a lightening bolt across the sky,
then, I realise my binding,
my frailty.
I am broken.
I am bleeding.
I am grateful.
I am hopeful that I can let go
of all the things that bind.
How would I be if I would let me be.

It's official!

We've rung up the family and it's official...we are going to have baby number 2! We're five weeks pregnant and very happy albeit a little nervous since our last birth experience was a little rocky. Expected date is about end of Jan. early Feb....soooo..... Here is our first picture of Peanut 2.

number 7....

One more to go....received rejection number seven today. The last one is from the only submission to publishers soo....we'll see.