Yes, a wee bit of gold in your food – as you can see on the plate – they are really made of gold and are to be stirred around and then you can eat them and enjoy. A symbol of prosperity so I heard the friend said. When I was little my grandparents used to say how they go out with their co-workers and eat a bit of gold to have a better year. I don’t know how true it is but I’m pretty sure I didn’t feel any richer eating that little bit of gold a few weeks ago – but you know how superstition runs high in the Chinese culture – so I went a long like a good ole friend.
While the spouse loved his high tech hotels, I on the other hand loved the historical inns – I find them fascinating and magical. I loved historical inns because of their magnificient beds for they make us feel like princesses. The king or queen size four poster beds are the ones I loved most with memory foam mattress and each time we go on a vacation, I asked the spouse to try and book a historical inn. I’ve always wanted to stay at the Waverly Inn in Halifax because I’ve heard about their European styled decorated rooms with canopy beds plus I’m pretty fascinated that this building is from the 1800s. The spouse suggested that it was the canopy beds that I was interested in and instead of staying in historical inns – why not invest in one – which seems to be another good idea – but I still want to stay in as many historical inns as possible because I just loved hearing the stories behind them and look at pictures of all the famous people who might have lived in the same room as I.
No I wasn’t in Italy – but the spouse was there and we had skype one morning while he was having breakfast and getting ready to go for a meeting with an associate. People asked me all the time about this long distance relationship we have and I’ve often wondered myself how in the world did I survived. Was it because I trust the spouse so much and have no worries that he is not here all the time or is it because the children occupies all my time? or I’m so confident about myself – there is no way he would stray and that I’m so good that no other woman would interest him intellectually and emotionally?
The children does take up a lot of my time but they are all almost old enough to take care of themselves and when they were younger I couldn’t just leave them with nannies or their grandparents – it’s just not in my upbringing and I loved my kids too much. As for being so intellectual – or good in bed – I doubt so – so how do we survived? I think it’s because he is a good person – and I don’t think he would do anything to hurt the family plus I think he too is too busy with work to even make an effort to woo another woman – afterall, you and I know that wooing a woman takes time and money.
Is the art of a relationship about trusting the spouse ? I don’t think that is enough – as an expat wife, one should always keep track of what the spouse is doing and where he is. As an expat wife, you should always be independent, you have to be smart, you have to know how to take care of yourself besides the family. Never leave all your finances to your spouse because you never know if something does happen – you will be able to take care of yourself. Always stay on top of what your spouse is doing and his work as well – and don’t forget his friends and co-workers. And since my spouse travels so much for work, I try not to complain so much when we do talk – of course, that does not mean that you don’t tell him anything but you just have to time it right – when he is home.
I’ve seen men traveling for business in another country straying and having a another life altogether when they are on business – so once in a while you have to drop everything and go where the spouse is – or be in contact with the concierge there. Lucky for me, being in the hotel industry for 15 years, I’m still very much in contact with some concierge internationally. As expat wife, you have to have your antennae up all the time – yet not let the spouse see that you have your feelers up – a very tricky situation but even after being married for ages, I never let my guard down, I’m on top of things all the time.
I’ve been in Canada for so long – this must be the mildest winter ever. We didn’t have a lot of snow like other places around Nova Scotia and I’m not complaining at all. In fact, I’m hoping that it will continue to be spring weather right up to it is ready to change to Spring weather now that would be perfect. We did get freezing rain and slushy the other day but not bad, bad weather, if you know what I mean.
While my youngest wants some snow – so that she can go sledding with her friends and classmates – we hope not. We hate to disappoint her but who wants them all stuck at home with no school due to bad weather right?
The March break is just round the corner, the spouse and I decided we should stay in Canada and drive to PEI instead of going to Cuba or Mexico with the kids. Why PEI ? because there is just so much history there that I wanted my children to learn plus we haven’t had a driving trip for a long time. I think with our new tomtom gps we will be fine arriving there, we’ve come to learn that having a GPS is one of the best investment one can have – because you save so much time. The GPS shows you exactly how to get to your destination at the shortest time. This trip the spouse seems a lot more confident because of having a GPS in our car.
Las Vegas is a great place for Christmas even with kids – as I typed my friend in Los Angeles is heading out there today bringing her kids and her nephew and nieces there. The hotel they are staying in has pool gates and most holiday homes in Las Vegas also have pool fence – so that parents need not worry about toddlers heading to the pool by themselves and dropping in them accidentally. Therefore, pool fence las vegas must be a pretty busy company because they do the pool gates and fences for lots of family with children.
I would loved to head to Las Vegas with my kids too – although they are not toddlers – but we had no trouble bringing them there when they were younger because Las Vegas has become quite family oriented and not just about casinos. So if you are thinking of visiting Vegas for a holiday – don’t worry about not having things your children can do because there are plenty and most holiday rentals have their pool fence up. Plenty of shops too in Vegas – and plenty of eateries.
It’s funny how a simple dessert that I’m used to having since I was a kid is so missed by me – now that I’m staying abroad. Never did I ever think that I won’t be having this dessert at anytime I want. My kids don’t like soy anything at all even though I tell them it taste great and silky but they refused to try it at all. They say the texture is just too squishy to enjoy – I guess they are like any American kid who loved their burgers and meat.
I remember when I was young and my parents would send us out in the evening with a bowl in our hands and 50 cents to buy a big bowl of Tao Foo Fa for my grandparents to enjoy. We would not have any till my grandparents and aunts had enough – what a difference with this generation. Our kids are always taken care of first and the adults later and even though things were quite different for us when we were kids – it sure beats eating just burger and fries. The Asian culture is way too rich to ignore.
It’s the end of the year bonus time for the spouse – and I look forward to that every year – because i can use that extra money to buy gold bars for investment into our future or old age – as some of my besties loved to say. You never know what the future may hold and I don’t want to be a burden to my kids when I’m old and feeble and need assistance. Plus I love buying gold bars because I can always resell it if I need money badly, these days having a fixed deposit in the bank don’t mean much. Why? look at the miserable interest or returns they give us and when we buy a house – the mortgage’s interest are at exorbitant prices – which is crazy. So I rather buy gold bars and invest in gold – because the returns are a lot higher that’s for sure. What do my other friends do with their spouse’s bonus? well, many would go out and splurge and buy themselves a Hermes handbag or even a diamond ring or bracelet – to each their own I guess and I’m not going to judge them – but I know I am making a wise investment here.
I’m used to traveling a lot for work and pleasure before having kids and knowing my spouse – and I do missed those carefree days – where I only shop for myself and eat for myself and think only about myself. Life is quite different when you have kids and a spouse and mortgages etc., but this is life isn’t it. But if the spouse doesn’t bring you on vacation on a regular basis, you would want to go on your own with your friends right? most people loved to travel while others don’t – so what do you do if the spouse and the kids don’t like to travel? the best thing to do is to find some other friends that you can travel with. And as my kids grew older – I go on more trips with my friends instead of the spouse – but that also means that you get to meet other people when you travel with your friends – so how many of you are going to restraint yourself from having some fun?
I love a little bit of paradise too sometimes and to be looked at differently – as a real woman not just a spouse and the mother of your kids or the one who does the housework and the laundry. So men out there take care of what you do with your spouse and for her – else she might try to find a little paradise elsewhere – I’ve seen my friends do it – and I can’t really blame them for it – for they don’t get any fun at home. Is it wrong? of course it is – but we are only human – and all humans loved to feel special every now and then.
I came across this book earlier this year – and didn’t think much about it – till I met an old friend from my childhood days. And when I saw this book again – I was reminded about him and his thinking and those of his dad. Song and his father – even his mother are from the 50s and stuck in the 50s I think. They believed that their wives or a woman’s place is in the kitchen or home. But that doesn’t mean that their wives or woman can be sloppy in their dressing for they own a small business – and supposedly doing quite well.
In this gorgeous style guide from the 50s, American fashion designer Anne Fogarty reveals the secrets of ‘wife-dressing’ – the art of looking chic on all occasions, be it at a cocktail party, on the tennis pitch or in the boudoir. Illustrated with Fogarty’s stylish drawings and 50s fashion photography from John French, this handbag-sized guide contains all the advice and inspiration you need to make you the happiest and hippest couple in town.
I met Song after 25 years and although his wife look skinny – and he has 3 kids – the wife is dressed well – still in the 70s I think but definitely respectable looking. Song seems to be doing well – his kids are teenagers – and I’m happy for him. But he still is the gentleman that I’ve known when I was a teenager – but I’m sure he must now look at me – and think – hey ! i looked and dress better than his wife and more well -traveled than he.
Life is sure funny isn’t it ! I don’t think I would have been happy if I did end up with Song – he and his family are just so old-fashioned. I doubt his wife ever traveled on her own nor his children.
