Archive for December, 2011

We had our Christmas dinner and gift exchange session with the in laws on Christmas eve. After the dinner, we spent a quite evening playing ‘Mancala’ and ‘Labrinth’. Our 6 year old was the happiest I suppose. She received at least 8 or 9 gifts last evening. For a 6 year old, that is overwhelming. She was so excited and it was a gift in itself to see her smiling and laughing and jumping with joy.

I gave her a little radio/mp3/cdplayer and a bottle of child perfume. Those were last minute gifts as I really had a little trouble finding her something. Especially with a limited budget. She likes them though and I’m glad. I was thinking of getting her a music instrument that she can start learn to play. A guitar or a violin or even a flute – I saw on an online store where they are selling a gemeinhardt 2sp flute at more than 50% discount at the moment. But since we don’t think she is ready for it yet maybe next time. Music lesson is indeed in our next agenda for her.

As for the adults, we only had one simple gift each – either chocolate, wine or biscuits. We’ve already informed each other that it should be a minimalist sort of Christmas for the adults. After all, it is not really the gifts that matters in this special holiday but the feeling of togetherness. In the end we all enjoyed ourselves. Tomorrow we will be visiting more relatives.

Have a Merry Christmas and may the New Year bring joy and prosperity!

Just unbelievable how time flies. The little one is no longer little but a six year old. We had a simple birthday party yesterday.

It is just a week to Christmas, so we try to keep the presents small. (The best gifts we are saving for Christmas ). At least 8 presents are waiting for her. I was thinking, to add to it, perhaps one of those little award plaques for overall good behaviour for an entire year. But then 8 presents is enough. Maybe next year.

Weekend came, weekend went. A new week is starting. The last week before we go off on a one week holiday. I just can’t wait for Friday to come!

We’ve done most of our Christmas shopping. Due to the not so good economy in Europe, we’ve decided to just buy for the kids and each other only. The other adults in the family will only get a bottle of wine or desserts. I already know what I’ll be getting. Just a present from the husband.

I’m just counting the days till Christmas.

Now that I am the head teacher of a group of children, I do a lot of singing with them everyday. There are times when I think that I really should get back to learning how to play the guitar. My Fender cd 60 acoustic is up on the cupboard for such a long time. I’ve only played it for some months when I got it as a Christmas present four years ago. I asked for one because I really like the sound of the guitar, be it acoustic, classical or electric.

I was really happy with it when I received it and thought that if I get to learn how to play an acoustic I would eventually move on to an electric one – a rickenbacker perhaps. But then, without a teacher I started to slack in my practice routine and in the end stopped. That’s how most people end up I know. Sad isn’t it?

But as long as I have the guitar there and I still have the intention to learn, I know I can always pick it up and start back again. I can only wish that I have more time for work, family, rest, blogging, Japanese studies and guitar practice. I just started working for a few months at the new place. Once I feel stable at the new job, and I have a daily routine with my Japanese studies (I study minimum an hour everyday ) I would definitely include guitar practice in my schedule. The children would really love to sing accompanied by the mellifluous tone of the guitar.

When you read, watch or listen to the news, seldom there are good news. It is all about the problems that we, or some other people in another part of the world are facing. It is disheartening. So much so, I seldom read the news (although I read the headlines everyday as to not to be totally cut off from world events) and nearly never watch the news nowadays. You can’t help but get the feeling of hopelessness in humanity when you read bad news all the time. Which makes it all the more refreshing to be reading about organization, or a group of individuals striving to overlook the bad and find the beauty of life. Extending hope where it is in need.  One such organizations  is like the Sing For Hope – a New York non profit organization .

Sing For Hope is a group of talented artist – from opera singers to musicians to photographers – who uses their talents  for work of charity.  Be it visiting communities or schools to introduce to the arts in the hopes to bring positive social change, live performance to health care givers and patients, or contribute to events for charity. All of which, the idea is to bring the beauty of art in all forms and hope to people who needs it the most.

The organization is still open for volunteers or contribution be it in the monetary form or talent and time. If I have some sort of artistic talent in me, I would be honored to contribute my talent since I don’t have the money. But I’m sure there are organizations to help people in need that only requires time and energy. It is good to know that there are people who are doing something to make this world a better place. We indeed need more organizations like this.