days are long, years are short

During our world trip, JB of course always had some kind of ‘agenda’ lined up.  One of it was a ‘happiness project’.  This was inspired by a book he was reading.  Anyway, we both read this book, and the only phrase I really retain from it is this: days are long and years are short.

Well, the ten years we spent in KL certainly seems short.  And they were certainly happy, one of the main reasons being we were constantly surrounded by family and friends.  

Anais and Tea are so lucky to have had the chance to spend a small part of their lives with their  grandma who they adore and their Malaysian cousins.

We had the privilege of our home being the centre of family gatherings.  I will miss these get togethers, reminiscing with my brothers about our childhoods while our children share their childhoods.

I found Anais behind closed doors today, crying because she misses Malaysia.  She is more often than not excited about her new life, but it was one of those days today.



The adults are nostalgic too; what better friends can we ask for?  Before I hurt anyone's feelings, let me say now that I have limited photos in my computer as they are mostly in another computer which is in our shipment and which we understand is delayed...(summer here, so things are on pause, Welcome to France)

We have a few people to thank.  Our weekend in KL was logistically a bit challenging, as we were without a home and a car, and a run-down bank account after our world trip.

Jack, we will remember you for your hosting and karaoke talents, and for being the best dressed airport chauffeur ever.  Thank you for picking us up, driving us around, opening your home to us.

Kathy and Richard - for coming to see us from Singapore (but any reason is good reason to escape Singapore for a weekend!) and helping us run errands, watch the kids, buy us lunch.  I haven't got photos to show (believe me when I say they are a very good looking couple and would not be embarrassed to have their photos posted here) as they are in the other computer, see explanation above.

Karen, whose heart is bigger than her stomach, and that says a lot - for being our other driver.

 Ivy, our other other driver.

We visited our tenants on our stopover in KL.  As Anais and Tea left, tears in their eyes and heads hung low, Tea said "Its not my home anymore".  We haven't yet gotten the keys to our new apartment in Paris, but we sure won't have the same space.

Oh, the parties we had!

A long to-do list for KL on our short stopover, almost impossible to complete.  But we prioritised.  Dim sum, butter crab, roti canai, won ton noodles, char keow teow, rojak...

And doing batik.  But most of all, stocking up on quality time and hugs and kisses with friends!

It was an emotional departure for me as the last ten years in Malaysia have been very special and significant.  Anais and Tea were born there.  JB carved an important stage in his career.  He also had H1N1.  I had children and forgot the meaning of modesty.  We bought our first home.  I had my mum living with us.      Anais became addicted to durian.  Tea won her first cross country race.  We truly had a blessed life.  

I felt sad leaving my home.  And anxious that I may not feel as easily at home in France as JB did in Malaysia.  Its taken me years to learn the nuances and subtleties of the French culture, and I'm still learning.  But its time to look forward.  Embrace change.  Happiness has a word in French too.  At least I speak the language...