Entry 10 : Caps & Berets

 I started knitting 30 years ago or thereabout. My husband was instructed to move to LLanyravon in Wales, Britain and thinking of its harsh winter, I made for him a heavy, thick cardigan. It took me about 3 months to knit in time to pack it into his suitcase. We were in Mandarin Garden along the East Coast of Singapore. Once a week, I took the bus to Parkway Parade to a handcraft shop where you buy all your crafting items and get some tuition. There was this quiet petite girl, who attend to the store. She was just around 20-ish but her knowledge of knitting and crocheting was superb. I used to bring back to her some really horrible mistakes in my knitting, and she would sit quietly, undoing my yarn and she would knit the right way for me. At that moment, she seemed to me the most marvellous creature on earth.

I was hooked on knitting from then on but couldn't take it up with my moving to a new country and handling busy, noisy young children school daily activities. But wonderful thing about knitting is, same as riding a bike, once you've got the hang of it, it's stays on you forever.

Then, about 4 years ago, after all my novels are published and in between writings, I took up knitting needles again. I knit caps for all my grandkids, four of them that time. 

Recently, with an additional grandchild, I knit for her a tie-up cap. It was too loose but I can say now that all my grandkids have got something on there heads from me. 

I made a blue beret some days back and it looks elegant with blue accessory and attire. 
Now I am knitting a navy beret for a close friend who was my neighbour during my stay in Wales but she has moved to New Zealand since.

Haiku
Those long winter nights

my needles go clickety

with the audiobook.

Entry 9 : Welcoming 2022

There are many sunrises, but the best sunrise is always on the first morning of the year. Actually, this year will be my first sunrise viewing as I've never bothered before this year to leave the house in the cold dawn. I thought there was no difference between one sunrise to the next. For the sake of a good walk in the morning, I made my move this time. I'm quite surprised to see a crowd already gathered on the top hill behind my house. The feeling is like expecting the blossoms of the firework display, only this time, it is just the sun slowly pushing itself into the horizon like the birth of a baby. I looked at the yellow tint pushing itself out of the mountain in the sea and saw everybody was aiming their mobile phone in its direction.

Anko with mochi

Ozoni with chicken and mochi

 Sushi

I am not for one to make osechi bento for the New Year. There are many items to make it colorful. When my father-in-law was alive, there are relatives visiting his house and we have to buy a set osechi bento to serve.

I had to do an ikebana arrangement for a huge vase of special flowers associated with the New Year.  His grandkids would continuously come and go till the end of the day.

But now, after his demise, there are no visitors coming to his house. 

This year, my son got a job transfer back to the island. I made some Anko, red bean porridge to eat with mochi, which can be bought ready-made. 

My husband made a big pot of chicken soup or ozoni, which is specially prepared for the first day of the year. This is warmed up throughout the day for us to scoop it repeated to be eaten with mochi.

For dinner, we bought two sets of sushi variety boxes to go along with ozoni.

The first couple of days of 2022 was cloudy on this island. It warms up today, which is into the 3rd day. I've three loads for laundry to machine up. 

Most offices, public venues, clinics will start tomorrow and lives continue as normal tomorrow. 

I'm hoping to have a staycation in March this year with my second daughter's family in Kameyama. Hopefully, the Omicron corona will not change my plan.
Wishing my readers and for myself as well to have a peaceful, happy, and healthy year in 2022.

Haiku

This year first sunrise

still dutifully working

for humanity.