Last weekend, we were out having lunch and when we were back, nobody went to the kitchen so nobody felt something was wrong. Then, it was just me and when I entered the kitchen, the water stopper that belongs to the kitchen sink was seen on the floor. I was trying to figure out who in the wrong mind would leave it there. As I walked closer towards it to examine the kitchen sink, I saw a peeled onion on the kitchen sink. Something is very wrong.

I looked very hard on the floor and saw footprints! They were too small for a human footprint. I was thinking it could be a monkey even though I’ve never encountered one that entered the house. I called my sister to solve the mystery to ask her if she left the water stopper on the floor. She told me it could have been a squirrel. I don’t think squirrel has that much energy. I still thought it was a monkey.

I just left the thought aside and had wanted to do laundry. As I carried the laundry basket, I stopped again to analyse. While I was looking blankly outside the kitchen window. I SAW IT! A MONKEY. Happily climbing on the tree outside of my kitchen window. That solved my mystery.

I quickly closed the window and I’m thankful I wasn’t at home when it entered because I have no idea how to get the naughty fella out. As much as I would like to think this is the first time, I think this is the second. The first time, I had this unsolved mystery of my kitchen mat that is supposed to stay on the floor, to be lying next to the kitchen sink. Come to think of it now, it could have been the monkey too.

There wasn’t much damage done. I think it was hungry but couldn’t find food. What’s left open was the basket of red onion and garlic. It picked a red onion, peeled off the skin but didn’t bite on it. Maybe it smelled that it didn’t taste good. And because it was hungry and all it could find was a stupid onion, it went angry and decided to throw the water stopper on the floor. Does this make sense? Hahaha.

Pappy being the guy that he is, went to flip open his 4D book, looking for the page that says Monkey. I never knew there was such a thing.

In the year of the Tiger, came a monkey!

There are so many things outside of work that is waiting for me to do.

There isn’t anything special because I’ve been waking up, working and then work again when I come home till I’m really tired and sleepy and then I’ll be sleeping like a pig and continue my routine again. I’m thankful I was able to get enough and sound sleep because it does make a lot of difference. I usually doze off the minute I hit the bed.

The year of the tiger has certainly kick start for me with A LOT OF WORK!

Their mother appeared with the little girl holding her hands.

“She was saying there’s a Russian girl and I was thinking it was someone else.”

“ She’s a Chinese girl, not Russian.”

Little girl took a better look at me, trying to absorb the Chinese in me.

Very cute and very funny because for all I know, I don’t look like a Russian.

I told Mummy to give me a set of her pyjamas because I wanted to wear it to sleep before I fly back today. And then, I insisted that I want to sleep with her, where Pappy usually sleeps. Pappy is away for work so I had the chance to sleep with Mummy and at the same time, smell his pillow and blanket before I fly back to KL.

你看，我的pattern 又来了啰！

The mosquitoes wanted to kiss me goodbye and they kissed me real hard at 3am but after that I continued sleeping. When I woke up, I didn’t feel like getting up. I was lingering on the bed as long as I can before Mummy who was cooking in the kitchen came to call me. Reluctantly, I got up because I know I don’t want to be late for my flight.

Packed the last minute stuff. My lunch. My dinner. And my meal for the next 2 days. Some Chinese New Year cookies for myself, colleagues and friends.

Went breakfast at my favourite stall and had my favourite kon lou mee (干捞面) for the last time until I come back again to this hometown of mine. I couldn’t finish the noodles and this never happens so I guess it’s a sign that I’m really sad to leave.

Arrived at the airport and the baggage scanning machine was out of order so I was asked to open my luggage and I thought…alright so you want to have a look at my bras and panties? Anyway, before I could lift up the luggage bag wide open, I was asked to close it again and I was like…..###%%%???.

Checked in within 5 minutes and then I spent some time with Mummy at the airport cafeteria.

It was a day filled with emotions in the airport. While I was entering the departure hall, I saw a mother in tears, hugging her daughter. My only guess is she’ll be away for further studies and the mum misses her. It is all so familiar because I’ve been there once. When I was sitting in the departure hall, another mother was in tears and she was carrying a baby girl in her arms. She was just sitting in front of me and I didn’t want to stare too long.

When I was on board the plane, the same mother who was sitting in front of me had the seat next to mine. A friend who was on the same flight as me helped her with her hand luggage. I continued to help her after that by placing her bags on the floor. It was two small bags but it was really heavy and I wonder how she could manage them with a baby in her arms. She was still seen in tears after that. There wasn’t much that I could do but I thought a little kindness would help and I said to myself I’m going to help her with her bags when we land. And I can tell you mothers who travel alone with babies are true heroes. It is not easy.

I helped her with her bag as we got down from the plane. I had wanted to carry it for her till reach the terminal but she wanted her bag back by the look of her face so I gave it back to her and in reply, she said, “Terima Kasih”.

Came home, downed 2 veggie pau which Mummy made for me yesterday and then went out to service my car, pay the management fee and then came home to unpack and do some laundry. I still have a list of endless things to do. That pile of clothes, that kitchen sink that needs to be scrub, that toilet that needs to be clean, really…that pile of clothes…the floor which has gone from clean to dusty while I was away and the work at work that I got to do tomorrow morning.

It’s just too much and it’s just endless. And because it is endless, I am just not going to stress myself out. I’m going to just give my all and when it hits the limit of the day, I’m just going to call it a day irregardless of whether I complete it or not. Why? Because even if I worked day and night and not sleep, I won’t be able to finish it given the situation I am in now. I will manage and complete it…but within a longer timeframe. Else, I’m going to be a very layu bunny and it ain’t gonna be pretty.

A few more days before the Chinese New Year ends and I’m so going to make full use of this CNY. I’m planning to catch another lion dance performance and lou another sang this weekend.

新年快乐！万事如意！