Thursday, May 31, 2012

Riding the bus


Another bus route.
A different city outside.
Miss the Number 6.

I took the bus to work the other day. So far (since returning to work after my vacation), I had been taking the train. It's faster. But I do like to take the bus now and then, especially if I have the time to spare. You look out the windows, enjoy the scenery going past, and don't feel that you're commuting to work. The journey and not the destination, that sort of thing.

While on vacation, I took the No 6 bus almost everyday, partly because the bus stop was just 2 minutes down the street while the Tube station was a good 10-15 minute walk. Coming back home on the No 6 bus was a no-brainer, simply because it was a 24-hour service. And above all, the No 6 went past Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square -- essential London, and you could walk from the Oxford Circus stop to the other essential bits like Leicester Square and Covent Garden.

On the second last day, my travelling companion mused that the bus ride into town everyday would be one of the things we don't think we'll miss, but will miss once we get home. And she's right. After a few days, you develop a routine of looking out for a greengrocer's display; a window that doesn't have curtains so you could see what the homeowner was doing in his spacious kitchen; a man reading by a book light while TV light flickers from the next room.

And now, I'm back on the 163 to work, sorely missing the little details of the No 6. But slowly, the joys of the 163 are filtering back. There's a house that always has a dog napping in the driveway. There's a lovely road with old mossy trees on the divider. A mini-getaway. Too bad I get off the bus and into the office.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012


Lots of room on bed
But the dogs squeeze against me.
I think they love me.


Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Eight hours at my desk.
There should be sixteen more left.
Where did Monday go?

Monday, May 28, 2012

A haiku a day.
Wonder if I can do this?
There! Already have.

Someone whose blog I follow recently mentioned a friend who was writing a haiku a day to get over a difficult period in her life. I just wondered if I could.

I've had a great holiday. The type where I didn't do much, yet chalked off all the items on my to-do list (the trick is just to have one a day). Ate some great meals. Enjoyed the healing company of caring friends. And came home totally relaxed and recharged.

And now I'm back at work. L is back on his feet. Last night, he was even walking the dogs, one at a time. I'm grateful. And yet, I'm fearful. Scar tissue hangs heavy.

So I'm wondering how much healing I can achieve by writing a haiku a day. I have a horrible feeling that it will grind to a halt in just a day or two. And it's just the plainest five-seven-five syllable style. No clever joining of two ideas. Clearly, no Basho. Just me.

Quality ingredients

It's a KitKat chocolate wafer, with a personalised wrapper -- a party favour from the neighbour's party for the younger boy who's just turned one. Aint life sweet.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Watching paint dry again

It seems like only yesterday that I had a new puppy on my lap, watching the block across being repainted. Now the block is getting another lick of paint. And the puppy is a irascible teenager.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

The stash

Thanks to a generous 30kg luggage allowance, there's a pile of books on the bedside table and slabs of chocolate in the fridge.

The touristy pictures