Baby It’s Cold Outside
The one constant I get from Canada is news about the weather. Sounds shocking. The lowest recorded temperature in Singapore is 17°C. Every day hovers around 32 (90°F) with humidity around 90%. Though Wednesday I noticed a decidedly profound change in things and was told, January 21st, that winter was over. This has been winter? I can’t imagine what lies ahead.
That Wednesday, around 3pm, the sun was out and seemed more intense than usual on my trek back from Potong Pasir. And hot. And I started sweating. No relief in the Moonstone tower. The sun hits the patio around 4pm. So I sat in front of the air conditioner and read email after email from Canada all telling about the snow and bitter cold.
Meet Orchid. (I like to keep things simple.) To celebrate the Canadian winter, we added her to the family. Easy. She just sits out there and blooms and blooms and I water her every other day. I suppose when it gets really hot I’ll have to move her inside, but for now, we’re a big happy family.
Update (apologies for not being here for some time):
–New Zealand was beautiful and busy for Christmas. Meeting my mother-in-law was lovely. Things couldn’t have gone better.
“Another cup of tea Kelly?”
“No thank you.”
“Well, I brought you one anyway.”
“Another piece of lamb Kelly?”
“No thank you.”
“Well, I’ll just put it on your plate anyway.”
It’s hard to describe what it’s like to have another Mom. But she’s a lovely lady and we had a wonderful time. And meeting all of Damon’s friends was fantastic. Felt a little on display and paraded around, but we managed to squeeze in a little time to ourselves and had great time. Not enough sex though. Sleeping in your boyfriend’s childhood bedroom doesn’t exactly fire up the sexual libido. Add your mother-in-law down the hall and sex is about as probable as Madonna getting another acting job.
–In 10 days, we slept in 6 different beds, both family and friends. I sat up one night and said, “where are we? The North shore of Auckland is a big place. What if I had to dial 911?”
Damon said, “it’s 111 in New Zealand.”
“See how lost I am?”
–Off to Australia and New Year which was fantastic. Did a lot of the ‘gay’ couple thing, which was lovely to be honest. And no, we didn’t see the fireworks. Popping pills on Oxford Street and you see enough fireworks in the club. Why bother looking at the harbour bridge? But a lot of fun.
And what trip to Australia would be complete without some elicit sex in the bushes overlooking the nude beach? Though I could have lived without the massive lizard I grabbed thinking it was a tree branch and the creepy old guy in the Speedo watching and asking to join in, but who cares? The sun, the beach, the smell of lube, what more could you ask for?
–Singapore has been busy since our return. Had a disastrous job interview. I’d rather have my hands and feet amputated than go through that again. But lesson learned.
–Damon and I have been asked to be groomsmen at a tradition Catholic wedding. Huh? Guess the Pope isn’t going to be there. The couple (JT) even had to go to marriage/bible camp to get the priest’s approval. “And he knows we’re a married gay couple?” The guard at Moonstone thinks Damon and I are brothers. Ya, a Kiwi and a Canuck and we look nothing alike. Even Helen Keller wouldn’t believe Damon and I are brothers. But we play along so as not to land ourselves in Changi Prison.
–My mom and sister are coming to visit at the end of February. Typhoon Lynda! But it’ll be nice to be around some Canadian accents. In New Zealand, sitting around dinner tables of Kiwis, my accent was as thick as maple syrup.
Up to Hong Kong next week to see baby Moo. Apparently, it’s quite cool up there, which sounds lovely.
Gong Xi Fai Cai!
It’s Chinese New Year this weekend and my first in Asia. The city is both dead (a lot of people travel for it) and full of energy. So wishing everyone well in the year of the Ox.
Happy Year of the Ox, to you too!
Glad you enjoyed your visit to my second home country, which I miss dearly!
Loved NZ. Know I missed you. Can see why it would be hard to leave Franck.