Things that made me smile this week:

1.  Implementing our company’s new “Animal Welfare Policy” which prohibits certain inhumane treatment of animals used in our products.

For example, we forbid the use of feathers plucked from live birds and any material derived from any domesticated or “feral” dogs and cats. I had to google “feral” because I am not familiar with this word and I found out that it is the exact opposite of domesticated, i.e. a domesticated creature gone wild. Like a human boy being raised by a pack of wolves. Which makes me wonder – how would one know whether the dog you captured from the wild is “feral”? Would it start licking you when you pet it whilst its gang mates maul you to death?

Actually this reminded me of a youtube video I recently watched about these 2 boys from Australia who raised a lion cub and later released it back into the wild. Years later, the boys (now men) went to look to Africa to find the lion and was told by specialists that their pet will no longer recognize them but, lo behold, the “feral” lion came bouncing to them happily and there were massive group hugs for several minutes (to the music of Aerosmith’s “I don’t want to miss a thing”). In fact, the video narrator said that the lion, who is now a leader of his own pride, even introduced his WIFE to the two men and they were group hugging with the WIFE as well. My question is, Madam Lioness is not feral; she grew up in the Savanna and is wild as wild can be. If I am the boys, I would have ran the other way when she approached – but that would be kinda rude, ya?




2.  Getting hold of a pair of skinny cargos from the Dragon Tattoo Collection by Trish Summerville for H&M.

You have no idea how thrilled I am with it. It is exactly the kind of style that I like. I was so worried when I saw the announcement that the collection will be launched on 17 Dec – last Saturday, when I am away in KL. I was thinking, “Damn, the kiasu Singaporeans will get hold of EVERYTHING by the time I am back” but surprisingly, when I got to H&M yesterday evening, there were still some pieces left and I managed to get a pair of skinnys in dark grayish blue – the type that Lisbeth Salander would wear (haha! I’m such a sucker!) That said, I must complain that H&M was being very sneaky because they displayed clothes that look like they could be part of the collection (cue: black and grungy) in the same racks but they are not. So, please look carefully at the labels.

3. Meeting my niece for the first time last weekend in KL.

She is the cutest thing I have ever seen. When I first met her, she was sleeping and my sis made me carry her (I am so bad at it, by the way) and halfway through, she opened her eyes and looked at me for the longest time with her pretty peepers (probably thinking, “Who the heck are you?”) and I was just squealing from the inside and going, “It’s me! It’s me! Your Aunt Frou! Do you remember me singing lullabies to you while you’re still in mummy’s tummy?”. Some sob moments there. *Cue – Aerosmith song again*

4. Taking only 10 minutes to get to work this morning. 

The roads are  completely empty; everyone’s probably already away for their Christmas vacation. I am also extremely egg-cited that I am heading for vacation too, to a city I have never been before and have been dying to visit – Taipei. In two weeks time, I will be soaking my tired ass in a luxurious private hot spring with a tiny towel on my head while eating oyster mee sua. Now, that’s bliss!

5. Lastly, I am happy that it is Christmas time of the year. 

My peeps and I will be having a Christmas party this Friday with turkey, ham, wine and gift exchange.  My best friend, The Queen, will be back after Boxing Day and we will do a countdown to 2012 together. The Toe suggested we re-live our youth and head to a club this year after countdown so I am preparing for that now by trying to sleep a little later every night. You know, old folks need a lot of preparation for a big night these days..

Merry Christmas, my dear readers & friends!