When you have a gathering among friends, especially with those whom you seldom see and should catch up with, what do you do and where do you do it?
Outside of home, on 'neutral' ground to everyone's ease and convenience of travel is one way. No worries about food and drinks mainly. But what if it's held at a friend's home? Depending on how large the group is, food can either be cooked by the host, catered, or shared ala potluck, or a combination of these options. The type of food and drinks served depends on the time of day or theme of the gathering, if any.
Entertainment? For me, nothing beats conversation in the company of good friends, maybe with some soft background music at the most. Unless it's a movie marathon get-together, the television set should not be left on (if it was on before the friends arrive) or turned on during the gathering in my opinion.
I find the television distracting and an anti-social element when you have company. People will start watching the box instead of catching up with each other and bonding. Some say conversation can still take place but it would certainly be centred around what is being watched, rather than meaningful chatter.
What if one of the guests decides to turn the set on himself? I think that is not a very nice thing to do. If the show he wanted to watch was more important than meeting his friends, then he should have just stayed home and watched it on his own TV (unless he doesn't have one!).
Maybe another reason for watching TV instead of making conversation is that the person feels out of place or even worse, is avoiding conversation with certain people he dislikes perhaps, for whatever reason. Still, I think he should not do it. Can't he just talk to others he feels more comfortable with?
What do you do if that happens when you are hosting? Tell the person politely to turn it off to avoid distracting others from making meaningful conversation? I think that's one way. The person should respect your request and be sensible enough to realise his mistake, intentional or otherwise.
Another way would be to have the gathering at the part of your home where the TV is not located, such as in the garden if the weather is suitable, at the dining area, lanai or patio. Some people avoid such situations by placing their TV in a private family room, bedroom or AV room if they have enough room in their house.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Home is where the heart is
I've been stuck at home this week since returning from Ipoh over the weekend; mainly because Caitlin's fever and runny nose since Sunday has yet to let up. She stayed home yesterday and today. I plan to keep her home tomorrow too. Managed to do a quick run to the supermarket last night after Eugene got home to get some urgent groceries.
Yesterday, Eugene went to work late as he had to stay home to watch Caitlin while I went to the school in Brickfields to get a transfer request form and find out what other documentation is required.
The husband-wife tag team happens in times like this in a family that does not have household help. In such times, I'm glad I'm a homemaker. The stress of juggling a full-time day job as an employee, coupled with the worry of a sick child alone at home with a maid you can't fully trust, and other pressing needs like meeting the school transfer deadline, is enough to drive an 'ageing' person like me crazy. I think I'm past the age of high-stress living and trying to be 'supermum'.
It's best to be realistic. There's more to life than a high-flying, high-paying job. You can work just about anytime in your life but your baby's first steps, first words, other Kodak moments happen just once in a lifetime.
I stumbled across an article which mentioned that "Seven out of ten young women say they want to take it easier than their mothers did, and one in four would like to give up work altogether to raise a family. Many said they found females who combine a lucrative career with bringing up a family 'irritating' and 'unhelpful'." I wonder if I was 'irritating' and 'unhelpful' during my career mum days...
The article also said, "They don't want to work crazy hours while their children are put into nurseries and their relationships disintegrate under the strain. Young women today are increasingly putting their personal happiness before a big salary or a high-powered career."
While I often lament about my hand dermatitis, not having my 'freedom', not enough cash to last us till month's end or for a much-needed holiday, I'd echo the article title "Supermum? Not me, thanks" if I were asked to choose between being "supermum" and "plain mum".
In fact, "plain mum" is already feeling like "supermum" right now. I'm concurrently blogging, chatting online, overseeing Caitlin with her sums and simmering soup on the stove while the laundry is spinning.
I have to go now. The Math kid is feeling lonely...
Yesterday, Eugene went to work late as he had to stay home to watch Caitlin while I went to the school in Brickfields to get a transfer request form and find out what other documentation is required.
The husband-wife tag team happens in times like this in a family that does not have household help. In such times, I'm glad I'm a homemaker. The stress of juggling a full-time day job as an employee, coupled with the worry of a sick child alone at home with a maid you can't fully trust, and other pressing needs like meeting the school transfer deadline, is enough to drive an 'ageing' person like me crazy. I think I'm past the age of high-stress living and trying to be 'supermum'.
It's best to be realistic. There's more to life than a high-flying, high-paying job. You can work just about anytime in your life but your baby's first steps, first words, other Kodak moments happen just once in a lifetime.
I stumbled across an article which mentioned that "Seven out of ten young women say they want to take it easier than their mothers did, and one in four would like to give up work altogether to raise a family. Many said they found females who combine a lucrative career with bringing up a family 'irritating' and 'unhelpful'." I wonder if I was 'irritating' and 'unhelpful' during my career mum days...
The article also said, "They don't want to work crazy hours while their children are put into nurseries and their relationships disintegrate under the strain. Young women today are increasingly putting their personal happiness before a big salary or a high-powered career."
While I often lament about my hand dermatitis, not having my 'freedom', not enough cash to last us till month's end or for a much-needed holiday, I'd echo the article title "Supermum? Not me, thanks" if I were asked to choose between being "supermum" and "plain mum".
In fact, "plain mum" is already feeling like "supermum" right now. I'm concurrently blogging, chatting online, overseeing Caitlin with her sums and simmering soup on the stove while the laundry is spinning.
I have to go now. The Math kid is feeling lonely...
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Do you read blogs?
I read blogs of my blogosphere friends, my 'normal' friends who blog and sometimes other interesting blogs that I happen to come across while reading or surfing the Net.
I get an idea of my blog traffic through Sitemeter on a weekly basis via an automated email report. I'm also able to see where my readers come from, at what time of day and keywords used in searches that point to my blog via MyBlogLog and Nuffnang.
It's interesting to note bloggers are of course the main bulk of blog readers. Then there are those who are very much into a particular topic (for e.g. political commentary) or a fan of a particular blogger (could be a celeb, a specialist).
On the other side of the fence are people who are not aware that there is such a thing called a "blog". There are also those who don't really care for blogs, be it an intelectually-stimulating, entertaining, educational or informational one, or one that simply belongs to a close friend sharing his daily thoughts and life.
People read blogs for many reasons, depending on the blog's content. If you want to generate high traffic for your blog be it for fame, money or ego or whatever, you should write about what people want to read. Get a target audience. It is easier to write about something you are interested in or passionate about. Armed with knowledge and putting your 'heart' or emotion into writing makes it easier for you to write. The words flow much easier and you'd seldom encounter writer's block.
That's my two cents' worth about blogs, blog readers, non-blog readers and blogging. As for my blog, it's my avenue for psychotherapy and an open journal. When people ask me what's been happening in my life, I tell them "Read my blog". If they are not blog readers and still really want to know, I'm inclined to say "How about a drink one day?". I'd know then if they really want to know what's been happening! Hee hee.
I get an idea of my blog traffic through Sitemeter on a weekly basis via an automated email report. I'm also able to see where my readers come from, at what time of day and keywords used in searches that point to my blog via MyBlogLog and Nuffnang.
It's interesting to note bloggers are of course the main bulk of blog readers. Then there are those who are very much into a particular topic (for e.g. political commentary) or a fan of a particular blogger (could be a celeb, a specialist).
On the other side of the fence are people who are not aware that there is such a thing called a "blog". There are also those who don't really care for blogs, be it an intelectually-stimulating, entertaining, educational or informational one, or one that simply belongs to a close friend sharing his daily thoughts and life.
People read blogs for many reasons, depending on the blog's content. If you want to generate high traffic for your blog be it for fame, money or ego or whatever, you should write about what people want to read. Get a target audience. It is easier to write about something you are interested in or passionate about. Armed with knowledge and putting your 'heart' or emotion into writing makes it easier for you to write. The words flow much easier and you'd seldom encounter writer's block.
That's my two cents' worth about blogs, blog readers, non-blog readers and blogging. As for my blog, it's my avenue for psychotherapy and an open journal. When people ask me what's been happening in my life, I tell them "Read my blog". If they are not blog readers and still really want to know, I'm inclined to say "How about a drink one day?". I'd know then if they really want to know what's been happening! Hee hee.
Random pictures
Caitlin giving her goldfish a cuddle
An ugly Malaysian driver in front of me throwing mangosteen skins out of his car window
"To dare is to do", motto of the Tottenham Hotspurs team
Sick at school vs. sick at home
Caitlin's been down with a cold and fever since Sunday. I told her not to go to school yesterday but she insisted, not because she loves school so much but she simply wanted to experience being sick at school.
She told me that if children get sick in school, the teacher will take them to the office to use the thermometer. If their fever is high, the teacher will stick the cooling pad on their forehead and they can rest in the playroom.
To convince me further to let her go, she said "Teacher is just like mummy in school. Because mummies cannot be in school with their children, the teacher will look after them." That was an exact repeat of what I told her once when I explained to her why she had to tell her teacher if anything was wrong, like if she felt sick, fell or got hurt.
I told her that I will put her fever medicine in her bag so that teacher could give it to her when it was time for it. She exclaimed with arms up in the air, "Yay...!" Boy, it looks like taking medicine in school is something fun and to be proudly shown off to others in class!
At home, she'll request for a cuddle and/or one kiss on each cheek first to "give me power" and then count to 10 nervously while holding the medicine cup before downing it with a grimace....
Hmmm.....
She told me that if children get sick in school, the teacher will take them to the office to use the thermometer. If their fever is high, the teacher will stick the cooling pad on their forehead and they can rest in the playroom.
To convince me further to let her go, she said "Teacher is just like mummy in school. Because mummies cannot be in school with their children, the teacher will look after them." That was an exact repeat of what I told her once when I explained to her why she had to tell her teacher if anything was wrong, like if she felt sick, fell or got hurt.
I told her that I will put her fever medicine in her bag so that teacher could give it to her when it was time for it. She exclaimed with arms up in the air, "Yay...!" Boy, it looks like taking medicine in school is something fun and to be proudly shown off to others in class!
At home, she'll request for a cuddle and/or one kiss on each cheek first to "give me power" and then count to 10 nervously while holding the medicine cup before downing it with a grimace....
Hmmm.....
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