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My mum's 70th birthday

Celebrated my mum's 70th birthday last weekend. It was a small and cosy 'party', just us and our families and her siblings and their families.

My mum has certainly led a 'full' life these 70 years, been there, done that, etc. She lived through the war and went to school only at 10 when the war was over. She was a nurse, then a teacher but spent most of her adult life as a housewife, saddled with us. She didn't get much of a break from being saddled with kids because by the time the last of us got married, she was already grandmother of 4 (now 6).

She used to take the bus daily across the island for months on end to help care for my nephew when he was a baby. When I gave birth, she did that for the first two or three months for me too. She still comes over at least once a week to my place, and the rest of the week, she's just going round to help with the others.

There is nothing one can say or do that will adequately thank one's mum for going through rain, sun, traffic jam, illness, etc etc... for the sake of her kids or grandchildren. I'm sure that if she could, she would even do that for her great grandchildren. I am just thankful she is in good health and generally happy and positive about life.

There is an article in today's papers entitled 'Can people live beyond 120 years?' Boy, I hope I am not going to be one of those who gets to live beyond 120. There is only so much that one can do with one's life, I think. Am I being too pessimistic here? Anyway, it is all up to the Big One Up There to decide, not me.

Now for the frivolous part. First, the dress I wore for the celebration. I am thrilled to learn how to 'add image'. Ha ha, cheap thrill! Thanks, Bear Hugs, for teaching me. I am so daft, the 'add image' icon has been right in front of me all this while and I just found out about it!!

Anyway, I got the dress from Blum, to which I was introduced by my friend CK. The place has some aunty and getai-ish outfits but also lots of lovely pieces. I am sure anyone who steps in will find something they like. They also have persuasive sales staff who will bring out an endless stream of dresses for you to try. They tried to make me spend some $600 there. Good thing I didn't. But I thought the dress was necessary expenditure, and also, my brother said he was going to wear a suit, and, most importantly, I cannot fit into any of my old 'dinner' outfits anymore.

So here's the front and back view of the dress and close-up of the front. Not sure how to describe those things on the front -- brass-coloured studs?









This other picture is of a cami also from Blum which I couldn't resist getting. It was too lovely to leave behind...

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