We went to Hong Kong last Fri evening to attend your dad's wedding. It was nice to meet your family again, as well as revisit my old haunts in Hong Kong. We got home yesterday, and started our self-quarantine (i.e. work from home) today.

I still worked 12 hours, and I think it's even more intensive than working in the office. There was nothing to distract me. You cooked lunch and dinner, and replenished the water when it ran low. I ate lunch in the same length of time that I would take going out to eat from the office. Basically, all I had to do was work.

However, you made the observation that I seemed to be in a better mood at the end of the day.
And it's true.

Sometimes, I really think I'd have quit this job long ago if not for you. Though you've never intended me to do what I don't want to, you make me feel better about doing what I do.

I can't help thinking I should be doing something else.

Today, I found out at work that my Malaysian counterpart (whom I refer to as my Malaysian brother) is going to transfer out of his department end July. In fact, his successor is already starting to learn the ropes. My Hong Kong counterpart is leaving the organisation, and his successor is also in place. On one hand, I feel sad that they'll be leaving; but on the other hand, I'm glad that they're finally going to have more time to themselves. Also, I feel apprehensive about being the only "old bird" left.

I don't know if this job is what I'm meant to do.

I understand why some people could get names of their loved ones tattoo'd on them because I think I could, for you.

Today, during our weekly Sunday ritual of reading Postsecrets, you read the entry on Frank's convocation speech and turned away. You said, "This is what our society has become, convocation speech in (single) trite sentences".

I liked it anyway.

Yesterday, I baked a carrot cake for the first time ever. It was mostly pre-packaged, but I felt a sense of fulfillment from baking that cake which I don't get from work.

We both worked at home over the long weekend, you much more than I. However, you're much more affable about working on your rest days. You told me you enjoy working at home with me, because it's not so boring as when you work alone in your office.

That amazes me about you. The fact that you work more than I do and don't seem to burn out. But then, does it mean I'm a better emotional crutch to you than you are to me?

Once, while trudging home with bags of grocery, I turned and asked what you would do if I should die before you did. You said women have longer lives than men.

"But what if I should die before you," I insisted. "Would you marry your high school sweetheart?"

"No, of course not!" you replied. "I would marry someone 30 years younger! In fact, she's probably being born right now!"

And we laughed loud and long over that.

Still eating the last of the fudge brownies we've baked 2 weeks ago. They were pretty good, despite the fact that we had to halve the ingredients and make do without some. Thinking of baking a cheesecake some time, as well as volunteering again.

Suddenly, life is filled with possibilities.

Spent a large part of Saturday at the AWARE EGM, and was so glad that moral justice prevailed. Must not take things for granted, and am going to volunteer again, despite having less time to spare outside work.

Must remember that whatever happens, we must have meaning in our lives.

Your Inner Nationality has surprised me. You're happy to be Swedish.

You are friendly, gentle, and modest, with a good heart and a lusty nature. You laugh easily, have a well-developed sense of irony, and tend to understand people intuitively. You are interested in new people, but will always maintain notions of insider vs. outsider, and this will lead you to commit to a group of friends and lovers who will be with you your entire life. If you have a weakness it's your timidity -- you feel pressure to remain 'lagom' -- on an even par with others. But this is also your strength.

Tonight, I watched the SIFF screening of "Wendy and Lucy". I didn't understand the R21 rating, and why this film couldn't be screened in a commercial release here. It was a film without any up-sides; when it ended, a friend made a comment which summed up the film very well.. the heroine's life is worse than a dog's.

In contrast to her, I am so blessed.

Yesterday, I had a terrible day in the office. The sort of day my eyes maddened with rage and before I knew it, I was shedding tears in front of my boss. I guess I've been reaching breaking point at work for a long time now, and even with an extra headcount to help, I'm still struggling with the avalanche of work.

So you took me for a nice dinner at Lawry's, and afterwards, I dragged you across to Tiffany's while they were closing, and bought a floral Tiffany key pendant and chain.

Everytime I wear it, I hope to remember never to sink to this state again.
It's not worth it.

Another inane facebook quiz on where I should have lived in Singapore:

Your inner-geek or inner-geekette whispers "Bugis"

You love to read a good book. Your favorite past time is to roll on the National Library carpet. You love to bargain hunt the latest computer gadgets in Sim Lim. You love to shop for Casio watches in Albert Complex. Your friends call you geek, nerd and porn-crazy, but you know better; you don’t have friends. Perhaps one. Move to Bugis, you will sure get to meet more of your kind and who knows you may get Lucky. Lucky is a homeless dog in Bugis.

Did another strange Facebook quiz: which movie describes your life?

Well, mine was "Beaches" (because it's filled with good and bad times in the company of friends).

I would never have guessed.

Yesterday morning, my iPod shuffled up Johnny Cash's "25 Minutes to Go" from his live performance at Folsom Prison. The jolly tune and the lyrics about counting down to a hanging make a disjointed pair, interspersed with the cheers from the audience of prisoners.

I don't think I've ever heard this song before.

Today, I learnt an aubade is a poem or song about lovers separating at dawn.

Philip Larkin's "Aubade".