living life in a different country, different culture, different experiences; being different
This is the first Christmas we spend with just the 2 of us because our son is now living with my mum, waiting to serve in the military (NS for Singaporeans). It will be a quiet one because we just got back from Singapore. More on our trip to Singapore later. For now, we send our Christmas greetings to you all.
SYC
I had so much fun reading The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared that is why I knew I had to read this book which once again features the much-beloved Allan Karlsson.
On reading the foreword by Jonasson, the author himself, I was even more excited to get reading. Jonasson had confessed that he had had no intention of writing another book about Allan, however, Mr. Karlsson kept entering his thoughts and recent world events left Jonasson feeling the need to write about how it ought to be, and Allan was the only one who could help him do that.
So this is how we find ourselves witnesses to Allan’s 101st birthday at a luxurious Indonesian beach resort where in the midst of festivities, Allan and his dear friend Julius find themselves floating away in a balloon. Landing in the Indian Ocean, they are picked up a North Korean carrier which delivers them to Pyongyang and its supreme leader.
The story takes all the unexpected twists and turns we have come to expect of Jonasson’s writing. Of course, recent world events and world leaders (let’s do some name-dropping here; the Swedish foreign minister, the German chancellor, Donald Trump) are woven into the plot to make a tale that is rather tall but still within the realm of probability. Throw into the mix some plutonium, a coffin-making business, some spiritual research, journeys through various countries with a crazy “Nazi” on their heels and we have ourselves a book that I could not get enough of.
Now you know what I think, I hope you would give this book a read and let me know what you think.
Happy Reading!
syc
See the picture above? Those are my son’s things he has decided will be going with him to Singapore, where he has chosen to serve his NS (National Service). See my post from July regarding his graduation and NS.
It’s a milestone and quite a big one. Many have been asking how we, as parents, feel about him leaving the nest.
Well, there’s a part of me who can not believe he’s already at this stage of his life, there’s another part of me who is very proud that he has come this far, yet another part of me is uncertain. Uncertain of how I would navigate this change, manage the physical distance and balance mothering while giving him the space to fully become the young adult he needs to be.
I turn to others who have already walked this path and to God who is my constant guide through life.
Another question friends ask us is what we would do now, as empty-nesters. A friend related how his parents told him they had to relearn how to just be a married couple again. I guess that might be one part of it.
It will be an adjustment but it will also be an opportunity for us to move into different roles. By this I mean, we will always be his parents but our role will shift gears into being advisers rather than direct influencers. I feel it would probably be the same in our relationship as a married couple; we would move from being parents first to giving priority to being a partner for each other.
I am sad yet excited, proud yet ambivalent, wanting to reach for the future while still holding onto memories.
For now, I tell myself to remain cool and calm and tell you, with my heart at busting point, my boy passed his driving test and can now legally drive! Another milestone – what else can a parent be but proud 😀
syc
trippingdifferently 