I've been baking, baking, baking for friends. This year I made more Christmas fruitcakes, cookies and American carrot cakes than last year. My daughter commented that our kitchen looks like a bakery!
In total, I must have baked more than 100 tubs of cornflakes, coconut, rum and raisin, chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and coffee cookies. Many were packed as gifts for family and friends.
American carrot cake with lots of pineapples, currants, walnuts and carrots! I told my daughter that this is a healthy snack because of all the fruits and vegetable we can get in this moist, dense cake. The Philadelphia Cream Cheese frosting is not too sweet, just a thin layer and topped with a few Hershey's chocolate chips!
In December we decided we needed to learn how to run properly (without injury) so joined my physiotherapist, Gino Ng, in his running club where he teaches Chi running. It was my first experience in running. It was amazing! No knee or ankle pain! It was also fun running in a group from Amoy Street to the Esplanade.
Gino was a former national triathlete, 2-time Singapore National Triathlon champion (2000-2001), National Duathlon champion (2001), 9-time winner of the National Vertical Marathon (1998-2001, 2004-2005, 2007-2009) and was also placed 4th at the 2001 Asian Duathlon Championships in Hong Kong and made several podium finishes in the Asian Cup Triathlon Series events over the years while holding down a full time job as a physiotherapist. Check out his website at http://www.sportssolutions.com.sg/.
Gino has also been a source of encouragement to me in my journey of injury and recovery this year. If not for him, I would probably have just given up and given in. Thanks, Gino!
This year we're thankful that Alethea has grown up as a young lady as well as a beautiful dancer. Come January she'll be starting Year 3 at School of the Arts (aka SOTA) where her art form is ballet.
Alethea with her classmate Janice (who's also from SOTA), at rehearsals.
Beautiful lines and extensions! (Proud Mum speaking)
Alethea with her Dance Station friends and director, Ms Rosalind Ong at the Barker Road Methodist Church's Christmas concert.
To rest from the year's work and season's busy-ness, I will be taking a break from jewelry designing until the beginning of next year. Thank you to all my old and new friends who have supported me this year. I have really enjoyed making jewelry for you! Looking forward to a new year of more colours, textures and designs! May this Christmas season make us more aware of what is important in our lives and lead us to cherish our relationships. Blessed Christmas, everyone!
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