Les Fleurs Decorative Painting

Singapore's answer to Champs-Elysees?

A good break away from the familiar surrounding can be very refreshing. Kuala Lumpur (KL) city officials don't need to go very far to learn what people-friendly city really means. No need for big study-tour delegates to London, Paris or Berlin on taxpayer's money. No need for expensive tuxedo dinner training and high-society etiquette training on taxpayers' money. Just take a relatively cheap trip across the causeway and take a leisurely stroll down the high streets of Singapore such as Orchard Road. The wide, tree-lined boulevards there are comparable to those found in the well-plannned western cities. The tree-shaded street shoulders are clean, and lined with wide pedestrian sidewalks complete with benches and garbage disposal bins. And the pavements are... straight, even, level and pleasing to the eyes.

Sadly, we don't have enough of these pedestrian-friendly qualities in KL. Don't get me wrong, I am not generalising or saying that KL is bad and Singapore is good. What I mean is that KL can learn from the people-centric strengths of Singapore. Let's admit that we can learn a thing or two, other than Singlish and kiasu, from our southern neighbours. We know very well that this small island city with hardly any natural resource is far richer than our country that is very well endowed with nature's riches. We can learn a lot on the street level. Below the streets - the underground city of Singapore - comprising the extensive MRT network and connected commercial and retail centres is another story. We have nothing like it, not even a connected LRT station that is located side-by-side simply because the lines are run by different LRT operators!

Painting vs blogging

I know that it is a challenge for me but I hope to be able to update my blog more often. It has been a long time since my last posting here. I think have a lot to say and to share but everytime I get myself in front of the computer, somehow all the ideas seem to evaporate. The cyberworld is very different from my decorative painting world - the real visual-touchy-feely world of patterns and colours. I can do so much with my brushes and paints in half an hour than what I can do in the same amount of time in front of the keyboard and display monitor. Speaking of display, I have a fair number of empty cans on display all over the house such as this one. Friends, students and visitors often ask me where do I get them. Honestly, I do get a little embarassed to admit that I got many of them from Paris. A typical reaction would be; What? You mean you actually brought home all these stuff from Paris? I can immediately see the animated picture in their minds, of me shopping for empty cans in Paris and taking them through the airport baggage scanners and the customs who can't help wondering why would anybody travel so far for so many empty cans. Well, I managed to take a shot in front of a shop at Les Halles, it is actually a shop selling everything to do with tea, and there are so many cans on display.

The bosses

In case you are wondering, my painting studio is indeed a home studio, or rather, the home itself. It takes me only seconds to go to and return from work, but unlike working away from home, I don't leave my bosses at work. I have to take care of the little bosses before work, after work, and beyond work. It's the choice I made - to stay at home to take care of the little bosses and to watch them grow, and hopefully they will take care of me later in life. I know it can be a little awkward for some of the students and I am very grateful for their understanding. Rest assured that classes are run with no or minimum interruptions, if any. They start after the kids have gone to school and finish before the kids are back. Therefore during weekdays, I can only hold morning classes. In the afternoons, the kids have their extracurricular activities, Quran classes, meetups, or are simply doing their homework at home. Yes, it is exhausting - to ferry them around, help them with their daily chores and errands, and take care of the housework - before I can find the time to sit down and concentrate on the customers' orders. I am happy that my customers understand and are willing to wait patiently for their painted items. It may be a little traditional but I'm not complaining. I call it parenting with tender loving care, and it's something that I'd rather not outsource or delegate to others.

Bad bad Rota

Being a mum, kids always come first, especially when they are sick. Painting can wait. Whether I like it or not, I had to cancel all painting appointments and classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (so far). There will be no painting and no classes, and for that matter no other things, until my little girl gets out of hospital. The poor sweetie has been there since Sunday, no thanks to Rotavirus. What a way to spend the long Chinese New Year holidays for the whole family.

Rotavirus infection is really bad. The poor girl suffered continuous vomiting and diarrhea the whole of Saturday night. She lost a lot of body fluid and did not get a wink of sleep that night. I did not know what caused it. Neither did the doctor who referred her to a surgeon at a nearby specialist hospital and fearing the worst - that it might be due to appendicitis. The thought of an operation on my little girl really scared me. But the paediatrician in charge later told us that Rota was the culprit. She had an unusually high level of white blood cells and sugar in her blood due to the infection. She was so dehydrated after prolonged vomiting and diarrhea that she has been on IV drip since the time of admission on Sunday morning.  She has not been eating or drinking and has intermittent high temperatures, particularly at night. I pray and hope that she will regain her strength, get better and be her cheerful self as soon as possible.

Springtime in Paris

The kids reminded me today that we were in Paris at this very moment last year. It wasn't quite summer yet at the time, the weather was more like spring - cold, windy and rain. But we had such a wonderful time, everybody is still reminiscing of the time when we were walking along the Champs-Elysees, when we were at the top of the Eiffel Tower, when we were so close to Monalisa, when we were enjoying the walks and the views of Luxembourg Garden, Montmartre, along the River Seine, at the flea markets, flower markets, in the metro, etc. etc. Ah, well... no Paris this year, except for the Da Vinci Code that is now screening at the cinemas in town.

Friends and family

Old schoolmates one grows up with for 5 years in a residential school are like childhood friends. Well, mine are indeed my childhood friends with whom I share a lot of memories. It feels good to get together in a big group once in a while, to catch up with one onother and, among others, to talk about the good old days. For some reasons or another, I haven't been able to join their annual weekend getaways in the last few years. This year, they will be spending a weekend in April by the sandy beaches of Penang. I love sandy beaches and I hope I'll make it there this time round.

The kids have always enjoyed weekend trips to the seasides. We used to visit the seasides of Trengganu in the east coast annually for many years until recently, as travelling there during school holidays was becoming unbearable. So last year, we switched to the south eastern beaches of Johore. Furthermore, the kids have grown bigger and would like to do more that just getting sunburns, building sand castles and burying themselves in the sand. This particular spot offers a private beach and many ecological activities they enjoyed so much that we had to extend the stay there (and they had to skip one day of school).

I hope that my good old buddies do not think that I am avoiding their weekend getaways on purpose. I hope they will understand and accept that it is not always possible for me to take trips at the same time and place with them. Afterall, understanding is what good friends and childhood chums are about.

We are in le Metro

   

This time, it's le Metro Parisien and not Harian Metro. Paris trip was really great, everyone enjoyed every minute of it. In fact, we all miss Paris. I can still picture myself standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomphe, and the Notre Dame, and the Sacre Coeur. I can still feel the atmosphere at Montmartre, and Jardin du Luxembourg, and the flower market, and the flea market. When we were there, the days were long like summertime and weather was cool, perhaps too cold for comfort sometimes with the wind chill factor.

The Metro is really a convenient way to get around central Paris. Every attraction I know of can easily be reached by Metro. You will not get lost as long as there is a Metro station nearby. The stations are everywhere, and they are nice and artsy too.

   

Thinking of Paris

The French seem to have the knack for creating chic and elegant designs like this souvenir scarf from Souvenirs of Paris. Not at all surprising for the fact that they started the tole and decorative painting line of art some 400 years ago. The word ‘tole’ itself is of French origin. French designs have been setting trends in the decorative art world and fashion for a long time. French designs, particularly those with the country, Provencal, vintage and retro themes are really charming and lovely. A French-cottage-styled decorating trend such as Shabby Chic, made popular by English designer Rachel Ashwell, has a big following in the UK, USA and Australia.

I am really looking forward to visiting Paris next month, and so are the kids. ‘Thrilled’ is probably a better choice of word. We will have the chance of being Parisians for a week. I will definitely take the opportunity to visit museums of decorative arts and other places of interest relating to French decorative arts and designs. As Paris is also well-known for its many flea markets such as the Saint Ouen flea market, and street markets, besides its many trend-setting high fashion designer or haute couture houses, I will surely look for good bargains for stuffs that can only be found in France.

Mother's Day Special

At around this time last year, my youngest daughter, whose birthday is in the month of May, and whose favourite TV shows include the french-accented Madeline, asked a magic question; "Mama, can we go to Paris for my birthday?".

Surprised and amused, I could only smile lovingly at her simple-minded request. At the back on my own complicated mind, it was only a wishful thinking, a distant dream. But to a 5-year old, nothing is impossible. In order not to dismiss her wish outright, I gently answered; "Not this year, darling. Perhaps some other time", half-heartedly, but at the same time wishing that I could just wave a magic wand and make her wish (and my dream too) come true.

The little sweetie must have learned quite a bit from the Madeline show. She would sometimes proudly use the few French words she had learned. She would happily wish me "bonjour" and even use "merci" with her grandmother who would find her antics amusing.

It is really amazing how things could turn out to be. The thought of going to Paris would just be a wishful thinkng a year ago. But this year, I'll get a special Mother's Day gift, and my little sweetie will get her wish fulfilled. The whole family will be spending a week's vacation in Paris early next month. Now the little darling can really put her French words to good use.

My little darling

Working at home can be great fun if your customers do not mind your kids being part of the staff. I don’t know what job title to give my cutie 5-year old daughter, but she is a PR officer, a demanding customer and an adorable host all in one. Very often, she would escape from the care of her elder sisters and brother and make herself comfortable among the painting students while I am conducting lessons. She would demand that I make her milk, toasts, etc. primarily to get my attention despite my frequent reminder to her to behave herself while I have students at home. I would usually lose the battle, but not because of her unflagging interference, but because my kind-hearted students have come to accept her as part of the team, and even siding with her in cases of disputes. They adore her and would regularly bring along biscuits, sweets and candies to her delight and enjoy chatting with her. And you know the amazing 5-year-olds, they would chirp like birds and never run out of smart ideas.

Anyhow, I guess that’s what working from home is all about. You cannot do away with being a mother and housewife at the same time for the sake of your business. After all, that’s the primary reason for staying at home in the first place, to be with the kids and watch them grow – the very thing I missed when I was working away from home. Savour the cherished moments and you will never live to regret.