it was an unexpectedly lovely day.

went to town in hope of getting presents for the kids (you don't have to know whose) and passing my cell girl her MOL tickets, and was all prepared to run straight home because of the CCC - Crazy Christmas Crowd, when dear mandy smsed me and the next thing we knew we were in the heart of chinatown taking in the sights and sounds.

the only time when i go to chinatown is when i want to yum cha or book hotel room for my bangkok trips. but mandy brought me around to check out the shops that i'd normally give a miss because surprise, i'm not that adventurous a shopper afterall. well, shopping was victorious and my buys are our secrets. despite the rain, which was a bit of a downer, i really enjoyed myself. dinner and conversation were fabulous. heck the diet and workout regime, i want my dou sha guo bing and jiao zi again soon.

mum is finally home. hong mei mei called yesterday. every item of my to-do list for this week has been accomplished, including the irritating COFM report and going down to BBDC. although the latter was a mini disaster in the sense that i got lost (yes don't ask. i know i stayed in bt batok before) and it was really a wasted trip. but, still, i did it. all by myself.

and so when mum asked me how i spent the past 3 days being home alone and without the normal help i get and take for granted, i replied with a slight sense of smugness "i've done all i needed to do."

but alas, i did not clean the floor and that, to my mother, means that i have not done anything at all.