Alone again, naturally
I spend a lot of my time surrounded by other people. At home, I have two kids to keep me perpetually busy and entertained. I have social engagements aplenty to keep up with. My job is certainly one you cannot do if you eschew the company of others. Which is why, I suppose, some of my favourite things to do involve down time, by myself.
On occasion, I really enjoy being home alone. This is why I relished my time in London. That little room at Goodenough College was a peaceful haven where I could shut the door on the world and enjoy my own company whenever I needed to. The apartment at Shad Thames was even better. I had an entire apartment to myself most days as my flatmate worked long hours. Between work, cooking and household chores, there was still plenty of time leftover to exercise (my own treadmill!), read, watch TV, listen to the radio, soak in the bath, admire the flowers on the balcony, drink tea... It really was a little slice of personal heaven.
Another thing I like to do by myself is shop. I enjoy wandering the stores on my own because I can linger for as long as I like, anywhere I like, over anything I like. Sometimes I gravitate towards the clothing shops, sometimes I linger over stationery. At other times, you will find me happily inspecting toiletries - so many things to make one smell and look nice... And then when my feet are tired, a nice tall iced tea at a coffee place while I flip through a magazine, read a book or watch TV on my iPhone.
Which is why it occurred to me to go and watch a movie on my own two days ago. I don't think I have ever voluntarily gone to the cinema by myself. I had come out of a meeting with a few hours to kill - Eug had a shoot and the kids were at school for CCA. I also had no desire to do anymore work that day. So I checked the movie listings and decided to catch SATC2 since I knew no one else in the family would want to watch it with me. I wasn't expecting to like it (because I really disliked the first movie) but it's just one of those things. I just had to see what Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha had gotten up to.
So I bought one ticket and one drink, and headed into the cinema hall by my one self. It felt a bit strange but one does get used to it. I didn't like the movie because it felt like an extended advertisement for Abu Dhabi. So much of the movie involved the four ladies wandering goggle-eyed through palatial rooms and doing touristy things that the plot seemed secondary to the location. But overall, it was pleasant if you just let the somewhat OTT wardrobe changes and conspicuous consumption wash over you.
But I guess the thing about being alone is that it's only fun in counterpoint to having people to hang with. In London, there were always friends to meet up for a drink with in the evening. Flatmates would come home and friends came round for a meal or a cuppa after work. In Singapore, my shopping trips are usually capped with some social engagement or other. And last wednesday, I was quite happy to go home and nag my kids and cuddle with the bf when my allotted alone time was done.
On occasion, I really enjoy being home alone. This is why I relished my time in London. That little room at Goodenough College was a peaceful haven where I could shut the door on the world and enjoy my own company whenever I needed to. The apartment at Shad Thames was even better. I had an entire apartment to myself most days as my flatmate worked long hours. Between work, cooking and household chores, there was still plenty of time leftover to exercise (my own treadmill!), read, watch TV, listen to the radio, soak in the bath, admire the flowers on the balcony, drink tea... It really was a little slice of personal heaven.
Another thing I like to do by myself is shop. I enjoy wandering the stores on my own because I can linger for as long as I like, anywhere I like, over anything I like. Sometimes I gravitate towards the clothing shops, sometimes I linger over stationery. At other times, you will find me happily inspecting toiletries - so many things to make one smell and look nice... And then when my feet are tired, a nice tall iced tea at a coffee place while I flip through a magazine, read a book or watch TV on my iPhone.
Which is why it occurred to me to go and watch a movie on my own two days ago. I don't think I have ever voluntarily gone to the cinema by myself. I had come out of a meeting with a few hours to kill - Eug had a shoot and the kids were at school for CCA. I also had no desire to do anymore work that day. So I checked the movie listings and decided to catch SATC2 since I knew no one else in the family would want to watch it with me. I wasn't expecting to like it (because I really disliked the first movie) but it's just one of those things. I just had to see what Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha had gotten up to.
So I bought one ticket and one drink, and headed into the cinema hall by my one self. It felt a bit strange but one does get used to it. I didn't like the movie because it felt like an extended advertisement for Abu Dhabi. So much of the movie involved the four ladies wandering goggle-eyed through palatial rooms and doing touristy things that the plot seemed secondary to the location. But overall, it was pleasant if you just let the somewhat OTT wardrobe changes and conspicuous consumption wash over you.
But I guess the thing about being alone is that it's only fun in counterpoint to having people to hang with. In London, there were always friends to meet up for a drink with in the evening. Flatmates would come home and friends came round for a meal or a cuppa after work. In Singapore, my shopping trips are usually capped with some social engagement or other. And last wednesday, I was quite happy to go home and nag my kids and cuddle with the bf when my allotted alone time was done.