I’m sitting in my hotel room gazing out the window onto the main road far below. The silence is welcomed. It’s been a while since I last had such quiet stillness all to myself.
Yet I can already feel the first stirrings in my tummy of what I know would become a huge butterfly farm because in a little less than 2 hours I will have to get on stage and deliver a speech in Malay, something I have not done in years! On my table in the room lies the 2 paged speech I managed to cook up over 3 to 4 hours yesterday while suffering a major migraine headache. Why is it necessary to read a 2 paged speech just to say thanks?!! Life is simpler with a simple and sincere “thanks” and the good ol’ handshake and a pat in the back. 
I can’t wait to go home after the ceremony afterwards. Another weekend spent away from my family, for the sake of the community.
I feel a little like Santa. A toy remote control car and bow and arrow set for Ryan (I probably shouldn’t have bought the latter knowing he will probably use me for target practice), an embroidery set and a toy racket set for Darlene. Sorry wifey, couldn’t find a decent pair of shoes and the lingerie looks cheap. 
I can’t wait to see the looks of delight on my kids’ faces.
Still, the gifts make a poor substitution for my absence at their Sunday School Christmas do yesterday. It would have been great to see Darlene perform with her tambourine. Sigh…
Sun, 161207 @ 0845, sorry for the contemplative mood. It’s the butterflies.
