Sigh. We've gone to Singapore and back. It's back to the real world with a thud. A grey skied, rainy thud at that.
I had a lovely time away. It was great to catch up with family and weddings are always such a joyous occasion. Much food was eaten, many photographs were snapped. However, not much was bought at all. My suitcase weighed exactly the same coming home as it did on the way out.
It's shocking news, I know. Even Mr SSG felt my forehead periodically to make sure I wasn't febrile. I don't know what came over me. Actually, I do. I've given it alot of thought and here are my reasons:
- the stores were all full of full winter gear. Thermals, puffer jackets and heavy knits. In Singapore.
- Zara was feeling the cowgirl ranch look. Everything was flannel, prairie style and full of Wild West motifs.
- there were only bits of Kate Moss for Top Shop's collection
- H&M hasn't opened yet
- you know how I didn't cope well in Japan a few months ago with the heat and humidity? It was the same in Singapore. Like good hair, heat and humidity are the natural enemies of my shopping instincts.
- there were huge queues outside the other stores I wanted to have a look at.
It's been a bit hectic here but I promise to get to the photos over the next few posts.
In the meantime, have you heard about Christian the lion? Mr SSG certainly has. He's one of Christian's biggest fans. It all started when he caught a segment on Kerry Anne the other day and since then, he's been the bearer of links to everything Christian associated. He was very insistent that I blog about Christian.
The fascination started with this video.
I cry everytime I watch it. It's that sense of love triumphing over the passage of time, the love of God's creatures for one another.
Briefly, Christian was a lion cub on sale in Harrods in the 1960s(!!). He was bought by a pair of Australian expats, Ace and John. Christian lived in their house for a number of months before outgrowing it. He became fully immersed in London life and even had a country residence at which he could stretch his legs. Christian was also adopted by a pair of London actors, who worked on the movie Born Free. They decided to give Christian a place to live on their country estate as plans were made for his future.
Ace and John had decided that the best place for the growing Christian was in his natural surroundings in Kenya. The famous conservationist, John Adams had agreed to try and integrate Christian back into the wild and hopefully have him start his own pride.
There is a fascinating documentary about Christian and his human family. I was watching it on the plane home yesterday. It is such a heart warming story in every way. I love watching lions on film. Their physical beauty, their grace and their human qualities as they interact with one another. This was juxtaposed upon life in London in the 60s. The freedom of expression and lifestyle and the beginnings of an appreciation of conservation and a respect for nature.
I hope you're keeping well wherever you may be and that the video clip made you thankful and appreciative of the love you have in your own life.
Talk to you soon,

PS - it's already December tomorrow!?!?!?! My Christmas preparations at this point are in their infancy. In fact, I'm not sure that they've been conceived yet....