I’d wanted to reflect on January proper (i.e. after 31st January) but with this tiny bit of free time right now, I thought I’d just update a little on what’s been going on since 2015 started, in pictures. They say photographs make the best memories and I don’t know what I would do should cameras not exist. Every frame is made of so many smaller pixels put together and this captures so much: laughter, lessons, friendship, love, joy, experiences.

This month began hectic, but I like hectic. Not always, just sometimes. I like being able to look forward to something everyday, not just run through a mundane daily routine and go to bed feeling like life has no purpose other than three meals a day and ample sleep. Oh come on, having something to look forward to makes the day pass a little faster with a tiny bit more smile on the face.

One of my resolutions for this year is to make every day count. I won't be unrealistic to say that I would like to make every single minute count, I mean there must definitely be a lull where you space out and mope around for a while throughout the day. And since then, I've gone to bed every night running through the day in my mind and asking myself if I'd made full use of it. 

I'd like to think that I have.

So Bren had his ORD parade as soon as the year began and I was really proud of him that evening, despite not having seen him through the entire journey. There definitely is something about guys in uniform though (hahahahaha)... All silliness aside, you know you're filled with immense pride when all the hairs on your skin stand.

His 21st birthday was the next major milestone of the year and after a month of preparation (and contemplating whether I should let him in on it), it turned out pretty well because he ended up kinda hosting it himself, oops. But I daresay think I've gotten a little better at planning and organising something like this. 

Baked a couple of times this month just because I had the luxury of time to. Because when things start piling up, the next time I can even dream of going near the oven would probably be at the end of April.

Made pistachio shortbread dipped in dark chocolate (reaaaaaaally good recipe!) with Cheryl and they turned out so delicious even my mom loved them (she usually stays away from my bakes because she doesn't have as sweet a tooth as me). After which on a Thursday morning before going to school for a meeting, I made an upside-down pear cake with walnuts. A tad too sweet because of the brown sugar but a tiny bit healthier because of the lack of plain flour (substituted with almond flour).

I'm really glad I managed to squeeze in time with Cheryl every week before she left for Copenhagen, cherishing our moments together whilst doing the things we do best: baking, sleepovers, talking, laughing, being stupid and ugly but not judging one another at the same time. 

I miss my best friend so much.

In the middle of the month, I spent a weekend with a group of my sailors taking a course to get the license to drive a pleasure craft. The second day dragged out for 9 hours (think: in a cold room with an instructor droning on and on in a monotonous voice) and I never felt happier to take the train from Punggol Marina.

The second half of January was filled with goodbyes. I really really really abhor saying goodbye. I know it's not as if I'll never see them again, but saying goodbye gives me this sinking feeling of letting go of people I hold dearly. And it scares me to think that they won't be here with me for a period of time.

Looked this quote up: