Extreme low productivity knitting and craft wise but fruitful on the books section. I received my copy of the Modern Quilt book (it's superb, beautiful, non-country type of quilts, clear instructions for a complete novice like me). I bought two more Japanese craft books, this and the the Cotton Time (no ISBN available), which is a score from my favourite Cheer Wool. And I borrowed more sewing books from the library. I found Vintage Fabric Style and Encyclopedia of Classic Quilt Patterns. The latter I really like although the styles are traditional, the quilts are all beautifully made and the instructions are clear even to a non-quilter like me. I'll add this to my library sooner or later.
And this is a must see, knitted bags beyond adorable from Blabla.
Now, on to the meme. I'm actually nervous about memes, never know how to approach them. Initially, I didn't want to tag anyone but I wonder if Mrs. Pilkington, Agnes, Laura, Anne, and Mary Beth would like to attempt this one. No obligations though.
1) playing with neighbours
The flat I grew up in is located in a block that has a big void deck and my neighbours, my brothers and I would play together there quite often all sorts of games like rounders, jump rope (made of rubber band chains!), skipping, hopscotch, what is the time Mr. Wolf. Sometimes, we'll go to one anothers' apartments and play four (instead of five) stones or Playmobil or cooking or building blocks. Those were the days when neighbours still talk to each other.
Added later: Rose left a comment that hit the nail on the head. That's exactly the game I was referring to when I said jump rope using rubber band chains! "Did you ever play a game that required you to step on the rubber band chain to go to the other side and the chain went higher and higher (you had to do cartwheels or flips by the time it went to our heads)... Kind of like a reverse limbo?"
2) shopping for fabric with my mother
My mother adores sewing as much as I love to knit. She sews all our garments when we were young, even our school uniforms. She's a self-taught one and is really very good at the craft. On weekends after visiting my great grandma, we'd drop by to People's Park Centre to look at the fabrics. Comes Chinese New Year, we'd go to the Japanese department stores like Daimaru and ogle at the beautiful dresses there. I would try them on and she would carefully examine the details. Most of the time, she can produce a garment that is 90% like the one in the store at a fraction of the price. Sewing garments didn't really catch on with me because handling the machine is so difficult but now I'm slowly taking a liking to the craft.
3) visiting aunt's house during school holidays
My third aunt lives in a rural area and comes school holidays, I'll go to her place to stay so that my mother would have more time to take care of my two younger brothers. My cousins are all much older than I, and they'll bring me to explore all sorts of places.
4) listening to rediffusion
When I was young, most of the flats in my block had a Rediffusion installed. It was much more popular than the radio. It provided lots of audio entertainment, like soap operas, live game shows, news, songs. My parents have since stopped the service but our elderly neighbour still kept it. Everytime we go back to Singapore, I'll hear her blasting her Rediffusion at half past six every morning like an alarm clock.
5) celebrating festivals the old way
When Chinese New Year approaches, we could feel the festivities in the air. Mummy would be very busy, preparing to make lots of goodies like radish cake, pineapple tarts, getting ready the drinks and candy box for the guests, sewing new clothes for us, cleaning up the house, etc. I love the buzz of activities and the build-up to the actual day when everything (and everyone) has to look spick and span.
