The Dora Cake
At long last here is the latest birthday cake: The Dora Cake. Sorry folks, there is no video of this one being made. That is a major production that doubles the time of making the cake and is time consuming putting together. I do have lots of video to share with you that I hope to post in the next 4 – 6 weeks but not of the cake making.
Unfortunately, I was unable to find any chocolate icing, so Dora looks like her hair has been lightened by Tony Guy or hours and hours of mountain climbing in the sun. (Or whatever Dora does.) My account of the triplets birthday can be found here, and Tess’ account of the triplets birthday can be found here. It truly was a very special and gorgeous day. To see more pictures of that day go to Tess blog here.
This past week I was in Korea for 2 – 3 days and am now back in Hong Kong. I am here for about ten days before heading off to India for three days. The travel is picking up. That’s all there is for now… please be sure to go see the other pictures on Tess’ blog.
China this week…
I am in China this week. I flew up from Hong Kong to Shanghai on Tuesday. Tonight (Wednesday) I flew to Beijing where I’ll spend two days before returning to Hong Kong on Friday night. China continues to amaze me. The pace of development is heart-stopping and everytime I visit China more changes. The attached picture is the basement of what will soon be one of the world’s tallest buildings. You’ll see lots of other buildings in the background. This is the Pudong area of Shanghai. When I first visited here in 1996, the area was one giant construction site and I can’t remember there being one building over five stories high.
The real shocker of this trip was Beijing. I stepped off the airplane to be greeted by the most atrocious air pollution I’ve ever experienced. As I inhaled, I could feel the air grazing my lungs and throat like a light sandpaper… and burning my eyes, too. It was truly horrible. At the conference I attended this week in Shanghai, there was much discussion and concern about China’s pollution – reportedly, the current air pollution particulate levels in Beijing are THREE TIMES the maximum amount that the WHO says adult humans can tolerate. I can’t wait to go home to clean Hong Kong. Hah!
Three Years Old Today…
The triplets are three years old today… at this exact moment, around 10:40 – 10:44 AM. Meanwhile, I am probably winner for World’s Worst Dad. I am completely and totally ill-prepared for their birthday, to the point that yesterday Tess agreed to postpone their birthday party for a week. A little background… right now Hong Kong is coming to the end of Chinese New Year, meaning that offices and roads are still relatively deserted. The pollution, weather and haze of the last few days has been terrible, but this morning we woke-up to a gorgeous day identical to the one I woke-up to three years ago. Unfortunately at work I/we have many balls in the air, which prevented me from being fully released from work during the five day Chinese New Year holiday. Instead Tess & I were managing the kids (who were going through a 6 AM wake-up cycle… urgh) and my Blackberry was smoking hot to keep me on top of a variety of work projects. Needless to say, I am very, very tired… last night when I got home from work I even referred to the lovely and talented Odila as “Dora the Explorer.” The conversation went like this…
Charles: “How is Dora, did you talk to her today?”
Tess: “I beg your pardon?”
Charles: “You know, Dora the Explorer!”
Tess: “Did I talk to Dora, who is Dora?”
Charles (sheepishly): “Uh, I meant Odila.”
Last night I went to bed at 8:45 PM, and then woke-up at 2:30 AM unable to get back to sleep. I finally got back to sleep at 5:00 AM but was up again at 6:30 for an early morning meeting. Fortunately, the ever clever and committed Lita will make a birthday cake today for the triplets. They are really too young to understand birthdays as it relates to themselves, but they do love the concept. The new plan is to have a birthday party next Saturday. The location will be a nearby beach that I have always wanted to visit. I promised Tess I’ll scout out the beach this weekend with Sebastian. With mild colds, coughs and people still away for CNY, it’s easy to delay a birthday party. Tess assures me we are sufficiently loaded up on presents. Next Friday evening Sebastian and I will make an Odila cake… uh, I mean a Dora cake, so I’ll probably get one pass at “get out of being world’s worst dad” just once. But I still feel guilty. Maybe Krispy Kreme’s will work… not for me, for them!
Above picture was taken right before Sebastian and Jasper headed out to school, the last day of school before the CNY holiday. You’ll see they are dressed in festive CNY outfits.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Yes, Valentine’s Day is a big thing in Hong Kong. If you want a restaurant in this city for tonight, one had better book it well in advance… at least two weeks to get any restaurant. Perhaps months in advance to get the establishment of your choice depending on its popularity. Tess and I stayed in tonight on purpose… I made Tess her annual laminated Valentine’s Day collage (click on the pic at left and give it a moment to load) and told Tess that I had a surprise for her. When I finally made it home from work, (I was delayed,) I set-up my computer. Tess still had no idea the nature of her surprise but soon concluded it was something to watch. Thanks to our good friend Paul, we watched the latest episode of Lost – something we’ve been waiting for since the last episode aired in late November – while sharing a big bowl of popcorn. Now we’re settling in for the night but I unfortunately have a late night conference call and won’t be going to bed until about 1 AM.
Generally things are going okay in our household. The kids are battling mild colds and Jasper’s asthma has been terrible thanks to a sudden increase in Hong Kong pollution. Sela & Carys start morning visits to Small World Christian Kindergarten tomorrow to familiarise themselves with the place before starting full half-days on March 1. Fortunately a five-day weekend is just around the corner thanks to Chinese New Year. This will be a welcome break when we can all get caught-up on sleep. Famous last words…
Colts take Bears, Jasper starts school, sniff
Considering I pay attention to American football once a year for only a few days, I shouldn’t be too worried about the Colts’ Superbowl win and frankly, I’m not. My personal preference would have been a Bears’ victory since I love Chicago for a host of reasons. First, several years ago a former colleague and I (after a fabulous dinner with other colleagues) played a gorgeous grand piano in The Ballroom of the original Hilton until the wee hours of the morning. Eventually security kicked us out. Second, being a Kellogg graduate, I favour the Bears. (Jasper, at left, plays with a football in November 2005.)
To be honest, when I was younger I loved football so much I had to ignore the sport. I kid you not. Whenever I watched a football game – live or on TV – I dreamt about football for weeks and often wanted to play on the high school team. Thanks to the regular supply of football-related spinal injuries floating through Toronto hospitals, that dream never came to fruition.
Today as the Superbowl roared on, some buds of mine watched the game at a friend’s flat. The rest of us were at work. I sent them text messages like "GO BEARS" while the game was still close. I have to say, though, Kelvin Hayden certainly earned his paycheck after a 56 yard interception that returned a touchdown, putting the Colts way out in front! Talk about buying insurance … the Bears never recovered. I receded from sending text messages after that but cast a watchful eye to the online coverage.
Saturday evening Tess returned from her US business trip with a funny story about the days leading up to the Superbowl. While she was in transit in Chicago lots of people were naturally flying from Chicago to Indianapolis for The Game. Whenever the attendants announced an Indianapolis-bound flight they’d end off with, "and on this flight to Indianapolis passengers will be given a free box of tissue because after Sunday, you’ll need it." Tess’ return was met with much cheerleading, with the kids handing out an ample supply of hugs, kisses and we missed you‘s! (Left, the kids enjoy a video together after welcoming Tess home.)
Meanwhile, Team Caldwell had a day of firsts, too… (the Superbowl was a game of firsts… the first rainy Super Bowl – and one of the messiest with lots of wet and mud – the first time an opening kickoff was run back for a touchdown, the first time the Colts won a Superbowl title since the 1970 season) … today our touchdown was Jasper’s first day of school. The crowds cheered, the crowds cried, while Jasper confidently yet haphazardly waltzed his was into education endzone with Sebastian playing defence. (Left, Sebastian & Jasper pose together in their SWCK smocks before leaving for school.)
As the morning’s events unfolded I had several flashbacks, thinking of the ground we’d taken in the past three years with the triplets’ upcoming Feb 23rd birthday. Technically, Small World Christian Kindergarten’s entry gate is three years old. Jasper is coming in just ahead of the line. The girls are clipping his heals with a March 1 start date.
I also had a flash forward as I realised this was the start of Jasper’s formal education. Perhaps some day twenty years down the road – maybe around another momentous education event such as graduation – I’ll look back on this day to remember when JJ first began school. I’ll remember that it was a gorgeous sunny and clear day in Hong Kong with hardly any pollution. A light breeze tickled the flag flying atop The Governor’s House (now the Chief Executive’s home). As we drove to Small World we passed Union Church to see our new pastor’s wife, Holly, watching the world go by. We waved and smiled. Many changes for many people, not just for Jasper. As so many of us enter a new season in our lives we can’t help but feel the sense of anticipation, excitement and accomplishment of what’s next, just like the Colts and Jasper probably feel today.
Moving right along!
Hmmm… well I am not sure how successful the last post was. Only three commented while 293 people read the item. Interesting, and even more interesting was a private e-mail I got from someone who was actually in my life in 1982 at said first doorbell ringing. She rightfully smacked me about a bit, as did the message from our new pastor on Sunday. An amazing, AMAZING sermon. Go here to listen to the sermon "True Love" – terrific and inspiring message. WOW.
(Sela, having a drink of water this morning. Tattoo on her face was from Saturday’s Birthday party.) What did she (from Trent) say? "Quit whinging and just do it." When I sat back to think about it, I do have a plan in place to take me to the next level and it is quite an intense plan:
- Committee of Management at Union Church
- HR Task Force at Union Church
- Weekly Men’s Fellowship Lunch/Study when not traveling
- Prayer Leader for the Walk To Emmaus
- Intercessor with the Union Church Prayer Ministry
- Alpha Course, Group Leader
- Writing a book – thus far about 15% complete (personal testimony + miracle of the triplets)
(Carys, also with a tattoo!) All of this was put in place specifically to mature me as a Christian in the next several years and pursue my spiritual calling. But as Pastor Greg said on Sunday, "there are no shortcuts" and I already have a full plate. Uh huh, yeah… fog has cleared, no more whinging. There are a few things that need adjusting – taking more time for family and self by taking my game at work to the next or different level. Getting more rest. Not letting holidays accrue allows me to do both of these. (I have a month’s leave accrued – doh!) De-cluttering my life.
(JJ on the phone with Tess this morning.) Watch this space for progress. Meanwhile, back to our regular programming. The above piece of art comes from Sebastian. I love it – isnt it beautiful? He described it as "a building and a house located right here and right here standing together." 
Sebastian also claimed to make the picture with shaving cream. Not sure how that worked… will have to ask his teachers about that! As you can also see, his face is well on its way to recovery and the bruising not nearly as bad as we all thought it would be after a few days: definitely worthy of praise on the private prayer journal/blog.
