Actually both the kids ‘eat our heads’, but Jayden just seem to do it more. He has no fear of us. At all. He knows that we love him to bits. For example, he has a 101 excuses for not doing what he’s told. Or he’ll say OK, and say in 2 minutes’ time, and then in 5 minutes’ time, and then in another 5 minutes, and so on, until we ‘take action.’ He’ll bargain with us, asking for something in exchange for something he was told to do. “NO!” “But, Papa!” He’ll tell us that he’d not do something ‘ever again’ and the next thing you know, he’s doing the exact something he said he’d not do! And I can go on…
Funny thing is that when he’s around, he drives me up the wall with his antics and incessant chatter, but when he’s not around, I miss him and think about the silly things he does. One thing he does really well though, is that he’d notice when you’re upset and come and console you. I love you little kid. And I love to squish you and make you squeal all the same, hehehe. Just accept that as my love, willya?
Jayden turned 6 last month, and here’re photos of his 6th year! (I only took 1.5 months to complete this post, ahem). Here goes.
Jayden, a couple of weeks after his 5th birthday, at school, GEMS Metropole School, MotorCity, Dubai – it’s just opposite our apartment!
Diwali 2019 at his school, GEMS Metropole School
Our Burjuman days – Jayden, 5 years 1 month, at Burjuman, Dubai – We arranged guitar classes for Justin at the Atrium Centre in Bur Dubai on Fridays (that’s the only day I’m free to bring him out for classes. Earlier in International City, the teacher used to come to our home, but we couldn’t get any teacher to visit our MotorCity home for a reasonable price, and hence the outside classes). Because of this, we visited Burjuman almost every Friday for lunch (Burjuman is walking distance from the Atrium Centre and the closest ‘nice’ mall around)
A visit to the Musandam Peninsula of Oman – Jayden, 5 years 2 months at Khasab Fort, Musandam – A family trip with his grandpa and aunt Hazel who was on a short visit to Dubai!
Jayden with a friend he made on the dhow cruise to Telegraph Island in Musandam, Oman. I don’t remember the little girl’s name, but her family’s from Malaysia. Her father’s name is Jerry. Jerry and wife are at the back in the photo (right)
A family trip to Tunisia, Dec 2019 – our last overseas trip before COVID came – Jayden and his koko at the Café des Délices, Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
Gong Xi Fa Cai! Happy Chinese New Year! (although this was taken a month after CNY) – Jayden, 5 years 4 months at DragonMart (I think), the annex part. COVID had started rearing its head in China, South Korea, Iran and Italy. In the UAE, there were already a few cases found from visitors visiting the country… But no lockdowns yet
There, the announcement came! Schools were ordered to close from 8-Mar. Lockdown came towards the end of March – And we found this little note stuck on our fridge, compliments of our little monster!
What the heck, life goes on! Sunbathing… on our balcony – Jayden, 5 years 7 months. Luckily we’d shifted to our MotorCity home which has a nice central balcony. Can’t imagine being stuck in our International City home, surrounded by flats overcrowded with workers…
And that’s our makeshift swimming pool, Jayden’s baby bath tub. Don’t you think you’re a little too big for it now?
Whew, finally a li’l relaxation on the lockdown. Out of the apartment after a few months – Jayden, 5 years 8 months, cycling around the field in front of our apartment, MotorCity, Dubai
Jayden, 5 years 9 months, with his favourite Ama (aunt), eldest sister of Anu, at our home, Oia Residence, MotorCity
Hello Jayden, I like your hairstyle! And aren’t those gloves too big for you? – 5 years 10 months (I think at a fitting room in the Me’aisem City Centre, IMPZ, Dubai)
Hair Be Gone! A haircut, getting ready for school – Yup, the kids can go to school again!
Jayden’s 6th birthday, at our home! This was the eve of Jayden’s birthday, a private birthday party only for our little family. After all, COVID’s still around!
Good morning Jayden! On the morning after his birthday. On Jayden’s birthday, we actually went camping! The first outing of the year 2020 (since I took 2 days off work). We went to the new Sharjah – Khor Fakkan Road, expecting to find some convenient place to camp for the night, with toilets or something. We found nothing. So we ended up ‘freedom camping’ (as the Kiwis say, meaning camping at a place not officially recognized by the government). But in the UAE, there’re no clear regulations regarding camping, so what the heck! We found a spot beside the dirt road connecting Wadi Shees to Nahwa Village, and put up camp. That spot is technically inside the borders of Oman, as a part of its Madha Exclave!
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On a more solemn note, on Thanksgiving (26-Nov), an aunt whom I was close to, passed away in Malaysia. She had been sickly for some time. The sad thing was that because of all the COVID restrictions, no family was with her when she breathed her last breath. As her children (my cousins) likes privacy, I will only say this much, at least until they make it known to all the other family members. RIP Aunt. You are now free from the pain and the burden of this world. May your soul find peace and happiness in the afterlife. May your loved ones on earth have the strength to carry on without you, but to continue to hold on to memories of you in sweet affection. Bye-bye.
On a brighter note, on the India side of the family, niece Sweety got married yesterday. Another niece who married without family consent, gave birth to a baby girl on 18-Nov. That’s all for the update.
