Happy 36th Birthday to one cool chick

A very happy 36th birthday chicky !!

It's sposed to be every mans dream to have the younger wife - well I am living the dream as Niccos regresses ..... It's been a hectic weekend with the usual football frenzy in full flight - nary a moment to stop and post.

We had a fantastic Mexican dinner at Margaritas on Saturday night to start the celebrations. The Birthday Sunday started a late getup, kids in the bed, presents , bacon and eggs for breakfast.

I hope for my young wife it just doesnt get any better than that ? Here are a few photos to start, and I will tidy this up later tonight!

Lots of love always from Jenaya, Kai , and MOI XXX ....

Sometimes

You have to stop and be thankful & happy with what you have.

And that I am - extremely happy, very thankful and so very very lucky.

What a week !!

YAY YAY YAY

It's Friday - The bestest day of the week .....

What Is Thaipusam ?

Well today I headed down to Little India to the Sri SrinivasaPerumal Temple with some very lovely ladies to check out the Thaipusam Festival. WOW.

Anywho I will explain a little about it, it is a Hindu festival celebrated by Singapore's Tamil community. It is an annual procession by Hindu devotees seeking blessings, fulfilling vows and offering thanks. Celebrated in honour of Lord Subrahmanya, who represents virtue, youth and power to Hindus and is the destroyer of evil, it is held during the full moon in the 10th Tamil month, called Thai.

The Thaipusam ceremony starts very early morning at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple where devotees fulfill their vows with a 4.5km walk to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. The first batch of devotees usual carry milk pots and wooden Kavadis, decorated with flowers, palm leaves and peacock feathers. The milk they have carried is then offered to Lord Subrahmanya at the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.

Some devotee's also

piece their tongues with skewers and some carry spiked Kavadis, which require elaborate preparations. Lots of chanting, praying and indian drum playing is all part of the preparations - I think to help them take their minds off the pain !!

In preparation for carrying a Kavadi, a devotee has to prepare themself spiritually. For a period of about one month, the devotee must live a life of abstinence whilst maintaing a strict vegetarian diet. It is believed that only when the mind is free of material wants and the body free from physical pleasure that a devotee can undertake the sacred task without feeling any pain.

Family members and friends will accompany the devotees who will offer support, usually by praying and chanting. The sacred ritual of Thaipusam is a true act of faith.

What a fantastic morning, the Tamil community were so welcoming, offering food to us, talking to us and sharing their beliefs. They didn't mind people shoving camera's in their faces and the looks of amazement on all faces while watching their rituals. It is definitely a date for the diary for next year.

So Here a Few

Of my recent photo's with the new beast ..... Not great but getting there.....

I Have Been Testing

the new camera out or should I say it has been testing me out. You have to love instruction books, they explain things to you like you already know !!

Hopefully I will have the beast ready to go for Tuesday, as I am off with a few buddies to check out the Thaipusam festival for the day. The Thaipusam is a highly symbolic Hindu festival celebrated by the Tamil community here in Singapore. The festival is a visual spectacle, it is a colourful procession full of chanting and

indian drums. Some devotee's will piece their tongues with skewers and others piece other parts of their bodies with hooks and skewers so they can carry larger and more elaborate structures. (these are not my photo's) So fingers crossed I get get my stuff together for Tuesday and come away with some great photo's - I will keep you posted.