yesterday was the oddest saturday the magnificent and i have had in a while. it was like a pre-kids day wrapped up in our current life. at times, it would't have surprised me if we had all frozen in our poses and rod stirling would have walked out with an arched eyebrow.
the triumverate slept in until 8am, although sebastian was up at 7am roaring with hunger. it was pancake day, which possibly enhanced his hunger. but at 7.30, and no sound from the nursery, mc and i looked at each other and said, "Let's go for a run". it was just like the olden days, except in the olden days we weren't bad parents (or parents at all) who shamlessly plugged their child into veggie tales before heading off.
it was a short run, maybe 4.5 k, and when we got back, there were voices greeting us. hooray!
a couple of hours later, sebastian and i needed to go to the church to help the children's church ministry leader create the father's day celebration gifts we would be handing out the next day. off to church, busy busy busy, sit back and eat pizza. good times.
home again for naps. and then the kids woke up and we went with our downstairs neighbours tinya and christian (an advertisement for family beauty, this couple is incredibly beautiful, and their children, twin girls tallulah and cade, and younger sister roxie, are amazingly stunning.) the kids get along very well, and we spent a fun afternoon at the yacht club just having a good time.
got home around 7, threw kids into bed and then realised we were having dinner with our friends odila and joel. they're fantastic, and we went to olive, which serves mediterranean food. and it was one of those nights when everyone's food is fantastic, so we were stuffed and thrilled. odila and i are rather similar, and joel and charles, possibly because they are married to women like us, are similar in their goodnatured ways, among other things. we like being with them because they are still very much in love, and they are always touching.
we got home at 12am, and just as we are saying wow what a full but fun day, weren't the kids great, aren't our friends fun....and i am telling magcharles that i want to send jane in 11b and tanya flowers, he slaps his hand to his forehead and exclaims, oh kerrrrap
what's up pussycat, i enquire rather amorously. i figure he's forgotten something at the office, because he is leaving town tomorrow for the united states.
we are meant to be providing the flowers on the altar tomorrow at church.
we are.
yes. i totally forgot.
i guessed that part.
he calls american express. they can't find a 24 hour florist. we get in the car and head down to lan kwai fong, the party district of hong kong which was originally a flower market. it is 12.30am. we are both v. tired people. but our minds are racing. we are thinking of visiting private clubs and offering to buy their centrepieces, going to hotels. but i know night managers, and this would never happen. it isn't urgent enough to wake up my friend carole, who is in charge of public relations at intercontinental hotel hong kong, although i know if i did call her, she would bustle about and have a hotel centrepiece from the lobby for me within five minutes, but i couldn't do it.
we park the car and race down to lan kwai fong. i have to say, there is the element of being on an adventure. lan kwai fong is like it is every weekend, packed with people looking for love and good times. you see a cross of people, desperate ones, happy ones, couples you know have a shelf life shorter than the milk in the fridge. you see couples out with friends, and tourists, taking in this amazing nightlife and sending pictures to the unbelievers back home. calgary tried to replicate the lan kwai fong theory back in the 1980's with electric avenue, but having been there as an underage lass, i can assure you, lkf is way way cooler. it it much denser, there are no cars, so there are throngs of people in the streets, with banners criss crossing across the ways, little side streets. melvis, the chinese elvis impersonator.
but no flowers.
magnificent and i see that the usual flower stalls (which stay open to help men expedite their causes) have closed and we race back to the car. we decide to drive home by the graveyard, just in case the graveyard florists are preparing anything even though we know their shops are closed. or maybe they forgot a magazine at the stall and go back to get it...we believe in miracles.
we're driving through kennedy town, tyring not to be too paranoid at the thought that our flowers could be on the next street, when all of a sudden i see a mom and pop shop, selling flowers. amazing. i hop out so they don't close while charles is parking, and race towards them. some of the flowers are looking a little tired, but we don't care. they are also selling bananas, shoe polish, rubber bands, denture cream, tip-exx and a few other things. but we're there for the flowers. we grab an armful and it comes to less than $33US. amazing.
finally we get home.
of course, we have the flowers, now there is the little issue of how to arrange them in altar like decorations. we have no idea. dont' you need foam? i have hair mousse, and we have a futon and some spray insulation...but no flower styrofoam. the internet is not much help.
we decide we are too tired, and even as we head to bed, i know that the tired and already a bit brown flowers may make it to church tomorrow, but i will not. it is 1.45.
but the flowers did make it and it was a good time for charles and i. a little adventure. a good time.
and today someone said to me, "did i see you guys out last night?" i admitted they had, thinking they had seen us leave the restaurant at 11pm.
"that is so cool. you guys have so much energy. and such a great life, going out, partying during world cup, i bet you stayed at the pub until the match ended!"
if only they knew. but i certainly didn't tell them.
hahahaha!!! you guys are so funny! I am v impressed. We also had a divine weekend, lots of family stuff. Aren't we lucky. xxxxx
Posted by: tertia | June 19, 2006 at 01:57 AM
Sounds like a fun one, too bad you all couldnt be here for the Stanley Cup!!
P
Posted by: Auntie Pammie | June 19, 2006 at 02:39 AM
What an adventure! That was wonderful to read:)
Posted by: Katrina | June 19, 2006 at 08:04 AM
You mean you really didn't party until the cup game was over?
Posted by: joeinvegas | June 19, 2006 at 08:56 AM
wow. remember when 1:45 am was still early?
sounds like fun.
Posted by: knobody | June 19, 2006 at 12:20 PM
Tess
That was such a great read!!I must admit I love the sound of your life in Hong Kong!!I especially love it as I am familiar with alot of the places you write about-it truly is a city with a Buzz!!
I am anxiously tuned in for the next exciting episode!!Love your blog!
Posted by: Antoinette | June 21, 2006 at 08:14 AM