Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

To all of you who reads my blog, have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. May our Lord bless you, and may the year 2008, be a happy and blessed year for you all.

This has been a very much anticipated Christmas for my family and myself, being the last one before we move out by next year. Where we will move to is still a big question mark. But the past few days did not turn out as well for me.

Saturday morning (22/12), I was hit by a mild vertigo attack when I was in the market. I managed to hurry home to throw up in the toilet, and was incapacitated until lunch time. My wife had to go out, and I was left alone, lying flat out on my bed. The attack was mild because the vomiting lasted about 20 - 30 minutes, and lying on my bed with my eyes closed, the effect was not that violent. I managed to take a pill, and by three in the afternoon, I recovered enough to eat two slices of toast and a bowl of hot mushroom soup.

The next day, Sunday (23/12), I was out most of the day with my son and my wife, doing marketing for meat at the Swiss Butchery and vegetables at Tekka market. We ended up having lunch at Samy Fish Head Curry at Dempsey.

Monday (24/12), Christmas eve, I went with my son to collect the ham from Mandarin Hotel. A perennial Christmas family favourite because Mandarin ham is excellent in taste and quality. After that my son took me to his 'Cigar Club' for Japanese lunch. My son has expensive taste!

After lunch, we went to Tanglin Mall to do our last minute grocery shopping. Getting home by 5.30 pm, I rushed to dress up for church to help out at the 6 pm Children's Pageant/Mass. My daughters with their husband and children also attended the same Mass.

The church was very crowded, as I took my seat at the Communion Ministers specially reserved section in front of our Lady's statue. I looked round to try to locate my grand children but could not see them, though they later told me they had seen me.

The Pageant started before the Mass, and lasted for 15 minutes. After that, the Mass commenced with the Parish Priest as the main celebrant. There were so many children who sat on the floor, facing the altar, at the start of the Mass. The Mass progressed well.

When 'Our Father....' was recited, all the Communion Ministers including myself, trooped into the Sacristy, to carry out the washing ritual and to put on our sashes. After the 'Peace be with you....', we all walked in procession out towards the side of the altar.

Facing the altar during the Communion Rites, I was suddenly seized with a vertigo attack! I felt my vision turning round. I reached for my pill, but had no water to swallow it. Too late, I had to move forward to receive my Holy Communion from the Priest. Gritting my teeth and putting up a brave front, I kept praying to the Lord to help me, as I continued towards the Tabernacle to collect my ciborium. The vertigo came in light waves - on and off, on and off. Luckily I was not nauseous, which was my biggest fear, otherwise I would have to run into the Sacristy. Putting on a brave front, I took up my position in front of our Lady, and faced a big queue of parishioners. There were also many children too young to receive Holy Communion, and I had to bless them all individually. I must have given Holy Communion to at least one hundred parishioners that evening, as I continued to give to the choir members.

When I had finished, I sat down in the Sacristy unable to move anymore. I was in safe ground then, away from the congregation. I quickly took my pill with the tap water. The Sacristan saw me as he wished me a Merry Christmas, and I told him that I was having a vertigo attack. He offered his help, but nothing more he could do. He later misunderstood my vertigo attack as a heart attack and it became the talk of the church!

Over the loud speakers, I heard the Priest dismissing the congregation. As it was a very big crowd, I avoided them and sat and waited. I then called my daughter on the mobile phone and caught her and the family in the car park. She then came up to assist me down to the car.

When I got home, my son and my wife with the maid were preparing the family Christmas dinner. They were surprised that I had another vertigo attack. Still feeling groggy, I had to retire to my room to put my head down to rest. While everyone were feasting, I remained in my room. My wife brought me a bucket and a kitchen towel in case I should throw up. Fortunately, I did not throw up at all. As my condition improved, I went outside briefly. Later as the vertigo wore off, I managed to sit down to have something to eat.

What a Christmas dinner! After all the anticipation, I had to have a vertigo attack.

The next day, I got up late as I had no 7 AM Mass. It was a good night sleep for me. Christmas Day was the usual family brunch, when everyone congregated at home. My son did the cooking and some of the leftovers were dished out, especially the thick cut ham. Unfortunately my son-in-law Ben was working and was left out. After lunch the grand children were all hyped up, as the Christmas presents were distributed, to squeals of excitement and laughter. Even the adults joined in the bantering. My son and Jason sat comfortably at the balcony puffing their expensive cigars.

By evening, it was all over as everyone dispersed into their respective homes. With all the excitement, little Emma had refused to take her afternoon nap and reluctantly left with her parents to visit her other grand parents. Quiet reigned over the house again. Even my son stayed in that evening. Thus ended the farewell family Christmas gathering in my home until next year, when we will all gather in my new home, wherever that may be. Meantime, we will meet again at the New Year's Eve family dinner at Jason/Karen's place to welcome in 2008. Thanks be to God.

Till then....