Hundred-leaf shuttered windows.  

An interesting way to open and shut them - leave the middle spine vertical and they close.  

To open the shutters, lay the spine flat on its side and it will hold the shutters open. 

Fun to play!

Granite slab path leads down the garden past a longkang with tahlias, hyacinths 

and floating pond lettuce with gold fish swimming under lotus pads.

Gable roof, 1920s jack house roof are architectural discoveries in the compound.

Indian shophouse 

Antique wood furniture and old glass reflects the old world charm of the bedroom

An old planter's chair for a languid afternoon

muslin curtains lifted by the slight breeze 

Bamboo chicks' shadows on terracotta tiles

Pools of light from the paper lantern moon at dusk

Two rosé bouganvillas curtsy a "Good Night"

A frilled glass shade, its ruffle skirt flounced out like a peplum in dance mid air

Time to turn the lock on the door with the copper bell key and slip into cool white cotton sheets.

Night.

Lanterns and Lamps.

The Morning

Crisp clear sparkling greens through antique glass panes

The early sun sliced by the bamboos in the Anglo-Indian garden filled with pandanus and heliconias

A morning in Love Lane

feels as cosy and comfortable as grandmother's well-worn and washed tae snah

with soft velvet mules on feet, and about right to engage in a spot of kasot manek beading

. . . which I did.

or paint a picture

listen to a bird sing in the garden. . . ok, no birds this morning

 admire the vibrant pink of the ginger flower against old lime wash 

musing and lazing

dreaming . . . 

Hmmm . . .  yes, I'll invite friends over for tea, and to share this wonderful paradise

Sis and Soo and Soo fun came for tea!

Look how attentive they are!  

All engaging in polite conversation !!! 

(with some other invisible guests on their screens) 

And I had this poem read to me 

I'd like to think that meant I'm interesting, intelligent and illumined : )  Hee!

The Afternoon Tea Menu
Hibiscus pink coconut dripping with syrup wrapped in soft pandan green crepe
crispy peanut biscuits • triangles of samosas • butterscotch biscuits
pickled and fresh fruits
coffee and tea

Yeah! my friends are here!  

arabesque and acrobatics on the sofa

Happy!!!

Next Morning 

We have the cafe to ourselves

sitting here in the cowboy-style saloon booths

back to back for a gun fight duel ; •

to see who gets the last scone!