Silver Case

Ling and I were in a bind. We’re in HCMC w/ Luke, but with no other babysitters. I love to eat at L’en Tete. But where to leave Luke? The solution was to have lunch there, rather than dinner. Unfortunately, when we appeared at the lunch hour we learned they ceased serving lunch. So the only option was dinner.

Ok, then why not try it out — see how he would do. So all afternoon we regaled him with anticipation of eating a proper French restaurant (which he continually misheard as a “friend’s restaurant” (‘which friend?’ ‘who’s friend?!’).

We arrived promptly at six pm, hopefully earlier than any other customers, and early enough that he wouldn’t get too tired or cranky. Uncharacteristically he took his nap (1) late in the day (2) 90 minutes instead of 30.

We kept inculcating that he needed to have good manners (a term that he knows, thanks to a story book someone gave him) and the threat of consequences if he failed to demonstrate said good manners. (Ling’s been really laying the ‘consequences’ idea into him the last two weeks and it seems to work).

So when we arrived at the restaurant and the owner greeted me, shaking my hand, I almost burst out laughing when Luke, standing ramrod straight, also stuck his arm straight out for a shake. Bless his heart!

We had a full (although brisk) meal. Onion Soup and a salad for starters. I had lamb for a main, pasta for Ling. Luke had Quiche Lorraine. Then promised desserts, Luke’s a chocolate mousse.

He really did quite well I must admit — far above minimum expectations, and certainly nothing like worst-case fears. I was filming him with his mousse when he finished his raspberries and decided he needed some more.

VIP Travel

Originally uploaded by karavshin.

We’re in Ho Chi Minh city doing nothing in particular. It’s only a two-hour flight, and things are cheap, so we’re just bumming around. Got here in the afternoon, went for lunch at Quan An Ngon and then walked back to the hotel for a swim (Luke continues to become bolder) and then a late tea time before milk, stories, and bed.

Nothing major planned. Will order some fresh shirts to replenish my stock of stained dress shirts, and perhaps a jacket or something. Luke wants to wear cufflinks like me, so we will get him a shirt with french cuffs for fun. His arms are so short, the dimensions of the cuff:sleeve should be quite funny.

General weather here is scarcely different from Singapore. More overcast today, and perhaps a bit cooler, but pretty much shorts and shirt country.

Luke was hyper and having a fantastic time today. His brain is going about 100mph lately. He’s been playing and swimming so much, he’s developed a slight tan. Hasn’t been sunburned. Hopefully that means he has the asian resistance to equatorial sun, unlike his pasty father.

Really very little else to report. I’m just screwing off and taking it easy. Something different from my last week, which was actually quite packed between Luke, many errands, RC stuff, and building Le Chacal. If I go to bed at 11pm today, I’ll feel it’s mission accomplished.