Happy corners

Mom's piano, with her very European table cloth and some select knick knacks on top. And flowers!

Somehow between No 1's very long summer holiday and my aim of bringing the glass butter dish, this Mama managed to end up spending next to 4 months away from home.
It was supposed to be a 'holiday', which got tacked with all kinds of objectives
From learning Indonesian for No.1, spending time with Kiddos' remaining grandparents, travelling on the grandparents' whims, and of course, for Mama, tidying up my parents' house.

Objectives or not, 4 month is a long period to be away from home
So to prevent this Mama from going batty, I resorted to creating 'happy corners' wherever I went
Corners to gain my sanity, to be centered and regain whatever purpose to do whatever I needed to do

Tidy, bright workspace, with full stock of stationeries, a charging station, and my entertainment centre!

In the midst of chaos (or 'alien' organization systems), I just need a corner that 'work' for me. In the first picture, the top of the piano was a tidy and beautiful space that refreshes my eye and showing me that things can still be neat and beautiful despite the chaos around it. Add the speaker, the space became 'useful' too!
The desk where I worked had to 'work' according to my definition. It might be utilitarian, but it has enough light, fully stocked stationary station, accessible power points, and enough breathing space to make it feel spacious and uncluttered.

Natural light flooding the space where No 2 is playing dangerously at the spiralling staircase. Huh.

Although Kiddos can be quite a nuisance in cleaning up, she can also provide a good distraction. Sun light was another spirit booster. Mom had always love-well lit space.

Beautiful candles and linen from Mom's collection. Dad kept candles burning in her memory for days, but for me it was more of using up Mom's collection while also honouring Mom & Dad's memory.

Mom collected so many things, and we had to let go of most of them. Although I do kept select pieces of Mom's stuff, it was also a good feeling to be able to use them while I was in residence.

Long after the Holiday, the clean up process was not an easy task. I guess such emotional process is full of guilt traps, but these pictures help me to deal better with it.