Just like today's weather, my mood started off good. Having enough rest for once in a whole week with nothing disturbing my sleep. Everything got ruined by a stupid argument my mom can never understand.

My sister is celebrating her birthday in advance, and is treating the family to dinner. I enjoy good food, together with the company of family, especially being able to carry my niece like how a proud uncle would. Claudia, the niece, would be brought back to my aunt's place (15 stories down from my place) every Saturday, but because I always had either practice sessions or rehearsals somewhere else, I rarely get to see her. I don't hate my relatives, I respect them as how I was brought up to. But when it comes to Claudia, it seems like I have to let them have a go at playing with her first, even when they get to see her way more times than I ever had. I'll know when they are done with occupying her when Claudia starts fussing and crying, and that is when the maternal instinct kicks in my sister and will stop allowing anybody else carry her. So, I literally just get to see her every once in a month.

I don't want to sound like just because I am in a closer blood relationship with her, I should be first in getting to know my niece, or having her even knowing and recognising that she's got an uncle Edmund. I just want to have some time with my niece without my aunties thinking that I don't know how to carry an infant and snatching her away from me. My mom doesn't understand this apparently. She invited every sister she has the last minute, making the car a bus. That smashed every ounce of anxiety I had of seeing Claudia. I just don't want to fight with my aunts over my niece. The fight broke out because of that.

While they are enjoying good food, I'm here blogging at home alone after having instant noodles for dinner. I just need her to know that I still love my relatives, just that I love my immediate family more. I stop being bothered to explain things to her, she'll still think I'm being selfish anyway.

远亲不如近铃, I hope I have that at times.