gosh! i received, today, from the folks at number 52, two bone china vases! they're aynsleys, in the "cottage garden" pattern (i can't find a picture of my particular vases, but this is the pattern. one of them is a tiny bud vase, hexagonal, about three inches high, and very sweet. makes me want to go out and get a startling dark rosebud, and the other is about seven inches high, with a cuboid base tapering into a slim cylindrical spout and i see myself putting a single curved stalk of orchid in it, something with a delicate stem, not too heavy, or maybe a small handful of freesias - freesias are so lovely - and have a gathered-from-the-wayside romantic look. or lisanthus, or a single, very small dahlia. oh i am pleased! and the note? "dear min zhi, a little surprise and a whole lot of good wishes and prayers form the folks at 52 jln naung! p.s. sarah remembers you (and your term papers) every night in her prayers!