Isogashii

Watched on the chinese channel two nights ago on a very very busy life of a full time mum aka Auntie. Most mornings are spent at the CC in various physical exercise activities. She participates in most of the courses conducted by the CC. Ranging from beading to belly dancing. She is chairperson in the parent support team of her daugthers' school. She even takes time to attend regular classes ranging from japanese lesson to Cantonese Karaoke at the CC. I am impressed. Impressed on how she makes time to pursue new interest, to keep abreast with trends.

25th September

Is the celebration of the Mid-autumn festival, another term for the celebration of the Autumn equinox on the solar calender. When on this night the moon is at it's fullest and brightest. A symbol of bountiful and abundance.

In Modern times, it's the time of gourmet feasting as chefs pit their skill against each other in concocting the most delectable mooncake. A month where any filling is possible as long as it is savoury and unique to the culinary circle. Can't imagine what's like to bite into a cheesy fillings or Japanese sweet potato paste enveloped in champagne chocolate wrapped in snowskin.

This year, I have decided to be a bit adventurous and go for something more traditional. Being a teowchew, this is the first time I'm trying this teowchew Mooncake. Filling of sweet sticky stuff with sweet melon, orange peel, sesame seeds and ......hhmmmm......still trying to figure out the rest. Definately an acquired taste to appreciate this as you sip chinese tea and nibble at this, savouring it bit by bit.

Michael Bublé - Everything

A song for saturday

Once in awhile, someone comes along, reads your thoughts, shares her thoughts and experiences. Then out of the blues when you least expects it, a SURPRISE. Brightens the day, gives a reason to smile on an otherwise mundane Thursday. Thank you!! Only in this last few decades people are able to come together, be acquainted on a common interest. Reading each others' rants. I am delighted to have met over cyberspace wonderful bloggers like you and you. Thank you.

Decision

Heard over the radio this morning. Advanced Medical Directive gives one of sound mind the decision to decide over the right to live or die when the time comes. When the quality of life diminished. When one is in a state of complete immobile and unconsciousness, it's a mental torture. A torment of the loved ones to make that terminal decision. I would not want to see my children agonizing over my existence . Let me decide for myself.

One for all and all for one

The musketeer fought with it. Zorro marked his presence with it. Robin hood defended the poor with it. Today, my girl holding a foil lunged forward like Robin hood would in anticipation.

The girls had an introductory lesson on fencing by the reknown Russian women fencing coach Maria Bobok together with her husband Viacheslav Bobok coach for the singapore fencing team. Being very disciplined and meticulous, the girls had to go through the warm up routine, stretching before they were taught the basic stance in fencing. At long last after an hour of training, they finally had a chance to hold the foil.

Mr Tan

Mum just could not believe anyone could fail art!!! I did. One week later, I was taking art lesson from Mr Tan an art teacher and my form teacher in Sec 1 in CHIJ Light Street. Every friday, I would hitch a ride back with him after school. We, together with his son and daughter have a quick lunch clear the table and it was art lesson time. My most frustrating time was having to paint stilllife of a pair of dirty school shoes with the smelly socks draped across it. For the next three years, I diligently attended his class and was actually looking forward to his art class every week.

In school he was a patient teacher never without a smile. Goes, totally tomato red when he tries very hard to suppress a laugh. The class never forgets where he lives, Satan's court. His house is situated inside the Tan association compound to the right of the temple known as Seh Tan court. Mr Tan Lye Hoe, Happy Teacher's Day!

Half an acorn

PM's National Day Rally speech had me seriously wondering since. As a SAHM, with no income, no gold bullion stash away and the realization that the next generation will have a harder time, with most, having brought up in comfortable surrounding, keeping up with the high maintenance lifestyle ,will be a pinch to be fillial. Where does this leave SAHMs? Looking back, was it naive to give up a career just the well being of one's offspring without first putting aside the acorns for the winter season?

Pins and screw

3 hours in the operating theatre, S$33,000 and 6 weeks of recuperation later, this is what is in dad's spine.
Little did we know that this made it possible

Ultimatum

Rating: All 5 popcorns. Managed to catch the 9.30pm movie on the latest Bourne sequel. Once the reel starts so did the chase. One minute to catch your breath and composure as he experience flashbacks. Then the heart pounding pursue continues. The car chase scenes highly energertic spin the eyes as he screeches and crashes about and still survives with a scatch or two. Matt Damon perfectly fit Bourne's identity.Suave spy Jason Bourne, is every bit human. Oozing with conscience. Direct, forceful a man with very few words.

Beta Fries

We thought wrong. The eggs did hatched. Little fries, were swimming in less than 48 hours. The papa has been diligent at his job since day one. Labourously gulping mouthful after mouthful of air to exhale into tiny bubbles to float the eggs. Then the minding of the fries. Picking up the wandering fries again and again all night and day. Depositing them back to the bubble haven. Amazing, even in the animal kingdom, solely driven by instinct, each still knows their responsibility to their young.

Enamels

Phew!!!! No drilling. In fact, the built up of plaque was less than 6 months ago. Must be all the vigorous flossing and brushing. Visiting the dentist is one of those appointments dreaded. Everything in the dental room looks painful. The comfortable chair that has to tilt all the way to as much as 20 degree head down. The painfully sharp probing tools. The screeching drill abate the soothing music background. For want of preserving my precious one and only set of enamels, I must keep to the half yearly appointment with her. She, Dr Lam, on the other hand is every bit a professional dentist. Patience, soft spoken and gentle. On the wall are the many many laminated 'Thank you ' cards and such. They speak volumes.

Radio GaGa

Once awhile when, I need a dose of dialect, this is where I tune to Fm99.9 To listen to some refreshing views and topics discussed. Even the advertisments have a touch of uniquely local flavours. Something the advertisments over here lacks. The language used has also the local flavours. Meaning, smatter of chinish here a blabber of malayish there. So uniquely asian.

Brilliant blue

About one year ago, the tank was given a good scrub, dried and turn to it's side. No more fish. Can't bear another death. No more goldfish. The last grand dame died after being with the family for 5 years. Caught some horrible fin eating bugs from new batches of goldfish. Strolling through the heartland, this caught MDH's attention. The female Beta fishes in brilliant hues of blue twirling and gliding in the bed of green seaweeds.

Out comes the tank and Presto!!! MDH is now having a school of Beta fishes swimming in it.

When Twinkle toes, found some of them spawning the this morning, she screamed for help!! Stop the eggs from being eaten. Had to give the 10 year old a quick lesson. Got a feeling MDH is going to get another tank. This time for a male beta fish.

70s and beyond

Again I am reminded. Reminded of how today's excellent heathcare system has endowed many middle ages another 50 more able years. Indeed music to the ear but is it? With this comes, the question of survival. The question of a comfortable income after 60 And for the next 30 years. An active mind and body after 65. Above all the acceptance by the society.

Lost for words

Latest scribing on the parking lots at my area. Every word explicitly stenciled out. Leave no rooms for doubts as to when and to whom the parking lots are available.

Gee... looks more like it's Chinese new year, with all the fired crackers littered on the road.

Paper Matters

Agreed. More varsity places should be created. At the end of the day, to the majority newly graduates, paper qualification still opens more doors. Gives a more presentable 1st impression when looking through a resume. Gives that bit of edge in business and social gatherings . Most of all, that bit of self confidence. Of course not forgetting, with it comes the accorded renumeration.

Insomnia

Mopping around for the past few evenings. Desperately looking for a book to read. Not just any book but a good book. A queer creature I am. The normal bedtime ritual involves, tucking into bed with a book in hand to. Slidding lower into the blanket, till finally slipping into oblivion. Never mind about the effect on the eye.

Finally I chance upon this at the library today. An insight into the lives of the wealthy peranakan community in Singapore. Life back in the 50s and 60s seems so much more uncomplicated and laid-back. How times have change. As always it for the better of course?

Numbers

Dad reviewed just the other day, that my brother's handphone number is in his handphone hotkey no.3 while mine is no.4. He has not the faintest idea what any of our numbers are. I am not surprised. Most of us are making full use of the many functions of the handphone that we are slowly losing the interest to commit anything to memory. It has dawn on me, that this would render me helpless and utterly frustrated in times when the handyphone is not by my side. So diligently I punch the 8 digits of the phone numbers till it's etched into my brain. These are the numbers that connect me to my families and close friends. Numbers that in times of trouble, I can call from a pay phone or a stranger's phone. I wonder how many out there still punches 8 times to get connected.

This red dot

A dot in the world atlas this Island may be, but she has made many pearly islanders of yonder very proud to be here.Many have made a mark for themselves in the various medical fields. Then there are others who have won the hearts of the local to champion for their cause. This island has made it possible for dreaming big For it is attainable if you dare to aspire.