His life (part 2)

The continuation of the story of his early childhood taken from his blog.
"Loved pets kept more than 70 white mice, 5 dogs, 6 turtles, 15 rabbits, 1 snake
(poisonous - but I was ignorant)&
countless fighting fish in little jars
bitten by the snake, monkey, centipede, rat, (not all at the same time of course!)
Saddest Childhood memory

lost all my pets in one day.... :-(
mom gave them all away because I was bitten by the snake

the first time I remember myself crying
I never cried even when being beaten up by mom
Most hilarious memory mom chased me with a slipper in her hand
while I held my left index finger in the air with my the other hand
after it was bitten by the snake
(my finger was turning blue black from the poison, or lack of bloodflow?)
it was a hilarious scene,
everytime I remember this,
I just can't help but to smile - my mom does too"

to be continued.......

Tropical snow

With such unpredictable climatic changes happening due to this global warming, we just might see snow in this tropical country we call Singapore!

Toes wriggles

It helps when the surgeon is from his alma mater . A wriggle of his toes after a 3 hour surgery gave dad the reassurance that all is well. Now he has to rest and recuperate. The nurses and all the supporting staffs at the hospital have been nothing but professional, understanding and most of all patience.

Prickly spine

It started with some back discomfort then back tiredness. Then the walking pace slowed down. Sometimes, it was just sheer frustration why others were walking so fast. Then a fall, the back ached and discomfort became more pronounced. Finally unbearable. A trip to the orthopaedic discovered that spinal stenosis, disc prolapsed and pinch nerves. All these contributed to all the agony and pain. What's worse, this has slowly been going on for the last few decades due to bad posture and the lack of exercise on the back muscles. Due to spinal stenosis, certain function of the toe has been lost.

As such, dad has no choice but to go for a TLIF, laminectomy back surgery and laminaplasty back surgery come monday morning.

Mine is different

It's a amazing, how in a sea of children, all in the same school uniform in two pigtails, mothers can still spot their little girl. She just looked different from the rest. I guess, that is how the penguins and the seals identify their youngs. Theirs is just different from the rest.

Innocent vs reckless

No!!!!! I cannot believe the authority is going to chopped down a grand old tree just because of a few irresponsible speedsters might not heed all the signboards. It has been there for the last 2 years. Clear visible signs have been placed way before reaching the fork. Is this the tree's fault? It has stood there soooo....bravely. Tall and majestic praying very hard that nothing will knock it down after being given a 2nd chance in life. And now, the very same people who saved it wants to chopped it down!! I cannot comprehend.

Kaimono

If there is such a word, "grocerholic". I am one. I simply love to visit the supermarket, stroll through the aisle checking for any unusual product on the shelves.

When in Paragon, I would end up at the basement. When at shaw centre, the basement of Isetan, is where you will find me. Going throught all the japanese dry produces, the pickles and the senbeis. In Hawaii, I was dissapointed not to find any nice looking pineapples in the supermarket the fact that Hawaii is famous for their pineapples. While in Alberta, Canada I had a berry time with packets of raspsberries, blueberries and of course strawberries. Not so much of buying but to understand better what actually the local eats.

During my homestay in Japan, I did not missed out visiting the local supermarket in the neighbourhood where my hostess was staying. The amazing varieties local selection that is sometimes not available else where.

Freshly harvested kelp salted in bags going for 200yen. Then there were those mouthwatering huge red umeboshi at 550yen a packet.

His life(Part 1)

On the 23rd of March 2006 I lost a friend. A friend whom I never took the time to cheerish. It was after knowing his death, I went through his blog for the 1st time. It was then I realised how much he had gone through. A pocket hercules, he had tremendous motivation to make good of himself. He had such huge capabilities. His earlyl childhood might not have given him a headstart but he never once considered that as a disablity. He fought a hard fight.

An excerpt from his blog. An account of his live. He had meant it to be in 4 parts. Sadly he had never did after part 1.

Early Childhood

adopted child of a poor illiterate family

grew up angry and rebellious in tough a neighborhood

daily showtime were gang fights- long-hair youth throwing

chillie sauce, soya sauce and tomato sauce bottles

from sundry shops

daily activity with mom:-

got whacked for fighting with neighborhood kids

(but they started it - I swear!)

went to school in trishaw could not speak English in Primary school

Pronounced baker as 'barker' (whole class ridiculed me for years with barking!)

threw a chair from a classroom at 3rd floor

at 10 years old (got caned by headmaster for that)

learned to gamble very early and played cards daily with neighbors and adults

never done any homework(nobody check anyway!)

hated people who smoke

liked outdoor -

went trapping in the jungle near granny’s during school holidays

learned survival skills

almost drowned in the pond the first time went swimming

(thought the water was shallow because everyone's head was above the water!

So I just jump right in only to find out

that swimming is all about being able to keep your head above water!)

- lesson learned :

"Never assume, even when everyone is smiling

they are not struggling through their lives!"

Seventh July 2007

Will all the resounding cacaphony bring out the urgent loud message to save the earth? I wonder. What happens after this?

As long as, we cannot give up the little luxuries of life. Not willing to be slightly inconvenient. A little poorer. Slightly leaner. A little slower. The earth will continue to melt. But of course, The innocents perish first.

Chung Cheng High School

On the 7th of July 2007, Chung Cheng High School(Main) rejoiced with their 'O' level students of 2006. Achieving the highest bumper crop of 89 students scoring at least 5A1s. MDD was among them. For their hardwork, they were each presented with a cheque of SD100 for scoring 5A1s and SD50 for every subsequent A1. Coupled with the appreciation and encouraging speech by the principal, the students were left with nothing but elation. Elated that they done their best. Elated that they had done the school proud. Elated that the school rejoiced with them.

Sharing is caring

Youngest offered 1st born a selection of strawberry, grapes or apple flavoured candy. 1st born picked sour green apple, youngest sheepishly revealed it was her favourite. 1st born picked delicious grapes. Youngest disclosed quietly that too was her all time favourite too. Hmm.... which delicious flavour to pick next?

Bahasa

Bahasa malaysia, satu satu bahasa yang telah diajar sejak sekolah rendah dulu. Terimbas kembali detik sewaktu bersekolah rendah di Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Methodist, Brickfield. Setiap hari terpaksa menghafalkan puisi and simpulan bahasa. Selain dari buku buku sekolah, dunia saya terkecimpung dalam bahasa inggeris dan berbagai bagai loghat bahasa cina. Dalam sekolah menengah, setiap kali bila ke perpustakaan, bila cuba nak meminjam buku bahasa malaysia, terbinggung saya melihat bertapa banyak buku tetapi tak dapat sekali mencari satu yang dapat memikat hati saya.

Setelah sekian lama, 2o tahun, dalam umur 40an , teringat kembali bahasa yang telah saya bertukus lumus berlajar. Demi mencari pengetahuan sahajakah?

Seminggu dulu, di perpustakaan, terlihat akan buku karya Abdullah Hussain tertajuk INTERLOK. Satu satunya sasterawan Negara. Novel ini memaparkan tema tentang integrasi kaum terbesar iaitu Melayu, Cina and India di Malaysia yang diwakili oleh tiga keluarga yang berusaha menjalani hidup bersama sebagai rakyat negara yang merdeka dan berdaulat.

Dalam rangkuman zaman sekarang yang sering mencari cari akan kemewahan hidup, intergrasi antara kaum tersering kalanya ketinggalan.

Untuk pertama kalinya, saya telah mencari satu buku melayu yang merangsangkan pencarian ilmu saya.

Over a cuppa, she confided.

Had it all planned.

Step one: Stop interaction altogether

Step two: Sever all forms of communication

Step three: Keep the mind fully occupied

It worked for 7 weeks then..... a chance meeting, fate or will all the weeks of sheer hard perseverance came crumbling tumbling down.

He works sooo....hard

Girlfriend: wished I could go on a holiday on my own. Take a break from all the hustle and bustle. But you know, he will never agree. He worked soooo......hard. Hardly home. He travels so much only back on weekend. He expects us, the children and I to work just as hard. He never takes more than 5 days of his annual leave for the family. It's work above all. He will never approves of us, the children and I taking a break without him.

He has provided sooo....much. A home with a maid. A car. What more can we ask for. How could we think of taking a holiday while he works?

School

It's that time of the year, primary school registration. The choice of school. For some, the decision have been made way before the child comes along. The choice of school affects the locality of the family home, the language spoken at home, the child's enrichment classes, in some cases the churches and profession. Some parents even have their volunteer programmes all planned out. Dads up at 6.30am to direct the morning school traffic. Taking time off to coach or give talks. Mums, with maid and baby in tow, reading to the students, volunteering their service in the library.

In my opnion a good school, is one with a very strong sense of discipline. The students must have all time have strong respect for the teachers while the teachers must at all time have the strong sense of duty and conduct to warrant such respect.

Good deeds by the students should be aknowledged publicly while misbehaviour should be swifly dealt with in the most appropriate manner. Nib the problem in the bud.

To know the law

All the hype. All the front page coverages. And no wrong could be found except just one slipped up. All for a 'friend'

Insatiable

Contentment is one of living humble and appreciative of life. Affording the little luxuries in life. For at the end of the day we cannot but leave all behind.

squash

While in Japan, I realised how delicious kabocha tempura is. Skin and all. Hmm... the texture is rich and smooth. Simply melts in your mouth. I love kabocha.

Wrong turn

It's profit in however and whatever form over morals, conscientious and principles. It's just an encouragement, a suggestion, an alternative, it's up to each to make that final decision. At 18, are most of them responsible enough in their intoxicated mind? To be responsible to society? To be sober on the road at 3 am? Recent statistic screams volumes. Taking positive action is most commendable. Most pressing issue is definately not going smoke free .

Note

Resist curiosity to pick unfamiliar brands off the shelves to try.

Make a habit to check the origin of the produce.

Never buy on impulse just because it's cheaper, has a nicer packaging than the original.

It could be fake, poisonous or deadly.