Family

Today, I attended a family lunch for some visiting relatives from USA. How wonderful it sounds - a FAMILY lunch. Family. Someone (I can't remember who) once said that we can't choose the family we are born into, but we can choose how we relate to each member.

We had a wonderful time today at lunch. We shared and updated each other and it did not matter that some were Americans and others Malaysians ... we were a family. We may be different outwardly, but we have the same blood in our veins. Some may be just a drop, but a drop is a drop. And, if not in the blood, then certainly in our lives and in our shared memories and shared pasts. We are interlinked and interrelated. NO CHOICE! We are all a part of this family of dotting and wonderful aunts and uncles and crazy cousins ... some crazier than others.

As the Chinese New Year approaches and we prepare for family reunions, do give thanks for your family. Whatever has happened, let it be in the past and enjoy each other for today and for the year.

Xin Nian Kuai Le.

God bless our Chinese New Year of the Rabbit.

Digital vs Paper

I have been in a tussle lately with myself. Part of me wants to do a second print of my now OUT OF STOCK book, and the other part wants to go digital. Both have pros and cons. Personally, I don't think holding an iPad or a Kindle is the same as holding a printed book and flipping its pages. There is a certain romance to that ... call me old fashioned.

Five of us were having lunch at Chinese Box yesterday. Among us were three grandmothers. Of course the conversation gravitated to the cute, wonderful grandchildren. The two singles listened but were not able to participate. Then the inevitable happened. Out came the hand phones holding the digital photographs of their pride and joy. The phones got passed around and the "ooohs" and "ahhhs" were exchanged. My dear sister dug into her bag and whipped out the printed copy of her grandchildren. She was just as proud of them on paper as the other grandmothers were on their phones. I must say it was easier to view and there were fewer squints and frowns.

I smiled. I thought I would have felt embarrassed that my sister was not as tech savvy as the others. Surprisingly I felt a sense of pride. She dared to be old fashioned. She was so proud of her grandchildren, it never bothered her that they were not on her hand phone. They were nicely printed on paper and securely kept in her handbag.

Bravo sister! Way to go!

The Book of Joshua 1

I recently started Bible Study classes with the CBSI - Community Bible Study International at a nearby church. They are doing the Book of Joshua, which is in line with my recent walk into the old testament which started with Genesis.

The Bible character I want to ramble about in Joshua is Rahab. Rahab was a prostitute who lived at the edge of the city walls of Jericho. Her place was an ideal place for Joshua's spies to stay at because they would have been seen as possible clients. It was here that Rahab's faith and trust in a God she hardly knew but heard about, surfaced. She had heard about Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea. She had also heard rumours of the possible invasion of Jericho by the Israelite army. While she was fearful, she alone turned to God for her salvation, and the Lord used her.

Her faith overcame her fear. She hid the spies, lied to the authorities and helped the spies escape. She knew she was in a dangerous position but sensed that the Israelites depended on a God worth trusting. And God rewarded Rahab and ensured safety for her and her family.

Nothing much more is said of Rahab other than that she stopped being a prostitute, married one of the spies and later became an ancestor to David and to Jesus! A prostitute!!

What struck me about this short chapter (Joshua chapter 2) about Rahab is that it made me realise that God works through people like Rahab (who many of us would reject) acknowledging her faith and not her profession. Rahab rose above her situation through her trust in God. We can take the example of this wonderful woman, and trust God to work through us in our daily lives. Just as He used Rahab, He can use us too.

We just need to let Him.

Amen!

Makan Makan in TB

My cousin from the USA came out to visit recently and asked to meet up with some old friends with whom she climbed Kilimanjaro. So, we met - eight of us. She requested for our favourite sea food alleyway at Tiong Bahru (TB). However, it is no longer just in an alleyway. Sin Hoi San is now in a proper two-storey shop house with fans and air-conditioning. The tables in the alleyway are still there for those die-hards who must eat in an alleyway for the atmosphere.

The conversation revolved round our 2004 climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. (Go to Jalan Jalan Mana? - Climbing Kilimanjaro - for full story of our record making climb) We recalled the tough times and the good times. We laughed a great deal as we recounted our experiences with the cold, the climb and the altitude. There were some gaps with lapses in memory ... oh well, we were all seven years older!

Then the "hak cheong kai" (shrimp paste fried chicken) arrived and the talking stopped as the eating started. We stuck to our true, tested and tasted dishes of fried water cress, drunken prawns, clay-pot liver, chili crabs with fried "mun toh" (buns), salted egg crabs and crispy noodles. We rounded off the meal with "or nee" (pumpkin, yam paste with ginkgo nuts in thick coconut milk). We had a bottle of champagne to toast to each other's health.

The food was superb with the prices being a little higher than what it used to be. It was a night to remember as we sat and ate and talked. This is what friendship is all about. Burp!

Sin Hoi San

55 Tiong Bahru Road

#01-59 (opposite Link Hotel)

Rating: 5 BURPS for me!

Rating by BURPS

5 BURPS - worth every burp - MUST go.

4 BURPS - try to go

3 BURPS - if got time then go

2 BURPS - let other people go

1 BURP - anyone also no need to go

0 BURP - DON'T go

Neighbours

One night, there was a minor accident in the neighbourhood. Minor for humans as nobody was hurt, but rather major for the cars involved. A passing car had rammed into one of the cars parked along the road outside our house. The loud bang sent me out to investigate, together with some of the neighbours. The cars were badly damaged and the passing car was stalled, blocking the rest of the road and dripping black oil and other fluids. Its front left wheel was bent inwards and the tire was punctured.

Soon, we were directing cars to take alternative routes around the estate and answering questions about what happened. "Kay Poh" (nosey or inquisitive) neighbours will start off with - "What happened?" Concerned neighbours enquire if anyone was injured and if there was a need to call for an ambulance.

Kay poh or concerned, these people brought out the comfort of having neighbours. They stood around offering advice and their very presence brought a sense of caring to those who were involved. The "kampung" spirit is alive and well in our estate. How wonderful to know that in an emergency, people don't just carry on watching their televisions. They come out to show support, to render help or simply to just be there with you and for you.

Thank God for neighbours! But everything must start with someone. The next time you see your neighbour, smile. It pays to be a good neighbour, and if you want good neighbours, be one yourself first.

Happy Neighbouring! (not labouring!!)

HIBIKI - Soaring Soul of Taiko

I attended the above Taiko (Japanese Drum) Performance this evening and it was really inspirational. The rhythm and beat of the different drums resounded in the Japanese Association Auditorium and reverberated right down to the heart! What was really beautiful was the unison of the beats. All as one, all together, all with one beat. Arm muscles rippled and backs dripped with sweat from the exertion of the playing. Adults and even children stood side by side - as one.

The children were expressive and appeared to be enjoying their performance. Their passion and energy were apparent and came through in their performance. Not so apparent was the obvious focus they must have in remembering the beats and no lips were counting. It was obvious they must have put in hours of training and practice.

I once tried an introductory session of Taiko with Namiko Sakai (director of TENKO, Singapore) and my arms ached for a week. But I remember the exhilaration of getting into rhythm with the rest and the synchronized shouts and movement and the pure joy of hitting those drums. It was amazing! The exaggerated actions of stretching and squatting gave an illusion of height and strength. The impact was pure beauty in action.

Taiko is not for everyone. Obviously, those with no sense of rhythm and low tolerance for loud sounds should give it a miss. Those wanting a new experience and toned arm, back and stomach muscles should give it a go.

For me, I am happy just watching the already toned arms beat up the cow hide they call - Taiko!

Ngorongoro Crater - Safari in Tanzania

"Can we go to the bushes?" asked Yin. The safari guide looked around. "No" he said, "it is too dangerous. We will go to the built toilets." Just then, a hungry cheetah sauntered by. He looked like he had not eaten for weeks. His shoulder and thigh muscles rippled, but the rest of him was thin and his stomach looked empty. He hardly glanced at us. We were mesmerized by the sleek movement of this cat, the first cheetah spotted on our 4-day safari in Ngorongoro Crater.

That was a close shave, I thought. Can't imagine having to run for my life with my pants down!

Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is often referred to as the "Eden of Africa" and is the 8th Natural Wonder of the world. It is a volcanic caldera with a large collection of many species of animals. Humans are able to go on vehicle safaris here. We are kept safe in huge, heavy yet fast moving vehicles that allow us to remain standing while on the move, as we try to spot the Big 5.

The Big 5 are the five most dangerous animals, rated by hunters, to hunt on foot. They are the Elephant, the Rhinoceros, the Lion, the Leopard and the Cape Buffalo. We spotted the Big 4. The leopard remained elusive throughout the four days we were there.

I watched in fascination as herd after herd of wildebeest moved around and at times broke into a run for no apparent reason. Maybe they were practicing for when the "hunters" come. Zebras grazed peacefully amidst huge herds of gazelles. I watched them with a smile as the gazelles pranced and frolicked around. I looked at the huge open space they lived in. Yes, there were predators and being at the lower end of the food chain, they had to be ever watchful. But, that is life in the wilderness. Should any of these free ranging creatures be in a zoo? Even a zoo as "open" and as "free" as ours in Singapore?

Perhaps for endangered species of animals, to help them regenerate. But for all these others? Do we need to put them in enclosures and cages for humans to view? Do we really need to "see" them?

"Thomas" called Mama Gazelle. "Do you want to be in a zoo?"

"What's that Mum?" asked little Thomas looking up at his mother. "Well, that is where you can be safe from lions and other predators. You get food given to you. You need not look for it. You can sleep in the sun all the time."

Mama Gazelle looked far into the distance. "That is where your Papa is," she whispered, soft enough so Thomas could not hear her.

"Wow!" exclaimed Thomas. "That sure sounds great!" He tilted his head and looked hard at his mother. "So, what's the catch?"

"You have to give up your freedom." said Mama. "What's that?" asked little Thomas. "Well son, look around you. You won't be able to see this any more."

"Not ever?" asked Thomas, his eyes opened wide as he gazed around him. "Not ever," said his Mum. "Whoa then Mum!" exclaimed Thomas. "No way, Jose! I am staying here. This is home Mum ... this is home." And Thomas looked around him before he heaved a sigh of happiness and continued grazing contentedly.

Do we really need zoos?

To The Roof of Africa - Climbing Kilimanjaro

We watched with awe, reclined in the comfortable seats of the Singapore Omnimax theater. The IMAX movie was on KIlimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa towering at 5,895m above sea level. The movie traced the climb made by a group of average people with the oldest being 64 years old and the youngest just 12. Our immediate reaction was, if they can do it, so can we!

The end of the movie showed the African guide looking up at Kilimanjaro and his words stayed in our minds - "Kilimanjaro - where ordinary people come to do something extra-ordinary". That did it! We were ordinary people looking to do something extra-ordinary. That was in June 2003.

In June 2004, 12 women of different shapes, sizes and ages landed in Tanzania with one goal in mind - to climb to the Roof of Africa. What made us special enough to get into the Singapore Book of Records was that we were not a young team (total age - 600+ years, average age - 51 years, oldest was 59 years young) and we were an all women's team.

We opted to climb via the Western Breach Route which was an 8 day climb - 6 half days up, 1 half days down. It gave us the best chance of a successful climb as it allowed for time to acclimatize. We opted to climb in winter as it was cold but dry. We made sure we had as many advantages as we could have, as the climb itself would be physically and mentally challenging.

On a cold morning in June, 12 of us gathered at Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro and with heads bowed we gave thanks to God for a safe and successful climb. We wept with joy and relief. We had made it. We were standing on the Roof of Africa.

What do I remember about this climb?

• I remember the cold. It was so cold, my hands and feet hurt. They felt like they could break to pieces.
• I remember that feeling of awe when I first saw the glaciers stretching as far as I could see, majestic and silent. Glaciers from the ice age!
• I remember the rock that came hurtling down and bouncing off missing us by mere meters.
• I remember feeling the presence of God.
• I remember watching one of the ladies cleaning her blisters and wondered at and admired her high pain threshold.
• I remember watching another drink up her soup and throw it up into the same bowl. We were all feeling much like that.
• I remember the sense of "buddyship" as we encouraged our buddies on.
• I remember the anxiety of a buddy down.
• I remember the wonderful scenery waking up early in the morning and watching clouds drift below us.
• I remember the feeling of being thankful to be alive and to be there.
• I remember the joy of making it.
• I remember the relief when we got back down safe.
• I remember our head guide Prosper and his words - "You will make it because you are with Prosper."! Indeed he was right.
• I remember the hard work of the 49 men who looked after us. Silently and skillfully, they performed their tasks. We never really saw them at work, but everything that had to be done, got done.
• I remember looking up at Kilimanjaro after the climb and wondered if perhaps it was all a dream ...

We were 12 ordinary women who had come to climb Kilimanjaro, and in doing so we had done something extra-ordinary.

People

When I was well enough to have visitors after my last surgery, I have had many come by to say hello, to cheer me up, to bring me food, to pray for me, to show me they cared. I have been touched and blessed. I find myself categorizing my visitors.

Category A: The curious ones - these come out of curiosity to "see" what I look like after reading about me in the papers.

Category B: The guilty ones - these come because they feel guilty that they have not been in touch and did not know about my condition.

Category C: The long lost ones - these come because they don't want to be the long lost ones. Some may have met me 30 - 40 years ago!

Category D: The groupie ones - these come because others were coming so they came along.

Category E: The clueless ones - these don't really know me but know the others who know me.

Category F: The sincere ones - these come because they genuinely care and love me and want to see how they can help.

99.9% of my visitors are from category F. I thank God for every visitor that comes through my gate. I thank God for every type of them. It takes time and effort to visit someone. I thank them for their effort and their time.

Yesterday, I had 2 groups of category F visitors. One was a group of ex-students who came because they wanted me to know they cared. The other was a solo visitor.

Two of the three are now mothers themselves and one, herself a cancer warrior. The other brought her lovely 12 year old daughter (who shares the same name as my equally lovely little dog. She did not mind! ... the girl ie.) who I met 10 years ago. And the third brought them all together. It was a beautiful time of reminiscence, as well as current updating. They still felt very much like my students albeit all a tat bit older!

The other visitor was a solo visitor bearing gifts of my favourite curry puffs. Having settled in Australia, she made it a point to visit me each year she returns to spend time with her family. It was an afternoon of nostalgia as we recounted the good old days. We were comfortable sharing and opening each others' old wounds and hurts and experiences. We shared.

Then it was time for my afternoon nap.

The house was all quiet again. How wonderful that people have people. I hum the ever popular Barbara Straisand song as I drifted off ... people ... people who need people ... are the luckiest people in the world ... God bless us people ... ZZZzzzzzzzZZZZzzzzzz ...

Caps & Scarves

As I waited for my turn at the pharmacy at the National Cancer Centre today, I noted the many different caps and scarves won by the patients. I guess this being a place where many of us go for chemotherapy, hair loss is one major side effect. So, out come the wigs, caps and scarves.

I observed that many of the caps won by the guys had well known designer brands or some college emblem. They looked stylish enough. Scarves were in different shades and designs. I wondered if the colours and designs reflected the personalities of the wearers. Do pastel shades denote a calm, cool, unruffled personality? Are the stronger colours and distinct designs the choice of someone with a streak of unconventionality or a rebellious spirit? I wondered and tried hard to read their faces and actions. Not a clue!

Wigs were harder to spot.

I think we should go through life looking beyond falling hair and balding heads. It makes us happier to see the brighter side of things. Life will always have its share of this and that. The choice is ours to see what we want to see.

What do you see?

I saw the caps and scarves and that made me happier. Hmmmm... I wonder how many were guessing if mine was a wig!

What Can One Man Do?

Last night, a few of us met Dr. Paul Choo, founder of Goducate, and Vivien his sister. Goducate is a non profit organization that reaches out to poor Asians, helping them to help themselves mainly through education. Go Educate!

It was a lovely evening of nostalgia (some among us were

childhood friends and others were ex classmates) and new insights. Some things Paul said struck me and stayed with me.

• "We don't want to give them money - that will run out and we will be back to square one."
• "We don't build schools for them, we get them to build those themselves. If we build it for them, should it leak, they will call us and expect us to do something about it. But when they build it themselves, they will fix it themselves."
• "We make the mothers the teachers. They have a greater investment because they are teaching their own kids."
• "We raise the status of the mothers from bottle pickers to teachers."
• "We give them something more than just education. We give them hope."

*Please note that all the quotes " ... " are as I remember them to be. They are NOT in verbatim.

Paul shared the work of Goducate in Sabah, helping the refugees from the Philippines,many from the war torn island of Mindanao. His stories were heartwarming. He showed us photos of a handful of teenagers who might possibly make it to college back in the Philippines, after being in their literacy programme for just 2 years. I could feel his sense of pride.

When asked what we could do if we visited his Learning Centers, he shared that realistically, we can't do much within the 3 - 5 day visit. However, there is a lot we can do, the rest of the 360 days back here in Singapore. Seriously I never saw it in that light.

We could:

• Publicize the work of Goducate to raise awareness
• Use our network to help raise funds
• Plan and help to collect useful "used" items that would facilitate learning in their Centers
• Get others involved and grow the network

So, why go when we can do all these things from here? Paul had a twinkle in his eyes. "You can't do all of the above if you have not been there and seen them with your own eyes. You can't speak from the heart."

I was sold!

Then he shared about two other interesting projects. One was to get mothers to grow their own vegetables in their own backyard, instead of feeding the family with rice and instant noodles.

Called veg@table, it is in the process of being implemented with the help of worms called African Night Crawlers. These worms thrive on left over vegetables (especially when mixed with manure) and produce rich poop which is used as fertilizer to grow the vegetables.

The other is in the Philippines where street kids are lured to learn to play a musical instrument and then join an orchestra of sorts. They perform at any festival or celebration upon request, and get paid. Some have even been able to go back to school through music scholarships. "It is all about giving them back their self esteem" said Paul.

This sharing is just about the projects in Sabah (East Malaysia). There is Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, West Malaysia, and China.

What can one man do? Lots. What can we do? Lots too!

Learn more about Goducate at: www.goducate.org

Cape Town, South Africa

I decided that I should start blogging on my travels. Being Nonya, I thought I would have it titled in Baba language - Jalan Jalan Mana? Literally - Walk Walk Where? Translated - Where Have You Traveled?

It struck me that I have been to places in 6 of the 7 continents in my 50 years of roaming the earth. Antarctica remains elusive. The long flight time, cost and the fear of being sea sick are the main reasons.

There is nothing better than a funny or inspiring story. So I will keep my accounts to funny, inspiring incidents that happened while on my travels. This is not another travelogue to find out where to go, how to go and what to do. Sorry! Wrong blog.

I will start with the African continent. I have been to Cape Town, today's blog focus, Morocco (you can read about my trip to Morocco in the article Desert Dreams) and my next blog will be on climbing Kilimanjaro.

I went to Cape Town in South Africa for a conference in 2005. On the third day, I decided I would skip the conference and instead signed up for a tour to the Cape of Good Hope. The tours were planned for spouses of conference participants. So I tried to look like one. To my surprise, I found 5 other participants on the tour. We giggled like school girls playing hooky, and hastily removed our participants' name tags. We were then anonymous!

When I stood at Cape Point - the end point of the peninsular overlooking the Cape of Good Hope, my secondary school Geography lessons came alive. The wind blew hard and cold against me, but I refused to leave as I watched the turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean meet the waters of the Indian Ocean. It was awesome. I could not believe I was actually there looking at something that was on a map for years and years. Here it was - the infamous Cape of Good Hope that had claimed many sailors' lives. I looked at the waves and the surf as the waters clashed and mingled and I was glad to be on dry land, albeit the cold wind.

I was disappointed to later learn that Cape Point is NOT where the two oceans meet, but at Cape Agulhas, the southern most tip of Africa. It is there that the two oceans meet, and the coast is locally called the Graveyard of Ships. Drats! I was standing and staring at the wrong cape!

The other interesting feature as a "must see" in Cape Town is the monolithic Table Mountain. This "flat" mountain rises 1086 m above the city and is a familiar landmark. I walked some of its trails and it was lovely especially on a warm sunny day, with an ice cream cone in your hand.

I was told it was safe to wonder out in the night in Cape Town. So I did. I met many Tourist Police on petrol at the popular tourist spots. I made my way to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Victoria Wharf was bustling with shops, galleries, banks, cinemas and restaurants. I had a whole grilled lobster and it was the sweetest I have ever tasted.

I don't remember much else of my time in Cape Town other than the lovely fellowship of principals from all over the world and the African children's performance at the Opening of the Conference. I felt that they were not perfect in their dance routine but one could sense their exuberance and pure joy of performing for us. Maybe we rehearse our kids too much, wanting perfection. And in the process, we killed the joy.

Nothing really funny or inspirational ... Would I go back to Cape Town? Yes, but not to attend a conference. I would go and sit at Cape Alguhas AND Cape Point and I would go watch the Southern Wright Whales ... and walk the trails of Table Mountain and just absorb the atmosphere that is Africa.

Insurance & Noah

I met my insurance agent yesterday and we spent about 1 minute on insurance matters and the rest of the hour catching up. One thing she said struck me. "This will be the amount for your loved ones." We buy insurance for those we love, also for ourselves.

So did Noah ... well, he didn't buy insurance, he built one - the Ark. And it was for those he loved. Firstly God, then his family and the animals that God had commanded him to take on board.

Monday night had the perfect weather to watch 'The Storm' on TV. It rained for a long time. I wondered about Noah. When God told him to build the Ark, it was bright and sunny. Noah obeyed and tried his best to warn those around him of the impending great flood. They must have laughed in his face as they looked up at the bright, clear, blue skies.

And so, we buy insurance on good days ... to prepare for bad days. Noah took (built) an insurance but he also had assurance - God's. And the great flood? That was certainly an act of God!

How are all these things related? They are not. Not really. Then again, these are my random thoughts.

The Call of Nature

I have not had a good night's sleep ever since my little dog Chloe was on heat. She whines and scratches the door in an effort to get to the gate where her boyfriend sits waiting. This has been on almost a daily basis the past week, between 3 to 5 in the morning! YAWNNN!

It is a Romeo & Juliet story - doggie version! Chloe (Juliet) is a miniature Schnauzer (pure breed with papers and a lineage) and Brownie (Romeo) is a local, mongrel mutt with no papers and no class. He comes around at all odd hours and pees at our gate.

The call of nature is so strong that they can sense each other through 2 doors and about 50 metres apart. Jordan, our 10 year old male alpha dog is much like Juliet's cousin Paris. He chases Brownie away with much fierce barking and "protects" Chloe from him whenever he shows up. Unfortunately for us human observers, the urinating at the gate is the most upsetting! It stinks up the place and encourages other males (dogs ie.) to place their mark too.

For me, I can take the peeing. It is the waking up in the early hours of the morning that is more upsetting.

So is there a lesson here? Not really. I guess I should get Chloe spayed if I am not thinking of breeding her. Alternatively, I could get Brownie shot! Joke! It is not his fault nor hers. It is just simply the call of nature. Sigh. I wait for when she menopauses.

'Cher 'Cher

I remember my early teaching years when the students would call me 'Cher 'Cher, a shortened version for the word 'teacher'. In all probability, that word started with rather lazy students. I have not heard that version for a long time now.

Today, I was at Heart Bistro at Palais Renaissance for lunch. As I was leaving the restaurant, I heard a gentle "Ms Poey. Is that you Ms Poey?" I turned around and saw a group of 3 ladies having lunch. One of them jumped up and introduced herself and her one friend as my ex-students. They enquired about my health, updated me on theirs, gave me a name card and after a short exchange, I left. They continued with their lunch, no doubt sharing stories about their JC days and their wonderful PE teacher!

I beamed with much pride that they remembered me after almost 35 years! Of course it helped that I was featured in the Straits Times (with a very large photo) on Christmas day.

This I thought, is what teaching is all about. If you are a teacher and you are feeling down and discouraged, don't be. As you continue your work of facilitating learning, you will not know the moment when you would have touched a life. The students too may not know it then. But they will, years later.

Push on, dear teachers. Don't give up, either on your students or on yourself. Your reward is not that raise in pay, or that bonus, or that promotion (all very good to have!). Your reward will be that little quiet voice calling out "'Cher 'Cher is that you?" many years down the road ...

Chit Chatting 101

Today a friend dropped by for lunch and a chat. We chatted for 3 hours! It was lovely. We talked. We listened. We communicated. We shared. In today's world of computers, iPhones, iPads and iPods (notice the many "I") with screens to capture your attention and ear plugs to block out sounds and introduce noise, chit chatting is a dying art.

When I was in Nepal, I rediscovered the beauty of chatting, with the locals and with friends. There was nothing else to do but look at the moonlit mountains and talk. I remember being lulled to sleep each night by the drone of gentle voices. It brought back memories of the times when family members would sit around after dinner to share about their day's happenings. These little chats (not around any fireplace) helped to bond us.

Then television and computers crept into our lives and removed the need to talk. With it went the threads that bond, and bind family members and friends. Look around at restaurants and food courts. People busy on their mobiles playing games or sms-ing. Very few find the need to talk.

Try it. Have nothing but a few people gathered round to talk. Chit chatting you will find, is good for the soul.

Happy chatting!

The First Day of School

I walked my dogs at 6 am today. As we approached the main road, I felt something different in the air. There was a sense of "busyness" and urgency all around. Then it struck me that it was the first day of school. A school bus passed me then, and I looked at the sleepy faces gazing out in the pale dawn light. I waved at them. I am sure there were streaks of envy as I seemed not to be in a rush.

I wondered how many parents had a bad night worrying about their children's first day of the new academic year. I wondered how many children had a bad night too, catching the anxiety and tension from their parents.

As I headed home, I became more aware of the increased traffic sounds as more cars and busses ply the roads at that hour. I smiled. I thanked God I had a good night's sleep and that I no longer needed to rush off on the first day of school.

It is a blessing to be retired.

Who Do We Pray For?

I went to church on Sunday and sat at my usual pew. After awhile, the talking just behind me was so distracting, I decided to move right up to the front. In five minutes, there were two conversations going on behind me. I closed my eyes and prayed that God would "speak" to the ladies behind me and get them to be quiet. Immediately, God spoke to me instead. I realized I should be praying for myself. I asked God to help me focus on His word and to block my ears to the noise around.

So often we want others to change or to be as we want them to be. So often we forget to look at ourselves first. So, who are YOU praying for?

And maybe, just maybe, I can be the voice of conscience? If you go to church early and chit chat with your friends, it might be a good idea to look around. Someone nearby may just be praying for you ... to STOP that chatter while in the sanctuary. Give your time wholly to the Lord. And on another note - be punctual for service. It is only polite to make that effort to be on time... for God.

Hello 2011 at the Lookout

On 31 December 2010, 19 Singaporeans met up and prepared to walk up Bukit Timah Hill to celebrate the end of 2010 and to welcome 2011. The walk started from Base Camp at 11 pm. It was a dark and moonless night. The night sounds of the forest were a wonderful accompaniment to the footsteps on the earthen forest floor. All was quiet as the group emerged out of the forest at the Visitors' Centre. A lone ranger sat sleepy eyed at his station. We got his go ahead, then headed up the hill towards The Lookout.

The Lookout overlooks the quarry. The silver reflection of the surrounding and silent hillside on the still quarry water was rather eerie. But we were not afraid. We had each other!

After a short breather, some sat around and shared about the many blessings that were received in 2010. Others were busy preparing the champaign and sparklers for the countdown. Then it started. 10 ... 9 ... 8 ... 7 ... 6 ... 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

There were shouts and screams of "Happy New Year" resounding from the nearby condominiums (too close for comfort) and from our group of 19. We clinked champaign glasses (plastic ones) and wished each other well. The strains of Auld Lang Syne filtered through the stillness of the night. We thanked God that we had a lovely starlit night to welcome 2011.

Then the sparklers display started.

Four clowns managed to get their sparkled 2011 captured on camera. Goodbye 2010. Hello 2011.

Soon, it was time to walk back to Base Camp. It was half past midnight. The walk out was much faster probably fueled by the bubbly. As we were the only 19 Singaporeans (out of 5 million) welcoming the new year at Bukit Timah Hill, we considered ourselves rather unique.

Goodbyes and hugs were exchanged as everyone left for home. Here's to a blessed, love and laughter filled year ahead. God bless us all. Zzzzzzzzzz ...

Hello 2011

5 million people in Singapore. 1 million were out of town. 1 million were partying at all the various countdown venues. 1.5 million were at home watching TV waiting for the countdown. 1 million were at friends' homes waiting for the same countdown. 499,981 were asleep. 19 unique Singaporeans were up on a hill, under the stars, close to nature, ushering in 2011 with sparklers and champaign. Hello 2011.

Forget the new year resolutions. Instead, look into the rear view mirror and count your blessings of 2010. Now, think of how you can be a blessing to just 12 people - one a month for 2011.

Happy New Year! God bless us all.