Wednesday, March 31, 2010

of fairy godmothers

Old ladies tales has this saying for bringing up kids "at 3-4 yrs of age, one could scold till our mouth is tired". Why? This is the age that the child is so full of curiosity discovering the world around them. No amount of explanation would deter them from wanting to try it for themselves. It is not as if this curiosity ends after that age.

Which brings me to another Chinese adage, that elders love to say to us, but we never listen nor understand - 'I eat more Salt than you have eaten Rice'. Here our ego rather than our curiosity never stops us from doing things that elders will advise against. We think we are better - we have computers and they don't.

So invariably we throw out the babies with the bath water; a thought I heard being voiced re our new form of worship. It is also related to our dropping our affirmation of faith. Coincidentally, I am also reading and eventually supposed to be reflecting on the Nicene Creed.

So what has all these to do with the picture below.

It is so sweet to have young nephews and nieces. Yes, when they are pre-teens and below, they love their Aunties. A friend even asked me once - why does my son likes you so much and is more than a friend to my son compared to me? Don't worry mummies, you will always be the mummy!

Simple! We do not discipline them. Neither do we have to worry if the kids are having fever, not eaten their dinner or done their homework. Aunties are Fairy God Mothers especially Aunties who brings them gifts; hugs them; and are even their playmates. I know because I have been there. I think the only love one could associate such love of a child is one of Jesus's. Jesus loves us inspite and despite of our blemishes and faults. A child doesn't know any better.

So the moral of the story is:-
Love them when they are young. Love them when they don't know any better. Spend as much them with them before they realise that they rather choose to be with friends instead of being seen with their aunties and parents!



My good friend basking in the love of a young and innocent child. A fairy godmother, as represented by the cake, is what she is in this period of the child's life.

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Monday, March 29, 2010

nearly three decades later..

I have learnt to believe and expanded on a Chinese statement that
'life is like ocean going ship. We meet certain people in a certain period. We travel together for a while, sharing good and bad times; much like the ship in the middle of the ocean. Ultimately, we arrive at the harbour, so we depart to do our own things and life' .

Just about three decades ago, when we were sweet, innocent and young things, we met in college, read our various major, shared some good and tough times. Had great laughs and did some naughty things! Eventually, we graduated and then depart to start our own life.

So here three decades later, we meet again; having gone through the hard-knocks of real life... and yet... we are still friends...



But to close on a lighter note - the best part of it all, I finally got to eat my favourite Mauritius food! Authentically cooked too!


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15 & 51

Talking about coincidences and numerology!
How often do we have birthdays where one generation is celebrating his 15th and another at 51? Well, I attended one. Apparently the next time, this 'coincidence' will be eleven years later.

Incidentally one is called Rayhan and another Reyhannah! This is no coincidence. Must remember to ask the mum why she chose the name!

Cakes done by the same loving hands... of a mother's and a sister's
A triple chocolate cake ...


A mouth-watering passion fruit cake...


Trust me, it was delicious. I had more than my share. Especially picking on the icing!
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a mother's love...

A woman's toil in the daily care-taking of a child or a family is usually taken for granted or even expected.

Once in a while, we see a mother's love personified. Hence I was indeed fortunate to witness one recently. I mean, in this day and age, one could so easily just pop out to the shop and purchase a wonderful cheese, chocolate or even an ice-cream cake without so much as a blink of an eye. But the love of a mother's love is personified in the hours spent on making a birthday cake!

The loving hands of a mother.....


Toiling into the wee hours of the morning...


An exhausted but very proud and satified mum...?

picture speaks for itself...
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going back to basics...

Once jet-setting belongs to the rich and famous.

But now flying is available to the ordinary, with the availability of Budget flights.

Once I use to travel on jetliners of boeings 747, 738 etc. And even with local travel, I would not get on a Fokker plane; especially after two harrowing experience where it is either a few days of driving or a Fokker flight, into the hinterland in East Malaysia.

But now I have no more travel miles, so I have to travel on Budget flights. No big deal right? especially when so many are doing it; and why should one be so arrogant. So in all humility, I booked myself on a Firefly or Kunang flight down to Singapore. I am quite patriotic too!

Lo and Behold, I did not expect to be going back to basics. Not that I am a great fan of aeroplanes; but I know I have seen this type of planes before 2nd World War movies. I really did not expect to be sitting on a re-conditioned propeller-ed cargo plane!
Yes - this is what I travelled in; although I have to admit it is quite comfortable.



But look at this plane parked on the other side of the runway! This is our kiastu's neighbours equivalent. Tiger Airways! It has got jet-engines!



Sigh! Will we always be the step-child? Will we always be inferior? Will we always be a step behind!

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Friday, March 26, 2010

babies have flown the nest...

Two days after I came back from Singapore, I felt something was amissed. The garden was very quiet. I then realise that the parent bulbuls are not there to greet if not ensure that I do not disturb the nest again.

Of course all sorts of thoughts went through my mind. Like did those 'b...'wild cats get them? Did the cleaning lady's son take them away? Or even - my Dad must have come to take them and made medicinal soup with the babies. Normal but no excuse - we always think the worst of people and situations.

Sob! sob! sob! The babies have flown the nest. I have had wished I was there to see them take their first flight. But I miss it.

It should be a moment of joy and pride, but I have to admit that it does take some getting used to; and there is a sense of emptiness too. Compared to the parents' constant flying in and out to catch insects and feed the babies, the silence was deafening. This is the second lesson within a month. Not sure what 'wounded healing' I need to do eventually, this is a very literal understanding of the statement - birds have flown the nest. Guess this is the time to cut the apron strings, and wish them well.

But God is kind too. Next morning I heard and saw the 'family' feeding off a neighbours tree. The tree was flowering and there were noticably a lot of butterflies and bees around. Actually saw one of the babies chasing after a bee, but was not able to catch it. It has not quite learnt the skills to manoeuvre round and inbetween the branches. Antics brought a smile.

So to remind me, here is a photo to remind me of my pseudo babies!



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life..

You know when we are down, we search for a meaning in life. Most of us turn to a god. But if you don't have a God to believe in, what do you do? You will be amazed at the various ways people go about it. Many of my neighbours actually subscribe to the daily horoscope. You'll know because the minute they turn on their Facebook, they go online to some predictions for the day.

How do we believe in a God that we don't get to see, but have made a conscious choice to follow. The people who actually survived during the 2WW generally have a God they cling to. It is very much a matter of mind over matter.

But we are not at war. We have a mundane life if not so mundane jobs. I mean, this picture is so appropriate. Here we thought we are okay, if not perfect. But there is always someone or something which will spoil the perfect life or picture we want to have.


So the moral of the story?
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have. Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.
(not sure who wrote the observation, but serves as a useful reminder)
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virtual farming...

This is what I am indulging in and quite delighted with the various 'points of view' in this article.

Down on the FarmVille by Rajini Vaidyanathan
BBC News Magazine; (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8585999.stm)

A Bulgarian official has been sacked after being caught milking a virtual cow on the hugely popular online farming game, FarmVille. So what is it about it that's made it so popular?

At the end of a hard day seeing to patients at the surgery there is more work to be done. Tending to the crops, feeding the cows and making sure the fields are ploughed.

For one GP, who is too embarrassed to be named, the internet game FarmVille has become a part of daily life.

The premise of the game is simple - you are a farmer, albeit a virtual one - with your own plot of land. Your job is to cultivate it and rear animals. You get points depending on how successful you are and the aim is to get the highest score you can.

What would Old Macdonald say?
On her farm, the GP grows potatoes, watermelons and keeps chickens and cows. She never tends to her fields during her working day, but is on it most evenings. "It does seem like a terrible waste of time," she says. "It's like watching trashy TV though, a bit of escapism to help you unwind."

For her and many others, FarmVille has become a guilty pleasure. The game was launched in June 2009, since then more than 80 million people have signed up to it. While it's highly unlikely that everyone who has joined the game plays it on a regular basis, there is no doubting it has a huge regular following, with people around the world, from all ages and backgrounds playing it.

FarmVille is accessed as an application through Facebook and now has its own website too. But it's the game's presence on the social networking site which has given the game such a wide reach, allowing it to tap into Facebook's already large user base. And its availability on social networks has created a new wave of computer gamers, who wouldn't normally go near a console.

Meaningful effect
Like full-time mum Gemma, for whom FarmVille has become part of the daily routine, in-between nappy changes and feeds. Both her sisters and her mum are signed up too. She was initially dismissive of FarmVille when she was asked to join, but is hooked now. So, what is the appeal?

"It becomes a personal experience and something you care about," says Johnny Minkley, a computer games expert. The game has a certain "stickiness" to it, because of the nurturing element involved, he says. "What you're doing needs to have some meaningful effect, like the planting and growing of crops."

The game also has a competitive element - it's about having the best farm and earning the most money to see to its upkeep. But it can also be co-operative and it's possible to interact with your friends' farms on the site by watering their plants and feeding their animals.

The game is free to play, but if you want to buy extra coins to keep up your farm, you are given the option to buy more with your credit card.

Parallels can be drawn between Farmville and the Tamagotchi craze in the 1990s, where people looked after a virtual pet housed in a plastic egg, developing an emotional attachment to their virtual being. But the fact FarmVille has been introduced in an age of social media has had other effects.

For the embarrassed GP, it resurrected an old friendship - sort of.
"There's a girl I went to school with, and who I never speak to, but I now fertilise her crops for her," she says.

To the uninitiated, this behaviour might seem bizarre, but hardened FarmVillers say all of this helps you win extra points and prizes. It is this sense of reward which keeps people playing, says psychologist Dr Mark Griffiths. He describes FarmVille as "virtual Lego", where building something from scratch and seeing it grow gives players a sense of accomplishment and a "psychological high".

Educational tool
Dr Griffiths specialises in researching technological addictions and says what underlies any addiction is the reliance on constant rewards. But saying you are "addicted" to FarmVille is a bit like saying you're addicted to chocolate, he argues.

"What people really mean is that there is a 'moreishness' quality about it. There's nothing wrong with spending hours on it, as long it's not affecting your personal relationships and work."

Others say it is not just a blight, but a downright distraction. It was recently reported that a councillor in Bulgaria was sacked after he was discovered milking a virtual cow on his laptop during a committee meeting. There are those who see FarmVille as a blight on their daily Facebook feed, when every time they log in they discover that Georgia has traded 50 gold pieces, or that Andrew has harvested his chicken coop.

There are many others who agree with the superiors in Plovdiv and the game has its fair share of detractors. There are several Anti-FarmVille groups online, one called Not Playing FarmVille has more than two million members.

"If you are doing this you have... I repeat if you are doing this you have too much time on your hands", writes one member. Another says, "everyone's worried about the swine flu, but I think we need to be worried about this FarmVille epidemic".

Bill Mooney, VP and general manager of Zynga, the company behind FarmVille brushes off these kind of negative comments. "If FarmVille is affecting people in a positive way, then we're all for it," he says.

Tenuous
"The best thing is, FarmVille is played in 5-10 minutes sessions, so you really don't have to get too preoccupied or diverted for a long time. It's more like a coffee break or break from studying."

Does it provide a "real sense of farming"?
Mooney says the game has had other positive benefits, like generating an interest in real farming. Before the game was developed the company did a lot of research into the area, so they could make the game accurate and give people a "real sense of farming".

In the US the appeal of FarmVille is being seen as one possible way of attracting younger people into farming. But at the Scottish Agricultural College in Aberdeen, Alison Campbell who lectures in farming says the parallels between real and online world are limited.

"A lot of the students we have here come from farm backgrounds. It is quite tenuous to what they know to be real life [on a farm]." On a virtual farm, it's all about instant gratification - you don't have to wait six months for your aubergines to grow. But then again, you can't eat them either.

Top five FarmVille countries
1. United States
2. Turkey
3. The Philippines
4. The United Kingdom
5. Italy
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Now I do wonder whether why Philippines, a third world country, would be in the top five? Then personally, it does provide me a bigger garden, than my real little patch, in cyber space. Real opportunity cost is time spent on practising Hebrew! LOL! ^-^

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surviving politics in the office

It is not as if there is nothing to write... but there are somethings we can't write about.

However, I was cleaning up my inbox, and came across this mail. It is written by a good friend. Though past retirement age, she is still working to 'pass her time' and the salary - extra pocket monies. This way we can afford the occasional indulgences without having to worry about digging into the retirement fund.

It is also a reflection and reaction on how we have had learnt the 'tricks of the trade'. We have been through a life time of grind in the work place - with politics galore.

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Title: My job is not without humour!

Incident or rather conflicting instructions by the various directors/bosses of a family owned company, over a small matter:

no. 4 son say "give the keys to JJ"
no. 3 son say "give the keys to AA"
chairman mommy say "move the books to uthant"
no. 1 son say "move the books to office"
no. 3 son say "move the books to penthouse"

So what do i do (as an employee)?
ALL OF THE ABOVE.
How else can i justify my salary?

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Yes, the secret of life if not survival is very often -
- to be able to look at the positive
- if not giggle at the idiosyncracies of the situation.

It is also the typical reality of how one human being wants to assert their power over another, and be the 'head dog' in any community.

So I raise my glass, toast and wish the young ones - good luck!

May the force if not the LORD be with you!

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Friday, March 19, 2010

sunglassess collection....

I did have second thoughts about the latest range of sunglassess collection. Yes, it is controversial. But it does not mean that if one condones such fashions, one is any less holy.

Recently, a farmville neighbour announces he has Aids. I believe he may be testing us. Would we still associate with him; although it is only through the net. Then we are sponsoring a family of three, with age ranging from 12 to 17. Their Dad has died of Aids; and their mum is a Aids patient. They were rejected by their relatives and the whole village. Though they are staying at a home, on weekends, we welcome them. Hei, are we not worried about the possiblity of catch it.

So it is with a bit of an upstart rebellious attitude, that I have posted the picture below. Does it mean that I am now dabbling in a bit of biblical studies, I am not allowed to look at it or admire it? If so, all the Christian countries should not be housing great works of art by some renowned Renaissance painters, who reflects great admiration of the human anatomy.

The only regret I would probably have, with these collections, is that I would not have the opportunity and/nor the shape to wear it.



....... ^__^ .........

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unheard voices.....

Every now and then we get a good writer who expresses the situation. However, they are generally not given much publicity in the main stream media. So we need to help.


MALAY RIGHTS
By Shaik Rizal Sulaiman
Shaik Rizal Sulaiman
Posted by Malaysian Unplug

The Malays are 'technically' in power governing the country but it is also this same controlling group that demands the right to correct economic imbalances and disparities for its own race.

What does this say about the 'majority governing' Malay race for the last 50 years? I dare say that most Malaysians (regardless of race) below the age of 40 would like to see all opportunities be spread amongst those who deserve it on meritocracy.

We do not need the keris anymore to tell others to be careful of what they say and do because in the survival of the fittest, the keris is of very little relevance!

If we continue to hide under the 'bumiputera' tempurung as most Malays have been in the last 50 years or more, the catch-up game will just get harder and the gap wider.

If we continue to expect without earning it, we will never learn how to be a race that succeeds on merit. There is NO substitute for merit. The Malay politicians continue to shout about Malay rights and bumiputera rights because the very nature of our local politics is sadly racially biased.

In this day and age, a great nation is built upon joint success stories, meritocracy and the combined hard work of its people WITHOUT any fear or favour of racial biased politics governing our daily policies. Sadly, the Malay politicians have ended up completely corrupt, racialists, twisted religious fanatics.

I am below 40 and as much as I love the 'idea' that Malaysia is tanah tumpahnya darah orang Melayu, I can't help but also feel that this country is for ALL Malaysians alike including the Chongs, the Kumars, the Xaviers, the Singhs & Kaurs etc who were born on the same day in the same hospital as me here in Malaysia.

If we feel that WE (the Malays) deserve this country more than THEM , then WE (the Malays) should have shown them a long time ago that we deserve the 'control all' status.

We have to earn it. The policies FAILED because the very concept of Malay rights or the NEP/DEB is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, it aims to eradicate wealth disparity but on the other, it has made the Malays oblivious of what reality is. Our (Malays) success is only reflected in the 'perceived' political power which today can collapse in a matter of minutes. I would also like to see my children succeed in their country, Malaysia, for reasons that true success should be based upon, which are merit and hard work and NOT because they are Malays or bumiputeras.
For as long as the Malays don't see this, there is very little point in fighting for Malay rights..

It just makes us look more ridiculous. We have taken this notion of being privileged a bit too literally in that it now simply means we want this country and its fruits all for ourselves without accepting the responsibilities that come with it. I blame the MALAY politicians for this because we want to only fight the cause without strategising for the true substance and need of the cause. We have been given fish all the while without being taught how to fish.

It's funny how two different generations can be so diverse in their thinking and the recent elections proved just that... We are no longer concerned with racial problems but more so the never-ending Malay agenda issues. The rakyat has spoken and the landscape has drastically changed. Is this change welcomed? Is it good?

The answer is 'NO'. Because we,the Malays, have been caught with our pants down - we are not ready to compete on any level playing field (we can't even compete on advantageous grounds!). Even with three or five more continuing policies for Malay rights or bumiputera privileges over the next 50 years, we will still be in exactly the same position as we are in today.

The truth hurts and the truth will always prevail. And the truth of what's to come will NOT go away. I am cynical perhaps because I feel that Malay rights is NOT relevant anymore.
The right to be safe, to be treated fairly, to have a world-class healthcare and education, to enjoy equal prosperity, to have good governance, to live in a clean environment and to be war-free is what I want for my Malaysia. NOT for MY race to be artificially powerful.

If we want the Malays to fail, then by all means continue the fight for Malay rights. Go and polish your keris..

Shaik Rizal Sulaiman
Posted by Malaysian
Unplug @ Link to This Post

ps
In recent months we have seen the Syariah Courts allowing quite a few Malays to exercise their rights to a third or fourth wife. Fair, the guy may be able to provide for the financial & conjugal needs of his wives. However, question here is when he has a dozen kids, will he be able to provide a decent education and life to his kids or will he demand for his 'Rights' for subsidy and aid and be a burden to the govt and society.
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Sunday, March 14, 2010

baby bulbuls

Rachel and Wesley - this is for you!

My pigeon orchid now has a nest of bulbul's. Yellow vented bulbuls are quite common in Malaysia. I knew the mummy bulbul was nesting, but did not dare to check on nest or how many eggs there were, in case the parents abandon the nest.

Now just about two weeks later, I climbed up the ladder and took these photos. I thought the parents have left the nest for a while. However, they were quite near. For the first time, I felt the agressiveness of a nursing mother! She actually swopped at me, from behind my head; so close I could feel the wind, if not the tip of her wings! It was so sudden, I had to steady myself on the ladder. By the time I realised what it is all about, she displayed threatening behaviours, stared me in the eyes for a minute or at least enough for me to snap a few shots!

So now I have a family of bulbuls (till the baby bulbuls leave the nest) and tree-shrews; not to mention the resident toads that sings on rainy days! Goes to show how 'uninhabited' and safe, my garden is and has been, for the pair of bulbuls to feel comfortable enough to nest! I have to say I am quite delighted!
This, however, is no big deal compared to the 10 foot python which came visiting to a friend's house. Speaks well of how the 'wild' life has managed to find a life right in the middle of KL, Bangsar!







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Friday, March 12, 2010

fraility of life.....

Today is a day of many happenings!

First I receive a mail from a friend, who seldom writes; cause she is busy with families etc. Glad to hear she is back to her quilting! You know, quilting can be a source of income! Just that I don't have the patience. She also reminded me that my last mail was on the 23rd of Feb. Well, some one's noticed!

One of the reasons why I have not written is because of work! This is a period of 'I need to be a typical secular, heartless bitch'. Yes, I wrote this statement to a friend; when she complained that I did not pick up her call. March and April are months of negotiations and it is really not pleasant! Coincidentally I was sort of asked officially whether I would like to preach! of course I said no! How could I, especially at this period! Writing an essay or report is possible. But it would be hypocritical to stand on a pulpit and give a sermon; with my frame of mind!

Then, my boss is around! We are talking about restructuring of sorts etc. Yes, I am given a rather good choice. But too many choices offers too many temptations and one gets spoilt with choices too! My boss of many years reminds me that we need to have enough monies for the future; hence to continue working! But does it matter?

It really does not matter. At the closing of the day, I was told of a friend who was called back to God! She is of the same year as me; found out she had cancer just about six months ago. So frail is life.

So the moral of the story?
To day, I have to choose between ensuring a secure income, at least for a few more years. OR why bother; We don't know when we are called! No I am not being fatalistic.

Crux of the issue is, and someone rightly commented, I am scared to commit my life /future to HIM.

So much easier to just use the excuse of 'I've got work'.

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