“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7)

I have been taking new formula for my Chinese herbs daily since 3 weeks ago when I complained to my Chinese physician about my menopause symptoms (especially the night sweats). My other symptoms are more manageable after I do some exercises everyday but not the night sweats. The night sweats symptom is more a concern to me as it affects my sleep. I was hoping Chinese herbs may help.

The new herbal drink turns out to be extremely bitter and I am advised to drink twice daily. I have been faithfully consuming Chinese herbal drink for slightly more than 2 years now and so used to it that I drink it just like drinking water. But this new formula really unbearable and put me off. Since the new formula does not really help my night sweats, I may ask my Chinese physician when I see her tomorrow to revert to the old formula, just take care of my cancer will do.

'Honourable husbands'

" In this same way, husband ought to love their wives as his own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself." (Ephesians 5:28)

Is any picture below resembles your husband? My close friend shared with me some months ago that the first thing her husband reacted when she was diagnosed with womb cancer is that, which daughter he was going to stay with in case anything happened to my friend. They have married for more than 30 years, are in the early 60s, and have 2 grown-up daughters.

Ever notice how all of women's problems start with MEN ?

MEN tal illness

MEN strual cramps

MEN tal breakdown

MEN opause

GUY necologist

AND

When we have REAL trouble, it's a.. HIS terectomy.

Absurd or creative - moon cake new recipes?

The other day my neighbour gave me a box of moon cakes. It is made by a five-star hotel in Singapore and probably costs at least fifty dollar per box. Regrettably, none of my family seems to like the moon cakes. They still preferred the original recipe. The price also got inflated by the very fanciful packaging box.

The moon cakes have the following ingredients:
1. peanut butter jelly
2. calamansi cheese
3. chocolate brownie
4. whisky praline (??)
5. lotus paste with egg (this I know and like)

I guess most of us still like to savour the 'original' moon cake. It may not be wise for one to pay so much more for such 'exotic' moon cakes in the first place.

An extraordinary Chinese essay

“ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:20-21)

Recently I lamented to a close friend that I hardly travelled outside Singapore in my life. Now with my physical conditions, it is very unlikely that I would want to go anywhere. The only far away country that I travelled is Australia. May be it is the thought of having to pack and unpack (since I am always the only one does it) that put me off.

Unlike me, this friend of mine travelled far away for holiday every year-end with her husband and her only child (a son). To her, it is a time of bonding as a family, and a reward for her son’s efforts for working hard in his study. She thinks it is money well spent. When she shared with me what her son wrote after one of the trips in 2009 (when he was in Sec 2) that I understand fully what she meant by that:

我最喜欢的礼物

这一生中，受过的礼物不胜枚举。但令我最难忘的礼物是在我国罕见而稀有的东西。

还记得那时是十一月份，已接近大家期盼的隆重的圣诞节。父母想趁小学还没放大假，带我去日本的北海道跟着导游游玩七天。那是已快接近冬天，刺骨的寒风不时迎面吹来，使我们觉得不但冷还有一种使人从睡梦醒来的感觉。虽然游玩了短短的七天，让我在离开时有非笔墨所能形容的依恋，但我经历的感受只有用两个字才能表示出来：享受。

在那七天里，有不少时候下着雪。那雪轻轻地飘，慢慢地落，一碰到地时，就化成水。那时我们一家三口平生第一次看到雪，心中的喜悦是非笔墨所能形容的。我们便开始玩雪，像小孩子玩水一样，我们都感到有兴奋又开心。虽然身处冰天雪地，非常寒冷，但心中非常温暖，因为这雪是父母用钱“卖”来的，是靠她们我才有幸接触到真实的雪。

圣诞节时，常常会挂着一些上面有雪的装饰品。这对我们深处在热带的人，几乎没有意义。可是我在北海道所看到的雪是父母这一生储蓄的血汗钱用在我的身上。这令我感激万分，因为父母对子女的爱是不求回报的付出。

在那七天的旅程中，有一次，我们的巴士正在穿过隧道，当传出隧道时，从刚才得枝繁叶茂的环境里一下子转到了一个冰天雪地的环境。我心想：哇！好美的雪啊！树上点缀着一层薄薄的雪，地面覆盖着厚厚的雪。我的脚踏上去时，雪地上便会留下一个洞，上面印着我的脚印。我决定做戏里面常看见的事，丢雪球。雪球看起来很松软，但打到墙壁上的时候便会变成一枚“手榴弹”。我真的好兴奋啊，因为在新加坡，一个热带地区，虽然听别人说过玩雪时的情景，可是那对我来说可是个又陌生又新奇的。而且，父母非常节俭，不常带我出国，我没有机会接触到雪。

就在那时，恰巧和雪不期而遇，这突如其来的雪把我们一家三口给迷住了。对一个常旅游的人来说，雪景可能是司空见惯了。但对一个由父母费尽心力和金钱的孩子来说，那冰冷的雪打在他身上确实令人温暖的，因为那是父母的养育之恩和无尽的关怀。

对我来说，手中的雪虽很快会溶化成水，雪只是短暂的。但这雪所包含的意义却永远印在我的脑海和心中，因为那是父母送给我最珍贵的礼物。我对父母对我的关心是多么感激，在那时那刻我下定决心对自己说：“我一定要报答父母的养育之恩！”

I am really amazed by how he gives such a boring essay title a unique touch and an intriguing twist. Most students would have approached this subject by adopting the run-of-the mill style. I felt a deep warm current flown into my heart after reading it instead of the coldness of Hokkaido snow. I am glad that my command of Chinese (I studied in a Chinese primary school) is still good enough to be able to appreciate the content of the essay better.

How blessed are we as parents if our children would likewise express their warmed appreciations of what we have unselfishly showered upon them!

Ma-Ra-Na-Ta (Come to me Oh Lord Jesus)

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Straits Times on 13th Sept 2010,published the full content of the interview that Mr Lee Kuan Yew had with New York Times recently.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Lee-Kuan-Yew-Man-who-made-Singapore/articleshow/6547901.cms?curpg=1

Coincidentally, last Sunday’s Straits Times also featuring Miss Lee Wei Ling (his daughter)’s fortnightly column, sharing her experience treating a brain- retarded child.

My thoughts after reading these articles:

• No matter how strong we think we are, we cannot avoid trials, pains and sufferings at some points in our lives, directly or indirectly through our loved ones. It is how we go through them that counts.

• At some points in our lives too, we would not be able to comfort ourselves, one has to find strength and solace in our faith in God.

• Power of Meditation (e.g. through mantra), even those who do not believe in God,can have the soothing and calming effect.Tranquillity will overtake our restless minds, pressures and worries. The mantra he used, Ma-Ra-Na-Ta, means “Come to me Oh Lord Jesus” or “ Come, O Lord” appears only once in the NewTestament(1Corinthians16:2)

( http://wccm.org/item.asp?recordid=welcome&pagestyle=default )

• There is a complete serene, no fear, no distress for those who found God even when they reached the end of their journey on earth as they know where are they going thereafter (Mr Lee mentioned Hon Sui Sen,ex-finance minister & wife of Ng Kok Song, chief investment officer of GIC who are both devoted Christians).

• You can’t choose how and when to leave this world. We are not in control over our destiny.
. Extraordinary efforts are required to put in if we desired to live well even our days are numbered and our physical conditions are against us.

•We have to face the reality that there is a limit to how far medical treatments can help. It’s better to let nature takes its course.

Organic vs Non-organic

“for everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” ( 1 Timothy 4:4)

Time Magazine’s 8th Sept 2010 issue comes with an interesting front cover story: The Real Cost of Organic Food. Cancer patients are specifically been advised to take such food to stay health. I personally am not sure as to how far they can help in their illnesses. The cost is just too high to consume such food on a longer term basis.

Grass-fed beef is lower in fat, and milk without chemicals is definitely good. Cattles that eat more grass have higher ratios of omega-3 fatty acids to Omega-6s. Corn-based feeding will result a huge drop in omega-3s (Evening primrose oil which has Omega-6 if taken on its own can have adverse effect if not countered with sufficient Omega -3). Cows raised in farms are dosed with antibiotics and growth-boasting hormones, leaving chemical residues in meat and milk. They are also given high-calorie food to fatten them up fast for slaughtering. Processed foods are high in fat and sugar, and salt. Chemical fertilisers are commonly used to increase the yields of the crops tremendously. That helped to bring cost of production down.

But the question is: can an ordinary family with tight budgets afford them. Recently I checked the shelves of Fairprice supermarket and got the prices of the following organic vegetables:

3 organic cucumbers - $3.35
2 large corns - $2.60
One packet of bok choy - $3.55

Their cost seemed to equate with exotic food items, generally about 3 times more than the non-organic vegetables. Besides the hefty prices one has to pay, there is also no way to evaluate the reliability of the certification, especially if they come from certain countries like China.

My motto is don’t go extreme and worry too much, enjoy what we eat, be thankful and ask God bless the food as we partake!

Daily routines- breaking new ground

“Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress. (Psalm 4:1 King James Version)

“Sorrows of life have themselves been the source of life’s enlargement. We all need the iron in life to enlarge our character. The gold is simply a passing vision, whereas the iron is the true experience of life. The chain that is the common bond uniting us to others must be one of iron. God has enlarged you through the suffering of sorrow’s chain.” (George Matheson)

Having gone through pains in life, I have learnt to view testing time like menopause symptoms more positively. In the past, I would simply try to get rid of the trial and signed with relief when it was finally over. Now I pray for strength and wisdom to go through sufferings and trials. God always works through people and things around us.

I decided to break new ground in my daily routines about fortnightly ago. Doing new things, see new places, can revive one’s spirit and renew one’s enthusiasm for life. Now I start my morning everyday (except weekend), if I am well, doing qigong with a group of senior citizens at a nearby community club which is five minutes’ walk away and also through the internet(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7hVL4WU6_c&NR=1 )in the privacy of my home. I have also just commenced my taichi class(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sWjoMKq5kQ). I will also try to do 30-minute brisk walking at the nearby park.

My symptoms have not go away totally but are now more manageable, unlike in the past, they almost totally paralysed my daily activities. Qigong is very easy to learn on your own,doing just part One(18 steps) which takes about 20 minutes is sufficient for me (book: The theory and practice of Taiji qigong by Chris Jarmey, available from library), but not taichi which involves precise foot-work, so joining a class is a must. Yesterday I have also consulted my Chinese physician at Thong Chai Medical Institution, hopefully the Chinese herbs she prescribed will also helped.

Mad about English!

Looks like one.......


I am going down pressing my head up......


Children made in China!

Yes, I WILL.....!!!

Have a careful suicide....

I won't promise.....

Sorry, I can't treasure the used one....

I'm NOT going to pay to trim my foot!

Thank you for your corporation!

The key to existence is pushing!

DATA BREAKER ???!!!

So what do I press??!!!

Laws Newton forgot to state

Some Important Laws Which Newton Forgot to State

LAW OF QUEUE: If you change queues, the one you have left will start to move faster than the one you are in now.

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LAW OF TELEPHONE: When you dial a wrong number, you never get an engaged tone.

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LAW OF MECHANICAL REPAIR : After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.

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LAW OF THE WORKSHOP: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

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LAW OF THE ALIBI: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the next morning you will have a flat tire.

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BATH THEOREM: When the body is immersed in water, the telephone rings.

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LAW OF ENCOUNTERS: The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

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LAW OF THE RESULT: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will!

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THEATRE RULE: People with the seats at the furthest from the aisle arrive last.

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LAW OF COFFEE: As soon as you sit down for a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

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“ Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” (Proverbs 17:6)

Straits Times’ editorial column on 1st Sept 2010 wrote a comment on the issue that more children failed to settled varsity loans taken out from their parents’ CPF accounts. The default rate is about 5% currently. The government thinks this rate is high, so it has decided against allowing such scheme be extended to overseas education.

Personally, I am against this scheme. It seems to me that the CPF board is allowing too many different kind of schemes that have different objectives so much so that it has drifted away from its original goal, i.e. to ensure its members have sufficient retirement income when they retired.

We all know that whatever reasons given for not repaying loans by these children are merely excuses and cannot stand up to any scrutiny. In fact, the repayment plan only comes in 2 years later after graduation and it is in the form of instalments.

Tuition fee loan is a better option as it put the children in direct responsibility in paying back. However, most parents are also ended up acting as guarantors(if they qualified) for the loans. For parents who really do not have the means of financing their children’s tertiary education through personal savings but have funds in the CPF accounts, I guess they would rather choose the CPF option than having to face the risk of banks comes after them as the guarantors. Default in repaying the CPF funds is therefore perceived as not so serious. Surely the government will be more compassionate and understanding than the banks.

We as parents are to be blame for bringing up children that are self-centred. With fewer children, we are in a better position to provide financial resources to indulge our children. The children are no more required to make self-sacrifices. I was somehow saddened when my daughter remarked the other day that the younger generation here should follow the Japanese youths who are not concerned with their country’s economic growth (according to a newspaper survey in Japan). Today more young people are not prepared to marry and bring up children because of the sacrifices one has to make.

I recalled a Singaporean couple who were in the early 60s joined our tour group to Gold Coast in 2006. They confided to us that they had spent all their savings to educate their two children (both are sons) but failed to receive any financial support from any of them. The husband got a job in Papua New Guinea for an Australian company but had to station in Darwin while the wife stayed behind in Singapore. Everyone in the tour group was so busy buying gifts for their loved ones except this couple who bought none. Their relationships with their children must be very strained and bitter.

I used to think that making me financially independent of my children is a good idea. It may be a rational one, but not a reasonable one. I am giving a wrong signal to my children that they do not need to fulfil their moral obligations. So do not say ‘never mind’ to your children for not supporting you just because you are financially comfortable. Better make loud and clear your displeasure when they failed their filial piety duties.

Wife Vs husband

"An old hillbilly farmer had a wife who nagged him unmercifully from morning till night. She was always complaining about something. The only time he got any relief was when he was out plowing with his old mule. He tried to plow a lot. One day, when he was out plowing, his wife brought him lunch in the field. He drove the old mule into the shade, sat down on a stump, and began to eat his lunch. Immediately, his wife began nagging him again. Complain, nag, complain, nag - it just went on and on. All of a sudden, the old mule lashed out with both hind feet, caught her smack in the back of the head. It killed her dead on the spot.

At the funeral several days later, the minister noticed something rather odd. When a woman mourner approach the old farmer, he would listen for a minute, then nod his head in agreement; but when a man mourner approached him, he would listen for a minute, then shake his head in disagreement. This was so consistent that the minister decided to ask the old farmer about it. So after the funeral, the minister spoke to the old farmer, and asked him why he nodded his head and agreed with the women, but always shook his head and disagreed with all the men.The old farmer said, 'Well, the women would come up and say something about how nice my wife looked, or how pretty her dress was, so I'd nod my head in agreement.''And what about the men?' the minister asked.‘They wanted to know if the mule was for sale.’"

Teacher's Day

" Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants." (Deuteronomy 32:2)

Yesterday was Teacher’s Day. Under today’s Straits Times Home section, there was this full page publication of selected students’ short appreciation messages to their teachers sponsored by the Ministry of Education. It costs at least $8k to do a full page colour newspaper advertisement. This is an entirely new concept (like what we have for Valentine’s Day) but I think it is a very bold and worthwhile initiative, as dedicated teachers are hard to come by and we must appreciate and recognise their efforts. I am sure our teachers here woke up yesterday morning eagerly combed through the newspaper to find out whether their names were mentioned by their students.

I always have very high regard on teaching as a profession. It is such an honourable job that touches lives of many though it is not easy to be a dedicated teacher. When I graduated, the ministry had very rigid criteria for selecting candidates for interviews. For graduates, you must major in at least 2 teaching subjects. If you are above certain age, don’t even try, and if you already working elsewhere in another government body, also don’t try as your employer would not release you. Private sector experience also would not be taken into account. I failed at 2 of these criteria. If not for that, I might have ended up as a teacher myself.

Our students here are very fortunate to have the best teachers in this region. Yet some of the parents and students are ungrateful. My experience with the education system in Malaysia was disastrous. I could only recalled some of my Chinese primary school teachers who were generally more dedicated than my secondary and pre-u teachers. May be this has to do with the Chinese values as strict disciplines were imposed on both teachers and the students in Chinese-sream schools. My youngest sister in Malaysia told me that nowadays it is harder to get into the Chinese-stream schools than the national schools. Regret to say, I also remember some undedicated teachers especially my pre-U teachers who hardly showed up in the classrooms (busy with other `assignments’ instead of teaching). Precious time was spent on copying notes from the blackboard (by the way these notes were grossly outdated to be relevant). In the end we had to self-study on our own most of the time. It is amazing that somehow I, a kampong girl, still managed to study up to tertiary level.