His mattress was soaked with urine, the bare floors covered in faeces!

He had no toys or clean clothes. His mattress was soaked with urine, the bare floors covered in faeces. A storm shutter sealed the window shut and blocked all sunlight.

Authorities said they uncovered the conditions while searching for the boy, who had been reported missing after he slipped out of his room and hid from his parents.

The boy's father Thomas Anthony Boone, 38, and stepmother Kimberly Sue Boone, 39, were charged with three counts of aggravated child abuse after an investigation concluded that the Port Charlotte couple "willfully abused, tortured" and "caged" the boy inside his room.

Information from: www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100622/ARTICLE/6221072/0/RSS01

Most of us dismiss child abuse as stories we see on the news on the T.V. set, the Internet, in newspapers, or learn about through other media sources. Child abuse is not that. It is happening next door, down the street, and within our own community. And it’s time the problem is taken seriously.(Copperwiki.org)

I treasure old memories

I was in Putrajaya in the morning today to settle some problems with my government housing loan. My sister and brother in law kindly accompanied me as the long journey to Putrajaya from Petaling Jaya would would be boring without any company.

After 8 years absence from Putrajaya where I used to work, the place looks totally changed. The only buildings still familiar to me are the Putra Mosque, the PM's Office and of course my old office where I used to work, as these were the first buildings that were constructed when the administrative capital of the Federal Government of Malaysia shifted from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya in 1999.

The beautiful Putra Mosque

Sister Wan Lan and her husband in front of the majestic PM's office building

Sister Wan Lan and husband Ching on the Putra bridge. In the background to the left is the Seri Wawasan bridge.

The Putra mosque

The PM's official residence in the background

Dinner with some of my ex-colleagues 2 nights before . We used to work together for about 10 years, first in the office in Jalan Dato Onn, then in Putra Jaya.

I treasure sweet old memories
As time goes swiftly by.
A few bring smiles of happiness
And some tears to the eye.

They all are precious in their way,
Reopening doors of old
That have been shut these many years--
What pictures they unfold! (Carice Williams)

When the fabulous goldengirls meet

Casual lunch with some of my classmates from Methodist Girls School Kuala Lumpur class of 1964!

Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose-Tennessee Williams

Nature demonstrates its powers and humbles us

We were caught off-guard when, shortly after it started raining heavily at about 6.15 in the evening on Sunday 13 June, there was a sudden force of gale-like winds which hit my neighbourhood. I could see from my entrance door a huge mass of rain which flew past our houses at high speed along with a loud roar which I had never before experienced. The sound (something like a gushing waterfall next to your ear) lasted for about 2 minutes and the rain for about half an hour. Like everyone else, I went out to the road after the rain cleared, to check whether my rooftop was damaged. Fortunately, not. However, there was quite a bit of destruction in the neighbourhood - some roof tiles were blown off, some pillars and fences gave way, quite a number of lamps were dislodged from the lamp posts, air- con compressors were dislodged from the walls of houses and a number of trees were uprooted.

Our planet sustains us, provides us with shelter, and makes life possible; but it also humbles us with its terrifying powers.

Sightseeing in Kota Bahru

At the famous Siti Khadijah market where you can find a wet market selling fish, vegetables, meat and other daily needs, as well as local Malay items such as batik, songket, silverware, woodcarving, kites and other handicrafts. Also, what is unique is that almost all the traders there are female.

The Istana Batu in the city where you can get insights into how the royals lived, their bedrooms, dining hall and personal items like photographs, costumes, priceless artifacts and antique furniture. We were not allowed to take photographs inside the Museum. The pictures below were taken in the Museum compound.

Other Kota Bahru landmarks

Boats, chickens, goats and antique car?

The pictures below were taken in the vacinity of the front entrance of Brother Tai Keat's house in Kota Bahru. Not your everyday scene from your everyday life? I can't really put my finger on it, but there is something about this odd combination that strike a cord in me. I know the chickens reminded me of my childhood days.

Welcoming the bride

The solomnization of nephew Freddy's marriage or the Akad Nikah was held about 2 months ago, followed by a reception in the bride's house. Last weekend a reception to welcome the bride and her family was held in Freddy's family home in Kota Bahru.

Tents set up the night before

The groom waiting anxiously for the arrival of the bride

The equally anxious mother (in dark pink scarf)

Nizreen arrived at last, accompanied by her family members and friends

In the bridal chambers

The reception



After the guests went home

The 4th generation, my Father's great grandchildren, brother Tai Keat's grandchildren stole the show at the celebration

A portion of your soul has been entwined with mine. A gentle kind of togetherness, while separate we stand. As two trees deeply rooted in separate plots of ground, while their topmost branches come together, forming a miracle of lace against the heavens.
~Janet Miles