We have these magnificent hearts that pump through all sorrows

Somedays I think about quitting. I think about quitting the job I’m periodically contracted for, and being done with writing forever. I feel like quitting from the kitchen, quitting from the housekeeping, quitting from all my burdens.

Life can be cruel. We are subjected to heartaches, crushing defeats and sadness. Sometimes I am overcome by despair. I tell myself constantly to feel the contentment, to live each day as happily as I could. Some people find contentment by letting go, by giving in, by giving up. Some people find it by fighting back, by standing up, by not giving in. Some peoople like me count our blessings. I suppose I am not giving up. I know that while life is not perfect in any way, I have so many blessings and joys.

"Our lives are at once ordinary and mythical. We live and die, age beautifully or full of wrinkles. We wake in the morning, buy yellow cheese, and hope we have enough money to pay for it. At the same instant we have these magnificent hearts that pump through all sorrows and all winters we are alive on the earth." Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones.

Some years ago (9)

Date of entry 27.4 1948

We, the undersigned, occupiers of temporary houses nos. 27, 28, 29, 31 & 32 of the old Post Office Road, Parit, have the honour to request that you will be so kind as to grant us another period of extension with regard to the demolishing of the above-mentioned houses until such time when new houses are built in Parit and we can find a place to go to.

It is needless to state again and again that house shortage is still a serious problem nowadays; Parit is no exception.

We sincerely hope that our request will be granted.

Quote-Woon/Joon SC

Children forced to do hard labour, abused and are usually not paid

The Topeka Center for Peace and Justice showed a documentary, called " The Dark Side of Chocolate", exposing child labor and human trafficking in cocoa plantations.

The documentary brought to light the issue of child labor and human trafficking on the cocoa plantations of Africa. These plantations grow and harvest the cocoa beans for big name chocolate companies such as Nestlé.

The film starts with its two film makers doing their own investigation by journeying to the western coast of Africa to the country of Mali. This is where children were rumored to be smuggled from and transported to the Ivory Coast.

Their detective work led them to find that Mali was trafficking children at bus stations, by bribing them with work and money or simply kidnapping them from villages. They are then taken to towns near the border such as Zegoua, where another trafficker transports the children over the border on a dirt-bike via back-roads, where they are left with a third trafficker who then sells the children to plantations. Ranging from age 10 to 15, these children are forced to do hard labor, physically and sexually abused and are usually never paid. Most of them stay with the plantation until they die, never seeing their family again.

The chocolate industry is marred with child slavery!

Please read full article: The dark side of chocolate

Picture credited to http://www.treehuggers.com/

Some years ago (8)

Date of entry: 26.4.1948

Sometimes my thoughts are serious. Occasionally I will ask myself what should I do that life would be dear to me, and that my children will grow up healthy in body and mind.

Quote-Woon/Joon SC

No use being a fool about it?

My third batch of pineapple jam tarts. Mmm...looking better... but still not the taste I'm looking for.

An English proverb says, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again". But for me, the most likely scenario is "If at first you don't succeed, try again, then quit. No use being a fool about it"!

Friendship without self interest

When our family relocated to Parit Buntar from Sabak Bernam almost 60 years ago we had to stay in the government Rest House while waiting for the government quarter allocated to my Father to be vacant. The whole family of 7 stayed in the second biggest room in the Rest House, Room number 2, for several months. The Rest House operator Mr Chuan practically adopted us as his family from day one. Although I was a very little girl then, my sis and I can still remember up to today, the kindness and generosity Mr. Chuan showered on us. Later even after we shifted to the government quarter he remained a regular visitor and we became close family friends.

When we again relocated to Petaling Jaya 10 years later, he came one day by train and presented us with a house warming gift, in the form of a clock (made in West Germany). Even though the clock is no longer functioning, I am keeping it for the memories and for the selfless friendship it represents.


"Friendship without self interest is one of the rare and beautiful things in life."
- James Francis Byrnes

To laugh often and much

To laugh often and much:To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded.- Ralph Waldo Emerson

知之不若行之

不聞不若聞之，聞之不若見之，見之不若知之，知之不若行之；學至於行之而止矣. Hsün Tzu (荀子; born Zhao c.310 BC - 237 BC)

The meaning goes something like this: "Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. Involve me and I will understand".

Moral: You can only understand something by trying it yourself.

Win-lose-win-lose

If the person wins, he craves for more. If he loses, he wants to get back what he lost. If the gambler wins he should stop but the tendency is for him to want more and more...then, pushing the luck too far, he ends up losing all and more. Also, everyone drools over the jackpot which very rarely happens. Win-lose-win-lose-win-lose, this goes on and on if the gambler does not stop, I supposed he becomes addicted?

My friend said she does not gamble for the money but for the adrenalin. So losing is alright, really?

Some years ago (7)

Date of entry: 4.4.1948

Aid for overseas Chinese

Chinese Consulates and Embassies abroad will be instructed to draw up a list of needy displaced overseas Chinese and negotiate with the International Refugee Organization for their repatriation to China, according to the decision of the Executive Yuan, yesterday.

All persons for whom IRO will not take responsibility for repatriation will be provided with travelling expenses back to China by the Chinese government.

The Executive Yuan also decided that the Ministry of Social Affairs will hereafter assume responsibility for transporting overseas displaced Chinese from the Chinese hinterland to the seaport where they will be jointly cared for by the Ministry and IRO before repatriation to their homes abroad. (Extract from Malaya Tribune 3.4.1948)