Enjoy today!

A friend sent me this today. Think I'll share this here:


TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN,YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE; SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.

Some years ago (13)

Date of entry: 30/5/1948 (Sunday)

The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Yesterday afternoon at 4pm I arrived in Ipoh to see Hou. The nurse told me that the diphtheria has subsided but Hou now has a cold and cough. It seemed as though he recognized me. I went out to buy a tin of Marie biscuit for him. When I came back I found him lying down. Since I noticed he was not asleep I touched his forehead. When I touched him he yelled out aloud. I immediately withdrew. He did not feel cold or hot, like normal.

This morning I again went to see Hou, together with 4th cousin brother. He did not seem very active, probably due to the cold and cough. The nurse removed his clothing and asked the hospital attendant to bathe him. She put soap all over his body and washed him with warm water.

At 10 am I went to see Hou again and brought along some grapes. I found him standing on the cot, looking happy and active. I asked the nurse to give him a grape. He took the grape, and was smiling at me while eating it. I found him quite happy and active and I then went back to Parit.

According to the nurse, the hospital had received the letter that I had written. The hospital will inform us about the date and time Hou could be discharged. I hope he can come home by tomorrow or the day after or the latest by next week.

One of the nicest things you can have

I love everything that's old, — old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine - Quote from Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act I, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th edition (1919).

This week, almost everyday of the week I had been meeting up with old friends.

Lunch with my old boss, his wife and several previous colleagues. Even though I had been transferred out of the Department in 1994 and since retired, we have kept in touch and meet occassionally.
Meeting up with several of my classmates. Even though we had left high school 47 years ago we had remained bosom frineds.

Enjoying a buffet lunch with neighbours in my previous housing area. Even though I had moved away from the neighbourhood 2 years ago, they have remained my close friends.


A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. ~Douglas Pagels

Some years ago (12)

Date of entry: 25/5/1948

The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Wife with daughter Peng went to Ipoh to see Hou. When she came back she told me that the Marie biscuit and the three tins of milk I bought several days ago had finished. The nurses were not polite. Hou looked healthy and should be discharged in a few days.

Those of us at home do not have any symptom. I go to work and daughter Kim goes to school as usual.

One million children work with mercury everyday!

Mercury, the silvery liquid metal, known to many from old thermometers, is one of the most toxic substances on earth. Inhaling even small doses of its vapor is dangerous. There is no known safe level of exposure.

Yet the one million children around the world engaged in artisanal gold mining work with it every day.

Please read full article: Take mercury out of children's hands

Image credit to http://photo.net

Some years ago (11)

(The entries were made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Date of entry: 22/5/1948

In the afternoon at 2pm I went to Ipoh to see Hou. I bought a tin of milk and a plastic toy for him. He was sitting in the baby cot and looked normal. When he saw me he seemed to recognize me but it's like he was not sure.

The nurse said I have to buy a thermos flask. I immediately went out to buy. I also bought an additional tin of milk,4 oranges and some grapes. The nurse looked pleased.

Date of entry: 23/5/1948

In the morning at seven I went again to see Hou. The ward attendent said he was eating biscuits. I again went out and bought another tin of Marie for him.

I went to cousin's house to chat and at 10 am I went back to Parit.

Some years ago (10)

Date of entry: 20/5/1948

(The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Yesterday 19th I took my son Hou to a clinic in Ipoh. At 12 noon he was examined by the doctor, who declared that Hou had Diphtheria. The doctor immediately wrote a reference letter and told me to send Hou to the hospital immediately, saying that this is an emergency and Hou's condition could become worse any time soon and he needs to have an injection.

When wife heard what the doctor said she was overcome with fear. We immediately hired a trishaw to go to the hospital. After the admission procedure, Hou was warded in "Ward 12". He has to stay in the hospital and visitors are not allowed. When my wife left Hou in the ward she was overcome with sadness and cried non-stop.

At 1 pm we arrived in eldest cousin sister's house, after which I went to inform 4th cousin brother.

At 2pm wife and eldest cousin sister went to the hospital to see Hou. Wife fed milk to Hou. When the nurse saw this she shouted and scolded wife. Wife immediately put Hou down and with tears in her eyes she left the ward. Hou immediately started crying very loudly.

I wanted wife to remain in the hospital to look after Hou and asked the clerk for permission. The clerk told me to ask Dr. Dourado's permission. I searched the hospital but could not find Dr. Dourado. Upon enquiring from several persons I was told that as Diphtheria is communicable, definitely the Mother cannot stay back to look after Hou. We have no choice but to return to Parit, leaving Hou alone in the care of the nurses.

Some years ago (9)

Date of entry: 8/5/1948

(The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

My son Hou was infected with a boil on his head. Today I took him to the Parit Medical Assistant to remove it. Pus was extracted. After that the infected area was bandaged and secured tightly. He is so young, does not know anything and had a good cry.

Quote: Joon/Woon SC

We start and end with the family

Cheesy cake baked by Deedee's friend, Naeem, yummy...

A meaty dinner at a Brazilian restaurant

Farouk and wife Azni

My new canon digital, gift from Farouk and his wife

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family. ~Anthony Brandt