My bounty as boundless as the sea,my love as deep!

Mr. Saw Hin Seang (L) and Datuk Wong, both retired DID Directors at the pre-dinner cocktail

The ever graceful Mrs. Saw Hin Seang

The happy bride Michelle Tan and groom mixing with the guests at the cocktail reception

Amy Tan (R), wife of the late Mr Tan Hoe Tim (who passed away recently on 1 May 2009, also the bride's father) and her elder sister

Kan Wai Mun and her husband

Yours truly managed a snapshot with the bride Michelle

The sweet and radiant bride, who is not only sweet in looks but also in character

The bride and groom entering the dinner hall. Congratulations my dear Michelle. I am sure your Father would have been so happy for you too.

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,

My love as deep;

the more I give to thee,

The more I have,

for both are infinite. - William Shakespeare

Welcome or not welcome?

Have you ever received an invitation but later feel that you are actually not welcomed? I just experienced one. Strange? Whatever the reasons may be, I think this kind of behavior is bizarre . I would certainly give a pass on future invitations from the same source and would be very careful not to take things at face value.

Confucius on good government

During his life, Confucius served as a public official and had many things to say about good government:

• Leaders should always serve the people with honesty, fairness, and, once again, humaneness.
• Leaders should preside over the people with dignity, and they will be serious.
• Leaders should be filial and kind, and they (the people) will be loyal.
• Leaders should promote the good, instruct the unskilled, and they will be enthusiastic.
• Leaders should dwell on it [government] tirelessly; carry it out faithfully.
• Appoint the wise and talented to office.
• Trust, above all else, is the most important thing for a government to strive for - above arms and even food, for "nothing can be established without the trust of the people.
• An ignoble man cannot serve in government, because he "worries about getting something, and once he has gotten it he worries about losing it. ...there's no telling what he might do."
• Always "put service first and gain after."
  
  Creidit to :http://www.associatedcontent.com/

Our politicians still have much to learn from Confucius... Will they ever?

Fairness and being fair

Today the local radio station discussed the concept of fairness and being fair. At the end of the discussion, the moderator concluded that whatever the definition of "fairness", what is considered 'fair" to one may appear completely 'unfair" to others. This reminded me of an incident that happened to me many years ago when I was much much younger.

Many years ago when I sat for an examination while a sophomore in a local university, I made an honest mistake. Instead of anwering 3 questions out of 5 as required by the examination paper, I misread the instructions and answered only 2 questions out of 5. When I realized my mistake at the end of the examination I was frantic. I went to the lecturer and told her my problem and requested for a little bit extra time to answer the thrid question. I remember her name was Mavis Puthuchery. After listening to me, She said she will look at the quality of my answers for the 2 questions and she will decide whether to mark me based on 2 questions or 3. When the results were published after 1 month, to my delight, she had given me an "A". When my friends knew this, they remarked "Oh! So unfair!". Thank you Mavis Puthuchery for being fair.

Wise saying

In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don't try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.
-Lao Tzu 老子

The 14 year old was malnourished and covered with burns, bruises and scars!

In OKLAHOMA CITY a 14-year-old boy with deep cuts around his wrists and covered with burns, bruises and scars wandered into a National Guard armory last week and said he had escaped from a home where he was locked in a bedroom closet. The boy, malnourished and covered with scars, showed up at the base, about a mile and a half from the town house where he lived, and asked where a police station was located so he could report being abused.

Two security guards who work at the armory and saw the teen there said they lost sleep over the weekend thinking about the boy and the torture he described. "He said he wanted help, and as soon as he showed us the bruises, we took him inside and called police", said one of the guards, Paul Clark. "His wrists looked like he either had been handcuffed or had ropes or chains around them. It really kind of took me aback."

Police believe the boy's mother frequently tied him up to prevent him from escaping and had a lock installed on a bedroom closet where he often was kept for days at a time. He was frequently locked in the closet for hours if not days at a time. He wasn't allowed to leave, never attended school, never received medical attention.

Reference for more details: Manager: Evidence Okla. closet used as bathroom

In most countries, there are too few data on the prevalence of violence against children in all settings, and there is inadequate research on the risk and protective factors that infl uence violence, on the impact of violence against children, and on the effectiveness of different strategies to prevent and respond to violence against children - UNICEF

How do I love thee?

Ethelin and her husband's 58th wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary Mr and Mrs Teo!

How do I love thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight.
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
...

I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 – 1861)

The very sweet kindly Ethelin

John and Fuziani joined in the celebration

Will he...or will he not? Mmm... looks like probably not!

He...he...

House renovation going at snail pace (2)

After another 3 weeks, 2 months from when it all started.

Horrific South Australian child abuse case

SHOCKING details have emerged of an alleged child abuse case in Adelaide. Five-year-old twin boys, found among 21 children living in squalor were so weak and malnourished they could not even sit up by themselves.

One of the twins had a head injury allegedly caused by an assault and was suffering from hypothermia, while the other had septicemia. Their three siblings were described as "very thin", withdrawn, having a limited ability to walk and suffering from pain.

Three men and three women, aged between 26 and 40, pleaded not guilty in court to charges relating to the five children.

For more details please read: Horrific South Australian child abuse in http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/

Almost 53,000 children are estimated to have died worldwide in 2002 as a result of homicide. In some industrialized countries, infants under one year face about three times the risk of homicide, almost invariably at the hands of parents, than children aged 1 to 4, and twice the risk of those aged 5 to 14.
- World Report on Violence against Children

A very special friend's new home

Visited Nor's new top floor (15th) condo unit in Subang Avenue, conveniently located right next to hypermarket chain Carrfour, shopping complex Subang Parade, the commuter train station and in the near future, the LRT station.

Nor, you're a very special person, I hope your new neighbours know how lucky they are!

Freinds, neighbours and relatives make my day!

It makes me a happy woman when many friends, neighbours and relatives dropped by on the first day of Aidilfitri, which fell on 20 September this year.

Second son Farouk and daughter-in-law Azni arriving home.

Amalia (second from left), daughter Deedee's best friend, and family were the first guests to arrive. On the extreme right are Amalia's parents.

L-R: Amalia's younger sister, Amalia and Deedee

My affable brother-in-law Ching.

Mr Cheah, Deedee's boss and his wife

My close friends, L-R: Nor Hajar, Ivy and Suan

Mr Teoh, as usual, in a story-telling mood!

The kindly Mrs. Teoh

Mrs. Teoh must be giving some kindly advice to Helen.

L-R: Ivy, Suzanne and Mrs Teoh

Nor and me with the ketupat and the lemang in the kitchen

Deedee seems to be a crowd favourite with the uncles and aunties

My in-laws who dropped by in the afternoon. L-R: my daughter-in-law's second sister, her husband, my daughter-in-law's Father, Zahari and Mother, Sharma. Dee dee is entertaining my ex-office collegues in the background.

Sharma posing for the camera

L-R: Deedee's friend Jane and her sister who is holding up my beef rendang which she enjoyed very much. She said she will come back again the next aidilfitri for the beef rendang. Ha...ha...so cute..

Cooking the rendang

Tommorrow Muslims all over the world celebrate the festival of Aidilfitri – known as Hari Raya Puasa in Malaysia. It marks the completion of Ramadhan, the holy month of fasting.

As ususal 1 day before aidilfitri, I would cook the traditional dishes such as the beef rendang, chicken rendang and ketupat for the children and neighbours and friends who come to visit. Probably I had been doing it for the last 30 years or so. But I don't think my rendang had shown any improvement over the years...mmm...in fact everytime I cook it, it tastes different, sometimes better, sometimes not so good. I think I am not destined to be one of those women who would leave a legacy behind in the culinary department...


The just completed chicken rendang in the kuali. In front are some of the many ingredients that go into making this must-have Hari Raya dish.

House renovation going at snail pace (1)

Spent almost 3 hours in the hot afternoon and fasting too, at the house in Kota Damansara, "pretending" to approve the rennovation at the back of the house. Eric the contractor explained the workers are doing the footing and reinforcement. Ya..ya...good...I said, as though I knew any better. Then went through with Eric and the electrician from room to room determing the extra electrical points that need to be installed.

After more than 1 month, that's all they have achieved, blaming it on the wet weather!

Will post again after some progress is achieved.

Another inspiration

You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes.You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. ~Dr. Seuss

An inspirational thought

"Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it. Believing a solution paves the way to solution." -David Joseph Schwartz