CNY on 14 February 2010 with family and friends

As usual every year on CNY relatives and friends gather in our family home in Petaling Jaya. This year, Brother Tai Kam came back from Jakarta and Brother Tai Keat and his wife from Kota Baharu. It was a gathering of four generations -my Father, me and my family, 2 of my 3 brothers, as well as my youngest brother's 6 children and 3 grand children.

My 99 years young Father with his 3 year old great granddaughter and his 6 months old great grand son.


My 2 brothers, Tai Keat (L) and Tai Kam.

Cousins Fatim and Deedee

Brother Tai Keat and son-in-law

Daughter-in-law Azni, Nephew Fadrul (standing) and Fadrul's friends from the Civil Aviation Academy.

Brother Tai Keat's 3 year old granddaughter

Nephew Freddie who calls himself Chef Ed.

More of Fadrul's friends from the Academy.

Niece Fatim

My grand niece easily warmed up to my second son and daughter-in-law

My elder son Feris (R) and Sabri.

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." Author: Jane Howard

Eve of CNY

Scenes of the SS2 Market in PJ at 7 am on the eve of CNY. Customers were seen jostling their way through the narrow passages to make purchases for the CNY.

Brother Tai Kam came back from jakarta to perform the ancestor worship ceremony in the family home in PJ.

The Chinese places great emphasis on filial piety. Theref0re, ancestor worship is a central part of CNY activities, normally done on the eve of CNY, as a way to respect and honour the ancestors in their after life. The practice is also based on the belief that the departed have a continued existence. Food will be offered to the ancestors, consisting of various plates of food, cakes, fruits and sweets, followed by the burning of paper clothes and "money" as gifts for the departed.

Pre- CNY

For the Chinese, before the Lunar New Year, spring cleaning and sprucing up till the whole house is spick and span is a "must". This is normally done one or two weeks before the Chinese New Year. It is believed that by so doing all the bad luck of the previous year will be swept out, in anticipation of the new year's good fortune. Whether or not we believe in the superstition, it is a good practice anyway. Pictures of big Sister's house 3 days before CNY. An elegant beginning for the new year!

Do you think I will live to be 80?

A man recently turned 65 and did a comprehensive medical examination. After two visits and exhaustive lab tests, the doctor said he was doing 'fairly well' for his age.

A little concerned about that comment, he asked the doctor, "Do you think I will live to be 80?"

The doctor asked: "Do you smoke tobacco or drink alcoholic beverages?"
"Oh no,"he said.
The doctor asked "Do you have many friends and entertain frequently?"
"No, I usually stay home and keep to myself," he said.
The doctor asked"Do you eat rib-eye steaks and barbecued ribs?"
"No, my other doctor said that all red meat is unhealthy!", he said.
The doctor asked "Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, like playing golf, sailing, hiking, or bicycling?"

"No, I don't," he said.

The doctor looked at him and said, "Then why do you care?"

Source: http://www.jokesaboutage.com/will-i-live-to-be-80.html

A new beginning

Yes, at last, we moved house. Gosh...the hassle of it all...not to mention the expenses involved. I thought I had everything under control...what with my long check list and all. Still many things did not turn up as planned. The phone line went dead after 2 days... the main gate was not delivered on time...the internet connection delayed...the brand new hob would not light up...and to crown it all the sewage pipe was badly clogged...by a large piece of concrete that could not be dislodged!

The beautiful Sri Alam which I left behind.

The new owners of my old apartment, Dr Nik, his lovely wife and affable son.

With my best friend Prof Noor Hajar whom I got to know 10 years ago after moving into Sri Alam. We had so much fun together over the last 10 years. I am sure we will remain good friends.

My new neighbourhood in PJ

I managed to find time in between unpacking to go shopping for new furniture with my sister and brother in law.

My brand new book storage cabinet.

Some of my belongings still on the floor...got to get some more cabinets. Still a long way to do.

A new sewage pipeline to replace the old clogged one.

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. Author: Carl Bard

Hey, I survived without the internet for 3 weeks!

I was without internet access for 3 whole weeks! I suddenly realized that actually, in the not so distant past, the internet never existed. We used to look up encyclopedias, dictionaries... we used to read alot more...magazines, story books...do you remember? We used to write letters...make entries into our diaries with the pen...do you remember? We used to have many more real friends...instead of friends we had never met before and not likely to meet...do you remember?

But, as with anything we get very used to, it can be hard to let go. Here I am, back at my old habit after the internet break...googling...skyping...downloading...posting....and... losing track of time....

My 2010 Hope List

Even the most cynical among us probably harbour a belief that the new year will bring new hope. Even though it is just another day, it is symbolic of a new start.

My hope list for 2010 is just so long...I hope for freedom from poverty, freedom from child abuse, freedom from child labour, freedom from all forms of oppression, freedom from discrimination, freedom from exploitation, freedom from injustices... and most of all... the freedom for all the children in the world to live a life free from war, strifes, hunger and pain.

House rennovation going at snail pace (4)

Four and a half months after it all started. Almost there but still not quite. Contractor gave his assurance to deliver by 30th December.

Christmas wishes

Christmas lights in laid back city, Shah Alam, Malaysia, a place I had called home for the last 10 years.



All dressed up for a slumber party?

May the spirit of Christmas brings you peace,

The gladness of Christmas gives you hope,

The warmth of Christmas grants you love.

The hazardous nature of child labour!

In 2008 a rapid assessment of child labour in non-traditional mining was carried out by the Mining Sector Diversification Programme (funded by the European Commission) in partnership with the ILO’s Time Bound Programme Support for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Project for Zambia (funded by the U.S. Department of Labor).

The assessment found that child labour continues to exist in mining and that children are involved in all aspects of the production chain as well as in informal sector stone crushing (quarrying). Children, some as young as seven years, carry out support functions in the mining areas such as fetching water, preparing and selling food, and, in some instances, in the actual mining operation. It provides clear evidence of the hazardous nature of many of the children's tasks; their exposure to toxic substances and extreme heat, lifting heavy loads, working long hours and working at night.

Full article at https://webdev.ilo.org/pls/apex/f?p=109:51:844024720561387::::P51_CONTENT_ID:18275:

If you think you are deprived...

If you think you are deprived and miserable...please look at these pictures!

Hands of 8 year old Munna working in a rickshaw parts factory! He works 10 hours a day and gets USD8 equivalent a month! Picture from http://www.zoriah.net/blog/

13 year old Islam in a silver pot making factory. He has been working here for 2 years, under very hazardous conditions! Picture from http://www.zoriah.net/blog/

Children at a brick crushing factory. Picture from http://www.zoriah.net/blog/

An 11 year old in a silver pot making factory in Dhaka. He had been working in this factory for 3 years, getting the equivalent of USD10 a month. Picture from http://www.zoriah.net/blog/

A young labourer making metal components in a factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh . Picture from http://www.zoriah.net/blog/

7 year old Jasmine collecting rubblish from a rubbish heap on a cold winter morning in Kajla to support her family! Picture from http://www.zoriah.net/blog/

Child selling balloons in the streets of New Delhi. Picture from http://www.sadashivan.com/

Although numerous international treaties and organizations work tirelessly to improve conditions for children, there are still 320 million children under the age of sixteen working around the world—150 million of those in the most harmful industries.

Let us be content

Let us be content, my soul,

With what the years have brought.

We desired a heaven, but it seems we were caught,

In the net of mundane things.

We trod the old prosaic path of humdrum circumstance.

And yet it has been good, my soul,

For looking back today - I see there was a golden light on the familier way.

Quoted from Patient Strong's "Thoughts for Every Day"

Shopping

More window shopping /shopping for furnitures.

A modest looking dining table... still under consideration. Need to see more options.

A nice day bed, but the arm rest is on the wrong side for me

A very comfortable day bed with arm rest on the left as I wanted, but a bit expensive

A lovely setting in brown/beige. Chose the 2+3 sitters, not the 2 chairs...look nice but I think not comfortable