Family

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

自由自在

Now I understand why I like the dolphine.

自由自在
This idiom can be broken down easily into two words that are in very common use – 自由（zìyóu） which is “freedom” and 自在（zìzài） which is to be “comfortable” and “unrestrained”.

Source: http://chinesehacks.com/idioms/leisurely-and-carefree-no-nonsense-chinese-idioms/

215 million children work!

Today, throughout the world, around 215 million children work, many full-time. They do not go to school and have little or no time to play. Many do not receive proper nutrition or care. They are denied the chance to be children. More than half of them are exposed to the worst forms of child labour such as work in hazardous environments, slavery, or other forms of forced labour, illicit activities including drug trafficking and prostitution, as well as involvement in armed conflict.

- International Labour Organization (ILO)

A haunting image of Giles Edmund Newsom, pictured aged 11, became a poster boy for child labour in the U.S.  Giles Edmund Newsom was working at Sanders Cotton Manufacturing Co. in Bessemer City when Lewis Hine photographed him in 1912 as part of an expose of the working conditions of children.  The 11-year-old had just injured his right hand at the textile factory, and it is shown in the image wrapped in a bandage. But what happened to the boy after the haunting  photograph was a mystery, until Joe Manning, a Massachusetts historian scoured records for Giles' death certificate, and found that he died of Spanish Flu in 1918, at around 18 years of age.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2174661/Historian-uncovers-tragic-fate-child-labour-poster-boy-Giles-Newsome-captured-haunting-1912-photograph.

A good life

Three things are needed for a good life, good friends, good food, and good songs. Jason Zebehazy

With my Form 2-Form 5 classmates - Norhayati in blue scarf , Kum Sim in the foreground and Siah Luang our school captain.  Norhayati was also my classmate in Form 6 and we were also together in  University Malaya, although we pursued different courses. Always so happy to meet them. 

The "merisik"

The "merisik" is the first formal visit from a potential groom's family to the potential bride's family that marks the seriousness of a relationship. It is a formal visit from the potential groom's family with the intention of discussing engagement/ marriage.

The "merisik" for my niece Fatim was a simple occasion held in a relaxed atmosphere. The potential groom's side brought along a gift and a ring as a token of their seriousness in bringing the relationship to the next level. 

A charming relationship

Harry Zain & his bride

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company
than a good marriage.
~ Martin Luther

Little cutie Gibran

Gibran's equally cute mum Nina

Shazwan and Feris

An adrenalian-filled adventure with Tern Yun Qigong members from Kelana Jaya

With Queenie and David

Bobby's lovely family

full house!

Gutsy middle age dishwasher, working and chain-smoking non-stop

Street scene in Bentong

So excited to arrive at the durian plantation after the rough jeep ride up a hilly terrain

All looking up amazed

For most in the group - first time seeing durians on trees!

He's sooo... excited

Fresh from the tree...yummy..yummy...unforgetable taste!

The plantation owner - he not only sells to the local market but also exports to China

Miss Chia the organiser with Queenie's husband

Doing Qigong in the durian plantation- must be a first for any qigong group!

Valley Resort restaurant 

Sis at the Valley Resort

Fishes which will soon be on the table!

oohhh...yum...have to come here again..!

 A most interesting Sunday with Tern Yun Qigong members from Kelana_Jaya.  First stop - eatery in Bentong for its famous wanton noodles, then durian plantation in Raub, followed by a late lunch in Valley Resort Bentong 山寨谷 before heading back to Kuala Lumpur.  For me, second time visiting a durian plantation, but first time going up a very rough terrain by jeep - an adrenalian-filled adventure!

Friends never to be forgotten

"Never shall I forget the days I spent with you. Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours."
- Ludwig van Beethoven

yummy...

my two young friends, Samantha (L) leaving for Canada and Cathereen, leaving for a new job in Singapore

Some years ago (22)

Date of entry: 14 July 1948

Yesterday wife was having abdominal pains,  diarrhoea and vommitting. Aunty Lim came to help out with washing and cooking.  Chew Fook's grandmother  came as well and applied some medication on wife's foreheard.  Thanks to them, today wife is feeling much better. 

Today is Chinese Lunar calender 8th day of the 6th month, my birthday.  Wife prepared red eggs in the morning to celebrate.  We even had a chicken and liqour today.

By Joon/Woon SC

Feeling like 2 inches tall!

I forgot my best friend's birthday and felt like about 2-inches tall!  I am 6 years older than her, and getting a bit forgetful...eh...not a bit maybe, and never had been good at remembering birthdays, so I hope she will forgive me.  I turned up at her dinner invitation without a clue, and the worst part is you cannot redeem yourself after something like that!

If the sight of blue skies fill you with joy

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive. ~Eleonora Duse

My very first blog entry on 22 May 2008

I hope this blog will become some kind of a record of various observations that interest me, matters that invoke emotional response from me either negative or positive, events that take place which are important to me and information on family and friends who I hold dearly in my heart.

I started this blog in May 2008.  This was my very first entry made on 22 May 2008. 

"Death risk higher for elderly women who lose weight, says University of Maryland School of Medicine study
Elderly women face an increased risk of death if they lose weight or are underweight, according to researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Elderly women of average weight who lose weight may be at greatest risk.

The six-year study, which appears in the December issue of The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, involved 648 Baltimore area women between the ages of 65 and 99. The women were interviewed and weighed at their homes once a year for three years, and were followed for another three years.

The risk of death was highest for women with an average body mass index (BMI), who then went on to lose weight. These women were nearly four times more likely to die than women who either maintained their weight or gained a few pounds during the course of the study. A weight change of 4.5 percent or more from one year to the next was recorded as a gain or a loss.
"Our findings run contrary to the popular belief that losing weight always makes you healthier," says Matthew W. Reynolds, M.S., of the School of Medicine's Department of Epidemiology. "We believe doctors should pay close attention to weight change in older women because it could signal potentially serious health problems."

The risk of death was the lowest for elderly women who maintained an average BMI over the six-year study period. Thirteen percent of these women died, compared to the group's overall death rate of 16 percent. The death rate was 22 percent for elderly women who began the study with a lower than average body mass. For the heaviest women, the death rate was 18 percent.

"This work has some very important implications for older women and their health care providers because weight changes are relatively easy to monitor," says Jay S. Magaziner, Ph.D., professor and interim chair, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine and director of the division of gerontology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "Even small changes should be taken seriously."

The study found that weight fluctuation also appears to increase mortality for women over the age of 65. "Fairly minor weight cycling-from five to eight pounds for a five-foot, five-inch woman-is associated with a significantly increased risk of death," says Magaziner.

Regardless of a woman's initial BMI, investigators found that losing weight always increased the risk of dying. "Dieting or trying to return to an "ideal" weight may not be the best recommendation for older women who are not obese," says Reynolds. "It is possible that maintaining body weight may actually help keep you more robust and healthy later in life."

Investigators cautioned that their results do not explain the reasons for the increased death rates. The study took age, income, smoking habits and alcohol use into consideration, but the cause of death for these women is not known. Reynolds says interviewers tried to screen out women with serious pre-existing health problems, but he says some illnesses may have gone undetected, accounting for some of the weight loss." This article comes from http://www.scienceblog.com/community

Don't mess with mature ladies!

A mature lady gets pulled over for speeding.

Older Woman : Is there a problem, Officer?
Officer : Ma'am, you were speeding.

Older Woman: Oh, I see.
Officer: Can I see your license please?

Older Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.
Officer: Don't have one?

Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.
Officer: I see... Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.

Older Woman: I can't do that.
Officer: Why not?

Older Woman: I stole this car.
Officer: Stole it?

Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.
Officer: You what?

Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see.

The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.

Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of her vehicle.

Older woman: Is there a problem sir?
Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.

Older Woman: Murdered the owner? Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.

The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.

Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?
Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers. The officer is quite stunned.

Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.
The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer. The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.

Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.
Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too.

Source: http://www.malaysian-explorer.com/jokes-speedingLady.html