Basically we have to look after ourselves

Today I visited my 72 year old cousin who broke his leg and some rib bones as a result of an accidient. Everyone worry that being single and having no children he would face the problem of not having a support system when he leaves the hospital. Fortunately he is not poor. So checking into a good well run nursing home until he can be independent would be an practical option.

This reminds me of the time when I broke my kneecap some 8 years ago. Looking back I basically helped myself, although I could not walk at all for 6 months and only managed to move around with crutches the next 6 months. I remember when I went out (normally to the hospital for follow-ups or to the hypermarket to buy provisions), I had to wheel myself to the car, stood on 1 leg and folded the wheelchair to put into the car. When I reached my destination I would get out of the car on 1 leg, take out the wheel chair and then wheel myself to my destination. At home I cleaned the house on my wheelchair and cooked standing on 1 leg. Sometimes it was scarry when I imagined that I may never walk again and I had bouts of depression and cried alot. Fortunately with God's grace, I came out of the mess.

Basically we have to look after ourselves. We have to prepare ourselves as much as possible—at least, as much as it is up to us. We have to exercise to keep healthy as long as is possible, keep the mind active and happy and put aside a reasonable amount of savings for nursing care when the eventuality arrives.

Our pathetic state of integration after 50 years of independence

It is with a big sigh of relief that I completed a small assignment on how Malaysia had managed a multiracial society, its successes and failures. I nearly gave up half way through because it is not something easy to write about. How do you measure unity? What criteria to use to measure success?

While there may not have been incidents of racial violence for the last 40 years and while there is little doubt that specific socioeconomic targets of development programs have been largely achieved, it is not clear whether such achievement has led to national unity.

Fifty years after independence, are we moving in the right direction? Are we becoming truly ‘one nation’ with a "common social will" , or are we living increasingly separate lives? The answer is only too obvious, don't you think? Just take a quick look around...look at our schools...our universities...our offices...what do you see? Integration ? Separation? Just open the newspapers...instead of debates on how to overcome the economic recession, the news are full of mudslingings between the rival political camps. Is this unity? I feel extremely saddened.

Great truths about growing Old!

Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional!

When you fall down you wonder what else you can do while you are down there!

It is frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody asks for you opinion!

With age comes wisdom but sometimes age comes alone!

Source: http://www.funnyfly.com/growold.shtml

Are we one?

In the last couple of weeks, working on one assignment, I had been doing some research and a lot of thinking on national unity...on whether Malaysia has achieved national unity.

Yesterday at a petrol station...my mind still preoccupied with this assignment, a petrol kiosk attendent greeted me in the national language, asked me whether I wanted to have the window washed, and whether I had had my lunch. I enquired ...he is from Bangladesh and had been here for 2 years. I was impressed with his immaculate command of our national language, to say the least. Then... on my short walk to the payment counter, an ethnic Chinese Malaysian approached me to sign up for his bank facility...he also spoke in the national language...but...alas...like he had just arrived off the Tongkang from Kwangtung...sorry...it is a fact...mmm... maybe I got an answer to my assignment...just need to find the reasons...and to put down in words...

She had been giving him a piece of her mind for 20 years!

This is funny!

Source: http://letslaugh.net/general/laugh-and-grow-old-some-funny-cartoons

Only a person who risks is free

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To believe is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes they are slaves; they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
- Unknown

My Valentine Day entry

Even before Wok Kundor and Muhammad married three years ago, they knew they were meant to be together.

Only one thing sets them apart, their age. Wok Kundor is 106 while her husband Muhammad is 37.

Now they have been married for 3 years and have proven many people wrong by staying happily married and proving that love does indeed conquer all. Both are not rich. The husband is an odd-job labourer while his 106 year old wife receives a RM200 (about US$ 57) allowance from the Welfare Department.

Read the full story: Every day is Valentine's Day for wife aged 106

This happy couple live in Kelantan, a state in the North East of peninsula Malaysia.

Chinese new year in Glen Waverly

I "pinched" these photos from Warren Chan's facebook album. I hope Warren does not mind.
The pictures show Chinese New year celebrations in Glen Waverly, a suburb in Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, 19 km South East from Melbourne's Central Business District.

Photo on left:

L-R: Elizabeth Chan (Warren's daughter), Samantha (my niece, Warren's wife), Anita Woon (my nephew Sean's wife), Aisha Woon (my nephew Sean's daughter), Lucy Woon (my sister-in-law). In the pram stroller is Emma Chan (Warren's second daughter)

Left: Pretty little Emma Chan

I gather that the Chinese Diaspora could be the largest in the world, estimated at over 30 million all over the world. But wherever they may be, they try to maintain their traditions.

A Memorial for little Caylee Marie Anthony was held today

Caylee Marie Anthony(born August 9, 2005), in Orlando, Florida, died in 2008, attracted international attention regarding the circumstances of her disappearance in June 2008 and subsequently determined death.

Her mother, Casey Anthony, was indicted on October 14, 2008, for the first-degree murder of Caylee. Police found Casey Anthony's account of Caylee's disappearance suspicious after learning that Casey had not reported her daughter missing for more than a month.

On December 11, 2008, skeletal remains of what appeared to be a young child were found by a meter reader. The Orange County Medical Examiner confirmed on December 19, 2008, that the human remains found 15 houses away from the Anthony home were those of Caylee Anthony.

For full report please read: Caylee_Anthony_homicide in Wikipedia and other reports at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/caylee-anthony/

Caylee's Memorial Service today at the First Baptist Church of Orlando drew more than one thousand mourners, some from hours away.

He immersed a 2 year old in scalding hot water!.

In Valencia County, New Mexico, USA, a jury found a 23-year-old man guilty of the single charge of placing his former girlfriend's 2 year old son in a tub filled with scalding hot water, severely burning the boy from his torso down to the bottom of his feet.

During the trial, the jury heard from the boy's mother, who testified that she was at school when her then-boyfriend, Tafoya, called her and told her that Dominic had been badly burned in the bathtub. She said when she arrived home, she discovered that her son's skin was red and "skin was hanging from his toes."

The boy's mother said her son had undergone numerous surgeries and skin grafts, both at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque as well at the Shriner's Hospital in Galveston, Texas. She said, at one point into his treatment, his lung had collapsed and his doctors were not sure if he would survive.

She said while her son is still in need of further treatment and therapy, he is doing better.

"He's still scarred from the belly button all the way down to his toes,"

Read the full report: Man found guilty of child abuse in burn case

How is it humanly possible to be so cruel to a 2 year old?

Paradise is always where love dwells

The Star newspaper today featured the a moving love story of Mr. Teo Kim Beng, 82, and his wife of 59 years, Ethelin Lee, 77, who are residents in the same Condo where I stay in Shah Alam. They are a lovely couple, very friendly and hospitable.

L: Mr. Teo and Ethelin now

R: Mr Teo and Ethelin when they married in 1951

They were children when they first met and married when he was 23 and she was 18. In the early years of their marriage, there was a time when Teo began indulging in mahjong, gambling and golf, often leaving his wife alone at home and they had terrible brawls. But to Ethelin Lee there is no such thing as divorce. She said" We married for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. Some of my friends have called me stupid. But I love my husband and I love caring for him and my family".

“I miss her very much whenever she is away,” says Teo wistfully. “We’ve been together so many years, I miss her voice and feel very lonely when she’s not around.”

For the full story please read Playing for keeps by Chin Mui Yun of Star newspaper.

"Paradise is always where love dwells" - Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825) German Novelist, Writer, Aesthetician

"Stop Child Abuse " License Plates

Janet Parker, a 21-year board member of Brazoria County Child Protective Services was among the first in Texas to receive the TEXAS Council and Texas Department of Transportation “Stop Child Abuse” license plate.

About 200 plates have been issued in TEXAS so far in 2009, the first year they’ve been available.

“These license plates show that we’re not alone in the prevention of child abuse and neglect,” Parker said. “Every time you see one of these, it’s a reminder that someone else is out there helping.”

The specialty plates cost $30 more than the price of regular annual registration. Of that $30 payment, $18 goes to the child protective services department in the county in which the plate is purchased.

Child Protective Services spokeswoman Gwen Carter said, "The plates are a way the general public can show that support and help pay for something that makes a difference. It’s an everyday reminder that it’s not just someone else’s issue, but a public issue. It’s everybody’s problem.”

Read the full article by John Lowman: New license plates spotlight child abuse

It would be a good idea to introduce "Stop Child Abuse License Plate" in our country. What do you think?

Giving way to the elderly?

I was at the gate of the car park to a hypermarket yesterday at 11 am. A car near the gate was backing out. So I had to wait. It was not the ideal location, but since he backed up I conveniently parked in the same lot that he vacated. Just as I locked my car, a young Chinese man in his late 20s, walked up to me angrily and said " I waited for the lot, it is mine". "Where did you wait? I asked. "That side", he said pointing to the side. I went back into the car, backed off and parked myself 3 parking lots away. Then I looked around. Being 11 in the morning, there were still alot of parking lots available. I walked up to the young man who had also parked. I said "You not malu (ashamed) meh..fighting for a space with an old woman?" . He just stared at me without saying a word, maybe stunned. I walked away. I wonder if he had learnt something.

Guide to office workers!

Never walk down the hall without a document in your hands.

People with documents in their hands look like hardworking employees heading for important meetings.

People with nothing in their hands look like they're heading for the cafeteria.

People with the newspaper in their hands look like they're heading for the bathroom.

Above all, make sure you carry loads of stuff home with you at night, thus generating the false impression that you work longer hours than you do.

Source: http://humour.webwweb.com

She picks up things!

Miss Jones had been giving her second-grade students a lesson on science. She had explained about magnets and showed how they would pick up nails and other bits of iron.

Now it was question time, and she asked, - "My name begins with the letter 'M' and I pick up things. What am I?" A little boy on the front row proudly said, - "You're a mother!"

Source: http://humour.webwweb.com/

Sami Vellu's stamp

I found this joke so funny I couldn't resist including it on the blog. But only Malaysians will apreciate the joke.

Sami Vellu hoping to improve his reputation, wanted to release a set of stamps with his image.

More than a month after release, Sami Vellu wanted to ask how the sales are doing …..
Sami Vellu ： “How’s the sales status?”
Post Office Head Officer: “Not bad, but often many people complained the stamps won’t stick firmly.”

Sami Vellu ： “How come?" Sami Vellu took a stamp, plastered some saliva on the backside of the stamp, then tried to stick it on an envelope ….
Sami Vellu ： “Isn’t this stuck on quite firmly?”
Post Office Head Officer: “But …… everyone …. spit saliva on the front side...oh ...oh……”)

Source: http://ahkong.net/humour-6-exceptional-malaysia-jokes-that-malaysians-enjoy-most/

Second day of CNY

The second day of Chinese new year in my Father's house in Petaling Jaya saw more guests than yesterday. The house was full and there were not enough chairs to sit everyone. Sister -in-law cooked a Kelantanese dish Kuzi Ayam, served with nasi minyak, roti jala and bread.

Above: Most of the guests were nephew Fadrul's friends from the Civil Aviation Collge






Left: Some have to sit on the stairs

Left: The food

Above: Niece Fatim and her boyfriend

Above : Tengku Suriani's daughter and Tengku Sheila's daughter

Left: Sister-in-law Aminah, Norishah and Nur Sham

Below: Nephew Fadrul chatting with his aunt

A picture says a thousand words

Spent the first day of Chinese New Year in my Father's house in Petaling Jaya. I cooked with the help of the maid.

Today is the first time my 2 sons give angpows (red packets with money) to my 97 years old Father. The picture below shows how delighted he was after receiving an angpow from my second son Farouk. Very rare indeed to get such a big a smile from him !

L: Brother Tai Kam came back from Jakarta for the celebration

R: Brother Dr Tai Keat came down from Kota Bahru to celebrate with Father

L: Sister- in - law Aminah (Tai Keat's wife) enjoying the lunch with her daughter Dr. Freida and son-in law Sabri

R: Brother Tai Keat's 3 lovely daughters, Dr Freida, Fatim and Fara

L: Brother Tai Keat's elder son Freddy, a chef

R: Brother Tai Keat's younger son Fadrul, a civil aviation engineering student

L: The lovely chocolate cake baked my my daughter-in-law Azni

R: My elder son, Feris, socializing with Tengku Sheila, my sister-in law's sister

L: My second son Farouk and daughter-in-law Azni relaxing after lunch

R:My children's aunty Norsham, also one of my closest friends

This is pretty little Amni, daughter of Dr Freida and grand daughter of Brother Tai Keat

In truth a family is what you make it. It is made strong, not by number of heads counted at the dinner table, but by the rituals you help family members create, by the memories you share, by the commitment of time, caring, and love you show to one another, and by the hopes for the future you have as individuals and as a unit.
- Marge Kennedy

Brother Tai Kam performed his ancestor worship obligations

Brother Tai Kam came back from Jakarta to join in the Chinese new Year celebrations and also to fulfill his ancestor worship obligations, traditionally performed on the morning of Chinese New Year Eve. I do not participate in the ritual as I had professed Islam since 32 years ago.

To the Taoists, ancestor worship is an integral part of life as the Family is viewed as a closely united group of living and dead relatives. Ancestor worship is a religious practice based on the belief that deceased family members have a continued existence, that the spirits of deceased ancestors will look after the family and possess the ability to influence the fortune of the living. Ancestor worshipping is not asking for favours, but to fulfil one’s filial duties. The act is a way to respect, honour and look after ancestors in their after-lives guaranteeing the ancestors’ well-being as well as possibly seeking the ancestors’ wisdom, guidance or assistance for their living descendants.

For the ancestor worship, food will be offered to the ancestors, consisting of plates of savoury dishes, cakes, fruits and sweets. Also paper money will be burnt for the ancestors to ensure they have enough to spend in the other world.

The information in italics above was obtained from article entitled

ANCESTOR WORSHIP AND VENERATION

L: The food that Brother Tai Kam spread out to offer to the ancestors

R: Brother Tai Kam burning money for the ancestors.

Remembering mother on Chinese New Year

In 2 days time it will be the Chinese New Year. When my Mother was alive, this was the most important time of the year for her. I remember she used to start preparing for the occassion many weeks in advance, like sprucing up the house, changing the curtains and at times even changing the furniture sets in the house.

For Chinese New Year Eve, She used to cook a some traditional dishes that everyone used to enjoy, although it was the same recipe year after year. Hainanese Chicken rice was a must, and not any kind of chicken, but chicken she reared herself in the backyard in a coop, for exactly 3 months. The chicken was simply boiled for 20 minutes with ginger and salt, but the taste was really out of this world. Then there was our favourite stuffed fish maw and stuffed mushroom dishes. There was also the sea cucumber dish which I could never duplicate. The soup was none other than home-cooked sharksfin, painstaking prepared.

After her death 10 years ago, I tried my best to keep up her tradition by cooking the same dishes. But of course the dishes, however much I try, never tasted the same. Nevertheless, every year I do it, at least some of the dishes, to keep up the family tradition and because I know she would be happy that I do it.

Rotary Club in Sitiawan, Malaysia set up a Mini market for the hard core poor

It’s a mini-market with a huge difference for some of the hard core poor in the Manjung district in Perak. Upon registration, they just have to go to the “Drop-in Centre” to collect necessities such as cooking oil, rice, milk, canned food and even clothes (new as well as second-hand, cleaned and plastic-wrapped), for free.

The project was mooted by President S. Loganathan two months ago as a project of the Rotary Club of Sitiawan.

Read the full story: Mini market for the hard core poor

Do you know these sobering facts?

Each year in the world over 8 million people die because they are simply too poor to stay alive !
More than 800 million people go hungry every day in the world !
The GDP of the poorest 48 nations is less than the wealth of the world's three richest people !
30,000 children die every day in the world due to hunger and treatable illnesses !
6 million children die every year before their fifth birthday in the world , as a result of malnutrition !

Sometimes several days attack me at once

I think I have not suceeded as a good Mother. I wish the clock can be turned back to allow me to start afresh. But I know that is not possible. God had given me this special responsibility, doubling up as a Father and Mother. Sometimes I feel tired, sometimes in great despair. How do I go forward? I shall have to think. Maybe I need some counselling, but who can I talk to?

I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once. ~Jennifer Yane

Her daughters will visit her twice a week in Bloomingdales!

An elderly woman from Brooklyn decided to prepare her will and make her final requests. She told her rabbi she had two final requests.

First, she wanted to be cremated, and second, she wanted her ashes scattered over Bloomingdales.

"Bloomingdales!" the rabbi exclaimed. "Why Bloomingdales?""Then I'll be sure my daughters visit me twice a week."

Source: http://www.agehumor.com/

An old person's prayer

God, grant me the Senility

To forget the people

I never liked anyway,

The good fortune

To run into the ones I do,

And the eyesight

To tell the difference.

Source: http://www.agehumor.com/