Yesterday, I was so happy to share a drink and light meal at Man's coffee shop with several of my dear 'old' degree students at YPC- Derrick, the beautiful 'Riddick Sparrow' and the ever delightful- and very skinny- Janna. They were all looking fairly stressed about the presentation of their thesis, however, they were generous with their time to spare me a few minutes for a relaxed chat. Thank you, my friends!
Yes. my blogging has been neglected. I was telling them how I admire their ability to tell such mundane stories about their everyday life in such an engaging and interesting manner, together with lots of pics of people, food, cats, and whatever happ[ens to be around them. What a talent! You are all so brilliant and I am sure you all have such wonderful futures awaiting you.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Death
On the 23rd February my mum passed away after suffering a massive stroke the day before. With me being in Malaysia and my mum in Melbourne, I was unable to get to the hospital before she died. However, she had only remained conscious for a short time after being admitted so maybe distance did not make a difference.
Mum turned 90 last year and we had a wonderful suprise birthday party for her, with family and all her close friends. She still talked about what a wonderful event it had been. She was a very independent lady right up to the last; living alone in her own house and still driving her car. In fact, she had her stroke whilst driving her car to church! So her life was full and vibrant, right up to the end. What else could one wish for?
It seems like an end of an era in my life. My father died 30 years ago. Mum had spent a third of her life as a widow. I now no longer have a 'home' in Melbourne. But maybe it's time to spend more time with my children who are both in Queensland....
Mum turned 90 last year and we had a wonderful suprise birthday party for her, with family and all her close friends. She still talked about what a wonderful event it had been. She was a very independent lady right up to the last; living alone in her own house and still driving her car. In fact, she had her stroke whilst driving her car to church! So her life was full and vibrant, right up to the end. What else could one wish for?
It seems like an end of an era in my life. My father died 30 years ago. Mum had spent a third of her life as a widow. I now no longer have a 'home' in Melbourne. But maybe it's time to spend more time with my children who are both in Queensland....
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2009...Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all my dear friends! Another year..and we are always 2 days into it! No time to lose; carpe diem..."seize the day"!
Over the past few years, I have had a habit of taking time out to plan for the coming year. In fact, this year I have 6 pages of plans and desires to achieve for 2009. Usually I succeed in about 80% of my New Year goals. This year, I am hoping for 100%!
What are some of your goals for the coming year? Love to hear them..I will share some of mine later...
Have an inspiring and successful 2009!
Over the past few years, I have had a habit of taking time out to plan for the coming year. In fact, this year I have 6 pages of plans and desires to achieve for 2009. Usually I succeed in about 80% of my New Year goals. This year, I am hoping for 100%!
What are some of your goals for the coming year? Love to hear them..I will share some of mine later...
Have an inspiring and successful 2009!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Hearing Clinton....
Last Friday, I went to the KL Convention Centre and join the lucky thoasands who managed to get a ticket to hear former US President, Bill Clinton, speak.
What an impressive man! He arrived late (had been out to Putrajaya to see the PM and got caught in KL traffic - I thought he would have a police escort!) but everyone expects that in Malaysia!. He spoke for 45 minutes and then took 4 questions.
He speaks so well- interesting, engaging, entertaining and with much passion and conviction. Since leaving the presidency, he has been working in his own charitable foundation and doing much good work worldwide, providing medicines for AIDs sufferers and children with life threatening diseases.
A wonderful afternoon and hope to post some pics which I took soon..
What an impressive man! He arrived late (had been out to Putrajaya to see the PM and got caught in KL traffic - I thought he would have a police escort!) but everyone expects that in Malaysia!. He spoke for 45 minutes and then took 4 questions.
He speaks so well- interesting, engaging, entertaining and with much passion and conviction. Since leaving the presidency, he has been working in his own charitable foundation and doing much good work worldwide, providing medicines for AIDs sufferers and children with life threatening diseases.
A wonderful afternoon and hope to post some pics which I took soon..
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Quite Some Time...
Sorry to those who read my blog. But firstly, my computer caught a virus, then work seems to have piled up even though I am not enjoying my Wednesday classes over the exam/ semester break.
This afternoon, I have been fortunate to get a ticket to hear former US President, Bill Clinton speak at a conference here in KL. This is the first time I will have ever seen a US President! Quite thrilled at the prospect.
The closest I have come to political proximy in this country was when I met Dr M wandering around KLCC a couple of years ago. We walked along by the outdoor lake for a few minutes and had a brief chat. Quite spontaneously, I put my arm around him, which obviously his bodyguards were not too too concerned about as I am still alive to tell the story!
This afternoon, I have been fortunate to get a ticket to hear former US President, Bill Clinton speak at a conference here in KL. This is the first time I will have ever seen a US President! Quite thrilled at the prospect.
The closest I have come to political proximy in this country was when I met Dr M wandering around KLCC a couple of years ago. We walked along by the outdoor lake for a few minutes and had a brief chat. Quite spontaneously, I put my arm around him, which obviously his bodyguards were not too too concerned about as I am still alive to tell the story!
Monday, November 17, 2008
World Depression
Maybe we think we have enough of our own problems without having to think about the current 'world depression' which is knocking on our brains.
What has caused all this? Well, the simple answer is that the US government, which has control over the creation of new money, have been printing too many bank bills. This has created a situation of too much cheap money which has been lent, at low interest, to many millions of American homebuyers who actually cannot afford to buy.
Many of these homebuyers have now defaulted on their payments and this has sent shockwaves through the US banking and finance sectors, and other institutions world wide who are linked with the US economy and financial systems. The US economy sneezes and the world catches a cold!
Now the US government is trying to look like the 'white knight' coming to save the system, when they were actually the 'black knight' in the first place!
Confusing isn't it?
Anyone for another cup of coffee?
What has caused all this? Well, the simple answer is that the US government, which has control over the creation of new money, have been printing too many bank bills. This has created a situation of too much cheap money which has been lent, at low interest, to many millions of American homebuyers who actually cannot afford to buy.
Many of these homebuyers have now defaulted on their payments and this has sent shockwaves through the US banking and finance sectors, and other institutions world wide who are linked with the US economy and financial systems. The US economy sneezes and the world catches a cold!
Now the US government is trying to look like the 'white knight' coming to save the system, when they were actually the 'black knight' in the first place!
Confusing isn't it?
Anyone for another cup of coffee?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Race
In a tutorial class, I always enjoy seeing students moving around the class room helping one another with the assignment task. But what really delights my heart is seeing students from the different races helping, chatting, laughing and working together.
What is race anyway? It is mainly a pure accident of geography and history. Science has proved that many millions of years ago, the human race developed in the African region and by several migrations, spread to different regions of the world. The earliest migration seems to have gone from Africa, through southern Indian with some moving into Australia. Other migrations headed towards what is now the European region, and others into the regions of Russia, China and through to the Americans. Extensive DNA testing have confirmed these patterns of migration.
So, what is race? Events in history combined with the influences of local geography, weather and other factors which have resulted in the peoples of the world- all a part of the one human race- with slight differences in appearance, language and cultural artefacts.
But Shakespeare reminds us of our 'oneness', in one of his famous plays: 'The Merchant of Venice', when some Christian businessmen were taunting the Jewish moneychanger, who responded with those memorial words:
' I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs. dimensions, senses, affections, passions, feed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and coled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?'
We are all one race...
What is race anyway? It is mainly a pure accident of geography and history. Science has proved that many millions of years ago, the human race developed in the African region and by several migrations, spread to different regions of the world. The earliest migration seems to have gone from Africa, through southern Indian with some moving into Australia. Other migrations headed towards what is now the European region, and others into the regions of Russia, China and through to the Americans. Extensive DNA testing have confirmed these patterns of migration.
So, what is race? Events in history combined with the influences of local geography, weather and other factors which have resulted in the peoples of the world- all a part of the one human race- with slight differences in appearance, language and cultural artefacts.
But Shakespeare reminds us of our 'oneness', in one of his famous plays: 'The Merchant of Venice', when some Christian businessmen were taunting the Jewish moneychanger, who responded with those memorial words:
' I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs. dimensions, senses, affections, passions, feed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and coled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?'
We are all one race...
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