Blast from the past

My past caught up with me. In April 1974, as a 19 year old, I went to teach in Kai Chung school in a little town of Binatang, now known as Bintangor. Fresh from High School, I was enthusiastic. I stayed in the town and on the school compound. Some of the staff stayed there too, so we had a good camaraderie.

I made a lot of friends and was known as Miss Chan. the school came from a Chinese background and respect was valued highly.

Now some of these students have found me on Facebook, and I feel nostalgic as it was my first job. I also found a family and they treated me as one of their own. That's the Chew family. Sadly, the son whom I did teach had died. See my tribute when I heard his sad news.http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2009/01/chew-yaw-kok-belated-tribute.html

It is great to be connected again. If you were, especially one of those students in Form 2A, and all those I had taught, please get in touch. I remember meeting Peter Tang Ing Bing in 1986, he was either a medical student or doctor then, and the other student who was an engineer. We met at the Kuching ? Singapore airport? Otherwise, I have not seen any of you since I left for Canada in Sept 1975. The rest of you, you are my friends, not students. I shall love hearing from you.

As regarding the past catching up with me, hopefully I haven't done too many bad things.

scenic sunday: "On Top of the world"

The Skycity Shavees Photo courtesy: shave for a cure.



href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlNo5cOWI1U9jRPJt1ZVMDgsZ4C2cDueM2WJ3bm5aQOZ2CMoROtc8alQr1F2N5t1o3AbZwzc6UqLK3kvfna0Hj1ohy00w8xOtGr_-hQC5M5Swk7R96xbwz9B176SeZswH7BDmX0xxDB8y/s1600-h/scenic+sunday.jpg">
http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

Shave11!http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Join the Shave craze. 4 to 10 April.

Shave for a Cure promises to be another hair-raising affair! Whether you are http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifa business professional, student, celebrity, sports team or other group, this is your chance to join the thousands who have shaved to support the 10,000 New Zealand children and adults living with a blood cancer like leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related condition. Show solidarity with those living with blood cancers or conditions; tell friends and familiy and sign up to Shave!

Last week, I figured Eric and Isaac from my church, Mt Albert Baptist Church.

The Skycity is the tallest tower in the Southern hemisphere. 18 staff of Skycity opted to shave their heads for Leukaemia and Blood foundation as part of a corporate group effort.

On April 9th, three of our shavees will be having their heads shaved right up the top of the Sky Tower mast. They will be standing around the top aviation light at a height of 328 meters! The remaining shavees will be having their heads shaved in the ‘Highest Shearing Shed in Auckland’ situated in the Sky Tower Main Observation deck.

Two riggers and their service manager will lose their hair on one of the outer top decks.

The LBF is the national charity dedicated to supporting patients and their families living with blood cancers and related blood conditions, this support can last months or even years.

The Leukaemia & Blood Foundation, LBF receives no government funding, so please sponsor us or come along and support this great cause.

ABC Wednesday Letter L for lilies

The lovely white Cala lilies have a special place in my heart. They used to grow in my paternal grandpa's rubber garden in Sarawak.

These were cut from my garden.




http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/


Before I started blogging in November 2008, I was into writing. I wrote short stories and a novel. But I had no money to get them appraised. My eldest daughter D started my blogs and I posted my stories and my novel in my other blog. I have started writing again but blogging is a lot more fun.

Nadine
Tragedy struck. One day Andy and Finau were fishing off Piha beach. A gale wind suddenly blew: both of them had no life jackets. The wind howled, the sky darkened, big rain drops pelted on them like stones, the waves crashed against the boat, the boat overturned and sank. Miraculously Andy used his last ounce of energy and swam back to the shore: he was dogged tired when he ran for help.

Finau was never found that afternoon. Later they found his limp and bruised body among the rocks. Finau’s bereaved mother tore at Andy, and cursed him. Finau’s uncles had to hold her back. Andy just stood there quietly as if he wanted Anapesi to rant and rage and even beat him. We were surprised that Anapesi swore, she was such a well-mannered and gentle woman. Maybe she learnt it from us.

Andy came home and took it out on Nadine. She feared for her own life and the baby’s. She locked her self in the bedroom, but he kicked the door open. Nadine felt like a trapped fox in a fox hunt, and there was no way she could claw her way out of the danger that Andy was posing. Blow after blow he rained on her, until she pleaded that he was killing the baby.

“It’s all you bloody fault, Finau my mate and I had been fishing for years, and nothing ever happened, and now you cow move in and I lost my best mate.” Andy slammed the door and didn’t come back for two days until it was Finau’s funeral.

The Tongan community had a funeral at Finau’s house, and they buried him in Waikumate cemetery. Andy was full of remorse. Finau’s mother banned him from attending the funeral and burial. Andy sat at the garage overlooking Finau’s house drinking Lion Beer, Finau’s favourite beer. His empty bottles crashed and ended up a million brown glass crystals and broken shards on the driveway. He was still there when Anapesi came back from the cemetery.

The kind natured Anapesi went over across the road, she removed the empty beer bottle from Andy’s hand and told him to go back inside the house. She told him she knew it wasn’t exactly his fault.

“Go back to the house, I am sorry I screamed at you,”

Andy got moody and depressed and beat Nadine more often. Sundays were worst, because he’d got no mate to go fishing with.

“Nadine, I got some grub for you, or Nadine I got some fish and chips. The baby needs to eat even if you don’t.”

Nadine did not have a good time being pregnant. Every morning she opened the window and vomited down to the bed of calla lilies. She told me she got no time to rush to the bathroom. Andy howled at her,

weekend reflection: Bathroom vanities

http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

In many public places, your are not allowed to take photos in the toilets.

There was no notice here. I really like this reflection photo, so I was very discrete, took my camera out quietly and risked being thrown out of the bathroom.

There are some silly kids who photograph people in the bathrooms and post them on youtube. I remember when I was in Laurie Hall, a female only hostel of Windsor university in Canada. One of the girls poked her camera into the shower stall when her friend was showering inside. She thought it was fun, but one never knows what would happen if the film got into the wrong hands.

I guess that is why there is this "No camera" policy.

weekend reflections: Round the Bays Run

Do click on the photos to get a better picture.

Reflection of runners at Kelly Tarton under water world.

The waterfront was a winding 8.4km dragon.

The start of the race was like a stampede.

One hour forty minutes later, I finished at last, you can't imagine the satisfaction. All in all, I had done this Fun Run 3 times. 30 years ago, I ran twice. At that time, it was 11.5 km. Of course, I was much younger then.



http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Today I joined 70,000 Aucklanders as we ran/walk/ or walk and ran (me) the 8.4 km along the picturesque waterfront Tamaki Drive in our annual Round the Bays fun run for charity.

I was pretty proud of myself, all in all I walked/ran 11.6 km for the following recipients.

Two children's dialysis units for the new dedicated Paediatric Haemo-Dialysis Unit at Starship, which is being built to ensure children always have preference for dialysis units.

Kidney Kids currently looks after 1,353 children nationally and is the only renal organisation in NZ dedicated to caring for children with kidney and urinary tract diseases.

Visit www.kidneykids.org.nz for more information on this organisation.
Koru Care

Funding for two children to go to Disneyland in October 2011 as part of the Koru Care programme which aims to make dreams come true for seriously ill, disabled and severely disadvantaged children.

For more information on Koru Care, visit www.korucare.co.nz.
Waitemata Harbour Clean-Up Trust

Formed in 2002, the Waitemata Harbour Clean-Up Trust is a charitable organisation that oversees the removal of litter from Auckland's Waitemata Harbour and inner gulf islands, and promotes the concept of clean, clear rubbish-free waterways.

Waitemata Harbour Clean-Up Trust

The staff scoops up a wide variety of rubbish from the Waitemata Harbour including plastic wrap and tyres. Kayaks or a flat-bottomed punt are used to clean along the shoreline and beaches as well as in estuaries.

This can be a reflection post on how we can collectively help others. There were old people, parents pushing strollers, children in scooters. We all motivated each other to finish the course.

Scenic Sunday: Japan

href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlNo5cOWI1U9jRPJt1ZVMDgsZ4C2cDueM2WJ3bm5aQOZ2CMoROtc8alQr1F2N5t1o3AbZwzc6UqLK3kvfna0Hj1ohy00w8xOtGr_-hQC5M5Swk7R96xbwz9B176SeZswH7BDmX0xxDB8y/s1600-h/scenic+sunday.jpg">
http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

My heart goes out to the people of Japan. It is not even a month ago when we had our earthquake in New Zealand. The memories and hurt are still raw. Now, we hear an even worst one and Tsunami has hit Japan.. A metre high Tsunami even came to New Zealand.

I have many Japanese friends, students and fellow bloggers. I empathize with you and my thoughts and prayers are with you.

The Japanese Urban Search and Rescue came to our help. Now, it is our turn to reciprocate.

As many as 6000 New Zealanders could be in quake-stricken Japan, says New Zealand's ambassador there.

These two photos are from my archives. They were taken in 1988 when the Japanese cultural group came to visit us in Auckland. My sister Helen had been to Japan as an English teacher. The young girl is my oldest daughter.

Skywatch Friday: Crops for Christchurch

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

How do we explain to young children why there are trials and tribulations? How do we explain the devastating earthquake that killed so many? It's hard, but one thing I can see is, it mobilised the whole country from big organizations to small groups, to open their hearts and show love to the victims of the quake.

My church Mt Albert Baptist Church had a collection drop centre. The whole Mt Albert Community, not just the church has dropped off so many things for us to send down to various teams to distribute to those in need. We had a gazebo at the car park where people could drop their stuff. Ka Pai Jeff and your workers.

At Pt Chev School, we raised almost $2000 when we wore black and red last Friday. We also collected a hamper to some 100 evacuees who came up to Auckland. Under the leadership of Nicole and Keren we had 'Crops for Christchurch' which started this Friday. We explained to the children about the produce they could bring from home to sell to raise funds. There were a lot of contribution and the draw card was ORGANIC. Becky, a parent and some students helped in selling. Paki Paki to all who brought their produce, and who bought.

The sky was good, it was a fine day, and the weather was warm.

This is just the first market day, Nicole says it will continue. Thanks to the principal,Sandra for allowing the school to become a market.

ABC Wednesday: H for Himalayan salt lamps

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/

http://www.amazon.com/WBM-8-Inch-Himalayan-Natural-Crystal/dp/B001892AX2?ie=UTF8&tag=tumblewords-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969

I credit this post to http://firsttumblewords.blogspot.com/ She posted a similar photo and reminded me that I also have some photos which I took in January when I went to the Crystal mountian.

* Made of natural salt crystal from the himalayan mountains
* Works as an air purifier by emitting negative ions into the air and light therapy to reduce stress and increase energy
* Each lamp is individually handcrafted and unique
* Sits on a beautiful wooden neem base
* Comes with 15-watt bulb, on/off switch and 6-feet electric cord. Ul-listed (complete lamp)

Brighten your room with the WBM Himalayan Natural Crystal Salt Lamp. The warm amber light from this lamp complements any space, while also activating the salt crystal to purify the air. The lamp sits on a round neem base and takes a 15-watt bulb (included). Each hand-carved lamp has a slightly different shape and weight.

WBM International Logo
Himalayan Natural
Crystal Salt Lamp
At a Glance:

* Made of natural salt crystal from the Himalayan Mountains
* Gives a warm, soft amber glow to any room
* Purifies by emitting negative ions to clear air of smoke, dander, pollen, and other pollutants
* Each lamp is hand-carved and features a different size and weight
* Sits on a wooden neem base

I am not advertising or endorsing. The description comes from Amazon.

Himalayan Natural Crystal Salt Lamp - At a Glance
Natural Salt Lamps for Natural Life Banner
WBM Himalayan Natural Crystal Salt Lamp
Emits a warm amber glow and helps clean the air of pollutants.
Hand-Carved Lamp Provides a Soft Glow
The lamp is made from salt crystals from the Himalayan Mountains. Unlit, the crystal's rough-hewn, irregular surface looks pink. When lit with the included 15-watt bulb, it gives a warm amber glow. You can even change the color of the bulb to give a different hue to the lighting area.

Use the lamp as a gentle nightlight, or to create a romantic mood. Whether in a child's room, near the television or computer, or in your office, the lamp, sitting on its round neem base, provides a natural touch.

Salt Crystal is a Natural Air Purifier
The Himalayan Natural Crystal Salt Lamp also works as an air purifier. When lit, the lamp emits negative ions that fight against positively charged particles that cause you to feel stuffy and sluggish. The lit salt crystal clears the air naturally of allergens like smoke, pet dander, pollens, and other air pollutants. It dilutes odors so that you can breathe easier. People with asthma often find it helpful in reducing their symptoms. You can keep the lamp lit for as long as you like to maintain this purifying effect.

If you wonder what neem is? It is a tree, a very good tree. This I know is true. But I don't know if using it as a base has any medicinal value.





I become a tree arbor lover. I might have left Singapore, but I have left my legacy. I have planted two neem trees and my friend A goes from New Zealand to Singapore and checks on the trees for me.

I have 2 trees which the Malays ask for their leaves to relieve chicken pox itch. The Indians say it is a wonder tree. My Indian friends say in India, pregnant women brush their swollen tummy to relieve itch. They also use the twigs as tooth brushes and tooth picks.

I gave those trees tender loving care. When they were saplings, after a heavy thunder storm, they would topple, and I would pain stakefully go and support them with timber poles.

I have bought Neem toothpaste.

****************************************************************


Neem or Margosa is a botanical cousin of mahogany. It belongs to the family Meliaceae. The latinized name of Neem - Azadirachta indica is derived from the persian
:

Azad = Free,
dirakht = Tree,
i - Hind = of Indian Origin

which literally means: 'The Free Tree of India'.


Baldness:-applying margosa oil on the bald portion,
preferably at night and washing the head in the
morning stops the falling of other hair and helps
in their growth.
Other hair disorders :washing the hair with water
boiled with margosa leaves stops falling of hair and
helps to grow, be black and lustrous.

This is also useful to kill lice in the hair.
(Precaution to be taken that this water should not
enter the eyes).

Dental disorders
Using fresh margosa twig piece as brush for
cleaning the teeth makes the gums strong, eliminates
foul smell and cures pyorrhoea.

Drinking and gurgling with margosa water (in which
fresh new leaves are boiled) stops dental decay and
pain in the teeth.

Gargling with margosa decoction (made with boiling
of leaves, flowers, fruit, root and branches equal
portion) gives relief to toothache by eliminating
infection in gums.

Cough :-gargles with lukewarm margosa juice mixed
with a few drops of honey cures cough trouble.

Please do not take my word for the above, I have NOT
use the neem. But I am not telling where my trees are.

However, it must be good because there were a few
international court cases regarding this plant. It is
used in a big way in USA for pest repellent.

http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/pir-ch.htm

Thursday Theme Song: Come awake

Oh death, where is your sting?

5-month-old Baxtor Gowland was fare welled by his parents and loved ones yesterday. Baxtor was the youngest victim in the quake. His dad carried him out in a little coffin similar to the one my baby son Andrew was carried out in in 1989. Andrew was carried by our good friends Ian DeStiger and Jaya.

On Sunday, my pastor played this video Come Awake, and the words resonated in my heart. My heart went got to Baxtor's mum.

Oh death, where is your sting?



hootin--anni has a new meme.
IT'S ALL ABOUT MY NEW MEME THAT I HOPE SOME WILL FEEL LIKE JOINING IN ON THE CHALLENGE AND THE FUN [at least I hope the weekly challenge will be fun!]. It's loosely based on song lyrics [recorded songs since the beginning of time to today] and associating them with photos of yours...as I've done in the past...If you click on the link above, it'll take you to the Meme's Homepage for rules and buttons. There will be a Mr. Linky Widget for each individual week also. Do consider joining me sometime. Hope to see it flourish in time.

http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com/



http://www.ignitermedia.com/

Mellow yellow Monday: Rare disease day

http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/
My friend Ellen and fellow bereaved mum sent me this email.
In loving memory of our two children (Avery and Addison Crompton) , who died from Campomelic Dysplasia.

My late baby son, Andrew died of the same CD 21 years ago.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/campomelicfamilies/

Feb 28th is Rare Disease Day! To learn more, go to:

http://www.rarediseaseday.org/

Rare Disease Day is an annual, awareness-raising event co-ordinated by EURORDIS at the international level and National Alliances of Patient Organisations at the national level

February 28th 2011 will mark the fourth International Rare Disease Day coordinated by EURORDIS and organised with rare disease national alliances in 25 countries. On that day hundreds of patient organisations from more than 40 countries worldwide will be organising awareness-raising activities and converging around the slogan “Rare but Equal”.

Hundreds of patient groups and their partners, coordinated by national alliances at the country level, are planning a multitude of events to draw attention to rare diseases and the millions of people who are affected by them. Awareness-raising activities are being planned across Europe, all the way to Russia, Georgia and Armenia, as well as in the US, Canada and as far as Australia, New Zealand, China and Japan!


http://www.rarediseaseday.org.nz/
The New Zealand Organisation for Rare Disorders (NZORD)

PO Box 38-538,

Wellington Mail Centre

Phone: +64 4 471 2226

Email: enquiries@nzord.org.nz

Thursday Theme Song: The Servant Song

By now, it is almost 24 hours when the terrible earthquake struck Christchurch. Within a short time, Australia had offered to help us.

I had planned to post this song before this earthquake. How appropriate this song is when UK, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and USA have offered to be our servants in our time of need.

Those of you who have been reading my posts on all my three blogs will know that twenty one years ago, I buried my baby son. At that time, I was worshiping at the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, and the choir used to sing this hymn, and the Soloist was my good friend M.

During those horrible times, I literally let my friends be my servant when they helped me in so many ways. Sadly, a few months later, M lost her baby, and I quoted this song to her that I was going to be her servant.

I had been revisiting that time and I remembered the song and my friend M.

On Sunday, a new friend shared with me her trials and tribulations. I sang her this hymn and told her I was privileged she shared with me.





The Servant Song
Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey, and companions on the road;
We are here to help each other, walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow til we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony,
Born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony.
Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.

Richard Gillard,http://sites.google.com/site/trikitiki/home the composer and lyricist of ‘The Servant Song’
described its origins in the following words. “It was in the first
half of 1976 that I wrote Verse 3 (‘I will hold the Christ-light
for you …’) but, initially, no more than that. It wasn’t until one
particularly summery Sunday afternoon in December 1976 or
January 1977, back in Auckland, that I took that scrap of paper
out of my guitar case and began to meditate on that single verse,
exploring the possibilities that it suggested. I remember that the
other verses came quickly – although not in the order in which
we now sing the Song.”
In 2001, the hymn was featured in a Remembrance Sunday
broadcast from York Minster by the British TV programme,
Songs of Praise. Richard Gillard adds that, although it “sounded
wonderful played on the Minster’s grand organ, I still prefer the
down-to-earth groundedness of a simple folk-song treatment
but I let it go long ago. And that is as it should be.” DLP
‘Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants
to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”’
The Gospel according to Mark, Chapter 9, Verse 35
About Richard Gillard:
I'm a grandfather among other things, a Christian who happens to be Anglican (give me a Eucharist ahead of 1 hour praise rave, any time), play guitar & write songs (brother, sister, let me serve you), 32 years married to a very special woman, dad to a married daughter and two unmarried adult sons. Inside I'm still young(ish) and my grey hairs are all in my beard. Proud citizen of Whangarei, Northland New Zealand
http://mangawhai-beach.blogspot.com/


As I googled search this song which sadly is not sang much these days, I was over the moon to find the composer Richard Gillardn actually wrote this wonderful song in this very city, Auckland.






hootin--anni has a new meme.
IT'S ALL ABOUT MY NEW MEME THAT I HOPE SOME WILL FEEL LIKE JOINING IN ON THE CHALLENGE AND THE FUN [at least I hope the weekly challenge will be fun!]. It's loosely based on song lyrics [recorded songs since the beginning of time to today] and associating them with photos of yours...as I've done in the past...If you click on the link above, it'll take you to the Meme's Homepage for rules and buttons. There will be a Mr. Linky Widget for each individual week also. Do consider joining me sometime. Hope to see it flourish in time.

http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com/

ABC Wednesday: Cake, cucumber, Chinese New Year.

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/


This was a special cake I made for my oldest daughter when she turned five. Last year, I was teaching Little Red Riding Hood to my five year old students. I made them the hood, and they wanted a basket. The cake would made a good ensemble for Red Riding Hood to take to her grandma.


The first time I came to New Zealand in 1978, I saw these long cucumber. I was pleasantly surprised at this 15 inch long cucumber. They have softer skin and seeds.

Recently, I saw this other cucumber. It is white and is an apple cucumber. I bought one for this post. Why is it called an apple cucumber? I have no idea, it doesn't shape like an apple, nor does it taste like an apple. The skin is tough, and the seeds are like an matured cucumber.

I think of many years ago, when my mum would buy matured cucumbers to make her pickled Achar. Mum made the best Achar during the Chinese New Year. We kids, took turns in peeling shallots, pound the chillis and dried shrimps in a pestle and mortar.

Tonight, is Lunar New Year's eve, I am having a steam boat dinner, I am all nostalgic. Traditionally, this Chinese New Year is a time of reunion. My daughter is coming home for dinner.



http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2009/07/fridayshoot-out-outdoor-food-steam-boat.html

In 1907, my dad's grandfather left China for Borneo. During this century, five generations have been born, and our taste of food has evolved round the food of the region. While we eat predominantly Chinese food, our favourite is Thai. When we do eat out, we go to our favourite Thai restaurant at Ponsonby.

We like the sweet sour spicy Tom Yum Khong, a prawn soup. They come in different utensils, and twice, they came in the above containers.

I was delighted to see a replica of the steamboat my mum had. This Mongolian fire pot, a donut-shaped brass or stainless steel pot is like a moat of a castle. It has a central funnel to hold hot coals or charcoal that sitting on a grill. Every now and then, mum had to replenish the burning charcoal, and we children would have to move away and be very still. This photo is a replica, the food was already cooked, The heat inside was more a decor.

The other black one looked more like the Mongolian soldier's conical hat. This was flamed to be the origins of the steam boat. The soldiers inverted their metal hat and cooked their food with it. I bet they hurdled round the fire as the winter can be bitterly cold.


Let's eat Steamboat may incur a Huh??? look on your friends' faces. What is a steam boat?

Remember Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan and Marco Polo? During the time of the Mongolian Statesmen in Chinese history when the Great Wall of China was built, the fierce nomadic soldiers spread terror to China. Legend has it that the soldiers wore a metal hat, when it was time to cook their meals, they simply inverted their hats and used them to cook their meals. From them, came the Steamboat.

When I was little, my parents had a traditional steamboat. It was like a donut with the chimney in the middle. Mum would drop burning charcoal into the chimney, and on the donut ring, she had boiling soup. Thin slivers of meat of all sorts, vegetables, mushroom, tofu, noodles are quickly cooked. We used little basket like ladles to scoop up the food we like. Then we drank the delicious soup which is packed with all the goodness of the meat and vegetable stock.

Eating steamboat is a lengthy process. It is a good time for parents to tell children stories of the old, especially when we had left our home land. It would not suit people who are poor and have to rush through their meals to go and work.

These days, the cumbersome charcoal steamboats have given way to electric or gas ones. The chimney is gone, and it is more like cooking on the table. I am a person of nostalgia. I lament for Mum's steam boat. Steam boat has also evolved, in Singapore, some restaurants were serving runny rice porridge instead of soup to cook your morsels of meal and veg in.

Gong Xi Fa Cai: We wish you a prosperous New Year. It is the year of the rabbit.

1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise

None of my immediate family or my siblings are rabbits. I can't tell you if the above is true. Besides, we have become Christians and do not believe in this.

ABC: Winter woolly slippers. hand warmer

http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/

This is a pair of knitted winter woolly slippers which keep your feet warm. Many New Zealand women knit them whilst watching television. No, I did not knit them, I spent most of my time on the computer.

When chatting with Rune http://visualnorway.blogspot.com/2010/12/w-is-for-warm-hands.html, he had hands cupped round some heat, it reminded me of a handwarmer I had more than thirty five years ago.

When I went to Canada, my mum and dade bought winter things in Singapore. One of the things we bought was a hand warmer. It looked like a cigarette lighter and was silver in colour, and it was supposed to heat up and warm your hands.

Alas, I couldn't buy the fuel in Canada so I never used it. My Canadian and American friends didn't use one.

I didn't need one in New Zealand. At home, I use a wheat heat bag.

In Norway, do you have a heater like that? What about those of you living else where?

100 years ago in China, my grand parents used charcoal cinders and put them in little cans.

I googled search it and found it is a Sanyo Japanese product.