Finally, I have more or less finished packing. We will be flying off tonight to the Gold Coast and this is a calm moment before preparing for the departure. The two younger children are having their afternoon naps and I am taking a breather.
Son No 2 has been visibly excited about going to Australia - he woke up at pre-dawn this morning - and has packed his own backpack days ago, with his jaguar, 2 Secret Seven books, Gameboy and 3-D glasses, amongst other things. He has been talking about Australia continually - how he would be fearful of swimming in the ocean due to the presence of sharks, how poisonous the spiders were - and he has been poring over the map of Australia to learn its geography.
Yesterday, Son No 2 received an early Christmas present and demanded to know who was the real giver (as I have told him it's from Santa since he has been good the whole year). "Santa Claus cannot be true", he declared adamantly. The gift is a Gameboy cartridge, Star Wars Episode III, which he can play during the flight. Wow, Santa Claus really knows him well and it is a timely gift too!
Son No 3 is also looking forward to the trip. He received a Ben 10 watch from Santa - "is it really from Santa?" - and is thrilled to bits. He cannot wait to show it off to his friends in school when school reopens. He has packed his backpack too and he will be bringing his bolster, tiger, 2 Topsy and Tim books and his Ben 10 watch.
Son No 1 woke up at 11am this morning and I have told him to pack his bag. He is not bringing his MacBook, but his bag should contain his mobile, his i-pod, a pack of Uno cards and his personal effects. I also reminded him to bring a book or two to keep himself occupied. As of now, he has yet to pack his bag. Sure, there's no hurry. He has just finished watching Grey's Anatomy, Season 3.
I will be bringing my laptop - it should provide some entertainment during the flight. Our flight is at 10:30 pm but we will be leaving at 7 pm as the cab-ride to Sepang takes close to an hour. From now till 7 pm, we need to run some last minute errands including taking the maid to SS2, buy dinner and feed ourselves. Oh yes, we haven't forgotten the hamster - it will be provided with enough food and water for one week.
So, thus begins this travelogue...
And the song to go with it: Summer Holidays by Cliff Richard.
"We're all going on a summer holiday
no more working for a week or two.
Fun and laughter on our summer holiday,
no more worries for me or you,
for a week or two.
We're going where the sun shines brightly
we're going where the sea is blue.
We've all seen it on the movies,
now let's see if it's true.
Everybody has a summer holiday
doin' things they always wanted to
So we're going on a summer holiday,
to make our dreams come true
for me and you."
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Blogger's Block
I start on this new post with no topic in mind. I am having a blogger's block.
We have just returned from our vacation in Singapore. If I were to write about what we have done there, I am sure that would be worth a few entries. But my blog is not really themed like the old-fashioned diary. Sure, sometimes I do document what we do, but I'd like to write on more than "on such a day, we did this, on other days, we did that".
Rather, if I were to write about our trip to Singapore, I would reflect on the great generosity of time afforded to us by the children's grandma, uncle and aunt - the thoughtfulness of their various actions, gifts and accommodation to the children's requests. Needless to say, the children enjoyed being pampered and Son No 3 has issued a dictum from nowhere that every two months, we have to go to Singapore :)
Now, what's the underlying reason for the blogger's block? There seems to be a close correlation with "holidays" but really, I have deduced that it is this: the lack of personal thinking time. During the hectic term time, while driving on the frequent routes to and from the different schools, very often I sit in the car alone, or with one child. I could be seething in the jams or cruising down the highways but inevitably, my thoughts will flow. Ideas for my next blog post will germinate and I would have already formed the sentences in my head.
But what the heck, it's the holidays! I know I have blogged before that the school holidays are really the holidays for students and teachers, and not necessarily for stay-at-home moms. But it is a holiday for chauffeurs, of which I am one too. And so, let's enjoy the break... the break from introspection.
We have just returned from our vacation in Singapore. If I were to write about what we have done there, I am sure that would be worth a few entries. But my blog is not really themed like the old-fashioned diary. Sure, sometimes I do document what we do, but I'd like to write on more than "on such a day, we did this, on other days, we did that".
Rather, if I were to write about our trip to Singapore, I would reflect on the great generosity of time afforded to us by the children's grandma, uncle and aunt - the thoughtfulness of their various actions, gifts and accommodation to the children's requests. Needless to say, the children enjoyed being pampered and Son No 3 has issued a dictum from nowhere that every two months, we have to go to Singapore :)
Now, what's the underlying reason for the blogger's block? There seems to be a close correlation with "holidays" but really, I have deduced that it is this: the lack of personal thinking time. During the hectic term time, while driving on the frequent routes to and from the different schools, very often I sit in the car alone, or with one child. I could be seething in the jams or cruising down the highways but inevitably, my thoughts will flow. Ideas for my next blog post will germinate and I would have already formed the sentences in my head.
But what the heck, it's the holidays! I know I have blogged before that the school holidays are really the holidays for students and teachers, and not necessarily for stay-at-home moms. But it is a holiday for chauffeurs, of which I am one too. And so, let's enjoy the break... the break from introspection.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
The Goh Clan And Us
Last Friday, my three sons, my husband and I, along with the maid, piled into the Odyssey and made our way down to Singapore for my niece's wedding over the weekend. It was a good time for an extended family get-together. Some relatives flew in from Perth, Melbourne and Hong Kong. Others arrived from various parts of Malaysia. We ate, laughed and updated one another. This lasted a few days :) As at today, the group officially disbanded.
It was while I was trying to explain the complicated family structure to my spouse and children that I thought it might be a good idea to document it for future descendants who might want to trace their ancestry. So here it is...
My niece, who got married, belongs to my mother's side of the family. She is not really a "niece" in the true sense of the word because she is the second child of my third cousin on my mother's side. [See how complex it can get for one who is not in the know!] I hardly know any relatives from my father's side at all. But that's alright. My mother's multi-branched family tree more than makes up for it.
My mother has only one sister (my aunt) who was older than her by 10 years and who passed away recently. I called my aunt Tai Yee. My mother tells us that both she and my grandmother helped to look after us when we were young. My Tai Yee has four surviving offsprings (my cousins). Briefly, here is the summary of my four cousins from the Goh clan:
I remember for a period of time, I was sleeping in a camp-bed which we opened up only at night for sleeping. The camp-bed was airy and comfortable - but I would never dream of voicing any opinion as to whether I liked to sleep there or not. Children then were seen, and not heard. When we travelled around in our medium-sized sedan car, we all squeezed into the backseat with nary a complaint.
Several decades ago, as a young child, I witnessed the courtship days of my cousins. My cousins added richness to my young life then as they occasionally provided human drama to my otherwise mundane student life! Ya, I was privy to courtship blues and lovers' quarrels and first-meeting-with-future-in-laws anxieties. Later, I attended their weddings.
Now, in the past 10 years or so, I have been attending the weddings of their children. Some of my cousins are now grandparents, which makes me a grandaunt! But all this doesn't really make me feel old. Time goes by in a flash and I scarcely notice the passage of time. I do not feel any wiser now, than before. Well, maybe just a little...
Growing up surrounded by such richness in extended family relations is something that my three sons are not privileged to. They have few cousins from either my side or my husband's side of the family. And they have no occasions to live under one roof, except during brief holidays. For my three sons, it is hoped that they may form a strong-knit brotherhood amongst themselves to provide them with the family anchor they may need in the future.
It was while I was trying to explain the complicated family structure to my spouse and children that I thought it might be a good idea to document it for future descendants who might want to trace their ancestry. So here it is...
My niece, who got married, belongs to my mother's side of the family. She is not really a "niece" in the true sense of the word because she is the second child of my third cousin on my mother's side. [See how complex it can get for one who is not in the know!] I hardly know any relatives from my father's side at all. But that's alright. My mother's multi-branched family tree more than makes up for it.
My mother has only one sister (my aunt) who was older than her by 10 years and who passed away recently. I called my aunt Tai Yee. My mother tells us that both she and my grandmother helped to look after us when we were young. My Tai Yee has four surviving offsprings (my cousins). Briefly, here is the summary of my four cousins from the Goh clan:
- The eldest is Sam who is now a merry widow. She has 4 sons and a daughter. Her first three sons were born only a year apart and the three boys were known for their high energy levels in their younger days. After the third son, it was a long time before Sam and her husband decided to have a fourth child. They yearned to have a daughter and they were blessed with a beautiful baby girl. The fifth child, a boy, was born soon thereafter.
- The second child in my Tai Yee's family is her only son. David migrated to Perth in the 80's with his wife and their two children, a boy and a girl. The family maintained close ties with the rest of the family in Malaysia. David's wife is particularly close to my mom, probably because during her courtship days and early marriage, we were living close to each other and, at one point, we were even neighbours.
- My Tai Yee's third child is Peggy, with whom we have close association, because my mother was the primary care-giver to her firstborn son, KY, ever since KY's full moon. KY has always been like a half-brother to my siblings and me because he spent his first 16 years of his life under the same roof as us. KY's sister, the bride of the said wedding, also spent her formative years with us in Singapore until she entered university. KY's younger brother is the only child who remained with Peggy and her husband when he was young.
- My 4th cousin in the Goh clan is the youngest in the family and is fondly known as Ah Lui, don't ask me why - that's not her given name. She has a girl and a boy both of whom are in their twenties now.
I remember for a period of time, I was sleeping in a camp-bed which we opened up only at night for sleeping. The camp-bed was airy and comfortable - but I would never dream of voicing any opinion as to whether I liked to sleep there or not. Children then were seen, and not heard. When we travelled around in our medium-sized sedan car, we all squeezed into the backseat with nary a complaint.
Several decades ago, as a young child, I witnessed the courtship days of my cousins. My cousins added richness to my young life then as they occasionally provided human drama to my otherwise mundane student life! Ya, I was privy to courtship blues and lovers' quarrels and first-meeting-with-future-in-laws anxieties. Later, I attended their weddings.
Now, in the past 10 years or so, I have been attending the weddings of their children. Some of my cousins are now grandparents, which makes me a grandaunt! But all this doesn't really make me feel old. Time goes by in a flash and I scarcely notice the passage of time. I do not feel any wiser now, than before. Well, maybe just a little...
Growing up surrounded by such richness in extended family relations is something that my three sons are not privileged to. They have few cousins from either my side or my husband's side of the family. And they have no occasions to live under one roof, except during brief holidays. For my three sons, it is hoped that they may form a strong-knit brotherhood amongst themselves to provide them with the family anchor they may need in the future.
Thursday, 4 December 2008
National Science Center, KL
I learnt something from our visit to the Pusat Sains Negara at Bukit Damansara yesterday.
A roundabout number is a number that when you multiply by something, the numbers in it are in the product. An example of a roundabout number is 142857. So,
if multiplied by 2: 142857 x 2 = 285714
if multiplied by 3: 142857 x 3 = 428571
Try multiplying by other numbers. Fascinating, isn't it?
A roundabout number is a number that when you multiply by something, the numbers in it are in the product. An example of a roundabout number is 142857. So,
if multiplied by 2: 142857 x 2 = 285714
if multiplied by 3: 142857 x 3 = 428571
Try multiplying by other numbers. Fascinating, isn't it?
A puzzle:
Draw 4 straight lines to connect all the dots.
[Scroll down for answer.]
Answer:
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Top 5 Movies Since 2000
These are the Top 5 post-2000 movies that continue to haunt me time and again. I have purposely limited my search to the years after 2000; otherwise, there would be too many candidates vying for top honours.
For me, the essence of a good show lies in a good story with a powerful message. As a caveat, I have not watched all well-acclaimed movies (like The Dark Knight (2008) - which is on my watch-list - but by virtue of its genre, action-adventure, is unlikely to have made it to my list anyway) and so, my recommendation is limited to those movies that I have watched and have left an indelible mark on my mind.
1 A Beautiful Mind (2001)
"He saw the world in a way no one could have imagined."
A beautiful, beautiful show. The show traces the true story of John Nash, a mathematics genius, from his early days as a graduate student in Princeton, and how he overcame years of personal struggles to win the Nobel Prize for Economics. It is a story of determination, of fighting against all odds to achieve life's dreams. It is a story of unselfish love of a wife who stands by her man no matter what. It is a story of a supportive community that renders compassion to the weak and the sick in society.
2 The Pianist (2002)
"Music was his passion. Survival was his masterpiece."
Another true story of an exceptional man. The Pianist is Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jew, who was regarded as one of the best concert pianist in Europe in the 30's. The movie retells the horrors of the Holocaust when Nazi Germany invaded Poland and how Szpilman survived the years of persecution. What sets this Holocaust movie apart from the rest is the fair reminder that the world is not black or white, but shades of grey. It ranks alongside Schindler's List and Sophie's Choice as one of the best Holocaust movies ever made.
3 Brokeback Mountain (2005)
"Love is a force of nature."
To me, the ending is the most critical part of any show. And in Brokeback Mountain, the ending is both touching and memorable. The show is touted as a romantic love story - and the fact that the lovers are of the same sex is a mere coincidence. That is the beauty of the movie and a tribute to the directing genius of Lee Ang. The movie stirs the senses and evokes empathy for the two leading characters - by doing so, it bestows a huge service to the entire gay community. That is the silent power of the movie and the reason it makes it to my list.
4 Crash (2005)
"You think you know who you are. You have no idea."
The show created a hoo-hah when it snatched the Best Picture award from Brokeback Mountain in 2005. That was a blockbuster year. In the show, several stories interweave over two days in Los Angeles involving a collection of related characters. The show is an in-depth exploration of bigotry and racial prejudices. There is a twist at the end of the show which is thought-provoking and is a damning verdict of human nature.
5 A History Of Violence (2005)
"Everyone has something to hide."
It's a violent show, no doubt about it, but it's not your typical dark, gangster show. The setting is a small peaceful American town; the protagonist is an owner of the local diner with a working wife and two young children. As events unfold, we see that things are not what they seem and a gripping story unfolds. The story is unsettling on the mind and questions the notion of destiny. The movie was a Best Picture nominee for the Golden Globe but was largely ignored by the Academy Awards. I guess it is either you like it or you don't. It certainly left a deep impression in me.
For me, the essence of a good show lies in a good story with a powerful message. As a caveat, I have not watched all well-acclaimed movies (like The Dark Knight (2008) - which is on my watch-list - but by virtue of its genre, action-adventure, is unlikely to have made it to my list anyway) and so, my recommendation is limited to those movies that I have watched and have left an indelible mark on my mind.
1 A Beautiful Mind (2001)
"He saw the world in a way no one could have imagined."
A beautiful, beautiful show. The show traces the true story of John Nash, a mathematics genius, from his early days as a graduate student in Princeton, and how he overcame years of personal struggles to win the Nobel Prize for Economics. It is a story of determination, of fighting against all odds to achieve life's dreams. It is a story of unselfish love of a wife who stands by her man no matter what. It is a story of a supportive community that renders compassion to the weak and the sick in society.
2 The Pianist (2002)
"Music was his passion. Survival was his masterpiece."Another true story of an exceptional man. The Pianist is Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jew, who was regarded as one of the best concert pianist in Europe in the 30's. The movie retells the horrors of the Holocaust when Nazi Germany invaded Poland and how Szpilman survived the years of persecution. What sets this Holocaust movie apart from the rest is the fair reminder that the world is not black or white, but shades of grey. It ranks alongside Schindler's List and Sophie's Choice as one of the best Holocaust movies ever made.
3 Brokeback Mountain (2005)
"Love is a force of nature."To me, the ending is the most critical part of any show. And in Brokeback Mountain, the ending is both touching and memorable. The show is touted as a romantic love story - and the fact that the lovers are of the same sex is a mere coincidence. That is the beauty of the movie and a tribute to the directing genius of Lee Ang. The movie stirs the senses and evokes empathy for the two leading characters - by doing so, it bestows a huge service to the entire gay community. That is the silent power of the movie and the reason it makes it to my list.
4 Crash (2005)
"You think you know who you are. You have no idea."
The show created a hoo-hah when it snatched the Best Picture award from Brokeback Mountain in 2005. That was a blockbuster year. In the show, several stories interweave over two days in Los Angeles involving a collection of related characters. The show is an in-depth exploration of bigotry and racial prejudices. There is a twist at the end of the show which is thought-provoking and is a damning verdict of human nature.
5 A History Of Violence (2005)
"Everyone has something to hide."It's a violent show, no doubt about it, but it's not your typical dark, gangster show. The setting is a small peaceful American town; the protagonist is an owner of the local diner with a working wife and two young children. As events unfold, we see that things are not what they seem and a gripping story unfolds. The story is unsettling on the mind and questions the notion of destiny. The movie was a Best Picture nominee for the Golden Globe but was largely ignored by the Academy Awards. I guess it is either you like it or you don't. It certainly left a deep impression in me.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Words, Words, Words
Son No 1 is full of surprises.
The other night, after a satisfying pasta and pizza dinner at Hartamas Square, the children, seated behind in the car, were discussing death... again. Honestly, we are NOT a morbid family, but I have no control over their topics of conversation.
This time, Son No 2 started it by saying that he was going to eat a lot of good food so that even when he was 80+, he would not die. He never wanted to die... ever.
In reply, Son No 1 eloquently quoted Tolkien, saying "Death is just another path, one that we all must take."
I couldn't believe my ears - my son quoting from literature? I could not place the quote until Son No 1 revealed that it was spoken by Gandalf, the Grey, in Tolkien's trilogy, The Lord Of The Rings. I was terribly impressed, and I told him so. Son No 1 then went on to deliver another quote on death: "To the well-organised mind, death is but the next big adventure."
I was floored. Unwittingly, Son No 1 has learnt the value of literature.
Just a few days ago, we had this debate on why we needed to study literature in school. Son No 1 had written an essay for his English exam which required him to discuss whether some things that were taught in school was a waste of time. In his essay, he condemned English literature. His main thrust was that there was no necessity to study olden English, because nobody used that type of English any more. I think the reason why he formed this view, that literature = olden English, is because his school literature texts, for the past two years, have been the works of Shakespeare, The Merchant Of Venice and As You Like It. Whether Shakespeare is the best choice for an introductory course to Literature for 12-year-olds is a matter of contention but I think the school and the teacher might be blamed for the students' disparagement of the subject. The students were simply not educated on why they needed to study literature or what literature encompassed.
In my defence of the subject, I told Son No 1 that learning literature is about learning to appreciate the beauty of the language, as opposed to learning the form and function of the language which is taught during language periods. What beauty? The beauty of putting complex thoughts elegantly into few words and of using words to vividly paint a picture in a way that the mind has not seen or in forming an imagery.
Wordscraftmanship is not limited to Shakespeare, the classics, nor is it confined to novels. Very often, we see good use of words among the editors and journalists of The Time, New York Times and other respectable periodicals, to paint indelible images in the mind. If one needs further convincing, one just needs to think of the speechwriters for the presidential candidates in the recently concluded American election 2008. They have honed the art for very practical purposes (google: lipstick+pitbull).
I can't quote Shakespeare beyond "All that glitters is not gold" and "If you cut me, do I not bleed?" but all good writers leave something with their readers. To me, this is the other reason for studying literature. The study of human nature is the core of any novel or play. It is during literature lessons that cultural, psychological and human values are discussed and in the study of well-written literature, there is ample opportunity to understand human nature - the causes, the motivations and the effects. In the real world, as in the working world, this is called developing a high EQ. For those with feet planted firmly on the ground, one might then ask, what higher practical value might there be?
Anyway, coming back to my three sons, I have noticed that even Son No 2 has taken to quoting Tolkien. He goes, "my pre..cioussss...." when he wants to express his emotions!
BTW, the title of this entry is taken from Hamlet, Act 2:
POLONIUS: What do you read, my lord?
HAMLET: Words, words, words.
And some of you would have got it correct: the second quote on Death by Son No 1 is spoken by Professor Dumbledore in Harry Potter And The Sorceror's Stone.
The other night, after a satisfying pasta and pizza dinner at Hartamas Square, the children, seated behind in the car, were discussing death... again. Honestly, we are NOT a morbid family, but I have no control over their topics of conversation.
This time, Son No 2 started it by saying that he was going to eat a lot of good food so that even when he was 80+, he would not die. He never wanted to die... ever.
In reply, Son No 1 eloquently quoted Tolkien, saying "Death is just another path, one that we all must take."
I couldn't believe my ears - my son quoting from literature? I could not place the quote until Son No 1 revealed that it was spoken by Gandalf, the Grey, in Tolkien's trilogy, The Lord Of The Rings. I was terribly impressed, and I told him so. Son No 1 then went on to deliver another quote on death: "To the well-organised mind, death is but the next big adventure."
I was floored. Unwittingly, Son No 1 has learnt the value of literature.
Just a few days ago, we had this debate on why we needed to study literature in school. Son No 1 had written an essay for his English exam which required him to discuss whether some things that were taught in school was a waste of time. In his essay, he condemned English literature. His main thrust was that there was no necessity to study olden English, because nobody used that type of English any more. I think the reason why he formed this view, that literature = olden English, is because his school literature texts, for the past two years, have been the works of Shakespeare, The Merchant Of Venice and As You Like It. Whether Shakespeare is the best choice for an introductory course to Literature for 12-year-olds is a matter of contention but I think the school and the teacher might be blamed for the students' disparagement of the subject. The students were simply not educated on why they needed to study literature or what literature encompassed.
In my defence of the subject, I told Son No 1 that learning literature is about learning to appreciate the beauty of the language, as opposed to learning the form and function of the language which is taught during language periods. What beauty? The beauty of putting complex thoughts elegantly into few words and of using words to vividly paint a picture in a way that the mind has not seen or in forming an imagery.
Wordscraftmanship is not limited to Shakespeare, the classics, nor is it confined to novels. Very often, we see good use of words among the editors and journalists of The Time, New York Times and other respectable periodicals, to paint indelible images in the mind. If one needs further convincing, one just needs to think of the speechwriters for the presidential candidates in the recently concluded American election 2008. They have honed the art for very practical purposes (google: lipstick+pitbull).
I can't quote Shakespeare beyond "All that glitters is not gold" and "If you cut me, do I not bleed?" but all good writers leave something with their readers. To me, this is the other reason for studying literature. The study of human nature is the core of any novel or play. It is during literature lessons that cultural, psychological and human values are discussed and in the study of well-written literature, there is ample opportunity to understand human nature - the causes, the motivations and the effects. In the real world, as in the working world, this is called developing a high EQ. For those with feet planted firmly on the ground, one might then ask, what higher practical value might there be?
Anyway, coming back to my three sons, I have noticed that even Son No 2 has taken to quoting Tolkien. He goes, "my pre..cioussss...." when he wants to express his emotions!
BTW, the title of this entry is taken from Hamlet, Act 2:
POLONIUS: What do you read, my lord?
HAMLET: Words, words, words.
And some of you would have got it correct: the second quote on Death by Son No 1 is spoken by Professor Dumbledore in Harry Potter And The Sorceror's Stone.
Monday, 1 December 2008
Party Bug
Son No 1 attended a farewell party for a classmate yesterday. Benedict is leaving for a boarding school in Singapore.The poolside party was held at another classmate, Mishka's condominium at Kelana Jaya. I'll skip the details (actually, I don't have a lot of details) but suffice to say that they all had a lot of fun.
Parents were not invited (obviously), but I managed to get this shot when we arrived at 6pm to fetch Son No 1 home. The group was already posing for Mishka's father when we arrived. I saw them from afar and quickly morphed into a mad sprinter to seize the opportunity to take a shot too. Luckily, I had my camera handy. So, here is half the class of Year 8 Terra:
Standing: Benedict, Mishka
Second row: Sho, Son No 1, Lea, Kathryn, Alyssa
Front row: Edmund, Thomas, Luke, Darren, Melissa
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