Friday, November 30, 2012

Sands Auckland Central

Every now and then, on the first Saturday morning of the month, I do a "hideaway". I go the the Pt Chevalier Community Centre, where some Sands parents meet and share with each other things which may not be free for them to share outside. I go for a little me time, a little me and Andrew time, and mainly for me as an Oldie to share my painful experience to tell the newbies that it is OK to cry. Every time I go, there is a new mum who has just joined this "sad club". We didn't choose to join this club. We are the bereaved parents club. What some one shares may resonate in use, it applies to us too. Some people tell me to move on. They have no idea what they are talking about and how much it hurts the bereaved parents when they say," Get over it." Here is a poem from my book, I edited it. Empty arms. The hole in the heart, is bigger than a well. The hole never mends. Instead a stack is continually stabbing. Blood never cease to ooze. A puzzle piece is missing. Life is never the same again. Only a fellow mum who has lost her babe, Will understand your pain. She will not ask you to stop crying. For she wears the same pair of shoes. For she feels the pinching at the toes. Open your heart to her. Together you journey. Until you meet your angels again. A pair of shoes has been seen as symbolizing Van Gogh’s difficult passage through life. As I write, I think I become more creative. I write for my readers, and most of all, I write for myself. This is an excerpt of my poem chapter of my "Diary of a bereaved mother, Goodbye my baby" book. I am a Sands mum for 23 years, and I am a counsellor and advocate. All Sands people are volunteers. I have photographed Tania and Hillary. Non-Profit Organization Sands Auckland Central is a parent-run group supporting families, throughout the Auckland region (mainly North Shore, Central Auckland and Waitakere), who have experienced the death of a baby - at any age or gestation, and in any circumstance. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sands-Auckland-Central/112396652171998?sk=info

FSO: Things that Look like Faces

Things that Look like Faces This is a tough one...and a busy season for many of us. I hope you all managed to find some faces hiding here and there. (Whose idea was this anyway? I confess, I'm the guilty one.) I hope you had fun with it though. Sorry only one photo, I did have one of a tree trunk, but I can't find it. Have you all been having problem with bogger? There is this extra DIV and you have to delete? Drives me crazy. tp://mytownshootout.blogspot.com

Photohunt: advertising Brand New ZEaland : Education

Dr Jannie van Heess, the Project Director NZ ranked eighth in global education study http://t.co/3ZQE6fc8 via @TVNZNews NZ ranked eighth in global education study tvnz.co.nz This Brand New Zealand features the diversity and the quality of Education in New Zealand. http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.co.nz/2011/11/list-of-photo-hunting-themes.html http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com  

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Alphabe-Thursday letter B for buffalo.

Is Edmund scared of his grandpa's buffalo up in the Bario Highlands. May be he shouldn't have worn the red cap.  Photos by my niece Jane Kallang. Up in the highlands, they still use buffaloes to plough their fields. The Bario rice is is very renowned and delicious. The only trouble is, this beautiful land can be accessed by plane only. They also mine a black salt which is very good for you.

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.co.nz/search/label/Alphabe-Thursday

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

My world: Chinese grave

This is a very old Chinese Grave found next the Sarawak Museum in Kuching. You don't find many of these big graves today especially in land scarce Singapore and Hongkong. In these two countries, the dead are exhumed to make way for the living. These graves are called armchairs, It looks like a sofa seat. It is a very important official of the king's court. It is commonly believed that when a man is alive, he may be lowly peasant, but when he dies he can still be an official of the king. Therefore, no expense is spared to build the grave. The other reason is the Chinese used to ( they still do) worship their ancestors, and pray to them to look after them and bless them. My Grandfather used to tell us, when a disaster had been avoided, it is because our ancestors have been seated high up, so he could see afar and take care of us. The dead doesn't sleep, or he is not allowed to. So he is seated, awake 24/7 in the arm chair. If he was sleeping, he could not be taking care of us. A good grave site is high up the slopes of the hills.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Father and son






This is a very traditional photo of the Chans, a photograph of 3 generations. My Grandpa Chan Kee Seng is photographed with his second born male, my Dad, John Chan Hiu Fei. Dad was substituting for my oldest Uncle in China who was banished to Manchuria. Charles is the first born male/grand son.

When I hear, "I have to go away", my Grandpa left China to Sarawak. Dad went to England, and Charles went to New Zealand and Australia.

http://youtu.be/Q29YR5-t3gg A happy Father's day to everyone.
"Father And Son"

Father
It's not time to make a change,
Just relax, take it easy.
You're still young, that's your fault,
There's so much you have to know.
Find a girl, settle down,
If you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.

I was once like you are now, and I know that it's not easy,
To be calm when you've found something going on.
But take your time, think a lot,
Why, think of everything you've got.
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.

Son
How can I try to explain, when I do he turns away again.
It's always been the same, same old story.
From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen.
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go.

Father
It's not time to make a change,
Just sit down, take it slowly.
You're still young, that's your fault,
There's so much you have to go through.
Find a girl, settle down,
if you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.

Son
All the times that I cried, keeping all the things I knew inside,
It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it.
If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them you know not me.
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go.




http://youtu.be/JCQVnSOFqfM

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Christmas in Rocket Park.

Had a wonderful day today. I wonder if New Zealand is the first place to celebrate Christmas, organised by Mt Albert Baptist Church together with the local community.. http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/ 


Friday, November 23, 2012

Church in the Park.

Don't come to the church buildings to morrow. But go across the road to the park at 10am, NOT 9 or 11. At 10 am.
This is not Rocket park, just pretend it is. we meet at 10am on 25th November in Rocket Park for Church in the Park. Our church is hosting 'Christmas in Rocket Park' tomorrow (New North Rd, Mt Albert) starting at 3:30pm with kids activities and ending with Carols by Candlelight at about 9pm. See this link for a video of the last two years' celebration. Hope to see you there :) xx http://www.mabc.org.nz/christmas-in-rocket-park/

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Fri Shootout: At Rest, At Play, or In Between




 You can see a reflection of me, play as it is fun with my camera and work as I am seeking items for blogging.
 This is work, I am reading with my student. Can't show you my student's face,
 This looks like play, actually it was work. I went to my Ethiopian's student to do an interview about their culture. Then It turned out to be play. Mum made their food and gave me a coffee ceremony.
 This is play, a Kun Ming lantern landed in my garden. It became work when I researched about it.
Meeting my friends from Singapore. Lots of play.

November 23: At Rest, At Play, or In Between How do you spend your time? http://mytownshootout.blogspot.co.nz/


http://mytownshootout.blogspot.com






A big tree, Camillon has fallen.



A big tree has fallen,
Ginger, there will be a time when you miss Camillon.
It seems that he died at a happy time.
He went when there no a worry,
As you both were on holiday.
I came on broad Friday Shoot out at around the same time as you.
I pray for you.
It is Ok to cry.
Yes, you will miss him.

I have followed Ginger's blog for a long time although I haven't been following anyone much since I 



http://mytownshootout.blogspot.co.nz/

My Special wok



Here is my Italian flat-bottom Chinese Wok. It is meant to do everything from baking, boiling, stir frying, braising, pan frying and so on. In Chinese, they call it a ten thousand ability pot aka WAN NEN KUO. But the sales promotor at Yaohan saw that I wanted a flat bottom wok desperately, didn't bother to promote it's qualities to me. This Japanese store had long folded, but my Wok is still as good as ever. It's definitely worthed its money.

In Singapore, our kitchen was on the third floor. Many a time, the lid became a flying saucer and flew downstairs. Luckily, it didn't crash land on anyone, otherwise, it might be taken as an evidence as an UFO or in Singapore term, litter killer.

Alphabe-Thursday: letter A for Ambulance

A for Ambulance at the Rejang Medical centre, Sibu, Sarawak.



http://jennymatlock.blogspot.co.nz/search/label/Alphabe-Thursday

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thursday Challenge: Stationery, Calligraphy




My late father was a very homely person. He read a lot. When he retired, he took up Chinese black ink painting. My oldest daughter D remembers fondly of her grand dad teaching her this Chinese art.


To the art critic, this may be a very amateurish painting, but this is the only one I have. It is a family heirloom and I shared it here with all my siblings and their children.

He used calligraphy to name his painting and signed his name.






"STATIONERY" (Books, Journals, Pens, Calligraphy, Bookmarks, Rubber Stamps, Cards,...)

http://www.spunwithtears.com/thursday.html

Monday, November 19, 2012

joseph, gentleman fisherman.





My second brother, is a fisherman hobbyist, if there such a word. applies here. He enjoys the peace and tranquility when he goes fishing with his mates. And then when the fish bites, there is a lot of excitement.

He took me fishing once, at 4 am in the morning. Even doped with the anti-seasickness pill, I was still groggy. I told him, "Thanks, Joseph, having fished once in the deep blue ocean is good enough for me."

We caught a lot of ray sharks that day.

I wonder when he is in his law firm, if he dreams of fishing.


***This one didn't get away. It's an eel, caught off his jetty. It is as long as his son Jordan's height.****





http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com