Monday, December 31, 2012

Sunday Stills: The Next Challenge: Your Best Shot(S) of 2012





WheWhen I was growing up in Borneo, we had animals and feathered friends. They were not out pets as such, but working animals. In Auckland you can keep about 6 hens as pets, provided the coop is away from public places. You can't keep chicken in confined places. Last Christmas, which is summer here, we were infested with flies and the stench blew all round the neighbourhood. Visitors refused to sat long. I wrote to the council, and later, I saw them move the coop away from the fence. One day, I saw a "space astronaut at their footpath." Not long after, This news came on TV. Sunday Stills, the next challenge: petshttp://sundaystills.wordpress.com/ Scientists warn of danger of backyard chickens http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/scientists-warn-danger-backyard-chickens-5285897 Published: 6:12PM Wednesday December 12, 2012 Source: ONE News Backyard chickens are popular as a daily source of fresh healthy eggs, but a recent study suggests the birds could also be a source of illness. In a world-first study, Government scientists tested the faeces of 291 backyard chickens. Environment Science and Research's Brent Gilpin told ONE News: "What we found was that more than half of those samples contained campylobacter and 86% of the flocks were positive." Although some level of contamination was expected, the high levels came as a surprise. The lab now believes backyard chickens are making hundreds of people sick each year - possibly even thousands. "It's become a more popular activity and I think we fail to realise that it's a bit different to your cat or your dog in that they do have what is a quite serious illness potentially transmitted via their faecal material," Gilpin said. People are being reminded to wash their hands after collecting eggs and coming into contact with chickens.

http://sundaystills.wordpress.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012


Photo hunt, Bells:The rampage in the northeastern state of Connecticut

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Our friend from UK, Magician Bernard Bell performed in many schools in Singapore. Xing Nam school gave him this bell in appreciation for his free show. Bernard gave it to us, he said, when you see this bell, it will remind you of the real bell.


Bernard Bell was originally from England, then travelled the world to give pleasure with his magic shows for free and spreading God's good news.
We invited him to stay with us when he came to Singapore. We were impressed with his humble lifestyle. Our hospitality was nothing compared to the good work he was doing.
I made a lot of new friends who came to watch his show in my house. There was a G. whose son had watch Bernard in his school. He came home to tell G. that she had to see Bernard's show in my house because he was so good, and he wanted G. to video his act. G. became my friend.
Indeed I have a tinge of sadness when I see it. Bernard passed away not long after that in New Zealand. 15th ~ Bellshttp://whistlestopphotohunt.blogspot.co.nz This meme was chosen long ago. Yet, today, For Whom the Bell Tolls? the bells toll for all the little children and adults gunned down senselessly in a rampage in the northeastern state of Connecticut

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012


FSO/ Chinese/Penans/Punans adapting to new life.

Christmas is a relatively new adopted tradition in my family. Dad introduced it to us after he returned from England, Christmas was a basically a religious event, plus the trimmings of an supper after church. As we adapt to a new life when Mum and dad went to live in Australia, the trimmings become more lavish.


It was twenty seven years ago when I had Christmas with my parents and brothers and their families in Australia. This year, I made an impromptu trip to Australia and celebrated Christmas with them at Joseph's house.

What is Christmas like Down under without the snow?

Joseph roasted/smoked his turkeys in an American Weber BBQ, and Charles did his yummy ham. We had a great time despite the hot Australian summer. There were prawn platter, chicken, salad, salami, beef jerky, fruit platter and the fiercely claimed by Australia and New Zealand Pavlova. And plenty of champagne and vodka to wash down the food.

My brothers are great cooks.http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2008/12/begger-chicken.html

This is a Penan or Punan woman. The Penans are nomadic people in Sarawak,Borneo. Here she is using her nose to play a flute.

My younger brother, Dr Henry Chan, an anthropologist spent a lot of time in the jungle with them.
In 2009, I went up to the Mulu mountains and we were taken up to a resettlement. I wondered if the people felt more comfortable in the bush of in the new long houses which are foreign to them.http://mytownshootout.blogspot.com



Chook chook chook, come to daddy.

The Next Challenge: Your Best Shot(S) of 2012


For the last challenge of 2012 its time to look back over the past year and pick a few  of your best shots or just your favorite shots.


Sunday Stills: One tree




The next challenge, One tree.

http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Photohunting: Gathering





The church family were gathered together for the first ever church in the park on 25th November 2012. It was a good gathering, the sun was up. In the afternoon and evening, we had Christmas in the Park.
















http://gattina-eyholepictures.blogspot.co.nz/2011/11/list-of-photo-hunting-themes.html
http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com  

Thursday, December 27, 2012

FSO: Gifts for a surprised Christmas party




The year was 1979.
We were students are the Auckland University.
We decided to host a surprise Christmas party.
Everyone was to bring a present.
As it was public holidays,
the shops were closed,
We told our friends
just come with what you can.
Before we opened the present,
We had to feel, smell to guess what we got.
This friend had no idea what he was given.
When he tore away the wrapping,
We all laughed, he got a frozen chicken.
It was indeed a surprise.

Student days!!!!! Life was full of surprises.



Gifts

Gifts - Birthday gifts, Mitzah gifts, Hanukkah gifts, Christmas gifts. 
Highlight your gift giving occasions or share a special gift given or received.


Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Alphabe-Thursday: Letter F for Ferry






My friend from Bintangnor sent me these ferry photos. It brings me fond memories of another ferry that used to ply further up the river at My maternal grand parents' at Durin. That ferry had been replaced by a bridge.

Thank you John Benet.



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

My World: My tree,




 It's my tree, don't you chop it down.
:http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/ Trouble with blogger, no paragraphing. Do any of you have similar trouble

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Sunday stills, Holiday Lights and decorations









Sunday Stills, the next challenge: Holiday Lights and Decorations

Deck the halls and put up the lights, its that time of year again. While I have seen some pretty impressive light displays this year it seems not as many folks do the outdoor light displays as in previous years. So this week lets see some light displays, you may need a tripod or a camera with a fast shutterspeed for night shots or how about some holiday day displays….

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Photo hunt: Looking in Bloom Cafe.



I stood outside this cafe and looking in to take this photo, not because I thought the food is fantastic but it has so many stamps the cafe has achieved as conscious consumers.
http://www.consciousconsumers.org.nz/



Bloom Cafe is open every day from 9:30am to 4:00pm (3:30pm in the Winter) for Brunch, Lunch and Morning or Afternoon Tea. Everything is homemade on the premises and presented with flair. We use only free-range eggs and chicken.  Your choice of loose-leaf tea is served in a china teapot accompanied by a delicate bone china cup! Or enjoy a cup of delicious organic, fairtrade Kokako coffee. 

Located inside Eden Garden, its a place I can spent the whole day. http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/weekend-reflections-flowers.html

Looking in
http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.co.nz/2011/11/list-of-photo-hunting-themes.html http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com  

Friday, December 21, 2012

FSO: Rainy Theme: a very rainy day.



 a sheet of rain falling like a water fall
 Looking up, you see the rain pouring down,
 Construction work had to cease.
A puddle .

December 21: Rainy Theme:umbrellas , rain boots, raincoats, rain on the window, etc.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Outdoor Wednesday:Sculptor Artist John Edgar



 This is sculptor John Edgar. I know his parents Bill and Rae. Two years ago I did a post on him and his sculptures that he did for Auckland.http://annkschin.blogspot.co.nz/2010/06/outdoor-wednesday-sculture-by-john.html

 I had morning tea at Eden Garden with them yesterday.  His Dad told me this which made me so proud  to be friends of John's Dad and Mum. John made for the Queens Garden in Windsor Great Park for the Queen's birthday Jubilee.


http://annkschin.blogspot.co.nz/2010/06/outdoor-wednesday-sculture-by-john.html




http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com

Alphabe-Thursday Letter E for Emotions

 This pair of a cross between a Chinese wooden clog  aka ChaikGiak and a Penang beaded slipper attracted my eye.
 This pair of morphed ChaikGiak evodes such an Emotion that I had to buy it even though it is not comfortable. In fact it pinches. So why did I buy it and suffer?
Many many years ago when I just finished my high school, 3 of us went to the teachers college.  We bought this ChaikGiak to wear to the ablution block. It was the first week, and we were taken to a city tour. For some crazy reasons, we wore the ChaikGiak. This wooden ChaikGiak made a lot of sound. When we went to the mosque, we had to take off our ChaikGiak. The tour leader was mortified, "You don't go to the city wearing that!!!!"

I left shortly because I wanted to go abroad. R left too, and only J remain to graduate. I left the country and saw them only once until this year. I saw J and via facebook R. We exchanged memories. We laughed and our ChaikGiak came top of our list. We also shared this with old class mates during our mini re-union.

Here to you, R amd J. When I walk around in the house making Giak Giak Giak , I think of you and Robert Frost's poem "Two roads meet."

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