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I do a lot of different kinds of writing, This is one of them

Christmas Chinese BBQ

 I was invited to the New Zealand Chinese BBQ, The building with the Chinese words evoked such emotional response in me.

Here they have plaques and tiles which acknowledge the donations the members have made to build this building. I was very pleased to see my friend Turners and Growers. During their Oct Refugee lunch, I saw Jeffery Turner. He told me his family and the Chinese go a long way back.

 These individual tile reminds me of my Grad dads on both sides going about to raise money for the Nanyang University in Singapore. It was to be a people's university. My Grand dad and Dad used to proudly say they owned a brick in that University. I was to benefit from their generosity when my husband became a Professor there, and I was faculty wife for 16 years. My oldest girl, did her first degree there.

Christmas also meant fundraising. The women organised a raffles for the Starship hospital.

 BBQ is a summer activity. There were yummy food, brought as pot luck, but the meat was provided. I love the ham. 

This is how we celebrate Christmas. We did have Santa dressed in the traditional red.

What does your town look like at the beginning of the Christmas season? And if you are not celebrating, what does the start of December look like in your corners of the world.

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

The Chinese in Auckland.

The Chinese came to New Zeanad in the 1850s. They have came to Dunedin to mine the gold, more like tailings when the other miners had moved on. 

The Chinese have been in New Zealand for 130 years.They came when they were invited by two Otago invitations mine gold in 1865. At the turn of the 20th century the racial issue became dominant and led to the White New Zealand policy of exclusion. The Chinese were the only race group who had to pay a poll tax of ten pounds because of The Chinese Immigrants Act of 1881

Today, there are 117,000 in the country and 112,000 live in Auckland.

Many proposals to have a Chinese garden have been met with disappointment. There is a garden in Dunedin and in Hamilton. It is timely for the Chinese to have a garden to call their own and for the rest of New Zealand to share the Chinese culture and Heritage.

I was in a New Zealand Chinese Association, Auckland Inc. lunch. Ron Sang , architect, gave his proposal.

 Susan Zhu, deputy Chairperson of Whau Local Board and Kai Luey, Chairman of the Auckland Chinese Community Centre.

Millennium Tree , I puff with pride when I tell my children this is our tree.




The Millennium Tree was gifted by the Chinese people to New Zealand. It was not without controversy. It was first proposed to be erected in the Rose Garden,. residents formed a protest group to stop the work, citing a lack of consultation and the aesthetic clash with the gardens' Victorian and Edwardian atmosphere.Much protest  led it to beerected in the Domain.

At the base of the tree are Chinese words set in chrome. You have to look carefully, otherwise you won't notice it. Guy's work was inspired by the cudgel or staff of SUN-WU-KONG, the Monkey King of Chinese legend - the fabled staff could dispel all obstacles.

Our world: Auckland Domain

John Edgar's Photo courtesy his website. I am proud to know this artist's parents.

This photo is courtesy Auckland city council. Because when I was there, as I wasn't sure if this is the sculpture, I didn't take the photo from a wide prospective, and take them together.
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My first reaction when I saw it from afar, was it looks like a grenade. Then as I walked closer, it was an enlongated shape. An unexploded torpedo which is appropriate as the Auckland War memorial is just near by. Upon closer look, at the end of it, were two red spots, I then thought of it as a caterpillar. The very hungry caterpillar by Eric Carle. A favourite book of my students.


No offence, John if my interpretation is wrong. Perhaps the Domain Parks keeper should go and replace your plaque.

This helpful grass cutter came all the way, stopped his machine and asked if he could help me. Ka Pai to him. It was him to led me to a woman who led me the way.


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FSO : beginning of the Christmas season

 

It's too hot down under in New Zealand. Santa sent his son.

 

The Start of the Season [Friday My Town Shoot Out] [Link-up]

What does your town look like at the beginning of the Christmas season? And if you are not celebrating, what does the start of December look like in your corners of the world.

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

/Alphabe-Thursday letter C for cake

 bought just 2 slices of black forest birthday cake because there were only 2 of us.
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Farewell Leni

Today friend M tells me that Leni has died.
Leni and I were faculty wives in NTU in Singapore.
Though I left in 2006,
Our friendship had not diluted.

I was most touched my Leni's act of generosity.
In 2012, I went to visit Singapore,
I remarked her beautiful top.

She took me to a boutique,
And brought this top for me.
The girl in the shop said, you must be a special friend,
for her to buy such an expensive top.

Last year, when I visited,
She took me to the Marina gardens.
Today, she has joined my Aunty,
and my baby Andrew in Heaven.

I will  miss you, Leni.
When I wear this top,
I will remember you.