Pet Fish

We kept Ah Teck and Dolly from when they were very small gold fish frys. We fed them red blood worms, and little fish pellets. They grew as big as our fist.

They were good entertainment. Sometimes, we just sat and watch them swim. We were hoping they would breed, but they didn't.

One day, while we were on holiday, the tropical thunder storm tripped our electric supply. The power to the aquarium failed. Our "Fish-sitter" was very worried. We told her not to, Ah Teck and Dolly had lived a good ripe age.

Those of you in Singapore would recognise Ah Teck and Dolly. They were very popular TV characters.

Pearls

In nature, when a tiny bit of sand lands inside the oyster, it treats it as an irritant and coats it. This slowly grows to be a pearl.

Man has imitated this and developed a cultured pearl. They use a bit of mussel shell. Culture pearls tend to be a complete sphere.

The Chinese believe that pearl powder are good for one's health. When My Father-in-law visited a pearl farm in China, he bought me some pearl powder and facial cream.

In Singapore, I saw a set of Japanese Mikimoto pearl necklace and bracelet. This was among the few extravagant things I have bought. Everyone admired it. Sad to say, I have misplaced the necklace.

The water engineer went to Hawaii and bought me this pinkish-orangy pearl necklace. I don't wear it often, in case I misplace it again. Sister Rose tells me that it is good to wear pearl all the time, it smooths the skin on the neck.

My ESOL student Andre from Tahiti gave me this set of black pearls. The big drop is to be made into a pendant, and the two smaller ones as ear-rings. I will give it to D for her to make into what ever she likes.

Parks and flowers

Auckland is beautiful with seasonal flowers. We must thank the park keepers for their hard work.

Survivor Borneo 3

I think I caught a fish, I think! I hope it is not a snake. We should have enough protein to win the next immunity challenge.

Survivor Borneo

My niece Jane was disappointed that the island was turned into a resort so she had normal food, instead of hunting for her own. Still it's a nice place to get away because they limit the numbers of people on the island. There was still daring activities like being so crazy that they dived from the jetty.

Survivor

To all survivor fans, this is survivor One revisited.

My niece Jane and her friends from the civilised capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur to the Island Pulau Tiga. Those of you, ardent fans of the reality show Survivor Borneo will recognise that this was where the first series was filmed.

Jane went snorkeling and had a mud bath too... you can actually float when you are in the mud...

She didn't say if she ate rats and snakes.

Hong Kong

Photos by an engineer's daughter