The Fighter

Pandelela we are informed is just the girl next door; an ordinary girl with the golden ambition.

To make it to the Olympics from a humble background and beginning. No frills. Just fight tooth and nail. 

No time for regrets; no time for pampering, no time to give excuses.

Such is Malaysia's latest star in the Olympics.

The diver.

Behind her success to whom she publicly admits is her father; the man who knew that her girl is a water baby and gives her all the support. I love the story of the struggle to do well amidst stiff competition from the international scene. But most of all I admire Pamg Joheng's belief in his daughter; that she could make it. So he used the humble vehicle to send her for regular practice and training. So he is right. His daughter has the potential, guts and physique for the sports. Father and daughter work hand in hand in a loving relationship. She tells her contemporaries a good attitude and story. To appreciate her parents for what they can provide and not blame circumstances for what she lacks. That's the value I love.Many can learn from her.

This is Pandelela; the tough nut made up of a tough composition; fit for world sports.

 

Pandelela reminds me of Seafield's very own girl next door...Eugenia.She is also a local girl from Sarawak and she represented the country in the recent Sukma games. Doesn't she too remind you of another success story? We hope and pray she can make it to the international arena too; one day.

Eugenia, run.

 The girls.

The Best

 In this humble nook of Subang Jaya, people line up for a cause.

You are willing to queue for a reason, won't you?

So when the queue is perpetual throughout the day, you have to line up too.

Here, the customers line up for pasembo ( Indian rojak), nasi lemak kukus (steamed coconut rice), cendol, curry puffs, rolls and last but not least the various vadais !

 This queue believe me lasts throughout the day. There is a constant flow of customers for the Indian Rojak. I once asked the vendor what was is about his preparation to which he merely shrugged his shoulders and said " tak tahu la..." ( I don't really know).

 Today I decided to pop over again and meet Sara's crave for her favorite.

 She told me that she pines for them every now and then and detoured last week to buy them when I picked her at the train station.

 She is right to use this term...magical.

Dad repeated after her today after tasting them.

This is vadai kacang (dhall) immersed in fried curry leaves and is out of the world ! How does one describe the taste? Impossible ! No justice done.

 This is another version of the vadai family. Tastes just as magical. Go get them.

The stall is in SS15 close to the KFC outlet.

Look at the meticulous way they pack their product; accompanied by chilli padi! Dad gobbles down a mouthful of the chilli every time he bites the vadai. I can do do without them though. The vadai will do fine.

Go get them now...

No regrets...

Imported

No Glitter in 'imported' medals

by Seah Chiang Nee

The Star 11August2012

I read with interest at Seah's feelings towards his nation's achievement in the recent Olympics where China-born Feng Tianwei who became a Singapore citizen in 2007 gave Singapore her first individual bronze medal since 1960. The general feeling was not one of great pride as Feng is seen as an 'imported' citizen; not one born and bred locally. Talent hunting among the locals for great sporstsman and women is finding a needle in a haystack. The local population is not big with immigrants growing by the day. For a nation lacking in natural resources, the human resource is her biggest hope. For this she will keep looking for the brain to flow in. So it's not too surprising when many students in Malaysia are offered scholarships to pursue secondary education in the island especially students from Chinese vernacular schools where they fit in like gloves in the society.
Many of these students too continue to earn for a living on the island when they become adults and later start their families here. This 'kinship' as mentioned once by the former Prime Minister is real.Will this tie ever end?
Seah recalls...I remember when I was actively reporting, a very senior figure told several editors that there was benefit in bringing in trained doctors, research scientists and university professors, people with PhDs... After others had trained them, we attract them to come and work here... the savings of 6 to 8 years must be very high...   
So I too find 2 of my girls actively working on this island after we had spent 'the savings of many years' on them. When I ask them why the need to work away from home; they gave me thee reasons:

• some space from the nagging mama; Singapore is near enough for weekend trips home
• the remuneration and meritocracy
• working with new setups

The 3rd daughter  begs to differ. No way is she leaving home; there is a cause to stand for at home.
3 daughters from the same mother but seeing things in different perspectives.

What will happen to the lives of the two sisters on the island? Will 'kinship' turn into something deeper? Will they stay there for the rest of their lives? Won't they miss the 'physical space' in their motherland? Esther confesses that she misses it. So this is just part of a simple illustration of the tie that never ends and how they too have become 'imports'.

Well, life is full of surprises. 

I hope to discover good things from decisions made; from divine intervention.

                 

Is it so?

 Dinner is over. 

Everyone repeats the reminder.

Go get it.

 Is this the beginning ?

 Is it really happening?

 The obvious is in line.

 Yes; it's the queue.

 A rejected and dejected figure; but he gave joy to many.

 Baskin Robbins is fulfilling the promise; yes free ice cream for Malaysians of all walks of life ! Daddy asks me to line up too. No dad; I just want to see the crowd, feel the excitement and then go home. Who is talking about the queue? We queued to see the line for the ice cream too! Isn't it good that Malaysians take simple joys in simple promises?

All thanks to the hero of the nation at the Olympics. Thank you for the great fight and the spirit. Indeed your deed spoke volumes and many saw your genuine attempt.

And ... Malaysians say thank you for the ice cream!~

Names

I like the sounds of these names:

Moira

Myrna

Mylene

Why you may ask?

They seem to be associated with girls that are well-brought up and well-mannered.

They also sound ancient but definitely dignified and upright.

Google tells me that Mylene means merciful, Myrna means beloved and Moira means Star of the Sea.

The mentioned names also always remind me of British girls in grammar schools learning the basics of proper living and being nurtured into ladies worth emulating. Oh I know I do sound old -fashioned and perhaps I am very old-fashioned deep down..

Names are important for they cause a person to grow into characteristics closely knitted with the meanings of the names ; I believe.

The Tears

A belief

A stand

A heartache

I first watched it over a National Geographic documentary; it being shown as the time draws nearer to another year of remembering the National Day of Singapore. The human factor is so real in our roles as parents, leaders in an organization, or even in NGOs and religious setups.
As parents we become natural leaders in our homes. We teach values we uphold and believe and practise. We also hope by our living the next generation will emulate some of the proven ways and not to take the 'less travelled roads'. Yet, we also know that more often than not, we can be in tears like him when we don't get our ways with them.We believe in our ways.But we have to learn to accept their ways even if it means going against principles...
In work places; we can also face the same issues when we become less careful. We believe in certain patterns of execution of tasks; but we see different standards. We learn to forgive, accept and go on or we will end up in tears too...
In other organizations we also are challenged as we grow older. We can be obstinate and proud and believe in the stands of our lives; but we have to again concede to others' points of view or we will find ourselves in no man's island...

The tears is a venue for reflection, an outpouring of frustrations and a solace to broken dreams and hopes.
The tears is also a beginning to a new hope as new resolutions are made.
The tears will give rise to the silver lining as rainbows appear after the rain.
Singapore has seen her rainbow too.
We also hope to see rainbows in our lives every time a tough decision has to be made.
Do you believe in rainbows? They make you go on.

Leisure

Leisure

 

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

William Henry Davies

 Lovely small blooms that flower naturally.

 The carefree terrapin who cares about nothing.

 The trunk is but just a spot for the ferns to perch and live.

 Ferns that know no bounds.

 The evergreen flowering creeper that climbs freely.

This is the most loved spot; the green creeper that spreads so widely without fuss.

 Leisure is one of the poems that may be tested tomorrow.

As we examined the truth behind the simplicity of the poem both teacher and students truly agree that we must pause and appreciate life and nature.

Today I became an obedient student of the poem and walked around the garden, pausing here and there to see the beauty of nature. Today I resolved too that I cannot solve all the problems of the world; but I can at least love myself enough to see the beauty of life.

Leisure has taught me precious lessons.