One day last week, I turned on the Australia Network on ASTRO but was rudely interrupted by my Mum who needed my help to carry some stuff from the car to the outdoor kitchen. As I was schlepping the bags of groceries, I walked past the window and overheard a very familiar voice. I knew that the television show 'One Plus One' was on but I wasn't sure who Jane Hutcheon was interviewing. After I got the chores done, I came in and when I saw the man with the familiar voice, I didn't recognise him right away. I was not sure and I kept asking, "What happened? I left less than 2 years ago and whatdid you do?" The veteran television journalist's name eventually flashed across the bottom left side of the TV screen and I realized that he was really Peter Harvey - the grandfatherly newsman with a sexy voice.
I watched the interview with great sadness. I also felt inspired because Peter was putting up a good fight, he wasn't going to give up and he wasn't going to let any worries of the day to ruin his tomorrows. He also said that he wasn't going to let his fears about his tomorrows to ruin his todays. What he said about his worries/fears and his todays/tomorrows really inspired me. It is so good that he is a sharer. When I was working as a dishpig last year, a student in his mid-teens used to buy drinks from me from time to time. He had cancer but no one was to talk about his illness. We were warned by a disciplinarian to not even question him as to why he wore a beanie. The kid probably didn't even know what was going on. I fought back tears when I had to serve him. Wouldn't it be so much better if his mates knew the full story and could be there to 'support' him? What was all the secrecy for? I wondered if he suspected anything...
I read that Peter Harvey was admitted into hospital yesterday and was 'doing it tough'. I hope that he will hang in there and get well. I shall pray for him tonight. I don't know the man personally but along with Brian Naylor, Peter Harvey is someone I enjoyed watching or listening to on TV.
For those who are interested to watch the interview I watched on Australia Network, here is a link to watch it online: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-15/one-plus-one-peter-harvey/4521724
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Bloody Snake
I went down to the local Burger King (aka Hungry Jack's in Australia) joint for lunch late yesterday morning. On the way there, I saw a few unmasked sandmen (DBKK workers) clearing the drains. I enjoyed my meal and was on my way home again. After I turned off Jalan Kolam, I was thinking that may be I should have worn my sandals to look more local and it was then also that I noticed a truck parked under a tree. I noted the lady seated on the passenger side but it was while I was distracted by the truck that I nearly step on a bloody snake. It was sun baking on the muddy path. After I stepped over it, I thought there was something looking at me and went back for another look. It was a bloody snake, alright! It was at least the length of my arm. The body was mostly mud in colour with disticntive reddish markings. I jumped around like I was doing a local version of Riverdance to get away from it. I wasn't doing step dancing to amuse the woman in the truck. I was scared. I definitely do not like snakes. I have been to Melbourne Zoo numerous times but I have never ventured into the snake house.
2013 is indeed the year of the snake. Some people also call it the little dragon year. A few months ago, towards the end of the dragon year, a baby snake explored our kitchen. It hid behind the water filter. A few days later, another baby snake explored the spare bathroom! Later another one was spotted near my brother's hobby area.
Thank goodness that the snake didn't bite me. I wondered if I was protected by a couple of saints at the time. St Francis is the patron saint of animals and St Patrick apparently chased away snakes. When I was in Melbourne, we usually go to St Patrick's when my family visited. After I have started taking the church more seriously, I used to go to St Francis on Lonsdale Street. The snake I encountered yesterday did move about a bit when I stepped back to take another look but really, I thank God that I wasn't bitten. I quite believe that it wasn't time for me to get hurt. I have returned to Kota Kinabalu for 21 months. I am still pretty clueless as to why I am still here. There must be a reason. God has a plan and I am beginning to realize that he wouldn't set me up for something that I do not have the strength to go through. I was abandoned and I have survived thus far. So I probably could manage what He really has in store for me.
2013 is indeed the year of the snake. Some people also call it the little dragon year. A few months ago, towards the end of the dragon year, a baby snake explored our kitchen. It hid behind the water filter. A few days later, another baby snake explored the spare bathroom! Later another one was spotted near my brother's hobby area.
Thank goodness that the snake didn't bite me. I wondered if I was protected by a couple of saints at the time. St Francis is the patron saint of animals and St Patrick apparently chased away snakes. When I was in Melbourne, we usually go to St Patrick's when my family visited. After I have started taking the church more seriously, I used to go to St Francis on Lonsdale Street. The snake I encountered yesterday did move about a bit when I stepped back to take another look but really, I thank God that I wasn't bitten. I quite believe that it wasn't time for me to get hurt. I have returned to Kota Kinabalu for 21 months. I am still pretty clueless as to why I am still here. There must be a reason. God has a plan and I am beginning to realize that he wouldn't set me up for something that I do not have the strength to go through. I was abandoned and I have survived thus far. So I probably could manage what He really has in store for me.
Monday, 11 February 2013
Happy New Year Once Again
It is the second day of the new year in the Chinese calendar today. I meant to write this post yesterday but I was too ill. On Saturday evening, I was dragged to a Chinese restaurant for dinner with my cousins and Aunt. I didn't really want to go but I also didn't want my Mum to lose face. So I turned up reluctantly. We had a private room of two tables but the food was lousy.
When I got up to attend church yesterday morning, I felt groggy. I tried to pretend that I was OK because I have been waiting to see a priest from the US since I found out that he was coming home for the Chinese New Year. Minutes after we got to the church, I told my Mum that I needed the toilet because I need to puke. On the way to the toilet, I saw that priest. He smiled. He said, "Gong Xi Fa Cai" in Hakka to me. I knew from that smile right away that he wasn't 'local'. I knew that he had learned to smile like this from over there somewhere. Then we learnt that the toilets were locked because people refused to use it properly. I puked into a bin.I was like a mother frog because what came out looked like frog spawn or bubbles. After a second go, I told my Mum that I would like to go home and we left. The pukings turned real bad after arriving home. It started with bubbly matter to stuff I ate on Saturday night.
I pretty much slept for the rest of the first day of Chinese New Year. I didn't eat much. Paternal relatives popped in but I slept through without a clue. My absense probably caused me to step on a few tails but I couldn't care less. By noon, I was battling chills and then fever. Nevertheless, the red packets kept on coming. It is ultra embarrassing to still receive red packets at my age! Today, I received one from someone 6 days younger than me!! So far, the youngest person to have given me a red packet is in his 20's. I guess this shame is for me to bear for now. The biggest shame is to see my cousins' older children (in their 20's) giving red packets to their grandmother (my Aunt). That was an interesting 'Parade'but I belonged to the useless group because I wasn't doing my bit.
I am feeling better today. I was up receiving guests dutifully. Business partners and friends visited today. The experience was OKAY. Tomorrow, relatives from Canada will be visiting. Strangely, I haven't seen a single Lion Dance troupe visiting our house so far. I did see a Lion Dance performance during a posh dinner a couple of weeks ago but no one visited our little neighbourhood yet. I think that I saw more Lion Dance in Melbourne than over here.
When I got up to attend church yesterday morning, I felt groggy. I tried to pretend that I was OK because I have been waiting to see a priest from the US since I found out that he was coming home for the Chinese New Year. Minutes after we got to the church, I told my Mum that I needed the toilet because I need to puke. On the way to the toilet, I saw that priest. He smiled. He said, "Gong Xi Fa Cai" in Hakka to me. I knew from that smile right away that he wasn't 'local'. I knew that he had learned to smile like this from over there somewhere. Then we learnt that the toilets were locked because people refused to use it properly. I puked into a bin.I was like a mother frog because what came out looked like frog spawn or bubbles. After a second go, I told my Mum that I would like to go home and we left. The pukings turned real bad after arriving home. It started with bubbly matter to stuff I ate on Saturday night.
I pretty much slept for the rest of the first day of Chinese New Year. I didn't eat much. Paternal relatives popped in but I slept through without a clue. My absense probably caused me to step on a few tails but I couldn't care less. By noon, I was battling chills and then fever. Nevertheless, the red packets kept on coming. It is ultra embarrassing to still receive red packets at my age! Today, I received one from someone 6 days younger than me!! So far, the youngest person to have given me a red packet is in his 20's. I guess this shame is for me to bear for now. The biggest shame is to see my cousins' older children (in their 20's) giving red packets to their grandmother (my Aunt). That was an interesting 'Parade'but I belonged to the useless group because I wasn't doing my bit.
I am feeling better today. I was up receiving guests dutifully. Business partners and friends visited today. The experience was OKAY. Tomorrow, relatives from Canada will be visiting. Strangely, I haven't seen a single Lion Dance troupe visiting our house so far. I did see a Lion Dance performance during a posh dinner a couple of weeks ago but no one visited our little neighbourhood yet. I think that I saw more Lion Dance in Melbourne than over here.
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