Christmas 2009 at my place - Last Video of my Parents Anna and Geoffrey

        This is a link to my Youtube Channel where we had the last Christmas in 2009 with my parents still in relatively good health. My dad Geoffrey, passed away on 20th Sept 2010 and my Mum on 8th Jan 2011. The occasion was Christmas 2009 at my house and as the video pans around, there are the Lau family, Uncle Lau is standing with the striped shirt talking to his grandson, their children May (my first cousin,wearing black) standing by the table, 2nd sister Aunty Dona (seated at the head of the table, wearing black with white jacket) to her right is 3rd sister Aunty Mina 9wearing black with white motifs,Lau's wife), Aunty Dona's daugher Wynne Leong (taking a video with her phone), on Aunty Mina's left is Aunty Mona wearing bright yellow blouse, (4th sister) and her husband Uncle Phoon.  

    My mother is wearing yellow and my father is facing opposite her in the wheelchair. The door opens and sis -in - law Ken Wee enters with Hannah (my niece) comes in with a present. Hannah was 5 years old and her booming voice could be heard in the video. My Mum was rather bemused about some present from Hannah and after taking the present (in a plastic bag) put it beside her on the chair. 

    My wife, May is cutting the chocolate cake while the then maid Mary Jane lays some plastic plates (obviously for serving the cake which for celebrating Christmas Day AND my son Noel's 15th birthday).

   In the back on the other side white table are John with my Mum's good friends, Dr. Teo Hoon Cheow, John's friend Dr. Dale Heng, and my friend Patrick Chua. In the near foreground, there is my godbrother, Ramani Muniyandi speaking to David Mitchell, his wife Soo Hoo (in pink) and their daughter Priya.

    In the living area there is Noel (with white T- shirt standing), and Andrew (back facing camera in red T-shirt). The young adults standing by the table are Alex Phoon (Aunt Dona's grandson) pouring some wine, as well as Abigail (wearing the all black ensemble) coming up to Aunty Mona. My cousin May is to the left of Aunty Mina facing the camera at.

       It all seems so trivial and this video is very precious to me and my brother John. 

      Chinese New Year Traditions and Customs
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One of the hallmarks of any Chinese family during Chinese New Year is that the house is noisy and boisterous to 'chase away any evil spirits' as well as bring in the 'new luck'. The house of a Chinese family is normally spruced up, painted, all repairs finished, floors are varnished, good luck posters (like in our house) are put up and there is 'abundance' in the form of overflowing plants (I bought 4 new pots this year !), fresh sprigs of pussy willow, a traditional chinese new year plant and overlfowing oranges symbolising gold ingots (ie. money of course! )

     Well Happy New Year of the Rooster !!!!    

No. 11 Paris in April 2017. Can I do it ? Dare I do it ?

Once in a lifetime goal 

     I have a Big Hairy Ambitious Goal (BHAG) like what the Creative boss (Mr. Sim Wong Hoo) once said, target it, spell it out in public and then go ahead and do it. The Schneider Paris marathon is a dream goal for me, having run 10 marathons since today, I want to shoot for No. 11. My training so far has been shambolic, and can effectively do 10 km. I have 2 months and 2 weeks. Its time to get going !!  

    Its time to lace on those shoes, train 4 to 5 times a week, regardless of the aches and pains and shoot for the best time of my life. There is no tomorrow, and no what ifs. 

    I do not seek anybody's approval, except my body and my willpower to make it happen.

  

Anna and Geoffrey Abisheganaden Pictures throughout the years

 My Dad on left with the late Prof Chau Shih Ching senior pathologist at SGH

          Here are some old photos of my Mum and Dad over the years. This batch of photos shows them at the Medico-Legal dinner held by SGH every year. Our family was good friends with Prof. Chau Shih Ching and family. Every year they would come to our parent's place for lunch and there would be lots of laughter and merriment. Prof. Chau was a real joker and his jokes knew no boundaries. Being the Chief Pathologist at the S'pore General Hospital was a very taxing job and of course, once he was off work he would crack all kinds of jokes to his closest friends and family. The days of togetherness are gone, but I sincerely hope to have this same kind of crackling laughter and joy each and every Chinese New Year in the days and years to come.

Anna with Dr Tan Ser Kiat formerly CEO at SGH

      My mother was a fabulous host, she was warm hearted,and so was my father. They were a gregarious couple who hosted great and joyous parties at our family home for more than 2 decades. The dishes she used to 'make' (actually the maid at that time) were the potato cutlet and fish curry. Then she would buy things like roast duck, 'fa chai'  and mushroom. The rest of the food would be brought over by family friends. Mrs. Chau would make a very good Carrot Cake which she would painstakingly deliver to our houses every year without fail. Thank you Mrs. Chau !  

Mum with her Jazz Ballet Classmates

Mum and Dad circa 1986

       In the later years (when my Dad was weak in the legs), we would more often than not, go out to dine for the Chinese New Year get together, our favourite restaurant of choice would be the Li Bai Chinese Restaurant at Sheraton Towers. Till today, I still go and purchase their Radish Cake from the very affable Head Maitre'D Ms. Michelle who remembers me each year with a cheery "Happy New Year Mr. Mark !".  The other restaurant where my Dad loved to dine was the Imperial Treasures at Takashimaya. 

Mum and Dad dirca 2005 

      We must never forget our families and where we came from ; as the family is the bedrock of all societies. As an Asian society, we have a duty to keep family ties and bonds strong, so that going forward, our children may take reference to continue to uphold the family name and keep alive the tradition of filial piety and family bonding.    

Brown Sugar - Rolling Stones 1971 Performance at Top of the Pops.

          This song has been playing non-stop in my car's CD ; the Stones are a class act. Anti-establishment from the word go without offending or insulting the ordinary listener. They have always been inspired by the Rhythm and Blues and infusing their 'in-your-face' attitudes and lyrics, have been at the top of the Rock and Roll charts for 4 decades. The secret of their staying power ?   "Its only Rock and Roll but I like it."  Easy going bad boys who are perfectionist in their music craft, hard working individuals, slave driving task masters and all round rambunctuous party animals who epitomised the 60s and early 70s Woodstock anti-establishment mood.

         Individually they are great musicians, Mick Jagger, the ugly frontman oozes charm and sex appeal is a great singer. Keith Richards, the lead guitarist is the epitome of coolness with a cigarette in his mouth even while sleeping. Ronnie Wood the bass guitar is Muppet like in looks but very talented string man, Charlie Watts is the drum maestro, Bill Wyman the shy looking bass guitar and Brian Jones.  

         Now, they're are best remembered for their tuneful R and B sounds and great lyrics. My all time best Band in the World.  Long live the Rolling Stones  !! 

      

            

Chinese New Year Celebrations - Singapore

USA will be sidelined - emergence of China as Global Superpower

                                                                     Ruins in Luxor

     It is clear President Trump wants to 'clean house' and  make good on his promises. He has antagonised and angered so many segments of society with his banal rhetoric to MAGA that given the short term boost in Dow Jones stock markets and the protectionist trade stance he is planning to take, it is a matter of time the US will be the most inward looking, racially prejudiced, militarist country in the world. In the US, the millions of old and new immigrants, citizens and melting pot of new cultures have never felt so marginalized by this soft skinned, insulting and name calling despot.  He will bring the US only one way - down. 

    I feel sad for the divided nation it has become. He goes against any form literal or symbolic of the word 'inclusiveness'. The US had chosen a schmuck ; this shows how desperate they have become. 

Coronation of Ramses II

       To refute numbers of people attending his inaugaration and asking his spokesperson to refute the obviously smaller numbers of attendees as compared to Barack Obama reminds me of  a little kid who would not want to face facts even when it is staring at him in the face. What a crassless bully.

Horas feeding Ramses II

       The ruins of Egypt remind everyone that powers rise and fall, some gently, some sharply and no power ever manages to remain the greatest forever. Even the Greatest of them all Mohammad Ali succumed to Parkinson's disease and passed away at 70. 

      To reinvigorate the US economy, firstly the US needs to be engaged with the world at large in trade, foreign relations and tourism. This is Politics 101 or common sense. Its going one way, down. 

Chinese New Year Traditions and Activities 2 - Oranges, Ang Pow, Feasting and Gambling.

Andrew beside the dinner 

        The symbolic meanings of the Chinese New Year, firstly the giving of oranges which look or symbolise gold. So it is the sharing of the fortune from family to family, or between friends.

        The red packet or 'hong bao' means literally to give out wealth. Normally married people give the 'hong bao' to the unmarried people as a means of spreading the wealth. The young in return have to say good wishes to the elder people such as 'nian nian you yu' which means 'each year will have more', 'shen ti jian kang' which means good health, 'wan shi ru yi' meaning the business will be 1000 times better and 'bu bu gao shen' which means step by step improvement in the studies and whatever endeavours.

The tempting spread of the food 

As mentioned in an earlier post, the Reunion dinner is a very important one in every Chinese family and all the family members make special effort to come back, at least once every year for this most important and auspicious event. Everyone will then update each other on the events of their own lives, and there will be obligatory questions such as 'when are you going to get married ?' to the singletons and 'when is the baby due ?' to the already married. During the early years when I was single, my Aunties Mina and Mona (especially) would pinch our cheeks mercilessly and ask us "where is your girlfriend ?" and other probing emmbarrasing questions which my brother and I would stutter and stammer before they would produce the much sought after 'hong bao'. 

The obligatory photo before the 'makan' (eating)

      Nowadays as the 'giver' of 'hong baos', we are more forgiving with the 'strawberry generation' of youngsters and let them off after they recite the good tidings to us elders. The keeping of traditions and the Chinese culture is very strong in our family, and I would like this values, respect for elderly, giving of the wealth and good wishes to everyone to be replicated as we move on in life. Times in the globalised world are more uncertain and there is the rise of populist leaders such as Trump and Duerte (Philippines) who are seeking to be 'dirsuptive' in their spheres of influence. It is unnerving to say the least, but as long as there are the constants of family, friends and our beliefs, we will be alright. 

Uncle Jimmy,Andrew,Aunty Shirley and Noel 

        Gambling is another common activity especially amongst the Chinese community. Fortunately for us, it is not very popular amongst our friends, as this activity can lead to compulsion. Gambling is and can be very addictive. Of course, occasional and social gambling amongst friends and family just adds spice and 're nao' to the occasion, so it is a once a year duration for many of us. 'Ban Lak' or blackjack is normally the game of choice amongst the revellers. 

Our family with Por Por 

At Clifford Pier Hotel 

As the new year draws to an end, may I wish all visitors to this blogspot, a Happy New Year of the Rooster ! May this be a tremendous year for you  personally and professionally. 

Bring on 2017 !!!