no words

When I was a little girl, my mom used to tell me - To think before I speak “As words that are spoken ,you can’t take it back”. You can simply eat anything but WORDS you can’t simply say it without knowing the true meaning. I was guided by this basic principles of my mom!

My principal at my primary school ( Marian Convent Ipoh , Malaysia)always ends the school assembly with :-remember children “If you can’t say anything nice, say nothing at all”.

And during my days at the Bank my favorite quote was “If you don’t open your mouth, I don’t say you are dumb!” – Direct translation from my great grand ma’s favorite quotation.

My Chinese Grandma from China used to remind me that : “The most poisonous thing in this world is the mouth; beware of the words that you use. Remember do not curse others as a 100 curses will come back to you”.

When I relate them to my three sons, now and then, they always had a good laugh at my directly translated Chinese quotations, that were hand me downs from my great grand ma days!

Nowadays, I use western quotes, some of them are:-

"Words do two major things: They provide food for the mind and create light for understanding and awareness." Jim Rohn

"It is with words as with sunbeams, the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn." Robert Southey

"Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs." Pearl Strachan

"We have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them." Abigail Adams

"Refuse to criticize, condemn, or complain. Instead, think and talk only about the things you really want." Brian Tracy

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." Mother Teresa

"Never talk defeat. Use words like hope, belief, faith, victory." Norman Vincent Peale

Remember the song "Words" by Bee Gees,
You think that I don’t even mean a single word I Say. Its only words and words are all I have, to take your heart away. Bee Gees

How meaningful!
No words - just Make it a Great Day,Week, Month, Year !

Rain or Shine, The Show Must Go On !

That's the spirit of the New Zealanders, most of them braved the rain and the cold to attend the " Lantern Festival" held at Victoria Park , Christchurch recently( 2 Sundays ago). This has been an annual affair for four years to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Some artistes are flown in from China, the local performers are from the Asian communities in Christchurch. Malaysian students from University of Canterbury gave a stunning Malay dance performance complete Malaysian costumes.
The Lantern on display at the Park came in various shapes, sizes and colour.The whole park was transformed into a magical land.
The Crowd with rain coats and umbrellas.
Later into the night , when the rain subsided the park was packed.

" Gold Fish Floating on The Avon River"

The Sheep and the Cow....Symbolic of New Zealand!
Blue and White Ming Dynasty Lantern Vases
Almost Like The Real Thing
The "Water Dragon" The Moon and The Stars

Child Cancer Foundation Street Appeal 2008

Today I volunteer my time to help the Child Cancer Foundation Street Appeal 2008. This is the first time in my life I stood outside a mall collecting to support children with cancer and their families. The first hour I had mixed feelings from anger to self pity but as the donations poured in by the passer-by, I became emotional. I teared at every dollar or coin put in the box by the generous people.I know we are not alone (which I often felt before)on this journey there`are thousands supporting us. People whom we may not know but has generously given to the foundation.
We had great support from the Child Cancer Foundation New Zealand when our child was diagnosed with cancer.When I came back home I went straight to the shower and cried my heart out ( I had held on to my tears the last 9 months) . I felt so calm and its so healing. I felt good being able to contribute as a volunteer to help others as others have help us. It is so therapeutic.I have decided to be a permanent volunteer for any event in the future.
I realised that my contribution to raise money helps the foundation to provide vital services to children such as financial assistance , including assistance`with travel, food and accommodation, children's education (often disrupted with treatment), fund research programs on childhood cancer.

Do visit the foundation website for more information: http://www.childcancer.org.nz

Funds raised in 2007 were used to introduce the Beads of Courage Programme in paediatric oncology wards throughout the country. Each small and colourful bead signified a different treatment of every child’s courageous battle with cancer, whether that be braving another injection, surgery,x-rays, scans, hair-loss, isolation room, clinic visits, radiotherapy sessions or completing a chemotherapy session.

My son's "Beads of Courage"

The new face of appeal for 2008 is Beautiful PETRA HANCOCK
Five and half year old Petra Hancock exudes personality. She's cheeky, she’s affectionate, she’s got boundless energy and she just loves to play.



HELP US HELP BRAVE KIDS LIKE PETRA AT http://www.petrasbeads.co.nz

The 2008 Child Cancer Foundation Annual Appeal is now underway and we are seeking your generous support to help us raise funds to support kids with cancer, their families and the health professionals who care for them. Please visit www.petrasbeads.co.nz and add another special bead to Petra’s necklace by making an online donation.

The Dance Of Passion

I just finished watching the TVB Series Dance of passion (recommended by my aunt in Melbourne)The Dance of Passion is a tragic tale about the lives of two clan families in the mountains - the Yim’s and Sung’s. In the town in which they live, everything is based on law and tradition. There is no freethinking or reform. It is all about preserving the will and customs of the ancestors. They uphold men’s superiority, women’s inferiority and sole purpose to produce children, and condemn all who defy tradition. Their town was formed on a code of chastity, so faithfulness is an utmost for them. Women must protect their purity. Any woman is who impure (whether she was raped, in the hands of other men, or had an affair) is condemned and killed to preserve the purity of the town.
Living in such a town is Ka Chun Fan (Charmaine Sheh), a woman with the poorest of fates.

I just love the subsong "Lover On Golden Sand" by Charmaine Sheh

The day after the Malaysian Election 2008

Flash News

• Lim Guan Eng son of Lim Kit Siang will be sworn in as the Penang chief minister on Tuesday.
• At the press conference, Lim pledged that the new state government will pursue an investor-friendly policies to ensure Penang retained its edge as the leading industrial and manufacturing region.
• Newly-elected Air Putih state assembly person Lim Guan Eng will be sworn in as the Penang chief minister on Tuesday.
  
  Speaking to reporters today, Lim said that the outgoing CM Dr Koh Tsu Koon wanted to be present at the swearing in ceremony but he would not be able to attend if the function was held tomorrow.
  Camera & editing: Ng Kok Foong
  Reporting: Beh Lih Yi & Chua Sue-Ann
  
  
  
• Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today his successor Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has "destroyed" the ruling coalition after disastrous weekend elections
  He suggested Abdullah should resign, and said he had made a mistake in selecting him as prime minister.
• Mukhriz son of Dr Mahathir, member of Umno's powerful youth wing who was elected to parliament for first time on the weekend, urged Abdullah to "do the right thing".
  "It is yet to be seen what he will do but I think it's a very clear message that there is wholesale dissatisfaction with the prime minister for the way he has been running the country these four years," he said.
• Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has no plans to resign, his spokesman said today, despite leading the ruling coalition to its worst ever election results.
• Barisan Nasional chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will seek an audience with the Agong at 6pm today to inform him that the BN has won the general election. Following that Abdullah is expected to be sworn in as the Prime Minister tomorrow morning at 10.30am.
  
• On March 8, MIC president S Samy Vellu turned 72. It was also the day the curtain fell on his political era.
  
  After nearly three decades in power, the politician who commanded a cult-like following in his party was defeated in the fortress where he reigned for nine terms.
  
  It was a cleansing of MIC's top echelon. The casualties included deputy president G Palanivel, vice-president S Sothinathan, Youth chief S A Vigneswaran and Women's wing chief P Komala Devi.

• Three menteri besar from PAS, one each from DAP and PKR
• Azizan Abdul Razak, 64, Kedah PAS Commissioner, is expected to be sworn in as the state Menteri Besar today. Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat,77-year-old PAS Spritual Leader, is almost certain to helm the Kelantan government.
• Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, PKR secretary-general has emerged the front runner to be the new Menteri Besar of Selangor. .

Source Malaysiakini

A Forgotten Cancer - Sarcoma

Do you know someone with sarcoma? This video gives basic information about a rare cancer called sarcoma and about the Team Sarcoma Initiative.



The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative
helping to improve the quality of life for people dealing with sarcoma, a rare and dangerous cancer.
For Those who are able, please help fund Research as it will ultimately lead to a cure for sarcoma.
http://www.sarcomahelp.org/

True Malaysians