The word 'sanctuary' was indeed a long word for me as a child.On inquiring what it meant,I was told it was a place for the insane!On a field trip with the teacher,I found that we were heading for SANCTUARY as the arrow indicated.I told her respectfully there was no way I would venture THERE .So she explained it was a sanctuary for birds and that I would enjoy the stop-over.From then I knew that a sanctuary was a place and there were so many types of sanctuaries...sanctuaries for the insane,for birds,for people who were ill,for people who found wearing clothes a great problem..for everything.
I have one too.It's not a far away place in the woods where a babbling brook passes by.It is right here in my very own garden.This is where I go when I need to be on my own.This is where I go when my feelings have been hurt and where I ponder why certain things happen to me.I try to sort out my thoughts and wonder if it happened because of me.Trust me when you're alone you get to see things straight.
I'm not the only fellow in this sanctuary.I share it with a flock of birds who to my mind are the happiest birds on Earth.They are constantly singing early morn,noon and evening.Twilight is the noisiest time.I guess it's nagging time!When the flowers are in bloom especially the orange jessamine,buzzing bees make a stopover.All are welcome EXCEPT the monitor lizard and her baby.Frankly ,she ,the mother ,frightens me.And she's just as afraid of me too which often makes her scramble for her life when she sees me.Then there'll be at least a few broken pots because she' not good at handling sudden skirmishes.I've not seen her for some time though.
Even while I write this post,the birds are out there in my sanctuary singing and chirping.Maybe they miss my presence.Ha ha ha.Okay,hold on.I'm coming!!!

School reunion.

For the past two months or so,I've been getting calls from quite a number of people telling me about a school reunion to be held this October.It's a reunion for the boys from High Schol and the girls from TIGS my alma mater.The organisers are the boys.Some of the callers I remember and some I don't.There are also some whom I don't really know.At any rate,they tell me I should attend.There was one reunion that was held in KL last year but I was not able to attend because of a prior arrangement.
I'm debating as whether to attend or give it a miss this time around.I've heard so much about such reunions.Some attend for the sake of comparing notes (usually these are about how they make in a year,how many titles they have at the end of their names etc,etc)Some go to catch up on news about each other.
I'd like to meet my old pals and on the other hand there might be some whom I'm reluctant to meet!I still have 5 months to decide.For the moment,I'm quite game to go.

glitter love

red designer bag

I love this bag.I love the bling!!!

I am sailing by Mr. Rod Stewart

This is the song that plays in the background of the movie that I have just made on the laptop.Well,most of it was done by ML with me hovering in the background.
Thank you again ...ML.The movie is about the cruise we took together with Haireen and Fazree.It was their first and our second.We hope to make a third cruise and this time it will include Lihin.She was too young then to be on the second one.I hope to be able to put the movie on the blog soon.
Making the movie was indeed a great revelation to me about how people make the real movies.It must take a lot of creativity and for all the trouble taken,the movie should have a really good storyline.Some movies have such WEAK storylines and I wonder why the producer takes the trouble.To me as a newbie,I think the synchronization of the music and the change of pictures is the most difficult.Like ML says the pic changes with each accent of the melody ie,the first note of each bar.
It is not too easy for now but I will survive!!

A little triumph for me today

As a new kid on the blog (pardon the pun)3 months old ,I initially found the laptop very daunting.The lingo used was totally different from its meaning in English and boy,did many things get lost!!Other experienced laptoppers advised me to be BRAVE.Hey! just click and you'll learn as you go along..which is exactly what I'm doing.
A few days ago,I was feeling adventurous.I decided to 'quik post' a layout of smileys on to my blog and it even included a smiley cursor banging on the keyboard.Nobody can experience that feeling of elation when I visited the blog-site.
There were the smileys who had practically taken over the whole page...yellow smileys.After a few days looking at them I thought I had had enough of them.So I visited FAQ for for help.The first 3 attempts failed and sadly I erased the most recent entry.The reason for the failure was that the areas(do I call them that?) where I was supposed to click to delete could not be found.I later discovered they were under a different name in my laptop.So now the job's done and can we have applause please??
The next assignment if you please will be to use the blogger layout features and I've got the instructions all printed out.But not tonight.I've got a headache coming on after the smileys saga!!

The magic of the rain

It has been raining these few days.I love the rain.It cools the day down and the trees get a thorough 'bath'.The flower heads however get a bashing as they droop after the shower.
The rain reminds me of the warm lights in people's homes.It makes me want to rush home and snuggle up to him under a warm blanket.It reminds me of the little match girl who had to sell matches on a cold wintry night.Everyone else was having dinner by the fire place and she was shivering in the cold!I wonder if there are any more of these girls out there.My heart goes out to them.
The rain makes me realize how lucky I am to have a roof over my head.I know there are still many who are homeless and I say a little prayer for them.
On a brighter note,the pitter- patter of the rain on the awning gives inspiration to the melody of the song I want to write.The rain..it makes me wistful and it gives me inspiration.It gives me hope...hope that everything to do with my family will always be like I wish it to be.AMIN

share flapper

The two other golden rules

The two other golden rules that M drummed into our heads is still very clear in my mind.When you're in love and all lovey-dovey,you swear to go to the ends of the earth for each other etc,etc.Hey what's yours is mine and what's mine is yours.Remember?Yes- agreed especially when both are working but a big but there.The lady ,like M says, must always have her own little nest-egg....a private one where only she knows of its existence.You never know when it'll come in handyIf you are a housewife learn to budget with whatever he gives you each month.Keep the extra in your nest-egg.No! you're not cheating.Consider that your salary??.
I have personally witnessed a young wife practically begging her husband to buy her something.He refused her downright and if you had seen that crest-fallen look on her face ,you would have wept for her.I did...silently.Obviously she only got things if he decided to buy her things.What a life!!!So much for the story of the nest-egg
The last golden rule has and still is a great mystery to me.M says never tell him everything about you.I mean if you are part of the Mafia gang then it'll be hard to keep it a secret.It is about things that will keep him wondering about you..you know that mystery about you.It will make each day an exciting day with him curious to find out more about
his wife.That she says will keep the marriage going!If he knows everything,then boredom sets in and you know what can happen.I've never understood this rule till today but we've been married 45 years.So I must have done something right !Hurray for me!!
Those two are the last of M's golden rules.Read it with a pinch of salt.SEE YA!

International Women's Day

Today's a day for the women of the world.Yay for women's sufferage and boo to all the MCPs of the world.This is a day to reflect how you have performed as a woman.Were you determined not to eternally be dependent on the men?Have you ever thought that if he left you,would you be able to take care of yourself?In short,can you do it yourself??
My late mother was unfortunately born during the era where girls were not to be seen nor heard.Determined not to be left out,she would secretly leave the house each day to learn to read and write from an old 'sifu'.From her basic foundation,she found she could read all kinds of books and embrace all kinds of knowledge.It was from this ability to read that she learnt so many skills.She could tailor the most beautiful dresses for us, crochet table cloths,sew blankets (patch) that had such intricate patterns.The only thing she did not relish doing was cooking!She found it a bore.Books were better companions than the skillet.She was lucky we had a maid then.
Mother had a few golden rules for us to follow.Each time one of my sisters was to be married,she'd gather us all in the room.The piece of advice was meant for my big sister but we had to be there.In my lifetime I have listened to that piece of advice 4 times.
She told us about the things that had to be observed when we became someone's wife and some child's mother.The first rule was of course to get an education.I'm glad to say all of us girls have done that.There are quite a few more.Maybe the next time around.Chai Chien.