Cow Frogs

I asked Yeet what the strange noise was that I heard on Saturday night. I demonstrated with my kind of mooing sound. Instantly, she said 'Cow Frogs'.  What the heck!  Seems these critters come out with heavy rains and croak or moan all night long. Yes they do.  They are about the size of a fist and orange in colour. I could not find a picture online.

I realize they are not dangerous, but glad I did not go out to the road to see what was making the noise. I am not one who embraces feasting my eyes on such things. Yet another reason to come home before dark.

Labour Day in Malaysia

Unlike our Labour Day in September, it is celebrated on May 1 every year here. So, also unlike being the first Monday of a month, it is always May 1.  Don't care. It is a day off.

It did't rain yesterday. I hope this is a new pattern. Guess I will tackle the data analysis that is sitting waiting for me to get done.  Maybe a reward of 'The Big Bang' episodes that I have on loan can be mine at the end of the day.

My neighbour brought me a delicious coconut last night. I buy these myself but this one is superior to what I buy. She told me that these are Thai coconuts.  Unlike the local ones, these are picked very early, and the result speaks for itself.  The coconut water tastes completely like coconut and the meat inside the shell is so soft and tender, it peels out easily - kind of like soft pudding.  Asking where I can buy these, she had difficulty explaining.  I guess I have to either follow her some day or just wait for the treat delivered to me.  The vendor only sells at night apparently, and sounds like - from his house.  Could be a tad difficult to find this on my own. I will definitely have to order these when Ry comes to visit. He has been used to this variety while living in Thailand. My own local ones will  not be adequate. And I agree.

If anyone in Canada is on Skype, I will try to have a chat with you today.

Pen Pals in Action

I finally got the pen pal program off and running. With the help of a good friend in Victoria, she has provided two grand daughters as the writers from there.  The day at the school was hilarious.  I took videos and had left the camera running while I was distracted with helping kids.  Some of the footage is so funny. Kids sticking their faces in front of the camera, others sticking their work in front of the camera several times, and many kung foo masters kicking and swinging punches at each other.

What follows here is a few photographs of the writers and their work.  Complete with a sense of humour from some.  Note the 'I live in Mexico' statement on one little origami book one made.

I love being in this classroom. The more advanced the work, the more these guys thrive. They are so advanced for their age. And they love everything I bring them. 

Weird Noise Outside

I am glad my gate is locked.  I don't think I would venture out to lock it tonight. There is some very odd noise occurring somewhere down the road.  A constant kind of honk - like a Canada goose, but just one honk, and then a space of silence. The dogs on the street have been yelping and then you can hear then tearing down the road for home.  Hmm, I wonder what it is?

I ventured out briefly this afternoon after working on making order in my house all morning and afternoon. I have managed to laminate almost all the stuff that needs that 'jacket' and then tried to get online to do my uploads for work. No way, Jose.  Internet was not friendly today, so I went downtown and decided to see if I could find some kind of bread to eat in Kota Tinggi.  I found something called whole grain, so we will see how it works.  En route I saw some fridge in front of a shop I had bought something in the past. The vendor came out and chatted, I asked how much (because it is larger than the little dollhouse fridge I purchased when landing here) and he advised me it was second hand. I opened the doors, and all looked fine, so parted with RM250 and it is in my lizard kitchen as I type.  I was told that I must not turn it on for 4 hours for some reason of something or other settling in that length of time. Maybe it is just to make sure the shop is closed when I call and say it does not work.  What the heck, if it doesn't work, it is cheaper than a kitchen cupboard. And if that is the case, I now have a kitchen cupboard.  I am already visualizing bottles of sparkling water, watermelons and dragon fruit adorning the shelves of this second fridge.   I do hope it is more than a kitchen cupboard.

Now that the laminating mess is cleaned up and vacuumed I guess I need to get back to the char woman duties and wash the floors.

Saturday in K T

I started my day with a phone visit with Jenn and Kolly.  That is always a good way to start one's day.  Weather is an issue everywhere. There, they bundle up in 11 - 12 degree weather. Here, I disrobe in 35+ weather with humidity that requires one to have advanced swimming badges in order to move around due to the moisture in the air.

I had another meltdown at the internet office yesterday and told them (elevated volume) I would  not leave without a contract for internet to my home.  I did get one, but not sure if it really is valid. I think they decided that they would just give me a sheet of paper with some scribbles on it.  While there I got a phone call from my boss. He was at the famous K T Hospital. Seems Jeff flew off his motorcycle in the feldas and was brought in by ambulance with a broken collarbone and the need for a dozen stitches in his right foot. What kind of goon wears crocs on a motorcycle?  Most people here.  Because he came and sat with me daily while I was hospitalized, I knew I had to return the favour.  After getting a contract for internet in my sweaty hands, I did all the rabbit mazes to get to the hospital from the office where I was. Only one block away from the hospital actually took me several blocks of turns and jags in order to get there.  Finding the patient with a ghostly white face and his trouser leg cut off at the knee, Adrian and I perused the situation and wondered who would be blessed with the company of this man for the weekend - or longer!  We opted for his girlfriend, and called her.  Waiting in the outpatient area, we made sure he would not try to stand up and move around.  He was quite docile with pain killers in his system at this point.    The last words we heard emitted from the patient were 'where are my crocs?'  Frankly, it is a good thing they are missing. Not the right attire for riding a bike anyway.  The sling they draped on his arm was hilarious. A wee patch of gauzy fabric that barely covered his right elbow, leaving his hand dangling below his waist.  I thought a collarbone issue required a sling that made the hand rest on the chest in an upward position? Suggested that they go to a pharmacy and see if they could fetch a proper sling for the rest of the prescribed 'sling' time. Girlfriend there, we decided we had done our job, and drove to my place to have a cooling glass of Welch's grape juice with sparkling water.

Pen Pals Perform & Participate in Paradisiacal Print Posts Peerlessly

Ok, it looks like I have not much to think about when I begin writing a post title that is nothing but alliteration.

After working so hard to get a pen pal program going here I am ecstatic about it finally getting  off the ground and 'in the mail'.

To simplify the post title:  Two schools have taken the challenge and are writing to two girls in Canada.  I hope they forge lifelong friendships in this process. I also hope it adds nicely to the portfolios of these young learners.

TGIF

Now I Know Why Blood Pressure Rises

I just spent the last hour on the phone. Talking to internet providers is not a favourite pastime but it worked!  After hanging up on them because I could not get a straight answer, I moved ahead and called my MP for my district. They were happy to represent me in this issue and were ready to take action once I gathered a petition of neighbours names. Settling into writing this petition, my cell phone rang. T M was back on the line. This time with an offer to install internet in my home.  I must have worn them down.

I asked if my neighbours would also qualify for this offer. Yes.

Holy Crow, wonders never cease.  I have given up on the other home wireless internet provider. It sounded much less complicated, but they do not have a phone number to contact them, and they too do not offer service where I live.  But these guys I have now enlisted to bring in the world into my home are in the process of upgrading (not in my area of course just yet) but who knows - could be soon. The upgrade will be fibre optic. Just like Canada! Wow.  For now, a cable, but better than a dongle.

I am sure my blood pressure is over the moon after this afternoon nonsense.  Now I will settle down and pour a glass of Welch's with sparkling water and pat myself on the back. Well done Frannie, well done.

I Have a Mentee Who Rocks!

This Mentee makes everything the kids learn FUN. He has such great ideas, and by adding his own touch to the lessons, the kids can hardly wait to be in his class. In this lesson he was simply reviewing several previous lessons on classroom objects, and various human senses.  Here are a few photos to prove my point.  He invited me to the class today, I think to observe.  I did assist a few of the kids but I really cannot claim any real participation in this superb class.

Students were given pieces of paper with either a picture of an object or a sentence describing the object. They had to find the right person to pair with according to their paper.   The class theme was "who am I"

 now the search begins

                                               I think we have a match

reviewing all the cards after everyone succeeded in finding their partner

And for homework - cut out all the pictures and sentences, then paste them with their 'pair' in your notebook

                                                                                   

Do You Notice Something a Little Odd Here?

I just had to take a photo.  One of my schools has dedicated a room to my travelling library books to be housed for their weeks to have the books.  Everyone here is very aware of my encounter with dengue fever and how I have screens everywhere in my own house.  Well, this room has had some newly installed screen doors that keep the bad little skeeters out.  If you look on the right door, just above the handle of the left door, you can see a cutout area.  There is no screen in this area. Why? Because the lock for the barred doors needs to be accessed.  Maybe the skeeters at this school don't see this golden opportunity to enter through this cutout. Or maybe they are so large they can't fit.

It's the thought that counts, right?  But it did amuse me.

Dragon Fruit to the Rescue

There is a silver lining to all this rain.  I came home to my neighbour calling over the wall and offering a package.  Yay, WHITE dragon fruit. She knows I love the white variety, and has now told me how to know which is red and which is white.  I have been scouring the shops but can only find the red stuff. But she scoured better and found me a few white ones. Had one right away, and will tuck into the others later today.

Rain and fog are the environment here.  I don't understand why this is happening, but I guess it does not matter that I don't understand it. It just happens.  The house really does not cool off as it normally does when it rains.  The humidity makes it impossible for the air to move anywhere.  It just sits in a soggy blanket and feels like one is trying to walk through water. It sure is nice to have the screens on my french doors - they do let in more of the heavy cooled air than I had before.  I think I will go out to the patio for a few minutes before I prepare for work, As I told a friend in an e-mail, Gordie does not join me in my morning sojourns to the patio garden. He is like a clock, and appears from behind my television at 5:45 nightly. Much like a teenager, he tends to sleep all day and frolic all night.  He dashes up the wall and then slips through the well sealed patio door track to frolic on the patio ceiling for the night. If the light has not been turned on, he looks over his shoulder at me in the house and chirps until I turn it on.  He actually chirps all the time, but I think that he has a special chirp for me if he thinks I have forgotten his need for illumination.  He clearly wants all the girl geckos to see his muscular build and handsome face.  Before long he has a bevy of girls dancing on the ceiling and playing tag.  The funniest thing they do, if I am out there, is freeze if they spy me looking at them. Not a movement, until they think I have diverted my attention to something else.  Yes, they are beige, just like the ceiling, but I can see them clearly.  For some reason, they think that if they do not move, they cannot be seen.  They will hang there upside-down for ages, waiting for me to look away. Last night, while working on my computer, I spied Gordie flitting in and out from behind my Ronald McDonald poster calendar on the wall nearby.  He would take a peek, hide again and emerge from a different location and look again. The poster is about 4 feet by 3 feet, so a great distance for him to travel behind.  He probably wonders how I manage to be in his vision when he goes from one end to the other.  Must be thinking 'she is one big person to be able to take in this vast territory'. It was painful watching the little guy try to find an escape route that I would not witness.  Not sure why he has taken up this new hiding spot. I guess even he is getting tired of the rain so is scouting out new hiding places in the house.  Good grief, look what my life has become.  A gecko essay writer.

Rain, Rain, Go Away....

The mentees are always wanting us to teach them songs and the tunes to sing them. My singing voice is, shall we say, less than perfect.  But today, after another deluge I am wondering if I taught the whole country the little song "rain, rain, go away" if it might have some influence on the weather.

No new trees on the highway, so I guess we were lucky there. But this unrelenting rain is making me crazy.  It should not be happening at this time of year.

I wonder if 'a tree falls on the highway when no one is there - does it make a sound?'

WIND AND RAIN

My trip homeward was not without excitement.  I was approaching the last intersection before I turn off to my little community, and discovered a sudden pile up of vehicles. The rain was so heavy and the dark clouds so dense that we all had our lights on because it was more like midnight instead of 5 pm.  I slowed as I approached this new mystery stop. I knew there was not a flood there; I have driven that area so many times I know the flood zones.  But I did see something flying through the air in the dark sky, that looked unfamiliar. I was wondering if they were giant birds, as there are two huge trees on the side of the road that mark this spot. One of those trees appeared to be a bit sparse.  The tree had collapsed, and fallen into the road.  Egad.  Now what?  Like all good citizens of the area, I pulled to the left and let the BIG trucks attempt the road.  I figured if they could flatten the tree limbs I could get through.  Good call Frannie.  After I felt enough flattening had been executed, I joined the others and bumped my way through a mass of tree limbs and debris.  Sure hope it is cleaned up before I have to leave tomorrow. I noticed that the other side of the highway was almost as bad as my own.

Recycling in the Old Days

Someone sent me this e-mail, and I thought, what the heck, I will post it here.  Some youngun' was pontificating to an older person the need to recycle because she knew that older people just didn't get it. I really must be showing my age with this one - I recall ALL of them:

Our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Grocery stores bagged our groceries in brown paper bags, that we reused for numerous things, most memorable besides household garbage bags, was the use of brown paper bags as book covers for our school books. This was to ensure that public property, (the books provided for our use by the school) was not defaced by our scribbling. Then we were able to personalize our books. But too bad we didn't do the green thing back then.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building.We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind.We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days.Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them)?, not a screen the size of the state of Montana . In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the  streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest burger joint.

Isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we older folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?


As for sockets - one in a room - I seem to have stepped back in time. That is what you get here, so a cord like everyone uses to plug in all computer related items is what dangles from ALL of my outlasts here in the house. I feel like I live in the space between the past and the present


The codeine seems to have been my friend last night. Had a good sleep.  Saving an entire rain forest - I blew my nose only once or twice all night, I think it was a good choice.

Maybe 6 weeks is a bit long

I just realized that I have had this ear 'thing' and sneezy nose for six weeks. My hearing is ok again, but the sneezy nose is making me think I don't have to get a gym membership. I think I get enough exercise with my abs with the violent eruptions from my nose. If it is true what they say about a sneeze being as close to a heart attack (without  having one) then I should be well practiced in that arena. Various antibiotics and potions and lotions have not resolved the issue and I am getting very tired. I cannot sleep for a full night due to waking and sneezing my head off, then getting up in the morning to sneeze my way through the day.  I went to the Dr in town - twice, then on to Chinese medicine man - twice, and advice from my neighbour as well. The antihistamines work, but only the extra strength ones, and I cannot buzz around like a zombie.  So, wallet in hand, I went to the pharmacy and begged for codeine  cough syrup.  I need some sleep.  He tried to pry my hands off the bottle of magic juice and wanted to sell me antihistamines and other potions.  I bought all that, just to be able to have this 'bottle of sleep' for tonight with a promise I would go to a specialist tomorrow. Not gonna happen. I am too busy, but I will try to go on Tuesday. Pharmacy man had an insight. It could all be related to last year dengue fever episode. Not sure how, but I will allow him that thought until I find out otherwise. I am due for a blood test for that anyway.  Besides, my colleague that I work with has the same bloody symptoms as I.  He didn't have dengue.  I think I might just slip the codeine stuff under my coat and see if he wants to buy some.

For now, Kleenex manufacturers are happily watching their stocks rise as I continue to purchase 3 packages of  4 packs of the miracle paper every week, just to keep my nose wiped.

What the Heck with the Weather?

I thought the monsoon on Monday was the mother of all monsoons. Today beat that one.  Driving from a school not that far from the one I needed to get to took me 45 minutes. It should have taken 10 or 15.  I was wise enough to keep my driver side window raised, my colleague was not. She looked quite amusing when she arrived.  About half of the mentees did not show up for the Professional Development program. Feigning heavy rain.  Maybe not feigning; maybe just wise.  I am just amazed that I made it and a local could not.  We are not supposed to have this sort of weather right now. I recall last year there were weeks without more than a few drops of moisture squeezed from the blazing skies.

So how did I amuse myself yesterday afternoon you ask?  I went on a journey around the city dropping in on the equivalent of a mayor, then the education ministry office, and finally back home to write to the political representative for my neighbourhood.  Everyone was very willing to meet me even though I did not have an appointment.  Probably curious about the white lady who had the nerve to just drop in. Now that I have done my rants, in a ladylike manner, I am going to let these conversations bubble and see what happens.  All this was in aid of the desire to have a phone line in order to have internet in my home.  I don't even want a phone line, but was sure to espouse the fact that phones should be considered essential services for every citizen in this country in the interest of safety in an emergency situation.  Added too that in my home country, phones are a right, not a privilege.  Not sure that is true, but I don't think anyone will be researching.

As for the chariot, it had a fine wash today. Good thing - I never get it washed otherwise.  I think that the grottier it looks the less appealing to break-ins, right?  Tomorrow is Pasir Malam.  I have told all my friends about it, and one from Batty Pahat has said she wants to come to visit me tomorrow and then go together to the market. We might even head to Singapore on Saturday for an overnight there too.  We will see how energetic we both are by tomorrow. Unfortunately, we missed the symphony concert I wanted to attend. Karen's passport ran out of pages, so she is still without a passport to leave the country. She is hoping it might be delivered tomorrow.  That is our decision maker for any travel this weekend.

My Phuket parcel arrived in Vancouver today.  Now I await a photograph of the gremlins in their new elephant emblazoned  attire.

Thanks to My Agent in Canada

Not sure what I would do without Jenn who looks after my taxes and affairs back home. On top of her heading back to work as a mother of two toddlers, I continue to be amazed at what she can do in a day.  I had trouble figuring out what to make for dinner when I was a stay at home mom in my youth.

As for the snotty nose, it was better last night with the Chinese medicine in me.  I did however, turn on the fan of the air conditioner in my room. Not really sure I did it correctly, as I was freezing all night, so I think I also allowed air conditioning to happen too. I kept finding something else to pile on my frozen body.  Thinking that getting rid of some of the humidity might help was my goal.  My dinner delivery was over last night and told me once I get a handle on this sneezy nose she will bring me curried vegetables. Now that is an incentive!  I also promised to drink only warm water - no tea, no cold drinks.  Echoed message from the Chinese medicine man via Yeet.  She did smile when she viewed the latest finds I added to the garden. Especially the curry leaf tree.  Maybe that is what precipitated the offer of curried veggies.

Oh yes, I was yet again conned. Kipmart - where I pick up fresh fruits conned me again.  The guys who sell me dragon fruit descended upon me when I arrived. I have not been buying dragon fruit lately because I do not really enjoy the red variety. That is all that has been available lately.  Dashing toward me, the vendor pushed dragon fruit into my hands. Yes, yes, white, white, now we have.  I bought the usual 3 for RM10 and was delighted. My other vendor who pushes mangos on me filled a sack of honey mangos as well.  Arriving home, I peeled a dragon fruit, anticipating the white flesh and juicy delight. RED, BLOODY RED!  CONNED again.  I am sure they are having a good laugh even today. I gave the other two to Yeet last night. She advised that excess fruit with this 'nose' issue is not good. Maybe she just wanted the fruit. hee hee  She has taught me, however, how to distinguish between red and white dragon fruit.  Now I can determine which to take home. The white variety is elongated. The red, compact and round.  I had an idea to buy a dragon fruit tree and plant it. Yeet dissuaded me, saying it would take over the entire property.   Here ends your lesson on shopping for dragon fruit.

Maybe Fiction is Next

I am sorry, but the past couple of days have been very uneventful.  Big rains, work, and not much else.  I did go to the Chinese Medicine man today. I refuse to take any more antihistamines, so checked out the alternative. I continue to have a sneezy, runny nose which causes an annoying hacking cough.

I took a couple of the magic tablets and have not blown my nose since I did. Not because I am too lazy. Nice.  And that is about as exciting as my life has been.   Maybe I will just start writing fiction now.You know things like 'I'd love another piece of chicken' or 'wow, it sure is fun to drive a car in a monsoon'. Or maybe I can make up a story that will hoodwink all of you.

Stay tuned.

Monsoon Season is EVERY Season

Today, lucky for me I was already home, we had a horrendous rain.  Thunder, lightening, and a down pour that I thought would wash me away.  It went on for about 4 hours, and then just like it started, it stopped instantly.  The only thing one can compare this to is childbirth.  You know it was painful, but you really cannot remember what it felt like. These rains are so intense. If you are driving in one of them it is nasty. You thank God you got home and wonder how you did. Then, when it is over, you wonder what you were so twisted about.

That is about all I have to say today.

Birthday Girl and Stuff

I talked with the birthday girl today.  She was out on a family walk in the forest so I guess she is still able to muddle along in her senior years.  Hopefully she will send me a picture of the walk so I can add it to my family gallery on the wall here.

On top of being a super mom, she is preparing to return to work after a year + hiatus, looks after my financial affairs (the pathetic amount of debt and wealth that it is), and maintains a semblance of a social life.  I could not be here if she was not doing what she does for me over there.

Thanks Jenn for everything you do and are.  I love you.  Have a grand day!

I just finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns.  If you find a copy, read it.  A powerful story of the strength of human spirit.

Also, if the documentary Wiki Leaks: war, lies, and videotapes is available there, be sure to watch that one. It aired on Channel NewsAsia here last night.  Not very flattering to some, but a strong message about war and how we see it.

The chariot awaits.

Guerilla Drive Ins

Guerrilla drive in 's are impromptu happenings that you hear about when you are 'on the list'. A friend made a documentary on these events a few years ago and I was happy to see her production.

Here in Kota Tinggi, I think the guerillla fever has caught on.  Here is a view of a screen in the parking lot, complete with speakers and stacked chairs, at Rosemerah.

I took the picture while sitting in my car trying to upload a file. Upload not successful. But you get the idea, don't you - guerrilla drive in?

Oh, I think there is a show tonight. They are uncovering the tables and beginning to set up the chairs.

JJ3 winners of Action Song Competiion

If you want to see some talented children, take a look at this:

You will have to buffer first, sorry. (just let it play with stop and start) But after that it will play through nicely. The hips shaking and enthusiastic singing makes me realize that what we are doing here is working very nicely!

http://youtu.be/YrEv-Tgn5P4   


this video begins with a solo by a very talented little girl, singing " I have a dream"  and grows into a group song, with the others 'waking up from the dream'  about how we must care for the EARTH



http://youtu.be/AEqzA1ttqMo

this video is a group song to the tune of 'The Whole World.  They are singing about the fact that all the children of the world have the whole word in their hands - they have the future in their hands.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Happy Birthday Jennifer - Today and Tomorrow

I have to wish you a good day now. I never know if I will have internet tomorrow. Besides, it is your birthday now where I live.

I remember being apprehensive about my age when I turned 30. You seem to have scooted through that year, but hit a wall this year.  Hope you are feeling better on the day you begin the 38th year of life.

Love Mom

Uncle Clive was the mean person who always made people realize that on their birthday they were actually beginning the NEXT year.  

Curry Leaves and Pandan

If you have never tasted food flavoured with curry leaves then you have not tasted food.  I am addicted to the stuff.  My neighbour introduced me to this flavour and I cant get enough of it.  She doles it out carefully – telling me that eating curry daily in this heat is not good for the body.  Well, on a mission today, I went to Jusco – no curry leaves; then on to Tesco, and after squeezing and sniffing all the various leaves available in the produce section I found the delightful leaves I so wanted to have.   I bought two bunches – one for me and one for Yeet.  Now, in hindsight, I probably should not have got one for her. She will know that I have begun making things with it and will scold me for consuming too much. 

I did not stop there, I asked anyone who would listen to me – where might I buy a curry tree plant for my garden? The consistent answer was you cannot buy them; you must get a piece of one from a neighbour or friend.  Now if you want to know how hospitable the people are in this country are, read on.  Every one of them invited me to follow them home to take a part of the root of their curry tree.  As much as I wanted one, I just was not in the mood to follow some car through a maze of little alleys and streets and then find my way out again.  I was convinced that I could find my own. 

I drove homeward through a blinding monsoon, stopped for petrol, and decided I was wet anyway, so carried on to the plant nursery that I frequent.  I pulled out my little packet of curry leaves so I would not have to play charades asking for something I was sure they did not call by the same name as I was using.  Yes, yes, can, can.  Mom, sending the sweet little girl who always helps me presented me with a curry leave tree ( a wee one) and also insisted I stand under her umbrella while we waited.  Two bags of soil, AND a pandan plant too, and a pot for the pandan, I headed homeward to plant the new babies.  Not sure what I will do with the pandan. But I was on a roll.

Yes, the curry is brewing. I managed to snag 2 lamb shanks at Jusco. I first brewed the shanks in some water laced with the bundle of curry leaves. Then when the meat fell off the bones, I diced it up and began cooking all the veggies. The pungent aroma in my house is enough to make me drool.  I also sawed up a few sticks of lemongrass and tossed them in the pot.  Adding Thai basil, Thai curry paste, asparagus, shredded carrots, and slices of leeks I think I have made a feast fit for a queen.  Too lazy to wait to cook rice, I just tossed some into the pot at the end of the cooking. It is going to be together anyway, right?

Bon Apetit Queen Frannie

next on the block - Pandan Chicken!

Saturday Humour

I think this might amuse you.  I was just parking my car at the Tesco lot when I received a text message.  Finding my phone and reading the message, I replied to "where are you?" with  "I am at Tesco, who are you?" The message was just from a number, and not from my address book.  The writer responded with "I am Nurul - woodpecker furniture". Ah, yes, I remember her - she kindly gave me some discounts when I purchased my rattan furniture.  She then went on to say she wanted to leave me her weeding card.  I suggested that she just place it in my mail box.  I thought, hey, if she does weeding, I can get her to maintain my garden for me.  So, I quickly wrote back to her because I also was searching for curry leaf plants and pandan plants to add to the garden. There was no further messages, so I went on with my errands.

Halfway through my shopping I realized that she had spelled the word weeding just as she would say it, but actually she meant wedding.  Thinking back further I recalled a monsoon day when some woman stopped me in a parking lot and wanted to chat while she held up traffic. I had no idea who she was and suggested that she move on as people were honking at her to do just that.  That same woman tracked me down when I got to my own car and again held up traffic, jumped out of her own vehicle and opened my car door and asked for my phone number. She wanted it to make sure she could contact me to invite her to her wedding.  Good grief, if you wait long enough, all the pieces do actually fall into place. I did not know who she was, but now after today's weeding message I realize that she was delivering a wedding invitation.  She luckily, put the woodpecker furniture shop (which is now closed) as a reference for me today, so I could put the pieces together.

She probably wondered what the heck I was talking about when I asked her about where to buy plants today. Good thing I didn't ask her to begin weeding today.

When I got home there was no mail in my mail box. So guess I am off the hook for the weeding later this month too.  Maybe she put it in the wrong post box.

Pandan Information

Just in case you manage to find a supply of pandan to grow in your own garden (not likely), here is what you will do when you reap the leaves.

How to Use Panda Leaves:

To create a paste out of pandan leaves which you can then use for a variety of recipes, cut the leaves into 1 inch pieces and place a pot on the stove together with 1/2 cup water (put as many pieces in as will fit). Boil the leaves until soft. Some of the water will evaporate. Then process water and leaves together in a food processor to create a paste.

Another Use of Panda Leaves:

Place several leaves on top of each other and tie in a knot to hold them together. Add this to a rice pot to add a subtle pandan flavour to your rice.

Pandan has a very special taste that marries beautifully with coconut milk - there is nothing quite like it.

AND when all else fails, you can buy a tube of the delight in an Asian market.

Holy Crow, the coconut pandan thing is incredible!

could be a nice addition to my garden huh?

Weekend Breakfast Delivery Now Included!

The rectangles are yam cakes, the half circles are some kind of dumpling thing, and the green one is a coconut thing mixed with panda leaves.  All delivered this morning. Now I seem to have included weekend breakfast service to the delivery menu.

All are fairly bland, so out came my little bottle of maple syrup.  A dash of that in a wee sushi saucer did the trick.  

I think I am being well fed healthy vittles.

Oh, yes, and the neighbour's garden is already flourishing. Banana trees, pineapples, and an enormous clump of lemon grass are providing sustenance for the 'hood.  I am looking into bringing in a curry leaf tree to add to the mix.  Not sure where I will find one, but I am sure I will. I told Yeet that we should build a roadside vendor shack and take turns selling the produce. 

Action Song Competition at JJ3

Here is a picture of one of the singers from the winning school in the action song competition that I judged yesterday.  Honestly, they did not win just because one of the costumes was a Canada flag. It didn't hurt, but it was not decision maker.  They were amazing little entertainers. I will try to upload their recital to my you tube.

As usual, my hair is a fuzzball.  Kinda like a dandelion that has gone to seed.

Nostalgia? Wistfulness?

Are these words to describe me at this time? If so, does it mean I am homesick?  I am not sure I have ever felt homesick over any events.  Maybe the birth of my granddaughter, maybe moving on from one place in Canada to another, or maybe when I am home and others I love go on their own adventures.  What I do know now is that I felt the pining, the longing, the nostalgia of other times when I waited to hear the news of the tsunami outcome. 

How did this heal?  Last night when snuggled in my bed reading one of my new books, I received a phone call.  No one phones at night , at least not to my line. Maybe a text message, but never a phone call. I quickly picked up the call, and there on the other end was my dear friend who only a few years ago helped me through the tsunami of 2004.  To hear her voice, recall past events that felt like only yesterday, and just listen to her talking were the medicine I needed.  I was exhausted from the previous sleepless night, yet could not close my eyes.  We talked about everything. We talked about nothing. But just like being next door to her, we picked up the conversation and healed my traumatized self. 

 I may be sounding a bit dramatic here, but if you are a parent, then you can understand how I felt.  Powerless, yet longing to hear the words you want to hear.  Words do have a tremendous power.  If you hear what you are longing to hear you heal. If you hear otherwise, you fall further into despair.  All during the waiting game, you create the outcome with your mind and play it over and over again.  I did get a message this morning. Ry is ok.  That is also what I needed. But even without that message, I was able to sleep like a baby last night. Why? I guess it is because I was comforted in knowing that someone cared enough to call.  We all need each other.  It has been made crystal clear to me once again.

The dawn is breaking, the birds are singing, and the chariot awaits. Now time to don the duds and finish up this week with a happy heart.

Thank you Jilly for the call.  You cannot imagine how that helped me.  I will always answer the phone.