ExCEL Convention 2011

It'll be the first time (if I'm given the 'green light') to attend the following..and maybe the last time..

Opportunities don't knock twice on your door.

So, what are you waiting for?

Do look out for the exciting post-reflection around 12nov2011.

One of the places is the Marina Barrage Tour.

The PS21 ExCEL Convention is an annual event and platform for public officers to showcase, recognize and celebrate innovative ideas, projects and efforts that have created value within the Public Service.

The theme for this year is

"Towards an Exceptional Public Service"

Customer-Centric • Collaborative • Creative

It reiterates the need for public service officers to challenge the present and prepare for the future. The sub-tags convey the aptitude and values every public officer and agency should have in order to achieve organisational excellence and be ready for the future.
The ExCEL Convention will be held over two days on the 10 and 11 November 2011 at the F1 Pit Building.

TK 1st lunar birthday bash

Grandpa carrying TK ready to sing 'Happy Birthday Song'..祝你生日快乐！祝你生日快乐！。。。'Now it's my turn to carry TK,' said Grandma.
It's cake cutting and needs the professionals to do it. They're non other than Dardy and Marmy.




TK's 1st lunar birthday family photo 2011

                        TK putting a toy on Marmy's palm

Look! I've a pointed thumb. TK playing with cousin B with Grandpa on the left and Marmy on the right. But where's Dardy? O-oh..Dardy is the camera man, of course.

56th week of motherhood

26sep - 2oct

- woke up early to take a walk in the neighbourhood
- hubby bought breakfast and we left the house together
- Pa came to fix the ceiling light with a wooden stool and a new round bulb before dinner
- hubby made multigrain porridge with brocoli, tomato, carrot, pearl beans, french beans etc
-

- woke up for brief walk before returning home to make beehoon for breakfast
- the few pieces of cabbage which I cook last is too salty as I added 3 pinch of salt
- had

- hubby is on course this week so I'm sending/fetching TK to-and-fro infant care
-

- there's no Dharma class this week
- gg to send TK to mum's after work for the weekend
-

56th week Dearest Bb TK

27sep - 3oct'11

386 days' old, you met Tr T on the way to infant care;
387 days' old, you say 'Ra-ra' everywhere you go; call Grandma 'ah-ma' so accurately; are taking so little milk before sleep;
388 days' old, you didn't take any milk before sleep;
389 days' old, you are taking a class photo didn't take photo as it was postponed due to many absences from the cases of HFMD lately since early Sep; say 'Ra-ra' everywhere you go when Dardy & Marmy are changing and getting to leave for work; gg to Granddad's place for the weekend;
390 days' old, you
391 days' old, you
392 days' old, you

55th week Dearest Bb TK

20sep - 26sep'11

379 days' old, you
380 days' old, you have been saying 'Ma-ma' very often and when Marmy appears, you looked at Marmy and said 'Ma-ma; Grandpa came to visit you after dinner;
381 days' old, you
382 days' old, you
383 days' old, you like to say 'A-sst'; you met your cousins and walked a few steps; Granduncle gave you a gift and after you took the things out of the paper bag, you put them back; you tried abit of the pandan cake Marmy bought from Sheng Siong Supermarket;
384 days' old, you
385 days' old, you like to raise your hand with palm facing out and when Marmy give you 'Hi-5' you smiled with eyes closed and tilt head backwards; you said 'O-oh' when you couldn't put the ball back into the bag behind Tr T; Grandpa came to fix the light and stayed for dinner; Marmy asked you to sayang Grandpa, stroking Grandpa with your right hand, and when you hit Grandpa in your walker, you came to sayang Grandpa;

55th week of motherhood

19sep - 25sep

-
-

- attended a In-Conversation Dialogue in the afternoon
- met hubby at vegetarian restaurant before Dharma class
-

- attended a Workshop in the morning and hubby bbsat TK
- went for family gathering at Aunt's place and ate almond jelly
-

- Ma going for check-up tomorrow
-

The buffalo - heart-rend​ing news story from China

Humans can stop and think before they act...if attention is drawn to the pain and suffering of what they are about to do.
This buffalo has changed the life of these butchers  - heart-rending news story from China

人性的光輝面... The Bright Side of Human Nature ...
悲傷的水牛停步不前，驚恐流淚。The buffalo standing still, sad and frightened to tears
【人民報消息】不管人相信不相信，這件事發生了，就在香港。 據《世界新聞週刊》報導，一群工人牽著一頭水牛走進一家包裝廠內，準備將它宰殺做成牛排和燉牛肉。當他們接近屠宰房門口時，那頭悲傷的水牛突然停步不前，兩隻前腳往前跪下，眼淚也跟著撲簌簌地流了下來。那頭水牛還沒有進屠宰房，它是怎麼知道自己將要被宰殺的？這一點比人還靈。

「當我看到這種被人們認為是愚笨的動物，竟然在哭泣，　以及看到它那充滿恐懼和悲哀的雙眼時，我忍不住地發起抖來。」一位受到極度震撼的屠夫 Shiu Tat-Nin回憶說。「我趕緊叫其他人過來看，他們也和我一樣地訝異！　我們不住地推拉著那頭水牛，可是它卻一動也不動，只是坐在那邊不斷地哭泣。」

一位香港的包裝廠老闆Billy Fong說，「人類一直以為動物是不會像人一樣哭泣，可是那頭水牛真的像個嬰孩一樣地啜泣著！」當時至少有十幾個強壯魁梧的男士在場，他們的心被哭軟了，負責宰殺的那些男孩內心更受到觸動，眼淚也不禁奪眶而出。其他的屠宰工人聞訊也都跑過來圍觀這頭哭泣下跪的水牛，現場擠得水洩不通，都被眼前的景象給震住了，其中有三個人更是當場就呆了。他們說，以後宰殺其它動物時，將永遠不會忘掉這頭淚流滿面的水牛。到了牛也哭、人也哭的份兒上，大家心裏都很清楚，沒有一個人忍心下得了手殺它。接下來面對的問題是：如何善後。

最後他們決定大家一起出錢買下這哭泣的水牛，並且送到一間佛寺，交給那些會愛護它的出家人，好讓它可以安心的度過這一輩子。決定做出後，神奇的事又發生了：「當我們向這只水牛保證不會殺它時，它才肯移動，然後起身緊緊跟隨著我們。」牛是如何聽懂人的話的？Shiu說：「不管你們相信不相信，這是千真萬確的事情，雖然聽起來確實是不可思議。」毫無疑義，這頭水牛改變了這些屠宰工的一生。

http://renminbao.com/rmb/articles/2011/4/16/54517b.html (accessed July 28, 2011)

2011年4月16日 星期六人性的光輝面...The Bright Side of Human Nature...主旨： 這頭水牛改變了這些屠宰工的一生This buffalo has changed the lives of these butchers

The Buffalo standing still, sad and frightened to tears
According to the news release from China’s People’s News, whether people believe it or not, this incident actually happened in Hong Kong. The Weekly World News reported that a group of workers were bringing a water buffalo into a packaging factory, ready to slaughter it to make steak and beef stew.

STORY OF A BLIND MAN

Ignorance is the state of not knowing the truth while stupidity is the dull state of mind that allows us to repeat the same thing over and over again despite its negative consequences. A mind enveloped in stupidity could not link the laws of cause and effect, seed and fruit. 

There is a story of a blind man who argued that light exists not. Being blind, he would refute, "Well, if light exists, let me see it, smell it, touch it or beat it like a drum so that I can hear it."
The blind man would laugh and jeer at his friends: "You fools! You are trying to prove something to me which is not.  I have five senses. Prove that light exists, I am open to accept it if you can do so. You all are fooling me; I am not blind because light exists not. If light exists not, the eyes need not be there."

He would further argue, "You are all blind, for you are dreaming about something that exists not. The whole business of light is just a fiction, a deception, a fraud."
Being tired of this blind man's stupidity, the villagers decided to bring him to the Buddha.

Buddha said, "Don't bring him to me because he needs no conviction. But, I know of a doctor whom you can bring him for treatment . He needs eye or vision to see light."

The blind man was taken to the doctor for treatment. After six months, he was able to see.

By that time, Buddha had moved to another village. The man came running and fell on his knees at the Buddha's feet, saying, "You have convinced me that light exists."

Buddha said, "I have not done anything. Your eyes have convinced you, there is no other way."



Moral of the story:

Like the blind man, we continue in an unintended direction. Knowing that you don't know can be an open, inquisitive and humble state of mind, full of possibilities for exploration and learning. Like the blind man who is so dogmatic that light exists not, we too may fall into the same trap when we doubt about Nirvana.  We can be as blind as the blind man.

《弟子规》

《弟子规》是人们的生活规范，依据至圣先师孔子的教诲编写而成，教导学生为人处世的规范，做到与经典同行为友。《弟子规》是儒家的基础，人性的基础。

“弟子”的意思有两个：一是指孩子；一是指学生；“规”就是规范。
《弟子规》原名《训蒙文》，原作者李毓秀是清朝康熙年间的秀才。以《论语》“学而篇”第六条：“弟子入则孝，出则悌，谨而信，泛爱众，而亲仁，有余力，则以学文”的文义以三字一句，两句一韵编纂而成。分为五个部分，具体列述弟子在家、出外、待人、接物与学习上应该恪守的守则规范。后来清朝贾存仁修订改编《训蒙文》，并改名《弟子规》，是启蒙养正，教育子弟敦伦尽份防邪存诚，养成忠厚家风、教育孺子的最佳读物。

几百年来，我们中华民族的祖先，一直坚信这样一个简单的道理：小孩子在他年少时(0～13岁)，记忆力非常好，应该把前辈的人生经验、生活智慧记忆下来，牢牢地背记，并烂熟于心中。尽管此时他还不理解其深刻含义，但是先记住，好比牛先把草吃下去，有时机再反刍一样，孩子随着年龄的增长，理解能力也在成长，到了一定年龄自然酝酿发酵，必然有更深的理解和领悟。如果在孩子在记忆力强的时候，不给他一些经典的东西储存到脑子里，没有“厚积”，怎么能“薄发”呢?怎么能融会贯通、触类旁通呢？

全集在线观看

Bb TK standing in front of TV set at 11m 2w 1d old

On 22 August 2011, Monday evening

after TK had his dinner,

it's time for the TV variety show ‘百万大赢家’

TK stretched out to reach for the accumulated prize money.

'Oh no, I need to use 3-choose-1 helpline 三选一..'

TK is playing Peek-a-boo and holding 'The Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra'.

'Let me see..how do I turn to the first page..'

54th week of motherhood

12sep - 18sep

- it's Mid-Autumn Festival and our neighbours invited us to join in the fun near the lift lobby for the first time
- Pa came to visit and had dinner together after Dardy volunteered to make dinner for us
- it's a busy week with checking of emails, carrying extra duties and photocopy the missing document for a 'client'
- made some suggestions and 'earn $2' per entry

- surfed internet and checked emails
- assisted a colleague with the printing of colour document
- submitted a doc due on end of Aug upon email reminder to do so by tomorrow
- assisted another colleague with problem to her password
- called hubby before 6p to fetch TK as I overstayed to do work

- rushed to office for meeting only to find out it is to be postponed 30 min as a few of the colleagues are late due to various reasons (eg. traffic congestion)
- had Hari Raya Lunch (beehoon set meal w some dau ghee n cauliflower)
- surfed the internet for information and checked emails

- sent/ fetched TK to-and-fro infant care centre as hubby is on course
- the centre forbade outsiders to enter and teachers have to carry the infants to the entrance door
- hubby reminded of the confirmation of the delivery and after calling the shop, they're delivering by noon tomorrow

- woke up 6a at the sound of the alarm clock
- sent TK to mum as hubby and I are attending Dharma class on Heart Sutra this evening
- hubby packed and cleaned the house as the metal cupboard will be delivered by noon
-dreamt that TK is no longer w us, but I was able to take it without much sorrow

- hubby went to buy food & read the papers at the nearby Community Library
- 2pc of pancake (ming zang kueh) for brunch and
- went to buy lotion & took subway for hi-tea
- called mum at 630p and TK is taking nap while mum take her dinner
-

- went Sunday banking
-

54th week Dearest Bb TK

13sep - 19sep'11

372 days' old, you like to chew your fingers and bite very hard when hungry;
373 days' old, you poo after feed;
374 days' old, you poo after feed; you made V-sign with your hands;
375 days' old, you are gg to Granddad's place to stay for the weekend; pooed at 750a; came to find Marmy when Marmy went to the bedroom washroom to shower and getting ready to go to work; pushed the door and was surprised the door can swing more than 90 degrees and squeezed through the tiny space; stood by the bed and walked while Dardy is still sleeping;
376 days' old, you woke up at 4plus in the morning & stayed awake after feed till 6a;
377 days' old, you are coming home after dinner; Grandma called & you answered the call; are able to walk 7 baby steps for the first time?
378 days' old, you are still having runny nose;

TK at 8m 3w 1d old

Having suffered the sudden attack of AVM and aneurysm last April during my pregnancy,

if anyone were to ask me,

I'd tell him/her I have no regrets, TK is the best thing that has ever happened to me..other than TK daddy.



This is someone who is very special.

TK happily lying on the roll mat..

 

   

TK first potty training success shots at 12m 1d old

The happiest person seems to be non other than TK himself.

TK sat on the potty and within minutes

he's finished with his 'business'.

At TK's 1st birthday bash

TK stayed awake for the whole morning as Marmy was busy preparing the food.

At times, he wanted Marmy to carry

and TK looked at Marmy flipping and tossing the food in the pan with one hand

(hash brown with lettuce to go with multigrain bread, macaroni, mee sua with baiye or dried tofu).

Marmy bought some biscuits, apples

 

 and the Lil' ones can munch on Gerber Graduates puffs,

 

and Heinz orchard apple biscotti.

TK was feeling hungry as Marmy fed him 25% of his ususal portion of cereals

and he continued to play on his own.

Dardy was busy doing his work in his room and at one point

TK was sitting quietly on the floor beside Dardy's chair

(exploring whatever he can find)

When finally TK was about to leave home at 1145hr, he was already feeling very sleepy.

He went down to sleeping position from sitting position in his baby stroller

and hit his head at the side of the stroller

(Dardy had to return home to get the tea tree oil to apply on his head).

When TK entered the infant room, everyone greeted him with "Happy Birthday TK"

and he slowly opened his eyes

and looked around him (after a short nap of 15min).

Oops! Angel, be careful of your head.

Tr is going to put on the party hat for TK.

Aahil put on his Sunday best and waited patiently.

Yes TK, you're turning 1 year old today.

"Thank you Aahil for your gift. Shall we open up and see what's inside?"

"Can you hold the gift while I go and find my ball?"

TK is so excited sitting on Dardy's office chair for the first time!

Can you guess who's the real BB (Big Boss)?

Do you know?

Bangala is also a racist term used mainly in Singapore to refer to Bangladesh workers.
Bangala is the plural of Mongala in Lingala

53rd week Dearest Bb TK

6sep - 12sep'11

365 days' old, you cried for milk at 645a; at 840a ate some puffs on the way to infant care;

366 days' old, you turn 1 year old today and (Dardy & Marmy on your behalf) made a wish; you visited Dardy's office for the first time; pooed at 8a sitting on the potty on your own for the first time;

367 days' old, you poo on your own for the 2nd time;
368 days' old, you poo on your own yet again for the 3rd consecutive time; Dardy agreed to take you to the pool but Marmy have to find you a float first; you enjoy your first swim after 'warm-up' after Dardy taught you to clap hands;
369 days' old, you are gg to meet your Lil' cousins at Grandaunt's place at Granddad's place for 2 nights;
370 days' old, you came home for dinner; Grandpa came to visit you with a lantern from Granduncle;
371 days' old, you are gg to nap on the floor on mattress at infant care;

To view TK's poo, click 'Read More'

53rd week of motherhood

5sep - 11sep

- sent TK to infant care with Dardy and did more packing
- went back to office after lunch to check emails, etc
- came home to make dinner and probably go for jogging with Dardy & TK in baby stroller
- sky was filled with dark clouds by the time Dardy reached home w TK
-

- had breakfast after sending TK to infant care
- clarified with infant teachers the timing of the cake cutting and photo taking session (should other parents come, there'll be cake, baby biscuits, drinks etc)
- continued to do more packing of Dardy's stuff
- went home to make lunch while checking email
- worked on the minutes of our Project
-

- prepared some foodstuff to bring to infant care for TK's 1st birthday bash at noon
- left home around 1145a with hubby & sleepy TK in stroller
-

- gave away some brown rice cereal satchets to TK's classmates plus 2 water bottles
-

- went to stay at mum's for the weekend
-

Invitation to a Green Day!

Project? TK 1st birthday wish for a safer and eco-friendlier place to live in
Aim? To reduce undesirable wastage, litter etc and minimise killing (practising lovingkindness)
When? 7Sep 2011
How? Use as little water, electricity, disposable etc and take meatless diets

May all be well and happy living in this world.

A Happy Teacher's Day to all the dedicated teachers!

Dearest Teachers,

This is a special day for you.

You have worked so hard and with so much love.

Thank you for taking such good care of me.

Below is a little poem for you:

To all my dearest teachers who

Showered me with so much love

Holding me tightly in your arms

Inspiring me to be independent

Never giving up on me

Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree

Wishing upon a star up in the sky

All his teachers stay healthy and cheerful

Not to worry and be happy

 A walk down memory lane..from the day TK is born... ...