Sun Yat Sen's house in Taiping

Last weekend we went on a little family trip to Taiping. One of the stops was the historical Antong Coffee Mill. This is also where the historical figure of Dr Sun Yat Sen and his wife stayed when they were in Taiping. The little house had some antiques displayed. Some really old ones and some from the 70s and 80s. I recognised the little collapsible clock displayed as well as the frog on lily pad ashtray which Dad used to use back when I was little. Probably my primary school days. The clock was placed on the mantel of Mom and Dad's bed. Looks like we have been through quite a series of ashtrays during that period of time as I now think of them.

Dad Part Deux

Another fall. Two in a week. Last week, Mom (with a tendency to exaggerate) made it sound like Dad was gonna be bedridden with a fracture. To me, him being bedridden will spell out the end of the road. I was terrified. Couldn't stop praising God when the X-ray came back normal. He was still in a lot of pain. Probably from the trauma to his frail body.

This morning, Mom called and informed me he fell again last night. She was out for dinner and advised him not to go anywhere on his own and wait for her return. Low and behold she heard him calling out for her and she found him sprawled on the floor. He is now in the hospital with a temperature and low blood sugar as he didn't eat. He was so weak and in much pain that they brought him around in a stretcher. All he wanted to do was to sleep according to Mom.

I feel for him. Times like these makes me want to let him go. I think he is in so much pain and sadness that letting him stay on is a real torture and punishing him further from what he is already going through. However, I really don't want him to go this way, sad and miserable. I want him to go knowing that he is loved. I want him to go thinking that he had lived long enough to see his beautiful grandkids. To know that life isn't that bad after all. Life can't be that bad. To know that God had and still has a purpose for him. And to fulfil this purpose before meeting Him and resting in Heaven.

How do we get him to feel this way? Does he even know that I love him? Or does he think that he is not important to me anymore now that I have my own family? Is Mom his loyal and faithful wife sticking to him through thick and thin or is she just a nagging nuisance? What about God? Is God punishing him or has God not blessed him with so much in his life? How, oh, how can I positivise his thoughts before he goes so that he goes a fulfilled man? Dear Lord, only You can. Please do Your thing before You take him home. Amen.

Toddler Magic

A few days back, dear hubby was showing the little 3 year old some 'magic' tricks. He hid a small toy between his palms and asked her to think with her eyes closed that the item is gone! When she opened her eyes, to her innocent mind and surprise, the item is really gone! Dear hubby had obviously just placed the item behind his back and clasp his palms back together when the little girl had her eyes closed.

That family time reminded me of my own dad amazingly seemingly hiding a coin behind his ear and bringing it back out. We would both look for it high and low behind his ears, all over his head and till now, I still don't know how he did it. Must remember to ask when I see him next if I get a chance.

Dad

The clicking of his walking stick woke me up from my sleep. I was hoping it's not what I think it was but dad was indeed trying to get downstairs on his own to my horror at 4.30am. His legs had been extremely weak lately. He fell three days in a row two weeks ago when we came back for a visit. Not off the stairs thankfully but terrifying enough and the possibility is no doubt very high if no one watches him.

As I sit here observing him trying to nod off, I find it so disheartening to watch a loved one in this state. I wonder if the dialysis procedure in the last five years had hasten up the deterioration of his body but we see so many others still very much their normal self in the hospital during regular check-ups.

I put it down to his mental state. Right from the start, he had given himself a death sentence. He knows that a person on dialysis will not live as long as he wishes to. So instead of making the best of whatever time he has left here on Earth, he just gave up altogether. Along with the depression, there's mom's constant nagging as the primary caregiver which probably further discouraged him from wanting to do any better than he already is. I don't want to blame Mom because everyone knows how much she's been through. She had been sticking to him through thick and thin and I can only give her credit for what she is doing.

I dread THE day but worse still, no one knows who will actually go first. We human are so dependent on one another without us even realizing sometimes. Without one or the other, life will be tough but it goes on. It always does. So it's only best to pick up the pieces soonest possible and move on.

I am thankful that I have come to know Jesus in my life. That makes living a little easier sometimes knowing that Someone out there is watching out for me. Life is still tough but there's also plenty to look forward to and be thankful about...

Art

I remember there was once we were asked to draw and paint. I was probably still in primary school then. Maybe something like Primary Three? The theme must have 'Your House' or something to that extend. Mom had helped me with the painting. Ok, she drew and painted it! The very next day in school, I gladly took it out of my bag to hand it up. My classmate next to me immediately asked me if I had done it myself and I said 'yes' without hesitation. It must have been obvious that I wouldn't have produced wuch work. Well, the teacher didn't say anything and that's what mattered then! Hah...

Half Boiled Eggs Tool

This morning I was thinking of the yellow half boiled egg equipment that we used to use to get the perfect half boiled eggs! There are markings on the container and you just have to pour the desired amount of boiling water in, leave it as the water drains to the bottom half and voila! The perfect half boiled eggs! Gotta go ask Mom if it's still around and then nick it!

Taken from http://www.chocolatesuze.com/2010/06/07/soft-boiled-eggs-kaya

Update 5/12/2015 - Just this year, one of the companies I buy eggs from, QL, had a redemption programme and I managed to redeem my very own half-boiled egg maker!! Soon after I received mine, Mom came with hers. Now there are 2! So happy to finally have the perfect half-boiled eggs for breakfast whenever I wanted some now. Was told that this equiptment is actually invented by a Malaysian! Whoa! After a lot of 'research' on the amount of boiling water for the required number of eggs. Cool!

School Bus Part Deux

Bro and I used to compete all the time. We both always want to win and this almost always leads to a fight. One competition occurs after school. Uncle Bus will drop us off at the end of our street and bro and I will run for our lives to reach our house, heavy school bag on our backs and a water bottle in one hand. I can just imagine the scene - two school kids scrambling along the street. The last one to reach has to close the gate which somehow is something that we dread. Silly I know but I guess at that age, closing the gate feels like a chore and no kiddo likes chores! Hrmph...