December Daily® 2023 | Paint + Play with Jill
2 years ago
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Monday, 14 January 2008
Friday, 23 November 2007
Saying Goodbye Again
My group of close friends keeps getting smaller as more and more of them move to different frontiers. Just recently a couple who have been our friends since uni, moved to Perth, with their year old child.
They will be missed, as with other friends who have moved away over the years.
Christmas with the gang will be a pretty tight circle this year.
I'm glad though that despite the distance and years that have separated us, we still catch up whenever any of them return home. Sometimes we get to celebrate Christmas with them and it's a treat.
These are friends I made in Uni and will remain my friends for life.
Conversations with my son
Mummy: Jeshan, do you love mummy?
Jeshan: Yes
Mummy: Jeshan? How much do you love mummy?
Jeshan: Big, long hug.
Mummy: Jeshan? Mummy loves you!
Mummy: Jeshan? Do you know how much mummy loves you?
Jeshan: Soooooo Much!
Jeshan: Yes
Mummy: Jeshan? How much do you love mummy?
Jeshan: Big, long hug.
Mummy: Jeshan? Mummy loves you!
Mummy: Jeshan? Do you know how much mummy loves you?
Jeshan: Soooooo Much!
Sunday, 4 November 2007
William Sabaratnam RIP
On a whim and a fancy, I googled my father's name today... and this is what I found (on kirbynet.com):
WILLIAM SABARATNAM R.I.P.
e-mail from Ramakrishnan P received 11.2.2005
This morning I was shocked to read in The Star that our friend and Kirkbyite William Sabaratnam had passed away. I immediately called Mrs Sabaratnam to convey my sympathies to her. I told her how sorry I was to learn of his passing and remarked, “Though I had not seen him in many years, he was a good friend.” She responded, “He was a good father and a good husband.”
She was very calm and sounded well. I suppose when death stares at you on a daily basis, may be it is easier to accept its inevitability.
She informed me that he contracted pneumonia and was admitted to hospital on 8 February –the eve of Chinese New Year and the day of Ah Kau’s funeral. The next day, on Chinese New Year and the day after Ah Kau’s funeral, William Sabaratnam passed away. Since there was no publication yesterday, the obituary only appeared today.
According to the obituary, he was 68 years old and leaves behind his wife and 4 daughters. There will be a funeral service at the Tamil Methodist Church in Brickfields at 3.00 p today followed by burial at the Cheras Christian Cemetry.
On 9 October, on learning of his ailment – nasal cancer – I recalled my memory of William Sabaratnam in a letter that I circulated. That information is still valid and it is reproduced:
“William Sabaratnam was from Block 9. He was tall and thin and I remember him in his brown suit. His favourite hang out was the billiard-table, forever banging away at the balls. He was pretty good at billiards and had won many prizes. If he wasn’t occupied at the table, he would be standing in front of the fire-place warming his back with his hands tucked into his trouser pockets and a cigarette dangling from his lips.
“I did not have much interaction with him in college. I’m not sure whether he talked much. Perhaps there was no need to speak. Billiards needed absolute concentration – that may be the reason. But I’m not sure.”
Tien Chong responded to this in his letter to me:
“You do have an excellent memory of him! Yes, William was in block 9 and his room was diagonally opposite. mine. Teong Kooi was his neighbour and they both monopolized the billiard table and were twice college champions. These 2 shared the same interest in literature would discussed Tennesse Williams in great detail.
“Perhaps Teong Kooi can tell us what their thoughts on D H Lawrence were. These 2 had great in depth knowledge of his books and always tried to out do each other.
“ He was a keen cricketer too.
“I remember him well as we both spent many happy hours at Jacaranda Coffee house drinking coffee and making friends with our young English hosts.”
In case, anyone wishes to drop a note to Mrs Sabaratnam, the address is: 589/2 Jalan NGP 2/7, New Green Park, 48000 Rawang, Selangor. Home telephone: 03-60916024.
WILLIAM SABARATNAM R.I.P.
e-mail from Ramakrishnan P received 11.2.2005
This morning I was shocked to read in The Star that our friend and Kirkbyite William Sabaratnam had passed away. I immediately called Mrs Sabaratnam to convey my sympathies to her. I told her how sorry I was to learn of his passing and remarked, “Though I had not seen him in many years, he was a good friend.” She responded, “He was a good father and a good husband.”
She was very calm and sounded well. I suppose when death stares at you on a daily basis, may be it is easier to accept its inevitability.
She informed me that he contracted pneumonia and was admitted to hospital on 8 February –the eve of Chinese New Year and the day of Ah Kau’s funeral. The next day, on Chinese New Year and the day after Ah Kau’s funeral, William Sabaratnam passed away. Since there was no publication yesterday, the obituary only appeared today.
According to the obituary, he was 68 years old and leaves behind his wife and 4 daughters. There will be a funeral service at the Tamil Methodist Church in Brickfields at 3.00 p today followed by burial at the Cheras Christian Cemetry.
On 9 October, on learning of his ailment – nasal cancer – I recalled my memory of William Sabaratnam in a letter that I circulated. That information is still valid and it is reproduced:
“William Sabaratnam was from Block 9. He was tall and thin and I remember him in his brown suit. His favourite hang out was the billiard-table, forever banging away at the balls. He was pretty good at billiards and had won many prizes. If he wasn’t occupied at the table, he would be standing in front of the fire-place warming his back with his hands tucked into his trouser pockets and a cigarette dangling from his lips.
“I did not have much interaction with him in college. I’m not sure whether he talked much. Perhaps there was no need to speak. Billiards needed absolute concentration – that may be the reason. But I’m not sure.”
Tien Chong responded to this in his letter to me:
“You do have an excellent memory of him! Yes, William was in block 9 and his room was diagonally opposite. mine. Teong Kooi was his neighbour and they both monopolized the billiard table and were twice college champions. These 2 shared the same interest in literature would discussed Tennesse Williams in great detail.
“Perhaps Teong Kooi can tell us what their thoughts on D H Lawrence were. These 2 had great in depth knowledge of his books and always tried to out do each other.
“ He was a keen cricketer too.
“I remember him well as we both spent many happy hours at Jacaranda Coffee house drinking coffee and making friends with our young English hosts.”
In case, anyone wishes to drop a note to Mrs Sabaratnam, the address is: 589/2 Jalan NGP 2/7, New Green Park, 48000 Rawang, Selangor. Home telephone: 03-60916024.
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
What to do in Langkawi with kids in tow
Don't forget the sunscreen and the sun hat...
Keep the kids and the bags together at the airport so that one does not suffer at the expense of the other.
Take the cable car ride. The kids will gain perspective of scales - endless sea, heights, how small we are in the sum of things; there are small waterfalls to point out to; you can explain the concept of "jungle" to them; and, they learn that there are more ways to travel then just by car or plane.
Do take a boat ride... to anywhere. The kids were thrilled and the sights were breathtaking. Our destination was an eagle feeding site and a visit to a fish farm where there are baracudas to marvel at; fish that jump into the air to nibble at your finger; eels to stroke and garoupas to lure from the dark they prefer to languish in. Very educational trip that was.
Don't know how long this eagle feeding thing has been around for, but it was the best thing we did on the trip. It was just an amazing sight to watch these creatures fly out of the dense forests, swoop down to pick up the chicken skin pieces the tour guides throw into the water, and immediately pass it to their beaks. They then fly up, circle and swoop down again. Once all the pieces are gone, they fly away, mostly to the highest peaks of the rocky hills that surrounded us.
The kids of course would love nothing more than to spend hours just splashing around in the pool. Check out how our little fella armed himself with TWO floats - one of which he stole from his cousin. Note that the cousin looks distressed from all the bullying. They absolutely loved the beach too. It was Jeshan's first introduction to sand and sea but since the mummy's were taking some time out to go shopping, nobody was around to remember to take pictures of that very important moment.
Are playgrounds safe enough for our kids?
In the US, playgrounds are fenced in. Adults without a child in their care, are by law, not allowed to step into the play area. This automatically makes the playground a safe haven.
The fencing means parent's do not have to worry about their kids running into a drain, or unto the road or simply wondering off. The law on the other hand, keeps paedophiles, kidnappers and other unwanted characters out.
What happened to Nurin just goes to show how unsafe our neighbourhoods have become.
The authorities should consider making areas where families and children hang out, safe. The playground is a good place to start.
The fencing means parent's do not have to worry about their kids running into a drain, or unto the road or simply wondering off. The law on the other hand, keeps paedophiles, kidnappers and other unwanted characters out.
What happened to Nurin just goes to show how unsafe our neighbourhoods have become.
The authorities should consider making areas where families and children hang out, safe. The playground is a good place to start.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
