my supernatural life

Things fall apart

2012-02-01T08:29:00.000+08:00

In the heat of the General Elections, it was not difficult for opposition candidates to ride on, if not provoke, public dissatisfaction and look reasonably competent. Everyone remarked that these were candidates of higher calibre, at least than the previous generations we had been used to.

Yet in the months after GE, under further scrutiny, it is easy to see just how deep the veneer of statesmanship is. One party has fallen apart. Its members not only resigned, but went on to explain at length why they were not happy with the party leadership. What a classic case of washing dirty linen in public! Would it not have been more gentlemanly to leave amicably, preserving both your own dignity and that of the party? After all, but you chose to be part of them, didn't you? What does it say about yourself?

Another opposition MP proposed in Parliament that ministers' pay be pegged to MP's pay. His reasons sounded high-minded enough, but one cannot fail to observe that coincidentally, he is an MP, and one who is not likely to become a minister.

Seems like, over time, we could tell who would remain standing what the hurly burly is over.

The Squeaks' teeth part 2

2012-01-29T15:10:00.000+08:00

Ninja's teeth got clipped, and she is given antibiotics for gum inflammation. Since the TwinSqueaks are erm...twins, we decided to check Friendly's teeth too. V held the Squeak on his hand, and pulled her scruff back to reveal her teeth. Ok, no signs of problems. The angry Squeak then give V a huge bite. OUCH! Blood again.

Oh well, at least we know her teeth are working fine.

This isn't a day for the pets

2012-01-27T20:26:00.000+08:00

The pet household has some challenges today :(

Ninja had to go to the vet because of her overgrown teeth. To my dismay, there is also inflammation of the gums...so she still isn't eating properly now. The vet isn't sure what more she can do for Ninja, and advises me to pound her food. I spent the new few hours pulverizing pine nuts, sunflower seeds, barley flakes, etc

Then, I cleaned out the rabbits' cage, and Whitty bit me! Broke my skin and there was blood. She has never been good about cage cleaning. Unlike Blackie who would just lie there quietly, Whitty gets anxious and would try to stop me from throwing away her hay, and while I was clearing out the hay, she would be eating as quickly as she could. Silly girl! I always give you more after that! Have you ever run short?

Anyway so she kept lunging at me, chasing my hand, until finally, the big BITE. That hurt! We glared at each other for a few seconds, I put on a glove, and the angry rabbit ran off to sulk beside Blackie, hiding her face in his fur, until the whole thing was over. She became happier only when I filled the hay balls and returned her the food bowls and toys.

All in all, it isn't a day for the pet owner and I am exhausted now. Good night folks.

Blackie wants to cross a gulf

2012-01-25T16:47:00.000+08:00

Poor Blackie! We have always known that he is the...erm...less agile of the two rabbits, so this scene isn't a surprise at all. But poor Blackie!

The rabbits love their alfalfa hay but they aren't allowed too much of it, so I put the hay on a high place, not expecting the rabbits to be able to get there. Whitty the clever girl managed to leap from the top of their cage unto the food bin, as you can see in the picture. She was happily nibbling the hay, but alas, Blackie just couldn't join her, much as he wanted to do so.

See how the poor boy cranes his neck, "Hm...I wonder how I can get there. I want the alfalfa hay too! Come on Whitty, pass some over."

So at last, Blackie gave up and contents himself with the crumbs from Whitty's feast.

Bemused about tuition centres

2012-01-23T13:21:00.000+08:00

As I have mentioned in an earlier entry, our keen desire for academic excellence has spread to private tuition centres. The most popular of these have the luxury of imposing entrance tests on their students, and accepting only students who do well. The common reason cited is that such streaming ensures more targetted help, and this increases the effectiveness of their teaching.

Few parents, however, accept this reason, and instead, many decry these tests as a cynical tactic to improve the centres' results. Many protested that it is the weak students who need support, and these tuition centres are depriving them of the help they need when they reject them. They shouldn't be allowed to impose entrance tests!

Please don't have any illusions about it. Private tuition centres are set up specifically to make profits - they have a bottomline to meet, overheads to cover, and would like to maximise their profit if they could.

Maybe over the years, both private and public educational organisations have come to use similar jargon, phrases such as "holistic development", "fulfiling the potential of every child" are freely found in all communication materials. At the same time, there are social welfare bodies such as CDAC and Mendaki which are set up to help weaker students, especially those from poorer families. It is perhaps forgivable for parents to confuse the aims of all these education-related organisations, and expect every of them to be equally altruistic.

But don't forget the commercial nature of private tuition centres. Yes, they are probably making use of their high-flying customers' exam results for their own publicity. Yes, they then probably charge an arm and a leg because of this manipulated track record. Therefore, those who do not wish to be part of this behaviour should simply vote with their feet and walk away. Those who need help and yet have been rejected by these centres should bring their patronage to less snooty tuition centres. I am sure there are plenty out there.

In the world of private education, excepting criminal activity, it is a free market. Unless we intend to impose regulation upon such private interests (and turn them into publicly-funded centres), they have the right to function as they wish - just like any other business enterprise. If they lose money because of their selective admission, it serves them right. They might even close down and no one will be sorry. But don't pillory them because they thrive despite snubbing your business.

Relieved that Rabbit Year is over

2012-01-21T08:25:00.002+08:00

Now, the Year of the Rabbit may be over, but mind that you still take good care of me. Keep the hay bins well stocked and clean out my litter box regularly. Don't confine me to my cage all the time. Like you, I enjoy having some freedom.

Best friends again

2012-01-19T07:27:00.000+08:00

Now that the Squeaks are older, there seems to be so much more squabbling over food and favourite places, and less playing and snuggling together. *Sigh* Even cute little furballs follow these inevitable social development in adulthood.

So this is quite a rare moment for us, seeing them eat side by side, sharing food and the most comfortable eating space.

Happily, we have managed to treat Friendly's skin condition somewhat. She is dusted with medicated powder, dunked in oatmeal solution, and rubbed with neem oil shampoo for small animals. She still looks scruffy and patchy, but at least the dreadful smell is gone :P

Goodbye Rabbit Year...and rabbits

2012-01-17T14:06:00.000+08:00

If you were one of those who abandoned a rabbit this year...

Which part of the planet had you been living in? We all know last year was the Year of the Rabbit, and all animal welfare groups had been reminding every one - DON'T BUY A RABBIT JUST BECAUSE IT IS RABBIT YEAR! Did you not hear the message, which was repeated everywhere, even at the petshops? Did you not realise that a rabbit lives for much longer than one year? It might still be around the NEXT Rabbit Year!

So why do people still buy and then abandon rabbits? Even they didn't want the rabbits anymore, why did they just leave them lost in our concrete jungle? Would they themselves (the humans) be able to survive if they were thrown out into the streets without protection and food? No right? Then how did they expect the rabbits to cope?

We are entering the Year of the Dragon. Thank goodness people can't keep dragons as pets.

Rabbit at rest

2012-01-16T11:52:00.000+08:00

When a rabbit flops down in this manner, it means that he is as relaxed as he could possibly be. Being prey animals, they don't usually allow themselves to be so vulnerable.

After a delicious meal of snow peas and oat hay, Blackie is having a 'ah, this is life' moment.

No more hot-housing please!

2012-01-13T04:16:00.000+08:00

It is time to restore some sanity to our society’s widespread anxiety towards education. How much more can parents do to give their children a head start? How much more head start do children need to do well in life? No, I have got the second question wrong, as perhaps some parents have. I should ask, how much more head start do children need to do well in their academic career? And how much do they need to achieve academically to do well in life?

Every year we witness parents’ epic efforts to get their children admitted into the top primary schools. This desperation has spread, perhaps inevitably, to the enrichment and tuition industry, with the more coveted agencies enjoying the luxury of being able to screen their customers and charge exorbitant fees. This is all because parents want to give their children a boost and help them get ahead of their peers.

Has anyone actually looked long and hard at how much advantage is enjoyed by children who are thus rigorously nurtured? I suppose, if one has been coached repeatedly in Mathematical sums or scientific facts, he can hardly help getting higher scores in tests and examinations, just as a shot of steroids is bound to improve one’s sporting performance. The short term benefit may not reflect greater cognitive development or learning ability. And does nothing, of course, for the child’s growth in character.

Where do we factor in holistic development in the torrent of instruction our children are swamped in? A child typically spends most of the day in the classroom before being whisked off to enrichment and tuition centres. The remaining few hours of the day are spent completing homework, with mummy supervising by the side. After a long and tiring day, I usually like to crash unto my sofa and watch mindless TV, preferably reruns. I wonder how differently children cope with stress. Yet we expect them to benefit from this incessant intravenous drip of teaching.

What if, after all, less is more? One cannot make a plant grow faster by watering it more often. Give the child time to observe, to explore, to invent, and most of all, to rest. It is natural to want one’s child to be the best of the lot, but some things are just beyond our control and influence. This leads me back to the question at the end of my first paragraph: And how much do children need to achieve academically to do well in life? Surely there is more than one pathway to success and personal fulfilment, and this can be discovered by our children...unless they are too tired to look. Don’t let them be.

Organic-fed rabbits

2012-01-11T05:43:00.000+08:00

Occ was aghast to know that I feed my rabbits organic, peeled baby carrots. How much can one spoil her pets? But don't get me wrong, they are given such premium food because the carrots come in neat little packages which are such a convenience for feeding...and because, erm, the rabbits love them, of course.

Two excited rabbits at breakfast time

Nope, don't misunderstand that they are being intimate. While thoroughly loving in every other way, this couple is completely competitive when it comes to food. The silly rabbits squabble over the carrots in the most ridiculous way - though there is a nice full bowl in front of them, each insists on snatching the carrot from the other's mouth, hence, the scene we see below. So for them, every carrot is half eaten.

A Simple Meal

2012-01-09T08:44:00.001+08:00

The many rounds of festive feasting has taken its toll, and one night, I woke up clutching my overworked stomach in pain :( Before Chinese New Year, I had better recuperate somewhat. Made for myself a really light but still tasty meal

Ingredients for the Convalescent's Porridge

Brown rice (for extra nutrition)
Dried scallops (makes the porridge marvellously unami)
Ginger slices (for the queasy stomach)
Carrot (to use up my rabbits' leftovers)
A dash of chicken stock powder

One of the side dishes was Japanese pickled anchovies, which I picked up one day at Isetan's Hokkaido food fair. The other was a childhood favourite - tinned meat sauce.

Pets: love them, then let go

2012-01-06T08:36:00.000+08:00

A dear friend just suffered a loss feared by all pet lovers. I know, some cynics might think 'but they are just animals!' Why do we get so sentimental about a dog, or worse, a rodent? But if you have ever taken care of an animal daily, interacted with it and understood its unique personality, you would know that the death of a pet feels like a bereavement too.

It is a sad fact that unless you keep an elephant or a tortoise, your furkid is unlikely to outlive you. Painful loss is inevitable at some time. Do we then conclude that we should not have pets anymore?

Such a measure may guard our hearts from loss, but we would also not have the joy of enjoying a pet, and what a pity that would be!

I think the best attitude towards pets is to love them when you have them, and see to it that they have a full and happy life. Laugh at their silly antics and pretend to scold them for unintentional or (perhaps intentional) naughty behaviour. Appreciate their affection, be the best thing to happen to their lives.

Then when it is time, let them go. Cry if you must. In fact you will. But be comforted by the knowledge that they were happy with you. Love the next furkid that scampers into your life and it too has the chance to give you much happiness and fulfilment.

Robber Rabbit: Whitty

2012-01-04T10:28:00.000+08:00

Suddenly, there are crashes. A series of loud thuds issued from the yard. Uh oh...what are the robber rabbits up to again? I'm so tired.

Here, caught in her marauding act, is Whitty, head of mischief in the yard. She is rampaging through the things we put on top of their cage, and kicked their food containers and hay unto the floor.

"Yep, that was me, so what?"

I had removed from their reach the torn bag of alfalfa hay, so now Whitty is trying to bite through another bag.

"How do I get the tasty treats inside the box?"

Bad girl! Whitty, bad girl!

My Verse for the Year

2012-01-03T08:46:00.002+08:00

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;

I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

Psalm 52:8

Proposal of the Year

2012-01-01T21:52:00.001+08:00

Today's Newpaper featured a sensational marriage proposal which got everyone talking on the Internet. It was a elaborately planned event which took place in a restaurant. Of course, we all admire the guy's guts to carry out such a personal venture in front of total strangers. What kind of proposal can require more courage?

I just witnessed one, right in the family. The Fat One held a family gathering in her new home. So there we were, lounging in her living room and watching TV when suddenly the screen changed to a video chronicling Little Fish and Bf's courtship. Hey! What was happening?

Bf then walked in with a bouquet of flowers, and (witnessed by Daddy and Mummy and Boon One and Me and the Fat One and Little Bro and all the sons-in-law) proposed to our little sister! Now, THAT IS GUTS, being prepared to answer to her whole village. I could hardly hold back my happy tears. Mum and Boon One didn't even try. There were many a red eye in the room at that moment. *sniff sniff* My baby sister is all grown up. I can hardly believe it.

How fast the little Misses turn into ladies!

The Next Year

2011-12-30T09:07:00.001+08:00

I know this is where God is leading me, because I have sought him for a year. Let it be for me a land flowing with milk and honey. I will not fear giants.

Call of the Wild 2

2011-12-30T08:52:00.000+08:00

The rabbits usually get Oxbow hay, but as I am on a little economy drive lately, I served them some unbranded hay one day. But to these naughty things, such hay is not fit for rabbits' consumption. They pulled it all over the floor, trampling on it, and then rampaged about looking for greener pastures on their own.

Rabbits attacking a bag of their favourite alfalfa hay. There is a big hole already and everytime they are out of the cage, they would go up and take another nibble. Who wants my cheap hay?

Whitty: Move over a bit, it's my turn.

If you can drive...

2011-12-29T08:38:00.000+08:00

If you can drive...

I think you must be so frightfully clever, well-coordinated and persevering.

Driving Lesson #2 was a stressful experience :( I don't feel like going back for more. We went round and round the practice circuit, doing different kinds of turns. Sometimes I strayed from my lane, sometimes I went too near the kerb. How do people judge when to start a turn and when to straighten the wheels? There were motorbikes wobbling around me, and I was terrified of an accident, even though I was only going at...10km/h. I refused to step on the accelerator when I was instructed to, and finally ended the lesson with a grand slam of the brakes which made the instructor's things fall off the backseat with loud clatters.

The lesson ended earlier than scheduled because my arms were aching from holding the steering wheel too tight. And that is why if you do drive, I think you must be extraordinarily gifted.

:(
:(
:(

Perth: Reflecting on Productivity

2011-12-27T11:36:00.000+08:00

The alternative to cheap labour - education and multi-tasking.

Our day-trip coach driver

Handles the 4-wheel drive
Shepherds our group of 17
Teaches us how to do sand boarding
Deflates, then inflates the tires of the vehicle when necessary
Introduces the places of interest we come across
Tells jokes during the long drives, AND
Cleans up the coach at the end of the trip

That's all in a day's work for him. Considering that the day's excitement made us sleep through most of the time on the coach, I can't imagine what stamina he had to keep going like that.

Yet I see in him an example of how productivity could be raised so that people could get good wages, without incurring higher costs for businesses.

In places where labour is plentiful but poorly paid, such jobs would typically be shared out among 2 or even 3 workers - one to guide, another to drive, and a third man to...sort of be useful. While their work requirements are naturally lower, their pay would correspondingly be so too. Unfortunately, these men would have each worked the same number of hours as our multi-tasking guide, except that the value of the work they produced is lower, having shared the duties among the three of them.

To order to merit higher pay, these workers have to increase their productivity, but notice that this is not done by putting in longer hours. If they could be trained to carry out a wider range of duties, and if some of the superfluous demands could be streamlined, they too could command better pay.

This seems to me to be the right direction for a well educated population to move towards. After all, no one likes being stuck in low-paying, poor-value jobs, but we can't give graduate salaries to everyone unless they deserve it.

Whitty Frowning

2011-12-24T21:04:00.000+08:00

Whitty disapproves of us going home later these few days. It means the rabbits get less time out of their cage. When will christmas be over?

Go to Jail. Do not pass 'GO'

2011-12-22T11:16:00.001+08:00

I want to speak to my lawyer

We plead not guilty! We don't know who pushed the treats tin off the cage. We don't know who chewed up all the papers. We don't know who made so much noise this morning while you were sleeping. We plead not guilty!

近墨者黑

2011-12-21T08:14:00.001+08:00

近朱者赤，近墨者黑。

Literal translation: One who mixes with vermilion will turn red, one who touches ink shall become black.

There is a Chinese proverb warning us that who we come into contact with will have influence on us. In the saying, red is used to represent desirable transformation, while to become black is bad.

Whitty obviously has been spending too much time with Blackie. She is going through her first serious moulting which replaces her baby coat with an adult one. We are joking that the petshop must have dyed her fur white while she was on sale, and now we are seeing her true colours. See the distinct black lines forming in her new coat, and the ears and forehead look dusty.

It is ok, she is still cute, though the colour change is baffling.

Not by sight

2011-12-20T03:11:00.003+08:00

The scariest part of ‘living by faith’ is the second part of the instruction – ‘and not by sight’ (2 Cor 5:7). How I hate situations of uncertainty! When all my plans are laid carefully, I don’t like there to be any unexpected development which could change everything. Should I insist on sticking to the path I can see, even if it means wrestling control out of God’s hand, if this is possible? Or do I put my foot into the darkness, trusting that something is there to support my weight, and risk plunging into nothingness?

What reason have I to take such a risk? Nothing, except the Word of God, which tells me that I can ‘acknowledge him in all my ways and He will make my path straight’ (Proverbs 3:6). If God can make the world come about merely by speaking, I suppose, His Word is good enough promise for me.

Perth: Desert Experience

2011-12-19T09:19:00.000+08:00

No friends, I am not so animal-crazy as to completely neglect other interesting things in Perth. We went on a day trip to the Pinnacles and sand dunes. It was a mercifully cool day (for a desert experience), and we survived, armed with bottles of water, sunglasses and an umbrella. It never ceases to amaze me how we managed to conquer and tame the devastating phenomena of Nature so that we can find amusement in them. I mean, people get lost and die in deserts, don't they? Yet here we were, tropical city folks traipsing around without any knowledge of dessert survival essentials, because we were with a local guide who took excellent care of us.

In the words of our guide, here are the buses 'doing the lambada on the sand'.

Against the sun, we had sunblock, sunglasses and UV-protection umbrellas. Against the heat we had plenty of water. Against flies...there is no defence. Why, why, why, when there were no other signs of life, flies could still thrive! There were great clouds of flies everywhere - on your backs and arms, under your hats, and even beneath your sunglasses! SCREAM! Resistance was futile. After a while, we stopped slapping at them. The desert belonged to them.

Perth Funny Animals 2

2011-12-16T15:14:00.000+08:00

In case you don't know what a meerkat is, it is the small furry creatures that go 'I like to move it move it' in the movie Madagascar. It is such fun looking at them wrestle, investigate nooks and crannies or pop out unexpectedly from the sack, as they are doing now. There must be at least 5 meerkets in the sack!

The meerkat sentry takes his duties very seriously. While all his family members are gamboling in the sun, one meerkat stands alone on the highest point he could find, looking about to make sure that there are no predators around.

And if he can't find such a high point, even a log would do, though it only elevates him by a few inches. It means he can spot danger a microsecond before the rest. OK you little thing, don't take life so hard. You are a pet now, there isn't danger near you.

Perth Funny Animals

2011-12-14T14:41:00.001+08:00

Of course I had to visit the Cavernsham Wildlife Park, which houses all kinds of local animals. We were allowed to go and play with some of them, like the kangaroos. Being used to human presence, these animals happily came up to us for food. One naughty kangaroo deliberately walked all over me to make sure I knew who the boss was:

Are there more treats? You were holding a lot just now.

Koala: Don't touch my leaves, or else I won't eat them anymore.

It amazes me that koalas manage to survive at all! They are perpetually sleepy, and eat only the most select of eucalyptus leaves. If you touch any of the leaves, they refuse to eat them. But I was delighted to be allowed to stroke their fur, even if they were in a post-breakfast coma

Perth - of plentiful seafood and walking

2011-12-10T19:38:00.000+08:00

The gastric juices have to work their magic. We have stuffed ourselves so full with succulent seafood and strawberries that we can't face dinner. It is just as well though, because the shops are closing early today, since it is Saturday. Funny huh, where does everyone go then?

We spent a large part of the day walking around Fremantle, a port town before catching a ferry ride across the river to return to our hotel.

I'm sorry to say that the isn't anything much to blog about. Not that we are not enjoying ourselves. The isn't anything out if the ordinary which you would like to know about. I don't imagine that you, my friends, want a run down of our itinerary. Maybe this entry epitomizes the pleasant but bland charm of the little city we are in.

Tomorrow we are going to the desert. There might be more to talk about then.

Ps:
This misanthrope has resorted to pretending that I don't speak English, so that strangers won't try to speak to me. Amazing that everyone here just likes to strike up a conversation with anyone else. It is vey nice of them, but this is no place for a misanthrope.

iPhone at the airport

2011-12-09T07:11:00.000+08:00

Woohoo for my brand new working iPhone! Now I can blog on it while waiting for our flight instead of using those public computers.

This is going to be an animal centric tour. We will go to the zoo and nature reserves. Yay!

Roughing it out

2011-12-08T17:15:00.000+08:00

The animals are roughing it out at pet boarding.

The Squeaks aren't so bad. They are put into roomy cages, but alas for the rabbits. No shop is going to give them in the spacious cage they are used to. I made the pet nanny promise to let them come out to play every day. Together with chew toys and a box of treats, I think they should be able to find their temporary home quite comfortable.

While at the pet boarding shop, Pet Nanny showed me several hamsters put up for adoption. Apparently their former owners simply abandoned them secretly outside the shop, and thereby making others responsible for the fate of these poor little critters. How horrible and selfish these people are! May they never keep pets again!

The misanthrope's socialphone

2011-12-08T09:53:00.001+08:00

Ok ok, things finally seem normal now.

I went to the M1 service centre, where the staff were stunned by the freak condition of my phone. They poked and pried and even used a torchlight to check what the h*ll happened inside the phone. Finally, they conceded defeat and handed over another phone. Now I have a brand new, new phone. YAY!

The amazing thing about the iPhone is, it actually changes your life...am I being hyperbolic? I mean, when I was using my old phone, I just messaged and called (rarely), and I thought the inbuilt camera was such a revolutionary idea. But now, I can go on the web anytime, my friends are on whatsapp, and I can access Facebook so easily! No wonder folks have been telling me to get an iPhone. It is truly a social device, connecting one to the social web online. It is quite a feat for an invention to make a misanthrope excited about networking.

iPhone 4S - an iSCREAM moment

2011-12-07T09:36:00.002+08:00

My marvellous, lovely brand new iPhone 4S is spoilt!

Let me tell the sorry saga of my mobile phones. One day, 3-year-old Sony Ericsson abruptly died. Since it was about time to get a new phone anyway, I went and got myself a much coveted iPhone 4S. Because I switched service provider – from Singtel to M1 – I had to apply for phone number porting. In the meanwhile, I used my old Singtel SIM card.

In a few days’ time, I received the happy news that I can now use my new M1 SIM card, as the number porting process has been completed. Then, the unimaginable happened.

The SIM card tray wouldn’t open. The old Singtel SIM card got stuck inside and I just couldn’t pull the tray out. I went to the M1 shop staff and they couldn’t pull the tray out. The M1 shop staff went to the phone repair man and he couldn’t pull the tray out.

And that is why I am going to have to go and get another brand new phone.

I’m screaming.

Blackie: Call of the Wild

2011-12-06T08:41:00.001+08:00

Blackie! Don't I give you enough hay? When I put hay in your feeding bowl, you aren't interested. You would rather rip open the bags and forage for yourself.

Nom...nom...nom...forbidden hay always tastes better!

First Driving Lesson

2011-12-05T19:34:00.000+08:00

"Have you ever taken driving lessons?"
"Nope."
"Have you ever played go-cart when you were young?"
"Not that either."
"It's not a problem. Now you can put your hands on the steering wheel...oh..I can see you have really never driven before."

And thus in the pouring rain went my very first driving practical lesson. It wasn't as easy as I had thought. I didn't even know how to lower the handbrake. Driving Instructor said, "There are many security features to keep children (and complete ignoramuses like you) from fiddling around with the car and creating accidents."

Trying not to get car sick from the jerking brakes I made, I practiced going forward and reversing. Then I made enough progress to go into the circuit, with the rain daunting even experienced driver. How come I never noticed V doing all these complex movements when he is driving? I was too busy talking.

Well, and that is my first driving lesson. Don't feel like going for more :(

Rabbits: A would-be X-rated moment

2011-12-03T20:56:00.001+08:00

This is an X-rated post, kids, turn your eyes away.

Blackie is in a grouchy mood. He has been courting Whitty assiduously, grooming her with patience and love. Like with males of all species, this behaviour is due to one thing on his mind. Unfortunately, ever since Whitty got neutered, she isn't interested anymore.

But Blackie, why are you upset? You are neutered too!

Bunny cupcakes!

2011-12-01T08:44:00.000+08:00

One of my cell members made a wonderful batch of adorable cupcakes. The grassy effect is achieved with dyed dessicated coconut. And the bunnies are marshmallow. Yummy!

Bathing a hamster

2011-11-29T11:53:00.002+08:00

Dwarf hamsters don't like water. Friendly spits and hisses and bites when we try to bathe her, though we still do. Here we use a damp towel to rub the Squeaks with a little pet shampoo. Ninja is featured in this entry because she is the most docile, and erm...prettiest of course.

Now nice and clean, and swathed in tissue.

Milestone

2011-11-28T14:16:00.001+08:00

I passed the Basic Driving theory test. Watch out world, another female driver is hitting the road!

Bunnies at 9am

2011-11-25T08:46:00.000+08:00

It's 9am and the rabbits are curiously quiet. I peeped into the yard and to my amusement, the rabbits have put themselves to bed - Whitty is sleeping behind the litter box, and Blackie is on the platform, which is where he sleeps the day away. How cute! So even though the cage door is still open and they are allowed to roam in the yard, they have decided to go to bed like good children, since 9am is really late for a bunny to be up and about.

For those who do not know, rabbits are crepsular i.e. they are active at dawn and dusk. This suits our lifestyle nicely - they get to come out to play before and after our working hours. When the sun is shining brightly, they naturally want to go and hide in their home, like now.

Goodbye Old Riedell

2011-11-23T06:51:00.000+08:00

I stopped feeling sentimental about changing skates. It was rather difficult to part with my first pair, because it was my first pair. Then I was rather sad to throw away my second pair, because it served me for so long through competitions and tests.

The rest of the skates just came and went in a blur, and I lost count of how many pairs I wore out. Anyway since I'm too old to do the demanding moves now, the new skates
aren't of the strongest support.

Been doing the crazy thing of walking around at home with my new skates on, to break them in. They hurt so much!

Who Dunnit: Part 2

2011-11-21T10:15:00.000+08:00

Security breach. Torn bag of hay. Who dunnit?!

Blackie?

Actually, it was Whitty who had been playing on top of their cage, and rummaging through the bags of hay. She finally nibbled holes into one bag of hay. Blackie passed by and was too tempted by the fragrance to behave himself.

Now the naughty girl is looking for ways to get into the yellow box, which holds all their treats

WHHHIIIITTTTYYYyyyy!

In those days...

2011-11-18T08:33:00.000+08:00

I had a teacher who yelled at me ‘you numbskull’ because I misplaced her worksheets. Another teacher, with peculiar imagination, made us ‘hold our tongues’, literally, whenever we got too noisy. It was a slippery and wet experience. And we are none the worse for all such punishments, no lasting trauma left its mark upon me.

Now I am not condoning the behavior of the teachers mentioned in the newspapers lately. Parents complained that some teachers shouted ‘shut up’ or called students names, and wanted these teachers to maintain discipline in the classroom in more polite ways. I suppose, we can agree that a teacher should never resort to abusive ways to control the class.

What I want to caution against though, is an over-protective culture in which our children are sheltered from every knock and shock in life. A parent was upset that her child burst into tears after being yelled at. What if I suggest that after this experience, she might develop more resilience to unpleasantness in life?

At any rate, I’m sure that people don’t grow up stronger being swaddled in cotton wool, hand-held and spoon-fed in their developmental years.

Incidentally, I thought there is an obvious way to keep the children from being scolded in class. If respect for the teacher is ingrained in them, and there is little defiance in the classroom, I don't see why they should be in trouble for anything. Is it really so hard to get there?

Who dunnit: Part 1

2011-11-17T09:01:00.000+08:00

Chaos. Shredded paper all over the floor. Gaping hole in box. Who dun it?

Blackie?

Fortunately for the suspect, Witness V testified that it was Whitty who spent the whole evening ripping, ripping and ripping, then she ran off, leaving behind the terrible mess. Blackie just happened to wander into the box and thought it was nice to rest there.

WHIIIIIIIITTTTTYYY!!!

Naughty Girl

2011-11-14T09:02:00.000+08:00

This is a very naughty rabbit. Both Blackie and Whitty are, but Whitty is more. She instigates Blackie to gnaw at the security barriers. She attacks the bags of hay. And recently, she has taken to a new naughty habit - nip the owner.

Now, websites say rabbits nip if they are afraid, or angry, or to get you out of the way. BUT!!!! This rabbit is different! She would run up to me just to play with me, nosing around me, then suddenly nip me! I don't know why, it must be her idea of sport.

East and West

2011-11-12T18:46:00.000+08:00

Overheard at KFC during breakfast hours.

A middle-aged 'auntie' remarked to her companion, "KFC is tastier than San Shu Gong." That seems such random comparison!

For the uninitiated, San Shu Gong is a bakery based in Malacca, selling traditional Chinese confectionary like 'Wife biscuits' and 'Chick biscuits'. As she spoke on, we realised that she was comparing KFC's Southern US biscuit with San Shu Gong's 'beh teh soh'. Now that she mentioned it, these two balls do look remarkably similar!

Beh teh soh

Biscuit as the Americans call it:

Some things are universal in appeal - fat, whether in the form of lard or butter, taste so good baked with flour and sugar. Yum yum. This is my new favourite breakfast, by the way.

Ninja wants a hug

2011-11-10T08:42:00.000+08:00

I know, my friends think it's crazy of me to wake up extra early every morning to play with all the little animals before I leave for work. But they all want their fair share of attention - pats, treats, time out of the cage. It's hard to let them down.

Here, Ninja is asking to be cuddled. If you offer her your hand, she will happily climb into it and sit there quietly, with a sunflower seed, of course.

Friendy is sitting on the running wheel, grooming again. Poor Friendly :( She has really bad skin which the vet can't do anything about. We've fed her vitamin C, cod-liver oil, flaxseed and wheatgerm. Now we are dusting her with medicated powder. The sad problem with hamsters is, there aren't many small animal experts around and folks aren't usually interested in giving them veterinary attention.

Breadtalk - Mystery of the Disappearing Portions

2011-11-08T08:33:00.000+08:00

It was a farewell breakfast of sorts, as our good friend, formerly known as nihon no tomo, embarks on new adventures in the land of flamenco.

However, my subject here is of a much less romantic nature. What has happened to Breadtalk's kaya toast? We all know that in these days of inflation, one either faces rising prices or shrinking portions. Still, occasionally, the change is drastic enough to merit remark. Is it my imagination, or the toast looks even smaller...than the eggs! If flour and water are so expensive, let us eat crusts. Breadtalk can just leave the brown edges of the bread on so that we can have a slightly more substantial meal.

Yummy house

2011-11-06T14:04:00.000+08:00

Our rabbits enjoy eating up their furniture. I have come to accept that, as long as they don't start eyeing my furniture. Here, Whitty is checking out the washing machine, clearly curious about the dark tunnel behind the netting. With a shudder, I remember how Blackie did manage to break through and nibble at the tubes.

Luckily Whitty prefers wood. Thank goodness for Busy Bunny toys :)

Office fit and fab tricks

2011-11-04T05:26:00.000+08:00

Cubicle life has the dreadful tendency to make one gain weight. There are only so many times one can walk to the pantry or washroom in a day. Sadly, I noticed deteriorating stamina over the years. Apparently experts say that even if one exercises regularly, cubicle dwellers still have greater likelihood of heart attacks, because of general reduced activity.

Er hem...and so I have devised ways to sneak exercises into the office. This is taking multi-tasking to new heights.

When reading, do dips using the arms of your chair
When typing, raise your heels as in tip-toeing, lower them, and raise your toes instead. It's a rocking motion.
While waiting for the lift, lean your whole body to the back (as far as you can), while keeping your feet planted firmly on the ground. This actually requires a lot of body strength.

I know, it looks slightly silly if anyone sees it, but I think being healthy is important. Hahaha, the truth is, I'm just not the type to sit still anyway. Another day I shall share on the exercises to do when watching TV.

A Cautionary Tale

2011-11-02T08:40:00.000+08:00

I feel so tired

I came home and see this dreadful mess and feel just...so...very...tired. Who dunnit?

It could be Whitty, or Blackie, or most likely, both. Now they are hiding quietly in their corner as if they have never jumped on top of their cage, and ripped all the newspapers. YOU ARE SO NAUGHTY!

Now friends, you know how much I dote on all the small and smaller animals at home, but moments like this make me wonder if I regret having so many pets. This is a cautionary tale, especially as Christmas draws near. Never buy a cute, furry animal on impulse, because it is a (their) lifetime of feeding them and cleaning up after them. You have been warned.

Ninja enjoying life

2011-10-31T18:40:00.001+08:00

We were cleaning the cages so all the Squeak were shifted to their temporary pen. No matter where they are, Ninja is so at ease that she can sleep and enjoy life.

Then she woke up and decided to steal some tissue paper from PipSqueak, who soon came out and squeaked fiercely at her neighbour. Hahaha, but PipSqueak, you frequently steal their bedding too.

Botanic Garden outing ends in rain

2011-10-28T10:06:00.000+08:00

Yay, with the opening of the Circle Line, we now have access to places which used to be difficult to reach. Hooray for the Mrt! The public holiday seemed a good opportunity to explore Botanic Garden and get some exercise too. It was such a sunny day, but the greenery provided nice shade.

Alas, in true tropical rainforest fashion, it suddenly poured, and poured. We darted from shelter to shelter, finally hiding in a cave while the flash storm raged.

On the bright side, we were thoroughly entertained by a super cute poodle doing tricks. Hm...let me see...it looked like it could get along with my 3 hamsters and 2 rabbits actually, and that day I saw a poodle at the PetShop...

Happy (Henpecked) couple

2011-10-27T16:46:00.001+08:00

Now that the rabbits are roomed together again, they are twice as active and mischievous as ever. If the lazy owners wake up a little later than usual, expect plenty of banging from the yard.

But it's nice to see them happy once more. See how Whitty drapes her leg comfortably over Blackie.

How relaxing life is...

The City Never Sleeps

2011-10-24T02:02:00.000+08:00

God made two lights, the greater one to shine brightly in the day, and the lesser to glimmer softly in the night.

Then Man invented the light bulb, and now the city never sleeps.

Saw in the newspapers that many spas are open 24 hours a day so that we can get massages whenever we want, since Singaporeans work such late hours. I’m not sure that this is a good idea. It may mean greater convenience for customers, and the business owners can maximize the use of their premises. But it disturbs me to think of the human costs to keep our economy humming even when it is time to rest. Who is going to work these graveyard shifts, pummeling sore muscles and helping others to relax so that they can sleep well? Seeing the toll exacted on my father as a night driver, I don’t think anyone really ‘gets used’ to such topsy-turvy hours.

Maybe I am being too sentimental and sensitive about it. I just can’t see myself going for midnight massages anytime soon.

Ninja eating

2011-10-21T08:58:00.000+08:00

Ninja enjoying a floret of broccoli. She squabbled with Friendly again this morning, over wheatgerm. The Squeaks both love it so much that they would wrestle over the powder until it is scattered all over the bedding and neither can eat it. hahaha! But I always give you plenty, Squeaks. It's very naughty of you to play in your food.

Update: Whitty is recovering fine, and getting restless in her cage. Blackie too is throwing tantrums in every way to show us that he wants Whitty back, like banging his metal hay ball on his cage or ripping newspapers. I hope my neighbours don't realise that the dreadful nightly racket comes from our yard :P

From longkang to river

2011-10-20T05:55:00.000+08:00

Somehow I think this makes it official - seeing a boat gliding peacefully through the water.

We are now living beside a river, not a longkang (big drain). Now this used to be a drain to catch all the rain water, it was shallow and frequently stank. See how much things can be changed if only we put in enough political will. Over the wasteland they planted forests, the drain was deepened and widened. Birds started flying over the area as if they were in a nature reserve. In fact, I think they made it a reserve :)

Then there are occasional boats. Woah! We are lucky to witness the transformation from longkang to river!

Whitty and Blackie: A Love Story

2011-10-17T08:36:00.000+08:00

Sometimes, we hear stories of how animals stay near their injured companions faithfully. Now I know it can be true. Whitty and Blackie have been put into separate cages for Whitty's safety. To our surprise, Blackie has been wonderfully supportive and loving, and stayed as close to his girlfriend as possible despite the bars. *sniff sniff* It almost makes us feel like bad guys for keeping them apart. It won't be long ok, Blackie. You will soon have your little friend back.

Whitty is recovering well. We aren't letting her run around but she's getting restless. Hm...I wonder how long she has to remain in the cage.

The convalescent

2011-10-14T15:47:00.001+08:00

After an anxious morning, the surgery is finally over. Rabbit looks somewhat sorry for herself, but seems alert on the whole. To my horror, the vet also detected fur mites on her, which means that Blackie needs treatment too.

We are keeping the two rabbits in separate cages for the time being to let the convalescent recover safely.

Time to stock up on treats to tempt her to eat.

Spaying Whitty

2011-10-13T09:34:00.000+08:00

:(
:(
:(

It is about time to get Whitty spayed. The appointment has been made for tomorrow at the vet's. I know the success rates are reassuringly high. But I don't feel good putting my dear little girl through surgery. Still, everyone says that rabbits, if you aren't breeding them, should be neutered. It is true that Blackie is much calmer now that he is neutered. And Whitty has been so restless, practically harassing Blackie all the time, and EVEN humping his head (silly rabbit!)

:(
:(
:(

But for all the good reasons, there is no denying the anxiety.

Angry Rabbits

2011-10-11T09:23:00.000+08:00

The rabbits have to get their nails cut every 6 weeks, so one afternoon, we woke them up from their cozy nap to get them out of their cage. They were most reluctant about it, and it took a bit of chasing around the yard before they got bundled into the pet carrier. Unfortunately, the pet salon was full of excited, barking dogs which I don't think the rabbits like.

The rabbits were so offended by their experience that it took some time before they are friendly again. In fact, even now, Whitty isn't as trusting as before.

Whitty: I don't want your lousy strawberries

Blackie: We are having fun without you

Rabbits: Now leave the salad behind and go away

Hey rabbits, it's for your own good you know...

2011-10-08T12:53:00.000+08:00

Caught in the act: Blackie continues his great escape project. He has succeeded once already so he knows it is possible.

It's a rich man's world

2011-10-06T08:37:00.000+08:00

Moments like this, I wonder if somehow, unknowingly, I have slipped below the middle-class income level.

It was reported that at Natas Travel Fair, the tours packages were all snapped up, and that inspired V and I to plan a holiday too. At least, until we realised just how expensive even the air tickets are. Taxes another hefty sum, and then we did not even bother to look for accomodation, because we decided not to go anymore.

We thought of doing up the only toilet left to the humans in our home, as it is getting somewhat shabby. To my dismay, just laying the tiles on the floor would cost a thousand. I think I will go and get a bleach pen instead :(

I've finally bitten the bullet and signed up for a driving course, hoping to hit the road really soon. The registration fees alone burnt a hole in my pocket, but apparently, many other people are also driving, because the lessons are so fully booked that it would be a couple of months before I can even start booking the lessons! Anyway I suppose there is no hurry, since car prices are sky high and I am not likely to be buying my own anytime soon. I look in wonderment at all the shiny new cars on the road. How do all these folks manage their finances? And travel? And do up their homes?

Then, feeling distinctly poor, I contemplate giving tuition to supplement my pay.

Greedy Girl: Ninja

2011-10-04T06:20:00.001+08:00

Ninja is such greedy girl. She is always standing guard beside the food bowl, if not actually eating right inside, and keeping Friendly from getting the food. No wonder we hear the Squeaks quarrelling so frequently.

See, Friendly is sleeping, but the greedy girl is still gnawing away non-stop.

Who cares if the foodbowl flies into the air like a magic carpet? Nothing comes between this Squeak and her food.

Kindle Fire

2011-10-03T08:25:00.000+08:00

Ooooooh! A new Kindle with more bells and whistles.

What is the point if you aren't shipping it to Singapore >:I

Thanks so much Amazon

More naughty behaviour from the rabbits

2011-09-30T12:10:00.000+08:00

In an earlier entry, I wrote about rabbit communication. I forgot to add one more way in which rabbits get their message across:

I wanted to get the rabbits to eat more greens, for their own good. Unfortunately, the furballs don't seem to like vegetables. I tried giving them bokchoy. They left it untouched. Beansprouts, and the rabbits back away in horror. Thinking that they might prefer something crunchy, I put some cucumber in their cage, lovingly peeled and chopped. The rabbits lost their temper and showed me just what they think of me and my vegetables:

Bowl tossed and overturned, cucumber trampled into the hay

Whitty, "Do we have to make ourselves any clearer?"

You...you...RAAAAABBBBIITTTTSSsss!

Tiny Chef

2011-09-29T06:37:00.000+08:00

I had been playing Tiny Chef on the iPad so much that I feel like cooking western food - the kind with loads of cream and cheese. This is my attempt: chicken baked rice. Casseroles are much easier than I expected. Suddenly, a whole world of culinary possibilities are open to me, and how can one go wrong with tinned soup (oops!) and tasty cheese?

To prepare:

First poach chicken breast with corn, white onions, carrot chunks and a handful of barley. The chicken is then diced and set aside as topping for the baked rice, and you get a flavorful soup to go with it.

Cook rice (I used less water than usual) until it is about 80% done. Transfer the rice to the baking tin, throw in the chicken cubes and chopped tomatoes. Spread Cream of chicken on tip, mixed with water, and top up with aged cheddar cheese. You could add little touches like mixed herbs, parsley, ground pepper, etc. I covered the tin with foil and baked for 20 minutes, then removed the cover and put the tin under the grill for 3 minutes to get a nice browning.

Preparation takes a very short time, particularly if you are using left over rice. Seems like this is a good option for weeknights.

Wanted: Part-time Cleaner for Home in Hougang

2011-09-28T08:34:00.000+08:00

Fortnightly basis, weekends or weekday nights only

3-4 hours per session

Must know how to clean a home with rabbits and hamsters

If you can't commit, but have a day to spare:

Can come and do one Spring Cleaning session

Financial Tsunami

2011-09-27T08:47:00.002+08:00

Market meltdown. Take cover. Breathe. Watch. Gold prices crashing. Does it mean we can get a cheaper wedding band soon?

Everywhere is like Home

2011-09-27T08:43:00.000+08:00

A conversation between V and me

V - V
M - Masterofboots

V: We should go on a date. We haven't for a long time. Let's go and watch Johnny English
M: Ok, where do you want to go?
V: How about Vivocity?
M: Wouldn't traffic there be very bad? We might as well go to NEX.
V: NEX is like next door! What kind of date is that?
M: But what's the difference between Vivocity and NEX? They are equally huge malls.
V: True...and they have cineplexes...
M: And the same restaurants...
V: And roof-top gardens...
M: And they both have Pet Safari as well. We have no reason to go to Vivocity anymore.
V: But it is so near home! What kind of date is that?
M: Is it less of a date if we only go next door?

Urban planning - making everywhere feel like home.

Goodbye Borders

2011-09-25T18:49:00.002+08:00

A sign still unremoved offered membership, and the only catch was, this is the last day Borders opens its doors for business.

Years ago, while backpacking in England, I made the point to enter every bookshop I saw, and my backpack got heavier with each town I visited. But times changed and so do people. Being one of those who happily left bookshops for the Kindle, I suppose I play apart in the demise of Borders. I cannot remember the last time I bought paper books. Isn't it ironic that not too long ago Borders was still vilified as Big Business which drove smaller shops into extinction. Yet it does not escape the forces of progress.

I feel vaguely sad that part of our landscape has altered inrecovably, again. But would I have wanted to buy more books just to keep the industry alive? I doubt so.

Goodbye, Borders.

Feisty Double

2011-09-22T19:44:00.000+08:00

Rabbits have been naughty again, and you go, "what's new?" They trashed up their litter box thoroughly and scattered the contents all over their cage. The worst thing about a rabbit is, you can't discipline it. If you scold or punish them, they won't even know what you are doing it for, and will just see you as a Big Bad Guy, and run away from you forever after.

Here they are eating up their furniture. I've ordered a new house for them. As usual, Whitty is the alert one, checking to see what I'm doing with the camera, but Blackie is totally absorbed with the tasty wood.

Even naughtiness needs to take a break. It's hard to remain angry with them for long when they are so cute.

Hot!

2011-09-20T08:17:00.001+08:00

That day our small party of 4 had to pay $18 just to satisfy our craving for BBQ sambal stingray, then I thought, what can be so difficult about grilling fish? Mind you, stingray is such cheap fish too.

At home, I tried to replicate the dish, but well, as you can see, I'm not even using stingray :P couldn't find it anywhere in the supermarket. It doesn't seem like such common fish after all. I got a slab of garouper instead. As for the sambal, I just grabbed a bottle of Glory Nonya Sambal off the shelves. Not sure if I'm supposed to wrap the fish up or put it under the grill either so I wrapped it with baking paper. Hahaha! So you can imagine, in the end, it was nothing like stingray. Just very spicy grilled fish. The taste reasonably ok, but I'm still looking for my BBQ stingray recipe. Please tell me if you know there is actually a ready made sauce for it.

Just a side note, I was pleasantly surprised to find Glory Nonya Sambal delicious though. It doesn't really have a bottled instant food taste.

Lagomorph speech

2011-09-19T00:20:00.000+08:00

How do rabbits communicate, since they are such silent animals? I can't speak for all rabbits, but I think I know what Blackie and Whitty want to tell me:

Nose-bump - Hello, here you are again
Head-butt - You are in my way
Nip - You are seriously in my way, clear off?
Standing up, paws together - Please give treats
Pawing my back repeatedly when I'm reading - Hey, give me treats!

Blackie makes funny buzzes when he is particularly excited, like, if I'm holding his favourite hay and not giving it to him. He goes 'hmpf hmpf' when he runs away from us, kicking his heels.

Trick or Treat

2011-09-15T05:00:00.000+08:00

I'm teaching the marauding rabbits to beg. You furballs, there is no need to attack your treat box. If you act cute, you will get all the tasties you want. Can't get a good picture of them begging because they move too fast. Being bottom-heavy, rabbits don't stand up for long, hehe.

Whitty has successfully won some dried apple slices. Poor Blackie couldn't understand the concept of begging, and soon ran off to sulk in a corner. Hmpf! I don't want your treats if you are going to make it so hard!

Wedding Traditions

2011-09-14T08:46:00.000+08:00

Less starry eyed, and more pragmatic after one year of marriage…

It struck me now just how ludicrously extravagant everything to do with a wedding is. Why do we working folks save up for years to finance one incredibly expensive day, only to start our real married life feeling distinctly poor?

V lost his wedding band, and for months, we put off buying a new one, hoping that the ring would eventually turn up. It didn’t, and we finally went back to the same goldsmith for another pair of wedding rings. That was when I realized that the slender band of metal cost so much! I mean, a pair with the simplest of designs, without diamonds, would set us back by almost one thousand bucks! And worse, most of the rings insist on coming with diamonds, which means we are left with few choices. I conclude that they do everything they can to make wedding rings expensive, because love-struck couples wouldn’t know any better, and probably wouldn’t notice the price anyway.

In the first place, who says love has to be represented by wedding rings? It seems to me to be one of those traditions that have somehow managed to become very commercially lucrative. One feels vaguely compelled to observe them, but what intrinsic value is there in wearing a metal ring around your finger? At least, if I love wearing accessories, it is good excuse to get a nice one. But being no lover of trinkets, the ring simply seems a pointless expenditure to me, especially if one is going to lose it after a year.
We walked out of the shop empty handed. One day, the man has to get another one, I suppose. But not today.

Mid Autumn Festival

2011-09-12T09:21:00.000+08:00

On a whim, the entire clan went to Punggol Park to celebrate Mid Autumn Festival. We brought along mooncakes and a flask of hot green tea, and that means cups, of course. Someone added forks, and wet wipes. And a pram for the baby. Hahaha, the whim turned into a major expedition.

Resort World gave out free paper lanterns. I guess even casinos need to salve their conscience with community work.

Ah...this is life

2011-09-09T21:34:00.001+08:00

I can only say, my furballs all know how to enjoy life. See how comfortable they make themselves.

Hey Ninja, you are going to fall off your nice bed if you don't watch it!

Whitty puts her feet up after a day of playing 'Chase' with Blackie

Another hard truth

2011-09-07T08:44:00.000+08:00

Only Mr LKY could say it in such an matter of fact way.

A high-flying young woman, a phd student, expressed concern for social cohesion in the immigration we see here, and our former minister mentor advised her to have children, thus making the point that we Singaporeans aren't having enough children. So if we aren't multiplying, and we don't want foreigners, who is going to keep the economy humming along?

Then I wryly observed that I don't quite feel the aging population phenomenon. Could it be true that our reproduction rate has dropped to a new low of 1.01! But I seem to be surrounded by kids - kids in church, kids in my cell group, kids in the extended family, screaming kids in my estate, and kids stomping on seats in the Mrt.

It struck me that one way to encourage women to have kids is to get existing kids to behave better so that we feel less daunted. But as people always tell me, kids will be kids. I think I shall go and have a couple so that they can do their fair share of dashing through our estate.

5 ways to cook beansprouts

2011-09-05T20:52:00.001+08:00

I have become pretty creative about the bags of bean sprouts in my fridge. You see, they are bought specially for the Squeaks, but sprouts don't last long, and how many can a Squeak eat in a day? The only decent thing to do is to consume the rest myself, at least, as much as I can, and then I realized there are so many ways to cook them.

1. Toss them into instant laksa, together with fish cake and fried bean curd. Makes a nice hot dinner for a weeknight. I use Prima laksa noodles.

2. Stir fry with tiny anchovies and fish sauce and mirin.

3. Make omlettes with bean sprouts and minced chicken. An incredibly healthy dish.

4. Soups, with meatballs and carrots. Dashes of scallop concentrate make anything taste good.

5. Boiled briefly, drain, then add soya sauce, sesame oil, wine, and use as a bed for steamed chicken.

Table for One - Mui Choy Pork

2011-09-03T17:02:00.002+08:00

There is no reason to eat shabbily just because I'm cooking only for one today. V has gone off to Vietnam. He can eat my leftovers when he comes back.

I can't believe that I managed to make mui choy pork. This is one of my favourite dishes! It just that when you buy, it always comes with terribly fat pork belly. I used a leaner cut of pork instead. The preserved vegetables have to be rinsed and soaked for maybe 20-30 minutes. You don't want too much salt to remain inside. The noobcook recipe says to fry the ingredients first, and then steam. Being much lazier, I simply throw everything into the pot and simmer :P Added the usual condiments - whole cloves of garlic, star anise, cinnamon stick, ginger slices, wine, rock sugar, dark soya sauce, etc.

To make the cooking effort more worthwhile, I cooked a big pot and froze the food into smaller portions for future dinners. Stir-fried some sambal kangkong as well.

Goes well with porridge :)

The naughtiest of them all

2011-09-02T17:15:00.000+08:00

You guys might be wondering why the Squeaks got banished to the bathroom. This is the culprit. In the evenings, whenever Friendly hears our voices, she would insist on coming out, and if refused, she goes back in to quarrel with Ninja. We would soon hear frantic squeaking from poor chubby Ninja. So the only solution is, Friendly has to be kept away from humans unless we are prepared to let her come out. But don't worry, our bathroom is bright and airy, the Squeaks are happy there. The rabbits own the yard toilet, so that doesn't leave much for the human inhabitants in the house :P

I know you are out there! It's time for my daily exercise!

Biting the cage makes my running ball appear.

Presidential Election 2011: Postscript

2011-09-01T05:13:00.024+08:00

On the 'almost president':

With all due respect, there is a time to speak, and a time to be silent. Will the next 6 years turn into a protracted election campaign? How galling it must be to suffer the fate of being the ‘almost president’, yet it is so unseemly to publicly agonize over what should be and what could had been. The fact is the tribe has spoken. During the election campaigns, much was said about uniting the people. Now is the time for him to make good these words, by acknowledging the results graciously and pledging his support to the elected. We don’t want a shadow Istana, please. That would be the very last thing for social cohesion.

On the 'wannabe president':

To quote Shakespeare, has been ‘hoist with his own petard’. The vindictive criticism of his opponents, so fiercely flooding online forums, has abruptly turned against him. Don’t ask me why, I have no idea who these people are. But you see, once the culture of sliming, mudslinging and heckling has been unleashed, there is no way to control the direction of the attacks. And it has come full circle after all.

I'm very tired of politics. So relieved that we would (or at least should) have peace for the next few years. To all who didn't make it, don't continue to stir up public discontent and incite resentment with endless nitpicking and criticism ok. Things will never be perfect, but newspapers recently said that Natas Fair's trips were heavily booked! It must mean that life is pretty good, right? If the opposition folks are so clever you propose better policies la! If everyone is shouting the same time, who can listen?

Whitty

2011-08-31T10:09:00.000+08:00

Whitty, surveying destruction from a high point - their cage.

Can I help you?

If I may boast, Whitty has blossomed into a very pretty rabbit. I bought her at a whopping 35% discount because she was on the shelf for a long time. PetShop Owner sadly told me that her genes are 'not so good', meaning that she isn't purebred. 6 weeks later, when I brought Whitty back to get her nails cut, the shop couldn't stop cooing over how cute she has become (and erm, how chubby)! See what tender loving care can do for a rabbit :) Who cares about show-quality genes?

Marauding Rabbits - Blackie!!!

2011-08-29T07:27:00.001+08:00

Got bitten by a marauding rabbit. He has been pawing and steadily nibbling away at the pet fence. When I tried to stop him, I suddenly felt sharp teeth on my fingers - not too hard. Just a friendly little warning to get out of the way of the marauding rabbit.While being scolded, he binkied off defiantly, kicking his heels. Rabbit! You bit the hand that feeds you all the time!

Presidential Election 2011: Basic Rules of Engagement

2011-08-25T16:46:00.000+08:00

Don't you know that there are still basic rules of engagement even in war?

For this is what it appears to look like now - War of the four Tans.

In the desperate bid for attention and political gains, some have resorted to sinister insinuations not just of their opponent but his children. And this is what I think of such actions: SHAMEFUL. Is it naive to hope that the campaign for the highest position in our country remains gentlemanly?

In the cyberspace, all decency is thrown out of the window and everyone behaves like snarling demons, typing out the worst insults and lies that never otherwise see the light of day. Maybe if we actually meet those guilty, we would be surprised by just how normal they appear. Yet how badly people behave when they think that no one is looking!

It is all very well to demand more political freedom and awareness, but all this freedom leads to is uglier, more vicious combat, I would think that our civic society has taken a sadly big step back.

V's entry: Bemused

2011-08-24T08:46:00.000+08:00

I was having a good snooze after a long day when the shrill timer went off. Masterofboots called to me that it's time to make Friendly go back into the cage, and please give her some extra food since Ninja would have eaten everything up in her absence.

It just seems like such a futile yet exhausting exercise. We feed the Squeaks and the marauding rabbits and that makes them poop and pee. We clean up the litter, feed them again, so that they can poop and pee some more. And the cycle never ends. Trust me, if you eat as much fibre as the rabbits do, you will...erm...poop a mighty lot.

Besides, I'm not at all convinced by their show of love towards us. The rabbits just want their oregano flavoured pellets, their slices of dried apples and vegetable cookies. Friendly is excited when she sees us because she wants us to let her come out to play, and Ninja is excited because she is Friendly's copy cat.

I feel so tired.

Whitty close up

2011-08-22T08:49:00.000+08:00

"Hey what's that shiny thing you are pointing at me?"

Marauding rabbit: Whitty. Even when uncle Blackie is tired and resting in a corner, Whitty keeps up her attacks.

As observed earlier, Whitty is obviously cleverer than Blackie, and has even taught him to beg! It's a cute sight seeing the two rabbits standing up with their little paws held together, begging for treats :)

Kiasu Hamsters

2011-08-19T06:38:00.000+08:00

There is no need to squabble, sillies. The water is always there! Yet when one Squeak sees the other drinking, she feels that she simply must rush over and stick her head in too. It's the same for everything else - food, play. Just in case they miss out on something good. Talk about kiasu behaviour!

Henpecked Rabbit

2011-08-18T05:22:00.000+08:00

Alas, it is obvious that Blackie is now kinda henpecked. He grooms Whitty all the time, but I have never seen the gesture reciprocated. And he is Whitty's sofa, a nice cushiony support for her to lean on. We nearly split our sides laughing when we saw the rabbits like that.

By the way, within this month, Whitty has grown so much that she is bigger than Blackie, plus faster, more agile and cleverer. What have I done to Blackie?

Presidential Elections 2011

2011-08-16T21:29:00.000+08:00

Isn't it obvious that there is only one worthy candidate for the highest office in Singapore?

I am looking for a man who can carry himself with dignity, and not embarrass our country in front of other heads of state, a wise leader who understands what it takes to run a country and masters the complexities of our budget and use of reserves. And a man who knows when to speak and when to be silent, and who knows when to say what!

The President shouldn't be a maverick, we have opposition parties for that. I don't even think he is a champion for downtrodden causes. That's a job for our elected members of parliament and NGOs. As for the one with sweeping views on many policies in many areas, I can only gape at what an expert he is. Goodness him, elect him and we will see Singapore dismantled.

I cannot imagine what our government would look like with an elected President openly opposing and checking on our elected cabinet/prime minister all the time. It is like we have confused the American and British systems and want both at the same time! And what a farce we would look to the rest of the world!

When I hear some of these candidates, such a sense of deja vu envelops me. Hey, I seem to have heard and seen them only recently, ya, like the recent general election. What fortituous luck that a second stab at political power occurred so soon. Please, don't use the Presidential election as a back door into government. If you have lost, just try again, at the correct event, five years later.

From rags to graduation

2011-08-15T11:51:00.000+08:00

It seems so incredible now that we look back, but how did my taxi-driver father support we 5 kids all the way? Even now with our higher salaries, we still have to be so careful about money! I am now old enough to look back without resentment at a childhood of leftovers, hand-me-downs and part time jobs. What didn't kill us certainly made us stronger.

It was finally baby sister's turn to graduate, and we the older folks marked the occasion by turning up in full force to take studio photos with her, never mind that we graduated quite...erm...some time ago.

Waiting for our turn to go into the studio

The Fat One, Boon One, Little Fish and Masterofboots + baby brother, yet to graduate.

Two of the husbands amusing themselves, only to be told off sternly by the photographer.

God has been so good to my family.

Marauding Rabbits Attack!

2011-08-12T06:22:00.001+08:00

I feel rather apologetic towards my neighbors. They must be wondering about the random crashes, continuous ripping sounds, sudden scuffling and general disorder in our yard. And of course, they might also wonder who I'm always scolding, since they can't see anyone else. I think it is because my rabbits are Netherlands dwarfs, which are famously feisty and active. These are false dwarfs. That means all of the ND's naughty temper, but with longer legs and hence greater ability to dash around.

See what short work these marauding rabbits made of their toys. Blackie is all brute force, rampaging everywhere. Whitty is smaller, but quicker and more strategic.

10 Years Later

2011-08-11T09:12:00.000+08:00

The Class of... erm...2001 met 10 years after graduation, and to my relief, we have not really aged very much. There are some inevitable wrinkles of course, but at least we could still recognise one another. Amused to discover that many folks have either just returned from further study, or are embarking on it. Some are parents! And then as a classmate remarked, my hair style is still the SAME. Hahaha

Rabbit food

2011-08-09T06:03:00.000+08:00

For a while, I had been puzzled, as Blackie doesn't seem to be eating much of his pellets and hay. Doesn't he get hungry? Then we discovered the truth - he has been feeding on his house.

And the walls, of course. After much effort at disciplining, he now knows that he isn't supposed to eat the walls, but whenever he thinks we are not looking, he can't resist sneaking a nibble. hmm..hmm...yummy vanilla-coloured alabaster.

I must confess to buying a rabbit when I knew nothing of their ways. And my tip for such behavior is: Don't. These rabbits have been loads of fun and affection, but also sweat. Blackie looked so sweet and gentle in the Petshop! He was still docile when he came to our home, until he realized it has become his too. Within two days, it was the reign of bunny terror, and now, with his consort.

Sleepy. Last night we were rudely awakened by a crash, as bunny tyrants tried to get out of their cage. Don't ever think that rabbits are quiet just because they don't bark. They can make plenty of noise with the tools around them, like banging their metal hay ball against their cage. The funniest thing is, now that a second bunny is here, I found out that they do make rabbit noises, like huffs, snorts, and honks. So, Blackie just never bothered talking to us that's all.

Psalm 140

2011-08-08T11:58:00.000+08:00

I am so sickened and saddened by those comments that I shall not go on reading them anymore. (Don't worry dear friends, not about me personally). Why waste my thoughts on senseless hatred? I am so full of indignation that I can choke on it. These people "have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips." (Psalm 140:3). But they shouldn't think they can escape responsibility for what they say (or write).

"Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; further not his wicked device, lest they exalt themselves.
    ⁹"As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
¹⁰Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
¹¹Let not an evil speaker be established on the earth; evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him."
¹²I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poor.
¹³Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy name; the upright shall dwell in Thy presence." (Psalm 140:8:13)

The other side of the fence

2011-08-07T06:30:00.001+08:00

Workers' Party is finding life on the other side tough going.

It was easier, wasn't it, to point out all the things that were less than satisfactory? One could always get a chorus of sympathetic voices. Having landed on the other side, the party's mettle would be tested like never before.

Raising conservancy changes is an unpopular move. Even the suggestion of it makes people upset. Hence, the party is challenged to keep costs low and yet not rely on foreign labour, since it was one of the election issues they rode to victory on.

Luckily, one of the greatest benefits of diverse political representation is supposed to be out-of-the-box solutions. I would be very disappointed if no creative answer is found for this conundrum.

Rabbits Attack!

2011-08-05T08:28:00.000+08:00

The rabbits made a coordinated attack for their treats, having long observed where their favourite things are all kept.

Blackie was suspiciously quiet for a little while, and then I discovered that he had jumped unto the top of their cage and ripped open their bag of dried apple slices. I scolded him and tried to keep away the fruit.

In the meanwhile, Whitty gnawed at the bag of their Burgess pellets. She made a dent. While I was trying to stop her, Blackie started pulling out their litter box to distract me. I dashed over to him, and that gave Whitty the chance to tear open their bag of alfafa hay.

RAABBIIITTSSSssssss!!!!!

Love bunnies

2011-08-05T06:05:00.000+08:00

So it is true. While bonding rabbits can be tricky business, it is easiest to bring a girl bunny home to a boy. Blackie showed little territorial aggression. Hm...maybe it is because he has been fixed. Anyway, he has been delighted to share everything with his bunbride (except their pellets and treats). Here the couple share a quiet moment supervising their tired human slave clean their cage.

Whitty seems to have grown already within this week. She's glowing with the radiance of being groomed by Blackie all the time. Her face was all crumpled and dirty when she first came, but see how cute she is now:

This is a super spoiled girl. It's not my fault! She came being thoroughly pampered by the petshop owners, who fed her with the tastiest food - premium oregano flavoured pellets. And so for a little while, we had to give her that too, until BOTH bunnies got super spoiled. When offered plain old Oxbow, Whitty got so upset that she overturned her foodbowl! Blackie supported her protest by trying to throw out their litter box. RAABBIIITSSSssss!

Christian Life

2011-08-03T15:10:00.000+08:00

The hardest part about Christian life isn't going to church and facing lots of holy people, even when you don't feel very holy yourself. These are challenges of course. It is so much easier to be a Christian on your own, without having to account to others how you are leading your life.

But I digress. I think the hardest part about being a Christian is obeying God's commands which run totally contrary to our own instincts. Like, loving your enemies, do not take revenge. And worst of all, forgive as God forgives us. These commands are enough to make anyone run away screaming. They seem so impossible!

Yet today I shall choose, or try to choose, to follow them. God, just help me to forgive those I hate, who let me down. Show me that your Grace is sufficient for me, show me what it means to 'overcome evil with good'.

I think the only way out is by prayer - not the lame rehearsed words uttered before bedtime - prayer as in Gethsamene, when Jesus had sweated blood. I choose to pray even when I think they don't deserve my prayer, or any prayer. Then, let me see that miracles do happen.

V's entry: Leftovers

2011-08-03T05:26:00.000+08:00

One can get used to anything, even eating pets' leftovers, like:

Cheese - Masterofboots gave the Squeaks cheese to get them growing, then she read that hamsters are lactose intolerant, so no cheese allowed. I have been having the cheese in my sandwiches since.

Beansprouts - to cool the Squeaks down. But as we all know, beansprouts come in packs and those tiny critters eat only one strand per day. Guess what happened to the rest?

Toasted wheatgerm - is supposed to be exceptionally nutritious. But being toasted, it feels somewhat oily. The hamsters got raw wheatgerm instead, and Masterofboots mixes the toasted wheatgern into my milk shakes.

But as I observed, after a while, these things feel normal. In fact, I have been contemplating the rabbits' Burgess Oregano pellets lately. Wonder if they make a good low-fat, high fibre snack. I mean...there is a certain aroma about them, a tasty crunch...