Favourite hay

The rabbits are very pleased to get their favourite mountain hay again. The bag of orchard grass remains unloved, uneaten and I don't really know what to do with it. Probably line their litter box with it, but what a waste of expensive hay! 

Nom...nom...nom...we know that you will give in after a while, and surrender the true hay to us. Remember you are a bunny slave

The Promises of God

2 Corinthians 1:20-22

For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 

Was looking out of my window at the fields and river when I read these verses, and it struck me that God's Word spoke this world into being. He spoke, and the mountains (hills in Singapore), and river came to be. If His words are not to be relied upon, then the very foundations of heaven and earth have no reason to exist. 

Then Lord, I shall claim that your Word is true and you are a faithful God. Let me see your promises come true. The bigger the challenge, the greater the miracle. 

A Grief Observed

I am so tired.

So tired that praying is difficult. But life has to go on. You just have to keep on walking, to keep placing your feet forward one after another.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23.

Rabbits at veggie time

This picture makes me laugh because it is exactly what happens every morning. Though there is a big plate of vegetables in front of them, Whitty just wants whatever Blackie is chewing. Here she goes again, sticking her mouth in and trying to grab Blackie's stalk. 

Tomato Spare ribs

This is another of my week day lunches, and so easy to prepare. 

After marinating the spare ribs, I grilled them in the toaster oven a bit. It is easier than browning them in the frying pan. Then in the wok, I fried some chopped onions, and threw in the potato and carrot pieces. Finally, the spare ribs went in, and I put in a little water to create gravy. Simmer the whole thing for 20mins on low fire, and it is done! I froze some for another quick meal. 

Rabbit Attack

The rabbits are taking turns to attack the pet barrier. First, Blackie would run up and bang on it. Then he sends his consort to try to nibble through the wire. No, you don't, you naughty things. The kitchen is plenty of space for you. 

On Zing and home

Blogger Zing is packing her bags and leaving Singapore, but not before writing an open letter to explain her dissatisfaction with life here Letter to Singapore.

"I'm sorry, but I am leaving you. I've fallen in love with somewhere else...London is the place for me. I'e fallen for her dingy, narrow streets. The 24-hour bagels on Brick Lane...I am 20 years old and I don't want to be jaded, but you are already feeding me defeatism and banality as a lifestyle choice..."

Dear Zing,

Of course you have the right to determine where you wish to live, but along this line, I think one also has the ability to determine how he lives, wherever he might be. You fear being an "office drone", but you see, there are office drones everywhere in the world (London too), just as there are also other kinds of jobs in Singapore. It is all about making lifestyle choices and the best of the situation you are in. Just because there are people chasing money in Singapore, it doesn't mean that you have to do it too.

If freedom and tolerance are so important to you, then why do you take offence at how other people in Singapore live their lives? Why make society responsible for your own existentialist angst and "self loathing" (your words, not mine)?

Nothing comes between Whitty and her food. See how Blackie is looking everywhere even when he is eating, but Whitty is completely focused.

Social Mobility

After all that has been said about competitiveness in Singapore, I came across a real life story that shows that it is possible to recover from setbacks and mistakes in life.

After a long break, we received a phone call from P. He had been released from jail after a minor misdemeanor. Despite not completing even his 0-level, or other professional courses, he had quite a few job offers. While these are not office jobs, they pay him a decent wage for an honest day's work. His employers are willing to provide training for him, and I trust that when he picks up the technical skills, even he can build a career in his own way. 

Parents are terrified that their children would miss a crucial chance in their education, and want to ensure that they do not take a single wrong step. But maybe it is easier and healthier to think that there are possible u-turns and alternative routes even in our society. Even if a child does not take the fastest and easiest route to success, he still has opportunities to reach a reasonably comfortable place in life. 

I think bouncing back from errors is more important than avoiding errors.  No matter how hard we try, we cannot completely remove setbacks and disappointments. But resilience can see us through all that happens.

Am reflecting on my own recent experience actually...but don't feel ready to share about it now. Another day, perhaps. 

How much is the bunny at the window?

Whitty, hiding behind the door. She's playing her "catch me if you can" game with me. 

Home made convenience food

Now that I'm at home in the day time, there are many occasions to prepare a table for one. Since I'm so busy with assignments, I have to take short cuts in my meals. Surprisingly, soup freezes pretty well, depending on what soup it is, of course. This is my dried vegetable soup, newly unmoulded from its freezing container. All I have to do is to let it thaw, then heat it up for a meal. Well...not the most ideal for nutrition, but I am sure this beats instant noodles. 

I added fresh carrots to increase its vitamin content. Here you go:

Ingredients:
Dried bok choy (aka gan choy)
pork ribs (roasted plain first for extra flavour)
tiny dried scallops
dried honey date (one only)
dried red dates

I used my magic cooker to save electricity.

Love is

Love is...

Looking at your rabbits make a terrible mess on the floor (and you just mopped it!) and thinking that it is cute. 

But these are lean times for the rabbits. They have finished all their favourite hay and we are waiting for the new order to arrive. In the meantime, there is only plain Oxbow Orchard grass for them. Oh boy are the rabbits angry about it. This morning they made protested loudly. Blackie tossed his food bowl around, and Whitty kept tearing the lining of their litter box. The orchard grass was left uneaten. Finally, Blackie ran to sulk in a corner.

That is so naughty of you, but no, you are just going to have to eat the plain hay until the tastier varieties arrive.

Rabbit Game

Aww...it takes such a heart of steel to refuse this super cute plea...but once I open the pet gate, there would be two furballs charging around, threatening to nip the wires and squiriming into impossible gaps.

The rabbits have invented a new game - "catch me if you can" - with their gigantic, clumsy friend (me). They would bang at the pet barrier until they get my attention, and wait nearby while I climb over the barrier. When I try to pet them, they would dash off like lightning. As soon as I get out of their play area, they then bang on the pet barrier again and wait...and the game starts all over again. It takes only a few rounds for me to be totally exhausted. If you think playing with dogs is tiring, wait till rabbits play with you.