my walk with food and beautiful plants and flowers

Skywatched Friday, Stunning Sunset

2012-02-10T01:44:00.000-08:00

I was not the only one who found and captured our stunning Auckland's sunset. Yahoo published photos sent in by readers.

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ruby red, rednesday: Snow in Japan

2012-02-05T03:18:00.000-08:00

My sister Helen from Sunny Gold Coast took her children to snowy Japan. Here Thomas was like me when I experienced my first winter in Canada. I couldn't resist and ate some snow.

Hi Aunty Ann,

We had a great time in Japan. It was very cold and snowy. We caught the bullet trains to the snowfield near Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. It wasn't busy anywhere even at the subways. We only got squashed on the subway once. There was lots of snow and ice. We had to stay for 2 more days in Japan because our flight was cancelled. The airline put us in a 5 star hotel with all meals provided. They even have a chocolate fountain. Mum said that the airline lost money on us.
Love Lincoln, Olivia and Thomas

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scenic sunday/bridge: little bridge

2012-02-04T14:45:00.000-08:00

It was raining dogs and cats, and they had to build a little bridge so our feet won't get wet from the flood. It wasn't very successful. The rain came slanting and our feet got wet anyway.

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Flowers: princess flower (Tibouchina urvilleana)

2012-02-03T21:11:00.001-08:00

Princess Flower:
A native of Brazil, princess flower (Tibouchina urvilleana) is a glorious addition to tropical and sub-tropical gardens. Its large purple flowers and soft hairy leaves add interest and a burst of color to any landscape. It can also can be used as an indoor container plant in cooler regions, if full light and warmth is provided. Though it is usually a shrub here, it sometimes becomes large enough to form a small ornamental tree. It is also known as glory bush, purple glory bush.

This big bushy,shrub flower blooms in summer here in Auckland. The shape of the flowers and the leaves reminds me of the Singapore rhododendron.

http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.co.nz/2009/11/senduduk-flower-aka-straits-or.html

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Skywatch Friday: In the Sky In Papua New Guinea.

2012-02-02T22:58:00.001-08:00

The water engineer flew over the mountains and took this photo.

Yesterday, MV Rabaul ferry sank in the east coast of Papua New Guinea. Survivers said they battled to stay alive after the ferry overturned in rough seas.

As many as 100 people remain unaccounted for after the 22-year-old Japanese-built ferry sank near the end of its 20-hour, 290-nautical mile journey between Kimbe and PNG's second largest city, Lae, on Thursday morning (AEDT).

There were 350 passengers and 12 crew on board.

"We were in the top deck, first class,'' said Alice Kakamara, 30, from her hospital bed in Lae's Angau hospital.

"The sea was really rough, windy, big waves. The boat tilted once, then twice then three times and it went over.

"There was oil everywhere.''

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watery wednesday: Waterfall at Papua New Guinea

2012-01-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

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Up in the mountains of Papua New Guinea, accessible by helicopter, the water engineer saw this waterfall.

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Red: Buzzy Bee

2012-01-31T12:06:00.000-08:00

This is a children's ride on machine found in shopping malls and in this case in the Auckland International airport. This Buzzy bee was an original wooden toy. When princess Diana visited New Zealand when Prince William was a baby, the manufacturers gave one to her. All the mums wanted to buy one for their babies too.

It is a pull along and the wings flap. It is our icon.

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Scenic Sunday/Sunday bridge: Jaggars track, western springs

2012-01-28T19:22:00.000-08:00

Half an hour away from my house, I could cross a bridge at Jaggars track, and be lost among the trees and native bush. I love this place and I love Auckland, we are never too far from the beach and there are always pockets of bush. Best of all, we have no snakes.!!!!!

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Chrysanthemum, Chinese Delicacy Siew Mai

2012-01-27T13:57:00.000-08:00

Chrysanthemum

( My daughter G gave me this stalk of Chrysanthemum on Chinese New Year. Actually She gave me two other flowers. )

Last night, at our social Lunar New Year Function, Siong asked what flower signifies Chinese New Year. I didn't know except I was told by the Singaporeans thathttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif on the 1st and 15th, they used it to place on their altar of the Ancestors' worshipers. Once, I bought some not on these 2 days, because I fell in love with Chrysanthemums when I was at the winter gardens in Auckland, the florist explained to me.

With an auspicious meaning for Chinese New Year, the Chrysanthemum symbolises perfection, optimism and joy. To some it is an object of meditation. Usually in yellow and orange, it comes in small and big blooms, beautifying the garden or the living room. http://jollytan.hubpages.com/hub/Chinese-New-Year-Flowers-and-Plants--Singapore

Making Siew Mai.

When I was growing up in Sibu, Borneo, we didn't have Dim Sum or Yum Char. As kids, we longed for one dish when we went for wedding or birthday banquets. It was the Siew Mai in my Cantonese dialect. Most of the restaurants were Foochows, I am not sure Siew Mai was a Cantonese specialty or a Foochow's. It is also called Sio Bee.

Later, my mum visited Singapore, and came back with the Har Gow, the translucent prawn Dim Sum. She was so good that she gave cooking demonstrations when she was the Deputy leader of the Women's Institute and Patron of the Girl guides.

The Har Gow remains our family's favourite. Partly because it was Mum's. It is extremely difficult to make. In my adult life, I made it only once. I refused to make them again because the water engineer walloped them before I could come out with the next batch. He claimed that I should feel privileged that he appreciated them so much as they were so delicious. I did not revel in flattery.

But with Siew Mai, it is by far much easier to make. Tonight, the Mt Albert Baptist Church Chinese Fellowship is celebrating Chinese New year. For a change, instead of cooking my curry, I am making Siew Mai. I haven't made them for a long time, as I had learn in cooking school, I must not say, " I haven't made them before." I am going to be bold.

Ingredients :

800 gram of ground meat (pork or chicken)
200 gram of shrimp (roughly chopped)
6 dry wood fungi (soak and cut small)
6 dry shitake mushroom (soak still soft and diced small)
4 stalk of spring onions - finely chopped
2 eggs
4 tsp of corn starch
1 tbsp of oyster sauce (Optional)
1 tbsp of soy sauce (optional)
1 tsp of sesame oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp salt.
1 tsp of sugar.

60 pieces round dumpling wrappers, these are ready made Jiao Ji Dumplings that the Northern Chinese use. (You can roll them out yourselves,)
some green peas or grated carrot (for garnish)

1) Mix all the ingredients for the filling.
2) Cover with glad wrap, Chill for 30 minutes.
3) Spoon one teaspoon of filling in the middle of the wrapper.
4) Thinly grease the plate you are going to place your Siew Mai to steam.
5) An important step as this stops the Siew Mai from sticking to the plate.
6) Shape the wrapper up around the filling with a small space at the top.
7) Sit the Siew Mai flat at the bottom.
8) Press a green pea on the top of half the Siew Mais.
9) Press some finely shredded carrot on the top of the other half.
10) I use a rack and a special tray with holes the Chinese use for steaming.
11) Steam over high heat for 12 minutes.
12) Serve warm with chili sauce. I prefer the Thai sweet chilli sauce for chicken.
13) Arrange them alternately, one green one orange for nice presentation, and the small bowl of chilli sauce in the middle.

Verdict: All 60 Siew Mais were gone in a flash!

Comment: I think the authentic Siew Mais were made with crab roe instead of grated carrots. I wasn't going to use crab roe because I might get people say, "what's that? I am not going to eat crab roe." Besides, I am too stingy to use expensive crab roe.

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Chinese New Year in Malaysia

2012-01-27T03:18:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year is a time of Reunion, some families travel a long journey to be with family. I recall when I was living in Singapore, many people in my neighbourhood went back to their home towns, a term in Malay "Balek Kampong". When we got back to Singapore, the first question was how was the traffic jams? There were times when we were stuck in the jam for six hours. At times, we traveled at the wee hours of 3am, the trouble was everyone had the same idea. In the tropical heat, and road rage, tempers are bound to flare up.

Hong Baos, are generally thought of as gifts given by the elders to the children. In some families, the grown adult children also given to their parents, as a sign of respect and filial piety.

Yu Sheng, the raw fish salad that has become very popular, especially among businesses. With evolution, the custom of Yu Sheng crept into our culture. Apparently it was common among the fisherman of Hong Kong. But now is in a big way. Tiny slivers of fish are decorated beautifully in a big platter of salad and nuts. Before the meal, everyone has a pair of chop sticks, stand up, and mixes the Yu Sheng by raising the ingredient upwards, and do the Lo Hei, and say all the auspicious words. Christians add Christian messages.

Friends of different nationalities enjoy Yu Sheng.

Tonight at the Mt Albert Baptist Church, Chinese Fellowship Lunar New Year celebration, I will be giving a short talk on Chinese New Year in Malaysia.

There are 22 provinces in China, most of the immigrants in Malaysia come from the 2 southern most provinces, Guang Chow and Foojiang. They came to Malaya and Sarawak and Sabah. Even though they came from the same area, some of the customs and traditions are different. Some have evolved through cross regional marriage and ease of transportation.

I grew up in Sarawak, in a Christian influence state. So a lot of the non Christian rites were done away with. In West Malaysia, on the first day, they go vegetarian, and it was hard for me to get used to it.

Oranges/ mandarins represent Gold/Kam, and people in West Malaysia go visiting with 2 oranges. This is for exchange. You give the host family 2 oranges, and they give you 2 back. This happened to my sisters. Eldest sister is married to a Sarawakian, younger sister is married to a West Malaysia. Oldest brother in law couldn’t understand why younger sister is staying for so long. Younger brother in law couldn’t understand why older brother in law is not giving then the 2 orange. Even when older bro in law said, I have to go out. Then younger sis realized it is the 2 oranges.

I was in Singapore, the kids here more straight-forward. My daughters’ friends tell me, “ Aunty, my mummy said you must give me two oranges in return.”
Traditionally we visited our relatives, and the custom was to visit the senior ones. In the old days, the relatives lived quite near to each other, you suffer the consequences if you were seen paying your respects to a younger relative. The kids love this, as we receive Hong Baos or in Malaysia, we call them Ang Baos.

The best thing that evolved in Sarawak, and then to West Malaysia is the Concept of “Open House.” We visited our neighbours and friends. And we offered them mum’s best baked cookies. There was a time, when the Malay Hari Raya /New Year coincided with the Chinese New Year. We mutually visited each other.

Things like pineapple tarts, pickles like achar are evidences of how people have changed because of their environment. My mum used to serve curry chicken 40 years ago. Now, my friends tell me because of our cultural differences o

The rest of the customs are common. New clothes, new shoes for children, lots of red and gold decoration. Certain foods to be eaten and not to be eaten, do not sweep the floor, be careful with your language, parents try not to scold your kids.
Firework works were banned, but nobody really cares. In my home town of Sibu, it was a joke that if the police was going to lock up those who set up fireworks, the town town would be locked up.

Skywatch Friday and Team building

2012-01-26T20:45:00.001-08:00

This morning, I did a post, "Singing in the Rain." But when we were walking to the "surprise" destination, we were drenched. I don't think anyone felt like singing in the rain. But on our way home, I felt like shouting the rain, "Yippee!!!" Thanks to Sandra, our principal for giving us a great afternoon.

The water taniwha or the water dragon stole our Sky Tower.

The Sky Tower is back on our way home.

Cooking at Main Course for team building. My team was the Champion. Our team leader was Kate and Penny overall supervisor cleaning up the mess as we went along.

The opposition team sharing the bench with us, Phil, Maureen, Luana, and Joanne.

I made these lemon tarts, Nina , Megan and Penny decorated them.

You can see the stressful face of Juliet. It was fun with Justin working beside her.

There was no disaster, no accidents, except, our recipe was burnt in the corner, and our oven broke. It was stressful when we had to wait for another oven tobe available.

My team was the Champions of Pt Chevalier School.
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"

Thursday theme Song: Singing in the rain

2012-01-26T11:50:00.001-08:00

I love this photo. I made a pair of leggings and gave my eldest daughter a raincoat. I taught her to sing "Singing in the rain." and be positive in outlook.

On my way to school, I see children and their parents cycling to school. Bet it's only me singing, " Singing in the rain, because I am snug and warm in my car."

But in Auckland, we sometimes get torrential storms, and then the creeks get swollen, not much to sing.

When the rain becomes a storm and heavy downpour, you won't want to sing in the rain especially when you are driving one and half hours for your first surf lesson.

I Facebooked Diane that I will catch some ducks at Western Springs for her.

This blog is dedicated to my friend, Diane, on the Gold Coast of Australia. She is passionate about ducks. I have known Diane for 20 years when we were both faculty wives at the Nanyang technological University in Singapore. We are still good friends. Diane sadly is a bereaved grand mother. There is heavy rain on the Gold Coast and Diane wrote "Still listening to the music on the roof!"

Don Lockwood:
Doo-dloo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-dloo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-dloo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-dloo-doo-doo-doo-doo...

I'm singing in the rain
Just singing in the rain
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's in my heart
And I'm ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
Come on with the rain
I've a smile on my face
I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just singin',
Singin' in the rain

Dancin' in the rain
Dee-ah dee-ah dee-ah
Dee-ah dee-ah dee-ah
I'm happy again!
I'm singin' and dancin' in the rain!

I'm dancin' and singin' in the rain...
[ADDITIONAL VERSE]
Why am I smiling
And why do I sing?
Why does September
Seem sunny as spring?
Why do I get up
Each morning and start?
Happy and head up
With joy in my heart
Why is each new task
A trifle to do?
Because I am living
A life full of you.

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watery wednesday: Boogie boarding in Omaha

2012-01-25T23:43:00.001-08:00

Photo shows a kid relaxing on his board.

My son's friend J came with us to Omaha. While S surfed, J used a boogie/body board and had loads of fun. My husband shot a video of him.

This is our old faithful boogie board. We take it to the beach, to the sand dunes and the snowy slopes. It serves us very well.

It makes friends for us, we have strangers asking if the boogie board is any good for sliding down the mountains and the sand. We offer our boogie board to others, and they in turn lend their tobaggan.

New Zealanders aka Kiwis are very friendly.

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ruby red/rednesday: Tractor

2012-01-24T13:51:00.000-08:00

We went to the Waitakere Ranges walking tracks. The Hillary Trail. Parts of the terraine was steep and muddy. It's been last year, a whole year since I had been to such a difficult track. We joked it would be great to have a tractor to pull us. My 15 year old saved the day and became our tractor.

Waitakere Ranges Regional Park includes more than 16,000ha of native rainforest and coastline. Its 250km of walking and tramping tracks provide access to beaches, breathtaking vistas, spectacular rocky outcrops, streams, waterfalls and farms overlooking the wild west coast.

We had to go back to the information centre to get a map because all the tracks were a network, and we could get lost. A couple told us it takes 4 days to walk the whole track. We walked 2.5 kilometer.

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New Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex

2012-01-23T16:45:00.001-08:00

http://www.kiwimummyblogs.co.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnz/

As part of the Kiwimummyblogs, I am invited to review products. I am given a sample to try out and I do not receive any financial returns.

I have finished the tube which is dispensed by pressing the top. It is easy and smooth to apply. I do not personally feel if there is much difference because I am naturally blessed with youthful skin. Besides, I had been using a similar product for years. People think I am more than ten years younger than I am.

But I do have a friend who likes this product. She says, "I like the way it feel on my skin when I put it on."

The product is packaged red and black in a metallic tube. This makes it an attractive and high quality product. Most consumers are attracted by the look, and this, I think has achieved the marketing objective.

Scenic Sunday: Contact TriWomen Series at Pt Chevalier

2012-01-21T12:12:00.000-08:00

Right at this moment, a group of women is swimming 300 meters, biking 7.5km, and running 3 km in my neighbourhood of Pt Chevalier. The skies are not kind, in the short time I was out taking photos, wearing a wide brim hat, the drizzling rain has made me a little wet. Spare a thought for the local residents who volunteer to manage the route.

For my bit, I have parked my car away from the route so it will be safe for the bikers. I only wish I had trained but I couldn't bear the cold water at 8 AM in the morning. I don't even go into the water in the hot mid day sun. The last time I biked was in 1975.

Way to go, ladies.

The Contact TriWoman Series is about participation and achieving your goals - whether that's getting fit, building confidence or doing something you never thought you would do.

The Contact TriWoman Series is for all women, whether that’s taking part in your first triathlon or taking on the challenge year on year. We’re all about the taking part, not the winning, the fun, not the competition and women across the country take part to achieve all sorts of goals, whether that’s getting fit, building your confidence or taking some time out from daily life and joining in on the fun!

Enter as an individual, a mother and daughter team, take part with your workmates. Do a duathlon instead. However you do it, you’ll be a TriWoman by the end of the summer!

There are 10 events countrywide,

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agave/yucca 2012 at Pt Chevalier.

2012-01-20T14:46:00.000-08:00

I had problems with blogger this morning. So I tried posted this photos again. For those of you who loke to look at photos, this is the post.

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macro flowers: Agavaceae

2012-01-20T13:25:00.001-08:00

I was in the Gold Coast of Australia in my sister Helen's house when I saw these majestic plants. On the way to Sam's Karate class, I see this yucca tree in some one's front yard. I see it's progression from a tall rod to eventually flowers. It was about ten feet tall as it was higher than the house. I wasn't blogging then. Below are 3 stages of three different plants.

Agave americana Century plant Agavaceae Family The plants are perennial, but each rosette flowers once and then dies (see semelparity); they are commonly known as the century plant. I posted how majestic the plant is, and a friend commented what is so great about it. It grows, then flowers and dies. It makes me think of some mothers who die at child birth.

Below is a flowering Agave americana in Sandringham, Auckland.

Another Agave americana with flowers dropped at Auckland Domain.

In 7/6/2010, I posted this plant as a Yucca. For my friend Ellen, who is now my Facebook friend as well.

The Yucca/Agave americana is a majestic plant. I see this Sandringham yucca tree in some one's front yard. I see it's progression from a tall rod to eventually flowers. It was about ten feet tall as it was higher than the house.

I was in awe because it was strong and didn't need anything wire or stake to hold it up. I couldn't photograph the whole plant as I was sneaking around and stopping my car at a no parking zone.

Once, when I was at the Auckland Domain, I saw the other. Gone were the flowers, but it is still regal. The stem of flower has not bent.

You can see in the above photos, the young plantlets have already grown on the stalk itself, and the mother plant is slowly dying.

I re-dedicate this post to my friend E. She is beautiful and strong like this Yucca. You see, I have not met E, but our lives have been intertwined because we are both bereaved mothers of Campomelic children. If my life of having Andrew is tragic, E's is doubly or triply worst.

Who told me that lightning doesn't strike twice? E lost two babies to Campomelic Dysplasia and now she is struck again and is battling with cancer.

E, you are like this Yucca/Agave americana. You will not be beaten.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/campomelicfamilies/

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Skywatch Friday: Pacific Princess

2012-01-20T02:16:00.001-08:00

It was a clear sky when my cousin sailed in the Mediterranean. When I heard of the Costa Concordia disaster, I thought of Bart. Fortunately he wasn't traveling on the ill fated cruise boat. Otherwise his clients might not want to travel with him again.

Here's Bart's itinerary: Sailing on Pacific Princess from Venice to Split, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu, Greece; Valletta, Malta; Messina (Siccily), Italy; Sorrento, Italy; Nice, France; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Portofino, Italy and end at Civitavecchia port to Rome

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Watery Wednesday: Papua New Guinea

2012-01-19T23:19:00.001-08:00

Give me a choice, a holiday here or in an ultra modern city. I will like this bush anytime.

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Ruby red/rednesday: Piggy bank.

2012-01-18T13:23:00.000-08:00

Lunar/Chinese New Year falls on Monday, 23 January 2012. Red is a favoured color, so is Gold. Restaurant do a roaring business.

At the counter of a Chinese Restaurant, they have an old gold Chinese ingot. Next to it is a red bear with some money in it. I presume it is a container for tips for waiters and waitresses. In New Zealand, it is not compulsory to tip your waiters and waitresses.

In fact, the service is so bad that you don't wish to tip. People come for the food.

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Save the world: Plant native plants

2012-01-17T00:44:00.001-08:00

I have lived in the tropics, I have lived in the temperate climate. I loved gardening. Some people like to plant exotic plants from another region. They are frustrated when the plants fail to grow.

I was the secretary of the Gardening club of NTU in Singapore. I gave advice to neighbours from different countries. I use to collect saplings of the birds nest fern. I started a fernery, and I left five years ago. The ferns continue to thrive though nobody had tended the plants.

The water engineer went to "my" garden and took this photo. My legacy of living 16 years there.

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Weekend Bridge: Omaha Shorebirds.

2012-01-15T13:06:00.001-08:00

The miles and miles of nettings protect the birds. ( actually I don't think the place is not very big), it is a figure of speech. And it seemed to be, because at the end of the walk, my leg was hurting. Men and Birds, there is a conflict of interest.

Oystercatchers nesting, I saw many couples with their babies.

Somewhere near the bridge, I could see the New Zealand dotterels, they were too small for me to photograph.

I had the most wonderful time yesterday. When my son and his friend went surfing, the water engineer took me for a long (2.2 Km) walk. Initially I was reluctant. I was happy to sit at the beach or park and take my photos. But because he was so enthusiastic as it was part of his work and resources for his lecture notes, I went with him.

The engineer spoke to an elderly gentleman. He is involved with the trust. He told him that the Godwits come here from Siberia. I wish I had spoken to him.

I did not regret the walk in the soft sand and climbing over rocks. In fact I had a million dollar experience, I saw 100s of black birds flying over head, NZ dotterels hiding in the sand dunes, and Oystercatchers showing off their babies. I was thinking of Eileen, Sylvia, and all my blogging friends who photograph birds. I asked a man fishing there what kind of flying birds they were, he told me it is Sea Lice, I don't think he understood me.

I wish I have a "zoom in zoom out" camera so I can show you the NZ dotterels which live only here in New Zealand.

I wrote to the Omaha Shorebird Protection Trust, http://www.omahashorebirds.co.nz/index.php and ask them what those flying firds are. I will be posting more photos.

By the way this Omaha is in New Zealand. Omaha Spit is located on the east coast of the North Island, about 60 km north of Auckland. The spit forms a barrier between the open sea and Whangateau Harbour, a relatively unspoilt tidal estuary.

The area is important for a range of native shorebirds, which feed on the estuary at low tide. Some of them, such as the threatened New Zealand dotterel and the variable oystercatcher, nest on Omaha Spit in significant numbers.

The society is very fast is replying. The birds are Godwits. Yippee, I have watched documentaries about them, and at last I see them.

Hello Ann,

The birds in your photograph are bar-tailed godwits, or kuaka. They are easily identified by their very distinctive beaks, which are clearly visible in your photo. We have a very large group (perhaps 600-700) that roost on the spit at Omaha at high tide from late spring to early autumn. They feed on the mudflats of the Whangateau harbour at low tide and rest on the spit for a few hours each high tide. Although the birds look black against the sky in your photo, they are in fact speckled brown. Towards the end of summer the godwits begin to develop their breeding plumage of dark orangy-red. This is a sign that they are preparing for their long migration back to the Northern hemisphere where they breed. You can find out more about these birds on line, for example at the following address.

http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/kuaka.html

In some cities in NZ the godwits are formally welcomed back to NZ in spring. It would be nice to have a similar ceremony for our Omaha godwits. They are sight faithful, with the same birds returning to the same feeding grounds year after year.

Best wishes,
Marie Ward
OSPT shorebird monitor

http://bayphoto.blogspot.com/

Marco flowers: summer flowers

2012-01-13T11:08:00.000-08:00

Summer flowers in New Zealand, sorry don't know the name.

Luna Miranda said... this looks like fuchsia but i'm not sure.:p January 14, 2012 9:03 AM

Blogger SquirrelQueen said... They remind me of a fuchsia too. But whatever the name they are gorgeous blooms.

Thank you Luna and Squirrel Queen. You gave me a name to research on. I am posting a new photo of a bush. I googled and perhaps it is a Bolivian Fuchsia. I was familiar only with the big body type which I used to grow. It is amazing how much we learn from our fellow bloggers. Taking walks in the neighbourhood becomes more interesting.

Fruits are eaten raw, but the plant is most commonly grown for its ornamental flowers. There are several varieties, but two of the more notable are the red, and white colored types. Flowers are borne in clumps, and cover the tree for most of the year.

Native Range: Southern Peru, Bolivian, Northern Argentina.

I was busy taking photos and didn't notice the fruits. Next time!!!! but I must remember where I took the photo.

Many consider this one of the most beautiful fuchsia's, the Bolivian Fuchsia also bears small red-purple fruits with a sweet flavor.

National Fuchsia Society of New Zealand. http://nfsnz.orconhosting.net.nz/

The society exists to promote the interest of fuchsias to all parts of New Zealand and to collaborate with all fuchsia societies world wide.
We encourage social interaction between affiliated members and societies. New members are always welcome.

This society is the national body for various fuchsia societies throughout New Zealand, as shown on the map below, as well as independent members in New Zealand and throughout the world.

The society maintains a register of all fuchsias grown in New Zealand. The registrar is Elaine Baldwin and her address is shown in the contact list below the map.

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skywatch Friday, Papua New Guinea skies.

2012-01-12T01:48:00.001-08:00

In Papua New Guinea, the only way to move things to the mountains is by plane or helicopter. In the tropics, there are thunder storms, the clouds look ominous, I hope the plane gets away before the storm comes.

Courtesy the water engineer.

http://skyley.blogspot.com/pa

watery wednesday, Windsurfing at Raymond St Reserve.

2012-01-11T04:06:00.001-08:00

Instructor Peter prepares the sails.

Sam and another student listen to Pete.

My son Sam takes lessons from Pete Smith WNZ Master Instructor.

While Sam had his wind surfing lessons, I take photos, we live on 5 minutes from the beach. The school is located just 5 minutes from the city at Raymond St Reserve Pt Chevalier.

http://www.aucklandwindsurfing.co.nz/

align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nScWyFpFyOY/Sy6bMN9b_hI/AAAAAAAAIuE/lR2pTb2XiTY/s320/WateryWed2b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417438035981368850" />
http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Ruby red 2/rednesday: Lunar New Year

2012-01-09T20:20:00.001-08:00

2012 is Year of Dragon. Chinese/Lunar New Year is on Monday, 23 January 2012. Red is the colour for the Chinese on Chinese New Year.

In China and Mandarin speaking places, they call them HONG BAO. In Singapore and Malaysia, they are called ANG BAO, a Southern Chinese Hokkien dialect, both meaning the same. These are red packages usually with some cash inside. They now are commercially printed, with gold words and pictures printed on it. They have auspicious words like meaning prosperous, WAN SHI RU YI, ten thousand things/every thing is successful and soon on. In the old days, before banks give out these empty packages, we used to make them with newspaper, and then paste a red band round it. In my dialect, we called them LI SEE, meaning something like smooth event. These days, in big functions, they give a chocolate gold coin. HONG BAOs are given out at all auspicious occasions, like births, weddings, birthdays,farewells, house warming, reward for doing well in exams and so on.

Remember, it must be red.

The year was 1986, it was almost around this time, because I was visiting Mum and Dad in Australia and we had Christmas and Lunar New Year celebrations. My cousin James,had graduated from his surveying studies was returning to Borneo. We went to see him off at the Brisbane airport. Little did he know that he was seeing this aunt who cared for him in Australia for the last time. Little did I know too, that it was the last period when I would be with Mum.

Mum died in 1988 from a drastic car accident on the second day of the Lunar New Year, after being very injured for two weeks. Every year at this time, I have a time of reflection. That is why I don't really celebrate Lunar New Year. But this year, things are going to change. I am going to reflect on the good things of Mum.

You might be wondering why I posted this photo of children sleeping on the floor. Over in Malaysia, people can sleep anywhere, just on a piece of mat on the floor. Especially on school trips, you don't carry too much " barang-barang". You travel light. I have this photo to depict the scenario which my ex student told me, something I had long forgotten.

Orlando Chua aka as Siau Wei only just started to Facebook me. He was among the first batch of students I taught. "Yes I do litigation work, mainly criminal but I do take on sizeable civil work."

His first message touched my heart.

Dear Ms Chan, of course I remember who you are. You were my geography teacher in 1974 (Form 1A), the then la creame de la creame class in Kai Chung Secondary School. You whisked into class on the first day and said "Good morning class. My name is Ann Chan Kit Suet!" Also in the same year, when some of us were sleeping over in a school in Sarikei, you came and provided us with extra pillows and blankets. One will not forget kindness like that displayed by you.

I know, as a 19 year old, I wouldn't have thought of that. It would have been Mum's idea. Dad was the DEO, the Divisional Education officer, and there must have been a sports meet. Mum being Mum, took pity on these kids sleeping on the floor with no pillows and blankets.

Thank you, Orlando for not only remembering, but telling me. It means so much. I now recall, a group of students came to visit me in my parents' home. It will be sweet if they remembered. ( Binatang where I taught, was another town in the division. I went home during the weekend either by boat/express or bus.)

http://rubytuesday2.blogspot.co.nz

http://www.suelovescherries.blogspot.com/

Sunday Scans/Scenic Sunday: Vehicle in Sarawak.

2012-01-08T21:23:00.001-08:00

I have been on Facebook and just this week, I found 2 classmates when i was in Senior High school, Form 6 as it is called over in Sarawak. What a joy to be connected again.

I shall be featuring some of the photos of things that were in Borneo when I was growing up. Some of the things may not be there anymore.

This vehicle is powered by human beings. I can't use this for my Save the World meme because I don't know if this is extinct.

href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nScWyFpFyOY/Sy1ToJrHAzI/AAAAAAAAIrc/OYJqhFF47B8/s1600-h/scenic+sunday.jpg">

http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

http://sundayscans.blogspot.com/

Al http://alsphotographyblog.blogspot.com/.

Weekend bridge: MRT

2012-01-07T17:47:00.000-08:00

http://bayphoto.blogspot.com/

Part of the MRT Mass Rapid Transport of Singapore is underground. Most part of it ia above like a bridge.

The water engineer has been away on work assignment in Singapore. Friends from overseas find Singapore too hot, they just sit inside the MRT and go round that way. Good idea if you feel the same. Tropical heat can sap your energy.

Macro flowers: Swan plants

2012-01-06T20:48:00.001-08:00

In New Zealand, schools and households plant swan plants for the Monarch Butterfly.

We have the Monarch Butterfly New Zealand Trust to help protect the endemic and native butterflies and moths of NZ and their habitat.

This is the one with fruit/follicle that is ovoid, measuring 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter, tapering gradually or abruptly into an attenuate beak.” (i.e. the true Swan Plant).The Milkweed plants are sometimes called Swan Plant because the seed pod floats on water like a swan if it is cut off. The plant are also known as Balloon Cotton, Silkpods or Cotton Bush.

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Skywatch Friday. Windsurfing at Pt Chevalier.

2012-01-05T00:17:00.000-08:00

Oh to be young again. My 15 year old is enjoying summer water sports. He had a wind surfing lesson at the beach just 5 minutes from us. He had lessons from Pete Smith WNZ Master Instructor.http://www.aucklandwindsurfing.co.nz/

The school is located just ten minutes from the city at Raymond St Reserve Pt Chev

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

watery wednesday: Thailand.

2012-01-04T10:26:00.001-08:00

My cousin Ambrose went to Thailand before the terrible floods. I remember when I was there in Bangkok, we chartered a comfortable boat and took us along the river, and then to the Royal Palace. When we came back, we went on a commercial boat like a river bus.

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http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Sunday Bridges, Scenic Sunday: New Zealand Bridge

2011-12-31T01:55:00.000-08:00

My sis in law's travels, some where in New Zealand is this bridge.

http://bayphoto.blogspot.com/

http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/
s

Flowers: Hydrangea

2011-12-30T12:41:00.000-08:00

Hydrangeas is part of me. When I was a kid in Tropical Borneo, I lived with my Grandpa who left China in his 20s. He told us fairy tales the same way as western children read in books. He spoke of the hydrangea flower which is known as the embroidery ball flower. In this fairy tale love story, when a girl comes of age, she would stand in her balcony and throw her embroidered ball to the young men waiting down in the garden. The young man who catches the ball wins her hand. I joked with Grandpa, what if an ugly fat man catches up, Grandpa laughed, he said, "Why do you have to ruin an aged old story?"

Hydrangeas became reality when I came to live in Auckland. There are bushes everywhere. In two houses we stayed. I had the light blue hedges, and I had lots of stories.

A hint to gardeners, I was told if you put tins/can at the base of the plants, the iron rust will make the flowers become a deep colour. I remember reading John Michener's book Hawaii doing that for their pineapple plants.

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Skywatch Friday: Omaha beach wild wet weather

2011-12-29T14:56:00.001-08:00

Our weather forecast:
Auckland: New Year Eve: Periods of rain, possibly heavy, 23C. New Year Day: More rain, northeasterlies, 22C

It is a repeat of the day my son went surfing http://www.surfaris.co.nz/. I snapped this photo of the rescue tower. There was a braveheart family and the students learning to surf.

I wonder if anyone is out there today.

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Be Natural Cereal

2011-12-28T12:45:00.001-08:00

http://www.kiwimummyblogs.co.nz/

As part of the Kiwimummyblogs, I am invited to review products. I am given a sample to try out and I do not receive any financial returns. Here are some products that is part of a range which is free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.

As a believer of being healthy, I think this is a wonderful concept. I dug into the first pack, and ate them. It was the Pink Lady Apple and Flame Raisin. I like the apple and the raisin. It wasn't too sweet and just to my liking. It also has pink apples which makes it a pretty appearance. I also ate a bar of Berry and Nut & Fruit Be Natural Trail Bar. It was good.

However, as I read the fine print, I read on each of the 3 packs of cereal, "May contend peanut." That put me off completely, when you manufacture a product, you either know or you don't know, not "May be" as is a phrase commonly used by teenagers. I work in a school, and am very aware of peanut allergies. Besides, I am allergic to peanuts myself. I do hope the manufacturer will heed this.

With my own peanut allergy issues, I gave the rest of the boxes, Cashew, Almond, Hazelnut & Coconut, and 5 Whole Grain Flakes and the Be Natural Trail Bars to 4 persons. They enjoyed eating it. One ate it dry because he likes his cereal crunchy.

Watery Wednesday: Watering Van

2011-12-26T12:29:00.001-08:00

I was, as usual, rushing to my dental appointment, when I stopped outside the car park. It was closed and workmen were fixing the pipeline. Here, I capture a van sprinkling water on the car park, presmueably not to let the dust fly everywhere. Little did I realise it was an analogy of what was to follow.

I wish I could photograph the sprinkler my dentist uses in my mouth. It has a jet which shoots the debri after she had scrapped away the tarter. I have receding gums, and my dentist suggests that a Waterpik dental water jet might help and massage my gums. My Sister G had one and it is very good.

I still have all my pearlies, and I am very proud of them. But my gum is not doing its job in holding them tight. I used to have stress dreams, my tooth falls out one by one upon contact, and I am left with a toothless gum, and a fistfull full of perfect teeth. That is very fearful.

align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nScWyFpFyOY/Sy6bMN9b_hI/AAAAAAAAIuE/lR2pTb2XiTY/s320/WateryWed2b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417438035981368850" />
http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Baccarat: frypan

2011-12-25T13:59:00.000-08:00

I watch cooking shows, no, I like the contests in the cooking show. I love watching how the chefs put their frying pan into the oven, and wonder if my own cheap frypan can be put in the same way.

Many many years ago, I was with a very good friend whom I had gone to school with when we were 6. She made the mistake, and the handle came off. The whole kitchen smelled of charred wood.

Santa had seen I was a good girl this year. He told my friend C and she gave me a Baccarat Ceramix , a ceramic non-stick frypan. Now I can be a Master Chef.

The best feature is, I can put the frypan into the oven. Thank you C. I love you.

Baccarat is a leading Australian homewares brand that prides itself on its reputation and embodies professional, timeless and classic Kitchenware, Cookware, Bakeware, Tea and Coffee and Food Preparation products.

Our Baccarat Lifetime Guarantee means customers trust their investment in Baccarat quality knowing their investment will last them a lifetime! Through experience and innovation, Baccarat has extended its range of kitchen and cookware to include professional baking-ware, a stylish range of tea and coffee products and an assortment of long lasting and quality Baccarat food preparation products that are essential in every modern day kitchen.

Sunday Bridges/scenic sunday: Thermal bridge

2011-12-24T01:38:00.000-08:00

My sis in law and her husband visited New Zealand. They visited Geo thermal Rotorua area. I have not been to this particular area. But I don't know if I want to cross this bridge. The water could be hot because they say you can boil an egg there.

I think I will pass. I am brave but not reckless. Last year, a 10 year old boy dropped into one of those bubbling mud similar to these and died. In another case, a German tourist went in a thermal area and never came out again.

Otherwise if you obey the rules, the thermal lands are a wonderful place to visit. New Zealand is a small place with all the wonders of the world packed in two small islands.

http://bayphoto.blogspot.com/

http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/
s

Poinsettias

2011-12-23T12:51:00.001-08:00

When I was growing up in Borneo, we had Christmas cards with red Poinsettias. We used to draw them. Once my mum grew them, but the leaves never became red.

Here in New Zealand, plant centres and shopping malls have them, and they are very attractive.

We moved to this new house. There was a stump where all the branches were chopped to the ground. As new shoots grew, I could see the Poinsettias leaves coming out. I thought of poor mum trying to grow her Poinsettias, and here, some one had chopped it off. As the bush grew, about 2 weeks ago, hidden at the base of the plant, I could see little red leaflets to confirm to me that it is a Poinsettia plant.

I monitored its growth, and here is the best I can show you. A shaggy Poinsettia flower, not the manicured ones you get from the garden centre. But it is precious to me. It reminds me of the last Christmas I spent with my mum. That Christmas in 1986 in Australia. Then Mum spent the rest of her Christmases in heaven. I miss you Mum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_pulcherrima

Euphorbia pulcherrima, or noche buena, is a species of flowering plant indhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifigenous to Mexico and Central America. It is commonly known as poinsettia (play /pɔɪnˈsɛti.ə/),[1] after Joel Roberts Poinsett,[2] the first United States Minister to Mexico,[3] who introduced the plant into the US in 1825. It is also called the Atatürk flower in Turkey.

The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias.[7] From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations.[8] The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.[9]

Poinsettias are popular Christmas decorations[2] in homes, churches, offices, and elsewhere across North America. They are available in large numbers from grocery, drug, and hardware stores. In the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.

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skywatch friday and Winter Solstice aka Dōng zhì aka Guo Dong

2011-12-22T02:50:00.000-08:00

It was mid winter, cold and crisp. But the sky was very clear.

The Winter Solstice Festival or The Extreme of Winter (Chinese and Japanese: 冬至; Korean: 동지; Vietnamese: Đông chí) (Pinyin: Dōng zhì), (Rōmaji: Tōji), (Romaja:Dongji) is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the dongzhi solar term on or around December 21 when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest; i.e., on the first day of the dongzhi solar term. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice

In my Cantonese dialect, it is called GUO DONG. Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of Tangyuan (湯圓, as pronounced in Mandarin Pinyin: Tāng Yuán) or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion

These Tangyuan comes in various form. Most of these golf ball sized dumplings have a sweet filling like sesame seeds, peanut fillings, eaten either in a sweet syrup or dried rolled in a ground peanut powder. Of late, this festival is revived in Singapore with grand mothers and mothers invited to schools and community centres and demonstrate making these dumplings.

My small Cantonese dialect group, the Kwong Nengs make a ball of dumplings and we serve it with duck soup. This is served at the beginning of the special feast, in a small bowl of about 5 dumplings.

I never liked this because these glutinious dumplings are very filling, and sit in your stomach so you have no room for anything else. I kept this secret until about ten years ago, when I found out my Dad had the same idea. Mother had died prematurely at 60, and her sisters rook care of Dad. That particular year, just before my Dad died, my youngest aunt told me to take her shopping. She wanted to make these special dumplings for dad, as he had been living in Australia, and probably had not eaten these home made Tangyuan for a long time. She enthusiastically served a big bowl to Dad. Dad discretely told me to get a small bowl and give him one Tangyuan so he had symbolically eaten her precious dumplings. I LOl with him, both of us are guilty of breaking with tradition.

These days, you can buy frozen Tangyuan all the time. They no longer symbolise what they meant.

When I went to Singapore 20 years ago, there were a lot of children's Chinese singing competition. This MAI TANGYUAN or selling Tangyuan was a very popular song. Children dress up in traditional Chinese clothes. Do click on this .

http://youtu.be/BirNV2gNa2I

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Herbal essences Set Me Up Mousse

2011-12-20T17:27:00.001-08:00

http://www.kiwimummyblogs.co.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnz/

As part of the Kiwimummyblogs, I am invited to review products. I am given a sample to try out and I do not receive any financial returns.

I normally use gel for my hair, but with this Herbal essences Set Me Up Mousse sent to me to review, I gave it a try before I went to a Christmas function.

I have short hair, and I dispensed a small amount, golf ball size of mousse into one hand and then distributed between my two hands. I then applied the mousse at the base of my hair near to the top of my scalp and brush from front to back. I blew dried and it created maximum lift and hold.

My hair looked very nice immediately, and I was very proud of my hair. It looked wonderful the whole evening.

However we just had a period of very wet weather. The mousse did not hold the next day and went limp.

I suppose, it is good for a wash and blow dry and is not meant to last beyond a day. Just as the product imagining says, " Let you set your style all day long, with a flawless finish that's just perfect for the party season."

The packaging too is nice with a sky blue colour.

watery wednesday: Omaha beach

2011-12-20T02:18:00.001-08:00

It was wet and cold when my 15 year old had his surf lesson. I was soaking wet in my winter jacket while I watched.

http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.com/2011/12/abc-wednesday-waves-water-wetsuits-and.html

http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.com/2011/12/mellow-yellowruby-redrednesday-surfing.html

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http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Just Juice Orchard

2011-12-19T13:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.kiwimummyblogs.co.nz/

As part of the Kiwimummyblogs, I am invited to review products. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

It is summer here in New Zealand and hence a good time for summery fruit drinks. This Just Juice Orchard is one I would like to endorse. As a very discerning drinking, I like to have juice available during a party for people who don't drink.

I watch a lot of cooking shows, and pay attention to the judges advice that people eat with their eyes first. The new packaging of Just Juice Orchard comes in a slim, sleek package. My young 20 something friends say it is "Cool" Kudos to the designing team.

I tried all three juice, the Sun Kissed Orange, Farm Style Apple and the Summer & Kiwifruit. I served them in a tall stemmed wine glass to add the air of style.

The Farm Style Apple appealed to my taste, it is sweet but not too sweet. The Summer & Kiwifruit was very pretty.

There was something I didn't like in the orange. Besides, the moment I cast my eyes on the orange packaging, I said, Oh oh!, doesn't that resemble a old old brand from a giant country that likes to take little people to court over something that remotely resemble them? There was once small business in a small town in New Zealand who couldn't use their family name.

Otherwise, Good job and Ka pai. I like to go to a party which serves non alcoholic drink, which is healthy for you, and is very reasonable at $3.99 a litre.

Wisteria

2011-12-18T15:05:00.001-08:00

Wisteria (also spelled Wistaria) is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, that includes ten species of woody climbing vines native to the eastern United States and to China, Korea, and Japan.

It must have been the book Shogan where I read that Wisteria came from Japan. They grow beautifully in New Zealand. Once, when a vine was barren, I asked my friend, why grow Wisteria when you can't eat the fruits. Then when the Wisteria bloomed, I understood why.

When ever I see Wisteria, I think of some of my friends who had lived in Japan. I think of L.

Today, I got news that L, a very good friend is in hospital undergoing an serious operation in an overseas country, I thought of her.

L is a beautiful person,
L has a beautiful heart.
L wore this beautiful Swing Cardie,
I commented how beautiful it looked.
L took me to this boutique.
L didn't speak the language of the sales assistants.
They asked me what was I to her,
when she bought me the top.
I told her, she is a very good friend,
They commented, good friends don't buy expensive clothing for another.
I must be very special to L.

Dear L,

I think of you.
Get well soon.

Ann

Auckland Harbor Bridge- Clip-ons

2011-12-17T02:26:00.000-08:00

I drove over our famous bridge "overseas" to North shore so my son can buy his used surf board. Right beneath this very spot, my second daughter "jumped" the bridge. I was there to see her bungy jump twice.

The bridge was originally built with four lanes for traffic. Owing to the rapid expansion of suburbs on the North Shore and increasing traffic levels it was soon necessary to increase the capacity of the bridge - by 1965, the annual use was about 10 million vehicles, three times the original forecast.[13]

In 1969, only ten years after opening, two-lane box girder clip-on sections were added to each side, doubling the number of lanes to eight. The sections were manufactured by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries of Japan, which led to the nickname 'Nippon clip-ons'. The selection of the company was considered a bold move at the time, barely 20 years after WWII and with some considerable anti-Japanese sentiment still existing in the country.[22] The costs of the additions were noted as having been much higher than had the extra lanes been provided initially.[13]

While doubling the vehicle lanes of the bridge, the clip-ons have been plagued by significant issues. In 1987 cracks required major repair works,[23] and in 2006, further cracks and signs of material fatigue were found. The clip-ons were originally to have a life expectancy of 50 years.[citation needed] Auckland City Council's Transport Committee requested Transit New Zealand to investigate the future of the clip-on lanes as part of its 10-year plan. Transit noted in this context that the plan already includes some funding for bridge maintenance.

My cousin L is a chemical engineer, and he climbs into the brdige to check it's well being every year.

a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nScWyFpFyOY/TDEV6i-HxFI/AAAAAAAALew/p_Rwso06e3U/s1600/sunday+bridges+meme.jpg">
http://bayphoto.blogspot.com/

http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

Yellow flower hedge in Auckland.

2011-12-15T00:40:00.000-08:00

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

I walk around my neighbourhood and spy on this hedge with beautiful yellow flowers. Sorry I don't know it's name.

I hope it is not obnoxious like the privet. Do click my other post about privet which can make people very sick if they are allergic to them.

http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2011/12/save-world-trim-your-hedges.html

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skywatch Friday:

2011-12-14T22:30:00.000-08:00

Torrential & heavy rain across parts of the country. A state of emergency remains in place in the Nelson and Tasman areas after heavy rain flooded homes, caused landslides and road closures and forced the evacuation of more than 100 people overnight.

The front bringing the downpours today moved over the North Island, closing roads and causing surface flooding in Northland.

The owner renovating his house must be praying the tarp is hole proof despite the tape at more than one part.

My son counted, we had 10 days of rain. He can't wait to go surfing.

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Watery Wed: Geysers

2011-12-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

When water gets very hot under pressure, they shoot up in the air. Found in Rotorua in New Zealand and other thermal areas in New Zealand.

align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nScWyFpFyOY/Sy6bMN9b_hI/AAAAAAAAIuE/lR2pTb2XiTY/s320/WateryWed2b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417438035981368850" />
http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Sunday bridge, Auckland Harbor Bridge.

2011-12-10T23:28:00.001-08:00

Today many of the Auckland public took the first opportunity to cycle over
the Auckland Harbour bridge with approval from the Transport Agency, which was overwhelmed by an illegal crossing by about 2000 cyclists and walkers in 2009 pushing for their own pathway. The wind over the bridge is too strong to make cycling safe. At times the bridge had to be closed to motorcyclist.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Today 160 Metrolink and North Star buses lined up their vehicles along the motorway north of the bridge from 1am to form a 2.3km protective wall for the cyclists. This was to protect the cyclist so they don't get blown over into the sea.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10772279

They will line up from the Pt Erin Swimming Pool for a 15km excursion over the bridge, then up and down the Northern Busway from about 7am, an hour after the start of a 110km race of members of a heavier duty "lycra" cycling brigade.

Then from 8am, it will be the turn of children to take part in shorter 8km or 2km rides with their families along sections of the busway from Smales Farm, where there will also be entertainment and cycling education activities until midday.

An entry price of $10 will entitle them to a certificate and tee-shirt each, and has been reduced since the event was first mooted.

But the registration fee for the 110km race remains at $110, and the 15km bridge and busway jaunt will cost participants $15 each.

Other participants in the cycling events will include Auckland Mayor Len Brown, triathletes Hamish Carter and Debbie Tanner, and a goodly turnout from the cast of television soap opera Shortland Street.

The agency has given approval for up to 9000 cyclists to cross the bridge, but organiser Callum McNair believes many potential participants have been pre-occupied with other events such as the Rugby World Cup and the election.

Even so, he hopes his events can survive as regular fixtures on Auckland's community calendar, and that momentum will grow once people become more familiar with them.

"Being a year one event, there are a lot of people unsure of what we are about," he told the Weekend Herald.

"Are we a hard-arsed cycling organisation, are we a community cycling group, and really we've got to put the rubber on the road and show people we are actually both."

"Then I think people will get it, but seeing is believing with these things."

A number of cyclists will wear slogans of the Getacross Campaign, which wants a shared pathway across the bridge, a goal which he and the tandem riders support as a way of fulfilling Mr Brown's aspiration to turn Auckland into "the world's most liveable city."

"Certainly cycling plays a part in that," Mr McNair said.

But he paid tribute to the Transport Agency for approving the events, and to the drivers of 160 Metrolink and North Star buses who will line up their vehicles along the motorway north of the bridge from 1am tomorrow to form a 2.3km protective wall for the cyclists.

That will keep motor traffic away from the cyclists, who will reach the busway from the bridge's eastern or seaward clip-on lanes

Watching the cyclists reminded me of a daring bike ride I made in 1974. I rehashed this to my friend Jenny Yaw Peng who was then a student at Kai Chung School. Her dad had a bicycle shop.

I normally returned to my parents' town during the weekend. Somehow, 3 male students aged 14 persuaded me to ride with them to the bush. I taught them English and they were the naughtiest kids in the class. They told me that they would take me to a stream where we could swim. I was 19, and was fun loving.

I didn't pack a picnic lunch, and all I remembered was riding and riding and riding. Then we got off the main road into a narrow track. It must have been more than 10 miles each way.

When I got back, I saw Jenny's dad Mr. Chew. He must have seen my sun burnt face and asked where I had been. He shook his face and said, I could at least have asked his bicycle repairing apprentice Ah Li to check over my bike. What if I got a puncture. I never thought of that. Whew!!!!

Later, I told my colleague. He said I was crazy to trust those students, because at that time, it was during the height of the communist insurgence. The soldiers could have mistaken me to be a Communist and shot me right there and then.

I have forgotten these 3 boys, and it would be fun if I see them again. The students are planning for a reunion. I wonder if they would be there.

a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nScWyFpFyOY/TDEV6i-HxFI/AAAAAAAALew/p_Rwso06e3U/s1600/sunday+bridges+meme.jpg">
http://bayphoto.blogspot.com/

http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

http://sundayscans.blogspot.com/

Al http://alsphotographyblog.blogspot.com/.

Oleander

2011-12-09T12:40:00.000-08:00

These Nerium Oleander look so beautiful, yet they are so deadly. All parts of this plant is highly toxic.

There is a folk story where a good but not very beautiful woman who was bullied by her husband. She tolerated his abuses until he became unfaithful and planned to divorce her. She made kebabs for husband. She used Oleander stems to skewer the bits of meat before barbecuing the kebabs. The unsuspecting man ate the kebabs and died straight away.

The moral of the story is do not abuse the person who loves you, even nature will not approve your actions.

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Skywatch Friday/Thursday Theme song.: Celine Dion's baby close your eyes.

2011-12-08T09:32:00.000-08:00

Baby Close Your Eyes

Sun is creeping down
Behind the hill
Everything is calm
Everything is still

So baby close your eyes
And rest your weary mind
Let me hold you close I'll sing you this lullaby

Let your worries go
You'll fall asleep
Think of nothing more
Memories will keep

Your dreams will turn to gold
And you will wake and find
Then you'll hold a smile all day from this lullaby

Maybe somewhere in the silence
You will wake and you're all alone
Just call and I'll be there

Even when I'm gone
Each day will end
So I'll say 'goodnight'
'Til we meet again

Now baby close your eyes
And rest your weary mind
I'll let you know the joy you bring
Every time you hear me sing you this lullaby

http://youtu.be/XNwl0qnNITg

http://www.tdsupport.org/ The group Treasured dreams have used this song as their "words of the bereaved parents." and I am one of them.

http://youtu.be/xbPfRkd2kxc

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

http://thursdaythemesong.blogspot.com/
http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com/

Watery Wed: Thailand

2011-12-07T00:22:00.001-08:00

More of my cousin Ambrose's photos in Thailand.

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http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Sunday Bridge: Crater of the moon

2011-12-03T12:05:00.001-08:00

Digging deep in my Archives for bridges. Here was when my big sister Rose came to visit me in a Thermal land. Known to locals as the crater of the Moon. Tourists are not told so they would go to the expensive commercially run place.

Known as the Crater of the Moon. I love this place. Do click on this link to see a visual. and you will know why I love it. We take all our foreign visitors and they love it.

The Taupo Region is a volcanic zone which contains some of the most violent thermal activity in the country. My father in law was afraid of the geysers and the howling sounds when the steam shoots up. It takes 30 minute walk visits bubbling craters, mud pools and steam vents.

In the 70s and 80s, it used to be free, but now they ask you for a donation of $6 to the volunteers who maintain the bathrooms and watch your cars. You can also see a lot of interesting plants that have adapted to thrive in the hot, steamy conditions. Enjoy this wonderful geothermal area despite the mild sulphur smell. It now has a wooden pathways with elevated viewing platforms.

My brother Charles and Sister in law Karen took me there in 1978. I fell in love with it. Charles jokes that this is heaven. Back then, the geysers were very strong. Charles says we were fairies in the clouds.

When approaching from the South.
Travel 5.5kms North from the i site in Taupo along Wairakei Drive (or the old SH 1 & 5)
Turn left into Karapiti Road and Travel 1 3/4kms arriving at the carpark of The Craters of the Moon Geothermal walk.

At the ETA roundabout at SH 1 & 5 take the Wairakei Park exit and Travel along Wairakei Drive after the Wairakei International Golf Course turn right into Karapiti Road and travel 1 and 3/4kms arriving at the carpark of The Craters of the Moon Geothermal Walk.

http://bayphoto.blogspot.com/

Scenic Sunday: Fund Raiser at Pt Chevalier School

2011-12-02T23:23:00.000-08:00

Pt Chevalier School in Auckland, New Zealand does it in a big way.

High lights were Celebrity Chef demonstrations from Peta Mathias and this year's Master Chef Nadia. They were demonstrating in the auditorium.

It was too dark for me to take a photo. It was a pity, because I knew Nadia's parents and her when she was little. I missed another chance to tick my bucket list to have a photograph with a famous person. LOL

Richard the Chairman of the BoT.

Lynette minding the huge raffle.

Property Manager and parent Justin.

Staff and parent Frances and Rachel minding the bar.

Staff Adele and her husband Andy. Their children came to this school.

Indulge is an annual event organised by the PTA of my school.

Indulge is Pt Chevalier School's primary fundraiser for the year with all proceeds going towards digital technology purchases and upgrades.

is a Food and Wine extravaganza that will take place on the school grounds on Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 from 6.30pm to 11.30pm.

is when the school will be transformed into a vibrant market place, with over 30 quality stall holders providing a mixture of food & wine for consumption on the night and fantastic Christmas gift ideas.

is a great opportunity to grab some friends and enjoy a pre-Christmas fun night out with food, wine, cooking demonstrations, live music & shopping.
http://www.indulgefoodfestival.co.nz/index.php

http://www.theaucklander.co.nz/news/changing-business-school-fundraising/1183786/
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http://scenicsunday.blogspot.chttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifom/

Kowhai Flower

2011-12-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

This New Zealand flower that grows from a tree is called Kowhai. Kowhai in New Zealand is yellow. WH is pronounced in Maori as F.

http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.com/2009/09/travellers-name-nz-second-best.html
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Skywatch Friday: Mediterranean

2011-12-01T19:42:00.000-08:00

It was great weather for Bart on his cruise. If the sunset is so beautiful from the liner, that should be a great bonus to be on a cruise. If you are interested, Bart's the travel manager of http://www.wahtung.travel/

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

ww.wahtung.travel/">http://www.wahtung.travel/

watery wednesday: Ambrose's holiday in Thailand

2011-11-30T21:11:00.001-08:00

My cousin Ambrose went to Thailand.

align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nScWyFpFyOY/Sy6bMN9b_hI/AAAAAAAAIuE/lR2pTb2XiTY/s320/WateryWed2b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417438035981368850" />
http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Sunday Scans: memory lane in 1974

2011-11-26T15:49:00.001-08:00

Sports played a big part in Kai Chung School. That year, due to my shouting with Lynn Wong/Leng, A La Man Da, we won. This was Miss Chieng, she was my best girl friend when I was teaching there.

One year, there was a funeral in Sibu, Mr Pau and I accomapanied the students by motor launch aka a big boat. After the funeral, we were treated to an eating house, not exactly a five star restaurant. But to the students from small town Binatang, Sibu was a big place. I recall Mr. Pau telling one girl who had gastric that she wasn't to eat the bigger strands Bee Hoon, but she ate any way. Mr Pau sighed. Mr. Pau has since passed away. I will always remember Mr. Pau.

Then I arranged with my Aunt to visit See Hua Daily news paper. They not only printed the newspaper, they also made plastic bags. I was most impressed how the sacks of whistish granules of rice like plastic could be made into transparent sheets of plastic,

Another of my bucket list.

http://sundayscans.blogspot.com/

Al http://alsphotographyblog.blogspot.com/.

Sunday Bridge and scenic Sunday: Venice

2011-11-26T06:40:00.000-08:00

This is what Bart saw from the cruise ship. Can you see the bridge on the extreme right?

http://bayphoto.blogspot.com/

http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

My Cousin Bart Ngieng is the Travel Manager with Wah Tung Travel Service Sdn Bhd. in Kuching, Sarawak Malaysia. www.wahtung.travel

Flowers: Chinese Lanterns

2011-11-25T12:37:00.000-08:00

I was in someone's private garden. I had never seen them before, but read about Chinese lanterns. It is the end of spring here and the flower is now dried up like paper.

Abutilons or Chinese lanterns are closely related to hibiscus, and most of the hundred or so species have pendulous, hibiscus-like flowers. Cultivars produced by hybridising some of the South American abutilons have all been placed in one group known as Abutilon x hybridum, and these are the ones most commonly grown in Australian gardens. They have a wispy, delicate form and colourful, lantern-shaped flowers. For gardeners who prefer plants with a more dense habit, new compact varieties are also available. Another popular abutilon is Abutilon megapotamicum, which is a prostrate ohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifr ground covering species with small orange flowers. There is also a variegated leaf form, Abutilon megapotamicum 'Variegatum'. Megapotamicum means 'from the big river' referring to the Rio Grande in Brazil.

http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Flowering-Plants-and-Shrubs/Chinese-Lanterns/868

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Skywatch Friday: Rain Rain go away.

2011-11-24T10:29:00.001-08:00

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

These two days,
the gale is blustery,
It is howling.

You can't see them,
but it is there.
Where is the wind?

It is evident from the rubbish bin,
They have become litter themselves.
I took these wheelie bins.

Schools cancel their interschool sports meet.
Kids are restless.
It's rain day, they are cooped inside.

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
More gales and rain are on the way in the "classic" spring fashion, says a forecaster.

MetService Weather Ambassador Bob McDavitt said parts of the country will be pelted with heavy rain and severe gales tomorrow.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/weather/news/article.cfm?c_id=10&objectid=10767974

The weather warning follows a manic day yesterday which saw a Wairarapa couple crushed by a falling tree branch, floodwaters threatening the South Island West Coast and flights grounded in Wellington.

MetService has issued a severe weather warning for more heavy rain on the West Coast and a severe gale watch from south of Napier to Wellington.

Mr McDavitt said severe gales would hit Wairarapa tomorrow afternoon, and could reach up to 120km/h.

"That's strong enough to break a branch, which could take down a power line."

Southland and Westland could see rapidly rising rivers and streams after heavy rainfall, while Buller could see surface flooding and slips.

He said the heavy rain would affect regions that were already saturated.

Mr McDavitt said changeable weather patterns were a "classic spring scenario".

By Thursday and Friday a strong, cooler southwest wind flow was expected to spread across New Zealand, which could bring gales to the region between Invercargill and Dunedin, he said.

watery wednesday: Trip to Pakatoa Island.

2011-11-22T19:45:00.001-08:00

align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nScWyFpFyOY/Sy6bMN9b_hI/AAAAAAAAIuE/lR2pTb2XiTY/s320/WateryWed2b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417438035981368850" />
http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

A nostalgic post. A day trip to Pakatoa island with my flat mates A, L and LK, and a friend P from Binatang in 1978.

An Island Paradise for Sale

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pakatoa Island

The nearest I got to a des-res was a day trip to Pakatoa island with my university flat mates, I, L and LG, in the late 1970s. We were among the rich and the not so rich but masquerading to be rich to get away from it all. We went in their private boat, swam in the swimming pool, drank from their bar and ate in the licensed restaurant. We watched people playing golf and tennis, and wished we were not day trippers but campers in their chalets.

Then in the 1980s, I worked for the Kerridge Odeon Corporation founded by the movie mongul Kerridge family who owned this island and paid their accounts. I rubbed shoulders with the captain of their private boat Kotuku. I didn’t get to go to the island but worked from their city office at 246 Queen Street building, and liaised on the phone with the managers of the resort and their store.

Companies sent their staff for conferences to what was a time for play rather than for work. Their most famous employees must be Russell Crowe. He was seventeen when he became the entertainments officer for Pakatoa Island Resort. He laughs when reminded of that time. "Yeah, it was lovely living on an island but I got sick of organizing Bingo tournaments.”

Alas, the corporation no longer belongs to the Kerridge family and Pakatoa Island was up for sale. A German con artist caused quite a stir in the late 1990s. Ralf Simon offered to buy the island with no money in his pocket or bank account. He was subsequently deported.

Now, the island is for sale for a mere $40 million dollars. It is approximately sixty acres and is only 45 kilometers from Auckland city. The weather is mild, and you can arrive in Auckland by air or by sea.

***Kotuku in Maori is a white bird, egret. By coincidence, my room where I teach ESOL is the Kotuku room***

sunday bridge/scenic sunday: Mediterrean

2011-11-19T04:40:00.000-08:00

http://bayphoto.blogspot.com/

http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

My Cousin Bart Ngieng is the Travel Manager with Wah Tung Travel Service Sdn Bhd. in Kuching, Sarawak Malaysia. www.wahtung.travel
BartNgieng has left a new comment :

Rialto Bridge, the first bridge that was build across the Grand Canal, Venice. A must visit site on Venice Island.

macro flowers: Chinese Glory Bower

2011-11-18T20:42:00.001-08:00

In NTU, Singapore, my friend J gave me the original plant. Her friends brought them specially from India. I dub it as Indian Jasmine. It's common name is Chinese Glory Bower. Scientific Name: Clerodendrum chinense.

These plants have very fragrant flowers, cluster of flowers forming a ball. The flowers are pinkish purple and are more beautiful than the ordinary jasmine. They are bigger and have multiple layers of petals.

It is ironic as some one who grows plants and love flowers, I can't have flowers in the house. Actually I would love receiving flowers, but I can't keep them at home. We has a terrible allergy reaction from pollen grains. If I bring flowers home, the moment he comes home, he will ask,"What's the stinky smell?" and I would have to throw out my flowers.

This has been a blessing in disguise. I made many friends through my flowers. My bushes of Chinese Glory Bower had bloomed lots of flowers. My friend A.'s husband had been very sick for a long time. Every morning, I leave this Chinese Glory Bower at her door. She knows it is from me and I don't want to disturb her. "It cheered him a lot to see you stalk of Chinese Glory Bower."

***Sadly to say, he died after a few surgeries.***

Origin: China, Japan; naturalized in southern United States and throughout tropics.

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Reader's Digest Story Contest

2011-11-18T16:27:00.000-08:00

Dear all,

Voting ended on November 15th. I did not expect to win as I entered really late, on October 20th. But it was a great exercise. I wanted to bring exposure to baby Loss Awareness and bereaved parents.

I joined the International Catergory, and a quick counting showed I garnered enough votes to rank 4th out of 800 entries. The TV New Zealand You tube clip had more than 400 hits, compared to the other clips that were aired that day.

Thank you to all who voted, and those who rallied for me.

Thanks,

Ann

When I was young, I always read the Readers' Digest and marvel at the bravery of the mothers who struggled with sick children. When I had Andrew in the hospital, and accepted the doctors' advice that the kindest option was to let nature take it's course. When Andrew didn't die when the doctor predicted, I struggled with myself and spoke to the doctor about those mothers I read in the Readers' Digest, and I wanted to be these mothers, Dr James said that Andrew was different.

Today, I found out that Readers' Digest was inviting people to submit their stories. I am submitting mine for media exposure. But if you like to vote for me, it is appreciated.

"Diary of a bereaved mother"
My journey of having a baby who died and now I am the self appointed spokes-person for bereaved parents. My story is from my heart and will resonate with anyone who has had the misfortune to give birth to a child who has struggled to live. Synopsis: Your baby is dying. Andrew did not die that night as predicted by the doctor, he didn't die after 3 days, 10 days and finally he died at 55 days. Friends did not know whether to congratulate or commiserate us. He was declared dead after his first at 40 days, but he bounced back. That was more excruciating than his actual death. After Andrew, what have I done? Have I become a better person? There are many of the things I am most proud of. I spearheaded raising funds to separate a pair of Siamese twins from Nepal in Singapore. For 16 years, I raised funds for the Deafhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif Children in Kenya. I did the publicity, marketing, cooking and selling. I volunteer at teaching new immigrants.
http://www.youtube.com/asiadownunder#p/c/C9FEF73B56807B22/3/IZk9w-uywAs

http://apps.facebook.com/yourlifecontest/content/diary-bereaved-mother

Skywatch Friday: Mediteranean

2011-11-17T10:20:00.000-08:00

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Not a puff of cloud in the sky.

It was great weather for Bart on his cruise. If you are interested, Bart's the travel manager of http://www.wahtung.travel/

My friends at Windsor University, Canada.

2011-11-16T01:53:00.000-08:00

Convocation/capping 1976, the three guys standing next to me. Koh, Wong and Ning. Right, Lee who joined us later. Photo by Peter Ning Choon Swee.

I wrote my tribute to my 3 great friends in http://annsnowchin.blogspot.com/2011/11/thursday-theme-song-great-friends.html
Two of my friends reply.

Choon Swee Ning:
Ann, I read your blog. Thank you for your praise. When we are out far away from home, we need help from friends. In fact I had the same situation that I took over 30 hours flying from Singapore to Dubai, Heathrow, Montreal and then to Windsor. I got airsick n vomited out whatever I ate. I lost at least 2 kgs. At that time, the fastest plane was Boeing 707, there was no 747.
When I arrived Windsor, I know nobody and nobody to talk as the university had not started yet. I stayed at McDonald hall, when I heard there was a Singaporean staying upstairs, I felt so happy to meet him. He was Martin Moy, the Martin you know.

So when you came, I have to help you whatever possible especially you a weak girl, to make you more comfortable and less homesick. This is what the human nature will naturally act so it is no big deal. Anyway we all enjoyed our life in Windsor among us Sarawakians.

Wong Hung Yong:
Thanks for your poems and praises accorded to us, the three gentlemen. You still remember how we treated to our fellow Sarawakians who left from our beloved homeland to pursue university education in foreign land.

We shared the same experience when we started our first journey to our destination of study.

It was 37 years ago when three of us (two disembarked at Hearthrow) took SIA 707 which stopped Bangkok, Dubai, Amsterdam. By the time I reached London, it was too late for the next connection to Montreal because SIA flight from Melbourne was delayed for 4 hours. I had to stay one night at airport hotel at Hearthrow. The next day, it took another 10 hours to arrive at Montreal, the biggest city in Canada.

The weather at that night was blisteringly cold and with thin clothes, I was shivering. Luckily Chieng was at the airport to welcome me. If not for this angel, I really didn't know what to do. He helped me all the way because he was also in the same university. It was like Ah niu/cow going to the city.

The third friend Koh Ngee Ann is in Sabah, Malaysia. I had not seen them since I left in 1977.

Thursday Theme Song: Great Friends

2011-11-15T11:44:00.000-08:00

La-La-La-La-La...

You've been so kind and generous, I don't know how you keep on giving
For your kindness I'm in debt to you
For your selflessness, my admiration
For everything you've done, you know I'm bound,
I'm bound to thank you for it....

La-La-La-La-La...
Hey-hey-hey-hey-hey...

You've been so kind and generous, I don't know how you keep on giving
For your kindness I'm in debt to you
And I never could have come this far without you
For everything you've done, you know I'm bound,
I'm bound to thank you for it....

La-La-La-La-La...

Oh,
I want to thank you for so many gifts you gave, with love and tenderness,
I wanna thank you
I want to thank you for your generosity,
the love and the honesty that you gave me
I want to thank you, show my gratitude, my love and my respect for you,
I wanna thank you

Oh I want to thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you,
Thank you...

http://youtu.be/2qkgQZt1Mmg

If I could turn the clock back to September 1975, I would relive a time when 3 guys treated me very well. In one of their own words, I was a princess. Our friendship was platonic. I found two of them on Facebook and we are reminiscing those times.

I want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you Ning Choon Swee, Wong Hung Yong, Koh Ngee Ann and later Richard Lee.

I knew Ning a year earlier when we were both teaching in Kai Chung School. Later in the year, he went to Windsor University in Canada. He was the reason I went. I thought, if he was accepted to study there, so would I be. It was a year before I went, and he guided me along in my application.

What most heart felt was, when I was flying to Canada to Windsor via Toronto, Ning had planned to meet me at the Windsor airport. To make the story short, my flight from Singapore to London to Toronto was 30 hours long. The travel agent had fixed it so there was 4 hours transit in Heathrow.

She did not anticipate any delays. As a young green horn, and a country pumpkin traveling the first time almost round the world, it was the worst kangaroo flight. It stopped about 7 times. The plane was delayed from Australia, and by the time it arrived at Heathrow, they had some one accompany and rushed to the Canadian airlines. They didn't tell me my luggage was still in London.

I slept the whole way across from London to Toronto. At Toronto I waited for my luggage at the carousel in vain. When I went to the gate and explained that my luggage wasn't there twice, the FAT woman tore up my boarding pass. Eventually after two planes had gone, and it was evening, they told me, your luggage won't be here, just fly to Windsor and we will contact you.

When I arrived at Windsor, I was so stressed that I didn't want to leave the plane without an air stewardess. She told me she will come with me when she has finished all her job.

Meanwhile, Ning and Wong and Koh were thinking, it was the last flight, and perhaps, I wasn't coming. When I saw Ning, I cried with relief. I really cried.

My luggage came another day, and the 3 guys took me to the airport. I remember walking a long distance, and my shoes were pinching my feet.

Few months later, they invited me to stay in their one bedroom apartment, and I was given the bedroom, and they slept on mattresses in the dining room. Later Richard came and there were 4 guys and a girl from Sarawak.

Thank you again and to their spouses, they are lucky to be married to fantastic guys. And I was so lucky to benefit from their special friendship.

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watery wed: canons

2011-11-15T00:49:00.001-08:00

Sunday Bridge/scenic Sunday: Cruise

2011-11-12T01:32:00.001-08:00

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My Cousin Bart Ngieng is the Travel Manager with Wah Tung Travel Service Sdn Bhd. in Kuching, Sarawak Malaysia. www.wahtung.travel

He took his wife and my aunt and uncle to a cruise to Europe. Ka pai , paki paki Bart for being a good husband and son. Ka pai means good job and paki paki means clap clap in New Zealand.

Addition: Bart tells me it is "Pacific Primcess cruise ship, together with Silversea anchored off Sorrento, Italy How cool is that?

This is the introduction of this cruise, I will be posting more photos.

Macro flowers: Allamanda.

2011-11-11T13:53:00.001-08:00

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Here in August, with my KAI/ adopted mum Mrs. Chew Tien Kui.

When I finished high school in Borneo in 1974, I had a gap year and became a teacher before I went to university in Canada. The kids adored me as I was just a kid myself at 19, not much older than some of the students who have come from Chinese schools.

That school, Kai Chung school in Binatang aka now as Bintang, divided the students into houses named after flowers. I was in charge of the Allamanda team. This yellow trumpet like flower is very potent, the sap is poisonous.

The Chinese has a nice tradition. It is called "KAI" To explain simply, if I like a certain family, I might go to "KAI" myself to become one of their daughters. It is an affectionate or endearment. I do not physically become their daughter.

When I was teaching in Kai Chung school, the first day I arrived in the little town, the principal left me in their house. There was no prior arrangement of where I was to sleep that night. Mrs. Chew thought her husband was approached by the principal if I could sleep the night. She offered me a bed, and the rest was history.

I often visited them and just before I went to Canada, I stayed a month with them. You couldn't ask for a better family.

This August, I went to Christchurch and met up with most of the family. I told Mrs. Chew she was now my KAI mum. Lynn/ Ah Leng asked if I remembered this Allamanda flower. She was a member of the Allamanda house, and she remembered I was cheering for this house with her. A LA MAN DA.

This post is for the Late Chew Tien Kui family. Ah Leng, this flower will always link us.

This flower from a shrub I found on the Gold Coast of Australia is slightly different to the Borneo ones. They have those extra petals in the middle.
Common Name: Stansill's Double, Flore Pleno Allamanda
Botanical Name: Allamanda cathartica 'Stansill's Double'

The Borneo ones are look like a trumpet and have a hole in the middle.

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skywatch Friday:Armistice Day

2011-11-10T23:23:00.000-08:00

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Today is Armistice Day: on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, when the "war to end all wars" or known as the World War One in Europe ended. 18,000 New Zealanders died.

Many New Zealand soldiers fought and died in the European soil. There is a ceremony at the Auckland Museum or the Auckland War Memorial. I was there with my sister Rose on ANZAC Day when we remembered the Australian and New Zealand soldiers.

Today is Armistice Day, with many New Zealanders pausing at 11.00am to remember those lost in the 1914-18 war.

In 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, the world rejoiced and celebrated the end of the First World War.

After four years of bitter conflict, an armistice had been signed. The 'war to end all wars', as it was ironically known at the time, was over.

November 11, 1919 was the first day set aside as Armistice Day to remember the sacrifices made during World War I in order to ensure a lasting peace.

History shows, of course, that the 'lasting peace' was only to endure until 1939, when Europe, and later the world, found itself at war again.

In ten years from today, Armistice Day will fall on a date of interest to trivia buffs as well as war historians: 11.11.11

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watery wednesday: Hillsborough beach

2011-11-08T20:15:00.001-08:00

scenic sunday/sunday bridge: Southport Australia

2011-11-06T00:10:00.001-07:00

The same bridge on the Gold Coast as last Sunday, but in the evening.

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Running out of photos of bridges. This was taken when I went to Southport during one of my holidays. My sister Helen took us to a park. It was dusk, the lights were not very good.

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macro flowers: Mango flowers

2011-11-04T15:37:00.000-07:00

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Mango flowers,a big spray of flowers for one miserable mango.

Skywatch Friday: Gold Coast

2011-11-03T11:31:00.001-07:00

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My niece Katie is getting engaged. I remember visiting her two summers ago. The sky was blue as it is very hot and dry. As we travel by this road, I always wonder what these twin poles are.

watery wednesday: Jet ski at Pt Chevalier beach

2011-11-02T02:35:00.001-07:00

scenic sunday/sunday bridge: Southport Australia

2011-10-30T13:05:00.000-07:00

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Running out of photos of bridges. This was taken when I went to Southport during one of my holidays. My sister Helen took us to a park. It was dusk, the lights were not very good.

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wild onion flower

2011-10-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

Wild Onion, the smell is pungent. Some people use them in their salads. Grow wild everywhere.

I used to dig up the bulbs of this wild onion weed. It was very difficult to get rid off and the stalk break off easily. They grow and grow profusely.

Then two things happened, I started blogging, and and was attracted to wild flowers. I found these patches very pretty. I went to a farmers' market to take photos for my blog, and found that they sell the stems. They are delicious, assures the seller.

I never looked at the wild onion patch the same way again, and I don't dig them up.
I found myself sniffing in the intense aroma, or should I say, pungent odour, of onion weed (Allium triquetrum). the masses of white, bell-like flowers actually looked very pretty lining the roadside , the masses of white, bell-like flowers actually looked very pretty

It is known also as the three-cornered leek or angled onion, some describe the smell as leek or garlic-like.

The flowers are too little for me to take a macro flower. So a little bunch from a single stalk. Aren't they pretty?

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Skywatch Friday: Gas leak

2011-10-27T11:22:00.001-07:00

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The sun may be shining in New Zealand, but the day is bleak.
There is a gas leak in the Maui gas pipeline,
It is affecting many industries.
Supermarket shelves are getting empty.
Motel guests will have to have cold showers.
Burger King, which shut most of its 41 restaurants
Not very nice.

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watery wednesday: High Tide

2011-10-26T00:25:00.001-07:00

sunday bridge/scenic sunday: In Disneyland

2011-10-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

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It was so long ago when we went to LA. I think a small train went over the bridge.

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Pink Cedrela (Toon) Tree.

2011-10-20T22:14:00.000-07:00

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While you have Fall/autumn in the northern hemisphere, we have spring here. We have a tree is is completely pink. Pink Cedrela (Toon) Tree. It doesn't stay pink very long. Then they become green. A spectacular tree in spring when the new foliage is pale pink. The foliage slowly turns cream then deep green. An upright, narrow habit growing to approx 8M.

The young leaves are extensively used as a vegetable in China; they have an onion-like flavour. Plants with red young leaves are considered of better flavour than those where the young leaves are green.

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Skywatch Friday: Clear sky

2011-10-20T14:53:00.001-07:00

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We haven't had clear sky for a long time. Yesterday was the first day we didn't see a streak of clouds. We sat at the patio of my friend's house and talked about not anticipating going back to school on Tuesday.

Traditionally Oct 25th, is our Labour day. But it falls on Tuesday, so they gave us the day off on Monday instead,.

Here is another flag staff of the Pt Chev Sailing Club. No flags as the sailing season hasn't opened. Further down the beach, many brave hearts were wind surfing. I was too lazy to walk down to take their photos. J Bar, we are all on rugby mode, the beach can wait.

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Readers' Digest Contest

2011-10-19T13:39:00.001-07:00

When I was young, I always read the Readers' Digest and marvel at the bravery of the mothers who struggled with sick children. When I had Andrew in the hospital, and accepted the doctors' advice that the kindest option was to let nature take it's course. When Andrew didn't die when the doctor predicted, I struggled with myself and spoke to the doctor about those mothers I read in the Readers' Digest, and I wanted to be these mothers, Dr James said that Andrew was different.

Today, I found out that Readers' Digest was inviting people to submit their stories. I am submitting mine for media exposure. But if you like to vote for me, it is appreciated.

"Diary of a bereaved mother"
My journey of having a baby who died and now I am the self appointed spokes-person for bereaved parents. My story is from my heart and will resonate with anyone who has had the misfortune to give birth to a child who has struggled to live. Synopsis: Your baby is dying. Andrew did not die that night as predicted by the doctor, he didn't die after 3 days, 10 days and finally he died at 55 days. Friends did not know whether to congratulate or commiserate us. He was declared dead after his first at 40 days, but he bounced back. That was more excruciating than his actual death. After Andrew, what have I done? Have I become a better person? There are many of the things I am most proud of. I spearheaded raising funds to separate a pair of Siamese twins from Nepal in Singapore. For 16 years, I raised funds for the Deaf Children in Kenya. I did the publicity, marketing, cooking and selling. I volunteer at teaching new immigrants.
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watery wednesdayWeekend Reflection: Teen Cancer

2011-10-18T14:26:00.000-07:00

My school is at Point Chevalier, which is near this beach. I am proud to say that my school supports Canteen.

This is a reflection post of a different kind. This year's Canteen appeal is close to my heart. A friend's son and ex student of my school has cancer. As a bereaved mother, I feel for all those mothers who had lost their children to cancer, and I walk with those mothers who are struggling with their children as they fight this horrible disease.

http://www.canteen.org.nz

http://www.facebook.com/CanTeenNZ

CanTeen is the New Zealand organisation supporting young people aged between 13 and 24 living with cancer.

CanTeen was established to ensure that no young person in New Zealand living with cancer should ever have to feel alone.
Mission Our mission is to support, develop and empower, young people living with cancer through a national peer support network, and high quality educational and recreational programmes.

Their annual appeal is the Bandanna Challenge,Bandanna Challenge is CanTeen's major public appeal and fundraiser for the year and was held from 23 September - 9 October in 2011. It is over, but you can still buy them online.

On everyone's lips who are watching the Rugby World Cup is 22 year old Aaron Cruden. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which necessitated the removal of one of his testicles, and is said to have cost him a super 14 contract in 2009. The cancer has since gone into remission. Cruden started the match at First Five-Eighth against Australia on 16 October 2011, in the World Cup Semi Final at Eden Park, scoring a drop goal in the 20-6 victory for the All Blacks.

Most schools support them, and my school's student council sold bandannas and the children wore this colourful bandannas in different style. The classroom became a sea of coulour hues.

The most popular ones were designed by celebrities and sporting heros.

Some schools refused to support this cause arguing that bandannas are associated with gangs. This is a pity as the orginally intention was to identify with cancer victims who usually lost their hair and have to wear a bandanna over their head to cover their baldness.

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align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nScWyFpFyOY/Sy6bMN9b_hI/AAAAAAAAIuE/lR2pTb2XiTY/s320/WateryWed2b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417438035981368850" />
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Croquet: Kiwi friendliness and ingenuity

2011-10-17T11:46:00.001-07:00

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These photos epitomises New Zealand's friendliness and ingenuity. I was walking round my new neighborhood when I saw this sign for bowling and croquet. Croquet gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. My Dad went to London in the 1950s, and he played croquet. Croquet conjured pictures of victorian ladies in white gloves, and long dresses. I wondered why Dad and his friend from Gibraltar would play such a feminine game. He replied it was a game of precision.

I eventually got to try a game when I went to Christchurch. It wasn't easy, and a great game for friends.

On Friday, as I was taking photos at the club, this gentleman Frank came, he invited me to come and play, and to the tournament that was taking place during the weekend. I commented about his mallet. He said," I made it myself. It is better than the bought ones."

Croquet is a lawn game, played both as a recreational pastime and as a competitive sport. It involves hitting plastic or wooden balls with a mallet through hoops (often called "wickets" in the US) embedded into the grass playing court.

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scenic sunday/sunday bridges: Under the jetty

2011-10-16T13:09:00.001-07:00

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It was low tide yesterday at Pt Chev Beach. In New Zealand, all beaches are public. I went under a private jetty and took this photo. The underbelly was full of oysters.

Macroflowers: Flowering tree

2011-10-14T04:32:00.000-07:00

Skywatch Friday: Fixing the TV aerial

2011-10-13T20:31:00.001-07:00

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We moved to a new house, the TV aerial transmission was no good. We bought a new TV, and it was still no good. We had to get a technician in. He climbed up the roof, now, we can watch good TV, especially the rugby world cup semi and finals.

Most importantly, I could watch the documentary of It's OK to cry when it was aired on Sunday. http://www.youtube.com/asiadownunder#p/c/C9FEF73B56807B22/3/IZk9w-uywAs I didn't have to fret, later I found I could watch it on TV and on Youtube. The producer GLENNA CASALME sent me a DVD.

Diary of a bereaved Mother

2011-10-12T15:14:00.001-07:00

I was part of a documentary for the Baby Loss Awareness Week: Oct 9th to 15th. This was showed on National TV on Sunday.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sands-Auckland-Central/112396652171998

Some bereaved mothers and dads went to a park by the beach and released balloons.

Fellow Blogger Scriptor Senex commented on my Photos Site.

Thanks Scriptor Senex, I always feel empathy from fellow bereaved parents and those grandparents and those close friends.

You did a great job, how long ago did your son die? We never fully get over our loss, don't we. Though this year, I am philosophical about not having Andrew. I tell myself, he made me a writer because he died. Otherwise, I will just be a amateur writer.

Many husbands including mine belong to stiff upper lip group, the category that we should accept and move on. I wrote in my book how I wished he continued to attend the Sands meetings.

I go to the Sands meetings, and more women attend the meetings than men. Those men who attend, they are very good.The meetings are not just for their wives but for themselves too.

Thursday Theme Song: Kitty kitty kitty cat

2011-10-12T14:31:00.000-07:00

This kitty was sitting on top of my neighbor;s car and looking at me. I thought it suits the song that my neighbor stole kitty. (Though I think the cat belongs to her.)

My pussy cat was scratching out on my back door
Scratched so long poor pussy got sore
Sore pussy..ooohhhh
Sore..pussy ooohhh
Just a friendly little cat

My pussy cat was sittin on the front step
Sat so long poor pussy got wet
Wet pussy...ohhhhh
Sore, wet..pussy
Just a friendly little cat

My pussy cat was playing out on the back lot
Played so long poor pussy got hot
Hot pussy..ohhhh
Sore, wet, hot...pussy..
Just a friendly little cat

My pussy cat was rocking in the rocking chair
Rocked so long he lost his hair
Bald pussy...ohhh
Sore, wet, hot, bald...pussy
Just a friendly little cat

My neighbor and I out at the clothes line
I said to my neighbor won't you look at mine
My pussy..oohhhhhh
Sore, wet, hot, bald pussy
Just a friendly little cat

My neighbor stole my kitty
But I did see
I said to my neighbor set my pussy free
Free pussy
Sore, wet, hot, bad free pussy
Just a friendly little cat
Here kitty kitty kitty kitty kitty.

Lyrics | Connie Vannett - The Pussy Cat Song lyrics

Connie Vannett - The Pussy Cat Song lyrics">Connie Vannett - The Pussy Cat Song lyrics

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Watery Wednesday: Container ship runs aground

2011-10-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

Sunday bridge

2011-10-10T01:29:00.001-07:00

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Kiwi Mummy Blogs

2011-10-09T20:08:00.000-07:00

Kiwi Mummy Blogs showcases Kiwi Mummy Bloggers and their daily family ramblings online... http://www.kiwimummyblog

As a Kiwi Mum, I have connected with these blogs, and was invited to do a review of the SunRice. I am given a sample to try out and I do not receive any financial returns.

SunRice has launched three delicious new flavours in their Quick Cups range and are looking for blogging Mums interested in reviewing them. There are 3 flavours: Egg Fried Rice, Teriyaki Rice and Chicken Rice.

Cups are placed into the microwave and in just 40 seconds a perfect mound of fluffy Basmati rice, with real veggies and loads of flavour, is ready for serving. They’re perfect as snacks for kids – or as part of a balanced meal for your little ones.

They have marketed these rice cups as perfect as snacks for kids or part of a balanced meal for your little ones.

I have tried all 3 flavours. They have very strong flavours, the best is egg fried rice. The Teriyaki was very sweet, and the chicken rice too salty.

It is convenient, just pop in the micro wave for less than one minute, and you have a snack. The portions are small, ie child size.

Would children like such a snack after school? I don't know. Would mums like to serve a snack where grains of rice might be scattered all over the place?

I would say, instead of marketing SunRice as a snack to children, it could be marketed as a bigger portion as a lunch in the office lunch room.

Macro flowers: Baby Loss Awareness Week October 9-15 ,2011.

2011-10-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

When I see the millions of spring flowers on my tree, yet only a few develop into fruits. I see a parallel of many babies who don't survive and have a full life. I think of the bereaved parents whose hearts are hurting this week, their branches once laden with beautiful flowers of promise. But now are empty and barren branches. Ann Chin.

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http://www.babyloss-awareness.org

9th Oct-15th Oct.

People whose lives have been touched by the loss of a baby during pregnancy or just after birth are uniting with others across the UK to show their support for the Baby Loss Awareness campaign 2011, which focuses on International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day on October 15th.

We also hope that health and social care workers will be able to display our poster, information leaflet and ribbon pins in their clinics and surgeries.

Ribbon pins are available in return for a suggested minimum donation of £1. These can be ordered online or by post, on the Ribbons page.

We hope that the Awareness campaign will give bereaved parents, their families and friends the opportunity to commemorate the brief lives of their babies. With the purchase of a ribbon pin, you will be supporting the organisations in their vital work with bereaved families and health and social care workers.

http://tvnz.co.nz/asia-downunder/ta-ent-index-group-2516087

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October 9th, 11am. Sunday TVNZ 1

Watch Sands Manukau mums and a segment of my interview, "Diary of a bereaved mother."

Skywatch Friday: Auckland evening

2011-10-06T20:43:00.001-07:00

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Watery Wednesday: Gold Coast Australia

2011-10-05T12:59:00.001-07:00

mellow yellow/ruby red/rednesday:matryoshka dolls

2011-10-03T01:38:00.001-07:00

My Made in China Russian Doll besides Ahmed's saudi Arabian Russian doll.

Open up, and you get a set of 5 in the family. I use them to teach the children, big, bigger biggest, ect.

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A matryoshka doll, or babushka doll is a Russian nesting doll (Russian: Матрёшка) which is a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other. The first Russian nested doll set was carved in 1890 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by Sergey Malyutin, who was a folk crafts painter at Abramtsevo. Traditionally the outer layer is a woman, dressed in a sarafan, a long and shapeless traditional Russian peasant jumper dress. The figures inside may be of either gender; the smallest, innermost doll is typically a baby lathed from a single piece of wood

I first saw a set of matryoshka dolls in my friend Olwyn's house in New Zealand. When I saw this set in a souvenir shop in Singapore, I felt very emotional. Olwyn had been very good to me. I bought this and found it was made in China, not in Russia.

I brought this to school, and one day, my Somalian student Ahmed said he had a set and would I buy it for $5. I told him to make sure his mum was ok about it. I didn't want to rip him off. So he brought it to school, and he was very happy to have $5. His was a set of Saudi Arabian dolls, I didn't exactly want a set of Saudi Arabian Russian dolls, but he was disappointed if I didn't buy them. I also hope his mum didn't pay too much for them.

When I took the photo, I didn't have time to open up the nest of the Russian dolls. You will have to imagine what they are like. They are all the same.