Getting lost is time wasted

Barney and i visited the grand aunts on monday. Aunty Lucy had called several times during the week asking to see the boy. So we went to Ang Mo Kio, taking the SLE missing the Yio Chu Kang turn and going all the way to Yishun, got lost in the estate and then found a road to Sembawang and thompson. We finally get there and aunt Lucy says we ought to visit Aunt Annie cos she was warded in the hospital the day before for food poisoning. So we troop down to breakfast, bought some grapes for the aunt and got some more T-shirts for Barney who was also treated to chocolates, biscuits and 3 times on the car ride machine.

We get to Aunt Annie's and she's so happy to see us, she lets go of her 'lum-jum' and gets washed up. I also catch up with Lorainne who has the tummy flu and has to stay home, and get a glimpse of Jan. I scrurry Barney downstairs to play with toys and wait for my mum as she chats with Aunt Annie.

Barney has the tummy flu today. We were up since 2am as he slept, tummy churned and threw up 8 times. We brought him to the doctor after washing up wet poo. The doctor was surprized that he was still so energetic after the long night. The whinning and lying on the carpet, and wanting to be carried only appeared after we got home. I switched on you tube and played all his favourite nursery rhymes and he falls asleep in my arms.

I'm learning to not bring baby to visit the sick, and learning that i need to learn the SLE route before driving on it again, otherwise i realise getting lost is a lot of time wasted.

Projecting a happy future

The science centre [ke qi guan as i'm taught by Barney's chinese teacher] is a great place for kids of any age. Barney had a great time yesterday, imitating the T-rex at the door, then he watched the Bear movie, made a bear puppet, was given a chipmunk tatoo, and then treated to a science experiment with a polar bear coming out intermittently. Of course, Barney had the most fun calling for the bear to come out on stage, and the rest of the kids cheered as the kor kor and cheah cheah showed them how to freeze a banana and make it into a hammer etc..There were lots of kids from different schools celebrating children's day at the centre.

I went to the SAM museum myself last friday, as Barney fell asleep on the car ride there. Good to know there was a $50 000 grant given to the winning artist in a competition called Singapore Buffet. Mostly Nafa student entries but i'm sure if there were more publicity more people would have got involved.

Glad Barney's growing up in a place that encourages curiosity and fun, thinking and innovation.

Staying in the pink

Woke up yesterday with a churning tummy, head spinning, loss of appetite. Thought it was due to the fact that i didn't have my usual quota of rice the day before. Looks like it's time to get back to an exercise programme so i can eat my rice and not feel guilty. Anyway there was a spew of health articles in the papers, which i thought was alright but was bent on self medication. So after forcing down a piece of bread and some milo, i also downed a panadol and multivitamins, rested the day and wala! all better.

The thing that gets my tummy churning still is barney still crying as he steps into school. Bells go ringing and i have to swallow hard to wave bye see you later. Maybe i'll take him to the museum after lunch today, that should make him happy.

A society that lacks social skills

The sunday sermon was insightful as it was a challenge to be a KPO or a Busibody in the light of care and concern for people in our social circles, neighbourhood, work place and home. Strangely most people keep to themselves, thinking it is better not to be nosey about things. But to have any impact on others, one of the best ways is to get involved, especially through a personal relationship. We need more leaders to initiate activities that strenghten and encourages people, activities that show people we care; radicals who can ignore the stereotype and reach out and share abundant life, peace and joy that has been given.[1 Tess 3]

The next sunday, another pastor preaches Don't be a busibody, Work with your hands or have nothing to eat, Srive to live a quiet life, most of all LOVE your brother more.[1 Tess 4] Looks like the love is most important.

City Harvest Children's Day Concert

The teacher tells me the day before, the kids will go to church tomorrow. Being curious, i decide to attend. It was a long bus ride to jurong, and the kids were treated to a cheering contest, then a high energy concert, then a "magic" entertainment and a large man who amuses them with balloons and even gets into one himself, it continues with a puppet show and kids learning the concept that a friend loves at all times. 2 boys go on stage and are asked to choose which present he will give his friend. He is rewarded with a bigger present when he gives his friend the best present. Then the hippo story is told but Barney is hungry and starts to cry. I bring him outside and feed him the squashed bread talk bun i have in my pocket, then we go back to join the group who are getting ready to go home. I'm told on the bus, this is an annual treat and the church provides the whold experience for free. Wow, the extent of outreach!

Some of the kids sleep on the bus ride home and Barney naps in my arms.

The trouble with words

The more words we learn, the more we extend our experience. It's like music; the more nuances you find, the more feelings and meaning is released into our experience; but too much and it becomes crude, jarring. Then it can encourage, dishearten, enlighten, sicken, it can come alive when you enunciate, give different meaning depending on the accent or tone, it can cut, or sow peace..
So we are asked to love our neighbour. (being faithful in little things) and not love the whole world (only God can do this, it is His burden) but words will preserve the experience..

I am glad Barney's learnt "eat", "please", "no" and "good".
Not as happy when he spits, pinches, when he's "bad."
But no words required when he gives me a hug.

How do you love your fellow man?

I remember asking the question about 2 and half years ago:) and i remember when i got pregnant it was part of the answer to the question. God's sense of humour gets you at gut level. Loving a little man was a strange and new phenomena. You had to feed him, see if he had enough to eat, drink, see if he had enough brain stimulation, play with enough toys, read enough books, learn enough ABCs, revised enough old books, toys, ideas, develop some etc, then have enough to take a nap. whew.

So it is with people i guess. The choir has been energised by a kind friend who has helped to inspire, cajole, teach with the most wonderful sense of humour and i can only sit and sing with wonder and awe as she whips, polishes, extends, opens the gut, throat, then anchors the the butt and hones the sound in samurai slashes and swoops. Such that i feel humbled to even try to imitate. Still i have promised to try.

Breathe. Start with little steps.
Today's sermon be gentle, encouraging...
Thank God He loves me, just pray i can transmit His love to my fellow man.