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Sunday, October 31, 2010

scenic sunday: ship's figureheads





href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-899-CzXQWItUfFyjSFOjxOGTEkQROWseDRIH7E7c9vaS4cU9uY0dAvNwmXzEF3utxzHVq1OPmL1XKT3YtWP1_Y3xCVsYQlOtJdAYWoaTaJ-tSZW375nF4eqFVAr-h783_IcGshSyI0Bu/s1600-h/scenic+sunday.jpg">
http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

Inside the Sir Peter Black maritime museum in Auckland are many kinds of sea faring items. Here are some ships figureheads that had been recovered from actual ships. They are supposed to protect the ship.

I guess the owners of the Titanic did not believe in a figure head. It is a coincidence that my pastor Jonathan Dove of Mt Albert Baptist Church should preach on this unsinkable boat.

If you are interested in figureheads, do go on this link. It is very thorough.
http://curiousexpeditions.org/?p=93

Saturday, October 30, 2010

weekend reflection: Sun in the pond





http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

At the pond at the courtyard of the winter garden, the sun was reflected.

http://teresaannegolden.blogspot.com/2010/10/happy-birthday-wishes-mr-jim.html

Fellow blogger Terry wished another blogger Jim a birthday. She posted this song, "as the deer", and I am posting it here for you and for me. This was one of my favourite song I used to sing with my Bible Study sisters in Singapore. We don't sing it often here in New Zealand, and listening to it on Terry's post, brings me good memories, and also also gives me an assurance of God's answer to suffering.

Those of you who read my http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.com/2010/10/photohunt-dark.html will know that I have been feeling down, and thank you to all who sent comforting words.

Photohunt: Dark



http://tnchick.com/

When I walk through this tunnel like walkway, I am reminded of my friend telling me." There is always light at the end of the tunnel."

This is at St Luke's Mall in Mt Albert. This is one of the entrances to the mall.

Addition: Ginny says that this is like a hospital corridor. Ginny has been a close blogging friend. She seems to be able to read my mind despite the fact that Ginny is thousands of miles away in USA.

It seems I had unconsciously posted that shopping mall tunnel which resembles another tunnel which had etched in my mind. September 29th, twenty one years ago, my son Andrew was born, and we were told he was dying. I chose to be with him when he died. The hospital kindly gave me a room in the parents' floor of another block which was the nurses' block. This was for parents whose babies were in ICU.

The block was quite a distance from the baby's ICU, and was connected by underground tunnels. If you miss a turn, you could end up in another block. When I walked past what the nurses call the groaning dragon, the boiler, I wanted to walk quickly. Everyday, for 55 days, I walked this tunnel twice. It was not a walk I wish for anyone.

Ginny, I had not shared this with anyone, not even my husband. On November 22nd, I walked that last walk. I left the hospital's main entrance with empty arms.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Thursday Theme Song: Rose, Rose,I love you

Rose, Rose, I love you.

Rose,

Rose, I love you with an aching heart.

Standing on the jetty as the steamer moves away,

In her rickshaw on the street ( This is not Rose, and this is a trishaw, the rickshaw pulled by man was banned.)

Way back to my home on a distant shore.




hootin--anni has a new meme.
IT'S ALL ABOUT MY NEW MEME THAT I HOPE SOME WILL FEEL LIKE JOINING IN ON THE CHALLENGE AND THE FUN [at least I hope the weekly challenge will be fun!]. It's loosely based on song lyrics [recorded songs since the beginning of time to today] and associating them with photos of yours...as I've done in the past...If you click on the link above, it'll take you to the Meme's Homepage for rules and buttons. There will be a Mr. Linky Widget for each individual week also. Do consider joining me sometime. Hope to see it flourish in time.
http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com/

This song was and is hugely popular in China, everybody knows it. Composed by Chen Gexin, it is the only Chinese pop song that to have made a hit in the West. Frankie Laine popularized this song singing in English. He didn't however, stick to the exact translation.

Even though it is is English, little children can recognise that it is a Chinese song. I once sang it to my New Zealand students when one of them told me that her grandma's name was Rose. Whenever I sing it they laugh. For a while, they kept requesting me to sing it.



Rose, Rose I love you with an aching heart.
What is your future, now we have to part?
Standing on the jetty as the steamer moves away,
Flower of Malaya, I cannot stay.

Mei Kwei, oh, Mei Kwei for my Eastern Rose.
Men crowd in dozens everywhere she goes.
In her rickshaw on the street or in a cabaret,
"Please Mei Kwei for Rose," you can hear them say.

All my life I shall remember,
Oriental music and you in my arms.
Perfumed flowers in your tresses,
Lotus-scented breezes and swaying palms.

Rose, Rose I love you with your almond eyes.
Fragrant and slender 'neath tropical sky.
I must cross the seas again and never see you more.
Way back to my home on a distant shore.

(All my life I shall remember,)
(Oriental music and you in my arms.)
(Perfumed flowers in your tresses,)
(Lotus-scented breezes and swaying palms.)

Rose, Rose I leave you, my ship is in the bay.
Kiss me farewell now, there's nothin' to say.
East is East and West is West, our worlds are far apart.
I must leave you now but I leave my heart.

Rose, Rose I love you with an aching heart.
What is your future, now we have to part?
Standing on the jetty as the steamer moves away,
Flower of Malaya, I cannot stay.

(Rose, Rose I love you, I cannot stay.)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

ABC Wednesday: O for Octopus









http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/
ABC Wednesday is hosted by Mrs. Denise Nesbitt

At the Auckland Rose Garden in Parnell, they had a festival, and this stall attracted a lot of attention selling Japanese Octupus Obanyaki Balls.

In another part of Auckland, at Rocket Park, the Thais were selling octopus kebabs.

As I write this, I watch from the news that the most famous Octopus Paul, won't be making any more predictions for the world cup. Paul is swimming free in the ocean again aka Paul died today.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Mellow Yellow Monday: Yellow lines



http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/

Yellow lines made of little raised disc at Mt Albert railway station. I think, I am not sure, the raised disc makes it less slipperly for any one to fall unto the tracks. I don't take the train, perhaps one of you who do can tell us.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

photo hunt: Orange



http://tnchick.com/

Orange vests with reflector strips are now uniforms for many professions with a certain level of danger involved. I have this thing about men in uniform. The water engineer had a vest which he doesn't wear very often. When he went to Australia to the Outback he had a vest and a khaki cotton overall.

Addition:

Just as Tammie Lee/Spirithelper writes about not being mistaken by a hunter to be a deer, this tragedy has happened this very weekend.

Mr McIver said it was a "terrible accident" which tarnished the reputation of all hunters.

Rosemary Ives was killed while brushing her teeth at a campsite near Kaimanawa Rd, about 20km south of Turangi, around midnight on Friday.

Mr De Waal was told a hunter had mistaken her for a deer.

Friday, October 22, 2010

weekend reflection:




http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

I was at Robina Mall on the Gold Coast, I looked up the ceiling and saw it was made of mirror. The reflection is that of the floor.

Nick Vujicic


Fellow New Zealand Blogger Dave posted this video, "Why is this man so happy." I had seen him on TV but reading about him touched me more.

http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/about-nick-vujicic.php%20


Nick Vujicic is an inspirational young man. He is only twenty eight, two years older than my first born.

Two things happened today. I wasn't even going to do this post. But God led me to do it.

This morning, in my ESOL 8 year olds of one Thai, One Vietnamese, One Chinese, One Samoan and one Tongan class, usually I ring their rooms to tell them to come to my room. This morning, nobody answered the Thai boy's. I went to get him. While walking to my room, he told me that his dog had died, and he was very sad. I changed my lesson plan and did my lesson on Feeling sad.

We talked on different reasons why we feel sad. The kids talked about pets and loved ones dying and getting sick. I explained about losing things. I told them it is exactly one month to my son's 21st anniversary. They asked if I was still very sad. I told them, I am still sad sometimes, but it's twenty one years ago, so I don't feel too sad.

Then this evening, I read Dave's post. I told Dave that whenever I see parents with very handicapped children, my heart tells me that it was better that Andrew had died. My Andrew was too sick and could never be a Nick Vujicic.

I told my students that when you are sad, it is good to talk to someone, me for example. Now, I am telling you all that I feel a little sad.

I chose this photo of Australia because Nick Vujicic was born in Brisbane and he went to university on the Goldcoast.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Watery Wednesday: Water World,



http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/
This was where I was in January, Water World Australia. The weather was hot, the water was inviting.

My second daughter is in the Gold Coast to attend her cousin's wedding.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Abc Wednesday/Thursday Theme Song: New Zealand

Letter N for New Zealand, and a New Zealand song. The singing and dancing is very beautiful. The song is performed by two different groups, and you will see that New Zealand people are very adaptable and they have allowed tradition to be incorporated with modern dance.

Throughout my three sites, I have posted photos of New Zealand.


http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/
ABC Wednesday is hosted by Mrs. Denise Nesbitt


hootin--anni has a new meme.
IT'S ALL ABOUT MY NEW MEME THAT I HOPE SOME WILL FEEL LIKE JOINING IN ON THE CHALLENGE AND THE FUN [at least I hope the weekly challenge will be fun!]. It's loosely based on song lyrics [recorded songs since the beginning of time to today] and associating them with photos of yours...as I've done in the past...If you click on the link above, it'll take you to the Meme's Homepage for rules and buttons. There will be a Mr. Linky Widget for each individual week also. Do consider joining me sometime. Hope to see it flourish in time.
http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com/



I am teaching my students the Marae, the meeting place of the Maori people. Earlier this year, I spent an evening there, and later I went with my sister. I learnt quite a bit of protocol to teach my students.

This is the first entrance, where visitors wait until they are invited to enter the grounds. There is a Powhiri. The visitors sing a karanga, telling the hosts they come in peace. The women will enter first, to show indeed they come in peace.




The twirling poi is often used as a symbol of a young woman's affections. They are volatile, but with some energetic training, they protect her from danger. E rere ra e taku poi porotiti
Tītahataha ra, whakararuraru e
Porotakataka rā, poro hurihuri mai
Rite tonu ki te tiwaiwaka e

Ka parepare ra, pīoioi a
Whakahekeheke, e kia korikori e
Piki whakarunga ra, ma muinga mai a
Taku poi porotiti, taku poi e!

Poi E, whakatata mai
Poi E, kaua he rerekē
Poi E, kia piri mai ki au
Poi E, e awhi mai ra
Poi E, tāpekatia mai.

Poi E, ō tāua aroha -
- Poi E - paiheretia ra.
POI... TAKU POI, E!

Swing out rhythmically, my feelings
lean out beside me, so deceptively.
Swing round and down, spin towards me
just like a fantail.

Swing to the side: swing to and fro
zoom down, wriggle,
climb up above, swarm around me
my whirling emotions, my poi, Yeah!

Oh my feelings, draw near,
Oh my poi, don't go astray
Oh my affections, stick to me
Oh my instincts, take care of me
Oh my emotions, be entwined around me.

Oh poi, our love...
Oh poi ...binds.
Poi.... my poi, yeah!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Mellow yellow Monday: Cricket




http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/

Cricket is the second most popular sports in New Zealand, after rugby.

The kids start early, and here in Coyle's park, some kids were playing cricket.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Scenic Sunday: Birds in a cherry tree




href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-899-CzXQWItUfFyjSFOjxOGTEkQROWseDRIH7E7c9vaS4cU9uY0dAvNwmXzEF3utxzHVq1OPmL1XKT3YtWP1_Y3xCVsYQlOtJdAYWoaTaJ-tSZW375nF4eqFVAr-h783_IcGshSyI0Bu/s1600-h/scenic+sunday.jpg">
http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

These sparrows and other native birds are like my pets. I feed them with bread, rice and noodles. They come at winter, spring, summer and autumn.

These birds are very crafty, They fly away when I try to take their photos. The family doesn't like me to feed them as they poop on the laundry. Now I have worked a system, the day I hang my laundry up, the birds go hundry.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Photohunt: Miniatures





http://tnchick.com/

My friends gave me these miniature things. I photographed them with a match box to show how small they are. The teapot is from a friend from England/New Zealand, the Elephant from Sri Lanka, The drinking vessel from Yakutia in Russia, the vase from Sarawak, the flower pot from New Zealand.

I am glad none of them are plastic and will last a long time.

Friday, October 15, 2010

weekend reflection: Muriwai Cliff



http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

This is a visual reflection of the water at Muriwai beach, in New Zealand. This is the country I adopted to live. The water is clean, and the beach is pristine.

The same cannot be said of the country of my birth, Sarawak in Borneo. Today, I join thousands of bloggers in the World Action Blog Day on water. My two posts are reflections of how men have abused the environoment. I write with great passion, because I tell of a natural disaster in my river. The river I swam and drank from. In this river, you see no reflection. Instead you see a log jam like a conveyor belt of timber.




I invite you to visit.

http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2010/10/save-worldlook-what-they-done-to-my.html
http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-action-daysave-our-world-water.html