.

.
.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Chinese Pipa

The pipa (Chinese: 琵琶; pinyin: pípá, [pʰǐpʰǎ]) is a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument, belonging to the plucked category of instruments. Sometimes called the Chinese lute, the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets ranging from 12 to 26. Another Chinese four-string plucked lute is the liuqin, which looks like a smaller version of the pipa.
The pipa is one of the most popular Chinese instruments and has been played for almost two thousand years in China.

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

This Pipa instrument is absolutely among the best in the Chinese market, and with its excellent sound qualily and craftsmanship, it is a must for the Pipa-playing artist. The backboard and top board is made of aged redwood (full block) and paulownia-wood ..costs US$3500



With my friend Nili.

"EXPENSIVE" (Gold, Jewels, Luxuries, Things Looking Expensive,...)
Next Week: SMALL ANIMALS (Pets, Insects, Wild Animals,...)
roseThursday Challenge is a place for photographic fun and learning.

http://www.spunwithtears.com/thursday.html

Monday, April 28, 2014

ABC Wednesday: Letter P for possum.

In 2010, I did a post on 1080, now the New Zealand Government is thinking of dropping them again. In New Zealand, possums are pests. They were introduced from Australia. Enemy number one is also a threat to our  pastoral farming, because the possum is the host and carrier of a lethal disease, bovine TB.

Thanks to Reader Wil for her possum post which inspired me to do it again.


photo shows an Australian possum. This is a special possum and is protected.

My daughter knitted these garment with possum wool. They are very warm and soft..



1080 is the brand name given to the synthetic version of sodium fluoroacetate - a toxic, odourless, white powder compound, which naturally occurs in plants, acting as a powerful defence. However the synthetic version, 1080, is far more potent and kills. New Zealand is the largest buyer of 1080 in the world, using over 80 per cent of the chemical produced.
1080 is distributed in laced bait via ground and aerial application by the Department of Conservation (DoC) and the Animal Health Board (AHB). It is mainly used to kill possums, however other ‘pests', including feral cats, rabbits, rats and stoats, are also targeted.
1080 is banned in several countries, including Brazil, Belize, Cuba, Laos, Slovenia and Thailand, as well as in some states of the United States where aerial distribution and its use on all mammals but coyotes is prohibited.

 Possum and rat invade nest (Source: Nga Manu Images) 


When I went to Australia,
the tour guide said a joke,
In Australia, the possum there is protected.
In New Zealand, we kill them.
http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.nz/

Saturday, April 26, 2014

running the marathon.








This is my medal for running the Singapore Marathon. I take it to school to show to the students. They all want to wear it.They are very impressed.







10 years ago, I was this middle aged turning 50 year old woman. One day, I challenged myself in a 3.8k after not running since my early 20s when I ran the "Round the bays.".

The university announced its "President's run." I had been doing short runs in the Staff Club gym, and was interested. Dwas with me and challenged me to run two kilometers. After I had done that, she said, "Mum, you can do it."

The events organisers told me as the run was for staff and students we were not eligible for any prizes or goody bags. I didn't care, I just wanted to challenge myself. I posted on our staff resident's internet "Nanyang Connect" for three others to form a team. Eventually I got two girl friends to train, 6 am in the morning, we were at the oval, from 400 meters, and adding on, we completed the race as we pounded the pavement of the university route. We even beat many men and university girls much much younger than us.

After that, me and another girl friend 44, we trained for the Singapore Marathon.10 K's marathon.

It was in humid Singapore, but we did it in 3 months. We were two university wives, and the young uni kids were wondering why these two "Aunties " were doing in their turf at the running oval and in the hilly campus. We managed to complete 10 Ks ten times. The first time were so satisfying. We High 5 and hugged.

Came early Dec, we woke up at 4am we ran with the Marathon greats from Kenya and Ethiopia. We both did it. The water engineer and the kids wee there to support me. The Australian runners told me that the Singapore run was the most difficult to do because it was humid and hot.

It was the best thing I have done, and am still very proud of it.



Friday, April 25, 2014

Photo Hunt: Chinese Ink.

No ink in my house, The Chinese painting is done by the Dad using Chinese Ink. I kept it, and I used it for the cover of my second book.


The PhotoHunt for today is 'INK'

http://whistlestopphotohunt.blogspot.co.nz/

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

ABC WEdnesday Letter O for OLD





In the good Old days,
Where the ground had gold Ore,

When the rush is Over,
The land left to ruin.

People can just lament,
the good Old days.

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.nz/

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Pennyroyal



I bought two plants of Pennyroyal after posting my article on Fleas.

The internet says they will repell fleas. I can't wait.

I am trying to propagate the plant by putting a pot next to it and lie the plant of the soil.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Saturday, April 12, 2014

MABC, Mt Albert Baptist Church celebration.






Celebration party with candy floss and popcorn.Our pastor Greg Liston operating the popcorn popping machine.


The congregation pledged to extend our church building.
 Our visitor singer David came to sing. http://www.davidlylemorris.com/
 It is Palm Sunday, Vivian Li and her kids welcoming visitors.

flying a tiger moth



 Been teaching my students about  flying, and they were very impressed with this photo.

Photo: Ann & the pilot, Ivan Campbells

Thursday, April 10, 2014

'Ginormous' jellyfish washed ashore.



The Saturday PhotoHunt for this week is 
'Ginormous'

http://whistlestopphotohunt.blogspot.co.nz/

PhotoHunt for this week is 'Ginormous'


Mermaid Ariel with a ginormous child.

I work with children and they like to use this word, for giants,

The Saturday PhotoHunt for this week is 'Ginormous'

http://whistlestopphotohunt.blogspot.co.nz/

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Thursday Challenge :"LANDSCAPE" Flat Lands,




"LANDSCAPE" (Mountains, Flat Lands, Coastal,...)
 
Thursday Challenge is a place for photographic fun and learning.
 

Monday, April 7, 2014

Save the world, teach sustainability to the young











It gives a nice warm fuzzy feeling when you know you have impacted some one's life and he has grown up succeeding. Nicolas Blackburn used to come to my little playgroup. He was a lovely boy then.

Photo shows him as one of two students chosen by his school to accompany some very special guest to the school.
The Oscar-winning US actor was in town with fellow The Amazing Spider-Man 2 cast member Andrew Garfield for the Earth Hour 2014 event at the school in West Coast Road. The school has a sustainability programme and planted trees.


http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/


Sunday, April 6, 2014

Songkran festival


The Songkran festival (Thai: สงกรานต์, pronounced [sǒŋ.krāːn], listen; from the Sanskrit word saṃkrānti,[1] or literally "astrological passage") is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia.

It is commonly known as the water sprinkling festival.

It is early in Auckland at Rocket Park.

Photo: The Songkran festival (Thai: สงกรานต์, pronounced [sǒŋ.krāːn], listen; from the Sanskrit word saṃkrānti,[1] or literally "astrological passage") is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia.

It is early in Auckland at Rocket Park.http:///

  
Stay mellow with yellow!



http://rubytuesdaytoo.blogspot.com/


Ruby Tuesday Too photo BadgeRTTooinwhite_zps14247ad6.jpg

http://rubytuesday2.blogspot.co.nz

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Currumbin Sanctuary: Kissing Kangaroo


I love visiting this place on the Gold Coast of Australia.
Do click on the link of my introduction of the Currumbin Sanctuary at my other site.


I was fascinated at the friendliness of the kangaroos especially this particular one. He was kissing people who were brave enough. I suddenly became meek as a mouse.