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Monday, December 12, 2011

ABC Wednesday: V for voting, victorious, vision and vortex Football



David Shearer, a high-ranking United Nations official, the Labour Party's candidate was victorious in the by-election in the parliamentary seat of Mt Albert left vacant by Helen Clark who left to work in the United nations. In the national general election in November this year, he was victorious in the same seat. Yesterday, he was victorious in winning in his bid to become the leader of the Labour party. Mr Shearer was voted as by caucus in a secret ballot, and become the leader of the opposition party.

I am not a member of any political party, but I support the under dog, the poor working class. In my university days, I worked in factories in the long summer break. That has influenced my thinking. I believe Shearer is a man of vision and will lead the Labour party and become the Prime Minister after the next election.

This photo was taken during the by election just before he was voted into parliament in a by-election. Shearer was standing outside my school entrance as I was going home. His supporter gave me his red flyer. I did a double take, and went back to take his photo. He was most obliging and thanked me. Of course he doesn't know that I am doing a post about him.
Shearer is an aid worker who has spent much of the past two decades in the world's worst war zones: Somalia, Rwanda, Liberia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Lebanon and now Iraq.
Herald files show a number of close calls, such as surviving an armed hold-up by bandits in Mogadishu to being on the ground in Belgrade while it was being bombed.
Mr Shearer and his wife, Anuschka Meyer, were the Herald's New Zealanders of the Year in 1992. That year, they ran one of the biggest aid camps in Somalia during the civil war.
He is currently the deputy special representative of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in Iraq.
His role includes acting as envoy for the UN Development Programme





Nerf Pocket Vortex Football of just known as the vortex ball in New Zealand.
The Pocket Vortex Football means lots of far-flying fun around the office! This pocket-sized football is easy to throw and catch, and its stabilizing fins provide for distance and accuracy. The football is made of dense foam, but it's still soft enough to minimize the damage of errant throws (something only your co-workers are guilty of, of course). Get this Nerf Street Zone football for your office fun and games!

My friends tell me, "someday you will get into trouble the way you flash you camera out."

In deed sometimes, I had security guards tell me I have to leave. Sometimes they ask why I am taking the photos. But most times , my models were quite happy and obliging to pose for me.

This was the second time I saw grown men playing a small rugby shaped ball which makes a whistling sound. It attracted my attention and I whipped out my camera from my holiday cabin in Waitomo caves. But I didn't feel brave enough to take their photos openly. My first attempt failed.

This is the second, you can see the initial attempt was done in secret, the photos didn't turn out good, so I went and asked them,

"What ball is this?"
"It's a vortex?'
"Vortex what? I have never seen them on TV?"
"It's fun."
"May I take a photo of you.
"Sure!" and he posed for me.

The rest of the group, some guys and some girls with guitars, they enjoyed my interuption.

I came home and google it, it is very cheap US$1.99, not too late to buy it to stock up you Christmas stocking. You can play it any where, snow or sand.
Approximately 6.5" long x 2" diameter, dense foam.



httphttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/

yellow /ruby/rednesday: bouncy castle


I have never been on a bouncy castle,
cos I was born in a wrong generation,
cos I was born in a wrong continent,
when I watched Jack Nicholson on a waterbed in About Schmidt,
I never want to go on a bouncy castle.


http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/


http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com

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

Saturday, December 10, 2011

http://whistlestopphotohunt.blogspot.com/: Lights


This photo is from my achives, it was too dull and foggy to venture outdoors today.

You don't see the wind, you don't hear the howling. I am inside my house, looking at the trees and power lines dancing to the beat of the wind.

It is officially summer, but you wouldn't guess it given the weather that's expected over the next week or so.

Dreary days, strong gusty winds and patches of cloud have been predicted for the coming week.

MetService has even issued a Severe Weather Watch warning for a burst of heavy rain northwest of Nelson from this morning through to early afternoon.

Weather Watch chief analyst Philip Duncan said the country was in for "a very, very wet week".

"Basically we've got the subtropics coming down to visit us this week, so it's going to be warm, wet and humid in the North Island and probably a mixture of cloudy and wet days in the south."




Photos taken when I was with my family on the Gold Coast in Australia. How I wish I am in sunny Australia.



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

previously photohunt.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Weerkend Reflections: Life lessons






http://www.potatoes.co.nz/chefs/know-seasonal.php


http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2008/11/nadine-chapter-one.html

http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2008/11/nadine-chapter-fourteen.html

This is a reflection post of a different kind, but because being a teacher and a co leader of a conmunity group, I reckon I can use this as a life lesson and not continue to hold grudge against thme. The issue is what do you do when people consistently take advantage of you? Do you forgive and forget?

Having lived past half a century and three continents, it is inevitable that that people do take adavantage of you. I am listing just two.

Today, I was opening a plastic bag of potatoes , and what did I see. On a tag was the name Nadine. It jolted my memory. Nadine is a fictional name I gave to the heroine of the first story I wrote. She had done everything what you would call a neighbor from hell, like borrowing money, borrowing stuff, your time and not returning them. I stopped any contact with her when I moved house.

Another person was similar, she had a far better job than me and much better financially, She did what Nadine did but on a bigger scale. I even wrote an affidavit for her to take to the court. She avoided me as though I had the plague. Sadly she became a friend no more. One day, a friend told me she met someone I knew. I asked her and she mentioned the name. She still regarded me as a friend.

Should I have continued to be their friends? My other friends told me I would remain their victims because I didn't know how to say," Sorry, I can't."

Have you encountered such people? What would you have done?


By: Observing the Sounds of the World

My fellow bereaved mum Ellen posted this on her Facebook. It seems to be the perfect advice to my post. I asked if she and I have ESP.






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

everything goes with potatoes.co.nz


POTATO KNOW HOW
Seasonal changes and potato types
Potato texture changes throughout the year. As the season progresses a potato changes e.g. an Ilam Hardy early in the season (October) is quite waxy. As the Ilam Hardy gets older it is a good all-purpose potato, whilst towards the end of the season when a lot more of the natural sugars have converted to starch, it tends to be floury! Not all potatoes show such a range of characteristics.
Weather, climate and soil have a dramatic effect on the cooking performance of a potato e.g. a Southland grown Nadine may be very waxy whilst a Pukekohe grown Nadine may be only slightly waxy. Flavour is also influenced.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Sponsorship Needed ~

http://snapthatpenny.blogspot.com/2011/12/sponsorship-needed-please-pray.html
Fellow blogger Joyful in Canada shares a passion in Kenya with me. For 16 years, my friends, spouses of the faculties in Nanyang Technological University raised funds for the Deaf in Kenya. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif



Foodsale was one of the few meaningful things I have done in my life. During my sixteen years in Singapore as a faculty wife, my group of Biblestudy women friends who lived on the campus of Nanyang Technological University wanted to do something useful with our hands.

We decided to support the deaf children in Kenya, under the umbrella of the Deaf Ministry International. We liaised with Nevil Murr, and supported Joe in Kenya in his school for deaf children. We called ourselves Foodsale ladies.

We started with a big cookout and baking in our various houses. Our invitation went out to other ladies on campus. We had a two fold objective, support the deaf in Kenya and also a fellowship on Campus. This proved very successful Soon we had the support outside our box, non Christian ladies and Hindu ladies and men.

As I had the gift of the gab both with my mouth and my fingers, soon I was approaching many new people inviting by mouth and by email. My greatest satisfaction was to see the other ladies outside the committee donate not only by their food but pay for the food they buy.

When the SARS epidemic came to Singapore, there was a "lock-down" almost nationwide with school closures, we held an eFoodsale. Kay, our leader reckoned that people would not come to buy, so we go to them. D and G helped us design a website, and we did a roving business. The work was humongous. We took orders and delivered them. It was so hectic.

I enjoy gardening and used to give away my plants. When I was leaving Singapore, a friend suggested I should sell them since I have spent so much time and money on them. A bright idea came up, I would sell my plants and gave the proceeds to Foodsale.

My friends asked me if I missed Singapore, I tell them no. But I miss all my friends I made in Singapore, especially the Foodsale committee. I have so much nice reminscence and learned so much skills from making Malaysian curry puffs, Nepalese Mao Mao, Japanese sushis, Vietnamese rice paper rolls to Indian Samosas. Finally, I had made friends from all over the world.

***This girl in this photograph is Maureen, she is a very smart student. Quentine is another smart student***

Please read below for Joyful's cause.



Missions of Hope enrolled Kipngeno in university in Kisii Town, Kenya where he is majoring in pharmaceutical studies. Kipnegeno waited years after graduating from high school to be able to start university. Several times we thought we had a donor for him. Several times our hopes, but more importantly, Kipngeno's hopes, were dashed because the would-be donors never followed through.



Kipngeno kept busy on the farm while he waited for his time to start university studies.
In September 2011, we took a leap of faith and enrolled Kipngeno in school and have managed to help him through 4 months of student housing and all needs associated with living in a new town and going to university.


The term finishes at the end of December and we are appealing for someone who feels led to help Kipngeno, to come forward.
Are you the one that can help him?
You would be changing a life for the greater good if you can help.


Jonah pays a visit to Kipngeno. Jonah is on far left, Kipngeno on the far right with his lab coat and stethoscope, a friend of his in the middle. Can you imagine how excited Kipngeno must be?



Once Kipngeno finishes his education he will also be added to the ranks of the medical profession. Kenya is greatly in need of medical personnel.

According to Oxfam, there were only 14 doctors for every 100,000 people in Kenya in 2006.
There is a critical shortage of doctors and specialists in Kenya.
Food for thought.


You can help publicize this need by using the share buttons below.
You will never know how one simple act can change someone's life.
If you can help or know someone who can help, financially, then please contact me here. kerichojoy@gmail.com

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

ABC Wed: U for university, Sunday scans


In Sarawak, there was and still has a tradition of placing congratulatory messages to parents and graduates who complete their universities studies or even weddings. I see this notice for the first time in more than 35 years. An ex flat mate Ning put this on facebook. The first name was my Dad, the DEO aka Divisional Education Officer, the second was mine. The third was Ning's, the fourth was Ting's Dad and Ting who became my flat mate when I came to New Zealand, and the last, a teacher on her engagement. This message was placed by the Staff of Kai Chung school where Ning, Ting and I taught.




All my adult life, I am involved with universities. First as a student, and later as faculty wife. A friend said, I will never be rich. In a sense, she is right, monetarily, we are not rich, but I am rich in the vast experience I have had. There was a time when I had friends from all over the world, and with them, I did a charity that raised money for the deaf in Kenya for 16 years and for a life saving operation for a pair of Siamese/conjoined twins from Nepal. These are experiences that money can't buy.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Reader Rainfield commented that Chinese word meaning snow as in my other blog http://annsnowchin.blogspot.com/2011/12/scenic-sunday-fund-raiser-at-pt.html


Snow is my given name, it is pronounced as SUET in my Cantonese pronounciation, and XUE in Mandarin. I did not know it is also a surname.
httphttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/



http://sundayscans.blogspot.com/

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

Monday, December 5, 2011

Pt Chevalier School Fund raiser.

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

These stall/ bright red and yellow tent stood out for a mile. I was naturally attracted to it to post for these memes.

For more photos ans stories please click at my other blog http://annsnowchin.blogspot.com/2011/12/scenic-sunday-fund-raiser-at-pt.html




http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/


http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com

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