tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393870775558042232012-02-16T18:55:11.540-08:00lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.comBlogger611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-56603088394021034772012-01-31T00:14:00.000-08:002012-01-31T12:22:26.510-08:00

My mother worked herself silly in the lead of to the Year of the Dragon. Over the last 50 years, as far as I can remember, mom has put on a splendid feast for our family. On Chinese New Year Day, if there is nothing else in the shops to eat, chances are if you came to our house in Klang, you can get a very decent meal of mushrooms and chicken, cooked-to-perfection curry, sea cucumber braised with

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-55111923469753577812011-10-09T21:59:00.000-07:002011-10-10T01:00:10.347-07:00

Consumerism, I gathered from Wiki, is “a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts.” I have been asking myself this question: Am I am consumerist? Do I buy goods in ever greater amounts? Am I driven by greed and the desire to own things in hoards?I confess, once upon a time, when I worked in

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-79869733864998907582011-03-06T18:06:00.000-08:002011-03-06T19:37:39.064-08:00

Over the weekend, at our local tennis club, I met this young lady Judy (not her real name) who is a highly talented sportsperson. She is a high achiever in all areas of sports: table tennis,swimming, netball, socceer,and athletics. Her grandma tells us she has only been playing tennis a few years yet she is playing such high quality tennis at the moment.While we were yakking away watching my

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-29994291504252843402010-11-18T20:21:00.000-08:002010-11-18T20:36:47.034-08:00

3rd Aunt is in red jacket, in front.What is it about death that so preoccupies us? I think about death or dying often. It is morbid. But our gurus tell us to practice dying. So often, I think, about how I want to die – peacefully of course, and in my sleep. Hopefully my death will not cause much grief. Hopefully by then I would have gained enough merits so that I will have a good rebirth. That’s

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-88267011793155454332010-11-03T19:34:00.000-07:002010-11-03T19:46:52.710-07:00

2008: Halloween LootToday and for the last few days, it dawned on me that my little Princess is no longer little and she has definitely been pushing away things that confined her to what what she was. A definitely pre-teen has emerged full blown – monster or angel who can tell? For the first time this year she didn’t make me buy her a Hallowen goodie bag, and she didn’t dress up, and she didn’t

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-6070654891018685902010-08-06T02:54:00.001-07:002010-08-09T01:59:22.542-07:00

I was home in Klang for nearly 3 weeks during July. I lament the fact that the Klang I used to know is not anymore the Klang I can claim to know. Growing up in 68 Jalan Meru, everyone knew everyone on the street. If I did something silly, my neighbours will be the first to tell my mom. The first shop on the block was a coffee shop (owned by a Hainanese); the 2nd shop was a car workshop/sales

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-75644885972248637692010-05-09T15:23:00.000-07:002010-05-09T16:05:05.395-07:00

Mother’s Day came and went. I rang mom to wish her “Happy Mother’s Day”…she was happy that I rang, happy that I remembered. I hadn’t organised any presents although on her birthday, which was just a few days ago, I organised some chocolates and cake online for arrival on her birthday. Mom loves cakes, in fact, she loves anything sweet. When she gets angry, she often takes out her biscuit tins or

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-52221321559748860592010-04-26T18:54:00.000-07:002010-04-26T19:55:20.454-07:00

I am missing my left leg heaps. A couple of weeks ago, I broke my achilles tendon while playing tennis with Princess, at our neighourhood tennis club. The beauty about the injury is -- contrary to many accounts I have read where the injured is in heavy pain -- I suffered no real pain. Or not the sort of pain that would scar me for life. I remember reaching for a top-spin from Princess, and the

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-11412236005011996392010-02-07T14:09:00.000-08:002010-02-28T21:29:54.835-08:00

I bought this book called Outliers, The Story of Success, for Tony as a Christmas present. It was a cheeky thing to do but I learnt this trick from him who excels at buying me things he wanted. Outliers is written by Malcom Gladwell, the guy with the buffy hair who also wrote Tipping Point. Gladwell’s theory is that geniuses do not become what they are until they have put in the hard yards.

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-61234209054906485892010-01-23T10:49:00.000-08:002010-01-24T10:09:19.383-08:00

In 1979, a bunch of us girls, left school, Convent Klang, a highly popular school in our neighbourhood started by the Catholics. I had little knowledge of the world around me, having at that stage never been 30km outside of my precint, Jalan Meru. It was the last year for those of us in 5th Form. We took our major exams -- the one that would mark us for life -- the MCE or Malaysian Certificate

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-70782749184914265182009-12-06T15:13:00.000-08:002009-12-07T11:20:11.397-08:00

Aunty Unu, preparing surprise cake for Princess in Gold Coast. Tony's birthday party in Sept.Picture of Princess with Aunty Unu.Picture of Aunty Unu as the Avatar, Ang, (from a cartoon series) I took in, Mahurangi, 09.The Chinese do not have the equivalent of the term “goodbye”. So here I am, doing the very Chinese thing – saying “Joi Kin” (in Cantonese my dad’s dialect), till we meet again, to

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-62897761059681506842009-10-26T17:15:00.000-07:002009-10-26T18:00:36.660-07:00

The Woolf family just spent our weekend at Mahurangi East. It was a perfect weekend, except for a bit of rain on Monday. Still, Hubby managed to take the 3 Woolf girls and Uncle WaterMelon for spin in the StabiCraft. The waters were kind to us, supplying the fishermen (Hubby and Father In Law) an abundance of fresh snapper. What really struck me about the Woolf girls this time is how they have

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-76838113956938099602009-10-06T19:26:00.000-07:002009-10-06T19:31:43.523-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, in the Saturday edition of the Herald, Canvas ran an article about this lady who is Kiwi but moved to the Aussie outback to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. She wasn’t a natural cook but grabbed onto this idea of writing a book about cooking that would help households save money. Her trick is cooking only 3 days a week. The rest of the week’s meal consists of

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-64489190022847393412009-09-02T03:33:00.001-07:002009-09-02T03:53:56.707-07:00

Pic: Long Jump medal winnersPic: Aunty Unu, artist in the makingBrisbane can be intimidating. Its giant highways that snake through the topography make Auckland look like toyland. Brisbane’s wild weather swings capture the best of what it means to be a huge unpredictable country. It was in Gold Coast – about an hour’s bus ride away from Brisbane International Airport – that we got a taste of what

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-14519492703219362062009-08-23T17:36:00.000-07:002009-08-23T17:40:48.529-07:00

Aug 23rd 2009 wasn’t like any other day. The sun was shinning in Brisbane’s Broadbeach except it wasn’t ordinary sun. It was a sun coming up to greet thousands of people who had descended on Broadbeach to attend the 17th World Transplant Games.We are in the Gold Coast at the Transplant Games – a sporting event held bi-annually for transplant patients.Our first main event was the beach walk –

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-10083739681300887152009-08-17T16:33:00.000-07:002009-08-17T16:54:11.794-07:00

Three generations of Woolfs head to Brisbane this Saturday at the unearthly check-in time of 4.40am to head to the World Transplant Games. We are all excited, no doubt, except for the prospect of having to wake up at 3.30am to get ready!Grandma, Aunties (three cheers for Aunty Unu who is just out of one of the world's most killing chemo regimes and out and about with us!), Princess and I are

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-21221401311509153172009-07-09T00:38:00.000-07:002009-07-09T01:08:09.718-07:00

Lately the debate has surfaced again about the merits of single sex setting for students in New Zealand. The argument is boys learn differently to girls. Another starting bit of statistics that surfaced was that boys were achieving less than girls in national examinations. I went to an all-girls school -- a Convent to be precise. Did I learn better because I was among girls? I don't think so.

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-88587830965893005792009-06-18T22:10:00.000-07:002009-06-18T22:21:18.136-07:00

If we encountered a man or rare intellect, we should ask him what books he read.- Ralph Waldo EmersonThis week was Book Week at Princess’ school. It culminated in a Book Character Parade today at 9.15am at the school. Oh what fun it was. Principal came as Cruela de Vil – what good sport. Principal’s assistant was the Wicked Witch with a basket full of poison toadstools. Princess and her friend

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-61335203518732829592009-06-08T02:31:00.000-07:002009-06-08T02:37:16.977-07:00

Two of my friends have sent me this chain mail. It is worth repeating because I love the key messages in there. We need to teach our young that life doesn't owe them anything. Whatever we experience in a sheltered environment is not likely to be repeated in the real world.This set of rules has been attributed to Bill Gates but I can't vouch for it. The message is simple yet profound. So here it

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-21168396182158202692009-05-07T10:37:00.000-07:002009-05-07T11:54:45.853-07:00

Ever so often one comes across a piece of news that makes one take notice. When I used to cover the financial markets in Singapore as a journo, I got the chance to interview many financial wizards. Too bad I never had the chance to catch up with Julian Robertson. I love the name Julian. If I had a son, he would have been called Julian. Julian Robertson was famed for his Tiger Fund then. It was an

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-34717176753766759272009-04-30T14:34:00.000-07:002009-05-01T03:49:03.695-07:00

You can't miss Mother's Day these days. The commercials in the media start at least a month before. How many pieces of jewellery can one buy for her/his mother? I don't believe in going out to a restaurant on Mother's day either -- it is a sheer ripoff. Countless other families are out there, buying their moms massive meals. The service is often bad and the food sub-standard even at the best

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-56793031537670529862009-04-22T03:35:00.000-07:002009-04-22T19:38:46.191-07:00

For the last week or so -- and including the last 2 days -- Princess and I have been glued to the telly, watching a little bald boy and his odd group of friends set out on a journey to restore balance to a world corrupted by the Fire Nation. Princess' Aunt introduced us to Avatar, now we can't stop it from invading our telly time.We watched and rewatch some parts; and check out the special

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-19665300389591212202009-04-05T19:06:00.000-07:002009-04-05T20:19:06.712-07:00

Princess went to a gym competition on Sunday. She didn't win anything. She was all storm clouds and winter despite the sun being most dazzling outside. Not winning is ok, I told her. "Not after all the hours I put in," she says. "You don't know what it feels like, it makes you feel like you are not worth anything!"I felt sad seeing all her internal turmoil. I tried to recall how I used to cope as

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-34732533471401924532009-03-26T21:12:00.000-07:002009-03-27T01:21:51.215-07:00

Mom got sarcastic today. She told me off for not being on-time in my weekly calls. I laughed it off. I normally call her in the beginning of the week. But somehow, this week, I have been very errant -- not only in calling mom in Malaysia, but in everything. I am beginning to be a slacker with (my home-based) work being so slow. Being not-on-time with my weekly calls with mom is not nice,

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-7371315786351907942009-03-20T02:26:00.000-07:002009-03-26T21:12:32.917-07:00

I was fuming today. I got given a ticket. I had committed a traffic offense -- not stopping at a double yelllow stop line. I felt ridiculous. I felt outraged. I felt poor. $150 is a lot of money for a small oversight. I have never bumped into anyone on the road. Never had a speeding ticket. Had a small fine for parking at a 30 minute park longer than necessary.So I was fuming and fuming. The

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-67636616097958901262009-03-16T17:55:00.000-07:002009-03-16T18:19:21.483-07:00

Those of you who have been following my sis in law Anna's ordeal with cancer will know what a courageous and can I add "tempestous" character Anna is. Anna is one never to mince her words. You won't get niceties from her but she is as genuine as they come! People love Anna for many things. Even when she was in hospital sick with tumour ravaging her body, she still thinks about the person next to

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-87223956463833337802009-03-06T18:45:00.000-08:002009-03-06T18:53:52.819-08:00

This week I read a book which really opened my eye to a few things. The book is called Learning Outside the Lines (Simon & Schuster). It is written by two people who were deemed “academic failures” who then went on to conquer their own Everest, to graduate at the top of their class in an Ivy League college. Jonathan Mooney is a dyslexic student who only learnt how to read when he was 12. David

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-23840570949086950782009-02-10T00:28:00.000-08:002009-02-10T00:39:43.836-08:00

Early this week, round about 7.30, Princess told me to watch this feature on Breakfast (TV One). It was about New Zealand’s most brainy kid – a 16 year old King’s College boy called Stephen Mackereth. The reason Princess was yelling for me was she had tuned in to a conversation I was having with a friend at dinner about this same boy and thought I shouldn’t miss the item. This Stephen boy topped

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-20153734950038157732009-02-02T23:59:00.000-08:002009-02-03T12:26:33.586-08:00

I now know why I like camping so much. It has to do with not having to do housework! You see, on the campsite, you can cook outside your tent, eat outside or spill food all over, it doesn't matter.I also lap up the luxury on not having to make beds, not having to do multiple loads of washing and no vacuuming. Clothes dry outside the tent on makeshift clothes line. If the clothes stink a bit, I

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-7846876287907178732008-12-21T19:07:00.000-08:002008-12-21T23:53:22.730-08:00

Christmas Letter 2008Greetings! What a year 2008 has been. I just spent an evening with great friends for a year-end party. Times like this remind me of all the great friendships I have formed over the years. Thanks for being friends with us! As always, we remain humbled by all your generosity, kindness and compassion.This year caught us by surprise. Julia fell ill around April and was in

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-11342553462335992482008-12-11T21:03:00.000-08:002008-12-11T21:20:37.206-08:00

This is the season to be silly. We eat too much and spend too much. Last week, a bunch of us got together to celebrate the end of the year in the spirit of merry-making.There were a few things that stood out in this gathering – the amazing food, the friendship and camaraderie. But our kids -- they stood out in particular because they did us proud with their achievements.Remember, we are a bunch

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-81813983382854035222008-11-23T13:37:00.001-08:002008-11-23T13:45:20.027-08:00

My 3rd uncle died a week ago. He was married to my 3rd aunty, or Koo Ma, in Cantonese. To many of us who know of his suffering – being bed -ridden for over 5 years – his dying was the best way to ease his pain. My poor 3rd aunty has had to care for him all these years. There wasn’t much anyone could do. Intermittently, 3rd uncle was moved to-and-from a hospital, in-and-out of an old folks’ home.

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-67031619778751934252008-11-22T21:47:00.000-08:002008-11-25T12:11:32.639-08:00

Annie Fox tagged me to list 7 weird things about myself. I haven't actually considered anything about myself to be weird. I am an ordinary person.But for the fun of it, here goes.1) I hoard cookbooks though I seldom use recipes.2) I believe we are not alone in this galaxy.3) I once fell off a trap-door and was "saved" by a pile of "gold paper" my aunty was going to burn for the dead.4) I once

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-34763086651024433402008-11-10T01:34:00.000-08:002008-11-10T23:19:13.831-08:00

Princess of the House had a liver transplant when she was 4.5 years old. Most of our close friends know this. But most people have no idea Princess has had such as disastrous health record. Last week, I stood as a proud mum of a 10-year girl who battled other normal kids to take 1st place in the 100m and 200m sprints among Year 5girls in her school. This, for me, is a pretty fine endorsement that

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-64018801378729344292008-10-29T02:36:00.000-07:002008-10-29T16:57:37.715-07:00

Asians tend to “mother” their children to death. I shan’t argue with that. Mum brought me up to be somewhat of a clone of herself. She used to tell me what to do, how to dress and much more. She loves her perms. So she thinks I should have perms. But I hate perms. Always have. I remember how she used to insist I need to perm my fringe. Why I hate perms I do not know. But I think ever since I had

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-69127435687978169792008-10-18T21:35:00.000-07:002008-10-18T21:47:50.059-07:00

This week, Princess of the House told me she would like to go “Trick or Treat” with 2of her classmates. I hesitated for a while before saying yes. Last year, after Halloween, I said there would be no more “Trick or Treat”. But I buckled.I don’t believe in Halloween. But I do believe in allowing Princess some freedom to exercise a bit of creativity, and to have lots of fun. So every year, I am a

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-22379544343561816292008-10-14T01:58:00.000-07:002008-10-14T02:13:43.320-07:00

We had a girls’ night out. It would have been nothing out of the ordinary for girls to have a night out. But we were a bunch of Asian women – six to be precise. We were a conservative lot, brought up the old-fashioned way by our mums who knew nothing about getting away. Our sense of the world is defined largely by how well we looked after our family. We were also a bunch of gals who led busy

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-34187147428480460242008-10-07T13:53:00.000-07:002008-10-07T14:05:39.616-07:00

I found this post on a blog called Malaysiabest.net. This little story has caught my attention because my friend told me of how she threw out a packet of fried ikan bilis (anchovies) bought at a local Chinese grocers because she had heard the Thai manufacturers fried them in oil mixed with plastics to make them crispier. Amazing! The moral of the story? Avoid eating snacks that come from a source

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-37154653211245437222008-10-06T18:16:00.000-07:002008-10-06T18:20:38.090-07:00

How things have changed. The basket of goods that is used to measure our cost of living has altered with the times.Things such as video cassettes, photographic films and writing paper are no longer used to measure the cost of living in NZ. Statistics New Zealand has also removed solid fuel burners, old style cathode ray tube TVs from the basket of goods it uses to calculate cost of living. This

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-82341159724405275962008-10-04T04:21:00.001-07:002008-10-07T14:15:39.806-07:00

Another case of melamine contamination or just a tiny bit of scare? Princess and I were having dinner with some friends when we were discussing this news – Tatua’s product has been fouund to contain traces of melamine, and Cadbury has withdrawn 11 Chinese-made products, including chocolate eclairs sold in Australia, after tests found melamine in them.Waikato's Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company has

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-69595054892060248772008-10-02T01:45:00.000-07:002008-10-02T01:51:37.194-07:00

This is the best piece of news for those who constantly battle with their weight. We are fat because we could be genetically pre-disposed to being fat. I found this in an article on the Aug 20th issue of a weekend magazine. Now I don't feel so bad carrying that extra 5kg!The article points to the risks of children being obese due to “metabolic imprinting” from their pregnant mother's high blood

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-18241512049260461752008-09-30T20:26:00.000-07:002008-09-30T20:53:34.498-07:00

A friend of mine sent me this a few weeks ago. I think it is a very good read, for those of us who love to live in harmony; who love the ideal of being one race, one people, one nation, one world. I have taken the liberty to reproduce on this blog. Hope the owners of the content don't mind. Race and prejudice in Malaysia Sep 26, 08 6:22pm teh tarik MCPX The TehTarik sessions are the

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-4804579381484337862008-09-29T15:03:00.000-07:002008-09-29T15:59:34.921-07:00

After over 3 months, our Merlins at Hotel Starship seem to have sorted out the cholingitis (inflammation/infection of the bile ducts) that Princess of the House has been battling with. In June, we checked into Hotel Starship for what we thought would be a short stay. We ended up with a 6-week hospital vacation, and a series of Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiogram (PTC). A PTC is a surgical

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-35067759481636597732008-09-28T02:36:00.000-07:002008-09-29T00:40:01.455-07:00

I am anti anything drawn along racial lines. The more I think about it, the more toxic I think racial bias is. Asians (or should I say, the Chinese) are brought up to identify with the “superiority” of their culture. History tells us that the Chinese already considered themselves a superior civilisation while the West still lived in the dark ages. It doesn’t take long to see how flawed the notion

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-68731692051425138452008-09-26T04:57:00.000-07:002008-09-26T05:10:25.396-07:00

The world is a very comical place. About 1 billion people still live on less than US$1 per day, according to the United Nations. Out of this, a total of 640 million of the world’s poor live within our region - the Asia Pacific. International efforts to eradicate poverty (Millennium Development Goals) do not get much media attention. Well, not when there is much more critical news at hand, the

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-85705700122853024162008-09-24T01:39:00.000-07:002008-09-24T01:45:53.252-07:00

Lame, very lame. That is what I would say is the NZ's Food Safety Authority's (NZFSA) response to its discovery that China's White Rabbit lollies contained unacceptable levels of melamine (a compound used to make plastic). Instead of advising the public to stay away from eating White Rabbit, the NZ FSA should force retailers to remove this toxic product from our food aisles.The NZ Herald reported

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-82652752366220956462008-09-23T20:30:00.001-07:002008-09-23T20:34:49.650-07:00

Ugly Americans – What did we expect, free access to their dairy market?According to this story I read online today, American farmers are beginning to shiver at the prospects of any Free Trade Agreement between the US and New Zealand . NZ’s dairy farmers will clobber them, no doubt.The report says: The US National Milk Producers Federation is demanding full exclusion of Kiwi dairy products. The

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-76123353928017358042008-09-23T20:08:00.001-07:002008-09-23T20:37:05.378-07:00

Today's NZ Herald reported that Fonterra denied any knowledge of revelations that its Chinese subsidiary San Lu received complaints as long ago as December last year blaming its infant formula for illnesses in babies.Fonterra chief executive Andrew Ferrier issued the denial today after an official Chinese investigation reportedly found San Lu had lied for eight months to hide complaints about its

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-54188942378736280812008-09-23T01:15:00.000-07:002008-09-23T02:15:17.781-07:00

Cancer is a dirty word, well at least to me. We went to my cousin’s wedding and hubby discovered a lump under Princess of the House’s arm. We took her to our GP. The GP thought it wasn’t serious. He suggested we wait to see what happened. My friend at work, BY, (I have her to thank!), told me in no uncertain terms, I had to seek a second opinion, and gave me her pediatrician’s name. The rest,

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-80743496885623332972008-09-22T14:55:00.000-07:002008-09-22T15:20:19.712-07:00

As Singapore and Malaysia move to ban products from China containing milk or dairy products, what is the NZ food authority doing? Haven’t heard anything at all in the news Those of us who shop in Asian groceries must therefore be vigilant, and avoid those ultra-cheap candies, preserved foods and biscuits and chocholate wafers from China. Sad as it is, we must do all we can to protect our family

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-77793112382236359832008-09-21T02:01:00.000-07:002008-09-21T02:12:14.450-07:00

Latest news for family and friendsPrincess of the House developed high temperature on Sat after an afternoon at a friend's birthday party. Hubby checked her into ED (emergency department). We are now back in hospital, on two different antibiotics (Gentamicin and Amoxycilin). Waiting for blood cultures and bile cultures to see what's brewing. Princes of the House looks a bit tired today and

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-57350573251527872552008-09-21T00:53:00.000-07:002008-09-21T01:12:52.763-07:00

I picked up some Aciclovir from the local pharmacy today. Aciclovir is one of the three drugs made by Ranbaxy from India. Ranbaxy made headlines after it failed the USFDA's (US Food and Drug Administration) audit process. Should I give the Aciclovir to Princess of the House? I am not sure, so I rang my local pharmacy. The pharmacist I spoke to says there is no evidence to suggest Ranbaxy products

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-5297923013470844922008-09-17T14:49:00.000-07:002008-09-17T19:21:12.456-07:00

I subscribe to Dr Mercola’s email letters. Not because I believe in what he says, but he keeps me entertained and intrigued. Here is one recent one that came challenging the safety of soy products. The questions in his marketing campaign were:• Is soy really the reason people in Asian cultures live longer and have fewer cases of certain cancers? Discover the surprising truth… • Do you know what

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-23803965401509907292008-09-17T14:38:00.000-07:002008-09-17T15:09:32.520-07:00

The turmoil continues in the US despite the US Federal Reserve pumping in US$80 billion to salvage AIG. Across the world, people holding AIA insurance policies are fretting. Over in Singapore, people are rushing to redeem their AIA policies (AIA is owned by AIG). I am tempted to post it, but I should not.On Tuesday, the US Federal Reserve left its benchmark lending rate unchanged at 2 percent – a

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-37090590346796262702008-09-15T16:31:00.000-07:002008-09-15T16:36:33.646-07:00

These are sobering times. Major American banking icon Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection and is heading towards disintegration after it failed to find a buyer. Lehman, sinking under US$613 billion in debts, survived the railroad bankruptcies in the 1800s and Great Depression in the 1930s.And just over this Sunday, we read that in one of Wall Street’s most dramatic history, Merrill

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-31535959618701629672008-09-15T01:24:00.000-07:002008-09-15T01:33:14.818-07:00

I stopped buying Made-in-China food products when possible. This is the sad truth, it is not always possible to not buy Made in China (MIC). Our local Asian market Lim’s Garden stocks many different brands of MIC noodles, soy sauce, salted veggies and garlic. The grown-in-China garlic is about NZ$3.99 per kg. The grown-in-NZ garlic is about $13 per kg. What a world of difference. The Chinese

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-62279778174590317752008-09-12T13:02:00.000-07:002008-09-14T02:22:09.237-07:00

A teacher affects eternity. He can never tell where his influence stops. -Henry AdamsI start with a man who has had much influence in the course of my life. It wasn’t one of those big meltdown moments of recognition but for many years now, I am certain that Prof Josef Škvorecký has been fate’s invisible hand that set me onto the path of my career. In the early 1980s, I took a short-story writing

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-56227102460452417122008-09-10T17:58:00.000-07:002008-09-10T21:20:57.053-07:00

One of the most interesting questions a CEO ask of me recently was do I think NZ ports should be sold to foreign investors. To be honest, the nationalistic side of me says, “no way” – ports like airlines, railways and telecommunications are strategic assets to be guarded like a prized lottery. But my position changes by the day. At the moment, I think the answer I have is “I don’t know”.I grew up

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-71266525227212710652008-09-09T16:26:00.000-07:002008-09-13T04:15:29.392-07:00

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-4779605184077462882008-09-08T15:31:00.000-07:002008-09-08T16:35:20.330-07:00

This may be the biggest thing since the way the Internet changed our understanding of the power of science. A Herald article describes it as kind of Alice in Wonderland tunnel (a 27-km tunnel straddling the border of France and Switzerland). The Large Hadron Collider is one of science's most ambitious projects to date. One of its aims is to reenact the big bang theory, the theory that a giant "

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539387077555804223.post-67214294809723501322008-09-06T15:54:00.000-07:002008-09-07T11:54:18.936-07:00

The Chinese never really say goodbye. In fact, there isn't really a word for goodbye...The Chinese just say "till we meet again" or Zai Jian. If you go on a long journey, the traditional greeting is "have a safe journey". It is not hard to see why. Most Chinese believe in rebirth which lends much hope that all does not end with this life. If someone passes on, you express this wish that you will

lady lavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662383303348824429noreply@blogger.com0