I decided to find another tag board provider to replace the old one. Hope this one will not be flooded with spam like the previous one.

Anyway, do leave us a note there once in a while

We’re coming to the end of 2005 and without much warning, the new year of 2006 is gonna knock on our doors and close to its tail comes the grand New Year of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Although the Christmas season, New Year and CNY call for a time of celebration, merry-making and good wishes, it is a known tradition in my family that the spring clean is a big MUST before we all indulge in the above mentioned festive seasons.

I’m not sure to call it a compliment or a curse when I was brought up on the pedestal as the only person in the family blessed with the robust energy of a young bull, a springing spine which can sustain multiple bends without feeling strained or sprained and a talent in organizing and clearing clutter.

It is truly the curse of the century when the responsibility of our HOME SPRING CLEAN was gladly surrendered by the matriach of the house and fell onto my frail shoulders. Dad sat there nodding in agreement. This is the downside of being an only child. There’s absolutely no one I can use as a scapegoat. I can’t possibly shove this to the next living thing in the house - my pet dog, Bingo (who is a big mess herself). So, if anyone of you out there who by nature enjoys spring cleaning or feels sorry to see me in this pitiful state, please feel free to take my place!

Mom said, “Don’t worry, I’ll help you”.

Dad said, “Not much to clear anyway”.

After a full day of cleaning just the dining room and the front porch, I finally understand why our house grows smaller in space by the year. My parents are great junk collectors whose hearts ache to see things (good or bad) being sent to the rubbish dump.

The porch could have been more spacious if only Dad stopped adding to his collection of empty oil containers, wine bottles, broken rakes and spades, loads of empty cartons to store more broken gardening tools, chairs and stools with serious defects that if you sit on them u’d fall to the ground like a ripe durian. There are other funny items which he claimed useful for decoration purposes in his garden like spoilt plastic lanterns, old toy cars, fake plastic flowers, rusty metal pieces, old car license plates, chipped ceramics - you name it, he has it.

I really don’t mind him keeping all that if only he uses it. The fact is he doesn’t, and the collection grew from a hill to a mountain eating up space at the front porch and creating a paradise for roaches, spiders, lizards, mosquitoes and god-knows-what. Yet according to Mom (whom I believe has better creative talents than Dad), the garden looks so much better without Dad’s so called decorative efforts. I don’t mean to judge Dad, but I agree with her.

To cut the long story short, Mom and I carted his entire collection into the rubbish dump outside the house with such secrecy we looked like the Pink Panther in action. Since his memory is deteriorating these days, we believed he wouldn’t even remember that his junk was no longer where they’re supposed to be. True enough, he came out of the house for his walk that evening, glanced at the porch and didn’t even notice if anything was missing. His only comment was, “Nice weather, nice porch”.

When I complained that the cabinets in the dining room were full of unnecessary junk that could be either thrown away, sold or given off to the needy, I indirectly triggerred a squabble between Mom and Dad.

Mom: Can’t you throw away those files and folders of junk in that cabinet? Why are you still keeping those parking tickets, sale receipts and formal letters from Stone Age?

Me: True, Pa.

Dad: No way. What junk? They are important documents. You should be giving away a few of your tea sets, dining dishes, bowls, pots and pans that only see daylight once a few years… some never! And you keep on buying them. For heaven’s sake, there’s only 3 of us in this house.

Me: Exactly, Ma.

Mom: We can use them when the current ones are spoilt wot…

Dad: Oh really? You didn’t even want to throw away that chipped bowl and cups of yours. Dear, at least give them to the poor.

Me: Yeah, give them away la Ma.

Mom: Don’t you dare to touch my china. Better get rid of papa’s paper junk first. We’ve a huge colony of silverfish in that cabinet.

Dad: Told you they’re not junk!

Mom: Junk!

Me: ….

In the end, Dad’s files and folders stayed on in the same cabinet and Mom’s kitchenware reigned in hers for another year.

And the entire house remained crowded. On the positive side, the quarrel subsided and everybody is happy… until Mom suggested:

“Girl, we go shop for another cabinet tonight ok? Too much stuff around”

“Ok Ma, we should build another house too”.

The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day. In certain countries, such as Australia, Britain, New Zealand, and Canada, Boxing Day is a public holiday.

What is Boxing Day?

Some people think that it’s the day where you chuck out the empty cardboard boxes and wrappings from the presents unwrapped on Christmas Day. Others think its a day for family members to take it out on each other once a year. Well, these are urban legends. Heh.

Boxing Day is actually also know as St. Stephen’s Day. It originates from a long-ago practice of giving cash or durable goods to those of the lower classes. Basicly, gifts were exchanged among equals on before or on Christmas Day, while gifts are given to the less fortunate the following day.

But what’s with the term BOXing Day?

Well, there are still disputes as to how the name actually came about. However, it is loudly asserted that the term probably came from the use of boxes in which these gifts to the less fortunate were distributed in. The boxes may also be an early form of Christmas bonus from the employer to his employees. Another theory is that the term may have come from the opening of church boxes for seasonal donations to the poor and needy, which were later distributed by the clergy.

Anyway, click HERE to read about it…

Happy Boxing Day!

Every year, the Christmas decorations at Midvalley are a real splendor. In 2003 they set up a golden theme. The following year, everything was reddish in colour. This year, it’s a white Christmas at Midvalley…

A BLESSED CHRISTMAS to everyone! Though Christmas is so commercialized nowadays, let’s not forget the true meaning of Christmas. God’s blessings be with you this Christmas

The flood waters are not going down. Though the news on radio happily announced that the floods in Kedah are receding, it is a misconception. Some areas may be drying up, but in other areas, the water level is simply rising. I think the water is just moving from one place to another. Though it hasn’t been raining for the past 2 days, the flood waters have still been rising. So now that the raining has resumed, I forsee a very wet Christmas.

Where is all the water coming from? Some people claim that the dams in Thailand are leaking and that the water is being channeled here. Now that our dams are also filled to its brim, the water is being released into our rivers; thus causing the flood.

Anyway, Deb has some pictures on her blog about her flooded housing area. Click HERE to read about it.

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I had just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room, and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out.

“What are you doing?” I started to ask.

The words choked up in my throat, and I saw that he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement: “TEACH THE CHILDREN!”

I was puzzled, what did he mean?

He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, “Teach the children. Teach them the real meaning of Christmas. The meaning of Christmas that nowadays has been forgotten.”

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. All the needles point Heavenward, making it a symbol of man’s thoughts turning toward Heaven.

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. Teach the children that the star was the Heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of His promise.

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light, we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love Christ showed for us. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.

He then pulled from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF. Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December.

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood that He shed for us.

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, “Teach the children that God so loved the world that whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy Babe and presented Him with gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should always give gifts in the same spirit
of the wise men.

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherd’s crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring strayed sheep back to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother’s keeper.

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded the glorious news of the Savior’s birth. The angels sang “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will.”

Suddenly I heard a soft tinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL. Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should bring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

Santa looked around and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, “Remember, TEACH THE CHILDREN the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship Him, Our Lord, Our God, and Savior.”

After returning from last minute Christmas shopping, I found myself smack in the middle of what-was-a-road-now-turned-river. These shots were taken through the windscreen of my car.

I reached home to see news reports about the massive floods on all 4 channels of TV. Many homes were submerged and many lost what little assets they had. The situation was just devastating. However, the happiest ones were the kids, who were shown swimming and playing with the flood waters. Ah…the simple minded days of childhood.

The water supply here was cut since last night. I thought it was really ironic that there’s simply tons of water flowing outside, but none inside. Someone later told me that it was due to the flooded water treatment plants which were forced to be shut down, thus rendering us with no piped water. Good thing there’s still electricity and Streamyx here…hehe.

Sigh…what a mess…

Flood situation worsened in Kedah

News Update by Sira Habibu and Manjit Kaur of The Star

ALOR STAR: More than 7,000 people were evacuated from four districts last night as the flood situation worsened in Kedah.

This bring the total number of people moved to higher ground to more than 10,000 since floods hit Kedah on Saturday.

The situation in Langkawi was, however, improving while in Alor Star, the water level remained at between one and 1.5m.

The floods are back. Along with it brings memories of those days when I was still a little girl. Once a year, during the monsoon season, our school would be flooded. The first place to be submerged was the school canteen, followed by the classrooms. We would all gleefully remove our socks and shoes so that we could start playing and wading through the muddy waters with our bare feet.

I vividly remember the rows of benches aligned as to make a path enabling us to buy our food from the stalls in the canteen during recess time. Some naughty ones would try to push each other off the bench into the water, causing quite a havoc. Not to forget the fun of spotting and catching the numerous tadpoles swimming around.

After learning about the many parasites and bacteria that would have been present in those muddy waters, I hereby understand why my dad would scold me whenever I came home with muddy clothes, socks and shoes after playing at the newfound “waterpark”. I used to think he was such a killjoy. After all, everyone was having fun, why couldn’t I?

Anyway, mini floods may have been fun during childhood days, but severe floods are no big joke. People actually die due to floods, homes are actually damaged and destroyed, and people are actually homeless and stranded. Apart from that, my small town was actually jammed up due to the diversion of traffic from the flooded areas.

I sincerely hope that the flood waters will recede soon…

In this previous post, CN- commented about the origin of the 12 Days of Christmas song…

hey jel, actually this song has a very interesting origin. i cant remember much but it goes something like this: a particular nation wasnt allowed to celebrate christmas and so they came up with this special xmas song. if u observe the lyrics, they may seem senseless but truth is that each line actually holds a symbolic meaning abt the advent season and the christianity belief. i only remember that the “partridge” actually symbolizes JESUS…

I decided to research about it, and found that there was indeed a story circulating the internet which says that this song was written in England as one the “cathechism songs” to help young Catholics learn the tenets of their faith as a memory aid during the times of persecution when Catholics were prohibited from any practice of their faith by law - private or public.

It was claimed that the song was symbolic and created as a coded reference to important articles of the Christian faith.

1 Patridge = Jesus
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”, which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.
6 Geese a-Laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans a-Swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids a-Milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords a-Leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed

This site at snopes.com says that it’s an urban legend and gives the reasons behind this confusion. Their arguments seem pretty logical to me, and that it is possible that “The 12 Days of Christmas” has been confused with a song called “A New Dial/In Those Tweleve Days” which dates back to 1625, assigning religious meanings to each of the 12 days of Christmas, but not used for the purpose of teaching a catechism.

The song goes…

What are they that are but one?
We have one God alone
In heaven above sits on His throne.

What are they which are by two?
Two testaments, the old and new,
We do acknowledge to be true.

What are they which are but three?
Three persons in the Trinity
Which make one God in unity.

What are they which are but four
Four sweet Evangelists there are,
Christ’s birth, life, death which do declare.

What are they which are but five?
Five senses, like five kings, maintain
In every man a several reign.

What are they which are but six?
Six days to labor is not wrong,
For God himself did work so long.

What are they which are but seven?
Seven liberal arts hath God sent down
With divine skill man’s soul to crown.

What are they which are but eight?
Eight Beatitudes are there given
Use them right and go to heaven.

What are they which are but nine?
Nine Muses, like the heaven’s nine spheres,
With sacred tunes entice our ears.

What are they which are but ten?
Ten statutes God to Moses gave
Which, kept or broke, do spill or save.

What are they which are but eleven?
Eleven thousand virgins did partake
And suffered death for Jesus’ sake.

What are they which are but twelve?
Twelve are attending on God’s son;
Twelve make our creed. The Dial’s done.

Anyway, to read the full text, click HERE

I’m removing the tagboard temporarily as it’s just so full of spam. I’ve even accidentally deleted the old archived posts while trying to trash the spam. Sigh. Any suggestions of a better tagboard?