Appreciation from the family of the late Datuk Leonard Song Thian Eng

Education Icon Laid To Rest

OPEN INVITATION - Another Sweet & Gentle Reminder!

The following OPEN INVITATION as contributors to Our Blog are still pending since July ... meaning that you folks are still sitting on your fat lazy arse either:-

1. Too busy making $millions$ (you can throw some our way or we can go over and collect. No problemo!)
2. Too darn important to mix with the likes of us.
3. Too darn lazy or sian (boh lat lah?)
4. Too confused by what the heck is this 'block' (it's a piece of wood like your head!)
5. Too contented so just wanna read only. That's fine with us.
6. Too arthritic to use your fingers to type (take supplements - ask Edmund! Hey! that rhymes!)
   
7. Too smart to be learning this stewpig darn internet stuff
8. Too stewpig to even figure out what this smart alec post is all about anyway.
9. Too slow internet connection.
   
10. Too cool to do anything. Duh!
11. Too Hazy
12. Too Humid
13. Too Dry
    
14. Too Hot
15. Too Cold
16. Too whatever excuses you can come up with!

Anyway, take your own sweet time as we have plenty of that left, right? Since we are all only approaching or had already reached the half century mark! What a scary thought! So what are you waiting for? The next planetary alignment of the stars or planets?

(NO! That's not the blog administrator! Only the hair style is similar!)

However, if there are any of you who are reading this and have yet to receive your invitation to join this blog as a contributor; please email the 'boh-su-chor' blog administrator at francish2o@gmail.com to let him know. Our apologies in advance if this is the case and you'll be invited asap! The blog administrator is easily persuaded with durians and if that's not in season, curry puffs or fine french pastries and good coffee would do just fine. *sigh*

LIST OF SHAME THE PENDINGS!
(you know who you are; so don't play play here!)

viawee@gmail.com 2006-07-25 19:28:57.953 pending ngxo@optusnet.com.au 2006-07-25 19:24:49.026 pending IreneLim@sesco.com.my 2006-07-21 02:27:42.993 pending viawee@gmail.com 2006-07-21 15:15:29.273 pending bnaeg@comcast.net 2006-07-25 19:29:59.853 pending rodytan@hotmail.com 2006-07-26 23:31:34.81 pending mesachen234@yahoo.ca 2006-07-25 19:25:13.183 pending yiankwan@pactec.kz 2006-07-25 19:31:21.51 pending laichoo_lee@yahoo.com 2006-07-25 00:50:30.906 pending rtan1798@hotmail.com 2006-07-25 00:46:41.006 pending wtaybb@singnet.com.sg 2006-07-25 00:38:21.146 pending voplee@bigpond.net.au 2006-07-25 00:35:38.91 pending annalai38@hotmail.com 2006-07-21 15:24:25.153 pending pohkoa@internode.on.net 2006-07-25 00:42:11.036 pending rickyaut@gawab.com 2006-09-27 19:18:19.523 pending amysklim@yahoo.com 2006-07-21 15:24:24.56 pending py.chang@gcs.goldcoin.ws 2006-07-25 00:46:59.82 pending amysklim@yahoo.com 2006-07-25 19:32:46.623 pending ngxo@optusnet.com.au 2006-07-21 15:25:17.78 pending lau_hie_ting_rita@moe.edu.sg 2006-07-25 00:51:30.396 pending johnsonchao@gmail.com 2006-07-25 00:38:21.206 pending mesachen234@yahoo.ca 2006-07-21 15:25:17.7 pending byeen@yahoo.com 2006-07-25 00:34:46.313 pending simpangkuda2005@yahoo.com.my 2006-07-25 19:23:00.916 pending

I Survived! (the radio interview and the Haze too i hope!)

In case any of you are interested (or even cared); I survived the radio interview yesterday after which when I walked out of the studio I had little recollection of what I actually said!

Amnesia caused by anxiety I supposed (and not early onset of dementia I hope!) but I was relieved that it was over! Phew! But I couldn't have done too badly as Jennifer Lau actually invited me to come back to her show another time!

And speaking of air and surviving, the quality of which has suddenly start to deteriorate quite rapidly since saturday to an extent that the API (Air Pollutants Index not Apa Pun Itu) is now in the unhealthy range. And any API figures given by the authorities here must be taken with a (BIG) pinch of salt! *cough!* *sneeze!* Anyone in Kuching wants to buy a quality air filter from yours truly? *wink wink*

Oh, and in case anyone of you is wondering (or even cared) what on earth a mohawk duck has anything to do with the radio interview; it's my gentle way of telling thedtan that if he thinks he has a monopoly on cute baby animals as a profile pic, he'd better think twice! Just kidding Ed and now go back to your lives folk! Heehee!

Tribute to a Teaching Icon by Kenny Ee

Obituary: Datuk Leonard Song Thian Eng PGBK, ABS

On the Air - Red FM 91.9 on Wednesday, 27th September 2006 @ 13:30 hours

For those of you in Sarawak, you may want to tune in to Red FM (91.9, RTM Radio Malaysia Sarawak, Red Network) on Wednesday, 27^th September 2006 at 1.30 pm as I would be interviewed "LIVE" on air by Jennifer (photo of her on the left taken off Red FM website) on her radio talk show "The Living Room".

This would be the first time I would be on air and I'm quite thrilled even though I'm trying not to think or make too much of this. What will I say? So stay tuned!

Meanwhile I should stay off fried food and it's a good thing that durians are not in season now! If not I would also sound weird in addition to being weird!

My thanks to Jennifer for inviting me to be on her show. It is indeed an honour. I trust that she'll have no regrets after the show! :o)

NOTE: For those of you who don't know that I'm already 'femes' (*ahem*) in Kuching, Bau and maybe even Serian; I had been written on in the following local papers:

• Sarawak Tribune 16 January 2006 (closed down already over some silly cartoons! It's now called Eastern Times)
• Borneo Post 22 April 2006
  
• Utusan Sarawak 20 June 2006
  
• Eastern Times 23 June 2006
  

Datuk Song Thian Eng: Passing of a Tiger and an Era

* News Flash *

I just received this sms from Edmund:-

"Hi Francis, my uncle, Thian Eng passed away yesterday morning."

I saw no mention in the obituary in this morning newspaper. Those of you who have anything to share about our former principal, we would be most grateful for your contribution to pay tribute to this 'crouching tiger' who has gone to the heavens. Though he was a strict disciplinarian, I now appreciate what he was trying to inculcate and how lonely it must be to take on such a role.

He will always be in our thoughts.

Datuk Leonard Song Thian Eng PGBK, ABS.
May your soul rest in peace.

"A teacher affects eternity:
he can never tell where his influence stops."
Henry Adams

"A schoolmaster should have an atmosphere of awe,
and walk wonderingly, as if he was amazed at being himself."
Newton D. Baker

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates.
The great teacher inspires."
William Arthur Ward

REMOVING GALLSTONES NATURALLY

1. Liver
2. Common Bile Duct
3. Gallstones
4. Gallbladder
   

REMOVING GALLSTONES NATURALLY
by Dr Lai Chiu-Nan

It has worked for many. If it works for you please pass on the good news. Chiu Nan is not charging for it, so we should make it free for everyone. Your reward is when someone, through your word of mouth, benefits from the regime. Gallstones may not be everyone's concern. But they should be because we all have them. Moreover, gallstones may lead to cancer. "Cancer is never the first illness," Chiu Nan points out. "Usually, there are a lot of other problems leading to cancer.

In my research in China, I came across some materials which say that people with cancer usually have stones. We all have gallstones. It's a matter of big or small, many or few.


One of the symptoms of gallstones is a feeling of bloatedness after a heavy meal. You feel like you can't digest the food. If it gets more serious, you feel pain in the liver area." So if you think you have gallstones, Chiu Nan offers the following method to remove them naturally.

The treatment is also good for those with a weak liver, because the liver and gallbladder are closely linked.

Regimen:
1. For the first five days, take four glasses of apple juice every day. Or eat four or five apples, whichever you prefer. Apple juice softens the gallstones. During the five days, eat normally.
2. On the sixth day, take no dinner.
3. At 6 PM, take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water.
4. At 8 PM, repeat the same. Magnesium sulphate opens the gallbladder ducts.
5. At 10 PM, take half cup olive oil (or sesame oil) with half cup fresh lemon juice. Mix it well and drink it. The oil lubricates the stones to ease their passage.

The next morning, you will find green stones in your stools. "Usually they float," Chiu Nan notes. "You might want to count them. I have had people who passes 40, 50 or up to 100 stones. Very many."

"Even if you don't have any symptoms of gallstones, you still might have some. It's always good to give your gall bladder a clean-up now and then."

Reunion in London

Rod, Chui Peng, Eva & GL

With emails, it was easy to quickly organise a small group for lunch. Rod, the thorn among the roses, met up with Eva, Jackman (our Chui Peng), GL and a common Marian friend, Lesley. There were 4 Thomians & 4 Marians among the 5 of us.

We were the first customers for lunch at the Dim Sum restaurant, which was popularised by prime ministers (of UK & Singapore). No celebrity during that Sunday except us!! It was good to catch up again after quite a long break. The last I saw Eva & Chui Peng was in late 70s or early 80s. Who cares! It was good to find out how each of us are doing with our career, family, etc. We spoke of good old times as well. Rod recounted an occasion (during Lower or was it Upper six) on how the guys did not know how to handle the girl (or lady) who cried over a precious jade bangle which was accidentally broken during a rehearsal - an incident the lady has forgotten!.

The waitress was getting impatient with our long stay so, we got out & continued talking non-stop outside the restaurant. We have to part our ways & the ladies continued to Oxford Street & China Town of course.

Well, I managed side trips to Birmingham to meet up with my landlady, who is 91. The weather was hot for September, so it was the "second" summer for the year. We also managed strawberry & raspberry picking (& eating) session.

Eva, GL & Lesley raspberry eating from the shrubs!!

Gemma with an oversized corguette, good for batting

Now that the blog is here to stay, let's continue to keep in touch. During the occasional visit to our distant friend, do drop a mail or leave a message on the blog, so that we can organise to meet up.

FH2o, this is better than the 5 lines!! Ai yah, you do not know how this IT idiot was trying to figure out how to post on the blog. Not bad for first timer?

How to Post to Our Blog

I received an email from Shirley in Melbourne earlier and another one from Geok Lian today on how to post to our Blog. As if I'm an authority or expert on blogging ... *ahem*

Here's my reply to Geok Lian. So now ALL of you now know how to post here! Actually I can forgo the croissant for 'Old Chang Kee's curry puff' ... hmm

Hi Geok Lian!

I'm probably the worst teacher on the planet!

Click on the Blogger Icon or go to http://www.blogger.com website.
Click "Sign in to blogger"
Type in Username and Password and click on 'SIGN IN"

You'll be taken to the "Dashboard"
Click on "NEW POST" on the right of "Class of '74 & '75 Meow Meow!"

Start typing away! Or if you had already written the article in MS WORD; select, copy and paste it here.

To add photos/image click on the "Add Image" icon which is the second from the right. A smaller separate window would pop out - Add an image from your computer
You can select the size you want for the image and its alignment. The image/photo must already be in your computer where you select when you click on the 'BROWSE'

Once you are done you can "Save as Draft" (come back and finish it another time) or "Publish Post".

That's it! You can then "View Blog" and "Sign Out" after any adjustment(s) to the appearance of the blog.

Go ahead and give it a try and we look forward to your posting!

You now owe me a latte at Coffee Bean and croissant at Delifrance! (see; i work cheap!)

Have a wonderful weekend!
Francis Ho
Kuching

On 9/21/06, geoklian.lim@cegelec.com wrote:

Francis
Need a quick lesson from you on how to post on the blog. See, I now have
the pictures & story ready but don't know how to do so on the blog.

cheers
geok Lian

10 COMMANDMENTS FOR THE OVER FIFTY

I received this email and mentioned it while having dinner with Dr Philip Bong and Edmund Song above Petanak Market last night; and Philip expressed an interest in knowing the contents. So here it is for the good doctor who's feeling his age and for those similarly inclined! I am not endorsing this in its entirety but then again what does a kayaking architect knows about anything! *sigh*

1. ACT AND BEHAVE YOUR AGE
   Face and accept the reality of getting old, its consequences, and the limitations which growing old brings. Quit fooling yourself by trying to look like you were in your youth.
2. MOVE ON
   Focus on enjoying people and not on indulging in/or accumulating material things. Enjoy life and meet new people. Do the things you have always wanted to do but was unable to do so. Follow your dream and your hearts' desire.....
3. PLAN TO SPEND WHATEVER YOU HAVE SAVED
   You deserve to enjoy it and the few healthy years you have left. Travel if you can afford it. Don't leave anything for your children or loved ones to quarrel about. By leaving anything, you may cause even more trouble when you are gone.
4. LIVE IN THE PRESENT
   Live in the here and now, not in the yesterdays and tomorrows. It is only today that you can handle. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may not even happen.
5. SPOIL YOUR GRANDCHILDREN
   Enjoy and spoil your grandchildren (if you are blessed with any) but don't be their full time baby sitter. You have no moral obligation to take care of them. Don't have any guilt feelings about refusing to baby sit anyone's kids, including your own grandkids. Your parental obligation is to your children. After you have raised them into responsible adults, your duties of child-rearing and babysitting are finished. Let your children raise their own offsprings.
6. ACCEPT YOUR HEALTH
   Enjoy whatever your health can allow. Accept your physical weakness, sickness, limitations and other physical pains. It is a part of the aging process.
7. RETIRE
   Enjoy what you are and what you have right now. Stop working hard for what you do not have. If you do not have them, it's probably too late.
8. LOVE YOURSELF
   Accept yourself for what and who you are. People, who truly love you, love you for yourself and not for what you have or for what you can give them. Anyone who loves you for what you have will just give you misery.
9. FORGIVE AND FORGET
   Forgive and forget all those who have wronged you. Forgive yourself and others. Forget the slights, hurts, and misfortunes of yesterday. Look towards the future. Enjoy peace of mind and soul.
10. BEFRIEND DEATH
    Don't be afraid of death. It's a natural part of the cycle of life. Death is the beginning of a new and better of life. SO, prepare yourself not for death but for a new life.
    
    LIFE IS TOO SHORT

Autumn

Dr. Tan - Leaves and more leaves

kia ora from Auckland

Kia Ora - maori word for hello . How time flies ... to think that I have been residing in Auckland for the last 30 years ! It is unbelieveable that I have been living here longer than Kuching . Still miss Kuching sometimes especially the old friends/fun we had , the good old days.
Came to Auckland with a big batch of Thomians via Singapore, except all of them went to Australia. Graduated with M.sc from Auckland and now working in IT in Uni. of Auckland .
Quite settled now in Auckland. Children(2) very kiwi-nise ... tried teaching them chinese , no luck . It's hard as my wife(from Ipoh) does not speak Hokkien, so we only converse in English . Haven't given up our Malaysian citizenship yet , have been tossing the idea around a bit lately ... It is quite a hazzle renewing our Malaysian passport and IC card. Anyone given up your Malaysian Citizenship ?
Auckland is quite a nice place to live in, very hilly though with quite a few hills/mountain (extinct volcanoes) . I think it is the 2nd largest city (area wise) in the Southern Hemisphere ? It is also known as "City of Sails" and with quite a few beaches within 1/2 hour drive . Traffic is quite bad here ... though not as bad as KL. Being quite far away from the rest of the world, life here is reasonable easy pace , good place to bring up kids but not a place to get rich! Have a few friends who return home to make money ... find it too tough here !
Education is not free anymore , students (uni) borrow money from the goverment to pay for their fees and pay it back when they start working . During our time our fees was only $100 a year , now it is about $5K depending on the course . Interesting, the Western style of teaching here , the students get a lot of praises/encouragements hence they get very confident whereas back home you are told not to showoff . Another interesting observation is the friendliness between teachers and students here whereas there is a layer of "respect?" between student/teacher at home. Just recently I saw my 10 year old daughter talking to her teacher (ok she is a nice teacher) on the net!

Monica Liew - We Salute You!

From THE STAR, Friday September 15, 2006

Now mother of Channel swimmer braves the waves

LONDON: Monica Liew, the 50-year-old mother of English Channel swimmer Lennard Lee, was nearly rammed by the escort boat during her historic swim relay across the channel on Wednesday.

She said an initial confusion caused her to stray into the path of the boat, instead of swimming on the left side as planned where the pilot could see her.

"I could not see the boat and when I turned around, I was shocked to see its bow looming just a few metres behind me.

"I panicked and swam desperately away just as the crew shouted to me to swim back to the left side where they could see me," she said in describing the most terrifying moment of her life.

Liew was part of a six-member relay team that included two disabled swimmers.

ONE GRITTY LADY: Liew, mother of Channel swimmer Lee (right), battling the waves during one of her two legs of the swim relay across the English Channel on Wednesday.

She had another close brush with death just moments after the first incident.

While struggling behind the boat in her bid to get back to the left side, she was nearly overcome by the fumes from the engine and the heavy swell trailing behind.

"I was fighting for survival, with the smoke choking me as I struggled to regain my strokes in the 10 degree waters.

"I had felt like giving up and wondering what was I doing there when I could have been sleeping comfortably in bed," she said, adding that her greatest fear then was whether she could last her first one hour.

Each member had to swim about 7.2km in two one-hour legs, with Liew being the fourth swimmer at 6am and noon for the 40km crossing.

Despite the ordeal, she planned to return for a two-way relay swim in the channel next year with the same group, which she described as a great team.

"I love the sea and would not give it up for anything," said the feisty woman from Kuching.

Liew, a student radiotherapist at University College London Hospital, said she was inspired by her son Lennard's feat in 2004. She is married to Dr Lee Siow Ming.

"But now, I'm beginning to feel my age as my body is aching all over," she said of her feat which her team completed in 13 hours, 56 minutes.

They started at 3.03am (10.03am Malaysian time) from Abbott’s Cliff Beach between Dover and Folkestone and completed the swim at 4.59pm (11.59pm Malaysian time) in Cap Blanca Petite, south of Calais in France.

Saya boleh

Has anyone read the Star newspaper about a Teresian alum successfully swimming the English Channel with a relay team in 13 hours and 56 mins on Sept. 13th, 2006? She's our age! The administrator met her briefly. Can we get hold of the article for a good read? Ok, found the web page: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/9/15/nation/15441667&sec=nation

Dr. Tan, I agree with you, we can do whatever we want to do if we put our mind into it. I don't know if my lecturing - 'if there's a will there's a way' will bring any gain. We shall see.

Our Deepest Fear

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

by Marianne Williamson

The above became the pivotal quote in the beautiful, moving and inspiring movie "Akeelah and the Bee". Rated four stars. This movie is a must for young and old, especially one with a family. I brought mine to see it yesterday and we walked away feeling good and ready to take on the world :-)

Check out the movie title in the search engine ...

Is this the old haunted Thomian library?

picture 'borrowed' from - http://www.corpun.com/12781a.jpg

Our School Anthem

The School Song

In days of old our founders set
Light on MacDougall's Hill
Since then it has spread and God has blessed
That light to burn on still

Chorus
Higher and yet higher
Shall our aim ever be
Living, giving
In this land of the free

Our bishops, fathers and boys of old
Have worked on with one aim
And shall press on forever
Our aim shall be the same (Chorus)

Our students come from far and near
Of every race and creed
Our watch-word's one 'Aim Higher'
In thought, in word, in deed (Chorus)

Our School shall stand for all that's best
Emblem of high endeavour
We'll march with will and God will bless
St. Thomas' School forever.

Never give up! I persevere to search high and low for our school anthem (since no one in our team has a record of it). I eventually found it on a Thomian website. Apparently another Thomian has set it up on the internet.

Confisticated

As I sat in the transit exit lounge at the airport I observed the search of hand luggage and what was taken right behind me. They include:

a box of kueh talam (someone misses the local dessert) - misconstrued as explosive material
a can of longan (must be precious)
2 glass bottles of tau cheo
cough syrup, inhaler (do you have a prescription with that?)
foundation make up, perfume, (sales of duty free has plummeted) eye gel & toothpaste

The parents of a young one were asked to drink the hot & cold water they had carried to make their baby's formula!

What amazes me was that all these items got through at KL and was x-rayed at the transit entry point but they had to do the whole rigmarole again & take the stuff at the exit. Now all these items would have gotten through if they were checked in. I wonder if all this rigidness applied to travelers to the US & Britian only? What happened to the liberty to travel?