Internal and external memory
Whoooaa. Hello everyone.
Apologies for the blogging silence - despite all my promises to do otherwise.
The last weekend and week has been an absolute blast. It started with a wonderful session on Fri the 12th when we went to see this amazing chap Vusi Mahlasela.
We first got to know about him through the intense and powerful movie Amandla! which chronicles how music helped put the revolution against Apartheid on its track. He is one of the key figures and despite having been imprisoned and tortured by the authorities in those dark days, he has embraced the message of forgiveness. There is very little bitterness in him, which is amazing considering his experiences.
And that sense of forgiveness was very palpable when we went to South Africa in late 2005. The vacuum left by apartheid could have so easily been filled with hate, vengence and spite. But the South Africans have gone the other path - as Vusi said during the gig, the forgiveness only helps one heal. And that is a powerful thought. Not to demand recompense, or view life as a zero sum game - he wins, I lose, but there's a bigger picture to healing one own's life by letting go of these aggravations.
New age-y i know. But truely, the ability to let go and view life more holistically is something I am learning and I suspect getting better at. And I like the concept of releasing all the crap and venom that has been pent up inside. Hey, maybe the whole Yoga thing is working?!
Just in case you haven't made the link, this bit is all about the internal memory I referred to in the title of this post! Hehhehe.
By the way, Vusi's new Guiding Star album is WONDERFUL. Go get/listen etc and er well, if you're able to catch a Paul Simon concert in Brooklyn, he'll be performing too.
Except... the two pints of Guinness I had before the (was training up for Sunday's St Patrick's bash here) gig almost knocked me out.
But the training helped! Sporting green outfits, we went drinking! We got hats and stuff.
And thankfully, there was none of that awful green beer like last year's experience, but there were pints and pints and pints of Guinness! Twas goooood.
After much lubrication, I went home to dine with my family - and devoured buah keluak. Hahhaha, it was a great great day.
By the way, think we're finally rubbing off on Eugene. He's finally developed some Peranakan tastebuds and acquired a taste for those dark nuts. He's also attempted to re-embrace his Straits Chinese heritage by insisting he is a Baba and hence is exempt from housework. *grr* It doesn't work that way dude.
Anyhow, the week passed by fairly ok, sneaked in a couple of yoga sessions and my physio has given me a clean(er) bill of health... as those numb-hand episodes aren't happening anymore. I still have that darned slipped disc but the symptoms and weakness and pain seem to be disappearing, so it's brilliant.
Then, I got news that I can actually leave the company early - which means an entire month, at least, of a break. Think am going diving with Ai-lien, followed by Vietnam with Gene, where hopefully we can meet Tarn How and l.c., the question is if I should go to Japan in early April then.
Thing is, a good friend of mine (we met in Club Med about 5 years ago) is in town looking for a job. Eri's here till end of the month, and then she'll go back to Japan before permanently relocating here, so maybe ... just maybe... I can squeeze in a few days in Tokyo with her.
Dad's more amenable to the whole dialysis thing. Mom will get some domestic help (me and dennis are sharing the cost - arghk, reminds me that I have to get some cash over for all the deposits etc).
So its been a great week. (save for the fact that am awfully hung over from partying till the wee hours of the morning with her yesterday)
The only issue is that I am getting f-a-t. Wonder weight of 46 kg is loooong gone. Think am back up to 49 - 50 kgs. Gark.
And oh, Eugene's external memory (aka his PDA) reminded him this morning: He proposed four years ago today. in a private villa in Bali, And he came bearing flowers ... awww... so schweeet right?
Several things however are looming up: and if you pray, please help - that Dad will keep up the momentum and go for treatment; that mom keeps up her strength and spirit looking after papa; that I will make a wise and appropriate decision when it comes to my next job; and that we make a good and wise decision about (and be able to find) our next apartment.
Hugs to everyone
Nat
Apologies for the blogging silence - despite all my promises to do otherwise.
The last weekend and week has been an absolute blast. It started with a wonderful session on Fri the 12th when we went to see this amazing chap Vusi Mahlasela.
We first got to know about him through the intense and powerful movie Amandla! which chronicles how music helped put the revolution against Apartheid on its track. He is one of the key figures and despite having been imprisoned and tortured by the authorities in those dark days, he has embraced the message of forgiveness. There is very little bitterness in him, which is amazing considering his experiences.
And that sense of forgiveness was very palpable when we went to South Africa in late 2005. The vacuum left by apartheid could have so easily been filled with hate, vengence and spite. But the South Africans have gone the other path - as Vusi said during the gig, the forgiveness only helps one heal. And that is a powerful thought. Not to demand recompense, or view life as a zero sum game - he wins, I lose, but there's a bigger picture to healing one own's life by letting go of these aggravations.
New age-y i know. But truely, the ability to let go and view life more holistically is something I am learning and I suspect getting better at. And I like the concept of releasing all the crap and venom that has been pent up inside. Hey, maybe the whole Yoga thing is working?!
Just in case you haven't made the link, this bit is all about the internal memory I referred to in the title of this post! Hehhehe.
By the way, Vusi's new Guiding Star album is WONDERFUL. Go get/listen etc and er well, if you're able to catch a Paul Simon concert in Brooklyn, he'll be performing too.
Except... the two pints of Guinness I had before the (was training up for Sunday's St Patrick's bash here) gig almost knocked me out.
But the training helped! Sporting green outfits, we went drinking! We got hats and stuff.
And thankfully, there was none of that awful green beer like last year's experience, but there were pints and pints and pints of Guinness! Twas goooood.
After much lubrication, I went home to dine with my family - and devoured buah keluak. Hahhaha, it was a great great day.
By the way, think we're finally rubbing off on Eugene. He's finally developed some Peranakan tastebuds and acquired a taste for those dark nuts. He's also attempted to re-embrace his Straits Chinese heritage by insisting he is a Baba and hence is exempt from housework. *grr* It doesn't work that way dude.
Anyhow, the week passed by fairly ok, sneaked in a couple of yoga sessions and my physio has given me a clean(er) bill of health... as those numb-hand episodes aren't happening anymore. I still have that darned slipped disc but the symptoms and weakness and pain seem to be disappearing, so it's brilliant.
Then, I got news that I can actually leave the company early - which means an entire month, at least, of a break. Think am going diving with Ai-lien, followed by Vietnam with Gene, where hopefully we can meet Tarn How and l.c., the question is if I should go to Japan in early April then.
Thing is, a good friend of mine (we met in Club Med about 5 years ago) is in town looking for a job. Eri's here till end of the month, and then she'll go back to Japan before permanently relocating here, so maybe ... just maybe... I can squeeze in a few days in Tokyo with her.
Dad's more amenable to the whole dialysis thing. Mom will get some domestic help (me and dennis are sharing the cost - arghk, reminds me that I have to get some cash over for all the deposits etc).
So its been a great week. (save for the fact that am awfully hung over from partying till the wee hours of the morning with her yesterday)
The only issue is that I am getting f-a-t. Wonder weight of 46 kg is loooong gone. Think am back up to 49 - 50 kgs. Gark.
And oh, Eugene's external memory (aka his PDA) reminded him this morning: He proposed four years ago today. in a private villa in Bali, And he came bearing flowers ... awww... so schweeet right?
Several things however are looming up: and if you pray, please help - that Dad will keep up the momentum and go for treatment; that mom keeps up her strength and spirit looking after papa; that I will make a wise and appropriate decision when it comes to my next job; and that we make a good and wise decision about (and be able to find) our next apartment.
Hugs to everyone
Nat
