Cats who teach me to fly…

I helped out at a flag day  last Saturday morning. Well, it was all so tiring but happy. It was a flag day for St. Luke’s Educare, the  elderly day care center at Whampoa which I often volunteer at. I was happy to see Vivi, the staff at the centre, outside the office for the first time.

Selling flags was interesting. It has been years since I last volunteered  for flag day. This time, I smiled more as I have become more open and giving. My donation bag was not as heavy as Vivi’s and her fellow colleagues’. However, I had done my best. I met different types of people. Those who told me that they did not have shilling and yet came back to me and donated. These were really sincere people and may God bless them! Many I believe had difficulties and some did not know what was going on :).

For me, I have never stopped smiling. A smile is a free  gesture and I love to give it to everyone. After three hours of standing, I finally felt tired. I had lunch with Vivi and her colleagues. I felt all sleepy after lunch and had to go home ha…

It was a meaningful morning spent and in the afternoon. I was all looking forward for the stargazing activity at Semakau Island in the evening.

Look at this beautiful rooster. It has been three decades since I last saw a rooster roaming freely.  I was at High Point Community Service Centre this morning for my food packing volunteer work. The rooster happened to cross my path and it was cute. How long have I not seen a rooster roaming freely? I was chasing behind the rooster, taking pictures from my cell phone, hoping to keep it as a memory.

All the volunteers and I have packed 1600 packets of food today. These food packs were sent to the needy people. It is hard to imagine that there are so many needy people in Singapore. I myself find it hard to believe. I have learnt from a fellow volunteer that there are a few centers out there which provide meals twice a day, every day of the year.

I am getting closer with the volunteers who volunteer themselves regularly there. I like to know them better. I love to talk with them like friends and I hate to keep a distance. I want to be part of them too as they are very positive people!

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Mel and I went to Semakau Island last Saturday for stargazing. We pitched a tent and stayed overnight. I have never heard about Semakau Island. Our government is so amazing to have created the Semakau Landfill. I have learnt that our waste is incinerated by our four incineration plants, which are Tuas, Tuas South, Senoko and Ulu Pandan.  The waste is then burnt into ash and shipped to the Semakau Landfill.

I expect Semakau Island to be kind of smelly and dirty. However, it is the opposite. It is a fantastic place. There are trees everywhere. Clean and green.  I felt like I was on a holiday when I was there.

The picture on my right was taken from Semakau Island on the 9th of July at 6.40pm. The sun was setting and I felt so wonderful. Mel and I and a lovely old couple had a fantastic dinner by the sea. We all brought our food. We saw birds which we hardly see in Singapore flying above our head.

Since it was a National Day rehearsal that day, we also saw air planes flying in the sky and helicopters that carry our flag turning in circles in the sky. I was wondering why until Mel told me that It was not time to fly themselves to the performing venue and that was why the planes and helicopters circled around the area, waiting for instructions to fly across the venue.

The picture on my left was taken from Semakau Island on the 10th of July at 7.30am. The sun was rising gracefully and I just love it.

On the whole, the trip was an eye-opening experience for me. I was amazed to see the craters and mountains on the moon through a super clear telescope. Mel and I were both astonished. I just couldn’t get my eyes off the moon because I have always read about astronomy. I not only read, I get information and updates about astronomy from various sources such as DVDs, YouTube and the NASA website. I read about Mars and learn about how the Rover works. Am now looking forward for Juno to visit Jupiter.

Besides the moon, we even saw Saturn and Jupiter. OMG! Can you believe it? Saturn is as still as a rock, so is Jupiter. I actually expected to see asteroids,  rocks, dust or meteoroids flying around haha… These planets are so still. Well, indeed, they are dead planets. A place where no life form exists. I wish I could take a look at the hubble space telescope too. However, we were far away from its track that night.

Besides the moon, Saturn and Jupiter, we also saw constellations such as  Sagittarius, Scorpion, the Jewel Box, M6 and M7. We were able to look deeper into the sky. I also wish I could see stars within stars and galaxies within galaxies – Nebula, Milky Way, Black Hole etc… Well, how can it be possible without a hubble space telescope? That is why I didn’t invest in a telescope.

Stargazing at Semakau Island really was an eye-opening experience to me. I had a fantastic trip. I believe Mel and I will further our adventure in astronomy.

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Taken my shower. Had my supper. The “Hokkien mee” didn’t taste good today. Can’t go to bed straight since I just had my supper. I just got to know that I actually sleep well after taking supper. I usually go to bed one to two hours after my supper and I was surprised that I actually slept well. I didn’t make it a habit of course. Only when I did not take my dinner or when I am really hungry.

Tonight’s badminton games were fantastic. 7 men and I was the only woman. I just love to have games with guys rather than women unless the woman plays like a man. Otherwise, I won’t feel the excitement in the game. I did meet a few women who play well. However, it is still difficult to find  3 good female players who could come together for a doubles match.

I went to the elderly day care yesterday. We played some table games and I met an interesting elderly who loved to talk a lot and I really enjoyed listening to her. She told me about a drama she watch. She spoke in Tio-chew which I don’t understand haha… but I did get 30% of what she was trying to tell me.

Most of the elderly that I had conversed with were not able to remember me. It’s a sad thing for me. I accept the fact and that doesn’t make me love them any less. One day, I may be like them too. Dementia, senile, Alzheimers…you name it! Therefore, every minute spent with them means a lot to me.

I’ll be there again next Tuesday and they will be having a flag day on 9 July, Saturday. I hope I am able to help them that day.

2 days ago, which was Monday, I went to help out in food packing for the needy. I found that I am getting lazy. I was supposed to be there at 7am but there were two occasions when I reached there at 8 am and 7.30 am respectively. Felt kind of comforted by the fact that at least I did improve a little by being there at 7.30am rather than 8 am the last time:p. However, it is still not the right  attitude that I want to see in myself. Not a habit that I want to build up. Although it would be dark if I leave my house early, I must make it a point not to reach there any time later than 7.30am.

The next food packing will be on the 11th of next month. Hope I can see some improvement in myself.

It is getting late. Going to bed now and Miemi is sleeping on the bed already…

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I was home to catch the Li Ning Singapore Finals. Everyone played well except that arrogant Lin Dan. Well, I think he was trying to attract the media attention by behaving negatively. Honestly, to me with his kind of attitude, he does not even qualify to be in this game.  He pretended that he was trying to give away his shoes to the audience yesterday but threw a dirty towel towards a child instead. Yes, a smelly towel. Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia behaved humbly and I was surprised that she threw a racket to the audience. She was all cute. As for Lin Dan, hmm…. not someone I will look up to. Even when he gave away the souvenirs today, he threw the souvenirs without even looking at the audience. He seemed to be throwing some food to a dog or animal. So disrespectful. Doesn’t seem to me that he is even behaving like a human being.

After looking at how Lin Dan has disappointed the audience, and his disrespect for his country and organisers, he is no longer someone I look up to. To me, he is just a nobody. Someone who has very low self-esteem and someone who thinks highly of himself but merely a pathetic player.

I got a little disappointed with the men’s double. The Indonesian could have done better. Overall, all matches were exciting. Staying home to watch was so comfortable. I had chicken rice, Godiva chocolates and sweet potato soup with rice dumplings while watching. How nice if everyone can do this at the stadium :).

Looking forward next year for the Singapore Open 2012. Farewell to all players…

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The picture on the right was taken before the matches start. The woman wearing black shirt and black track pants is Zhang Ning. The last time I saw her was a few years ago. She has retired. She was a champion in the woman’s single. Since then, I only see her here as a coach. She is tall. I remember I was about 5 inch below her shoulder when standing beside her. I should have asked her to sign on my shirt:p.

The lady on the picture on the left is Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia. I think she is the best mixed double player in Indonesia and I see her almost every year in the stadium. She and her partner were playing against China today. It was a fantastic match and I supported them. They will play against Chinese Taiwan tomorrow.

My favourite match today is men’s double between Korea and my favourite pair from China. I just love to watch men’s double as they are fast. Both teams were amazing. They played fantastically.

Tomorrow will be the finals. As it will be telecast on TV, I’ll stay home and watch. Mel returned from Shanghai last night and she bought me 2 Li Ning’s badminton shirts. The shirts fit me well and I love the colours. I dragged her to watch the games with me at the stadium today. She seemed to understand how the game goes now. Too bad she is not a competitive badminton player but love only to play leisurely. I always bully her in the court haha…..

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