While I was walking at Toa Payoh Central, a pigeon who seemed to be hungrily hunting for food captured my sight. She loitered outside the coffeeshop, hoping she could peck a tiny bit of food on the ground. She was limping and has the worst feet that I’ve ever seen. Strings are the cause for the pigeons’ broken feet. It must be very painful, very very painful for its feet to be cut away by a string.
I wish I could adopt her, help her and provide her with everything she needs. At that moment, I just wish she has enough to eat. May her stomach be filled with enough food and clean water every day.
There will be more pigeons and crow trapping and killing at Toa Payoh and Toa Payoh Central is one of them. My heart was heavy upon receiving the news. I visited Bishan Toa Payoh Facebook to check it out. Indeed more killing is on its way.
According to the post, the purpose of killing them is to provide a better space and a good quality of life for the residents. My immediate response was “humans are stupid”. How could killing birds provide a better space and good quality of life for the people. Only with the reducing of building buildings and cutting down of the human population would provide a better space and a good quality of life for the people.
I often tell Toofy, the cat, that he must always share space and food with other cats. It would be a shame to have the idea of not sharing space with other species! May the future generations not learn from them.
I’m helpless that I couldn’t get the authorities to stop killing. Having understood the cause and effect allows me to relieve my pain. I hope in one way or another, I’m able to influence others into coexisting with other species. Hopefully one day, we could all live harmoniously.
The respect I used to have for PAP is gone. Greed is all I see in them. My friend asked me how to have more supporters like PAP, I told her that it is through lying and making promises. Disagreement doesn’t mean that I have bad wishes for them. It simply means that I will not support them.
Mel donated $300 for the family. Mdm Law updated that they are doing well and will send them for vaccination end of this month.
Kittens are eating well and healthy. Merely by looking at them gives me a big headache. Kittens are extremely playful by nature. Though it’s a big headache, we would want them to be as playful as they can because their playfulness tells us that they are active and healthy!
Mummy is still a little skittish but overall she is good!
Last month I barely left a little money with me, no matter what, I have to help relieve Mdm Law’s load. Hoping for the least that she will not have difficulties in providing the kittens and mummy. To me $300 should be enough to provide food for all of them for a month. Mdm Law didn’t ask for it. We usually don’t. However, having understood the load we have to bear for all our rescues, I can’t just dump the cats to her and say ‘thank you and goodbye’.
Someone disagreed with me in Facebook and said that I didn’t make any effort in saving them and posting and talk is cheap. I just told her off that she didn’t know me and I’m letting go of her comment. Just two days ago, when I was doing my regular feeding, someone told me I only feed but no love. Well, despite this person knowing that I brought home all the sick, injured and old cats that I feed, I don’t understand why she was saying this to me while she took none. Zero!
Writing blogs is good as it keeps reminding me that I am not what others said.
The family is in good hands now and I hope they’ll find good homes soon. I also hope Mdm Law sees my appreciation towards her coming forward to take over the family. Without Mdm Law, the safety of the kittens and mummy is not possible.
I am fifty-one today. We, at least I, never thought that we would grow old when we were young. Time ticked by and I am not far away from the next rebirth. Ajahn Brahm would use, recycle instead of rebirth.
Unlike my siblings, they love to be surrounded with many people on their birthday, while I usually had meal with a friend or two. Mel bought me two small cakes last night. I ate half and kept the other half.
More than a week ago, I bought myself a Celestron Nexstar 4SE telescope as a present to myself and was anticipating to look into the galaxies. Spirit and Oppy are still in Mars. They should have turned rusty by now I guess. However, things didn’t work out the way I wanted. One leg fell out from the tripod and no matter what I did, I just couldn’t view anything from the scope. I ended packing everything back and asked for a refund. The earliest time to pick up is today. Therefore, I had to spend the whole day today just to wait for ninja van to pick up. If they do come today, it’s a bonus! Usually they don’t and I always have to contact Amazon to get the confirmation from them.
Neatly packed up, just in case they reject it.
Everyday is as good as today. Birthday or not, there’s no difference. Yes, I have a contented life!:) Contentment begins with gratitude.
I had to get up a little early today because I need to prepare for ninja van to come if they are here at 9am. Well, it’s 10mins to 1pm now. No sight of them and hopefully later. Good thing is Starbucks is charging a $1.99 delivery fee. So I ordered my favourite iced mocha, without whipped cream with soya milk and a “fresh” juice. The delivery man came and I was busy preparing food for the cats at the kitchen. The man shouted at the corridor, “grab food, grab food” and I heard “cat food, cat food”. I replied, “ leave it at the door, leave it at the door” and he heard “leave it at the floor, leave it at the floor”. I just can’t stop laughing!
I should say, today’s mocha doesn’t taste the way I love it. The taste of mocha is not heavy. At times, they really tasted good! I still enjoy, knowing that soy milk is a healthy ingredient.
I am at the void deck with Toofy now. He is my companion for now.
Oh… Since I gave up the telescope, I bought an Apple watch strap. It’s time and my current strap is turning black.
I’ll soak and wash the strap and will use it again when the new one turns grey. Love it!
Toofy had a good time too.
Having community cats is healthy to the people and environment.
I have some guests as well.
The white bird was like “ hey, are you looking at me?”
NParks is still killing these little pigeons who only want to live like everybody else. I have met the MP, write to TC, NParks and even Mr Lawrence Wong but…
To the lovely pigeons, you were once a human’s companion, helping to send messages and even during war time. With the messages sent, you saved many lives. Today, humans see you as pests and finding all ways to get rid of you. Along with the animal activists and pigeons lover, we fought for you and are still fighting. We care! We need people who not only care for animals but also willing to be their voice. May there be growing populations of animal activists from now.
At 51, my legs seem heavy and weaker. I couldn’t leap up onto the bus like I once did. It’s so much heavier and requires more strength. I get tired easily and I love afternoon naps!:) I abandoned everything that is repeating and almost everything is a cycle. I’m more mindful in what I’m doing, understanding my limitations and better to live within my means. Renouncing the cycles of negative feelings and even the happy ones. Bringing all feelings to equanimity, so there’ll be less sufferings. Appreciation, contentment and living at the present bring so much inner joy and peace.
Ayya Khema said that suffering will continue but we will disappear. At first, I understood it as suffering continues and we will reach Nibbana, no longer having to suffer. The second time, I’ve understood that the suffering will continue and we’ll all be dead. Lastly, the suffering continues, a never-ending cycle, and we are impermanent. As a buddhist, I would take the first and third understanding as Ayya Khema’s interpretation.
For so many years and with more than 500 blogs that I’ve written, I’ve given thanks to almost everyone but not Mel. Today, I would like to thank Melanie for giving me so much support in the past and in whatever I do. Everything wouldn’t have happened without her.
Future? It’s empty there and I can only fill up what’s at the present.
May all sentient be safe and healthy. May they be able to take care of themselves. May loving-kindness fill the hearts of all beings and live harmoniously regardless of species!
Not wanting Kiki to sleep on the cardboard along the corridor and not wanting the people to playfully abused him, I decided to take him home.
His legs were already weak when he was on the street. He couldn’t jump but he sure was fierce and ready to fight. Kiki, I’ve googled the name, an ancient king in India who was called Kiki too!
Kiki was already old when he was abandoned. Everyone cares for him. When I took him home, there were people who asked his whereabouts which I was glad. It told me that people do care for the community cats.
Kiki had his meals a few times a day. It is definitely safe to be home. I hope Kiki had a good two years with us. To all the cats who have passed on, I truly hope all of you could stay a little longer… and Kiki is no exception.
There is a blog post that has been in my draft for quite a while. I told myself that I have to complete the post so that I could dedicate the merits to Kiki, Tom and all sentient beings.
I started to read again, organise and revised the draft. I found Ayya Khema’s teachings recently and her teachings align with the Buddha’s teachings and I wanted so much to share, however, something kept holding me back. Kiki’s passing perks me up. Thanks Kiki!
I would like to dedicate this merit to Kiki, Tom and all sentient beings. May the quotes taken from Ayya Khema’s book, the Path to Peace, inspire all those who read them.
Below is the link to the quotes taken from “The Path to Peace”.
Our vet texted us that there was a family roaming at the construction site and was asking for help. Being unable to take in anymore mummy and kittens, I was so stressed throughout the day. Although I had posted on Facebook seeking for help, still I wasn’t confident that someone would come forward to help. Recusers’ hands are always full and we have our cats to take care of at home as well as in our feeding areas. But my guts told me that I had to try. If no one came forward, my last resort was to sterilise the mummy first, release her and wait for the kittens to grow old… I must admit that I was a little inconsiderate at that moment as I was very stressed with who was going to help the family.
In the video I can see that the kittens are pretty big enough to eat by themselves, therefore, I wasn’t worried about them even when their mummy wasn’t with them. However, Mdm Law, a long time rescuer, contacted me. She went down to take a look on that very evening and told me that the mummy is an one-eyed cat and the kittens are around two months plus of age. My mind didn’t register the kittens ‘ age until Mdm Law told me that we cannot separate the mummy and kittens. At that split second, I finally recalled how three- months kittens were like. Yes, they need their mummy.
TNR can only sterilise the mummy but couldn’t take in the kittens. When Mdm Law visited the cats, she didn’t tell me that she would take over the case. However, when I told her that TNR has arranged trapper to trap the mummy, she told me that she’ll take care of the cats. I personally contacted the trapper and told him that I’ll take care of them.
According to Mdm Law, she took eight hours to trap them. Someone ever told me that Mdm Law is very patient with trapping cats. In fact, the minute I heard Mdm Law volunteered to take over the case, I felt relieved! I am someone who doesn’t like paying lip service. Having understood that taking care of them and rehoming them is not an easy task, the least I could do was to make a little donation. This way, it could relieve Mdm Law’s burden a little. I told Mel we’ll donate again next month.
I’m completely glad that the family received help from an experienced rescuer. To have someone like Mdm Law to step forward to help was not what I’ve expected. Like I said earlier, I didn’t expect anyone to come forward. From here, I’ve learned that I must not let stress blind my vision. How could I separate mummy from her three-month-old kittens? But what would I have done if Mdm Law didn’t come forward…? I probably had to feed them every night until all are ready to be sterilised and at the same time, waiting for help!
Thanks Mdm Law for taking care of the cats. May this be the last news and last rescue that I’ll receive from my vet. In other words, may there be no more cases of abandoned cats and kittens. Mel and I are tired and we need to retire…
“Bhikkhus, dwell with yourselves as an island, with yourselves as a refuge, with no other refuge; with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as a refuge, with no other refuge. ~ SN 22.43
“Enough, Vakkali! Why do you want to see this foul body? One who sees the Dhamma sees me; one who sees me sees the Dhamma. For in seeing the Dhamma,Vakkali, one sees me; and in seeing me, one sees the Dhamma.” ~ SN 22.87
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I highly recommend reading the sutta translated by Piya Tan. His "Laymen Saints" has been an inspiration to many lay people.
Cats who teach me to fly... 