Goodbye, Label Maker

Time to say Goodbye to this label maker, that had served us for more than a decade. Thank you!

Collection of Sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh

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Sunflowers... I knew the painting was by Vincent Van Gogh.
I thought there was only ONE Sunflowers painting... till I visited Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum... when I was totally fascinated by the work of the Van Gogh and learnt about drafts and various versions that artists would make when they painted; and Sunflowers was one of those that came in a series! Then I learnt, from the museum website that there were 5 versions that are located in 5 different museums, and there was a virtual 'gathering' of all 5 united in one of the Facebook events. How timely! So, I thought there were FIVE Sunflowers paintings... till I visited the wikipedia website, then I learnt there were actually SEVEN of them! (not including those that featured cut-sunflowers!).

Happy that I've gathered all 7 images. Yeah!

For its background and history... I shall not talk about it here as it's more well elaborated and talked about in some websites that are specially dedicated to this art master! What I wish to... is to share my joy of gathering them under one 'page' :)

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Beauty... have you discovered it?

These look like photos that I will snap when I go on a holiday trip - to admire the beautiful nature at that moment. The golden shades of cloud, coloured by the morning sun!

Actually, it's any ordinary morning that I do my usual morning walk along Tampines Ave 9. But today, I just take out my phone camera to snap the photo. Below tells you where I took the photo. Actually, it's only part of the "BIG" picture, but the focus was on things I admire at that moment. 

Drawing a parallel - sometimes, we are just overwhelmed by many things around us; and often, we forget to look up and look around. Sometimes, even if we look up, we fail to notice it because our vision is already blinded or clouded by what's going on in our head already.

Slow down... look up... with a relax mind - let go what's bothering us for the time being... and probably we'll see the silver lining smiling at us :)

It's the Moon? It's the Sun?

Beautiful shades of pink > purple > blue?

What's hanging up there? It's the morning moon.
About to set... but in a beautiful pastel background - after having survived in dark for at least a quarter of the day.

Nature - the unpredictable master painter

It's a beautiful morning sky - which only lasted for less than 5 minutes.
No, it's not because someone has destroyed it, but it's an evolving piece of art work - the work of nature. It's nature.

Sometimes, we wait... wait for the better... because we believe the 'better' will come.
Yes, sometimes, the 'better' comes; and it may come in a different 'form'.
But, sometimes...

Seize the day. Seize the moment.

How beautiful!

Below is the same photograph, being enhanced to bring out a stronger 'character' of the art.
Greater intensity. Sharper edges. More piercing rays.

Which is the truer reality?
Which is the truer front? or perceived front?

Things that make us feel Singaporean

This was a post I noticed crafted last year but remained as a draft...

"Things that make us feel Singaporean" is the theme of the photo competition organised in the school. Indeed, some suggested categories are food, places, buildings - which, well, are things that we can quickly identify the "Singaporean" elements in.

Famous landmark? Hm... the Changi Airport control tower? The Esplanade? or the Singapore Flyer? oh yes, those that are commonly highlighted as "must go" places in Singapore!

Food is another popular item, definitely. This year, "Rojak" becomes something quite representative! Yes, it's a rojak society - yet, with much attention given to the details and the on-going refinement and experimentation, the Singapore Rojak has become (or should be "should become") more and more tastier each day!

So, what "elements" bring my heart closer to home?
Indeed, the fist item that cross my mind is my Singapore Passport - an official document that I would always proudly flash it at the immigration counter whenever I'm overseas. Of course, we know that our passport is high in demand!

Next thing is the National Day Song! Well, I still like the ones we learnt in primary schools! A check from the internet tells me that the first NDP song is "Stand Up for Singapore" (link)! I love its patriotic tunes! (just bear in mind, the Singaporean "patriotic" tune sounds very different from those in China"!). Read the lyrics carefully, they are simple yet meaningful. I must say that the collection of NDP songs in the 80s and 90s are representative of the progress, spirit and growth of the island country. It's all about celebration. The last one that I really like was "Home", which was especially meaningful to me when I was away from home for that one year!

There are 2 notes in the image, a $1 note which is no longer in circulation while the other is a $2 note. They represent the emphasis in two "eras" - See what's the image the $1 note bears? It's satellite, it's the orchid. What do they represent? They marked our progress! Soon, in the $2, it reminded us the importance of the only resource who have in this tiny island - the people. And education is therefore a strategic and important area that the country needs to look into, and invest in! Well, Education has been the 2nd just behind Defence in terms of the allocated budget.

Notice the POSB Bank Passbook? That's the version I had when I entered Primary school. What caught my eyes is the line at the bottom of the cover - "Guaranteed by Government"

The Play: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Just realised that I've not put up a single post in 2017!
And this is the first post since December 2016 😁

It's the first time, I think, or it's after so many years that I would have forgotten, that I watched a play - a play without any sound or music, a play that's fully conversation.

Chanced upon this play when I was 'wandering' at Sistic website - yes, it's been quite a long time I've not gone for more cultural stuff.

I've not read about this book, but the introduction of the show (in the website) came with long impressive accolades.

I did not expect myself gotten the ticket in one of those long weekends that I would drag my feet out of the house; well, after watching the show, I think my afternoon time was well-spent :)

I enjoyed the show. I enjoyed the stage effects. It's a cube with three walls filled with grids!
And of course, the performance of the cast, in particular, the core character, Christopher Boone, who has with him the Asperger syndrome. As I watch the character more closely, I started to connect his character with some youths whom I know. I guess, I am now more aware of the frustration they faced; or perhaps I now better understand why sometimes they tend to press on our hot buttons...

Something which I found very unique of this play was its conclusion, which ended with solving a Math problem!

Confusing English: "from"... "to"....

"Picked up" this banner along the way of my morning walk today.
Probably my English is no good, and I started to get confused as I look at it longer.

For a start, it looks like any of those big banners put up at any housing estates that feature the MPs of the constituency conveying greetings to their residents during the festive seasons.

However, wait a minute!
The words (happened to be printed at my eye-level) caught my attention!
"from Advisors to Tampines Grassroots Organisations".

My 1st wonder: 
Hm... It's from the Advisors (i.e. the MPs) - conveying their season's greetings to its Grassroot Organisations?
This sounds limiting, right? And why hang the banner at the open space to tell the 'whole world' that the greetings is meant for a selected group of people only? [That sets me think harder and longer...]

Then my 2nd wonder came:
Is it trying to say people right from the "Advisors" (level) to those at the "Grassroot organisations" (level) are coming together to convey their greetings to the residents in the town?
This thought came about because it's a usual practice that we sign off at the bottom right of the cards! And this is positioned at that spot!

Look at the entire banner again... that is no indication to whom the season's greetings is addressing to. There is no 'salutation" or no mention whom the greetings is addressing to.

So, is it my English is no good or it's simply the "beauty" of the language?
That's my third wonder.

Then, think further....

The Grassroot Organisations will contain people not just those who reside in Tampines, but probably some who come from other constituencies. There are also residents in Tampines who are members of the Grassroot organisations, too. As a result... This relationship could be represented as a Venn Diagram, too!

月亮🌛 不见了！

已养成了晨走的习惯。每逢周末，天还没亮，就会摸着黑出门，沿着附近的大“沟渠’走。同时，也会习惯性的抬起头，向那挂在远远一角的月亮打个招呼。

今早，也习惯性的抬起了头。怎么，月亮不见了？沿途，仍然四处张望，怎么就是没有月亮的踪迹呢？

月亮不见了，没察觉到，也没有什么稀奇。沿途的路，都有亮着的街灯。

它的存在与否，其实对我们（的生活），并没有什么影响。它，可有，可无。

以上这句话， 你同意吗？

问了问自己，月亮有什么的存在的价值呢？其实，它的存在价值因人而异，因环境有所不同。

就说环境吧！

在发达的城市，有充分的电流供应，不乏街灯，主要的街道都点亮了；有些地方，到了晚上，更是五光十色；又怎么还会记得或理会到月亮的存在？

有了科技的发达，在黑漆漆的路上行走时，手上只要有一个手电筒，或手机，就能把前面的路给点（照）亮了。我还记得，在不丹帕罗 (Paro)当义工的那段日子，当地的学生跟我说，“老师，在那黑漆漆的夜里，只要看到远远的那一点亮光在移动着，我们就知道那一定是你！” 那已经是十多年前的事了。当时的帕罗，除了市中心，其它的路，连一根灯柱都找不到。如何在那伸手不见五指的地方行走呢？当时，那手电筒就成了我了救星，在夜里行走的良伴。也是在当时与当地，我察觉到，那里的黑，其实已铺上了薄薄的一层月光，对于我来说，那是微懦的，它的光芒，是微不足道的。对于在城市里长大的我，眼睛已经习惯了“亮”的环境，因此，无法对微微的月光做出太大的反应。也因为这样，就对手电筒有了非常大的依赖。所以，月亮，还是没什么“用途”。

直到有一次，有机会参与一项在村庄里头，在夜间进行的活动，一伙人从屋子那里，往前面的一片空地走去，甚至到了前面的那片石林里进行祭祀活动。在那辽阔的草地，没有任何科技的存在。突然，那（之前）微不足道的月光，却显得特别的明亮，发挥了我前所未能想象的能力。谁敢说月亮没有它的存在价值，谁敢说它只不过是天上的一颗点缀品呢？
 
其实，人也是一样。
我们的周边，我们的职场上，也用着许多的月亮。不信？
你是否曾经在最暗的日子里，有人给你雪中送炭？你是否会感到惊讶，那人其实一直以来，就好像路人甲乙丙丁呢？其实，他却是你的月亮。当你是月亮时，也许，只是在做你认为是你的分内事，也许，有时你会认为自己只不过是路人甲；但，可能就会在他人最需要的时候给了希望，给了无限的帮助。虽然，在这世界上，尤其是在职场上，没有什么没有了谁是不可以的；但，当有了“谁”的时候，我们在当时的体验和经历，就可能是天渊之别的。

也许，我们除了要记得自己有月亮的力量与价值；同时，应该注意一下在我们周边的月亮，记得他们的贡献，感激他们的出现与存在。

Is this the impression you want to make?

Panda is an adorable animal - that's what we saw in documentaries and the zoo. However, the panda in this commercial portrays an entirely different impression - violent and possessive - two most appropriate words to describe. While it's meant to be something light and funny, I'm not sure what image the brand think this 'panda' will create for it.

I think, it's the communication - how does one really want to market its brand? and the branding...
People switched to this brand because of the fear of violence?
Hm... food for thought.


Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_Say_No_to_Panda