Gong Xi Fun - The Horse that Ran Away

We did it! Much to our surprise and to the delight of the residents of Selangor Cheshire Home, we turned actors overnight and gave them more than a rollicking time with our play, The Horse That Ran Away.

Under her directorship and script, Sunshine Lady, Janneke did a fantastic job of making it a lovely production. We gathered at her house on two occasions  to familiarize ourselves with our roles and a dress rehearsal. A big cast indeed as all the Sunshine ladies who were available for the Chinese New Year party acted.

The residents, EEP ( Economic Empowerment Programe) students and the staff of the Home  were truly good audience. The fluffed lines got extra laughs. Someone came from behind me and pulled up my pants as it was dangerously slipping down as the acting got the better of me!

We know the horse is here to stay in this Year of The Horse. So, do not be alarmed- the horse in the play ran away but came back. The play ended  on a sweet memorable note - to be able to inject fun for others, we got just as much in return!

The Horse That Ran Away  had one oft repeated line by  poor farmer, Sei Wang , the protagonist, whenever any incident was highlighted to him that it wasn't good . The villagers, blacksmith and neighbours  chided him for keeping  his only faithful companion  horse, Silverwhite tho he was poor. More scoldings  came when Silverwhite was  missing  and thought to have run away. An unfortunate fall of Sei Wang's son resulting in a broken leg whilst attempting to ride the  stallion  brought home by Silverwhite. And when war broke out, the sons of the the villagers had to say goodbye to fight. His reply was always the same  - 'Who can say it is good or bad luck. No one can tell what the future will be'.

14 Sunshine Ladies ready to take the stage

Keats addressing the residents 

Resident Penny singing her song, encouraged by emcee, Chris Eng ( later the stallion)

Cowboy dance by the Economic Empowerment Programe students

High energy in the Indian dance by the staff

Fans in motion  by the residents and the students from IMU 

Director, Janneke introducing the play and the cast.

Sei Wang's son fell trying to ride the wild stallion..

Handsome stallion 

Oops, something crept up my nose!

Villagers in the market chided Sei Wang for not looking after himself

Finale  - we did it!

Distributing ang pows  - May goodness come your way!

Sunshine ladies helping out with lunch.

Staff  ready to serve

Happy Chinese New Year mood

Christmas Cheer

Tis the season! In my Christmas message to the residents of Selangor Cheshire Home, I couldn't help but tease them that they do not ever ask for snow! How nice to sit before a warm fire and enjoy singing carols and opening presents. But what they ask for, we always bring - Sunshine. With it there's sunshiny  surprises  as to who comes visiting. Ahead of the party day, the Sunshine "Senior elves' got busy making wishes come true.

Watching a Christmas pantomime  was not on my list but it happened. Frankenstein tried to create havoc but did not dampen the Christmas cheer! I bought 3 tickets for the family to be at Alice Smith school to enjoy the KL  Players' fund raiser panto, Frankenstein.  Boos flew fast and furious to Count Dracula, Frankenstein. An enthusiastic audience helped to boost the well earned claps for the entire cast.

If one has been a regular at the  A Festival of Nine Lessons  and Carols at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church for the past 10 years , it was a lovely evening spent . The festival of carols was originally  a Christmas carol service held in King's College, Cambridge. It was introduced in 1918 to the Church of England but over the years, many churches  have adapted it to suit the varied forms of service around the world. The evening  ended with a treat of mince pies galore and yummy snacks for all.

Before all these happenings, Christmas charity was already in the hearts of my friend, Jean and her friend, Beverly. Both worked hard  leading up to November towards a home charity sale of Xmassy gifts. And the 2 good cooks rewarded friends with a sumptuous spread of cakes  and biscuits. It was an easy relaxed morning. I went home with a few irresitible items, all as gifts .

Merry Christmas  to my Christian friends, near and far. May peace and joy be yours.

Great gift items 

Jean ready to spread Christmas cheer to her favourite charities

Sure hard to beat the 2 cooks - Jean and  Beverly

Mulled wine, yummy mince pies, sausages, stollen and Christmas biscuits for all.

Ready to start the Christmas programe at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church 

A grinny, inviting welcome to KL Players' panto, Frankenstein  at Alice Smith School, Jln Bellamy.

Count Dracula and his gummy grandmother, Granula ( half hidden on right)

A great cast of bats, zombies and citizens of Bavaria  to a cheering crowd.

Warming up to the start of The Sunshine Group Annual Christmas party for the residents at  Selangor Cheshire Home.

                                                          Residents getting ready to entertain .

Brendi leading her ladies of Klang Valley Harmony singers - lovely a capella.

More than a hint of being light and happy at One Utama Shopping Mall.

Wheelchair Training Course by Latter-day Saint Charities

Going to Kota Bahru for the first time was special. To top it all, being there to participate in a wheelchair training course and to meet up, also for the first time with fellow Rotarians at Rotary Club Kota Bahru made up many swell moments.

25 participants attended the workshop; the majority came from Kota Bahru. My friend, Pearl and I flew in from Kuala Lumpur.Our dedicated instructors, led by physical therapist, Kim Brown of  Latter-day Saint Charities, all the way from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA did an excellent job imparting his expertise. The entire workshop was dutifully translated into Bahasa Malaysia by Suki, our Malaysian physiotherapist and Yana.

We learned the A,B,Cs of  wheelchairs - descriptions of the the different components  and how to guide first -time users. There were wheelchairs - standard and rough rider to give away and a major part of the course detailed assessing the potential user to give a wheelchair. Upon being credited as suitable, the user or caregiver is taught how to ride, open doors, go up and down steps assisted, safety tips etc.

A wheelchair is a tool and a machine.It is gratifying to know that with giving  a wheelchair away, lives are changed. Mobility is enhanced, coping better with physical impediments, providing invaluable aid to caregivers, enabling greater self-esteem are some outcomes. All the more so, being well -trained to have more in-depth knowledge about wheelchairs and end -users is of utmost importance.

The day of reckoning came when the instructors stepped back for the students to apply their newly -acquired expertise. 30 odd locals came in anticipation with their families/caregivers to be assessed.

Needless to say, it was a memorable goodbye to each and every new recipient of the wheelchairs. To be able to ride home in comfort and tackle each day, through thick and thin. As for the students who proudly wore the tees with a new designation of Wheelchair Specialist, it was not only worthwhile time spent but humbling to be part of the great teaching and interaction of Latter-day Saint Charities' humanitarian outreach.

Gaye Brown  showing the parts of a wheelchair and recognizing their functions.

Chart shows the ideal posture of 90/90/90 degrees.

Gaye Brown showing how to safely  transfer  a wheelchair user .

Participant practising the correct way to measure  for the suitable size for the wheelchair user.

Kim Brown, physical therapist emphasizing  the importance of  correct measurement for a correct size of wheelchair  for the user. 4 Teams measured 4 persons - some  results showed variations.

Participant learning  the slide test to ensure the wheelchair is a good fit for the user.

Wheelchair cushion  being cut to fit the size of the wheelchairs which come in 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 inches

Out with the wrenches which were given to every participant  to assemble the wheelchairs.

Assembling a rough rider - team work at its best.

One of the potential recipients for a wheelchair wheeled in for assessing.

History taking , noting any  'red flags' .

A happy participant of the 3 day course.

Proud to be a student of Kim Brown ( rt) and Robert Howell  (LDS Humanitarian Director) of Latter-day Saint Charities

It's a happy, satisfying  culmination of a 3 day course -  participants with their instructors. 

Welcoming The Year of The Snake

Even if any of us felt squeamish or shivery down the spine just talking about snakes, this activity got us all excited. You got to be 'coz welcoming in the Year of the Snake is no small matter. And we did it a month ahead of the auspicious day.

First, at the regular activity session, there was the introduction by Sunshine lady, Janneke to the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac calendar. There are a few variations of how the year was named but that story told went down well. So, if any of the residents or the Sunshine ladies had had vague notion of the order the animals trot in year after year, it will be remembered. At least while the story is still fresh in their memory.

In the midst of the session, prodded by the teasing of one of the ladies, that  there's still some'culture' left in me, I rattled off in Hokkien : 'it choo ( one, rat), ji gu ( two, ox), sar hor (three tiger)... till the last animal, which, of course is the pig. Aha, a mini  'score'  won!

After some simple instructions  on the snake (pre-cut) from a paper plate, the residents decorated the snakes to their fancy. Some painted the 'poisonous ' colours that warn of the danger lurking should one encounter a live reptile.

Soon the coils of the snakes changed to springy creatures as they were hung from the centre of the multipurpose hall. The light breeze set them in motion as they swirled their slithery bodies suspending in the air. That unique  decor will be the centre piece for our planned Chinese New Year party for the residents on the 10th day of the New Year.

Janneke also recited a simple rhyme about the snake and we gustily sang it  to the tune of 'If you're happy and you know it'.

By then, some habits of the snakes were learned and hopefully any phobias were dispelled. One thing to remember : they do no harm unless threatened.

Back to ushering in the Year of the Water Snake. May you enjoy good health and and from it enjoy wealth ; for health and wealth  are entwined as snakes come! Wishing all my Chinese friends,'Gong Xi Fa Cai!'

A snuggy snake .

Sssuchh a lively activity.

Adding colours for a bright year ahead

Coils of good luck for the New Year!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Rotary - Bandung calls.

When Suki, our community Director for The Rotary Club of Pantai Valley announced a trip to Bandung, W. Java to sign a Sister Club agreement with the RC Bandung Braga Metropolitan (BBM), I swung into action. Time to fly again!

9 of us took an early flight to Bandung. Our arrival was eagerly awaited by Past AG Dewi and PP Prima who warmly greeted us at the airport and arranged for our smooth transfer to Hotel Palais Dago.

It was true Rotary fellowship throughout our stay. We got a good idea of the community services  BBM is delivering  to the community. To name a few: pondok baca , library in the box for young children, street children  project,  support for Thalassemia, glasses for school children etc;  the major one being the Clean Water  Project with RC Hoorns Netherlands. This major project took 5 years to get off the ground and we were justly proud to see the water tanks as we got into Pasir Layung  Now some 420  homes  are reaping the committed efforts and folks are relieved of the utter laborious daily chore of carrying water  and risking lives due to the steep terrain.

I was also excited as during my years as a storyteller for kids, here was a golden chance  to do it in Pasis Layung, Bandung.With Ernita who adeptly told in Bahasa Indonesia, the kids had a jolly enjoyable time.

The Sister Club agreement  was signed at President Lanny Lim's lovely home with a special meal to tickle out taste buds. Conversation interspersed with Rotary news and getting -to - know - you stuff.

What else did we do? We shopped but felt it suffered somewhat as the peak season of Xmas and New Year  had just finished. Nevertheless, our purses felt lighter. Couldn't help it - the retail therapy does work ! Up at the Tangkuban Perahu Crater, I thought I'd be swept back to Kuala Lumpur without having to occupy an AirAsia seat!! Luckily, it turned out fine. Browsing the many shops  was  a delight. Mention spa for tired bodies - we threw our bodies  willingly on the beds. At Pak Wibowo's  silkworm farm, we  got friendly with the millions of silkworms and enjoyed a yummy Sundanese lunch. A library by the BBM is sited at the farm with a playground to boot.

With Rotary on our minds, the brother-sisterhood  relations just got bigger. Not only that, the fun and learning, transference of ideas got our brains ticking for what we can achieve for our folks at home. All this, in the 4 days spent in Bandung. Thank you, Rotary Club of Bandung Braga Metropolitan. See in in July for our Installation!

President Lanny Lim  and Pres Mohamad Abdullah with a certificate each to seal the Sister Club agreement.

The team that supervises the Water Project between Bandung Braga Metropolitan and RC Hoorns Netherlands.  What a  relief for 420 families of 2,520 people! Folks do not have to negotiate the 45 degree slopes and heights of 45 metres.

Jump, clap, shake, cry, laugh with the kids - it's interaction prior to storytelling

A donation from Bandung Braga Metropolitan to some families.

A big  picture book  helps - Who will chase the goats out of the turnip field? It kept the kids guessing.

Listening

A delightful morning for the  kids - donations, gifts, storytime and bubble - blowing and lots of cheer

My co-storyteller, Rtn. Ernita with this boy who gave a v. good answer to the last question posed at the end of the story. 

Bubbly bubbles at his command!

Energetic young and old Rotarians who go about their community service so splendidly. Kudos!

Fellowship and learning go hand - in - hand

Pak Wibowo, owner of Wisata Ilmu Sutera Bandung -  85 year old, still going strong and  an active  Rotarian. Behind him is is first loom.

Library at  Pak Wibowo's farm

Hope my brief encounter  gave him a little cheer for the day.

On the way to Tangkuban Perahu crater, we popped in to check out this hotel. Like it?  It's the GH Universal Hotel.

So that's where the rabbit fur becomes cuddly toys etc. etc.

Only came home with Cepot ( red face)  due to lugguage constraints.

Every Sunday morning between 6  - 10 am , the  ? 3 km stretch at our hotel is closed to traffic - time to cycle. walk , make music, sell crafts, food. etc. Isn't it  wonderful ? - mix and play and earn  

The music filtered to our hotel  and I came to investigate.