All Souls Day Celebrations

Qing Ming Jie or All Soul's Day for the Chinese, is held in the third lunar month - usually on 5 April or 106 days after the Winter Solstice. It is a time to remember the dearly departed and to pay respect to one's deceased ancestors and family members, so reinforcing the ethic of filial piety. Qing Ming is a major Chinese festival with many Chinese visiting the cemeteries of relatives to make offerings of food and drink. Many burn joss money and paper images of houses, cars, servants, treasure chests etc at the graveside, or in special fire pits in the neighbourhood, to ensure that the deceased have all that they need in the other world. The latest paper effigy offerings include laptops, ipads and mobile phones. After prayers, the food is gathered together and taken home to be consumed by the worshippers themselves. When we were walking home last night through the HDB you could have been mistaken in thinking a shop had caught fire, there was so much smoke to wade through. 

I've been really enjoying my P2 classes this week in which we are doing a Birds theme. We are not really teaching them about birds per se, but the language associated. A bonus is if they learn new scientific or environmental snippets of information on the way. I took my ipad to each of the classes this week and showed them pictures of birds we have been able to photograph while walking around the island and they were all amazed that there were so many and of such variety. Mostly they recognised the crow, the sparrow and the white vented mynas. All of which they confidently told me were dirty and poisonous. Hopefully I have enlightened them and now they are going to keep their eyes open for the bright yellow and black oriole which is very common even in suburban trees.

On Friday we brought Eric's brother Reg and his wife Alison back to our place and across the road for chicken rice at lunchtime. This is their last day in Singapore and most of the group are either resting or shopping in Mustafas. While Eric took them back to the hotel I had a foot reflexology session. This caused me great pain but I kept hoping it was going to be beneficial. Look how much the therapist enjoyed making me grind my teeth and squirm. 

Turns out the parts that were hurting before the session just hurt worse after! But it must be good for you they say. I just studied the chart and wondered what dire diseases I was infected with but really I think it is just tired tendons and ligaments from all that gardening and walking. 

Speaking of walking, the Monday group tackled Bukit Timah for the first time this year. We had an enthusiastic group of 11 who all made it to the summit but we took alternative paths depending on our goals. 

I don't mind telling you I was ready for a kip on the couch when we got home but instead I finished a photobook I have been making to thank Clyde Fenton Students for all the effort they put in last year to sponsor the Gudel school with over $1000 raised through SRC events. I have saved a proof which you can view it if you click here 

In the evening we returned to New Everest Kitchen, also for the first time this year. It has been a busy social calendar so far. Even this event clashed with Book Club so we had to make a choice. The food was fabulous but the service very slow and disappointing. A riot took place on the streets in this area on Dec 8 last year and we are wondering to what extent the recently enforced controls in the area have affected trade and patronage. One enterprising local trader who was in the restaurant noticed we were drinking wine and encouraged us to buy from her outlet next time we were dining out. On the way home we dropped in to check it out. What a store, she did warn up it was a bit untidy. One might call it a treasure trove but we didn't spot any bargains this visit.  

On Tuesday we walked with Michael and Heather through Bidadari, where we saw a large flock of beautiful rose ringed parakeets, then had a Great Race meeting. Legs and final destination are coming together. In the afternoon we joined Leonie and Peter Evenden for their joint birthday celebrations over High Tea at the Shangri La Hotel. It was a beautiful afternoon with sumptuous food, not to mention flawless service.  

From there we met up with the Social Club Committee for their meeting at Sauce Bar which is nestled on the waterfront in the Esplanade Theatre Complex. A very full day and then this morning I rushed off to see 'Mandela: Long walk to Freedom' before work since today is the last day of screening in Singapore, only to find it was no longer showing at our local. Bugga!