I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my friends a very Merry Christmas, Happy Winter Solstice Festival and a Happy Chanukah. May you be blessed with good health, happiness and good friends. May this season remind us to be grateful for all that we have been blessed with and remind us of our role as the custodians of all beings that share our Planet.
I leave for my seagrass and seahorse monitoring and data collection trip tomorrow, and will thus have to miss celebrating the Winter Solstice Festival at the parental home. However, it is a worthy sacrifice, and I am glad my parents could now appreciate the importance of my volunteer work to me and understand how much effort I have put into placing family first on most occasions.
Friday, 7th December – Monday, 10th December 2007: 29th Birthday
As usual, I could never count on things going according to plan. The Feroza Gang could not meet up on Friday night as there were too few of us around, and so our proposed impromptu overnight 4x4 challenge – cum – camping trip had to be called off. The postponement was also for reasons of safety, as the monsoon rains are raging all around us, drowning unfortunate folk, washing away cattle and livestock and flooding villages.
I had wanted to go to the pub as an alternative to camping, but Jake was not feeling well and I didn’t feel like going without my buddies. It’s no fun having to limit my intake of alcohol to be able to drive home because it makes me anxious and tense to have to watch how much grog I have had. So on that lonesome Friday night, I stayed home, cleaned the Officer’s Mess and watched the idiot box with my roomies instead.
Soldier Man and the other Rainforest Challenge participants were stranded in the middle of the rainforest due to the floods, and were not reachable by cell phone (I’d have tried to make contact by ham radio if I had been given his frequency). The newspapers made it seem very serious and claimed that the participants were all out of food and water, but I know Soldier Man is a Friend of the Trees and will be able to source food and water for himself and the others. I managed to contact one of the event organisers later and was informed that they had sufficient food and water but were all out of grog and cigarettes, and were all in a blue funk about it. 38 of the 100-odd participants took ill, but thankfully Soldier Man isn’t one of them, as he is a tough old turtle, just like me.
As it turned out, I was not able to assist Bernie in getting the deserving youngsters measured for school uniforms as Bernie was away on Saturday. I did, however, manage to coordinate the collection and delivery of school supplies from well-wishers on my end and update the information on the children and single mothers to expedite the purchase and delivery of essential items. I have been going around town in the Battletank to pick up contributions from kind people who were grateful for the opportunity to help out.
Despite all my lofty weekend plans having fallen through, I woke up early on Saturday morning to weed the lawn and clean the garden, asking permission from the small plants whose lives I was taking, as I worked. I finished the job in about 2 hours and then bathed Amber, washed and dried her kennel and cleaned the porch and driveway. By then, Jake and Jess were awake and I asked them to help me with getting all 3 kitties to the vet for their vaccination updates.
Our 3 cats behaved commendably and the vet was quite impressed. We brought the kitties home to rest while we had lunch and after lunch, I resumed cleaning the Officer’s Mess and sorting out the 12 boxes of books donated to Green Living.
Managed to set aside 2 boxes of things for charity (mostly new t-shirts), a box of books for the SPCA and a bundle of National Geog magazines and Readers’ Digests for some of the clinics nearby. At 1800 hours, I loaded the Battletank with Amber’s things, harnessed Amber to the backseat and drove back to the parental home.
The parents reacted as though they haven’t seen Amber or me in years. Still, it’s good to come home to such a warm welcome. Amber and I feasted on treats from the East Coast and the parents proudly showed me the second part of my pro bono article on animal rights and welfare which was published in the papers today:
The Mark of Humanity.
Spent the rest of Saturday evening cleaning the parental home and polishing the furniture. Received a text message from Shu Ning at midnight to wish me a Happy Birthday (Hey, thanks, kid!) and a birthday message from Martin V. at 0243 hours.
Was pleasantly jolted awake on my birthday by a phone call from Hamlin to wish me a Happy Birthday on behalf of Hamish and his mom. Had breakfast with the parents, read the Sunday papers and proceeded to spring clean the living and dining room cabinets. While waiting for the polished cabinet interiors to dry, I cleaned the pantry and wiped down all the kitchen shelves, which would have time enough to dry properly as I spring cleaned my bedroom. That way I didn’t have to waste any time and managed to get more cleaning done in half the time.
Received the news that 5 lawyers were arrested for participating in a public rally in conjunction with the International Human Rights Day without a valid police permit. 4 were arrested in the streets for defying police orders to disperse. I know these 4 relatively well. They’re just the type to bait the police and get arrested for easy publicity and to create the impression that they are martyrs for their cause.
Although I believe in the right to civil disobedience in a participatory democracy, I believe with all my heart that street protests are one of the least productive ways of bringing about change. I am a pragmatist and a worker, and I believe in making a difference by leading through example and working towards aims desired by the majority of people. The 5th arrest, however, was high-handed and unwarranted. The City Hall officers had trespassed upon Bar Council property (on a Sunday, no less!) to remove banners that the Human Rights Committee had put up in our secretariat building. Our Human Rights Committee Chair, Edmund, had then tried to stop the officers from destroying the Bar’s property but was manhandled and arrested by the police. I don’t think there would be any shortage of supporters at the police station where the 5 are held in remand, and I don’t fraternise with the kind of lawyers and take to the streets to voice their opinions, so I kept well away.
Twin Bro and his girl arrived at 1645 hours and brought with them a cake. We had our birthday tea and exchanged gifts. I bought The Twin the remote control helicopter he had asked for (I asked him if he wanted a single-bevel Mora knife, which would be infinitely more useful, but he asked for a toy instead. A helicopter, forsooth! At his age!) and a pack of rechargeable batteries because I don’t want The Twin to be poisoning the Earth with mercury-saturated evil disposable batteries from his electronic plaything.
The Twin got me an MP3/MP4 player and his girl, perspicacious as all women are, got me a whimsical wooden cat clock to add to my collection of wooden cats. The Parents got me a pair of black court pumps, eyeshadow and silk material for a new dress.
The Twin amused himself with his new toy, while I resumed cleaning the house and putting everything back in the shelves and cupboards. At 2015 hours, we went to a Chinese restaurant for our birthday dinner and had a scrumptious dinner followed by our second cake, a glorious chocolate mud cake, which The Twin’s Girl brought.
No alcohol tonight. No heartburn either. Hmmm. I wonder if there’s a link.
Monday, 10th December 2007: Good Day, Sunshine
Final blood donation for 2007. Gave 350ml of blood at the National Blood Bank as a way of giving thanks on my birthday. Filled up the blood pouch in less than 3 minutes and soon adjourned to the cafeteria for the ‘nasi lemak’, coffee, cake and apple I earned from my contribution.
Arrived at the SPCA after lunch. Discussed the spaying of Dr. Jessie’s stray dogs with the vets and director. The driver will pick the dogs up this coming Saturday and send them home to Dr. J after the surgery. Managed to walk a few dogs before it started to rain again. I used the water we collected in all the rain barrels to clean the shelter. I soaped, disinfected and cleaned the kennels, cattery, hospital, maternity kennels, cooking area, front area and puppy area. We finished early because it there isn’t as much work to do as on weekends, when there are more visitors and adoptions.
Reve is away for 5 months to be with her aging parents in Belgium, and will only be back in April, so I won’t have a buddy to talk to while helping out at the SPCA in the evenings anymore. Still, Reve deserves a break as she has dedicated 10 years of her life to helping out at the SPCA fulltime.
Locked up the shelter by 1940 hours. Stopped by the night market in SS2 on my way home for fresh fruit, sweet corn and coat hangers. Reached home, did the laundry and some cleaning and retired to bed with a copy of Tom Brown Jr.’s Field Guide to Living With The Earth.
Tuesday, 11 December 2007: A Birthday Angpow
Came back to work of a Tuesday and learned that all 5 lawyers have been released on bail. I returned from a Due Diligence exercise at a client’s office to find a birthday contribution from my colleagues. The cash was in an ‘angpow’ or red packet for luck and I was really thankful to have it, as I am near broke already paying for vet fees and other contingencies. I composed a little doggerel and e-mailed it via Intranet to the rest of the office to let them know how much I appreciate their thoughtfulness:
“Dear All,
~ THANK YOU FOR THE BIRTHDAY CONTRIBUTION ~
Birthdays come but once a year,
And often pass unnoticed!
But the birthday angpow brought me cheer,
And I'm grateful to receive this!
I won't spend it on useful things,
Or save it for a rainy day!
I'll blow it all, I'm fairly sure,
Just because I can and may!
So many thanks for your kind gift,
It gave my day a lift!
Growing older's a dubious boon,
I hope your turn comes soon!
With thanks,
Ee Lynn.”
Wednesday, 12th December 2007: Offroadies’ Dinner
Soldier Man is back from the Rainforest Challenge, sans the Land Cruiser II. They had to leave their rigs behind in the rainforest because the floods had cut them all off. Looks like there are no winners of the RFC this year. Still, it’s good to see Soldier Man again. He had asked W.Y, M.H. and me out to dinner with him and his guests from China at the Flaming Steamboat and we gladly obliged.
After the dinner: As if it were not bad enough that my guest room is full of MNS display boards and Green Living books and claptrap, my porch and covered driveway are now full of schoolbags and groceries donated by well-meaning people for the families in need. I am immensely grateful, however, to Serina who went all over town picking up contributions on my behalf on workdays. She’s an awesome friend. I hope she gets to see whale sharks and all sorts of amazing aquatic life on her upcoming diving trip, because she deserves it. Now I need to get everything sorted out, packed up, tidied up and Off My Porch!
Saturday, 15th December 2007 – Sunday, 16th December 2007: Keep On Truckin’.
Arrived at Bernie’s home in Setapak before she did, so I walked down the hill, had lunch and returned to play with her cat, Stripy, while Bernie got ready. She hopped into The Battletank and off we rumbled with a carload of school uniforms, backpacks, school shoes, groceries and sacks of rice.
Our first stop was the servants’ quarters of a big house. We handed them the groceries and gave the children their school supplies. Our next stop was a rundown shack where a diabetic and housebound couple lived with their many cats and dogs (but no food save whatever scavenged or mooched off kindly neighbours). At each home, we would stop to talk to the occupants and see if there was anything they needed assistance or legal advice with (many are facing eviction or are unable to pay rent and their children’s school fees). Bernie would ask to see the children’s report cards and advise them on their studies.
We visited many more homes, mostly low-cost flats and City Hall longhouses. Soon all the groceries and school supplies were gone and we were on our way home. I dropped Bernie off at her house and bade Stripy goodbye before I left for the SPCA.
It was late evening and all the vets, volunteers and admin staff had left when I arrived at the SPCA. Mazni was hosing down the shelter floor and I told her I’d come in to help her for an hour or so. I soaped and washed the floor while she washed and stacked the feeding bowls. I felt sorry that I didn’t really get to help at the SPCA much this weekend but was mollified by the knowledge that Bernie and I had helped a number of needy families this weekend.
Spent Sunday back at the parental home. Bathed Amber, cleaned the parental house, polished the furniture, spring cleaned the kitchen cabinets, collected rainwater, sorted out the recyclables, cleaned my room, wrapped a few Christmas gifts, read a book, read the papers, drafted half a report, did some research for work and got ready for the upcoming workweek.
Thursday, 20th December 2007: Public Holiday
We have a ‘split’ workweek this week on account of Thursday being Hari Raya Aidiladha, a public holiday. Bonus! It’s been a busy week, getting ready for the upcoming seagrass monitoring trip and preparing my presentation on protecting the environment for the fishing community in Sg. Kukup National Park.
I’ve made reservations at Marco’s Pizza for Christmas Eve. I’ll be giving the parents and Boy Scout a pizza treat. I need to shop for edible presents for them as well – brandy fruitcake, nuts in their shell, novelty chocolates and the like.
Our pub had its annual Christmas party on Wednesday. It was awesome, as usual. Carollers, live band, turkey ham, a humongous Christmas tree, the works. Soldier Man came with me. I had expected him to be his usual brooding self but he was more open and sociable that night, and even paid for my drinks as a belated birthday treat rather than nag me about the amount I drink.
We met Corinne and Rachel (i.e. Nice Rachel, Corinne’s friend, not to be confused with Creepy Rachel, the one with personality disorder, who used to come to the SPCA and blames the whole world for her divorce, which we know nothing about) and a number of other friends. Vishnu’s band started playing Christmas songs and we sang along, raising the roof with our off-key howling. Left the pub by 2330 as I wanted to make sure Soldier Man is sober enough to drive home.
Thursday was a good day. Woke up early to weed the garden and bathe the cats. Delivered a batch of school supplies to children in need living in a welfare home in my area. Left for the SPCA after doing my delivery rounds, but my front left tyre had a flat and I had to have it patched and reached the SPCA only around 1400 hours.
I had forgotten that I had been invited for an early Christmas lunch at the SPCA bungalow. Jacinta reminded me of it as I was parking the Battletank and so I went to the bungalow to meet the others and join them for a buffet lunch. The Bungalow Dogs, Tesco and Fatty, would not quit staring at us as we ate until I gave them something.
Escaped to the shelter after partaking of the food, before Alan could make me stay for Dr. Natasha’s talk. There was too much to do down at the shelter and I had no time for talks. Walked and bathed the dogs and treated wounds, sores and tick infestations. A poor little grey terrier had a huge gaping wound on the back of his neck. It was horrible. I put dabs of ointment into the wound and it all disappeared like cars into a nightmare sinkhole. I finally got Dr. Pushpa to put the poor doggie into the surgery for observation.
It began to rain at 1700 hours, which was lucky because many of the dogs have had their walks and baths by then. Worked with Sugen and Mazni, the evening staff on duty, to get the shelter clean. I swept and mopped the office, scrubbed and disinfected the Cattery, Maternity Kennels, bathroom, Puppy Kennels, Hospital and front area. Finished the cleaning, washed myself and was preparing to leave when the rag-and-bone man called out to me and asked me to check the garbage disposal area. There was a box of kittens that some cruel, cowardly good-for-nothing so-and-so had left in the trash. It was a pitiful sight. Even the rag-and-bone man was outraged. “If they had come all the way to the shelter, why didn’t they just come in and surrender the kittens properly, instead of dumping them in the garbage disposal?” he scolded, while he held the box of kittens out to me. I didn’t have an answer to the despicable callousness humans are capable of, and Mazni and I searched the trash in case there were any kittens that had wandered out.
My work finally done and with the kittens safely housed away in one of the big double-decker cages, I went home. Stopped by the Thursday night market for something to eat before going home. Spent the rest of the night doing laundry, cleaning the house, playing with the cats, wrapping Christmas gifts, packing my luggage and checking my e-mail.
24 hours left until my seahorse trip. Am right excited about it. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year 2008, everyone!
MEOWY CHRISTMUTT FROM COVERT OPERATIONS, AMBER, CHLOE, PIXIE AND DAISY!
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