Waste Not, Want Not.

After reading Larry Haverkamp's article, "Recession? How bad can it get?" published in the New Paper on 18th February, it set me in a contemplative mood. Economists put the odds at 50-50 that the US will drop into a recession this year. No matter what happens, it won't get as bad as the three economic extremes described here.

1) Unemployment. In Haiti, food is hard to come by as jobs are almost non existent. Many families eat a special cookie which costs only 5 cents. The main ingredient is dirt! Yellow soil is mixed with shortening and salt, then left to dry in the sun until the cookies are hard. When there is no food, families eat these cookies three times a day so that they will not have hunger pangs!

2) Inflation. Zimbabwe has the highest inflation in the world, estimated at 150,000 per cent per year. The State newspaper, The Herad is 3 million Zimbabwe dollars. One expatriate complained that the price he paid for his home 10 years ago buys only a single banana today!

3) Loans. India is booming. The population suddenly has access to credit cards and personal loans. In the past people would borrow from friends and relatives. Now they borrow from big banks. There is hardly any record of borrowers. Hence people can borrow, default and then borrow again! Now debt collection agencies are mushrooming all over the country! It is quite frightening when borrowing is rampant.

Before any of us starts to complain, let us count our blessings. I feel sad to see people ordering so much food in the food courts and restaurants. Just observe around you. Very often there would be so much left over. Once at the food court, a lady took a mouthful of noodles, grimaced and pushed the plate away. She later ordered from another stall. Recently, at a wedding dinner, I saw that there was a lot of left over chicken. I asked the waitress if I could take the chicken for my neighbour's dogs, but she declined. I understand that restaurants have their reasons, but is it not time to revise this policy? Can you imagine how much food, good sumptuous food, is discarded everyday throughout the world? A starving little African boy saw a grain of rice and was about to pick it up to put in his mouth when he realised an ant was carrying the grain! Despite his hunger, the little boy compassionately allowed the little insect to have the grain of rice.

Anatole France (1844-1924) wrote, "The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread." If Anatole France were still alive, he would be sad and have to accept the fact despite the majestic equality of the law, the gap between the rich and the poor would always keep widening, because most people are self centred and self seeking.

On my part, I will contribute in a small way. I have decided that from now on, I will not indulge in food like chocolates, chips, etc. Every time I am tempted to buy some chocolates, I will put the money away for the poor. I will cook simple, healthy meals instead of indulging in gourmet dishes which cost a bomb. (I can still always enjoy such meals during wedding dinners, company functions, etc.) I will not waste any morsel of food for if Jesus even asked His disciples to collect remnants of food after feeding the crowd, who am I to waste?

Waste not, want not.

My Little Four Legged Neighbours

I had enjoyed having kept 3 big dogs as pets. Kamlette, a mixed Golden Retriever, was the first dog I ever had. She was one of the puppies abandoned at a mangrove swamp and found by my ex-ACS students. After that I had Kambobo, a Rough Collie, which I bought out of compassion from her owners who no longer could keep him. A neighbour gave me Kam Xiao Bai, a Chow Chow.

After the death of my three dogs, I decided not to have any more dogs as pets. I had been contented with my experience of enjoying my pets. Frankly, when I had my three dogs, I worried about going six feet under, for who would look after them? Hence I decided I would help to "dog sit" for my friends and clients when necessary. Hence, Chelsea, a Cocker Spaniel, came into my life.

When I moved to Little India, I was delighted to find that I had a little Bishon Frise, Kenneth as my neighbour! After a month, Bobby, a Shi Tzu was adopted by Kenneth's owner, Irin. Sometimes I help Irin to walk her two lovely dogs.

Recently Irin decided to give her two dogs "the bald look". However, it is quite cool and windy at our block of flats, and Irin decided to keep the dogs warm with some fashionable wear. I told Irin that Kennth looks like a rich man's son, while Bobby looks like a kung fu fighter in his red and yellow outfit with Chinese characters written on the material.

After their walk with Irin, the two dogs would surely pop by my gate to see whether I am in. Animals cannot talk, yet they reveal their feelings by their action. Frankly, I would rather have dogs as my neighbours and friends than homo sapiens who don't bark, but bite and perhaps even kill. This is why I always send the story of the dog "Wake Up, My Friend", to those tricksters who always inform me that I have won the lottery in the Spanish Sweepstakes, Microsoft Mammoth Draw, Euro Lucky Draw, etc. I also make sure that I send the story of the faithful dog to those with high sounding titles of Dr., Barrister, or CEO of some banks, etc. from Africa and Europe. The faithful dog stood by his dead friend in the midst of a busy road, crying for help, but these homo sapiens are just waiting to skin innocent victims alive!

May God bless Kenneth and Bobby, and all the dogs and animals in this world.

The Cool, Cool Breeze

Before moving to Little India, I stayed at Toa Payoh. In the morning, the bedrooms and the kitchen would receive the morning sun. In the afternoon, rays of the hot, blazing sun would stream right into the 3rd bedroom and the living room. If I were at home the whole day, I would need to change my clothes four times a day, as I would be perspiring the whole day long!

Hence, it is with great relief when I find my current flat a vast contrast! Almost every day, I would be able to enjoy the cool breeze and it is windy most of the time. I have to close the kitchen windows or the wind would be too strong for my gas stove. January is usually quite warm, yet now it is breezy and cool enough for me without having to turn on the fan! There is no blockage as around my block, there are two storey conservation shop houses. Morever, the sea is not too far away from Little India.

Too much airconditioning will expedite the growth of wrinkles. This is why I have given up my table space in the office, and decided to work from home. I thank God for the cool breeze and wind that greet me on most days.
Gan Chau