21 Aug  2011 – is the Spice of Life!

Curry is a generic description used throughout Western culture to describe a variety of dishes from Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Thai. Three spices found in most curry powders are turmeric, coriander and cumin; a wide range of additional spices may be included depending on the geographic region and the foods being included (meats, fish, lentils, rice, etc).

Cook and Share a Pot of Curry: to celebrate curries as part of SIN way of life – and to share this celebration with those who are new to SIN! This FB event is created by 8 people to bring awareness of an incident from 2011.

Cooked a pot of chicken curry to share and to celebrate the diversities of culture with friends on Fri evening. Cheers to Kristen, Toril (who lived@Piggsoppgrenda in the 1980s) and to Mette my next door neighbour (from 1981-present), who has never complained about the garlic, ginger curry etc cooking 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=254441147918239
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/shanmugam-clarifies-curry-issue-050053270.html

This incident was a dispute between two neighbours over the cooking of curry in SIN! Am not a fan of curry but do like a good curry once in a while. This is not really about liking curry or not; more about respect and tolerance to the different cultures when living in a multi-cultured environment. In this case, it was a complain from a mainland Chinese family about the cooking odour of their Indian neighbours! The audacity and cheek of them, should have stayed put in China!

FB reader commented: After 7 years, why only this neighborhood dispute was brought up? After 7 years we will go to the poll to vote for PE. Is there a political maneuvering from some political quarters behind this? Are some people intentionally brought this up to propel further the rift between Singaporean and non-Singaporean to get sympathy to push their political agenda.

Variety is the spice of life that gives it all its flavour – William Cowper

16 Aug 2011 – An excuse to be a Couch-Potato!

It has been a wet wet wet Sun, Mon including today! The plants and flowers outside are drenched but still looking good as long as the dead and drenched blooms are trimmed away. Spent the time indoors being a couch-potato, watching old movies. It is a delight to re-discover that I used to be a Cary Grant and Sidney Poitier fan, such dashing and debonair gentleman. Somehow that courteous, gracious and sophisticated charm are not today’s norm! It is easy to understand why I was such a fan and still is after watching some of his movies again. Reading about Poitier’s life added admiration besides being a total fan!

1967 again, 17 must have been an impressionable time! In the Heat of the Night, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner & To Sir With Love also with the titled song by Lulu, a story based on the semi-autobiographical novel by ER Braithwaite. It deals with social and racial issues. If there are more parents and teachers like Sir, perhaps the recent riots could have been prevented. But alas this in not what today’s world is about!

She was just 17 and you know what I mean… – Beatles

Here is a good riddle for this wet day. Tkx Denise for sharing this.

Only 5% of Stanford University graduates figured it out!
Can you answer all seven of the following questions with the same word?

1. The word has seven letters….
2. Preceded God…
3. Greater than God…
4. More Evil than the devil…
5. All poor people have it…
6. Wealthy people need it….
7. If you eat it, you will die. 

Did you figure it out?

Try hard before looking at the answers 
Did you get it yet?

Give up?

Brace yourself for the answer….

The  Answer  is: NOTHING!

NOTHING has 7 letters.
NOTHING preceded God.
NOTHING is greater than God.
NOTHING is more Evil than the devil.
All poor people have NOTHING.
Wealthy people need NOTHING.
If you eat NOTHING, you will die..

14 Aug 2011 – too wet, even for an Opera Fan!

Was planning to go the annual outdoor opera where they will be playing the highlights of this season performance; Aida, La bohème and Magic Flute, a tempting program. Unfortunately the rains started this morning and the forecast for heavier downpours this evening! Being an opera fan, rain or shine would have made the effort to go. But those were the days, now- nah just stay indoors and with my laptop! (no TV or radio for the past 3 months). 

And what a very pleasant surprise, Anne S stopped by for a few minutes on her way to catch her plane to Trondheim.

Last year, 14 Aug: a beautiful Sat evening with an outdoor performance by the Oslo Opera at the Opera House where the stage was a floating platform with a large crowd and fireworks to end the evening. A little taste to start the opera season was very delightful, even with just standing space! Pix are from 2010 with Ingrid & HansK.

Operas were introduced to me by my father who was an opera fan. One of the first and most unforgettable (not because of the voice or the performance!) life opera performance was in 1967@The Gaiety/Dublin. Verdi’s La Traviata/The Fallen Woman. Do not remember who sang the main roles (could not have been that fantastic!) Alfredo brought down the stage-props by pulling too hard on a door. It was hilarious 🙂 🙂 🙂

In 3 Acts, this opera is the all time favourite, about a courtesan Violetta who finds true love with Alfredo. To my ears no one can be compared to Maria Callas where Violetta is concerned. The drama, her voice, music, costumes etc, seems like this role is specially tailored for her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv5hCEf8qSw&feature=related

The famous Drinking Song from Act 1 performed here by Placido Domingo and Teresa Stratas, a well-staged scene with sub titles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcKdnkGBSgA     

Old Lady at Opera: Did you like the opera, dear?
Vivian: It was so good, I almost peed my pants!
Edward Lewis: She said she liked it better than Pirates of Penzance – Pretty Woman

12 Aug 2011 – … You are only here for a Short Visit…

Yesterday and today: lovely days after a cold rainy Wed. Took advantage of the sun to walk in the woods and to Bærums Verk (built in 1610 http://www.baerumsverk.no), checking out if the path is accessible with a stroller. Lo & behold, it is now a gravel path and even with lamp-posts at the certain stretch! By pass the lake and farm, cross the main road by the river and right on to a paved side-walk by the main road. Took app 20mins to get there. My memory of this path seemed to be blurred with a muddy path from 2008!

Spent the day just taking time to admire the hand-blown glass in action. Lunched by river, enjoyed an ice-cream and a slow walk back to the house. Even managed to pick a cup of wild raspberries on the way. Such serenity is a gift many forget to take the time to enjoy and be thankful about.

People we meet, things we get to do sometimes only happen once. We rush by them and miss the moment that will never be repeated. If we stopped for a moment, those people and things could bring a ray of sunshine to lives or they can make a difference in life. Our trip on this planet is very short; invest life in creating a life of fulfillment.

Put things in prospective and don’t spend life worrying when it is not within your control. Take the time to smell the flowers along the way, cherish your moments, your family, friends and be thankful for the people and things that you have attracted into life.

Make hay while the sun shine – ancient English proverb in reference to variable weather.

Don’t hurry, don’t worry. You’re only here for a short visit. So be sure to stop and smell the flowers – Walter Hagen

11 Aug 2011 – What to say to a World in Turmoil…

♥ Peace ♥ Vrede ♥ Paqe ♥ سلام ♥ Свет ♥ Мир ♥ Pau ♥ 平和 ♥ Mir ♥ Fred ♥ Vrede ♥ Rahu ♥ Kapayapaan ♥ Rauha ♥ Paix ♥ Paz ♥ Frieden ♥ Ειρήνη ♥ Lapè ♥ שלום  ♥ शांति ♥ Béke ♥ Friður ♥ Perdamaian ♥ Síochána ♥ Pace ♥ 평화 ♥ Miers ♥ Taikos ♥ Мир ♥ Keamanan ♥ Paċi ♥ صلح ♥ Pokój ♥ Amani ♥ ความ สงบสุข ♥  Barış ♥ Світ ♥ Hòa bình ♥  Heddwch ♥ פרידן ♥
http://translate.reference.com/

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today…

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one – John Lennon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNKhIJfB510

If you have another language or peace word to add to the list, plx send a comment. Tkx.

10 Aug 2011 – Where When How Why What!

The summer weather here in OSL has so far been a mixture of alternate days of sun and rain, which has made it unnecessary to water the little patch of grass and garden that exist! Can we keep burying our heads in the soil?

All the food, garden, weather etc talks are not going to help (or would it!) with what is happening and this is just over a period of less than one month which is most disturbing. Are there answers and solutions besides voicing our concerns??? Perhaps like the ostrich, the heads will remain buried to yet another scenario of it is not happening to me…

Sharing an educational link and a thought-provoking speech in hopes of understanding the unrest and turmoils.

22 Jul: The bombs and shootings in Norway.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14261716

Jul/Aug: Unrest in Africa and the  Middle East

9 Aug: Violence spreads across England.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14460554

Some comments from friends in that area-  The rioting has been in the poorer parts of London, and the poor victims are those who have lost their homes and businesses eg a barber aged over 80 who had his shop burned down. Its just hooliganism. The world has gone mad!

It’s troubling. Yob culture and opportunistic looters are all jumping on the bandwagon orchestrated by anarchists and serious mischief makers.

9 Aug: Stock markets and financial world in turmoil.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14456518

9 Aug 2011 – The Red Dot between Malaysia & Indonesia!

To family, friends and to those sharing my birth-town of SIN, regardless if you are in SIN or anywhere on this planet, have a wonderful celebration and enjoy SIN National day and the National Day Parade.

Was sent off to boarding school in Dublin/Ireland 1965 when SIN just declared its independence and became the Republic of Singapore then. The NDP and fireworks are more impressive for every year but unfortunately usually not in SIN at this time! The beautiful song Home has been performed for some NDP, but for me home is where the ♥HEART♥ is! And whoever says that beautiful music does not stir the emotions is tone-deaf 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7g-PUjbusQ&feature=related

This year in Norway where the memory wandered back to 1967 – touring Belgium, Germany, Denmark & Norway with my father! The last night of the tour was in Balestrand/Norway@Kvikne’s Hotel where Ole, a charming young man approached to ask father’s permission to dance with me. That gesture and courtesy made this incident unforgettable!

Balestrand: an idyllic village in the heart of the fjord country with spectacular views had a pop of under 1,000 then (2010 pop was 1,344). Kvikne’s Hotel, built 19th century is one of the most famous buildings there and was made popular for European visitors in the early part of the 20th century by Kaiser Wilheim II who visited often. Pix credits to different sites. B/W pix from 1967 are in SIN.

The recent bombs and shootings here got me to make an attempt to locate friends from the Norway days. Managed to find Ole thru’ FB to discover that he is a famous author, journalist and film-maker now located in Canada! Hopefully we can re-establish some contact. It would be nice to hear what has happened and what is happening to friends when the memory is still in tact! The innocence is still within and may I never grow to old to treasure the once upon a time in a far far away land 🙂 🙂 🙂

We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us – Marcel Proust

7 Aug 2011 – This & That…

What a mixture for both weather and events; grey gloomy Fri, like the stock market and beautiful sunshine yesterday. Nice to catch up with M&B and Berit with an afternoon visit for dinner and to view the baby’s room which is now ready for our common grandson due next month.

Thu: took a walk to Sandvika, but not the trail originally planned which is more in the woods and by the river. Somehow somewhere, told a wrong turn but resulted with interesting experience. Had to walk pass Bærum Hospital and Martina Hansen Hospital, a private hospital, built 1936. Took a little tour around MH as I have never been there. There is a pix of L&M paternal great-grandfather, John Kløve HALD (1893-1969) who was one of the founders and the first orthopedic surgeon there.                                                    

Løkke Bridge (1829), the oldest cast iron bridge in Norway is located in Sandvika over the Sandviks River.  The iron was cast at Bærums Verk in 1837. This bridge has been an inspiration for many painters including Claude Monet. The bridge painting was done in 1895 and it is private collection but can be viewed at the OSL National Gallery. Also discovered a Kolsås painting by Monet!

It’s on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly – Claude Monet

4 Aug 2011 – Does it Exist??

Sharing some of these humourous pix before trashing them. Another thought-provoking subject to ponder on – True Love! To open this can of worms, one need to first agree on the definition of LOVE and the 3 top definitions according to: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/love

1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person
2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend
3. sexual passion or desire