30 June, 2009

急得不得了

四五岁的孩子早已会自己上洗手间,很少夜里尿床,但是在幼儿园突然上演“尿失禁”,时有所闻,孩子们尴尬之余却因为“解脱”了而舒一口气,可苦了老师兼当打扫婢,还得找来备用裤子给少爷千金替换。
脾气好兼具同情心的老师一笑置之,好言相劝:下次记得到厕所去哦。落得个好收场,万一老师本来就脾气大,一见到尿撒当场,顿时委屈愤怒上心头,嘴上不说什么,然而恶相心生,孩子们惊吓之余,更加手足无措。
其实孩子们在课堂上撒尿,一定有不得已的苦衷。
最大的原因就是“有口难言”。
老师虽不是恶人,但也不能算亲人,尤其老师高高在上摆出权威的姿态更是生人勿近,胆小害羞内向的孩子们大概会怕。怕,于是延伸到影响日常作息,原本人有三急这等自然事,由于得开口向那个“可怕”的高大形象说明,而心里委实紧张万分,唯有“天人交战”般与尿意相抗衡,盼望能捱到放学。
心里越抗拒,往往越想念,“天人交战”一输,尿如开闸之水,滚滚来。
不知道老师们是不是愿意主动安排一段时间,比如茶点过后,让孩子们排队上厕所,当然也允许尿囊浅的孩子多上几次。老师们会说:那,内向的孩子不就永远学不会向老师提出上厕所如此简单的要求?
孩子们了解有一段“上厕所”时间,也清楚另外提出来并不会被责骂,慢慢地自然觉得向老师提出来并不是难事,也不会遭怪责,自然就愿意向这个越来越和气的老师“打开金口”了。

29 June, 2009

别急着飞

杨绛先生的卧室窗前一棵病柏上喜鹊飞来筑巢,下蛋,等到小喜鹊破壳而出,阿姨和她都很欣喜。小喜鹊带来生之喜,不就是摇晃着小脑袋,嘴巴张得大大的模样,阿姨算着,这些小喜鹊再过得七天十天,羽毛长丰了才开始学飞。是,小鸟学飞的连串动作肯定要比张大嘴等喂食好看,看它们怎么小心翼翼,亦步亦趋学扑翅,跌跌撞撞到一飞冲天,能够亲眼目睹自然喜悦无与伦比。能飞的喜鹊,也就能独立而活,不再需要父母鹊辛苦喂食。
但是,杨先生“不急于看小鹊学飞,只想看小鹊儿聚在巢口,一个个张着黄口,嗷嗷待哺。”这句,读得眼热。

杨绛《走到人生边上--自问自答》

26 June, 2009

福气



俯首甘为孺子牛是父母的本分了。



看官,为孩儿准备饭盒不仅讲求营养,可口,合适份量,心细手巧的妈妈还讲究视觉效果,投其所好,化平凡无奇的面包芝士为卡通,真正“秀色可餐”,连大人也垂涎三尺。



有图为证:

上她家去

25 June, 2009

乞丐aunties?


AussiePete@Shop n Save - The Voucher Aunties


To most people who have lived in Singapore for some time, this is nothing new. It is certainly nothing new to me, but today I feel fed up enough to raise the issue on my blog.

Before I started writing this article, I searched on google images as I usually do to find any appropriate or relevant pictures. To my surprise, I found a couple of articles covering this topic dating back to last year on popular Singapore news websites.

Furthermore, I noticed that the articles quoted 'Shop n Save' management as saying that if the touts enter the store, they will immediately be asked to leave... this I can guarantee is definitely not true...

OK - for non-Singaporeans - what the hell is Aussie Pete talking about?? Well, let me explain the background and current situation...

'Shop n Save' (owned by the Dairy Farm Group) is a chain of 'smaller' local supermarkets, usually located in convenient locations, making it useful for shoppers on their way to or home from work. In my case, I frequently visit the Shop n Save at Admiralty MRT on my way home from work for any necessary items (sometimes spending small amounts on milk, bread or fresh fruit and veges, other times I may need to grab some more expensive items like baby nappies or formula... my bill might range anywhere between $10 and $100).

THE BACKGROUND

More than four years ago, the Shop n Save chain kicked off a promotion whereby for every $15 spent on one bill, the shopper receives one 'stamp' for the current month. When the shopper collects 12 stamps in any one month, they can be adhered to a piece of printed cardboard and redeemed for a $9 voucher valid for 3 months. In essence, frequent customers can claim back about 5% of their monthly expenditure in the form of discount off further purchase from the supermarket chain. Nearly every month, we accumulate through our purchases enough stamps for two or three $9 vouchers.

This is where the 'voucher aunties' come in (this name has been given to these ladies by the AsiaOne news website)... shoppers are 'tagged' by the voucher ladies upon entering the store, and the decision is made as to to who the customer 'belongs' to. Upon departing the store, the shopper is approached by the voucher auntie assigned to them, asking for their stamps.

THE ISSUE/S

Without a doubt, there are reasons why these ladies do what they do - whether it be financial (remember there is little financial assistance from the Government here for the elderly), or whether it be motivated by greed, the activity should be deemed illegal. Begging is not allowed, however what these people do is akin to the same... they may not be asking for money, but what they do ask for can be converted to product purchases, which is essentially the same result. When a person asks for something for nothing, in my mind they are beggars.

Next - it is one thing for these people to approach shoppers and beg for their stamps... however, it is now out of control. When one replies to say that they either collect the vouchers themselves, or that they did not spend the required $15, it is very common for the 'voucher aunties' to scold the shoppers - and not just mild abuse - it comes in a variety of languages, most commonly hokkien, mandarin and english, and the language that spews forth can be downright offensive. On more than one occasion (actually, more times that I could count on both feet and hands), I have been the recipient of the abuse... I have had my arm grabbed, my clothes pulled, I have had shopping bags snatched from my hand, and have even had the stickers (inside the receipt and change) ripped from my hand. This is clearly unacceptable and the law needs to act.

PUSHED TO THE LIMIT

At a minimum, the store management need to do something to control the situation - tonight at Admiralty, I was receiving my change across the counter (inside the store), and I had a 'voucher auntie' reaching into my hand while I was receiving the receipt and stamps. The store clerk did absolutely nothing - the lady was not asked to leave, and even when she began with the common tirade of abuse in front of all the other shoppers, the store manager just looked at her and then looked away - clearly accepting the presence instore and condoning the behaviour.

Tonight's incident has crossed the line with me, because the actions of this lady physically grabbing at me and then yelling at me, scared the 'bejesus' out of my 21-month old son, who started screaming in absolute terror!! It took almost 15-min to settle him and let him know that there was no danger to any of us.

The time for ignoring the harrassment, abuse and physical encounters must now come to an end. The time for action is here... I implore the management of Shop n Save to take some responsibility here - if they still cannot control the situation, the authorities need to be brought in. This has been going on for four years now, and the situation is worsening.

Here is the story I found on AsiaOne today when I was looking for an image for this article.










24 June, 2009

家常便服

选一件有口袋的汗衫,巧手一缝,就是一件合宜的个人笔记外套。可见,心巧之人,无所不能。


21 June, 2009

随时更新

久未买葡萄糖,原来已穿新装,深紫黑加仑子和鲜橙子两味,本来的原味,不见架上摆。原因大概原味葡萄糖糖霜似的,单调,嗜甜者嫌薄弱,厌糖者能免则免,何况此物总与住院相连,形象不讨喜。添加果味,感觉好些,根深蒂固的最初印象却在生在那里,拔不掉。
才几个月没路过的店面,就那家面食还饶有风味的竟然不在,换了手机代理商铺,顿生无常,但感觉上那碗热气腾腾的碗筷俱在,掌柜和店小二闲闲微笑。
久违的同学突然现身,轮廓身影依然,样貌变化甚巨,一时愣住,不敢相认,想必他见我亦如是。不就是记忆没有update,一直停留在最后见面的美好时光,茫茫十年,二十年,再见怎能脱口:你一点没变?
当红明星一时想不开,芳华正盛便断然永别世人,相信也是受不了岁月催人一劫。没有随时更新的记忆,保留旧时相,多好。旧时不一定老残,年轻美貌窈窕活力健康都是,都不愿随岁月update。

20 June, 2009

宣传手法

同一座岛,官家、摄影师、美术设计师、剪辑员眼中真是美得奇幻。
我凡夫俗子,看到的,角度不一样。


19 June, 2009

晃荡忘返

新村门扉一样,不同的是镂了空,望得见屋内陈设。听到里边传出人语,像梁老师给讲座,伸手推门,不动,声音低了下去,没记清楚说些什么,也没把门推开。
走开,现出海岸,三两棵椰树歪头摇摆,伸向遥不可及天边。
湛蓝海水,黝黑孩童相互戏水取乐,不记得有没有度假屋或独霸水摊子,也没留意游客多少,近处黑白一片或彩色纷陈,不记得,唯海浪一波一波后浪推前浪,直到天黑。
一定是度假后遗症。
魂魄流连鹰岛,禁锢太久,它厌倦城市,不愿随机回来。

17 June, 2009

老鹰出没之岛

瞬间,降落伞、细沙和童年。 原来太阳是慢慢爬下山去的。

黑色沙滩,写名字。同样是沙,她不懂其他小孩为何站得老远,有些根本不愿踏上。
就那么永恒卧在天与海间,一个等待的孕妇。生命近在眼前,却遥遥不可期,天海之间,苦等。


是,老鹰出没的岛上,我们住过,短暂,温暖。









09 June, 2009

旧时

将飞回国,但不回家。
到一个岛去。
也还是我们四个人。
几件行李。
许多未知。
等在前头。

假如你来,
就看看旧时絮语。
别急着关窗。

08 June, 2009

上学记

分配座位时,往往就给调到最后一排,好一点,最后第二排,像堆到角落去不给曝光的杂物,好冤,偏偏羞得不好意思申述,后排座位多吵杂,很难听清楚声若蚊蝇老师讲些什么,断断续续地,又不能使眼色让周边不要嚷嚷。上学,成了到末排罚坐的服刑。
好不容易,碰到民主些的老师,座位任选,先到先得。毫不犹豫,前排,靠窗,觉得这般距离最好,望见老师们的侧面多些,声音稳稳送来,刚好。倦了,有一框凝固的风景,胜过灰墙或其他人脸。
上学,成了无可救药的懒散。
到了大课堂,尽是黑压压人头,迟一点就得坐石阶,冰凉,无依无靠,只好以腿当桌,本子搁上,费力望也望不清讲师的唇型,好在讲师也不清楚她是不是缺了门牙。
上学,孤魂似地来去自如。
再后来更没个定数,爱坐哪儿坐哪儿,久了,也就生出默契,这位子,我惯坐,刻上名字一样就等你来。那时候,四周再没人嚷嚷,也没窗口发呆去,更不见黑压压点点头颅,一切只由你。
上学,不就是个人的事。

03 June, 2009

老气

妈妈,我喜欢你。
哦,喜欢我骂你?
不是。喜欢你乖乖。

你喝牛奶就会快快长大呀。
我不要快快长大。(很是着急)
为什么?
我只是要慢慢长大。

我的学校有四个华人--嘉喜,天喜,穆穆和我。
还有,秦老师。
Ms. Tong呢?
她不是,她是英文人。

02 June, 2009

我爱你,所以

有个孩子,父亲早过世,母亲一人将他辛苦养大。孩子长大,交了女朋友。女孩为了考验他的忠诚,要他把妈妈热腾腾的心给她,以此见证他对她的爱。这个被爱情冲昏了头的儿子听了,一句话没说,回去就把母亲杀了,掏出了母亲那颗鲜红的心。

看到此,你跟我一样摇头了吗?
慢着,还没说完。

为了把这颗心赶紧拿给女朋友,他一路飞奔,一不小心踩到石头,跌倒了,疼痛之余,他听见滚到一边的那颗母亲的心在问:
“孩子,你摔疼了吗?”
听到这话后,年轻人放声大哭。

故事完了吗?
不,每天都在不同角落上演。

01 June, 2009

飞禽公园








不敢近水。








听雨。








难得清静。











浅笑 。







群居。