watery wednesdayWeekend Reflection: Teen Cancer

My school is at Point Chevalier, which is near this beach. I am proud to say that my school supports Canteen.

This is a reflection post of a different kind. This year's Canteen appeal is close to my heart. A friend's son and ex student of my school has cancer. As a bereaved mother, I feel for all those mothers who had lost their children to cancer, and I walk with those mothers who are struggling with their children as they fight this horrible disease.

http://www.canteen.org.nz


http://www.facebook.com/CanTeenNZ

CanTeen is the New Zealand organisation supporting young people aged between 13 and 24 living with cancer.

CanTeen was established to ensure that no young person in New Zealand living with cancer should ever have to feel alone.
Mission Our mission is to support, develop and empower, young people living with cancer through a national peer support network, and high quality educational and recreational programmes.

Their annual appeal is the Bandanna Challenge,Bandanna Challenge is CanTeen's major public appeal and fundraiser for the year and was held from 23 September - 9 October in 2011. It is over, but you can still buy them online.

On everyone's lips who are watching the Rugby World Cup is 22 year old Aaron Cruden. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which necessitated the removal of one of his testicles, and is said to have cost him a super 14 contract in 2009. The cancer has since gone into remission. Cruden started the match at First Five-Eighth against Australia on 16 October 2011, in the World Cup Semi Final at Eden Park, scoring a drop goal in the 20-6 victory for the All Blacks.

Most schools support them, and my school's student council sold bandannas and the children wore this colourful bandannas in different style. The classroom became a sea of coulour hues.

The most popular ones were designed by celebrities and sporting heros.

Some schools refused to support this cause arguing that bandannas are associated with gangs. This is a pity as the orginally intention was to identify with cancer victims who usually lost their hair and have to wear a bandanna over their head to cover their baldness.



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Weekend Reflection: Respect

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It was a cold, blustery, winterly afternoon,
A group of senior citizens walked in the rain to catch the train.
The train station was just a small shelter with a bench.

My heart sank, at the "no respect" the two young girls showed.
They continued to sit,
When many of the senior citizens, some in their 80s had to stand in the rain.

I felt sad,
when I was young,
I was taught to give respect, and give up my seat for an older person.

In school,
I teach my students, to give respect.
Where was the respect on that Wednesday afternoon?

Weekend reflection: I was banking on living for a long time yet.

In this photo taken in 1972, we were in lower 6, Tien Fen and I were actually seated next to each other. You see her, the pretty shoulder hair? and I the plain short hair.




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Last Thursday night, I thought I was fit as a fiddle and though I have lived past my half a century, I was banking for living for at least another quarter. Then I was in Emergency Dept for unexplained chest pains for half an hour. It was good to check it out, and I had ECGs, blood tests and Xrays. It turned out I was having a viral infection which after a week, is still causing me discomfort and reminding me to slow down.

Nothing prepared me from the news a friend just sent me. A mutual friend had died. All three of us started school on the same day, and Tien Fen was my class mate when we were in the last year of High School. I had not seen her for 38 years, and I not going to see her again.

Today's her funeral and I reflect on my own immortality. Tien Fen is not the first to pass on. In fact she's the 4th. I wonder what her eulogy will be like, and what mine will be like. In the mean time, I better live my life so that I will leave behind a legacy and my friends and acquaintance will sing, For she is a jolly good fellow.

Farewell my friend. You were the sweet classmate that we in form 6 regarded you as the bridge that spanned across the Arts students to the Science students.


http://www.methodistcollegekl.edu.my/

Heartfelt Condolences to Mrs Chiu's Family
Methodist College Kuala Lumpur
Offers Its Heartfelt Condolences

Mrs. Chiu (nee Luk Tien Fen)


Mrs. Chiu, a senior lecturer at Methodist College Kuala Lumpur, was called home to the Lord on 7 June 2011 after a short illness. She passed away at the University Hospital, Petaling Jaya at around 11.30pm surrounded by family members and friends.

Originally from Sibu, Sarawak, the late Mrs. Chiu served the College for over 26 years as an Economics lecturer. Her dedicated teaching and care for students reached beyond the classrooms. She was advisor to the Christian Fellowship group and served as Head of the Arts Department for many years. More recently, she was appointed as Head of Economics Panel.

Mrs. Chiu will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by the staff, former and present students as a loving and caring teacher, a friendly person with an easy smile and a loyal staff who has touched the lives of many students and colleagues. She has served the College well with her dedication and discipline.
Our prayers and heartfelt condolences go to Mr. Chiu Ching Siang, her loving son Ti Ming, family members and dear ones as they go through this difficult time.

The wake service will be held on the 8th and 9th June, 8.30pm at No. 5, Gui Yuan Funeral Parlour, Jalan 229, Kampung Tunku, Section 1, Petaling Jaya. The funeral service will be on Friday, 10 June at 10.00am at the same place.

watery wednesday: boys at play

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My son and his cousins at play one hot summer day.