傍晚到医院探望外公，他见到我很高兴。我想躺在医院里应该是蛮闷的。
我买了新民和晚报。我笑说封面的新闻都一样，但他却笑说里面不一样，我听起来似乎有一点哲学的感觉。
外公突然从躺着座起，轻声地对我说，旁边床上的病患得的是淋巴癌，刚开刀，只为了取出一块瘤做进一步的化验。外公说那位先生晚上因为伤口疼痛，一直在哭。外公再一次嘱咐我说他不要动手术。我转头看了一下旁边的病床，他躺着，看起来没什么精神，上半身的衣服敞开着，似乎感觉到热，家人还另外带了风扇，摆在一旁，向他吹着。他鼻子里插了一条细管，可能用来帮助呼吸。外公说这位大伯病得很重。我看着，没有勇气去想像外公病情恶化时的情况。
外公和我谈到从前的日子。他说从前开工厂的时候，除了很忙，也时时担心着资金周转的烦恼。
他说，得想着：
1）房屋的租金
2）工厂的租金
3）水电费
4）工人的工资（大概7-8 员工）
5）孩子们的学费
我看着他，目光遥远，应该是回想起这一段过去。他又说，有的时候，觉睡到一半，在深夜会突然惊醒，又愁着金钱的问题。他看着我，说最好是不要当老板。我说我是打工仔，他听了蛮高兴。
谈到我正在学武术，他叮咛我要小心，不要用力过头。
夕阳西下，外公叫我会去了，提醒我要记得吃晚餐，驾车不要太快。
29.6.08
28.6.08
Grandfather in hospital
He complained of dizziness yesterday night and was sent to TTSH. I understand that he was admitted only in the wee hours of the morning due to the shortage of beds.
Together with my Uncle Keong, I met the doctor in charge this morning. The prognosis was the same. The cancerous growth in my grandad's colon is continually bleeding so it is a matter of time when it becomes anemic and symptoms such as dizziness will manifest.
We were asked to decide on the following:
(1) As the scans/ biopsy results from NUH cannot be transferred to or shared with TTSH, if patient was to stay for treatment at TTSH, additional scans will be required
(2) Would patient consider surgery to remove the malignant growth? Surgery in itself is curative if the cancer is confined to this particular growth at the colon. (There is however another growth at the liver which the doctor described as 50:50). If however, the cancer has spread, then surgery will still be necessary to mitigate the symptoms.
A note however, from the doctor was, that the malignant growth has almost completely blocked the colon. Even if cancer do not strike first, the malignant growth might grow to an extent that the entire colon is blocked, which will require surgery anyway.
I was asked by my uncle to break the news to grandad. I am thankful that grandad is a brave soul, never batting an eyelid but even smiling at me as I described to him what the doctor has explained. I did not mention cancer though, I just told him that the growth in his colon is "not a good one". But I think he got the drift.
He was adamant that he will not be subjected to surgery nor chemotheraphy. When I explained that if the growth should block his colon, and that it will be painful, and he might have to go through surgery anyway, his reply was to go one step at a time.
Grandad is a brave man. When I reached hospital, a nurse was in the process of sticking a needle into his arm to draw blood. I saw him closed his eyes, winced, as he felt the pain. When he opened his eyes and saw me, he smiled and never once said he was suffering. I didn't show it, but in my heart, I was in tears.
Together with my Uncle Keong, I met the doctor in charge this morning. The prognosis was the same. The cancerous growth in my grandad's colon is continually bleeding so it is a matter of time when it becomes anemic and symptoms such as dizziness will manifest.
We were asked to decide on the following:
(1) As the scans/ biopsy results from NUH cannot be transferred to or shared with TTSH, if patient was to stay for treatment at TTSH, additional scans will be required
(2) Would patient consider surgery to remove the malignant growth? Surgery in itself is curative if the cancer is confined to this particular growth at the colon. (There is however another growth at the liver which the doctor described as 50:50). If however, the cancer has spread, then surgery will still be necessary to mitigate the symptoms.
A note however, from the doctor was, that the malignant growth has almost completely blocked the colon. Even if cancer do not strike first, the malignant growth might grow to an extent that the entire colon is blocked, which will require surgery anyway.
I was asked by my uncle to break the news to grandad. I am thankful that grandad is a brave soul, never batting an eyelid but even smiling at me as I described to him what the doctor has explained. I did not mention cancer though, I just told him that the growth in his colon is "not a good one". But I think he got the drift.
He was adamant that he will not be subjected to surgery nor chemotheraphy. When I explained that if the growth should block his colon, and that it will be painful, and he might have to go through surgery anyway, his reply was to go one step at a time.
Grandad is a brave man. When I reached hospital, a nurse was in the process of sticking a needle into his arm to draw blood. I saw him closed his eyes, winced, as he felt the pain. When he opened his eyes and saw me, he smiled and never once said he was suffering. I didn't show it, but in my heart, I was in tears.
22.6.08
小草
母亲牛刀小试，在博克写了她的处女作，笔名‘小草’。
记得母亲还在幼儿园任教时，常常得为她的学生们编舞，找适当的歌曲。我对于有一首《小草》的歌词印象非常深刻，歌词不仅是描绘小草在风雨中的情形，所用的形容词巧妙地与人相并起来，给听歌的人一种振奋的帮助，因为每一个人，都会有过沮丧，失落的时候。
《小草》
大风起 把头摇一摇 风停了
又挺直腰 大雨来 弯着背让雨浇
雨停了 抬起头 站直脚 不怕风
不怕雨 立志要长高 小草实并不小
记得母亲还在幼儿园任教时，常常得为她的学生们编舞，找适当的歌曲。我对于有一首《小草》的歌词印象非常深刻，歌词不仅是描绘小草在风雨中的情形，所用的形容词巧妙地与人相并起来，给听歌的人一种振奋的帮助，因为每一个人，都会有过沮丧，失落的时候。
《小草》
大风起 把头摇一摇 风停了
又挺直腰 大雨来 弯着背让雨浇
雨停了 抬起头 站直脚 不怕风
不怕雨 立志要长高 小草实并不小
21.6.08
第一次的义工活动 --- SAGE
16.6.08
14.6.08
Dana loves my bed
Ever since I invited Dana onto my bed more than a year ago, she has taken her right to be on the bed as a given. In the past, before I sleep, she will climb onto the bed and accompany me, but will venture down to sleep on the floor (where my wife says is cooler) when I doze off. But lately, she seemed to have gotten used to the comfort of the bed. In the middle of the night, when I wake up for a sip of water or to visit the loo, she will be lying on her side on the bed, sleeply soundly away.
Like this.
Like this.
13.6.08
8.6.08
Photos from Nanjing - Mum's Edutrip
Mum's back from her trip to Nanjing. It has been two days and she is still talking about it. Looking at the program for the 7 days, the organisers have packed in a lot of activities and opportunities for learning and interacting. I cannot provide captions for the photos, because I didn't have the good fortune to go! haha
This is Mr Huang Mingde. Appears quite often as a guest on Radio 1003 (yes, I am on the uncle station).
According to mum, this was her work, albeit with lots of assistance from the instructor.
This is Mr Huang Mingde. Appears quite often as a guest on Radio 1003 (yes, I am on the uncle station).
According to mum, this was her work, albeit with lots of assistance from the instructor.
Housewarming & Junglun's Birthday
Aunt Jac moved into her new place and graciously held a housewarming lunch today. It was also the occasion of her son, my cousin, Jinglun's 19th birthday! As Jinglun is 'reading' law, I got him a John Grisham novel and a key chain with the words "Good lawyers never lose their appeal". A little cheesy on the pun, but it will have to do -- difficult to find appropriate for sensitive 19 year olds!
Some photos on the new place which is sited on a knoll, the balcony looks out onto the south of Singapore. Looking down, one can see the swimming pool and some mature trees which provide a welcome sight of greenery.
The pool, a good half-olympic size length, looks colorful and welcoming from the top. I heard from cousin Jialun the depth is only 1.3m which I think is a good idea for safety reasons.
That's the club house. The tennis court is on the second level, beneath it is a well-equipped gym, the management office and two functions room.
Sinclair and his soon-to-be wife. They are colleagues at their work place.
Jinglun's birthday cake complimentary of Sinclair and 'wife'. Wonderfully sinful -- lots of chocolate!
woohh...branded cake!
The birthday boy looking 19 years old! compliment...
My nephew Seth striking a pose for his uncle.
Some photos on the new place which is sited on a knoll, the balcony looks out onto the south of Singapore. Looking down, one can see the swimming pool and some mature trees which provide a welcome sight of greenery.
The pool, a good half-olympic size length, looks colorful and welcoming from the top. I heard from cousin Jialun the depth is only 1.3m which I think is a good idea for safety reasons.
That's the club house. The tennis court is on the second level, beneath it is a well-equipped gym, the management office and two functions room.
Sinclair and his soon-to-be wife. They are colleagues at their work place.
Jinglun's birthday cake complimentary of Sinclair and 'wife'. Wonderfully sinful -- lots of chocolate!
woohh...branded cake!
The birthday boy looking 19 years old! compliment...
My nephew Seth striking a pose for his uncle. 1.6.08
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