Ling pictured here with her miniature birthday cake and her two best friends, Snowy and Dana.
13.7.08
Happy Birthday to Ling
Ling pictured here with her miniature birthday cake and her two best friends, Snowy and Dana.
7.7.08
Wii... the Game for Family
Since young, I long to own an electronic game... be it PlayStation, Nintendo or just a simple portable gaming machine. Whenever I see people playing their games, I silently or even verbally (to Ling) vowed that I wanted to buy one.
Just a few months back, when my colleague told me that she got a PSP, I was so tempted to buy one! Reason for holding back was that I knew (ok, someone give me an independent honest and open opinion) I wasn’t going to make use of it often. My many used-for-a-while items served as a reminder of my buy-buy-buy habit…
I got to know about Nintendo Wii from my 2nd Bro’s blog. Hence, I went to do some research of what Wii offers. PS3 and X-Box 360 were the other choices. When I visited the game shop on 4.7.08, I wasn’t too impressed with the Wii games available… too cartoon for a grown up like me. After a while, I decided that perhaps the PS3 would be a better choice. Luckily, the Sales person highlighted the one impt benefit of Wii which is also written on Nintendo’s webpage “Wii is not just a gaming console, it's a reason to get together with your friends and family and play today's hottest games.”
That’s it! I bought the Nintendo Wii without much hestitation. I hope that my family and relatives would enjoy the time spend together playing Wii. I’ll also bring the Wii set (when possible) along for all to enjoy during family gatherings.
Lastly, the cartoony games have far exceeded my expectations and I’ve lost some weight in the process of gaming. I’ll share my experiences of Wii gaming in my next post :)
Just a few months back, when my colleague told me that she got a PSP, I was so tempted to buy one! Reason for holding back was that I knew (ok, someone give me an independent honest and open opinion) I wasn’t going to make use of it often. My many used-for-a-while items served as a reminder of my buy-buy-buy habit…
I got to know about Nintendo Wii from my 2nd Bro’s blog. Hence, I went to do some research of what Wii offers. PS3 and X-Box 360 were the other choices. When I visited the game shop on 4.7.08, I wasn’t too impressed with the Wii games available… too cartoon for a grown up like me. After a while, I decided that perhaps the PS3 would be a better choice. Luckily, the Sales person highlighted the one impt benefit of Wii which is also written on Nintendo’s webpage “Wii is not just a gaming console, it's a reason to get together with your friends and family and play today's hottest games.”
That’s it! I bought the Nintendo Wii without much hestitation. I hope that my family and relatives would enjoy the time spend together playing Wii. I’ll also bring the Wii set (when possible) along for all to enjoy during family gatherings.
Lastly, the cartoony games have far exceeded my expectations and I’ve lost some weight in the process of gaming. I’ll share my experiences of Wii gaming in my next post :)
5.7.08
老李打电话给我-----------（联络篇）
电话铃声一响，Hello, 我是老李。熟悉的声音，甜蜜的呼唤“老廖”您好！
七咀八舌，噼里啪啦，互相报告最新的消息，还有一些花边新闻，最后彼此祝福。
虽然是短短的十分钟交流和对话，却是我们多年友谊的结晶。老李，祝你健康，快乐！
我又上学了---------（学习篇）
今天的心情好兴奋，因为我来到新加坡管理大学，参加第三届终身学习进深课程。
林莲芳是中医应用课程的老师，很年青。环顾班上的同学，多数都可当她的妈妈或婆婆了。
虽然我们年纪大，但是有一股学习的热情，专心听讲，写笔记，提出问题。
亚九和我都乐意为同学服务及协助老师分派讲义，所以我们当上正副班长。
第一节：
中医的基本特点 ：中医基础理论
· 阴阳之间的关系及变化规律
· 阴阳学说在中医学上的应用
第二节：
五行学说
· 五行学说的概念及基本内容
· 五行的生克乘侮
这些名词和医学知识，我从来都没接触过，我也许需要花一段时间去消化和学习。
（天下无难事，铁棒磨成针。）
林莲芳是中医应用课程的老师，很年青。环顾班上的同学，多数都可当她的妈妈或婆婆了。
虽然我们年纪大，但是有一股学习的热情，专心听讲，写笔记，提出问题。
亚九和我都乐意为同学服务及协助老师分派讲义，所以我们当上正副班长。
第一节：
中医的基本特点 ：中医基础理论
· 阴阳之间的关系及变化规律
· 阴阳学说在中医学上的应用
第二节：
五行学说
· 五行学说的概念及基本内容
· 五行的生克乘侮
这些名词和医学知识，我从来都没接触过，我也许需要花一段时间去消化和学习。
（天下无难事，铁棒磨成针。）
弟弟上报了！
第一次柏强重回课室上课（电脑基础课程）竟然登上报章。这个画面，这个消息，让认识他的人都纷纷打电话去恭喜他，询问他，一个早上他“红”了。作为姐姐的我也替他高兴，柏强终於踏出第一步，参于各种团体活动，学习新知识，掌握新技术。加油！再接再励！
4.7.08
Updates on Dana
It has been some time since Dana made the headlines in this blog. The last time she was featured was when she returned from her dreaded trip to the vet and got herself shaved (albeit only over a small spot) due to a skin allergy. I am proud to say that the wound has healed nicely. See the photo below where Dana displays her very nice back for all to see. You couldn't really notice the slight depression, could you?
I think I mentioned earlier that she doesn't like the camera and will always attempt to look away from the camera when I try to take a picture. After much coaxing, she proceeded to look at me, then away.
Finally, a look straight into the camera, but she's not happy! She has that bo pian look in her eyes.
I had to play her favourite game with her favourite basketball to get her attention.
I think she has had enough.
I think I mentioned earlier that she doesn't like the camera and will always attempt to look away from the camera when I try to take a picture. After much coaxing, she proceeded to look at me, then away.
Finally, a look straight into the camera, but she's not happy! She has that bo pian look in her eyes.
I had to play her favourite game with her favourite basketball to get her attention.
I think she has had enough.
1.7.08
Updates on Grandfather's condition
I received a call from the hospital in the morning informing that grandfather can be discharged. We are requested to arrive at 1pm as the doctor would like to see us. In the end, we met the doctor only around 3pm. It was a long and hungry wait. we left the hospital only around 5pm because we had to wait for the pharmacy to deliver a chemotherapy drug which the oncologist has prescribed. More on this later. Oncology is the study of cancerous tumours.
The CT Scan, which was done the night before, showed that grandfather's liver have been affected as well. In medical terms, this is called metastasis or in simpler terms the cancer has spread. So grandfather has metastatic colon on colorectal cancer. From this point on, there is no turning back ie no cure technically and whatever medicine can do is to make his life easier.
Grandfather was insistent on not having surgery. From the doctor's point of view, the immediate risk is that should the tumour in the colon swell, the colon will be completely blocked and could lead to a rupture of the colon. There are two options. First, chemotherapy to try to reduce the swelling of the tumour. Second, inserting a stent at the location of the tumour to allow waste material in the body to continue to discharge to the rectum. However, inserting a stent is not always possible and make not always work well. It is definitely a short term mitigation.
Thankfully, grandfather was receptive to chemotherapy. The good news, as the doctor shared, was that chemo has advanced so much that it is now possible to take the drugs orally compared to intravenously in the past. Xeloda was presecribed. Our concern is whether grandfather will take the drug obediently. We just have to hope that he does.
This round of medication will take 3 weeks. Review is in 3 weeks time and the doctor mentioned that a CT scan will be carried out again to ascertain whether there is shrinkage of the tumour.
The CT Scan, which was done the night before, showed that grandfather's liver have been affected as well. In medical terms, this is called metastasis or in simpler terms the cancer has spread. So grandfather has metastatic colon on colorectal cancer. From this point on, there is no turning back ie no cure technically and whatever medicine can do is to make his life easier.
Grandfather was insistent on not having surgery. From the doctor's point of view, the immediate risk is that should the tumour in the colon swell, the colon will be completely blocked and could lead to a rupture of the colon. There are two options. First, chemotherapy to try to reduce the swelling of the tumour. Second, inserting a stent at the location of the tumour to allow waste material in the body to continue to discharge to the rectum. However, inserting a stent is not always possible and make not always work well. It is definitely a short term mitigation.
Thankfully, grandfather was receptive to chemotherapy. The good news, as the doctor shared, was that chemo has advanced so much that it is now possible to take the drugs orally compared to intravenously in the past. Xeloda was presecribed. Our concern is whether grandfather will take the drug obediently. We just have to hope that he does.
This round of medication will take 3 weeks. Review is in 3 weeks time and the doctor mentioned that a CT scan will be carried out again to ascertain whether there is shrinkage of the tumour.
29.6.08
探访外公
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。
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。
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.
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