Anniversaries: Is today less special? ( A Senryū)
This Haiku is about the celebration of anniversaries. Examples are Mother’s day, Women’s day, Mental health day, birthdays, wedding anniversary, etc. Is every day less special? Or the annual celebrations impact commercialisation?
Serious little politicians!
This video was circulating in social media. This happens to be a crucial time. My country is contemplating who will be the next prime minister!
Serious little politicians!
How painful is pain?
We visited a rural hospital. A young boy sat upon a bed with a cast on his right swollen foot. His sad and tearful face looked up as the team approached his bed.
“Sakit? (Pain?)”
He nodded his head and pointed to his foot.
The pain scores were charted as ‘2’ the whole day. (‘0′ means no pain, ’10’ means extreme pain according to a pain assessment ruler) “The boy pointed at ‘2’ most of the time!”
“Well, his face itself tells one it is at least an ‘8’ (according to a pain pictorial assessment tool).
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Quote:
Pain has a purpose. It tells us something needs to be attended to.- Chen S. P., Aug. 2021
The climb might be tough and challenging, but the view is worth it. There is a purpose for that pain; you just can’t always see it right away.- Victoria Arlen
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“Why can’t my mother die in my arm?”
This was an angry outburst from a doctor son. It was a devastating and heart-breaking voice recording forwarded in a social media chat group. He received a box of her mother’s ashes four days after her death from COVID-19.
Being a semi-retired healthcare worker, I can see where he is coming from. ICU staff with PPEs ( personal protective equipments) work round the clock on COVID-19 patients. It is a possible option for closed ones to wear PPEs to be near their loved ones. Although, no healthcare institution would take this risk.
It is important to weigh the risks and benefits of the practise and other options.
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A lady in ICU once instructed her loved ones to start chanting (Buddhist) during her final hour outside ICU. That was before COVID-19.
“A recorded prayers from close ones to be played next to ICU patients would be a good option, too!”
Hearing is thought to be the last sense to leave when a person Is unconscious or dying.
A final say; COVID-19 is indeed cruel to the last!
Airports: frozen in time?
This wall mural used to greet us upon arrival in one of our airports. How long will the travel industry be frozen in time?
Quotes:-
The travel industry enables a global community in wellness, prosperity, and in sickness.
– Chen S.P., August 2021
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The choking haze after the fire
I took these pictures a few years back in Kuching when there was a forest fire in Kalimantan. Even these news pale as compared to today’s daily reports on Covid-19!
People are busy fighting this pandemic war, there is no time and energy for deforestation and unethical developments.
Quote:
Finally, we have cleaner air, but only, with this threat of Covid-19 virus in the air! – Chen S.P., Aug, 2021
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Caning? Who has never been caned before?
“He used to cane his sons when they were young. But he would never allow them to cane his grandchildren!”
“My daughter-in-law would never use a cane. She uses the silent treatment: Stand at the corner.”
“My mother is the disciplinarian at home. Daddy is too busy… But we love her for what she is!”
“We used to hide the feather duster…”
“… If you cane me, I will report to the police!” coming from a pouting eight years old, next door kid! He heard another neighbour warning his mother, after taking away a wooden plank from his mother’s hand the last time.
“Mum, you used to cane me. That is why I am disciplined and successful in life!”
“My boys used to fight. It would be a five cane on each hand for both of them. Funnily, my daughter never need to be caned at all!”
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Quote:-
My brother said that at Eton, students were told caning builds character. I suppose girls are caned less because we aren’t thought to have much character.””Which is the sort of thing males say when they don’t know any women. – Mary Jo Putney
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Pandemic: home-makers turned hair-dressers! ( A Senryū)
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Pandemic lockdowns
Hair dressing salons closed, too!
who will cut my hair?
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Your hair looks well groomed!
I thought A Cut Above ‘s closed?
Tis, my Mama’s Cut!
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The pandemic lockdowns have non-essential services closed, including hair dressing salons! But, hairs don’t stop growing, do they?
Many home-makers have turned hair-dressers at home!
Who cut your hair at home during lockdown?
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Pizza: how many slices do you want?
A light Sunday humour with pizza!
Quote:-
When the waitress asked if I wanted my pizza cut into four or eight slices, I said, ‘Four. I don’t think I can eat eight.- Yogi Berra
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“… no need to cut because this is a personal sized pizza. Any growing-up teenager can finish that one whole piece! ” – this would probably be my son’s response!
Monkey pose! (A Haiku)
A monkey posed for my mobile camera patiently. The monkey pose reminds me of another ‘monkey pose’ in yoga, Hanumanasana. This is one pose not everyone can do. Certainly, not me!
Chen Song Ping 