"Saw a rainbow on my way to work today", LgM told me. "Life is beautiful, Qinghui."

So very thankful for good friends.

Valentine
by Carol Ann Duffy

Not a red rose or a satin heart.

I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
like the careful undressing of love.

Here.
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.

I am trying to be truthful.

Not a cute card or kissogram.

I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.

Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring,
if you like.
Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.

******

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone. May you find love as uncomplicated, as direct, as simple and as frank as an onion moon wrapped in brown paper.

Rain falls gently on
A vermilion window pane
So beautifully

The 96-year old lady sat in the corner of the crowded living room, lost in her own thoughts in the midst of the cacophony of Chinese New Year visitng. Occasionally, she would reach out for a piece of guava or pomelo and would offer some pineapple tarts to those around her.

My mum and I walked towards her."Tou Gou [1]," my mum greeted.

The old lady turned and smiled. "Who are you?", she asked with a bewildered look on her face.

"She doesn't recognise us anymore", my mum whispered. "She is quite old you know."

"Do you know him?", mum asked as she pointed to me.

She shooked her head. "No, not really. Forgive me, my memory has been getting worse."

"I'm your youngest brother's grandson.", I said

"Yes, your youngest brother's grandson," mum added. "You remember your youngest brother? You always called him Jia Gong [2]."

Her face lighted up when she heard my grandfather's nickname. She called him corn as he was very tall and thin, like a corn cob.

"Yes I remember Jia Gong! You are his grandson?", she asked.

"Yes I am", I nodded and smiled.

She took my hand and smiled. "Your grandfather was a good man you know. I came to Singapore from China when I was just 10 years old. He was here already before me. I stayed in Tekka, very near to his raincoat shop. Were you born when the raincoat shop was around?"

"Yes, I was", I replied. The old raincoat shop was on the ground floor of a shophouse along Upper Dickson Road, and I stayed on the second floor with my mum and dad.

"Do you remember where is Jia Gong?", my mum asked.

The old lady was silent for awhile and her eyes started to tear as memories of her brother came back to her. "Jia Gong died many years ago..."

And so we sat there as she told us stories about my grandfather; about how she left her village to travel to a foreign country at the age of ten; how she started work as a samsui woman; how tough life was during her time; and how she would like to visit her village again soon.

We left her in the corner of the crowded living room with memories of her long-lost brother. She may not remember me or my mum or the conversation that we had, but I'm glad she still remembers Jia Gong. I'm glad I had the chance to speak to her and the chance to know my grandfather a little better.

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

********

[1] "Eldest Aunt", or "first aunt" in hokkien
[2] "Corn" in hokkien

A haiku to commemorate the recent hard disk crashes (at work) and internet down-times (at home).

Sometimes it will work
Sometimes it decides not to
SOEasy, is not

31 Dec 2011, Quaich Bar

Five hundred, twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes
Five hundred, twenty five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred, twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
- Seasons of Love, from Rent

*****

For me, 2011 was measured in experiences and friendship.

TH was a great learning experience - picked up new technical skills, learned new ways of thinking, travelled to many different places and made many good friends in the process. I was glad to go back to the mothership, but was very sad to leave the team. I'm happy that some of them moved on to better things, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again soon.

Ah Foo's wedding was the LHZ event of the year! I will never forget the 9 bottles of champagne, 6 towers of beer, snow white and feeling extremely happy at the end of the long day. We're looking forward to the next one! :)

Here's to a great 2012!

I couldn't stop laughing.

*****

Said Hamlet to Ophelia,
"I'll do a sketch of thee,
What kind of pencil shall I use,
2B or not 2B?"
- Hamlet by Spike Milligan