Happy New Year!

Where have all the time gone to? What have I accomplished for myself and for my family?

So many things in retrospect that I would have done differently, then again so many I have cherished and would not trade them for the world. Things that I did that made me truly happy and things I wished I had not done that made that tinge of regret stuck in me.

I guess this is life and I have to be grateful for the good and the bad... the balance of it all. Grateful that I had that balance in my life this past year. It could have been worse. I do hope these total opposites have made me a little wiser so that I can face and brace myself and to guide my family into the new year and beyond safely, excitingly and happily as a unit.

Here's wishing all, a Happy New Year! A year full of happiness, good health and success; always close to family and dear friends, to have the opportunities to share all of these with.

Congratulations to my dear friend Kylita and Hubby!
May the heavens bless your beautiful soul.
For you always make me feel good about myself.
Thank you my dear friend.

Hand In Pottery

I attended my first class on pottery making. A free class given out by a fellow parent from our parent support group, DSP.

It was held at Sonny's school yesterday morning. The class Wifey goes to most Saturdays, helping out the teacher with her pottery making class and at the same time learning the art by making her own pieces as well.


Yesterday, it was open to the teachers there and a few parents from the support group, since the classroom can only accommodate so many. I tagged along and doubled as the DSP photographer for the club, and also got to learn the art and got my hands "wet" with clay.

A few of the teachers brought their children along, so did a few parents. The children made the class less formal and more spontaneous and interesting with their honest and mostly unabashed observations on their work and their parent's.


Each of us was given a lump of clay, some white and some brown... the latter is the more difficult one to shape and given to the more seasoned participants. Wifey got the brown one since she is very familiar with the first technique we got to learn yesterday, called pinching.

Rolled the dough into tight rounded ball with our palms. Then press a shallow dent using our thumb into the dough to start off the opening of the mug... the goal was to make a mug. A sample was on the table and shown to the group to achieve that shape.

As it all turned out, everyone made their versions of great looking... bowls, including me.

After several hours, my first creation was a slanted and strange-looking bowl but am proud of my efforts anyways because the "imperfections are what make the creation handmade" and personal. The teacher said so, herself.


Well, that is the idea I'm sticking with because I could not make the rim even anymore without the danger of its wall collapsing. It was not as easy to "pinch" the dough gradually to make the hole deeper and the walls higher, but it was even tougher to come out with a decoration for the bowl once it was done.

I was stumped but fortunately there were samples of previous works done by fellow teachers and students to give some ideas to what my bowl should have.


I went for the big leaves motif. Simple and less work to clear off the many small lumps of clay when drew lines on the clay. Wifey went for the Oriental tea cup motif with bamboo trees decorated all around it.

We started at about ten in the morning and finished at about one in the afternoon. Not bad for a 3 hour work on the first attempt by everyone.

The many people participated resulted in the many versions of a coffee mug that was not meant to be. Instead, artsy bowl and a sense of achievement produced by everyone filled the room as each one placed their work on the shelve to air dry before they left the class.

Making pottery felt so therapeutic. The hours seemed to fly by so fast as my hands became more comfortable forming the dough and less awkward as the my fingers delved into the clay. I realized my confidence gained as I saw lump of clay slowly took its shape transformed into what I imagined it would be in my hands.


Thanks to Liz for giving me the opportunity to attend her class.

I understand now, why Wifey likes this art so much, producing her many beautiful pieces she produced week after week, apart from the fact that the pieces she helped made will be sold during one of the school's fund raising events for its children from lower income families.

The pieces that we made yesterday are to be sold off too at the same event. It makes me feel happy to get to know this art form and contribute at the same time.

It is a beautiful art form, for a beautiful purpose.

Salam AidilAdha Everyone!

To My Family & All Muslims,
Have A Blessed Day
With Your Loved Ones!

Pride & Joy

Niece & Hubby in a Kompang Procession on their wedding day

Held over the weekend, she had her dream wedding day fulfilled.

Long were the days when weddings were held in kampongs with the whole village getting into the spirit of camaraderie and pitched to make each occasion a success for the hosting family, this day and age, all amenities are so convenient and help, instant.

I do not go to too many weddings but the ones I had attended throughout the years had gained in scale and awe factor... all that you need is a deep pocket because it has become a one-stop-service centre to make your wedding day a success and an unforgettable one.

Niece's Wedding Banquest @ Kaki Bukit CC

Niece's wedding was held at Kaki Bukit Community Centre hall. The place is easy to find, large and bright, and especially welcoming was the air-conditioned hall in this hot and humid environment... a boon for the ladies with their colourful and often times, shimmering dresses, the air-condition helps them tremendously to keep themselves cool and beautiful all day long.

From the food catering, to the logistics and wedding dais, the whole setup looked marvelous and grand. So pleasing to the visitors to stay longer and reconnect with distant relations and old acquaintances.

Brother, Mom, Couple & Sis-in-law
Mom unable to go on stage, so wedding couple joined her

The food was sinfully scrumptious! Beryani Dam and curry, with a side of large prawns in black pepper, chicken cutlets in sweat-sour source were a heavenly combination. The large spread of deserts complete the menu perfectly.

All that fine food is not for the people who count calories but since it was a special occasion, old folks had to enjoy them in moderation.

Mom putting a brave front without Dad with the happy couple

Wifey loved all the dresses that Niece was wearing at different times of the day... "I would definitely pick the ones she chose... she has great taste." Wifey was telling me, obviously excited and happy for her. Most probably it brought back many fond memories of our wedding.

The highlight of the wedding must have probably been the grand entrance of the groom as he arrived at the bride banquet.

Kuda Kepang Ladies in Kompang Procession

Again, long gone was the "normal" kompang procession of the groom as he approaches the bride's home. Niece's was an elaborate procession in Javanese influence... kuda kepang ladies dancing and leading the procession, fronted by a pair of "warriors" with wicked shield and spears and guarded at the sides by a pair of escorts carrying bunga mangga and another with a three-tiered umbrella, of old Javanese-Hindu influence.

Festive Bunga Mangga decoration

The bridegroom, all dressed up in his finest and accompanied by his best man, walked down in a procession of loud kompang, deep bass drum, gong and a Javanese version of the xylophone... all making interesting ethnic music, signalling from afar of the groom's arrival.

Groom getting permission to join his wife on the dais

The height of the day was the meeting of the couple at the dais, sitting together as husband and wife, as king and queen for the day, witnessed by all their loved ones and sharing their joy with them.

Photo-taking was a big challenge for the DJ. The large turn-out of guests - from family members to relatives and friends lined up to the stage, waiting for their turn to capture the special moment with the couple. It was a long process but a non-stressful one.

Wedding days are the best days to meet up with long-lost relations... from old villagers to high school mates. Chances are somebody is married to someone you knew long ago and someone is someone else's in-law or something. Singapore is a small island, so chances are you will meet an old friend, cousin or a distant uncle or aunt.

As for me, I got to meet in person again, my play mates from the village. We were children playing endless times then but now we have children of our own... in a different setting, in this modern day.

The experience is just priceless!

Just wished I brought my dSLR with me. Yet again, my iPhone camera saved the day, at least.

To my Niece and her Hubby,

May you both be blessed in joyful union
May you build a beautiful life together
Building a happy family of your very own
Congratulations!

Courtesy of Younger Niece's Family Photo from Facebook