My Favourite Classroom

Illiteracy still exists in this modern age. Though education is mandatory for many countries, there are still countries where even the journey to school is an adventure.

Fortunate are those who had education and even more so many decades ago.

Students study in comfort these days with at least fans if not air-conditioners in warm countries. It was unheard of in the earlier days.

EJ had a favourite classroom.

Situated off the centre of the school field, this classroom had no walls. In its place instead was chicken coup wires with an attap thatched roof. Art classes were mainly held here and it was perfect as students had an all-round view of what they wish to draw.

From here, the students could see the blooms of beautiful white lilies with geese waddling near, goods being delivered to the school canteen on a bicycle, cows grazing in the corner of the field, the principal's well-fed dogs mooching around, and smell the sweet scent of the frangipani trees nearby.

It was nice and comfortable during good weather with gentle breeze blowing but with stronger winds, papers had to be held down. And when it rained coupled with strong winds, students moved towards the centre of this classroom away from the droplet sprays.

This photo below was taken in the fifties. EJ recognises classmates in the primary/elementary days. They were the tiny ones in the front, some on those tiny chairs.

EJ believes this was taken on the school sports day. The students were to stay in and around this classroom and not wander for their safety. Those days children were obedient and follow rules with only a handful of mischevious ones.

Many thanks to Rema who preserved and gave this wonderful photograph which brought back lovely carefree memories.

Oops! OOPS!

Not sure what I clicked and seems to have lost quite a bit of stuff.
Looks like I have to pick up all over again.

Any suggestions and advice will be most appreciated.

Thanks.

Walking without Paws

Bet many of you have not seen how a cat walks without two front paws.

No one knows why and how Kenggy is without her front paws. When Kenggy waddles to EJ for a cuddle, EJ had to sit on the floor and not move at all. Usually EJ will grimace when Kenggy's front legs walk on EJ's thighs.

Without paws, Kenggy's front legs are just bone ends covered with skin and fur. Moving with her rump much higher than her shoulders due to those shortened front legs, EJ could feel the pressure of Kenggy's weight on those stumps and it hurts.

If EJ could feel the bone ends, EJ believes Kenggy would feel more and hurt more.

Those spots where Kenggy rests and walk on are devoid of fur. In its place are calloused skin.

Kenggy is such a pretty, loving girl with immense optimism, determination and fighting spirit.

If you wish to know how Kenggy waddled into EJ's life, please click here.

Mom made Music on Erhu

A woeful screechy wail pierced through the quiet night.

EJ and brothers stared at each other. Without a spoken word, they immediately left the dining hall, went into their bedroom and closed the door.

Mom was practising on her erhu.

The erhu consists of a long vertical stick-like neck, at the top of which are two large tuning pegs, and at the bottom is a small resonator body (sound box) which is covered with python skin on the front (playing) end. Two strings are attached from the pegs to the base, and a small loop of string (qian jin) placed around the neck and strings acting as a nut pulls the strings towards the skin, holding a small wooden bridge in place.

Various dense and heavy hardwoods are used in making the erhu. According to Chinese references the woods include zi tan (red sandalwood and other woods of the genus Pterocarpus such as padauk), lao hong mu (aged red wood), wu mu (black wood), and hong mu (red wood). Particularly fine erhus are often made from pieces of old furniture. A typical erhu measures 81 cm from top to bottom, the length of the bow also being 81 cm.

source from wikipedia.org

Mom played on two erhu-s. EJ's brother bought this beautiful erhu with dragon head and snakeskin soundbox from a friend. And when mom's erhu teacher commented that this erhu's tone was too high to match the rest of the erhu-s in her group, mom bought her own - a plain one.

This dragon head snakeskin erhu is now displayed in the owner's house in Toronto. The owner, EJ's brother, does not know how to play but who knows he may one day decide to learn.

Erhu makes versatile and beautiful music. Name of the music played on this video clip is The Horse Race.

Of course mom could not and did not play like this man but EJ is pretty sure that this next clip was one of the many songs mom learnt and played.

Many, many moons later, one night when EJ and brothers were at the dining hall, they heard soft, soothing music. All looked up and at each other, eyes wide opened with jaws slightly dropped in realising who made that music. Dropped jaws slowly turned into a knowing smiles and they continued doing what they were doing. No more scurrying off to their rooms to stay behind closed doors.

This was more than 25 years ago. Now mom, an octogenarian and approaching 90, does not play anymore. Her erhu is somewhere in her bedroom where no one touches it.

EJ would like to wish all mothers (human and animal) Happy Mother's Day and hope that these lovely music will bring back happy memories.

The Big Squeeze

It is baffling why in the world do they do this?

Why do cats love squeezing into small areas making owners feeling extremely uncomfortable and visitors as well as onlookers very entertained. Not that there are no space for them to stretch out. There are nicer, ample places and yet....

Mind-boggling and beyond comprehension!

Care to explain, anyone?