Thebarefootfoodie

Of Ties that Bind. Posted on 14 May 2012 Over the last five days and nights, family, relatives near and far, friends and colleagues of the family, old neighbours, and many others from times past, gathered together to bid a sad farewell to a man who has left a rich legacy behind. There is the only son, stoic and composed, a pillar of strength and support. The daughter-in-law, gentle, gracious, like a flowing stream, unassuming, but impactful. The three daughters, each so different in personality and type, but beautiful in their own way. The sons-in-laws stayed in the background,and with invisible hands, provided the necessary emotional and administrative assistance The five grandchildren, ranging from youths to young adult, stood out with their maturity and devotion. C, with his band of brothers, did the watch for two nights, offering much needed rest and sleep for the more senior members of the family. It was a sweet gesture, full of heart, a tribute to his beloved "Ku...

In Memoriam - Yee Cheong, the best uncle I ever had. Posted on 10 May 2012 When the night is at its darkest, and the music fades, All that remains when you have to say that final goodbye on earth To someone who is loved, treasured and was a significant adult in your childhood and teenage years... Thank you for your legacy of wisdom, grace and blessings which you have imparted to me. As a little girl, growing up in Balam Road, I looked upon you with awe; But would take little liberties to be cheeky, knowing with full confidence you are firm, but always fair. After a day's worth of playing with Mei, I would sneak over next door to linger around some more, Watching you read the Chinese newspapers, occasionally humming a Chinese melody, Or breaking out in the loudest yawn I've ever heard, which never failed to send me back in stitches. You were ever the father figure, true to your four children, a vicarious one to me. Sure, you had your share of quirkine...

Just Being There. Posted on 7 May 2012 When a loved one is taken ill, and the illness rears its ugly head, getting more intense by the day...How does one cope? It is painful to watch that someone suffering,  physical condition deteriorating. There is a heavy weight of sadness and an impending sense of loss.  Dad passed on, suddenly, in 2001, of a heart attack. Death dealt a cruel blow as no one anticipated or was prepared for it. He was seemingly ok one day and was gone the next. I have deep regrets - like not trying to understand his frustrations, his outlook of life. I take comfort that he is now in his heavenly home, safe in the arms of Jesus, and I am sure he will forgive me for the times I have clashed with him, not so much because I am the rebel, but because it is impossible to agree when one sees the hole and the other, the doughnut. In 2003, it was my father-in-law. He was the perenial fighter and though doctors have given him negative prognoses time an...

Reflections on believing, living, dying. Posted on 4 May 2012 Death is not pleasant or pretty. The news report the recent passing of a young,beautiful, talented woman, well-known in local theatre. It is sad when a life is over before it has even begun;with hopes and dreams yet to be realised. It does not get easier for those in their sunset years and their loved ones, when serious conditions threaten, and mortality is perched precariously, on a thread.  Death is impartial to any, a great leveller of all and sundry, and cruel in its finality. Some, in chronic pain and physical suffering, would actually welcome it as a form of reprieve. But is it really the end? What happens after we die? To answer this, it begs the question of how we got here in the first place and what we are supposed to do while we are living.  One group does not believe in a creator - man simply is; the universe and delicate cycles of nature just happened;  life is what one makes of ...

1 WEDDING and A REUNION. Posted 26 April 2012 " Time is what prevents everything from happening at once" ~John Archibald Wheeler. 21 April 2012 was a happy day for a memorable occasion. A young man I remember as a once chubby, engaging boy, pledged solemnly before God, family and close friends to love, honour and cherish that one speciail woman who would be his soul-mate; his help-meet in the journey of life. He has made that significant transition from son to husband and head of his own household. I still cry at weddings - for good reason. It is the beginning of a family unit, of blessings multiplied, of hopeful expectations of dreams to be fulfilled, parenthood,precious lives to be moulded and shaped for the next generation. I also tend to take a walk back into memory lane, reliving the past 24 years since I said my vows to my best friend seated next to me for the dinner reception. Across at the next table, I spotted two familiar faces, W and A. They were my...

Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word ( Pt 3 )  Posted on 24 Mar 2012  " A picture paints a thousand words...." Oh the sweet refrain from a group simply known as "Bread" - nevermind, only those of a certain vintage know what I mean. ( no relation whatsoever to a more recent "Simply Bread" ). Three months into a photography course, at the end of term one, I see the light at last. It is not easy for a right-brained person to go into the technicalities of DSLR, Photoshop, Analogue, Adobe, and the rest of the bits and bytes but I have plodded into term two, nevertheless.  The incidental learning outside of the classroom, was a lot more productive. I embraced my new toy of a camera and got clicking. In the attempt to get a hold of Photoshop touching up, I reopened the archives of old photo albums. There were pictures of G and I, looking genuinely geeky in the fashion of some twenty-odd years ago, THE wedding,and there were pictures of D and A, from b...

Yunnan Flavours and other detours. Posted on 4 Jan 2012 G and I left for our little getaway on 14 Dec. It was a treat to have G-time exclusively for myself, without the children. We booked Thai Airways to Kunming, which allowed for a short stop-over in Bangkok. T kindly let us have the use of his condo again at Thonglor, a hip, yuppy enclave peppered with swanky eateries, pubs and the de-riguer spas for creature comfort. Lunch was at Tadaima, this delightful Japanese joint at Eignt Thonglor - one of the best I've ever had. Yum! This time, we even got to meet up with T for yet another indulgent dinner, before he flew off to a different corner of the world to seal a mega-dollar deal.  On 15 Dec, we were awakened very early in the day by a most unexpected phone call. D had missed his flight to the USA due to....well, it's a long story.... Hmm - we have a little situation on our hands. After being momentarily stunned by the news, our senses quick...