In Difficulty

Just watched, for a second time, the episode of Grand Designs in which the guy fails in his ambitious plan to build a personal lighthouse on the North Devon coast. In the process he gets deeply into debt and his family falls apart. Since most episodes of the programme see the projects featured successfully completed, this one was atypical to say the least. At least this time round I was prepared for the bitter disappointment at the end. Still left a sour taste in the mouth though.

Good to be reminded of life's difficulties, I suppose - especially when someone else happened to be on the receiving end.

Higher Things

Look at the moon! said Noi just now as we were driving home. Her excitement with regard to the appearance of our lunar friend is always to be welcomed as a sure indication of something worth paying attention to.

And it was. A gorgeous crescent moon thickly aglow in the lower sky. Still there, through the window, for the Ishaq Prayer. 

Adapting

I was quite taken aback today reading an article on the Channel News Asia website concerning transgender students finding places in halls of residence at local universities. What took me by surprise were the numbers of such students involved. Whilst these were a bit vague they went well beyond the handful I suppose I'd vaguely imagined, with an estimate of 50 to 60 in one university. I couldn't help but wonder if these youngsters were getting the support they needed at a crucial time in their lives, given the challenges I assume they face. Reading between the lines, I got the impression that the various universities were trying hard to adapt to something quite new to them (but I'm just guessing here; the article didn't give any sense of historical context, which was a pity.)

Essentially the tone of the piece was, rightly, sympathetic and non-judgmental - in many ways positive, though there were hints of the difficulties encountered in the various families of the youngsters involved. Which made me wonder whether the deep-rooted antagonisms seemingly inexorably tied in with transgender issues in the West will eventually erupt in this part of the world. I'm thinking here of the visceral responses to J.K. Rowling's critique of the notion of self-identifying gender and the like.

The High Life

Just scoffed a substantial bowl of chicken rice porridge as prepared by the Missus. It doesn't get much better. Life, that is. Also chicken rice porridge, and pretty much everything in between.

A Crafty Show

Enjoyed watching our drama guys putting on a performance for some little kids this morning, involving a couple of Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes tales very loosely and playfully adapted for the occasion. No one took it took it too seriously so it worked beautifully for its audience - a perfect match. It looked completely casual, but wasn't. Which was where the craft was involved.

Positive Vibes

Needed to spend a few hours of the day at NUH where I had two separate appointments, involving scans to two different parts of my body. This involved quite a bit of waiting around which, I must say, I really didn't mind at all. Why so? Well, the hospital is far from a depressing place to be. Quite the opposite, in fact. It fairly hums with life and a sense of purpose. If those running the place are trying to create a feeling of well-being then I can only say they're succeeding, in my case at least.

The amazing thing is that somehow the various departments are made to fit together. The Missus pointed out that the signage is a triumph of clarity in itself. Given the complexity of the place it needs to be.

First World Problems

Managed to get into an email account that decided to shut me out for the last six days for reasons best known to itself. Now need to remember how exactly I got in and which browser I needed to use. I suppose I should write it all down but I prefer to live dangerously (and in a state of almost permanent irritation.)

Protected

Earthquake in Indonesia today, not too far from Jakarta. So not too far from where we are, yet the geography of the region protects us. And we take this for granted. A sort of birthright - even for those not born here.

How fragile we are. How easily we forget.

Making The Best Of It

Read a few articles today related to the World Cup in Qatar and the coverage of the opening ceremony and the first game. All had reservations to express as to the likely success of the tournament but generally gave a sense of shrugging their shoulders as if to say, well this is what we've got, so we'd best get on with it.

There's a kind of wisdom in that, I reckon. I've read a few comments BTL from those intending to give the whole thing a miss - and I can respect the reasoning behind this. But the majority of comments rightly point out that we're all hopelessly compromised at various levels in our participation in various events involving those with less than stellar records when it comes to human rights and general matters of morality. An uneasy going along with it all, but a readiness to give voice to worrisome concerns when appropriate is probably the best that can be done.

Striding Out

Set out in the early morning for an extended stroll along the Changi Jurassic Mile with Nahar, Yati, Boon and Mei - followed by an excellent breakfast at the Lagoon Hawker Centre, which probably served to undo all the health benefits accumulated. Good way to spend a Sunday morning.