Thanks so much to readers and friends for your comments and emails of encouraging words for Nick's first chapter of this story. After we came back from our lunch, it was all systems go and he sat down to write chapter two - a task which he completed in a very short space of time and when he finished, he was bugging me for some time to type it for him and I am complying now as the devoted mom. As usual, I did not change anything but added pictures. Please leave a comment because your input certainly means a lot to him. Thanks and have a great weekend.
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For the first chapter of this story written by my 10 year old son, please CLICK HERE.
CHAPTER TWO - A DAY WITH THE GORDON
Blakely gathered some firewood to set up a fire to keep warm for the night. Before dusk, he started reading the book that Sheila had given him. He placed the book on his lap and all of a sudden, the book began to spit at him.
"I wish Sheila had not given me this idiotic book!" screamed Blakely. He picked up a few leaves and dropped them into the open book and closed it angrily. After a while, he opened the book again and to his surprise, the leaves had disappeared. Instead, there were some digestive juices that stained the pages. Blakely then flicked to the first page of the book.
"Hello. I am the Book of Knowledge and I shall serve you because you have saved me from starvation," said the book. "Flip to page 36 to discover more about Gordons.
The Gordon stood on its hind legs looking at Blakely happily. It had green fur on it back and fluffy yellow fur on its chest.The Gordon also had two legs and a pair of long arms.
Blakely was amazed to find out that Gordons love to steal and to play. However, they did not like to fight. There were various names Blakely could give his Gordons such as Publies, Scorchio, Bluror and Muggary. He named his Gordon Scorchio. At once, it started to act like a warrior and he found its actions very cute.
Night was drawing close so Blakely had his dinner - plain herbs and wild fruits. His meal did not smell so fresh so he left it aside. He was going to starve that night. Suddenly, he heard a zapping sound. Scorchio shot some laser beams from its eyes onto his food and then growled at Blakely. Turning around, Blakely caught the smell of escargots that came from the herbs on his plate. Scorchio smiled at Blakely while he ate the escargots and herbs hungrily. Then, Blakely knew that Scorchio had magical powers. Feeling satisfied after a good meal, Blakely put out the fire and slept in his tent.
The next morning, he took a walk and stumbled upon a house in the woods.
Scorchio growled at Blakely and started to push Blakely into the bushes. Scorchio ran towards the door and hit it hard with its head, causing the door to break open. Scorchio dashed inside and Blakely followed behind.
Scorchio ran towards a chest of drawers and opened one drawer after another, looking for money. It squealed in delight when it found a few gold coins. Blakely quickly grabbed Scorchio and forced him out of the house and then they jumped into the bushes to hide. To his surprise, Scorchio still had a bit of coins in its mouth and it spat them onto its hand and kept them in Blakely's coat pocket.
There was no where left to go and nothing left to do so Blakely decided to return to the tent. Blakely took out his bag, dismantled the tent and kept it in his bag. He decided that the time had come for him to go to Tyrantland straight away.
written by Nick
....to be continued....
Years ago, when I was young and in Esther's words, "footloose and carefree", bowling and swimming were my favorite past times. Together with my old friends, we would be at the Penang Bowl twice or three times a week bowling and then chatting or swimming at the Penang Chinese Swimming Club. Today, I had a lovely reunion with an old friend, Esther Yew who now resides in Kuching together with her hubby, a paediatrician, and her two children. The last time I saw Esther was when I visited her in Kuching in February 2007.
Esther is one whom I regard as a professional housewife. She is a very dedicated Christian, wife, mother, friend, social worker and one of the best cooks I know (apart from Elizabeth). At that time, she arranged for Sharon (The Star, Kuching) to pick me up from Hilton to go to her lovely home where a veritable feast awaited us. She made an assortment of cookies, fantastic brandied fruit cake, porridge with a wide array of condiments, local delicacies...oh I was so stunned when I saw the spread and the best part was - she did it all by herself. Hoong Park is a very blessed man, so are the kids and I was blessed to get a foretaste of her culinary skills.
When we arranged to meet for lunch, I waved the white flag and proclaimed that I cannot cook for her for my culinary skill or lack of it pales in comparison to hers :-) and I offered to take her and Jeremy out for lunch.
So off we went to Sungei Ara this morning - Nick and I - to meet Esther. I had no idea where her in-laws live so it was a shot in the dark. Fortunately, I only made one missed turn and we were reunited soon enough and decided to go to my friends' new restaurant called Home's Cafe in D'Piazza Mall, Bayan Baru.
Jeremy and Nick - same age, same interest in PSP games. While Esther and I were yakkity-yakking away, the two boys were busy with their PSP consoles and exchanging consoles for fun..
Naturally three of us ordered their famous Nasi Lemak specialty while Jeremy enjoyed his fish and chips.
Alas, I had to drop them off by 2.30p.m. and it will be some time before I get to see her again. Truly, I feel so invigorated, happy and contented to have spent those two hours with her and Jeremy...Thanks, Esther for the wonderful moments and most of all for your friendship over the last two decades!!! You always inspire me with your zest for life, energy, perspective, faith, tolerance, understanding and your whole life!! God bless you and yours always :-) and see you again...
Have I gone nuts over coconuts? Yup. You might ask - Why Drink Coconut Water? This article, which was sent to me by Angela, highlights the benefits of drinking coconut water.
Coconut Water is naturally:
Low in Carbs
99% Fat Free
Low in sugars
Coconut Water contains organic compounds possessing healthy growth promoting properties that have been known to help:
* Keep the body cool and at the proper temperature
* Orally re-hydrate your body, it is an all natural isotonic beverage
* Carry nutrients and oxygen to cells
* Naturally replenish your body's fluids after exercising
* Raise your metabolism
* Promote weight loss
* Boost your immune system
* Detoxify and fight viruses
* Cleanse your digestive tract
* Control diabetes
* Aid your body in fighting viruses that cause the flu, herpes, and AIDS
* Balance your PH and reduce risk of cancer
* Treat kidney and urethral stones
* Boost poor circulation
Coconut Water Information - compiled by John Kohler
The English name coconut, first mentioned in English print in 1555, comes from Spanish and Portugese word coco, which means 'monkey face.' Spanish and Portugese explorers found a resemblance to a monkey's face in the three round indented markings or 'eyes' found at the base of the coconut. On the Nicobar Islands of the Indian Ocean , whole coconuts were used as currency for the purchase of goods until the early part of the twentieth century.
Coconuts are the fruit of the coconut palm, botanically known as cocos nucifera, with nucifera meaning 'nut-bearing.' The fruit-bearing palms are native to Malaysia , Polynesia and southern Asia, and are now also prolific in South America , India , the Pacific Islands , Hawaii and Florida . The light, fibrous husk allowed it to easily drift on the oceans to other areas to propagate.
In Sanskrit, the coconut palm is known as kalpa vriksha, meaning 'tree which gives all that is necessary for living,' since nearly all parts of the tree can be used in some manner or another. The coconut itself has many food uses, including milk, meat, sugar and oil as well as functioning as its own dish and cup. The husk was also burned for fuel by natives, but today a seed fibre called coir is taken from the husk and used to make brushes, mats, fishnets, and rope. A very potent fermented toddy or drink is also made from the coconut palm's sap. Coconut oil, a saturated fat made from dried coconut meat, is used for commercial frying and in candies and margarines, as well as in non-edible products such as soaps and cosmetics.
Although it takes up to a year for coconuts to mature, the trees bloom up to thirteen times a year, so fruit is constantly forming yielding a continuous harvest year-round. An average harvest from one tree runs about 60 coconuts, with some trees yielding three times that amount.
The coconut's name is a bit of a misnomer, since it is botanically classified as a drupe and not a nut. It is the largest seed known.
If you've ever opened a fresh coconut, you will have seen the thin, opaque almost clear coconut juice or water which has a slight almond flavor. Contrary to popular belief, this is not the coconut milk. However, the water is consumed as a drink fresh from the coconut by many, and it can also be used in recipes.
Here is some information about Coconut Water:
'It's a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It's the fluid of life, so to speak.' In fact, during the Pacific War of 1941-45, both sides in the conflict regularly used coconut water - siphoned directly from the nut - to give emergency plasma transfusions to wounded soldiers.
Most coconut water is still consumed fresh in tropical coastal areas - once exposed to air, the liquid rapidly loses most of its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, and begins to ferment.
* Coconut Water is More Nutritious than whole milk - Less fat and NO cholesterol!
* Coconut Water is More Healthy than Orange Juice - Much lower calories
* Coconut Water is Better than processed baby milk- It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother's milk
* Coconut water is naturally sterile -- Water permeates though the filtering husk!
* Coconut water is a universal donor-- Its identical to human blood plasma
* Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage - The same level we have in our blood.
* Coconut water has saved lives in 3rd world countries thru Coconut IV.
Coconut water is the very stuff of Nature, biologically Pure, full of Natural Sugars, Salts, and Vitamins to ward off fatigue... and is the next wave of energy drinks yet natural!', according to Mortin Satin, Chielf of the United Nation's Food & Agriculture Organization.
Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks.
Coconut has less sodium (25mg) where sports drinks have around 41mg and energy drinks have about 200 mg!
Coconut water has 5mg of Natural Sugars where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25mg of Altered Sugars.
Coconut water is very high in Chloride at 118mg, compared to sports drinks at about 39mg.
Data is based on a 100ml drink.
This is a very meaningful set of slides that my sister-in-law sent to me this morning. Please wait a while for the file to upload. If the internet connection is too slow, please click on THIS LINK.
Thanks and have a nice weekend!
Publish at Scribd or explore others: Illustrations & Maps
Sir Winston Churchill took three years getting through eighth grade because he had trouble learning English. It seems ironic that years later Oxford University asked him to address its commencement exercises.
He arrived with his usual props. A cigar, a cane and a top hat accompanied Churchill wherever he went. As Churchill approached the podium, the crowd rose in appreciative applause.
With unmatched dignity, he settled the crowd and stood confident before his admirers. Removing the cigar and carefully placing the top hat on the podium, Churchill gazed at his waiting audience.
Authority rang in Churchill's voice as he shouted, "Never give up!"
Several seconds passed before he rose to his toes and repeated: "Never give up!" His words thundered in their ears. There was a deafening silence as Churchill reached for his hat and cigar, steadied himself with his cane and left the platform. His commencement address was finished.
What a simple, clear and relevant message he has given to us..
Whatever your problem or task, persevere and don't give up. Have a great evening!
