Ecclesiastes 3

Since the Ibiyaya City Pet Stroller came into our lives,

we've visited Summie one last time in Cheltenham, 

enjoyed a leisurely Sunday roast with K at the Thomas Cubitt,

Thomas Cubitt- dog-friendly at 44 Elizabeth Street, photo credit-The Handbook

damaged some unpleasant driver's side mirror of his car, while on horseback.

BANG!  

I can still hear the sound of a mirror breaking and the heat of his anger.

***

Crap happens.  

As June becomes July, and we approach my birthday, I find myself as always, 

reflecting on the year that is slipping by.

***

photo credit A Chia, edited by me.

The flowers were delivered on Monday.  Come Saturday, Trace's parents are celebrating a milestone anniversary.  For Aunty TC, her mother, whom so many of us only remember and know as so gentle, so sweet, humble, kind, an artist-teacher-woman,  I think we all feel the same sort of triumphant joy for her on such a momentous day.

***

Ecclesiastes 3 was a favourite chapter in the Bible growing up.  It talks about time.  It gave me hope.  One day, one day...  Some day.

***

Today I received an invitation from the Arts House.  I was asked if I was going to be in Singapore on X date.  Yes!  Would I be part of their panel of writers for Y?  Yes, thank you for thinking of me!

At The Arts House 2011 celebrations- 'Writing Our Worlds" with S as moderator,

Another thought-

Mid-century.

photo credit-  The Modern House

Because a year is about to pass, and I can't believe I am still living in the same flat.  This is the time of the year, I normally, move!  

Something about midcentury in dull, dull London, cheers my heart!  After all, a writer-choreographer needs juxtaposition and conflict for plot and intrigue!

photo credit-  The Modern House

(Ignore the calm voice of reason telling me that in winter, a wall of single-paned glass sans shutters and drapes translates as a freaking freezing flat.)

Other thoughts... On my 35th birthday, I relocated back to Singapore from California.  To renew our  vows, Jon gave me, a puppy named, Angel.

Angel the Beloved, early days home

And when I think of Angel, I can't help but think of my grandmother.  On Mother's Day this year, my sister-in-law kindly sent me this photograph taken last year, when Popo had a fall.

photo credit- Tina/Simon Wong

Like Angel, I think she bounced back the best she could.

***

I'm not sure what I am supposed to be doing for the Arts House event.  I was told I am being featured alongside writers who write stories of ordinary people, of family.

I was asked to submit a 100-150 word blurb about myself.  I googled myself(!) and then I wrote-

 Tammy L Wong is the receipent of the 2001 Montblanc Businesswoman of the Year Award, the 2002 National Arts Council Award (Dance), the 2003 Chancellor's Fellowship (University of California, Irvine).  Her works have been presented at festivals in Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Malaysia, and the United States.  Between 2006- 2010, she was appointed the Head, and subsequently Artistic Director of Dance at LASALLE College of the Arts.  She has received choreographic commissions from Blurred Borders International, the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, and the Singapore Dance Theatre.  In 2010, she stepped away from dance to write.  Her books, 'A' is for Achar, 'L' is for Love (2011) and When the Bough Breaks (2013) were published by Ethos Books.

photo credit-  Ethos Books

I re-read what I wrote.  I counted the number of words.  Not quite 150.

I'm not sure if I recognise this Tammy L Wong.

photo credit- David Teo, shot in rehearsal at the Esplanade

  I would like to ask her, where on earth did she find the time to do all that?

So then I continued writing-

Currently hibernating in London, Tammy looks forward to meeting all readers at her not-for-profit blog, The Adventures of Bruno Chan.

The Arts House presents, Full Disclosure- the Singapore Auto/Biography Forum,  Saturday- Sunday, August 2-3 2014 

I will be participating in 'Family Portrait', Saturday August 2 2014, 3:15-4:15pm

Finally, A New Set of Wheels!

Four times a week on our new schedule, Bruno and I walk, a scenic 2.1miles before 9am.

Bruno waiting for the lights at the Natural History Museum...

My feet are blistered and I am burnt too brown, despite all attempts at sun protection.

I think of the walk as preparing me for the day's activities.  But often I wonder if there is a quicker way to get us to Fulham Road.  With the recent clear skies, I keep wondering if I should get a bike.

As I was wondering, the bus I was sitting in, collided with a car. 

BANG!

When God speaks this loudly, I had better listen, and think of a more imaginative Plan B.

Plan B looks like this:

It's the Ibiyaya City Pet Stroller.  I found it at a discounted price (50%!) on Pet Planet.  I received it yesterday, and introduced Bruno to his new buggy.

The Introduction

Someone once asked- don't I just pick Bruno up and put him in his bag(S)?

No, I don't.  The idea is to teach him new vocabulary ("buggy"), and to teach him ownership (of action), building confidence ("Bruno, inside buggy- good boy, Bruno!") and continued good behaviour.

We practised entering and exiting the buggy a few times.  By now, this sort of activity is too easy for Bruno.

Bruno says- Ok, and?

So we progressed to zipping the front flap up, and wheeling him about.  

Bruno sits, stays, keeps his focus fully on me.

Lastly, we practised parking the buggy beside, my basket.  Because aside from my purse, the basket goes everywhere with us on our new schedule.

Reasons for a pet stroller:

-  Bruno is not a hyper dog.  2.1 miles is frankly not necessary for him, even though he doesn't complain at all.  The idea is to let him walk through the park, then let him rest in the stroller for the rest of the journey.

-  Think of it as a kennel/crate on wheels.  Although Bruno is now finally settled at the Spa, this gives us more options for when I need to take him/leave him secured in a new place.

-  We are either walking or riding the bus.  There is a designated area on the bus for wheelchairs and buggies.

I am thinking it would help make our commuting more pleasant.

-  I am trying to lessen the weighty load on my arms, travel with less fuss.

Today's Test Drive/Results:

-  I am out of practice.  It's been ages since I've pushed a stroller.  Our commute took longer than usual.

-  London roads are not even.  (Imagine if we were on a bike!!!  Thank God I listened to Him!)  

-  London sidewalks are worse!  Some are cobbled, some are paved and many have potholes!

(All this means that it could actually be a very bumpy ride for Bruno...)

Bruno seems quite unperturbed.  Good Boy, Brunz!

- Thank God, I didn't pay full price for this.  I hope the wheels stay on!!!

-  The information states that this stroller can accommodate up to 10 kgs in weight of a dog.  I don't agree.  Bruno is 2.6kgs, it fits him just fine, with space to stretch and relax.   I don't think it is built strong enough for a heavier dog.

-  The stroller is a great idea for our commute on the bus!

Bruno/Buggy and Basket, as practised, parked side by side.

We get lucky with parking space, the brakes work effectively.  With Bruno contained away from other passengers, I feel the chances of us being harassed are diminished.

I am thinking that the stroller would be especially useful when traveling within an airport.  Unlike a dog carrier, it would take away all the weight from one's back/shoulders especially when waiting in lines.  When ready to board the plane, I could fold it up, hand it to the flight attendant for storage, and then transfer Bruno into his bag.

Bruno says- Good thinking, Mom!

The product is light-weight and nifty.  Assembly was easy, without the need for tools.  I just wish it was more of a quality product.  But at 39 pounds with free delivery, it's not a bad deal, and we're both pretty pleased.

My Friend, Jimmy

He was one of my best friends at UCLA.  He was a graduate student on scholarship, fresh off that boat from China, in the aftermath of the Tiananman Square massacre.  He could not speak, English.

I think the Dance Department suggested he attend an additional undergraduate choreography class, just to help with more exposure to the language.  So our paths crossed, and the friendship was one that grew with strength and ease.

In China, he was a very successful ballet star, choreographer and teacher.  He had served on the faculties of the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy and the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. In America, he was anonymous, almost invisible, especially when without speech.  Someone asked him what his name was.  He said, Jian-Min, Jian-Min.  And that someone said, Oh, Jimmy? Jimmy?  Oh nice to meet you, Jimmy!

And so he was Jimmy.  On certain days and evenings, Jimmy who once was Jian-Min, distinguished artist and faculty member at two of the best dance academies in Asia, could be found, in a maroon uniform, serving and cleaning up, at a dining hall, on campus.

What I loved about my friend then, and what I still love about him, is his warmth, his kindness, his gentle humor, his dignity and his humility.  His tenacity and courage?  The stuff of legends.  Growing up during the Cultural Revolution, dance for him, was the only way out.  And when he seized the American opportunity, he also had to leave his wife and a young daughter in a closed, communist China.

My spoken Chinese is that of a toddler, grappling with speech.  His English was non- existent then.  But ever present was the shared language of dance, where the body speaks freely without the need for words that hinder and astound.  So from the moment we became friends, we in a sense, could not stop, talking.

Mo & Jimmy, London 2014

This afternoon, he hugs me tightly and tells me, Tammy, ni mei you bian! (Tammy, you've not changed!)
I say, Wo bian, wo bian!  Kan!  Wo de yen jing kai shi diao!  (I've changed, I've changed! Look!  My eyes are falling down!)
Mo his wife, is all smiles and hugs as well.  She says, Tammy, hao xiang shou le!  (Tammy, looks like you've lost weight!)
I say, You dian shou!  (A little bit!)
(But then I remember, the last time I saw Jimmy and Mo in Los Angeles, I was, 4 months pregnant...  Dang ran shou le, ba!  (Of course I am thinner now!))

I say to Jimmy, You are such a wonderful person.  I will never forget, ni neng chi ku  (You are able to tolerate hardships), and at all times, never complaining, but always doing things with so much dignity and humility.

Jimmy is surprised.  Ni hai zhi de, ma?  (You still remember?)
Wo zhi de, wo zhi de.
I remember, I remember.

We don't stop talking, and too soon it is 3pm.  I walk with them to the V & A.  I love that Jimmy and Mo walk holding hands, firmly.  Mo reminds me to come to California, and to stay with them, yi ding yao lai!   (you must come!)  She doesn't want me to be alone in winter.

Then it is time to say goodbye.  But in Chinese, we say, zhai jian- which means, "see you later".  We don't say, goodbye.

Thursday's Child

June Thursday.  Momentous for me, as I am going to attempt a new routine/schedule that will teach me to be better organized and more disciplined!

7am  Wake up with some anticipation.  Talk to Jon via FB.
8am.  Pack the morning's bag- Bruno needs his food, towel, poop bags, and traveling bowl.  I need   yoga gear, change of clothes.  Throw waterproof jacket on because I have learnt that you can't trust sunny skies in London.
8:15am  Walk Bruno- morning potty + speed walk through Kensington Park.
8:30am  Pondering over the wisdom of getting a bike.  Still speed walking through the park, with faithful dog at my heels.

9am  Drop Bruno off at the Pet Spa on Fulham Road.  I love the Pet Spa!  

See you later, Brunz!

Note to self- Woah.  I just walked from W2 to SW7 in 50 minutes without breaking into a sweat or feeling short of breath.  Thank you, God for health and strong legs!

9:15am  Unbelievable.  Bus 70 has come.  I get on gratefully.  Hooray, I am going to make it to yoga at Kensal Rise after all!

9:35am  Bus 70 collides into a car and ignores it by driving on.  The car gives chase, honking angrily.

9:40am  Angry confrontation between car and bus. No one is physically hurt.  I can't break my momentum by waiting.  So I run to Notting Hill Gate and get onto the next available bus, Bus 52.  I hate running.

Note to self- Perhaps not a good idea to ride a bike in London where there are angry buses and cars.

9:45am  Bus 52 takes a more direct route to Kensal Road and the driver drives FAST.

Note to self-  Perhaps not a good idea to ride a bike in London, where there are no designated bike paths, angry and fast buses and cars.  

9:55am  I am on the mat, stretching with some trepidation.  Yoga is the truth.  And the truth can hurt.  A lot. 

10am.  Ommmmm  and some pain in my left knee, and the usual stiffness, dull pain in my hips.

11:30am.  Trepidation has been sweated away, brain is fried from the day's teachings.  Something about restraint.  Something about the sutras.  (1.5 hours and class is still not over...)

11:45am.  Namaste.  Wipe mat down, speed change into dry clothing, fly out the door, run after Bus 23.

12:15pm  Making great time.  I get off at my stop and dive into Carlucci's to get a bottle of white wine. I am going need a drink, soon.

12:30pm  Return some messages, calls, inhale two hot cross buns, gulp down large glass of juice.

12:45pm  Shower.

1pm  Costume change, repack bag- helmet, carrots, whip.

1:15pm  Rush to Bayswater Station.

1:20pm  Hop onto the District Line- more gratitude!  It actually is running!  What a great day I am having!

1:45pm  Eeeks.  District Line has suddenly stopped.

1:55pm  RUN up the stairs at Wimbledon Station, run down the stairs to the taxi stand.

Fabulous, meet a kamakazi taxi driver.  I am going to make my lesson after all!

2pm  Climb onto Dumpling.  Leave with a group of four ladies into the Commons.  Admire the verdant woods, and bask in the sheer pleasure of Dumpling's company.  What a great day!

3:30pm  Say goodbye to Dumpling and speed walk to the station.

3:40pm Back on the District Line but heading towards Victoria.

4:20pm Pick up sushi from Wasabi for dinner.

4:30pm  Pick Bruno up, take him for another walk.

4:50pm  Board Bus 70.  Find a seat.  Pile jacket, helmet, sushi, Bruno's bowl into the space provided for shopping bags on the bus.  Balance Bruno in his bag on my lap, hold whip with one free hand.  

5:25pm  Home.  

6pm  Still hungry after sushi.  So-

6:30pm Laundry, shower, do dishes.

7:15pm Vacuum flat.

8pm  Pour self large glass of vino.

8:45pm  Take Bruno for his last potty walk.

9pm Tuck Bruno to bed, double lock my door.

9:15pm  Pour self a second glass.

9:20pm  Blog.

10pm  Post.

10:15pm  Pour self third glass.

10:20pm  Read.

Conclusion:  Thursday's Child has far to go.  She also wonders if she is able to walk at the same speed/feel her legs, tomorrow.