Memories of maple leaves

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Two weeks ago, I had a good chat with Mr Stuart Shaw of High Commission of Canada at a coffee lounge in Kuching.

It brought back some memories of “maple leaves”. Canada was a popular choice for further education during my time. I remember a friend went to Toronto. Jacob was his name. And lo! I could not remember his surname. He sent me a maple leaf which I treasured for a long time. Then another friend went. Gosh! I could not even remember his name. He also sent me a maple leaf.

I went there for my honeymoon. What did I remember? I remember on the eve of my departure, I realized that I have kept many coins in my purse. I went shopping and thought of using up all the coins. But in Canada under its Currency Act, there is a limitation of using coins to pay for goods and services. What an embarrassment! And what a strange law!

Those were the memories of Canada.

Here are new things I learnt over a cuppa with Stuart.

Manulife Insurance of Toronto insures 250,000 Malaysians (and I am one of them!)

Canada is Malaysia’s largest supplier of food-grade soybeans for our tofu and Canadian Durham wheat is used for pasta in Malaysia.

You like MacDonald’s French fries? McCain Foods of New Brunswick is the sole provider of MacD’s French fries in Malaysia!

Stuart claimed that Canada’s average tuition fee for undergraduate students is lower than the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom and post-secondary students can work up to 20 hours per week during their studies.

Chris to pick up some maple leaves and send home to his dear mummy in two years’ time?

Grandmother dream!

Sometime back, when I posted in my Facebook (what actually did I post?) about getting old, my daughter responded that I would not be a grandmother too soon.

She muses that at 20, going on 21, she still does not have a boyfriend.

So my grandmother dream seems very far away!

Well, my grandmother dream can never make it to the news.

But this made to the news -

The No. 1 was married earlier this year.


Hold on, this is not their baby. They went Chinese New Year visiting, the 28-year-young was attracted to babies!

Then, this is No. 2. The graceful lady in cheongsam is his new wife. She said she was hoping for a dragon baby.


Not rabbit because this is election year (my colleagues like to read "L" as "R" as it's rabbit year probably), they may be too busy to welcome a "rabbit".

Meanwhile, I resolve to continue with my rabbit diet ... for better health, and God's willing, to be a dotting grandmother one day!

Over to you, Rach and Chris - for my wishes!

It's Friday, I am just musing!

Hop with hope

My brother-in-law asked yesterday, "You have not been updating your blog?"

From a daily post, it became a weekly, then monthly, and now it's like on occasions. The last blog post was before Christmas! I missed the new year, but hopped on to the lunar new year like a rabbit!

Chinese new year in Sibu has always been a sense of adventure, and even an awareness of peril, of danger. There is a thrill of excitement, and always a little grip of fear - yes, it's the fire crackers!

Behind every cracker lit, there is a wish - I always think. Some for the sheer joy of it. Some to "frighten the bad spirit away". Some for more wealth ....

Last night, between the seemingly unending fire crackers, I whispered this psalms -

May He grant you your heart's desire,
and fulfill all your plan! - Psalms 20:4

I remember the person who was raging with anger and raised the cruelest curses because the pizza served was not as advertised.

I remember how the law enforcers grilled and drilled for sources of reports.

I remember how politicians can deny what he had said within 24 hours.

I remember ..... many kind souls whom I have met along my way ..

What's my heart's desire?

Do I not want to be a happy, whole person? A confident, courageous, able to cope with situations, able to handle what comes and to be trusting and loving and walking with Him daily?

Well, is this not the desire of your hearts, too?

There is God's promise - He will grant you your heart's desire, and he will fulfill your plans.

MAY HE GRANT YOUR HEART'S DESIRE.