My Pilgrimage to Mt E..

My 'pilgrimage' to Mt Elizabeth once every 3 months is both a little intimidating and fortuitous at the same time. Why do I say that? Especially given that I have taken this pilgrimage every quarter for the past 4 and 1/2 years.

Well, intimidating because the needles await me, and one simply do not know what results will show up on the doctor's desk with this quarterly 'throw of the dice'. Will the results be in my favour again?

But it is also fortuitous because deep inside me, I am very grateful that I am being looked after by an excellent doctor in Dr Ang Peng Tiam and his team. These visits always end with a shot of Zoometa to boost my body's immunity..and a bill of nearly $3000, everytime. They reaffirmed my wisdom of having a good insurance cover when I was younger, an action that must be taken up by all women, at the earliest opportunity, in their adult lives. See my earlier posting on the same:
http://beatcancer10.blogspot.com/2006/10/so-how-much-doe-cancer-cot.html

If I was to add it all up, the total medical bill would have easily crossed the $100k mark by now. But that wise step of buying that insurance plan made this journey of mine so far a much more liveable experience.

And after each trip of blood extraction for cancer-marker testing, and then followed by the wait to sit on Doc Ang's hot-seat, that shot of drug and a tummy-feeling meal along Orchard Road, I am always filled with a new zest for life.. at least until the next pilgrimage..

Peace and Hope..

Opportunities to help others can sometimes be few and far between. But hubby and I have signed up for food deliveries to charity homes through Food From The Heart since 2002, and also Run For Hope since 2007.

This year, FFTH brings us to the PeaceHaven Nursing Home, run by the Salvation Army, where we bring much valued food items from The Sandwich Shop at Changi Business Park, for the staff there at the Nursing Home.

And as for Run For Hope, another 7000 runners showed up again this year to support a worthy cause : research for cancer cure. That's over $300,000 in the bag..well done, organisers!

Yes, let there be Peace and Hope..for all.

Foster-ing Friends..

Can there be anyone big enough to bring these big-timers to our doorsteps..biggies like Natalie Cole, Charice and yep, Peter Cetera?

It must be none other than David Foster, record-producer extraordinaire!

No one can bring these names all on one single stage..at the opening act of this year's Sun Festival at the Esplanade.

Seeing Natalie Cole on stage was a larger than life experience, especially when she brought her father, Nat King Cole, to 'live' on the same stage..very surreal. Charice blew eveyone's mind, with enough oomph in her for both Celine Dion and Whitney Houston songs..what an incredible talent indeed!

And the night was complete when Peter Cetera sang "If You Leave Me Now" and "Hard to Say I'm Sorry"..goodness, gracious! My body was tingling as he crooned these all-time favourites!

Simply Red ..Simply Wonderful!

What a simply wonderful concert!

Simply Red blew down the Indoor Stadium with their polished performance and controlled style in their "Farewell Tour". The lead singer is a real gem..will we ever hear his soulful voice again?.

If only I can stay here and listen to him all night long..what a treat for my body indeed! Can you feel the vibes of these 2 wonderful songs?

Recharging with my Team..

Took 18 members of my staff to Malacca for a weekend retreat..a much-needed break from the daily grind of our preschools .. to recharge our bodies and minds.

And Malacca was indeed a natural well-spring for this re-charging, with streets filled with history and food.

Looking at the team brings a surge of warmth within me, realising that I am now impacting the lives of over 20 adults in my immediate circle of influence, and they, in turn, touching the young lives of over 150 children..

That's a nice feeling to have..

(thank you, ladies, for taking this journey with me in touching the lives of our young ones in our own special ways..)

"Oh yes, it's ladies' night.."

Bringing 2 of the best acts in R&B together to the Esplanade, this year's Mosaic Music Festival out-did itself compared to previous years.

And yes, it was Ladies' Night all the way!

With Babyface one night, and Kool & the Gang the next. They turned back the years for us.

How can one not "feel alive" with songs and music like theirs..

The Most Beautiful 2000km on Earth..

Can this possibly be the most beautiful 2000km on Earth?

(click on the "4-arrows" icon for a full-size view)

Everytime I view these scenes, I am completely taken by the inspiring beauty that resides inside each brick and stone, every piece of marble and each hunk of steel that has made these western European cities the most beautiful on Planet Earth. Surely, there can't be another 2000km stretch of land as beautiful and historical as this Rome-to-Paris-via-Venice-Florence-and-Lucerne stretch, can there?

As the song says, ".. And I feel just like I am livin' someone else's life..it's like I've stepped outside, when everything is going right.."

Hey, everything is going right, for me!

Perhaps, the coin that Hubby tossed into the Trevi Fountain will bring me back there again, one day..

(thank you Mum and Sis for making this trip with me, and making it even more meaningful for me!)

"One Hundred Ways"..

An evening to recharge the soul, with James Ingram, the ultimate soul-man.

Regarded by top professionals in the music industry as the "Singers' Singer", the man took the stage at the Esplanade like a real pro, and rolled back the years as if 20 years younger than he really is today, complete with actual press-ups on stage.. while singing in his full, rich voice.

"..find One Hundred Ways.."

This song brings me back to the days when I had to find all ways, yes 100 ways, to combat my cancer. What an inspiring evening indeed, just listening to this man belt out his multiple Grammy-winning songs. Just listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnaY4AQrlzE&feature=related

Thank you, James Ingram, for enveloping my body with those beautiful (and I am sure, cancer cell-busting!) words..

(see earlier postings on what music means to me, and how it can recharge our bodies:

http://beatcancer10.blogspot.com/2008/08/once-in-lifetime-events.html

http://beatcancer10.blogspot.com/2008/12/dancing-with-childrenwhat-gift.html )

The Neverending Food Trail in Penang..

Food Heaven can come in many forms, but for us, Penang is as close as it gets.

Just look at this neverending food trail we immediately embarked upon when we hit the ground last month in Georgetown at 9.30am, barely unpacking at our hotel..
Day#1
1. Char Koay Teow (Lorong Selamat)

2. Prawn Noodles (same)

3. Popiah (same)

4. Ngor Heong (same)

5. Ice Kacang (same)

6. Tau Sar Piah (same)

7. Nutmeg (same)

8. Durian - Mountain Cat (Macalister Rd)

9. Chendol - Teochew style (Penang Rd)

10. Seasoned Papaya (same)

11. Fried Bee Hoon Fish (Macalister Rd)

12. Wantan Mee (same)

13. Oyster egg (same)

14. Apom balik (same)

Pause to breathe..

Day#2

15. Roti Canai (Penang Rd)

16. Roti Kaya & Kopi (Campbell St)

17. Nasi Lemak (same)

18. Pork Porridge (same)

19. Chee Cheong Fun (same)

20. Lor Mee (same)

21. Chai Tow Koay - black (same)

22. Peanut Cake (same)

23. Jackfruit (same)

24. Indian rojak (Gurney Dr)

25. Penang Assam Laksa (same)

26. Prawn Mee #2 (same)

27. Cuttlefish Kangkong (same)

28. Penang Rojak (same)

29. Corn-on-cob (same)

Pause..

Day#3

30. Koay Teow Tng (Campbell St)

31. Wantan mee#2 (same)

32. Kueh - multiple varieties (same)

33. Cheng Tng (same)

Day#4

-Fever & constipation!

Day#5

-Recovered enough to head to the airport

What a super-gluttonous trip for us! Is it any wonder that Hubby's body just gave up and took 2 full days to recover?

Here's proof that it all happened...in fact, it came and went so fast it almost felt like a dream, if not for these photos. No place on Earth can compare with Penang for food..it's a good place to be alive, to feel alive!!

Run for Hope 2009..

Another lively bunch of runners (well, 7000+ bunch, actually) took to the early morning sunshine at the East Coast to do their bit for cancer research.

It was good to see that the drab economic landscape this year has not dampened the spirit of giving. I am sure the number supporting this event will surpass 10,000 soon.

"The Doctor Needs to See You Today.."

"The Doctor needs to see you at his office today", said the lady's voice over the phone, when hubby and I were just round the Paragon corner, 50m from MtE, on our way to see Dr Ang Peng Tiam for my regular 3-monthly review and iron-booster drips.

With my adrenaline now pumping a little, we walked into the reception to be told by the lady, "We have your case-file here and the Doctor needs to see you."

Hubby and I heard exactly what she said, but with perplexed looks on our faces, we just sat down to patiently wait for our turn, not wanting to ask the receptionist further about this sudden urgency. You know that feeling... you know it can be bad, so you don't want to know about it, not just yet..

80mins later, we were called in to see the Doc. Again, not wanting to look unnecessarily anxious, we let the Doc go through his paces, laid on his couch, checks, weight info, some small talk about his upcoming Bali getaway, and then..

"Everything is good, Nellie. In fact, you look younger than your husband here!"

Broad smiles swept over our faces.

We later realised that the receptionist was new, and in her new role, probably took her instructions to give a gentle reminder to all patients of the day, to attend their appointments, a little bit too enthusiatically. Her choice of words could have been couched in a better context, given my circumstance of being cancer-free since June2006.

A sense of relief, nonetheless. Still, it was a small gift we were happy to receive, given that it was the eve of the eve of Xmas (23Dec).

And feeling a little like Marilyn too (at ResortsWorld), I might add..well, just a little..