Essay: 無言的控诉

Scanned article published in mum's school alumni newsletter. She writes occasionally to share her views. I will be putting up a couple more in the next few days.

It would take me forever to digitise the articles since my Chinese s***s and my input means are limited. Anyone more capable is welcomed to do so, though. Thanks.

Mum's pineapple sauce

Blitz one pineapple (after peeling and cutting out the prickly bits). Dunk in a pot. Add sugar (to taste). Cook slowly until the mass is reduced and in a jam-paste consistency. Add lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon juice. And you're done.

It's great as a dressing for raw veggies that are normally a hassle to chew - like carrot and celery that are sliced thinly. Keep in a jar, add enough (as in, to taste) of the above sauce. This keeps well for a few days and it makes a refreshing relish.

颂乐龄

乐龄乐龄颂乐龄

乐龄乐龄颂乐龄

人生经验谱成了

令人赞赏的诗曲

乐龄乐龄思当年

乐龄乐龄忆当年

生命历程充满着

喜怒哀乐的史迹

刻苦耐劳默默耕耘为的是培育下一代

尽职守法默默奉献为的是繁荣社国

乐龄乐龄人人敬乐龄乐龄受爱戴

学术科技来建设

任劳任怨凭毅力

责无旁贷显爱心

辅导后进树榜样

为使后浪推前浪

献出了生命的光芒

辅导后进树榜样

乐龄乐龄颂乐龄

1997 年填词

调取自玫瑰玫瑰我爱你

乐龄日之歌 (Singing)

Mum penned this lyric to celebrate International Day for Older Persons way back in 2000. This singing was recorded last year. Enjoy.

 Lyrics posted earlier here.

Images for the video are taken from websites celebrating and raising awareness on older people and/or their issues. They are worth a visit:

• United Nation
• World Health Organisation (WHO)
•  Full of Life
• Age Awareness Week, UK
• Mabels - Essential Resources for Over 50s
• Australia's Working with Older People
• Independent Age - A UK charity for older people
• HelpAge International in NGO News of Africa- defending the rights of older people
• Chelmsford Borough Council's 55Plus section
• Seniors Aloud - a blog for older people

Glaucoma and TCM

One of mum's interests is health and healthy living. As a result, she has a collection of books and has a vast knowledge on the subject.

When dad had troubles with his eyes (which he eventually found out was glaucoma), all the conventional medicines did not help him much. Mum recommended that he try out a traditional formula from a classic Chinese medicine book. She remembered that the formula worked with some of her friends who had troubles with their eyes.

It worked wonders for him. On top curing his glaucoma, his general health improved, his gum felt better etc. Now dad is a firm believer in the formula and is on a crusade to save the world from the 'sneak thief of sight'. Dad highly recommend the formula to everyone.

Here's the formula, verbatim except for some formatting and addition of common/latin names for the convenience of those who do not know Chinese.

青光眼经验方

此方为眼病总方, 头痛眼赤, 或无头痛眼起赤翳膜点, 均合用, 有人两眼没坏, 忽然不能视, 卽瞳人反背或日青光盲症, 用尽中西医, 亳无效果, 服此方十剂卽復明如初, 另有一人, 三年青光盲, 服此方七剂卽復明.

• 甘草二錢 (Licorice Root)
• 京芥七分 (Shizonpeta)
• 木通六分 (Akebia stem)
• 独活八分 (Doubleteeth Pubescent Angelica Root, Radix Angelicae Pubescentis)
• 木賊三錢 (Scouring rush, Equisetum hyemale)
• 防风二錢 (Radix Saposhnikoviae, Divaricate Saposhnikovia)
• 赤芍七分 (the root of herbaceous peony, Paeonia Lactiflora)
• 紅花三分 (Safflower, Carthamus tinctorius)
• 甘菊四錢 (Camomile, Matricariarecutita)
• 蔓京子二錢 (Man Jing Zi, Fructus Viticis)
• 決明子二錢 (Cassia Seeds)

净水煎服，飯後半点钟服, 或臨睡时服圴可。

如有熱者，可加黃苓二錢共煎服, 如身體弱者，可加入四物補血湯共煎服, 即多服无妨, 四物補血湯方:

• 當歸一錢
• 川芎二錢
• 熟地一錢
• 白芍二錢

I believe this is a classical formula, i.e. from classical texts. This same or similar formula are posted elsewhere on the net, for e.g. from Singapore, Taiwan and China(?)

Please use this formula at your own risks and with caution. A brief search on the net on individual herbs did indeed point to both benefits for the eyes and improvement to gum and general health.

Caution: if you are going to use this formula please make sure that the 木通 (Akebia stem) you use is 川木通 (Chuan mutong, Clematidis Armandii Franch) or 白木通 (Bai mutong, Akebia trifoliata); not 关木通 (Guan mutong, Aristolochiae Manshuriensis) which is toxic to the kidneys. Click here for further information.

乐享高龄

我们是快乐的高龄人士

勤运动练气功辰步保健

祝寿聚餐欢叙歌唱舞蹈

高龄人相聚时快乐无比

松轻地享高龄多么开心

我们是快乐的高龄协会成员

我们是快乐的高龄人士

勤运动习气功辰操健身

旅游观光采购拜访慰问

高龄人在一起快乐融融

自在地享高龄引人醉心

朋友们共同来享快乐高龄

1997 年填词

调取青春友谊圆舞曲

See the original lyrics here

爱心多伟大

爱心孕育的温床
爱心求存的曙光
爱心燃起了信望
也燃起了人们心底慈爱的潜能

阿爱心
抚慰多少的不幸
支援无数的困贫
多伟大阿爱心

无限包容被祢誉
大公无私受推崇
多伟大

伟大的爱心
慈航的舵手
一起来撒播传送誓把爱心光大阿爱心

爱心到处没寒冬
爱心所在会常暖
多伟大


1998 年5月填词
调取自阿兰娜