Pik Yue in Assunta Hospital

At first, it was suspected dengue fever which freaked us all out. But thankfully, it turned out to be a mild breakout of measles. She had fever and red spots all over her body. She was back to her usual self in a few days.

Here are some photos from her stay in her exclusive "hotel room". Individual bed, no less, with attached bathroom. That's the only room the hospital would give us. I wonder if they were trying to rip us off.

She was admitted for two nights. Thank God I bought insurance just six months before. She was obviously not really that sick cos she was well enough to get up to no good with her sister. She also enjoyed her hospital food. She must have been really hungry cos she's usually a fussy pot with food.

Cock-eyed. Not a symptom.

She thinks she's Paris Hilton in jail.

Her saline bag. My crazy girls.

And she gives the royal wave as she leaves the building.

Mum's 72nd Birthday

That's Mum and Dad having some wine.
So loving. Can't stand it.

Wai Teng, Pik Kay and a wannabe teenager I don't recognise.

And here's the other wannabe teenager.

Peng Soon, Mei Ling, Wai Yeong and Wai Teng.

Wai Hon, Ah Chue and Seng Chai.

Me! Me! Me! and Mum & Dad.

Wish you guys were here too!
There were lots of good food!

Tying the knot

Well...

Gary and I celebrated 10 years of being together on May 28th - by getting married! We went to the marriage registry for a short ceremony witnessed by immediate family - although Anya and Gary's sister Alison couldn't be there.

Stella was really the star of the show!

More photos on Gary's website: http://home.exetel.com.au/gizzard/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=7

Wesak with Sam Sook & Keelah

First of May, Wesak and Labour Day. And here's Anya on the street where we live just before the procession began.

Sam Sook, Aunt Keelah and Anya with us on our 18th floor balcony in Palm Court. There was so much to catch up on... and so little time. Sam Sook and Aunt Keelah spoke about their trip to Rasa, our hometown where they were able to dig up a lot of history and memories of Sam Sook's childhood...

They visited Temple of Fine Arts as well, which was just round the corner.

Sangametra's Camera Work

Seeing so many camera toting people at the dinner table, Sangametra couldn't resist taking matters into her own hands! So she took a picture of Anya taking a picture of her!

Some of Sangameetra's worldly possessions - for record purposes of course!

Dinner with Sam Sook Ah Lek & Aunt Keelah: 28th April 2007

Something must be said about the sharks fin soup at our big dinner get-togethers... but this dinner was extra special because Auntie Keelah and Anya came. Here's Pui Yi and Auntie Keelah. Notice once again the ubiquitous red wine glass!

Anya! All of 29 years old but in my mind still the little girl I remember when she left for Australia so many years ago.

So, of course, at the dinner table I did not budge an inch from my seat as I was catching up with Auntie Keelah... Sangametra took this photo!

A Wonderful Offering of Dance and Music

On April 14th and 15th, we staged a performance entitled KRISHNAARPANAM which means "offering to Lord Krishna". This showcased the musical and dance talents of the Temple of Fine Arts. Geetha danced and also took on the role of Yashoda, mother of Lord Krishna. Hari was part of the orchestra, playing his violin alongside his teacher. Giri was once again dressed up as Krishna, with blue painted on him. He appeared as one of the 12 Krishnas in the last piece. The show was very well received by the audience.

Before the performance, Geetha did puja to Swamiji for a smooth performance, invoking his blessings upon all the dancers and musicians as well as members of the audience.

Among the audience was Guruji Durga Charan Ranbir, an Odissi master who was visiting Kuala Lumpur. He had come to watch the show. I had met him earlier in November last year in Delhi during an Odissi festival. After the performance, Geetha met up with him and took his blessings. So did all the dancers.


Madangopal played Narada so beautifully he captured the hearts of the audience with his ease of delivery of lines, singing and dancing with great confidence and love for his work. Before the performance, he even perked up the exhausted dancers with some inspired words. Hari played the violin well, too. His teacher was very proud of him.

Giri on Swamiji's Birthday

This year, Geetha choreographed a piece entitled PYAARE to celebrate our beloved Swamiji's birthday at the Temple of Fine Arts on April 8th. She had created a piece that had dance and theatre, recalling some of the moments we have shared with Swamiji while producing the Ramayana in 1992. Her dance students were given a chance to experience some of the special moments of our time with Swamiji through this work.

Giri, along with many other young children of the Temple of Fine Arts, took part to bring to life once again a scene from the Ramayana. Giri was painted blue, first as Krishna, and then, as Prince Rama.

Just moments before his cue, Giri was made up like this to signify the Blue God Krishna.

In this short dance sequence to Swamiji's song Deep Deep Within Me, Krishna came to awaken the sleeping gopis (milkmaids) so that he can dance and sing with them.

Krishna continues to dance and sing, invoking moments of joy and beauty for all of us.

A quick change, and Giri was transformed from Krishna to Prince Rama. Here, he is flanked by his friends Swaroop who is Lakshmana, and Suparna who is dressed as Princess Sita. Notice the change in Giri's headgear. He also holds a bow, Rama's weapon.

Nik and David in Palm Court

After Nik and David had done some touring in Malaysia, they came by to Palm Court to spend the afternoon with us. And who was the most excitied to have them: Giri and Sangametra of course. We couldn't get a word in edgewise, so eager was Giri to tell David about all that he had done in school or was about to do. And Sangametra was busy showing off her books and toys to Nik.



Sangametra took this shot of Geetha all by herself.



And then, she insisted that she took a shot of her precious Power Puff Girls briefcase. Can you see her tiny feet just below the briefcase?



The inevitable shot: to remind us of Nik whom I had not seen for a long, long time, who is now 32 years old but still look like a teenager, and then, cool David who is perhaps a bit overwhelmed by all this attention from the word "go".



One of Giri's school books. Right now, picking up Tamil is the most exciting thing for me. Giri loves doing his Math too, as well as drawing and spending hours writing beautiful cursive letters.



Ha ha! A shot of Giri taking a shot of me!

Hard at Work

Here's Geetha, Giri and Sangametra one evening, each busy writing, drawing, doodling, and then, raised their heads up for short while to catch their breath, enough for me to take a picture.

When Giri was a little tot

When Giri was hardly two, he loved Ribena. Here he is lying down, enjoying the grape, on the floor in my office.

Giri Baby 2001

Found this lovely shot of Giri when he was a teeny tot. Giri was born in Madras, India in 2000.

My Kootie Giri

Giri when he was just about two or three years old, I think... and I had taken him on a working day trip up to Genting Highlands. He looked drowsy because of the travelling.

Living with Giri & Sangametra

Sangametra in one of her finer moments of stillness, poised, tranquil, sympathetic!!!



In a kungfu pose of readiness, Giri's eyes always twinkle with spontaneity and laughter.



On a "worm-bus" in Singapore just last December. Giri and Sangametra experienced the "centre" of movement.



Just relaxing and lapping up the feeling of being a traveller with no worries about the rest of the world.



Time out to dig into some fast food near Singapore TFAs new location in Chinatown.



The brother and sister duo with the SISTERS: NityaKalyani and SatyaKalyani. This is just after Giri's performance in Odissi at TFA Kuala Lumpur.

The Feast of Memories

This year, Mei Fong and Hoe Chye decided to not go to the caterers. It was a good decision. It meant however, that there would be more work for everyone at home. Pui Yi told me that she and Pui Yan were helping out in the kitchen until midnight the night before. Well, the result was an extremely delicious vegetarian dish. Mei Fong brought out a serai and kaffir lime chicken curry and chicken in wine and wood fungus! I managed to replicate Geetha's special tamarind chicken curry, and topped that with a huge salad - just for Nik and David.

Father, Koo Cheh, Jeannie, Geetha and Mum. Three generations...


Hari and Seen Nang, after much chatting, decided to go play badminton in the hot sun.


I call them Jo's Gang. Or the Infamous Gang of Four!!!


Suzan did not try to finish this huge bowl of salad.


Geetha, Nik and I. See if you can see Sangametra hiding behind a veil of invisibility.


Here's Father and Nik. Looking at Nik now, you still wouldn't believe that he is 32 years old!


Another shot of three generations of women - with the addition of Giri. Mei Fong, Geetha, Jo, Koo Cheh, Mum, Jeannie, and in front, Sangametra and Giri.

Chinese New Year 2007

Giri and Sangametra all set in their red Chinese New Year get up to get to the big party at Hoe Chye's in Puchong.


My favourite aunt, Koo Cheh, and Mum. Koo Cheh is always smiling. Here, she and Mum make a lovely pair.


Father, happy to have the house abuzz with so many kids, and older kids, especially Nik.


Here's the petite Sangametra in her chinese cheongsam. Petite but powerpacked with punch!!!