The word “weaves” made me think of Louisa May Alcott and every other writer who has successfully woven people, places and plots into stories that have captured our imaginations for centuries.
I am in no position to critique anyone’s writing; I only know that there are books I enjoy and happily reread, and there are those I scratch my head over, and go “huh?”.
I read Alcott’s books as a teen, and nearly had Little Women as my English Literature text. It was changed to another book and we were never told why. Perhaps this was a good thing so my connection with the March girls was not influenced by any class discussions or dissections. On the other hand, there might have been much more depth and understanding to be gained.
Regardless, I do have two questions: Do you think a contemporary book called Little Women would go down well with readers today? How would you respond to being called a “little woman”?
It is impossible to miss the coming of Spring if you’re in Singapore: there’s a riot of reds and golds, loads of seasonal (and fattening!) foods and snacks, dancing dragons, prancing lions and a few days off work.
Here’s a picture from my visit to Singapore’s Tanjong Pagar, a busy commercial hub.
This was taken in front of an office building. It features the first 6 animals of the Chinese zodiac; the first animal of the zodiac cycle is the rat (this year’s animal), which is on the extreme left.
Sadly, a crowd prevented me from taking a picture of the remaining 6 animals on the other side.
But imagine coming to work and seeing these colours! Should put a real spring in your step!
I had a chat with some teens last month about their social media use; specifically, we were discussing what they post on Instagram and why this photo and not that one.
The answer? Aesthetics. Ok, so what’s aesthetics? How do you decide what’s aesthetics? The 13 year old stared at me and said, “It’s what will make me happy if look at it again.”
Buoyed by the memory of that conversation, I present this photo:
taken from my plane seat over Dubai.
Is it beautiful? Not particularly. I didn’t plan it or compose it or do whatever it is that photographers do. This is just a snapshot taken on a 3 year old cranky phone through a window.
Is it meaningful? I’m in a man made machine, in a privileged window seat up in the air watching a sunrise whose colours and transformations no man could make more beautiful. So, yes.
Is it aesthetic? Even with the blob of engine in the corner? I think the engine provides context. So, to me, yes.
And it makes me happy to look at it because a sunrise is a new beginning.
I had the pleasure of a quick night time drive through Orchard Road in Singapore in mid-November.
These shaky cellphone pictures from a moving vehicle really don’t do justice to the Christmas lights. The theme, which some have questioned as being un-Christian, is ‘A Disney Christmas’.
But what struck me was how, a three-minute drive from the end of the shopping belt, we came across this other light up for Diwali or Deepavali – the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Little India in Serangoon Road.
This festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and light over darkness.
How wonderfully brilliant that two diverse festive occasions can be celebrated peacefully and harmoniously almost side by side.
1kindness2day 
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