*Parkour Cat, Tam Tam

29-6-23

“Send help please! I donch knowthis crazy person!” – Tam Tam
(28 June 2023)

Tam Tam the black cat was born on 11 Aug 2019 and lovingly raised at the MettaCats and Dogs Sanctuary.

Spotting a white bib on his otherwise obsidian chest, Tam Tam had been rehomed before but his adoptive family was unable to contain him safely.

For the weeks he went missing, his shelter family combed through forested area and put up notices to locate him.

He was later found to be hanging out in one of the properties housing a diplomat. There he was renamed “Lily” by adoring foreign kids. They must have been so charmed by Tam Tam’s gentle sleekness and overlooked his masculine prowess.

On Halloween, Tam Tam ran along for tricks or treats, much to the children’s delight and the adults’ amusement.

As his finders were unable to control Tam Tam’s roaming tendencies it was decided he should return to the shelter and wait for a new home.

From epic indifference whenever he’s first picked up…

Back at the shelter, Tam Tam fits right in with the others as if he has never left. He scales his way up enclosure tops and moves on aerial routes with the surefootedness of a mountain goat.

From scaling wire cages in the old shelter to…

supervising the hanging of prayer flags in the new shelter, Tam Tam cannot resist getting involved.

Tam’s appetite for adventure knows no bounds. Lately he’s been giving his shelter caregivers mini heart attacks. As soon as he sees a gap that allows him to enter the kennels, he charges ahead to try to make friends with the dogs.

Parkour cat Tam Tam waits patiently by the gate for an opening so he can charge onto his next adventure.

I love black cats for their definitive outlines and impenetrable opaqueness. In their coat of raven black, they look ready to morph into a bird or extend to become a panther.

Tam Tam’s blackness seems to give him a cloak of protection as he parkours from one peril to another. But he will still need a family that knows his antics and looks out for him.

This cat whose mood can swing from epic indifference to slobbery affection within seconds is still up for adoption.

I hope Tam Tam will parkour his way into a family that can appreciate and protect him for many years to come. 🙏❤️

For adoption details of Tam Tam please contact Mettacats & Dogs Sanctuary.

*Parkour – (french origin) the sport of negotiating manmade obstacles by running, climbing, or leaping rapidly and efficiently.

Magnificent Monday: Healing Alignment

26-6-23

A young girl in my tuition class spoke about how she would want nothing more than her pair of pet parrots to be returned to her if she could wish for any birthday present. She was responding to an oral exam prompt we were practising for mid year.

The parrot paraphenilia is indicative of how much my student loves her pet partot.

Last week I handed her a parrot pin given by a former student who is completing her oceanography studies in Australia.

When I told the recipient that the pin was given by a brave young woman, and how it might serve as a reminder of how well she had articulated her thoughts, she immediately attached the parrot pin onto her fabric pencil case.

This week she came to class with print outs of her parrots playing & napping when they were with her.

She beamed proudly when I took an interest in the hastily cut pictures of her lost companions.

She must have waited for some time to share her sadness without the fear of being called childish or a cry baby.

Occasionally in the midst of practising language skills, a hidden grief or suppressed sorrow pops up, and the teacher gets the chance to become the comforter.

In letting a child express sadness without rushing in to help her “feel better,” she gets to process her loss and maybe learn to live with it in time to come. It’s only when we know how to live with the imperfections of life then we’re in a position to recognise its magnificence.

I shall return these precious print outs to my student framed.

Falling Into Stillness

25-6-23

I saw my first real waterfall in 2006 when I was in Japan. These days, a manmade waterfall like the one at Bird Paradise is as good as the real deal for me.
(8 May 2023) ❤️

When I need to go out I pick my timing carefully to avoid crowds and transport fee hikes.

On the streets there are cyclists and people on mobility aid to be mindful of.

In the malls especially during school holidays, there is the exhuberance of unsupervised children at play that can trip me.

Increasingingly I find myself making detours, sometimes huge ones, to avoid shoppers clustering on narrow thoroughfares.

So an errand that may take 30minutes can easily turn into a 2 hour undertaking.

The obstacles I face on my outings force me to look ahead when I walk, and to stand still in the presence of running children or sudden movements by others.

I now understand why in my youth I felt strongly about regulating whale & dolphin watching tourism. Whales have been known to alter their migratory routes or delay their feeding in order to avoid boats.

As I age every departure from the familiarity of my flat & neighbourhood is thus a bit of an expedition. I don’t have the bandwidth to conquer mountains or check out the ocean because the landscape in me is a perpetual mystery of unpredictability.

The outcome of negotiating external changes in my environment together with my physical limitations has strangely put me in a constant state of the beginner’s mind.

Every outing I can make it on my own whether alone or with friends is always my first, and could also be my last. It is perhaps one of the reasons why I’m always taking pictures. 😊

Park Village, Budanilkanta, Nepal. (2017)

Positioned for Good

22-6-23 (June Solstices)

Panda, the shelter dog’s affection is boundless. (June 2023)

On the full moon that just passed, a former student made a trip to Nepal. She offered to help me deliver non-prescriptive medicated animal supplies to friends who are taking care of street & shelter animals there.

The soft spoken child in her impossibly white school uniform writing compo in my class some 20 years back is now venturing to rugged Nepal & wants to help me bring stuff?!

When we took this picture, I didn’t know one of these young girls would one day help me deliver animal relief supplies to street and shelter animals in Nepal.

Wound washes & medicated shampoos to relieve animal suffering, improve their physical conditions and increase their chances of getting fed. For animals, beauty is never skin deep because it makes a difference between getting fed or getting kicked. 🙏

I didn’t jump at her offer at first. But I was touched that someone with little exposure to street animals & shelter work would want to take on this extra weight on her personal trip.

I was also unsure if I could assemble the needful items in time for her trip. There was a medical emergency in my family at that time.

Looking back I’m so glad she persisted in wanting to perform this courier duty.

As it turned out, she not only fulfilled all she needed to do in Nepal, but also took time off to climb the “epic” hill (cos her taxi couldn’t climb) and reached the village where the dog shelter was located. (I did this only once in 2018 with help).

My former student is all grown up now and wears many hats, among which is that of peacemaker to keep dogs from squabbling.

“I’ve never been so dirty and happy,” she texted me, referring to the muddy paw prints on her attire and person, as the dogs inundated her with cuddles.

Receiving the Baptism of Mud from shelter dog, Dorjie, to remind us to remain grounded no matter what our positions are.

Her enthusiasm in helping & subsequent initiative to seek out the shelter to hang out with the dogs & relief workers are compassion & wisdom at work. In return she felt honoured and blessed.

Art of Giving: Simple food lovingly cooked and respectfully given.

Today people living in the Southern Hemisphere observe the Winter Solstice. Yesterday those in the Northern Hempishere marked the Summer Solstice. It depends on our geographical positions.

But there’s a position which we all can claim regardless of who we are and where we’re born. And it is the position of power to render help. This power begins in the heart and radiates from the mind.

I believe it is this power that keeps people with limited resources going, and in turn inspire others to get involved.

Street Dog Care e.v. treats street dogs and shelters the ones that need a safe place to recover before returning to the community. It is supported by donation and run mostly by local staff & volunteers.

So I like to take this Solstice celebration to wish all of us the power to bring relief regardless of our positions, so that collectively we become a source of delight to all sentient beings.

Happy Solstice to you, and all sentient beings in the North, South, East & West. 🙏

Namaste. Tashi Delek.

First June (Vesak Day Eve)

1-6-23

This unexpected gift of a crystal singing bowl will be sounded for the first time on Vesak Day tomorrow.

The rain today is a welcome respite from the scorching heat that had weakened my resolve to walk to the nearby shops to get flowers and snacks for this Vesak Day weekend. 😄

A gentle breeze in the on off drizzle this morning gave me the courage to sally forth.

The breeze this morning, the soft sun light and the on off drizzle gave me the courage to venture out to get flowers for the gods and snacks for my friends.

It’s the first day of June, make it memorable. Don’t waste the beautiful weather. So I asked my brother to join me for a meal.

In the spacious heartland coffee shop, two grey haired siblings had an ordinary but hearty meal, like they used to in their primary school days.

After that we stopped by the young hindu florist to pick up fresh jasmine garlands, and flowers for the gods. And for the humans visiting my home tomorrow, I got them cakes and pineapple tarts from the happy muslim baker. ❤️

Rabbits’ Gathering

31 May 2023

It was Buddha’s birthday. All the 12 zodiac animals were invited. Everyone was punctual, except Rabbit. It turned out that on his way to Buddha’s party, Rabbit stopped for someone who was sick and gave him medicine. Hence the delay.

For his deed, Rabbit now lives on the Moon where he assists the Moon Goddess to prepare medicines & elixirs of longevity.

The above is one of the stories that my dad told me on nights when we sat under the full moon.

Last Friday, a friend drove from the east to the west to help me carry medicated supplies to another party who would then hand the precious parcel to rescuers of street animals.

Seeking Medicine Buddha’s blessings on the medicated supplies for street animals.

After the handover was settled, we had the best charred bee hoon (fried vermicelli) among other dishes in a cafe by the Changi Beach

That vermicelli dish was extra special because it had to be consumed straight from the pan to the plate to savour its crispiness. And the sambal that went with it was like no other. It is a dish that truly demands that you be fully present.

Our meditative lunch was further augmented by the company of another friend who supports our medicine journeys for homeless animals.

3 friends born under the same zodiac animal sign.

While chatting over coffee, I realised the 3 of us were born in the Year of the Rabbit. And thus it is only befitting that we should take such an interest in medicine gathering. 😄

Posing with Sharonne in the Year of the Rabbit at her family’s cafe.

As we look to the Vesak Day public holiday and the Full Moon, may all gatherings hold potentials for goodwill, gratitude & grace. 🪔

Contemplative Tuesday: Losing & Gaining

9 May 2023

Of all the birds that catch my eyes, the flamingoes take first prize. Apart from their pinkish plummage, their straight legs are a thing of beauty as they strut confidently from one spot to another in the mud without losing momentum.

Birds taking flight from tree branches or from the arm of their handler, while their talons rip off barks or leave marks on the protective arm cover is a delight to me. And those perfect landings on flimsy laundry lines & bobbing along with the wind is ballet!

If I can make a personal wish in this life, it will probably be to know what it feels like to walk without limping and without swaying from side to side. Even if it is just for one day.

“Where are you going? Do you need a wheelchair?” asked the young staff with a look of concern mixed with hesitation. He was unsure of how I would react to his offer of help.

It was closing time at the newly opened Bird Paradise at Mandai Lake.

“I think I can manage. Cos that was how I got in.” I assured him brightly. My heart was already full from an afternoon of avian magic with friends and now this young man.

He would later tell me on our way to the taxi stand that his heart simply couldn’t take it to see me walking like this, while he was standing around with two strong legs. And no, he didn’t want me to think he was pitying me.

His parents have taught him to help others and not expect to be praised.

We went on to exchange views on decision making in life and the need for time to create emotional distance before we can accurately process an experience that has happened, especially if it is not aligned to our plans.

By the time we said goodbye, I realised we wouldn’t have this moment if I had two good legs.

Meanwhile my admiration for flamingoes and those who can move about with ease will never diminish.

Narrow Paths, Wide Hearts

3-4-23

The path may be narrow, but our heart can be wide. Rain forces pedestrians to take the 5 foot way skimming the shophouses at East Coast Road.

As I was waiting for the rain to stop, a man was trying to restrain their dog from entering the Harvest Bowl Salad cafe where his wife had gone to buy their takeaway dinners.

Their dog, being larger than the usual street dogs, was a challenge to contain. And the rain had forced passers by directly onto the path of the duo. Most people looked at man with dog kindly, but a few gave disapproving looks as if to say, “Dunno how to control your dog, why take him out?”

I would learn later that this was the first time the nervous dog had been in a rainy and crowded setting.

The man appeared apologetic for blocking the path. He was also looking increasingly stressed by the constant stream of people brushing past them.

“What a lovely dog you have!” I called out to the man. It was an attempt to break the spell of unease. It worked. He smiled. The dog also stopped rearing up & charging at the cafe entrance.

Then I suggested that he led his dog away from the cafe and to my side to limit the canine’s range of vision & thus reduce his fixation on the other human caregiver. (Thank you NatGeo & Caesar Milan)

So under the drumming rain in the sheltered walkway, we chatted about animal rescue work. The dog whose head reached my waist, started sniffing the air and looking at the passing street cars like a curious child.

The man & his wife had been feeding stray dogs in forested areas. It was where they found their dog and his litter mates.

Finally the man’s wife appeared with their long awaited dinner. Their dog pranced in delirious joy to see that his family was complete again!

Before we parted, the wife who preferred the company of animals to humans, asked me gently if I had an umbrella and how I was going to get home.

Looking back, wherever there is kindness, we’re home. So that come rain or shine, separation or union, we will always belong. And even if the path is narrow, our heart can be wide. 🙏

Pilgrims circumabulate the Boudha Stupa alongside dogs who have made the UNESCO World Heritage site home.

Contemplative Tuesday

28-3-23

Late lunch on a rainy afternoon at Spize yesterday.

Yesterday it rained nearly all day.

Rain would pour in through the kitchen window of our first flat in Prince Charles Square during the 70’s.

The plastic sheets hastily attached to the window grille with clothes pegs were useless against the slashing rain.

After the rain came the mopping. I resented living in a flat that leaked, ignorant of the fact that all the flats in that low SES neighbourhood of ours were subjected to the elements.

I guessed I wouldn’t have felt so ashamed of our living conditions had it not been for that one time when my well meaning school teacher and her husband decided to pay our home a visit.

I had managed to put off her attempts to visit my home a few times. And guess what I was doing on their surprise visit? Yes, mopping the floor!

But this time it included mopping up milk which my then baby brother had spilled when his milk bottle came crashing down.

My young teacher and her handsome husband stood in awkward silence as I picked up the glass shards and went about clearing the mess.

Looking back the rain that day had washed away my pride, and the broken milk bottle had shattered whatever illusions of economic wellness I was trying to project.

I think after that, my teacher learnt to respect her students’ boundaries. I learnt to tell the truth if I disagree with or lack anything, so that I don’t have to make up excuses.

Sage, Destroyer of Ego

13-3-23

My friend’s orange kitty, Sage, is selective about who gets to hang out with her, for how close and for how long.

My efforts to promote animal welfare do not impress her one bit.

My repertoire of animal knowledge is worth less a kibble to her.

But, if I know my place, Sage doesn’t mind eating a store bought treat from my hand. This means not trying to touch her when she’s trying to eat, or assuming that just because I have the means to buy things, I’m King.

Sage reminds me that I’m only a creature, just like her.

So whenever I need a dose of reality & liberation from egoistic tendencies, I make an appointment with Sage.