Shiva's and Metta's Mother's Sutra

This year I decided to read about South East Asia. Let me think about what I do know about South East Asia in the past. Well, for a start, I have never been to a few of these countries. Like Vietnam and Cambodia - a situation I hope to soon rectify. I haven't been to Burma. I don't know if I'll be going there soon. I have very little connection with the non Bahasa speaking parts of the place. Malaysia and Indonesia I know a little better. I have no idea of the history nor the landscape nor the pre history - beyond that which I have read cursorily when going to the museum. I don't even know the geological epochs, etc. It's really bad. I know more about Ireland, for instance. But then there are so many sources and stories. I know more about the Vikings and more about Hindu mythology. This is why stories are important. Anyway. I started reading this book - The History of South East Asia  by Eric C Thompson. You gotta start somewhere I suppose. And already I am fascinat...

  Yesterday I ran, tidied, wrestled with the story, and drew. It was a good day. And Ma said she felt energised after she did her exercises. I was delighted, but also worried. I was oh dear... that's both good and bad. Apparently the haze levels were also better - normal in most places except the West which was very bad - the worst it has been. So that's good right?  The drawing of the Sheela na gig- na is the plural for the - gig? What does gig mean? And Sheela is female. Anyway, it's been almost 6 years since I started learning Irish. I'm delighted that I can understand basic signs now. For instance, I saw the sign leabhar on a picture and knew it meant Library. It's cool. I can now understand very basic Irish. I should go for my run now. I don't know what today brings really. I must ask Jac if she can look after Ma while I go to the concert. Very happy am I. That I got it together finally. Having control and being grounded is everything. And I'm no longer...

 .... and in control. There is no doubt that being in Singapore is a head fuck, to put it mildly. I have written about this extensively, please see previous posts. HOWEVER, to stay sane here, you need to be grounded and that means two things - being in your body and being creative. There is no other way. If you are tapped into the madness which is suggested, then you will be chasing your tail, forever.  Singapore is a toxic place. Everything about it is nuts. So I am just gonna leave it here and move on. I know the formula, and it is exercise - running and swimming.  Cooking, writing, drawing, piano. Organising the house, gardening. Of course looking after Ma. It is NOT being on TikTok and FB and watching Netflix. That was lies perdition. So, if I cannot bring myself to be creative, I can at least organise. And I need to run - run and swim and write. And draw. And organise... that's all there is to it. It's not rocket science. Really, it isn't. Today, today is the day....

I went for a run today - sanity once more. I just have to run daily, there's all there is to it. And since I can't do it outside, I'll have to do it indoors. So I also cleared up the living room. And I'll do the table soon. I've decided to stop commenting on the haze. It's pointless. It's also too late now. Too late. Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic and hoping for the best. I can't be bothered anymore. I've done my bit, literally. And no one wanted to listen. Maybe I should have done more. Like Naomi Klein's son said, did you do enough to stop Trump? Did I do enough to stop the destruction of the rainforest? Well, I was thinking while running today, what could have been done. The three countries - Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore - could have set up a Rainforest Action Plan. This would have had three aims.  1. To stop deforestation by transitioning to an economy which does not rely on the destruction of the remaining habitat. 2. To mak...

I consider it an absolute privilege to look after Ma. This task was given to me by my father. It is so filled with grace, but it is also very sad. Sad because I recall her in her heyday when she was this formidable presence. When she was the tallest woman I knew, even though she was just of regular height. When her word was law, which it kind of still was, but there would be no questioning of it. When she would do everything with zealous efficiency. She couldn't bear people who took too long to get and do anything. She was as sharp as a whip. Well, now that is not the case. She relies on me for everything. Her knee has given up on her and she won't go for an operation. She hobbles about and is wrecked with pain. I do physio with her twice a day. She won't go anywhere and I have to drag her out on the regular. Yesterday we went to drop Oisin off at Changi. I was just about able to make her come along. It has been such a rollercoaster since Pa passed. She looked after the bot...

Oisin told me that I was being very negative yesterday when I laughed at Elon Musk's stupid flipping car. I was like why do you need a car like that? He said, cos its fun. I said, is it fun to spend money on doing stupid things when the world is on fire? And he gave me a sarcastic nodding head... I said, are you patronising me? He said, you've been very negative lately. I said, have you see the state of the world lately? Apart from the planet being on fire, the corruption and the greed, the mass stupidity, the ... Anyway... Singaporeans are generally stupid people. This I have decided. They cannot process anything that's not in front of their faces nor if they have not been steeped in it. Independent thinking is beaten out of you, one year at a time. By the time you have reached 16, you are either someone who is a true believer, and will go on to 'do well' but be utterly miserable, or you will end up leaving, or if you stay - you will just believe that this is your ...