SO MANY THINGS TO WRITE ABOUT ...

Yes, life seems to come in peaks and troughs, and sometimes there's nothing happening at all and it's an enjoyable hiatus because you never know what's coming round the corner. Other times it is like there seems no time to breathe even. But it's all quite fun.





The last few days for example. What began as a quiet week with only one or two things in the diary has been filled and now I don't know what to write about! On Sunday night I was asked to cover the Tzu Chi Concert in Dewan Sri Pinang. It was an eye opener. The Buddhist association, which started in Taiwan, teaches kindness and consideration for others. Something which is important in this day and age. It was done through the song and short acts. I quite enjoyed it, but felt a bit sad at the end. These are basic human principles which should not need to be taught to us. It should be inherent in us.





Monday evening was also busy with a sedate concert at the beautiful Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Leith Street held by the Alliance Francaise in conjunction with their French Art Festival. It's great that the French Government funds this cultural week throughout the world, and even in lil ole Penang they are busy every year, serving up a menu of interesting and varied activities for any one who is interested. As I spent a wonderful three years in the South of France in the early 1990s (in fact my younger son was born in Grasse Hospital, perfume centre of the world), I have a bond with the country, and this is one way of connecting with it from time to time.


The performance by the two musicians was commendable, the French counter tenor's voice was pure and spot on. He was accompanied by a Brazilian who played a medieval instrument which was a bit like a cross between a lute and a 12-string guitar - it was remarkable how he managed to coax such beautiful notes from it, especially as it reacted to humidity and had to be re-tuned often. However, the evening was marred by the heat - with nearly 100 people in the room, the air conditioning was inadequate, and we were all sweltering. The poor performers were soaked in their own perspiration! Luckily it lasted just under an hour, and after that we all rushed next door to Red Garden Hawker Centre to tuck into some very welcome ice-cold beer.





I like the place. It's a bit tawdry and noisy with all the singing (if you can call it that) and dancing but what the heck! At least people were enjoying it. I had some belacan fried rice - not bad.