Who Says There Is No Free Lunch in Singapore!

Here are my  reasons for saying there are  free lunches available  in this my lovely "Little Red Dot" Island if you look closely enough.  In our Public Libraries: There are thousands of books and audio-visual items which you can borrow.  Our libraries house a huge collection of books with daily addition of new arrivals -  on my recent visits I manage to borrow four new arrivals.  Everyday you can see the young and old enjoying the air-conditioning comfort  of the reading rooms and lounge areas.  In our Parks and Stadiums: You see people enjoying their morning/evening walks, jogs and "qi-gong" exercises.  In our iconic MacRitchie Reservoir and Botanic Gardens the beautiful sceneries and natural ambience are there for your enjoyment.  When the sun sets the lovers whisper sweet-nothings and subsume into the natural environment.  In the Espanade Concert Hall/Grounds:  There is a monthly free concert dubbed "The Beautiful Sunday" concert in the Concert Hall - the genre of music offerred range from Jazz/Symphonic Pop to Chinese Orchestral music.  That's not all, there are fringe acts/performances in the Concourse/Outdoor Theatre areas. Buses/Taxis:  Yes, you can hitch free rides from our friendly uncles and aunties who man such public  transport.  But you must be honest and explain your predicament -you may be facing a genuine "emergency" situation or you have just lost your wallet or belongings.  Our drivers will empathise with genuine requests but not cheats.

HERE MY FAMILY AND I WISH YOU A BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The Genius of Leonardo Da Vinci.

Above is the famout painting "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo Da Vinci which I extracted from the book entitled "Da Vinci Decoded" by Michael J Gelb which I had the good fortune to lay my hands on from the Bedok Naitonal Library last month. Many years ago while on a trip to France with my wife and in-laws I bought a souvenir bell which has the famous portrait embossed on it.  I purchased the item then remembering the song of the same name made famous by the late Nat King Cole whose extolling of the enigmatic beauty just captured my imagination.  I did not know then or bothered to find out who the painter was  -  poor me!  The bell is still seating pretty on top of the Korean chest in the hall of our home.  On the wall of the dining area in my apartment there is a cross-stitched (done by my wife) painting of the Last Supper - all these years I was not aware the famous painter was its creator!  The all-round genius of the painter was brought home to me after I read the book: his paintings have the balance and soul in them; he was also an inventor - he created designs for the parachute, snorkel, gear-shift, scissors, etc.  Leonardo said that his wish was to create miracles!  Do you know that Bill Gates paid US$30.8 million in 1994 for 18 pages of his note books.  The following are some of his divine spiritual thinking and philosophy:-

1) I reveal to men the origin of their cause of existence.
2) O human stupidity! Do you not perceive that you have spent your whole life with yourself and yet you are not aware of the thing you chiefly possess, that is of your folly.
3) While I thought I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die.
4) Our body is subject to the heaven.
5) It is necessary for doctors who are guardians of the sick to understand what man is, what life is and what health is, and in what way a balance and harmony of these elements maintains it.
6) Love alone makes me remember, it is only love that makes me aware.
7) Do you not see that the treasure in itself does not heap praise on its accumulator after his life is spent.