Rice and ice kachng

Came across a dvd of Callas interviewed by Lord Harewood. Great and revealing it was. And they still don’t have any of her operas here in the shops.

I bought a Pilger film War on Democracy. Sickening to hear an arrogant ex CIA man commenting on the murder of some people in one of the countries of south America saying “500! That’s nothing in the battle for democracy!” or something like that.

I was deafened night after night during the French film festival by the overloud surround sound adverts showing mainly US trailers, bing bong bang, killings, explosions, heroic defenders of the US ad nauseum. Shows Americans are a terrified people still surrounded by Red Indians as Slessinger Jr explained in a book written 40 years ago.

The French films were great and we saw Hunting and Gathering, Sseraphine, Crime is our Business and Saint Cyr. What was impressive was the audience - 40 cf to the miserable 7 last year.

A Malaysian film Sell Out was also on but we did not notice it until I stumbled across it in a blog which reported that it was highly commended at the Venice Festival. Too late! It was discontinued the day we tried to buy a ticket. Will have to wait for the dvd.

Saw a “pipa duck” sign at Rangoon Road, had no idea what it was until when we got to the hawker complex next to Island Plaza. Very well done and a new discovery in taste. But why “pi pa”? Apparently after the shape of the Chinese lute.

At the next table was a man who was dark skinned but puzzled; he was reading a Chinese newspaper. Alone with a cup of coffee and a small bottle of beer, Sitting there doing nothing, staring into space. Was he waiting for a friend? When we were just about to leave the chicken rice woman joined him. She was about to eat her late dinner, a plate of rice, a cup of what looked like soup and as well as a bowl of ice kachang. She must be his wife. And what a dinner!

The itch that tormented me for more than a year has gone. The skin specialist here, and he is one of he best, told me to cover up all day because my skin is a very dry skin and sensitive to ultra violet rays. This meant anti hystamine pills, ointments, special lotion for baths and no more swimming in the sea - the deadlist blow of all.

I am also no longer sleeping 12 hours a day and instead do 11. It must be that the effects of the concussion caused by my falling from my bike for no reason at all is losing its effect. I suspect it is also the cause of my false palsy which causes bits of food to go down the wrong way causing severe and prolonged coughing - even a slight vomit - to get the intruder out of the wrong tube. My surgeon tells me this partial paralysis of the region of the throat is due to brain damage.