Film - Philomena

A non-fiction that should never have even been a fiction.  But such is the human condition.   Judi, brilliant as ever.  Steve type cast.  He was very brave to play against the Dame.  4 on the doors.  Our first visit to the cinema in over one year.

Penang Life - Dawn

I know, yet another dawn photographed, but if I am getting up this early in the morning you have to suffer too!

Doll House - Black and White

An Art Deco, deco.  The lady on the left is from Napier, North Island, New Zealand and the silver kite on the right is from Kota Bharu on the north east coast of Malaysia, both are original art works, if not specifically intended to be put in a doll house.  The picture of the '20's beauty was taken from a handicraft card, the type you can find in tourist traps all over the world and the kite started life as a broach.  I bought the kite broach from the silversmith in K. B. and asked the sales lady if the broaches clasp could be removed from the back, which the silversmith kindly did.  The kite, a wau bulan or moon kite, is a traditional Malay kite which can be up to 3.5m long. The silver jewelery box on the chest of drawers is from Heraklion , Crete. Amazing what you can find on your travels if you keep an eye out for the miniatures around you.

The quilt is one of four  made by Gek for the beds in her house. With the structure of the house getting near completion, the challenge now is to 'dress' the rooms to make a realistic looking home that you can image someone living in.  This I find is the most challenging part of any model building.

Doll House - Black and White

 Pictures framed and hung. Roast chicken for lunch.  Sometimes I think I must be out to lunch.

At the back of the dinning room a pantry.  The first model furniture I have made in years.

Penang Life - Dawn.

An exceptional morning sky.  could be due to volcanic activity in Sumatra or the pesky smog we are suffering at the moment.  But amazing, if only for 5 mins.  Had to dash for the camera.  The sky was changing so quickly.

Book - Chinese Houses of South East Asia.

By Ronald Knapp.  A lovely book, covering houses built by the Chinese sojourners and settlers in SE Asia during the Victorian and Edwardian period. Countries covered include not only Singapore and Malaysia but also, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.   For me the book was a real find, it having loads of lush interiors photographed for each of the houses described.  On top of the architectural interest, Ronald also researched the background as to who had the houses built and a potted history of the house and it's inhabitants through to the present day.  To round off things off, the book ends with descriptions of  the houses some of the SE Asia settlers went back home to China to build. 

Chinese New Year - 2014

As usual, 15 days of fireworks and all sorts of entertainments around the island.  So what do we do?  Stay at home and avoid the crowds!!!  Here a full sized atap roofed house built inside Queens Bay Mall.  Why?

Book - The New Machiavelli.

A good read, if you have any interest in the workings, or none workings of the political machine. 

Book - Nelson's Battles

We have recently joined the Penang Library.  Our local Bayan Baru branch is housed in a single shop space in the mall opposite us here in 1-Sky.  The total area given over to shelving for books is smaller than our living room here.  So,  what are the chances of finding in there a book, written in English, on events from over 200 years ago in Europe that had a profound effect on the future of the British Empire?  Well, a very good chance it appears.  Amazing.