Dear Harry, Hermione and Ron

This is specially dedicated to all those who has a child in you, who wants to unleash the fantasy in you, and who enjoys the Harry Potter series. I recently saw a book titled “Kids’ Letters to Harry Potter”, now you know, not only kids write letters to Harry. *wink*

*Warning: Contains Spoilers*

Dear Harry, Hermione and Ron,

I am a Muggle who had just finished reading “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” a few days ago. I was overwhelmed by questions when I finished. How could Professor Dumbledore have died? It is just impossible! Who will head the Order of the Phoenix from now on? I still cannot believe that Dumbledore placed so much trust on Snape who turned out to be a traitor all along! Will Hogwarts be closed down? What plans do the three of you have to take on You-Know-Who in future? Will Harry and Ginny really break up because he has to go in search of You-Know-Who and has to sever ties with people he loves?

Harry, I only started reading about your adventures a few months ago. I used to think that your adventure tales are only meant for the kids, and I, who do not particularly enjoy fantasy tales, was quite skeptical about your adventures. However, I can now finally understand how you are like a whirlwind that took the world be storm. I believe that anyone, be it a child or a grown-up, who has a tiny little bit of childhood fantasy in them, would want to join you at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, play Quidditch, or say the password to the Fat Lady and climb into the Gryffindor common room.

Hermione, how did you ever manage to memorize all those information in the textbooks? I am impressed! I really love the way you made hats for the house-elves and hope that one day they could stand up for themselves, be liberated and gain freedom, just like Dobby! I doubt this dream of yours could be fulfilled in the near future, but nevertheless, it was a good attempt and I applause you for it. I hope Harry and Ron could show more support for you though.

And Ron, I sure hope you and Hermione could end up together! Stop being so indecisive and have more confidence in yourself, be it to tell Hermione your true feelings or to play Keeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Do not be scared off by the Slytherins just because of the stupid song “Weasley is our King”!

To me, one main reason why the Harry Potter series have been very captivating is because Harry is not one without flaws. He is not the best in his school work (he only excels in Defence Against the Dark Arts, and receives “Poor” in Divination and “Dreadful” in History of Magic in the O.W.L (Ordinary Wizarding Level) results) , nor does he remember all spells. Friendship has played an important part in his life. Without Hermione and Ron who were always loyally by him, he would not have been able to defeat Voldemort, I mean You-Know-Who, time and again. Because he is not perfect, he seems just like someone, anyone, around us, not one who is high and above, and who does not exist. He often got angry with Professor Snape and Draco Malfoy who were always trying to annoy him. He got so worked up in his attempt to save his godfather Sirius Black, that he lost his senses and even ignored Hermione’s warnings, so much so that Sirius ended up dead. He and Ron were often scolded in class, especially Potions class, and there were also times when he fell out with Ron and Hermione, just like any friends in school do.

When Harry, Hermione and Ron set up the DA (Dumbledore’s Army), I was so glad to see that Neville Longbottom had joined in, and even managed to learn the spells fast. There was this particular spell whereby Hermione was the only one who could master it faster than he does. For someone who does not have the intelligence and the talent in wizardry, it was amazing that he could rise up to the occasion and display his worth in the face of his parents’ enemy You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters, who caused them to become insane and to live in the St Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries .

It took me quite a while to appreciate the Prophecy, and till now I still do not yet fully understand it. The Prophecy was just a prophecy, as Dumbledore puts it, but it was You-Know-Who who turned it to be true. He killed Harry’s parents and chose him to be his equal, and which was also how he created his own fate. Harry’s task is now to kill You-Know-Who and rid the world of an evil, not because the prophecy said so, but because he had to.

It sounds quite stressful and dangerous to live in the world of wizards and witches. Anyone could jinx or hex anyone one else with just a wave of the wand. But still, I really wish I could have a taste of Butterbeer, enter the Room of Requirement, join the DA, attempt to catch the snitch in a Quidditch game, try apparating, have a wand and shout “Expecto Patronus!” when I meet the Dementors, hide under the Invisibility Cloak to visit Hagrid and Fang, read the Daily Prophet, look at pictures and watch the characters move in them, attend the Feast at Hogwarts, put on the Sorting Hat, look at memories in the Pensieve, make a trip to Fred and George’s Joke Shop, see how useless the Ministry of Magic is…
I wish I could send you this letter by an owl, but I have not got one and I reckon in troubled times like this, Hedwig would not be free for the delivery.

I heard that the next book will only be out in a year’s time (groan). Till then, I hope the three of you stay safe.

P.S. I think the three of you should learn the Avada Kedavra curse, for protection, just in case.

From,
Your Muggle Friend

Who foots the bill? (Part 2)

The waiter stands, bending slightly, his right hand reaching out, holding the bill.

Everyone at the table bends forward and starts fidgeting their wallets, which have all of a sudden become so “deep” that everyone seems to be having a hard time digging for notes or cards.

The waiter shifts from left to right. His hand trembles slightly after holding the bill in the air for sometime.

Time seems to have come to a stop. Everyone’s battling on who has the lowest level of patience and the lowest threshold of embarrassment.

Finally, someone gives up and foots the bill.

Have you ever been in such a situation before?

A friend once complained that whenever he goes for dinners in a large group, he dreads the “bill please” moment most.

He does not carry much cash but has a number of credit cards on hand, so he usually ends up as the one to foot the bill for the table.

When the bill comes, and nobody wants to take the initiative to pay the bill, there would be an awkward moment of silence and of course, embarrassment.

He would not have minded paying upfront, had it not been his numerous unpleasant experiences of having to fork out more than he should.

There are a few scenarios for this:

1) He pays the bill first and his friends pay him back after the meal, but they round down on their own individual bill and conveniently forget about the service charge or tax.
2) Some friends carry big notes and he does not have the change, so the friends promised to pay him the next time they see him. And when would that be?

As my friend says, “For those who do not have ready cash on hand, and if I do not meet them that often, then it would not seem too gracious to meet someone after so long and remind him to pay for a plate of spaghetti he ate 6 months ago, would it?”

“For those who forget about the service charge, it is not that big a problem since sometimes I just need to pay a dollar or so more for each person, and that does not add up to too much."

"But, the thing is, sometimes you see some misers who are obviously trying to save a few bucks. They do this (pay less or not pay) too frequently, and it becomes irksome because they seem to be making use of your ‘generosity’ on purpose.”

I certainly agree that such people are annoying, but there are times when it really slips one’s mind to pay, especially when the matter has passed for sometime. No wonder my friend likes to go to restaurants where everyone pays for their own share. For the convenience, now I know.

Who foots the bill? (Part 1)

A guy asks a girl out on their first date. Who foots, or who should foot the bill at the end of the meal?

From the guys:

Guy A: Of course I do! I am a man! She’s the girl of my dreams, and it is an important day: our first date!

Guy B: I think we should go Dutch. After all, I am not sure if she is the one for me, I asked her out just to see whether things might work out. If we pay for our own meals, she would not get the wrong idea.

From the girls:

Girl A: Of course he should! He asked me out for dinner. He must have a liking for me, this is the time for him to show his generosity. After all, shouldn’t all guys be gentlemen enough to foot the bill?

Girl B: I will pay for my own. I have the money, why should I let him pay? I do not want him to think that I am free loading on him. Moreover, this is just a casual meal; I do not want to be “indebted” to him just because he paid for my share.

Now, it looks like it is not such an easy decision to make after all. So who should pay the bill?

Most people would agree that first dates are important. For some couples, that marks their starting point in a relationship. For others who had a lousy first date, that is the first and probably the last time the two would sit down together for a meal.

In my opinion, for first dates, it would be nice and gentlemanly for the guys to pick up the tag, or at the very least, offer to pay for the meal. Although some girls might have the “men and women are equal” mentality, they like to be independent, and they might not like to have guys paying for their share, nevertheless, it feels good to dine with a gentleman.

On the other hand, girls should not take it for granted that guys should pay the tag. In no way should the girl insist that the guy gives the treat. However, if the guy offers to pay, do not be adamant in your way and insist in paying for yourself, lest making things end in discomfort. Let the guy play the gentlemen, and if you feel bad, offer to treat him to dessert or a drink after that.

For guys who are worried about burning a hole through your pocket when you pay for double, my advice is, pick a place within your budget. There is no point in going to an expensive restaurant and ending up in embarrassment when you do not have enough money to foot the bill.

That much said about first dates, what about for further dates or for couples in steady relationships?
It would not be fair for guys to be always on the paying end. There is nothing for guys to feel embarassed about, in enjoying a lady’s treat, and I think most girls would not mind footing the bill too, so why not go Dutch at some times, and give each other treats at other times?

What about for casual friends on casual occasions?

There's no argument: Go Dutch!

The Maid and the Child

I was standing in a crowded MRT train. Someone had just stood up from a seat. A child ran past me at lightning speed, knocking my hands, and brushing past a couple who sat with their legs crossed. With a “plonk”, he sat down heavily on the empty seat.

“Say sorry.”

A lady’s voice sounded out from behind me.

The child looked around and muttered under his breath, “…...”

“Say sorry!” The voice was raised.

The couple looked embarrassed, waved their hands as if they wanted to dismiss the matter. The little boy stared on the ground.

“Quick!” The voice was not going to give up.

“Sorry…” The little boy finally said, loud and clear.

It may seem a little harsh on a poor little child.

But at that point in time, I was thinking, “From the way this little boy was disciplined, he will grow up to be a fine young man. He was brought up from young to be a courteous boy."

“His mother…” I turned to look at the lady, “would be very proud of hi---…” and stopped.

“…hi---s maid.”

The lady, who had insisted that the little boy apologize for rudely knocking into others, was not his mother, but none other than, his Filipino maid.

Nowadays, many people leave their child to the care of their maids. Some children, even at a young age, treat this “auntie” who tags along with them everyday as their “slave”. Some see how their parents order them around at home to perform household chores, and imitate their parents by throwing their school bags and files to them and make them run errands. In other cases, some parents even teach their children to use the authoritative attitude on the maids.

As a result, most of these children grow up to become spoilt brats. After all, they are used to being a little prince at home and outside.

In such cases, while the parents find a good maid who treats their child like a king, the psychological development of the child is questionable.

It has become so common for families these days to have a maid who stays with children at home while their parents work.

While it is important to find a maid who can cook, clean the house and take care of children, what is more essential is for the maid to teach them the right values. After all, for most of the day, they are the ones who are with the child, and little values build up overtime during these moments.

For the little boy I met on the MRT, I must congratulate his mother, for she found a good helper, and most importantly, she can be sure that her child will grow up in good hands.

Cantonese opera for the first time

I stepped into the Esplanade to watch my first ever Cantonese opera about a week ago.

I have never watched Cantonese opera, or any other type of opera, before. I am not a Cantonese, I do not speak Cantonese, much less be able to understand it.

My first experience was pretty interesting. An eye-opener I would say.

The performance was called Hua Yue Ying, by a famous opera troupe from China. It was supposed to be an opera with some modern music incorporated in it so as to "keep up with times", as well as to attract a younger crowd. However, I was not exactly impressed with the music (perhaps because I could not appreciate it!). What caught my attention most was the excellent back drop they had, and the realistic performance put up.

There were a number of different scenes, some that showed an opera house, outside the palace, near the beach etc. Each backdrop was so captivating that at one point or another, I felt like I was really in an opera house or by the beach.

Also, at one scene at the seaside, the lead roles and the supporting roles were "on" a boat, rowing out to sea. The way they rocked and moved their bodies along with the "waves", made the audience feel as if we were on the boat with them!

Although I could not understand Cantonese, I could generally catch the flow of the story. All thanks to the Chinese and English translations that were screened on a panel on the left and right corners of the stage.

Nevertheless, it was tiresome switching your eyes from the panel to the centre stage and back to the panel. It took the pleasure out of watching the opera. Sometimes, I would take my eyes off the panel and concentrate on the opera, but I would end up not being unable to understand. But if I were to fix my eyes on the panel, I would not be able to catch what was happening on stage. What a dilemma!

This made me realise how important the language medium was, in understanding and appreciating a form of art. I dare say that I enjoyed the opera, but appreciating it is another different story.