One of the things I miss most about Singapore is the famed durian fruit. I have missed my thorned friends tremendously and seized the opportunity today when we passed a street vendor hawking his wares.... Here's what we saw....






So, we bought some and shared the wealth with some willing customers....

Ok maybe some were not so willing......

I think we have a winner ! (maybe they grow durian in South Africa too?)

Cookie kept me company last night..... After several failed attempts at putting him to sleep in the study (no air-conditioning), he finally settled down underneath the table in my room (lots of air-conditioning) ... Apparently I am not the only one finding this heat intolerable....

MAJULAH SINGAPURA
("Onward, Singapore")

Its great to finally be home. I forgot how hot and humid Singapore is and I don't ever recall perpetually perspiring, but hey, you learn new things every day.

Today's weather check is 88 degrees (F) and 70% humidity. At least this weather is a good anti-aging device (humidity keeps the skin supple and wrinkle-free), even if it means taking 4 showers a day.

On my way to Singapore I stopped in the City of Angels to visit the family and spend Shabbos with them. Rebbetzin Geula Newman gave a very nice shiur in the honour of Judy's birthday (which fell out on Shabbos) and the rest of my time was spent enjoying the sunshine and stocking up on food supplies to bring to Singapore (the kosher shop in Singapore is sorely lacking in a proper dairy section).

Here's Tova and Shayna engaged in their 'Decorate My Pushka' project. I thought they did a pretty nice job.....






Here's Granny, Grampa, Mum and I at the shul last night. Granny and Gramps look a bit on the tired side because they're in the middle of moving house this week. I miss them so much and its so wonderful to be back with them..........

......... And here below is Grampa with Yisroel (I think Grampa enjoys the hat more than he is prepared to admit).... could this be the start of something new ? One thing is for sure, though... Moshe Chai Sion may be ready for Crown Heights, but I don't think Crown Heights will ever be ready for him..... GO GRAMPS!!!

It was nice to blog again after a long hiatus but I am not sure when I am able to again. I think the neighbour finally caught on to the fact that I was robbing him of his wireless so my connectivity might be short-lived.....

Meanwhile, keep smiling cos (yup, you guessed it) Moshiach is coming!

Here's a Hayom Yom which I thought was especially meaningful but didn't get around to posting until now. It's from 19 Iyar, the day after Lag B'Omer :

Chassidus is Divine intelligence, an understanding which shows man how small he is, and how great he can become.

SHAVUOS IN CROWN HEIGHTS

Yael, my classmate from school, spent Shavuos with me because she lives in Flatbush and wanted to spend Yom Tov / Shabbos in Crown Heights. After licht bentchen (candle lighting) on Friday evening, we were happily strolling to 770 when a lady of African-American descent stopped us.

"Excuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me ladies ! Are you Jews ?!"

My heart stopped beating. I braced myself for a barrage of anti-semitic verbal abuse and held my breath. Yael was the first one to speak. "Yes, we are. Why?"

The lady answered; bewildered and polite, albeit a little peeved.

"I don't know about you Jews.... What kind of holiday are you guys having today anyway ?"

"Its our festival of Shavuos, and now its Shabbos, our day of rest," Yael replied bravely.

She looked at us suspiciously, not quite satisfied.

"I don't know about you people.... some guy with a beard stopped me in the street today... and called me into his house .... this house right here (points) ... he wanted me to switch on his air-conditioner ... told me it was some Jewish holiday or sump'thin.... I mean, I didn't mind to help, but he took me into his dining room, and there were these little plastic plates on the table, and there were aaaaaaaaalllllllllll these people sittin' there and not ONE of them would turn on the air-conditioning ! I mean, WUZZUP WIT DAT MAN ??!! you gonna get electrocuted or sump'thin?? Why can't you touch the freakin thing!?"



Yael laughed hysterically while I thanked G-d silently that I was not :-

A) verbally abused
B) threatened
C) knifed
D) shot in the face
E) a combination of the above.



We then took a few minutes to assure her that : -

A) the guy with the beard was not pulling her leg by taking up her time; and
B) we really can't touch any electrical equipment on our holidays; and
C) it really has nothing to do with being electrocuted; and
D) item (C) above has nothing to do with punishments from G-d;
E) we really appreciate non-Jews who help us turn off/on stoves, air-conditioners and other electrical equipment on our holidays.



In order to part on peaceful terms (and to get to 770 at some point before midnight), we agreed on the following with our new friend :-

A) G-d loves everyone
B) it is not G-d's intention to deny Jews air-conditioning on a hot day
C) Jews have holidays with very strange restrictions
D) its a good thing that non-Jews live right next to Jews, so that they can be called upon to perform important functions on Jewish holidays.

Apart from this amusing encounter with the Nostrond Kind, Shavuos was amazing. Yom Tov in Crown Heights always is. Boruch Hashem for lasagna and quiche on Yom Tov. Oh and I think I overdid the cheesecakes a little, but hey, who didn't?

Also, BH my contribution to the seuda that was hosted by the Levertovs was a success. It was penne pasta in spicy mushroom sauce, Singapore style. [Spicy = a few dashes of crushed red pepper. Child's play, basically.] Reactions were varied, from frantic fanning of mouths to "oooooh its good I want some mooooooooore". These ashkenazim need to be intriduced to chukla-bukla and some proper curry dishes. I don't want to be around when that happens, though. Ben, are you reading this ?! This post is in your honour. Long live gefilte fish.