Jack and Jill & Sing a Song of Sixpence...

Me: Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch..?
Jared: Some water?
Me: A PAIL of water.. Jack fell down and broke..?
Jared: His leg?

Justin: His arm?
Me: His crown.. do you know what's a crown? It means his head.. And Jill came..?
Justin: Rolling down?
Me: .... (Rolled eyes)

Me: Sing a song of sixpence.. A pocket full of rye.. Four and..?
Jared: Three.. Two.. One..
Me: Twenty blackbirds.. Baked in a..?
Justin: I don't know..
Me: Pie.. When the pie was opened.. The birds began to..?
Jared: FLY AROUND!!!
Me: The King was in his..?
Justin: Palace?
Me: Counting house.. Counting out his money.. The Queen was in the..?
Justin: Bakery?

Me: Parlour.. Eating bread and..?
Justin: Honey?
Me: YEAH! Finally, you got one right! The maid was in the..?
Justin: Backyard doing laundry?
Jared: This is too hard for me!
Me: Hai yo.. OK OK.. let's call it quits!!!

So what purpose do Nursery Rhymes serve? Does it matter what the cow jumped over.. or why the little dog laughed.. or who the dish ran away with.. or where has the Pussy Cat been??? (NOooo.. I don't mean the Pussy Cat Dolls!!!). I guess Nursery Rhymes do somewhat help us stretch our imagination in the hope that we catch a glimpse of the possibilities.. no matter how absurd or ridiculous.. and maybe also grant us the ability to embrace the truths about life.. that we may not have happy endings all the time.. e.g. And down will come baby.. cradle and all...

Are Nursery Rhymes Obsolete in the 21st Century?

It all started when Jared had to answer this question in an English exam paper:
How did Georgie Porgie make the the girls cry? His pragmatic answer: He hit them.. (BUZZzzz!).. WRONG ANSWER!!!

Jared: Who is Georgie Porgie? How come he kissed the girls? Why did the girls cry?
Me: He is a naughty boy who likes to bully girls
Jared: What's pudding and pie?
Me: Something you can eat.. Do know about Little Miss Muffet?
Jared: No.. and I don't think I want to!
Me: What's curds and whey?
Jared: Like porridge?
Me: Yeah.. I think it's like soy bean curd.. (laughs)
Jared: What's a tuffet?
Me: Errr.. I don't know (I later did a search.. Wikipeadia says it's a 'low seat or footstool')
Jared: She's scared of spiders ah?
Me: Yeah.. just like you..

Hello..Yeah..It's Been A While...

God brought you to mind at today's prayer meeting.. my dearest dad.. It's been 2 years 7 months and counting..

So when I came home and settled the boys to bed, I asked Jared if he remembered your special nickname for him.. 'fei se' (fat snake) or the how you used to call him 'Jaaaaa..red!'. He replied 'I can remember Gong-Gong's face but I can't remember his voice'. Then I turned to Justin and asked him, 'What about you? Do you know Gong-Gong used to call you Ah-Niu?'. He said, 'Yes' and became silent. Come to think of it.. my own recollections seem to be getting more vague too.. as time passes by.. your voice.. your smell.. your sheepish grin.. how the touch of your wrinkled hands felt when you held mine.. the sound of your heavy footsteps when you climbed up the stairs.. of the clinking spoon when you stir your coffee cup.. We should have video-ed family get-togethers more even though you were camera-shy. At least that way, your grandchildren would have a better idea of who you were.. especially Baby Caden, whom you have never met.. But back then we didn't think much of that.. until time ran out on us...

I guess this blog will suffice for now and serve as a reminder.. lest we forget.. still missing you lots my 'lou dau'.. rest well and till we meet again.. Goodnight!