Horrific Effects Of Haze

The haze hit its horrific highest level when I was in Singapore on Friday June 20 2013 hoping for a sunny summer, with swimming, photographs, shopping, or simple sitting on the balcony sipping a cocktail and admiring the view and breathing the fresh air. All that ended. It didn't matter where you were, Indonesia, Malaysia, or Singapore, in the city centre or out in the tree-lined suburbs.
 The haze affected everyone.  First I cancelled my daily early morning swim. The sky was overcast, grey as if about to rain, uninviting. Instead of going shopping in outdoor markets and from shop to shop in Chinatown I stayed home. The shopkeepers were having a bad day without me and the other shoppers.
What about breakfast? I went into the kitchen and the haze hit me. Singapore kitchens are designed to let the smells of spicy food out of the window. Some kitchens even in places (like our first flat in newly built Euro_Asia Court near central Orchard Road in the 1990s) have no windows, just grilles. Now my Singapore kitchen had a glass venetian blind which tilts but the mechanism was jammed and you could not completely close the window.  
I could not order in food. Companies relying on motorcyclists to deliver had cancelled deliveries. Anybody relying on a bicycle or motorbike to get to work was in trouble.
On Saturday I had planned to go to a Toastmasters Speakers Club in the evening at a university. The friend who was taking me there was Area Governor. She texted me to say that the college had cancelled all meetings. Why? As a precaution to prevent inconveniencing people with last minute cancellations? So I didn't see the group and didn't see her.
Schools in Malaysia closed. Singapore schools were on holiday.
On my last day I met the building's cleaner coming up in the lift. Her English was limited, and so was my knowledge of other languages. I tried to say something jolly along the lines of, 'It's good the haze is improving, isn't it? Did you find it troublesome?'
She looked extremely glum. Suddenly I realised that for cleaners and maintenance workers the effects are dire. They are out all day in the grounds of hotels, clubs and apartment buildings, cleaning open decks and open air corridors.
The rich who are unemployed or can work anywhere can take off briefly. After Friday two of my friends booked flights out. One went to Australia. Another went to Thailand.
I was very glad to take a flight to London. But how long can you stay away? A long weekend? All summer? Forever?
As you get older you become more vulnerable and so do your parents.
I wake at night, still with a slight cough, clearing my throat, feeling a chest pain, worrying about the long-term effects. But one good result is that I am happier with simpler things. Never before have I been happy just to be able to get up and breathe the air.

Body Parts On US Beach

Body parts washed up on USA beach? Surely they have more details. Age? Height? Race? They could then search local and distant missing persons more easily.
If everybody who wanted to could give their DNA voluntarily to a database, some of these cases could be solved.

In China and worldwide: Don't stare!

You aren't allowed to steal goods from supermarkets and shops.
You have to learn self-control.
Look but don't touch.
Today I am reading about women in China being warned that in crowded public transport they might get harassed or photographed by men. The same happens in many countries. I agree it's time notices warn or remind everybody:
Simple rule.
When I was a child I was taught:
'Don't Stare!
In a street or on a public vehicle you don't stare. Only look at somebody if you are talking and being friendly.
Every child as soon as it is old enough to reach for goods in a shop is told this by its mother.
If it's not your property, don't touch it.
If you haven't paid, you can't take it.
Ask permission before you touch or take it.
Think of other people.
A nurse or doctor or member of the emergency services has to help and rescue people who are naked or half dressed and act as if that is not important. Can you be relied upon to help and not take advantage?
Are you trustworthy?'

Lost Antique Toy Bear At Airport

Regarding the lost bear at Bristol airport, UK, with the photo of its earlier owners, children Dora and Glyn, circa 1918, it must be possible for somebody on a family tree website to do a search for sisters Dora and Glyn in birth records, marriage records and death certificates (surely names of UK children?); then a search of photos using photo matching. Dora and Glyn won't still be alive, but their children or grandchildren might be.
Time for a worldwide bear website with a lost and found section.
Good luck to lost bears, bereaved bear owners and kind lost and found bear detectives.
Note, always put your contact email or phone number or flight number - or for security a friend or relative's email, on your bears, dolls, umbrellas, bags, coats, cameras and suitcases.

Buying bigger size clothes and better size bras abroad

In Asia I used to find it hard to find clothes, underwear and swimsuits to fit larger Western bra sizes and hips. Shops catering for Indians rather than the Chinese are more likely to stock your size. I was surprised that skinny tall model like Americans had the same problem. They found dresses and swimsuits too short in the body. When living or holidaying in Singapore I would have to wait until I got on a trip to Australia or New Zealand and then stock up.
Now Singapore has more large sizes in department stores. Mustaphas always has lots of larger sizes.
the new design of bra sizing by volume in the USA has been in the news June 2013.
1 Like feet of different sizes, some women have breasts of different sizes.
2 I prefer front opening. Leaning against those metal hooks against a wood-back chair or even any chair gives me itching at first and after a few hours terrible pain just on my spinal bones. As for lying down for a nap or sleeping in a bra - same pain.
3 The wide shoulder straps are good - the wider the better.
4 How about some pretty colour  and sexy bows, something which looks good peeping round cleavage, strappy tops and large armholes.
5 A bra and pants set looks neater.
6 Next make swimsuits. Or make a set which doubles as a bikini in summer. Great for travelling light or jumping into the pool from a poolside restaurant.
7 How about colour change straps or ribbon inserts to go with different outfits when travelling.
8 Last forever? I read that bra elastic is designed to last 3 months. The only reason that bras seem to last longer is that you are wear 2.3/4 or more bras and buy twice a year.

Ice more bacteria than water in restaurant toilets

Checking one restaurant in your chain is not enough. Management and health inspectors should check every restaurant in every chain.
How about a spring clean day when every restaurant in the country check every machine.

Introducing A Speaker To Evoke Applause

                      Ideally meet the speaker for a meal before the meeting. (This ensures they arrive on time. Chat enables you to prompt them if they dry up.)
Or speak briefly. Subtly remind them about what the audience hopes to hear - failure and success, rags to riches. Not all boasting. Nor no-stop moaning.
Your introduction should make the audience listen and smile - and make the speaker feel confident and welcomed.
Announce title of speech and what audience are expecting to hear.


1 Start with speaker's name - famous, easily pronounced, foreign, well-known.
2 His/ her best known achievement - have you heard of him.
3 Local connection - places or people
4 What's in it for audience? EG tips on business, slimming, health, novel writing.
5 What's in it for speaker - signing and selling books? Job-hunting? Business? Promoting book/film/charity. Loves helping people? Helping his Dad, our chairman? 6 Amazing story s/he will tell us. 
7 Say whether speaker will answer questions, and whether they will hang around or rush off.
8 During the speech look at speaker as if fascinated. 
9 End with the speaker's name and speech title.

10 Make notes so you can give heartfelt thanks. (Or pass your notes during the interval to whoever is giving thanks). Quote from the speaker. If the speaker was not scintillating, you can still quote from somebody famous praising the speaker's area of expertise, then thank the speaker for their research, or time and trouble in travelling to speak to your group. Lead the applause.

Have ready any gift or envelope containing a cheque. Ensure the speaker is facing your photographer for a photo to go on your website and the local newspaper. Do not leave the speaker standing alone. Escort them safely back to their hotel or station.

Follow up with a letter of thanks, not just thanks for visiting us and the members enjoyed your talk' but includes at least three complimentary points such as: Everybody was impressed by your Santa outfit/slide show; several members have asked me where they can buy the book you mentioned, my committee are keen for you to visit us again next year if you will be free on a Sunday evening in June or July. Once again many thanks on behalf of .... I attach some pictures and a cutting from the local newspaper ....


Angela Lansbury
Author of: Wedding Speeches & Toasts; Quick Quotations. (See Blogs and YouTube on speaking or mail me.)