Post National Day.

Before work on Thursday I met Libby so we could catch up on our respective weekends. It was good to hear that her mum, although far from well, has settled and they are looking forward to seeing her again in a few weeks. As Peter had started work this week I met the three of them after work at Kovan. Peter appears to be enjoying his new role.
Towards the end of our meal we noticed an altar being set up, followed by an arrangement of candles etc. We realized it was the start of the Hungry Ghost Festival.

The Hungry Ghost Festival  is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival held in Asian countries. 

In Chinese culture, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month, in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm.

On the fifteenth day the realms of Heaven and Hell and the realm of the living are open. Intrinsic to the Ghost Month is veneration of the dead, where traditionally the filial piety of descendants extends to their ancestors even after their deaths. Activities during the month include preparing ritualistic food offerings, burning incense, and burning joss paper, a papier-mâché form of material items such as clothes, gold and other fine goods for the visiting spirits of the ancestors. Elaborate meals (often vegetarian ) would be served with empty seats for each of the deceased in the family treating the deceased as if they are still living. 

The EA and students in our classes have given us a long list of Don'ts for the Hungry Ghost Festival, including

• don't leave washing out overnight
• don't kick anything
• don't turn back if you hear your name called
• don't swim at night
• don't stay out late
• Definitely never walk on the offerings , or the ashes of offerings

The last point is not always easy as every morning there are ashes in many places. Often there is a lot of paper scattered around as well so for a while Singapore is not its usual pristine self!
On Friday morning I was greeted with the fantastic news that Duncan has a job offer with the Dept. of Agriculture. He will get all the details next week but he thinks it will begin in February, the only drawback is that he will have to move to Canberra. I look forward to hearing all about it when he spends a night here on his way to Bangkok at the end of the month.
After this good news I met up with Robert and Maria to catch up with my cousin Vicki and her husband Jim. They were staying in the Albert Court area so we had a wander up to a shopping centre for lunch catching a few local sights on the way.

After work on Saturday night I picked up my new spectacles, which will take a bit of getting used to, as they are graduated lenses. At least now some people can stop nagging me about taking my glasses on and off!!
On Sunday night a small group gathered at Joe's where we caught up with Peter's first week of 'real' work. He seems to be enjoying it although it may take some time to catch up to the demands created by social media and technology.