World Wine War: The Victory New World Wine over Old World Wine

The success of the new world wine industry is well documented. However, there are some comparative studies of the reasons for this success as compared to old world wine. Most of the subjective evidence and the business publications focus on the predominant of fruit taste wines, without looking at how the new world wine invades. This paper will show how the new world wine sector succeeds in the world wine war.

According to the International Wine And Strong Wine (IWSR) the latest research report, new world wines are certified that new world wines are dominating in the wine industry. New World Wines are from United States of America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile. For the past two decades old world countries are slipping away by the threat given by the new world countries. The United States is now the fourth largest power in the market. California has generated more than 90% of the United States wine production which makes California, as the fifth largest wine producer worldwide. These are key factors are affordability, wine taste, wine regulations, marketing, labels and sales figures that contribute the victory of New World Wine.

Old world wine usually refers to the European region of wine like France, Italy and Spain. Old world wines are used to pair with food as it process proper flavor in blending with food. The grapes have to be preserved until the next harvesting period to make an old world wine. Old world wine region have to develop and blend to the techniques that most probably the best making area. The wine-making method can create more rigorous which needed a longer period of time to age the wine to mature. In contrast, new world wines usually required a lesser time to make a bottle of wine as new world wines are softer in taste.

The retail price does undeniably affect every single step of production, handling and distribution. A bottle of wine’s price is influenced by issues like vineyards, production in turning the grapes into wine, packaging procedure, transportation, storage, marketing and advertising.  New world wines are cheaper than old world wine. Winemakers are required to keep their costs down to allow consumers to afford. Most new world wine distributors are engaged in price promotions to shift serious volume through the supermarkets. Most consumers will spend a little amount of dollars to buy a bottle of wine for everyday drinking rather than buying a few hundreds or thousands of dollars.  Old world wines offer opportunity to uphold higher profitability but the price will contribute the defeat in the wine battle.

            New world wine consumers tend to choose wines based on the type of occasion, with higher budgeted wines for business banquets and gift giving. According to a book by Goldstein titled “The Wine Trials: 100 Everyday Wines Under 5 that Beat $50 to 50 Wines in Brown-Bag Blind Tastings, it stated that regular people who are not an expert in wine prefer cheaper wines. According to Prof Larry Lockshin, Wine Marketing Research Group, University of South Australia John Hall, Victoria University, Australia, new world wines are mostly sold in grocery stores in every countries. Another reference from Millennial buying habits as revealed by a recent Millennier Wine Sales online survey, 45.71% of consumers normally buy from grocery stores. Mr Lim Swee Say, NTUC Deputy Secretary-General, state in his speech that NTUC FairPrice caters consumers who are able to afford the brands of the product. As a result, most consumers bought their wines mainly from the grocery stores. Therefore, new world wines’ prices are up to the consumers’ budget.

New world wine is easier to drink which are less acidic, sweet and fruity, therefore is appeal the consumers. In contrast, old world wines provide wines that taste more acidic, dry and harsh.  New world producers work in steady, hot climates that produce regular harvests and consistent wines. New world wines have a stronger taste while old world wines are fine in flavor. New world wines mix grapes from a few locations to build the best bottle of wine whilst old world wine are manufacture from the grapes’ soil location. Most consumers prefer a fruity taste, less tannins, and long-lasting flavors. Most pastry chef prefer to pair food with new world wines as these wines comes with sweet fruity flavor. According to the article on Dessert Wine most desserts are paired the best with fruity wine flavor. In contrast, other chefs prefer old world wines as they have bolder and stronger taste. In fact, new world wines have persistently expanding its market share by providing new drinkers to start liking wine and retaining them.

New world region ‘wine regulations are much different than the regulations that are from old world regions.  New world region’s regulations are very flexible. They allow winemakers to be more creative in producing their wine.  In contrast, old world winemakers have to follow strict rules governing the types of grapes used and the wine production method. As the new world winemaking is very modern, there are different kinds of varietals in the wine. According to the blog titled “Old World v. New World: An International Legal Perspective on Geographical Indications”, the laws and regulations in new world wine regions sustain individual invention and discovery of alternative practices to making wines. In contrast, the wine laws and regulations of old world wine regions preserve the tradition and heritage of making wines. The importance of the branding of new world wine is unquestionably expanding in the market. New world wines tend to apply for certificate of origin to establish brand awareness. As the results, consumers will be influence their decisions to purchase wines from new world region. From the Spanish study, the analysis suggests that country of origin is a prime and absolute consideration of consumers in their decision to purchase wine. Another reference from “The effects of country-of-origin on Chinese consumers' wine purchasing behavior”, the results confirmed that consumers consider certificate of origin as the one of the most important factor in the wine valuation. When consumers are choosing wine for gift giving and consuming wine in public, they tend to attach more importance to certificate of origin than to other factors.

New world wines are using celebrity endorsement to attract new wine tasters. The involvement of celebrities in wine companies is becoming increasingly common. Celebrity endorsements are the starter to allow consumers to make a decision in purchasing wines. Some celebrities like Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Kiss and Rolling Stone.

The brand name is labeled on the bottle is for identification purpose. The brand name must not mislead consumers. New world wine labels are easy to understand. They are in English and they indicate the variety of grapes like Chardonnay, Cabernet Savignon and Merlot. They also provide additional information like the taste description and food pairing suggestions. This can allow consumers to have the general idea of the wine. With the appealing attractive labels, new world wine is just more accessible and easier to understand than old world wines. Old world wines are by contrast very confusing.  They are in foreign language and the wine is by place of origin by naming the specific region where the wine has been produced. Wine labels are written in language from the origin of the wine. Therefore, this may be foreign to some drinkers. They are slightly structured, rough surface that require a lot of trimming of labels. According to the telephone survey conducted by the Institute for Creation Research (ICR), labels that are clearer to read and understand allow them to remember the name of the wine. Referencing from the article “Designers Taking on Label Trends” from the Wines & Vines by Larry Walker state wine producers should design a label that attracts attention. In this way, consumers are able to remember the wine name. Consumers like labels that tell a story, but you have to tell it fast and simple.

New world wines sales has top old world wines. According to the Wine Market Council From the year 1988 to 2007, new world wine sales from 7.8 million cases to 227.6 million boxes, the compound annual growth rate of 19.5%. During the past two decades, the average annual growth rate of old world wines decrease by 1.7%, which had sold only 133.4 million boxes. According to the Bordeaux Wine Bureau, or the CIVB, old world wine consumption in the global market has decreased from 71% to 66%. In fact, the impact has been most identifiable in the Europe, where New World wine has become predominantly strong, gaining 14% of the market in the past 10 years, totaling up to 40% of the Europe’s overall wine market. Hence, old world region are being forced to change its old-fashioned and refined standards of the wine market due to the recent trend of new world wine. Other neighboring countries are deciding not get old world wine consumption but to join the worldwide trend towards innovative new world wine productions. With more supermarkets selling cheaper wines, new world makers are in better positioned to increase their sales towards high volumes and low margins.

The purpose of this explanatory research was to illustrate the factors that influence the victory of new world wine. Hence, old world wines and new world wines are two clearly different products in taste, quality, and type, different regions. However, many consumers simply want an affordable and the creation of new style.

Right Coaching Style

Judo is a form of martial arts and combat sport in created in Japan. I am a Judako who practices Judo which is also known as a Judo Student.  I enjoyed attending training lesson and I believe training regularly can cultivate disciplinary abilities. The first time I joined this martial art club at Nanyang Polytechnic was in the year 2006. I really enjoyed the training with the coach in Nanyang Polytechnic in my last year of my study where I was awarded a Brown Belt. The teacher has decided to migrate to Australia with his children. I was so depressed that he had to leave. He is a good coach to have. Hence, the school found a replacement for the class. I expect the new coach, Mr Seah, to be as good as the previous one. It didn’t meet my expectation that I expect.

Mr Seah changed the duration of session from 120 minutes to 130 minutes. A general Judo session should last about 120 minutes instead of 130 minutes. The duration of the session is also very important. Long duration is redundant and can lead the students to be tired. In this way, I will not like to attend. My aim to attend the training session is for pure exercise. I do not attend to be a sportsman but just merely for exercising. Mr Seah makes the training resembling an army training. Hence, the training session should be divided into three stages: warm up, main session and cool down. Each of these stages can be further divided according to the purpose of the session.

I noticed Mr Seah did not bother helping the new students the right way of wearing their judogi which is known as the judo uniform. I noticed the new students wear improperly. I think a coach should not act this way! Coaches are to educate beginner students in wearing the proper way of wear the judogi. In this tactic, Mr Seah can cultivate the interaction bond between new students and himself.

Before the main session commences, warming up should start in the beginning of the training. It is vital as it loosen muscle stiffness to prevent from injuries. There are two kinds of warming up exercise that should be conducted in class. The warming exercise should be light. Mr Seah’s exercise is too heavy. The warming up exercise should comprise a 5-minutes jog and stretching. Instead he comprises a 10 minutes jog and drilling exercises that practice in the army. Before the main session begins, all my fellow classmates are too exhausted continue the training.

Ukemi is one of the key elements of the Judo martial arts. Mr Seah thinks that Ukemi is either about falling down or how to fall down or being thrown. Well, he did not educate the Judokas into the right track. Ukemi is actually the art of falling and is essential part of learning judo. He did not teach the new students the very basic way in falling from a sitting position, then to a squatting position, and then gradually to a standing position. He just went in the standing position. This is way the new students will not able to learn the correct and proper way. Mr Seah should encourage the students to be the one being thrown as this is the most effective method to ripen a good breakfalls. He did not encourage us to that. He does not like Ukemi as one of his training. He thinks that breakfalls are just merely a rule of the martial art.  There are actually three methods of falling that Mr Seah should educate us. Even though I am well versed in doing this exercise, I strongly believe I should practice these techniques every single training. Mr Seah thinks is a waste of time. The best way to learn is to go straight in learning the technique. He always tends to skip this part of training for those who had been training for more than six months. After teaching the basics of the various falling techniques, Mr Seah have to constantly observe our skills and not thinking it is a way of time. This part of exercise should constantly practice in every single training.

The main session can be divided into minor steps. Judokas can practice a technique, where we should executes the technique and the students can learn. The coach has to educate Judo speed, accuracy, strength, endurance, and more.

The next training that Mr Seah should impart is the building of pulling strength. He should group the student into pairs and start pulling up each other uniform with at least about 100 times. The correct way of leading this exercise is to allow students to cultivate a strong grip and the footwork. The footwork is the fundamental of executing a throwing technique. Mr Seah did not really emphasis more on the strong grip. Unlike the previous coach who taught us to have strong gripping and the footwork that methods this part of training.

In this part of time, every single student is very tired. Mr Seah’s training is a killer! He did not make us stop to rest or catch a glimpse of air. By giving water breaks also important after much warm up and strength exercise. After the intensive exercise, breaks aids in cooling down by taking a slip of water. Providing water breaks can let the students know that Judo is not just a tough and challenging. This can attract more students to come to train! Mr Seah believes water breaks does not make sense in the training.

The next set of training is to train Kata which is known as forms in groundwork and grappling techniques. There are pre-arranged styles of attack and defense, which is to be practice with a partner. This can showcase the purposes of explaining the basic principles of judo and demonstrating the correct execution of a technique. Mr Seah should preserve ancient techniques that are historically important but are no longer used in Judo presently. This will brighten up the training by teaching us the specialty of judo. Instead of just teaching the technique that is could be used in the competition. Mr Seah should teach us how to forecast in reacting to circumstances not only in Judo but in the industry too. Instead of just doing learning the technique and not knowing anything about it.

The most important part of the main stage is to conduct Randori session, where the Judokas are attacking and defending against different opponents. The Randori is the only way to improve the student’s Judo skills. The other reason is to get feedback from us. Mr Seah is able to check the students’ whether they had learnt for the past hour or so. During the real competition, the students are competing against genders. Despite this, Mr Seah should implement different gender for practices instead of the same gender. This can benefit us to conform and interact with different shapes and sizes. This can help also help us gain experience before entering the actual competition.

The last part of the training is the cooling down exercise. It is the most crucial pillar of after the training workouts as the warm muscle will react best at stretching. At the end of the training, our blood tends to accumulate in our lower body. That is why Mr Seah should give us light intense workout instead of having the heavy intense workout. He makes us group into pairs and piggy back each other. At this point of time, we are even tired. There wasn’t any breaks in between. This even made us even more tired in the training. Some newcomers felt giddy during this part of exercise.

I believe Mr Seah did not lead us the correct way in the training. I strongly believe that he should have more patience. He just simply go straight to the main exercise without teaching the basic steps. He makes the training session so dull and a place for like training a group of National Service Man.  I really wish Mr Seah can change his style of training to a meaningful method instead of intensive. After three months, Mr Seah’s training gradually has lesser attendance. Every student couldn’t take the pressure in his training. The school had to close the club and I was so depressed. I believe a good coach is the one who can maintain the club and bring atmosphere to the training session.

Television is misleading teenagers in the world

Television programs are influencing the behavior of teenagers.  They were inspired by famous Hollywood stars like Paul Walker.  As Paul Walker starred in Fast and Furious, portraying his role as a racer, teenagers often visualize themselves as him. Once superstars are given to a “cool” role, their personal lifestyle will become the viewers’ role model. Most of the teenagers loves racing. I can see cars legally speeding in the expressway.  There were sounds of the engine speculating around the night.

There are two crucial arguments to the statement. The first say is yes. I believe that television give false information to the teenagers. Television can create nasty assumptions about the world, countries, culture, religion and the society. The second argument states that television does lead teenagers to the right track. This allows teenagers to understand and gain facts all over the part of the world.

One of the likely reasons televisions misleads teenagers with belief of others’ personality. Television drama series tends to describe the lead actor being impeccable. Therefore, people will have the tendency to presume that their own partner is flawless. This will result deterioration in relationships between them.  My friend is always visualizing of getting the perfect man who is rich and handsome. She is often asking why her is not what is being portrayed on television. She often imagines her boyfriend like John James Preston starred in Sex and the City. John James Preston is a very wealthy and attractive man. My friend believes that all men in the world will definitely give way to her and agrees to everything she requested.

The next reason is televisions mislead most of my friends’ talking rudely. This indicates they are spending their time on watching films that are contains coarse language.  They tried to follow the actors the style of speaking. They think that the ways they talk are very cool. For example, films like Bad Lieutenant starred by Nicholas Cage. Nicholas Cage is a police officer that consumes drugs and speaks vulgar languages. In the film, Nicholas Cage’s role was given the most beautiful woman as his girlfriend. My friends believe this method of conversation can attract more girls. During speeches and presentations, my friends could not communicate properly. They have a habit of following Nicholas Cage’s style portrayed in the film. This is not encouraged as it will lead them to a severe interference to their career in future.

The subsequent reason is television gave us the false information about the corporate company. Television regularly broadcast a modified version of programs to attract the viewers. They need to pay attention to the ratings to allure viewers and generate more advertising profits at the same time.  Superstars are often placed in exotic locations or abnormal situations but the screen pictures a beautiful or clean environment. For instance, Mediacorp’s Chinese drama series The Peak pictures the environment in Keppel Corporation is an unpolluted and pleasant. They are voicing out to the world that Keppel Corporation is a wonderful place to work in Singapore! Thus, I immediately applied for the job after graduating in Nanyang Polytechnic. During the interview, I observed the place and I was shocked. The atmosphere is unpleasant. There were a number of obstacles lying around the construction area and hence there were no ample space of pathway to allow employees to walk around. This was not what I have seen in the television!

The second argument is television is leading teenagers to the correct path. Presently, the news is always on the television. We are always being updated with the latest headline news in the world. Now there are myriads of channels like Channel Newasias and Cable News Network (CNN) which will provide news every hour.  We are able to see what’s happening around the world.  We are kept informed about the election campaigns taking place not only in Singapore and other country. One of the news such as the 911 destruction of the Twin Towers by terrorists, Channel Newasias and CNN gave the world an idea of the exactly how of the attack was. Teenagers can gain the latest news upon watching television. This will help them to acknowledge what is happening around the world. Teenagers will know which country is not safe to travel. Teenagers can advise other generations when they are in doubt about the world. My grandfather’s hearing and eyes are failing and he is unable to watch the news. I am able to relate the news information to him straightaway.

I did mention earlier that television gives false information but some of the television programs do give fruitful information too. The benefit of watching educational programs is that they can provide us valuable knowledge. Teenagers can gain information on what they were unaware of. One of the examples of American game show titled Treasure Hunters featured the ancient history in America. The variety program even videos the museums and the largest library in the whole world. Teenagers in all parts of the world will be aware of the history in America. With the knowledge given by Treasure Hunters, I learnt that the largest library of congress in the world at Washington D.C. Another information that I learnt is that in 1812, Steven Girard is the one who came to help America with financial issue and hence they able to win the war between Britain. One more important thing they are portraying is the crucial of critical thinking skills. With the critical thinking skills, we learnt to think creatively and I could apply this set of skills in the future where my task is to plan events.

Another reason is teenagers can be alerted about crime scene by watching Crimewatch and Bones. Bones can provide the facts of precise forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology. Each episode stresses on the mystery of the human remains being found. Each episode will address the interesting facts of using science to analyze how and the way assassination take place. Crimewatch tells what crime has taken place in Singapore and how they solve it. Teenagers are alerted what kind of crime scenes are taking place in all the parts of the world. Bones portray the cases that are not only from America but in Europe, South East Asia and Australia.

In conclusion, I agree the statement to a certain extent of television misleading teenagers in every part of the world. Despite of the false information, some programs also cinemas the valuable information to the world. Television is also a great source of tool to gain new knowledge. We should select the right television program that is beneficial to us.  We are able to learn about current affairs from news programs, and some drama series that are have tons of practical information.

My Best Companion

When my father decided to move to a smaller mansion, I had to help with the packing process. While I was transferring a pile of photo albums to the carton box, I dropped one of the photo album imprinted with a cover of a fluffy dog and the name Jackson at the top. I picked up the album and flipped to the page that showed my father transferring the dog to a wooden kennel. I closed the album gently and walked towards the couch. I sat on the couch in the living room and started to look at the album again.

The cover page depicted Jackson. He was my best friend and my pet dog. He is a medium sized wolf-like Siberian husky dog. His distinctive facial features allowed him to be recognized easily. He had a thick furry body and two upright triangular ears. Jackson’s face is typical. He had two grey heart-shaped patches on the outer area of his eyes and an inimitable colour of eyes. He had almond-like shape eyes, with his left eye in sky blue tone and the right one in light brown. He wore a black handmade leather dog collar with his name tag on. His tag was white and had his name “JACKSON” engraved on.

I turned to the first page of the album and the photograph displayed my father placing Jackson in his wooden kennel at the corner of the room. This happened when I was seven years old when a special one entered my life. It was a Siberian husky puppy about two months old. Jackson was given to me by an American couple who lived four blocks away from my house. Their dog gave birth to ten puppies but their terrace house was not able to accommodate all the pets. Hence, they had to give away some of their new-born puppies and my parents agreed on adopting one of them. The next day, my father brought me to my neighbour's house to retrieve Jackson. I promptly embraced Jackson when he was handed over to me. He was light in weight and his fur was pleasingly enjoyable to cuddle. I noticed a blue collar on his neck. I asked my neighbour what his name was and he said it was the owner's responsibility in naming it. The person giving the name meant development of love for their pet. I looked up to my father and he said that I should give him a name. I was trying very hard to think of a name when I saw a Michael Jackson concert DVD on the table in front of me. I decided to name my new treasure Jackson. I carefully carried him home with my two arms wrapped around him. When I arrived at my house gate, my father latched opens the gate and asked me to hand Jackson over to him. He was afraid that I might drop Jackson on the ground while climbing up the stairs to reach the second door of our mansion. I gently handed Jackson to my father. Then I rushed up the stairs to spread the news of Jackson's arrival to everyone. Jackson was warmly welcomed. My father transported Jackson to the wooden black kennel which was bought specially for him. He was sized at approximately 20 centimetres. The kennel was too huge for him to accommodate. As the result, he jumped around the kennel with full of enthusiasm.

The next page in my photo album displayed the room that Jackson was accommodated at. This was taken when Jackson was 10 months old.  I had a vacant room on the second floor left exclusively for Jackson which is near to the staircase. From the doorstep, the kennel is placed at the top right corner. Beside the kennel, there is two shelves placed with full of dog toys. A pee tray was placed at the right bottom corner for Jackson to clear his bowels. This is also for easy clearing of Jackson’s urine and poops. There was a white furry oval-shape mat on the centre of the floor. A dog feeder is situated approximately 50cm away from the kennel. There were multiples of grey furs from Jackson scattered around the room.

The next page of the photograph depicted Jackson wearing a vest harness jumping over a hurdle assisted by my maid. Jackson had turned 1 year old and we thought it was the right time to provide him training. Jackson joined a course entitled “Obedience & Agility Training” organized by Singapore Kennel Club. In Obedience Training class, Jackson learned to bond a relationship with me. He learned how to maximize his instincts to understand all the basic commands and he gradually progressed to be well-behaved at home and in public places. Jackson is quick-witted. He learned everything rapidly. In the Agility Training class, Jackson was trained to go through obstacles course. To prevent Jackson from hurting, I gave him a vest harness suit to protect himself. He was taught to agility training equipment like A-frame, dog walk, see-saw, crossover, tunnels, weave poles and hurdles.

The subsequent page of the albums had Jackson and I posing in front of a banner written “SKC’s Companion Dog Show” at the Suntec Convention Hall. Jackson had five medals, one silver and four golds hanging over his neck. While I was holding five certificates that Jackson had won. Jackson entered the competition when he was 7 years old. The event was “Singapore Kennel Club’s Companion Dog Show” He participated in four categories of the competition. The first competition was “Best Kept Dog”. Jackson emerged the first place. This event is to judge the style of living that Jackson had experience with me. The second competition is “Speediest 4 legs”. This course involved with the agility training equipment. The stage is the same as the one Jackson had trained in practice, thus he is well familiar with the setting. He emerged the first place again with a timing of 29.25 seconds. The next competition was “Last Doggie Sitting”. The objective of the competition is endurance. Jackson was the last dog sitting. The last competition for the day was “Best trick in the House”. This was to showcase the talent that the dog has. I played a video of Jackson tidying my bed and covering the blanket for my parents while they were asleep. The video even screened Jackson carrying their briefcase and handbag when they were leaving for work. In the convention hall, Jackson bit a cloth and mopped the pile of furs that was on the ground. Sadly, with this trick the judges did not give Jackson a first placing but a second placing. The winner of the best trick was to count mathematics and identifying shapes. Jackson was also awarded the first dog who won three gold medals in the grand event.

The last photo shows the sickly side of Jackson. The very first time he was sick when he was around 4 years old. My maid noticed his stools have about 6 inches spaghetti-like appearance and he was whimpering and shivering in his kennel. Hence, my maid and I immediately took him to the nearest vet. The veterinarian said he contracted a disease called “roundworms” and it is the most common type of dog worm which affects the intestines. Roundworms can be found in dog’s stool or vomit. They can grow up to seven inches in length and have a spaghetti-like appearance. The veterinarian cured him by inject injecting Pyrantel Pamoate substance into Jackson. My tears started dripping down.  Ten years later, he got sick again. I noticed him aging, the time taken to climb up and down the stairs gradually slowed down. The amount of food he ate also reduced as compared formerly. The next consecutive day, he refused to eat for the whole day. I was so worried about him I even begged him to eat, but He would rather stay inside his kennel. My parents immediately brought him to the vet clinic that night. The veterinarian found out he has contradicted the third stage of gastric disease. There was no cure. The moment those words came into my head, my tears start falling down and my heart was in a great pain. I cannot believe it. My best friend is dying. The veterinarian gave us some moments with Jackson. I immediately went over to embrace him. I howled loudly. Jackson slowly put his feet on my head. I can feel him touching my head. My tears start dripping on Jackson’s furry body. When the time is up, my parents pulled me away from my best friend. The veterinarian then injected Naphthalene to end his life. It was so nerve wrecking that I bit my lips so badly that my blood oozes out from my lips upon seeing Jackson’s eyes closing gradually. His heart was pumping at a snail's pace until it stops. Jackson was gone forever. We make the essential cremation arrangements at the Pets Cremation Centre in Pasir Ris Farmway. I was able to visit Jackson when I am depressed.

The photo album portrayed the time that I had spend with Jackson. It illustrates the most exulting moment I shared with Jackson. After his demise, I felt that a next kin of mine has left me. I closed the album and my tears started bursting out. Next, the telephone rang. It snaps me out of my thoughts. I immediately wiped away my tears and when ran forward to get the telephone.

My Manga Drawings

This two pieces of artwork of mine are my best and favourite so far. Many thanks to Ms Roxanne for assisting me in completing them.

I'm a typical traditional manga artist. I usually use colour pencils in my drawings.

A girl who is carrying an umbrella during a rainy day.

Typical Chibi Female Character

The "Dead"

This short story was written during my Literature exam. A different view from Gretta Conroy's perpective. The original story was written by James Joyce.

Christmas has arrived. The whole place is covered with thick blanket of ice. The annual dance is held yearly during Christmas. Gretta Conroy is looking forward to attending annual dance with her husband, Gabriel’s family. Every year Michael Furey would invite her to a dance during her teens. This will be the time Gretta can get her chance to dance and think of Michael Furey. When Gretta and Gabriel stepped in the doorstep of Mary Jane’s house, Gretta was trying to take off her laces from her shoes and untie the laces tied round her head. She was so excited about the whole party. Next, she heard someone calling her name. She looked up and she saw Mary Jane and Aunt Kate standing in front of Gabriel.

“Mary Jane, Aunt Kate.” exclaimed Gretta.

She ran up the stairs with her two hands lifting up her long skirt. She went forward to embraced Mary Jane and Aunt Kate.

“Merry Christmas” said Mary Jane and Aunt Kate.

“Merry Christmas to you too Mary Jane and Aunt Kate.” answered Gretta.

Gabriel then wrapped his arms around Gretta’s waist. She felt the identical tenderness that Michael has wrapped around her before. Gretta kissed Gabriel on the cheek. Mary Jane and Aunt Kate were smiling at the loving couple.

“Mrs Conroy, is that you? You have finally arrived.” shouted Lily the caretaker.

“Yes, I’m here.” answered Gretta.

Lily went forward and kissed Gretta. Gabriel broke free of Gretta and allows her to be kissed by Lily. Gretta went forward to the kitchen to help. Everybody in the kitchen gave her a warmth welcome upon her arrival in the kitchen. Gretta start decorating the desert where she is skilled at it.

The music begins. Everybody greet each other and move forward to the hall. In the hall, there were a number of guest inside. Gabriel was trying to create a hostile environment by initial the toast with other people. Gretta took a glass of champagne. The sparkling drink appeared a vivid scene that Michael and Gretta toasting together. The loving couple was looking so blissful.

“Fly me to the moon. Let me sing among those stars…” singing away by a drunken man

A terrible musical note destroys the happy memories that Gretta was recalling. His movement is clumsy and his left hand holding a bottle of whisky.

Gabriel went forward to Gretta and stick out his hand to invite her for the dance. Gretta moved away her sight from the drunken man to Gabriel. She reached out her hand to Gabriel. The same way that Michael had done.

In her eyes, she sees Gabriel as Michael. It was the way he holds her hand and waist. Most importantly, it was those unseeingly eyes which was so tender and warm. She feels that she so much closer to Michael even though he is not here.

After the dance ceremony, dinner was being served. Gretta sat in the opposite direction of Gabriel. Mary Jane was sitting at the far end of the long rectangle table while Aunt Kate was sitting beside her at Mary Jane’s left side. Beside Gretta and Gabriel were guests who were invited by Mary Jane. They should be either Gabriel’s family or friends. The drunken man was sitting beside Gabriel. Gabriel was trying to hold the drunken man’s liquor. Gretta find it very sweet as Michael tried to hold his father’s liquor then.

“Mrs Conroy, Mrs Conroy, Mrs Conroy.” shouted Lily.

Lily broke Gretta’s thoughts.

“Is the dessert ready to be served? Mrs Conroy.” asked Lily. “The main course has been served.”

“Okay, bring the dessert over.” answered Gretta.

“Yes, Mrs Conroy.” answered Lily. “I will be right away.”

Lily placed the mountainous dessert full of mango peels in front of Gretta. Gretta next scooped the desserts to a tiny dessert cup. Lily served the tiny dessert cup to all the 15 guests.

After the deserts, Gabriel stood up to recite his usual annual speech. Gretta felt so amazing where someone would able to recite a speech in front of everybody. Michael always had to recite a speech for his family as he is the eldest among his 6 siblings.

When the dinner ended, Gabriel helps to send every single guest out to the door. Gretta heard a familiar song, “The Lass of Aughrim”. This song was Michael’s favourite song. This was the song that was played during Michael’s funeral. This made Gretta remembering the day he died. Gretta started dropping tears. Gretta was standing a mile away from the main entrance. She saw a silhouette of a man. It was Gabriel standing at the main entrance watched her weeping. Gabriel tried to ask Gretta why she was weeping. Gretta tried to keep mum. She doesn’t want to tell Gabriel. She feels that if she would tell him about Michael, Gabriel might change his perspective of her.

The couple started walking on the road on the way to the hotel. During the journey, Gretta decided to tell everything about Michael to Gabriel. Gabriel remained silent. Gabriel walked forward and stopped. Subsequently, he turned and went forward to Gretta and embraced her tightly. Gretta was surprised by those words that Gabriel said.

“Whatever happens I will be still here.” said Gabriel. “It doesn’t matter whether the late Michael Furey is still in your heart.”

Gretta was so touched and she was lost of words. Her tears begin drooping down again.

“This will be our new beginning, love.” expressed Gabriel.

Gretta felt the most warmness feeling that Michael had never gave to her. She felt so blessed that she felt that she is the most happiness woman on earth. The couple starts walking and Gretta tilted her head on to Gabriel’s shoulder and continued their journey back to the hotel…

Pooh is not a bear of very little brain after all

Winnie the Pooh was having his usual afternoon nap under his favorite big tree. Piglet passes by. When Piglet saw Winnie the Pooh under his favourite tree, Piglet wanted to play a game with his best friend because he was feeling exceptionally smart that day.

"Hey Pooh, do you want to play a game?" Piglet questioned Winnie the Pooh. "No thank you, I am having my afternoon nap now." Winnie the Pooh answered.

"Please, it’s really easy; just ask me a riddle! If I know the answer, I will take a pot of your honey. If I don’t know how to solve it, then I’ll take a pot of honey. But if I can’t answer your riddle, I shall give you a pot of honey”, said Piglet.

"Oh bother! I really don't want to play. I just want to nap!” exclaimed Winnie the Pooh.

“Oh PLEASE Pooh pretty please. Okay, how about all the pots of honey in my larder?" Winnie the Pooh became very interested and decided to play the game.

"Oh all right then.”

"What have three legs and consume ants?” Winnie the Pooh questioned.

Piglet was so determined to win so he went the whole of Hundred Acre Wood asking everybody for the answer. He asks rabbit first, then kanga, then finally owl because owl was the smartest neighbor in the woods.

But his efforts were to no avail. Piglet reluctantly returns to the tree where Winnie the Pooh was still sleeping under, and he wakes Winnie up. He carries three pots of honey, which was all the honey in his larder.

“Pooh, pooh! Wake up! I don’t know the answer to your strange riddle! What is it? Please tell me!”

Piglet says as he puts the three pots down on the grass next to Pooh.

Pooh looks at the pots and smiles. He takes one pot and gives it back to Piglet.

“I’m sorry Piglet. I don’t know the answer to my own riddle. You can have this instead.”

Piglet takes the pot and looks at it bewilderedly for a moment, then he smiles and sits down next to Pooh, cuddling up.

“Thank you Pooh.”