Ellie & Laurie [Singapore] Send Their Love

A fiercely independent creature, with sharp claws and a vicious bite. This rare species is a competitive feline who will fight to the death to ensure protection for herself, her children and her mates. But when content she will melt ethereally into her surroundings, luring everyone towards her magical beauty. The loudest purr will come from her.

And that’s just the tiger I’m talking about!

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from Cat, it’s not to sit about waiting but to go for what you want, and don’t give up until you get it! I’m not sure that Cat gave us a choice as to whether we were to be friends, but I’m honoured she chose us and grateful for all she's done. Although we don’t see or speak very often, she will always remain as the life and soul; someone who made an impact on us.

Stay happy kitten and keep following those dreams.

Happy Birthday!

With love from us both

Ellie and Laurie xxxx

Monica & Njilan's Message [UK]

Catherine and Akira both were and are despite the distance much loved and respected members of our community, principled and passionate. Passionate about people drawing all kinds of people towards them seeing no boundaries none. We remember intimate moments at each other's houses at night in dimmed light talking talking, listening to music baring our souls, while the children hung around feeling safe, protected and happy like one family. We remeber being rowdy too, walking along the streets of Maida vale singing all the Jamaican folk songs at the top of our voices, glorying in the victories of the Williams sisters... This is just the start.

Much Much Love to you both. May the force be with you!!

Monica & Njilan
p/s pictures to come soon.

Julie's Response to the Idea of the Blog [FRANCE]

JULIE MCDONALD

I couldn't resist putting this message up.

This is the perfect idea - I'll get going on it right now. I've so many wonderful times with Catherine & I miss her so much - this has inspired me to get my act together and get over there. But maybe not in time for her birthday...

Thank you so much for doing this, and for making Catherine so happy. I miss her terribly (despite my hopelessness as a correspondent!) and knowing she's so loved and so loving makes me feel closer to her.

Now I'm blethering - I'll get back to you asap, & see if I can dig out a photo or two as well.

Best of luck,

Julie

Memories from Alan, Nitsa, Molvipa [UK]

We first met Cat when we arrived from Thailand and went looking for a school for our daughter. I remember the day well, it was bitterly cold outside but inside the school office it was all warmth and tenderness as Cat attended to an upset pupils needs with genuine love and concern. I thought then "....this is the school for our daughter." It was a while before we found out that the pupil that she had responded to with such care was actually her own daughter Akira and that she used to beat the other kids! Only joking, Cat is a wonderful person ideally suited to being around children and she is fine with adults too as long as they don't mind her doing an impromptu table or pole dance after a few glasses!
Its strange that life has come full circle now and that we now live in London whilst Cat & Akira are back in KL, we miss them both dreadfully, phone calls a poor substitute, sometimes fate derailing our plans to meet as often as we would like to.
It goes without saying how sad we are to be missing your birthday celebrations but promise to bring some sparklers and a bottle along to Langkawi in the not too distant future.

Lots of love,
Alan, Nitsa, Molvipa

Jason Davies [UK] Shares His Catherine Story

Attached are two pictures of Catherine and Akira from 2004. I met her through a music class run by a cellist/musician in Finchley. One way or another my son Ryan and Catherine's Akira had ended up there -- Ryan because a musician told me she was the best music teacher in London, and Akira because Agnes had heard her singing in the shower at the swimming pool!

I think during these (rather blurred) photos Akira and Catherine were doing some traditional Caribbean folk songs...I'm afraid I don't remember the titles...it was a big workshop of all the students.

We used to have a coffee while the music class was going on, mainly because we found the other parents were a bit crazy, and we became good mates...which is easy with Catherine, after all...

I miss them both, though I'm rubbish at keeping in touch -- I did recently send her an email, or tried to and couldn't find her email address. Every time I go to Finchley I expect to see her still...

Dunno, what can I say? What could do her justice? She really understands friendship has to be based on loyalty and has done me many favours big and small (I can't remember returning any, unfortunately...she's too independent to need any!), she is a fantastic mother (and has a fantastic daughter -- Hello Akira!). I hope reading this brings back some good memories, Cat and Akira. London is much duller without you...Lots of love to you both. And Happy Birthday Ms-in-Malaysia.

Catherine Gets A Role In The National Heart Institute Corporate Commercial

Catherine's Tribute to MJ

This is Catherine sharing her memory of MJ.
When Catherine was 11, she pulled out a picture of MJ from a magazine. Not wanting to be like every child and just post his picture on a side wall - Catherine wanted to dream of her idol in a way that was different. So she climbed on a stool, that was on her bed and pasted the poster of MJ on her ceiling. That way when she slept.., she slept looking at him and woke up looking at him. One morning she woke feeling really weird and with her 'giddy' state of mind woke up to find MJ on top of her! The poster had fallen right on her face!!! It was a 'thriller-full morning for young Catherine!

The Event 'Breathe'

Breathe was a space for everyone and anyone to express themselves as to the passing of those dear to them. The idea of Breathe started off with wanting to pay tributes to Michael Jackson (MJ) and Farrah Fawcett when they passed on. Everyone was doing tributes to MJ and singing his songs but I didn’t see any space for dancers, poets and other individuals to express their feelings. And then before you knew it, Yasmin Ahmad passed away. It was an even greater feeling of loss, because her passing was much more 'personal,' not only for those who knew her personally, but as a Malaysian, we lost a precious 'voice'. Yasmin dared to confront issues without politicising them. She dared to say what we all say at mamaks and kopitiams, over roti kaya and roti canai's. Yasmin? She DID something about it on a national level without making it an issue. In fact she made us see the beauty in 'us'.

So Breathe started with Zalina Lee, Sherrina Krishnan and I, over a coffee session, in July, in Bukit Ceylon. It was all about Michael Jackson at the time. We were wondering if there was a space for dancers to dance, poets to read, the ‘you's’ and ‘me's’ to sing, even if we think we cannot sing! The criteria is that everything should come from the soul and the heart.

Catherine In Action!

The First Time

This is my first encounter with Catherine. The First Time @ Laura Finch's. Thank you.