HPB Voices Reloaded

By Norman Chong

Voices did an exclusive interview with Dr Annie Ling, Director of Research & Strategic Planning Division. Dr Ling tells us about her love for cats, so cat-lovers out there, this is for you...

I understand that you are an animal lover, particularly cats. - How many cats do you have?

I used to have ten cats, but I lost Kitty (the only one allowed indoors) to cancer last year.  All are strays around the Frankel Estate, which Simon, my husband and I adopted.  The adoption process usually took about 12-18 months, with us "courting" the cats with dinner brought to them every night (rain or shine) before they would trust us enough to walk into the trap (with a sumptuous dinner laid out, of course!) We would then bring them to the vet for sterilisation.  If we were away from Singapore, our poor maid would have to take a 2 km walk every night to bring dinner to the cats.

Any interesting story on particular cats that came into your life?

I love all my cats - each one is an individual.  One always joins my husband and I for evening jogs, and "trots" like a dog besides us, and another never fails to rush to greet us whenever she hears us coming home. But my favourite would have to be Kitty with whom I had always shared a special bond.  When I was away doing my graduate studies in New Zealand, Simon would put him on the phone and squeeze his paw just to get him to "meow" (usually angrily) into the phone.  The months leading up to and after Kitty's demise were difficult - I had him for almost 17 years.  I missed having him snuggling up against me, preparing brown rice porridge for him, and having him eat his favourite tiger prawns from my palm... We now go vegetarian a day every week - something to remember him by.

Have you kept any other types of pets before? Why do you prefer cats over other pets?

It was never my intention to keep all these cats as pets.  It merely started as an attempt to stop strays from multiplying because life as strays is really pretty miserable here in Singapore. In fact, Simon and I tried to put some of the cats up for adoption.  That was when I got to know of this woman who rented a house in Sembawang to provide a home for more than 200 stray cats.  Well, that helps to put things in perspective. "What were 9 strays compared to that?" Now whenever we have some time, we try to help out at this place, usually about once or twice a month.  Something which I think I would like to do more of on retirement.

What's it like to have a big pond at home?  What do you like about it? Is it difficult to maintain?

While most people enjoy ponds more as a water feature, ours is more of a "fish" pond, home to several Japanese carps and arowana.  Simon loves animals, from birds, cats, dogs to fish.  At one point in time, we have all four in the house.  Takes a lot of getting used to as I grew up in a family with no pets, and I have a sensitive nose too.  I remember my mum used to prefer to stand whenever she visited our home - nothing would get her to sit on my sofas which she claimed were full of fluffy hair.  But it gets easier when you grow to love these animals.

You spent sometime in New Zealand during your studies and your parents are there too.  What is life like in NZ compared to Singapore? 
   
I think the general perception is that life tends to be more laid back Down Under.  I don't think people there work any less hard compared to us in Singapore.  But the socio-cultural values are probably different.  For example, it is quite common for Kiwis to take a year or two away from work to see the world or opt for lower level jobs.  In fact, my two sisters who have done a good part of their education in NZ are probably deviations compared to their peers in Singapore, and it has caused my parents some anxiety.   

But having said that, I enjoyed immensely the Friday nights pubbing, pot-luck get togethers, and weekend drives to nearby towns during my student days.  I still make a point to visit NZ on average once a year, and do some of these things.  After all, it's the cheapest holiday I can get as most expenses are on-the-house.  I don't need to pack much as mum has everything from contact lens solution to winter clothing.

How is your experience been with the transition between research and nutrition?

The main challenge I think, is to keep up with the many programmes that R&SP is supporting.  Also, perspectives when seen from programme or evidence-based needs, can be quite different.  Striking a balance between the two is often more easily said than done.  It would be good for staff to rotate to different areas for an appreciation of differing needs and expectations.

Has your nutrition background influenced your cooking?  What is your favourite dish & recipe?

Very much so.  I do most of the food shopping myself, and one of my favourite pastimes is going through the supermarket shelves and trying new products.  Although I enjoy eating out, I try to eat in at least four days a week.  My dishes are usually fairly simple, many are self-concocted too.  I believe that the more complicated the recipes are, the higher the fat and salt contents tend to be.  I have a weakness for curries which my maid prepares well using milk and yoghurt to replace coconut with milk.  I hardly deep fry, a one-kg bottle of cooking oil can last me for about a year.  Deep-fried foods are reserved as treats when eating out.

If I have to name one area of dietary improvement I would have to make, it is to eat more fish.  Fish is not served very often as Simon does not like fish.  So, the one dietary supplement I take is fish oil.