Monday, February 22, 2010

留住光明 从“爱眼日”做起 Love Your Eyes




眼睛是心灵的窗户,它流露内心情感,也帮助我们在眼神交流时表现亲善。眼睛的重要性比拟探明灯,要是眼睛失明,眼前便一片黑暗。尤其是步入老年后,眼睛更要细心保养,保持敏锐度才能带动脸上焕发的光彩,让人无时无刻感觉双眼炯炯有神。

假如老人视力不佳,在上下楼梯或步行时特别容易摔倒,后果不堪设想。随着年纪的增长,视觉敏感度会慢慢降低是正常的,加上许多常见眼疾前来缠绕,如:白内障、飞蝇症、青光眼与各种致盲病种等,皆易使老人的双目渐渐失去光彩。

因此,武吉巴督邻里中心在5月发起的“爱眼日”,除了呼吁民众注重眼睛保养,适当控制看书、看电视节目等习惯之外,定期检查眼睛也是呵护眼睛不可缺少的活动,而眼睛检查的目的正是为了测试影响视力障碍的主要原因,并对症下药。

爱护眼睛,从您的眼睛做起。为了传播护眼意识,位于大牌228的武吉巴督邻里中心将在5月9日举办眼睛检查活动,为60岁以上的老年人免费检查眼睛。检查项目包括:眼底镜检查 (Ophthalmoscopy)、眼压测量(IOP)、自动验光机(Auto- Refract)、电脑验光仪检查(V.A.)等,测出眼睛的近视、远视屈光度、散光正常值,让眼球及眼膜得到全面的诊断,以得到及时的眼疾治疗。

让我们一起留住光明,继续看见世界的美好,再次强调保护眼睛的重要性。所谓“预防胜于治疗”,定期检查能帮助我们预防眼疾;视力健康者也可以再次测验眼睛润滑度,促进眼睛健康。

欲知更多关于眼睛检查详情,请致电武吉巴督邻里中心6560-5455询问。

Love Your Eyes

It is said that the eyes are the window to the soul. Look deep into a person’s eyes and you will see the ‘real’ person. But speaking on a more realistic level, the eyes are of course our organ of sight from which we view the world around us. So, poor eyesight results in a world of blurred images, which is one of the common inflictions suffered by the elderly.

Age-muscular degeneration resulting in eye diseases such as cataract and glaucoma is the major cause of visual loss among the elderly. This prevents them from leading active and meaningful lives. Even younger people can be the victims of such eye diseases.

Eye screening helps us spot symptoms of eye problems. Other than the normal eye health care that we should practise in our daily lives, we need to have eye screening which can help us prevent last-stage eye disease. In particular, the elderly are encouraged to go for regular eye screening.

Concern & Care Society will be organizing a free eye screening programme on 9 May, 8.00 a.m. to 12 noon, at their premises at Block 228 Bukit Batok Neighbourhood Link for those aged 60 and above. The screening will include opthalmoscope, air puff (IOP) and auto-refract.

Please register at CCS’ premises at Block 228 before the screening date.

For more information, call us at 6560-5455.

Protect your eyes and enjoy the view !

傳神厚意送温馨 A prosperous year ahead!






文 / 谢翠珊

农历新年无疑是华人一年中最重要,气氛最浓厚的节日之一。傳神居家照顾协会为了与居民同欢共庆,提前进行一系列新春活动,为弱势老人传递温馨,送上佳节祝福。

2月4日这一天,书法不再是个人单独的“独乐乐”活动,它聚集了一家大小与书法爱好者即席挥毫写挥春,好让百名义工能在第二天拎着一幅幅迎新挥春与柑橘到访弱势老人的家中,献上义工们的温情与祝福。

犹如往常,义工们带着满满的关怀抵达老人家中,开口第一句话就是“新年快乐”。接着,义工打开手中挥春,写的尽是人们对新一年的展望,如:福字、虎虎生威、虎年进步、新春大吉等吉祥字样,年长者看了顿时绽放笑脸,喜上眉梢,连声道谢。

金黄色的柑橘象征“大吉大利”、“好事成双”,传上我们愿意的祝福,期望在新的一年里凡事顺心。为了延续赠柑橘这个华人传统习俗,傳神居家照顾协会每年都会举办「新春送柑橘献祝福」活动,把温馨和欢乐带到每个弱势家庭。

除了拜访访视老人,傳神居家照顾协会分别举办了「居民新春聚餐会」及「出游办年货之旅」等活动,齐集了百位居民一起欢庆佳节。参与了这些新春活动的居民个个笑逐颜开,聚会当天就像家庭大团圆一样,居民们亲如一家,新春佳节气氛特别浓厚融洽。

「居民新春聚餐会」上,居民们各显厨艺,每人各备一份美味佳肴与朋友共同分享。除了聚餐之外,居民们还兴高采烈的挥春题字,写下新年吉祥字。有些不识字的老人也有机会在红纸上模仿字模书写一二,心情格外愉快。

趁农历新年将至,多位爱心理发师特地到聚会现场为老人免费义剪。理发师的手艺很好,每个老人经过一番清理后都显得精神奕奕,头发也剪得好看整齐。

为了应节,居民纷纷参加CCS E.A.T乐龄娱乐活动中心举办的「出游办年货之旅」,购买肉干、腊肠、蜜饯、扇贝、海参、年糕等新春食品,更可趁机出外走动,感染一下新春佳节的气氛,可谓一举两得。

新春活动主要是要让老人家在佳节时分迎春接福,感受社会大家庭的关怀与温暖。

A prosperous year ahead!
Concern & Care Society (CCS) ushers in the roaring year of the tiger with a series of activities for volunteers and members to enjoy Lunar New Year (LNY) is undoubtedly one of the more popular festivals in Singapore. It is also this time of the year that we at CCS send our warmest blessings to the elderly around us.

CCS held a Chinese calligraphy event on 28 January 2010 where over hundred pieces of the New Year couplets were written. The volunteers also wrote the Chinese character “FU” on red paper. These were given to the elderly as a gift to display in their homes.

The next day during our weekly home visit, our volunteers presented the elderly with the Chinese calligraphy. Holding the couplet in their hands, our volunteers wished the old folks a happy and prosperous year ahead. The elderly and their families were delighted and touched by this simple gesture.

Oranges are also the most popular fruit during Lunar New Year as it symbolises "good luck". Our volunteers also gave oranges to the home visit clients and elderly as a form of blessings.

Over at CCS Elderly Activity Talent Centre, a CNY shopping spree was also organised for the elderly. Many Chinese New Year goodies such as Lap Cheong (Chinese sausage), preserved fruits, scallops, sea cucumber, Nian Gao (rice cakes) and other Chinese New Year food were bought. Together they went shopping and had a good time mingling and bonding with each other.

A LNY potluck celebration was organized and members of CCS prepared delicious food to share with friends. At the same time, “True Heart Hair Dresser” provided free hair cutting service so that everyone can look their best for the New Year.

We wish everyone a prosperous year ahead!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

一群快乐的长者心声 Voices of the Elderly

采访:谢翠珊

一年又过去了,回想去年的生活,其中苦少乐多,武吉巴督228与裕廊东208的居民们津津乐道。乐龄生活里,他们寻得快乐;在平凡的日子里,他们发挥所长,找到生活中莫大的幸福。这一期且听居民许罗妮、刘美田、陈福明、郑莲花、王宝玉、吴雅妹、许养、林悦治分享他们心中的点点滴滴,和一些些维持活跃生活的秘诀,我们肯定受益良多。受访中看见他们个个老当益壮,贤惠活泼的谈论着自己的生活,我深深感受到“走出孤独”的重要性,和心情解放后的无边开阔。所以说,只要我们不放弃,把握生命中的每一天,渺小的生命就不渺小,也能活得更精彩。

健康排第一
许养:青年时期我过得困苦,因此我辛勤工作,没有把健康顾好。后来接触了太极,勤加锻炼后我无须每个月看医生,到现在无需光顾诊所,运动使我赢得健康。如今早晨时间我也参与了音乐氧生操,每个星期一去打乒乓,这些运动不会太激烈,很适合我。
悦治:要有健康的身体,运动是其次,最重要还是保持心情开朗。我们不要老烦恼或发脾气,凡是大事化小,小事化无,做人就会开心,身心也会健康。
林悦治 Lim Yak Tee,66

罗妮:我70岁才学游泳,虽然现在我已84岁,我依然坚持每个星期游泳两天,加上参与氧生操等运动,勤劳运动,才有健康的体魄。
许罗妮 Koh Loh Nee,84

美田:早上起身没事做,我都会去运动。做健身啊!打太极啊,做氧生操啊!我都很勤劳,因为多运动比较健康。现在年纪大了,行动上我会特别谨慎,跌倒就麻烦了。


家庭和谐的重要与愿望
美田:我很重视我的家庭。星期一至五,我负责煮晚饭给家人吃,对于我来说,这一点也不辛苦。我最享受和家人、孙子坐在同一张饭桌吃饭,看见他们吃得开心,我心里就莫名开心起来。一天里面,我和孙子交谈最多,我们的感情也很好。
刘美田 Low Mee Tien,76

莲花:不要对家人要求太多,凡事随便就好。我觉得自己过一天,就像赚到一天一样,每天都应该开开心心。年轻人做事,就由他们去,不要讲他们,就不会产生问题。
许养:有时候不是我想就会心想事成。家庭对我来说很重要,我希望家庭幸福,那最好。
许养 Koh Yeo,76



自由自在的退休生活
悦治:我最喜欢去旅游,出去走走。我的性格比较大胆,常试着到新的地方去探索。我和我的先生也喜欢参加传神举办的活动,有得玩就好,我们就开心了。
宝玉:新加坡人常说“钱不够用”,我说我“时间不够用”。我每天忙工作,做家务,运动,找朋友聊天,与家人一起,生活过得很充实。
雅妹:我对家人像对朋友一样,从不要求家人要为自己做什么,一家人和乐融融。我的孩子也很孝顺,他们帮我理财,帮我选购衣服,常常主动关心我,陪我聊天,我都会开心接受,我感觉很幸福。
吴雅妹 Goh Ah Moi,61

罗妮:我天生有着“想做就做”的个性,也最爱自由。每每看了电视,听了新闻,知道有新的好去处,我都会去走走。尽管偶尔朋友没空,我也会自己出去玩,想唱歌就唱歌,想出去就出去,我的性格很独立。
王宝玉Ong Poo Git,64


朋友
悦治:我在武吉巴督住了30多年,朋友却很少。自参加传神6年以来,我的朋友很多,我也不用只待在家里,在中心里大家有说有笑,我觉得很开心。
雅妹:我的朋友特别多,人家都说我“鸡婆”!(哈哈大笑)不过我的活力可以感染其他朋友,我就像开心果一样,带给朋友欢乐。
福明:我爱交朋友,也帮助别人。我觉得做老人要随和一点,凡事都随便一点,朋友自然多。
莲花:我每天都到活动中心来,这里就像我的第二个家一样。我来这里找到我的兴趣和朋友,他们每一个都很友善。
郑莲花Tay Lian Huay,70



终身学习的态度
罗妮:我有“不轻易放弃”的做人态度。很多朋友都不敢学游泳,但我很有耐心,慢慢学,一定能学会。我觉得应该Open Your Heart! (打开您的心)去学习新的东西。
福明:我是缅甸华侨,在那里社会动荡不安,天灾连连。不像新加坡,生活幸福安宁,也有很多学习机会。我如今学打太极、打桌球、上英文课、玩Rummy-O、写书法、运动等,来传神之后,生活变得更充实。
陈福明Tan Hock Main,66

莲花:我会像小孩一样玩电脑游戏。自孙子们教我上网玩游戏后,我每天都很享受自己开关电脑,下载游戏来玩。去年,因着传神开办的桌球班,我也学会打桌球。活到老,学到老嘛!学习新事物好,不要让自己躲在家想东想西的,也不会那么容易得老人痴呆症。

Recalling life during the past one year, the elderly in Bukit Batok and Jurong East feel that they have really been very happy everyday living an active lifestyle. They have found great joy in little things in their retirement age. Here, they share their thoughts with us.

Exercise for Health
Koh Yeo: I had a difficult time in the past, working without proper health care. But after having practised tai chi for than 20 years I am now stronger and able to enjoy life more. I am now participating in the Music Therapy Exercise and playing ping pong every Monday; these exercises are not too strenuous for me.

Yak Tee: The way to stay healthy is to be always cheerful. One should not worry unnecessarily or get angry easily because such negative thoughts affect our health.

Loh Nee: I learned to swim at 70. Although I am now 84 years old, I still swim twice a week, and take part in Music Therapy Exercise. I believe that exercise helps my body and mind to work better.

Mee Tien: Exercise is the first thing I think of when I wake up because I have nothing better to do in the mornings. I exercise a few times a week because I believe that maintaining good health requires exercise. But, in old age, one does have to be careful not to overstrain.

Harmony within the Family
Mee Tien: I value my family very much. I cook dinner for my family on weekdays.. It is not difficult or tiring when this is done with love in my heart. I enjoy having the whole family eating together, especially seeing the smiles on my grandchildren as they enjoy my simple home-cooked meal.
This is the moment of my day when I feel inexplicably happy. I have a wonderful relationship with my grandchildren with whom I can chat the whole day.

Lian Huay: I do not have high expectations from my family members. They do what they can for me, but they have their own problems trying to make a living. One should not waste precious moments of one’s life by criticising the younger generation. Wish them well. I feel lucky every minute of the day just to be alive and well.

Koh Yeo: Family harmony is very important to me. It is sometimes difficult, with disagreements, differences of opinion, different priorities in life, but I try to maintain a happy, united and harmonious family atmosphere at all times.

Fun in Retirement
Yak Tee: I love to travel and to explore new places. My husband and I sometimes join outings with Concern & Care Society (CCS) and it is always fun to be outdoors.

Poh Git: Singaporeans always say "Money not enough" but I always say. “Time not enough.” I love to fill up my life with work, sports, socialising with friends, family gatherings and housework. A busy schedule always makes me feel good. Of course having more money would be great but to me, an active life in old age is more important. I enjoy a good meal, give my best in everything I do, am easygoing and get along with everyone.


Ah Moi: My family members are also my friends. Just as we never ask our friends for more than they can give, I never need to impose my needs on my children. They are very attentive; they know my needs and always ensure that I am well taken care of.

Loh Nee: I believe in the advice "just do it" and I love freedom. I keep myself updated with the latest news and information, so that I know where in the city I can go to for new experiences. I believe in being independent and I can be quite happy ‘doing my own thing’ at times when family and friends are busy with their own lives and are unable to keep me company

Friends of the Elderly
Yak Tee: I did not have many friends even though I had lived in Bukit Batok for more than 30 years until I found Concern & Care Society. I do not just stay at home now, I come to the centre and make friends. We chat, play games, take part in various activities and generally have a good time.

Ah Moi: I have many friends. They do seem to enjoy having me around because I am always cheerful and I like to bring joy to everyone.

Hock Main: I love to make friends. I am helpful, easy-going and friends and I enjoy each other’s company.

Lian Huay: CCS is my second home, a place I am at every day . I have made a lot of friends here, and we are all like one big happy family.


Learning at Old Age
Loh Nee: I never give up easily. Even at my age, I learned to swim, so I believe that learning at any age is not impossible. As an elderly person, one must continue to open one’s heart and mind to learning new things.

Hock Main: I am from Myanmar which is a country with natural disasters and an unstable political environment. Here in Singapore, I have found that the elderly are very lucky. They live in a safe environment and are able to get involved in most activities. At CCS, I am able to learn English, play Rummy-O games, write Chinese calligraphy and do so much more, all of which I thoroughly enjoy.

Lian Huay: My grandchildren taught me to play online games and now I switch on the computer everyday to play these games! I joined a snooker class last year and I have come to love this game. Learning is not only fun, but also beneficial to our mental health.

From these conversations with the elderly, we have learnt that there is so much more life to live even in old age, so much more to learn and so many things to do. As the Nike advertisement says, and as all of us agree, ‘Just Do It.’.

听新闻 长知识 Sharing the Joy




在每个风和日丽的早晨,武吉巴督邻里中心里都会聚集一群快乐长者,围坐在咖啡座上一边高谈阔论,一边喝茶。自《轻松听新闻》这个新活动推出后,年长者也透过吸取新资讯,以及认识新朋友而变得精神洋溢,中心气氛也因此变得生气勃勃,欢乐连连。

70岁的Jafaat伯伯就是其中一位受惠的居民。他和太太(Kak Sampah)也是傳神居家照顾协会每个星期五都会访视的个案,如今他不只在家期待义工们的探访,早上还会主动走到邻里中心来听新闻。Jafaat虽然是马来人,但能说上几句简单的华语和方言,因此更容易与其他居民熟络起来。

他的出现为邻里中心带来无限欢乐。 Jafaat伯伯说:“我和太太步入退休生活已久。平时我们会看顾孙子、做家务等,偶尔闲空时我们就会到邻里中心去听新闻、喝咖啡或和朋友聊天,因此朋友群中也有不少华裔同胞。”

Jafaat伯伯其中一位好朋友- 侯大哥也是中心里一位活跃的年长者。侯大哥是《轻松听新闻》的读报义工之一,83岁的他还精神奕奕的一面讲新闻一面说笑,还能讲几种方言和唱歌。侯大哥表示:“有时在居民们的要求下,我也唱一两首老歌,他们都拍手叫好。”

邻里中心是交友的好地方。Kak Sampah 笑说:“邻里中心给我们的感觉越来越亲切。这几年来,传神居家照顾协会的义工们都会时常登门拜访我们两老,我们感到很满足。”

Sharing the Joy

As the clock strikes ten every morning, a group of elderly folks would gather together at our Corner Coffee enjoying a cup of piping hot drink. You can easily catch snips of conversation amidst laughter among the elderly folks as they wait eagerly for their daily news listening session to begin.

Volunteers of Concern & Care Society (CCS) hold a daily news listening session for the elderly folks. Yes, these folks may be elderly but they come with such enthusiasm.

Uncle Jafaat, aged 70, has been enjoying such sessions with his wife, Aunty Sampah. Aunty Sampah is one of CCS’s home visit clients. Both of them love and enjoy the activities organised by CCS. They are always on the lookout for updates from the centre. Uncle Jafaat enjoys making new friends. He understands simple Chinese dialects which enables him to mingle with other members easily.

He said, “My wife and I have reached our retirement age. And we usually look after our grandchildren, do household chores, and so forth. Occasionally when time permits, we would join CCS activities and chit chat with our friends.”

One of Uncle Jafaat’s good friends is Uncle How. Uncle How is a volunteer with CCS. Aged 83, he is very active and is one of the volunteers who share the news in our news listening session. As he speaks several dialects and is keen in singing, Uncle How always gets requests from the residents to sing them oldies.

Uncle How said with a laugh, “I am always happy to sing to them, and I love it when they applaud and enjoy themselves.”

Aunty Sampah feels very grateful to CCS and she shared, “The people in Concern & Care Bukit Batok Neighbourhood Link are very approachable and nice to the elderly. We are very grateful and appreciative of the volunteers’ friendship.”

传播爱心照银发 神赐福恩增笑颜

文/傅金环

回想本人在这不算短的数年中,经历了傳神从无到有,从各地区原本不相识的乐龄人士到如今大家已成了无所不谈的好朋友。

新加坡一年无四季之分,常年都是绿意盎然。没天灾,少人祸,有个家长似的执政团,让国人平稳过日子,生活素质日益提升,精英年年增加。但是,人口老化的脚步却也越快,因此现今的年老者及未来的老人都得珍惜生命,有生之日要自重自爱!由老人去影响老人,让一个走出孤独的老人去感动、去支持、去鼓励及关爱他人,去滋润老化干枯的心灵,成为真正的乐龄一族!

以前有句俗语“人老心不老”,那是很负面的形容词,让人想歪了,但是如今世态改变了,人们心态也跟着改变,老人应该是“健康的心不老”才对。医学上也已经证明,许多生理上的病痛是源自心理上的失调。

身为一个年长者,这些年来自己才得到一个浅悟:老人心理上是常背负着许多不同的包袱。每一天,把不愉快的“舍”去,就会从另一方面取得“得”,古人说有舍就有得,您说呢?

老人的美不在外表而在于内涵,时髦性感的外表不是需的,要的是内在的感悟,如此通情达理才会令人感觉舒服。你有没有见过一个赶时髦,尖酸刻薄,口不饶人的年长者能讨人喜欢而受人爱戴呢?我们是恰当的装扮,以整齐干净为主而已。

新的一年,让我们开始觉习人与人相处之道,常常看看别人,想想自己,吸取别人之长,舍去别人之短。大家一起加油!祝大家年年是好年,日日是好日。

爱上桌球 与友同乐 Pool Game – For the Young at Heart



年轻时没机会接触桌球,对桌球一窍不通?现在是时候让您爱上桌球了!

最近,撞球班和桌球兴趣小组分别设立,这项活动除了能让全身协调之外,也能达到训练耐力、分析力以及提升专注力等多方好处。

在享受打桌球的同时,您可能也发现它是一种与友同乐的活动,在桌球桌上交到三两个知心好友,从此欢喜连连。

友缘桌球,年迈的张先生在桌球游戏中找到无限乐趣。他说:“以前常看别人玩,自己却没有机会玩。现在能参与中心开办的桌球班,又能认识到新朋友,真是很开心。”

70岁的莲花婆婆也说:“上了桌球课后,我爱上打桌球这个游戏。每天我都会来中心练习,我觉得很好玩。”

Pool Game – For the Young at Heart

It is a norm for young people to unwind over a few rounds of pool with friends after work. However, pool is not just for the young. This interesting game is also for those young at heart. Regardless of age, everyone can easily enjoy this game and make new friends.

Concern & Care Society started the pool interest group last year for the elderly folks. Pool is not just a game, in addition to enhancing one’s level of concentration; it also strengthens one’s motor skills such as hand-eye co-ordination.

Mr Chong, a member of the interest group said, “I used to see other people play on the pool table. As I did not have the chance to play when I was young, now my opportunity has come. I am happy that I can join the interest group and pick up some basic cueing skills. At the same time, I have made new friends.”

Another member of the interest group, Aunty Lian Huay enjoys playing pool very much. Her eyes lit up whenever she shares her pool experience. The 70-year-old said, “After attending the basic course for ten weeks at CCS Elderly Activity Talent Centre at Toh Guan, I fell in love with this game. I would come to the centre to practice my cueing skill everyday. It’s so fun!”

走出孤独 才有希望 A Journey to Remember




1月31日清晨,傳神乐龄单车家族的成员们神采飞扬的踏着自信步伐骑往20公里的铁马之途。看着年长者眼神中流露的喜悦,以及脸上洋溢着的年轻时一样的风发意气,我们更加确定“走出孤独就有希望!”能真实地鼓励着长者活得更有充实与自信满满。

自乐龄单车家族成立至今,已有多位老人渐渐摆脱疑惑和不信任,勇敢地踏上铁马往活跃里走去。骑在单车上,年长者不但感觉自己更有活力、更有体力,也因此觉悟拥有健康体魄的重要性。

单车家族的高龄成员一边乘风骑车,一边欣赏郊外风光,心里总觉得万分幸福。反观同龄朋友因膝盖疼痛,或长期坐在轮椅上而无法出外活动,他们心里虽难过,也借此警惕自己要多活动以保持身体机能灵活。

两个小时的骑程,旁人看见一群白发苍苍的年长者不畏惧的骑在单车上,豪气十足的样子,个个不禁啧啧称羡,并竖起拇指对着老人呼喊“你们真的很棒!”加注单车家族的士气。充满朝气的单车队感染着身边的路人,骑程中尽管汗水不停的流,气喘吁吁都遮盖不住愿意付出与勇往直前的精神。

不但如此,成员们很有默契的一个跟一个后头,淋漓地发挥了团队该有的团体精神,注重安全而不讲求速度,才能使整个过程流畅而不费力。完成了这个月的壮举后,单车家族成员都带着满满的成就感回家去,同时他们心里也坚信,唯有“动”人生才有希望。

A Journey to Remember

Wow!!! What a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. That’s how the cyclists of CCS Cycling Superstar felt after completing the 20 kilometres cycling expedition on 31 January 2010 early morning.

This activity encourages many elderly to step out of their comfort zone and cycle together with the CCS Cycling Superstar cyclists. Indeed it was very courageous of them to take this challenge as for some, 20 kilometres cycling is not an easy feat. Yet they completed it with a big smile and also a knowledge that being mentally and physically fit at all times is highly important.

As they cycled along the route, they enjoyed the morning breeze and the beautiful scenery along the way. They encouraged one another to press on during the journey and challenged each other to reach the finishing line. Pedestrians seem surprised seeing this group of old folks cycling happily under the morning sun. They screamed words of encouragement to them and cheered them on, “You are doing great!”

End of the day, the cyclists learnt about teamwork and made new friends.