Being superstitious

Mother was superstitious and I think that was her only flaw. Lately many things have gone wrong and if I were her I would start to feel that I've been jinxed! I do recall as I was driving about 3.5 weeks ago when a black cat walked across the road, I had to stop for it, it turned and looked at me. Anyway about 10 days ago my hard drive conked out on me and I was in the midst of finalising our returns. Then yesterday I transferred some money online to a wrong account. The recipient is someone awkward to deal with but hopefully she will give the money back soon. I suspect she will or we will have to speak to her father (a close relative!). Then today my mobile just went blank. But luckily it's all just material stuff. I can't wait for tomorrow!

First day covers

When we were young, we collected stamps and first day covers. (I still do now, but not agressively.) Grandpa used to send us first day covers when we were in Penang. I distinctly remember one particular First Day cover with stamps featuring the different Malaysian fruits. I remember grandpa's handwriting. Neat and slightly slanted to the right. I still have that First day cover, with water stains. It was the rainy season and when it got to us, some of the stamps already came off the envelop. Will post the photo when I snap it.

Aujourd'hui

Today would have been father's birthday. Only lately did I realise that he was thoroughly western. He loved to sing (never heard mother sing even though she listened to music) and was outgoing and gregarious. He loved parties and went about with an Eurasian crowd in Kluang. He would only buy biscuits and chocolates made from the west, always looking down on Made in China products. When mother took me to buy my first watch and we got back he said we should not have bought that unknown brand (Hitex or something), that we should have got a Rado. How I wish now that mother had bought me a Rado! Then of course I totally ignored his opinion. Mother would have been the original home brand shopper whereas father was into designer labels. Now I know where I got my penchant from! In addition to the latter I'm a procrastinator to HK's eternal frustration but at least I make deadlines. Father always put off marking papers and exercise books. They got marked in the end alright. Who marked them is a family secret!

PS Today is 22nd May not 21st, blogspot is on American time.

Loyalty or bonus points?

Maybe I should start some reward system so more people would write on this blog with memories of our childhood. I have an early memory of father tying up Kim Hock and Kim Chai's hands and feet with his neckties because they had been fighting. I wonder if they recall that. I can only recall once father hitting my head with his knuckle but it was not a strong hit, more of a chastising kind. Mother did threaten me with a cane but other than that I don't think I have ever been physically punished. But then there was no reason to!
Kim Siew bought a lot of comic books, some of which I enjoyed. They were usually action hero types, war comics and finally MAD magazines. On the odd occasion he bought romantic ones but they were too few. The one I recall distinctly was this lumberjack who fell in love with a model/actress? and kidnapped her. Remember that one KS? I still recall the wooden cabinet where you kept them.

36 years ago ......

Mother passed away 36 years ago. I can still recall the events of that day. I was in Upper Six and was in the middle of a class when I saw Siew Cheng in the corridor. She came to tell me that mother was in Muar hospital and was very ill. I can't remember now who drove us there but I think it was father. She was unconscious and lying on the bed. Kim Chai was there too, he was on university break. I think it was elevenish when I got there and we were there until about 3.00 when the doctors told us to leave her bedside. I think we were losing her and maybe they were trying to resuscitate her. Anyway not long after father came out to tell us that we have lost her. I went back in to her bed and gave her a kiss.
Earlier on in the morning she was shopping for groceries in Tua King's brother's shop. She was carrying Kimmie and as she chatted to the aunty, her speech started to slur. The aunty then told father something is very wrong and to take mother home. I think father called an ambulance. We rarely talk about the events that happened soon after. Only once did Kim Chai asked me what happened the months following as he does not recall anything.
We never had a proper wake unlike father's with the get-togethers each night after his funeral. Perhaps one day we should have one and then everyone can move on.

A tribute to Mother

Today is Mothers Day. It is a western tradition which was introduced into the east long after I left Malaysia so it was never something which we celebrated when we were young. Actually everyday should be mother's day!
Mother was almost perfect. She championed the weak and was very equitable. She also taught me tolerance and compassion, chastising us in our early teens when we were not respectful to our Raub relatives. They came to stay with us for what seemed like a long time and I guess we were a little resentful. She said we were behaving badly and looking back now I have to agree. She also wanted us to be respectful to our paternal grandmother, yes we can be quite cold!
We all put her on a pedestal and it was deservedly so. She had an incredibly strong character. I still recall when her eldest sister's shop went down the gurgler and she was handling the creditors. Those who should be downstairs were hiding upstairs!
She rarely allowed herself treats but rather liked Ling Po movies and would take us with her to watch it again and sometimes for the 3rd time. Her treat is the Chinese movie magazine once a month.
We never had the chance to repay our gratitude nor spoil her.

Chinese New Year memories

SC and I were given 5 dresses every year. They were made by our Goh cousin, Hwee Huang. She tried to outdesign the Sims. I still recall how she would dream about designs. I do appreciate what she has done for us so I visit her every now and then and bring a gift for her. Sometimes I pass it through Mong Chay.
In my teenage years I would help mother make love letters. We used a stove and one has to be vigilant that it does not burn. We never had a conventional oven so cookies made were those which didn't require baking eg mung bean cookies. Later we acquired a small easycook type oven and we started making pineapple tarts. I had a well-off friend ie the Lims at 40 Jalan Ibrahim and they had all the modcons. Funny thing is that I grew up much more confident and assertive than her! She lived in the first modern "mansion" in Muar.
CNY was always very special. Everyone came back for the reunion dinner (except some years when KK and Stella went back to Ipoh instead). Curry, ngor hiang and fried celery were the dishes which I recall. The first meal on Day 1 was vegetarian. I think we ate vegetarian only a few times a year including Vesak Day. Beef was verbotten in the house or rather not cooked. To be continued ......

Remembering

KS, I had forgotten you were born in Batu Pahat. I recall being regaled about KK's birth in Bukit Kangkar and how father had to fetch the midwife on a bicycle. Mother's stomach was big with KK and there was a bit of gossip in the village before the birth because they thought he was conceived before the wedding day but he turned up more than 9 months after. I think KHuat was born in Muar during the war. Then the rest of us in Kluang. I even recall the day SC was weaned from mother and a tin of Huntley and Palmers biscuits was an incentive. Father always liked the best and only bought chocolates and biscuits made in the west, not from China. But it was still a treat for us when a tin of biscuit is opened, it is passed around and we get one each. I always picked ginger nut biscuits. Then the tin is closed until someone older decides that it is time for a biscuit. Definitely not a daily occurrence!
I vaguely recall how father met mother. I think it was something to do with waiting for the ferry to cross. Could be wrong, wonder why we never heard about it from mother. He was engaged to someone else when he met mother, maybe that's why it was never discussed.
I think with all families there were some dark stories. Sometimes we used to hear the aunties discuss something and then they would be aware of us and change the topic.

The beginning for number3.

I was born in a small town of Batu Pahat in the state of Johore of the original state of Malaya.
It was1947 haven got our indpendence yet, still British Colony.I remember Celebration of Queen Elzabeth II coronation?
We must have moved to Kluang from Batu Pahat.It was at Jalan Station that most of of the younger ones were born. We stayed next to a Malay family,the man was a bomoh.
I think someone should get some details from KK an blog for him. I need to know how
father married mother. Father's origin was from Bukit Kangkar and mum from Jalan Maharani.
Number 3 (KS)

Day 3

Day 3 and not so many posters. Guess everyone is busy, busy. I should be doing paperwork too but these days I am easily distracted. Who cares about tax deadlines?!

Does everyone remember the family games we used to have? It was organised either by Kim Huat or KK in our backyard. It was running etc and we would get prizes like sugared almonds. We even once had a barbecue in Kluang. I recall sausages being cooked, this would have been very "advanced" in those days. Then there was the day when KK decided to make toffee/caramels when we acquired our first fridge.

Jalan Station?

Is that the one where there is a picture of all 7 of us outside, SC being carried by KK? I can only remember the last house in Jalan Masjid. The Dankers were higher up on the left and the only family I recall on the right was a young Indian couple. Because of the Eurasians surrounding us (across the road etc) we used to be given a frosted fruit cake for Christmas. I also had the opportunity to attend birthday parties, winning twice at musical chairs.
We weren't privileged like the children of doctors and lawyers but we had a good childhood. Good luck with the bypass.

Younger days

I remember jalan masjid staying next to the headmaster.
Do any of you remember Jalan Station? I remember crawling undertrains on the way
to school. Really a dangerous activity. GOD has kept me alive.
From Selayang Hospital waiting for stomach by pass.