Kim Siew RIP

Kim Siew has joined mother and father. He was a wonderful and loving son, husband, brother, dad and granddad. RIP.

It's up!

In loving memory of Mdm Sim Ngor Lang & Mr Sng Boon Kui

The above is a cut and paste from the Sydney Opera House website.

Click on this link and click on the category of donors "Acclaim".

http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/support/honourwall.aspx

Googling mother's name now results in 4 entries. Same with father. Even this blog comes up! Father has an entry about his role in some Johore Teachers Co-operative. Mother features on the STC website.

Stop Press

The Opera House started an annual giving program so we have given since its inception 2 years ago. The acknowledgment is in the foyer on a TV screen and also in some programs, in their annual report and also their website. So far we have donated in our company name. This year I decided to donate in memory of mother and father. Not sure if it exceeds the word count but fingers crossed we will see the acknowledgment at the Opera House shortly.

Mother's repertoire

Mother was a very good cook. There were some dishes which were a hit with everyone and whenever those dishes were made everyone had extra helpings. Her curry was popular and all 7 of us love potatoes. In fact the potatoes were snapped up before the chicken meat. The Sims were entirely the opposite. Steamed egg custard with meatballs was I think everyone's most favourite. Then there was snake (or long) bean fried rice and it was always accompanied by English tea which I loved. Mother and father were coffee drinkers and I hated coffee. I still don't drink coffee much, just the odd mocha. I have tried to replicate the fried rice and realise that it was like nasi goreng, ie it's done with coconut rice. Her beehoon was quite nice but I'm afraid her Kuay Teow was only tolerable. Ngor hiang was only made on special occasions. Towards the later part of her life she tried new recipes and her herbal chicken, oyster omelette and deep fried chicken were delicious. HK had the opportunity to try the latter. In Lower Six we had a get-together and she cooked fried chicken for our gang.
When there was just SC and me left at home, she didn't always cook. It was mainly takeaways from Kai Kai. Her life was easier then as she was able to sleep in. I made father's breakfast on most schooldays, 2 soft-boiled eggs. We then travelled to High School together. I'm afraid I stopped chatting to father after early teens until my early twenties.

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.