Just received the photos from KY, my cousin-in-law.
Celebrated Po Po's 90th birthday abt 1 - 1.5mths back at Uncle Roy's place. As usual, it's always difficult to get everyone present. This time, 3 person were missing. Shen was outstation to Italy, Wu Quang studying for her O-levels at home and my uncle is working. But still, it was a pretty good turn-out.
And yes, grandma has two birthday cakes. Heard that it was due to some mis-communication. But still, the cakes were yummy. And yes, at 90yrs .. grandma is still strong and healthy as ever. Her favourite activity ... hee hee ... majong. I call her the 'MAJONG QUEEN'.
Two weeks back, my family celebrated Ah Po's (Grandma's) birthday. She turns 90. Incredible! She is still as strong as ever and i believe the weekly majong session helps in a way or two.
Mom's mom has had a hard life when she was young. I have heard of the many stories from mom and from the various aunties. Stories of the many sacrifices which grandma went through. Stories of the unhappy marrigage between my late grandfather and her as they were match-made. Stories of how she had to take care of all the kids by herself as grandpa is a seaman and is hardly at home. There were many tales and stories .. but all these experiences and struggles in her life have made her strong in character and her perseverance in life is simply remarkable.
Sad to say, i hardly spend time knowing my po po as i am closer to my grandma from dad's side. I suppose part of the reason is because mom seldom bring us back to her side of the family much when i was young.
One thing which touches me this year is the birthday wish that Ah Po made. It was all for her grandchildren.
So one thing which i am telling myself to do is to make more effort in knowing her and spending time with her. The least i want is to regret when things are too late.
Sunday was my nephew, Terry's One Month Old celebration. He's so cute and lovable.
But the adults who have all gathered at my auntie's place had more on the agenda. My family was out in full force to cheer for our Singapore Table-Tennis Team. It was simply nerve-freaking and we all screamed and cheered like there was never tomorrow whenever Singapore scored a point. But of course, the China team had proven themselves that they were the better team. Whatever it is, well done Team Singapore! You have done Singapore proud.
This reminds me of my two grandmas. Last sunday was Mother's Day. I asked mom last friday,"Hey Mom, so what are u going to do for your mother on Mother's Day? For me, it has never been quite a tradition to celebrate Mother's Day. First of all, mom's birthday falls on 1 May. So all the celebrations took place on this day. I threw a surprise BBQ birthday party for her on her birthday plus a nice gift. She was really touched when all her sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews etc turned up, including her own mom. And secondly, everyday can and should be Mother's Day. But well, to make her happy on Mother's Day, i gave her a little present with her name on it. Nothing expensive but it's the thoughts that counts.
Anyway, Mom kept quiet for awhile before telling me this: "Hmm .. maybe we should bring your grandma out for dinner. And dad later added. We should bring the two grandmas out since they will be playing majong together at a relatives place in the afternoon.
It was later when mom tried to make arrangements with the two grandma that we found out that one grandma (Dad's mom) was already booked by my auntie and family. Only mom's mommy is available. And that's because my uncle and two aunties celebrated for her one day in advance.
And so, it was a date with Grandma on Mother's Day. And the funniest thing is that while we were deciding where to go for dinner since most of the places must be really crowded, it was Po Po that intro us to this lovely eatery @ Tan Que Lan Street. The food is really good. It was the same eatery which my auntie and uncle brought her to on sat.
Indeed, time spend with them is more precious and meaningful than $ or gifts. And yes, i would be spending this weekend with afew friends plus two of my lovely grandmas and family. While i wish i was away on holiday like afew of my friends, well ... at least, i think i will have a good holiday in town too. I hope!
Went to visit Thaddeus after celebrating Philip, KW & May Leng's birthday today. Was suppose to go over grandma's place to play with baby last nite but unfortunatedly, i was unwell and plan was cancelled last min. My cousins, grandma were all expecting mom & me to go over but so sorry, just can't make it. Thankfully, i am well again this morning and made it up today. What touches me today is that two of my grandmas actually called and ask if i was alright and gave me 'health tips'. Very sweet and thoughtful of them.
Anyway, Baby Junior has grown bigger, heavier and longer. He is 5plus kg now and mom, auntie violet, joyce & me were all complaning that our arms ache after carrying him for awhile. At that point, i really felt very proud of all my friends who have become mummies. Their arms must have ache like crazy. But well, i guess it becomes part and parcel when it's your own child.
As for Thaddeus, we hear that his daddy carries him on one hand at times and used baby as dumb-bell. Hmm .. father and son bonding in their own way. ha ha!
Thaddeus @ 3 months. Me carrying him on one hand and taking photo of him with the other. Don't think i can do the same thing for long.
Looking forward to playing with Damien on tuesday and seeing Baby Ashton for the first time on sat during his first month.
Pray for Meng Xiong (my family member) who just underwent brain surgery and is in ICU right now. Frankly speaking, i am really worried for him. Pray that God will heal him soon. But one good thing that came about it is that the christians in my family are united in hearts and prayers for him.
And just last saturday, praise the lord .. my cousin who's attending Living Praise Church bought a table for dinner evangelistic service. My cousin invited me, grandma, mom & dad, auntie tina etc to attended the session. It's so cool! They are non christians and under normal circumstances, this wouldn't have happened. And it was during the dinner function where i saw the very sporting part of mom. My cousins were really surprised. Well .. actually they shouldn't be surprised coz. most of my family members are very sporting people. But i think mom & dad is more sporting than me for sure.
I'm still hanging on to God's promise! One day .. someday ... you know what i mean.
And this week, i thought i should be feeling stress-free now that my event is just over. But i was wrong, absolutely wrong. On the contary, i felt stress .. and more stress. I guess that's because responsibilites @ work has grown, i have a new team with me, heading the whole department, my own expectations, live up or exceed others expectations on me etc etc etc.
Somehow, i kind of envy my colleague. She just delivered her second child on tue and is currently at home on maternity leave. Seriously, i think if there's an option, i would willingly swop my roles with her. OK .. not that it's stress free taking care of the baby. But well, it's a different kind of JOY! Hang on .. my time will come soon.
And this week, i actually sat down with mom to watch Lydia Sum's memorial service on the internet. We have been following the news rather closely. For the first time, i saw tears rolling down from mom's eyes as different people gave the eulogy. Her death has reminded me of many lessons in life. She's a good role model. I know that if grandpa was alive, he would have alot of good things to say alot about her. After all, grandpa used to be in the entertainment line.
I found these photos at my grandma's place on the second day of CNY.So vintage and nostlagic. I've never seen pictures of my grandma (mom's mommy) when she was young. And yes, pictures of my mom and auntie too when they were really young.
Looking at grandma's photos, it reminds me of the movie, "In the Mood for Love" by Wong Kar-wai. It's about a Shanghainese community in Hong Kong and is notable for its use of a variety of cheongsam worn by female lead Maggie Cheung.
Mom told me that this is grandma and her best friend. Wow ...
And this is quite an eye opener too. I can't remember if i have ever seen photos of mom when she was this young. Mom is standing on the right.
Reunion dinner is slighly different this year. We had Steamboat aka Seoul Garden style this year. So much neater and simpler than before. But one thing still remains, the food is more than sufficient to feed at least another 10 person or so. That's my mom's trademark.
Preparing for dinner.
And Lynn baked some cakes and brought it over. My place is the HQ for gathering every CNY.
This is just one box. There are still many boxes which she made.
I also had my first lo-hei which Uncle Alex & Auntie Soo bought from Ponggol Seafood. Somehow, my family is BIG and there isn't enough space for everyone to squeeze in to lo-hei together.
This is Junior @ 12 days old. Had some 'Baby' talk with my cousin yesterday and it seems that she's still trying to cope with her new role as a mother. All babies look pretty alike when they are new-borns. My cousin was telling me that she can't figure out which is her son if he's put in the nursery room right now. And she can't tell if Junior has put on weight. Certainly, i can feel it when i carried him.
And this is the first time i see my bro carrying a baby. He feels super stress and didn't dare to move. This is when i realised that my uncle has not carried his grandson yet. He keeps giving all kinds of excuses. I guess he feels that Junior is too fragile for him.
Interestingly, i saw the confinement auntie changing the poop of Junior last week (when he was six days old). I was surprised by the colour of the newborn stools. It was Sticky Green-Black in colour. I asked my friend Sharon and she told me that baby's first bowel movements will consist of meconium, which is a sticky green-black substance present in the intestine before birth.
For two to six days after birth, stools will be a mixture of meconium and milk bi-products, spinach-green, or yellow in color. Later, the baby will have yellow, green, or brown stools, formed or unformed. Ok! I learnt something new!
Have it ever occured to you that there are things which you wanted to explain to the person but somehow never got around doing it? Well, one of the things which i never got around doing it (yet) is to explain to mom why her name is called GRACE.
Some years back when mom started working, she asked me to look for her a christian name. In the past, her aussie friends used to call her Twiggy. I don't know why but i hated the name. And i know mom hated it too. The name didn't suit her at all. It's like the Twiggy we all know from Sesame Street.
So when she asked me to find her a suitable name, the name that immediatedly came to my mind was Grace. There wasn't room for other names to even compare or think about. It felt so right and the name suited her very well. I tried to think of other options but it didn't suit.
Mom is a lady of grace, beauty and elegance (in my own opinion). Grace means favour and blessings from God. And i have a deep conviction that one day, it will be by the grace of God that she will be saved!
I am not trying to be negative here but i am just being realistic. If anything happens to me before i get the chance to tell her, i hope someone will (on my behalf) on why this name was chosen for her. The meaning is behind the name and that's my greatest desire for her. I hope she will understand and help her in making the decision to come to know Christ.
You may ask me why i never got around explaining to her? I tried once .. when she asked me for the name. She only listened to the first part on what i have to say (that is the name) and not the second part (which explains why). Selective hearing? I don't know. But in recent years, it has become quite a problem. Perhaps that has something to do with getting older and it's one area which i'm trying to understand and figure out more on.
I hope the right opportunity will come soon again and i'll get to explain to her. I don't want to have any regrets over it. Gee .. heard and seen too many of those.
I haven't been sleeping well these few nites. And i know that's because i have been couped with fear, anxieties, stress, pressures and worries within.
Prior to my UK & Europe trip, mom told me that Auntie Violet, mom's eldest sister and someone whom all in the family look up to is not too good with her health. She received a call from SGH just one day before her holiday to Shanghai that her health check-up show that it's not too good.
After she return from her trip, she went for more checks, blood-test and x-tray. The results shows that it's negative. While she goes for test after test and doctor was still finding the exact cause or problem at that time, at the advice of some friends and family members, she also turned to eastern medication to supplement or a least help improve the condition.
Just four weeks ago, mom told me that Auntie Janet, Auntie Violet's good friend, with good intention brought her to the medium to ask about her health. However, comments were really bad. It was said that her health is deterriorating fast and she would passed on within these 4 years. In a way, that affected my auntie and family within.
I am so mad and upset when i heard it. What ... medium? What kind of friend in a right mind would bring a good friend to visit a medium. Many questions went through my mind.I wish so much that Auntie Violet is a christian at that point. She would have placed her trust in God instead.
But well, i think Auntie Janet didn't expect that the results and comments would be that bad. I told myself that she probably did it out of good intentions but somehow backfired in a real big way. I understand that there were detailed descriptions as well and this caused all in the family and herself to be really sad. I bet my mom cried till her eyes were swollen. And i know even right now, mom is feeling very upset. Over my auntie, over herself, over the family,on how she could help, fear of loosing her sister, that her sister is unwell now and she would be next in line and endless things.
I didn't have the time to think much about this as i was on holiday and work and every day was packed. But deep within, i know what my deepest thoughts were and it were all reflected well in my dreams.
I don't meet my auntie as often as all my other cousins as most of them stay near to eachother. But nontheless, my love and respect for her is never lesser than the rest. I guess i was feeling all the struggles and challenges in my life. I wish so much that i could help but don't know what to help. I guess there were a sense of helplessness. I can only pray and intercede for her right now, for good health, recovery and God's healing. And most importantly, to know Christ as well.
Life and Death. Sickness and Good Health. All these are part and parcle of life. I use to think that these are far fetched. But now, it seems that i am in the situation now with family members unwell. She is my beloved auntie, my cousin Joyce and Dawn's mother. I hate to say this but what if reality strucks and mom is next. I would be devastated. Yeah ... better not think about it too much.
I guess i have been feeling life's struggles and challenges. I do feel upset and it's been reflected well in my dreams. One vivid one which i had during my trip was that my right arm was about to be amputated. I know this sounds gross but i didn't feel scared in the dream because it doesn''t mean that it will come to pass in real life. But rather, i'm extremly upset and is afraid of having my loved ones, things or people whom i treasure and means alot to me being taken away. And i have not bee able to fully express my frustration or anger in real life. Well, i guess it's pretty true to a certain extend because i tend to keep my emotions inside. Thus, i am expressing it in my dreams.
In another dream that i had, i was carrying a very big and heavy bag along the street when it was suddenly being snatched away from me across the busy road. I was very stunned but completly cool about it and did not panic(which is just so me). All the vehicles on the busy road started horning. And i know this represents my way of coping with fears, stress and various situations in my life. Yes, i may be stunned that it is happening now and fear overwhelms. But in handling situations, it's just my character that i don't panic and take things one thing at a time.
I was really feeling very tired just now. Lights were off and i was already dozing off when something told me to listen to the song, STILL. It is one of Nic & Jeff's favourite christian song too. After listening to it, it really encouraged me and lifted my spirt up. My heart is also once again filled with his presence and spirit. Knowing that God is always there and he will carry me through problems and situations in life. My trust, faith and belief in him never fails because time after time, he has helped me pull through many things in life. Times when all things seems impossible, when i'm pushed to the limits or at wits end. He is always there to help me pull through. Yes, he will never place me in situations beyond what i can bear.
STILL
Hide me now Under your wings Cover me Within your mighty hand
When the oceans rise and thunders roar I will soar with you above the storm Father you are king over the flood I will be still and know you are god
Find rest my soul In Christ alone Know his power In quietness and trust
This is my cousin Lynn. She's one of the most adventurous person whom i know when it comes to being garang with trying out different hair-styles. Well, she sure had lots of fun coz. she was working at a popular hair-salon for awhile. Not as a stylist though. But one good thing is that she can take all kinds of look. And she still looks really cool.
Right now, her hairstyle is more normal and stylish. These are just a handful of her 'style-shots'.
It was bonding time with the family last weekend. On saturday, i celebrated grandma's birthday with the extended family (dad's side).
Grandma was extremly happy because as usual, she had a big turnout for her dinner party. There were 50 of us. The numbers would definedly be more if it's held at home. Even my 'small uncle' Edwin who's a pilot just landed in Singapore and made it for her dinner. That made her day.
Btw, my family is a really fun bunch of people. They really know how to make Grandma happy too. Just in case u don't understand ... ha ha ... they sang Happy Birthday in 3 languages - Hainanese, English & Mandarin to her. My grandma is 80yrs this year but in the morning, we agreed that we will just tell everyone that she is just 18yrs. Ha ha!
My cousin, Darren carrying my mischevious nephew (the youngest in the family).
This is a very unique and yummy japanese cake which Victor ordered. It's from a restaurant @ liang court. Have not seen a birthday cake which comes in an aluminium foil before.
And on sunday, it was gathering at my mom's side. Think it was my grandpa's death anniversary or something.
I watched the local production 881 by Royston Tan this weekend. The movie depicts the hardship of Ge Tai and the political side of it, as well as the rules that governs it.
My grandfather (who has passed on for 20 years) was involved in getai @ New World in Geylang during his younger days. It was 'the place' to go for entertainment. Actually, i know very little about his 'getai' days and only remember seeing some photos many years back. My auntie used to tell us that they used to hang out there alot when they were young while grand-pa was working.
I don't know how and why grandpa was involved coz. besides getai, he used to be a teacher too, amongst many other things which he did. But one thing which i know is that he commands alot of respect from people around him, not only at that time but till his last days. The older generation singers and performers will also remember him as most would have worked with him at New World before.
Thus, i watched this movie with an extra meaning and reason behind it. It's a glimpse of the loud and colourful getai scene which someone close to me has gone through. But nowadays, it has become quite business like, with top shows, comperes, hosts, singers, dancers and other various performers being lined up to entertain the masses.
And here's one of the songs from the movie which is pretty nice.
Kim & Steph are real lucky kids. They have travelled to so many different countries and well, stayed in different countries too. The next trip for them, gee ..... 3 weeks holiday in Colorado and California in 3 weeks time. Wish i could be there. But well, at least ... my consolation is that i will be travelling to Hanoi for work at that same time. So don't feel so bad. Will be my first trip to Hanoi and am looking forward to it. Perhaps .... looking forward more to visiting Halong Bay. Ha ha!
When i had dinner with grandma on saturday, i was totally caught by surprise when she said that she just went for her class gathering in the afternoon. Wow ... that really surprised me. Grandma ... class reunion?? Never knew that she's still in touch with her clasmates all these years.
And the interesting thing which i found out is that she has been having this annual gathering for many years. In fact, they have never once missed the gathering. I am totally impressed, and appalled. It was something which i never knew. I wonder ... what kind of granddaughter have i been .... totally bo chap? We've been staying together for about 20 years and i never once knew.
Anyway, my cousin and me were curious where they met and what they talked. Grandma said that they met at Allson Hotel and had dim sum (wow ... they sure know how to enjoy). Hmm ... what did they talk about .... this is funny! About the kind of medicine which each of them are taking or using now and which part of their body is aching. Ha ha .... i may be laughing right now and well, that may happen to me next them too.
It's interesting. Perhaps i should ask my journalist friends to contact my grandma if they are covering such stories. But grandma is shy ... she said she doesn't want her photo in the newspaper. Ha ha!
I love to check out new things and places. Enjoys travelling and hope to visit the seven wonders of the world one day. A shoe and bag lover. Love reading, movies, music, musicals, singing, writing, taking photos and many more. Started this blog at a time when I don’t even know what blogging is but have since become a part of me.
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