9 Mar 2009 – Happy Bday Sue Lynn

Quite a delightful experience yesterday at Pasir Ris Park with flying a kite, a tribute to Shakib Gunn. The last time I flew a kite was in in the 1950s, when we made our own kites of bamboo and paper. Today, the kites are more sturdy but it was just as uplifting to feel the sensation of the wind pushing the kite way up in the sky, so peaceful and serene. I am a thousand winds that blow. Will sway along with the winds until when I am the swift uplifting rush.

Much obliged to the SIN Kite Association for the loan of a kite and to Balakrishnan for including me to SG’s tribute. Would like fly a kite occasionally, but will do so either early in the morning or before sunset. Yesterday was too hot and humid and there were too many trees and other kites for my kind of flying! Will start looking for a place to fly and will shop around for a kite.

Completed the day with a family dinner at my nephew’s, Vincent & his family. My sister-in-law, Poh Kit made homemade almond paste, one of my favourites. She has thoroughly spoiled us with the best almond paste.

Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it – Winston Churchill

7 Mar 2009 – 2 more deaths

My condolences to cousins Lam ChengEn & family for the passing of his maternal grandfather and to Lanette Toy & family for the passing of her mother, Tseng Lai Lan. Met 6th auntie in the 1980s when I was in San Francisco. Could see the resemblance to my mom, Tseng May Lan, (her 5th sister), cheerful and making the best of life. 95 is certainly a remarkable age to reach. Thankful to have met her and have her as my aunt.

This make 4 deaths in less than 2 weeks. More movies to get my mind on something else but the irony is in one of the movies, Departures (Japanese): a cellist, Diago who is out of job decides to move back to his hometown. He gets a job as an undertaker and discovers the meaning of life. The Japanese have interesting rituals and done with such grace & finesse for just about every occasion, including funerals. Not quite a true black comedy but the tactful humour gave this movie the 2009 Academy Award for the best foreign language film.

Last Chance Harvey: While in London for his daughter’s wedding, Harvey, a rumpled man finds romance with Kate, an English spinster. Have enjoyed most of Emma Thompson’s and Dustin Hoffman’s roles and in this flick, they are kind of cute together with a predictable ending. OK way to pass a wet afternoon.

Every man dies, Not every man really lives – William R Wallace

2 Mar 2009 – A Tribute to Shakib Gunn

Yesterday, an elegant memorial service to honour Shakib Gunn at the Swissotel was coordinated by Hagley & Hoyle. Over 100 people were there to pay their respects. SG and I shared a common interest with genealogy. Recall him telling me about how his mother, Irene was supposed to be on Titanic’s maiden voyage. But at the last moment, her mother forbade Irene to make the trip.

SG was the editor for The Gunn Tribune, Issue No 1, 2003 – A family newspaper published once every fifty years! This is so typical SG humour. Thus, the next issue should be published in 2053; hopefully his grandsons will continue with the tradition. Must learn from him the way to do a family newspaper, especially the part about every fifty years 🙂

My appreciation to the management & staff of H&H for the privilege to be the mistress of ceremony to honour SG. The poem below was sent by SG to various members of the Singapore Vegetarian Society in the past year. His way of saying farewell??

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry – Elizabeth Frye

28 Feb 2009 – Last Day of February

Have known WONG Hong Sze and WONG Pui Ah (REYNOLDS is her married name) as long as I can remember, over half a century. Pui Ah is visiting SIN for the week and spending some time together is the best way to catch up. We have gone different directions in life, but it is good that our paths crossed again… like being kids, even for a moment! Hong Sze, thank you for a lovely dinner at the Warren Club and the delightful chats with Sam, Orlando and Jane, Orlando’s mother. To Pui Ah & Jane who will be flying off this weekend to your homes in Vancouver & London, safe journeys.

Pui Ah was reminding me about when I first slumbered in their family home San Bah at Keng Lee Road. I was used to sleeping with the air-condition and could not sleep without it. Towards midnight, I was crying out of fatigued and also probably the trauma of my first sleep-over. My dad drove to pick me up as the chauffeur was asleep. Sam commented on the irony as to how it is possible to hike the Appalachian Trail considering the wimp I was then! There, this goes to show that people do changed at different stages of life, depending on the paths they choose to take. Sam thank you for your charm and wit.

Quotation is a serviceable substitute to wit – Oscar Wilde

25 Feb 2009 – 8 Oscars

After all the write-ups and talks about the movie, I had to watch it. It was indeed very well presented, deserving all the Oscars. The message about the situation in India confirms what I am already aware of. Personally, it was a disturbing and thought provoking movie in spite of the fairy tale ending. The reminder of the reality was always underlined in Jamal’s flashbacks. 20 million rupees=app S$613,000=app US$400,800. Thus millionaire in India.

Childhood should be a stage of innocence but not so for the slum-dogs and underprivileged. To see how some people abuse, misuse and manipulate the innocence and naivety of children is very dis-hearting and sad. The picture posted today is to remind us that innocence has its time and place. To mature with the awareness that innocence does not get confused with ignorance is what we parents try to teach the future generation. But of course we have to be the role model, otherwise you cannot teach what you do not practice! 

Innocence plays in the backyard of ignorance – Proverb

23 Feb 2009 – Busy weekend

Fri was a lunch time jazz performance by Simplicius CHEONG & his group at the NTU Recital Room with an enjoyable repertoire of Blues Bebop Bossa and Beyond. My classical background is still my forte but the jazz was a delightful change. Thank you Pat CHEE, a 1962 classmate & friend for including me at your cousin’s jazz quartet.

Sat’s lunch with the 10 & 16 aunties resulted with a very useful piece of info for my research into my family history and KLBank. It is in Chinese and I need to write to the newspapers for the original copy and try to get it translated without getting lost in the translation. Am quite excited with this full page with pictures and write-up.

Sun: Wedding of Orlando and Samantha at the Raffles Hotel where Orlando promised eternal love for Sam. My congratulations and every best wishes to the young couple. Sam’s father, WONG Hong Sze’s parents and my parents were friends before we were born! Hong Sze and his sister Pui Ah (who surprised everyone by flying in from Vancouver for the wedding) were my childhood friends. It was quite amazing to catch up with some of the Wong family I have not seen since 1965!

Jazz is an intensified feeling of nonchalance – Françoise Sagan

20 Feb 2009 – About yesterday

Yesterday on the bus, I finally met a real man. He was carrying his baby in a sling and snuggling with his baby. Was so touched that I asked for permission to take his picture and thank him for making my day. The rest of the day passed by in good spirits after this incident. But can certainly feel that the energy was running low towards the end of the afternoon.

Lawrence & I went first to Mandai Crematorium to pay respects to our parents; then to Urban Redevelopment Authority URA to see the plans of SIN where there is a very impressive model of the whole island (can even see my HDB block) and also more detailed models of different district in a larger scale. The day was clear enough to see the real views from the SIN Flyer. Ended a lovely day with Lawrence & Leslie chowing down char kway teow (= fried flat noodles) from the famous stall #18 on Zion Rd; Ivy & I had soup! To Lawrence, safe journeys back to KCH.

A woman isn’t complete without a man. But where do you find a man- real man, these days? – Lauren Bacall

18 Feb 2009 – Life is fragile

My condolences to my nephew John LAM & family for the loss of his father-in-law and to Shakib Gunn’s family. Shakib’s sudden death is distressing and the first time I have experienced a Muslim funeral. He died yesterday morning and was buried in the afternoon. The Muslims cleaned and wrapped their dead in linen and after prayers, they are buried straight into the ground.

SG and I crossed paths at Hagley & Hoyle. He was both the art director and copy writer since the beginning of the company and has the best penmanship I have seen; English, founding member of the SIN Kite Association, married to a local muslim Malay lady and converted to Islam. He leaves behind his wife, a daughter, a son-in-law and 2 grandsons. The last time I saw him was at H&H’s Christmas scrumptious lunch where he was explaining how to pull the table cloth without stirring anything on the table. SG, thank you for crossing my path. Will miss your H&H visits. 

Last night, Lawrence requested for a family dinner and meeting at Leslie & Ivy’s. Planning to take Lawrence for beef noodles at Purvis Street, one of my favourites (especially the soup) tonight. Wanted to also introduce him to the SIN Flyer but unfortunately the weather is too hazy. Life is fragile, so enjoy and cherish every moment of it.

Respect for the fragility and importance of an individual life is still the mark of an educated man – Norman Cousins

17 Feb 2009 – LAM Song Kee & CHAN Swee Ngor

Have been reading my god-sister, Patricia Lim’s (the great-granddaughter of WONG Fook Kee, better known as WONG Ah Fook) 2 books, The Family Book of WONG Ah Fook and WONG Ah Fook, Immigrant Builder and Entrepreneur published by Times. Both books provide excellent extensive family history. Am looking forward to meeting up with Pat who lives in Johor Bahru, just across the Straits of SIN. Yeah no flying.

The family tree in my mind is nothing as extensive as Pat’s. Just want to pass some info to the future generation about the starting of the family ex bank, Kwong Lee Bank; a family chart starting from both my paternal & maternal grandparents including a directory of contacts for my and next generation around the world. This way they can choose to keep the contact or to join the dots of family networking!  

Have encountered a set-back by getting food poisoning in Sarawak but do believe that things happen for a reason. So will take it as a sign to slow down for the time being. This has taken quite some energy and time to recover, perhaps age is the culprit! In the meanwhile will enjoy my detours!

The really happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery when on a detour –