In the Bunga Raya Ward of IJN after the bypass -2003

Hello Jade,

Today is the 15th Day of the eight lunar month and it's the moon cake festival again. Much as Ah Ma and I want very much to be with you, we are unable to make it this year. We know that this is the first year you will be celebrating the festival with your mama and dada. Nevertheless we are looking forward to the many years ahead that we will be watching you carry the beautifully lit lanterns as you play around while we sip tea and enjoy the delicious moon cakes at the same time reminicising fond memories as we re-enact those good old days when we played around happily with lanterns of various shapes and patterns. Ask your mama and your dada and they will be able to unfold to you those wonderful memories they had of days gone by.

Though we are not there with you, our hearts will be with you all – your dada, mama, cek cek and Aunty Amelia - you bet you all will be in our thoughts as we sit in our rendezvous in the moonlight sipping our tea and feasting ourselves to the lovely moon cakes that your mummy has bought for us. There's no doubt about it – we will have a wonderful time un-reeling the nostalgic moments we had with you - the elixir of our life. So don't forget each time you look up at the moon, you will have our love glowing onto you, your mama, dada and cek cek s – The moon represents our hearts!-I wonder if you can hear your Ah ma sings this special song by Teresa Teng- sort of her signature song.

The month of September is a very special month for us ! Your Ah Ma's birthday falls on this month,on the 28th of September, although her Chinese birthday is on 8th day of the 8th lunar month. Coincidentally, this auspicious day is also the birthdays of your two great grand aunties ( Tua Ee Poh Chor and Jee Ee Poh Chor ).

This is also the month when Kong Kong went for a coronary by-pass ( CIBG ) in medical term or in layman's term heart by-pass way back in the year 2003 at Institut Jantung Negara ( IJN ) , National Heart Institute. There's no denying that it's the most crucial year for the family. In the same year also your Tua Ee Poh Chor passed away and it was just a few months after her death that your Kong Kong was diagnosed with three arteries block after angiogram was done. I was advised by my cardiologist to have a bypass as I was still fit to undergo surgery. The date was fixed and I was warded for the surgery in September . Your dada wasn't in KL as he was still working in Australia. Uncle Chien was in Kedah for an ISEC function. Only Uncle Ti and Ah Ma were with me. Your mama wasn't married to dada yet but she was most of the time there to render help and support.

God is great, Jade ! I was lucky to have so many loved ones praying for me. There were our Buddhists relatives who had lit oil lamps and candles in temples for my successful surgery; there were the Christians relatives and friends who had included me in their silent prayer in their Sunday services and not to mention too the few close Muslims friends who had included me in their Friday prayers. Hence, as you can see, Jade, I was able to walk confidently to the operation theatre for the surgery with all confidence . I am surrounded by blessings from all religious sects ! I knew I had the blessings of Buddha, Jesus and Allah and that gave me the strength to face the consequences. I waved heartily to your Ah Ma and Uncle Ti as I was wheeled into the Operation theatre – it was not "goodbye," but "see you in six hours time" . That's it I was wheeled out to the ICU just around mid-afternoon . The worst was over and I was well on the way to recovery . By lunch time the following day I was wheeled out on a wheel chair to the Bunga Raya ward. After that it was a smooth road to recovery and within a week I was back home in Ipoh.

I remember very vividly that day when Ah Ma drove me single-handedly back to Ipoh ! It was raining cats and dogs with strong winds and thunder . Visibility was poor! It was aggravating and a real test of her driving skill. I was helpless, just lying in the reclining position. It was cold. I was hungry. We could not get down at one of the rest places to eat or to ease ourselves. We only pulled up at the car park and waited for visibility to improve. It was only after six months that I was pronounced fit to drive around and participate in active recreational activities like swimming .

Before closing this mail, I would like to record my deep appreciation to all my family members, including Jason Leong , my relatives and friends for the prayers, support and concern they had rendered to me. Special mention of course is my beloved wife who has given me that special dedicated nursing care that has enabled me to go on that smooth road to recovery and makes me what I am today. I would like to thank my cardiothoracic surgeon Mr Pau Kew Kong and his team who operated on me .

Trip To Turkey 11thNov -18th Nov. 2007

At The Grand Bazaar - housing 4000 shops



In front of our hotel in Istanbul

Sutanahmet Imperial Mosque -BLUE MOSQUE




Buyukada Island the largest of the Princes' Islands in the Marmara Sea

In the garden of Beylerbeyi Palace with the Bosphorus Bridge in the background



The cable car to Uludag mountain overlooking Bursa




At a shop selling ceramic plates in Bursa

Beylerbeyi Palace - summer residence of Ottoman sultans



At a traditional handwoven silk carpet shop

On a street of Taksim Square with a funicula in the background



That's the ferry that took us on the Bosphorus Cruise between two continents ( Asia /Europe )

Trip To Turkey 11thNov -18th Nov. 2007

Feeding Pigeons at Taksim Square
Istanbul



Inside prayer hall of Suleymanye Mosque

Trip To Turkey 11th November - 18th November 2007

The trip to Turkey was quite an interesting one and we enjoyed every moment of it. We were on a free and easy tour most of the time although we joined in three packages that took us

(a) on a boat cruise between the continents of Europe and Asia by Black Sea . We also visited Beylerbeyi Palace , the summer residence of Ottoman sultans, with its magnificent gardens with the HAREM on the Asian Side. There is also the Bosphorus Bridge (Bogazici Bridge) which spans from Asia to Europe. Then there was shopping at shops selling traditional hand-weaving silk carpets.
(b) on a full day tour of Green Bursa. It’s the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. We crossed the Gulf by ferryboat ( like the Penang type ) to Yallova ( 40 minutes ) then drive Bursa to visit the Grand Mosque and the Green Mausoleum, famous with their Iznik tiles. Then climbed by cable car to Uludag ( Olympos ) mountain overlooking Bursa for the magnificent panoramic view. Very disappointed trip as it was raining all the way and the view was overcast.
(c) on a cruise in the Marmara Sea to Princes’ Islands retreats for the Byzantine princes famous for their beautiful pinewoods and beaches. We took a ferry from Kabatas. There are four islands all the way namely Kinaliada, Burbaz Adasi, Heybeli Ada and the biggest and most interesting island Buyukada. The journey takes one and half hours. All these islands are dotted with holiday resort homes of the elites. There tourists can enjoy a ride in a horse-drawn carriage among the pine trees after relaxing on the beaches in the numerous coves along its coast.




On our own we visited
(a) Grand Bazaar ( covered market ) . In this labyrinth of streets and passages are more than 4000 shops with each trade having its own area – the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts e.g hand-painted ceramic plates , leather products , textiles etc. Can be reached by bus ( 61B ) direct from Taksin Square
(b) Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque ) within the vicinity of Grand Bazaar also known as Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.
(c) Spice Bazaar ( Egyptian Bazaar ) – The air is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, saffron, mint, caraway, thyme and other conceivable herb and spice. Adjacent to it has shops selling Turkish delights ( Turkish candies ) , hand-painted ceramic plates , leather products etc. like those in the Grand Bazaar
(d) Canyon Mall – in Levant ; can be reached by Metro ( underground tube from Taksin Square; fare 2.6 YTL one way. Exit from Levant. - an elite shopping mall where branded goods are sold . It’s the shopping mall for the rich.
(e) Taksim Square – within walking distance from our hotel – Hotel Kervansary located in Taksim, a central location of Istanbul. It’s a busy town centre with lots of shops catering all sorts of food , ranging from restaurant-types to roadside stalls , money exchange, mini market and traders. All modes of transport ( buses, taxis , trams , Metro (undergound tube) , funicular have their bases here. It’s 20 minutes drive from the airport.

Jade;s Birthday Message To Grandma -28th Sept.2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AH MA

It’s your Jade Jade from afar

To show my appreciation to my dearest grandma

For everything you’ve done for me.

That’ll dwell eternal in my memory.


I feel so lucky having you as my grandma

No wonder my Dada and Ah Cheks have such respect and pride for you

Not to mention Mama too

You have been a great mum to them all these years


Sometimes I wonder how you manage to juggle time so well

to accomplish so many things in your own life

while taking time to do so much for us and others as well.


It’s indeed a speciality of yours to be there when you are needed
Thanks for being there to welcome me to this world .


Today mummy and I join in with Kong Kong, Dada, and Ah Cheks to toast

To your good health and thank you for being such a great lady

I hope there’s more than just a little bit of you in me .


Have a Wonderful Blessed Birthday Dearest Ah Ma !

You Deserve It

You are God’s gift to us !

Walk The Memories

Front View Of 215B Argyll Road


Side View Of Our Heritage Home


Our Neighbourhood - Argyll Road

Wellesley Primary School Today

New World Food Court - Swatow Lane Entrance

The old shack where the famous ice kacang stall once stood.

The old wall enclosing New World Park


At the entrance of PFS

The Main Block of PFS

The Main Entrance To Mahindarama Temple

The Famous Bodhi Tree At Mahindarama Temple

Malaysian Teacher Training (MTT) College (1955 - 1964)

In the early 1950s, the Federation of Malaya was in the process of achieving independence from the United Kingdom and, at that time, schools in Malaya were staffed predominantly by expatriate British teachers. In order to assist Malaya in becoming self-sufficient in teaching staff after independence, Brinsford Lodge was offered to the Malaysian government as a Teacher Training College.^[4]

The college opened in 1955. The courses taught there lasted for two years. There were up to 300 students - 150 juniors and 150 seniors – on site at any one time and the last cohort left the college in 1964.

The buildings were used for administration, teaching or living accommodation (known as houses). Teaching accommodation was identified by its function (for example: Classroom, Tutorial), and the houses were identified by letters of the alphabet (for example: J House).

There is a Brinsford Alumni association based in Kuala Lumpur. [5]

[edit] Wolverhampton Polytechnic Halls of Residence (1964 - 1982)

Following the closure of the MTT, Brinsford Lodge became the Halls of Residence for Wolverhampton Polytechnic, providing single-occupancy study/bedrooms for up to 250 students. The site retained its existing catering facility and consequently offered half-board accommodation. The houses continued to be used for accommodation and were renamed as 'blocks' (for example: J Block). The teaching buildings were also turned into accommodation, and retained their previous naming convention suffixed with 'block'. The names were abbreviated in day-to-day usage, so that people were now living in CR (Classroom), Tut (Tutorial), Geog (Geography), etc. blocks, but there was no longer any association between the names and their original function. Each block held around a dozen students and, in addition to the study/bedrooms and bathrooms, provided minimal cooking and clothes-washing facilities.

The main disadvantage of the site was that its distance from the city centre meant daily coach services were needed to transport students to and from the main campus in the centre of Wolverhampton. Part-way through the 1973-4 academic year the Polytechnic opened a newly constructed self-catering hall (Randall Lines) near the Wolverhampton Wanderers football ground, in Wolverhampton town centre. This building was within walking distance of the main campus and its proximity had clear benefits regarding transport and easier access to the polytechnic facilities. Further halls of residence have since been opened.^[5]

Brinsford Lodge closed as a Hall of Residence in 1982. The buildings were demolished some time prior to 2000 and, as at November 2006, the site remains undeveloped.

The Uniqueness Of Brinsford Lodge -The Brinsford Spirit

The Uniqueness Of Brinsford – The Brinsford Spirit

There’s no denying and I am sure all my fellow Brinsfordians will agree with me that we all are a unique lot – unique in many special ways. It’s not that we were the branded ones that were trained in England that makes us so. In actual fact we came from a small Malayan kampung known as Brinsford Lodge in the coal-mining hamlet of Featherstone . It’s that Brinsford Spirit that we had conceived there that gave us the edge against the others.

Brinsford Lodge was a mini Malaysia where students of all races, creed and religion gathered ‘far from the federation beneath cool England’s sky to work for our young nation whose ways and past we prized ‘

When we first landed there, many of us were all raw and fresh “languts’ just out of “bangku sekolah” . Many among us too had never even ventured out of their rural homes . Imagine the rude shock we experienced when we were greeted by the overcast sky and the cold biting wind of winter at a place that was so alien to us. It was a dream came through. The climatic and cultural shock were the first conflict that besieged us during the first few months . This was further aggravated by one long month of ragging during the Orientation Period. Ironically that was the most interesting and valuable period for many of us. That was the period when the real training began. That was the time when the “langut” freshies underwent a total revolutionary transformation to reintegrate ourselves for new social networks ; the pampered ones graduated as independent individuals while the arrogant ones became more humble.

When we left Brinsford Lodge after two years we were all a confident, versatile and responsible lot of teachers ready ‘to turn the lock of sorrow and set achievement free’ Above all we all had in us that Brinsford Spirit ! It was sown in Brinsford ; it had rooted deeply into us ; it had sustained the test of time and was the seal that has united us right up to this day. It’s without fail that Brinsfordians will make every effort possible not to miss out on the fun and nostalgic thrills at every Brinsford Reunion to strengthen fraternity and reminiscence those nostalgic memories and ‘ to remember the good things of the day (s)’ It’s the Brinsford Spirit. It is its uniqueness that has kept the get-togethers active to this day.- a living testament to the Brinsford S04 ( Sentiments overflowing the four chambers of the heart ) .

In Brinsford we were a family; one big family comprising of the main racial groups of Malaysia. We were all Malaysians, Malays, Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups. We had made Brinsford Lodge our home away from home. We always celebrated the main cultural festivals with pomp and gaiety. In this way we not only preserved our identity as Malaysians but also projected our rich culture to the people there. Every detail was scrutinized in the preparation for each cultural festival ( food, decorations, music, dances , costumes etc. ) to make sure that it is in keeping with traditions and customs. These were the times when the Brinsford Spirit was put to test. These were the times when Brinsfordians, irrespective of race, put their heads and hands together be it Hari Raya, Deepavali, Christmas or Chinese New Year and of course the grandest was Brinsford Ball when we played host to a wider spectrum of the Midlands community comprising of educationists from colleges and schools, families we lodged with during our teaching practices and those in our fraternity circle. These were the platforms where Brinsfordians exhaled the Brinsford Spirit !

The motto on our college crest reads “For Malaysia”. Since its inception in 1955 Brinsford Spirit has been disseminating all over Malaysia and many parts of the world too. The ground that Brinsford Lodge once stood may be gone today but Brinsford Spirit continues to live on until the last Brinsfordian takes his/her last breath. Brinsford has a rich legacy that has spread over 52 years. It has stood firmly on “our rock the discipline of liberty “ and all through the years Brinsfordians have contributed immensely to nation building. We have fulfilled our aspiration –

“ Malaysia ! Malaysia ! We dedicate to our land “

Brinsfordians Cemerlang ! Malaysia Gemilang !

Letter from Jade To Penang Relatives

Hello there Poh Chor, Kor Poh and Chek Kong -

It's Jade here again. Mummy says I am a big girl now and I must write to you.I hope all of you are fine. it's a long time since I last went to Penang to see you all. I am so sorry about that. You know, my dada and mama are so very strict with my sleeping times that we have never been out of KL for quite some time. They put me on a very strict programme, I sleep all by myself in a room of my own now. At times it can be very lonely all alone by myself. It took me quite some time to get used to that and you know my dada and mama were so strict about it that they they didn't even bother to come in to see even when I cried.There were times when I cried myself to sleep.Now, thanks to them I am used to it now.My sleeping times are 9.30.am, 2.30pm and 8.00pm.Mummy or daddy will read to me before I sleep.

When my Ah Ma was here mama and dada took a short holiday to Hong Kong. I thought it was a good opportunity to relax a bit. I was wrong as my Ah Ma was just as strict. Oh she meant business and when I was naughty she even spanked me a bit. No, it wasnt' a painful one. I knew I was wrong as I kept on playing with dada's fax machine despite her warning. Now that Ah Ma has gone back to Oman , I really miss her very much. She bought me lots of dresses and even promised to sew more for me when I am big. My Kong Kong is still with me. Many people say that I look like him. The kakaks in the canteen here say I am his "salinan" . I suppose they are not quite right. I am only one year old and he's in his sixties. Ridiculous how can I be as old as he is and he as young as I am ! Well, come to think about it perhaps they are right. Yes we look cute, aren't we ? He always makes funny faces at me and of course I reciprocate by winking at him. We have that secret messages sent between us . That's it we do have something in common - now I know !

It's really rude of me just to talk so much about myself instead of asking how my Poh Chor and Sar Ee Poh Chor are getting on Please send our regards to them. I hope to go to Penang soon.Please tell Sar Ee Poh Chor that I now know many songs. Mummy bought me some collections of Children's songs and rhymes. Among them my favourite is "Twinkle twinkle little star". I guess I'll be a girl guide when I grow up, just like my two Poh Chors . They are always so proud that they were girl guides before.

I heard from Kong Kong that you'll be coming to KL in two weeks' time. I hope you will have time to see me. In case you don't have time perhaps you may come by me in KL town. That's why I am sending you a photo of myself in skirt so that you can recgnise me. I am a big girl now and there are times when I wear skirt . Ain't I beautiful in it? Oh oh Mummy is coming to get me to sleep. Goodnight and love to you Poh Chor, Chek Kong and of course you my Kor Poh.


Jade

Father's Day 1993 -Clip From NST - The Winning Message Says It All

Merdeka Message to Jade

Merdeka ! Merdeka ! Merdeka !

Dear Jade,

On 31st August our nation, Malaysia, will be celebrating her 50th Birthday, two months after your first birthday, Jade , making 2007 a very eventful year for the nation as well as for the family. The victory cheer “Merdeka ! Merdeka ! Merdeka” of our beloved Bapa Malaysia has been ringing and will forever be ringing in our ears ! Yes , our nation is now 50 years old. In her infancy she was called Malaya but as she grew bigger she came to be called Malaysia., a name she has held so dearly to this day . She has stood the test of time. She has endured all those trying years for many centuries.

Her biography has been one of rich legacy tracing back to the era before the Malacca Sultanate , to the time of the Portuguese , the Dutch, the British, the Japanese and finally at the stroke of 12 midnight on 31st we heralded in a new young and vibrant nation then. At that time Kong Kong was 14 years old and your Ah Ma was just about 9 years old. I remember that time very clearly. I was just a young student in Penang Free School then. There was a special assembly in the hall and we witnessed the lowering of the Union Jack ( British flag ) for the last time and the hoisting of our Malaysian flag . Every one of us was given small sheet of paper with words of our national anthem and we sang it out with joy and pride for the first time. Our Principal then was Mr. JF Todd, a Briton.

In the frame of 50 years of independence , our newborn nation has braved some troubled times, from within and without. There were protests from Indonesia and Philippines to the merger of Sabah, Sarawak , Brunei and Singapore with Malaya and the eventual separation of Singapore from the federation ; the lingering threat of communist influence and the riots of 1969 to name just a few. Yet through it all, Mother Malaysia has weathered them well and though a little battered and bruised her filial children continued to remain loyal and lived side by side in sometimes hard-fraught peace and harmony. This is the spirit of Malaysians with the motto “Keranamu Malaysia “ – because we love you Malaysia and it’s for you Malaysia !

I can still remember the period of the lingering threat of communist insurgence of Malaysia . Travelling around Malaya then was a problem and very inconvenient. Many towns and villages were declared black areas and declaration of curfews in such areas were rift. We were stopped for security checks at almost every town we passed .This was to check food from being smuggled into the communist hideouts. Night travels were out as many places were under curfew after 7pm. Then came the riots of May 13th 1969 spurred by some irresponsible people. Racial riots sparked out in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and some isolated places bringing about a deep scar to Mother Malaysia.

Kong Kong was at that time staying in Ipoh, in 38 Jalan Kuching, with some bachelor - friends. I can still remember vividly the morning of 13th May when my roommate and I were getting ready to go to our school in Chemor ( Sekolah Aminuddin Baki) . We opened the gate of our house only to be told by our neighbours that Ipoh then was under curfew and everyone was told to remain indoors. We were shocked by the news as we didn’t expect anything to happen then. Nevertheless we stayed indoors together with our housemates. There was nothing to do. We were bored and spent our time

playing mahjong to keep ourselves occupied and our mind at ease. Your Ah Ma told me that she was in General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur then. They were quarantined and had to attend to the injured. It was a nightmare to them and they were scared stiff seeing the aggravating number of casualties as they were wheeled in.

After the nightmare of May13th our nation was badly battered and bruised. Distrust, racial prejudice and the likes of it were the order of the day. It took some time for the wound to heal. Slowly but surely our steward kept the faith and heart of the nation steady and steered the nation back to recovery. It was then that the word “Muhibbah” was coined to bring the people closer, to rid whatever ill feelings the various racial groups might have of one another. Many steps were taken to change the mindset of the people and among them was the organization of communal gatherings. As teachers we were given the task of joining force with the many rural kampongs ( villages ) communities to hold communal get-togethers like dinner cum stage performances. It was then that Kong Kong was the teacher –advisor of the Leo Club of Sekolah Aminuddin Baki . Together with another lady teacher we travelled far and wide among the kampungs or villages like around Chemor to re-sow the seeds of muhibbah among the races. It was a rich experience for us. We had to create our own dances ( an assortment of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures ).

It was then that my past experiences ( 1963-64 ) in Brinsford Lodge came in handy. Brinsford was very much like a mini-Malaya then. Brinsford community was so much like Malaya . We were a happy group. We lived as Malayans without creed or discrimination. When it came to communal festivals we not only celebrated together but everyone chipped in to prepare for the big day. All communities put their heads and hands together in the decorations, the preparation of food for that special dinners on the eve of every festival, the concerts and the floor shows of cultural dances . It’s indeed heart-rendering to hear students of various races blending their voices together to sing Chinese, Indian or Malay classical songs together, and acting in legendary plays to herald in each other’s new year, be it Hari Raya , Chinese New Year, Deepavali or Christmas . That’s the spirit of Brinsford that made “Malaya Boleh ! “

Jade, this year is really an auspicious year for you as well as for Malaysia. It’s your first milestone and the 50th for the nation. Together you and the nation will grow, will develop, will progress , will prosper and in another 50 years time and more you will join the nation again to fly high and proud the jalur gemilang and shout out “MERDEKA ! MERDEKA ! MERDEKA !

1st August 2007 Hello Ah Ma , It's your baby Jade here. How time flies and it's now almost a week since you left us for Oman. I miss you very much. I am glad that Kong Kong turned down the offer to teach in ELS and is now back here with us. We are having a wonderful time together . He takes me for walks in the morning after breakfast and if the weather permits we go again in the evening. Dada is on leave today and he took us for lunch at Esquire Kitchen . The food there looked yummy. Then mummy went shopping for provisions at Giant there. You know, Ah Ma, I just love to sit in the trolley and being pushed around by Kong Kong.I sang and waved to all those that I met. Once when I winked at one of the security guard there, Kong Kong scolded me. I guess he was jealous as he always says that the wink is only for him. Ah Ma , I am sending you a photo which Kong Kong took with his camera at the children's playground here when we went for our evening walk.No wonder dada calls me "monkey" Dada took half day off to relieve mummy as she had an appointment for her facial. He was back by 4pm. He's very supportive to mummy and is always there for us. Whenever mummy has an appointment , he would come back early to be with me. Dada baked an olive bread yesterday just before we went for a walk. You know,my dada is a very good "chef" especially on western dishes as well as in baking.His pastas and pizzas are the best ! Just a pinch of it and you will crave for more - right ? I haven't seen my Uncle Chien and Aunty Amelia since you left. Kong Kong told me that Uncle Chien has gone to Port Dickson for his company's meeting. Uncle Ti, I heard, went to the oil rigs on Sunday and will be back in Miri . today.I hope they'll visit me soon. Kong Kong has just phoned Etihad Airlines to confirm his flight back to Oman. The earliest he could get is 10th September. As for his check-up in IJN he cannot change date as Mr Pau will be on leave. This means that he'll have his review on 29th August. Oh did he tell you that he's accompanying me and Mummy to Ipoh. Dada is going on a scuba diving trip to Pulau Sipadan with Uncle Meng Lee and friends for about a week starting 25thAugust. Kong Kong will go with us on 25th Aug. and perhaps we will come back together on 28th for Kong Kong's appointment. Yes, I will definitely miss Kong Kong and you when he goes back. He assures me that you both will be back in November . Good then it won't be too long. It will give me some time to steady myself and practise on my walking before you both are back to take me for walks. Remember , Ah Ma, you promise to take me for walks in the park in Taman Tun and also walk around the shopping malls here. That will be fun. Ok, it's bedtime for me now. Bye with hugs and kisses to you. Jade

Photo Documentary On Our Trip To Australia 2000 and Beijing 2004

Photo Documentary of Trip To Beijing 2004