More LIKES for Taiping !

Gosh! it's 2016 and there are no posts. Thanks for popping by. Well, the reason being my fb  is more active!

As of today, in our midst, it is the 3rd day of the Chinese New Year. It is the Year of the Monkey.  Before the 15th day comes and signal the end of the celebrations, let me get some news in as it appears on my fb page. Taiping, my hometown, here we come!

1. Reunion dinner in Taiping . Never mind the traffic crawl as the whole country seems to be on the move! Pandu Cermat ( in Bahasa Malaysia = drive safely) - just aim to arrive safely in the bosom of your loved ones.

2. Meeting up with  my extended family after a long, long time - my god sister who got me a place in Primary 1 of CHIJ ( Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus) when she was a teacher. Glad to know she is a fit 78 year old grandmother with 11 grandchildren.

3 . Hello Taiping Lake  Gardens, 1885 - your fame and charm  is everlasting as long as Taipingites care enough to preserve your beauty.

4. Perak Museum, 1883. So many firsts in Taiping. This is the first and oldest museum in our country.

5. Perak Jubilee Lodge is under the English Constitution. We had a tour of this Lodge to gain an insight into this Masonic fraternity. Come 2017, UGLE ( United Grand Lodge England) will be celebrating its 300th anniversary.

6. Kueh-mueh  to titillate palates but we missed the famous cendol. So much to taste of this and that but my children know  I'm not a foodie. Alas!

7. Taiping New Club,1894 has the distinction of having the first golf club in the FMS ( Federated Malay States). It was closed  in 1995 to the public  because of the hazards posed. Looking down on to the Esplanade, it reminds me of the many parades and the hockey matches I played.

8. View of the Titiwangsa Range at an evening with my brother-in-law at his friend's house. The dark night sky was suddenly  illuminated by fireworks of a neighbour.

All these and more and driving round the 'Town of Peace', a town that is  growing, growing.. ..
It's time to head for Kuala Lumpur. We loaded two big bags of rich soil among our luguagge amidst protests from the kids! No worries, lah! The car suspension will be ok and my plants will be happy too.
Gong Xi Fa Cai to all my friends who are celebrating Chines New Year. 

Fashion Charity with Shoe Designers

One by one the guests arrived for a high  tea fund raising event, Fion Poon  Fashion Charity  in conjunction with Selangor Cheshire Home's 50th anniversary. We were among the earliest to beat K.L's jam increasing traffic jams. The venue for this exciting event, Fukuden Restaurant was easy to find, ala GPS.

It was indeed a special afternoon - a mixed programe of music and songs by jazz singer, Janet Lee accompanied by Tay Cher Siang on keys and a display of  shoes and handbags by local designer, Fion Poon. To top it all, the gracious presence of her mentor, icon Datuk  Jimmy Choo created the buzz. The afternoon tea menu was a range of Japanese cuisine cocktails.

The event kicked off  with Janet's renditions which  were well-received. Alas, time did not allow for more.

Everyone wanted a picture with the Guest of Honour, Datuk Jimmy Choo - ever charming and generous coping with the numerous requests. And the next instance, Facebook it!

Many guests were eager to try our Fion Poon's shoes and handbags on display. A customer service staff was on standby to let  guests know  that  accessories can be customized , made the items even more appealing.

Soon Fukuden Restaurant  was overflowing with guests. In the set -up, navigating for food, clicking pictures and moving about, space was tight. The waiters were kept on their toes serving quenchers to keep the guests nicely watered in the existing day's heat . The models wearing Fion Poon's shoes could not get past many guests. A pity! Nevertheless, we took it all in our stride. Fion Poon's  batik hand pouch  with a good sling handle as one of the door gifts is really neat.

The event ended with lucky draw  and best dressed prizes. Those who came in red and white stood better chances. In celebratory mood, there was  a big cake to mark  Cheshire's 50th  with a rousing Happy Birthday song. By 5.30 pm, the guests who responded warmly with charity in their hearts bade their good byes.

Elegance on your feet.

Datuk Jimmy Choo autographing a book about him 

TV3 was there for the media coverage. Datuk Khatijah , President of Sel Cheshire Home, Fion Poon and Datuk Jimmy Choo.

Janet Lee at the mike

Handicrafts from the Home

Heels  of sorts

Expressive Janet  Lee

We are a happy lot, with  Datuk Jimmy Choo!

Datuk Khatijah with supporters from Cheshire Home

A big 70 bash in Australia

Talk about being busy as a bee. So many happenings,distractions included,since last Christmas.My apologies to friends out there who have visited my blog and found me quiet (of which I was not!). Thanks dear blogging friend, Ram for your concern. Thankfully, it had all good endings and now I present one that took us to Australia for 2 weeks over. It was a a big bash to celebrate my sis in law's 70th, bringing together rellies,young and old and her close friends, all 39 of us. The celebration will stay in our hearts for a long time. Age is just a number and we should celebrate each year, in your own way,as an accomplishment. So cheers to your good health and well-being too! For now, I share with you the wonderful time we had at Lennox Head where we gathered under a red tent to toast to a lovely lady, all of 70.

In Casino, NSW  - several days before the party  we  made a special trip a  up north to check on the house. Busied ourselves plucking  strawberry mangoes ( real yum!)  that dangled low and forlorn. Not anymore when we relished them daily.

All quiet  before the family members turned up. 

Up early for a morning farmers' market in Ballina . Brilliant heliconias to brighten the house for the birthday. 

The welcoming colour of red. Brawny and browned men  putting up the tent . Headland of Lennox Head is on the far right of picture.

Inviting and ready to greet guests

I liked the surprise. To start off the party at 6 pm  a couple of  Indian musicians  played on the grassy slopes  facing the sea, waves lapping as we sipped champagne . Later the DJ took over and a 'cook'  sang favourite songs for the birthday girl. Good ol' Pavarotti wasn't forgotten. 

Not exactly the Bollywood kind of pose but this will do! Ready to party when dusk set in.

A day after the party, all trouped into a bus chartered to take us on a carefree outing. The young and young at heart  braved the sun to indulge in  Dream World, Gold Coast. Forget your cares - get onto the gold rush , feel the rush of adrenaline as we swooped down  and screamed our lungs out! Great!

A majestic sight to behold. The Bengal tiger, Ravi with his trainer slurping all the milk goodness at Tiger World event. What strength - man and tiger! But tiger wins, of course.

A lovely picnic area set up another day after the party. Another wonderful day of great company and food.  

Enjoying good company with free flow of  wine to quench one's thirst!

A birthday gift by one of the grandchildren, aged 12. Lovely capture of the lawn , the clumps of trees that stand like sentinels and the blue sea and sky  beyond. We promise to come again, Lennox Head.

Diwali with Rellies

Diwali is full of colours. Even the sweet jasmine worn of the hair or offered in prayers is colourfully white! I noticed there were plenty of decorative kolams with favourites, peacocks and,lotuses  adorning them in the shopping malls and private clubs. I have made small ones before,and I know the intricacies involved in the making. Admirers of this festive art do get carried away and  to discourage any 'itchy' fingers or any untoward accidents, they are protected by a barrier of some sort.

After the morning puja at the temple in Brickfields, we settled for the usual breakfast cooked by my sister - in -law. We had a lovely meal of uppuma, onion sambal, dhall, vadai, idiapum, kesari and banana on banana leaves, lit by the glow of the Diwali lights. Just coincidental, the house was down with no electricity. So, shine on us, Diwali diyas!

Later, there was plenty to eat at our house where I served lunch for 8 of us . The table was quite full and I clean forgot about the samosas I made! Well, it'll be snacks for another day. To top it all, we drank Sula, an Indian wine we brought home during our holiday in Kerala.

The evening was long and yummy - cheese, crackers and dips, ham and  quince, olives with great bubblies and red wine, For this, we hopped back to our breakfast host's house.As we ate and chatted, some loud firecrackers exploded in the neighbourhood. Past midnight, our Diwali celebration came to an end. Somehow I missed the crowd that comes when there is an open house. But this year, quiet is also nice! A really good day indeed.

It is always sunny in Beccles!

The other evening I got a call from my friend, Wanphen in the UK. Beccles, calling! Where ? It's a small market town on the Suffolk/Norfolk border and is within the area of The Broads. And Wanphen, of Thai origin , lives there now after having trotted Mexico, Malaysia , Istanbul and then back to the UK with her late husband, Tony.

Wanphen called to say 'hello' As usual, she takes her time to talk, never hurrying as if to beat the seconds that tick away for a long distance call. When she heard of my son's trip to Tanzania to do some voluntary work, she was glad. 'Let me round up my friends to help donate towards the fund raising for his trip,' she said.

Wanphen left Kuala Lumpur more than 19 years ago. I bumped into her at our daughters' ballet classes. And from there , our relationship blossomed.

If she could wrap her hands round as many people as she could to bring them into her 'fold', she would. That's how I got 'caught' by her easy , friendly demeanour . She needed some help to get some activities going at Selangor Cheshire Home, a home for the disabled. After all, it was just about giving a little time to care and share. So, I joined her company. Others did too and soon there was a big group of ladies who liked her warmth.

Working with her, I found there was always room in her heart to fill it with more love and care for the disabled residents. There was one resident who wanted to hold her hand and walk with her whenever she was around. Somehow, he could not utter any word and saliva dribbled at the corners of his mouth. She always let him and talked to him with kindness as she guided him to his place of activity

It was just natural chemistry to interact with her disabled friends. How did she do it? It was her genuine desire to touch hearts and spread sunshine to others. That's just her.

She cooked and shared her wonderful dishes with as many as her giant wok could feed! That was her birthday party treat for them. Not forgetting her yummy cakes and delicious snacks.

In Beccles, she still radiates warmth. Walking round her her garden, I sense the tender care she exudes for her plants too. What I gave her , a ' keng hwa', as a cutting years ago , she took to Beccles . Mine is doing sweet nothing! Hers is a huge wicker basket of flourishing flowers.

When I was there in November, I was smack in her party planning for her 56th birthday. Her friends , all 10 came for the party. It was Thai cuisine at its best. Her food drew appreciative oohhs and aahhs. After the guests left, we both put our feet up and talked about the great time had by all.

Far from the maddening crowd of Mexico, Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul, she still retains her personal touch. A friend or two always needs popping by and checking to see if everything's alright. I remember we drove by a house to check if her neighbour's lights were on. That was enough to let her know she's ok. There were the times when her kitchen was in full swing to cook and bake for some charity raisers. A friend asked to babysit her dog for the owner to be away. So many little ways she finds to be a friend.

So, be it snow or sleet , girlfriend you shine, as always. Yes, it's always sunny in Beccles.

Birthday Smile

Hanging garden

What A feast!