MY MUMMY

My mummy said to me today, "Have a rest, you can nap with me." I thought, I will do that because most of the time, my mum will say, No! As I just looked at her as she was laying on the bed (she was having a swollen right eye due to some allergic reaction), I felt a great love for my mother. Mummy has not been the same since papa passed away. She has been rather negative and prefers to stay in her room and keep to herself. The Lord wants us (me and my sisters) to learn to be patient and understand what it means to truly love our dear mother. 

I asked her, while trying to get a nap, "Do you remember how it was when you gave birth to me?" She replied, "Aiyo, you have also given birth! So long ago, cannot remember la!" Thinking that this is my mother, the one who gave birth to me.....made me cry. Made me think how difficult it is for her that papa is no longer around. Now that she is a widow. How the Bible calls us to take care of widows. She was always close to papa, and papa loved her very much, and took care of all the household matters. Even my relatives tell me how much papa loves mummy. Only yesterday, she was telling me the fact that she does not know how to do so many things because papa used to do it for her, and how papa had 'spoiled' her. I think papa spoiled all of us sisters too, in some ways. Now I have to handle the shares that he bought for us....before, he did it all for us. 

MUMMY AND PAPA - you look so, so pretty mummy!
December 1964

MUMMY AND PAPA - still very pretty!
2013

Mummy...your face is so smooth lah!

ALL THE DAUGHTERS AND THEIR HUSBANDS
PAPA'S 70TH BIRTHDAY 2009
Mummy, you still look very good!!

We are blessed to have mummy. Jaden said yesterday, "At least we still have Ah Ma with us." Yes, sometimes it can be disheartening when she does not want to do what is good for her, like going out and being with people, but we will always love her and cherish her, and take good care of her. I am sure the Lord will make all things well! We love you mummy! Heaps!!!

........And I think I take after your good looks (of course I think you are better looking than I am....and papa is handsome too! ) since everyone says I look just like you! He he!

MY FATHER, MR. LIM YONG KEAT

I speak of my dear papa as if he is still with us. And very much so. I feel he should still be with us here on earth. But we have to come to terms that he is no longer with us....yet so much alive in our hearts and lives. I thank God that my father wrote about his childhood, about his life. It was a great effort for him to log on and email me all that he has written. I am glad I have those with me and I hope I will be able to get it published within the next year. 

MR. LIM YONG KEAT
(20 Sept 1939 - 3 Jan 2014)
My papa in his favourite shirt....
taken during Hari Raya (August 2013)

Yesterday, I was at the IJM building to look through papa's things, as they were required to be shifted out of his office room. Since retiring (I really don't know when he retired as he never seemed to have!) he was given a room, being one of the founders of IJM and ICP.  My father is a very humble man. Even with his vast experience and qualifications, we have NEVER seen a time where my father talked about it. It was only after his death that we knew what a great person he was....we heard so much from the staff and people who knew him....of what he had done. There is so much that have been shared... and I will be getting staff, friends and people who knew my father -  to share some of the things my father has done that have left a lasting impression on their lives. 

One of the Chinese calligraphy scroll that I brought back had my father's name on it...but being the 'banana' that I am, I didn't understand what it meant, so I asked a friend to translate for me. She said this is what it meant :

LIM YONG KEAT....TO HAVE RIGHTEOUSNESS IN DOING ALL THINGS BOTH IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, TO LIVE A SIMPLE LIFE, NOT COVETING AFTER EXTRAVAGANCE. SOW IN TEARS BUT YOU WILL REAP, AND BLESSINGS WILL FILL YOUR HOME.

I don't know whether my father specifically asked the calligrapher to write this or someone asked, but I DO know this is WHO my father is and this is the WAY he lived. Papa, I love you and miss you so very much. Thank you for the legacy of giving that you left to me and my children and to their children. 

These photos were taken on papa's 70th birthday in 2009

                             

OUR TRIP TO MELAKA.....

Yesterday (29 April 2014) was our 2nd day in Melaka. It was a really hectic day...for me! I planned every place to visit at what time of the day as well as which good makan place to go to. And Waze (GPS)...though useful most of the time, made me go around the bush a couple of times!
Our first stop was Chop Chung Wah Coffeeshop for their famous Chicken Ball Rice. Information I had was that it opens at 7.30am. So there we were....but found out from locals walking around that it opens at 8.30am. So we went around the vicinity of the coffeeshop as it was near Melaka River and there were lots of things to see....like monitor lizards swimming in the river, and the replica of the fort built by the Malay Sultanate. The shop opened at 8.36am. The only difference is that the rice are rolled into balls. The verdict by the boys and my mum....so, so la...the Ipoh Chicken Rice in PJ is better! For me, since I have lost my sense of taste/smell (for those who do not know....can't taste the distinct special taste of food, I can only taste sweet, sour, bitter, salty.....sad, isn't it? Anyway, long story...) I could not comment and just makan saja....

The uncle that served us the chicken rice balls

We people tucking into the food. Very famous one man!! That is what I tell all of them.....at 8.40am, we were  extremely hungry!!




Then we were off for the Melaka River Cruise. It was a nice 45 minute ride along the river with glimpses of history on the walls of the houses along the river. Then we went to visit the famous A Farmosa, the Portugese Fort. There we met an interesting artist who was selling his artwork - Daniel. He is half Javanese, half Portugese and was a very nice man, and shared with us that he has been around A Farmosa for the past 36 years, and used to work for 6 years with a Portugese station in Portugal. He told us that this is not A Famosa as that would be the whole fort. What we see is the Porta de Santiago. His drawings in pen/pencil were very reasonably priced - purchased 3 pieces of art. Then we were off for MORE food!! 



We have been waiting to go to Jonker 88, the famous place for chendol and assam laksa. They only open at 12.30, so we went there then...but of all times, the shop was being renovated and we were told to come back tomorrow, i.e. today, 30 April at 10.30am. So we had to settle into another coffee shop nearby....a disappointment to Noel who had nyonya laksa. I had Japanese popiah which was actually nice! I said I don't want to take second best. I had planned to only go and eat the best of the best, as we did not have time to eat 2nd best, and no space in our tummies too! When we came back to our car to go to the next place on our list.....we had a fine for not displaying the parking ticket, which was there on the dashboard!! I checked the details of the parking ticket we put and it was the right date, and it was a whole day ticket! i was really upset (it's wierd that we are given a ticket for not displaying a valid parking ticket!) and thank God there was a police beat nearby and was told to go to MBMB 'Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah' and we were told where to do.....which would disrupt our schedule!!! Aarghhh!! So there was a MBMB pondok at Taming Sari (Read about this place here) and we had to wait for the person who gave us the ticket to come. Anyway, he said we could have put the ticket AFTER they gave us a fine! He showed us pictures he took of the dashboard but only part....so I said you did not take the whole dashboard! I told him....would I try so hard to escape paying RM30 and do such a thing? I really didn't know what to say and asked Noel to talk to the officer. RM30 was not a lot of money and I could just have paid to solve the problem, but we were not in the wrong! I don't know what transpired, but Noel finally paid RM10....reduced fine with receipt given.
I am glad that the next stop was the Klebang Coconut Shake....needed to cool down!! There are lots of places selling this but this is where it all started. We spent about 20 minutes to get there (which included figuring out what Waze was trying to tell us!!) but it was worth it! The drink was a blend of coconut water, icecream and coconut flesh. Yums!!!


On Wednesday morning, we had breakfast at our hotel, The Baba House Hotel. It is quite nice, and it is strategically located on Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, next to Jonker Walk. Jonker means Junior in Dutch.....where the junior officers used to live. Only thing was that it was under renovation and the tables were all dusty and yikes!! I had a rat run pass me which made me hop on to a chair.....which made my children laugh!! Of course I complained....but I was thinking it's because they are renovating....









Then we went to Stadhuys. We were disappointed as the Museum was closed for renovation until next year. Stadhuys was built by the Dutch occupants in 1650 as the office of the Dutch Governor and Deputy Governor.
But we really enjoyed the trishaw ride.....which was fun. Su told me later what Nahshon asked, "Guess who is heavier? Both of us?" Su said, "I think your mummy and your brother (Net)!"
We finally got to try Jonker 88's assam laksa...but found out that they used canned tuna (we do not eat canned foodstuff) instead of kembong...and everyone (that is all who were there : )) says, the chendol at Calenthe Cafe tastes better. Next, we went to Taming Sari....read all about it here. It was a little scary looking at Melaka town from the top! But a thrill for Jaden and Nahshon!















We were meant to collect the pineapple tarts we ordered but was told that they were still being baked...so we went to have one more round of the Klebang Coconut Shake. Then it was back to the pineapple tarts. Watched the pineapple tarts being taken out of the oven and had to wait for it to cool a little....really yummy when warm...best of all it is homemade!



Finally, we went to the Reptile Farm in Air Keroh - again a request from Jaden - before we headed back home. Nothing beats HOME SWEET HOME! It was tiring but I am glad we took some time away from home, and see something new and try Melaka food!!

Now I truly understand "as proud as a peacock"
When the peacock sees us coming near, it will
open up and come near us...the nearer we
come, it will show it's plumage, and come
nearer and nearer....to show off!!
So proud!!