Long Holidays

We took the whole of the week off as the company wants us to clear 4 days of leave. So what to do? Where to go? We decided to go ahead with the postponed plan to go to KL. Also daddy's car needed to be fixed. The original plan was to spend a few days in KL, head back to Ipoh and possibly to spend a few days (before the new year) in Cameron Highlands. But in the end, plans had to be changed and we were in KL for 6 days. Daddy's car took longer than expected to fix but we still had a wonderful time in KL.

We left for KL on Saturday afternoon after the furniture guys came to fix up the rooms. Too bad, because only our bed was ready. As for your room, the cabinets and shelves were all ready and just needed to be fixed up. You weren't too well as you had diarrhea in the morning, and mummy forgot and gave you half-boiled eggs for breakfast even!! Yikes!!

After "feeding" daddy's car we headed to the bridge. You napped most of the way until we arrived at Ipoh. WE had to detour to pick up the keys to Uncle Dennis' house as no one was home. Just nearby to the Rawang stop, you declared that you needed to poo poo again. Sigh.. poor thing. It was drizzling, so daddy rushed down to the toilet with you (we had no umbrella in the car). As we exited the rest area, the traffic started to slow to a crawl. We thought that it would be the traffic jam starting.. all the way to KL??? But it was just people slowing down to look at a car which had just met with an accident!!

Arrived in Mont Kiara, dropped the bags and headed to McDonald's which was very nearby. As I was waiting for them to pack the order, daddy called and said that you needed to go again. We rushed back and you did your business. With you just recovered from the recent bout of fever, you barely had any appetite to eat your Happy Meal. We started to wonder if it was the right decision to bring you to KL...

The next few days we saw your condition improve in leap s and bounds. You were still your grumpy self but by the time Thursday came about, you were perfectly fine. We ate a lot, kai-kai at several places and just had a lot of fun. Uncle Dennis and Ashley Kor-kor spent Monday with us and the rest of the days it was the 4 of us. Yup, Kor Poh was also with us and so we ate a lot of Chinese cuisine for our meals. Of course we managed to sneak dinner at Souled Out which had a variety of fusion food and were even treated to Japanese food on Wednesday by Kor Poh.

Before we left on Thursday, we continued our kai-kai at Ikea which had to be cut short on Wednesday to pick up daddy's car. And since Uncel Dennis and Ashley Kor-kor were still working, I had to drive daddy's car back. And the only one brave enough to sit in the car with me was you!! Hehe!!

This was a fun trip. We ate to much, I think my skirt felt tighter as we left KL on Thursday!!!

Xmas Party

We did not have our usual party at home, since the house renovation is not complete yet, but Aunty Jamie had a party at her place instead. So after you nap, daddy and I got busy to prepare a dish to add to the spread that Uncle Sin Tien and Uncle Sin Chuan would be buying for the party.

When everyone was ready, we packed into Ah Ma's car (food & presents) and headed to Annabelle che-che's house. Everyone was already there and the food was already spread on the table. Shortly after the ice was bought, we started to feast on the yummy food. If you don't already know, daddy and I prepared the tomatoes for the bruschetta.

Good thing Uncle Sin Tien had also prepared mashed potatoes. You loved that but that was all that you ate along with some sausages. The rest of the time was spent playing with your cousins. After dinner was cleared away, it was the highlight of the day. Presents! Here's all the kiddies going crazy opening the many presents under the Christmas tree.

Here's a pretty picture of the Christmas tree...

And a pretty picture of a pretty little girl...

And finally a little boy all KO-ed on my bed after the party (which included a round of vomiting just before we left the house to go home..)

Merry Christmas

Too bad we didn't have a Christmas party at the house yesterday. Too bad, we didn't even have a party to go to yesterday. Too bad you weren't still felling your usual self yesterday. But that didn't stop us. We had to rush through dinner as you kept complaining about feeling cold. Must be your fever again.

So after dinner we went home. I gave you your medicine and shortly after that you fell asleep on my bed. You didn't even want to change into your PJs. I wrapped up the presents and then daddy and I had a round of "treasure hunt". I know I packed the ornaments into one of the boxes, but which box exactly was a mystery! So we opened almost all the boxes looking for the ornaments and at last, we found it!!

By the time we started to set up the Christmas tree, it was already Christmas day! Yup, this is the first time the Christmas tree will be up for less than 1 month!! But it was worth it. When you came down this morning and saw this...

Closer inspection of "who's" going around the tree...

... and the smile that was on your face was worth the loss of sleep I had (since you woke me up early this morning!!!). And of course first to receive a present was daddy and I. Giver was Mr Evan Ban. You'd wee wee on our new bed! Sigh.... Thanks for the wonderful present.. Merry Christmas!!

The nomads are home

Yup, just 2 months after our last move, we've moved again. For the LAST time!!! We're back in Minden although not everything is ready yet. Well the house alarm is up and the gate is up (without the automatic mechanism) and of course all the doors are finally here. The move was originally planned for last Friday, but certain circumstances resulted in us delaying the move by a week.

Of course there are still lots of things which need to be done for the house. Like the built-in furniture for the rooms as well as the living hall. Also the garden landscaping is yet to be started on. So, here's how we're living:

Well, one good thing is we've now got Internet connection at home, unlike in Sri Tanjung Pinang with it's terrible mobile phone reception! And that's what we're both doing while daddy, Ah Kong and Ah Ma are either downstairs or out getting things done for the house.

The move was yesterday and you were at home as yesterday was a public holiday. Unfortunately, I had to go to work, as I had already signed up for a training which I could not withdraw at the last minute (wished I did, it was so boring!!). So daddy made a total of 3 trips to and from Tanjung Tokong to move our things. On the third trip he round by the office with you to pick me up. By the time you arrived, you were sleeping in your car seat. Poor little guy.

That night daddy went out for a wedding dinner while Ah Kong, Ah Ma and Kakak went back for a last round of things for the day. We were both at home alone. It was a little funny living in this house with no curtains. Thank goodness the curtains will be install this evening. Better privacy for us.

Daddy also had difficulty having a good night's sleep as we've been so used to living in a place with security, first the condo with the guards and then in Sri Tanjung Pinang which was a gated community. Our house is fully secured with alarm, but it's still different I guess. One thing's for sure, the alarm sure if loud, as Ah Kong triggered it yesterday evening and you almost jumped right out of your skin!!

Busy Busy Day

After Thomas' birthday party, we had to go home take a bath and when everyone was ready, off we went for the next party of the day. It's both your Tou-tou's birthday dinner. The traffic was heavy heading towards Air Itam. Dinner was to be at The Suffolk House Restaurant. The next thing we knew you'd dozed off in your car seat! Aiya...

We were the first to arrive and daddy had to carry you into the restaurant and let you sleep on 2 chairs. By the time everyone arrived and they started to serve dinner, you'd napped for nearly an hour. Just right.. so we tried to wake you up. Here's your quite blur face:

Dinner was served and everyone had a wonderful time, chatting and enjoying the food. After you'd eaten your dinner, it was time to exercise! Yup, you started to run around and play games with Abby and Anna. Thank goodness we were given a dining table which was further away from the other guests. Otherwise, either we'd scare the other guests away or we'll all be banned from going there ever again!

By the time everyone had finished the main course and dessert, it was rather late. But a birthday dinner is not complete without the cake. Ta da!!

Beautiful isn't it? And it's delicious too....

Here's the birthday Great-Grandparents:

And everyone enjoying dinner:

A Bubbly Party

Your little friend Thomas was to celebrate his 3rd birthday. We almost could not make it as we were supposed to go to KL. But last minute cancellation of the trip and also because we did not get to move house as planned made it possible for you to attend the birthday party.

We had to go out to buy the present early on Sunday as we could not find something suitable when we went to Gurney Plaza on Friday. By the time we got back and you'd eaten your lunch, it was already close to 3pm. There goes my plan to get you to take a nap first. As 4pm rolled by, you were all excited. I changed you into singlet and you didn't want to change your shorts and off we went, across the road to Thomas' house. As we rang the doorbell, I realised that we'd forgotten the most important thing of all... the present! Alamak! We walked back to the house, picked up the birthday present and crossed the road again.

The party had begun and a few of Thomas' friends were already playing with the bubbles and in the inflatable pool. You were reluctant to get yourself soapy initially, so you played on the ride on. Even then I had to wipe the ride on before you were willing to sit on it! Later on you started to put your hands into the tub of bubbles. Soon you were splashing around then it was time for bubbles. You loved blowing the bubbles. Even when the other children stopped to eat chippies, you ignored the chippies and continued playing.

When everyone went in to eat pizza, you started to bring out Thomas' toys and played with it. You ate a slice of pizza and the colourful fondant which was home made (and a little of the cake). Then it was time to go home. What happened? You refused to leave. It's always better to play with other people's toys isn't it? Sigh...

After a lot of persuasion and tears, we left. Went home and got ready for the next party for the day...

Celebrating Ian’s Full Moon

Today we celebrated Ian’s full moon. He’s certainly a miniature of Uncle Sin Chuan. We arrived at the lunch location, Hardwicke House just after 12 pm. There were a few guests who were already there. Soon you said that you were hungry and so we started on the buffet spread before the rest of the guests arrived.

"Where's my food?"

Daddy managed to take several pictures (like over 100 pictures..). After you’d eaten the food, you started to get pins on your bum and wanted to get out of the high chair. As Abby had also finished with her lunch, you both had a heyday running and chasing each other. Soon 2 of Abby’s friends joined you both in the chasing game.

As Ah Kong did not join us, we had to leave rather early as daddy wanted to go to Minden to help out Ah Kong around the house. They dropped us both at home before heading to Minden. Since you were running around so much, you KO-ed very shortly after that. Today is the first of a weekend of parties. We were supposed to head to KL to attend a wedding lunch today, but there were many celebrations in Penang and we were supposed to have moved on Friday too, that’s why we had to cancel the trip to KL. Maybe next time we can meet up with Uncle Ju Sern when he’s back next time.

Bath Friends

It's it fun when you're bathing and have bath friends (toys what else?) to accompany you as you bathe? Well you certainly love bathing with your toys, especially since where we are now there is a nice big long bath.

I guess you thought that I could be lonely when I shower. Here are 2 of your duckies accompanying me while I shower.

All Grown Up

A friend mentioned that you knew how to pose for the camera. Then I recalled that the pose looked somewhat familiar. Searched through my pictures in my PC and found it. One was taken when you were 15 months and the other was at the wedding dinner we attended recently.

Disco Kaki?

Let me leave you with this to laugh over the weekend...

.. with the 2 backup dancers

Back to School

20th November marked the last school day. On that last day of school there was an excursion. The trip was to go to the Penang Port. And best of all for you was the bus ride to get there. By the time we arrived in the morning, the bus was already waiting for you.

We picked you up at the end of your school day. When we arrived, you were sitting patiently with your other friends who went on the field trip. When asked about your trip all you told me was that the bus went "gong-gong-gong". Er.. ok. Later I found out that you were trying to tell me that the bus drove over a cover which gave way from the weight of the bus.

On Monday when I got back from work, Ah Ma said that you wanted to eat at 10am. I guess it's from the conditioning of having breakfast in school at 10am. For the next few days Ah Ma mentioned that you were bored. You went cycling at 10am, went to the playground, wanted to eat lunch early, asked for food all the time.

In the end, we decided to send you to the school's "Holiday Camp". On 1st December we headed to school. I had a tough time trying to get you up that morning. Sigh.. why is it that on days when you do not need to wake up you'll be up before the sun rises? And when it's time to wake up earlier you'd fuss and complain about having to get up.

But when we arrived in school, you were quite happy. In fact the teacher even commented "Wah.. he's real steady". You just waved goodbye to us and walked happily into the school. We've promised ourselves that we won't force you to attend school everyday. So if you are tired or Ah Kong or Ah Ma wants to bring you somewhere else or we're going somewhere, then you'll have the day off from school. After all it is school holidays, and you're only 3 once in your life!

Time for Buffet

A few friends at work had decoded to go to Rasa Sayang for the buffet dinner as they were having a promotion. Of course the invitation was also extended to our little kids. Um, when you asked my how come daddy wasn't joining us, I didn't have an answer to that. Of course naughty daddy had an answer "I wasn't invited". Oops!

Aunty Esther picked us up and she already had Jing Ee and Aunty Asher in the car. You've met Jing Ee the last time we went for dinner in E&O Hotel. But obviously you cannot recognise her at all. You both sat shyly side by side, but after a while Jing Ee started to ask questions and her mummy told her to ask you and you happily answered her (how far is the hotel? how long more to go? Good! Give you a taste of your own medicine of "question time").

When we arrived at the hotel, the rest of them had not arrived, but we started dinner without them. After all it's a buffet. You were braver this time. You were willing to sit at the table with Jing Ee while I went to get some food for you. Unlike the last time where you insisted to following me wherever I went, even if it was 5 steps away to get some desserts!

Soon Brettany arrived with the rest and you were even happier. After dinner and dessert (which included many round of marshmallow and chocolate fondue) you started to warm up and play around with Brettany. Jing Ee was more reserved instead this time. She rather sit quietly and enjoy more food.

The only decent picture of you. After that you refused to cooperate.

Enjoying the jelly

You even posed with the 2 girls (who are younger than you, but towering over you!)

It's interesting that just after going to school for 2 months you are no longer as shy as before. Aunty Asher even asked if I'd brought out the correct son. From such a shy child you were very outgoing and braver and could even hold a conversation with the adults! As we were getting off the car, you even gave Jing Ee a kiss (wah.. this is the second time!)

A Rocking Big Day

The day began like any normal weekend. We went out, had lunch at one of our favourite coffee shops (with you asking how come we couldn't eat in an air-con restaurant.. ) then we headed home. Nope, we missed something so we headed to Island Plaza to buy “apple juice’ as you had insisted. Then we headed home. You needed your afternoon nap. No way are you allowed to miss today’s nap. Why because the day is still young and you've got a many more things to do during the long night ahead.

The day is Uncle Sin Tien’s big day. This is the day that he and Aunty Ean Na picked to be their wedding day. Many days and months have been put in to plan for their perfect wedding. And more than a month ago, they had asked me if you’d want to be. But knowing how shy you were I was hesitant to promise that you’d be it. I tried asking you, explaining what was expected of you, but when I met Aunty Ean Na a couple of weekends ago, I was still unsure.

Anyhow, while you were napping, daddy and I quickly got ourselves ready for the big day. WE had to be at Hard Rock Hotel before 6pm as Ah Ma was the tea time provider. She’d been busy the whole afternoon, collecting the kuih and curry puffs for the big day. After we were almost ready, I had to try to wake you up from your beauty nap. Sigh... that is one of the toughest thing a mummy has to do. Wake their sleepy son up! After a while and a lot of persuasion, you woke up.

I quickly gave you a shower, dressed you and you were all nice and handsome. And then it was my turn to get ready. I was clean but not ready yet. So at top speed with your daddy asking me questions in between I got ready. Then off we all went.

Before that we had to make a stop at the condo. We needed to drop something off. And then the traffic jam began! Yup, just after Tanjung Bungah the traffic crawled all the way to Batu Ferringhi. The was another function there and I guess everyone was heading there. When we arrived, most of the family members were not there yet. So everyone started with tea first then since the Phuah’s were late, we started with tea ceremony for Aunty Ean Na’s family.

You had a wonderful time, eating the cream puff and following Annabelle che-che who instantly became the ringleader of the 3 of you. After the tea ceremony, we headed downstairs to the ballroom. The ballroom was rather cold, but I'm sure you didn't feel it much. You were busy running around entertaining yourself.

At last it was 8pm and time for the bride and groom to make their appearance. Of course I was also very excited. After all, it's everyday my little boy gets to be the page boy. Hehe.. yup, that's the question that I've been asking you if you'd wanted to be.. the page boy and you agreed and I have to say, a rather handsome one you were...

Oh yeah.. and here's the beautiful bride and her handsome groom (the only picture daddy took of the bridal couple)..

The bride and groom on the cake...

Then dinner was served. Your job which Ah Ma had secretly "trained" you (she taught you to walk slowly.. although you were way in front of the 2 girls) was over in a few minutes. Dinner was rather long and by the time we were done, it was 11.30pm.

As there was a big time gap in between the dishes, you and the girls kept yourselves entertained. Here you are "break dancing" on stage:

And when everything was all over and all the guest had left, we took a family picture. By the time we left the hotel it was 12midnight and it took another 30 minutes for us to reach Tanjung Tokong. What a long night...

After a long day at work

The best part of going home is always seeing you up and about playing around the house or cycling. Last Thursday as we drove into the porch you came running out, asking to go to the playground. So you hopped into the car after I'd dropped off our things into the house and off we went across the road to the playground. Here you are enjoying the slides.

You used to be so afraid of the swings when we went to the Youth Park. Now as you grow older and bolder you are not afraid of the swing anymore and you can even ask to go higher.

I'm glad that we could squeeze some time to go to the playground and the weather was very good. It's been raining most evenings for the past few days.

Riding or racing?

Or should I call it a torture session for mummy. Most days you’d have ridden your bicycle by the time we come home. Otherwise, you would be just about done and the moment you see us, you’d abandon your bicycle (for Ah Kong to wheel home) and hop into our car. We’d either bring you for a car ride or go across the road to the playground.

That one Friday we’d left work early and Ah Ma was just about to bring you out for a bicycle ride. So I changed into something comfy and brought you for a ride. Our house is somewhere almost in the middle of the housing estate and so we could either ride to the left or the right of the long pathway. You decided to turn right (thank goodness.. since it’s the shorter path) and started to cycle. What started out to be a quick walk quickly got faster and faster. As we were walking, Nanna called and you decided to start to ride faster and faster. And no matter how many times I called to you to slow down, you refused to listen. Instead, you seemed to go faster and faster! In the end, I had to hang up on Nanna and start running (yes! Running!) after you and yelling like a crazed lady.

And no you did not stop nor slow down. Instead you kept laughing gleefully and glancing back at me. That was scary as I was afraid you’d veer off the pathway into the road. At long last you stopped only as we got to the end of that road. But of course as we turned back you started to speed away and again I was that mad lady yelling after you. Later on I told Ah Kong that everyone living along that road probably knows your name by now, with me shouting away.

When we reached our road, I wanted to go back, but you were still full of energy. Sigh.. so what to do? I had to make you promise not to ride too fast (or else we’d turn back immediately) and we almost made it to the other end.. er.. probably another 5 roads away before I had to give up. So we headed back home.

So my torture session ended or so I thought. My legs ached for quite a few days and I KO-ed before you did that night. Hhmm.. maybe I should come back early more often for this free exercise and bonding time with you.

It’s Moving Day

Well, actually moving day was almost a month ago. The only problem was work was piling up and worst of all there is no internet connection where we are now. So where are we? Hehe.. nope, Ah Kong’s house renovation is not done yet and yes we have moved.. to a temporary place to stay in. We were supposed to be moving again today, but instead we’ll be here another 2 weeks more.

We moved from what was home for just over a year on the replacement holiday for Deepavali. Most of the things we would (most likely) not be using for a while was packed into boxes and moved to Minden. And for the next month (or so) we were to stay in a temporary accommodation with whatever we brought along with us. In actual fact, as at 5pm that day after everything was moved to Minden, we did not yet have a place to stay in! This was because the landlord of place Ah Ma had picked was not able to be rent out in the last minute. In a way that was a blessing in disguise. Instead of the planned 1 month, it looks like we would be here for a little longer. And that first place was a lot smaller than this house that we are staying in now. So where are we staying?

All tired out.. your last nap on the condo's sofa

Ahh.... it’s still nearby to our condo. It’s in Tanjung Tokong and you’ve learned how to say this place “Tanjoing Tokong” when you’re in a good mood, and “Tanjoing Kong Kong” when you’re in a cheeky mood! All of a sudden we’re living in a house with stairs again and of course you are amused with this. You were told not to climb up the stairs alone and that warning was only heeded the first few days. Just a few days ago Ah Ma caught you climbing upstairs.. and not to the first floor, but to the second floor!

This place is rather different from what we’ve been used to , but having stayed here for a month, we’ve all gotten used to this place. And one thing that we like about this place is the area. It is a gated community and we are staying in one of the terrace houses. This side has a nice pathway where you go riding your bicycle. The playground is just across the main road from our house and there is also a nice pathway along the seaside to cycle along. On top of that you’ve made friends with the little boy staying across the road, Thomas. Most days as we approach the house you’d be outside playing with Thomas while his mummy and his little sister watch and chat with Ah Ma.

One funny thing about this place is that some of the things are made for giants:

Super high rack and super high towel rail

.. while some are made for little people, like you. See.. you can reach the switches easily because it's only waist high (for an adult):

Our room is the bigger room and it’s got an adjoining bathroom with:
...two sinks and a bathtub just for you. The stool that Ee-ee bought for you is just right. When you stand on it, you can just reach the sink and brush your own teeth.

Our room has a view of the airwell outside too:

One thing is for sure, we’ll miss living in the Tanjung Bungah/Tanjung Tokong area when we move back to Minden. Then again, that place also has it’s own charm. After all we’ve been living there for quite a while. Maybe when we’re there, Kelvin and Kaitlyn will visit us more often.

Jigsaw Mania

I've bought you several jigsaws and you've also received jigsaws in several forms from many people: magnetics, in books or just one type. But you never showed any keen interest in it. Then all of a sudden, I noticed that you were showing more interest in your jigsaw puzzles. Here's one of you enjoying yourself with the puzzle that I'd bought as a present promised to you for being a good boy in school and no crying when we dropped you off. You were happy to receive this little gift. It took you a while but after showing you to fix the corners first, you could do it and now you can complete the puzzle in record time!

Come on, let's rock!

I know that this is so very outdated, but of course i still need to blog about it. It's Annabelle's 5th birthday and her mummy and daddy had decided to throw a birthday party in the newly opened Hard Rock Hotel's pizzeria. Annabelle enjoying the food

We celebrated her birthday a day before our big moving day. So we stopped all packing and headed to Hard Rock Hotel for an afternoon of pizzas and cakes. No swimming for you as you were still coughing. Poor thing. But you seemed nonchalant about not being able to swim. We ate some of the pizza which were nothing to shout about and you had chippies with lots of tomato sauce which you thoroughly enjoyed (I'm not too sure which you liked more, the tomato sauce or the chippies..). Later while the other kids played with the water features, we went to explore the hotel area while daddy spent time with his camera.

We had a good time and daddy took some nice pictures too. I love this one:

After the kids were done swimming and playing in the pool, it was cake time. Daddy tried to take a nice shot of the birthday girl and her cake, but too many photographers that day. We left shortly after that. You were even given a set of stickers with your name printed on it. How nice...

It's All Fine?

I wonder.. No tears for the past 2 days. Only problem is poor daddy could not give you a big, tight hug for fear of you breaking down in tears instead! He's been giving you quick hugs and so you were fine on Tue and today. On Monday you were all teary and yet you stopped to laugh at Teacher Farah!

Why? Because she was trying to console you and she accidentally dropped her thermometer. With tears in your eyes, you could smile and say "You clumsy". Haha.. so I guess your tears probably make a very short and quick appearance when we drop you and quickly disappears as you join the class.

Ah.. the simple things that brings a smile to your face!

Will You Remember?

What I wanted to say in this post is you only have memories of Ah Tai up till this tender age of 3 years old. Would you remember who Ah Tai is when you grow up? So far you still remember her so well. You recall having sat in a bus to go to her "other home" (how does one explain "grave" to a little child?). You recall her bathroom was the one downstairs which was next to the room she slept in the last few months of her life (calling it "Ah Tai's bathroom"). You know that Ipoh means Ah Tai as you asked me early that morning about Ah Tai and you asked me about Ah Tai not having any money (what you meant to ask is still a mystery to us...).

Would you remember Ah Tai based on what we tell you? We've got a few precious pictures of you with Ah Tai. She's rather camera shy and would usually look away when we take pictures.

So let me share with you a little that I know of this wonderful lady. The first time I met her, she also became my "Ah Ma'. Everyone of the younger generation (daddy's generation) called her Ah Ma or something equivalent to that in other languages. I could never hold a conversation with her. The Hokkien that I spoke and understood was not really the same as hers which was the original Hokkien direct from China. And everyone spoke to her in a jumble of Hokkien and Cantonese.

I was so happy that she made it up to Penang just for our wedding. Daddy and I wanted her to sit at the main table with us, but she was shy and wanted to sit at another table. Less than 2 years later, she made a trip up to Penang again, to visit us. You were just over a week old then. She was happy to hold the next generation of the Ban family in her arms. She even made another trip to Penang to celebrate your full moon.

We made many trips back to Ipoh and she would be ever so happy to see you each and every time. Soon you learnt to call her "Ah Tai" much to her delight. She'd smile and say "kuai" to you. Your Kor Poh and ChimPoh would tease her asking if she'd like you to stay in Ipoh with her. Sometimes you'd give her kisses and hugs and she's be so happy. I wonder if she missed you when we weren't visiting. There was one stage where you weren't too willing to kiss her, but I'm sure she didn't mind. You still gave her hugs especially when it was time to go back to Penang.

Festive occasions were a time when most of the family made their way back to that large house in Ipoh to celebrate together and to catch up. The first time I joined the celebration was Ah Tai's birthday dinner. It amazed me that everyone ensured they were there to celebrate her brithday with her. A few years later (even before our wedding), the dinners stopped as a medium had advised her not to have the celebrations anymore. But the family still converged to Ipoh for Chinese New Year and again on the 9th day of Chinese New Year to "Pai Tee Kong". Chinese New Year saw a feast being prepared for the family members. There would be close to 30 or more Ban's gathered at the house during dinner time. The same goes for Cheng Beng. We'd either travel to Ipoh the night before of leave early in the morning to make it for the prayers at the graveyard. On top of that wedding celebrations also brought the family together.

This amazing woman never has much to say, but somehow she seems to be the magnet of the family, ensuring that everyone was around where there was a festive occasion. As her life was reaching the end we all gathered to celebrate the life of this wonderful woman. Almost all her children made it back to Ipoh to bid her a final farewell. In the final days of her life, the Ipoh house had more people staying there than during Chinese New Year though everyone was in a sombre mood.

I hope that although you barely know this amazing lady and would probably forget about her as you grow older this post would serve as a little memory of this amazing lady whom you call "Ah Tai".8

P/S: I just found this post and wanted to ensure I shared it with you. It's a pity Evelyn never got to meet her. But at least she got to meet your other two Tou-tou.