Lunch Today

 

Fried rice with sweet and sour chicken/pineapple and mixed vegetables ordered online.  The chicken was a bit tough, otherwise it was a good meal! 😋

Nonya Kueh on an English plate

Two of my favourite kueh
Ang Koo (Red tortoise cake)
 and Seri Muka

  I was looking for a plate to take a photo of my Nonya kueh and remembered that lovely flower plate in the picture above which is from my mum's old collection.  The set of cups and plates was made by J. & G. Meakin, England (see picture of the maker's mark) and a quick search told me that this English company was a pottery manufacturing company founded in 1851 but after several takeovers and acquisitions, production under the Meakin name ceased in 2000.   I guess I shall not be parting with these cups and plates and shall keep them as valuable "souvenirs"!

In Loving Memory

I was at the market the other morning when one of the stallholders approached me and asked how long it had been since Mum went to heaven.  This old man runs a stall selling loose flowers, herbs, spices and other little items for cooking.  I had always thought his goods were a little more expensive than others' but nevertheless, Mum would always patronise his stall and buy in particular his loose flowers.  I was rather touched that the old man (he must be in his 90's now) still remembered Mum five years after her demise and said so.  He looked at me and said defiantly, "Of course I remember your Mum!  She was such a good person!"  Well, Mum, I hope you heard that, you're still remembered not only by this man but also by a few others whom you regularly bought from in the market!  Thanks, guys, I really appreciate your kindness, so does Mum, I'm sure.

The Secret to Long Life

Mum always made sure we started off the Chinese New Year with a bowl of yellow noodles.  She would cook them herself or if we ate out, she would order some noodles without fail.  Noodles symbolise longevity and the longer they are, the better!  So she often gave the waitresses a hard time by insisting they were not cut or broken when they were dished out!  Vermicelli also symbolises long life and are wrapped with red paper when used on birthdays and other celebrations.  So there you have it - the secret to long life!

Remembering God

When we were young, Mum used to chastise us for not praying. "You remember God only when you want something or when you're in trouble!" she scolded.  Well, it was true that when we wanted a new doll or when the car broke down and we couldn't go anywhere, we would turn our eyes heavenwards and murmur a prayer.  We couldn't understand why Mum spent so much time in front of the altar mumbling prayers and turning the rosary in her hand.  Besides the Buddhist mantras she uttered were too complicated and difficult to pronounce as they were in Pali. Several times a year, we would follow her to the temple to "pray" but it seemed she was the only one doing the praying! And the prayers were always for us, never for herself.  Bless you, Mum!

Words of Old

Mum used to quote a number of Chinese idioms and sayings when in conversation with us.  One of them was, translated from Hokkien, "The bull yearning for the moon."  She explained it meant someone yearning for something which is impossible to get.  Oh how true, how on earth can the bull ever get the moon!  Another saying was "Touching the sky and feeling its coldness."  This is actually more of a scolding and refers to someone who does something rash without thinking of the consequences.  Mum must have inherited these idioms from Grandpa and Grandma.  I bet the young generation of today have never heard of these funny little sayings!

Kaboom!

We had a frightening storm last night at around 4 a.m. with bright flashes of lightning, heavy rain and loud claps of thunder.  My cat, who was sleeping downstairs, was so scared that I had to take him upstairs to my room.  As we huddled together, I recalled what Mum used to do whenever there is lightning and thunder.  She would stick a finger in each ear to shut off the noise and cry out in Hokkien " Ti Kong, Siah Boe Choay" (loosely translated, "God in Heaven, please forgive my sins").  I guess in the old days, they thought that whenever there was so much commotion from above, God was angry with them!  Well, who knows, they could be right. And I wouldn't be surprised if there are more storms coming .....

Wise Words

Mum shared with us a wealth of truth and wisdom during her lifetime.  When we were young and felt a little envious because our friends have got something we didn't have, Mum would say that for everything we have missed, we have gained something else.  As we grew up, we realized the truth of those few words.  We may have missed some opportunities in life but we can always determine to make the most of what we have gained.

Mum's Motto

Mum used to tell us to cherish each day and try to make it meaningful not only for ourselves but also for others.  There is an old Chinese saying which goes "Do good and you will receive good."  It was Mum's motto all her life.

Good Discipline

When we were small, Mum laid down a code of conduct which we were expected to follow.  One of these codes was never to gossip or talk bad about anyone behind his back.  When we asked why (because we loved to listen to gossip), Mum said gossiping would not win us any real friends.  Same as telling lies which could cause serious conflicts further down the line.  Telling one or two white lies was excusable if we didn't want to hurt someone's feelings but not too often.  Also, we should never sulk when we are wrong nor gloat when we are right.  Grandpa was a strict disciplinarian and Mum must have inherited all this from him!

Que Sera Sera

When I was a young girl, I used to hear Mum sing "Que Sera Sera".  At that time, the song was very popular and recorded by many artistes, including Doris Day.  Meaning "Whatever will be, will be", the song tells of a little girl who asks her mother what will happen to her in the future and whether she will be rich and pretty.  And the mother answers whatever will be, will be.  Here are the lyrics as I remember them:

"When I was just a little girl

I asked my mother

What will I be

Will I be pretty?

Will I be rich?

Here's what she said to me:

Que sera sera

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours to see

Que sera sera

What will be, will be.

'

It was a sweet song with plenty of wisdom in it. Guess that was why Mum liked it so much.

A Bed of Roses

Mum used to tell me that life is not always a bed of roses and that I should take the good along with the bad. Mum herself was a good example when Pa was ill.  She braved many visits to the hospital, cooked for him and kept him company.  She took one day at a time and never complained.  I too try to take one day at a  time but unfortunately, several days attack me all at once, sometimes.

A Simple Life

I must confess I'm one of those who take out my mobile phone first thing when I wake up in the morning and look for new messages.  Maybe it's time I take a break, switch everything off and wake up to a slow, relaxing morning without buzzes from my phone breaking the peace of the early hours. Mum and Pa never needed a mobile.  Pa was up with the first crows  of the cock for his morning walk while Mum did Tai Chi.  Then they would end up in a coffee shop having breakfast.  I am inclined to believe that a simple life is all we need today for that much searched for haven of peace and tranquility. 

Pen Pals

In her younger days, Mum used to write to pen friends overseas. They were from various countries in Europe and Mum, being an avid stamp collector, exchanged stamps with them. When Christmas time came around, they sent each other Christmas cards and little gifts. It was a simple and delightful pastime with none of the hassle of modern technology. I still have Mum's stamp albums and they bring back such fond memories of her whenever I look at them.

Keep Calm:I'm a Girl Guide!

Mum used to tell us about her school days whenever she had a moment to sit down.  In those days, she and her siblings lived in Grandpa's house in town.  The girls attended a Convent school and even though it was just a stone's throw away, Grandpa insisted that they went in his car.  So every morning his driver would drop them at the gates of the school while their classmates looked on enviously.  For Mum, it was quite embarrassing as she preferred to walk but Grandpa would have none of that.  He was very protective of them and never let them go anywhere without a chaperone.  When Mum and her younger sister joined the Girl Guides, which meant camping out and hiking with the Boy Scouts, Grandpa nearly fainted.  Unfortunately for him, chaperones were not allowed on such excursions and he often spent several days worrying his head off!  Poor Grandpa!

Yes, Where is God?

"Where is God?" asked the 6 year old daughter of a friend recently.  When I was that age, I too asked the same question and I was told that He is an all powerful figure seated in a magnificent chair up in the heavens, looking down on me and noting everything I did.  So I had better be good and give Mum as little trouble as possible, otherwise He will punish me by tweaking one of my ears or giving me a good spanking!  What's more, I was told He could read my thoughts and hear everything I said!  It was a good enough story to frighten a six year old and it kept me quiet whenever I felt like being naughty!   I doubt kids of today believe that story nor does my cat, for that matter.

Playing Hide and Seek

When I was a young girl, I enjoyed attending weddings, mainly because I loved wedding gowns.  In my young eyes, they were exquisite and special because only a girl who wanted to marry could wear one.  When oldest sis got married, her gown was tailored by a shop specialising in wedding apparel.  Oh what fun we had choosing the pattern, material and headdress.  This brings to mind an old superstition which Mum used to tell us about - never immediately look at the bride when she arrives.  If you do, you will in all probability "clash" with her later.  We listened to Mum because we didn't want to get involved in any quarrels or fights, so when sis came into the room on her wedding day, we had our faces turned away.  Sometimes (in other relatives' wedding ceremonies held at their homes), we disappeared into the kitchen or somewhere out of sight, only to emerge some fifteen minutes later when it was safe. It was fun, like playing hide and seek.

Sewn with Love

I was rummaging through the cupboards again and came across a couple of patchwork blankets done by Mum.  They were made from remnants she collected from various sources and lovingly, and patiently, sewn together.  I could never in a hundred years do something like this!  

Money Doesn't Grow on Trees

 "When I was a young girl, my mother gave me fifty cents a month as pocket money.  In those days, fifty cents could buy a lot.  If at the end of the day, I asked for more, she would look me in the eye and say, "Money doesn't grow on trees.  If you want more, you'll have to work for it."  That was when I started washing the family car and cleaning the windows of our house."

Musings of my 87 year old aunt.

The Lighthouse

When we were small, Pa used to take us for drives down the coastal road, past an old lighthouse which was no longer in use.  For some reason or other, I was fascinated with this lighthouse and I would ask Pa to tell me stories about it.  Once, I asked Mum whether she had ever seen the light from the lighthouse beaming into the night.  She thought for a while, then said, "No, I don't remember seeing it  You are the light of my life and I don't need to see any other light.."  Thanks, Mum, I shall never forget your kind and beautiful words.