To all my beautiful sisters:- Happy Mothers Day. Love you all.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Uncle Dave shares some photos
Uncle Dave shares a few precious photos with us. Well done! Keep this up Uncle Dave!
(Above) Picture taken when my mum brought me to Sabah. I was six. Accompanied by my third and sixth aunt. The lady who carried me was another aunt from other state. We were at the wet market.
(Above) My mum, Constance, Kiang Kiang and James:- Newton.
(Above) Chinese New Year:- look at those hair (trendy)
With Alice Fong, Alvin Fong, Vincent Fong and 12 others.
Unlike · · · Share
.jpg)
(Above) Oopse, censored. ..couldn't find a better cover:)
(Above) Guess who is sitting on my back?
I think the real question should be: Who's holding onto the baby and hiding himself relatively well for this shot?
(Above) Picture taken when my mum brought me to Sabah. I was six. Accompanied by my third and sixth aunt. The lady who carried me was another aunt from other state. We were at the wet market.
(Above) My mum, Constance, Kiang Kiang and James:- Newton.
(Above) Chinese New Year:- look at those hair (trendy)
With Alice Fong, Alvin Fong, Vincent Fong and 12 others.
- You, Valerie Koh, Pamela Tan, Emmeline Fong and 3 others like this.
- Valerie Koh I see Me so chubby....no wonder Charlotte....haha11 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 2
- Alexius Raphael Koh James Lew That's because you are not in the picture. Valerie and Emmeline might have seen this. I'm sure I've seen this picture in one of mummy's albums. It's another gem indeed.10 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 2
- James Lew "Love" that this photo tells us that fads should never be followed - 爆炸装发行. Aunt Constance looks great here and took me so time to recognise.10 hours ago via mobile · Like
- Pamela Tan I love this picture coz I'm in it hahaha. And I look sooooo girly I can't believe it9 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 2
.jpg)
(Above) Oopse, censored. ..couldn't find a better cover:)
(Above) Guess who is sitting on my back?
I think the real question should be: Who's holding onto the baby and hiding himself relatively well for this shot?
To My Beloved Mother - Uncle Dave's first "blog post"
"To My Beloved Mother" - Madam Ng Kim Eng.
Though it is long overdue, but I think it should be alright, cos' it okay to be late than never.
Words cannot express much, on your selfless love given to all your 9 children (especially me) and your grandchildren.
Your ways of up bringing your children and grandchildren were unbelievable, that words were unable to be put and describe in writing, because I don't think there's any. You definitely gracious and will be always in my thoughts.
"I LOVE YOU" your youngest son. Yong.
- You, Pamela Tan, Alexius Raphael Koh, Reine Ng and 3 others like this.
- James Lew Wow! Here's a hidden gem. What a lovely photo and tribute. I definitely see my Mum in her in this photo. They share similar smiles.
I miss her terribly too and I think it's great that you found the courage to express your love and share it with us all. This has to go onto the blog! - Alexius Raphael Koh I did not spend alot of time with Po Po. I guess as a child we do not know how to appreciate them until we lose them.
That must be the reason why I'm tearing right now.
My Appreciation of my mother - Part 2
Post 4 (10th May 2013)
Two is enough. That's the popular campaign that ran in the 70s to try and slow down a fast growing population.
Well, I'm glad my parents didn't heed the warning and practised birth control. They dared to "challenge" the potential fines and disadvantages and I'm better today because of this decision.
Growing up with two younger siblings meant I had two to boss around. Haha! Not really, I hope.
My sister said she worshipped me because there was a 3 year age gap and she would emulate everything I did. My brother had more of an agenda of his own I guess, but we always had fun.
Unlike kids nowadays, we were allowed to go downstairs by ourselves and play with our neighbours and cousins who lived a street away at the area office block. We played badminton, catching, rounders and invented games of our own. It was heaven, free away from adults.
I even organised a small group called The Fantastic Five with our two cousins because of my obsession then with The Secret Seven series. We had secret meetings and pretend adventures and mysteries which really didn't go anywhere but the fantasy was enough.
We had fun but we also had our fair share of mischief which probably drove you crazy. One important lesson that I remember is you saying "If you boys think you get to do less housework because you're boys, you're wrong. You will do more housework than your sister because you're stronger. Feminism and gender equality at a young age.
Now that I'm grown up and live independently, I have immense respect for you to take on the role of a housewife.
It must be a real pain to be stuck at home most of the day with little to no social contact and revolving your life around picking us up, making sure we're fed for lunch and dinner, thinking about what to cook every day and working as a seamstress at home while we drove you nuts with our playing and our arguments.
I recall one day when you had enough and you said that you weren't going to care anymore. You cooked lunch and then proceeded to get your own bowl of rice, sat down and ate and then walked away when you finished. You didn't scoop our bowls of rice and you didn't give us the best bits of fish while you sucked off the remaining flesh on the bones. I remember finding it funny but it was probably discomfort because it suddenly dawned upon me what you did for us. I didn't realise I took you for granted until I saw that.
So, thank you for not pampering but loving us. For all the practical lessons in life that you taught and made us kind, considerate and helpful people, we thank you because we are better people today because of you.
— with Julian Lew,Lew Kar Yin Jennifer and Lew Tor Liang.
Post 5 (11th May 2013)
Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents - Louisa May Alcott writes in the first line of the classic novel "Little Women".
For many Singaporeans who never celebrate Christmas, we were an exception and a very lucky bunch. Christmas meant new clothes, lots of good food, camaraderie with aunts, uncles and cousins (save for the dreaded occasional "How did you do in your exams"), and presents, lots of them.
Presents that we got to keep as opposed to CNY "earnings" which mostly went into the savings bank.
Christmas was a heartwarming and cheerful time with Grandpa dressed up as Santa and giving out presents. What were presents of toys and books turned into presents of love and warm familial relationships.
I thank my Mum today for maintaining a loving relationship with her siblings and parents that taught me the value of family. With that love, I am able to extend that to my cousins and maintain an ironically closer relationship through a medium like FB, even though I'm miles apart.
No one would know this but one of the first things I did when I arrived in Sydney was to buy a large A3 photo. Carefully, I pasted photos of my closest people on this frame, so I can feel close to them, even though you're all miles apart. This frame accompanied me till 2005 after I realised that sunlight and heat was destroying the photos. The bottom two photos are yellow and faded today because of this exposure to light.
I want to thank my uncles and aunts especially today and wish all my aunts a very Happy Mothers Day tomorrow because of all your motherly loving nature. We are all so lucky to have all of you as prime example in our lives on how to be.
Dua Yi - thanks for your love and incredible generosity. You helped us immensely through the years and we're indebted to you forever.
Zee Yi -thanks for your generosity too. Though you may exhibit more traditional means of expressing your love, your sacrifices for the family through the stories Mum told are so noble and I hope more will learn of them someday soon. Thanks for your love too.
Aunt Alice - thanks for swaying Grandma's decision to stay in Singapore and for loving me. Thanks for being so engaged with our blog. It means so much to me!
Auntie Pauline - thanks for loving me as a child. I remember a photo of me sitting on your lap with Mark and Richard next to you in one of your wedding gowns and having just cried because you were leaving home. Thanks for treating me like an adult when I first came back from Sydney for a visit. Uncle Tan and you were so incredible and thanks for that US$20 that you gave me when I first left for Sydney for good luck. I still have it in my wallet today!
Auntie Vera - You've read what I had written in Valerie's post. You are an incredibly loving and generous woman and thanks for loving me so much.
Uncle Roger - You're such a gentle loving man and I hope to have a better relationship with you. Thanks for The Blue Lagoon and Grease!!
Uncle Dave - I'm so glad we've managed to get closer through FB and I'm sure we'll develop a stronger relationship when I'm back for hols. Thanks for playing games with me when I was young.
Aunt Constance - my godmother. You deserve a totally separate post for all you've done for me. I'm so proud of you and I can't thank you enough for all the lessons you've taught me. Watch out for that post tomorrow!
To all my cousins, thank you for giving me such a complete, loving and wonderful life!! I'm sure our bonds will last forever but it's going to take all of us to contribute! Let's meet in July and Happy Mothers Day too to those of you who are Mums!! xxoo
— with Alice Fong, Lew Tor Liang, Pauline Lee and 15 others.
Post 6 (12th May 2013) - Mother's Day
Happy Mothers Day, my dearest godmother Aunt Constance.
You are the most incredible, independent and inspirational woman I know - not only in your ability to lead such a fulfilling and independent lifestyle but more so in your ability to care for others.
I chose this photo that we took in Japan at Tokyo Tower because whenever I'm in Tokyo, I don't have to share you with anyone. 1998 was also an especially memorable visit not only because you flew me business class to and first class back to Singapore, but more because of the fact that we've lost our beloved Po Po a few months ago.
Fresh from this pain of loss, we could talk freely about her love and her legacy that she left us.
We joked about the 100 rice dumpling misunderstanding during my first trip to Japan and me carting 4 big bags travelling alone. We cried in the cab at Seoul on our way back to our hotel after buying 10 silk scarves from an elderly woman in Winter at Itaewan markets. We talked about your regret that you didn't have any money left on the last day of your HK trip with Po Po as she stared longingly at the delicious cakes at the cafe showcase.
We always have such special times in Tokyo which is the city I love most and I think it's because I can live like I belong there because of you.
You always ensure I have the best time there and go out of your way to organise for outings so I don't just spend all my time shopping. You also share your friends and try to pay for everything which is incredibly generous, especially since every cent you earned is not easy to come by, but you never complain.
You live by your mother's saying and selfless acts of alway putting others above yourself and we are so lucky and so honored to have you in our lives.
You may not have any children but it's probably because that way, you can be the mother of many, and an incredible one you are! We are all so lucky because you share your love so freely with everyone. I am a better human beings because I have a great role model in you.
Thank you for loving and accepting me for who I am. Thank you for everything and I love you very much!
Post 7 (12th May 2013) - Mother's Day
亲爱的妈妈，祝您母亲节快乐！谢谢您一直以来的爱护与关
Happy Mothers Day, my dearest mother. I chose these few photos of you because you're not only incredibly beautiful but you have made so many sacrifices which I had charted over the few previous photos, but also your inspiring ability to keep learning.
You told us to study hard because you had to give up your studies at 14 because grandparents could no longer afford to send you to school and you had to pitch in and help support the family. You always felt that you had missed out on an academic education so it was important for you that we didn't.
You took on English and Maths late night classes in your late 40s-50s when we had all grown up because you wanted to improve yourself and teach us that we can do whatever we want if we set our minds to it.
Then you went on to take on the new program 老人学 graduating from the first batch and earned your very own mortar board and graduation in your 60s.
You are an inspirational woman and I'm so proud to call you Mum. I love you!
— with Lew Tor Liang.
Well, I'm glad my parents didn't heed the warning and practised birth control. They dared to "challenge" the potential fines and disadvantages and I'm better today because of this decision.
Growing up with two younger siblings meant I had two to boss around. Haha! Not really, I hope.
My sister said she worshipped me because there was a 3 year age gap and she would emulate everything I did. My brother had more of an agenda of his own I guess, but we always had fun.
Unlike kids nowadays, we were allowed to go downstairs by ourselves and play with our neighbours and cousins who lived a street away at the area office block. We played badminton, catching, rounders and invented games of our own. It was heaven, free away from adults.
I even organised a small group called The Fantastic Five with our two cousins because of my obsession then with The Secret Seven series. We had secret meetings and pretend adventures and mysteries which really didn't go anywhere but the fantasy was enough.
We had fun but we also had our fair share of mischief which probably drove you crazy. One important lesson that I remember is you saying "If you boys think you get to do less housework because you're boys, you're wrong. You will do more housework than your sister because you're stronger. Feminism and gender equality at a young age.
Now that I'm grown up and live independently, I have immense respect for you to take on the role of a housewife.
It must be a real pain to be stuck at home most of the day with little to no social contact and revolving your life around picking us up, making sure we're fed for lunch and dinner, thinking about what to cook every day and working as a seamstress at home while we drove you nuts with our playing and our arguments.
I recall one day when you had enough and you said that you weren't going to care anymore. You cooked lunch and then proceeded to get your own bowl of rice, sat down and ate and then walked away when you finished. You didn't scoop our bowls of rice and you didn't give us the best bits of fish while you sucked off the remaining flesh on the bones. I remember finding it funny but it was probably discomfort because it suddenly dawned upon me what you did for us. I didn't realise I took you for granted until I saw that.
So, thank you for not pampering but loving us. For all the practical lessons in life that you taught and made us kind, considerate and helpful people, we thank you because we are better people today because of you.
- Janice Renee Ng, Jennifer Tang, Simon Yap and 15 others like this.
- Dave Lee James, you must let your friends know, what is 'Rounders'.....is good that you still remember this game. I do remember, you had a fall and there's was this lump on your forehead, but I not sure what games causes it... can you recall? For sure it happens at Newton.
Friday at 6:29pm via mobile · Unlike · 1 - Friday at 7:27pm via mobile · Unlike · 1
- Friday at 7:30pm via mobile · Like
- James Lew Thanks Uncle Dave. For those who don't know what rounders is, it is like a game of baseball except that you improvised because we didn't have a bat or ball or a proper pitch/field.
We played on hard concrete and used badminton rackets and shuttlecocks instead. That's how we improvised.
Friday at 7:33pm via mobile · Like - James Lew As for the big bump on my head, I vaguely remember that but not the incident though I seem to remember an incident at the see saw. Was that it? Did I cry? I think I must have.
Friday at 7:34pm via mobile · Like - James Lew The other incident that I remember clearly was going for a kids comedy theatre and we (the audience)played Simon Says with the clown on the stage.
I remember being so excited about it because everyone made such a big fuss over the show and Po Po washed my hair with a bottle of new Herbal Essences shampoo which had a lovely fragrance. She got me ready in smart clothes and the moment we stepped out of the building, bird shit fell on my head and we went back and rewashed my hair and rushed to the theatre.
That was an unforgettable night.
Friday at 7:38pm via mobile · Like - Dave Lee I believed you did(cry), you were relatively young. I was in my teens, so that makes you maybe say 5-7 years old. Still putting up at Newton, right? You were the thumb card or excuse for me to go downstairs to play. Hee..hee I should have get that bump instead, then I will be brighter than you..
Friday at 8:23pm via mobile · Unlike · 1 - James Lew Mum told me I moved back when I was 4, which was when Julian was born. I think it could have been then. I had absolutely no idea that I was your excuse then. Haha!
I definitely think it was the see-saw, come to think of it ...
- Dave Lee Should be, we always play marble ' Angat'(confiscate or take in malay) @ that sand pit area where there were 3 see-saw, and 3 swings over the other side. Ya , I think it is, when you were 4. Wow...so long....time flies. Cheers
Friday at 10:12pm via mobile · Unlike · 1 - James Lew Either that or it was flying off the swing. However, that would have scarred me but I loved the swing and went as high as I can during primary school and then jump off the swing when it's near the pinnacle. Strange that I'm now afraid of heights. Haha!
Friday at 10:26pm via mobile · Like
Post 5 (11th May 2013)
Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents - Louisa May Alcott writes in the first line of the classic novel "Little Women".
For many Singaporeans who never celebrate Christmas, we were an exception and a very lucky bunch. Christmas meant new clothes, lots of good food, camaraderie with aunts, uncles and cousins (save for the dreaded occasional "How did you do in your exams"), and presents, lots of them.
Presents that we got to keep as opposed to CNY "earnings" which mostly went into the savings bank.
Christmas was a heartwarming and cheerful time with Grandpa dressed up as Santa and giving out presents. What were presents of toys and books turned into presents of love and warm familial relationships.
I thank my Mum today for maintaining a loving relationship with her siblings and parents that taught me the value of family. With that love, I am able to extend that to my cousins and maintain an ironically closer relationship through a medium like FB, even though I'm miles apart.
No one would know this but one of the first things I did when I arrived in Sydney was to buy a large A3 photo. Carefully, I pasted photos of my closest people on this frame, so I can feel close to them, even though you're all miles apart. This frame accompanied me till 2005 after I realised that sunlight and heat was destroying the photos. The bottom two photos are yellow and faded today because of this exposure to light.
I want to thank my uncles and aunts especially today and wish all my aunts a very Happy Mothers Day tomorrow because of all your motherly loving nature. We are all so lucky to have all of you as prime example in our lives on how to be.
Dua Yi - thanks for your love and incredible generosity. You helped us immensely through the years and we're indebted to you forever.
Zee Yi -thanks for your generosity too. Though you may exhibit more traditional means of expressing your love, your sacrifices for the family through the stories Mum told are so noble and I hope more will learn of them someday soon. Thanks for your love too.
Aunt Alice - thanks for swaying Grandma's decision to stay in Singapore and for loving me. Thanks for being so engaged with our blog. It means so much to me!
Auntie Pauline - thanks for loving me as a child. I remember a photo of me sitting on your lap with Mark and Richard next to you in one of your wedding gowns and having just cried because you were leaving home. Thanks for treating me like an adult when I first came back from Sydney for a visit. Uncle Tan and you were so incredible and thanks for that US$20 that you gave me when I first left for Sydney for good luck. I still have it in my wallet today!
Auntie Vera - You've read what I had written in Valerie's post. You are an incredibly loving and generous woman and thanks for loving me so much.
Uncle Roger - You're such a gentle loving man and I hope to have a better relationship with you. Thanks for The Blue Lagoon and Grease!!
Uncle Dave - I'm so glad we've managed to get closer through FB and I'm sure we'll develop a stronger relationship when I'm back for hols. Thanks for playing games with me when I was young.
Aunt Constance - my godmother. You deserve a totally separate post for all you've done for me. I'm so proud of you and I can't thank you enough for all the lessons you've taught me. Watch out for that post tomorrow!
To all my cousins, thank you for giving me such a complete, loving and wonderful life!! I'm sure our bonds will last forever but it's going to take all of us to contribute! Let's meet in July and Happy Mothers Day too to those of you who are Mums!! xxoo
- Pamela Tan, Shalyn Lee, Simon Yap and 6 others like this.
- Saturday at 11:32am via mobile · Unlike · 2
- James Lew Yes. I don't know who has all the archives of photos when we used to go to those dinner shows to celebrate their birthdays.
Saturday at 1:07pm via mobile · Like - James Lew Isn't it also sad that we didn't have these family portraits until Gong Gong passed away. We should all get together and maybe pay for a professional photographer to get one for the entire big family. Outdoors with natural light is best.
Saturday at 1:08pm via mobile · Like · 1 - Saturday at 1:12pm via mobile · Like
- Alexius Raphael Koh it is.
how we miss them so much.
that family portrait is gonna be a hugh task.
we need to fly u back. lol
- Saturday at 1:18pm via mobile · Unlike · 1
- James Lew I'm flying back at the end of July. Should we organise one then? But then again, Aunt Constance is not back...
Saturday at 1:24pm via mobile · Like - Saturday at 1:25pm via mobile · Like
- Dave Lee You are avoiding my question, James, what a tactical move. Haha... honestly, I am believe it's due to the age gap between me and some of you. Woan Yan and Woan Yi are both older than me. For those that were born in the sixties and for some were a few years different from you and it goes on, that make me react the way I am now, also perhaps I got 2 teenagers and a young adult at home. You know what I mean? young at heart.
Saturday at 1:51pm via mobile · Unlike · 1 - Alexius Raphael Koh Uncle David, you look like you are 60....Just kidding.
Yes you are always young at heart.
You are our most happening Uncle.
James Lew that's exactly what i mean. I'm sure all the Aunties would love to make this happen.
Tua Yi loves to take pictures.
Saturday at 3:34pm via mobile · Unlike · 1 - James Lew Uncle Dave, I've had more contact with you on FB over the past month than over the past years, and can I say how much of a pleasure it is, to get to know you as a person. Keep it coming!
I think it's tough asking us your nephew and niece if you look over 50 because what does 50 look like? I'm increasingly having different perceptions as I inch closer towards that mark myself but hope to redefine that with better eating and regular exercise.
Young at heart and mind is the most important and I think we'll always see you all as ageless and timeless.
- Pamela Tan Steady. This will be another entry in the Lee Family Memoirs. This is another way to generate entries hehehe
Saturday at 5:58pm via mobile · Unlike · 1 - Dave Lee Oh o.....my head is swelling. Thanks to you, James on your comment. I actually know Facebook's existent few years ago, but do not have the confident to interact or how to go about it. I should thank my sister Alice, for correcting my vocabulary and grammars way back during my teens, when I wrote her the first letter. She corrected the letter and I see 'red' ...the rest is history (as the saying goes). Then it was this dictionary and spelling application in the mobile phone that gave me the urged to try. So here it is. Of cause, if you can notice, I always spell it (the actual word) out in full. No abbreviations, so eventually my English improved. Yang, don't talk to me(except on Facebook can), unless otherwise stated....capital punishment. Well, I think i better say it now and make known. Alice, 'Thank You'.
Saturday at 6:07pm via mobile · Unlike · 1 - James Lew I like that you spell it out. Abbreviations and SMS language drive me mad.
I'm also glad you took the plunge and engaged in conversations. I am also closer to Richard because of FB which is great because for years, I've felt that we should be closer but you both were so perfect in my Mum's eyes that it was difficult to be close because they always compared us to you both, though it was totally warranted.
I think these are great platforms to thank all our aunts for what they do for us. Anyone else want to say thanks and make tributes?
Saturday at 7:15pm via mobile · Like
Post 6 (12th May 2013) - Mother's Day
You are the most incredible, independent and inspirational woman I know - not only in your ability to lead such a fulfilling and independent lifestyle but more so in your ability to care for others.
I chose this photo that we took in Japan at Tokyo Tower because whenever I'm in Tokyo, I don't have to share you with anyone. 1998 was also an especially memorable visit not only because you flew me business class to and first class back to Singapore, but more because of the fact that we've lost our beloved Po Po a few months ago.
Fresh from this pain of loss, we could talk freely about her love and her legacy that she left us.
We joked about the 100 rice dumpling misunderstanding during my first trip to Japan and me carting 4 big bags travelling alone. We cried in the cab at Seoul on our way back to our hotel after buying 10 silk scarves from an elderly woman in Winter at Itaewan markets. We talked about your regret that you didn't have any money left on the last day of your HK trip with Po Po as she stared longingly at the delicious cakes at the cafe showcase.
We always have such special times in Tokyo which is the city I love most and I think it's because I can live like I belong there because of you.
You always ensure I have the best time there and go out of your way to organise for outings so I don't just spend all my time shopping. You also share your friends and try to pay for everything which is incredibly generous, especially since every cent you earned is not easy to come by, but you never complain.
You live by your mother's saying and selfless acts of alway putting others above yourself and we are so lucky and so honored to have you in our lives.
You may not have any children but it's probably because that way, you can be the mother of many, and an incredible one you are! We are all so lucky because you share your love so freely with everyone. I am a better human beings because I have a great role model in you.
Thank you for loving and accepting me for who I am. Thank you for everything and I love you very much!
Post 7 (12th May 2013) - Mother's Day
Happy Mothers Day, my dearest mother. I chose these few photos of you because you're not only incredibly beautiful but you have made so many sacrifices which I had charted over the few previous photos, but also your inspiring ability to keep learning.
You told us to study hard because you had to give up your studies at 14 because grandparents could no longer afford to send you to school and you had to pitch in and help support the family. You always felt that you had missed out on an academic education so it was important for you that we didn't.
You took on English and Maths late night classes in your late 40s-50s when we had all grown up because you wanted to improve yourself and teach us that we can do whatever we want if we set our minds to it.
Then you went on to take on the new program 老人学 graduating from the first batch and earned your very own mortar board and graduation in your 60s.
You are an inspirational woman and I'm so proud to call you Mum. I love you!
- Ron Lim, Janice Renee Ng, Zenon Lim and 10 otherslike this.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)