Precious Reunions

The older one gets, the more precious reunions are.  One realizes that time is no longer on one’s side.  One is not sure how much time one has left in this world.

Thus, it has become very important to meet up with old friends whenever possible, hence the reunions.

I have these mini reunions with my classmates from the Methodist Girls’ School, Kuala Lumpur whenever I happen to be in the capital city.  One of my classmates will organize the ladies and a venue is agreed upon.  How indispensable Whatsapp has become! Through this app, we are able to determine who is able to attend and to decide on the date and venue of our reunion.

We were classmates from the time we entered secondary school until the time we graduated. This class of ’59 is still going on strong although many are no longer domiciled in Kuala Lumpur or in Malaysia.

Our latest reunion was held last month to celebrate the birthday and 50th wedding anniversary of one our classmates, Dr. Gnanam.

                         Dr. Gnanam presented with flowers for her wedding anniversary

                                                     Singing Happy Anniversary song

                                                       Singing Happy Birthday song

                                                     Getting ready to blow out the candle.

She was most gracious to host the celebratory lunch at the Royal Lake Club in Kuala Lumpur.  Our core group attended not only to wish her Happy Wedding Anniversary but also Happy Birthday.  So, it was a two-in-one celebration.

                                            Our lovely lunch hosted by Dr. Gnanam

It was a very lovely reunion to celebrate Dr. Gnanam's birthday and 50th wedding anniversary.

They have planned to have another gathering in November to welcome home another of our classmates who has made her home in the UK. She usually returns to Malaysia to escape the cold winter. As we grow older, we find it much harder to tolerate the cold temperatures of winter. However, I have to miss out on this one as airfares across the South China Sea are expensive.

However, I'm looking forward to the main reunion in February which sees the Chinese community ushering in a new Lunar year.

Fun Time with Grandchildren

Having grandchildren is a wonderful blessing from God. The little ones bring one great joy and being able to see them grow is another blessing.

                                                                         Painting

                                                                I can paint too!

We visited our two younger grandchildren this week, still pre-schoolers.

                                                             Playing Monopoly

The younger child is about two and a half now and can talk, although some of her words are still not very clear. She loves to imitate her older brother, parroting his words and actions.

                                                              At the playground

Here are some of our activities during this short period of bonding. Our visits are short and far in between so the time we spend together are very precious.

                                                      Constructing with Grandpa

                                                            Almost done!

                                                                  Climbing!

                                                                 I can reach it!!

We hope to leave behind happy memories of their grandparents.  

                                                             Fun at the Mall

                                                                 Fun at the keys.

Another Wedding in the Family

This month, another nephew married his sweetheart. However, their marriage was solemnised last month in the UK where she was working. They returned to Malaysia to host their wedding dinner and to have the tea ceremony, which all Chinese families regard as mandatory.

Ivan Tan’s wedding was very different from Adrian Liew’s. He had the main tea ceremony in his family home a week earlier, before the wedding dinner, instead of on the same afternoon. For those, like me, who missed the earlier tea ceremony, a short one was held in one of the hotel function rooms, so that the bridal couple could serve tea to the relatives who were unable to attend the earlier one.

                                                         Ivan receiving his Ang Pau

The wedding dinner was held in the grand ballroom of a 5-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

                                                Ivan & Crystal entering the Ballroom
         
The venue was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers. Each table centrepiece was a huge arrangement of fresh flowers, in a pink and white theme.

                                                             My sister & I with spouse

The main table had huge floral arrangements.

                                                             Main Table Centerpiece

A live band entertained us throughout the dinner which was individually served, course by course. Thus, dinner did not end before 11 p.m.  Take a look at the menu!!

                                                            Wedding Dinner Menu

                                                       Dessert- The Strawberry Garden

As usual, friends and relatives caught up with one another on this occasion and everyone had a good time.

                                                                Siblings and spouses

                                                         My sisters- Left is Ivan's mum.

                                                      Center: my beautiful niece Sunitha

Chinese Weddings

Weddings in the family are events to look forward to and these occasions enable family from far and near to gather together. My nephew Adrian married his dream girl Cheryl in May this year and it was such a romantic wedding, held at a very old church, St. Andrew's Church.

All his cousins, family and friends came from different countries to celebrate his Big Day. The wedding was very well-planned and everything went smoothly.

Photographs were taken together with the bride and groom. The family photograph of his aunts and uncles and the photograph of his cousins and their children show what a big family we are.

Together with aunts and uncles

                                               Together with cousins and their children

No Chinese wedding is complete without the tea ceremony. This is where the bridal couple serve tea to the parents and relatives as a mark of respect. Accepting the cup of tea means acceptance into the family. Ang Pau and jewellery are given to the bride and groom after drinking the tea.

In the evening a big dinner is held and it is usually a 8 or 9 course banquet and drinks flow freely, red wine, brandy and whisky. Chinese tea is readily available for those who don’t drink.
The toast of “Yum Seng” is always dragged out over a couple of minutes or longer and everyone joins in the merry making, shouting “Yum….m…m….m….mm… Seng” as loudly as possible!

The venue for Adrian’s dinner was the Glass House and it was beautifully decorated making the guests feel that they were in a garden. The lights and the ambience made one feel as if one were in fairyland.

                                                       
We enjoyed the wedding dinner, catching up with relatives whom we had not seen for a long time. Geographical location, the rush of life and work, etc. connive to make meeting up, rare occasions. So, weddings are happy events where everyone gets to see everyone else in the extended family, chatting, eating, drinking and of course, taking photographs!

To Adrian & Cheryl, may you both have a Happily Ever After while in Chinese we say, “Pak Tau Toh Lo” (Together until Silver-haired).