FOLO Gives, a FOLO Farm charity initiative

Feed Our Loved Ones or FOLO in short, is a small community-supported organic farm that was started by a few families in Johor Baru.

Over the years, the FOLO Farm has grown to serve some 500 families in JB and Singapore.

In 2018, I had the privilege to feature their inspiring story in my book, My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People and am familiar with the work of these urban farmers.

As the nation enters the second Movement Control Order (MCO) in January 2021, JB has seen an upsurge of people in need and the FOLO community of families have started, FOLO Gives, to help some 300 needy people here.

FOLO Gives is a charity initiative by the FOLO Farm community in Johor Baru.

FOLO farmers collecting donations from
a generous sponsor

The have started a FOLO Gives Facebook page to gather support from loved ones, friends and members of the public to help communities in JB who are in need during these uncertain times and to document this collective action transparently.

For a start, FOLO Gives is listening to the needs of local Social Heroes like Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Non-Governmental Individuals (NGIs) who have been working closely with the homeless and urban poor for many years.

FOLO Gives is particularly impressed by the Social Heroes’ intimate, long term, nutrition and mental health programmes put in place based on their friendship and deep understanding of the root causes of the needs in these communities.

Transporting the donated items

Based on these needs, FOLO Gives has come up with a six to 12-month support initiative to show love and gratitude as they partner with the Social Heroes in their work.

This includes helping to procure food and necessary items, gather donations and in getting volunteers.

Currently, FOLO Gives is seeking sponsors and affordable sources from local manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies, for weekly and monthly supplies of dry provisions, personal hygiene goods and multi-vitamins.

Donated items being ferried by express service

While daily meals are essential, they know that vitamins will improve nutrition, which is key to better mental health.

FOLO Gives believes that this collective effort will, in some small way, bring relief, peace and hope to these needy communities and the people who are helping them.

It is the desire of FOLO Gives to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and foster a closer community which is united by our practice of generosity.

A car packed full to the brim
with sponsored bread rolls

As such, you are invited to support FOLO Gives by connecting them to reliable sources of the required items and are welcome to contribute material goods or to volunteer your help.

If you wish to support this initiative, please log into the FOLO Gives Facebook page to send in your messages.

This Facebook page has a list of donations and purchases which is progressively updated for easy reference. 

Thank you for your partnership and generosity.

Are you missing the Causeway crawl?

On Day 309 of the Movement Control Order, with the border still closed between Singapore and Malaysia, vehicular traffic between the two nations is limited only to delivery trucks and essential travellers with travel permits.

View of the Johor Baru skyline from midway
of the Causeway into Johor Baru

And this was only at specific times of the day. Otherwise, the sky-cameras (Checkpoint.sg) would give us clear views of the causeway, looking eerily free from any traffic!

On 1 April 2020 – April Fool’s Day – I was tickled when someone with a sense of humour at Checkpoint.sg posted a view of the causeway pictured with an elephant – yes, that large animal with a long trunk – on the causeway!

An elephant crossing the empty causeway, certainly caused a stir among those of us who regularly checked the sky-cams for views of the causeway and the Second Link.

Inching our way through the Johor Baru side
of the checkpoint into the Causeway

I remember sharing a laugh over this amusing scene with my friend, Jeevan Singh, the Singapore Consul-General in Johor Baru.

We also shared our concerns for the many families who were separated on either side of the causeway due to the border-closing since March 18, 2020 and fervently hoped that the situation would improve soon.

In fact, my cousin Bernard and his wife who are based in Singapore for work, welcomed their first-born during the 2020 lockdown. However, the baby’s grandparents in Johor Baru have yet to meet their grandson in person.

The proud grandparents have no alternative but to “see” the baby only through video calls. I too, have only been introduced to the child via video chats. But it is still a consolation that Bernard and his young family are staying together.

Joining the queue to crawl across the entire
length of the Causeway into Singapore!

For Malaysian couples who were expecting their first-born but live separated in either country, their babies are now safely delivered, the mothers comfortably completed their confinement month, and are lovingly nurturing their children.

But the fathers have yet to meet their newborns in person to give them a much-desired warm cuddle.

For now, these parents must settle for the next best thing, to see each other and their babies through video chats.

As the months of separation lengthened, some families who longed to see their loved ones in person discovered the pain of being, “So near and yet so far.”

Doing the familiar causeway crawl into JB

Their longing to see each other in person was so acute that they found strategic spots on the Johor coast and arranged to literally “see” their loved ones who were standing across the Straits, somewhere in Woodlands on the Singapore coast.

As you know, Johor Baru, the capital city of Johor state, is separated from Singapore by a causeway that spans the Johor Straits and this border crossing in the South is among the busiest in the world.

For months since the border closing between the two nations since last March 18, the causeway was virtually clear of the daily congestion of vehicles that used to ply between Johor and Singapore.

Another view of the Johor Baru skyline
from the Causeway

Daily commuters used to make their way across the causeway for school and work in Singapore or come to Johor Baru on day trips or family visits.

Remember: Malaya and Singapore were once one country and many families have relatives on both sides of the causeway.

While in JB, visitors would also use personal services like hairdressers, nail spas, opticians, dentists, and the equivalent services for their cars and motorbikes.

Undeterred by the traffic congestion and hours of waiting in long queues, Singaporeans would cross the causeway at all times of the day or night for food, shopping, and entertainment in JB.

And for the first time in modern history, this daily commute between Singapore and JB was impossible due to the Singapore-Malaysia border closure.

The stark absence of the usual traffic on the causeway is simply saddening, not only for families who are separated but also because the regular support to the local economy had also ceased.

After more than 300 days since the border closure, the familiar daily traffic congestion on the causeway seems like a thing of the past.

From a quiet causeway to the silent city streets in JB, clearly free from Singapore-registered vehicles, the absence of Singaporean visitors is acutely felt in Johor.

While this silence may be deeply depressing, mainly for merchants who serve a regular Singaporean clientele, it is a good time to reflect, to count our blessings, to accept responsibility and to be disciplined.

News reports received from around the world, showed that it is not the sole responsibility of the authorities to curb the virus infections.

Still patiently waiting in the queue to
crawl across the Causeway back into JB!

The experiences in New Zealand and the US clearly proved that sound authority in partnership with the people, had effectively reduced the rate of infections.

So I thought some shots of the congested causeway should trigger thoughts of the familiar causeway jam and reassure us that better days are ahead when the Covid19 global pandemic is brought under control.

Meanwhile, we can just reminisce on the experience of inching our way from the JB checkpoint all the way into Woodlands and doing the famous causeway crawl into JB…

From our experience in the first MCO, we know that bringing the number of infections down begins with each one of us.

So, let us do our part – one person at a time – to break the chain of infection and help the Health authorities do their jobs more effectively.

It is simple, we must OBEY the given guidelines to stay safe. Go out ONLY for medical reasons and grocery shopping, while the rest of us should just STAY HOME. 

Doing more together in a caring community

In mid-January 2021 when the monsoon rains came pouring down for three consecutive days, more than 5800 people in Johor whose homes were affected by severe floods, were evacuated to temporary relief centres.

Dr Ng Kim Fong of Persatuan Doktor-Doktor Johor,
assisted in the PCR Test exercise for IMSHA winners 
at the KPJ Bandar Dato' Onn Specialists Hospital 

As the rain came down in a constant shower, my mother reminisced about her own experience during World War Two when flood waters rose quickly in the wooden hut that she and her family were hiding in.

It was past midnight that rainy night when grandmother got up to prepare milk to feed Uncle Billy, then an infant, and she was shocked to step into ankle-deep flood waters!

She sounded the alarm and when everyone had climbed up to the ceiling rafters, they watched in horror as the flood waters rose higher and higher. It was an unforgettable experience for mum because for days, they were trapped up there while they waited for the flood waters to recede.

Consistent rainfall which caused the floods in low-lying areas in and around Johor Baru this January was no different and the victims were quickly evacuated for their own safety.

Emergency response to help victims to evacuate and assist with post-flood cleaning in areas where the flood water had receded was provided by the Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (IMSHA) Winners Network, made up of over 100 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Non-Governmental Individuals (NGIs).

The Covid-19 pandemic has clearly changed how humanitarian work was carried out. Aid providers must work in stricter conditions, adhere to the SOPs of social distancing, wear facemasks, face shields, PPE and stay sanitized.

Meanwhile, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, cautioned that although not compulsory, aid providers were advised to take the Covid-19 test as a safety measure and to reduce the risk of potential exposure to the Corona virus.

Dr Ng Kim Fong, presenting a Care Pack
to IMSHA Winners Network NGO, 
Ihsan Johor volunteer, after taking the test
 

In caring for the safety and welfare of the NGOs and NGIs, KPJ Bandar Dato’ Onn Specialist Hospital collaborated with IMSHA to sponsor Covid-19 RT-PCR swab tests for volunteers in the Red Zone areas.

"We care and appreciate the volunteers for helping the flood victims, by providing them with the RT-PCR Covid-19 test,” said KPJ Bandar Dato’ Onn Specialist Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Noor Haslina Harun.

"It is our hope that such measures could curb the spread of Covid-19 infection in the community," she added.

Edey Suresh, founder of the Social Hero Foundation and IMSHA, warmly welcomed the collaboration with KPJ Bandar Dato’ Onn Specialist Hospital.

He observed that handling a crisis during a pandemic raised new challenges but thanks to the caring society at large, the safety and spirit of humanitarian responders was never hampered.

“It is vital to deliver uninterrupted humanitarian aid to vulnerable people, but the challenge is to ensure that it is done while strictly obeying the SOP guidelines which is important for controlling the spread of Covid-19,” said Edey.

Helping to realise the collaboration was Dr Ng Kim Fong, President of Persatuan Doktor-Doktor Johor, who have been actively collaborating with many IMSHA Winners Network of NGOs and NGIs.

“It's amazing when NGOs in Johor work together as it enables us to give more to the people who are in need. We are honoured that Persatuan Doktor-Doktor Johor can play our role in this collaboration,” said Dr Ng Kim Fong.

Among the NGOs who took the tests were volunteers from Pertubuhan Ihsan Johor, Yayasan Kebajikan Suria, AmalTeam Johor, Kechara Soup Kitchen and Johor Women’s League (JEWEL).

IMSHA Leadership Council Chairman,
Thanam Visvanathan [Right] had her swab test
done in a drive-though exercise at
KPJ Bandar Dato' Onn Specialists Hospital

“Thank you to IMSHA and KPJ Bandar Dato’ Onn for your help and concern in ensuring that volunteers are kept healthy and free from illness for our sake and the people we visit. May we always be protected and continue to serve,” said Romzi Abdul Aziz from AmalTeam Johor.

Local humanitarian aid providers are not new to crisis situations but during the global pandemic, they are now exposed to the risk of infection while they provide relief to victims and vulnerable communities.

They shoulder the burden of providing aid to the communities that they have helped while Covid-19 adds to the already vast challenges they face.

To help them help others, you can connect with them to offer your support. For more details, kindly contact: Edey Suresh at the Social Hero Foundation, Tel: +6012 7265286 or send email to: edeysuresh@theiskandarian.com

Note:

The Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (IMSHA) is an annual event to ‘Spot, Recognise and Empower’ CSOs (Civil Society Organisations), NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations), NGIs (Non-Governmental Individuals) and Corporate entities who are making a difference in our communities through social service.

IMSHA is an initiative by the Social Hero Foundation (SHF) which is a non-profit organisation based in Johor. For the latest information on IMSHA, visit:

Website: http://socialheroawards.com/

FB page: www.facebook.com/socialheroawards

Medals, Discharge Certificate and a Testimonial

While sorting through the things in our cupboards recently, I came across three tarnished-looking medals that were kept aside with some yellowed documents that belonged to dad.

Dad [Third from Right] with his JB general
hospital colleagues and a Policeman [Right] 
[1950s when Policemen used to wear shorts!]

Conscious of the aged documents, I gently opened the fragile pages and took time to read them.

I smiled when I recognised the familiar font of a manual typewriter that was used to prepare the Release Testimonial issued to dad by the British General Hospital in Singapore.

The date, 16 January 1947, was hand-written along with the signature of the Officer-in-Charge (OC) at the BGH or British General Hospital.

There was more than one copy of this testimonial. The original was the top-most sheet with carbon copies – typed using carbon paper layered in between each sheet of paper – pinned together by a single long pin on the top left-hand corner.

It occurred to me that this document was more than 70 years old and staplers were probably not invented yet!

Dad's Release Testimonial pinned together 
with carbon copies

As I read on, my interest was piqued by the adjectives used to describe dad’s character and conduct.

The subject of the document was typed in capital letters, centered on top and simply read: RELEASE TESTIMONIAL

On the next line, dad’s name, his Private number and Royal Army Medical Corps, were underscored.

It went on to state his Military Character, which was: EXEMPLARY (In capitals!)

Dad’s testimonial read like this, and I quote the first paragraph:

“He has proved himself to be trustworthy, honest, sober, intelligent and conscientious; a diligent worker, willing and cooperative, has worked a year as Nursing Orderly, in which capacity he has been found to be knowledgeable and tactful, with excellent moral character.”

The next line in the final para read like this: “A straightforward, keen, stable type; good appearance, a non-smoker, good swimmer.”

Dad's Discharge Certificate and a covering note

I paused to digest how this Officer-in-Charge aptly described dad’s character and conduct. Then I read and re-read the document to ponder upon the descriptive adjectives.

I may be biased but I cannot help but agree with the OC that he was spot-on with his analysis of dad’s character and conduct!

A closer examination of the next document, the Discharge Certificate dated 30 March 1950, stated that dad was discharged from duties with effect from 29 January 1947.

His campaign and service abroad covered “Johore (spelling with an “e”) and Singapore.”

The Discharge Certificate and three medals

The Discharge Certificate was signed by the OC and the stamp affixed read as, “Officer-in-Charge, Overseas Record Office Singapore.”

Back then, Malaya and Singapore were one country…

Enclosed with this Discharge Certificate were Awards (three medals) and a document with the descriptions of a list of the medals.

The title printed on this document read: Campaign Stars, Clasps and Medals, instituted in recognition of service in the war of 1939 – 45.

I could match these tarnished old medals awarded to dad in recognition of his service, against this document which helped me better understand each medal. They were:

1] 1939/1945 Star

2] Pacific Star

3] War Medal

A list of medal descriptions
 

During World War Two, dad joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Nursing Orderly whose task as a medical first responder, was to rescue injured people and provide first-aid before sending them to the hospital.

Dad felt so fulfilled by this job that upon his discharge from the medical corps, he left Singapore and returned to Ipoh but was on the lookout for a similar job that would provide medical aid.

Not long after that, he saw a recruitment advertisement for Hospital Assistants with the Johor Baru General Hospital and did not hesitate to apply.

Overjoyed with his successful application, dad came to Johor Baru to join the JBGH (now Hospital Sultanah Aminah) as a trainee and qualified as Hospital Assistant (HA).

A rare shot of dad inside the dispensary in
Gelang Patah; This wooden building have
since been demolished.

Dad made JB his home when his career started in the JBGH and under the Health Department, he was later posted to work in various districts in Johor including Gelang Patah and Masai.

Looking back, it was no surprise that my dad and his exemplary work attitude with the Health services so inspired me to write countless stories about dad, his life and work including, My mentor, my dad, Going Back to Masai-chusetts and Travelling with Dad, published in my 2017 bestseller, My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage, and My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People.

Note: My Johor Stories series of books are available from MPH bookstores nationwide and online from www.mphonline

Still missing dad, five years on

As the fourth and fifth year passed in a blur of events, you are still dearly missed, Di.

This was a birthday card from me to dad

It is the start of 2021 and you will be pleased to know that mum is keeping well. She turned 88 in 2020 and is coping with her weak legs, aches and pains, and all the ailments that come with advancing age.

I often say, “There are no spare parts,” so we help mum to manage her discomfort with medicinal rubs, exercise, and massage therapies. With so much physical pain, now she feels comfortable when we wheel her about on the wheelchair.

In February 2020, we went to watch the award-winning movie, The Garden of Evening Mists, made into a film from a book by Malaysian novelist, Tan Twan Eng, that was first published in 2012.

Ready to enjoy watching the movie,
Garden of Evening Mists

I thought you would relate well with this historical drama because it was filmed at various sites in Pahang and Perak where the scenery reflected the beauty of Cameron Highlands in post-World War Two.

These are places you are familiar with because you grew up in Ipoh and spent your holidays with the Sung family, who were then based in Cameron Highlands.

We were glad to have caught it on the big screen (it was almost the last day for this show!) to better appreciate the panoramic views of the sweeping landscape scenes.

Incidentally, I watched this movie again when it was featured on the cable TV and a second viewing helped me better understand the story because the movie script differed slightly from the text in the book.

This movie outing was the last time we took mum out because by March 2020, the threat of the Covid19 pandemic had reached our shores and there was news about the nationwide lockdown and border closing between Malaysia and Singapore.

Mum enjoyed doing some gardening

Then in mid-March 2020, we received the sad news about the passing of grand-uncle Leong in Singapore. I know you and mum were close with grand-uncle and his wife, Lau Yee, and we did not hesitate to bring mum to his wake to pay our last respects.

Grand-uncle left peacefully at the ripe old age of 90 on March 13 and his funeral was arranged for March 17 when the border-closing between Malaysia and Singapore was scheduled to start from midnight on March 18.

While our relatives from the North had to cancel their travel plans into Singapore, Ruby and I managed to take mum across the causeway to attend the wake on March 16 and returned safely in a smooth drive.

At 9pm that same evening, the Malaysian Prime Minister announced the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO), a lockdown that would start from March 18 to 31.

Your African daisies in bloom!

Our timing was perfect because on March 17, the border-crossing was simply chaotic as those employed in Singapore or who had family members in Johor, made their decisions to cross the causeway to stay in either country when the border closed on March 18.

While we initially imagined that the MCO would be implemented for just two weeks, the lockdown period was extended from time to time.

After the Movement Control Order (MCO) expired, the lockdown continued with the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) that expired on June 9. Then we moved into the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), a lockdown period until August 31 with less limitations.

Since March 18, many families have been separated on both sides of the causeway – for some 300 days and counting – while the border between the two countries remained closed in early 2021.

Your Dancing Ladies in bloom!

On April 4, we received another sad news that Granduncle Mak, in a Singapore nursing home, had passed peacefully. Due to the MCO in Malaysia and the Circuit Breaker in force in Singapore, only his immediate family could attend the funeral.

The Stay Home to Stay Safe concept was something new for many elderly folks who were used to their usual routines. It took some time to explain it to mum and as we showed her the daily news, she managed to grasp its seriousness.

Uncle Roland and his wife, Aunty Elizabeth, who were staying with cousin Philip during the lockdown, were however, struggling to cope with the Stay-Home restrictions.

Every now and then, I would receive a call from Philip who would air his rants about the challenges in coping with his father, who kept insisting on going back to Kota Tinggi.

Fresh durian for mum to enjoy!

Before the MCO, both uncle and aunty were unwell and admitted to the Kota Tinggi hospital as well as Hospital Sultan Ismail, several times for various ailments arising from old age. On May 14, Aunty passed peacefully due to complications due to diabetes.

Ruby and I supported the family through this bereavement, especially as there were strict rules to follow for wakes and funerals during the MCO. Mum was understandably, deeply affected by her passing.

We were thankful that mum gradually understood and accepted the “new normal” and adjusted to it by keeping herself busy at home, cooking, gardening, and watching Cantonese TV drama series in the evenings.

At the peak of the MCO, only one member of the family was permitted to go out and only for essential reasons like grocery shopping or medical aid. So, no prizes for the right guess, who had to do the grocery shopping…

Finally her pretty self again!

It was usually during breakfast that I would ask mum to tell me what items she needed, and I would write a list of what to get and from where. As you well know, she has her preferred choices of specific items to buy from which merchant, so I obeyed her every wish to meet with her requirements.

Interestingly, there were food ingredients like some types of preserved vegetables that mum would say only in Cantonese or Teochew dialect. I would then ask her to describe, just to learn what each item was – lest the merchant tried to sell me something else!

Mum would also describe the shape of the bottle or jar and the colour or picture on the label to help me find the specific item or sauce. It was indeed eye-opening for me to discover the ingredients that mum preferred from among the wide choices available in the market!

The Stay-Home experience was also good for me because I finally got down to tackling the long-overdue projects at home. I must confess that since you left us, it was just too difficult to deal with your stuff, Di.

Mum with her two younger
sisters, Polly [Left] and Sylvia
at mum's birthday in September

One of these tasks was to clear and dismantle the storage rack in the garage where you stored spare electrical wires, sockets, nuts and bolts, for “just in case” they may be useful again. You will be pleased to know that I gave it all away to one who would put your things to good use.

Another long overdue task was to declutter my wardrobe (!!). I did not know it then but looking back, I am glad I completed this project comfortably then because later in the year, this decluttering was one less task to do.

The storehouse was another space to declutter. I had the team from Yellow Box over to help collect the old newspapers, glass, paper and plastic that were accumulated, and had them all cleared out for recycling.

On June 10, hardly a month since the passing of his wife, Uncle Roland succumbed to his illness and passed peacefully at age 89. Thankfully, travel restrictions were relaxed for the RMCO and with inter-state travel opened, his siblings could come for his funeral and send-off.

It was already mid-June when we finally ventured further in search of fresh durian for mum to indulge her desire for The King of Fruits. This was indeed a timely treat for mum as she was strictly obeying the Stay-Home advice.

Meanwhile, mum and I have not had our regular haircuts since March and with our short hairstyles growing out of shape (Read: control), we kept our hair in place with the use of hairbands. Our much-needed haircuts were – to say the least – a major relieve.

When hairdressers could open again, I fixed an appointment for myself first. It was a by-appointment-only arrangement so I went for the first hairdressing experience since the MCO so that I could prepare mum, when she would go next to pretty herself again.

In early September, mum’s sisters and their spouses came to celebrate mum’s birthday. We had a low-key birthday dinner where we were compelled to sit apart according to physical distancing rules, even though we were within a private dining room (!!)

You and mum shared more than
fifty years together!

It was good to be together again, but we could not help feeling a tinge of sadness because thus far in 2020, four senior family members had left us due to old age and illness.

Then on September 12, we received sad news from the UK that Pearly’s father-in-law had also passed peacefully. Grandad Wallace’s passing brought the total number of family members who had left us in 2020, to five.

All this sadness impacted mum emotionally, but I was deeply concerned when she showed symptoms like shortness of breath and general physical discomfort.

As you know, mum usually found physical relieve after a session of kuat-sar traditional massage but this time, there was only temporary relieve and after a day or two, she would feel uncomfortable again. This called for more frequent kuat-sar treatments and when mum was not feeling better, it made me more worried.

A meaningful message scribbled 
 inside a card to us...

When mum finally agreed to consult the physician, an appointment was fixed for the afternoon of Nov 5. But on that very morning, her symptoms were so scary that Ruby and I did not hesitate to rush mum to the Emergency Room.

Thankfully, mum’s hospital-stay from Nov 5 to 9 with the doctor’s tests and treatments, yielded a positive result. By simply reducing the daily dosage in her regular prescriptions from the Government clinic, mum gradually recovered, and her breathing became normal again.

After her discharge from the hospital, Ruby stayed with us to lend a hand to help with managing mum because she was still physically weak after her ordeal.

On Nov 17, Ruby invited mum and I to move in to stay with her. Mum responded without hesitation, probably because she knew that I could no longer manage her alone and realized that Ruby and I could do better together.

Your pair of wedding rings!

The following weeks were a frenzy of sorting through things that were accumulated from some 43 years in this house. It was amazing how we managed to sort, sell, dump, keep or give away so many things!

We uncovered a treasure trove of wonderful memories not only from old stuff but also from the cards and letters received. The messages scribbled are a warm reminder of the values you have instilled in us and I remember how you enjoyed making music with your banjo-mandolin for our sing-along sessions.

While mum and I were going through her things, I saw your wedding rings and read the engraving within. I know you and mum did not wear your rings constantly because it was not part of your uniform and for mum, due to the nature of her work.

Ferrying mum and Trixie to our
new home on Dec 15, 2020

From time to time, I would talk to mum about the impending move so that we could internalize the thought and prepare ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. Mum had made a home with you and our family here, and we know that any change from a familiar place would be very traumatic.

On Dec 15, with the help of Charles and Siew Ying, Joy and Teck Hui, Ruby and I made the physical move happen without a hitch. All of us, including Trixie, are gradually adjusting to the change, and settling down into a new routine in the new place.

Incidentally, Amanda has relocated to Johor Baru to start her career with an international school here. On Dec 31, we shifted the final large item to her place. From the documents inside the piano stool, we know you will like her to have your piano!

Then on Jan 11, Day 300 of the CMCO, the Prime Minister announced that, in a further attempt to break the chain of infection, Johor will go into lockdown again for two weeks from Jan 13 to 26 under MCO 2.0. So once again, we are staying home to stay safe.

Removing the last large item: your piano!

By the way Di, we can no longer mark your departure with a meal at Niniq because this popular café had no alternative but to close, along with many businesses affected by the lockdown due to the global pandemic.

A great deal has changed in the past few months, but something remains unchanged. Mum will always be loved and well taken care of. And now she is blessed with two daughters and one grand-daughter close to her. 

We love and miss you so much, Di.