As
the itinerary of the epic Asian Adventure for my sister, Pearly, and her family
was coming to an end, she made an effort to prepare her grandkids with the fact
that she would not be leaving with them but was extending her stay in Johor.
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One for the family album: Photo memento of
92nd birthday celebration at Qing Palace
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After
spending much time together, travelling to various exciting destinations and
enjoying many experiences together, the grandkids needed to deal with the temporary
separation with the assurance that she should be home in 10 days’ time.
“I
want to spend more time with my mummy,” I heard Pearly tell her grandkids and
while they accepted this reason, it was still a painful parting at the airport
Departure gates.
After
my nephew, Jamie, and his family left for UK via Singapore, my brother and his
wife – who hosted their stay in Johor Bahru – arranged to leave for Kuala
Lumpur.
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With me at Legoland on their extended stay
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This
was because they were responsible for an airport pick-up from KLIA when Aunty
Polly and Uncle Steven returned from Sydney after their three-month stay.
Once
they have unpacked their bags, they will repack another travel bag for a drive
to Johor Bahru to meet with Pearly and her daughter, Melanie, whose extended
stay here coincided with our mum’s 92nd birthday in early September.
And
so it was arranged for my brother and his wife to escort Uncle and Aunty, along
with Aunty Sylvia, from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru (again!) to join us for
mum’s birthday celebration.
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Aunt Polly and Uncle Steven checking-in
at Sydney airport to return to Kuala Lumpur
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Meanwhile,
I was tasked to make reservations for a special dinner at a Chinese restaurant
of our choice and this discussion was shared among the Loh siblings, to
coordinate guests, travel time, cake and menu, among other arrangements.
When
Pearly and her family arrived from the UK in August 2024, Ruby, our eldest
sister, was enjoying a wintry time with her sons and grandkids in Perth,
Australia.
On
the first evening Pearly’s family was in Johor Bahru, Ruby and her family
joined us via video call from Australia when we sat down for dinner with their
grandkids’ great-grandmother.
It
was the wonder of modern technology that brought our mother’s children,
grandchildren and great-grandkids together – virtually – over dinner in Johor
Bahru.
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My sister, Ruby, with son, Aaron, his wife
and daughter, on the flight back from Perth
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When
Jamie and his family returned to the UK, Ruby and her son, Aaron with his
family, were on road trip with farm-stay fun in the region around Margaret
River.
Aaron
and his wife were on leave to enjoy this road trip with his mother but when
they saw that Aunty Pearly had extended her stay which would coincide with their
grandmother’s 92nd birthday, Aaron thought that it would be more
meaningful if all of his grandmother’s children could be together for this
special occasion.
As
he pondered on this idea, Aaron did not hesitate to check online for flights
and the possibility of travelling back with his mother, for this. After all,
they were on leave and could possibly make a flying trip via Singapore to be in
Johor Bahru for a few days…
Using
his accumulated Frequent Flyer Points and for a small fee, Aaron was delighted
to find suitable flights to fly in with his mother and family, to spring a
surprise on everyone!
Everyone
except me.
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Aunts and nieces meet again for lunch
at dim sum restaurant
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One
afternoon while I was seated at the dining table, having afternoon tea with our
mother, Pearly and her daughter, I received a brief WhatsApp message from
Aaron’s wife who said, “Hi Ah Yee,* are you at home? Do you have a few minutes
to chat privately please?”
When
I replied, “I’m here,” it did not take long for my phone to signal a call. I
grabbed my phone, retreated into the downstairs bathroom and shut the door for
a brief video chat with Aaron and his wife.
Their
first question was, “Can you arrange more seats at the birthday dinner?”
In
our hushed conversation – punctuated by much laughter – they confirmed a travel
plan to arrive from Perth a day ahead of my brother with the aunties and uncle
who would be coming from Kuala Lumpur.
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Brendon with his grandmother,
exchanging birthday gifts
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My
task was to prepare the bed linen for them as their flight should touch down in
Singapore in the evening and by the time they reached home, it would be close
to bedtime.
After
our surreptitious video chat, it was rather difficult to keep a straight face
when I returned to the table but I did and managed to hug this little secret to
myself over the next few days.
On
the day of their surprise return from Perth, I arranged for Pearly, her
daughter and our niece to have dinner with my mother and I, so that we would
all be in the house when they turned up.
Our
niece, Amanda, whose parents were in Kuala Lumpur to meet Uncle and Auntie on
their arrival at KLIA, was confused when she heard the sound of the auto-gate
opening because her parents were the other ones who had keys to this house.
I
saw that surprised expression on her face but kept silent. Her senses on high alert,
she turned to look at the front door the moment she heard it click and saw the
door open to reveal her cousin, Aaron and his mother, Ruby, stepping in…
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Our mother with her sisters,
Polly [Left] and Sylvia [Right]
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She
leapt off her chair with a squeal of surprise and pandemonium prevailed as hugs
and greetings were exchanged in very successfully staged surprise!
It
was a delightful reunion and when there was time to catch a breath, Pearly
turned to me with a quizzical expression and asked, “Did anyone know about
it?”
When
Aaron said, “Thanks, Ah Yee,” they knew that I did a good job in keeping my
lips sealed for them to successfully spring such a surprise.
We
reminded each other not to post any photographs in the family chat groups so as
to maintain the surprise element for those arriving from Kuala Lumpur the next
day.
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Abigail, my sister, Ruby's grand-daughter,
singing the Birthday Song to great-grandmother
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Then
arrangements were made for everyone to meet for lunch at our family’s favourite
dim sum restaurant the next day. The first to arrive were those in Johor Bahru
and the family from Perth, comfortably seated around a large round table.
So
when my brother, his wife and son arrived along with the aunts and uncle, they
could not believe their eyes, pleasantly surprised to see the family from Perth
here.
[After
my brother’s son, Brendon, was born a day after our mother’s birthday, we often
celebrated their two birthdays together. With his presence here, we happily
anticipated a double celebration…]
Meanwhile,
I had made prior arrangements with the restaurant and extended invitations to
friends of the family to join our mother’s birthday celebration at one of our
favorite Chinese restaurants.
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With mother on her 92nd birthday
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So
the unexpected presence of Ruby, her son, his wife and daughter here, continued
to surprise our friends when they arrived for the birthday celebration.
Our
evening kicked off (as always!) with a photo session at the familiar front
lobby of the restaurant, to capture special mementoes of our time together.
Family
and friendships were celebrated with good food in the joyous occasion of our
mother’s 92nd birthday.
And
when the cake was presented with lighted candles, we sang the Birthday Song
that was spontaneously followed by our rendition of an Indonesian/Malay folk
song, Burung Gagak Tua!
Earlier
that day, this song came up in conversation because my mother said that she
only had two of her own teeth left to support her dentures.
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Pearly [Right] and her daughter, Melanie, each
wearing one side of pairs of jade and diamond
earrings, received from grandmother
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When
I started singing the lyrics, “Gigi nya tinggal dua,” Malay for “she has
only two teeth left,” from the Burung Gagak Tua song, Melanie was so
intrigued that she did not hesitate to check online for its lyrics.
She
not only found the lyrics but also the music which she played to help jog our
memories for this familiar folk song which we used to sing in our childhood
days.
So
it was simply wonderful to have our aunts joining in to sing Burung Gagak
Tua, just as we did to make our own music and entertainment in our growing
up years when we lived together in grandfather’s house, once located at No. 154
Jalan Ngee Heng.
[More
recollections of Growing Up in Grandfather’s House are documented in the
third and final instalment that completed the trilogy of My Johor Stories, My
Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now.]
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Birthday lunch for Brendon
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Family
feasting continued the next day when we gathered again at a neighbourhood café
to celebrate another birthday, that of our nephew, Brendon.
With
the family gatherings behind us, it was then time for farewells. Prior to the
dates, I prepared our mother with information about those who would be leaving
as she needed to be reminded and reassured.
First
to leave was Brendon, who had to get back to work in Kuala Lumpur. Then Pearly
and Melanie, who returned to the UK after their extended stay.
I
also reminded her that Aaron and his family with his mother, would be heading
to the airport in the afternoon of the very next day to leave for Perth.
Our
aunts and uncle continued their stay to enjoy favourite local food and spend
time with old friends in Johor Bahru before they too left for Kuala Lumpur with
my brother and his wife.
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Enjoying birthday lunch together
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In
her old age, my mother is aware of her limits. She was just happy to have her
family visit and understand that they have lives of their own. She also accepted
the fact that they will eventually leave after a visit.
After
their return, each one had stayed in touch while Pearly had called and chatted
by video again so my mother could feel that she was nearby.
My
mother agreed that people are now like birds … able to fly from one place to
another so quickly. Time also flies, so maybe they will just turn up again very
soon.
*Ah
Yee is the honorific in Cantonese, to address the younger sister of one’s
mother.
Whereas,
the Cantonese honorific to address the older sister of one’s father is Kumah.
[I learnt about this tradition because I am addressed by these two titles.]
