Thanks for the gift of a comma

 

Readers of My Johor Stories are aware that I have been away from Johor as I have not been posting pieces on Johor for a while. Instead, I shared a series of stories in my Travelogue that took readers on a virtual trip with me in and around Sydney, Australia.

 

This time away to me, was the comma, a long-awaited pause in my sentence. A gift presented to me by my siblings, for me to have a change in my daily routine.

 

[The comma is a punctuation mark used to separate parts of a sentence to clarify meaning and adds a pause or ‘breathing space’ to make a complex sentence more readable.]

 

This time-out was a timely break from my regular routine of work and family commitments. Just time away to do something different. After all, I did have a very eventful 2025, and that January 2026 marked exactly 10 years since dad left us.

 

Time away has let me take stock of the past five years where I completed a total of six book projects, leading Heritage Walks, giving talks and promoting My Johor Stories in my pop-up book stores while juggling family and domestic responsibilities.

 

There were three books in the trilogy of My Johor Stories where the first book went to the Number One spot in the MPH Non-Fiction Bestsellers list in the first week of its launch and was counted among the Best of MPH at the end of 2017.

 

Following the success of My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage, I worked on its sequel, My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People, published in 2018.

 

Then came the global pandemic which delayed the publication of the third and final instalment of My Johor Stories. With the support of MPH Publishing Kuala Lumpur, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, was finally published in 2022.

 

I am grateful for the support of hotels and resorts who bought My Johor Stories books and placed them in their better rooms, suites and villas for guests’ reading pleasure.

 

It was a wonderful way for guests to read about Johor and then go out to explore more of Johor. And it was through reading my book in a resort that started me on my next book project.

 

Soon as the borders were reopened and people were able to travel again after the pandemic, families took the opportunity to spend time at resorts in Johor’s beautiful Desaru Coast.

 

While relaxing in a resort in Desaru Coast, a member of the Tan family read My Johor Stories, and recognized names of people documented in my book. They were the same as what her father, a retired lawyer in Johor Bahru, wrote in his memoirs.

 

After his retirement, he moved to Singapore and was encouraged to write about his most memorable court cases. His daughter, who read my book then had the idea to document her father’s story along with his memoirs in a book as a tribute to him for the benefit of his family and grandchildren. And she reached out to me.

 

This, I was later told, was because his oncologist said that he did not have much time left. This info was the impetus which compelled me to work with the Tan family to write this tribute book without any delay.

 

I did not meet the members of the Tan family but only communicated by email and WhatsApp to exchange information, documents and photographs as we worked on this book project with a sense of urgency.

 

In addition to compiling, writing and proofreading, I also connected them with the printer to help with the printing of this book for private distribution within their family.

 

It was good to finally meet the Tan family members when they came to collect the books, as I already got to know them from their names and writing about this family.

 

We were sad that her father did not live to see the book titled, Tan Kiah Teck – A Kampung Boy’s Search for Truth and Justice. It meant a great deal to this family to have his words documented for future generations to hear his voice through this book.

 

In a Tan family gathering on Christmas eve 2023, this book was presented to family members and a copy was placed in the niche where his remains were interred.

 

Then in March 2024, I received a query about how to get a copy of a book that documented the life and ministry of Colleen Redit, a missionary in India whose ministry in Madras (now Chennai) India, started with rescuing women and children.

 

Over the years, the scope of her mission work expanded and I had the privilege to document her life story and work in a book, titled, Realising a Vision through Faith: The Autobiography of Colleen M. Redit, published in 2013. [This book was distributed among the churches and now available online through amazon.com]

 

As I was reminded about this – which was in fact, my very first book project – I decided to put into action, the plan to compile and document the story of our own assembly and its work in Johor Bahru, that was planted more than 50 years ago.

 

Cockatoos that come to rest on trees
close to the balcony at Concord, Sydney NSW

From reading through old record books in chronological order, I was able to get a sense of the work of the assembly since the early years and I took time to list out the names of the guest speakers, invited to share in the pulpit ministry.

 

Over the next few months, the manuscript was slowly stitched together, the cover design completed and the book given a title, Milestones on our Journey in Faith – Johor Bahru Gospel Chapel. By the end of June 2025, this book was ready for distribution among assembly members, both past and present.

 

Meanwhile back in 2024, there was talk about the Centennial Celebrations of our alma mater, the Johor Bahru Convent – the only Convent School in this city – planned for August 2025. Among the ideas proposed for the year-long celebration were a fund-raising dinner, a Convent Fun Run, Centenary Celebration T-shirts and the publication of a 100-Year Anniversary Souvenir Book.

 

Spotted My Johor Stories books in the book
case in Malcolm's house; Book One is missing
because it was a Bestseller and already sold-out!

I was invited to join online meetings with the Fund-Raising Committee to learn more about their proposed plans and ideas where all proceeds will be channeled to the school fund for building maintenance projects.

 

I saw the urgent need to work on this book project for the school, especially with the fund-raising activities in view and the desperately limited time ahead. And if this book should be ready for the Fun Run and dinner celebration in August, we had to start on the project like – yesterday!

 

Working with a small but dynamic Book Team, we met regularly online and through our discussions, agreed to keep production costs low and create a book that will celebrate the school’s work over the decades through the successes and achievement of the alumni.

 

On the way to Burwood, 
Sydney NSW

The Team worked in tandem to carry out various tasks and because this Souvenir Book will be sold to alumni and distributed widely, we also applied for the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and got it approved for the book.

 

Keeping to strict deadlines and working closely with the printer, this Book Team managed to get the books ready for the Fun Run, held a week ahead of the dinner celebration at end August 2025.

 

The work was not over yet as the Team coordinated the sale and distribution of these Limited Edition books to alumni who preordered and required delivery by courier to destinations locally and abroad.

 

Dinner with Uncle, Auntie, Gillian,
Michael, Malcolm and Yeen at 
La Cocina Spanish Restaurant
Crows Nest, Sydney NSW

So here I am, having completed six book projects in the past five years. It was a great deal of work but it was worth the effort.

 

I am pleased with how these books have benefited others and even today, I am delighted to receive an email with a query, asking me where he can get My Johor Stories books! [From MPH bookstores nationwide or online from mphonline]

 

I was more than due for a pleasant change, a comma in my sentence, in a different place, with another arm of our widespread family located around the globe.

 

“Good to see you on this side of the world,” said Eva. “I hope you had a fabulous time,” she added. I replied, “Yes, I did, thank you.”

 

I did so with the help of cousin Malcolm, my very able tour guide, who gave me various experiences at different destinations in and around Sydney.

 

Gelato treat after dinner together;
Crows Nest, Sydney NSW

I was pleased to share my experiences documented in a Travelogue (for me to recall and reminisce!) and by reading it, I took my readers who included relatives and friends, on a virtual tour.

 

One of the comments I received from a school friend went like this: “Such interesting experiences, Peggy! Can I engage Malcolm and Auntie Polly to be my guides if ever I go down to Sydney?”

 

Another friend who visits Sydney regularly said: “It is good you can share all these experiences and places with me. There are still many places I have not been to in Australia.”

 

Yet another said: “Thanks for your stories filled with so much fun and excitement. Above all, precious time with your cousins, Auntie Polly and Uncle Steven… Am sure you will bring back with you, treasured and enriching memories!”

 

Dinner with Malcolm, Yeen and family
at Delhi Palace, Strathfield, Sydney NSW

Indeed! My stay happened to coincide with the Chinese New Year season so it was a different experience for me where family still gathered for feasting but with the (thankfully!) absence of “bombing” explosions from firecrackers and fireworks.

 

I am deeply grateful and blessed by the generous hospitality of my hosts, Malcolm and Yeen, who let me share their home and to Gillian and Michael for my glamping stay with them at Dee Why. Words alone cannot express how much I appreciate it.

 

In addition to Auntie Polly and Uncle Steven who shared with me exciting experiences in Dee Why and nearby Collaroy, I also had the pleasure to explore country towns with Alex and Dex, and had the company of Ben who escorted me around Cockatoo Island and in climbing The Rocks. Whew!

 

So Thank You all, for this precious gift of a comma, a breathing space, before I continue writing my sentence.

 

#MyJohorStoriesTravelogue

#MyJohorStoriesFebruary2026

Craggy cliffs at Kamay Botany Bay

 

It rained ever so heavily the night before, the first time during my stay in Sydney that I saw the rain come down much like the tropical monsoons we have in Malaysia.

 

Craggy cliffs and rocky shores at
Kamay Botany Bay National Park

And then next morning, there were reports of flooding and damage in some low-lying areas in and around the city. The skies were overcast and cloudy while temperatures cooled down substantially compared to the past few weeks of scorching sunshine.

 

I was having breakfast when Malcolm told me that we will go for a drive later. With the weather forecast for cloudy skies, I was relieved that his idea was for a drive rather than for a walk.

 

Last month, when we met with his friend, Geradine and daughter, Natasha, and visited St Charbel church, he wanted to take us to the Southern shores to show us the craggy cliffs at Kamay Botany Bay National Park. However, due to time constraints, he changed the plan and brought us to the La Perouse beach instead.

 

No pets allowed!

Malcolm was determined to show me this southern part of Sydney which he thinks is raw and wild yet very scenic compared to the more densely populated Northern Beaches.

 

While La Perouse is the northern headland of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, the Kurnell area near Cronulla, is at the southern headland of this National Park, renowned for NSW’s most significant heritage sites and an ideal lookout point for whale-watching.

 

Botany Bay, specifically Kamay Botany Bay National Park, is renowned as it was where Captain James Cook first landed in Australia in 1770, marking the start of the history of modern Australia.

 

The whale migrating season for humpback whales was June and July as they migrate to warmer waters but they may also be spotted between May and October. Some whales have even come as close to 200 meters from the coast.

 

A panoramic view of Kamay Botany Bay

We were however, not in any of the whale-spotting seasons, so I was going to be content just to experience the wild and wonderful natural beauty of this site.

 

The wind was whipping around me...

So we set off for a drive in a light drizzle, heading to Cape Solander in the Kurnell suburb. Along the route, I enjoyed reading the road names and as I saw that many were similar to road names in England, Malcolm and I had a chat about it.

 

He said that in almost every main city in Australia, there were streets, roads and lanes named after royalty as in King, Queen, Prince or Princess and their names like, George, Edward and Elizabeth. We agreed that this was probably because the British who first came to Australia decided on these names which were familiar to them.

 

On the comfortable track for a walk

When we arrived at the entrance to the Park in Cape Solander, the staff in a guardhouse said a one-time car entry fee was required. Malcolm remembered that in the past, cars were allowed to enter and required to pay parking fees at designated areas but the system has now been changed.

 

When we drove in, he discovered that the Visitor Centre was closed while parts of the Park was undergoing infrastructure upgrades. We parked near the main pavilion at the lookout point, got out of the car and was instantly whipped by gusty winds.

 

Malcolm told me that this sheltered pavilion as well as much of the paved walkway, designed with several blocks of concrete benches, were new structures provided for visitors to be more comfortable while whale-watching.

 

There were several walking trails throughout the Park but overlooking the cliffs, walking tracks have been marked out for a comfortable walk along the coast.

 

The rocky ledge with an edge to a sheer
drop to the restless sea below

Signs put up at clearly visible points reminded visitors that these were unfenced cliffs and people should stick to walking on the marked walking tracks.

 

However, if recalcitrant visitors did venture onto the rocks, it made sense not to walk close to the cliff edges as the overhanging rocks may be very thin due to erosion. Any extra weight on these brittle rocks may just cause it to break.

 

A rocky ledge looked deceptively safe but over its edge was a sheer drop below to the restless sea. In the distance, we saw wild waves crashing onto the rocky sides of the cliffs.

 

As we walked along the track, the wind that whipped around us was so strong that it threatened to knock me off my feet so I walked carefully to keep my balance.

 

Malcolm captured some good videos and panoramic photos of the vista and when we reviewed the videos, we could even hear the vibrating sound of the wild winds.

 

It was almost the end of summer in Australia so there were just a few others like us who ventured out this far south to explore and experience the rugged beauty of these mighty cliffs.

 

A we-fie with the rugged coast in background

As we enjoyed the wild and rustic views, I can understand why Botany Bay is a popular film location used for productions from BBC dramas to Tamil action films, along with being the backdrop for music videos and commercials.

 

After having our fill of the panoramic views of sea, sky and soaring cliffs, we left the Park and drove on to Cronulla for a drive-through to see this charming sea-side suburb.

 

Then onward to Hurstville where we stopped for a light lunch* and a walkabout in the shops before heading back slowly through after-school traffic.

 

*Only a light lunch because in these two days, we have family dinners lined up and we should ‘keep some space’ for feasting together again. My stay in Sydney is drawing to a close and I would like to dine with the family here before I leave.

 

#MyJohorStoriesTravelogue

#MyJohorStoriesFebruary2026

 

A family soiree to remember

 

When cousin Eva and I met at our family reunion on the eve of Chinese New Year, she was delighted to discover that I should be around for a few more days and wanted to invite us over.

 

Uncle Steven giving Eva the thumbs-up
while Michael and Dexter look on

She whipped out her phone, promptly extended an invitation to the family for a barbecue at her place the following weekend and locked in the date.

 

It was still the Chinese New Year season so home visits like this was in the ‘open house’ tradition no matter what country we were in. Eva and Caro had moved into a new place and they were keen to welcome the family over to their home.

 

Cousin Gillian, who abstains from eating beef, politely reminded Eva about it and she made a note to prepare a choice of meats with special consideration for Gi.

 

Auntie Polly with Eva while she was
grilling the whole prawns

That evening, the drive over was familiar as they still lived in the same suburb but have shifted from an apartment into a cosy corner house with three floors designed with a garage and a rear courtyard.

 

It was still bright when we arrived and as we stepped indoors, the sound of cool, jazzy music wrapped us a very warm welcome. We were ushered into the charming courtyard where a dining table was arranged under the fronds of a shady tree.

 

To tell us about this tree, Caro plucked a few leaves and crushed them in her palm for its fragrance. One whiff of its aroma and we could tell it was a matured curry leaf tree.

 

Uncle Steven and Auntie Polly checking
out the beef rump bap on the rotisserie

There was also a small herb garden while potted plants lined the walls of the courtyard, creating a warm and calming green backdrop to our evening.

 

As we were the first to arrive, Caro invited us on a tour of their house. Meanwhile the others arrived and everyone moved to the courtyard where the meal would be served.

 

Drinks were offered and served, both hard and soft drinks, for everyone to enjoy with the finger food that was presented in separate courses.

 

Caro serving a platter
of grilled lamb cutlets

Eva, master-chef for the day, was working at a barbecue grill, grilling whole prawns. At the opposite end of the courtyard, a portion of juicy beef – a rump cap – was gently roasting in a rotisserie. After the prawns, tender lamb cutlets were grilled.

 

Eva disappeared into the kitchen for a while and when she emerged, she served a platter of fried chicken wings – specially for Gillian – but we were also welcome to have a taste.

 

The chicken wings were not deep-fried but stir-fried in a special secret recipe with a hint of zing which we all agreed, was finger-lickin’ good.

 

The sun was slowly setting so the small light bulbs strung across the tree in the courtyard while lit up. Candles were lighted and placed inside woven baskets, fastened to the tree. All this worked together to cast a golden glow on the courtyard.

 

Eva and stir-fried
chicken wings in her secret recipe

Eva went to check on the beef and decided it should be rested before being sliced and served as the main course.

 

Then vegetables like broccolini and colourful small capsicum were grilled together before the corn ribs were grilled. Meanwhile a portion of coleslaw was chilled, ready to be served. All this was happening ‘live’ as we enjoyed the leisurely meal in casual comfort.

 

Conversation flowed freely, with Uncle Steven and Malcolm taking turns to discuss topics of interest. After the small plates were cleared away, dinner plates and cutlery were brought to the table.

 

Suddenly Alex called out to me, said that her aunt was carving the beef and asked if I wanted to capture a photo of the action?

 

Broccolini and colourful
capsicum on the grill

So there I was in the kitchen to watch as Eva skillfully slice the Medium roasted rump cap into juicy slices. In the courtyard, dinner plates were laid out and Caro served portions of vegetables, corn ribs and coleslaw on each plate.

 

When Eva presented the platter of sliced, mouthwatering beef to the table, there was a collective exclamation of, “Wow!”

 

Earlier on, she had placed on the table, two choices of specialized compound butter as well as two types of creamy horseradish sauce for us to melt on the meat for added flavour.

 

Everyone was invited to help themselves to their pick of a piece or two of beef, whether big or small, and top it with a choice of sauce that meets with their taste.

 

Master-chef Eva in action!

No more talking while our mouths got busy savouring the food as jazz music spilled out into the courtyard and enveloped us with its cool vibe.

 

When we put down our forks and knives, everyone agreed that Eva certainly outdid herself by presenting us with such a satisfying spread. But it was not over yet. Wait!

 

Dessert was coming!

 

In the kitchen, Eva was putting the final touches to her homemade Banoffee pie.

 

When we saw her dessert pie, once again, there was a collective sigh of appreciation. She divided and served it, making sure everyone had a portion to enjoy a sweet ending that tasted of a classic biscuit base, oozy caramel, slices of fresh banana, cream and chocolate. Mmm… Simply irresistible!

 

Homemade Banoffee pie; next to it pink
jelly in grandmother's recipe made by Auntie

Throughout the evening, Eva and Caro were such good hosts who made sure all of us had our drinks refreshed and had enough to eat.

 

After we had polished off our dessert plates, Eva came around with a small basket of empty glasses – shot glasses and wine glasses – and asked us to pick one glass for ourselves.

 

I did not see when she had laid out a wooden cask on a nearby table, ready to serve us an after-dinner drink of aged port. Then one-by-one, she filled our glasses and served us her treasured old port for us to sip slowly to savour its complex flavours.

 

A family soiree in Sydney
to remember

As it was still Chinese New Year season, Auntie Polly presented hong pau [Cantonese for Red Packets filled with lai see or fortune money!] to the two present who were eligible to receive: Ben and I.

 

We were still lingering over our sweet digestifs when we felt the first raindrops. At first, we chose to ignore it but as more raindrops came down, we had to retreat into the house. And then it was time to leave.

 

Thank you, Eva and Caro for your warm hospitality at a memorable family soiree. Happy Chinese New Year and Congratulations on your New Home!

 

#MyJohorStoriesTravelogue

#MyJohorStoriesFebruary2026