My first novel done, on the way to be edited and hopefully be published. I am now embarking on a second book, my biography, started this morning after Suboh prayer. Below is part of the introduction: After the war my father was one of those lucky people who had English education and was able to land himself a job, first as a dresser or male nurse, and later transferred to the then Sanitary Board as a Sanitary Inspector. Daily he went with his trusty old bicycle around town to organize clean ups and disposal of garbage. My mom kept home, Aisah and Musnah stayed with us until he step daughter married a Malay lad of some noble family background, Awangku Momin. He was to rise to the very pinnacle of his career in the late sixties and seventies becoming the Menteri Besar of Brunei. Allah had destined that Musnah, the Chinese baby who had been given away by her Sim family in the belief she was sui, brought home to his barren former nannys for adoption, would eventually have a very comfortable life rubbing shoulders with royalties and be part of the dignitary circle. God does work in the most mysterious ways! Awangku Momin, Musnah and Aisah moved to a class F government semi-detached house to start a family and begin their long journey to prominence here. For us life went on as usual. By now we are occupying a class E single family government bungalow and I became more aware of my surroundings. Waking up as usual to the sound of Chua Ah Sengs violin rendition of Malay songs such as Terang Bulan, Dondang Sayang, etc, life was simple by without the hustle and rush associated with modern live. Ah Seng would stand at the open window of his bedroom in his blue stripes pajama fiddling on his violin while his wife Ah Taw prepared breakfast for their several daughters and son Eric. Chua Ah Seng was a senior Dresser at the old hospital and was experienced to treat simple ailments such as my frequent tonsil infections, cough and cold. He was our family doctor for a while. His wife Ah Taw was my mothers constant companion and when their housekeeping chores were done they would meet for some gossip and card games, occasionally other lady friends would join them. Other times a young girl Bibi, the daughter of our other next door neighbor midwife Amadah would come and keep them company. Otherwise what was there to do, without the benefit of television, and we still could not afford those expensive European and American radio sets such as Philips, Pye, Grundig and Telefunken. We did have my great-grand mothers antique gramophone complete with the brass funnel, but no one was allowed to touch that, except my father. Have a nice day and enjoy reading.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 04:28:09 +0000
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