My Grandma....

She is a loving, compassionate and kind lady.

She treats her friends like a family member, giving comfort, console and advice whenever they encounter troubles.

She tells her grandchildren about her past, be it happy or unhappy events. All these stories help us to know her better.

She talks to me individually sometimes to ask how my school and working life is. After that she will give me her valuable advice.

She loves yellow and bright colour flowers. When she sees them, she will then smile widely, showing only her two front teeth.

She loves yummy food and eats them with joy and laughter.

Who is she?
She is no other person but my beloved GRANDMOTHER!

Losing her is a painful experience but knowing that she is at a better place, I will always be happy for her.

Without her being here with us physically doesn’t mean losing her forever, because she will always stay in my heart for as long as I am alive.

With love....Jillian

Mum's Recipes

Mum never really cooked for us until Dad's passing.

I remember very distinctly her incessant wailing when Dad left us, spelling her pain of loss and uncertainties about life ahead. We were young and ignorant then.

Dad's illness and death had wiped out whatever little savings we had. But mum, with the help of some very dear friends, picked up the responsibility of holding the family together.

One thing that I remember well was the frequent trips to markets bargaining and buying daily groceries and food items.

Meals were simple fare. And that was also the time mum really started cooking and trying out new recipes.

It was only when things got better that mum's dishes expanded - mutton soup, curry chicken, fried kuay teow, lor bah (braised pork), fried fish with leek and special sauce.... and more..

Every dish reminds us of our meals with mum, the sharing of day's events at the dinner table, and the connection amongst the family members.

Today, both Alice and I can cook up some of her main specialties but the taste is never the same... But we are sure our younger generation is enjoying these with relish... the way we used to be..

This is call 家传菜，一代传一代，爱心满满载。。。。

Little Rented Rooms..

Mum and dad used to move around and stayed in different rented rooms.

Life wasn't particularly good but each of these little haven provided roof for the birth of her little offsprings.

Little feets of Leng and Alice filled the rustic farms in Potong Pasir for simple work and pleasures. Those were the days where fresh air, muddy ponds with small lotus flowers bloomed and little animals ran havoc in the little community.

Ming and Heng were more adventurous - venturing beyond Lorong 25 Geylang to other parts of streets with friends seeking fun and thrill - leaving mum anxious on most days. Food from the market was simple yet delectable - from char kway teow, kuay chap to soya bean drinks and chendol.

Paya Lebar home was the first home where mum and dad paid with their hard earned money - a place where we called our own. I was born there.

It was a place where beautiful and bitter memories intertwined. But today, with mum's unconditional love, I have moved on to be a healthy and positive person.

Regardless of where we were, mum remained the centre pillar of strength and love where we grew up to be what we are today. Mum never failed to grill into us the importance of being independent, down to earth and pragmatic. She maintained that we must learn to be loving and understanding towards the less fortunate or anyone who is in need of attention. We need to be aware, mindful and appreciative of our blessings and what we already have.......And for sure, be thankful to those who have rendered us love and help.

The list goes on.... and these have and will continue to serve us well. Whether we can successfuly inculcate hese valuable values and traits to the next generation is a great challenge in today's changing world. But we shall try our level best... No doubt about it.

Mum's First Step Into A Foreign Land

For some years after her marriage, mum lived without a husband because my dad had gone to Singapore in search of a better life. She had to look after the family, worked in the farm and as a factory worker assigned by the state.

In 1957, dad sent for mum. For one who had never travelled beyond 海南加积 或海口city, going to a totally foreign land proved scary and uncertain, especially it meant leaving mum's loved ones behind without the ready chance to meet again. Despite all the reluctance, mum decided to be with dad and set sail to Singapore with her parent's blessings.

The voyage proved to be a strain as mum suffered from massive motion sickness. She went without food for days but thankfully, the other travellers lent her a helping hand and looked after her.

After 2 weeks, mum finally stepped onto the solid land of Singapore. Therein began her new life with dad.

Her Growing Up Years (II)

Mum used to remember her early years where she fled her home town with family during the Japanese occupation.

For at least one and a half year, they travelled far into the unknown terrain from unknown war torn sites to deep mountain to avoid the invaders and to stay alive. Food was scarce but more critically, everyone was subjected to apprehension, pain, fear, suffering and hunger.

When mum finally made her way back home, grandpa felt that by marrying mum to dad would be a good move to protect her chastity and life. Little did he realise that the marriage gave mum not only a new family but also a whole new experience of oppressive physical, mental and emotional suffering and pain.

Even after settling and living in Singapore, seemingly, time had not erased the unhappy memories of the Japanese invasion as well as dad and his family. It was evident that the anguish over this lingered in her heart, especially when her old wounds from dad's harsh beatings resurfaced.

But truth be told, despite these bitter experiences, mum's friends and relatives have nothing to say except that she remained a dutiful, strong, self-less and kind daughter-in-law, wife and sister-in-law with ready and regular sharing of money, household items, food, clothes, jewelleries and more. This act was done on top of her duty as a daughter and sister to her own family in China and as mother to us, where time was especially hard after dad's passing.

She had set an exemplary example of returning harsh treatments with kind acts of giving.