A year ago.

A year ago I left Penang with the worry about the house my parents left for me. I eagerly wanted to sell the house that time but yet I couldn't let go of it. A home where I have spent my childhood, my teenage life, my first love there since year 1977.

 Every day's good view from the house,  the morning sun

The year mom adopted me,
I was two years old. 

My father was a loving man. Before we moved to Taman Riang, we lived together with his eldest brother's family in a house that father bought. My father bought this new house and gave his brother and family the house which we had been stayed together. Dad loved his brother much to give the brother that old house I grown up with until I was 10 years old.

Dad never asked for any single penny from his brother for that house.  The only think dad wanted to have from that old place was the telephone number which my father would like to use in the new house at Taman Riang. His brother and the wife refused to let us take the telephone number and they made a big scene by arguing with my dad and yelling at my mother when she tried to stop the arguing. This incident not only upset my parents, it upset the little girl, me too.

I remember I was really angry about this. I hated my uncle and his wife so much at that time because they had caught miserable moments and fight between my parents, my parents who seldom argue with each other. Because of the incident of the stupid telephone number, my mom got upset everyday after we move into the new house. I can still remember that number: 333409. Dad finally got the number anyway because he was the one who paid the telephone bills over the past years.


Now I need to talk about our new house - our HOME. Yes, finally a home for ourselves!

My parents, the beautiful couple

I was 10 with Fisco, the
naughtiest dog we even had

Finally, no more unpleasant shouting from my uncle's wife. That evil woman couldn't burry my mom anymore! I could smell peaceful in the air and feel the quietness. I could sense mom's relief and relaxing. We finally have a home that only have me, mom and dad, and of course mom's dogs and cats.

My mum was very good in hospitality and that's why our house always had visitors and friends. Mom always arranged birthday party for me every year. My friends would love to come and help out with the decoration and food. They just simply liked to come and hang out at our house even though when there were not any party. They got to play with mom's pets and tried mom's cooking. My house was a very homy place for many of my friends. Thanks to mom who had brought me up with the hospitality skills, today I could apply them at work.

My last birthday party at home with the most guests, was my 21 years old birthday. After that, I left mum and dad for Sweden. From that moment on I never had any celebration of my birthday party again at this home. They were replaced with Julie's birthday party instead every time we went back. Mom loved that! She would be busy planning for Julie's birthday's menu and the guest list. Then almost all the relatives and the neighbors would come to the party, who not only brought presents and angbao to Julie, but for Mabel too. We liven up the house again with joy and laughters, with people and food.

My cousin sisters helped me with the food!

That's why I before I came back to Sweden last year, I had a small gathering. I invited my relatives and neighbors. We were talking about my mum, about the old time when we had birthday parties, about how happy my mum would have be if she was still around... it was a great party!

My lovely and adorable
brother, Sunny

Before I sell my house, I am going to have a party again. This time will really be a farewell party to the house, the house which keeps so many of my good & bad memories and secrets in my life, and to the relatives and friends, whom I had grown up with and whom had helped me to take good care of my parents those past years when I am in Sweden, whom had helped me to get through one of the most difficult time in my life when mom passed away one and a half year ago. It's about time for a home return again. Well, see you soon, my relatives, my friends, my house and my Ah Gui.