Meals with Ah Mak and Ah Kong were always fun;
Breakfast was like all meals with our grandparents was quite a full on and fancy affair, involving staff, at which a special cooked meal was served, followed by a wide variety of fruits that were in season.
Mee-Sua
was supposed only to be served on birthdays and or to mark special occasions, however when we were young this was our favorite, and so my sister Helene and I would always ask for it whenever Ah Mak, would let us choose breakfast, which was quite often, so despite the apparent house rule, we usually did end up having mee-sua quite regularly when we came for breakfast, whilst the adults often had something different, this was one of the many ways in which Mak used to spoil us…
When we were young and lived across the road at Cairn Hill, mother would head across each morning to join Mak and Kong for breakfast and on Saturday come rain or shine we would always go as a family, (excluding dad)…. when school happened to be in the afternoon (as there were morning and afternoon sessions in those days) we would quite regularly tag along with mum. On weekdays breakfast was served out on the verandah, whereas on Saturdays was in the downstairs (ground floor) family dining room, at the back of the house.
Ku-Ku our uncle accompanied by Aunty Barbara, and Jacquie, their daughter (similarly when not at school), would also come for breakfast with Mak and Kong at least 3 times a week on Mon, Wed and Fri and after breakfast they (Kong and Ku-Ku) would retreat to Kong’s study for their private chat, which we were not allowed to interrupt…. the rest of us would usually stay out on the verandah and continue chatting, or go to Mak’s bedroom to relax and "lepak", or busy ourselves around the house, playing hide and seek, feeding the fish, swimming and or running around the garden.... from an early age I was fascinated by cars so enjoyed inspecting and playing in them under the watchful eye of either Rawi who drove for Mak and or Rusdi, who was Kong’s driver, that every one referred to as "kaypoh" for was very chatty and seemed to know everything that was going on and who was doing and or had said what…..
After Kuk-Ku was done, he would always announce playfully that he had been given his “marching orders” and say “next” which was our cue to go in to say our thank yous and goodbyes which involved an exchange of hugs and kisses, after which Kong and mother could get on with their work, and for us it was back to Mak’s bedroom... then it was either tme for us to go home in which case there was an exchange of hugs and kisses with Ah Mak and the obligatory good luck wishes of "yeng dor dor" if she was going to play mah-jong later on that day, and we were then walked and escorted safely back home across Cairn Hill Road by one of their drivers and or which ever member of Ah Kong's security detail happened to be available.
Quite often, during the school holidays, at least once or twice a week, we would either accompany Ah Kong on his drive to the office, or accompany Ah Mak shopping, which always included a stop for an ice cream either at Fitzpatricks or Cold Storage after she had visited Robinsons and or Centrepoint.... I don't remember Mak shopping anywhere else... and invariably we would also often stay on for lunch with Mak, either at home with the Poh-Pohs with whom she was to do battle with that afternoon, when hosting the game and when threre was no jplay with which regularly entailed going to the Chatter Box at the Mandarin Hotel or the Phoenix Hotel, sometimes joined by mother when she was able, for in those days she had 2 jobs , she worked the mornings for Kong and in the afternoon at Ajax
Engineering with dad.
in those days)
and or one o(mother if she was around and had not left and the Poh-Pohs who were joining Mak for mah-jong that afternoon, before heading home. In those days Kong would always have lunch at the bank during the week. If Mak had an away game then we would sometimes send her off to battle, quickly pop in to say our hellos and good byes, give her an exta special dose of good luck wishes and then waiving to the assembled Poh-Pohs at the front door of these majestic homes, be sent home.
Alternatively if Mak was playing away then depending on exchanges of hugs and kisses, and the requisite good luck wishes for the days battle on the mahjong table, and then we were walked home and seen safely across the road by whichever member of the security staff was available.
During the week, the Chew family didn’t join Mak and Kong for breakfast, but instead had their breakfast upstairs in their apartments on the 3rd floor, keeping their own schedule, going about their own business, for we seldom saw them except occasionally bumping into one another as ships passing in the night along the staircase, they were heading down stairs and off out as we headed upstairs to greet our grandparents and have breakfast.
was hosting mahjong at home we would wait and then go
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when not attending school and then help Kong in his study collating his notes, drafting letters, and writing his speeches, ready for him to take with him to the office, for Kong was a workaholic and would return home each evening with usually at least 4 and sometimes 6 briefcases from the office full of paperwork which he would go through overnight and in the morning,before she arrive.
, which ever car he was going to use that morning along with the escort car for his security detail would be out the front by 9.45am however an indication to the house hold that he was ready to leave for work, was when his brief cases would come down the stairs, usually at 10.30am sharp was when .
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Weekday lunches with Ah Kong was always a lavish affair, and my earliest memories of these wonderful meals stretches back to his days at the OCBC’s new building, when as a special treat we would be invited to join him at the bank for lunch on the 49th or 50th floor, in his private dining room.
On his retirement from the bank we would regularly have lunch at Peach Garden @ the Orchard hotel, and later when the restaurant closed down their operations there, and moved to another location, my understanding was that had the kitchens at Cairnhill (his home) renovated, to accommodate their needs, and came to some arrangement with their management for Peach Garden to continue catering for his lunches at home.
At lunch, as Kong was very hard of hearing, (basically deaf when there was too much back ground noise) so unless you were directly addressed by Kong, for he often had specific questions and or topics which he wished to cover with each of us, everyone would take turns talking to him… The process included and involved writing him a note and then talking very slowly and articulately to (at) him, then responding to his questions and of comments, for he lip read as well, as back up there was always either Cecelia or TC (Chu Tee Chui) sat near or next to him taking notes, to which Kong would refer, or they would help to clarify what had been said, as required, whilst the rest of us would chat quietly among ourselves.
As
Ah Kong’s friends and regular guests for lunch over the years, whom I remember included;
Uncle Chen Guan (Teo Cheng Guan)
Uncle Hah Ing (Lee Hah Ing) and family
Uncle Alfred (Dr. Chee) and Aunty Winnie
Allen J Pathmarajah and his family
Alan and Constance Peck
Aunty Sock Kern (Tan Sock Kern)
TC and or Cecelia
Lee Hah Ing, his wife (Deng Giou Hua) and Pink Gin (Lee Ping Jin), their daughter were regular guests for lunch with Ah Kong and they were always included at family celebratory dinners.
Uncle Hah Ing, was born in China in 1914 and moved with his parents to Malaysia when he was around 6 years of age, he graduated from Raffles College in Singapore in 1934 and returned to Malaysia to teach at ACS Teluk Anson, ACS Ipoh and the Methodist Boys’ School in Kuala Lumpur before moving 1952 to Singapore to teach at Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) Singapore, where he rose up the ranks to become the Principal of ACS from 1961 to 1969, although must I confess that I can’t remember if he was principle at ACS Coleman Street or Barker Road,.
His impressive and dedicated service to ACS and hard work helping to successfully raise funds for the school, from parents and the leaders of Singapore’s business community (he used to jokingly refer to himself as a professional beggar) greatly impressed Ah Kong, so much so that upon his retirement from teaching, Kong arranged for him to be employed by OCBC and then sent him to the USA for training, he remained working at the bank well into his late 60s. Uncle hah Ing once commented that he was very surprised that Kong thought it was worth investing in and sending him, a retired old man for training overseas. After retiring from the bank, he continued his involvement and friendship with Kong through the 1990s serving as advisor to the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation, and a regular feature at lunch, until his retirement in 2006, at the ripe old age 92
Uncle Hah Ing was always happy, friendly, and his rheumy eyes seemed to watch and take in all the on goings during lunch with a grandfatherly and knowing smile, when approached he was happy to engage in quite lively conversation and willing to share his opinion as well as his many life experiences and observations.
Aunty (Mrs. Hah Ing) was always smartly dressed in a cheongsam, and although rather reserved, who similarly tended to observe, and say little, this did however hide the fact that she had been quite an adventurous and successful businesswoman in her time, in support of her teacher husband, this unassuming powerhouse of a lady decided to set up a children’s clothing business, to help augment the family’s income, to sell school uniforms and children’s clothing, and with no formal training set off set up a shop below their home and then headed off on business trips by sea to Hong Kong, on her own, which was very courageous of her especially in those days, to buy items to sell. She had a calm assured presence, however one felt that when at home and not in her cheongsam, she probably wore the pants in the family. She would participate in polite conversation when addressed, but for the most part like Uncle Hah Ing seemed quite content to quietly listen and observe.
Lee Ping Jin, their daughter, was a very friendly outgoing and warm lady, closer to mother’s age than mine with whom one could always count on for an enjoyable conversation. She would always be very entertaining, helping to keep the conversation flowing and the mood at the table, light and friendly. We the Campbell’s used to playfully call her “Pink Gin” and I remember on one occasion I actually offered to make her one to drink, but she laughed good naturedly and declined.
What led me to believe that her mother, Aunty (Mrs. Hah Ing) more often than not had the final say at home was when Ping Jin related how she had asked her mother for advice when she considering starting to work selling Insurance, that she had been told that, it was not a good idea to do business with friends, that people especially the superstitions ones would like run away and try to avoid her, and that friends were hard to make and keep. In her own words, “mother poured water on that idea” so I starred helping out a friend to show properties, which gave me plenty of time to look after my own family and my parents.
To friends, and relatives both those with whom I am still in touch, and or with whom we have only recently reconnected via email / facebook / linkedin please do kindly reach out and share whatever stories that you might remember, and any photographs you might have, it matters not if they are good or bad.
I do hope to hear from you, to be reminded of how we met, and for you to kindly share stories and adventures which we have shared, for it is only with your help that I / we will be able to flesh out this website and fill in the blanks.
I can be reached by any one of the following means; the contact & feedback section on this website, via facebook, linkedin, chuancampbell@gmail.com
or whatsapp, line, viber, wechat and or by calling me at +65 96346497
I do look forward to hearing from you, many thanks in advance, warm regards,
Chuan Campbell