Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!!!!!!

Happy 50th Birthday to Malaysia

Today is the day that the whole Malaysia will be celebrating its 50 years of Independence, which I doubt any of you would not have known :)

I meant to do this post yesterday but my sis told me that she needed to use my PC (which is in my room) so I have to move it to the living room for her.

Hmm..... let's move away from the 1957 story first, since I think RTM1 would be covering that today :P and will skip the present for the moment. While thinking back to what I was doing 10 & 20 years ago brought back floods of memories...... :D

In 1987, I attended my very first parade, we were the invited marching school band for the opening ceremony of the Piala Bapa Malaysia. Although this just a normal band outing but it meant a lot to me because for this first outing of mine, I actually faced resistance at home, not allowing me to attend it, until my "kai ma" (godmother, who also my eldest maternal aunty) gave me her consent. That year I also attended my first Merdeka parade.
This marks the beginning of me gaining my independence/freedom.

In 1997, this year was rather meaningful to me because it was the year I got to know a very cute, pretty, petite-size, bubbly and understanding girl, in fact there was never a dull moment with her........ (wondering who she was? make a guess la)

If you are asking me if she is still available then I am really sorry lor but I think most of you would have guessed it right. Yes, it was the year I got to know Elaine!
This marks the beginning of me losing part of my independence/freedom.
This is the year I got my first credit card from MBf. This would mark the start of my credit card problems too.

Ten years later, this year, our baby is born, making this year just as memorable too.
This marks the end of my independence/freedom.
This is also the year I won the LCD TV from the contest by MBf. And this marks my credit card problem owings is now even more than ever. Elaine and her family was rather shocked when I told them that I have known them 10 years already.

Now I wonder how will my independence status be in my next 10 & 20 years

Keith's Walker

This is Keith's new toy, which my sis bought from the toy shop in Kimberly Street, Penang. (How I wish I was the one buying it, because then I can have some of the famous "Kueh Chiap")

Currently he is still adapting to it but the funny thing is he would lift up his legs for you to push him around and would only put it down when you leave him alone. I guess he doesn't quite like the idea of sitting on the walker. My guess is perhaps the music that cames out when you press the buttons is a little too loud for him.



Then I might as well also spam a bit with my picture too la...... just to compare a bit but in B&W la :P


With these picture of ours you can also see how the walker have evolved also!!!!

My Bagpiper Friends

Well just as I googled my name and I thought I might as well search for some other names as well. Normally I did google their names but nothing came up, but yesterday was different....... I found two of my best buddies whom have been in the school band since primary school. I totally lost contact with the SXI COPAD members for almost as long as I have been in KL. I am truly shock by the power of internet! As long as the person is active or even mentioned on the internet....... the person is findable :)

J could be found because he left some messages in a guestbooks, like the Farquhar Street Penang Malaysia and he included his e-mail address. And ECG was name was mentioned in the Diocese of Penang and his handphone number was mentioned.

I am truly glad to have found you guys and here I am gonna post up some pictures from our past glorious moment.

I couldn't find my Standard 2 picture so I scanned the one that I have, the Standard 6 picture. I am standing between J and ECG


The picture of the bagpipers during the 1991 Music Camp held at the Brother's Bungalow in Penang Hill

And of course all of us during our practise


This was taken during our school sports day in 1991, we were doing the formation.
(I think they have changed the uniform now)


And this is the very last time I had the bagpipe at the official opening of St Xavier's Primary. Did you see that we were still guided by the same advisor? Guess our music playing started and ended with this great man, Mr Louis Barbosa.

My Chinese Name

I've got a rather special thing to blog today. When I was googling for Keith's name and tried to search if there is anyone by the same name. Out of fun I google mine as well and you know what I found......? I found my friend :) Yup I found my friend by googling my name.

I think most of you realise that I have not been using my Chinese name since I started working, other than official matters. Not that I do not like my Chinese name nor is it hard to remember but rather I have had someone whom is sharing the same name as me........ in fact our name on our IC is totally identical

By the way we were born in the same year and took our SPM in the same year too. Best part of all is we were both from Penang too. You must be curious whom this person is right....... well the thing that made matter more complicated is that person is a female.

The name that we both shared is Chin Wai Boon

Funny thing is I really don't understand how our name could have been spelt the same manner.

• Chin : I am Hakka and she is Cantonese but I dunno how we can share the same surname because normally Cantonese are "Chan"
  
• Wai : This is the pinyin, since my mum is Cantonese
• Boon : This is the Hokkien pinyin. Normally Cantonese would use "Man"/"Mun" instead

陳偉文 is my name in Chinese character
陳慧文 is Eliza's

As I didn't have any photo of her in hand, this is my prove that this person exist (for those whom doubt me)



It is not something that happens everyday but I doubt you would like it to happen even once like my case.

Something happened about 15 years ago, Eliza lost her wallet and the founder called me instead of Eliza because she searched through her wallet for a contact number hoping to call the owner and she found a match between her IC name with a name in her phone book. The founder was shock to have a guy answering the call (me-lah) and I have to show her my IC to prove to her, when I went to pick up the wallet to return to Eliza, that I am in fact having the same name as the owner :P

The saddest thing is that I have lost contacts with many of my Penangite friends..... I did try to e-mail Eliza but I only got one reply inquiring whom am I then no more news. Sigh!

The only thing that gave us our difference was Eliza for her and Peter for me. Peter was what my mum used to call me since small, other than "Wai Mun". Peter is used more like a nickname to me. When I wanted to put my boy name Keith in his IC, just like my sis, Nicole and the rest, my in-laws gave me a very funny comment:

"What if he doesn't like the name Keith when he grows up?"

In fact I got this comment quite often too. It really made me feel uneasy. I don't want my boy to be Tom yesterday, Dick today and Harry tomorrow :rolleyes: And on a later part I dunno what is my boy's name because I am not updated :P Funny thing is children are given their names by their parents, right? Personally I think if they want to change any names...... Let it be their children's name that they change.

My Alma Mater

As I have mentioned before that I am scanning all the old pictures of mine and Elaine. I went thru all those pictures during my schooling days and it struck me that I googled for it to see if there is any old Xaverians out there. You know what I found?

Well I have actually found my alma mater's website :) To all male cousins, relatives and friend do check your alma mater's website
St Xavier's Institution This is the only place I been for my Primary and Secondary years. Yup then the Primary School was still at Farquhar St (now it has moved to Ayer Itam, I was there for the official opening in 1992)


And SXI is also featured on Wikipedia

Not forgetting our female cousins and relatives....... I found your alma mater too :P
Convent Light Street Which by the way is on the opposite side of the road from SXI. (I know this is a bit lebih but this is for the benefit of those whom didn't know la)


By the way, I have also found a rather depressing news...... Most of you might have known that I was then a member of the marching band (SXI COPAD - Corp of Pipes and Drums) but how many of you have known that I used to be a member of the SXI BSS (Buddhist Students' Society)?
The sad new is the BSS advisor teacher, Ms Khaw Siew Tuan have passed away in 1999 and I am totally not in the know of it!!!! I only got to know of it from this tribute to her. I am so sad that I have been so separated from Penang. Counting back the years, I have been in KL for almost 11 years now.

Traditionally, my relatives and I were sent to the kindergarten in CLS. I have just found out that the place used to be a Baby House, a place where the Sisters care for babies, whom were left unwanted at the convent, until 6 years old when they will be sent to the orphanage.

I thought I have learnt much of my school but reading through the history, I guess I have much more to read and know as well as to refresh my rusting brain. You all must be wondering why this old fella talking about his school pulak. Well, tell you the truth, I would have done worse than what I have now if not for my alma mater.

Pst! Did you all know that I only got to learn what alma mater meant from my school rally. Well all Old Xaverians the school rally, I copied from Wikipedia (Old Xaverian, now I definitely feel old now!)

All through our college a voice is resounding,
Promptly respond to your duty's sweet call,
Hearken you all for the trumpet is sounding,
Your mater's proclaiming her watchwords to all

(Chorus)
Forward her children dear,
Ever with hearts sincere,
Render with joy to your mater her due,
All that is vile reject,
Heaven will e'er protect,
Sons of St Xavier's valiant and true,

Labour will conquer your motto still bearing,
Forward with courage in ways that are just,
True to your standard, be doing and daring,
As faithful Xaverians in Heaven your trust

(Chorus)
Forward her children dear,
Ever with hearts sincere,
Render with joy to your mater her due,
All that is vile reject,
Heaven will e'er protect,
Sons of St Xavier's valiant and true!

Me how to sing leh?!!! Me always either blowing the flute or the bagpipe on our Monday assemblies..... kakakaaaaa always get the special treatment lo

The Chin Family

Well I manage to scan some of my 4-5 months old picture (but B&W) and Elaine's 1 years old picture, put along with Keith's picture that I used in my avatar :P
I wonder why mine have to be in B&W? Elaine's and mine was taken in a photographing studio so I guess the pictures were more professionally taken. Keith might have to wait a bit more before we can go studio with him :P

I did one with all of us in B&W but Elaine was not happy about it. Anyway I did that only for comparison and I am only posting theirs in colour and mine in B&W.


Although I was born and grew up in Penang and Elaine was born in Kluang, Johor, coincidentally all these pictures were actually taken in KL

Sigh! Will have to wait for my mum and sister to send me their album so that I can scan it all into jpgs for safekeeping

P/S - Did you all realise that I chose Keith's picture which he struck the same pose as mine :P

Posting of Birthday Greetings

Well here I'd like to take this opportunity to wish someone a Happy Belated Birthday, which happened to be on the 22nd April. I think his birthday is the only birthday I know by hard amongst all my cousins. Probably because we always have to fight to see who is the elder cousin since we were born in the same year. Please direct him to my blog. And if he wanted this picture I have scanned from my collection, please contact me.

This picture is taken somewhat close to 30 years ago, and by who???? (I dunno who la) and the location was in front of the orang utan cage in Botanical Garden (Kebun Bunga) in Penang. At that time it was occupied by a female orang utan.(If I am not mistaken and I also wanted to ask the photographer why the orang utan is not in the picture leh?) Then the whole botanical was filled with monkeys and you will not be fined for feeding them (I'm not sure how is it now, haven't been there for more than 10 years already lo) ** Also an advise to those whom plan to go there: Don't tease the monkeys excessively, though they might look tame but they may turn aggressive, especially snatching from small children, some even dare to chase after adults **

There was quite a few pictures that was taken but I only scanned this one because this is one of the very few pictures I have taken with him. My mum and sis is still keeping their share of pictures so I will have to wait for them to bring it to me to scan it.

Happy Birthday to you!

At least now both your sons are way older than my Keith :P
Also my apologies to all my other cousins for not keeping track of all your birthdays. I can start it now if you can e-mail it to me :)

And not forgeting to wish more "Happy Birthday"
to my sis on the 19th April
to Khai Kong on the 4th April (along with Lay Chin, Alvin and Fabian, used to be the 4 on 4th of April)
to Wai Kueen on the 26nd April