His 1948 pin up girls!

Note the caption on Betty Grable on top of picture: 'Betty Grable has been acclaimed by artists as having the most beautiful figure"!

Some years ago (6)

Date of entry: 30.3.1948

When I was teaching at the Kee Che School, Temerloh, PAHANG, I had the idea of writing a small book containing about 50 simple essays which I hoped may be of some help to higher primary school students. This idea revived again and again and it seems to me that it may be good for me if I start to have a try.

More slaves world-wide than ever before!

We think slavery belonged to another era. We do not see slavery as something which is still happening today.

According to a shocking new documentary by Al Jazeera English, slavery persists in the United States of America and there are more slaves worldwide than ever before!

For more information please read: Al-Jazeera-documentary-claims-slavery-still-rife-in-the-USA

First image credited to http://commons.wikimedia.org

Second image credited to http://www.oregonlive.com/

Some years ago (5)

Date: 30.3.1948

Death of the Sultan of Perak occured at 12 noon yesterday. The office is closed today for nourning His Highness's death. The Malay inhabitants wear white ribbons around their songkoks and hats, and hoist the national flag at half mast. Some of them are going to Kuala_Kangsar to pay their last hormage to the late Sultan. Haji Meor Ariff told me he is one of those going to Kuala Kangsar at 1.30pm, and asked if I would be at home, and in case there is any important message he would be glad if I would receive it for him.

Treasure house of memories

Methodist School Parit_Buntar Remove Class 1960


With Hasiah Said, my best friend in Remove Class who was also the Village Head's daughter

Heah Gaik Gin, my best friend in Parit Buntar. She was in From 1 while I was in Remove Class
I moved from Parit Buntar to Kuala_Lumpur in 1961 and went back to visit my friends in 1962. These pictures were taken in 1962 with my friends from the Chinese Primary School next to the Krian River who all attended Remove Class with me. Forgive me girls, out of the 6 of you I only remember 2 names!


And even if you were in some prison, the walls of which let none of the sounds of the world come to your senses - would you not then still have your childhood, that precious, kingly possession, that treasure-house of memories? ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Our decisions

Many things are fated. But our lives are also a consequence of the decisions we make. Of course there are exceptions, like health challenges which may be hereditary, but largely there are many decisions we could control. For example, where to work after graduation, where to stay, should I marry him, where to send our children to school? These are all decisions within our control. Now looking back at life I realize the many decisions I had made, rightly or wrongly, had led to where I am today.

Some years ago (4)

Date: 28 March 1948

Easter holidays started on the 26th and will end on the 29th. I went to Ipoh at 1pm on 26th. Cousin was lying down on the canvas chair as usual. He was sleeping and I found he was depressed as if short of income.

I was in the Rex hotel the whole day long on 27.3.48. It being a Saturday, it was the first race day of the Turf Club Easter Meeting. I had a mind of going to have a view of the Race Course but owing to the lack 0f a badge I was unable to do so. At about 5pm I borrowed the tailor's bicycle and visited the Race Course. I stood outside the hedges nd witnessed the last race. This was the first time I visited the Ipoh Turf Club which in many respects resembles the Selangor Club. I went to see the picture (chinese character) at night.

I came back to Parit at 10.30 am this morning, having bought some beef, salt fish and a piece of dress for my second daughter. At the market at Ipoh this morning there were two young men selling tiger meat which looks exactly like beef. This was the first time I saw tiger meat.

On the way back to Parit while in the bus I wished I could be returning to Kuala Lumpur as early as possible for there I can live together with many of my friends and brethen, while in Parit I have to be contented by leading a solitary life.

Everyone in Rex wishes he could have luck by getting a prize in the unlimited Sweeps and so do I. Will this wish come true?

Relaxing with the girls

"I do not wish to treat friendships daintily, but with the roughest courage. When they are real, they are not glass threads or frost-work, but the solidest thing we know."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Celebrating Eid with good friends

Celebrating Eid at Norhayati's. Friends since high school!

Celebrating the end of Ramadan at home

Celebrating Eid il Fitr, to end one month of fasting.

The occasion is a time for thanksgiving and celebration after thirty days of dawn-to-dusk fasting during the month of Ramadan.

Indulging not with one, but two chocolate cakes!

The most delicious asam laksa, curtesy of my sister

My little visitors

Our pretty guests

My sis's neighbour and his wife, first time visitors Son Feris with my daughter-in -law's mother Daughter Deedee getting on well with Melisa, my friend's daughter

With my regular gang from my working days in the EPU

Some years ago (3)

(This entry was made in Chinese. What appears below is my understanding of the original entry)

22 March 1948

"Human life is limited, time is unlimited. How to reconcile the two? The more I try to understand life, the more confused I get. But if we do not think, are we then not different from a stone? What is the purpose of life? The human brain seems to lack the capacity to fathom this mystery".


Quote-Joon/Woon SC

Some years ago (2)

Date: 8.March 1948

The philosopher Tsang being ill, he called to him the disciples of his school, and said "Uncover my feet, uncover my hands. It is said in the Book of Poetry,"We should be apprehensive and cautious, as if on the brink of a deep gulf, as if treading on this ice, and so have I been. Now and hereafter, I know my escape from all injury to my person. O ye, my little children.""

I shall be forever as cautious as Tsang Tze.
Quote - Joon/Woon SC

Breaking fast alone again

My breaking- fast-alone feast: 3 cups of pure sugar cane juice, roast chicken wings with roasted vegetables (yesterday's left-over), traditional Malay deserts and Hainanese Chicken Chop!

Some years ago (1)

Date: 9 March 1948

Ideas come and go. They are to be written down otherwise they will disappear and be gone foreever. Again and again I have such an experience which affects the progress of my life not to a small extent. It is already late that I have not caught hold of all that I wished to remember earlier. I kept no diary.

I hope, with this little book, to record down all those ideas which are dear to me or things I wish to remember.

Ideas may come and go,
But life goes on forever;
Chances may come and chances may go,
But time goes on forever;
In order to make the best use of this,
My transient life,
I should take down all those I wish to remember.

Quote: Joon/Woon SC

Skeletally, people are actually designed to live to 120!

Singapore's 113 years old Teresa Hsu

Hong Kong geriatric experts said on 7 August 2011 at the Elderly Health Day 2011 that good habits developed from at least middle age can contribute greatly to longevity and quality of life – lending credence to the Chinese saying that anyone can live to be 100.

According to the experts, “The typical belief is that you simply have to have the right genes to live for a very long time, but this is not always the case. As much as 70% of one’s longevity can be traced to lifestyle, including the way people eat, whether or not they smoke, and how much they exercise".

Read full article: http://www.asianscientist.com/topnews/teresa-hsu-elderly-health-day-2011/

Batu Caves - my work-out for the week!

My niece LeeAnn who ran all the way up Batu_Caves
without stopping to catch a breath. Oh... the exuberance of youth!
Despite the limitations of age, I actually did survive the 272 steps climb! Fortunately for me and my sister, there are several landings along the way where we could catch our breath and at the same time admire the view and "socialize" with the many monkeys which came quite near the visitors.I understand those visiting Batu Caves can look forward to using a new cable car service next year instead of climbing up the 272 steps leading to the temple.

“It always seems impossible until its done.” - Nelson Mandela

100 Birthday Dinner 4- my favourite pictures

Having just had a tiff with her cousins, Aeesha Woon had to be persuaded by her Mother Anita to join in the family photo session about to take place soon, while the grandpa looked on so helplessly. he..he...

Well... Anita managed to coax Aeesha and the picture was taken. Thank you Anita and I think some years down the line Aeesha will thank you too for "dragging" her in!
My Father the birthday boy looking a picture of absolute joy flanked by his 2 beloved grandsons, Steve Woon and Sean Woon, who had taken the long journey back to see him. His happy face in this picture had made all our efforts worthwhile.
The impromtu performers, the birthday boy's great grand children (L-R): Keira Woon, Emma, Damia, Elizabeth and Aeesha Woon. Next to Aeesha is her Mother, Anita.
Our Birthday Boy blowing the Birthday cake!

The great grandchildren cosying up to the great grand pa. Isn't that just adorable!

“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”
Thich Nhat Hanh quotes (Vietnamese Monk, Activist and Writer

MORE PICTURES AT BOTTOM OF BLOG POSTS