Tag Archives: Family

Letters from Tioman – Diving with Daddy

From Tioman, the ‘diving with dad’ trip  [3rd to 8th July] 


Dad and I did our check dive yesterday. To our utter disappointment,

we find out that Richard, his good friend and my diving ‘guru’,

has moved to the mainland.

We make a guess that it is because his young son

has grown quite a bit and needs proper schooling and thus Richard

and his wife Dot decided to make a move from their home of so many

years.

I don’t think I’ll ever see the Berjaya Dive Centre the same way again.

 

But some of the staff there remember Dad and call him Old Timer,

one being Francis, who would be the one to do our check dives with us

and also dive with us today. Dad has dived so many times he doesn’t

bring his dive card or equipment or anything, and I (being the useless

numbskull that I am) also am card-less, and logbook-less. “But

I got my licence here itself in 2001,” I tell Francis, and Dad adds: “Yes, and with

Richard!”

We get the knowing looks and nods, fill in the necessary

forms and voila – it’s an all-clear,

we can dive as long as we pass the check dive – which is a less elaborate

version of the Refresher course, necessary when one has not been diving

for a while.

My last dive was in 2007, which I am not very worried about.

But dad, who has been through a number of serious operations over

the years, is a bit fragile.

If it was up to mom, he wouldn’t be diving at all. But we both

convinced her that he is never as joyful, relaxed and happy than

when he is diving, and the green light is obtained.

After the obligatory mask clearing exercise and having a lil dive

between the centre and Renggis Island etc …

the results are in. Two thumbs up for me and dad for diving.

That was yesterday. Today, we wake up to rain. Dark clouds.

It doesn’t look good.

As dad has to fly off on Monday evening and can only dive today

(for the nitrogen etc to clear from the body), I peer from my blanket

in the early morning and wonder if it will happen – my first diving

excursion with dad, long overdue.

 

Stormy weather?

Stormy weather?

Of Godchildren

Just a tiny one about godchildren, because I’ve been all abuzz

with godchild stuff recently, and it puts a smile on me face.

This one’s specially for my friends who are godparents,

and my friends who are parents of the children we can’t help

but adore!

 

Doesn’t it sound like such a powerful word? God child.

Godfather. Godmother. 

The practice of naming a godparent for one’s child started in

the Christian faith, when another person trusted by the parents

serves as a sponsor at the baby’s baptism.

These days, it’s more often than not a grand gesture of friendship or trust.

People usually pick their closest, best friends or those they

trust to be their child’s godparent.

I was honored to be asked by Jasbir & Sharm (both I work/ed with)

to be their first born’s godmother, and it’s been about 3 years

now since I first held him in my arms at the hospital.

Frankly, I considered myself somewhat of an ‘outsider’ in their lives

before this (though they were my friends, of course),

but now I think of them as family.

I’m also basically doing double duty I guess with his kid brother,

Arjen. (Jasbir says it’s a “two in one deal”, and I’m like “not if

you have a lot more children man!!” LOL)

 

IMG_0481

 

I didn’t have any concept of godparenting until Jasbir told

me those years ago when he asked because he looked me in the eye

and said it was something he viewed as special and meaningful,

that I would be part of his child’s life and be there during special

occasions. 

I sort of did a double blink because I then understood there would

be responsibilities, and that he took it very seriously, and that

this meant I was doubly touched that he & Sharm were giving me this

honour. 

For many, naming the godparent is more of symbolic thing,

and it is more about them saying to their best friends

 ”It couldn’t have been anybody else but you”.

IMG_0434

Adrian & Isabelle

 

I think it is the grandest and most meaningful of gestures, really.

What does one have to do as a godparent? 

I don’t think there any hard and fast rules.  

Often new parents are

so consumed by the nitty gritties of being new parents anyway,

so it is their own special time. No point coming everyday being all up

in their face!

Some godparents I know are also far away or very busy, which

cannot be helped – I don’t think it’s as meaningful if godparents

feel they are all pressured to meet their godchildren, for example,

how terrible would it be for your godchild to only remember

how tired, stressed or frazzled you are?

When I was in London last year I remember getting a little

worried that Ro would forget me (from the delicate years of 3 to 6

they’ll forget you fast because they are sifting through a lot

of information & will forget you if necessary!) so I er … sent his 

parents this. (Don’t laugh)

 

Hi it's meeee!!

Hi it's meeee!!

 

And as the child grows older, it would be best of course, to keep on

introducing your face so they recognise it as one that will be

around for them. 

Like all godparents I know, it’s such a joy to see our godchildren

slowly blossom, from the lil furballs they were to the little handsome

boys or beautiful girls they now.

Imagine, if we already say “Oh, how fast

they grow!”, what their parents must feel … *sigh*

To all parents who have friends who are godparents to their kids,

I’d like to say (on our behalves) sorry if we are often busy, but it’s not

like we don’t care, because we so do!  

I have flashes of Ro every so often, and wonder what

he is doing or up to.

 

Zehan & Adam

Zehan & Adam

 

 

Rohan took a while before he really warmed up to the Auntie Laych

concept, but now he’s so comfortable he has progressed from

semi-shy to curious, to wants-to-hold-my-hand, to wants-to-ride-

in-my-car, to big hugs when we say hello … and most recently..

the kiddo even complimented me the other day, a first!

“You are pretty like my girlfriend, Auntie Laych”, he said, out

of nowhere.

 WAH! A compliment from a three-year-old?

What a pleasure to hear, and ain’t that a heartbreaker

in the making?! LOL

I’m going to have to crank up the lessons so he’ll do much

better than “Heyy, How yooo doooinn?” or

“Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?” for pick up lines

next time, hah!

 

IMG_0480

 

In the car the other day, just the two of us, I asked him

do you know why I am your godmother, Ro?

“Why?”

“Because I will be here for you so we can talk about anything

you want next time, and you can ask me questions, and I will

tell you stories, many wonderful stories. Would you like that?”

 

“Yes,” he said, with his big eyes and little cheeky grin.

 

And that’s all I need to think of and smile.

DSC00882

there'll be stories

Letters from Tioman – Running with Momma

From Tioman, the ‘diving with dad’ trip  [3rd to 8th July]

 

I don’t know if the feeling in me is one of pride or disbelief or utter

amusement, or indeed all of them, all in one.

My 61-year-old mother is with me in the hotel gym, on the threadmill

next to mine, going toe-to-toe with me in a mixture of speed walking

and running.

I am quite aware of her physical health, as she has always been one

of the healthier ones in the family, but this is the first time we are in

the gymnasium together (one which faces the beach – interesting exercise

entertainment), and I get a rush out of passers-by staring at us.

 

In my head I can’t help but think “Yeah bitches, she is in her sixties,

don’t play”.

She doesn’t go as fast as me but with just about two notches below my

walking and running level, and handling it very well indeed, I smile.

I start to think that I probably will not need to worry about her as

she grows older, as she is now worrying about her father, my grandpa,

in his old age.

 

Random pix of dad peering into old family house in Batu Pahat

Random pix of dad peering into old family house in Batu Pahat

 

During the next few days in Tioman I would also

come to realise this Run-With-Mom thing was no one-off. Every time I

wanted to hit the gym, she followed too.

I always think about whether my dad feels the need to match

(or at least) better his fitness, I hope so, of course. (I also nag so, much

to his annoyance)

My brothers are in the pink of health, both being former young athletes,

and mother and I are well versed in the need for exercise and healthy

eating. (Or at least we try).

Part of why I quit smoking this year was the influence from within

my family, actually.

I wonder what it’ll be like in the future, and hope to inspire the same

confidence in my children – that I am fine, that I am taking care of my

health, and that I’ll do my best, that

I can say “just worry about your own health, kids”.

It is a fine gift, I reckon.

Now, if I could only just handle that one last vice …

 

 

Btw, here’s a link if you want a teeny tiny reality check on your

health, it’s an 11-question Newsweek quiz on health.

I didn’t get an A plus, hmmph, but was reminded to do

an annual health check soon to update all that important information.

It’s not supposed to scare me, but damn it, trips to the doctor’s

for annual health checks get scarier by the year.

Bah humbug.

I want whatever Tun M & Lee Kuan Yew are taking.

 

 

 

[Sorry, not many pictures taken in tioman, or of sweating self in

gym (yeuxx) so LOL pictures from the brilliant Lolcats, will have to do :)

 

ok this one's a pup. loldogs! xo

ok this one's a pup. loldogs! xo

 

 

[More from Letters from Tioman to be continued ... ]