Pa pa....

Ever wonder most of the time kids' first words were "pa pa, da da"? That's coz moms always teach the kids to call their daddy first! Observe and you will see that it's true. My own observation have also derived another conclusion. First borns usually look like their father. How many of you firstborns look like your dad? What about your first born kid? Does he look like his / her daddy?

XX years ago (secret lah.... haha), when I was born, my dad was promoted to the rank of a "father" at the age of 31. (and if not for my dad, I could have been born in the car / restaurant coz my mom had initially insisted on attending her brother's - my uncle - wedding in KT. Dad put his foot down and said no. He had ESP or gut feel that his first born would pop by that same day?)



Photo with who Esmo call "the man" - my paternal grandfather who to Esmo is very "solid"!






Mom introduced dad to me as "Daddy". But for some weird reason, I called him "Pa pa" instead! (talk about being stubborn and having a mind of my own....) So in the end, my mom ended up calling her hubby - my dad - Daddy... ha ha...



Family portrait taken in 1985 before we embark on a road trip with some of Dad's friends.








My dad doesn't look approachable to youngsters, especially students - doesn't matter whether they are from his school or not. One stare from him and usually all students - no matter how gungho they claim to be - will cower away and hide. Even after they've graduated from school and have been working, they still have that fear towards him! The following incidences are true:

1) One of this students was working for a fax servicing company and had been sent to our place to fix up the stupid fax machine. He got out of his van, came to the gate and when he saw my dad coming out from inside the house, he was shocked and deliberated on whether to return to his van and drive away! Fortunately he was matured enough to "steady himself" and stayed on. After servicing the fax and "getting to know more of my dad other personality" through his observation while servicing the fax, he identified himself as his ex-student.

2) The same student got quite chummy with my dad after that and had on a few occasion called my dad out for "kopi". That night, while they were happily chatting away in a coffee shop, another bunch of students dropped by the same coffee shop and was walking towards that direction. One / a few of them was smoking. The moment they see my dad, they quickly threw away their cigarettes and ran! The guy had to convince him that dad wasn't hostile and won't punish them before they agree to fearfully join in.

3) When we were young, some of dad's students worked in a Tea House and had come to our house to have their 'uniforms' tailor made by my mom. They were shocked and surprised that me and my brother were clamoring all over my dad without any fear. They then asked us, "Aren't you scared of your dad? Your dad very fierce one leh....". We looked at them not understanding why they'd find my dad so fearful and said "No!".

My dad was also one of the first few to set up a tuition centre with a group of friends and business associates. He was also a partner of the first Tea House in BP. He practically worked two jobs to let us have a better life. (He also let us enjoy the title of "the boss' kids" - as said by one of the clerks - Miss Lim ;p )

Dad gave me my first watch when I started primary one. I remember that it came in a box and had a black strap, and was a digital watch. (Think I still have it in my desk drawer in BP?)

Dad brought us on a lot of trips during the holidays. We often travelled in convoys with some of his friends and their family. We practically toured the whole of Peninsula Malaysia.



Taken in Genting Highlands in 1996(?) , road trip with CH Lee and family to Genting and Cameron Highlands








Dad bought us a PC when I was in Secondary 1. Then, a lousy PC (by today's standard) cost more than RM3k. We were amongst the first few to have a PC at home! (and that's where I got my typing skills too!)

Dad sent us for higher studies in Singapore.

Dad supported me and my sister's bachelor studies in AU.


At Surfer's Paradise in Dec 2002 when Mom and Dad were here for our graduation.







Dad "gave me away" at my wedding to Esmo.










Dad fully supported our decision to migrate to AU for a better life.

Thank you Pa, for always being there for me. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday and may health, wealth and joy be with you ALWAYS...

Hope to see you soon.

Love,
HL


P/S: Our office has been pooling our money recently to buy lottery tickets. With luck, we may turn millionaires overnight and kiss our bosses Sayonara! Then I'll fly you and Ma over!