CNY at home (part 5) / Musical journey (166)

As they say, home is where the family is and whenever I'm in Singapore, the bond I feel to my family is the strongest. Hence, I'm always inspired to write about family when I'm back home. This month's musical post is a composition about my dearest Mummy written over CNY this year.

I sang this heartfelt piece to her right after I wrote it and then in front of the rest of the family during our reunion gathering. I also sent her the clip through Whatsapp from Melbourne when I finished it. Although she didn't say much there, I think she's rather touched.

Unfortunately a few weeks ago, Mummy fractured her foot and has been staying in a community hospital to complete her recovery and physiotherapy sessions. Once she's discharged from the hospital, she'll have a domestic helper living with her to ensure she's properly taken care of when out and about, so as to avoid future injuries. My siblings and I have been actively involved in hiring the helper as mentioned in an earlier post, from contract review to interviewing candidates.

Although Mummy is ageing rapidly, I still see her as my forever superwoman. That's because we usually fail to acknowledge (knowingly or otherwise) that our parents can actually be frail or falter when the time eventually comes. Regardless, that's a cold hard fact that everyone must accept, whether we like it or not.

That being said, I still hope Mummy remains healthy for as long as possible, not least because it's her 79th birthday today and so I want her to be able to enjoy it. When I'm so far away, posting this song on this special day makes me feel closer to her. I tear up whenever I sing this song and sometimes even just listening to it makes me cry. I hope you'll like it. The rest of this series is here: 1 2 3 4).

[等我回家]

词 ／ 曲 ： 锦泉
 

秋冬春夏
从不休假
煎炒滷拌烤通通难不倒她

一双手把孩子们都带大
不管再倾盆的雨下也要牵我回家

可是妈
強健的身躯虽然无力了
也不让岁月的风吹乱她的白发

她是妈妈
也是爸爸
任劳任怨不惜付出任何代价

为儿女幸福含辛茹苦不罢
说不喜欢吃好让我们吃多快高长大

可是妈
永远的超人快飞不动了
再也无法在外打天下单枪匹马

不说话
远望只只不归巢的鸟她
不让你看到強忍的眼泪悄悄落下

我愛的妈
花了大辈子撑起这一个家
该享清福时却还是一刻没得闲暇

换我来吧
换我来照顾妳握着妳的手啊
像小时候一样  走一下  停一下

记得等我回家
妈咪
陪妳一起看晚霞

[Wait for Me to Come Home]

Written By: Kim
 

Through the seasons
Never taking an off day
A master at cooking
Nothing is too difficult for her

Raising all her children single-handedly
No matter how heavy it is pouring
She will still come fetch me
And take me home

But Mum's healthy body though losing its strength
She never allows the winds of time to mess her white hair up

She is a mother
And also a father
Hardworking and willing to pay any price

Enduring hardship for her children and never giving up
She always says she does not like to eat
So that we have more to eat and can grow up taller and bigger

But Mum, our forever superwoman can hardly fly now
And she can no longer combat the world alone

Silently, she watches each of her chicks leave the nest never to return
But never lets you see
The tears she has been holding back fall

The mother that I love
Has spent most of her life supporting the family
When it is finally time to retire and enjoy life
She still refuses to slow down

Let me do it
Let me take care of you now
Let me hold your hand
Just like when I was little
Let's walk for a while
And stop for a while

Remember to wait for me to come home
Mummy, together we will watch the sunset

This concludes my "CNY at home" series. I'll soon be buying my air tickets to visit during CNY 2025 and we'll do this all over again!

CNY at home (part 4)

I'm now back in PNG with all the usual PNG problems with broken-down air-con and potable water systems and the like. More seriously though, the recent landslides in Enga province did affect some of my colleagues but didn't impact the location where I work. That being said, we do encounter small landslips that block roads and halt transportation of camp supplies every now and again as we're in an earthquake-prone area. Now that I've marked myself "safe", let me share the Facebook posts from the next part of my "CNY at home" series (the rest can be found here: 1 2 3 5).

Yes, this is a shop being crystal clear but I've never seen something so rudely put before. In fact, I think some items are a little suss. No receipt/invoice issued - is that even legal in Singapore? And anyone can tell me why is a picture of the phone needed for PayNow?

Was so looking forward to my first char kway teow but this was so disappointing (I asked with chilli and it came without and had to be added on the side). With nothing much in it, it costs $6.9! Luckily the D24 durian ice kachang made it up (a little).

Back from a sweaty run around the Serangoon Gardens neighbourhood. Boy, there are some mighty big mansions and rich people around! #AllAboutTheFlex

Dinner with the friend I went to Bangkok with last trip and staying over at her place tonight, so we can go jogging together early tomorrow. This is what I call a healthy social life. 😊

Here are the food pics taken that haven't been posted yet. Post-jog now and ravenous, it's time for another round of food (breakkie)! #LifeIsGood

Someone told me I look the same in all my pics. My response - am I supposed to wear makeup and wigs to look different in every shot?
PS: Thanks for a great catchup, friend, and putting me up for one night. Great jog too as always. See you again next time!

Does anyone know what this building is and why are cars stacked like that?

It's my last full day in Singapore today and gotta seize the day, starting with the weirdest sign I've seen so far in a lift.

The elegant lady that I call Mummy, at my sister's pretty apartment. #FamilyCatchup

Funny how I only take gym selfies when I'm overseas. Can someone tell me why? 💪💪💪  #FlexLikeABoss

Had a very interesting experience last night visiting a yet-to-be-developed housing estate (they still exist in Singapore). It looked really spooky and cool but I'm sure when I visit again in a year's time, it'll unfortunately be filled with hordes of people in vapid malls. #PlantationCrescent
PS: This estate is not yet registered on Google Maps and Google Earth.

Here are the remaining pics of the yummies I've had this trip. Still outstanding are Hokkien prawn mee and 五香虾饼 but there's always next time. #FatDieMe

It's been a great trip, especially not having spent Chinese New Year with my family since 2020 when COVID broke out. Till next time Mummy. Now, more importantly, do I #Flex better or her? 💪🤣

If you know my blog well, you'' know my next post will be a musical one. Stay tuned!

CNY at home (part 3)

I am currently preparing for Rotation #18 by reviewing emails and handover notes (yawn!), but I still have time to post the next installment of my "CNY at home" series. Here are the other parts of the series (1 2 4 5).

It's the year of the Dragon and Mummy had to express her artistic culinary flair for this year's #lohei accordingly. She's good. #CNYDay2

It's the year of the Dragon and Mummy had to express her artistic culinary flair for this year's #lohei accordingly. She's good. #CNYDay2

It's 捞起 (lohei) time! #龙年快乐 #YearOfTheDragon

Eating and chatting non-stop from 1.30pm to 8.30pm... that's reunion for you. The old family photo albums were fun to look at. #FamilyWefie #CNY

Time to guess where we're heading off to again this drizzly morning. Hope we don't get crushed by crowds. #CNYDay3 #WithMummy

Did you guess right? We are at Chinatown! It's not as packed as we thought. Coffee time now. #LoveThisShot

The person who devised this contraption should be employed to make futuristic military weapons!

Even a no confidence vote for the Prime Minister can lead to security issues in this volatile era in Papua New Guinean politics. Hope all this will be put to bed by the time I return to work.

I thought the CNY gorging would put a dent in my diet-watching armour but phew! #CrisisAverted #PostGymSelfie

Simple home-cooked fare is the best show of a mother's love. Well, not so simple actually but you get the point. Yummy!

Looks like the Little Red Dot is as competitive as ever, with school exam results used as an ad at the tuition centre itself.

It's so good to catch up again old friend! #Flex

Dinner alone on Valentine's Day. Why not?

More home-cooked goodness that money cannot buy! All thanks to my super Mummy! #FatDieMe

Watch out for my next post which will be made from the Southern Highlands of PNG.

CNY at home (part 2)

Good news everyone! I have recovered with no long COVID symptoms and currently knee-deep in a new game "Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth" while reviewing contractual terms for the employment of Mummy's new domestic helper. I might even be dialing into the video interview of the candidates! In the meantime, without losing another minute of game time, here's the second part of my "CNY at home" series (other parts are here: 1 3 4 5).

Enjoying my kueh bangkit soft serve at Maccas. 🍦#CoconutLover

Did you guess right? We're at Jewel!

Another day has started and boy do Mum and I start it right. #PrawnMee #BarChorMee

A wave of mixed emotions surge inside of me when I saw this. It's a reality we all need to grapple with, so why not face it head on practically and positively? This is also one of the reasons why I love my home country.

Damn! I was SO hoping that this acquisition will go ahead!

Do shorts go any shorter than that?
PS: That mirror needs a serious cleaning!

Very rich dinner of last night. Thanks for the company and hospitality Phoebee, YingYing and Ivan! #Yums

Karaoke-ing with a friend of 28 years! Great to see you again Will!

No one beats Mummy's ngoh hiang (aka lo bak) and I got a preview/taste before it hits the reunion dinner table. Yummos! #CNY

Somehow I can hear Mummy say "just... one... more... potted... plant..." in her sleep. #PlantMama

Let the festivities begin! Here's wishing all of you a happy reunion dinner tonight! #CNYEve

What more can I say but "you've done it again Mummy". And just as well, this dinner has inspired a new song which I've completed today called "等我回家". Can't wait to record it! #ReunionDinner

Sinking my teeth into my first pineapple tart of the year during Chinese New Year? Priceless. #HuatAh

Chinese New Year 34 years ago. #SameHouse #WithMummy #OldLiao

Found atop a watching platform on Pulau Ubin. Looks like this elevated structure has found its match, and then some. 🤣

Now back to my game!

CNY at home (part 1)

I was home for a little less than three weeks over Chinese New Year and that trip's air tickets were bought while waiting to board the plane back to Melbourne from Singapore at the end of the previous visit. That's how excited I was about going home, after being apart for a few years due to COVID. In the next series of posts, I'll be sharing the happenings from this trip again through my Facebook posts during that period. Expect the usual 3 F's—family, friends and food! The other parts of this series can be found here (2 3 4 5).

I'm finally here, and a coffee shop banquet dinner with the family to start my trip right!

So many delicious things but can't eat them all. If only 🥟🥟 were here to share yummies with me...

Other than "flat white" being on the menu, I really don't know what makes this place "Australian".

Reminds me of the Merlin trials of "Hogwart's Legacy". #Gaymer

Back at a FWB's place where he has 100+ pieces of artwork at home plus loads more in storage! #ImpressedAsUsual

Guess where I'm heading to this scorching day? #VirginTrip

Like going back in time. #AchievementUnlocked

I'll never take this for granted. #BreakfastOfChampions #RotiPrata

You know you're back home when you see different languages being used creatively. #NoDuriansOnTrains

It's like a continuation of our Bangkok trip 6 months ago. Thanks for the catch-up!

Somehow 娱乐场 sounds more wholesome than 赌场... But they still have to make it clear when you get further inside in case you're too blinded by greed, here at the world's top spot for money laundering.

Home-cooked dinner of last night which I forgot to post as I was too hungry and busy eating! #MumIsTheBestCook

Very oily but oh so satisfying! #Laksa #CarrotCake

Guess where we're heading today? #DayOutWithMummy

See you all next week for part two!