The Matriach ~ 2004

Celebrating 74th Birthday at Starview Penang

Remembering Father……..

In a week’s time, a day has been set aside for children to exhibit their love for their father. Debates aside, it can indeed be a good practice. The children having grown up and started their own families, may find it difficult to find time to bring dad out for a good time. Father’s day is a reminder for them to put in the effort to do something to make dad happy.

My father was a simple man. I cannot think of a more apt description. He was multi-talented. Yet, he never flaunted them. Have you seen a carpenter who can do multiplication to the power of 6 mentally in a record short time ?.

He was a craftsman who had intense passion for woodwork. You could see that in the pieces he produced. Every piece was an expression of this love.. I had the honour of working alongside him. Of course then, it seemed a chore. I had to help him sandpaper the table he built endless times. When would he stop the sandpapering and just paint the lacquer on? No, it must be of the right feel. That’s father.

Homework time with father was a joy. Arithmetic was so much fun. You could ask him to multiply a six-digit number with another six-digit number. You would get your answer in a jiffy. My own young ones had so much fun too testing the human calculator.

Father was not all work and no play. He was a footballer and a damn good one. I did not know then, why my mother would bring us to the Explanade to watch father play football with his buddies...He was in the state league.! When he became to old to play, his love for the game did not wane.. He would take me on the green bus to the city stadium to watch the matches. As he grew much older, he gave up going to the stadium. The games were disappointing. The European Leagues were more exciting. He rather watched football on TV. I must had been a disappointment to him. I was not the son who could share his love for football..

His zest for life was ever so evident. He never seemed to tire. During the weekends , he would bring me for a swim at the Explanade with my cousin and uncle. There was a beautiful beach then in the fifties. He taught me how to dig for siput. and how to throw a line to fish. We would bring the physical result of our effort for mother to cook. The emotional result remained with me till today.

My father died on 30 th January 1993.May his soul rests in peace.