Gentleman's Bicycle : The Reverend and his 22 inch bicycle

In the 1950's my grandmother would always be transported by my uncle whenever she visited 14 Acres, on sitting side ways on the back of the bicycle. And we kids would be running behind, all the way to the primary school (Tien Chin) about 15 mins in land from the river. There we would stay for about 2 or 3 nights.

A bicycle was such a convenient mode of transportation down river.

My Third Uncle was a good cyclist. He used the bicycle for everything : to transport half a slaughtered pig to a neighbouring village, to sell to a family having a 60th birthday celebration. He could also carry 10 chickens in a cage with his bicycle.

Once he transported a whole round table top to a neighbouring village when the celebrants were short of a table. The chairs were carried by young children one, by one.

But one very clear memory I have of the tall bicycle was how Rev Lau Ngo Kee cycled to see my grandmother and read the Bible to the ladies who had gathered for the Reverend's Visitation. Such a visitation was regarded as a big event in the village.

The arrival of the Reverend was eagerly waited upon, a duck from the brood would have been slaughtered to welcome him. Every one attending the fellowship would be given a bowl of soh mien, with slices of  duck, mushrooms and a hard boiled egg. My grandmother's home made rice wine would be proudly displayed with the duck , soups, and hardboiled eggs, at the table for every one to enjoy.

I later thought of the fact that Methodists were teetotallers and they would practise abstinence from alcohol. But there they were, enjoying noodles while my grandmother would happily pour more red wine into their bowls!!