Auld Lang Syne : where have the years gone?

The kids were going back to KL soon as we had our fifth meal of the day - at nine p.m. on Christmas Day - another Ngabang to go to...Neil's house.

Here in the picture below is Neil our young man who is all grown up and protective of his mum. The children often met when they were younger - picnics on the beach and pot luck at the weekends. Now that they are 10 -15 years older they have gone their separate ways - to work in different parts of the world.

Neil's mother Sigang and I went back to those early years of the 1990's when we had happy young mothers' time together. Our kids had chicken pox and fevers together. Nina and my son shared the same birthday and they cut their cakes together having a three year old party together for example.

In some afternoons (often wet )we waited for the fathers to buy charcoal and then grill wild boar meat for the evening meal with kids screaming in the background while we ladies curled up in their comfortable living room or sat crossed legged in their their kitchen pounding the mortar preparing the sambal. Sigang and I shared the same tailor (Freda) and we looked out for nice materials for each other. Freda is still our friend although she has long left her tailoring business above the Soochiew Photo Studio in Miri. Somehow we never forsake our friendship with our tailors. (We are friends through thick and thin - through fat and slim).

As I sat in their living room again - so many years have passed since the kids have fever and flu together - the song by Robert Burns rang in my ears....even before the New Year has arrived...and memories flashed in front of my eyes!!
 (Original version we used to sing)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my jo, for auld lang syne, we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !
and surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot,
sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,
frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
and gie's a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Christmas is always a good time to get together with friends.


Neil used to make good bbq food...he still does.




Now that Nina is a working lady she has acquired some skills in gourmet cooking - local mushrooms grilled over charcoal fire. (Secret Recipe)


Here's the evening's dinner - prepared by the children ....


This is the mum's famous coleslaw...always delicious.

This is the aunt's masak hitam - incredibly good.



Candle lights to give a great atmosphere.

Curry


Nice looking Christmas table cloth and the aunties with my two daughters....


Enter the Grand Dame of the Family.......she sure has some humour left.



Sweet Nina and elegant Rachel.

They were just toddlers yesterday!! Leon is a city person now (KL) like all the rest in the photo.

Thanks kids for the memories.....;) :)and thanks to all the mothers who looked out for them and helped them grow up. Cheers to all mothers of the world!