Precious Memories...

Last week, my Mum and Nicole finally settled into a condominium after living in the old house for more than 30 years! I knew Mum had wanted to move much earlier but we were reluctant to relinquish and say goodbye to our childhood home because of all the memories built within its walls. So here's a list of seemingly mundane stuff.. lest we forget..

The 2 mango trees that were planted in the back garden (before it was cemented over for easier maintenance). My 'tree' only blossomed and bore fruits once, much to my disappointment. Trying to training Donny.. our cute but not very smart Spitz.. to jump over a stick and fetch the slipper by rewarding him with bananas. Needless to say, we didn't get very far with that approach.. ha ha!

The live chicken Mum brought home one day.. we tied its foot to the mango tree and fed it rice grains and barley. We grew rather fond of it as a pet until.. it was slaughtered for dinner!!! I even saw the worms that came out from its belly.. eeeeewww.. we were traumatised for quite some time after that!

Climbing the stairs and banisters.. we didn't seem to have much sense of danger back then. Alison used to squeeze through the window grills and climb out on to the awning to retrieve badminton shuttlecocks that landed up there. Using the 2m high wall as a balance beam.. probably inspired by Nadia Comaneci???

Playing badminton on the the road or with our neighbours.. using the gate or the wall between the 2 terrace houses as the net. Lighting up lanterns and candles during the Autumn Festival.. usually created a waxy mess which we dreaded clearing up the next day :0( Building entire Lego cities with Paik Yee and Ken.. I think we were more creative in those days?

Mum lost control of Dad's Volvo (which had no power steering in those days) and drove into the gate. We used wires to hold the grilles in position for quite a few years after that until Donny decided to mark his 'territory' (namely the gate and all the 8 hubcabs of the 2 cars) with potent corrosive substance.

My 1st attempt at gardening failed miserably.. the caterpillars ate up all the leaves of my plants and Mum had to uproot and throw them away. Dad practising golf swings in the front garden and accidentally chunking out clumps of dirt and grass.. much to Mum's dismay. Painting the iron swing outside.. white.. brown.. followed by some sort of weird olive green???

Lying on top of Dad's car and gazing at the moon and stars.. and maybe some boys riding their bicycles past my house?! Running late and having every Ali, Ah Kau and Muthu on the school bus watch you put on socks and shoes early in the morning.. how *embarrassing*.. But that was nothing in comparison to this guy who was perpetually late.. he practically dressed himself on the bus.. singlet.. shirt.. etc.

Nicole falling backwards from the stairs (almost in slow motion) and banging her head on the floor.. blood-curdling screams followed soon after!!! She also got 'drunk' once.. by scooping the froth off Dad's Guinness Stout with her finger and licking it.. her face turned really red and blotchy!!! You should hear how Mum scolded Dad.. who found the incident quite amusing..

AARRGGHHHH! The dreaded piano lessons.. secretly and openly kicking the poor Petrof when the music didn't come out right. But we did manage to finish Grade 8 after many gruelling years of torment to our neighbours' ears. Although I thought the kid who lives behind our house did more damage to ours with his violin.. especially those scales and appegios.. tit for tat??!

Watching the whole spade of 'new' cartoons on TV.. Smurfs, Snorkels, Care Bears, Gummy Bears, Transformers, Voltron, Thundercats. She-Ra, He-Man etc. Being constantly reminded to close the mosquito screen doors upon entering and leaving the bedrooms until we were very well-trained indeed!

The rain always came in on the 2nd floor because the windows were usually left opened. I slipped and fell on that same spot more than once.. the butt landings were especially painful. Mum freaked out when she saw my pale face with all the wind was knocked out of me.. and gave me a good rub-down.

Playing 'house' by draping blankets over our study tables and chairs (we never used them to do homework or study anyway!). We brought over all our pillows.. bolsters.. soft toys.. placed them underneath.. slept and even had our meals there during the school holidays! Fun fun fun...