Simple dishes 家常便饭

Elizabeth's friends from France just returned from an East Coast island trip.

This evening, we have Chinese dinner at our usual family-style open air restaurant. We ordered few typical dishes. They enjoyed very much.

They were very adventurous and eat anything on the table, including chilies. Julie (pic right, Gaelle on left ) even ate an eye of the steamed fish!


小女儿淑倾的两位法国朋友，刚从东海岸小岛之旅回来。

我们今晚到家附近的常到底露天餐馆用晚餐。我们叫了几样平时的菜肴。他们到吃的好喜欢。

他们非常的勇敢尝试新口味，包括辣椒。 茱莉（图右，左为葛儿）甚至把蒸鱼的眼睛也吃了下去！

Full moon celebration 弥月之喜

Mrs Lee nee Chan Siew Fong, after seven days' self-imposed quarantine, re-united with the family and her new born grandson.

Tonight, we were invited to her grandson's full-moon (one month) celebrations. Many friends and relatives were invited, plenty of food being served too!


李太（陈少芳）在过了七天自我隔离后，和家人团聚，特别是她的新生孙儿。

今晚，我们受邀请参加她的孙子弥月之喜。许多朋友及亲戚也到场祝贺，还有许多美味的食物款待。

Baby's very unique five "diamond" 婴儿有五个“钻”，非常罕见。

李太的一位可爱外孙女 Her cute granddaughter

Last year today 去年今日

Fooling with Fr. Leo's wheel chair at Guangzhou Airport
在广州白云机场，拿张神父轮椅戏耍

Today is the feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul the Apostles. It marks the end of the Year of St. Paul.

One year ago today in Xiao Pu Zi, Yunnan, father Leo Chang was enjoying one of the happiest moments of his life - celebrating his 51st year of priestly ordination and 80th birthday in his home village with his immediate family and villagers. (see Blog - Adventure in Kunming)

We were having great fun there.

May we cherish the great times we have with him。 Fr. Leo Chang is a faithful servant of Christ, emulating Paul's example, sailing across the seas, over hills and mountains, spreading Good News of Christ.

May his soul rest in the peace of our Lord.

Fr. was very happy with the food and wine（bottle）
神父非常满意桌上的食物及自酿的酒（瓶子）

今天是伯多禄及保禄宗徒的主保日。 这也意味着教会保禄年的结束。

一年前的今天，在云南的小堡子，张学礼神父正在和亲人及村民欢庆他的晋铎五十一周年及八十岁大寿。这是他人生最快乐的其中一天。(看旧帖子 -昆明历险记）

当时我们也是非常的开心。

让我们怀缅和他一起的快乐时光。 张神父是主耶稣忠诚的仆人，仿效保禄的榜样，飘洋过海，攀山越岭，传播主的福音。

愿他灵魂安息主怀。



我见过的最大，最多的生日蛋糕
The biggest and the most birthday cakes I've seen

Fr. enjoying water pipe. His elder brother showed his rare smile. He died a few days after Fr. Leo's funeral

神父尝试水烟斗。旁边是他的大哥，展现出难得的笑容。他在张神父葬礼后几天，在云南逝世。

Cutie cutie 可爱

Kelvin is eldest son of Susan, Pauline's younger sister. He went to UK for further study and married there. His wife Jennifer is a Shanghainese. They have two children, Luke (6) and Magdalene (4).

Last night they dropped by for a visit. First time we met the two cutie children.

Kelvin 是太太的妹妹，苏珊的大儿子。他到英国深造，并在那儿结婚。太太来自上海。他们有两个孩子，路加 （6岁）和麦德莲 （4岁）。

昨晚他们到来探访我们，这也是我们第一次见到这两个孩子，活泼可爱。

Say"cheese"

Sick priest 神父病了(3)

My wife and I visited Rev. Fr. Anthony Chan this morning.

He is bed-ridden, thin and frail but alert. He extended his warm handshake and smile to us when we entered his room.

Mrs. Lee is there to look after him almost 24 hours round the clock.

He doesn't speak and needs tube-feeding 2-hourly.

He prays with the "Divine office" (a thick book) regularly, sometimes 2-3 hours if he has the energy. He closes his eyes to rest or sleep when tired.

May our Lord have mercy on him, comfort him in the final hours of his great missionary life.

Mother Mary, pray for him.
Dear friends, let us pray for him too.


今天早上，我和太太去探望了陈安当神父。

他已经不下床了，很瘦弱但精神还很警惕。当我们进入他的房间时，他热情的伸出双手和我们相握，露出和蔼的笑容。

目前李太太几乎是二十四小时的在看护他。

他没有说话，并且需要用插管，每两个小时进食一次。

他用很多时间在床上作祈祷，常常拿作厚厚的祈祷书，在精神允许下，做两到三个小时的阅读及祈祷，疲倦了就闭上眼睛休息或睡觉。

求主耶稣垂怜他，在陈神父伟大传教生命的最后时期，安慰他，呵护他。

圣母玛利亚，请为他祈求。
各位朋友们，让我们也一同为他祈求。

I mourned 我哀悼

Today, we lost a good friend, a comrade, a benefactor and a faithful servant of God.

Christopher Lim Beng (57) was called home by the Lord this morning at about 4:30 am. He left behind wife Rosalind and five children (3 girls and 2 boys).

Christopher suffered nose cancer about 12 years ago but recovered fully after treatments. He enjoyed clean bill of health although the treatment has impaired his hearing.

Three weeks ago, after making the pilgrimage to St. Paul's Church at Kuala Kubu Baru with his family and fellow legionaries, he felt ill the next day and was rushed to the hospital.

Unfortunately and unknowingly, cancer has attacked his lung - 80 % of his lung has been collapsed. He needed ventilator to breath.

The doctor has informed his family to prepare for the worse. Prayer request was sent through out the country and overseas also.

He recovered miraculously after two weeks in ICU. He was transferred to ordinary ward and able to breath by himself.

With myself recovered from the "thunder flu", my wife and I visited him last Thursday evening. He was in good spirit but not able to talk due to throat injury sustained during the emergency treatment ....insertion of many tubes.

We wished him well and bid him goodbye. I thought he may go home in a few days time to rest in homely environment.

This morning, I looked at my phone, many friends sent me the same message: " Our beloved brother Lim Beng was called home to the lord this morning........."

He was a humble, simple and generous man. He has contributed tremendously towards the development of the Chinese speaking youth movement and many other lay organisations. We will always remember him.

Funeral Mass will be held at the Church of the Holy Rosary, Brickfields on Friday at 10:00 am.

May his soul rest in peace of the Lord.


今天我们失去了一位好朋友，同僚，赞助人，忠诚的天主仆人。

我们敬爱的林明兄（57岁）今早蒙主恩召，大约在清晨四点半左右，与世长辞。他遗留下孀妻月金姐妹及五位子女（三女二男）。

约在十二年前，林明兄患上了鼻癌，但经过治疗后，完全的康复了。疗程使到他的听觉受损，但却可以说是过着健康的生活。

三个星期前，他和太太及圣母军友到新古毛的圣保禄堂朝圣后，隔天他就身体不舒服，被紧急送入医院。

不幸及不察觉之下，原来癌细胞已经攻击了他的肺脏 - 几乎八十巴先损坏了。他需要机器来帮助呼吸。

当时医生已经通知家人，该做好最坏的打算。要求为他祈祷的讯息，马上发到全国各地，甚至到国外，要求为林明兄弟病情祈祷。

在紧急护理室挣扎了近两个星期后，他的病情奇迹般的好转。后来他能够自己呼吸，也被转去普通病房了。

在他进院的几乎同时，我也受到“雷霆感冒”的攻击，不能到医院探望他。上个星期，我康复了，马上就和太太到医院探访他。看来他精神还算不错。他的喉咙因为在紧急治疗时，插管太多而受到损伤，不能说话。当时他的太太月金也在场。

我们在和他告别时，祝愿他早日康复。当时我的心里是想他会在几天后出院，回到家里更舒适的修养。

今天早上，看了手机，里面有几个来自朋友的同样讯息：“我们敬爱的林明兄弟，今早蒙主恩召。。。。。”

林明兄弟是位谦虚 、朴素及慷慨的人。他对本地的华文青年运动及教会的许多组织，作出了许多贡献。我们都不会忘记他。

安所弥撒将在星期五，早上十时正，在十五碑玫瑰堂举行。

愿他的灵魂早日安息主怀。

交流会

我会在六月三到到十号，到台北参加全球华文圣母军交流会。五月份，我在【爱之光】写了一篇有关交流会的感想，特此转载于此与各位分享（假如你没看【爱之光】）。


我和你

转眼间，又是交流会的时候了。

2009 年第十七届马、新、汶、台华文圣母军交流会，将在六月四日假台北的剑潭活动中心开幕。这是交流会第二次在台湾举行。

适逢今年是天主教在台湾建教150周年，交流会也就成为了欢庆的一个项目，到时必有一番热闹。而我们这些外地来的客人，躬逢其盛，能够参与及感受这个恩典带来的喜悦及祝福，确实是毕生难忘的体验。

我的心情也随着日期的逐渐靠近，而有着一股兴奋涌上心头。想到能够见到来自四面八方的军友们，以主之名而相聚，在圣母妈妈的怀抱里，几天的集会，寒暄问侯，兄弟姐妹的亲近，交换心得和经验，共同吃喝玩乐，把酒（茶）抒情谊，真是人生难得。信仰路上有着这群兄弟姐妹，人生难得，夫复何求呢！

我在翻阅圣母军手册的时候，里面放了一张照片，拍摄日期是 4-6-1991，那是十八年前的事了！那时，东、西马圣母军刚开始有了联络。照片中的三个人，英姿风发，脸上挂着迷人的微笑。今天，这三人都已经各奔东西，寻求不同的理想。

假如你以为自己看的不清楚，我可以告诉你，左边那位的确是我。中间的是黄聪颖，追求修道生活，目前是主徒会的修生，身在台湾。最右的是诗巫的陈冉颖，当时应该是刚二十出头的小伙子，满怀壮志和憧憬，现在已经有个美满的家庭，育有好多个孩子。当时他是到吉隆坡旅游的。

各地华文圣母军1990年，在诗巫第一次集会后，开始了各种的交流活动。两年后，也就是 1992年，第一届圣母军交流会，成功的在亚庇举行了。

假如要引用当年圣母军在爱尔兰成立的情景，华文圣母军交流会的成立也该如此戏剧化的形容： “在今日看来，马、新、汶、台华文圣母军交流会有可观的跨越洲际的发展，但它的产生却很简单。它不是经过一番思考后组织起来的。它的形成极其自然。关于它的规章或操作方式，事先没有筹划，纯然是出于一个提议，那就是各地圣母军应该互相认识、交流、成为主内的朋友。这些都是发自每个圣母军内心的一种盼望。”（参考手册第一章）

那是多么奇特的事啊！所以我们应该好好的爱护这个交流会，珍惜这个情怀，珍惜这个缘分的恩赐，珍惜这个相聚和离别，珍惜我和你。

交流是认识自己，欣赏他人，但更重要的是开启了我们的耳和眼，听到了天主的话语，见证了天主的爱！

Love and fidelity 有情有义

Part 1.

It was a weekend of "departure", "arrival"; "love", "fidelity".

This morning, my wife and I "departed" from our house at 10:00 am for Christ the Light Chapel at Kepong to attend the Thanksgiving Mass of the Golden wedding Anniversary of Michael and Mary On.

We "arrived" at destination at about 10:50 am.

The Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Charles "Botak" Chin. He was overjoyed for being able to be with this couple who have been married for half a century. He was happy also to be the witness of the renewal of their marriage vows.

He said when a young couple getting married, they are filled with joy. He called this a joy of "departure". The couple is departing on a journey as husband and wife, full of dreams and excitements of a wonderful life together.

But today, as Michael and Mary has been married for 50 years, they are filled with joy too. This is the joy of "arrival". They have been partner for the past 50 years, went through the thick and thin of life. Today they have arrived at a milestone... an achievement of being married for half a centuary.

This is a life of love, fidelity, loyalty to each other.

May God continue to bless them and family many happy and joyful years ahead.

We "departed" for home after lunch fellowship. (part 2 at bottom)


一个[启程] 、[抵达] ；[情] 和 [义] 的周末。

今早十点正，我和太太启程前往甲洞的基督之光小堂，去参加安福全兄弟及杨柳凤结婚五十周年金庆感恩弥撒。

我们在十点五十分左右，抵达了目的地。

弥撒在十一点正开始，由陈赞光神父主祭。他非常高兴能够见证这对夫妇美满婚姻五十年，并重新向对方宣读婚姻誓词。

他说一对年轻夫妇结婚时，也是充满喜乐，这是[启程] 的喜乐，他们开始了新的共同婚姻生活，充满希望和憧憬。

而今天这对结婚五十年的夫妇，也是充满了喜乐。但他们的喜乐是 [抵达] 的喜乐，因为他们已经到达了一个里程碑 - 五十年的婚姻生活，一个很大的成就。

这也是他们夫妇的情 、义的生活故事。夫妻相亲相爱，忠诚 ，陪伴 ，互相接纳，共同走了人生的五十年。

愿主继续降福他们婚姻快乐，家庭和睦，健康平安。

我们在午餐后，就和他们告别，启程回家了。

甲洞圣爱家庭歌咏团 Kepong Caritas family choir（Youtube录影)

在傍晚五时，我自个儿又启程了。

今晚老总谢家强设宴为他的老朋友，陈蕾士教授欢庆九十二岁生日。

谢家强是一位有情有义的人，对朋友忠诚，尽仁义。每年他都会专程到马六甲，接载陈教授上来吉隆坡，并邀请一些好友，一同为他欢庆生日。

另一位有情有义的人就是陈教授的学生刘清华教授。过去的十多年来，他，有时联同太太，会从香港过来，和老师欢庆生日。

所以，这是一个充满情和义的集会。陈教授的喜乐，该是如陈神父说的 [抵达] 的喜乐，因为九十多高龄，是人生美满的时候，能够和一些好友 、学生共庆生日，人生难得也。

Part 2.

At 5:00 pm, I have to "depart" for PJ to attend another celebration.

David Chia is hosting a dinner to celebrate 92nd birthday of Professor Emeritus Tan.

David is a kind and generous man, a loyal and compassionate friend. He will travel to Melaka every year to bring Professor Emeritus to KL to celebrate his birthday with some old friends.

Professor Lao from Hong Kong University is also a loyal student of Professor Emeritus. He comes to KL, sometimes with wife, to be with his former teacher on his birthday. He has been doing so for the past 15 years.

Professor Emeritus was very happy to be surrounded by his student and friends on his birthday. His was the joy of "arrival".

坐者左起：刘清华教授，陈蕾士教授，谢家强及太太陈莲娇
From left seated: Professor Lao, Prof Emiratus, David Chia and his wife Elsie.

你的妈妈呢? where is your mama ?

一位朋友笑对我说，孩子将会在母亲节带她出去吃晚餐。她害怕增磅，自虐是庆祝“母猪节”。

我也笑说，母亲节最大的赢家是商家，他们这个时候，生意兴隆，犹如“猪笼入水”，倒是名副其实的“母猪节”。

我再笑说，其实母亲节也称为“无亲节”。她愕然。我说，母亲节是给那些一年三百六十四天，没见父母亲的孩子，没关心过父母的孩子，那些"不知道爸妈的晚餐吃得是什么菜” 的孩子一个补偿的机会，所以，也可以称为“无亲节”。她说我胡说八道。

其实只要你母亲还健在，每天都是母亲节。树欲静而风不止，子欲养而亲不在，莫等到母亲不在了，才在母亲节里想母亲。那是傻瓜。

我的母亲在我十五岁的时候逝世了。。。那是很久 、很久以前的事了。现在想起来，妈妈的印象也越来越模糊了。

不过，我到现在还很清晰的记得妈妈的几个令我刻骨铭心的特点：

妈妈是一个很慈祥善良的人。可能今天已经没有人会向邻居借米 、油这类事情了。有的话，也只是电视剧里，男 、女想互相认识的一种伎俩而已。四、五十年前，这是很平常的事。当时因为人们的生活都很穷困，只有在发薪的时候，才有能力购买家庭需要的物资，用完了，就需要等到下个月的“出糧”才再去购买。所以，很多时候，材 、米 、油 、盐比预期的早用完，那就得像邻居暂借了。

妈妈三十多岁就守寡，大哥十七岁就要出来工作养家，八个孩子，确实是抓襟见肘。有时自己的米缸也都有限，但假如邻居过来借，妈妈从不拒绝。有时邻居也“忘记”还了，但她从不埋怨。

妈妈没和人结恨或说人坏话。当我们和别家孩子打架时，不管我们对还是错，一定会受到妈妈处罚。在妈妈的眼里，打架是不好的事。妈妈没有仇人 、从没和人吵架。

妈妈非常有知识。妈妈不是大学生，可能连小学都没读完。但我还记忆犹新的，妈妈每天都看报纸。数十年前，报纸不是没个人都可能读到的，但妈妈应该是每天都买报纸来看。所以她一定是很有知识的人。

这点，可以从她常常帮人写信就可知道。邻人假如有收到信件，如外地孩子 、亲人，或者中国亲戚有信来，都会来找妈妈代读及代回信。她从来不拒绝任何人在这方面的要求。（妈妈去世后，这工作就由我接过）。

妈妈抽烟。很奇怪，那个年代，很多妇人家抽烟，妈妈是其中一位。她抽的是“白唛 Capston” 及“打猎Rough rider”. 我有时常到店里帮妈妈买香烟。

妈妈的温暖。那个年代，我们睡的都是板床。这是名副其实的由整十片木板摊在三个床脚组成的床。我下去还有两个弟弟，他们和妈妈一起睡。但我会常常的过来“搭床”。因为刚好容下三个人，我就睡在床的下端，（打横睡在他们的脚下端）。这是一个很温暖的享受，和妈妈一起的温暖。到今天，每当我想起，心中还有一阵暖意。

妈妈是个坚强的女人。妈妈年轻守寡，抚养八个孩子，确实是不容易。爸爸是位划木工人，在一次意外中，被倒下的树打死，当时妈妈肚里还怀着最小的弟弟。

我只能在记忆中，在怀念中，在婆娑的绿叶中，掠过的风中，追忆妈妈。

你的妈妈呢？

我的父母 My parents

A lady friend told me her children were bringing her out for dinner on Mother's day. She was afraid of putting on weight ... she called it a " Mother pig's day".

I jokingly said that Mother's day also known as "No Mother's day". It was a day for people who did not see their mother 364 days of the year; who did not know what was parents eating for dinner.... So they were actually celebrating "No Mother's day".

Whatever it is, as long as your mother is still alive, every day is mother's day. Do not think of your mother on Mother's day only especially when your mother is no long around. It is stupid.

My mother passed away when I was 15. It was such a long long time ago... she is fading and blurring in my memory........

But I still remembered clearly few outstanding qualities of my mother:

My mother was a kind and charitable lady. Borrowing rice and cooking oil from your neighbour is not common nowadays. You could see it in TV drama only as tactic to know a boy or a girl, but it was very common fifty years ago. Life was difficult then. People bought their rations or necessity on pay day only. If supply ran out before the next pay day, they have to borrow from the neighbours or friends.

We were very poor. My mother widowed at a young age, my eldest brother was 17 and needed to work to support the family. My mother never refused request from any neighbour even her own rice container was almost empty. She never complained of neighbour who "forgotten" to return.

My mother had no enemy or bad mouthed others. When we had fight with other children, whether right or wrong, we will be punished. Fighting was a terrible thing for her. She never talked bad of others and quarreled with any one.

My mother was very knowledgeable. She was not a graduate, or even finished primary school. But she read newspaper everyday. At those days, newspaper was a luxurious. She must be very knowledgeable by reading newspaper everyday.

This can be proven by her reading letters for neighbours and friends. Many villagers would seek her help to read for them letters sent by their outstation children, relatives from outstation and China. And she would reply according to their dictation. She refused no one requesting for help. (I took over her job after her passing.)

My mother was a smoker. Quite unbelievable on those day, many ladies smoked. My mother smoked "Capstan" and "Rough Rider". I used to buy cigarette for her.

Mother meant tender love and warm. Those days we slept on wooden bed - literally on bed made up of about 10 pieces of wooden blanks. My two younger brothers slept with my mother. But on many occasions, I would squeezed in and slept at the end of the bed - space between their legs and wall. It was warm and comfortable. Be with your mother was the most heart warming moments.

My mother was a strong woman. She was widowed at thirty plus. My father was a timber cutter and died in a work accident. He was struck by a fallen tree. My mother was expecting her 8th child (my youngest brother) when my father died. Bringing up 8 children was a tough task.

I can only think of my mother in my memory, in the deep of the night ....

Where is your mother?

Friends from Ipoh 有朋自怡保来

站立左起：芬妹，玉玲，碧云，太太，瑞珍。坐者：景光

From left standing: Joshephin, Yu Ling, Bi Yun, Pauline, Rui Zheng. Seated: Jing Guang

Received a called from Josephine of Ipoh before noon. She and four friends had arrived at Tung Shin Hospital to visit Chong Yu Ling's daughter, Lina, whom I blogged earlier [I can only pray]. Lina is currently receiving treatment for her cancer.

I invited them to come down to Kajang if time permitted.

Yu Ling has been accompanying her daughter in the hospital for more than a month. She has not been home or away from the hospital all the while. So Josephine and friends brought her out for lunch at Petaling Street so as to allowing her sometime to "de-stress".

They also took the opportunity to come down to Kajang.

Sate is a must for visitors to Kajang. I brought them for Sate, thence to my house for tea - Chinese Pur Er tea.

They will send Yu Ling back to hospital before returning to Ipoh, which is expected to arrive before midnight.

I wish them a pleasant and safe journey home.



中午之前，接到阿芬妹的电话，她联同四位怡保朋友，已经到了吉隆坡同善医院，探望张玉玲姐的女儿莉娜 - 她就是我说的，患了癌症求医的那位女孩 （旧帖子 - 我只能祈祷）。

我邀请他们，假如时间许可，下来加影坐坐。

玉玲姐妹在医院看顾女儿，已经月余，没有时间出来“透风”。所以这群怡保朋友就乘机带她出去走走，到茨厂街吃午餐，让她松弛片刻。

他们也藉此到来加影走走。

当然到了加影，就要尝尝加影沙爹。过后到我家小坐，然后才送玉玲姐妹回医院，再取道回怡保。

他们回到怡保，也该是近午夜了。祝他们一路顺风。

Full moon 月圆

Today is 15th day of the lunar 4th month and the first full moon of May.

Today Malaysian Buddhist celebrates Wesak day. May I wish all our Buddhist friend a happy and joyful Wesak Day.

20 days more, Chinese will celebrate Duan Wu Jie ( Dumpling day). This evening we received from our superwoman friend Mrs Lee first lot of homemade Dumplings (Bak Chang).

She is one of the brave women undergone double knee replacement. Today she is as active as ever, traveling round the world and seeing places. She has just returned from a 2-week trip to China, and is planning an US trip to visit her daughter and a cruise ship tour to Alaska in June/July.

I love Bak Chang !



今天是农历四月十五，也是阳历五月的第一个月圆日。

今天马来西亚的佛教徒欢庆卫塞日。我谨祝佛教徒朋友，卫塞日平安，快乐。

再多二十天，我们华人将庆祝端午节。今天傍晚，我们收到来自超级妇人朋友，李太太送来的第一批刚新鲜出炉，自己裹的粽子。

她是我旧帖子里提到换了两个膝盖的勇敢妇女之一。她现在如往常般的活跃，继续的旅游世界各地观光。她刚从两个星期的中国旅游回来，目前正准备在六月及七月到美国探望女儿，及坐游轮观赏阿拉斯加美丽风光。

我喜欢吃肉粽 ！

A priest is sick 神父病了

Fr. William mentioned about the ill health of Fr. Anthony Chan during Easter vigil.

I went to see him this afternoon. He just returned from hospital after radiotherapy.

About six years ago, he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Operation was done to remove the cancerous growth. Doctor did not recommend any further treatment such as radio- or chemotherapy due to his advance age. He lived happily after the operation.

Four months ago, he was coughing badly. A check up revealed the cancerous cells has spread to his upper torso, especially neck and lungs. Lately he was in pain and the doctor recommended radiotherapy on his neck.

He has to undergo a course of 20 treatment to shrink a growth in his neck. Today is the 9th treatment.

He looked tired and subdue but managed to smile and said a few words. He is not eating well due to the treatment and lost 10 kg since the radiotherapy. He did not complain of any pain but need suction to clear his phlegm.

He is well looked after by Mrs Lee (72), a Kelang parishioner. She is there during day time taking care of his needs.

Before I left, I held a hand of Fr. Chan and said that he has been taking care of God's people all his life, it is time for God to take care of him. He smiled and nodding his head.

17-4-1988

在复活节守夜弥撒时，威廉神父提到为陈安当神父的健康祈祷。

今天下午，我去探访他。他刚在医院接受了电疗后回来。

大约在六年前，陈神父患了大肠癌。医生动手术切除了受影响的部分，但因神父的年事已高，所以没有推荐电疗或化疗。他就健康快乐的过了几年。

四个月前，因为严重咳嗽不止，去检验身体，被发现癌症细胞已经扩散到整个上半身，特别是肺和颈部。后来因为痛，所以医生就决定要他去做颈部电疗。

这个疗程共有20 次，是要电缩颈部的肿瘤。今天是第九次了。

他看来非常的疲倦，静默但还是展现了他的笑容，及简短的说几句话。电疗使到他丧失胃口，自电疗后，已经瘦了十公斤。他没有任何疼痛，但有很多痰，需用机器帮助吸出。

目前有一位吧生教友李太太（72岁）悉心照料陈神父。她会在白天陪伴神父及照顾他的需要。

临走前，我怃住陈神父的手，告诉他说，过去他毕生照顾天主的子女，现在应该轮到天主照顾他了。他展颜一笑的点点头。

仁爱 、宽恕

一个是该打， 一个是罪有应得。

被打的人还是心有不甘。我被你挥拳一袭，鼻子流血，成了永远的“歪鼻”（YB), 还需要被人抬上救护车，住院两天，身心都受折磨，真没脸。不惑之年，还给一个血气方刚的年轻人袭击，真是遗憾终生。不怪的对方数度要求道歉，被打的一方都不回应。现在对方只被判监禁两天，实在是有点不忿气。（这是给你们的警惕，嘿嘿。。以后别乱来！）

打人者，大好青年，血气方刚，嫉恶如仇。听到了有不义之事，马上义愤填胸，一时失控，不管三七二十一，给个怒拳这老家伙尝尝。过后才知道事态的严重，要向对方抱歉，但却不受理。现在被判监禁两天及罚款六千，得多谢法官网开一面，以情 、以理，以教，来满全法律精神，从轻发落。不怪的新纪元学院新任院长潘永忠激动的说：“啊！我太高兴了！”。但对一个幼嫩的青年来说，已是一个重创及教训了。

一件震动华社 、华教的事件，表面上是落幕了。至少叶新田膝前的乖乖副手第一个发言就是这样说的（我已意料到他会为主人第一个发言的人）。他说希望这判决给所有的人一个警惕，我的主人已经知道这个判决了。

在这事件中，华教 、 华社有学到什么吗？有什么启示吗？有什么警惕？

没有！整个事件证明了都是为私利，为名利，为权利的斗争。这些受人尊敬的长者 、领袖 、学者 、道德护卫者，除了没有以身作则外，也没去自我反省，到底事件到这个地步，是如何造成的。整个事件过程中，没有“共识”，“礼待”，“让步”，“协商”，“牺牲”，“仁”，“义” 等美德出现的丝毫迹象。

我想，华社 、华教错过了一个表扬华人数千年的文化 、道德 、传统美德的机会。领袖也没活出我言我信，我做我言。这一拳是白打，白受；这两天的监牢是白坐，六千罚金是白给的。

以事论事，以这宗打人案来看。

我不期望会看到如耶稣说的：当别人打你右脸时，你也让他打你的左脸。”，更难做到他说的你要原谅他人七十个七次。这是成圣之道，要求非常的高。教宗若望保禄二世宽恕刺杀他的人，也非常人所能作。但最近发生中国温家宝总理原谅向他丢鞋的学生，没有一点启示吗？

中国数千年儒家思想的仁，恕；“仁者爱人”，宽恕的精神去了哪里？

我翻开【董教总】出版，张子深编著的『孔子智慧』，第一面的就是“一颗善心”。颜回说：别人对我好，我也对他好。别人对我不好，我仍然对他好。再往下看，【论语】评选，名列头条的是“一个恕字”。子贡问孔丘：“有一个字可以终身奉行的吗？” 孔子答：“恕也，己所不欲，勿施于人”。在书的结尾，还讲了好多孔子的“仁”是什么。董总诸公，是否有去翻阅？

我们常说，不要如小孩子般的见识。作为华教的领袖，学者，长者，必有宽阔的胸怀，诗书修养内涵。有些事情不能只靠文告 、法律来解决。博士田不是泛泛之辈，不是米田共的田，而是新纪元学院的田，是华教的垦田。你不是潘西满，一介莽夫；你不是三米又维鲁，不认识华人的礼仪廉耻，你是长者，众人的榜样，特别是淳淳学子都要向你看齐。如此的长相，难怪会犯众怒。你在名利斗争中，忘记了华人的美德，你应该走下楼，到董总出版社翻翻华人儒教的书籍，别忘了你是出版人叻！

这个打人者，不就是我们的孩子吗？仁者爱人，爱人如己，有教无类。。。这些不需要我说，一位教育界的风范，是必须具备的。

“度尽劫波兄弟在,相逢一笑泯恩仇”。 发文告不能解决事情的。

华教到底是什么？教育是什么？

我还是要说，为老不尊，带坏子孙。

打得好，该打！

（我不鼓励暴力，但既然已做了，下次千万别再做）

A surprise 一个惊喜

You may be one of the millions who have seen her singing.

Dateline：11-4-2009。

A 47 years old lady.

She is plump and conservatively dressed village woman, a very ordinary looking woman.

She walked out to the stage of a talent competition filled with giggles and whistles of skepticism.

Millions on TV and thousands live audience were waiting for her to shame herself, especially the 3 cynical and peevish judges.

She sang. The applause. The standing ovation. The biggest surprise.

A star is born... decades later. A dream realised...decades later.

This is the story of Susan Boyle of England.

Lucky ? No, it is Courage !

Don't judge the book by the cover!

Youtube 录影

Click here to see Susan Boyle at age 25 点击看她25岁时

可能你已是看过她唱歌的千千万万人之一。但也可能还没有，因为她是唱英文歌曲。

日期： 11-4-2009

一个47岁的妇人。

发胖，穿着保守的一名村妇，非常非常普通的一位村妇。

她站上一个天才比赛的舞台，传来观众阵阵的冷笑及讥讽的怪脸。

数百万的电视观众，还有数千位现场的观众，等着这位妇人在台上出丑，特别是那三位尖酸苛刻的评判员。

她开声高唱。接下来是掌声。观众站立的热烈反应。这是个极大惊喜。

一颗新星诞生了。。。数十年后。一个梦成真了。。。数十年后。

这是英国苏珊。博尔(Susan Boyle) 的故事。

运气？不是，是勇气！

人不可貌相！

Kuala Sepetang, Kuala Sangga and Pantai Remis *** 十八丁，老港，班台 ( 2 )

The boat journey

Peter has arranged a boat to pick us at the restaurant jetty for the 25 minutes trip to kuala Sangga Island to visit the small church.

Our boatman Mr. Lee, a local resident and a fisherman, told us the story of Kuala Sangga and the church.

Kuala Sangga is a small island at the mouth of Sepetang river and Sangga river. About 100 years ago, Catholic migrants from Teochew, China inhabited the island and lived off the sea. They built houses along the coast line and linked with a long wooden bridge. There was no running water and electricity supply. They relied on rain water and power generated by generators even untll today. They also built a school and a church.

As time progressed, many had moved to the mainland. Today, about 40 households remained and none of them is Catholic.

It was about forty years ago, a fire destroyed few houses but stopped at the church. A local lady resident claimed that she saw a lady on top of the church putting out the fire. They believed it was St. Ann, the patron of the church.

With the dwindling Catholics in the island, priest from Taiping found it difficult to maintain the wooden church which was in deplorable condition. So they decided to close the church and removed the statue and other religious articles. The move met with strong opposition from the non-Christian residents.

They claimed that St. Ann was protecting the islanders. They enjoyed peaceful living and good fortune. Moreover, they have consulted their god through temple medium that should the church and statue removed, their safety and fortune would not be protected.

In order to keep the statue, they started the "save the church" project (believed to be the first and only in history by non-Christians).They contributed money, materials and labour to rebuild a new church for St. Ann. It was completed and dedicated on 31-8-1998.

They have another testimony after the building of the new church. On 26-12-2004 when islanders received the news of the tsunami, they set out to the open sea to scout the horizon for movement of the waves. They saw great waves coming towards the island but changed course when reaching the river mouth of the island. They thanked St. Ann for saving the island. (The strong waves could easily destroy all the wooden houses built right at the coast line）。

Today, there is no Catholic in the island. The church is maintain by the non-Christian islanders. They light candles, offer flowers and fruits at the altar on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar month. The Catholics would come once a year only in August to celebrate St. Ann's feast with Mass and prayer.

The small church is a full concrete building. It looks newish, clean and peaceful. We stayed there for our Rosary and prayed to St. Ann to continue intercede for the islanders. May God continue to bless them with peace and happy living.

The church is the testimony of religious harmony and the communion of people and nature. It is the living history of hard working migrants from China braving the challenging living conditions, and in their small ways, has contributed to the building of the nation. And it is a part of our local church history too.

I have a very warm, home coming feeling after the visit to this small church.

I checked through our local Catholic Directory, sadly, this small St. Ann church is not listed.


More pics on Facebook 更多照片

Video on Youtube 录影

The interior of the church, Mr. Lee at left. 教堂内部。 最左为李先生

兴文安排了小船到餐馆楼下的小码头接我们，到老港 （kuala Sangga)去参观圣亚纳小教堂，船程需时二十五分钟。

船主李先生是天主教徒，本地人，以渔业为生。他告诉了我们有关这小教堂的历史及故事。

老港处在十八丁及桑加河口。大约在一百年前（十八 、九世纪），来自中国潮州的移民就定居在这个岛上，以海为生。他们在海岸旁建立了木屋，以木桥互相连接。这里到今天，仍然没有电流及自来水的供应。他们以发电机发电，雨水作为食水及日常使用。他们也建立了一所学校及一间教堂。

随着环境的改变，许多岛民已经移居到内陆，目前只剩下大约四十户人家，没有一家是天主教的家庭。

大约在四十年前，一场大火烧毁了数间屋子，但到了教堂，火却熄灭了。当时有一位妇人，她说看到一位妇人，在教堂上把火熄灭。他们认为就是圣亚纳，这间小堂的主保圣人。

随着教友的减少，这件破旧教堂的维修及保管非常困难。驻太平的管理神父决定把它关闭，并移走所有的圣像及圣物。这个决定受到当地非教友岛民大力的反对。

他们归功圣亚纳的保佑下，岛民享受稳定及平安的生活。他们也去找过膜拜的神，通过乩童，被告知千万不要让这圣像被移走，教堂拆除，不然这个岛的平安及财富就没有了保护了。

为了不让圣像被移走，村民们展开了“保堂行动”。我想这是有史以来，第一次非教友保护教堂运动。他们慷慨的捐赠现金 、建筑材料及劳力等，把水泥教堂建起来。新的教堂在1998年，8月31日正式开幕祝圣。

村民还有另一个见证。在26-12-2004 海啸发生后，岛民得知了消息，马上派船到外海观察海浪的移动情况。他们看到巨浪朝着他们的方向前进，但当到了小岛所处的河口时，大浪转了方向分散。这使老 港逃过了可能的灾难。他们感谢圣亚纳的又一次保佑。（巨浪会轻易的把建在沿岸的木屋摧毁）。

今天，岛上已经没有天主教徒了。这间教堂的保养 、清洁工作，就由非教友村民负责。他们在每个农历月的初一及十五，必会到来点蜡烛，供奉鲜花。天主教徒只有在每年的八月，到来参加主保日敬礼及弥撒。

这小教堂是全水泥建筑物。看起来很新 、清洁，也有一种宁静的气氛。我们大家在里面躬诵玫瑰经，要求圣妇亚纳，继续为这个小岛的村民转祷，祈求天主继续降福他们，平安，生活稳定顺利。

这间教堂是宗教和谐，人和大自然共融的见证。这是来自中国的移民，勇敢、勤奋开荒，为国家作出贡献的活生生历史。这也是我们天主教会历史的一部分.

到过了这教堂后，至今仍然有一种非常温馨 、回家的感觉。

可惜，当我查阅教会的通信录册子，这间教堂没有列入册内。

Our housemaid 我们的佣人

We got up at 5 this morning.

We left for KLIA at 6 to send off our housemaid Yani to go back to his kampong at Medan, Indonesia... for good. She has been working for us for the past three years.

When the earthquake and tsunami struck Aceh on 26th December 2004, Yani, a single parent, was staying at the epic center Nias Island off Sumatera mainland. They survived by escaping in time to the higher ground.

With home and livelihood destroyed, they moved to Medan. She decided to look for a more lucrative job overseas to support her 2 children and parents*.

Leaving behind two young children was not easy for her. 3 years in Malaysia has saved up enough of money for her to start life anew in Indonesia.

Last night, bidding farewell to us, she down on her knees to express her gratefulness and asked for forgiveness of her any wrong doing. As our appreciation to her trustworthiness and hard work, we presented her a souvenir to mark the 3-year stay with us .... not a Lorex, but a genuine Seiko lady wrist watch.

She is going home to a new environment different from the day she left three years ago. She has to re-adjust herself to the life back home.

We wish her well in her new life. May God bless her and family, especially her two young sons, with good health and happiness.

As for us, we have to adjust our lives too. Pauline decided not to employ new maid. So from today onwards, we will assume the new identity: Pauline and Simon a.k.a Maria and Mario........ :D

I am washing my cup already.....

* Her father passed away a year ago without seeing her.



今早我们五点就起床了。

六点正，我们就驱车前往吉隆坡国际机场，欢送我们的佣人雅妮 Yani 回印尼棉兰的故乡。她已和我们工作三年了，不会再到回来续约。

2004年，十二月二十六日的亚齐大地震及海啸发生时，雅妮（单亲）当时和家人就住在地震震央的尼亚岛。他们很幸运的及时逃到高处，才避过了这个浩劫。

家园和生计被摧毁之后，他们举家搬到棉兰住居。这时雅妮也决定到国外寻找更高收入的工作，以养活两个年幼的儿子及父母*。

丢下两个年幼的孩子，离乡背井的到马来西亚来工作，不是一件容易的事。三年的工作，她储蓄够了一点钱，可以在家乡开始新的生活，她就决定不在续约而回乡了。

昨晚，在正式和我们告别时，她双膝下跪，感谢我们过去三年的照顾，也请求我们原谅她若有的任何过失。我们对他们过去三年的工作及诚实表示赞赏，送了她一份纪念品，不是金劳力士，但一个精美的原装精工女装手表。

她现在回到一个和她三年前离开时不同环境的家乡，所以生活必须做出调整。

我们衷心的祝福她一个很好的新开始。我们也祈求天主降福她及家人，特别是她的两个孩子，健康平安。

至于我们，也需要作出调整，而太太也决定不再聘请新的家佣。如此这样，我们的身份也做出相同的改变。从今天起，我们的另一个新的身份是：玛丽亚和玛丽欧。。。。 :D

我已经开始清洗自己的杯了。。。。

* 她的爸爸在一年前逝世，没机会和她见面。

cute and smart

Our old friend, Mary Chong from Tawau, came over with her husband to visit their son Bernard in Beremban, Melaka. We took this opportunity to meet them at Bernard's house today.

Bernard is married to Marisa and they have two children. They are cute and smart.

Mary will be leaving for Dundee, Scotland on 29-3-09 to stay for about six months with her youngest daughter over there.

Aiman (right) with younger sister Mimi in front of their parents wedding photo
两个可爱的孩子，在他们的父母结婚照前合照

我们的斗湖老朋友，Mary Chong 和丈夫过来西马，到马六甲探望儿子Bernard. 我们乘此机会，今天南下马六甲去和他们见面。

Bernard 已经结婚，太太名Marisa。他们育有两名可爱又聪明的孩子。Mary 将在三月二十九号，飞去苏格兰的丹迪，探望最小女儿，并会在那里居留大约六个月。

Visit to priest 拜访神父

With guilt, we went to visit Fr. Anthony Chan this afternoon at the Church of St. Theresa, Pandamaran, Port Kelang. With the GPS, finding the church was easy.

Feeling guilty because this was the first time in many years that we visited him at his parish. I met him many times at church functions but it was always a "Hi" and "Bye".

Fr. Chan was surprised but happy to see us. He looked trim and was his usual jovial self. He looked much younger than a 83 years old priest.

I learned Catechism under Fr. Chan and baptised by him at the Holy Rosary Church more than 33 years ago.

He has retired but still active teaching Catechism to adults, celebrating Masses at St. Theresa Church and other parishes of Kelang District whenever he is needed. He still leads a busy life.

It was almost six in the evening after saying goodbye to Fr. Chan, so we went to Pandamaran market place to look for food. From far we noticed a crowded stall and thought it must be a popular place.

It was a Bak Kut Teh stall.

We have not eaten the famous Kelang Bak Kut Teh for many years. We joined the crowd. It was delicious.......yamyam!

Fat Fat Thursday... lean lean tomorrow - It is Friday ! just eat lah...


带着一点内疚，今天下午，我们到巴生班打马兰圣特肋莎教堂探访了陈安当神父。使用卫星导航系统，找到这间教堂是件轻而易举的事。

内疚是因为这是我们好多年来，第一次到堂区探访陈神父。虽然有很多时候能够在教会的活动场合遇见他，但都是打个招呼而已。

陈神父非常惊讶但很高兴的见到我们的到访。他仍然是那么的喜乐和轻松，看起来精神很好，步伐轻快。（上下楼梯比我快捷的多）。他已经83岁，但样子可年轻的多了。

我在三十三年前，由陈神父教导要理及受洗。当时他是吉隆坡玫瑰堂的主任神父。

陈神父已经退休了，但仍然教导成人要理，在圣特肋莎堂负责弥撒，若有需要，也到巴生铎区的其他堂区帮忙主持弥撒。他还是过着一个积极忙碌的生活。

告别陈神父后，已是将近傍晚六时了，我们决定到班打马兰市集去吃晚餐。从远处，看到一个高朋满座的档口，心想必定是很受欢迎的美食档了。

原来是肉骨茶档。

我们也有两三年没吃过巴生肉骨茶，所以就挤在人群里，享用热腾腾的肉骨茶了。

昨天灰灰星期三，今天肥肥星期四，明天苦苦星期五。。。吃了再算吧！

The enemy of the Chinese community 华社罪人

The alliance of snakes, rats and frogs

Hee Yit Foong must be the most hated politician in the Chinese community at this point of time. She resigned from DAP and became an Independent but switched side to enable BN formed the new Perak state government. This caused the collapse of 11-month od Pakatan government.

The voters from her Jelapang state constituency expressed their anger by throwing eggs and incense papers to her house, harassing her relatives, displaying banners with derogatory words. SMSs cursing her has been circulating all over the country. A group of people set up a "Hee Yit Foong We hate you like hell" site in Facebook to express their frustration and indignation. There is a page on her in Wikipedia also.

Hee's switch of allegiance to BN not only a betrayal of her own stand and struggle against a powerful corrupted institution for the past twenty over years, she has also betrayed her supporters. She has destroyed her own integrity, bringing harm to the Chinese community.

I do not want to talk any further of this traitor so not to make myself angry. But in today's Sin Chew Daily (11-2-09), I noticed a respected man is also affected and angry with the words and behaviour of Hee Yit Foong like many of us.

He is none other than the Deputy Chief Editor of Sin Chew Daily, T.Y Tay. He is a famous and respected columnist, current affairs commentator and analyst.

I have counted 3 times he has in his column commented specifically on Hee within a spell of ten days since her defection.

He point-blankly labeled Hee as a cold-hearted woman, selfish and greedy. She is not satisfied being appointed as the Deputy Speaker of the state assembly. What she wanted is the position of a State Executive Councilor. Her defection is for money, power and revenge.

In his 7/2/09 column, he suggested the face of the four political frogs (Hee is one of them) be sculpted on a hill in Perak, emulating the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the United States. A museum be built at the foot of the mount to teach the future generation of "frog politics". Many visitors are expected to come with feces (and rotten eggs), so waste disposal management is very important.

In today's column, I smelled more gun powder. The recent words and behaviour of this woman after defection must has made Tay really really mad, so much so that he must "wash" her properly. He said this woman was saying utterly nonsense, distorted facts and showed no remorse.

He compared her with Arumugam who has resigned recently his Kedah Exco post due to personal reason. He praised highly of Arumugan who resigned willingly, forgoing all benefits, perks and power. He gave no trouble to his party and his voters.

On the other hand, Hee is a woman of low esteem and low integrity. She is un-repentant, liar and trying to fool her constituents and the world. Her behaviour is making people 'grinding teeth" mad.

Hee's behaviour akin to a traitor. She betrayed friends, comrades, voters and Chinese community. She is self serving.

Today, Hee Yit Foong is synonym of Traitor in Malaysian context. Would she suffers similar fate as Judas who betrayed Jesus?

华社的罪人

Pics from Facebook

许月凤可能是全马来西亚华社里，最被人憎恨的政治人物。她辞去民主行动党的党籍，成为一名独立人士，支持国阵成立了霹雳州新州政府，民联的十一个月政权宣告结束。

她的日落洞选区选民非常恼怒，用各种方法来发泄怒气，如向她家抛丢鸡蛋，冥钱，巴刹摊档刁难来买菜的亲戚，拉布条痛骂等行动。除此之外，咒骂短信满天飞，在 Ｆａｃｅｂｏｏｋ 里面，还有一群“许月凤我们憎死你”网友。

许月凤的跳槽行动，不只背叛了自己过去二十年多的政治立场，也背叛了支持她的选民，更毁灭了她的人格，华社也因此而受伤害。

我本来已经不要再谈这个课题，免得怒火冲天，要吐口水，但今天却发现有一位重量人物，也和我们一样的受许月凤跳槽影响，怒火未息呢！

这就是星州日报副总编辑 、著名时事评论员郑丁贤。在跳槽事件发生后，他总共在他的专栏【夜雨晨风】里，专题谈到许月凤的评论，就有三次，其他相关的话题，当然也很多。

他直指许月凤心狠，自私，不知量力，一个没有什么素质的人，被委任为一位州议会副议长还不满意，因没被委任为州行政议员而耿耿于怀。她跳槽的原因可能是金钱 、权力 或报复，或者全部都有。郑丁贤在二月七日的专栏里，建议在霹雳州找一个山头，雕刻四只政治青蛙的塑像，模仿美国罗斯摩尔山四个总统巨像，不过是给这四只青蛙臭名永留。他预计会有很多人来参观，所以提醒建造当局，必须有良好的卫生设施，避免参观者把带来的排放物，或就地取在制造的排泄物好好处理，以维持霹雳州的文明形象。

在今天的专栏里，可以嗅到老郑更火了。他给这个无耻女人在背叛以后的言行气得跳起来，所以他非“洗”她一顿不可。他说这个女人“鬼话连篇，荒腔走板，毫无悔意，让人们更加火冒三丈”。

他把许月凤和刚辞去州议员身份的吉打州民联州议员阿鲁姆甘相比，称她是 “无品” 的政客。他赞许阿鲁姆甘可能因个人难言之隐，辞去州议员的职位，放弃一切利益，地位和福利，没有为难所属政党，也不背叛选民。他说：“人不强求自有品”。

“相比之下，许月凤还是执迷不悟，进而颠倒是非，空口说大话，把人民当白痴，全世界都错了，只有她才是对的，让人齿冷心寒”。

的确，徐月凤的行动，是背叛及出卖了朋友 、同袍 、选民和整个华社，为的就是要达到自己的自私目的，叫人如何不恨之咬牙切齿呢？

在今天的马来西亚，许月凤是汉奸的代名词。她的下场是否会好像出卖耶稣的那位犹达斯般？

这是我刚收到的一则短讯：

<许>多解释也没用
<月>前暗地已行动
<凤>声不幸被言中
<出>卖灵魂去圆梦
<卖>得千万做东宫
<华>社利益断然送
<社>团乡亲怒火冲
<千>夫所指变色虫
<古>人三桂臭名封
<罪>大恶极心不忠
<人>民愤怒送她终