I have three lovely children, two girls and a boy. When they were young, my wife and I took them everywhere we went. So much so that even our friends would insist that we bring them along for our nightly supper.
We took them on holiday to various parts of the country. But what they most looked forward to were the balik kampung (going home) trips to Butterworth, Penang, for Christmas.
They would prepare a list of presents for their uncles, aunts and cousins, and happily went shopping. Dad, of course, footed the bill. They enjoyed wrapping the presents and making their own little gift cards. When it was time to leave for our journey, they’d find little space for themselves because the car would be filled with presents!
When I was working as a medical officer at the Lumut district hospital in Perak, on the days that I was not on call they would eagerly await my return. We would then go to the evening bazaar to do our marketing. I would prepare steam boat or steamed fish and we would have dinner in the garden. They also knew that every night (when I wasn’t on call), I would make them kaya toast before they went to bed.
In our days, there was a shortage of doctors. Sometimes I had to go on call three days in a stretch, especially during the festive periods. But I did not mind. My chief medical officer would make arrangements for quarters to be made available to me and my family. And we would be served food from the hospital kitchen.
The staff got to know my children and became very fond of them. Once, my son went missing and a staff nurse found him on a hill near the male ward and brought him back. This little fellow used to go to the kitchen and order his dinner (chicken chop).
Years later, my girls grew up and gave birth at Manjung hospital in Perak. They were attended to by the same staff who knew them since they were young. It was a pleasure seeing them treated so well by the staff of the maternity ward.
My son used to tag along when I served as a locum in different places as he was promised a toy of his choice after I finished work. He really treasured his toys. Just recently, I handed over his collection to my grandson – after some 25 years.
As he was growing up, I used to take him and his friends on camping trips to the southern-most tip of Pulau Pangkor. To access this spot we had to hike over the hills to a scenic beach with a waterfall.
Sometimes I wondered how we had managed to lug all our camping gear and foodstuff over the steep trail!
Once we set up camp, his mother and I would cook and wash while they enjoyed jungle trekking and swimming in the sea. At night we’d have a campfire with coffee and biscuits to keep those on watch duty awake.
These outings turned him into an independent person. To this day even his friends remain close to me and my wife.
To get them to study I suggested that they stay with me and do group studies. Imagine coming home from work and preparing nuggets, sausages and fries and sending the snacks up to their room, and then going up later to clear the plates.
My efforts paid off. They all passed their SPM.
At our children’s persuasion, my wife and I relocated from Perak to Selangor (Shah Alam) at the age of 63 this year. We now enjoy precious moments with them and their children.
My grandson is so pleased that he calls me “Malaysia’s No 1 Grandfather” and loves sitting on my lap.
Even at this age I am always there for my children, be it financially or emotionally.
One morning as I was getting ready for work, the phone rang. On the line was my daughter who had met with an accident and wanted me there. I rushed over to help her move her car and change the damaged wheel.
Being a handyman my services are always needed. My weekends are thus occupied with doing or fixing something.
In a way I’m quite happy I made the decision to move down because we get to see them more often and it gives my wife great joy. I’ll be there for my wonderful children – anywhere, any time, as long as they call. I hope that they will, in time to come, be just like their Dad.
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