Lai Mui Thin - But Not So Thin Now!

Remember "bell-bottoms"?

Lately there has been a number of emails flying around and here's the latest one. Unfortunately it's kinda hard to teach stubborn old monkeys new tricks. So I "tow hung liaow" *sigh* Blog Administrator.

Lai Mui Thin & Dr Clarence Lei smiling after a hearty laksa breakfast, 9th November 2007

Dear Old friends,

Thanks for the mails.
It is really good to meet up with good old Clarence after all these years.
At my(our) age,I have to apologise if I cannot remember all the names. If I
see the
faces, I would definitely be able to recognise all of you.
As I will be on business trip tp KL and Nanjing for the next two weeks, I
would not be able to respond to all your mail individually yet.
I will be back in the office beginning December.
If any of you are in this area, please give me a call.
Best Regards
MT Lai
Director, Manufacturing

Phone: +6072535001, Mobile: +60193381374, E-Mail: muithin.lai@basf.com
BASF (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Johor Malaysia, 81100

Softball team - who's the crazy one waving her arms to get more attention?

Who's Mesa?

MESA Chen

I feel obliged to answer the enquiry regarding the mysterious Mesa. I have known Mesa for a long long time although we seldom "talk" in school, somehow. Maybe I was just the poor shy rural schoolboy in an urban school. This write-up may also give some perspective into a part of Sarawak history: I think Ling Beng Siew's family is writing a book on this aspect of Sarwak history.

Mesa is Cantonese, from Sarikei, like me. One of my cousin's also married her distant auntie. Her late father (Mr Chen Ko Ming) was not only manager of Sarikei Chartered Bank but also Secretary General of the SCA, Sarawak Chinese Association. My late uncle (father's elder brother) was a supporter of Mr Chen. That was in 1960s. Many Sarawakian Chinese were still inclined towards China and wants to bring communism to Sarawak. A large number (including natives) were against joining Malaysia. The "communists" then went "underground". Unfortunately the so-called "CTs" or communist terrorists also launched a campaign to slaughter those of a different political belief, labelling them as "running dogs". Many people in Sarikei were killed: mostly beheaded or shot. They tried to murder Mr Chen and my uncle but with no luck. My uncle then migrated to HK; hence I have 10 first cousins in HK! Their children had since migrated to Taipei (a doctor) and Chicago (Chinese restaurants). Mr Chen also helped my family business in Sarikei when we had a family associated with the slum of pepper prices in 1965.

Mr Chen moved to 30 Wingli Garden (I think) in 19771. Mesa was in St Mary's School. She was my form mate in Sarikei St Anthony's School Form 1-2 and then classmate in Form 3. So when I was in St Thomas's Lower 6 in 1974, Mesa was again classmate. She went to study in Perth and then migrated to Vancover Canada, to join the rest of her family. She is a dietitian and works in a hospital, like me. So when she came back to Malaysia for a long break, I made a date to have dinner with her, her husband and her close friends on 26.8.06. I finally managed to talk to her! Mesa married Joe Leskosek in 1995 and chose to have no children.

It seems that it is common knowledge amongst the elderly Kuching folks that Mr Chen's first girlfirend in Kuching was Irene Tan. I hear Irene Tan mentioned in St Thomas's Church every Sunday as the pastor prays for "her speedy recovery in London". Then I discovered that Irene Tan is Rodney Tan's mother! Small world.
I thinkl Angelia Lin previously sent a photo with Mesa (AND Agatha). I reattach. Maybe Mesa can tell us more.

Dr Clarence Lei Chang Moh

100 Years

We are at a very special juncture of our life - the "half time" of the game of life. A time to pause, reflect, enjoy and lived our lives to the fullest extent. And here's a very special and nice song to share with all of you as we reflect on this. Be Well!



It would certainly be interesting to have your thoughts/views/comments with regards to this.

Back in the Summer of '76

Once upon a time on a bus in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ...

An unarmed Edmund Song (we left for Sydney together) with Francis Ho (yes, I had hair then) while I believe that the two 'girls' behind us are Thomas Yong (looking out through the windows. I wonder where's he now?) and Simon Lim (grimacing at the camera).

I can't recall who the photographer was (Philip or Phang Teck Min?) as it was too many summers ago ... Can Edmund and Simon recall? Memories ... sweet memories ...

Centerspread for November: Simon, Philip & Francis

I was 'rummaging' through my hard disks looking for a 'missing' project file when I came across this old photo taken with Simon Lim during one of his visit back to Kuching back in March 2005. Simon now lives in Sydney while the good doc and yours truly are in Kuching. Photo was taken at Simon's brother's new house when we went to pick him up for dinner. I'd better post this photo here just in case it get lost in my computer and my fallible memory!

Lower 6 Science 1

L to R: Chew Kit Ping, Chang Pai Yi, Tan Nai Guek, X, Rodney Tan, Chai Kim Fong, Irene Tay, Mary Wong Siew Lian, Chia Hong Bee

Middle row: Y, Chan Hua Chiang, Lim Tiong Kiat (Auckland), Roland Tan Kian Ann, Simon Lim Poon Kiat, Edward Tan Teck Hoo, Kenneth Tan, Chiam Thian Shiam, Justin Tsan Khoon Leng,

Back Row: Raymond Tan, Clarence Lei, Arthur Lee Yong Kuan, Ng Yick Sung (deceased), Yeo Wee Nam, Ricky Ng Nyuk Min, Yeo Eng Seng, Edmund Song Swee Khoon

Upper 6 Arts 1

Seated L to R: Doreen Tiong Swee Chiew, Chang Boi Hua, Doreen Chin, Ng Cheng, Mr. Voon, Nancy Ngui, Lau Bee Yian, Lim Soh Kim, Lam Chui Peng.

Standing, 2nd row: Poh Siew Peng, Eva Chin, Deborah law, Betty Wong, Yeo Chiew Hua, Linda Sim, Lee Lai Choo, Wee Chin Miaw, Ting Mee Sing, Bong Siew Fah, Della Lee, Lim Tsui Peng, Wong Ooi Moi.

Standing, back row: Kueh Geok Lian, Agatha Koa, Anthony Bong Joon Khoi, Dilon ?, Chua Woo Peng, Sim Miao Yong, William Tay, Ang Han Kiong, Angelia Chan Geok Bee, Shirley Aw.

Lower Six Science 2 Class Photo

Standing L to R: Tie Gee Khiu, X, X, Hong Swee Lan, Rita Lau, Aminah Deli, Irene Lim, Francis Ho Khee Ngee, Pang Kia Siew, X, Lai Mui Thin

Seating L to R: Khamsiah Ibrahim, Mariam, Y, Vera Lee, Ang Yian Kwan, Khairiah Hasbie, Emily Yeo Ngang Siang, Mesa Chen, Anna Lai.

Hi Angela & everybody,

Seems like no contribution from Science 2, so have to do my part. Thus, last nite dig into my piles of old photos and surprise!! managed to find class photo for science 2. Then i have trouble as our office scanner is like grandfather era and all come out black (yah, its a black and white photo). So i have to 'beg' another colleague to scan for me - so now it is at least presentable lah ..

By the way i'm like Geok Lian where IT is concern, and luckily we hv very good IT support pple here so i can just call upon them if anything get jammed up around the office. At home, my PC is also grandma era and now on 'retirement' - that's why my daughters had to use the cyber-cafe to check Uni mails when they came back here!! So, now u know why i only write from office........

I'm not into the blog thing, but i'll support yr suggestion, Francis, . Then all the photos can be posted there, it's taking up too much mail space!! I got a return message from the mail router this morning that 'ngxo' mail box was too full so delivery failed.

From one of the query, i should be able to join for laksa unless the bigger bosses call for meeting, then i cannot 'ular' (that's 'liak-chua' in hokkien, for those who had being away for too long). OK bye and better get back to work .....

So , enjoy the photo and see if u can identify who's who.... I'm lost there, less than a handful that i can positively named.

posted by Francis from Irene's email - IreneLim@sesco.com.my