21 Oct 2007 - Going home & Generosity
Mum woke me up this morning so that we can go visit grandma in the temple. It was my annual trip to the temple to say hi to my beloved grandma. I was so busy this trip I nearly forgot to go. Thank goodness, the family talked about her so fondly last night and I really miss her so.
I update her about Cousin CL’s marriage breakup. People think I’m horrible to gossip about her but I’m simply reporting it to grandma because no one tells her anything. Besides, I was hoping that she can bless Cousin CL with a better choice next time.
KL made a joke about how I should create a hotmail account for her so that I can keep her updated. Address would be M1028{AT}hotmail Hhahaaa…
We got home and dad said that I should go over to old man’s place to chat with him since I only said hi to him on the first day i arrive and now i’m going back. Uncle Boon was there as well. He chucked me a pile of paper and I realised that he was showing me his newly acquired flat. As usual, it’s always a teaching exercise. Why he bought it, the location, price, even politics.
Next I know, he was talking about me borrowing money from dad. Uncle Boon is dad’s financial adviser so he knows everything. I explained that I talked to dad about lending me money so I can have a head start in getting our own place. Uncle boon asked how much we need and I said I dunno how much Daddy have to lend me because I only want to borrow a small portion of it. He told me off and said that my parents don’t have much money and barely enough for retirement. Having said that, I told him now I know and won’t ask from dad. Next, what he did next totally shocked me.
He asked me to pass him his briefcase and I started crying because I know what he wants to do. I don’t want to accept his money but he kept saying it’s not a gift or loan but an investment. He also said that everyone needs some money to startup and hence, he is very supportive about it.
Hang on a minute. This is the same uncle who hates me when I was little. Bully me and picked on me. It was such obvious affection he had for my cousins and total hatred for me. For example, if my cousins and I were playing cards, I will be the only one that gets punished. I’m not the oldest of the lot so I never instigate such things. I always get in trouble even though sometimes I sit quietly in the corner watching my cousins doing bad things and getting away with it. He is the same dude that refused to acknowledge KL when KL says hi to him in the lift. He don’t even grunt or acknowledge KL’s presence, instead, he ignored him and pretended KL did not exist. He is the same uncle who constantly tells me that he is disappointed with me. I seriously don’t know what happened.
Anyway, I refused in half tears half choking his cheque. At the end, he pushed it to me and asked me to go home. I took the cheque and gave my dad. He wasn’t surprised. So, the money is now sitting with my dad and uncle boon’s joint account until the exchange rate is better. At the end, his money is still in his pocket until further notice.
In less than an hour later, I left for the airport. Of all the times I left SunnyLand, I was the most sad this time. I told KL that everyone loves me here and I didn’t have to worry about money. I had my support unit there and my friends…. I really didn’t want to go.
Sitting at Uncle Ah Meng’s car, hot and sweaty, I thought about the Bangkok trip with my best friends, dinners with dad, shopping, conquering food list and most of all, my aunt and uncle.
Got to the airport and checked ourselves in. We had a total of 70KG between the two of us.
This sign reminded me that if I had 2kg more… i would be queuing here:
We sat at Jollibean and waited for Uncle Kenny and Anna to come. I ordered chin chow with soy bean milk:
I was sad and cried when I had to go. It didn’t take me long after to stop tearing when I bought makeup at the duty free.
Waiting to board
Got onto the plane only to be told to get off because they had some issues with the batteries that needed replacing. Oh gosh. I got out and called dad. He was so excited and probably hope flight canceled and I could stay another night.
We got out and found food. Hehee:
We shared the mee siam and mee rebus. That was our last meal in Sunnyland in 2007.