Fri 26 Jan 2007
Today is Australia Day, but the day’s significance to me is entirely different to the rest of my other fellow Australians. You see, it was exactly 40 years ago today that I left my parents and the rest of my known family, and all my friends, and headed for this exciting new continent that I eventually settled down as my home, Australia. As I am writing now, I think the time is about right, 3.30pm here is 12.30pm in Penang, about the same time as I walked on the tarmac towards the Fokker Friendship (yes, a propeller aircraft for those who are only familiar with the Jumbos and the Airbus !). The flight took me to Singapore, then I changed to a BOAC’s (pre-British Airways) Comet jet that first took me to Perth because I think the plane couldn’t fly non-stop to Sydney. I therefore entered Australia first at Perth just past midnight local time, and I still have the Immigration stamp on my old Malaysian passport to show.The date on it was 27th January 1967. I landed in Sydney a few hours later. I was 100% sure then that I will only be here for a few years until I finished my education, and then I will be back home to Malaysia. But 40 years later, I am still here !!!
On Wednesday night we had a very nice dinner at 老赵酒家，to farewell Yvonne and Yong, and Heng. They are heading for the U.K. to start a new phase in their careers, and their lives in general will be changed forever. Liang left for Boston in August ‘04, and Jacqueline and Wei left for H. Kong later of ‘06. Irene Chong just got back after a few months’ overseas, Yang is hoping to do a term also in the U.K., and Irene Tan and Brian Lam are heading to Canada in July.Our next generation has grown up and are flying far away. I am sure Yvonne, Yong and Heng will find their new lives to be exciting and challenging (just like Liang, Wei and Jacqueline have found), and if they work hard and smart, and being persistent towards their goals, they will have very enjoyable experiences and be suitably rewarded. We wish all our next-generation ‘explorers’ all the best in their endeavours. We also hope that they do not forget the empty nesters they left behind. Here are some photos we took of the dinner:-
SueYan’s mum is here for a visit, so last Sunday we took the opportunity to have a picnic at Sandy Beach of Clontarf. The spot has great views, bush tracks, a nice beach safe for swimming, and BBQ facilities etc.etc., no wonder it always attract many people, especially on weekends and holidays. Unfortunately the day we went was the hottest day so far this summer at 39*C, so we just cooked, ate and sat down for chatting and playing cards, except of course, Jayee and Jason who were not 100% happy until they had their dip in the water.
WE are doing some renovations at home. My old home office is to become our TV/Entertainment room; shower screens, cooktop and lightings are being replaced. It will take a while to complete because we haven’t finalised the lightings. Anyway, here are some pictures of the progress so far :-
The last photo is our existing lighting in the lounge, and we are trying to find something similar to match.
Watch this space for progress reports.
P.S. I haven’t changed my time on the camera, so it’s still wrong as shown here. Please add 15 hours to get the right time for each photo. Sooooorry !!!!!!!
January 27th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
WOW, Dad, I had no idea that you arrived the day after Australia Day! CONGRATULATIONS on 40 years in Australia!! I am very proud of you and Mum. And you are becoming a very good blogger, even better than WuCheng Shushu (hehe, maybe you two will start to compete over who is the best… then this blog will become absolutely amazing.)
January 27th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
[...] What an amazing journey it has been for him and Mum. I am very proud not only of the many things they have accomplished in their adopted home… but also that Dad’s blogging skills are now improving on an almost daily basis! Check out his latest post on the Sim Family website, where he not only commemorates his 40 years in Australia but also celebrates the next generation of the family, who are spreading all over the world. [...]
January 28th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Congratulations 三伯伯, and what a great blog. I wonder if any of our generation going overseas, or have gone, will end up staying there.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:06 am
[...] Dad, I’ve partially fixed your earlier post using this method. Would you like to try fixing the rest of it, or shall I do it for you? [...]
February 18th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Новый способ давления на кандидата на пост Главы г. Химки
Новый способ “наказать” тех, кто посмел участвовать в выборной кампании не на стороне действующей власти изобрели правоохранительные органы г.о. Химки.
Руководствуясь не нормой закона, а чьей-то “волей” сотрудники милиции решили “проверить” все фирмы, внесшие денежные средства в избирательный фонд неудобных кандидатов.
Начались “проверки” с телефонных звонков – где директор, сколько человек работает на фирме. После чего последовали “письма счастья” с просьбой предоставить всю бухгалтерскую документацию, учредительные документы фирмы, и даже, план экспликации БТИ.
Такие запросы химкинским фирмам рассылает 1 отдел Оперативно-розыскной части № 9 Управления по налоговым преступлениям ГУВД Московской области за подписью начальника подполковника милиции Д.В. Языкова.
И всё это в то время, когда Президент дал прямое указание правоохранительным органам о прекращении всех незаконных проверок малого и среднего бизнеса. С это целью внесены изменения в Федеральный закон “О милиции” – из статьи 11 этого закона исключены пункты 25 и 35, на основании которых ранее правоохранительные органы имели право проверять финансово-хозяйственную деятельность предприятий.
Видно, об изменениях действующего законодательства местные правоохранительные органы не уведомлены. И не смотрят телепередачи с выступлениями Президента.
Может быть, эта публикация подвигнет их к исполнению указаний Президента, а также к изучению и соблюдению действующего законодательства