An Anniversary
It came to past that we celebrated our 17th Wedding Anniversary quietly last Wednesday at the House of Joy at the Jao Tsung-I Academy which we used earlier in the month when our young friends and Su marked my birthday month. We learnt through Google that the 17th anniversary features furniture as the primary theme which symbolizes stability, comfort and the lasting home built together, with red carnations as the theme flower, and orange or yellow, the colours. We both opted to dispense with all those formalities and had some simple but wholesome food and wine between us, before the restaurant moved elsewhere. We ordered our own cake, cut it and ate it before taking a leisurely walk back home.
Earlier, while going through past letters and memorabilia after the recent house patch-up, I came across a printed speech from my good friend Y K delivered at Zetland Hall on 1 December 2001 to mark the Silver Anniversary between Rosita and me, which I showed to Su. It brought back memories. I recall for example that friends brought many gifts – many silver related – which we couldn’t take away that evening, but which Kenneth Chow very helpfully and mindfully collected them all and delivered to my home afterwards, for I was scheduled to go on a business trip the next day. Some of the gifts were still in storage. I recall that my daughter came back for the occasion from the States but had to go through an emergency surgery on arrival and hence missed the party. My son couldn’t attend either because of his studies overseas, but Rosita’s father and some of her siblings were at the party. I also recall Michael Wong being one of the emcees and that Tony Wong made a video of the evening which was turned into a CD for distribution to friends afterwards. I believe I still had a few copies kept somewhere. If Su and I are to have our Silver Anniversary celebration, it will be eight years from now, or in the year 2034 when I would be 86 or 87 years young. What a thought, but we will see.
During the recent decluttering, I also found another piece from Y K dated July 2002 under the title, “Some Background to A Beautiful Mind” which still made good reading. John Nash (1928 – 2015) received his Nobel Prize in 1994. The film, based on the writer Sylvia Nasar, was made in 2000 and released in 2001. The movie was a great success worldwide. It won four awards at the 2002 Oscar, including Best Picture, and I think I referred to it in my first memoir too. Recently, I asked Y K how he managed to file his papers after he retired all his secretaries. He said wryly that he had since thrashed a lot of his past papers; and hence his past, by inference, I said to myself. I don’t know where I had kept the book Y K gave me, but I am sure it is somewhere in storage.
Back to the week that was about to end, we began with a birthday dinner organized by Natalie who also brought a home-made fresh cream chocolate cake, bubblies and red wine. It was a great evening with plenty of wine. Su shared with Joann the cake which they took home separately, and it was still good after a few days. On Tuesday, we had what we have since called the SAS Dinner between five members who were recipients of the Rotary SAS Award and we took turns to host the dinner, It was Kenneth Chow’s turn and he also brought wine, as did Y K. I had lunches on the next two days: a simple working lunch at Zetland Hall on Wednesday and a catch-up session with ex-colleagues organized by K K Lam on Thursday. On Friday, I had a late dinner at Zetland Hall. Meanwhile, Su was getting serious about pizza-making, beginning with acquiring all the essential ingredients from Mercato Gourmet. She de-mothballed the flour-batter and followed the instructions carefully and meticulously, ending with five portions of dough for pizza which she kept in the fridge from Thursday evening. She put two of them in the oven last night and was rather pleased with the results. Data came to Mei Foo last night with me and we were both happy with the products. Su has since re-organized some part of the kitchen for pizza-making and has plans to use the three remaining doughs this evening for a pizza party. I have already breathed an Italian Red. We will see.
Next week promises to be somewhat hectic and includes medical on Wednesday. Let’s see how long the doctor will see me.
