The Prayer Grotto

These are the days of Lent.

Days to Good Friday and Easter

It is really therapeutic to have the time to cool down and recall, recount and remember people, occasions and sometimes even conversations and expressions done. The church teaches right values, attitudes and dispositions at all times and on all occasions. But alas, surely the human flesh is weak and sinful, almost always doing things against what is taught and told.
This lent period is especially appropriate as it pulls us together to once again examine ourselves as truthfully as possible and then make amendments so that relationships are made right.
The Holy Book has time and again emphasised on the need to walk right with the people around us may it be friends, family and loved ones. It is a difficult path to walk for we are like living time bombs...ready to explode at the slightest provocation. And yet , that is precisely the yoke I have to carry each day. Talk right, walk right and be right in accordance to biblical principles. A heavy yoke which needs God's grace and pardon time after time.
But it is this living relationship that makes my belief meaningful. A living relationship with a God who prompts, corrects, loves and guides us each day through a constant reminder from the Holy Spirit and this impending inner voice that makes you want to walk in the light. May I be forgiven for the number of times I have failed. The beauty of the faith is that I am forgiven when I ask for it and I am reminded to go on.
At the cross, my sins are nailed and a sacrifice has been made for me. The pastor said last Sunday in church that nothing is free. I have been set free at a cost. The cost of death at the cross.
Greater still is the news that my faith is made relevant when Jesus rose from the tomb on Easter Sunday...a reminder that He is alive and He will come back again.
I look forward to this season, a constant reminder of our Saviour's sacrificial act at the cross and the hope of His return to be with us.
I see this walking relationship with God made real in a tangible way when daddy constantly avails himself to menial tasks in the church despite his tight and hectic schedule. Last thursday after dinner, he told me he had to be in church to set up a prayer corner for members to meditate during this Lent season. As usual, he piled up pots after pots of plants and I wondered what he was up to. Married for a good 26 years, I have the fullest assurance that he knows what he does each time and I was sure it would be another masterpiece.
Just a couple of days ago, a thought struck me and I wondered what had become of the corner. I vividly remembered him coming home last Thursday, all exhausted.

Mum : Hey you look tired. Why are you taking the beer?
Dad : I have so much gas in my stomach. I need to get it out.
Mum : How come? I thought you were moving about?
Dad : Yea...but the pots were so heavy and I must have pushed myself too far...so could have caused my stomach to bloat.
Mum : Didn't you get someone to help?
Dad : Nobody else around. I was alone.

He is like this. He would labour for a good purpose especially if it is for the church. It had occurred to me several times last week to pop in to see what he had done. But as usual the big excuse - no time. This morning someone sent me a mail to recruit members to visit the Prayer Grotto of the church for this Lent season. It said the grotto has been turned into a garden.

God has bestowed upon him artistic skills but most of all he is blesssed because he has a willing spirit to serve. This is a walking relationship. I have much to learn from it. A willing spirit.

May this Lent season be a reminder to me that much has been sacrificed and I could do with a more humble disposition before God.

On This Earth Hour Day

28th March
8.30 - 9.30 pm - lights off

The girls told me we have to follow the world's appeal - lights off for an hour. So we had a candlelight dinner. Candles of various colours, sizes and shapes accompanied us for the evening. Sometimes it's good to practise team work especially when the girls were so excited about the movement. So we decided to conform for a good cause.

Fearing the lights off phenomenon might disturb our dinner, we decided to take a further step - barbecued our food. Grace was the mastermind and got her fingers and hands burnt in her venture to make sure we had food on the table.

The children took their turns in barbecuing marsh mellows after dinner proper. Try it. You will be surprised how good it tastes.

On this earth hour day, I received many gifts.

A tiramisu from Sara. Notice the chocolate sticks encircling the master piece. We counted and it was 2 short of the years...only 52.

Papa finally read and met my heart's desire - a Tag Heuer- of the right colour.

Of all the gifts, I was most flattered by this bouquet of roses. Roses depict love; love from my friends in school. I love the roses and the hue fitted as a glove on the table cloth. So very flattering as though the flowers were plucked off the table cloth.

Another look at the roses. Oh so lovely...so lovely. Thank you dear friends, they meant a lot to me.

And this is a very special year. My girls are with me. Back from their studies and around for some time , I treasure the minutes and hours they surround me. I know next year, Grace will be in Singapore and Esther and Sara may leave me for studies. So, I savor in every moment with gratitude and joy. They remind me of God's goodness every moment.

On another note, to a dear friend, coincidentally named Rose, Happy Birthday.
We share the same day of birth and you are special.

Cherry

A good sensible girl

I have always known her as one who chooses to do right under all circumstances. A smily lady, she is calm and collected when she decides on issues in life. She was always on part time jobs in between study breaks and finding ways to make the extra buck. She doesn't rest on her laurels and performs as a Library and Cooperative chief during her high school days. Her diligence and sense of duty from an early age makes her what she is today - a successful and achiever in her field of work. Really a person is one who he or she is today not just out of the blue but from the training and discilpine attained from the classroom and the home.

Cherry is cheerful and matured and tells me that her bosses are surprised that she is only in her mid twenties perhaps because of the way she thinks, analyses and her careful disposition. Her tertiary education has produced a worker matured in ideas, integrity and responsibility. She is a gem to have around. Cherry says the world out there is tough but finds it challenging to give it a try in new things and adventures. She keeps on looking for new things to learn and is not afraid to start from fresh. Each time she thinks it is time for her to move, she breaks the hearts of her bosses. Her penchant to learn is admirable and her youth is an edge. She is not afraid but she is as sure footed as a goat in her judgements and that is why she makes plenty of gains. A gem - who is willing to release her?

She says the bosses often complain of employees who don't follow instructions well. She also hears of employees complaining that the bosses rant too much. Who is right? But this she says ; there is a message behind adults ranting and if only the younger ones would sit down and listen. This is so pleasing to my old ears. She agrees that the younger generation learns best through hardships at work. No amount of telling can work that miracle.

Her contemporaries - Teik Chiang, Wei Jun, Christopher, Baljeet, Jun Liong - they are all over the universe doing great things in their field of work. She says they meet occasionally when they are back for holidays and says Teik Chiang wants to buy a house in USJ2 maybe so that he can send his children to Seafield? Ha ha ha...very loyal citizens of Seafield. As I have often shared with the students of the school, I wouldn't be the least surprised if their new generation crops into the school in future...they cannot forget their alma mater.

We had a great time sharing things of the past and hopes for the future. A very realistic lady, she hopes to earn as much as she can before she finally settles down. A fine wife she will make to the lucky man. But we concluded that the woman is still the lady behind the man and family and she may have to compromise to put her home first. In her work she visited some clients and finds most Malay families warm and simple and live life to the fullest. She says she also aspires to be warm and sincere and to live life meaningfully. After all what is life about except that it be happy and well lived?

Cherry, thank you for the Star Bucks treat. Enjoyed talking to you. And that hug you gave me slept with me throughout the night. "Teacher, hug me." My pleasure.

Your mum has taught you well.

A Princely Visit

Yes! At last the princely visit.
I am the grand aunt of Yi Jay.

It was a pleasant surprise for this baby of 7 weeks to pay me a visit. Baby Jay popped in as mama had to attend to a family matter and with open arms I gathered the child into my arms. It was nostalgic when I remembered holding his father on his first night home in Por Por's Tanjung house in Jalan Junid, Muar way back in 1981. I had a nervous encounter looking after him on the first evening in Muar as I had the fright of my life when he nearly choked on some water!

He got all the girls back home with the exception of Sara who was away in Vietnam attending to the nitty gritty matters of a law moot in Ho Chi Minh city going goo goo ga ga over him. Everyone must have a share of him and virtually fought to hold him.

Grace with Jay. The baby's father said she is a natural and Jay was quiet whenever she held him. The touch of a doctor is clearly seen as she 'professionally' handled him.

On the contrary, the baby yelled when Esther held him. Guess it's not time yet and she has much to learn. She sneaked out of office early just to have a chance to play with him and even abandoned the boyfriend for him.

This is grandma Kan holding him at 2 or 3 weeks old? She relates that Jay is almost like the dad as he cries every evening around 6pm ...colicky. Exactly like daddy when he was a baby. Jay's dad got the household miserable with his evening cries and finally grew out of it after so so many months. Now Jay also feeds on colic medicine to remove the discomfort; a chip off the old block. I told May she may use 'baby oil' (lu yi yeu) to add warmth to the abdomen. But she must first rub it on her palms before applying it onto the stomach. I don't really know how this works but I did that to every of my baby after a bath just to keep them warm. As far as my memory can stretch, my girls did not suffer much from this discomfort.

Jay's mama tells me this is the way she coaxes the child to sleep and he wakes up whenever she puts him down. She is a great mother as she patiently holds him and swings him to deep sleep.

At one juncture when I thought he had slept soundly in my arms I got him to sleep on his stomach. I put all my babies to sleep in this manner at some point and I thought it was an effective way to remove the air from the stomach. But Grace constantly reminded me that this is now not a popular way in the West because of the numerous cases of cot deaths.

At times the girls had their resting hours on the bouncers as seen in the pictures above. The bouncers provide a comfortable support to the backs, are cooling and give babies a sense of protection. Can you tell who the babies are? All babies look alike, that I know.

But perhaps the best way still is the 'sarong'. Like May, I refused to let Grace into the sarong. Back then I thought it would be too cumbersome to travel with the devise and also thought if Caucasian mamas can get their babies to sleep without the sarong , why couldn't I? However, all my efforts proved aimless when I found later that the baby sitter put her to sleep in the sarong. So when you can't win a battle, you join in. The babies after Grace had it the easy way out. No need to waste so much time swaying in the arms as I just put them into the sarong and they felt so comfortable as though they were in my arms. So the sarong saved much time and heartaches. Or did it? I wondered if I had been such a wicked mama to put them to sleep in this manner. But no, cos later Celine, my half Caucasian niece also had her stint in the sarong and the Dutch dad obediently relented to the use of the sarong and found it effective! Kudos to sarongs. Those days we had to rock manually ; nowadays it is mechanised with prefered 'speeds'! Save more time.

Oh the old tricks to pacify babies. What about the pacifier and the special pillow? Do you have histories with that? ALL my babies had the pacifiers, a special pillow, a special bolster and a special blanket and what nought. Later, when they grew and understood some fears, I managed to wind them off and that was it.

Jay is very fortunate cos mama quits her job to look after him full time. That I suppose is becos maybe she can go back to work later in life. Or will she ? Both daddy and mummy feel that the most important years of a baby's life are their first 3 years and no monetary gains can replace the lost years. People do die for a conviction and not wrong, I reckon. Now May tells me it's so good to be a teacher cos the baby will have more time with the mummy. A University of Melbourne graduate, she tells me it's almost impossible to be an accountant from 8am to 8pm and be a good mama. So ladies, another proven truth...be a teacher.

All in all, it's a matter of choice, a set of priorities and convictions. We respond to our beliefs and convictions. No one can say what is the best, who is right or wrong as long as life is well lived. Agree?

Frenzy

SPM 2008

They are back...the Form Five leavers!

The day started with the usual heart beats...some slow, some fast, some normal but no one was spared of a certain degree of anxiety and fear.

Fear? Anxiety? Indifference?

After the school had collected the results, the gates of Seri Kenanga finally opened to the sea of people all ready to face the music. Bewildered, the boys and girls nevertheless knew it was judgement day now...did they make it?

As in every public exam, some did it with a strings of As, others had fewer whilst others showed disappointed faces.

98.5 % of the students of the 2008 batch had at least a pass in Bahasa Melayu and Seafield is proud to announce that 9 subjects projected a score of 100% passes including all the pure Sciences. Quite a feat.


It was a day of reconciliation between parents and children, teachers and students and boys and girls as they took stock of their results and made plans for their next course of events. The private colleges are all ready to gorge them into their programmes and there is a battle of wits out there this weekend in town! Taylor's, Sunway, Help, Segi ... you name them.


To the students out there, give a good thought and make coherent decisions that are achievable and practical. Remember that a wrong decision would mean a big U turn that will usurp you of money and energy...and plenty of heartaches for your parents.

Here they are - some scorers of the batch. Mok Tze Hui, Gan Kar Men, Elisya Farha Bt Mohd Akhbar and Tan Seok Kuan - all with perfect scores!

This boy, Keith, may not be a perfect scorer but he has a corner in my heart. I see him grow from from a grouchy young lad to a bubbly young man greeting me every morning as he alights from his mama's car. Yes...guess who is he?



Yes, the son of the hardworker of the school...Madam Ung. Without her, the school has plenty of scores to settle, without her the school has much to reconcile, without her peace may be denied of the school...yes, our iron lady...Ketua Disiplin. Mother and son in joyous outburst ! Makan besar this weekend? Or new handphone?

Another episode of mother and child reunion song

If a doting mother ever exists in this universe, she is the one; Madam Loh.I vote her mother of the year. When Seok Kuan was in the afternoon, she was with her and when she was in the morning, mama was also with her. The child would tag along which ever session the mama was in...the girl would be reading in the library and should it be closed she would find her own corner in school waiting for mama to finish her duties and then followed her home. Her mother is the lady behind the musical serials of the school and she is the queen of the queens of our very own MAMA MIA ! Both mother and child work hard and always almost doing what is right and what should be done. You know...the type who doesn't go out of line ...not one bit.

And by the way, Seafield's history has recorded the correlation between mothers who are teachers of the school and the top SPM scorers of Seafield. Another reason why men should have teachers for wives...all problems solved...kau tim...or the Hokkiens' cliche 'pau suah pau hai'.

Amidst the bustling and excitement, a fine, eligible young prince walked into the gates of the school...he is none other than NIZAR!

A hilarious narrator, he comes in whenever he is in town and entertains us with the latest gossip. Mok Tze Hui rang a familiar sound...must be the sister of Mok Tze En, a former Seafieldian belonging to Nizar's batch. Yes, this young man is with American Airlines and flies here and there on special rates and that's why he can afford to be in town for only a week! When I see Nizar, I remember Angeline , Reuben, Anthony , Kevin...I wonder how they are now. But Nizar is the best...he forgets us not.

Nizar's mama is an ex-Assuntarian and is with us in the PIBG. Last High Tea in Sunway had her telling me this :

Nizar Mama : You know Pn Chong, nowadays it's so difficult with girls. You don't know who is the right one for your son and I am worried.

Pn Chong : What do you look for in a DIL?

Nizar Mama : Oh, I am a simple woman with simple tastes. I just hope and pray that my son will get a woman who is able to make him happy. That's all I want. She must not make him miserable and demand for the impossible. Just make him happy...that's all. Never mind if she doesn't know how to cook, never mind if she doesn't stay with me; just don't break my son's heart. What about you Pn Chong? What do you look for in a SIL?

Pn Chong : A rich guy, man...turn all my girls into rich tai tai. Hahahha... No lah...just like you , I am a mama with simple tastes...just men who can love my girls more than I do... ( that will be a feat)

Ok, of mothers and sons and daughters...universal facts.

To all those SPM leavers...make wise decisions. Never mind about the As, just take the bull by its horn and all the best!

The Coveted Results

STPM 2008

100% Passes

Well done...the best thus so far!

STPM 2008 brought many pleasant surprises as 9 students had 4As and a student had 5As. However among the achievers, only 3 were 4 pointers. But it also meant that the school has accomplished its best in quality and quantity in her short history of this pre university programme. I thought it was only yesterday that we had our Prom evening and now they are ready for the real world...one last lap and you reach your destination. But really there's no full stop cos life is a long learning process. We make mistakes here and there; sometimes scalded, at others escaped and saved.

Now, it's another turning point for most of the students who will be clamouring for courses and universities of their choice and love. To all of them out there, may the best be with you.

Students receiving their results anxiously and we even had many not daring to appear in case of bad news. Teachers and the school counsellor all ready to deliver the results and give appropriate advice and help. We do love them dearly.

The modern telecommunication system always so handy, fast and efficient. Eagerly waiting parents receiving heart attack news...that's what children do, don't they? When are they ever ready to only pass on good news?

Most encouraging though were some students who did not do particularly well but yet ready to face reality and look forward. I heard this short exchange:

Chap : Well, nothing really can be done. It's over.
Girlie : Oh, I've just lost 2 years. My results won't bring me anywhere.
Chap : Hei, it's ok. We have got to find a solution. We have a problem but more importantly, we have to find a solution. 2 years is not a lifetime and it's better late than never.

I like the positive punch. Yes, they may not have achieved the desired results but they are wise and matured enough to look for a way out. That is commendable and perhaps this time they will learn to be more focus...experience is the best medicine in life.

Otherwise, there were those who were 'hurt' by that A-, denying them of the perfect score. Well, it's almost always best to be grateful and head on. You will finally get your rainbow.

Our top scorers - the 4 pointers. Joan Ang and Lee Shao Li of 6 cekap (Arts) and Neo Rong Gen of 6A or is it 6B ? To get a perfect score in the Arts is Kudos!!!

STPM...only the brave will dare attempt, don't you agree? In a couple of days this very school hall will again hear the sounds of joy and celebration when the SPM results are released. And it is also in this very hall that the form 5 leavers will look for paths to tread...will they take the road less taken?
STPM is the road less taken if not; even not taken ; by today's youth. They look for easier tracks and some even fast tracks while others go out into the job market.

If you are academically inclined, did relatively well in SPM and are bold, you will find STPM a pleasant challenge. Some real good sides of STPM MAY include the following:

• It is a programme internationally recognised and highly respected by universal tertiary institutions
• You get to choose to go into public or private universities locally
• If you are not able to get the choice of study in a public university you can always opt for a private one
• You save your parents a big chunk of dough ( you can demand for it later to buy a house)
• When you succeed in this programme your varsity days will be a sailing endeavour cos you will have gone through the best proven tutelage
• You will be properly disciplined cos you cannot get up at odd hours and you cannot sleep at unearthly hours doing I don't know what
• Your parents will be grateful cos there is a group of teachers ready to pour out their lives teaching you to add, minus, forecast, predict, think skilfully and score
• You still have another 2 years to mature concretely and scout around for right choices

BUT...be cooperative, ready to plough the field hard and follow instructions dutifully and you will be there.

If you honestly ask me and if I could turn the clock back , yes; I will put my 2 younger daughters through STPM for their field of studies; not for the first though becos medicine is gruesome and the fight for a place is an uphill task.

Finally, my opinion is only 2 cents' worth.

Make your own choice.

Season Of Favour

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household." Acts 16 :31

Again I have this urgent surge of wanting to visit my parents over the long weekend. School has been quite an affair with the never ending meetings, complaints, problems and what nought but the desire of my heart was to be with the old folks once again.

As usual, Muar is not quite an attraction to the younger generation and to the disappointment of my parents I took a slow ride back to my hometown to see their well being - alone - and fortunately with a maid tagging along. Oh ...that I have to live to see this day!

When the children were young and innocent, they listened to almost every instruction; all I had got to do was to pack them into the car and we would be to Muar to see Por Por and Kong Kong. The grandparents recounted the younger days when grandchildren were strewn around them all the time but now they look forward to only having the neighbouring kids' company calling them Por and Kong too...what a terrible state. We are ashamed of ourselves.

Somehow, I love to be in the good old boring town for I draw an inner strength just by reflecting the days of old and how the turns of life have created life as it is now. One very life turning event that has taken hold of a good part of my existence is mine coming to know the salvation of God way back in the mid 70s in the varsity through a long lost friend; Ms Teo.

Being born into a non-Christian home, my sister and I after having received the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, caused quite a commotion in the home when we started to practise the faith. But my mother is God-sent; she loves us like the way a tiger will protect her cubs and through this love, slowly but surely, opened herself to the faith and by God's grace accepted Him too in her life in her 50s. She was very brave and was painfully ostracised by her neighbours and friends for her sudden change of faith; but that was only momentary and people had to know her stand. She stood firm and by her faith she saw Acts 16 : 31 come to pass as all her children embrace the faith. But yet...my father is the difficult one.

Kong is lovable, fun , happy go lucky and almost in anything believes in the power of MONEY only. He often shared and said what's the use of a God when you don't have money and food on the table? Can your God provide what I want in life? One can hardly blame him cos he was brought up under such adversed and hard times and his utmost concern was that his stomach should be full all the time. No amount of small talk worked. We could only pray and watch.

Sometimes it takes a while; at times it takes a life time but God never lies. We stood firm in the word of God through the ups and downs of life but God is never changing ; He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. It took all of us and the way we lead our lives to prove our faithful God to Kong. A realist, and who even reads the dictionary everyday to learn new words at 90, Kong was touched and moved by the spirit of God on a fateful evening dated 15 June 2008 in the USCI campus through the living testimony of 2 gifted singers - The Petra Singers- who shared how all the money in the world could not bring a wayward son back to good living accept through the love and mercy of God. When the spirit of God humbles a man, His Grace is truly sufficient. 33 years of praying...every prayer worthwhile...for before my very own eyes my father stood up and accepted Jesus. Hallelujah !...even the angels in heaven must have descended in joy and exaltation! The journey is to be ploughed but the great assurance of being with him eternally is EVERYTHING.

Yesterday, my mother said ; "Poh, you have to attend service with dad and me. The church members must also know we have a troupe of children and you will represent them today." I was sad; we must have grieved them. To have so many children and yet no one around them. In service, Pastor Catherine spoke on the Favour Of God; so appropriately expounded...it's God's favour that we should clamour for in life; His peace, wisdom and protection included. All the material things in life will just disappear with a tsunami but God's favour lasts forever.

To me, this season of favour is seen when I see Kong sitting in church with Por. This season of favour is when Kong and Por going to the alter for prayers. This season of favour is when I see Kong being humbled by the spirit of God. This season of favour is when my parents are in the Lord...favour of God.


I have to remember this day ...this season of favour. Kong is so refreshingly unashamed to be prayed for; Kong and Por are in God's favour. Thank you dear Jesus. I only prayed for the spirit of God to teach them each day His truth through the word. I am so very proud of Por whom at this age of 84 , diligently asked me for the Bible verses expounded in service and shared that she would earmark them so that Kong would read them later in the night. My dear girls at home...do you hear what I hear?

I caught this picture just to depict the solitude and loneliness they have to go through each day but maybe it is good cos the complications of their children's life (if they were to stay with them)would rob them of peace!


Por is ever so meticulous and particular over cleanliness...her kictchen speaks much, doesn't it?

The displayed photos stay close to their hearts when they miss the children.

Overlooking their unit we can see the Straits of Melaka, a lovely sight and the breeze is so very welcoming on a hot day.

As their units cover a wide angle, one can see almost anything ...from roads to bridges and byways...I am not exaggerating...I also could not resist taking the picture of a school. Just looking at the picturesque scenario would recall plenty of memories and the turn of events in life and how faithful God is to the family; for surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favour as with a shield. Psalm 5 :12.

And to complete the lovely weekend away from Subang Jaya, my generous pa would not allow me to drive home without the goodies.

The coveted Mee Siput

The special concoction of otak-otak...the girls asked me why they tasted especially nice this time.

These mouth-watering teo chew delicacies...Mee Sing...come home soon.

And...mama's final expression of love. 2 bottle of rice wine to perfect Chinese cooking. What more can one ask for ?

Thank you dear Jesus for this season of favour and a lovely weekend with Por and Kong.

DDay

Immunisation

Do you remember when you were 15 and the good old van from the public clinic came purring into the school gates and deliver a group of dedicated nightingales dressed in starched uniform ready to serve you?
Yes, it's immuisation time again. This morning we had a session in school and it was fun watching the girls pulling forlorn faces and hearing their screeches. What's the big hue and cry? It's only a poke.



Look at the motherly care they bestowed upon the children . The girl was negotiating for a gentler poke whereas the nurse was convincing her it's just an ant bite.

The obedient ones all drawing up their sleeves waiting for their turns and could not wait for the ordeal to go away. If they had a choice they would run a thousand miles away. But no, no, no...it may mean a matter of life and death if you avoid this ATT ( anti tetanus toxoid) jab.

Hey girl...wait till you discover the pain of child birth. This is just nothing but yet...she put unneccessary fear into herself and look at the caring nurses; one to give her emotional support and the other to carry out the task as gentle as a dove. What more can one ask for?

The braver ones after the jab had happy and relieved faces. It wasn't that bad , was it?

Incidentally, we had a group of trainee nurses under the teaching of a matron guiding them how to carry out eye tests and some other practices. She assured me that they would not touch any of my children and she was so professional and deft that I could only but agree. We learn things from one another , don't we?

Why this immunisation talk? I want to share a personal experience about immunisation records.

Grace : Mum, the hospital wants a report of my immunisation records. You 've got to fax them across now or they would not allow me into the hospital!

Mum : Oh dear how am I going to get them?

Grace : Mum, do you remember where you kept my health record from my primary school?

Mum : No. I don't even know the existence of it.

Grace : Oh Mum you've got to recall, please...

You may not believe it but I did it! I sat down and started to recall all the clinics I took her to for the immunisation jabs. It ranged from Dr. Khoo of Klinik Kanak-Kanak Khoo of SS2 to Dr. Lee Eng Lam of SJMC to Dr. Soo of SS15 and finally my persistence persuaded the nurses to dig out Grace's old records. Whee...even after 24 years the records were still intact and I finally managed to persuade Dr. Soo to vouch for the records! Even the PA of Dr. Lee, a MS Shireen could remember the name Lau Der Wen all because of her intussuception ordeal! But it was a nerve wrecking experience.

Just last week Grace's cousin sister doing physiotherapy in Adelaide also called home and asked for the medical records so I believe if you are pursuing health sciences courses you will have to keep the records in order.

This ATT jab in Form 3 is also important because I vividly recalled a case some few years ago when a parent called from Canada to verify the immunisation record of his child in Form 3 and fortunately we were able to produce evidence that she DID NOT receive the ATT jab as she missed the procedure and that would mean she had to go through an immunisation program there. So parents keep the records in order as they may come in handy at times like these.

Remember to especially keep the primary school health report booklet as the immunisation records there even provide information of a child's baby immunisation details ( triple antigen, oral polio, MMR, 1st booster DPT , Hepathitis B vaccination ...)

There, the recount of immunisation records.

Keep them in order.