letters from a Father to his Children (01.08.58)

73 LEXHAM GARDENS
LONDON, W. 8


1st August, 1958


Our Dear Darling Children,


Wednesday, 23rd July: We had nothing particular to do except in the evening when Che' Mohd. Din and Che' Hawa picked us up to go to Tunku Ja'afars flat for dinner. We ate and went on yarning till it was rather late.


Thursday, 24th. July: Bapak went out alone in the morning to sort out a few things and went back to have early lunch. Che' Mohd. Din and Che' Hawa picked us up to go to PARLIAMENT. From 3 to 4.30 pm we were in the HOUSE OF LORDS listening to the debate on the new Constitution for the State of Singapore. We listened to the EARL OF PERTH introducing the second reading of the Bill and also to LORD OGMORE (who was a lawyer in Penang before, when he was still Mr. Rees Williams) and LORD MILVERTON. We were sitting in the Commonwealth Gallery. At 4.30 pm we moved on to the HOUSE OF COMMONS. Very few Members were present as the house was in a Committee stage and they were discussing Votes for Education in Scotland. Miss HERBISON spoke, if I may say so, very well with a Scot's accent.

Che' Din then took us for a drive to REGENT'S PARK where people go boating and yatching. Later we went to have dinner in a very nice place, "PERERA SINGAPORE

RESTAURANT". We had "sambal udang" here.

Friday, 25th July: We went to see the CHANGING OF THE HORSE GUARDS. We could see the proceedings but as we got there only about half an hour before the parade I could not get a vantage point to take any photographs. We did a bit of shopping later.

Being a Friday the shops were very crowded. People came out today as many of them would go out on Saturday and Sunday during Summer. People rushed about. We could not quite understand it. They rushed about as if the sky was falling. They rushed to catch their buses or tubes as if missing one for a few minutes meant their downfall! This is, I believe, due to their own philosophy of life!!

We went round to "HARRODS". This store or shop is known to Malays here as "KEDAI QUEEN", as this is a favourite shopping store for the Queen. It is a big shop and expensive too.

Saturday, 26th July: We left London for BRIGHTON a sea-side resort at 9 o'clock in Che' Mohd Din's car. Brighton is 50 miles from London. The day wasn't too bad though a bit cold. About 7 miles before we got to Brighton we stopped at a LAY-BY at about 11.30 for our lunch on the road-side. A lay-by is a place where vehicles can stop. These are provided at intervals of one to two miles. No vehicle can stop on the road for any length of time

except at a lay-by.

We enjoyed the "nasi lemak" and "sambal bilis" very much. We proceeded to Brighton. It was rather cold and very windy. We went on a short trip on an electric train along one part of the beach.

Brighton is like any other sea-side town in Britain. It has got its public swimming pools, children's playground and other attractions for summer holiday-makers. There were very few people swimming in the open sea as it was very choppy and cold. We returned at 4pm arriving in London at 6pm.

We rested a bit when Raja Redzuan and his wife called. We talked for an hour and took them for dinner at NEW ASIA RESTAURANT our regular eating shop. This restaurant has three Muslim waiters. They are very fond of us and always greet us with ASSALAMUALAIKUM!

Sunday 27th July: We did not go out as were expecting Pa' Shairi this morning. I was writing a few letters and it was getting late we nearly gave up hope. However, nearing noon, he turned up. He wasn't changed in appearance and he looked fit. We yarned until lunch time and we took him to PERERA SINGAPORE RESTAURANT. We had a good lunch and we returned to our Hotel and continued to talk and talk about old times and home. Pa' Shairi would be returning Home soon

and he proposed to spring you a surprise.

We went out together at 6pm - he, to go back to SANDHURST and Mak & I to go to a friends' (Che' AHMAD ZAINAL) house for dinner. We all went together part of the way by tube until Pa' Shairi stopped at WATERLOO to take a train to Sandhurst. We carried on to CLAPHAM SOUTH, Che' Ahmad Zainal is the son of Che' Yusof, Malayan Chief Scout and his wife is the daughter of Syed Kadir ex-Menteri Besar, Johore. Che' Yusof Zainal and his Swiss wife were with us too.

We left the place rather early as we would be leaving for Oxford early tomorrow but as luck would have it we did not reach home until midnight. What happened was we took a wrong tube when we changed at CHARING CROSS. Instead of taking the District Line we took the Circle Line which went in circle without touching at EARL'S COURT. We passed the same Stations before Earl's Court except that it did not pass Earl's Court. After we have missed Earl's Court by a few stations we came down and worked out how to correct our mistake. It appeared that we could not do anything but to go to Circle Line again and changed very much later to PICCADILY Line. It was indeed a case of "Man proposes and God disposes".

Monday, 28th July: We left for Oxford by coach and arrived there at about 12.30pm and went on straight to lunch at RITZ Restaurant which I used to frequent when I was there. We had a very poor lunch. The meat was so tough that I left most of it. We then went to my old landlady's house. We received a nice welcome from both Mr. and Mrs. Chaffin as they were expecting us. They took us round the house, particularly to show Mak the room I was living in before. We then talked of old things and it was quite late in the afternoon before we went to see the City, and some Colleges. I took Mak to see MAGDALEN (pronounced MAUDLIN) COLLEGE where there also a deer park. I took her round to the Colonial Service Club (now named Commonwealth Service Club) where I lived for a few months before I moved to the Chaffins'. After showing a few more places we returned for dinner.

Mrs. Chaffin prepared a special dinner for us. After dinner we went on yarning until it was a bit late. Mr. & Mrs. Chaffin were very happy. They were very kind to us and they liked Mak very much. We talked quite a bit about you all and showed our group photograph to them. Mrs. Chaffin wanted to see partitcularly Adek's photograph because Mrs. Chaffin remembered the story I told her about Adek disclaiming me from being her father when I came back from England before.

We slept in the room downstairs as Mrs. Chaffin

has let the room I was living in before to a tenant. Otherwise she wanted Mak and I to sleep in my former room!

Tuesday 29th July: We went out late after breakfast to the city. I took Mak to my old College and took a photograph of her there. I took her also to CHRIST CHURCH, the biggest College in Oxford. After going round a bit we went back for lunch and left for London by the 4 o'clock coach.

Wednesday, 30th July: We went out to sort out the arrangements to go to New York. It was a tiring day looking for QANTAS Office. I walked and because I thought Mak could not last it, I left her at HYDE PARK. That was fortunate. It was a hard morning. I was trying to make arrangements to delay by a day or two our departure but I did not succeed as every plane for the next week was fully booked.

In the evening we went for a "meehoon" food at the flat of Che' Rahman Jalal. He and his wife Che 'Aishah were very kind to us.

Tuesday, 31st July: We went to Thomas Cook & Son in the morning to get our Traveller's Cheques. We also went to a News Theatre after which we had lunch at MARBLE ARCH Restaurant. There was a news "shot" showing the EMPIRE GAMES at Cardiff and although we tried to spot out our Malayan Team in the parade we could not do so.

Later in the afternoon Che' Din and Che' Hawa took us to go to KEW GARDENS. The weather was very fine and we enjoyed our trip there. After dinner we had out final packing as we would be leaving for New York

early tomorrow morning. We felt rather excited because we would be on the move again coupled with the idea that we would be on our way home to you all.

Oh, yes, we too are counting the days when we would be together again. Pray for our safe journey home.

God bless you all and heaps & heaps of love and kisses from us to Sayang, Adek, Intan, Kuntom, Nor, Adek Shor, Nan, Nah, Ajid and Yong.

Yours ever lovingly,

Mak and Bapak.

PS. Some more photos herewith.

I have no time to post this letter in London but will do so in New York.