Monday, September 24, 2018

My walk with Cancer























Image may contain: one or more people



























Unexpectedly two months ago I have been told of my predicament. I started to write as Part II of this book.

4 weeks ago, I had a surgery to remove 2 cancerous nodules and had a thyroidectomy. The surgery was fine, but like people who had their thyroid gland removed, they need medication for life, and constant checking to see if the cancer has returned. I wrote this book to help anyone who might be face with this.

Monday, July 9, 2018

Book CV 2018 ann


作者

Ann Kit Suet Chin-Chan.
 

Ann Kit Suet Chin is a New Zealand Chinese writer. She was born in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. She attended Methodist Primary and Secondary School in Sibu. She graduated from Windsor University in Canada, Auckland University and Auckland University of Technology.

Ann is the fourth child of the late John Chan Hiu Fei and Mary Kong Wah Kiew. She is married to Chin Chen Onn, PhD. She has three surviving children, Deborah, Gabrielle and Sam. Her third child, Andrew died when he was a baby and is the inspiration of her first book.



作者 陈洁雪

洁雪是新西兰的华人,出生于马来西亚砂拉越的诗巫市。早年在诗巫卫理小学和卫理中学受中小学教育。大学毕业于加拿大的温舍大学、新西兰的奥克兰大学和奥克兰科技大学。

洁雪是已故陈鹞飞夫妇的女儿,家中排行第四。






Friday, May 18, 2018

sister and serenity






Image may contain: one or more people
No automatic alt text available.



Grace Chan's photo.

Sister Judith, late of Bintulu, My Ah Do Jie , my second cousin, (her Dad, late Master Kok Fei, my Dad's first Cousin) died in 2016 at 7.30am Malaysian time.
She taught in Sarikei, Sri Aman and Bintulu convent Kindergartens. Those of you who went there and/or had children there would remember her.
As for me, I like to remember her in this photo. I was twenty. I can't remember what occasion it was. Was it to mark my going to Canada. My Ah Do Jie was always soft spoken, gentle and perfect for kindy kids.
My last memory of Ah Do Jie, was she rushed from Sri Aman to Kuching to see my Dad before he died. She didn't make it, but made it to his wake and funeral. She told me, "Your Dad, was not only my uncle, he was also a very good employer. Dad was the DEO."
Sister Judith to those who know her, will always be my Ah Do Jie.
She has fought the good fight. God has called her home.

may 13 other

https://cilisos.my/the-other-racial-riot-before-may-13-which-we-didnt-know-about/

may 13 Malay

https://cilisos.my/5-malays-tell-us-their-side-of-the-shocking-events-on-may-13th-1969/

may 13 two

https://cilisos.my/7-malaysians-share-their-most-vivid-memories-of-may-13-1969/

may 13

https://cilisos.my/photos-the-tiny-may-13-cemetery-most-malaysians-never-knew-about/

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Ronald McDonald House

I have not written about my late baby Andrew for a while. In 1989, my baby was born with a terminal prognosis. There was no Ronald McDonald house then. The hospital gave me a room at the nurses home. It wasn't ideal as I had other children then. Still it was better than nothing. Beggars couldn't be choosers.  I stay there for 55 days until he died.

I know first hand how it is like to be away from your sick child.



It's the RMHC New Zealand Family Appeal this week. Help kids like Kate stay together with their family while they receive treatment. Text TOGETHER to 4483 to donate $3 or look out for our collectors on the street around NZ this Friday #togethermattersNo automatic alt text available.Image may contain: 6 people, people smiling

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Overseas and my Latest Book

More than 100 years ago, in 1907 to be precise, my Great Grand Father led a group of immigrants Overseas to uncharted land of Borneo. 

Then in 1970, my brother Charles went on his Overseas journey to New Zealand.

I follow suit to my Overseas journey to Canada in 1975.

At last, my latest Book, "Growing up in Borneo" is ready.  It talks about all the Overseas journeys of my siblings.

My thanks to Eve Leong for making her butterflies. They gave me inspiration. The butterfly is a symbol of Hope, Life and Endurance to the bereaved.
ISBN: 978-0-473-43641-4







Wednesday, April 11, 2018

post card from 60 years ago


I am a person of nostalgia. Most of my writing is about Nostalgia.
My cousin Cecillia went to her brother's house and saw two 60 years old postcards. It was posted by my Dad 60 years ago to my uncle David from England.

I was so happy to know, my cousin Vincent kept them. Cousin Vincent is the nephew of Uncle David. It was Vincent's sis Cecillia who posted this photo to me. Things like these are very precious to me, because our own things had been eaten by termites.







Image may contain: outdoor, water and nature

Thursday, March 22, 2018

The Kuching Civic Centre


The Kuching Civic Centre Malay: Dewan Suarah Kuching) is a major landmark in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The building was officially opened on 1 August 1988 following the proclamation of Kuching as a city status.

This was where I gate crashed a wedding. I invited myself to a Malay/Muslim wedding.
There is a sweet story behind this. I rang up my muslim friend, J who went to school with me. We had not seen each other for many many years. When I rang her, she said she was going to her niece wedding. I asked if I could go because I have never been to one. She invited me.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWdfj44pXpV7NStfC-8sN5tAWX3O5exq-H0-biO1tbZajvg8UOYf8g-VRlzObS7D3DnWRoCDEF9u7sLAe2ThNPWTQpXzDO7BtwlwqQFde00MkMZ0EHOBmvdFnBKoiodZD9wvcRKOe8jo/s320/ann+kuching+singapore+134.JPG
She told me the wedding was at this posh place, the Civic centre .

My friend was late, and I waited a long time. 


The hostess of the wedding waved to me to come to her wedding when she saw me waiting for a long time. I was dressed in an elegant Malaysian dress like this oneI was wearing.

Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling, people standing

Friday, February 23, 2018

My Grand Uncle, a war hero.

My Grand Uncle Leong Hiang Kim aka Hee Kung and Grand Aunty aka Hee Po are war heros of a different kind.
In 1941-1945 they were living at upper Lanang Road. They were living in a long wooden house with many rooms. I had been there in the sixties. Little did I know they opened their house to the town people . My friend RC , a famous historian remembers as a child, his family had to evacuate from the town and they stayed with my Hee Kung. RC told me other people from the town came too.
In the town, they had nothing. At Hee Kung's , they could plant crops like sweet potatoes, tapioca and pumpkins and they didn't starve, there was plenty of Rejang River water thanks to Hee Kung's kind hospitality.
I am going to add this to my next edition of my World War II book.

Susie Pang My mum told me that story too. I’ve to get fr my mum.
Susie Pang Ann Chin I knew that big wooden house on high stilts I was still very young that time.
Susie Pang The front portion of the house was where JKR office was along Lanang Rd.
Susie Pang Ann Chin I knew that big wooden house on high stilts I was still very young that time.
Susie Pang The front portion of the house was where JKR office was along Lanang Rd.

the above conversation is by Susie Pang. Susie is the grand daughter by Hung Hang, the second child/ oldest daughter.



Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, standing, tree, outdoor, text and nature

geese



We have geese stories, Margaret and Elizabeth,


not sure why this goose has feathers like this. Looks like a Sebastopol Goose, a big ball of fluff.
Image may contain: bird, grass, outdoor and natureWhat makes the Sebastopol so unique are its curly feathers, giving it that “curly perm” look. The frizzled feathers are the result of a genetic mutation and curl due to the lack of a rigid feather spine or quill. The feathers curl downwards and are up to four times the length of the feathers found in other geese.

a woman of substance, Mdm Liong


Today, I feel euphoric. I finally got an answer to a puzzle that was in my head for more than 50 years.

When I was in my early primary school, we were living at Padang road which was very near to the Sibu prison. On some evenings, after dinner, we would take a stroll among the government quarters and Father and Mother would take us to visit their friends.

The husband was LOU CHIONG, a colloquial term for Old Mr. Teo. What intriqued me was the wife we refered to as LEONG SIN SAN aka LEONG TEACHER. She was a real teacher in Chung Hua School, and was Father's collegue at the early stage of their lives.

On our way home, I was in amazement, here was a woman about Father's age and she was educated. I wonder why her father educated her. Fresh in my mind, was the family quarrel, that my Grandpa was adamant that girls had no need to be educated, and they were to be married.

I wondered more, as Mother didn't know her ABCs and this woman was a secondary teacher.

Fast forward to 2014, I was chatting on facebook with my ex colleague Lim Siew Lian, and I asked her who her mother in law is. My jaws dropped when I realised that she is the LEONG SIN SAN I admired when I was a kid.

Siew Lian invited us to Mdm Leong's house this morning. My jaws dropped further when I saw her using the computer, and I had a lock jaw and my mouth remained wide opened in awe. Her English was the perfect Queen's English. (Before then, I thought she was a Chinese teacher.)

When we left, she told me that she was the deputy principal of Chung Hua Secondary School. She is Leong Soong Foong, and in her humility, she said she was the assistant of Dato Wong Soon Koh, the  Minister who was the guest honour of my book launch.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

building qualification

In the old days, being a builder doesn't need to be education. Grandpa teased a cousin to become a construction worker since she was struggling in school. Now you need a degree.

Manukau Institute of Technology
Are you ready to move into the role of a construction supervisor or manager?
Already have a building trade-related qualification and want to move into a supervi...
See More
Option to study part-time in evening classes, one night a week, at MIT Otara.
manukau.ac.nz

Sunday, February 4, 2018

kindle ordering your book

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing <kindledirectpublishing@amazon.com>
KDP Header
In this issue: Proof and author copies, Tax-related resources, Kindle Unlimited promotion, Pen to Publish Winners, Make your book look great and an opportunity for manuscript feedback.


Proof and author copies are now available

We are excited to announce that proof and author copies are now available for all publishers on KDP.
Proofs allow you to review a physical copy of your draft paperback prior to publication. Learn more here.
Author copies are copies of the live version of your paperback that you can order from Amazon. Learn more here.
When you order copies of your own book, you pay just the printing costs plus shipping and applicable taxes. With this new feature, KDP proof and author copies for the UK and the rest of Europe are printed and shipped from within Europe – an improvement for authors who previously used CreateSpace.
By publishing a paperback on KDP, you can reach more readers through Amazon websites in the US and Europe, as well as manage your print and eBook publishing from one website. In addition, you can use the KDP website in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese or Dutch. Learn more here.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Dr Sun Yat sen


snapshot of It's ok to cry







This is a snapshot of me in the documentary which Television New Zealand produced and interviewed me.
For Baby Loss Awareness Week, we meet a support group for mothers who have suffered the tragedy of losing their babies.

Henry and climate change.



Image may contain: 3 people, people standing








https://youtu.be/tDOwx3mkC3A

This Dr Henry Chan is my brother.
Ann Chin's photo.
Dr. Henry discusses his journey in persuading and convincing all stakeholders, from local village communities, to business communities, to government ministers to support and participate in the Heart of Borneo Corridor Program. Dr. Henry Chan wants to bring awareness to the public about the current situation of the environment affected by various human factors and how we can play our role in conserving mother nature. Dr. Henry Chan is the Head of Conservation Sarawak, WWF-Malaysia. He was seconded to WWF-Indonesia and WWF-Malaysia as the Heart of Borneo Leader. He recently concluded a Conservation Summit with His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin, Sultan of Perak, Royal Patron of WWF-Malaysia, and His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, President of WWF-United Kingdom. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx



https://youtu.be/tDOwx3mkC3A This Dr Henry Chan is my brother.
Dr. Henry discusses his journey in persuading and convincing all stakeholders, from local village communities, to business communities, to government ministers to support and participate in the Heart of Borneo Corridor Program. Dr. Henry Chan wants to bring awareness to the public about the current situation of the environment affected by various human factors and how we can play our role in conserving mother nature. Dr. Henry Chan is the Head of Conservation Sarawak, WWF-Malaysia. He was seconded to WWF-Indonesia and WWF-Malaysia as the Heart of Borneo Leader. He recently concluded a Conservation Summit with His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin, Sultan of Perak, Royal Patron of WWF-Malaysia, and His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, President of WWF-United Kingdom. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx


Image may contain: 3 people, people standing

Monday, January 15, 2018

Operation RASCOM.

does any one remember in either 1972 or 1973 when many rich men in Sarawak were arrested?



T.c. Ting Yes.
Yap Yen
Yap Yen Why ya?
Sarawak First
Sarawak First Is there such an incident?
Gee Jakee
Gee Jakee Operation RASCOM... communist terrorist and sympathiser were all roped in. The late TS Dr. Wong Soon Kai was among them. A difficult time in Sibu if you're somebody rich, the Communist will approach you secretly for fund and food logistics and in the case of the late doctor it's medical supply. The late Datuk Ling Beng Siew was arrested in Johor after he was lured from Singapore. Sibu Prison was full of them. !?!
Like · Reply · 2 · 6 hrs · Edited
Gee Jakee
Gee Jakee You refuse to contribute, you're in deep shit with them Communist or PARAKU and you're in deep shit with the Government when you do. It's like a case of a hard place or.....?
Thomas Iboh
Bob Amin
Bob Amin Was the mass arrests the reason why SUPP was forced to join BN?
Like · Reply · 1 · 4 hrs
Ann Chin
Ann Chin Thanks esp Gee Jakee, I was in form 6, and it was a hush hush. business. Were there more to this?
Like · Reply · 1 · 1 hr
Anne Samuel
Anne Samuel The Rascom years..

Thanks esp Gee Jakee, I was in form 6, and it was a hush hush. business. Were there more to this?
Like · Reply · 1 · 3 hrs

Gee Jakee
Gee Jakee There's certainly more to it and yes it was a hush hush and I had brother and sister working with the Prison Department. These events were not even mention or whisper in our house. Even our house were search by the Police and Army guys but was normally pass over when they found that we are a family of mostly civil servants, thus unlikely to be PARAKU sympathiser.... 😊😊😊
Ann Chin
Ann Chin PARAKU what is this?
Ann Chin
Ann Chin were the rich men given better treatment?
Anne Samuel
Anne Samuel The Rascom years..
Like · Reply · 1 · 2 hrs
Wong Leh Seng
Wong Leh Seng Yes, I remember too.
Like · Reply · 1 · 23 mins
Gee Jakee
Gee Jakee The detainees were very well behaved and they were treated with respect. Only the late Lim Ung Chiew was giving some trouble and had to be restrained !!!
Ann Chin
Ann Chin the late Lim Ung Chiew, my dad's student and friend. we were neighbours, living off Queensway

Ivy Haw Ping Ngui
Ivy Haw Ping Ngui My 2nd aunty was arrested during the 1st operation as she was teaching in a rural Chinese school and the 'Mountain rats' came in asking for food and $.
My 3rd was arrested in the 2nd operation.
Both were graduated from Nang Yang University, then the government always considered NY graduates as conmunists supporters.
Like · Reply · 1 · 55 mins
Gee Jakee
Gee Jakee It's being a long time this term Mountain Rats or San Lo Chi/Sua Ngiau Chu ... is heard again.. Tks, Ivy Haw...!!!
Desmond Leong
Desmond Leong They were accused of supporting the Communists! White Terror briefly reigned.
Like · Reply · 1 · 46 mins
Ivy Haw Ping Ngui
Ivy Haw Ping Ngui My 3rd uncle
Like · Reply · 1 · 44 mins
John Subem
John Subem In 1972 & 1973 curfew was a normal thing, while in the bus on the way to school the police manning roadblocks would get into the bus and look for anyone suspicious. Even the Chinese students were not spared, their school bags were checked/searched. During one weekend there were gunfire not far from my farm-house, the next thing I heard was 2 communist terrorists were shot dead at the junction to my farm-house.
I remember quite well that these so-called "communist group" even offered and helped some kampong folks to plant padi, provided free medical assistance trying to win sympathy.
As for the curfew imposed, at night only, we were not allowed to be outside of our house. The police came to tell us not to open our doors n windows at night and if we hear people knocking on our door the police told us not to bother. Even my dad's shotgun and cartridges had to be kept near where we slept.
Like · Reply · 1 · 20 mins
John Subem
John Subem Two of my cousins, Bidayuh-Chinese were arrested and spent two years at the 6th mile detention centre for being "San lu choo".
In 1972 & 1973 curfew was a normal thing, while in the bus on the way to school the police manning roadblocks would get into the bus and look for anyone suspicious. Even the Chinese students were not spared, their school bags were checked/searched. Dur...See More
Like · Reply · 1 · 36 mins

John Subem
John Subem Two of my cousins, Bidayuh-Chinese were arrested and spent two years at the 6th mile detention centre for being "San lu choo".
Ann Chin
Ann Chin Thank you all, I still would like to know if you knew why the rich men at one swoop! Unofficial sources said that it was 10th anniversary of when Sarawak joined Malaysia. There was a certain clause that Sarawak could withdraw from Malaysia. That is why Ling Beng Siew the only Chinese signatory was arrested . By the time, they were released, that dateline had past. Any of you heard this?

Ann Chin
Ann Chin Thank you all, I still would like to know if you knew why the rich men at one swoop! Unofficial sources said that it was 10th anniversary of when Sarawak joined Malaysia. There was a certain clause that Sarawak could withdraw from Malaysia. That is why Ling Beng Siew the only Chinese signatory was arrested . By the time, they were released, that dateline had past. Any of you heard this?
Like · Reply · 1 · 30 mins
Gee Jakee
Gee Jakee I guess there was a political motive behind that and The late Abdul Rahman Yakub was behind all that. Some people believe he was a UMNO plant in Sarawak to control the situation...
I guess there was a political motive behind that and The late Abdul Rahman Yakub was behind all that. Some people believe he was a UMNO plant in Sarawak to control the situation...
Ann Chin
Ann Chin Ivy Haw Ping Ngui, thanks. There was another massive swoop on all the teen ages of Rejang river, My 7th uncle was taken with all his friends. They were kept at that Native resthouse. My grandfather came home to pack toothbrush, tooth paste, extra sets of clothes. I told my grandfather to pack a set of socks. My Ah Kung didn't know why, and I said for mosquitoes. My uncle was very pleased. They were interrogated, mainly to assess if they were jungle rats.My uncle was released but warned not to join the CCO. I think some of them who had a record were jailed.

Gee Jakee It's being a long time this term Mountain Rats or San Lo Chi/Sua Ngiau Chu ... is heard again.. Tks, Ivy Haw...!!!
Like · Reply · 2 · 9 hrs
Desmond Leong
Desmond Leong They were accused of supporting the Communists! White Terror briefly reigned.
Like · Reply · 1 · 10 hrs
Ivy Haw Ping Ngui
Ivy Haw Ping Ngui My 3rd uncle
Like · Reply · 1 · 10 hrs
Ann Chin
Ann Chin Thank you all, I still would like to know if you knew why the rich men at one swoop! Unofficial sources said that it was 10th anniversary of when Sarawak joined Malaysia. There was a certain clause that Sarawak could withdraw from Malaysia. That is why Ling Beng Siew the only Chinese signatory was arrested . By the time, they were released, that dateline had past. Any of you heard this?
Like · Reply · 1 · 9 hrs
Ann Chin
Ann Chin Ivy Haw Ping Ngui, thanks. There was another massive swoop on all the teen ages of Rejang river, My 7th uncle was taken with all his friends. They were kept at that Native resthouse. My grandfather came home to pack toothbrush, tooth paste, extra sets ...See More
Like · Reply · 1 · 9 hrs
Paul Chiam
Paul Chiam This is part of Sarawak's forgotten history...local historians out there...here's something to look into.
Ann Chin
Ann Chin any idea how long were they arrested? Gee Jakee?
Like · Reply · 1 · 4 hrs
Gee Jakee
Gee Jakee I had forgotten and not too sure about the duration of the arrest..
Ann Chin
Ann Chin That was a time when senior Govt servants including my dad were volunteers in the vigilante. Very scary for my Dad. Luckily, he was transfered to Sarikei. Even then, Sarikei was the jungle rats nest. Senior govt servants had to meet with Rascom.
Like · Reply · 1 · 11 mins
Gee Jakee
Gee Jakee Forced to volunteer or else...
Ann Chin
Ann Chin My dad had big black bruise to his shoulder chest area. My mum used sloan liniment to rub. We teased that he was shot by the communist. He didn't know to scold us or not. In actual fact, he did not listen to the soldier teaching him to shoot. He didn't know to turn his shoulder, so the rifle would not recoil and hit him.
Ann Chin unknown sources, all the vip and rich men were arrested. EXCEPT Datuk Wong Tun Kwang. They said his Datuk came from the Sultan of Tregganu, and it would be an insult to the Sultan if he was arrested.
Like · Reply · 1 · 5 hrs
Sarawak First
Sarawak First Interesting, why the other Datuk titles are not as good?
Ann Chin
Ann Chin I presume other datuks were confered in Sarawak.
Ann Chin
Ann Chin Paul Chiam, thanks. Most of those men would have died. I wonder if any of their children would be willing to talk.
Like · Reply · 1 · 5 hrs
Gary Tay
Gary Tay Operatoion Judas
Like · Reply · 2 · 5 hrs
Ann Chin
Ann Chin real or u made it up?
Like · Reply · 1 · 5 hrs
Ann Chin
Ann Chin I googled, thanks. On 22 September 1973, Abdul Rahman started "Operation Judas". A total of 29 people from the town of Sibu were captured. Among those captured were doctors, lawyers, businessmen, teachers, and one former member of parliament.
Kung Wei Law
Kung Wei Law https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Aa5gAAAAQBAJ...

Set in West Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, this study explores the shifting relationships between border…
books.google.com
Encik Milotaku Sama
Encik Milotaku Sama Afaik same stuff did happen in SG.. During LKY time..
Like · Reply · 1 · 4 hrs
Sewkion Kong
Sewkion Kong should read the book by the late datuk j.w.k.m.
Like · Reply · 1 · 1 hr
Ann Chin
Ann Chin j.w.k.m., what is the full name?
Like · Reply · 1 · 1 hr
Tzin Kit Jee
Tzin Kit Jee James Wong Kim Min
Like · Reply · 1 · 56 mins
Ann Chin
Ann Chin Thanks Tzin Kit Jee, my big BIL was his secretary. Hopefully he has a copy. If not, is it available in the library?
Tzin Kit Jee James Wong Kim Min
Like · Reply · 1 · 56 mins
Ann Chin
Ann Chin Thanks Tzin Kit Jee, my big BIL was his secretary. Hopefully he has a copy. If not, is it available in the library?
Ann Chin
Ann Chin But Mr Wong KM was not part of this Sibu group.
Like · Reply · 1 · 53 mins
Gee Jakee
Gee Jakee Datuk James Wong was an Northern Man, Limbang and Lawas area