Sunday, September 29, 2013

Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.

I paid a courtesy call to Y.B. Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Minister of Finance (II) and Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Sarawak. He is going to the guest of honour at the launch of my books. Dato Sri was my history teacher and we talked about Han SuYin. It was Dato Sri Wong who introduced me to her books.

It is a privileged to meet him now as a cabinet minister.











Photo: I paid a courtesy call to  Y.B. Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Minister of Finance (II) and Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Sarawak. He is going to the guest of honour at the launch of my books. Dato Sri was my history teacher and we talked about Han SuYin. It was Dato Sri Wong who introduced me to her books.

It is a privileged to meet him now as a cabinet minister.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Margaret, our very smart sister















My sister, Professor Margaret Chan experiments to make vinegar

 from a local less known and less used fruit. The Bilimbing is found

 in South East Asia and used to cook a sour fish dish.

What future potentially there is for the local villagers to harvest 

their fruit trees from their garden and make  vinegar, an organic 

free of pesticides.

The process is simple enough, There are 2 stages;

1: an anaerobic fermantation producing alcohol

2: aerobic converting alcohol to vinegar


http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/


Saturday, September 21, 2013

who is Ann Chin, profile News

出生在来西的沙罗越州
我是 Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪
         
 In Sarawak my name is Kit Suet. The meaning is clean snow.

I will be launching my books in Sibu:

(1) 12th October 2013 at 10.00 am.

(2) Venue is at 2nd Floor, RH Hotel, Sibu



(3) Guest of Honour to launch my books : Y.B. Dato 


Sri Wong Soon Koh, Minister of Finance (II) and 

Minister of Local Government and Community

 Development, Sarawak

(4) Invited guests: Local dignitaries are Y.B. Dato Sri 


Wong Soon Koh and Datin Sri Leong Poh Ling, Mr. Sim 

Kok Kee, Resident Sibu Division, community leaders 

like Pemanca and Penghulu from the Quang Ning 

community. 


On 28th Sept:  signing my books at
 the Internal Medicine Update on 28th at Four Points by Sheraton Kuching. : malaysian medical association sarawak branch
On 15th October, signing at KK bookstore, Miri. 
I will be returning to my Old School Methodist Secondary School and the school I taught , Kai Chung Secondary school to talk to senior students.
My books will soon be available in all Sarawak Council Libraries.

I am the writer of "Diary of a Bereaved Mother " 

丧儿记,: 丧失儿子的母亲的一本传记

"From China To Borneo and beyond" 

海外华人的中国魂: 从中国,到南洋,到更远

http://annkitsuet-chinchan.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/who-is-ann-kit-suet-chin-chan.html

"Mail Order Bride."

http://annkschinchan.blogspot.co.nz/2013/07/mail-order-bride-front-cover.html


Forward by : Pastor Jonathan Dove.
http://annkitsuetchin.blogspot.co.nz/2011/03/diary-of-bereaved-mother-foreward.html
 My baby died 24 years ago. I have become a  spokes person for bereaved parents. I am a member of Sands and a parent advocate.
After the book was released,
My book was featured in the Aucklander.
http://annkitsuetchin.blogspot.co.nz/2011/06/diary-of-bereaved-mother-newspaper.html "words of healing"
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/aucklander/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503372&objectid=11030495
I appeared in Television 1 Down Under program. It's ok to cry http://tvnz.co.nz/asia-downunder/s2011-e31-video-4453514 On baby bereavement.
I spoke in the Baptist Women's Annual Convention, North Island Chapter.
http://annkitsuetchin.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/foreverinmyheartexhibition.html  
My book was exhibited  at the Peacock 
Art Gallery, Upton Country, Dorset, Park England.

I presented a workshop on Asian Infant Bereavement at the Sands National conference for Sands families and medical personnels for 200 attendees in September 2013

Available in New Zealand at: Women's Bookshop, University Bookshop, Auckland, Church of Christ Bookshop
Online orders: Wheeler books,Fishpond.co.nz academybooks.co.nz/product/For Overseas order: www.abebooks.co.uk
Bookworks <info@bookworksnz.co.nz>

or email:annkschin@yahoo.com

Third Edition, June 2012,  306 pages, 
categories: self help, inspiration, bereavement,

 Autobiographies

ISBN: 978-0-473-18709-5

First edition, February, 2013 310 pages
categories:Life Stories 

(Biographies,  
 Autobiographies, Family 

Histories, Memoirs)

ISBN: 978-0-473-23900-8









First edition: July 2013 Fiction

ISBN: 978-0-473-25414-8

This book is the embodiment of the darker side of today’s society.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Happy Malaysia Day

Happy Malaysia day.
16 Sept

One hundred years ago,

My ancestors came from China,

To work in the jungles of Borneo

.
Today, we have Kelabit, Bidayuh, Iban, Orang Ulu, Kadazan,


We have West Malaysians, Australian, Kiwi and English,


Our family has blended in a truly Malaysia brand.




Photo: One hundred years ago,
My ancestors came from China,
To work in the jungles of Borneo.
Today, we have Kelabit, Bidayuh, Iban, Orang Ulu, Kadazan,
We have West Malaysians, Australian, Kiwi and English,
Our family has blended in a truly Malaysia brand.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Home coming

I am excited, it's like the Daughter for the return home. It 

was almost 40 years ago when I left Sibu. Though I have 

returned for short holidays, this is different. I am welcomed 

back and have been told they are very proud of me.

Photo: I am excited,  it's like the Daughter for the return home. It was almost 40 years ago when I left Sibu. Though I have returned for short holidays, this is different. I am welcomed back and have been told they are very proud of me.

The swan, mascot of Sibu.

Photo: my home town
The swan was chosen to be the mascot of Sibu not too long ago.

Friday, September 6, 2013

plum flowers. and home made sour plums.



Taro and belly of pork


Photo


Photo


Photo





Classic dish of my area. Taro/yam with belly of pork. Taro 

was a food eaten during the war, boiled and eaten without 

any dressing. The Pasifika and the Maories treat it as 

delicacy and boiled with coconut milk.  I am a freedom 

person, and follow no rules.  Here's my take.


Feature some of the classic foods enjoyed where you live. 


link to Mr Linky at the Friday shoot out link below.
http://mytownshootout.blogspot.com

Taking the younger generation to appreciate nature.


Photo: My favourite place in Singapore, Jurong Bird park

I went with Raymond and Hui Fung and the kids.

Raymond and Hui Fung's 10th anniversary.





Exactly ten years ago today, we had a happy day. Our nephew Raymond Chai married Hui Fung from Penang. Hui Fung was given a taste of the Chan/Chai hospitality. Family came back from Australia and Singapore.

Today, they have two beautiful children Nicole and Ryan and they live in Singapore.

This is a cake that made people say "WoW! Raymond, did you say your Aunty Grace made it?"

Grace made this for our nephew Raymond's wedding. She did most of the work, and some of us gave a little hand. If you look carefully at the bottom tier, where there are those delicate spiral lace work, and notice a rough patch, that's was done by me. Raymond's sister Flora flew back from Australia and did a great job.

We had to send one of the nephews to scour the whole of Kuching town to get as much icing sugar as possible.

We even had an consultant engineer giving advice. Our brother in law Teo was worried the cake would cave in or topple. When he saw the piling or wooden dowels inside the cake, he had confidence that the cake wouldn't fall. Before that, he had always wondered  why the multi-tiered cakes don't flop.
Transporting the cake to the hotel was an incredibly difficult job. Henry was driving very slowly, Elizabeth held the cake with the flowers. Her husband Kallang and I sat on the floor of the back of the 4 wheel drive trying to keep the cake in balance so it won't topple over.I don't know what Grace was holding.

We were all beaming with pride. I wish the cake was left intact because it was such a beautiful cake.

Road side fruits



Photo


This blog post is dedicated to all the Chans and especial to Mum's youngest Sister Kong Wah Mee.

We grew up in the village and suburban areas. The houseowners have fruit trees and flowers, they grow them by the road side.

We grew up with this saying quoted from an aunt Siong Pou Mu, when her kids were caught stealing/plucking people's guava, she spouted, " Road side guava, everybody can pick."

Towards the last years of Mother's life, Mother and Father moved to their own house on Surfers Paradise. Next door was this giant tree, and it was laden with macadamia nuts hanging over my parents' property. Mother and I started picking them. Dad stopped us, and I quoted Siong Pou Mu's Road side guava. Dad said it might not apply in Australia.

Last year, my Aunt Wah Mee insisted on taking me to the old homestead. During the trip, I don't know why, she brought up this famous maxim, road side fruit.

She related this when she was in senior primary, the kids used to steal the school's neighbour's pomeloes. The old man came to complain to the principal. The kids were afraid he would haul them to the office and cane them. Instead, the principal told the old man, "Road side fruits, anyone can pick." The old man protested , it wasn't so much he was complaining about the fruits, these pomeloes were immature, and the kids picked the fruit and then threw them away. Aunt said the principal loved the kids very much, and softly told them, don't pick them anymore. Whew!!!!

Sometimes when I go for walks, I see flowers, especially lavender, I think of Aunt Siong Pou Mou. The only thing that stops me, is the water engineer is allergy to flowers.

We have 5 lawyers in the family, I asked Charles the oldest, is the maxim right?

Now I don't physically steal the fruit and flower, I steal them with my camera.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Book Launch

Next month, I will be returning to Sibu, my place of birth to launch my three books.

"From  China to Borneo to Beyond." was not written by me, it was compiled by me but contributed by all my siblings and their children. It would be very unfair for me to claim all the credit.

My sponsor said, " You have brought pride and honour to Sibu for the success you have achieved. "

The launching will be on 5th October, and organised by Mr. Kong Tze Ling knows your father and sister as well as your uncle. He will be using his association, Guang Ning Association Sibu to arrange for the launching ceremony of your books on 5th October 2013.

Who else is better to help me launch my books but by my own clans people.

Here's all the 9 children my parents produced. We have done my parents and grand parents and Great grand parents proud.

Photo: and another one


Photo: hi ann is this the photo youre looking for?

                                        The Chan Family 1970 January

Back Row:
Dr Margaret Kit Yok , Ann Kit Suet, Charles Chok Kwong, Rose Kit Fon, Elizabeth Kit Pen.

Front Row:

Helen Kit Mei, Mother, (Kong Wah Kiew, Mary)Grace Kit Mui, Grand Pa (Chan Kee Seng), Father (John Chan Hiu Fei), Dr Henry Chok Khuang, Joseph Chan Chok Hiu.


In 1970, just before Charles went to New Zealand, we went to Art Friend with Ah Kung to take this photo. That was the last time Ah Kung saw Charles. He died in 1976. Mum died in 1988 in Australia, Dad in 2006 in Kuching.

I wanted to  replicate this photo, and Grace remembers that she had a biscuit in her mouth. 






Monday, September 2, 2013

ABC Letter H

 Hottie heat bag: This is a silicone heat bag, in the 50s, Father came home from England with a hot water bottle. People in the neighbourhood had never seen one like this.
 Handy man's work belt. My husband would like one like this.
 Steak Hot Plate
Hot pot. This is similar to Mother's first steam boat. What did I order? Pig's intestine. It didn't taste like what mother used to cook. Deb says it is the Szechuan pepper corns. They Also used a lot of tofu which I don't eat.

ABC Wednesday; letter H.
http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.nz

My daughter Deb and the mud snails.



I have left Borneo for almost 40 years, and when I manage to get a trip home, I like my sister to prepare this mud snail aka Los for me.

My sister Elizabeth cooked these mud snails for me, and they remembered the time, my daughter Deb came to visit.
Photo



I borrow my facebook friend's photo because it shows better how the snails aka Los look like. To cook them, you have to chop off the end, and you suck the front bit. Some times if the morsel of snail doesn't come out, you suck the end gently, and then it will dislodge the snail, and you suck the front.

In Singapore, some call them the kissing snail, as you make the chutch chutch sound and the kissy action when you eat them.. 


  • Ann Chin This is the photo for one of my stories. Big 

    daughter who just returned from Mexico's favourite story. 

    We went to Bintangnor where my brother in law Kallang 

    was a principal. The house was dark. They bought lots of 

    local food, and there was so much that they didn't cook 

    the LOs. Someone forgot to put a cover on the bucket of 

    the Los. 

    he next morning, the Los were all over the small dark 

    kitchen. My daughter remembers finding the Los. Kallang 

    and Elizabeth remembered it too.


    Whenever I see Los on my visits home, I remember this 

    story. 

    Would be fantastic of I can use it in my welcome home 

    story.
    8 hours ago · Like · 1

  • Law Vun Ngee Hahaha...... Ann. During my childhood 

    years, which was much the same as everyone else in 

    Sarawak at that time, we would eat anything that we 

    could laid our hands on. l had eaten thousands of these 

    mud snails (?). The children had problem in removing 

    the soft head covers of this slimy creatures getting 

    stuck to the roofs of their mouths. We also had flat 

    races and wall climbing competitions for these 

    creatures.


Photo: There was a big breakout attempt in Lawas. It was pure futility. Although it was reported that no shot was fired, but I saw a pile of fresh empty shells.