Five Weeks To Go

Shirley Ong lives along Jalan Sentosa, Tanjong Bungah a beach suburb on Penang Malaysia. Shirley and her husband Ong have been great friends since 1975 when we used to live across the road on Jalan Sentosa ..... and actually lives near our hotel when we visit Penang in March. They used to entertain us with true Malaysian kindness and gave many hours of experiencing Chinese and Malay dinners that excel any hawker stalls on Penang. Shirley used to be a teacher on Penang and long since retired. Nowadays she is the grandmother of two beautiful girls who live in Kuala Lumpur and two boys in USA.

I have attached three photographs of Shirley, one with Anne at the base of the KL Menara Tower and another with Anne and Neil in the foyer of the Genting Highlands Hotel. The third is a group photograph with Anne & Neil, Shirley and her husband Ong and Norma & Razak. Norma was our amah (Malaysian housekeeper) between 1981 and 1983. Norma and Razah were victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami that hit Penang Malaysia with devastating force that destroyed their house. We calculated that we must be one of the few fortunate Air Force families that resided on Penang during those halycon years to keep touch with our amahs. 

For us who are going to Malaysia in March 2011, will meet Shirley who in her senior age will entertain us with her zest for life, hospitality and most importantly her friendship. Shirley is an avid line dancer, but alas, the most energetic of all line dancing style - modern jazz!