THE SOLUOI CLAN 2ND REUNION DINNER

When we had  the Soluoi Clan 1st Reunion Dinner way back in 2010 which was a success having a crowd of about 300, it made a lot of impression on us and thus we had planned to hold it again at least once in 2 years.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, we were not able to carry out the plan.  Also, with deep regret, our beloved Grand Matriarch (my mother's oldest sister), the last surviving granddaughter of Soluoi has since passed away at the age of 85 a couple of months ago.

Nevertheless, it was a delight that we finally managed to have it after 3 years but not without a lot of drama, drama which we could have done without.

My cousin, and also our Advisor, Datuk SKK

... delivering my welcoming speech. 

Couldn't hear myself talk! 

Organising an event where family and relatives are concerned is not the same as in organising an official event where budget for that specific event is there, ready to be juggled around. But when organising a function where collections from individuals is the name of the game, then be prepared to be accompanied by headaches and not a little stress.  Also, there is the concern on communication among the members and tact to be given a lot of emphasis. A slight mis-communication could escalate into something unattractive and you could find yourself alone. 

Thank goodness for the bunch of enthusiastic members of the organising committee I was not unduly worried as each knew what was expected of them. I was away the whole month of November and more than half of December 2013 which was 2 months before the event. Thus, communications thru network as in Facebook, emails, mobile phone thru watsapp and even wechat have never been more useful.  Absence in the midst of organising an event especially when one is the Organising Chair is not a good idea. So my skills in delegation was a little tested. 

The families were colour coded 

 - Yellow Family -

Offspring of Soluoi's eldest, and the only grandson.

  Soluoi had 5 grandchildren.

The reunion dinner was attended by almost 200 members of the Soluoi Clan held in a restaurant downtown.  The venue, a good location and well-known for its good food and reasonably priced was chosen. What we didn't foresee was that the restaurant had also let out 2 other events in the next hall separated only by a thin folding panel.

Green Family (offspring of Soluoi's 2nd grand child)

It didn't help that the other function was a launching of some traditional event and so the sound of gongs and other instruments which were LOUD and seemed never ending drowned what little music we had.  We could not even hear ourselves talk. We knew then that the evening was going to be a disaster! Nevertheless, we proceeded and did the best we could with what we had and we actually did have fun.    

Above: Red and Blue Family 

(offspring of Soluoi's 3rd and 4th granddaughters who were twins)

Blue Family has the least number.

 Purple Family

 (offspring of Soluoi's 5th and youngest grandchild, my mother). 

December babies

Candid shot

 ..dance session

 my nephew and lovely nieces

My brother and his lovely wife

Little Soluoi Fashion Parade

..and the cute winners

Pity, we do not have any picture of Madam Soluoi. But we imagined, one of these  beautiful young ladies must have resembled her.

and perhaps one of these dashing young men must have resembled Mr Sombuling

 (Madam Soluoi's husband) 

Crowned by Datin Rosie

Voted by independent judges as the most  likely to resemble our great great grandfather 

and great great grandmother

Mr Sombuling and Madam Soluoi.

Till  the next reunion in 2 years time, adios!

Cheers...

HAPPY NEW YEAR

In the New Year 

I wish you the best year you’ve ever had

And that each New Year

Will be better than the last

May you realize your fondest dreams

And take time to recognize and enjoy

Each and every blessing.

Happy New Year 2014 and many more!!

It was a last minute decision actually.. . was decided little more than a couple of days ago. I was thinking, hey this is madness. How can we possibly do it in 3 days. The Chairlady just said.. 'ok let's do it on the 30th December.'.... I was thinking geezz.. easier said than done.. But  she said, "come on.. 'Let's Just Do It! ".

Yes, a Christmas and New Year Party to be hosted by the Unduk Ngadau Organising Committee and to invite all the  'State Level Unduks  Particpants of 2013'. Well we did not really expect the 41 ladies' attendance especially when invitation was at the eleventh hour and so the attendance of some 16 ladies was actually great!

singing Christmas Carols

  2 lovely ladies ( 2nd and 3rd from left) from Japan who are on a visit to Sabah.. 

Ms Jo presenting prizes (non-alchohol sparkling juice) to beautiful Shaney and Terry who won a game.

..doing the 'Jamilah Dance'

All pics above are courtesy of Leslie  Isaac Kok

Nera (left), a well-known AF9 artist and singer,

also a distant relative and Yours Truly with that famous silly smirk...:)

And we did it, yes, with cooperation and teamwork by some of our committee members, we managed to find a lovely venue at the KDCA Cultural Village, caterer, arranged games and entertainment, decoration, got confirmation from more than 50 guests consisting of crew members, members of MICC of KDCA, Unduk Ngadau Committee and viola, we were set to go!

Guests were informed of the theme colour which was red and came 7.00 pm, the lovely guests strode in mostly decked in red...

Weather was superb, not a drop of rain, the food and drinks great, the music lovely and we sang and dance into the night till we almost dropped...hahaha.. I got a leg cramp from dancing the "Jamilah Dance', absolutely delightful..

Cheers everyone,  and Happy New Year!!

Angie

MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS PAST....my Christmas dress

Christmas day is around the corner but I don't feel it yet. It is always the case nowadays - sighh, must be the age,  unlike those days when the kids were small - the shopping for presents, clothes and the flurry of activities, spring cleaning and stuff.  Not that we would be having a big celebration. As usual, it would be just the family, a Christmas Eve dinner and a midnight Christmas Mass at the nearby church if not on Christmas Day. 



One of my happiest memories during my childhood must be Christmastime. We didn’t get any presents then but even the word Christmas conjures visions of happy occasions with joy and laughter. December was usually the harvesting season as well as the school holidays. My siblings and I would spend our holidays in the field helping our parents. 

It was at this time that the paddy would be ripe and at its peak and one must finish harvesting them fast or else the stalks would just wilt, become dry and brittle making it quite impossible to harvest. My mom would tell us that we have to finish the harvest or else there won’t be any Christmas for us, meaning we would be spending it in the field. Of course she never let that happen! And we always finish harvesting way before Christmas.

 Paddy ready to be harvested

Mom and Dad on their wedding day..a looong time ago. 

Rest in peace..

A few days or weeks before Christmas, being family of little means, my mom would go downtown and buy those cheap floral materials by the yards. There were 5 of us girls then, me being the eldest. Mom would cut and sew the materials to make into 4 identical dresses whilst mine would always be a little different from the rest like an addition of a little bow. I guess she did that because I was the oldest and I must have begun to show them curves..haha.. 

My mom would sew and the faithful Singer sewing machine would whirr into the night till dawn. She would not stop until she complete at least a dress. I would watch my mom cutting and sewing and I guess that was how I learned how to sew a little, though I know now that her cut were crude, unconventional and definitely not by the book. To us though, the dresses were most beautiful and we would wake up in the morning happy and excited when we find our completed dresses hanging on the clothesline.  We would try them on with our half grin admiring each other.

 simple dresses, quite similar to the dresses my mom used to make 
(pics courtesy of zalora.com)

A day before Christmas Eve, mom would pack our dresses and other necessities and on the morning of Christmas Eve, we would start the about an hour or so journey on foot through hills and vales to my grandmother’s house. There, other family members - aunts, uncles and cousins would have already arrived. The buzz of activities begin, the adults with the food preparation and cooking, whilst the older ones spend their time talking, gossiping and catching up with old times. 

I remember the young ladies would make the Hinompuka or Linompuka which is a cake made from glutinous rice flour and wrapped in leaves then boiled or steamed. I remember helping in the wrapping and couldn’t wait for it to be cooked.  The younger kids would be the happiest as they get to run wild in the compound, playing, laughing, screaming even fighting as what children do and no one would really be reprimanded.

The evening of Christmas Eve would also see us going for the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass and on Christmas Day at the nearby Church. Singing Christmas carol at the top of our voice and yes, with our finest dresses! Then back to the house for the big meal, more laughter and not a little noise. 

A sketch of a typical Kadazan village house -

 drawn by my son, Lionel.

We would stay at my grandmother’s house for a couple of days after Christmas Day and all too soon, it would be goodbyes and would again begin our journey back to our respective homes, a little sad. My grandmother’s house, I imagine would be sadder, as it would be back to the quiet moments, until another occasion.  Ahh.. those were the days..

My Christmas dress this year? A recycled one..a nice hardly used dress.

Wishing everyone a Blessed and a Merry Christmas….and BE SAFE!!

Cheers.