J completed my two-year-term for my position of Secretary with the Teochew Opera Group and I would like to wave farewell to our friends. I attended the Teochew Opera Singing Class of Pho Leng Club and would like to take a break after the Chinese New Year gathering.

When I greeted Lin Hui Zhu (林慧朱老师), she looked rather lean. It was good for her to look slim, young and pretty.

Those who attended the last council meeting knew that I had resigned from the Group. I did not tell others about my resignation. I only let our Chairman Mr. Huang Nan De (黄南德) and our advisor Mr. Cheng Ping Shan (郑炳山) know about it.

There was no more karaoke for this celebration. Instead, there was a lucky draw on the Spinning-wheel of the Twelve Animals.

Some of the animals printed on the lucky draw couple looked funny. I got a couple for the dog and it looked like a cat to me. When Amy struck a prize and she was not aware of the couple she held and missed it.

Jun Xiang was sitting next to me. He knew that I was resigned from the Group. I told him that I would also temporary be leaving Pho Leng Club. There were a few members wished that I would stay. But I was not reluctant to leave.

When I knew Doris Chua, she sent me a Buddhist story. I remembered what I learned from the story. The most precious thing is neither what we cannot get nor what we have missed, but the happiness we are holding at present. (世间最珍贵的不是‘得不到’和‘已失去’， 而是现在能把握的幸福。)

I had my dreams when I agreed to take up the post of Secretary. I was glad when Woon Ying thanked me for letting her know about our Opera Group at MICA Building. It came and it has gone.

很多感觉都是事过后才苏醒
很多感触都是人走后才发生
而很多的情感都是物换星移后
才知道那原来是自己的最爱

All good things come to an end. It was time to part. Jun Xiang asked me when we would meet again.

Just like a flash in the pan. Go, going, went, gone.....

---

Pho Leng Club

Nanyang Pho Leng Hui Kuan organised the Chinese New Year Dinner on 22 February. Many of the members of Pho Leng Club attended the function. They were from the classes of Folk Song, Mandarin Pop Song and Teochew Opera Singing.

It was heavy downpour when I got ready to attend the dinner. I was hesitated but finally made up my mind to carry an umbrella. When I arrived at the Novena Station, I was surprised to see the very fine weather.

Most of the members arrived early. Many of them enjoyed the karaoke singing very much.

Jean Lim (林木英) and Tan Joo Thoe (陈裕桃) were the first to sing a Teochew Opera song Reunion at the Capital (京城会).

I was amused to listen to the song 《堂前敞心扉》 sang by grandma Lee Chew Eng. She sang like the young madam. I always remembered the sour plum tomato and pork jelly she made for us. She is amiable and always makes you feel at home.

I was glad to meet Mr. Tan Mui Hua. I first met him when I attended the class in 2008. I liked his powerful voice when he sang the Teochew Opera. He did not turn up more than a year. I attended a talk on Teochew Opera in Singapore and its future presented by him last year. I loved his positive thinking, especially the way of its revival. My 16-year-old son ever shared with me on his brilliant ideas on promoting the Chinese Opera.

Chen Zi-jing (陈子敬) sang the folk song 《常回家看看》 (Returning Home to Visit Your Parents More Often) again. I remembered he sang the same folk song last year. I was sorry to see many people were busy in toasting and did not pay attention to his song.

Rolls of	Joyful Songs
Happily Gather	Under the Same Roof

I was almost absent from the dinner because of the heavy rain in the evening. It was actually a very fine weather at the other part of the island. Although I carried an umbrella, but I did not carry my shoulder bag as usual. Our instructor Eric told me that he would give me VCD at the end of the dinner as I did not have a bag to keep it.

When we had our last course of dinner, Mr. Tan Chin Heng (陈进兴) came and asked us what the fruit was. Many of us said that it was loquat (琵琶). It was actually the Marian Plum from Thailand. The Thai name was Mayong Chit. It looks like loquat and tastes like mango.

While we were discussing about that fruit, we heard a very loud noise outside the building. It seemed like someone fired the crackers from the passing by vehicle. It also sounded like the train falling down from the high-rise railway. We went out to see. It was a serious accident involved two cars.

It was time to go home. I looked for Eric and reminded him of the VCD he intended to give me.

When I was walking towards the MRT station, I passed by the accident scene. A man told me that the petrol leaked from the car would cause fire if someone smoked. I was frighten then as it was the junction where I always passed by and was always worried about the cars coming behind me.

It was fate. I did not carry any bag, so Eric could give me the VCD only at the end of the dinner. Chin Heng came and discussed with us about the Marian Plum that stopped me from leaving earlier. Just a delay of a few minutes, the accident happened. God protects the good man. (吉人天相！)