I Am Fifty One Today

Praise God I am 51 today....and it seems like yesterday I was 23 when I first married David. God is good to have brought me thus far...and I am ever thankful to Him for my life , my husband David , my children Melissa & Andrew and my family and friends.

I was born on the 2nd day of July 1960 at Wee Leong Maternity Home in Kuala Lumpur at 11.30am...and I must have brought a lot of joy to my parents as I was born after they had 6 boys...yes I was their only princess...eventhough they tried for 2 later they turned out to be boys too. So I was the real rose among 8 thorns.  My childhood was full of pampering , presents , loads of new clothes and everything else sugar and spice. I never knew what hardship was as my parents always provided even if they were struggling they never made us feel it.  My late father was working with a tin mining firm not making much and my mum eventually went on to be a kindergarten teacher and supported all of us. I lost my parents at a young age..my dad when I was 19 and my mum when I was 29....and then I was already married and had my own family.

This is the lovely lady who gave me life...my mum.

Well I better get on...otherwise I will be boring you with my life story. On my birthday morning at about 11am ...that is today... my good family took me out for dim sum ...my favourite food...Sandra joined us as well...it was great...food was good and the company was fantastic.

My darling husband and me waiting for the dim sum

Yum Yum Dim Sum

Mother and daughter

Sandra presented me a bouquet of flowers

Andrew Sandra and me

Thats my man

For dinner we went to Chilli's in Bangsar Shopping Centre and Tharishini and Anantha joined us and it was so good....just having family with me on this beautiful day. Later we went home and I cut my cake...a gift from a Muslim friend and his family.

Mel and me at dinner in Chilli's Bangsar Shopping Centre

Tharishini and Anantha who are expecting their first child

Liverpool and Man U fans unite at my birthday dinner

Yes my Bambino I am fabulous at 51

Cutting my cake at home

It has been a fabulous day and all I can say is I am truly blessed to have my loving family and good friends who have journeyed with me through this 51 years. Thank you Jesus for all the beautiful people in my life...and thank you people for making my life beautiful.

Our Bambino is Twenty Seven

She came to us on the 12th of June 1984 at 9.09 am as our first born 11 months after we were married...our honeymoon baby and I cannot explain the joys she brought us on that day. It was in the Kuching General Hospital and I had to undergo a C section so I was unaware when she came into this world. But her papa was waiting outside the operation theatre with my mum and apparently when the doctor brought her to David she had her eyes wide open...thick black hair...fair skinned...and weighed 3.8kg. I only can imagine the scene then and as I lay in my hospital bed after the op the doctors told me I could only see her after 48 hours...how cruel I thought...keeping a baby away from the mother...anyway we had to obey the hospital rules. But David and my mum kept me updated about how she looked and what she was doing. All I could think of at that time is I am a mother at 23 years 11 months and the post op pain I was going through. Then after 2 days I finally got to see her and whatever pain I had flew out the window...she was simply adorable.

We named her Melissa Stefanie Netto...Stefanie being her paternal grandmother's name...and Melissa was my choice..and yesterday I learnt that Melissa means servant of Jesus...wow how beautiful. We brought her home which was in Kuching in our Daihatsu Charade and before reaching home we took her to the Carmelite Sisters Church to say a prayer for her and us being the new parents. She was baptised on 15th of July 1984 at St Peter's Church Padungan Road, Kuching. And my mum stayed with us for 6 weeks and then David's mum came with Sean to stay with us. Sean...David's nephew was an excellent big brother as he was always there to help us  with the running around in the house. Both mums were a great help and guidance to this new mum who was impatient and easily irritable. Mel was quite an easy baby to care for but loved to scream at 2 in the morning for her feeds. She was doted upon by her two grandmothers and the rest of the family.

Her growing up years was easy because she was an obedient child and as one of her primary school teachers said...She is a delightful child...and  indeed she is.  We never had to tell her to study...and she even started caring for Andrew when she was only 11 and he was 8. She always set a good example for him and helped him in any way she could...she is an excellent eldest child. She studied at Assunta Primary and Secondary in Petaling Jaya. She graduated at the age of 21 at Curtin University of Technology Perth Australia with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Economics and Management. Today she is a lecturer in Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman and enjoys her job tremendously as she had always wanted to teach. She also coordinates the Assumption Praise Ministry in church. She is indeed a blessing to The Netto family.

Mel my darling daughter...all I can say for you today is always be independent and keep your faith in Christ. You are an excellent daughter to us and a fantastic sister to Andrew. May Our Good Lord always bless you and keep you in His Protection and bless you with every blessing.







Mel and me in Gavarnie in the south of France



David and Mel at the Colosseum in Rome



Mel and Andrew



Wokingham in The Royal County of Berkshire and Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Today the 28th of May 2011...our last day in England...and we had not visited Wokingham our base town...so Marie our gracious hostess took us out to Wokingham while David and Simon went riding like young lads would do.

Wokingham is a lovely town with all its small shops with big names...lots of nice restaurants...card shops...pharmacies..banks...and the lot. It was just so lovely walking around on a beautiful spring day. And of course shopping was on the agenda too. I told Marie that she was so blessed having this good life in England with her husband and daughter.

Marie and me

The beautiful town of Wokingham

And that evening we left the Suresh residence at about 5.30pm to head for Heathrow to take our flight home. We bid farewell to the Simon , Marie and Simone with the hope that we will return to England if they still lived there in the future.

The check in at Qatar Airways in Heathrow was so pleasant and we boarded our flight so anxious to get home and see Andrew of course.

When we reached KLIA on the 29th of May 2011 at 10.00pm....we were greeted by Andrew and Sandra who brought flowers and garlanded us and it was a sight for everyone at the arrival hall...and guess what....we were HOME after a beautiful month of travelling...and we united as a family again. Thank you Jesus for the beautiful trip You gave us...You are so Good. We love you Jesus.

Reading , Camberley , Marlow and Henley

Today the 27th of May 2011....last minute shopping again....for us gals...so David had no choice but to take us to Reading where they had all the stores we wanted to shop at. Reading is a beautiful town...now packed with immigrants...and also houses the ever famous University of Reading. We parked at the Broadway Shopping Mall and walked around and got some good bargains.

Then David drove us to Camberley where the huge Marks and Spencer store is and guess what they were having a huge sale and that meant lots of bargains. Yes I sort of went crazy and managed to get some good pants for 5 pounds each...that RM25.00...really a bargain. Mel too got some stuff and then we headed to see some small towns before we headed for home.

We went back to Henley on Thames to show Mel around and it was as beautiful but we saw it under grey skies this time. Then we headed to Marlow...another beautiful quaint town which just mesmerised me and David. And then it was time to head home to spend some time with the Suresh family...our hosts.

Good day out for last minute shopping and sightseeing...very fruitful indeed.

Reading , England

Camberley , England

Henley , England

Marlow , England

And that night we treated the Suresh family to an Italian dinner at Don Perry's in Wokingham but before we left for dinner...Simon toasted us with champagne and strawberries...which is and English custom....to say thank you for visiting and we all had a great time together.

Simon and Marie our gracious hosts and the champagne

Mel and Simone

Dinner at Don Perry Italian Restaurant

Oxford Street, London

Today the 26th of May 2011..we gals went into London City to do some last minute shopping and meet up with Tharishini. David and Simon dropped us off at Wokingham Station and we were off to the city after paying a train fare of 20 pounds each and that RM200.00...just to get into the city. The trains are very expensive but we did it anyway.

We came into Waterloo Station and then took the Underground to Marble Arch station...and as we got out at Marble Arch to Oxford Street it was raining...typical English weather and Mel was so sad...the day she wants to shop and it rains. Anyway we made our way to Primark Departmental Store and shopped around. Then we met up with Tharishini and wow there was excitement when the two girls saw each other...and there was more excitement when Veronica Rozario...one of Mel's friends met up with us. 

We headed for Pizza Hut for lunch as it was the nearest and we had the buffet which served pasta and pizza. Yum Yum it was great and with the fellowship we had it was better. we chatted and and laughed and then Tharishini pulled out the scan photos of the baby she is expecting. Wow a miracle to see the baby within her womb...it was a special moment in our lives. That made our lunch more exciting and awesome.

Then we walked out in the rain that came and went and that did not stop us gals from shopping...so we went from store to store until we covered the whole of Oxford Street. Then it was time to say bye to Tharishini as we reached  Waterloo Station from Oxford Circus Station. It was sad but then she was coming home to Malaysia to join Anantha her husband who was already working in KL. 

We reached Wokingham and David was there to pick us and we went home happy after all the shopping and meeting up with Tharishini and Veronica. Good day out for mother and daughter too...and Mel was just happy with all the good buys she got.

Mel and me in the train from Wokingham to Waterloo

Mel and Veronica Rozario

Mel and Tharishini

Tharishini and me

Veronica and me

Mel and me at Oxford Circus Station

Germany back to England

Today the 25th of May 2011..we sadly said goodbye to The Nicolays...and it was no easy task. Harald came to pick us up and of course there was still concern over the volcanic ash and Mama Nicolay called her travel agent friend and he confirmed that it was not going to affect any flight out of Frankfurt.

We hugged and said goodbye to Papa and Mama Nicolay and there were tears and it was such a moment in our lives that it is so hard to express in mere words. We promised that we will come back someday and visit them. And we got into the Nissan Patrol and headed straight out of Weimar . It was beautiful weather and the drive was going to be along one. We left at 10.30am so that we could be at the airport by 4.00pm

We drove through many small towns and also acros the Rhein River and Valley and we had so much to chat about with Harald. We reached Frankfurt Hahn in the town of Kirchberg which is about 300km from Weimar Ahnatal and 120km from Frankfurt City.  We were early so we went to the Burger King nearby to have a late lunch.

We bid goodbye to Harald and invited him to come back to Malaysia for a visit.

We checked in and got on to our Ryanair flight to London. Flight was good contrary to what people warned us about this airlines.. We arrived London Stanstead after a 2 hour flight and was met by Simon Suresh who drove us back to Wokingham which took another 2 hours. It was good to be back at Wokingham after our two week Europe travel. We ordered some Chinese takeaway and chatted about our trip.

Frankfurt Hahn Airport Germany

London Stansted Airport England

Wilhemshoe and Herkules

Mama Niolay and me at Herkules

Today the 24th of May 2011....The Senior Nicolays drove us to see Herkules a must see when you visit Kassel City. Mrs Nicolay drove us there with Mr Nicolay sitting quietly with us gals at the back. The drive as usual was a pleasant one.And it was a cold spring day and it was beautiful.

The Hercules monument is an important landmark in the German city of Kassel. It is located in the "Bergpark (Mountainpark) Wilhelmshöhe", northern Hesse, Germany. Hercules is a copper statue depicting the ancient Greek demigod Heracles ,  (German Herkules). The statue is located at the top of a Pyramid, which stands on top of the Octagon; the statue and the other parts of the monument were constructed at different times. Today "Hercules" refers not only to the statue, but the whole monument, including the Octago and Pyramid. The monument is the highest point in the Wilhelmshöhe Bergpark.The monument is located in Bad Wilhelmshöhe, on the Eastern ridge of the Habichtswald. It was built in an artificial dell of the Karlsberg (526m above sea level) on the most western and at the same time highest location (515 m) of the line of sight Schloss Wilhelmshöhe . These photos should explain what we saw. We spent quite a while there .

At the Herkules Monument Area

Herkules at the top of the monument

Thats what Hercules looks like

 

Then Mr Nicolay David and Mel decided they will walk the stairs down to the castle and Mama Nicolay and I went by car there to wait for them. Well they took about an hour to arrive . We sat and talked for awhile at the castle which is now a museum and and enjoyed the cool spring day.





Mel after her walk down

.

The Nicolays and The Nettos enjoying a chat

Wilhemshoe Castle

After visiting this monumental structure of Herkules and The Wilhemshoe Castle we went to have coffee and cake at The Windergarten . It was cold so the hot coffee and cake was good.

Coffee and cake at Windergarten

Mel and her glass of ice tea

The beautiful Windergarten

After coffee we headed for home as Mama Nicolay had to prepare dinner for all of us as it was going to be our last night in Weimar. She cooked a beautiful typically German dinner and the fellowship was great,

Beef stew , red cabbage and potatoes for dinner

Mama and Papa Nicolay





Papa Nicolay and me

Mama Nicolay and David

It was a really good dinner and we chatted awhile and had to bid bye to Suzannah as we were leaving the next day. Of course at that time Papa Nicolay was also keeping us informed about the volcanic ash from Iceland that might delay our flight the next day. We went to bed feeling a little sad that it was our last night in Weimar Ahnatal.