Anna John's & Campbell Apau's birthdaycelebrations - EDITED Version

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Sue,Alvin,Giles Rodrigues and unknown.
Good to see Giles again after Sue & Alvin's wedding or was it Nicole's & Rodney's wedding reception? Can't remember lah...anyway,as usual,the common question to ask somebody who is known to have reached the ripe age to get married is "So when do I get invited to any of your celebrations,Giles?Birthday kah or wedding?"I asked. Giles with a big smile or was it a grin?? answered that a birthday celebration would be more likely first, before 'the' wedding celebration. Ha..ha..

Ipi Jnr,Rosalind,Ipi,Martin & Tim
Ani & muk;if the Lord is willing,we'll be hitting 50 next year. The last time I attended Ani's birthday party was when she was 12 years old, at Los Kompeni, at present day City Fan area. Then,birthdays were seldom celebrated and I remember that Uncle Lim Ban Joo drove Esther Lim,Allencrock Nanta & I to the birthday party in his pick up van.Birthday cakes somehow tasted NYAMAI then..Can't remember what we bought for Ani but the presents were definitely wrapped with either brown or pink wrapping papers and tied with red ribbons. Ha..ha..

Angela goh,Augustine Bujang & Florence Boult
The Freddy Phan

Indai Cath & Indai Dick

Mdm Rembak,Helen & Norman Ingka

Hilary Apau,TR Thomas Babai,Ng Dap,Kanowit, Mr. & Mrs. Boniface Intang
Sylvia,Mary & Fr. Stanley

Fr. Stanley said Grace & prayer during the birthday dinner.

Datin Maudie,Karina & Mrs. Yie
Datuk Michael Hardin, Lionel & Audrey

Richard Woodford,Mr. & Mrs. Kadir Ngumbang
Senin Alam & wife,Linda Rikit & Richard Woodford

THE MAIN STORY............................................................here goes:

Anna,her grandson Laja,her son Puchay & her daughter in-law,Adeline.

Phil 4:13

" I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength"

(The theme for the birthday celebration)

I beg to differ on the saying that"Pictures paint a thousand words" (something like that lah).

For those of you who are reading this and looking at the photos would not know what's happening if I do not put words to the photos that I have painstakingly uploaded on this posting. I have just swallowed 2 panadols to 'kill' the pain on my right knee cap which needless to say,is caused by excessive dancing last night. ( I hope there's no crack on the knee cap..bloody painful,no kidding & I walk with a limp like .........) Anyway,..(sorry for the side track),last night I attended another birthday bash,infact 2 birthdays were celebrated together at Grand Palace hotel forAnna John Anding who rejoices in hitting 50 & her nephew Campbell who turns 35. Friends and relatives who came from afar & Miri itself joined in wishing them many happy returns of the day. It was also another joyful occasion for Anna when her only son,Puchay & his family came from KL to join in the celebration. Plenty of food and free flowing/bottomless drinks...and we danced the night away....old and young....Again, Cherinie was the basher,bashing people with 5 litres of Johnny Walker.

A tearful Anna carrying her grandson followed by her son & daughter in law. Anna,being a Bollywood fan entered the hall to the tune of "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" and here you can see her wearing a green Kajol/Rani Murkhjee's inspired fashion dress with matching green colour earrings,different tones of green shawl & green bengali bangles. I forgot to look at her shoes because I kept looking at her face ( green eye shadows as well) & dress. So so Rani Murkhjee looking,lah. Hey Na, look out for uchu's hand...those dangling earrings..enggai kena tarit sida uchu enda alah pending charik. Did you know that she's ever crowned Miss JKR? Miss Jaycees?2 or 3 more titles of some beauty pageants. Ya,back in the 70s lah...and of course banyak admirers lah...a lot more than muk's.

Anna & I have been friends since childhood. We're true blooded Lutong people and in the early years of SIDS,Miri, we were always together attending seminars to Bintulu,Sibu & Kuching. During one particular SIDS trip to Sibu,the 3 of us, Mary, Anna & I took a flight to Sibu. We encountered severe turbulence/air pocket on that flight and the 3 of us held hands together,praying to dear God to help us through the ordeal. You should have seen our faces..I think we vomited after that..both from the turbulence & fear.

We're both bad travellers as well...easily get car sick& air sick. I remember the 2 of us got car sick after that long ride to Bintulu by bus to attend SIDS Bintulu's function years ago...how we couldn't sleep after being told that the accomodation we stayed in was 'haunted'. Ha..ha..those were the days.Both of us are 'buyan'..'penakut'

Back to the dinner last night,there was a short slide show on her life and out of the few photos that came out I think my face appeared a few times.

River Band..Lipie,Andrew,Iban Song & Uchuku

Enda lebu ngambi sida 4 iko tu merindang bala for they were really good entertainers.

Lipie can sing very well,both Iban,English & Malay songs & at the same time plays the keyboard.

Andrew is also good on the keyboard.

Iban Song (He comes from Song.. I forgot his name..works at a bank at the ASB section) plays the drums & tambourine. *** Latest: Munggo nama uchak tu...asai munyi nama gereja di Glasgow.

From 11pm onwards I took over the tambourine..ada bakat terpendam makcik.

Uchuku sang..ukai semina bejako, lalu belagu..macam lagu di sing song sang sung iya...cottonfields,ujan ke ganti ai mata ku,o mama saya mahu kahwin & many more..medley of oldies to close the birthday celebrations..

Anna & Uchuku standing

Sitting:Ani,Muk & indu lala

Uchuku & Imelda aka Mrs. Campbell Apau ( the event organiser)
Birthday boy,Campbell, YB Alexander Nanta,TR Thomas Babai & Boniface Intang (Timbalan Resident,Miri)
Anna,Laja,Puchay & Adeline.

According to Catherine Apau, Anna's sister & Campbell's mother who said a few words about the 2 of them, Anna's favourite pastime/hobbies besides cleaning,sweeping & washing, is coming up with different hairstyles every other month. She frequents the hair salons like nobody's business,which is about 3 times in a week. Come to think of it, I have yet to see her hair in a state of 'tusut' (uncombed) and her hair colour ranges from blonde,maghagony,purple..you name the colours,she has had tried them. Last night her hair colours were green,blue & gold, I think. She has a big heart,caring & full of love,said Cath & Betty.(her sister in law,Nobel's wife) . One of the common traits that Anna & Campbell share is knowing the real value of money,said Cath. Ha..ha..Cath's speech was also a very good one.

Anna,uchu,Andrew,menantu,anak,Campbell & wife.
Campbell looking at his ever beautiful wife,Imelda before giving her a 5 min kiss as 'ordered' by his dad. Andrew,nervously following the 'order' from Apau to kiss Anna...on her cheeks. The crowd asked Apau & Cath to show how the kissing should be done. You should have seen Cath's protest.ha..ha..that jelingan maut! Campbell gave a speech which made people laugh..well, I did laugh a lot hearing Campbell's speech. You see, Campbell & his father, Hilary both look alike and they are often mistaken for brothers...but I say to Campbell..no matter what people say..you are still a lot younger than your

dad. show them your IC or make a SD to prove it.. once only, as you mentioned. ha..ha. This is Anna!!! Didn't I mention about her being fashionable? She tukar baju for the cake cutting and danced to the music that was played before blowing the candles.

Thank You,Lord for Anna

Her son,Puchay gave a speech right from his heart thanking his mum for her sacrifices & providing for and catering to his needs even though at times it was not easy for her to do so. A very good speech to honour his mum and I could see people shedding tears. I give the speech A++ . Moi, I hope the soup was not 'salty' with the dropped tears in the soup.

YA, A MOTHER'S LOVE .............
Those born in July

Family photo

Apau seems to tease campbell on their striking resemblance ..like father like son.
My camera batteries went flat which was good so I could dance..I had to dance..Cath,Anna & Imelda wouldn't let me sit..insisted that I got up & dance "kada ke apai Jill nadai meda/enda enggau". What can I say?? Danced lah,played the tambourine & background singer to celebrate my friend's birthday. I can't complain about my knee..still hurts.

Will upload some more photos from girl's camera...until then....