Besides a lovely surprise video call from Justine on Friday, we also ran out of propane right in the middle of Roy baking muffins for Elaine. Fortunately a new bottle was delivered within an hour, allowing Roy to continue his baking efforts, which also included hot-cross buns for himself. Our new washing machine eventually arrived too. Since it’s a little bigger than our previous one, it took some persuasion and a bit of jiggling to get it into position, but it worked out perfectly in the end. Our measurements were accurate!

Yesterday was cleaning day, with the usual delegation of duties; Roy cleaned the exterior, while Elaine tackled the interior. It seems we expend an awful lot of energy these days just keeping Paw Paw clean, never mind all the projects we’ve tackled over this past year.

Today, however, the special project Elaine had been working on with her siblings for a few months came to fruition; a virtual “family reunion” to celebrate the Diamond Wedding Anniversary of her folks.

Surprises included the delivery by Elaine’s sister, Dianne, of a tailor-made anniversary card, a beautifully decorated anniversary cake, which was apparently delicious too, both arranged by Elaine and a champagne hamper, prepared by Dianne, all of which was presented on behalf of the entire family ahead of a Zoom get-together which took place mid-afternoon UK Time.

During the get-together, facilitated by Elaine, the celebrations started with her siblings in South Africa and Ireland joining the meeting, before her parents were admitted. After the initial hellos and well wishes, the song, “The Wedding”, originally sung at Elaine’s folks’ wedding 60 years ago was played, only this time, Dianne had arranged for it to be sung by Finbarr, who had recorded it specially for this celebration, a singer who has entertained our family over the years at the Buurendal Hotel in Newcastle and, on more than one occasion, had invited Elaine’s dad onto the stage to accompany him in a song or two. Having Finbarr jump at the opportunity to record their wedding song for this event was a wonderful and very special gesture indeed; one that was clearly appreciated and a wonderful surprise judging by the reaction of the ol’ folks.

Soon thereafter each of the grandchildren and their families in South Africa and England were admitted to the meeting to spend a few minutes with their grandparents. Attempts were made for Keenan, flying over the Gulf of Mexico at the time, to join the festivities as well, but alas, technology on the aircraft blocked his participation, but his efforts were very much appreciated by his grandparents and a separate Zoom session is being arranged with him and the family in Arizona once he is back home.

The proceedings continued with a very apt and touching speech and a toast by Elaine’s brother and then Elaine reciting the “poem” she had written for this Diamond Anniversary celebration, in keeping with the traditional of having written one for her parents on their Ruby and Golden Anniversaries. The cutting of the cake and an anniversary dance to “My First, My Last, My Everything”, the latter selected by Elaine’s youngest sister, completed a wonderful celebration and a fitting tribute to a couple who have been an inspiration to our family.

Besides this significant milestone, it was also Easter Sunday as well as the “Qing Ming” festival, the latter observed across Asia and SE Asia. In Malaysia, it was being celebrated for the first time since 2019, as activities were cancelled last year due to the MCO (Movement Control Order). However, this year, rules were implemented to prevent infections, including a cap on the number of people allowed to take part and a time limit on prayers.

Also known as “Tomb Sweeping Day”, it is one of the most important festivals for Chinese communities, during which it is customary to offer prayers, sweep loved ones' graves and burn paper models of items that are believed to be useful in the afterlife. We first learnt about this custom while touring in Singapore and, at the time, models included money, clothes, shoes, accessories, iPhones, lingerie, yachts, planes and mansions. However, this year the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the addition of virus-themed offerings. These include sets of paper masks, goggles, bottles of hand sanitisers and thermometers, with the hope that ancestors can use them to fight COVID-19 in the afterlife.

For our family, though, it was a day to set aside the pandemic and the miles that separated us. It was a time to celebrate a remarkable achievement, a time to honour our parents and a time to reflect on their lifetime together, all encapsulated in Elaine’s “poem”:

On the 4th of April 1961, Irene and Hugh Pledged to each other to be forever true But I’m not sure either of them realised That 60 years later they’d still be together, enjoying the sunrise Over the Mountains of Mourne As each new day is born

Together forever, Until death us do part Were the vows and the endeavour They gave with their hearts Now today they can smile At that first step they took down the aisle

From Ireland to Africa and back They certainly have the knack A number of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren later They couldn’t have started anything greater

And 20 years on I never thought I’d still be writing these poems And that you two Would still be chugging along

You’ve passed Ruby and Golden And now the purest, Diamond Admired for its beauty, shine and A symbol of enduring commitment Which came with a shedload of excitement But your true love conquered all that is beholden

So, on this 4th day of April 2021 With 60 years of togetherness, love, adventure and fun We all wish you both a celebration that is cosmic and epic Albeit in the midst of a terrible pandemic!

Friday and yesterday were somewhat typical days in Straits Quay marina aboard Paw Paw. 

Besides a lovely surprise video call from Justine on Friday, we also ran out of propane right in the middle of Roy baking muffins for Elaine. Fortunately a new bottle was delivered within an hour, allowing Roy to continue his baking efforts, which also included hot-cross buns for himself. Our new washing machine eventually arrived too. Since it’s a little bigger than our previous one, it took some persuasion and a bit of jiggling to get it into position, but it worked out perfectly in the end. Our measurements were accurate!

Yesterday was cleaning day, with the usual delegation of duties; Roy cleaned the exterior, while Elaine tackled the interior. It seems we expend an awful lot of energy these days just keeping Paw Paw clean, never mind all the projects we’ve tackled over this past year. 

Today, however, the special project Elaine had been working on with her siblings for a few months came to fruition; a virtual “family reunion” to celebrate the Diamond Wedding Anniversary of her folks. 

Surprises included the delivery by Elaine’s sister, Dianne, of a tailor-made anniversary card, a beautifully decorated anniversary cake, which was apparently delicious too, both arranged by Elaine and a champagne hamper, prepared by Dianne, all of which was presented on behalf of the entire family ahead of a Zoom get-together which took place mid-afternoon UK Time. 

During the get-together, facilitated by Elaine, the celebrations started with her siblings in South Africa and Ireland joining the meeting, before her parents were admitted. After the initial hellos and well wishes, the song, “The Wedding”, originally sung at Elaine’s folks’ wedding 60 years ago was played, only this time, Dianne had arranged for it to be sung by Finbarr, who had recorded it specially for this celebration, a singer who has entertained our family over the years at the Buurendal Hotel in Newcastle and, on more than one occasion, had invited Elaine’s dad onto the stage to accompany him in a song or two. Having Finbarr jump at the opportunity to record their wedding song for this event was a wonderful and very special gesture indeed; one that was clearly appreciated and a wonderful surprise judging by the reaction of the ol’ folks. 

Soon thereafter each of the grandchildren and their families in South Africa and England were admitted to the meeting to spend a few minutes with their grandparents. Attempts were made for Keenan, flying over the Gulf of Mexico at the time, to join the festivities as well, but alas, technology on the aircraft blocked his participation, but his efforts were very much appreciated by his grandparents and a separate Zoom session is being arranged with him and the family in Arizona once he is back home.

The proceedings continued with a very apt and touching speech and a toast by Elaine’s brother and then Elaine reciting the “poem” she had written for this Diamond Anniversary celebration, in keeping with the traditional of having written one for her parents on their Ruby and Golden Anniversaries. The cutting of the cake and an anniversary dance to “My First, My Last, My Everything”, the latter selected by Elaine’s youngest sister, completed a wonderful celebration and a fitting tribute to a couple who have been an inspiration to our family. 

Besides this significant milestone, it was also Easter Sunday as well as the “Qing Ming” festival, the latter observed across Asia and SE Asia. In Malaysia, it was being celebrated for the first time since 2019, as activities were cancelled last year due to the MCO (Movement Control Order). However, this year, rules were implemented to prevent infections, including a cap on the number of people allowed to take part and a time limit on prayers.

Also known as “Tomb Sweeping Day”, it is one of the most important festivals for Chinese communities, during which it is customary to offer prayers, sweep loved ones' graves and burn paper models of items that are believed to be useful in the afterlife. We first learnt about this custom while touring in Singapore and, at the time, models included money, clothes, shoes, accessories, iPhones, lingerie, yachts, planes and mansions. However, this year the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the addition of virus-themed offerings. These include sets of paper masks, goggles, bottles of hand sanitisers and thermometers, with the hope that ancestors can use them to fight COVID-19 in the afterlife.

For our family, though, it was a day to set aside the pandemic and the miles that separated us. It was a time to celebrate a remarkable achievement, a time to honour our parents and a time to reflect on their lifetime together, all encapsulated in Elaine’s “poem”:

On the 4th of April 1961, Irene and Hugh

Pledged to each other to be forever true

But I’m not sure either of them realised

That 60 years later they’d still be together, enjoying the sunrise

Over the Mountains of Mourne

As each new day is born

Together forever,

Until death us do part

Were the vows and the endeavour

They gave with their hearts

Now today they can smile

At that first step they took down the aisle

From Ireland to Africa and back

They certainly have the knack

A number of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren later

They couldn’t have started anything greater

And 20 years on

I never thought I’d still be writing these poems

And that you two

Would still be chugging along

You’ve passed Ruby and Golden 

And now the purest, Diamond

Admired for its beauty, shine and

A symbol of enduring commitment

Which came with a shedload of excitement

But your true love conquered all that is beholden

So, on this 4th day of April 2021

With 60 years of togetherness, love, adventure and fun

We all wish you both a celebration that is cosmic and epic

Albeit in the midst of a terrible pandemic!