Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE Sin Chew Daily

With a plague hung above its doors, the old house features carved wooden doors tiles in traditional colors, just like other old houses. When you open the door, you can find a wooden screen with another plague, a classical cabinet and red tiles covering the floor. However, if you walk further inside, you can find a modern interior design concept, restoring vitality to the old house.

House owner He Run Zhen combined the items left by the former house owner with modern design, such as the plague hung on the main entrance is meant to commemorate the house's history of serving as a goldsmith shop. Meanwhile, the wooden screen is actually a patchwork of some old items.

He said that the house had been turned into an office after the goldsmith shop was relocated.

He, who was born in Petaling Jaya, remembered that she grown up in a similar old house, "the house was divided into many small rooms being rented to different people and there were two patios in the house. The environment was not so good and the water pressure was very low."

Before settling down in Penang, her husband, who is engaged in the hotel industry, had to move between different Asian cities and thus, the couple did not stay in one place for a long time. However, when their son needed to further his study about a decade ago, her husband was working in Langkawi and she decided to send their son to a school in Penang for a better studying environment. She then moved to Penang to take care of him.

She found the old house through a friend, bought it in 2003 and completed the renovation in 2005.

The old house reminded her of her childhood and thus, she insisted not to make the old house look "very old".

"This is my home and I did not spoil anything. I just don't want to decorate it with old design," she said.

Therefore, she sealed the patio and installed a window on a wall instead for better ventilation. She also turned the concave part of the patio into a pond.

Link:
Old house in modern design

Another Christmas without our youngest daughter. It doesn't get any easier. Photo: 123RF

By Margaret Smyth

I'm standing in my kitchen on this beautiful December morning, the sun streaming in the patio doors as I set about my task. Hard to believe really that it's that time of year again. Another year seems to have come around so quickly.

I cut my bubble-wrap into neat pieces and wrap each item carefully, knowing and understanding the excitement and anticipation of my daughter on the other side of the world when she receives her Christmas gift box from home. It adds to her enjoyment, I know, to be able to unwrap things one by one.

All her favourites are lined up on the kitchen table. The box of Barry's teabags. The six-pack of Tayto crisps. Lily O'Brien's chocolates, large packets of Mikado, Fig Rolls and Ginger Nut biscuits.

Not forgetting to include of course the little cards made especially for her by her nephew and nieces, lots of glitter and sparkle and big bold writing proclaiming their love for their Auntie Siobhan who lives in Australia, and telling her how much they miss her.

I can feel the tears welling up as I read their lovely sentiments and share their feeling of loss.

I carefully wrap in golden tissue paper the bracelet it took me ages to choose. I hope she likes it. Some boxed sets of DVDs she had requested - Love/Hate and Mrs. Brown's Boys - go in next.

Then the silver photo frame with a picture of us all, her two brothers, sister and her Dad and I that was taken the last time she was home. A couple of years ago now, it was the last time we were all together as a family. Happy times. I slip in another photo separately, of her cousin's wedding during the year that she was unable to make it home for.

Here we are again. Another Christmas without our youngest daughter. It doesn't get any easier. A phone call on Christmas Day to a remote part of Queensland is just not the same. Even Skype doesn't come close.

Visit link:
Christmas parcel for my daughter

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