Simon says…

It was my first day in school – Primary One in St. Mary’s (co-ed) here in Sibu so that would be January, 1958, I think, when I had just turned 5 in December the year before. People our time did not go to kindergarten – straight to Primary One…and I was feeling lost and alone. Nope! I did not cry…and he and another boy with him were the first to strike up a conversation with me and that certainly helped to cheer me up. Suddenly, I had friends…and I wasn’t lonely anymore.

We were in the same class right up to Form Five and then we parted ways though we did bump into each other a few times over the years. Well, the other day, he told me via Facebook that he was coming to town so we met for lunch on Wednesday, me and my old buddy, Simon…

…and his wife, Helen. Helen’s a long-time friend of mine too – back in the early 70’s and our party days and Jubilee Hall and all…even before she met Simon and married him. Boy, where did the good times go?

Anyway, I took them out to lunch at this restaurant as I wanted to have this special dish – pork cooked with stout…

We had that when my NZ friend came to town but the photograph came out blur and I did not bother to include it in my post at the time. Now, doesn’t that make you drool? Yum! Yum!

We also had their sweet and sour fish fillet…

…and the fried asparagus with prawn balls…

…as well as their Foochow-style tofu soup. Perhaps the chef spilt the black vinegar that day and the soup came out tasting more like sea cucumber soup instead. Well, at least, it tasted good so it did not really matter.

Now, anyone who comes to Sibu must eat something that’s authentically Sibu and Simon and Helen were no exception. I ordered this plate of Foochow fried noodles for them…

…and though theirs may not be the best in town, the two of them enjoyed it a lot.

The lunch for three inclusive of two rice (they shared) and drinks came up to only RM50.60. Cheap, don’t you think?

It certainly is nice to meet old friends again and renew ties that may have loosened over the years and I certainly look forward to seeing them or any of our long-lost friends again sometime, anytime…