Xmas 96 Greeting



Arnold is now 6 years and 4 months old and in his 2nd year at primary school. He is learning to swim and play the violin (Note: not at the same time!). He is intelligent, imaginative, gentle and hard-working. He does his homework everyday after school and goes to Chinese school on Sundays. His favourite plays are Lego, drawing, and making and writing books, though most are unfinished. Last Summer, he has learned to ride the bicycle without its stabilizers, hence his proud, smiling face on the front picture.

Zoe will be 4 years old in January 1997. In September She has started nursery class at the same primary school as Arnold. She has also started going to the Chinese school and doing her homework every weekday. Zoe refuses to wear anything but dresses at all time and her favourite past-time is scolding Cordelia like a big sister. At home, she is Arnold's faithful play-follower. Every day, she follows her brother's multitude of varied and crazy play ideas such as taking the furniture apart and reassembling them into planes, boats or cars as the fancy takes them. She complains to me tearfully if Arnold does not play with her. Their favourite line is 'I hate you, I am never going to play with you again.'

Cordelia is 1 year and 7 months old. She can now say many single and double words. One of the first words she learned to say was, 'don't want it', which seems a good start in life. She feeds herself at meal times with a spoon, fork or fingers. When Atta cooks in the kitchen, cupboard and drawer doors sometimes all fly opened. Cordelia would then stroll in, terribly annoyed, banged all the doors shut and stroll out again, in peace. Every morning, when she wakes up, she stands in her cot, 'calls' aloud, then either her brother or sister would come promptly and carry her down.

Connie is still working full-time at the Chui household. She is not thinking of changing her job even though it is poorly paid, long hours, has no pension scheme and if not careful, likely to lead to a nervous breakdown. She is looking forward to her brother's Wedding banquet in January and to the family re-union.

Atta is finishing his three years' research position at the University; he shall start a new job in January working with an investment company in London. He is not looking forward to the 20 minutes cycle ride from his home to the train station early in winter mornings but Connie is happy. She thinks he is going to lose the weights he gained during hours of sitting immobile in front of the computer. This, she told Atta, is his New Year resolution even though the idea never entered his head until now. Look out for news of the 'Return of the THIN Atta'.