Season's Greetings

Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All Mankind

At this time of the year when I see everyone around me enjoying themselves partying wining and feasting together I like to spend sometime thinking and reflecting on those who are more unfortunate than us, those who feel persecuted and those who have not got all their families together. And for those who only dream of going home for Christmas but couldn't quite make it for one reason or another . I also think we ought to remain tolerant and respect human social and cultural difference and encourage religious political and ethnic diversity at all times. Above all I wish understanding harmony peace and goodwill on earth.

My parents had since passed into a better world but in 1902 they along with my other elder relatives were the persecuted Christian minority in Fujian region of China during the declining years of Imperial rule. They were like the pesecuted Huguenots of Europe having to escape France Germany & Holland from charges of heresy and treachery to their respective country. My grandparents were equally ridiculed as 'rice-eating Christians' cajoled ostracised and forced out of their country and eventually sought refuge in Singapore then a British protected colony. From then on they were repatriated to other nearby colonies such as Malaya and British Borneo. My father continued to work dexteriously for the British Borneo Missionary Society whilst in Sarawak and actively assisting Europeans under the Brookes' Administration . Whilst I was still pursuing my tertiary studies in Australia in the 70's he was awarded a Papal Knighthood Order for Chivalry of St Gregory .



To all my viewers wherever you are may we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year together. May you all have a happy and a trouble free Holiday.

A Sentimental Journey

The Teahouse Trademark

Thirty odd years so ago I asked a learned friend of mine from mainland China with regard to a an appropriate logo for a visible identity to the type of product and service that we provide without requirements to formal copyrights and related rigmaroles whereupon he suggested one paper cutting that is commonly used by the peasants in China as direct ornaments for windows and bookmarks. This is supposedly popular in Huiming Prefecture Shandong Province and used almost everywhere by the agrarian working class. There are flower-in-flower, theme-in-theme and subtlety-in-brevity patterns. Deftness is highlighted in the naivety. The themes of Douxiang paper-cutting range from dramatic tales, historical legends, folklores to propitious patterns flowers and herbs.Such peasant revolutionary art is richly reflected in window ornament and embroidery pattern. Students and strident scholars kept them for fancy bookmarks. Affluent class in decorative snuff box and jewelry cases. It is directly cut on papers without a draft pattern by the peasants themselves and widely stocked in antique shops in Asia.

Thanks to the wise decision of my learned scholar. The last I heard of him was that he is now a lecturer at one of New York's institution.The teahouse logo has been in use since 1978This old picture must have been taken in the early part of 1990 at the end of my first lap of running a restaurant marathon. Menus were then restricted to the Malaysian and the Chinese only it was then more popularly known to be a Malaysian Teahouse. The 'flower-girl' logo is clearly imprinted on the door.

The latest addition to a collection of 'flower-girl's at Blackman's Bay 2006. This is a sample of Dom's Teahouse restaurant colour brochure which is exactly a year old now. In fact it was a high school student graphic showpiece which he adopted. With the advent of PC and in-house desktop publishing software nowadays who needs outside commercial printers. But I must admit at times for bulk volume work we still do require their service. You will also find the flower girl logo imprinted on our dining and takeaway menus.

This is the front entrance to the old Salamanca Teahouse Restaurant during the years 1996-2004. Once again you can see that the teahouse tradition has been carried forward by the 'flower-girl' emblem.

The same address except that you can see both the upstair and the downstairs property which all belongs to the same title.

Lastly the 'atrium' but not the least since I have omitted out The Teahouse 'main dining room' which will be uploaded in a more narrative separate post in the near future. This so called terrace section forms the atrium of our yesteryear's restaurant. Highlighted above it is an illuminated flower-girl' signboard.

Playing With Musical Chairs

Festive Season Celebration Down South Coast

2006 Christmas party in session at Dom's Teahouse

Well, it is this time of the year again. I must admit as trading operators we are treading on a very trying time. Christmas period leading up to the New year and a few weeks beyond into the holiday period has to be one of the busiest in our hospitality calender year. I get less time to spend behind my desktop as the business draws most of whatever surplus leisure time I have away.