My hometown was a quiet little railway colony back in the day, and my brother and I would wait for Sunday mornings so we could go with my Dad to see the trains, and afterward buy crunchy pears and ripe plums from an old lady who used to sit by the railway crossing selling fruit. I can still taste the sweet plums and the excitement whenever we saw her!
The whole experience was such a thrill for us! And on the ride back, my Dad would happily hum familiar tunes, and the song I remember most clearly is him singing "Put on your bonnet, your cape, and your glove, And come with me...", because I always wore a sun hat on our rides. The three of us would then turn our thoughts homeward, to the lovely lunch awaiting us - most often, fried fish and rice, and couldn't wait to tell my mum all about our adventures of the morning.
These happy memories of a cherished childhood
are all I have now, since I lost my Dad four months ago. And though they bring
a tear to my eye now, that will always remain one of the happiest times of my
life.
