Christmas Charity Drive At Avillion Legacy Melaka

I was planning to go back to Batu Pahat last weekend when Albert P asked me if I would be free to replace Letchmy, the cook of Calvary Care Home (CCH) who needed a rest to recover from an operation, to attend a high-tea with them at Avillion Legacy Melaka on Saturday at 1.30pm. Since I had no appointments in my hometown, I happily accepted the invitation and postponed my trip to Johor. As the hotel was near my city campus at Jalan Hang Tuah, I would go there with my car alone and meet them at the lobby. Albert who had already known the same function last year told me, "You don't have to be there too early. Normally they'll start at about two o'clock."

That morning, I took my time to do house chores, thinking that I would leave my house at 1.30pm. Albert called to confirm again my attendance at Avillion and my stay for dinner at the Care Home so that Adrian could estimate the quantity of food to prepare. Lastly, he informed me that George, the driver of CCH van, would not join us.

"If we put all the boys in the van, it's like an oven."

Indeed, that day was particularly hot. Even wet curtains that I span with my hands dried very fast. So, I immediately got his point and agreed to drive to Bukit Baru to fetch four boys with my car. Albert would bring the rest with his.

The CCH children were already familiar with this annual charity event called “Time For Giving, Time For Sharing” organized by Avillion Legacy Melaka.

During this Christmas season, about fifty orphans from three orphanages were invited to the hotel for hi-tea, entertainment and presentation of gifts by Santa Claus.

When Isaac saw the Santa Claus girls, he reminded me of the movie "Taxi 3" on DVD that he had watched at my house three days earlier. The younger boys were only interested in asking for more chocolate sweets from these friendly ladies.

During the hi-tea, there was a quiz session for children. The first question was "What is the full name of the Chief Minister of Melaka?" A girl from another orphanage raised her hand first but her answer was very incomplete. I knew the longer version of the name with the title. As Luke was willing to give it a try, I asked him to repeat the answer several times after me before he went on the stage.

Luke's mind was so occupied by those words that when the host asked him, "What's your name?",

he simply uttered, "Dato Seri Ali Rustam!" Everybody laughed out loud. The host kindly guided Luke to say the exact answer and finally gave him a present.

When our stomachs were filled with food, then only the host announced that there was going to be a hamburger eating competition for boys. Luke and Daniel volunteered to take part. Without surprise, our CCH boys were the winners. Luke had finished first while Daniel, second, had actually removed a small bite from his mouth and hid in his pocket with tissue paper.

Next were the musical chairs and the balloon blowing competition. Knowing very well the tactic to win, Our CCH boys tried to cheat again by secretly bringing stapler bullets to stab into their balloons to make them burst faster without blowing to the fullest.

One month before Christmas, the hotel employees, guests and the public had made cash contributions to the orphanages or purchased gifts for the orphans. Albert was of course the one who represented CCH to receive the donation.

When he was away to the hotel office to collect the exact amount of the share, I stayed with the boys who started to bully Snow White's friends.

Not only they dug nostrils at the dwarfs' noses, they also lifted a poor character from under the Christmas tree and strangled him.

I could not stop laughing during the three hours. Without our CCH boys, this event would definitely not have been a time for having fun!