On the 28th of August 1964 I got off the plane at Kia Tak Airport in Hong Kong to join my new unit, an Army Air Corps Flight. Based alongside the RAF next to Kia Tak Airport. The heat and humidity hit me and I regretted wearing the nylon shirt I was wearing as it stuck to my rapidly sweating body.
We had all arrived on a Dan Air flight from Heathrow in the UK (affectionately known a 'Dan Dare' after the famous Eagle comic character)
That was the start of my time in the Colony.
Now to the strange story.
After two years in the Colony, I had been an amateur/semi-professional photographer for a while. The semi-professional part of my life was taking photos of people arriving at Army dance/party evenings, mostly married couples. I had a good name for producing proofs on the night before the dance ended.
I remember the date as if it were yesterday. October 26th, 1966. 2 months before I was officially due to return to the UK at the end of my tour. I finished photographing at 9.30 pm. And returned to Kai Tak and the darkroom to develop and print the two rolls of film I had taken. (My friend Keith had the darkroom set for me ready for a quick turnaround.)
I say, friend, in fact, Keith and I were a couple, although very secretive as in those days, being gay and found out was the end of your career and ignominy. In the darkroom, I got a brief kiss and then we set to work.
Keith was hanging up the wet strips of film when he called me to look at them.
"See this Brian. There are two odd negatives in this strip, not of a couple, I can't make them out."
I went to have a close look. True, yes, there were two negatives that were nothing like the rest. Strange to say, at the least, as I remembered the photos I had taken.
"I have no idea what those are, Keith. We'll take a look tomorrow when we get through the orders later."
Once the film dried, we printed off all the proofs and both of us returned to the dance to show the proofs and take orders. Keith took the money and I took the orders. It was an excellent night's work with over 200 prints to do. Orders taken, we dashed back to the dark room and processed all the orders, some on matte paper some on gloss, depending on the clients' request. Then put all the orders in addressed envelopes ready to post on Monday.
We never noticed time on the dance nights but by the time we finished, it was 3 am on Sunday.
"I am for bed, Keith," I said. "See you at breakfast later."
"Sure thing, Brian, then we can take a look at those two strange negatives."
I had almost forgotten them.
"Yes, good Idea, Keith, we'll do that then nip into town to the paradise bar for a drink or three. 'Night."
Your thinking, if they are a couple ???. Well. Keith was RAF and I was Army so we lived in different barrack areas. Keith was an aircraft mechanic like me but he worked on fighter jets and I worked on small Austers. Single-wing propeller aircraft. Different as chalk and cheese. We often laughed about it. Add of course you are gay but you can't be in barracks. He too was returning to the UK in January as well.
I slept well and met with Keith for breakfast next morning. Immediately after that we went to the darkroom and set it up. We had to wait for the air conditioner to kick in before we could start looking at the two strange negatives.
Once the temperature was down to 60c we were able to get started.
I quickly made prints of the two negatives and Keith and I studied them.
At first glance, the face looked familiar then, 'bang'! It hit me. It was John, a 10-year-old Chinese boy who had cerebral palsy from the orphanage that my unit supported. The children at the orphanage at SHA TIN had a family name of Yip and the orphanage was run by a branch of the Plymouth Brethren. Next month, all the girls were to go to England to start a new life, but John would be left behind just because of his medical problem. I knew him well, a very cheerful boy, always smiling and a quick brain. At my unit we all knew he would end up in a home for sick children, but we could see no way to help. I told Keith of what I saw. We both looked closely to see how on earth these two negatives could end up on a strip of film taken at a dance.
I got out the magnifying glass and saw something in the background.
It was a notice on a wall reading, 'see Mama-San'.
Well, Keith and I knew Mama-Sam alright. She was the lady that looked after the girls in our local Kowloon bar.
'What the heck.' Keith and I looked at each other. Finally, I broke the silence.
"Keith, could that be our Mama-San?"
As always with Keith, he laughed when he wasn't sure about something and said.
"One way to find out. Let's get a taxi down to the bar and find out."
Twenty minutes later we were hailing a cab to Kowloon bar area. Outside we paid the cab off saying thanks, as we always did, and entered the bar.
Although early, Mama-San was there in her usual corner.
'Ello boys" she greeted. "You Early, I know you want see me."
"Hello Mama-San" I replied, echoed by Keith.
Mama-San laughed and said, "I espet you. You get 2 pitures of my grandson. He in trouble soon, no home, I too old to take him England. You take him fo me."
I looked at Keith and Keith looked at me. Had we had telepathy, we would be saying. 'What the hell.'
Mama-San spoke again, "Come, we sit down with beer and we talk."
She then signalled the bar for 2 San Miguel beers.
Taking a corner booth the three of us sat in the comfortable booth.
Mama-San spoke, "Is long story. My mother a seer, me too, also my daughter. She die having Yao han, John in your language. My daughter die giving birth to John and he born with bad disease. In your language celble palsy. All limbs not work properly. My daughter bar girl, no husband so up to me look after John. I can't do, have to work here in bar, no time look after John. So, I take him to orphanage in New Territories. Ladies take him for me. Now they move UK and John not able to go. Very clever boy but bad limbs not work right. I know you go back England soon and I member you tell me you marry each other. You be good parents for my grandson John."
I sat in silence and it was Keith who said, "Mama-San. We don't have a home yet and although we go home to England we have both got to serve out our time until April. And, we can't just take a ten-year-old boy to England with us." I agreed Keith but Mama-San hadn't finished by a long way.
She continued, "I have many friends in Hong Kong. One work for Governor, he already speak to Governor for me and Governor arrange British passport for John. Also I rich woman and have bought house in country near Heathrow airport for you and Keith. Friends look after John till you finish with Army and Air Force, then you make home together with John as your son.
My turn this time, I could hardly speak.
"Mama-San, Keith and I must talk about this. We will be at work all day. How can we look after young boy."
Mama-San Killed that problem immediately.
"I have amah come and live with you. She work at orphanage and know John. She happy to go with him to England. She also have British passport. I pay her wages till she find husband, then I send another. You not always work Heathrow on planes. You two do clever thing soon and not work much. I know, I see future. That why I pick you to look after John. I already told John and he member you from Kai Tak Christmas party for orphanage last year. Tomorrow you both go orphanage and see John. All arranged with ladies. They happy you going to take care of John. You go in evening after work Time arranged for seven."
Wow, this was a lot to take in and we knew we had to talk about it and told Mama-San we would go to the bar next door to talk it over. I saw Keith was near to tears. He had been with me a few times to the orphanage but had never met John as I had.
"Keith love, this is some shock to our system. Are we going to go with it?"
"You bet. We have decided to be together in civvy street. What could be more binding for our love than to have a boy to care for. The cement to our bricks. We shall go and see John tomorrow night at the orphanage, then we are going to ask for early repatriation to the UK so that we can get John in the UK earlier if possible."
I just hugged Keith and we wept openly together.
"My CO. has already intimated that I might be going home early but I didn't want to tell you until it was certain. The Major was talking about early December, so perhaps he will confirm that for me. How about you?
"Well I didn't want to tell you either but I have a date already. The Squadron leader already told me I am going back to the UK on Sunday 11th December. I didn't want to tell you because you were staying until January." I swore, not like me to do so.
"Bloody hell Keith. I'm upset that you didn't tell me but now overjoyed. Let's go back and see Mama-San."
We caught her eye as we went though the bar door and went back to our corner booth. We told her the news and we could see the tears in her eyes.
"Me so happy for you and my grandson. Soon you know when you go home UK you tell me and I make sure John fly one week later. Give you time to get house ready. Amah travel with John. You meet at airport. Me so happy for you both and John. He good clever boy, just need safe home for life. Thank you."
We both hugged Mama-San, the only person in Hong Kong that knew we were openly gay to.
We decided a good nights sleep was needed as there was so much to do the next day, Monday.
In the taxi on the way back to camp we held hands with each other and said little. So much to do and plan in a short space of time. Back at camp we both went our separate ways. I didn't sleep well and I found out later neither did Keith.
As soon as my CO. was in I asked to see him. After a short discussion and a couple of phone calls I had a flight back to the UK on the same day as Keith. I found out at that meeting that the boss man guessed I was gay but the quality of my work on the flight was more important. I had to quickly get an MFO box from the stores. (A box to send personal Items back to the UK.) Keith and I celebrated at lunchtime, hardly believing we would be on the same flight. Work finished at 4 pm and we dashed into town to let Mama-San know the news. We explained we needed to know the address of the house for our MFO boxes. She wrote it down for us and told us the key was with the estate agent. The joy of getting home would be that we both had accumulated leave to come when we got home because neither of us had taken any leave in Hong Kong. We would both get almost 2 months before we had to report to a new unit. We would know where that was when we got back to the new home.
At six o'clock we left the bar just a bit tipsy to go and see John at the orphanage in Sha Tin. We found a minibus taxi that went to the new territories. After a bumpy ride we arrived at the orphanage. A great big Victorian looking house on the side of the hill.
Miss Andrews, the matron met with us saying she and the girls were so happy that John would not be left behind in Hong Kong after all. Leaving the office we were surrounded by the girls, who unknown to me were saying they knew I was Father Christmas, Which I had been at the previous Christmas party we held for the children.
In a while, Miss Andrews shooed them off and we went to meet with John.
As we went into his room his face broke into the happiest grin you could imagine.
"Hello, John. How is our new son?" I said.
John's English was quite good, thanks to the teachings of the staff at the orphanage. Specially so in the last six months as the orphanage was moving to the UK.
John was shaking and laughing so much we had to calm him down. Slowly he settled back to normal. Despite his illness, he was a very handsome child.
Miss Andrews left him to give us a chance to talk together. We explained as fully as we could what was going to happen. We could tell John was thrilled.
We sat with him for two hours and let all the information sink in. Then calling to Miss Andrews we made our way out and back to camp.
Next day, armed with the address of the house I made up and addressed the MFO box ready to send off. The boss (CO), because of the little time left to me, allowed me to finish at one o'clock every day to sort out all the paperwork needed for an easy transition back to the UK. Keith's boss did the same.
The strange thing was, although we had both tried to disguise our love, On the following Sunday lunchtime, as we walked into the cookhouse, the lads, as one stood up a sang 'A Groovy Kind of Love.' by the Mindbenders.
Keith and I were in tears. So much for our 'Secret'.
All we could do was to take a big bow. (which got a cheer from all the lads.)
It turned out that both our commanding officers had let the cat out of the bag as to what we were doing.
We ended up with so many toys for John we had to reopen our MFO boxes to put them in. Some we kept back to give John when we visited later in the day.
Time flew by and before we knew it we were standing in Kai Tak terminal waiting for our flight.
The flight was called and we said our goodbyes to Mama-San and our friends who came to see us off.
The flight back was hard as we had for some reason four stops instead of the normal three and ended back in the UK in the early hours of Tuesday morning, ten hours later than we should. Knowing that everything was closed until around nine o'clock we booked an hotel for the night,
Now, you might not believe this, but Keith and I had never slept together in the same bed since we became a couple eighteen months before. As soon as we were in the room, two years of frustration were let loose. No, no details except to say we cemented our relationship to the full and some more.
Come the morning we showered (together) and made our way to breakfast. It was nothing exceptional and we wasted no time in finishing, booking out and getting to the estate agent for the keys to the house that was to be home for the three of us.
We had so much to do before John arrived. Mama-San had said the house was furnished as it was bought with everything in place.
The estate agent was, what we in the UK call 'family', meaning he was also gay. He insisted he take us to the house as he was the one who sold it to someone in Hong Kong who was very mysterious. We explained what was going to happen and the guy almost wet himself we were sure.
We got to a house that was enormous. Surely this wasn't ours, but it was.
The estate agent noted our surprise and said.
"This house has six bedrooms, two bathrooms plus two en suite bathrooms, but let's get in so you can see for yourselves."
We got out of his car with our luggage and he let us in the front door.
I said to Keith aside, "How on earth did Mama-San afford a palace like this Keith?"
"God knows, we knew she was well known in Hong Kong, but this? Wow! A palace? Are you kidding. This is magnificent". Said Keith. It will take us weeks to find our way around the place."
Just then a plane went over and it was deafening.
Both of us put our hands over our ears and the estate agent seemed nonplussed by it.
"You'll get used to it before long. The big jets are worst. They are working on fast-rising jets so a lot more noise stays at the airport and not over houses so much. However, it will always be noisy here as it is on the flight path."
We took our hands away and set about touring the house.
It had two reception rooms, a huge kitchen with a boot room on the ground floor. On the first floor the six bedrooms 2 were small singles but the others were large double bedrooms. A family bathroom and what was to be our bedroom with the en suite. It was massive.
The loft was accessible by a step ladder and proved to be huge as well. There was a lot of stuff up there though. A need to explore at a later date. It must have had some excellent insulation as the jet noise was reasonably quiet when one went over.
Once the tour was over the estate agent brought us in a bottle of bubbly, Verve Cliquot no less. He then left wishing us well.
We were both so very tired the we went upstairs to bed just laying on to for a rest. It was 2pm by the time we were awake again. We guessed it was jet lag that was affecting us. Both being hungry we adjourned to the pub just down the road. On the menu was sausage, mash and peas. A no brainer, added to that a pint of English bitter, missed for 2 years each.
"This tastes like nectar." Keith said. After a few mouthfuls. Just then the food came. Boy, was the food good. Real British bangers again. What a feast. As we ate we talked about what we had to do before John arrived. We had to get a local doctor.. Arrange a room for him and schooling to sort out. We had less than a week and all these things were a must to be sorted out before John arrived in a few days time.
So it was after lunch we went back home and got all Johns paperwork together and on to the doctor to register us all with the surgery. Seeing John had problems we had to actually see the doctor and after a long chat we were part of his clients.
Next was the school and we had problems registering John. It was then we came upon our first difficult hurdles. The school could not take him despite the fact he was in mainstream school in Hong Kong. We were referred to another school that specialised in youngsters with disabilities which we saw the next day.
Well, you wouldn't send your cat there. I won't explain it, only to say the way the children were treated was disgusting... We decided we would wait to see how the finances worked out before we made a schooling arrangements for John.
By now time had reached close to 6pm and we both decided we were hungry again. This time we examined the kitchen and found it stocked with some tinned food. A tin of beans stewed steak and tinned potatoes filled the hole nicely.
After this easy feast Keith and I sat in one of the living rooms and started to come to terms with the reality of the task before us. If John's flight wasn't delayed he would be arriving at Heathrow on Monday morning. We went round the bedrooms but decided that John should have the second reception room as his bedroom. Stairs would be so difficult for him. He could do the stairs as he was doing that in Hong Kong. We decide after all to talk to him once he had arrives and seen the house. It was after all, to be his home.
One thing sprang to mind. We had to get a car. It was OK in HK to use taxis but not in the UK. The cost here was a lot more. We had noticed a dealer close by and decided to go and look at what they had. They were just closing but the salesman stayed on to show us around the stock.
One vehicle stood out for us. It was a Morris minibus like we had in the Army. It would be ideal for us to take John around. We told the salesman what we needed it for and generously he agree do forego his commission for us and threw in a year's
servicing. We bought it there and then, insured it through the dealers and drove it home. It ran like a dream and was only two years old.
Tired Keith and I went to bed in our own home for the very first time. Yes, we were too exhausted to have fun, that came in the morning.
We went out for breakfast at a local cafe. It turned out to be full of airline stewards. They all gave us a smile when we sat down, male airline stewards were quite a Gay crowd. As we ate we planned the day. First finances. We worked out that between us, while we were still in the forces we would be bring in net £6,000 a year. Add to that our savings from the photography which we had saved added another £4,000 totalling £10,000 the first year. After that, if we both got jobs at the airport as engineers, we would have around £10,000 a year to play with. That was a good sum and we gave a sigh of relief.
Next on the agenda was to make an appointment with BOAC at the airport. First though we needed the phone connected. Keith nipped down to the telephone box we had seen and arranged that. When he returned he said it would be connected tomorrow with the same number that was on the phone at the moment.
Time to do a recce of the local area. The village was fine with a pub, a cafe, a butchers and general store. We went to some of the local towns and found that whatever we needed was in the area. We got back home at lunchtime to find a letter for me from the War Office.
I opened it and read it through. It offered me a resettlement course in Catterick for a month or I could finish my service a month earlier. That meant, that apart from serving on the reserve I was free and a civilian in all but name. We were both overjoyed as it meant that one of us would be home for the early days of John being with us. Before we knew it the next day was upon us. 4 more days and John would be here. Keith got a letter the next day offering the same opportunity as myself. We were ecstatic. Specially as Keith's letter had a cheque for £700 as severance.
We decided that despite everything we would try and get work with BOAC sooner than later. The phone installed we phoned BOAC and got interviews the next day. We both got jobs and would start in four weeks time. What surprised us was the pay. We would, after training receive £9,000 a year each. That made us well able to keep a good life going.
It had been bothering me what was in the loft. If there were to be a fire all that stuff up there would be a danger. So, donning overalls Keith and I climbed up and looked around. The loft was massive. Most of the stuff was old rubbishy unwanted stuff which we took down to the tip. But, in one corner was a stack of paintings. All rolled up, not in frames. We took them downstairs to look at them. We decided to frame three of them and cleaned up and took them to a framer in Chertsey not far away.
He looked at them and said he wouldn't be a minute. We waited by the counter. The framer came back and seemed to spend a lot of time explaining different kinds of frames. Suddenly the door burst open and two policemen entered.
We were asked to explain the paintings and we told them.
We were then in for a shock. The paintings were stolen from a manor house in the Midlands some years ago. The framer had noticed them and called the police. We told the policemen there were more at home and they accompanied us back to get them.
We were not charged as we proved we had only just moved in. They took our names and address and that appeared to be that. The loft now cleared we could fill it with our junk when we got home.
The days passed and finally we were at the airport to meet John and the Amah. The flight was on time and we saw them both coming from the customs area. John was walking on his own, albeit with his normal slightly uncontrolled gait. The Amah was carrying the bags alongside him. We both waved and then John saw us. His smile lit up our lives and as he got to us we went into a three way hug with the Amah looking on. If you know happiness then you know how we felt, Keith and I. Finally we broke the hug and greeted the Amah. She almost bowed to us and we had to stop her. She spoke in good English. "Hello sirs I am Mae."
I said. "Welcome to England Mae. We thank you for looking after John."
"Was no problem sirs. He very good boy, no problem. Just have to wipe face sometimes." We knew what she referred to as John with his disease dribbled a lot, something he couldn't control.
Greetings over we went to the minibus and drove home. I sat with John and watched his face as he looked at his new land out of the window.
I pointed out some of the local places of interest but I don't think it sank in. He was too busy looking for himself. At home we settled John and the Amah into their rooms and then showed them round the house. John managed the stairs quite well and was soon wandering around the house aided by Mae. We decide that John should have a rest after such a long journey. The Amah saw him into bed and Keith and I gave him a kiss and cuddle.
We then sat down with Mae to see if there would be any problems she could think of. She was upbeat saying Mama-San had got a large supply of medicines for John in Hong Kong and there would be no rush for him to be seen by the doctor.
It suddenly hit Keith and I. John was our son, he was here and now our full responsibility. We were so very happy. We knew it would be difficult but with the help of Mae, we would cope. We learned from Mae that John would be 10 years old on the 29th of January next year. We knew Chinese new year would be on the 30th January and it was the year of the monkey. One present sorted a big cuddly monkey. We worked out that John was born in 1958, the year of the dog. So a dog toy as well. Chinese birth dates and which is the birth sign is important to Chinese people. Despite John now being British we did not want him to lose his birthright.
After much loving and eating we all adjourned for the night. We made a point of reading John a fairy tale in English so that he could start learning spoken English. I think Mae sat there just as enthralled as John with the Ugly Duckling. John fell asleep part way through and we set the book down and left Mae to settle John in a comfortable position.
We set too the next day with Waking John with Mae and getting him ready to face the day. We made an appointment with the doctor for 11am. A trip to the airport to see the planes and have a meal midday. We were amazed to see how well Mae coped with the UK in December. (Of course Hong Kong can be very cold in the winter also.)
The doctor gave John a very close thorough examination. He gave us some excellent pointers to aid John with his problems and declared John quite well and fit. Another appointment was made for three months time for another check-up, with the proviso that we call immediately should he seem ill in any way. We stayed with him until Mae and John had left and he warned us that John might have a short life or he could go on to have a full and useful life, it was impossible to tell. He gave us details of organisations that could help us with his speech and walking. His general health however was in the lap of the gods. Before we left him, we asked if he knew of a good school nearby that John could go to.
"There is a superb special needs school in Chertsey, not too far away that have quite a few boys and girls with John's problems. Some of my other patients have children there. It is private but a grant is available for those fees. It is called St Thomas school. Hang on and I will give you the address."
He went through a filing cabinet and wrote the address down. Finally he shook our hands firmly and thanked us for giving him a stable happy home. So many children like him ended up in mental institutions and poorly run orphanages.
In the next few weeks we got into a routine that worked so well. We all had our times with John but the load was spread fairly, and despite Mae not wanting time off, we insisted. Keith took the time to introduce her to a Chinese take-away family nearby and she became firm friends with them.
I contacted the doctor recommended school and we got John enrolled to start in the new year. Our application for help towards the school fees was successful and that made us all a lot happier.
Christmas loomed and although not a Chinese festival, John and Mae were used to it. My old unit in Hong Kong gave a big Christmas party for all the children at Sha Tin orphanage.
This year would be a bit of a rush. While we told Mae about the plans we kept it secret from John. We hoped and prayed that he could get though Christmas without having any regression of his illness. He had been doing so well since being with us.
A phone call to the Plymouth brethren brought us an arrangement with them.
Another phone call to Hong Kong was also fruitful.
Presents were bought, wrapped and stored from prying eyes.
Christmas eve found Keith and I chatting in bed.
Keith said, "I can't believe we have been a family for a short time, yet it seems like forever."
"True." I said.
"It hardly seems possible. We have a wonderful son, a brilliant housemother and we both have jobs to start in the new year. It was good that the Personnel guy said we could have the break before we started."
I agree, it would have been too soon to leave John. Those extra weeks will make all the difference to us all."
Just then John came in the door.
I asked him if he was alright, he was and all he wanted was to be with his dads.
We pulled the covers back and he slipped in between us. Within minutes he was sleeping like the young boy he was. Annoyingly we still hadn't found a school for him but I think he enjoyed us teaching him at home.
As he slept, I said to Keith, "It looks like any loving is out of the window tonight."
Keith, always the wise one said with a grin, "It will be twice as good next time."
Morning came early for us at six am. I wiped the drool from John's mouth and chin. That woke him up. "Morning daddies. Happy Christmas. Has Santa come."
"I am not sure John. Why don't you pop downstairs and have a look. Be careful and hold on to the bannister."
"I will Daddy. I wonder if he ate the mince pie that aunty Mae and I made for him."
Keith was quick and said, "If I was Santa I would have definitely eaten a mince pie made by you."
I don't think John heard, he was off as fast as he could go.
Next thing we heard was a shriek of delight from our boy followed by, "Daddies, Santa's been and there are lots of presents and he ate the mince pie I left for him. Can I open a present?"
I shouted back down, "Yes John. Just one though, we will open the others after Christmas dinner."
We could hear the paper being ripped off whatever he was opening and then another shriek.
"Lego...I always wanted Lego, and it is the big big giant set. I will be able to make lots of things. Thank you Santa."
Keith, myself, with Mae agreeing, we got the Lego hoping above hope that it would help our son with co-ordination.
He came back up the stairs and we heard him stumble. We were out of bed FAST, hoping he was alright. Thankfully he was OK. That was one worry that we could not ignore. John falling.
He got up laughing saying, "Stupid stairs. Fell away from my legs dads."
I picked him up and took him back down stairs to be met with Mae in her dressing gown.
"He alright mister Brian." She asked.
"Yes he is fine Mae." and with a giggle I relayed John's explanation, that the stairs fell away.
Mae also laughed, her sense of humour was typically Chinese which was quite sharp.
We got ourselves resettled into bed to return to sleep. However, that turned out impossible. Our lovely son wanted to go back down stairs to his Lego. So, up we got and Keith carried John down the stairs despite him wanting to go on his own. Keith put our son down and he was off to his Lego set.
I made us all a light breakfast as Christmas dinner would be a gut buster for us all.
After breakfast Keith and I opened up out 20 seater table and started to put out the cutlery. John, intrigued, asked why so many places laid. Keith, quick as a flash said.
"We don't want to keep laying the table every day so we are going to use four spaces each day until after the holidays."
"Dad you are daft." As he burst out laughing in that lovely way he always did.
Using his Pirate voice Keith replied, "Ooh arr I sure am my boy. And I'll make you as daft as I if you aint carefull. Zo theere"
That brought more laughter from John. He went back to his Lego saying something we couldn't hear.
Table set red wine out and breathing. White wine in the fridge. Turkey well under way since the night before, we finally settled down.
I heard the taxi first. Looked at Keith who winked to me and said to John.
"Will you answer the door today if the bell rings big boy."
"Yes, OK dad." He replied.
A minute later the doorbell rang. Keith, Mae and myself knew who it was. We heard the door open and then a scream.
"Maa Maa! Oh Maa Maa it's you!" Mixing Cantonese with English in his excitement.
From the following silence we guessed there was a lot of hugging going on at the door.
I called out. "Who is it John?"
"It's Maa Maa," John replied. "Grandma form Hong Kong."
"Well young sir, show your Grandma in then."
That didn't happen for a while as John Hugged his Grandma. Finally she made it into the lounge with John hanging on her tail.
"I didn't know Maa Maa was coming dads," John said.
I replied to him. "Maa Maa has been here for three days, we had to keep it a secret. Maa Maa will be staying for a whole week with us. But from now we will call her Grandma."
"Oh yes I prefer Grandma, dads. Now I am an English man."
"Well, let's get Grandma's case upstairs for her so she can unpack. We are waiting for another surprise in about and hours time. John. But it is an even bigger secret. Can you play with your Lego so that Grandma can settle into her room."
John hugged his grandmother again and set down to build something from his latest toy. While I started on the Christmas lunch Keith showed grandma the upstairs. She was sutably impressed with her purchase for us and proudly said so. Keith left her to unpack and returned downstairs to give me a hand..
Later Grandma returned downstairs with presents for us all which we put under the the tree.
Grandma settled herself with Mae and John Chatting away ten to the dozen in cantonese.
Keith and I left them to it. It was their time to enjoy.
With the bulk of the festive dinner completed Keith and I joined the others in the lounge. The language returned to English and we complimented Mae, Grandma and John on the building they had made. It was like the Hong Kong Shanghai bank building in Hong Kong. Mae helped John to take it to his room.
At exactly midday Keith and I got everyone outside for some fresh air, we said.
In fact it was for another reason entirely. Suddenly the second surprise arrive in the form of a mini bus.
The passengers no less than the eight Yip girls that had arrived in England at the end of November. As the girls filed out we all went to give them cuddles. I was near to tears. It had taken a lot of secret phone calls to get the girls here on a visit.
Their home was now in London at one of the Plymouth Brethren houses. Yip was the famiy name given to them all when they came to England.
Their Christian however names were all English.
The girls all squealed when they saw John as they had no idea they were going to see him. They had all left Hong Kong thinking they would never see him again.
Jennifer, the lady in charge of them was also close to tears as the reunification went on.
Keith and I got her side and asked if the girls had had any idea of what the surprise was.
Jennifer said they hadn't. As far as the girls were concerned it was a trip out before Christmas dinner.
We let the children get acquainted again as we, the adults talked on how the girls were settling down in England. Jennifer gave us a rundown in the getting ready and the flight over to the UK. Everybody was so nervous about the trip and all the changes. Yet once in the UK they all settled very quickly.
The children were enjoying seeing each other again. As we hoped they would. It turned out that they all kept in touch well into adult hood.
Keith did a disappearing trick while I and the other adults stood around chatting. I knew what he was up to and I knew that I was going to shed a few tears when he reappeared. Sure enough right on cue I heard the bell and, 'Ho, Ho, Ho.'
Standing at out front door was Father Christmas dressed in all his red finery. Over his shoulder was a big sack. Of course Mama San and I knew what was in the sack. It was as the kids ran over to Keith in his costume I cracked up. I had to turn away. I had been Father Christmas at the flight the 2 previous years and I had loved it. Seeing all the happy faces as I arrived in a flight Auster aeroplane. I was willing to bet that Keith would be having trouble holding back a tear as well as he had also helped us out at the annual party.
Mama-San held me close and helped me through the tears.
"I know it makes you sad and happy Brian. Soon you be very happy with Keith and John. Now, let's go and join in the fun."
Keith was in trouble and needed my assistance. So I ran over to him and said, "Let me help you father Christmas."
It was then I realised that all attempt at convincing that father Christmas was real as the children were all chanting. "Uncle Keith, Uncle Keith. We know it's you Uncle Keith."
Without more ado Keith whipped off his beard and said laughing like drain, "You all cheated."
"We did not," said John. "I recognised your shoes."
From then on it was a riot, everyone getting a present. The girls were mostly around 14 years old and after asking Jennifer over the phone we had got each of them a set of brush and combs for their hair, and nail sets as a secondary present. Judging by their faces they loved them.
Afterwards we asked Mae to take all the girls on a walk while the rest of us got Christmas lunch sorted. We asked her to try and make it an hour. The girls wanted John to go with them but we persuaded them no as John, although he could walk fairly well a long walk was beyond him.
The rest of us went kitchen wise to get the dinner ready.
All went like clockwork with John laying out the crackers and cutlery with the rest of us sorting out the food.
Mae finally returned from the walk and got the girls seated around the very large table.
The food was delicious and I was amazed to see that all the children had cleared all the food put before them. After dinner I showed our guests all around the house with David giving personal tours to all his sisters. (Which in orphanage language they all were.)
Their departure was a sad parting for John, although he felt happier later when we told him we would be doing visits once a month.
By the time they all left Keith and I were shattered and left Mama-San,Mae and John to play Lego for an hour or two. When we returned to the lounge we were pleased to find everything back to normal and the three of them fast asleep in armchairs. Keith and I hugged each other and counted our blessings for our new life and family. We moved to the other lounge.
Boxing day found us all looking to walk off some of the previous days excesses. Just in case John got tired we took along his wheelchair but after a long walk it was still redundant. We have always been amazed as to how strong John really was. We arrived back home to only wanting soup for lunch. Keith and I had to smile as immediately after lunch the usual trio fell asleep again in the armchairs. Keith and I let them sleep while we made future plans. There was little we could do before new year and as we knocked ideas back and forth. Firstly we needed a good school for John where he could expand and grow both in academia and in his own fortitude.
We would have to make definite plans to start work and also fully setting ourselves up within the village.
We have never been much to celebrate new year in the UK so that few days were quite quiet. We all spent far too much time building Lego in all shapes and sizes,
New year over we were back among the living world and the first task was to see Grandma off back to Hong Kong. We were all sad to see her go but she was adamant that she was needed back in the bar ready for Chinese New Year.
She called us as soon as she was home, much to our relief.
Days passed and we found the school in Chertsey the doctor told us about for John. Who on the visit immediately made friends with other sufferers. That part of our lives sorted we were about to sort out our working timings when there was a loud knock on the door. John had answered it and called that a man was here to see them. The guy was smartly dressed and we invited him in. It turned out he was from the insurance company that had insured all the pictures we had found.
He introduced himself as the actuary for the company and said.
Gentlemen, I have some good news for you. There was a reward for the return of those paintings. Combined they were worth over £20,000,000 pounds. The reward for there return was £2,000,000. I have in my possession a cheque for that amount which I have to give to you with the companies thanks."
With which he handed over an envelope to me.
Keith and I just stood with our mouths open in amazement.
I finally managed to say. "2,000,000? For us?
"Yes indeed sir. Well, I have to rush, our thanks again for their return. I'll see myself out."
Saying that he was gone.
(End of part 1)