Daddy Doesn't Like Gifts...

We celebrated my Dad's 55th birthday last Sunday at Holiday Inn Park View, together with my grandmother, aunty Katherine, Stacy (Bro's GF) & Rebecca (my GF). I took this excellent opportunity to give them an enthusiastic & informal guided tour around the hotel, showing them the Crystal Ballroom that I will be having my wedding dinner next year! Rebecca & I were glad that everyone liked the place.

Anyway, we had international buffet dinner at the 'Window By The Park' cafe, in celebration of Dad's birthday. Up till now, I still don't understand why this cafe was given this name, coz there is no park nearby & there's not much to see outside those windows anyway. But the durian paste is GREAT! I recommended & kept reminding everyone to try it! And everyone liked it! Rebecca laughed & commented if I had shares in this hotel! Oh, the sliced steamed fish is absolutely soft & delicious too! I could just eat it with rice for dinner & be all happy & satisfied!

Oh ya, back to the point that I have been trying to make - Yup, maybe I seldom buy gifts for my Dad throughout my 27 years of my life... but it only became clear to me, this time, that my Dad doesn't like to be given gifts! Its odd coz I would think that most people would enjoy having the surprise of birthday gifts... but not my Dad.

I bought him a nice polo t-shirt from Robinsons, but when I wished him & passed him his gift, he said that I should save up my money & invest in future... don't waste money on buying gifts. He also said that he already has a lot of shirts in his cupboard (actually the truth is that most are already SO old!)... so next time just write him a card would do.

I was quite taken aback coz I didn't expect my Dad to say it so straightforward. But that's my Dad... he's quite straightforward & doesn't like to spend money. He still buys superglue to glue his working shoes when it peels at the sole. He doesn't buy sandals, but only wears my old pair, when I bought a new pair of sandals a few years ago. He also wears his working socks until got hole(s) & still continues to wear them. He refuses to throw things away & keep on putting them inside the store room.

Rebecca bought him a box of chocolates, wrapped up in a Christmas wrapper (she didn't have any other gift wrapper) & my Dad didn't even open it for 3 days! I had to open it for him & eat the chocolates myself! My guess about him was confirmed when I saw that cup which my brother bought for him, MANY years ago... & it is still kept inside that same cardboard box, sitting at the top of the kitchen shelf. I can't believe it... my Dad REALLY doesn't use things!

Oh well, next time onwards, I will write him a card, since he already said it so straightforward to me. Different background, I guess... coz when he was young, he didn't have many things. But this is nothing bad about him, its just his personality. He has still been a responsible & caring father all these years. Thank God for this perculiar Dad... =)