IT was his first time celebrating Chinese New Year and Dutchman Teddy Grippeling appeared to be having more fun than the children at a yee sang party hosted by a couple in George Town on New Year eve.

He excitedly tossed the yee sang (Chinese raw fish salad) with friends and greeted them with Gong Xi Fa Cai (Wishing you great wealth) and Xin Nian Kuai Le (Happy Chinese New Year).

The 84-year-old former ship captain was among 15 friends and family members who were invited to the party at Ceylon Lane which was hosted by retiree couple Penny Ng and Bryan Coomber.

The gathering was complete with a ‘silver bull’ to usher in the new year.

The octogenarian said he was excited to be ushering in the Chinese New Year and believed it would be an ‘ox-picious’ year for him since he was born in the Year of the Ox in 1925.

“I’ve come across many Chinese over the years and I know about Chinese New Year but this is the first time that I have been invited to a Chinese New Year party.

“I first came to Penang in 1946. I have been living in Tanjung Tokong under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme since July.

“I’m loving every bit of the state,” said Grippeling, who is fondly called Captain Teddy by friends.

Ng, who is from Ipoh, said it became a family tradition to invite family and friends to a party after the couple moved back to the country from Australia 14 years ago.

She said that they also hosted Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Deepavali parties.

“My husband and I love it here and this is one of the reasons we decided to move back here.

“It doesn’t matter what race we are, we just want to celebrate with friends and family,” she said.

Source: TheStar

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