My $30 Violin and a Tale of a Yellow Rose

I love my violin. It's very precious to me. My parents bought it for me at a second-hand auction. It costed $30.

I grew up in a household that wasn't too well off but wouldn't be what you'd consider poor. By the time my younger sister and brother came along, we were doing ok. But the memories of my parents juggling numerous jobs around the clock, my dad's coughing from waking up very early in the morning, hand-sewn or knitted (very special) clothes, an old black and white TV... they stick with me even til now. Despite this, my parents found a way to give me everything and I am always so grateful for whatever my parents give me. I am thankful for everything.... It's always a bonus.

My mother is beautiful – I say that literally and in all its other meanings. My mum modelled in her younger years and I have memories of my sister and I growing up flicking through albums of modelling photos of my mum in admiration. Actually we still look at them and smile... My mother is also very friendly. She speaks to all my friends. Sometimes it makes me smile. At other times, I cringe.

My dad is very proper. Should we get to the dinner table late, he becomes a very unhappy man. He’s very quiet but he does so much for the family and those close to him will know that he has quite a sense of humour. If you don’t know him though, you’d be afraid of him. Many of my friends are quite scared of him. Personally, I think he likes to keep up this reputation :)

When I was younger, I often wondered how my mum and dad came together. They seem so different. My mum has never really explained it to me but I don’t think these things are really things you share with your kids. What my mum has told me is that my dad is a good man. He never did anything particularly romantic or sentimental but once upon a time he did give her rose – it was a yellow rose and she remembers it til today.