The return of a proud Yorkshireman

We managed to hire a Renault Kangoo for 3 days for our trip to Leeds. It happens to be the only car left at the small car rental company which runs a car repair business too. It was a bargain at 25 quid a day, unlimited mileage but we had to pay our own petrol as expected. We spent a total of 145 quid for all the convenience compared with about 100 quid each for the 5 of us if we were to take the train! Believe it or not, I have always wanted to try out a Kangoo or Berlingo and I must say, it is very very practical. We actually spotted one with a name Chairman Kangoo which even had a collapsible ramp below the bumper and saw a handicapped woman sitting on her own wheel chair, behind the driver, in the car!

On our way back, we saw a sign to Elland Road Stadium, home of Leeds United. My son said he would like to visit. He spent some time at their shop outlet, bought a few jerseys which were on sale and posed in front of the stadium. He was actually beaming with pride!

I remember as a toddler, he was told that if he were good enough, being born in Leeds, he is eligible to play for Yorkshire! Anyway, one day when we were at the shops in Canterbury, one of the charity volunteers spotted his Leeds jersey and asked where had he been and where he was born. When told that he was born in St. James’s Hospital in Leeds, he said he was born there too! He said he was glad someone, especially a Chinese, is willing to support the team!

We were surprised to see our first house, a back-to-back, still existing as we were told that those were demolished. My son posed in front of the house, just like when he was a toddler. The day we were leaving Leeds, we looked for our second house, a semi-detached, and Cheng took a picture of it. It was a heart-sick reminder for me, as with the benefit of hindsight, if we had kept it for the past 22 years, we could have gained Rm1 million from the increase in value!

But then again, life is such that with more wealth, will it necessarily translate into happiness? I rather count our blessings for now: a son and two daughters, two graduated and one expected to graduate next year.