E-mail: frankie@thetrishawman.com
Contact: +60 12 661 3813
Hobby: Travelling (Backpacking), Sports and a little bit of DIY

ME, my BECA and my Grandma

The reason behind the idea of getting a beca was all only because of my grandma. She was unable to walk and while pushing her on a wheelchair for a stroll around the housing estate at one fine evening, something out of nowhere just strike my mind! Why don’t I go and look for a beca!!! I can take my grandma for a longer and further distance ride.

Being an active person, car wasn’t an immediate choice for me and even going around town and surrounding areas I would have chosen a bicycle anyway at anytime. (That was last year in 2008 when I just came back for good from Europe after been away for the last 10 years)

From that instant moment, I gave few phone calls to my friends looking for beca. I went to look for beca riders at the Clock Tower to enquire and my friend, Ivan also arranged for me to look at a few becas which are available for sale. Those are restored beca ready-for-business like those ones you see on Malacca streets.

Then on the 26/03/08 my friend, Ms Judy Lee informed me that her father has got a beca at the back garden. He used to take the grandchildren around the housing estate too and since they have grown up, they have shown less interest on the beca rides and that’s why it was then left at the back garden. All thanks to Judy, she managed to persuade her father to let go the beca and arranged for me to have a look at it. I say ‘YES’ the moment I saw the beca and it’s like love at the first sight. Condition wise wasn’t that great but to me that can be restored. I arranged a pick up lorry on the same day itself.

Not bothered if it’s not a true story, just before I push the beca out of the back garden into a waiting pick up lorry, Judy’s father told me that his beca was not just an ordinary beca. It has a history. Tun Dr Mahathir (the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia) was once taken a ride on this beca during one of his trips to Malacca by the previous owner, a ‘pakcik’. Wow! How cool can that be!!!

Well, it took me 2 weeks to stripe the whole beca until left the skeleton body. Sand paper and more sand paper, spray and re-spray before I sent it to the bicycle shop to fix the other necessary parts. Then another 2 weeks to give her a new cushion cover and finally the top shade cover. Nowadays digital world is so advance that I was left with only this photograph showing me working on the beca while the rest of the photographs were accidentally deleted from my friends camera.. Photograph courtesy of my visiting aunty to my home.

On the 16th January 2009, the demised of my beloved grandma due to old age. This has given me every reason why I must continue with my planned charity cause. Even though safety was always her main concern, however, she was 100% supporting my idea. She would have wanted me to do it anyhow. Afterall, she was all the reason I went looking and purchased this beca in the first place. Honestly, I am so glad that I came back for good for her and my family.

During that short one year period, my granny had the chance to ride on my beca until she was too weak, too fragile and too dangerous to carry her anymore onto the beca. Deep inside, I know she will be with me on this charity ride. May GOD bless her soul! A tribute to AH MAh. My family members, friends and some neighbours have also been taken a ride on my beca since I bought it. Wonderful!!!!!