Greg's diary--July 1968

This diary was written in German so bad that I don't want to publish the original. I've translated some of the more interested entries.

Friday, 5 July 1968	KL
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partially translated entry

Called Mum up, who said that the Raja Permaisuri Agong [Tengku Budriah binti Tengku Ismail, the sister of Tengku Noor Zakiah binti Tengku Ismail] was coming for coffee tomorrow, so I should buy some cakes.

Saturday, 6 July 1968	KL
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Got up early enough - Dad was there and had things to do, since the former Raja Permaisuri Agong was coming. Drank the tea, then went swimming in the pool with Dad, then in again and helped Mum to tidy up the house before Her Majesty came. For once we were finished by the appointed time, 10 o'clock, but the Raja Perampuan wasn't there. Dad and I spent about half an hour outside discussing how it could have been done better, when a white Mercedes 250SE arrived with “Perlis” instead of a registration plate and let out Noor and the Raja Perampuan. We drank coffee by the swimming pool, not overly gemütlich, but elegant, and I was grateful that Noor's children wanted to see the kittens and the jungle - the kittens weren't there, however: Queenie had moved them elsewhere, the jungle was wet, but when we came back, 3 boy scouts arrived, and I got them to wash Mum's Mini - they did it badly, and then I watched the Raja Perampuan's driver shown the scouts how to wash a car.

Finally they all went away - even Mum wanted to go to town, and Dad and I stayed at home to sort out various things. Then it occurred to us that we also had to go into town, so to Eastern Photographers, where I picked up the photos and bought a masking frame and chemicals. Also rubber for the door, and stuff for the darkroom and swimming pool. That included a piece of hardboard 1.2 x 2.5 m in size, which they cut into two and which we hardly got into the car - then to the supermarket to buy beer, and bumped into Mum. Dad drove home with her, since it was so cramped in the Citroën. After lunch Mum had to go out again and left us to continue with the work. All went quite well - it helps to have a father who understands something about houses.

When we were almost ready, about 20 scouts came along and wanted to swim in the pool, and stayed for about 10 minutes until Dad finally got annoyed. Then we put the pieces of wood over the door and went for a beer - almost no light gets in any more.

Mum came home late and cooked something special for dinner. After that I developed 2 Pan Fs and watched TV.

Tuesday, 9 July 1968	KL → Kota Bharu
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I never like alarm clocks, and having one go off at 0530 doesn't improve my mood. But today I was able to jump out of bed and sort things out, and then drive away on the dot of 6, as planned. It was still dark, though there was a glimmer of light on the horizon, and it didn't dawn until I was in the hills, still earlier than I had expected. Contrary to my expectations there was a lot of truck traffic on the road, but the drivers were more polite than they would have been in Germany, and I was almost always able to get past them quickly.

By 7 I was on the other side of the hills and had put back 38 miles [60 km]. Then I was able to drive faster, though there was a slight fog, which condensed as water on the windscreen - I needed the windscreen wipers on all the time, and drove on dipped beam. It stayed that way until Temerloh, after which, having driven 101 miles [160 km] I stopped for a rest - a bit of oil or grease was in the radiator water. I hope the head gasket isn't failing. Then on on the fast road to Maran and Kuantan, where they're still working on the road.

Stopped at Kemaman for lunch, swam in the sea and continued - it was still only 11 o'clock. The road on the east coast is much better than I expected, and I had no difficulty driving at 150 km/h on the straights. On into Trengganu, where I had planned to make a rest, but I had also wanted to fill up, so I waited until I found a petrol station. That was in Jerteh, about 55 miles [90 km] further on, and I was worried that I wouldn't have enough petrol, since I had already done 380 miles [600 km] - but I still had 8 litres to spare, so continued after a rest.

The tank held 65 litres, so this would have corresponded for 57 litres for the 600 km, about 9.5 l/ 100 km.

I was able to drive fast in Kelantan as well, without it being very dangerous - in Trengganu I had almost hit another car, who turned right without a signal as I shot by at 110 [km/h].

Arrived in Kota Bharu at 1442, a driving time of 7 hours and 41 minutes, and drove to the Hotel Irama, where Dad, typically, was asleep. Mum was at the Istana Balai Besar, and I stayed with Dad at the hotel until Mum rang up and said that we should already have been at the P⁴N [?] in the Mohammed IV stadium, so we changed and went there. Mum didn't arrive until later, but didn't miss anything important. I was dead tired and didn't come back to life until Dad suggested, that I went to get the car and pick them up. I did that after attempts to attempts to enter the road from both directions, but I couldn't [it was blocked by parked cars]. Finally I found Mum and Dad and we went to the club, then to the hotel, where we stayed for a while before going back into town and looking for food, while I discussed with Mum had I should do in the future - Mum thinks I should become a lawyer, which I think wouldn't be a bad idea. Later we drove to the PCB - not the way it used to be.

Wednesday, 10 July 1968	KB
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Dad woke me at about 6 - what an unbearable time, particularly when you didn't get to bed until late. Went downstairs almost immediately, after I had put on my suit - what a ridiculous habit, especially when it is so hot. The breakfast was terrible - it was full of fat or oil, and afterwards I felt sick.

Then to the Balai Besar, where there was a pretty average traffic jam, and sat down in Ruangan F. The whole thing was an exaggerated farce - after some prayers in Arabic we went out to the Padang Merdeka, where they did various military things, then back to the Balai Besar, where they awarded the gongs

One of the awards was the Sri Mahkota Kelantan, awarded to my mother. The Wikipedia page states:

Crown of Kelantan Decoration - Sri Mahkota Kelantan

Instituted by Sultan Muhammad IV in 1916 as a reward for those whose civil services do not qualify for the ordinary classes of the Order of the Crown of Kelantan.

- that took 1½ hours, however, and after that were some oaths of allegiance - that wouldn't have been half as bad if the chairs had been more comfortable. After that we wanted to go home [to the hotel], but Pui Tiong Yeong saw Mum and insisted on inviting us to lunch at the Union Club, so the five of us went there and talked for some time before eating. Tiong Yeong says that Cheng Wui [his son] wants to drive back to Malaysia [from the United Kingdom] next year, and would I like to come along? I think so, if the car has front wheel drive, which practically means Taunus, since Pui is a Ford dealer.

After dinner we drove Pui home, but not before he had invited us to a party this evening. Then myself to the hotel - I had wanted to see the old Citroën 11CV, but I was so tired that I went to sleep immediately and didn't wake until 1710, when Dad called up and said that we should have been at the garden party at the Istana Kota Lama at 17 o'clock. We didn't get there until 1730, and we didn't have much time, before His Majesty came along and mingled with the guests and spoke to some of them - I was one of the chosen few, maybe because I had changed so much

It appears that he hadn't seen me for 3 years, also at a birthday garden party.

Somebody was taking ciné film of us, and I felt a little embarrassed. Then we went away again and to the Chin Hua timber warehouse. The 11CV was still there, in surprisingly good condition - previously I had expected that I might be able to save the engine. Now I want to drive to England with the car.

In the evening we had makan with Pui, who sat me between his two daughters, but nothing happened. Today was Pui's 25th wedding anniversary, thus the ceremony, champagne etc. Spoke to him about the 11CV, and he said that he would give me 2 men tomorrow to tow the car to his workshop and get it going again. Then we had to go to Tengku Razaleigh, who was holding a party, but I came home early.

Thursday, 11 July 1968	KB
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Dad woke me this morning a bit later then yesterday, but at 7 o'clock I felt just as exhausted as yesterday. Dad got tea and toast sent up, and only then did I get up. Mum delayed as ever, and we didn't get to Pui's until 8 o'clock. Then Mum and Dad drove to the water sports, and 3 men came with me in the ID to the Chin Hua warehouse, where we finally got the 11CV into a position where we could attach a tow rope. It looked as if the brake cylinders were rusted, and as a result the brakes were jammed. But it wasn't bad enough to stop us towing the car, though it made it more difficult. When we arrived, the mechanic told me that he had put it in gear, and that the engine turned - he thought that it would have started had there been a spark. In fact, the oil in the engine was up to the top mark on the dipstick, though it wasn't exactly clean, and there was several litres of petrol in the tank, and the water in the radiator was also full. I couldn't check the gearbox and differential, but the hydraulic fluid reservoir was almost empty, and I strongly suspect that that had something to do with the jammed brakes.

First they washed the car superficially, then we removed the entire bonnet (I didn't know how easy that was), and they looked for a battery, which however took a bit longer. Then somebody went off to have a key made - fortunately the number was on it [the ignition lock]. Later, as I was checking the carburettors of the old and new Citroëns (Solex 32 PBIC and Solex 34 PBIC), Dad came along, but didn't stay long. Later they shorted the ignition switch and started the engine - the starter still worked, and it didn't take long for the engine to start. As described in my book, there was a cloud of white smoke behind the car, but I hadn't expected the silencer to be defective - it deposited about 5 kilograms of rust and iron on the ground, and the engine made a hell of a noise.

Dad came back, and we went straight to the hotel, while the mechanics were to flush the engine and replace the oil, and also to fix the brakes. From the hotel we had to go to Dato' Nachiappan, where we had lunch, then I went back to the workshop, where the mechanics had finally managed to extract the brake drums from the axles - the linings were completely worn down (simplex brakes in front, presumably also at the rear. 1½ linings per brake, only one spring!) They told me that the hydraulic cylinders were in poor condition, and the couldn't continue working until Sabtu (Saturday), since Juma'at (Friday) is the weekend. Spoke as a result with Pui, who said that he would get everything done, including adjusting the steering, and he would get it certified roadworthy, since it would be easier here, especially for Pui, than in Kuala Lumpur. All that I need to do is have the tyres sent up - only two are usable, and Dad has 5 Michelin X in Singapore, where we'll be driving to on Wednesday/Rabu anyway. But I'm afraid something else will go wrong.

Thus to the hotel, after Pui had given me all the forms, until we had to take Nachi to the Pantai. The ID handles on the sand like other cars on the road - what a wonderful car! Then back to the hotel, then to the ball, where I stayed just long enough to have something to eat, then back home and went to sleep.

Friday, 12 July 1968	KB → KL
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Woke up at about 7:30 by myself and lay in bed for some time until it occurred to me to get dressed and go upstairs. Mum and Dad were still asleep and suggested that I should order breakfast. Then I packed up my things, and Mum asked me to take a tree cutting to Nachi. I did that, but when I wanted to leave Nachi's house, the car wouldn't start. Since the warning light went out, I assume that it must have been a short circuit in the starter motor, which is conveniently hidden under the exhaust manifold. Got somebody to push start me, then to the hotel and the petrol station. Later I took courage and turned the ignition off, and tried it with the crank, which is much more practical than I expected - either that, or the engine starts easily.

The wheel change lever on the Citroën D series doubled as a crank, which was inserted from the front of the car, engaging in the gearbox.

What would it be like with a two stroke? Then we left at about 1011 towards Kuantan, and I really managed to drive over 200 miles (320 km) until we saw a Flame of the Forest (what's that in German?) in Kemaman, and we managed to get a seed from it. In the process a DKW overtook us, doing a good 100 [km/h or mph? Hard to say, probably the latter], and he didn't slow down - he overtook us again in Kuantan while we had stopped for a drink, but then we finally overtook him for good. It's amazing how fast a DKW can go - the whole thing reminds me of 18 March this year. Dad drove from Kuantan to Maran, then I took over again - it rained a bit near Temerloh and stayed wet until Kuala Lumpur, but I drove up the Main Range faster then I have ever done it before - the car understeered a little, but that was all.

Then we came to KL and did some shopping near Jalan Ampang Hilir, where Noor bumped in to me - I keep seeing this woman everywhere. Home, where Eugene Phoa had just arrived, but not in a Citroën as I had expected, but in a Jaguar Mark 10, but the driver told me that he preferred the Citroën - Eugene too, it seems.

The evening went by somewhat confusingly - I talked to Eugene about becoming a lawyer, and he thought it could be interesting. Then Edward, a friend of his, arrived, and then the 5 of us had dinner. Mum was extremely insulting for no reason, and we had an argument, particularly, it seems when she realised that she wasn't in the right.

Saturday, 13 July 1968	KL
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Dad woke me early today, and I went in and ate pineapple and drank tea with Dad and Eugene until we had worked everything out. I was to wait for Mum and take her to the spray painters, then take the car to Yuens and have the starter motor fixed. I had to wait some time for Mum at home, and she wasn't in the best of moods. But finally we left, and when Mum picked up the car she complained about a missing screw in a window clip. God, I can't stand this much more, and I don't know what the workers thought. Had to accompany her until she found a petrol station, then to Yuens, where Mr. Teo told me that it would take at least 6 hours to get to the starter motor, because they had to practically dismantle the engine. But a mechanic came and told me that there was a poor connection to the negative contact of the battery. I said, yes, maybe, but clearly there was a short circuit, because there was no power any more. He cleaned the contact, and the starter worked - I've seldom laughed that much. Talked to Mr Teo about the 11CV - he has one and could possibly sell me some parts.

Then to the market, did some shopping, and to Gurdip, who wasn't at home. Talked to his brother, who would have bought Yuen's 11CV if he only had the money. Drive into town, then to the supermarket, did more shopping, and then back home. Shortly later Mum, Eugene and Dad arrive, then the Kuleszas in 2 Vauxhall Crestas and Dad's engineer Wong Lin Kee. Had a buffet lunch, since there were 10 of us, and finally they all left. Then Eugene wanted to buy some eggs, and after that I drove to Sg Besi to pick up the screw. On the way back I saw a couple of old 11CVs in Jalan Chan Sow Lin - one for $1000, the other, in poor condition, for $700. I called Gurdip up at home, but Dad had to go into town to buy a folding bed, which we finally found in Jalan Ipoh. Then back home, and not much later had to take Lin Kee and his wife to the airport. Then home, where we would have spent a normal evening had Dad not insisted on putting an air conditioner into Bev's room. That was by no means as easy as I had hoped, but we finally managed it.

Sunday, 14 July 1968	KL
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Woke up late, as befits a Sunday, but I only woke when I did because Dad called me and asked me to help him to mount the diving board. What really gets on my nerves is that Dad does these things when he has to pay the workmen anyway. By the time I had got up and shaved, it was obviously too late - the workers had done it themselves already, but Dad wasn't exactly happy with it. Why? Does he want to become a handworker again? If he does, he doesn't need to drag me into the matter.

Had breakfast and read the newspaper, while the time dragged on slowly without me achieving anything useful. Finally Dad got thirsty and suggested that I go into town and buy some beer. I did that and took Heidi [dog] with me, who wasn't very happy about the matter - she was trembling when I came back to the car. Later Dad had to go to the dog show, where Eugene was showing his dogs. I had to stay back home in case Bev rang. She didn't, but I had the chance to go back to sleep, which I did. Dad woke me a little after 15 hours and said that we would go and pick Bev up. Mum wasn't very helpful, late as ever, and when we were on the freeway she backseat drove and said that Michelin tyres were only safe up to 110 km/h. I nearly exploded, but nothing happened. We arrived just as Bev did, and we soon returned home - I drove the whole distance without exceeding the speed limit - that was boring. At home we had tea, and Bev and Mum went upstairs, while I read. Later Eugene returned home with a large number of trophies etc, then he returned to Singapore.

Tuesday, 23 July 1968	KL → Gemas →
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Mum woke me early, and today it was particularly important that she did so, because, as occurred to me later, I had an unbelievable amount of work to do. Mum left before I was ready to leave, but I left soon after. What really irritates me is how this ID-1911 engine needs to run so long on the choke, even if the outside temperature is over 30°. Went to Yuens first to buy a tyre lever, but they didn't have any and told me that I could pick up one tomorrow, or maybe this afternoon. Took the rear mirror of the old Citroën, because I don't have one in KB. Then to the Chartered bank to change the $A [AUD] 5 that I've had in my wallet for weeks, but they could only do that upstairs, and I didn't want to get out of the car.

Instead I drove to Sharikat Automotive Accessories, where everything went more easily, buying the ring spanners that I had ordered on Saturday and paying with the $5 note - and even got $M [MYR] 1.50 back. Then to the supermarket, where I looked for sunglasses, but there was only one pair of Polaroid sunglasses, and I don't like buying the only one of that sort of thing. Went to the barbers and had my hair cut - the result is different every time, and this time it was completely different. I have to excuse the barber - the power failed in the middle. Then I bought a couple of combs and went home, where I wasted some time before having lunch - even Mum was there. She wanted to give me the money for my Kelantan trip, but I said that she could bring it along this evening.

Then packed, and Bev helped me, and then I had to take some photos for Dad - today was by no means a cool day, and the Photoflood lamps didn't help. By the time I was done I was covered in sweat. Then into town with Bev, and got her to buy the sunglasses, and also a bottle of Rodinal. I then went to Bukit Kenny, and after some searching found Madame Wen's office, gave them a house plan, then to Yuens, where they still hadn't found the tyre levers, but I did get the drawings to the repair manual for the Citroën 11CV. Then back, picked Bev up, and to the railway station, where I left my baggage in the baggage storage. Saw another 11CV that I've seen frequently. Then home - Bev had bought the Rodinal - and developed Dad's film. It was getting late, and Mum had still not returned, and I got angry - particularly when I discovered that I had locked my car key ring (with darkroom key) in the darkroom, and I couldn't find the other key. Fortunately Eileen had it, so that was OK. By 1945 Mum still had not arrived, so I drove to the railway station in the Citroën. When I arrived I discovered that I had left one of my shoes at home.

I drive barefoot. This was by no means the only occasion that I had this sort of problem.

I wasn't able to use the $A 12 that I had taken with me, but fortunately Mum arrived with the money and the shoe, and everything went relatively smoothly, if not the way I had hoped. I had dinner on the train with 2 English soldiers, whose accent I couldn't understand, and one of whom gave me his mihoon, because he didn't like it. Then to bed, but some time later a conductor came, brought me a cup of tea, looked at the diagrams for the repair manual and said that they were nice, and that I should take photos of them and print them. I said yes, that's a good idea, I'd give about f/11 at 1/500 s with Pan F and 2 Photoflood No. 2 bulbs. He said that that would never work, I should forget the Photofloods and use 2 60 - 100 W globes without a reflector - it would never work with Photofloods - but that's exactly what I did this afternoon - and it came out well. But I find it amusing that in such an “underdeveloped" country a train conductor should know so much about photography.

That is in fact quite a short exposure. Pan F had a sensitivity of 50 ASA/ISO.

Wednesday, 24 July 1968	→ Waqaf Bharu → Kota Bharu
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Woke up several times during the night when trains were shunted around, then once at 8, when the ticket inspector came, but I didn't really wake up until 1130. Then we were in the Taman Negara or the area, but it was all very boring. I had lunch, but everything else was full of boredom. It got better after Kuala Krai, and we arrived in Waqaf Bharu earlier than I expected - and it didn't help that there were no place signs on the platform.

Then I had to get my tyres. That was an adventure in itself. I had to wait until they had handled the mail, then the station master told me that I would have to pay $20 for the tyres. I asked him why, and he said, because I brought them with me; I was only allowed to bring clothes and ”that sort of thing”. He had the tyres weighed - 78 katis, $19:60 to pay, in other words about ⅔ of my ticket. What has just occurred to me as I write this: if I had to pay $19:60 for 78 katis, that means that a kati costs 25.13¢. I can't believe that - he even charged 10¢ too much. But back to the story: I asked if I could see the railway regulations. No, I couldn't: they were none of my business, I just had to pay. After all, I had smuggled them onto the damn train without asking. And I should be more polite! What an impolite pig! Finally I paid, and while waiting for the receipt read some of the regulations: railway employees must always be polite etc. Then he showed me the regulations - the bloody idiot shouldn't have charged me that much - he should have weighed everything and only charged for the excess over 60 katis. He didn't want to do that, so now I'll have to add that to my police report - the whole thing is so stupid.

Then into town with two trishaws - they wanted $3 each. It would have been cheaper by taxi. By the time I got there, it was 1730, and the workshop was only open until 17, but I was able to get the car and change a wheel. Then we [?] drove off, until it occurred to me that we had no petrol. By no means everything is working - with a bit of practice with double declutching I was able to change gear without second coming unstuck (or not very often), but the steering is definitely loose, and the clutch thrust bearing seems to be worn out. In addition, the engine needs an overhaul.

The gearbox on the Traction was a weak point: the story goes that it had been designed over a weekend when the originally planned automatic transmission was abandoned. It had interlocks to keep in gear, operated by the clutch, but they didn't work well.

I think that the clutch thrust bearing was a ball bearing, not the carbon surfaced bearings used in more modern cars. It was normal for it to be noisy, but I didn't know that at this point.

At the Pantai I heard a horrible squealing from the rear axle - some idiot had forgotten to tighten the wheel nuts.

Then I looked for a hotel - in the Prince Hotel for $6 a night. Rang Mum up - I hope I can leave tomorrow. I can't be bothered visiting the Jaegels.

From memory, these were some people who lived near Kuala Krai and had a rather lonely daughter. I met them the previous time in Kota Bharu earlier in the month, and they had invited me to come and stay a day or two. The problem was that the daughter was only 13.

Then out and to some film in the Lido, but it was so bad that I couldn't stand more than 15 minutes.

Thursday, 25 July 1968	KB → Dungun → Kemaman → Mentekab → KL
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What a horrible hotel! The last bloke who slept here must have had fleas, and since the bedclothes hadn't been changed since, I was almost eaten up by fleas. Finally I threw the upper sheet away, and things got better. Woke at 8, had toast and coffee, then to Tiong Yeong, where there were still things to be done. First I had a tyre put on the sixth rim, then I put it on the car and was about to have the car lubricated (there must be 25 grease nipples), when in came Pui Tiong Yeong and said that I should have spent the night at his place. He offered me coffee, for which I was thankful, but soon some business colleagues came and they started discussing things.

Then they had finished lubricating the car (I'm not sure, actually - they didn't look at the diagrams, and I had to show them a few places that they hadn't lubricated), and I went out to see what else was going on. They drained the radiator - I don't know why, but Tiong Yeong was worried that the engine might overheat. He wanted to check for leaks, but I couldn't see much point - in three years it hadn't lost any water, and pressure checking would be more likely to cause a leak. Then I wanted to mount the air horn - there were problems mounting it, since the longest trumpet was about 1½ times as long as the distance between radiator and grille, but finally we managed to get it all in. Their biggest difficulty was the wiring - that would have been the easiest for me.

Then to the hotel, where I paid and put the baggage into the car. Then I had a shower, changed, and back to Tiong Yeong to have lunch with him. He has been very friendly to me over the last couple of weeks, and he indicated that he didn't want any payment from me, or at least not much.

I left immediately after lunch, planning to spend the night at Kemaman, since it was already 1310. It took me an hour to get to Jerteh, where I filled up - 20 l/100 km! I decided that if I wanted to have enough petrol to get home, I couldn't afford any other expenditure. So I drove as economically as I could to Dungun, where things were better - 14 l/100 km, which is not quite as bad.

About 15 km from Kemaman I had a flat tyre, not helped by the fact that the jack doesn't fit the car well, and I wanted to swap the tyres front to back on the right hand side. Finally I was done and continued to Kemaman, where I had an XAs from the ID mounted on an 11CV rim. Had some tea while I was waiting, and called Mum up and told her that I would be back in Kuala Lumpur between 24 and 02. On via Kuantan to Mentakab, since the petrol station in Temerloh was already closed. Had dinner in Mentekab - I needed to top up 1 l of oil! Then on through the hills and arrived home at 0155.