Barbara Yung's letters part 3: The Foundation 1984

Barbara Yung as Chun Sik Sik, 'The Foundation 1984' (credit in the image)

My apologies for the two weeks’ absent. Been doing very busy and productive trips with my amazing team back home. Anyway, I’m working on Part 4 of ‘Runaway Dragon and Missing Phoenix’, which I hope will be online this weekend. Meanwhile, these are two letters of Barbara’s she wrote in September 1983 and in October 1983 containing, among others, the Foundation 1984 series.

From the letters, I learned at least that she was considering either buying a house or investing in a small business (letter Sept’83), that she really cared about her extended family (particularly her mum) and friends, that Kent Tong also cared for her family (sending gifts, Sept’83), and that she liked puppies (letter Oct’83). The last bit somewhat fits the (sad) fact that there’s a little dog statue on her grave in Cambridge… she was apparently a dog lover…

I also learned about some internal problems with TVB (was that one of the reasons why Michael decided to leave TVB and the whole industry after Barbara’s death?). Barbara and Kent seemed to be in a good relationship during the Foundation making; they went to Singapore together afterwards.

What can you learn about her from these two letters, my dear readers?

-xxx-

Barbara's letter 26 September 1983

Dear Mommy,

    You have received the video tape I sent you? Have you rented the tape of "Sing Kong Yip Yip Yiu Bo Leung" in which I participated? I have recorded this show myself, but god-mother borrowed it for her daughter to watch, so I will send it to you after she brings it back.

Haven't received letters from uncle for quite a while, don't know how you all are doing? I am worried about you all, hope that you all can get along well. Mom, you should take everything easy, don't be stubborn. Also, please take more rest & don't be bothered by trivial matters. Uncle & auntie, please take care of mommy. Indeed, I really hope that you all can get along well. BTW, I have got the shoes & clothing you sent to me, Ken thanks for your gifts. Also, we asked Chi-Won to bring moon cake, beef jerky & melon seeds etc for you, have you got them?

I need to work overnight on Mid-Autumn festival, so I don't have time to have my dinner. Indeed, I don't have much appetite due to fatigue, so it doesn't matter. I have told my co-workers about uncle's past record in eating moon cake!  Anyway, "The Sandwiches Man" will be finished on Oct 2nd. One week after, I will work for "The Foundation" with Ken, Wong Yak Wah & Miu Kiu Wai.  Also, I will go to perform show in Thailand at the end of this year, & I will have US$2000 per night. How rich I will be!

Will mommy come back to HK? If not, I will come back to visit you all after the oversea show. I have been busy, & I have not met Ah Kiu for a while. She most likely will go to UK at the end of the year, since her visa has been approved.  I am not in good mood recently, always up & down. After all, I have too much to think, & I don't know whether I should spend the wage of the oversea show on housing or investing on small business. I hope that my final decision won't disappoint myself at the end. Also, I worry that mommy would be too lonely, & I hope she can go traveling around when she have time. I am facing a dilemma, since everything on hands make me clueless. Nevertheless, mommy, please take good care of yourself, & please don't think too much.  I hope that u can come to HK when you have time instead of staying bored at home. I always worry & care about you, especially during mid-nights. For my position nowadays, what should I do to obtain the ideal results in all cases? After all, once you are at work, there are many things out of your own control.

Daughter,

Sep, 26th, 1983

Barbara and Michael during the Foundation filming

 登台的錢買屋或做生意？~83/09/26．亭亭玉立的翁美玲與母親及老豆合照。           Spent wage of oversea show on buying house or investing in small business?

親愛的媽咪：

以上的錄影帶妳只收到？妳有沒有租我的（星光熠熠）看呢？我也有錄，代母借去旅行給女兒看，回來我把它寄給妳，近來都沒有舅的來信，不知家中怎樣？為之擔心，希望你們能大家體諒一點。媽咪凡事都應睇開，不要太固執，多休息為重，不要再為小事傷身，舅和舅母也請多照顧母親，總之，但願你們像一家人便好了，你的鞋和衣服都收到了，亞湯說謝謝。

我們托志雲帶回月餅、瓜子、牛肉乾等，你們可收到，中秋夜我還要開工通宵，真是連飯也沒吃得好，因為太累了，也不想多吃我還告訴他們當日我舅父吃月餅的紀錄呢！（夾心人）在十月二號拍完，但一星期後緊接拍（玄武門之變），是和亞湯、華仔和苗僑偉合拍，年尾決定到泰國登台，每晚有三千元美金，今次可發了。不知媽咪回不回來呢？若不，我就登完台回英探你們。

近來忙，未有見亞娟，她多數會在年尾去英國，因她的VISA已出，我的心情近日也不太好，時高時低，太多事要去想了，因為我不知把登台的錢用來買屋還是做小生意？希望我的打算不要令自己太失望。此外，便擔心母親一個人太寂寞了，更希望妳有空到處行下，我真有進退兩難之感，因為放在眼前的一切實令我矛盾，總之，媽咪妳一切都要小心，不要想太多，我希望妳有空便來港，總好比呆在家中好，我也很擔心和掛念妳，尤其夜深人靜之際，不時也想起你們，在今天的我，應該怎樣做才能兩全其美呢？人在江湖，身不由己呀！

女兒 囡囡

八三年九月廿六日

-xxx-

Barbara's letter 18 October 1983

Dear Mommy, Uncle & Shela,

   I have received the pictures from uncle & I have given them to Wah Jai ( Felix Wong) I heard that May May gave birth to 5 puppies, so have you taken pictures for them? Are you going to keep all of them? When I come back next time, maybe they can form a line to welcome me home? How cute will that be!

The production for "The Foundation" has begun, & it should be done by the end of November. It's most likely that I will go to perform show in Thailand on December. Anyway, Ken & I are invited to go to an opening ceremony at Singapore on 19th this month, & we will be back by 21st. Thus, we are recently busy at practicing songs besides working on the TV dramas. Since I will be on my own for the show in Thailand, I cannot make any mistakes. I think I should be given the "honor of courage" this time!

   I will participate in the coming anniversary show for TVB on 19th November, don't know what I will perform this time? Nevertheless, I am very busy. I have not met Ah Ku for a month, but we still keep in touch through phones. She asked me when I will be back to UK, so she can accompany with me. I think she probably wants to work in UK, so maybe you can ask Ling Chi to keep an eye for her.

Now, I only have one wish -- it's the opportunity to take part in films, but I don't know when TVB will let me do this. Indeed, Siu Si (The film company own by TVB) has invited Felix & I to take part in the film, " Fai Wu Or Chu". However, TVB only allowed Felix to work on the film, not me! How frustrating is it! Anyway, I know I can complain anymore. After all, I am the luckiest one among all since I entered the showbiz. People said that my case is really exceptional. It is because many people have to struggle for a long period in the showbiz before they are granted the opportunities, but now I can achieve that much in a short period of time. If I still complain, many people will beat me up! Now, I only worry if I can handle my job & keep on improving. After all, showbiz is very worldly; if you have no improvement, you are out. Also, HK people are materialistic, & they only care about fame, Anyway, I will take good care of myself, don't worry.

   Heard that Shela is pregnant, congrats! I hope that you can bring uncle & us happiness, since children can really bring pleasure & joy to a family. I wish you all happiness from miles away. Also, mommy, you should take good care & take more rest. Remember to go to your health [appointment] on scheduled date, & take everything easy! Don't worry too much on trivial matters! If I can take time off, I will definitely come back, don't worry about me. Please take care, take care!! Also, please say hi to Dad & everybody.

Daughter,

Oct 18th, 1983

 泰國登台自稱要捧勇氣獎~83/10/18   無論在螢幕或台上，亞翁與亞苗都有合作的機會。 Performed show in Thailand

親愛的媽咪、舅舅、Shela：

舅舅寄來的照片已收到，也給了華仔他們，聽說MAY MAY生了五隻狗仔，也為他們影相嗎？是不是把狗兒都留下呢？到時成群排隊出來迎接我，多得意，近日已開拍玄武門，要到十一月尾才拍完。相信我多數十二月去泰國登台，今月十九號我和亞湯被請去新加坡剪綵，二十一號才回港，所以除忙拍戲之外，近日勤練歌；因為泰國之行是個人登台，就是唔衰得。這回是要得個勇氣獎了。

今年台慶之夜也有份，是十一月十九號，今次不知要表演甚麼了？總之，很忙，連亞娟也有一個月未見了，只有通電話，她也是要看我幾時去英國，與我一道來，相信她想留英做事，所以不妨叫靈芝替她留意。

現在我還有一個願望，就是有機會拍電影，不知公司幾時才放人了，本來邵氏有部（飛狐外傳）是我和華仔的，但它竟放華仔而不放我，真氣激。不過，我也不埋怨甚麼了。出道以來我已算是最順景的一個，他們都說「史無前例」，因為很多人都要捱過一段時間的，而我卻能一步登天，還要怨，真是會被人打死！現在只怕自己能不能勝任和突破，事實起得快心理壓力也很大，因總不能讓自己退下來，但這行是非常現實的，不進則退，香港人是很現實，很看風頭。一切我會小心不要掛念。

聽聞Shela有喜，在此執筆恭喜妳，希望妳能帶給舅舅和我們一份喜悅。因為小孩子在一個家庭裡一定能添一份歡樂，我在遙遠的祝福你們快樂。媽咪也該多保重和休息，到日子便記得去檢查，一切要放開懷抱，不要為太多事而操勞啊！如請到假我一定回來，不要掛心，自己一切要小心，小心！請問候老豆等人。            

女兒 囡囡上

八三年十月十八日