Colours of wild canaries

 I need to repaint the interior of my restaurant. I need a colour that is bright and cheerful. When I
bought over the business, the previous proprietor had the shop painted in two contrasting colours. Rusted red and egg yolk yellow. Then I was in love with the colours. I found it rustic but the problem with it, was the people identified it with the previous proprietor. No, no, not good for me. I need my 'brand', my own colours for the restaurant. I sat in my restaurant for days looking up and around thinking and imagining the colours. I played with colours on a drawing block. I matched the colour pencils in pairs and threes. I tried remembering the things that I love during my growing years. I love the sea, hills, waterfalls, forests, sky, birds and many more. Birds, oh yes, the canaries.


When I was 9 years old staying in Johor Bahru, we had canaries as pets. My father built a birdhouse using wire mesh and pieces of wood. I watched father built the birdhouse, helping him with the nails and hammer. Eagerly giving him a hand when needed. It was on stilts about three feet above the ground. Rectangular in shape with a small swing and pieces of branches in it for the birds to perch. I was given the duty to clean the birds and their house. I dutifully cleaned the bowls and filled them with birdseeds and water. I enjoyed spraying the birds with water. The canaries were green and yellow......The colours of wild canaries became the new colours for the restaurant. The canaries that reminded me so much of my childhood. The canaries that reminded me of my father's talent with wood work. The canaries that gave me so much joy taking care of them. The yellow and green gives so much energy and calmness to the restaurant. My customers find the colours very refreshing.....

Now when sitting at my table in my restaurant sipping my drinks or reading, I would occasionally gaze around the shop. Gazing at the colours brought back pictures of my days at that moment. It is like a movie. The fun father and  I had together building the birdhouse. The three tier stilts ( tangga ayam ) father made for mother's many pots of plants. The big bush of pink roses I adored very much. Father hung a hammock made from raffia on the only tree, a pink frangipani in the compound. I would laze in the hammock in the noons because that was the only time possible. My brother and sister would be having their naps then. Once a week I brushed the drains clean. The house came with a big compound. Father has green fingers, the garden was filled with hedges of shrubs as borders, rows of daisies, morning glory on the fence, tomato, chilli plants. There were more which I do not know the names....The green and yellow colours of the canaries is part of me.    

Sepak Raga and Non Kilat

My father played Sepak Raga during his young days. Sepak Raga is a Malay traditional game played with a rattan ball. It could be played in a circle of three or more persons, passing the rattan ball using the legs. The rattan ball is bounced on the inner side of the ankle with the leg bended before the ball is passed to another person positioned opposite. Sometimes the ball is headed among the players. This is when the game is played in non serious manner. Sepak Raga is commonly played in the 'kampongs' ( villages ) in the evenings. The young men and teenagers would gather in open spaces to play Sepak Raga.  In a competition Sepak Raga is played in a team of three persons. Each team will be on either sides of the net. The court is similar to that of badminton. My father played Sepak Raga and he was good. He played 'tekong' the person standing in the middle between two players. They are positioned in a triangle with the other two players near the net. Father would 'lipat' ( kick ) the ball towards the opponent when served by his teamate. Most of his kicks would kill the opponents and collected points for the team. His kicks were strong, fast and targeted direct to the opponents. They could not returned the kicks. So fast were his kicks that Father was nicknamed ' Non Kilat',  ( lightning Non )  Father's name is Zainal Abidin Mohamad Arabee. In Penang Non is shortform for Zainal. Zainal, short is Nal and with a local dialect becamed Non. Father played for the Penang Team during his good times. Later when Father joined the Navy, he was the captain for the Navy Sepak Raga team. Father was in the Penang team during the 'Piala Emas Khir Johari' tournament. The first ' Piala Emas Khir Johari ' tournament was played in Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur in the year 1962. Penang won against Singapore. Father told me that his teamates were Talib Mat Isa and another whom I cannot recall his name. I am unable to ask Father because at this very moment ( 2344 hours 10/10/2012 ), Father is recuperating in PPUKM ( Perbadanan Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia ). Only hours ago Father had a major surgery. The surgery took 9 hours. Father suffered IPMN ( intraducter papillary mucinous neoplasm). Father is now 77 years old and I still remember him in his sports attire when he played with the Navy team. I was about 3 or maybe 4 years old then. Father looked handsome in his white shirt and shorts with knee high socks. My prayers Father recovers well. Father, you have many more stories to tell me. I am looking forward to those moments........

Father receiving the tournament cup Piala Emas Khir Johari
from Malaysia's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman -1962

Friendly birds

Friendly birds or maybe I am friendly to the birds. 'Gembala kerbau' is the name of a species of a bird in the malay language. My apologies for not knowing the name of that bird in the english language. These birds are mostly found near rice paddy fields. The buffalo is their favourite hound. 'Gembala kerbau' literally means buffalo shepherd. Their size is between that of a sparrow and a pigeon. Dark greyish feathers with a small black strip on their head.....During my college days, every morning the birds would come to feed on my room window ledge. I would keep leftovers for them. After sometime I noticed from the group of birds, one particular bird would stay behind. To my surprise it too would the first to emerge on the ledge every morning chirping as if it was greeting me. This went on for quite sometime and we soon became friends. I fed the bird any leftovers but if I have none I would give it biscuits or cornflakes or oats, my cereals. As I prepared to go to class the bird, hopping on the ledge would chirp merrily, and I talked to it. One morning my next room neighbour came to my room. She was curious and asked me who was I talking to in the mornings. I told her to look outside and I introduced her to my little bird friend. She was so amused.......After graduating I went back to stay with my parents. There I made friends with 'Togel' a name I gave to a bird. Togel means hairless, this bird had no feathers on its head. Togel would not join the other birds maybe because it is the odd one and felt different. Togel never went far from the window ledge of my kitchen. Togel was tame that it ate from my hand. I told Togel, 'you can stay on the ledge provided you do not dirty it with your shit.'.Believe me if I say that cute little bird understood. Togel slept on the ledge. For Togel's comfort I placed a small basket with  cloth remnants. .....Now I still feed the birds. Bread, rice, biscuits leftovers from the kitchen. In the morning, from the balcony scattering the leftovers onto the rooftop, I would call out to the birds, 'breakfast, breakfast, breakfast, come on breakfast breakfast.' Pigeons, sparrows, very few crows, a couple of small yellow birds and the 'gembala kerbau' nesting in the trees in the vicinity flies down to feed. I told them what I told Togel, 'I feed all of you birds, do not dirty my place.' My balcony is clean of their shit!.........I still talk to the birds.

Kuliah Di Masjid TAR, Ampang..21 hb September 2012.

Kuliah di sampaikan olih uztaz Syed Salleh Al Jefri dari Solo, Indonesia. Seperti biasa kuliah di mulakan dengan doa. Saya agak lewat sepuluh minit dari waktu yang ditetapkan kuliah bermula. Alhamdulillah di masjid ini ramai jemaah yang hadir untuk pengajian yang di sampaikan olih beberapa uztaz yang berwibawa dan amat amat dalam ilmu agamanya. Uztaz membuka tajuk hari itu dengan kata kata, 'Allah amat amat menyayangi kita, hambaNya. Bukti Dia menyayangi hambaNya adalah Dia memberi segala nikmat di dunia. NIkmat yang banyak tiada terhitung. Contohnya mata. Di mata sahaja tidak dapat kita membayangkan nikmat yang dapat kita perolehi. Dengan mata kita dapat melihat wajah ibu ayah yang menyayangi kita. Dengan mata juga dapat kita mengenal keindahan alam dengan segala warna , bentuk berbagai rupa. Makanan dan minuman yang memberi kita tenaga untuk menjalani seharian kita. Dari situ Allah jadikan susu agar ibu dapat menyusu bayi bayi mereka. Susu yang lengkap dengan gizi, antibodi yang membantu tumbesaran sihat setiap bayi. Dengan penyusuan itu juga membuah ikatan kasih antara ibu dan anak yang lebih kukuh. Setiap ibu akan mengatakan menyusu bayi mereka itu juga adalah satu nikmat...Tapi ada kala perkara yang sangat kita inginkan tidak di beri Allah kepada kita atas sifat kasihNya. Sebab Dia maha mengetahui perkara itu bahaya buat kita. Mari kita teliti akan hal berikut. Seorang anak kecil terlihat sebilah pisau dimana anak kecil itu pernah melihat ibunya memotong sayur. Di dalam minda anak kecil itu dia ingin meniru perbuatan ibunya. Lalu diambil pisau itu dan segenggam pucuk pucuk daun yang di petik di laman. Anak tadi memotong motong daun daun dengan gembira. Anak kecil itu tidak tahu yang perbuatannya itu akan membawa padah . Ibu pada anak kecil itu telah nampak. Lumrah Ibu akan menjaga anaknya dari bahaya. Dengan perlahan ibu itu menghampiri anaknya dari belakang agar anaknya tidak terkejut. Dengan teliti ibu itu mengambil pisau tadi dari tangan anaknya. Anak terus menangis minta dipulangkan pisau itu. Tapi adakah ibu itu memberi walaupun anaknya menangis? Ya, tidak, ibu itu tidak memberi pisau kembali pada anaknya sebab dia tahu pisau ditangan anaknya akan membawa bencana pada anaknya. Ibu  bertindak demikian atas dasar kasihnya pada anaknya. Begitu juga Allah. Dia tidak menunaikan sebahagian keinginan dan kemahuaan hambaNya sebab Dia sayang pada hamba hambaNya. Allah tidak mahu hambaNya kelak mendapat bahaya Kalau pisau itu mainan anak kecil itu, permainan hamba yang dewasa adalah pekerjaan, harta benda, wang ringgit, pangkat,anak, isteri, suami, kebun, ladang, emas permata, kenderaan, binatang tunggangan.............Pada zaman Rasulullah s.a.w. berlaku peperangan. Terdapat beberapa buah khemah di kawasan berlakunya perang. Di dalam satu antara khemah itu seorang ibu dan bayinya. Dalam gopoh ibu hendak melarikan diri dia mencapai selimut di sebelah dirinya terus lari semahu mahu kakinya dapat berlari. Setiba di sebuah kawasan yang selamat alangkah terkejut ibu bila mendapati bungkusan selimut itu tiada bayinya. Ibu itu meraung menangis sekuat kuat hatinya sebab dia percaya bayinya pasti mati di henyak kaki kaki kuda yang ditunggangi. Selesai perang Rasulullah s.a.w. telah memeriksa setiap khemah dan baginda menjumpai bayi itu. Baginda telah mengambil bayi itu. Dengan bayi itu dalam pelukan, Rasulullah s.a.w.telah bertanya adakah sesiapa yang kehilangan bayi. Sahabat sahabat Nabi  memandang antara satu sama lain mengelengkan kepala. Ibu tadi yang jauh di belakang telah dengar laungan suara Nabi. Ibu itu terus berlari kehadapan sambil berteriak, mungkin bayi itu bayi dia. Setiba dia di kelompok sahabat sahabat Nabi ditolaknya mereka ketepi supaya dia dapat melihat bayi yang dalam pelukan Rasulullah.s.a.w. Didapati bayi itu adalah anaknya yang disangka sudah mati. Ibu itu mendapatkan bayinya, terisak isak ibu itu mendakap mencium bayinya sepuas hati. Semua yang ada di situ amat terharu dan hiba. Ada yang menitiskan airmata. Rasulullah s.a.w. berkata, fahamilah wahai sahabat sahabatKu bahawa kasih Allah pada hambaNya 700kali lipat ganda dari kasih ibu itu pada bayinya............Bersangka baik pada Allah dan jangan sekali bersangka buruk pada Allah.

We need a toys-box

After the picture book Nadiah and I did together, we embarked on another project. I believed getting my daughter involved in these crafts projects would enhance her intelligence. The step by step process of finishing the craft is an excellent learning stage for her. This time we did a box to accommodate her growing collection of toys. I made certain her toys were educational toys, those of 'playschool', 'fisher price', lego, lasy and many other building blocks and so forth. I also made 'batu serenban' for her to play, a traditional game which trains one's coordination skills. One needs to be fast with one's eyes, fingers and hands. 'Batu serenban', can be played with small pebbles but often it is made from pieces of cloth sewn into a pyramid shape. The small pyramid pouches are filled with tiny beans. The game comes in a set of five or seven small pyramid pouches. When Nadiah attended primary school she had me made the 'batu serenban' for her friends. I am off track. I am suppose to be writing about the toys-box. This time I used a washing machine box. A rectangular box about two feet in width and three feet in length. I cut it to the height of two feet. The box was wrapped with multilayers of thick brown papers. The reason for doing so is to give the box additional strength making it strong and sturdy. My daughter had the task of pasting cut pictures round the outer side of the box. She was happy to have a big box of her own to keep her toys. I am much happier because there is less mess around the house. Sometimes Nadiah would empty the box,climbed into it making it her castle. Children and their imagination never fail to amaze oneself. We placed the box in the living room and it became a conversation piece.

My First Picture Book

I collected a few used cardboard boxes. I would take those boxes from a sundry shop near my house. I had a project in mind. I wanted to make a picture book for Nadiah, my first born. Nadiah was about two years then. I thought a self made picture book would be an interesting craft to do. Besides that Nadiah would learn objects from the picture book. Together both Nadiah and me browsed through magazines cutting pictures for our craft. We picked pictures that are simple which Nadiah can easily identify. The boxes were cut into pieces of approximately nine inches on each side, making almost perfect squares. The cut pieces were then wrapped with brown papers. Once wrapped they were ready to have the cut pictures pasted onto. Nadiah helped with her deft fingers. Of course I did most of the job with her making all the mess. We managed to paste the pictures on both sides of ten pieces of squares. The almost done self made picture book were bound together. Using a thick needle and embroidery thread I sewed the pieces together. My daughter watched attentively. She shrieked with delight once she realized that her picture book was completed. Well almost completed, holding a red crayon in her hands I guided her to write on the front page 'My first Picture Book'. When Nadiah could write she wrote her name on the cover. Later, much later, when Nasihah, my third daughter learned to write, she canceled her older sister's name and wrote her name. The picture book is still with us and holds its place proudly among the many books that we have collected along the years.

I remember those eyes.

I was cradling my new born baby, not yet a day old, my third daughter when I heard  from a distance, chattering of a child. It was visiting hours in the hospital. They were voices I recognize very well. She was holding her grandma's, my mother's hand. My eldest was walking next to them, herself only a week away to turning six. In my second child's hand was her rag doll which  I named Ofi. The rag doll was mine. A dear friend gave it to me when I was in college. Ofi is older than her and she still has Ofi. Now Ofi keeps her warm in college. Yes, she is now in university pursuing a Law degree.
Nafisah had just turned two years old when I presented her with a little sister. Months before that we pondered on the names for the unborn baby. Nadiah my first born decided on the name Nasihah. Eager as she was to see her little sister, Nafisah was quite hesitant not knowing what to expect. As she approached I saw those eyes, huge, round, black, inquisitive. The image so vivid until now. Nafisah was wearing a pink plain and checked three tier dress. Same color as Ofi's. Bubblegummers shoes with lace white socks. Her  straight hair was kept in the china doll style. The fringes was just above her eyes covering her eyebrows. She looked like a doll herself. Her round black eyes eyed the moving bundle in my arms. Her curious eyes locked on Nasihah. She slowly moved forward and touched her little sister. It was a sight to behold. Then all the questions flowed from her, why is the baby this, why is the baby that, why does the baby do that, why does the baby do this, why does the baby cry???????..she had so many questions and insisted on the answers. There I was, still tired after childbirth entertaining her with the answers. Nafisah's growing years are full with questions, a very inquisitive child. A very intelligent child.
Those eyes, lovely eyes. God bestowed her a pair of beautiful eyes. There are moments in your childrens' life that stays with you. Mine are many. With Nafisah, when I see her, her eyes, I remember that evening when she came to visit her baby sister and me at the hospital. The rag doll in her hand, the other holding her grandma....

September

September. What does the month September brings to you? Good memories? Bad memories? I had my share of good memories. The best that has had happened was when I started my restaurant. I would say that day the 1st of September 2001 was when I made the 'Hijrah'. Stepping into a better opportunity, a new  experience. I considered it a brave bold decision. I wanted to do it, not trying one will never know if one is capable or not. I am glad I did what I did. I was a homemaker, I never had any experience in either running a  business nor an office job. I made the 'Hijrah' because I believed I will have the strongest support from The Almighty. I still have HIS support.

I was restless as the day approached and I had sleepless nights. The anxiety was at its optimum. The day came and I managed. I actually managed to operate a restaurant, I did it! There were problems along the way but gradually everything settled and fell into place. Although to others this may seem like a small feat but I deserve a standing ovation...Clap Clap Clap

Not forgetting my daughters who patiently wait for me to come home to give me their big bear hugs, the restaurant is for you.

   

My first born.

Two days ago Nadiah, my first born turned 25. She is still in university pursuing her interest. Though she has another interest now I'm glad that she is able to focus on graduating. When I was 25, I was expecting her. Since she was a toddler she was independent, insisting to doing things herself. She is a fast leaner. Her first english word was fish. Nadiah was three years old then. Her favourite book was this child encyclopedia with a volume on fishes. So much was her interest in sea life that in her primary school she did a project which was about anemones. Now her interest is on the human anatomy. Nadiah entered playschool when she was about four years old. I remembered her wearing a pair of light orange floral 'baju kurung' with a small batik headscarf carrying a small wicker bag. She looked so adorable. On her first day to playschool she insisted that I do not walked her to the door. She made me stopped at the gate and I watched her confidently met her teachers and entered the school. With your first born there are so many first experiences, cherished moments. I was a full time mom and I was there throughout my daughters growing time. Nadiah has three other sisters. I made a choice to be a full time mom. I had a wonderful time and many many splendour things of my life. Nadiah went to boarding school at the age of sixteen. So sweet sixteen that she attracted quite a few admirers. One of them manage to win her heart and they are a couple since last year. She has grown into a beautiful lady. She is a wonderful sister to her younger siblings. She is very caring towards her grandparents. She is a good companion to my sister when shopping! She is affectionate to her uncles. She is the big sister to her cousins. She is my friend....Nadiah, my dear first born, Allah bless you.  

Gentle Rose

Her husband calls her Grace. Among us, her friends she is known as Rose. She is medium built, slender a soft spoken lady. Fair complexion with short sassy hair. She is very thoughtful and she phrases her sentences very well when speaking. Rose is very observant and she only speaks when necessary. She would give much thought before speaking. She makes good eye contact when talking to. A conscientious character as I would describe her...Rose with her son and daughter left for Morocco two weeks ago to be with her husband. She called me from the airport before boarding. Telling me to take good care of myself, telling me she shall miss me, telling me life will be kind to me eventually, trust in God, telling me she asked God to bless me. I could not speak, I was crying, I could not contain myself, I was sobbing. Three days before her departure date Rose arranged for a small gathering for a group of us. We had breakfast and was served 'nasi lemak'. Rose had a friend to cater for the food. One Saturday before the farewell gathering I bought Rose some souvenirs. Since she enjoys reading novels and loves cooking, naturally I gave her books relating to her interest. To remind myself of her I got the same cooking book for my keeping. I was in tears when jotting down  some compliments in the books then wrapping them.... We hugged each other tightly, looking into each others eyes, crying because we both know that we would not be seeing each other again. I have many friends, only a few are dear to me but Rose is especially close to me in her own way. I guess we are both close to each other because we are both survivors. Rose is a cancer survivor while I am a survivor in lives' matters. We feel for each other. We both endure the sadness, the bitter painful difficult phases life laid for us...'Rose, it was a pleasant surprise when you handed me the picture of both of us. I miss you, Gentle Rose'.

On your mark.......

'Ayomat get set go'! My sister likes to play run with her friends. They were in kindergarten then. Young age learning the english language. They sprinted from one end to the other. She would pretend  she's a sprinter running in a race. Her friends  and her would form a straight line. Each bending placing their hands on the line they drew before a race.  Imitating those sprinters in the actual races. My sister was the leader in the pack. She would make sure that she gave the cue to run. Confidently she'd shout 'Ayomat get set go'! Off they went racing to the finish line. Most of the races I would win, much to my sister's annoyance. Since I am taller with longer legs and eight years her senior, I was sort of a bully. Yes, I would join in at the very last minute when they had started.  Now when we reminiscence those racing years we laugh at the phrase 'Ayomat get set go'! When it should have been 'on your mark get set go'. Until today when we, us siblings and nieces want to race or finish a challenge, we'll shout 'Ayomat get set go'! And we'll laugh and laugh and laugh till our stomach aches...

Precious moments

'My parents dote my children to the extent of spoiling them', sighs a mother to her friend. Almost every parent have that worry that their parents give to much attention to the grandchildren. I have a question to forward. Why do you think grandparents react in those manners towards their grandchildren? We, like other beings in this world grow old. We age, more so are our aging parents, soon will leave this world. Leaving those who are very dear to them. Leaving those they love with every bit of their soul. Every moment is precious. Every moment is spent to the fullest. Every moment must be filled with joy. The fulfilling joy comes from being with their offspring and grandchildren. Not a moment wasted. The day will come, the grandmother or grandfather returns to The Almighty. The day when they will no longer be able to see they grandchildren whose eyes potrays so much love for the grandparents. All grandchildren loves their grandparents unconditionally. The grandchildren are affectionate towards their grandparents, much to the joy of our parents....I realised this sometime ago but the understanding is most only recently. My mother had to have a mitral valve replacement surgery. The times before the surgery was with so much anxiety, then came the moments immediately after the surgery. More anxiety. All her grandchildren were with her throughout those crucial moments. I prayed hard for God to give us more time to be together. Mother is now recuperating very well. She looks forward to spoil her grandchildren with her good cooking!

My father taught me how to fish....

It was in the year 1970, I was 8 years old. Father was in the navy and he was the Royal Malaysian Navy Liaison Officer in Penang. We stayed in the quarters provided in the perimeter of KD Sri Pinang at The Esplanade. The bungalow was literally built in the sea opposite Fort Cornwallis. In the morning i see dolphins swimming in the sea not far off from our home. Ships sailed pass miles distance away towards Penang Harbour, approaching from Mukah Head.  Gunung Jerai  can be clearly seen. The RMAF airplanes taking off and land at their airbase in Butterworth were not missed.......I would follow father to fish whenever possible. There's abundance of fish in the sea near the base. Fish like Garoupa, 'jenahak', 'siakap batu', small green 'ikan todak' (loads of them, by the buckets when in season), crabs and many more. Kedah pier is beside the base and many people came to fish, never going home empty handed.......my fishing rod was a long thin bamboo which makes good fishing rods. Father taught me how to tie the fish hook and weights, He often took me along to buy worms at Weld Quay. There were many shops selling fishing items along the road. The shops were managed by the local chinese. The last time I was in Penang, the shops still exist. The worms are mixed with sawdust and it has a distinct smell. A smell that is emitted when the worms are mixed in soaked sawdust. The smell of sawdust more prominent. Passing by the shops during my last visit to Penang, brought to my sense that familiar smell.....Strange that I did not get squeamish when holding the worms when 'fixing" them to the hook. Guess I am a natural. Fishing was easy and fun. The first fish I caught was a ' siakap batu' about the size of a dinner plate. Imagine the excitement of an 8 year old landing her first fish. Jumping, hopping and screaming with joy. I graduated to catching garoupas, crabs and sometimes pulling in rubbish from the sea!  1971 father was transfered to Woodlands, Singapore. And my next fishing adventures were when we moved to Labuan, Sabah. Those were great times, fishing. Fishing on boats out in the sea. During those fishing trips, father and me had some of our great moments.

A Father

We, my brother and me were waiting our dear mother undergoing, mitral valve replacement surgery in IJN. While browsing through the newspaper he asked, 'akak bila father's day,' ( sis when is father's day ). That question reminded me of a drama I watched on tv.............A son wanted to participate in a badminton tournament. He wanted to win and become champion. He wanted a new racket as he believed it will enable him to win. The father is a labourer with a company in his village. To fulfil his son's wish, he took a partime job carrying fish baskets from the fishing boats to land. His effort held him late into the nights which worries his wife as he already has a cough. The son broke his piggy bank but the savings is not enough. He whines for the new racket. A couple of days later the father handed him the money for the racket. One night the son while admiring his new racket overheard the mother saying, ' abang, kita orang miskin, kita tak mampu sakit. Bila sakit berlarutan payah sembuh.' ( my dear husband, we are poor we cannot afford to get sick ). The father's cough has worsened. He looked and stroked the new racket. After dinner the next day the son stood in front his coughing father opened the father's palm and placed the money from which he sold his new racket. The son said,' Bapak saya tidak perlu raket baru untuk jadi juara.' ( father I do not need a new racket to win. ). The father said the money is yours son and yours to keep. The father looked lovingly at the son and said,' kau simpan duit ini, ini duit kamu, bapak seronok bila kau seronok, bapak suka sekali bila keluarga seronok.' ( I am happy when my family is happy ).........I remembered a friend once mentioned the same phrase.

Numbering....

Have any of you call your children by numbers. I do. With only my first born and second it was never a problem. Nadiah and Nafisah. Then I had my third followed by my fourth, Nasihah and Nazifa. When only one of them or two is around it was easy. Should I need any of my daughters I would just call their names. Nadiah please set the table, Nadiah, have you done your homework, Nafisah where is the scissors, Nafisah, the dishes need washing....Nasihah, Nazifa, this and that and it goes on. In case you have not notice my daughters' names begin with "Na' with the fourth alphabet 'I'. Confusion begins when all four are around. I would have their names mixed up when calling out for any of them. Funny isn't it? That I the mother could mess up. My siblings too would sometimes have the names called for the wrong person. They would complain why do I named their nieces as such. Well, what do I do, yes, I decided to call them by numbers. Nadiah, number one. Nafisah number two. Nasihah number three. Nazifa number four. So the next time you happen to be in public space and hears  a mother calling 'number two' in a group of charming ladies, yes that would be us........

Baby gajah

'Nadiah, please help me with the curtains'. 'Later mother, i need to attend to baby gajah!' Baby gajah as big baby. Elephant is big. Baby is a baby. A person who most of the times demand to be attended to like a baby whose needs are looked upon is called a baby. Only that when that person has outgrown the baby stage in our family she is called baby gajah. The phrase has been in the family since i do not know when. Maybe after my firstborn started primary school and maybe she is the one who started the phrase. Baby gajah and 'not-not' ( i shall tell later) is often called upon among us. I have not heard the phrase for quite sometime because my daughters are away in college. So is my sister who works overseas. Only recently we got a chance to meet and when we do, that is when all the teasing started. The phrase baby gajah surfaces again. I said to myself, wow its been a long time, uttered as naturally as can be. Teasing is fun, creates laughter.  I believe the phrase will stay with us for a long long time. As long as any of us 'wants' to be baby gajah.............

Warisan Bonda

After a hard day's work i would have the radio at almost full volume. Tuned in to my favourite channel Light FM. Never dreamt that one day i would be singing along with the radio in my restaurant while cleaning and closing. The singing helps me to relax. The restaurant is named Warisan Bonda. It all began about ten years ago. I woke up from one morning nap, sitting on my bed with my youngest on my lap, saying to myself, hey zuraidah there has to be more to life than being  only a homemaker. People asked me why did i start the restaurant business. I never worked after receiving my diploma. 17 years after leaving college, whatever I've learnt is considered ancient. I used to have dreams running a restaurant and that's what i did, operate a restaurant! Initially my idea was to have a small cafe that I could serve homemade dishes, make it very homely with a corner for crafts and books. I ended with a shoplot so that's how Warisan Bonda got started. My restaurant serves dishes that i learnt from my mother and aunties and my grandmoms. Hence Warisan Bonda which is a malay phrase meaning heritage from the mothers. Literally warisan means heritage, bonda means mother. The restaurant serves food from the malaysian dishes....menu malaysia. Restaurant Warisan Bonda has a facebook. Stay 'tune' there shall more  postings on my 'baby' god willing.

it comes.........

Hadn't seen jerry for quite a while. We met at lunch this afternoon. The usual hellos and greetings. Jerry asked how's life....me answering..hmmm, things are good well fine. When it comes, it comes. When it goes, it goes. When it stays, it stays. There are things we can control and there are those beyond our control. If its yours it shall be yours, god willing. If its not meant to be yours, it never will be. It can be that little kitten you saw at the pet store. It can be that beautiful dress you noticed in the fashion magazine or the funky sports shoes or the dream house. Many things we wish and hope for but there are also many things that we do not really need to make us happy. Working towards things that are reasonably within our reach makes us happier if not happiest person. Less stress and frowning brows, hahaha. But then there is this one question, love, love. Looking, searching, hoping, wishing, pining..........then you realise when you let go of these looking, searching, hoping, wishing, pining you feel better. Look at oneself and around us, there is enough love to make one happy. The greatest love of all comes from The All Mighty.....never doubt His love for His most  beautiful creation, us.

Mak Cik Member

Seorang bilal perempuan d Masjid Kampong Melayu Ampang.  Maksud bilal dsini dia mengetuai kumpulan jemaah perempuan memandikan jenazah.  Mak cik ni dah berumur 96 tahun dan celoteh ragamnya.  Amat dkenali ramai d tempatnya .  Semua orang ditegurnya baik tua muda lelaki pererempuan, setiap orang di buat kawan.  Mak cik cerita pada saya yang dia berasal dari Muar.  Semasa jepun dia menoreh getah.  Berhijrah ke tempat sekarang pada tahun 1971, masa tu katanya ampang ni hutan belukar lagi. Bila menengok makcik segar sihat saya rasa saya nak tua macam dia. Kekadang kita lupa dan alpa akan kesihatan kita. Tapi bila kita tengok seseorang seperti mak cik member, datang desakan dalam diri untuk menjaga segala kurniaan yang maha besar dan syukur.  Makcik, kita jumpa lagi insyaAllah.

3rd January 2012

Fiftieth birthday and an accomplishment, why so? I bought myself a chain, later i had some jello and all smiles.