Sunday Morning

Sunday morning . Its school day for the children and marketing day for me . Honestly , I was not in top form .......was still feeling tired . I don't feel good ............

As a stay at home mum , I can't afford to be sick . After all .........you are everything to the household .......the chauffeur , the chef ......the maid ......the general manager ........the domestic engineer ...... I need my inner strength to proceed with the daily activities . It reminded me of the song by Helen Reddy ......' I am strong , I am invincible ....I am woman............'

Today I was in luck . My husband was around and he tagged along too . Marvelous ....... how I wish it could be like this every morning .

After dropping the children off at school , we had breakfast . I ate ' roti telur ' and my husband took ' nasi lemak ' . Its a rare occasion for both of us to be together in town that early in the morning . Most times , his working schedules denied us of such opportunities . These rare moments were indeed appreciated . Maybe he felt guilty and felt pitiful towards me ........hehe...

We headed to the wet market for my grocery marketing . Crossing the road , I heard somebody calling me with a " Oiii !!! Dan !!"

Masyaallah .......it was my once upon a time buddy of yesteryears ........Syamsul Sakinah . To bump into your long lost friend ...pretty early in the morning was indeed beautiful . I was delighted .......!!! She was the ever bubbly self ........... full of smiles and very very chatty . As we walked together towards the market , we tried to catch up on each others news . Alas , we soon parted ways as both of us was very much in a hurry . In my case I was feeling exhausted and still in need of a rest .


The above pictures were taken two weeks ago ........I just loved the colors of the vegetables .

Feeling Horrible

Feeling slightly better now . ....I'm still alive and breathing .....Alhamdullillah .


It was bad yesterday ...... pain in my head and my joints plus a watery nose and eyes ........


I moved about like a zombie . I still have the strength to drive the children to school and picked them up . Still managed to buy the newspaper .......could still reached home despite the numerous " a-ti- shoo " along the way . Managed to dry the laundry and prepared the necessary ingredients for cooking chicken rice ......for lunch . Then I could not take it anymore ..........I hit the sack and was off to slumberland .


The rest was very much needed ....though when I woke up my head felt heavy ..........I finally dragged myself to the doctor .

The Test .

I failed my first driving test . I was disappointed . So was my father .

I remembered that day very well . Just my luck !! I got a scary guy for a tester . He was unfriendly and didn’t bother to make me feel at ease .

I was nervous …frozen solid . I was not feeling confident at all . I did the parking……..as this guy observed everything . Next , it was time to hit the road . He got in the car and told me to move .

We drove into town …….at that time of the morning , it was at its most busiest . My hands were sweaty and I swear I could not feel my legs at all . Either they fell asleep or just evaporated into thin air . The car still moved forward though and did not stopped mid way . I tried not to make any mistakes .

The tester prodded me to drive into the busiest section of the town . This guy had no mercy at all . There was a traffic light in the middle of town . Unlucky me ………the lights turned red and I had to stop . I looked in the rear mirror and saw a couple of other cars behind . My heart beat faster . The lights changed to green …..and I was off …..so fast that the car tyres screeched as it “ picked up ” . He did not say anything . I knew he took a look at me and maybe he was thinking …..you trying to kill me or what ? I knew I failed the test ….round one .

I thought that was the end of it . On the way back to “ base ” , this guy signaled to me to turn right ……..where this road led to the steepest hill in town . I drove up the hill and at its steepest gradient he told me to stop ; which I did . My leg firmly on the brake……….as my left hand changed the gear to neutral and pulled up the hand brake . Then he asked me to switch off the car engine . The car did not slipped down hill . Hooray !!!!!!

Then he asked me to switch on the car engine . I put the car into gear one ………with my leg on the clutch and the other leg firmly on the brake pedal . Then I released the hand brake ………and the leg that was on the brake pedal was supposed to move to the gas pedal ……so as to move the car up as the hand brake was released .

Somehow it didn’t turn out that way and I found the car was sliding down hill . That was when I panicked . I can’t recall how I managed to make my way to base . I blew away my chance of getting that plastic card .

I failed . To add insult to injury ……he said “ You are a dangerous driver ” as he stalked off . Boo hoo!!!

Part 2........The Driving Lessons

After I graduated from my father’s " driving lessons " , I was sent to another . This time it was a proper class in the sense that the guy who taught us had a permit to teach people how to drive .

My father decided Mr . Boss to teach me driving . In other words he was my driving instructor . I knew him because he was a family friend . Of course my father would choose him as Mr Boss would not dare do any funny stuff towards me . After all he had heard of funny things some driving instructors did to their students …especially when those students happened to be females .

I remembered it cost my father about RM350 for the class . My session would be three times a week ; each lasting about twenty to thirty minutes . I used Mr. Boss's car for the training . I can’t remember the car’s model only that it was a Japanese white Toyota and not automatic .

Mr. Boss was very focused and serious when teaching . No funny funny business going on . In fact I can't remember any intelligent conversation I had with him . In those days it was a very practical and hands on learning …….meaning there were no simulators for us to practice .

The place where we learners did our parkings was at an empty space next to the town’s community hall . My session had its routine …..learn how to park ……..not a fun thing to do especially when the day was very , very hot . Then a spin in town ….of course with me at the wheel ......with the car windows rolled down to let in the air and breeze .

Of course my legs and knees were wobbly and jelly like the first time I drove in town . It was scary ….the other cars seemed to have no respect for learners like me …….or so I thought . I had to drive slow …..and a couple of times I caught Mr . Boss dozing off now and then . How he tried to stay awake ………and how I tried to stay alive .

My First .....Driving Lesson

Many , many years ago , I had always looked with envy at friends who had their driver’s license . I think it was every teenagers dream to get one and be able to drive their father’s car legally .

My father was a stickler for law and order ….after all once upon a time he was a policeman . We never sneaked out to try use the car as the car keys were constantly with him . To drive meant one must get a valid driver’s license ……..after all the law is the law .

My father ......

When I finished high school , my father decided it was time his daughter be introduced to ………..“ How to drive a car ” . But first ……. it was necessary for him to introduce the basic rules of driving and parts of a car to me first . So began my first driving lesson with my father .

I remembered sitting next to him in the car . The first lesson being :

1 ) This is the signal light . If you want to turn left ….use this to turn left .

2) To turn right , use this signal light to turn right .

3 ) If you are not turning anywhere , don’t use the signals .

Remember ….left signals for left turns only and right signals for right turns only . No signals means you are not turning . Okay ......okay ....

Next he introduced the clutch and the brakes ; and how the clutch coordinates with the changing of the gear . Note that the car was not automatic so it took me a while for my left limbs and my mind to work together should I go into gear one , two , three or four . Of course , on that day it was only gear one and two only .

I finally made the car moved forward …….. jerkily though . There was a car in front of me and father said ‘ Do not drive too close to the car that is in front of you . Keep a safe distance .’ Okay ………I took that as yes ……my front bumper and that car’s back bumper were not friends .

Then father said ‘ Now ….see if there is another car behind you ’…….to that instruction , I automatically turned my head to look and father cried out loud……..’ Use the mirror …, use the mirror ’ …….Luckily we were on a straight road and I was going rather slow …so that split second of me turning my head to take a look at what was behind did not end as a disaster . See…….my father gave me all the tips but he forgot to introduce the rear and side mirrors to me .

Of course , I know the orders of the traffic lights . Green means go . Red means stop . Yellow means get ready to stop as the next light is red . Now the yellow light is interpreted as …..hurry up ….hurry up………its going to be a red light soon . So you drove like crazy thru the lights and risked killing someone ….perhaps yourself . So don’t be angry if someone stick up his finger at you as you deserved it .

It was another few days of driving sessions with my father before he finally was satisfied that his daughter was ready to go to driving school .

Gong XI Fa Cai !!!

Its Chinese New Year today .

Gong xi Fa Chai to all my Chinese friends .......my ex colleagues .....Magdalene Ngu , Doris Yee , Madam Tan , Madam Chan , Madam Ho and my buddy Esme Chung . In one way or another they had touched my life and had been terrific colleagues . Many , many more Chinese friends are out there somewhere ..........so wishing you all a " Happy And Prosperous Chinese New Year ." May the year of the rat brings you happiness , wealth , health , love and all the best things in life !!


My eldest son called and said he had contacted and talked to his Ama ( grandmother ) ; had wished her the good wishes for new year too . That's nice of him and proud that he had taken the initiative to do so .


My second son said he was feeling sad . I asked why ......and he said ....." Its sad that I am not able to celebrate new year in Mukah ....like we used to do ." All I could say was " Not this year ....perhaps next year ." Perhaps if somebody could mail to him his ang pows ........that would cheer him up .........how about that ? Ang pow mali ....!!!


Cheers everybody and take care !!!!!!!!!

Down Memory Lane

It was one of those days .....when that strange feeling got the better of you .....and you just had the urge to open up all those pictures of yesteryears . Teasing you and your soul ......feeling nostalgic ..........about it .




This is my daughter all dressed up on New Year's morning . It was a reason and an excuse to use the traditional Chinese fashions / clothings . Must be red / pink to bring in the luck .



After all her other cousins are using the same clothings too and one must not be left out .





These are the " Amois " or little chinese girls in a row . Their names being from left to right : Yasmin , Nadine Yan , Yvonne Yan , Dayang Afini and Dayang Ezza. All are cousins .......a memory for them in years to come ...........that once upon a time ......it was fun to celebrate new year at Akong's house ( Grandfather ) .




I love this picture of Yasmin too . That's a plastic pineapple she was holding in her hand . In chinese the word pineapple sound like " ong lai " which , loosely translated means " luck coming in " .




Chinese New Year .........my children will remember this occasion . Top on their mind will be receiving all those " ang pows " , red packets filled with money .

Next in their mind will be the firecrackers ; lighted up at the stroke of midnight . It was amazing to watch the string of exploding fireworks , fire moving up right to the top of the string .......and finally stopped with a massive explosion . Of course the smoke gets in your eyes ........and when it cleared , there is red paper everywhere .




Of course there were times too when one got the chance to use the malay traditional clothes ....the " baju kurung ." They were all dressed up to attend a malay wedding .


Yes ........I feel good I 'm able to put all these pictures here . I'm sure my daughter and their cousins will read this blog and retraced their steps of years gone by ........what family bonding and family traditions meant .

Home

I love my home in Bintulu . I would not have moved if the company my husband worked for had not transferred him .

The home in Bintulu . The spacious yard was our
badminton court .

We bought the house in 1999 . Its quite an old house . After some repairs here and there ...we finally moved in 2000 .

Spacious living room .

It was in a nice quiet neighborhood . Our neighbors are those who take care of their lawns , some with pretty gardens ........and they certainly had pride in their house and garden .

The numerous family gatherings were held here .

Ours was the typical Malaysian neighborhood with Malays , Chinese , Ibans , Melanaus , Bidayuhs ....some indians as well as a scattered number of Orang Putih ( Whites ) .

The rooms at the top of this staircase .

I don't really mind who my neighbors are . I don't particularly care about their ethnicity or religion . These are external attributes and does not have any bearing on whether someone is a good or bad person .

Mukah River . Will my descendants see this " sampan "
in the future ?

My husband and I have a large family . Seven brothers and sisters on his side while ten on my side . " Home " to my husband is his hometown in Mukah which is about 200 kilometers from our house in Bintulu .

A pose at Mukah River . I must remember to ask them
to take another photo at this place together should we be home
in Mukah again .

" Home " to me is my kampong house in Miri .....another 2 t0 3 hours drive . So ...to my children and myself ......home is everywhere .........Bintulu , Miri and Mukah . When time permit we travel " home " . Its a time for family bonding .

Amir and Yasmin will certainly remember the happy times
in Mukah .

As for my children they have fond memories of the neighborhood in which they grew up . Its certainly a unique place ....they told me there is a haunted house in the area and once pointed out the house to me . They said each time they passed by that particular house , they would run as fast as they could . Probably its true......as that house had been empty for so long .In the compound , just next to the house ....is a huge tree that certainly adds a creepy feeling when one walked by the house on a windy and quiet evening ....where the only sound you hear is the pattering of the soles of the shoes you were using .

My eldest son has his own hangouts and his own " gangs " .......and my two younger children love the number of playgrounds available in the neighborhood . How they would cycled and at times walked to the playground ....enjoying childhood and the presence of their cousins .


I encouraged them to explore as I hate to see them tied down to the attractions available on the computer / video games and televisions . Of course , I am aware of the dangers too........sexual predators , gangs and drug dealers . And I constantly remind my children to be aware of the surroundings they are in .

Mukah Waterfront . In front of my mother in law's food stall.
Yasmin And Amir ......happy to roam .

I just want them to roam free ........like I once did in my hometown ........and these experiences are now great memories for me . Now that we are far away from " home " , to travel " home " during the holidays incurred much expenses ...........its going to be quite seldom to be home .

For me this only increases the importance of family bonding , family values and family traditions . After all " Home " .........in Bintulu , Miri or Mukah was once home to me and my family .

Saying Goodbye .....Soon.......

We will be moving to our own house in a months time . The whole family is looking forward to stay there . It will be a whole lot of work to do .......to move boxes of books , bags of clothes , furnitures etc . etc. is not an easy task .Indeed it is the most tiring activity ........but we just got to move .

The House .

I will be saying goodbye to my neighbors . They are wonderful people ; definitely not your neighbors from hell . Bless them . They certainly are friendly yet not nosy ......., helpful and very easy to get along with . My family will miss them .

I will be saying goodbye to this kitten too.

My immediate neighbor is a young Chinese couple ......a Mr And Mrs Kizzy Ong . I went over to their house about two weeks ago to send over our gifts for their new born baby girl . Such a warm loving and thoughtful couple . As both of them are working out of town , they are on the road early in the morning and would only be back home late at night . We are so near to each other yet our paths would cross once every tw0 or three weeks ......them being busy with their careers .......and me being caught up with my never ending round of housework and my own trips here and there . Those rare moments of meeting each other would be the time we catch up on each others news....the conversation conducted over the fence that we shared . The last time we met , they extended their invitation to us .....to come over to their house on the third day of Chinese New Year . Yes , insyaallah .....we do hope to come .

This " ayam serama " belongs to my neighbor . At times it would drop by my house .
Perhaps just to keep me company .

Our neighbors to the right of our present house is an Indian family with a seven years old boy . Their 70 years old mother had a stroke last year ......now and then I would see her sitting in her wheel chair outside the house taking in the fresh air . So far I have not talked to her as she does not speak English nor Malay . And I don't speak her language that is Tamil .

Another kitten that I will be saying goodbye to .
I almost put her in the washing machine that morning .

I am on good terms with one of her daughters though ; she being the one who had to give up her career as a kindergarten teacher to look after her mother .We met each other almost daily as both of us uses the front yard to hang our clothes . When we don't have anything to talk about , we just smile to each other . At times " Apa khabak ? " would be the only greetings of the day that we had .

Saying goodbye to this mother cat too .
She is now a grandmother cat . One of her daughter cat gave birth recently .
Case of a teenage pregnancy ........

The little boy in the house is her nephew . He is the most extrovert kid I have ever met . Life certainly is not dull in that house because now and then I do hear arguments he had with his mother and aunts . I certainly will miss this bubbly kid . He never failed to greet me with his " Good morning , Auntie . How are you today ? " This boy is quite lonely as the neighborhood does not have lots of young children . There are some elderly couples and lots of other people who walk around the neighborhood for exercise .


Goodbye neighbors . Thanks for being wonderful people . Of course , our paths will cross as I will be joining the elderly folks during their daily walk on the neighborhood road.