Card woes

This week I received my credit card statement.I was surprised when i discovered i had to pay an extra rm150.On checking the details it dawned they had made a mistake!Whether the mistake was a genuine one or an attempt to cheat me of that sum of money..,I don't know.only God and the person doing it knows!!As everything is computerized,my suspicion is that it was an intended mistake with the hope that I would not check.I called and they admitted to their mistake.Now how can or could such a thing happen??Well,it has taught me a lesson.Examine the details of my credit card statements before paying.And I did'nt know that gold card members could have their yearly renewal fees waivered.It should be done early in the year.I'll be requesting for that waiver and i want to know if the waiver should be done in black and white as proof!If its going to be just a phone call,that rm 195 get be easily pocketed by someone!!What people do for some extra money.Don't they know they've got to answer for it when their time comes?

Guilty as charged??

I felt guilty about "deserting' my beloved blog and decided on Oct 26 to blog again.After writng the blog disappeared before I could publish it!(@3&+).Guess what I muttered under my breath!!!.The whole reason for having not blogged for so long is ..well...Facebook.I can say that I was literally forced into facebooking .The boys of High Scool Batu Pahat circa 1959-1960 were organizing a reunion and wanted the girls from TIGs to join.Since all the news was in FB,I became one of them.
After having been in it for about a month,I have discoverd certain things about facebookers.Some show off their qualifications (pictures included),some their achievements (pics included too),some expose their inability to write politely (full of unsavoury words despite the fact that the comment were meant for a girl!!).I quoted this as an example to Haireen that the way you write reflects on what sort of a person you are and her answer was...everyone (the youth)does it!So what can I say except that I still insist that your style whether writng ,dressing etc,reflects on you.That's why you have the phrase..don't cramp my style.If you are seen with a nerd then you have no style!
I too have my album of pics in my FB but the pics I can show off are my family pics (true I'm proud of them for they have made me happy),my beautiful digital piano and what else?Let me think...nothing else!!However one good thing about FB is that I am able to connect with old friends and relatives who I get to meet only @weddings etc.At least we get to gossip BUT if the gossip's too hot we e-mail via FB.you don't want the whole world to know who's having an affair!!

This facebook thing!!

Sleepless in Pelangi

A few nights ago it happened again!I could not sleep!Aah!I guess age is catching up or yes it has!!It has been a long while that I suffered from not being able to get a wink.I went to the kitchen to get a hot drink.I played the piano(head-phones on please) and trotted off to my room BUT still I could not get to sleep.
My mind wandered and I wondered what other people in the world were doing at this unearthly (to me) hour.So here's the compilation.
Some lucky fella might being exchanging marriage vows.
Some lady might have just got a new baby!
Some child might be struggling with his mathematics problem.
Some bloke might be cheating on his poor wife!
Many lucky souls might be in deep dep sleep..z-z-z-you fortunate blighters!
And someone like me is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed...boo to me!

RIP TALIB

This early morn brought sad news.Our friend Talib Omar passed away after a massive heart attack.He was in a coma for 2 days.We visited him on Tuesday and though his eyes were closed he knew it was us.I'm glad!Rest in peace.Though you leave behind your loved ones,you'll be united with your mother.Al-Fatihah.

Its a wedding!

Yesterday was Hui's wedding day.Congrats Hui.The wedding ceremony itself was at. a church followed by cocktails.The dinner was at Shangrila Hotel Singapore.However two important people were missing...the late Phee Aik and M.I'm sure there was a fleeting moment for Hui when she thought of them on her day.But we cannot always get what we want!I hope M and Phee Aik watched that momentous moment from whereever they were.

An untimely death

Last Saturday,saw the passing of Malaysia's most creative film director Alllahyarhamah Yasmin Ahmad.She died of a very sudden clogging of blood in her brain and it took many of us by surprise.I feel greatly for her and her mother Inom as we all lived in the hospital quarters in Batu Pahat.Yasmin's grandfather,Pak Yon and my late father were good friends ,all in one gang...the tennis gang!Inom taught in my alma mater TIGS and she and my sisters were friends.That is why when I watched Yasmin's 'Mukhsin" it was so 'deja vu' for me for it brought back memories of my childhhood in Batu Pahat.
Yasmin was 51 when she died and 15 years younger than I but she was able to see life like me...no sense of bigotry and racism.During my childhood days my sisters and I w ere never taught to choose our friends according to their skin colour.Anyone nice and fun to be with was our friend and until today,I do not harbour any form of racial segregation at all!Yasmin's parents taught her well!Her 'Tan Hong Ming'ad was one kind. Children are colour-blind and they should stay that way. they are colour-blind until the parents spoil the whole thing and the parents should be spanked.
One thing that I fail to understand was how a certain periodical could publish facts about Yasmin's background after she was gone .Why were they not brave enough to do so when she was around?And as Muslims do they not know that the dead should be respected!As "writers" don't they know that you do not speak evil of one who is gone?What happened to their ethics?No ethics??..that's the reason why they are called 'low down'writers!We people from Batu Pahat know about this and none of have ever gone to the papers to tell them about it.It is something very personal and not for the whole world to know about.I think all of us are entitled to some kind of privacy no matter how famous(Yasmin) and unknown(yours truly) that we are!For you Yasmin I offer Fatihah and may you rest well.

A wise saying

*A PERSON WHO GRADUATES TODAY AND STOPS LEARNING TOMORROW IS UNEDUCATED THE DAY AFTER*..MARTIN KHIEL BAKER..
I've never heard of you but you hit the nail on the head.I'm glad I'm NOT one of those people you refer to.

BLUE BAYOU BY LINDA RONSTADT

Linda sang this favourite of mine in 1977.I was only 33 and a mother of three.She longs for her kampung in this song.So sad.

EVIAN BABY ROLLERS

This video is sure to bring a smile to the most grouchy person in the world!

Michael Jackson is gone!!

MJ left us on Friday 24th June at 1.32pm Malaysian time.I heard it on the car radio and I felt a wave of sadness overcome me.He died of a cardiac arrest so they say.What can I say about him that others have not said?Though I was not one of his crazy fans,I liked certain songs of his like 'Black and White' and 'Save the world'.
I would like to think that the song 'Black and White' was written from the heart.He had trouble with the colour of his skin when fame touched him.So the bleaching started.Then he did not like his cute fleshy nose!(Note here that,to the Chinese,a fleshy nose is the sign of a rich man ie,if you are into business!)And so the snipping and tucking started.I guess all the liquids injected into him took a toll of his life.
He had a successful life and yet he was hardly happy .He became eccentric.If only he had had someone to talk to and to confide in!
So MJ,this is goodbye and RIP.

Hey!Senor EL NINO!!

The past few days have been so hot and humid that as I write,beads of perspiration trickle down my forehead.Well, senor El Nino is making his yearly sojourn to our country and is sending people scampering to the shops to buy air-cons!The irony of it all is that the air-cons might keep them cool for awhile but will make the weather even hotter next year!
That's the trouble with us human beings.We consider ourselves the highest of all mortals and yet we do not practise this simple act of preserving Mother Nature.The years that will come will be hotter and hotter and maybe this Earth might explode.What will we have left??Only our grandchildren or great grandchildren will know.My guess would be a barren land.No trees because we killed them off!Colours??maybe dark brown,ashen grays and murky blacks!!What a horrible picture.And there'll be nothing left on Earth.Empty,void,kosong,zero...only a vacuum.God bless us all and save us from our owncrimes!!!!

He loves her!

That's her on the left..my big sisterSN.She has had her surgery done and thank God it was a success.The lump removed is benign and now she's recuperating.I have not visited her yet as I'm down with a bad flu and for sure the Immigration people at the checkpoint won't let me through.What matters most is that she is fine.I spoke to her on the phone and her voice is strong like usual.When I see her,I'm going to tell her that its high time she thinks about herself.She should stop worrying about other people's lives for she has a life of her own.This includes her children's lives because they are adults and should be able to deal with THEIR own family life and not depend on Mom all the time.Also she should do what she wants to do and stop being dictated by little 'pantangs' and the like!!I want to tell her to let her hair down once in a way and that nobody's perfect.So big sister,how about it??A new way of life which will be carefree and footloose.

Away we go!!

At last the family trip to Penang was well on its way on the 29th of May.The first stop was the Istana Hotel where we stayed for the night as we had to pick Haireen from her hostel at about 2pm.The hotel was beautiful especially the foyer.It had very tall pillars and an exceptionally high ceiling.I like high ceiling for it makes a room spanky and posh.The cushions were of course brocade and the scent that pervaded our noses through the air-con was spicy and easy on the nose.However the food at the coffee house was nothing to shout about and so very expensive.Well,you're on holiday so no complaints that way!!
We left for Sg Petani to pick up two impatient grandchildren early in the morning.We left for Penang straight away so it was a trip down again and then across the Penang Bridge.The sea was at its best especially the colour of the water..so blue almost azure.Leisure Cove was where we stayed.It is a time sharing unit and the rooms were comfortable and clean.We could do our own cooking which we did on the last night of our stay.
Penang is still as dirty as the last time I visited.Looks like there's no town planner in the city for you can see little houses nestled between high-rise buildings.It is such an ugly sight!The food court at Fort Cornwallis is the dirtiest place I've come across!Dirty plates and cups were stacked on the floor and mangy furless cats roamed the area.The hawkers were making a bundle each night as the food was expensive.One ordinary glass of teh-tarik cost Rm2.50!I vowed never to eat there anymore if I visited again.Lim Guan Eng should do something about this city instead of whining and crying!!! However,as a consolation,the most beautiful view of Penang was the beach with its crystal blue waters and its sandy beach.It was a sight to behold as we drove towards Telok Bahang on the way to the fruit farm.It made me stop to think how those calm waters could suddenly become tumultous giant waves like they did during the tsunami.The other beautiful view was the one from Queensbay Mall overlooking Pulau Jerejak.If anyone did not know,he would have thought he was in Hawaii.
The fruit farm was ordinary and we did not take the trip to see the fruits because it was expensive.We had fresh fruit juice and of course durians from the farm.The butterfly farm was interesting especially for the children.
We did visit the night market along Batu Ferringhi and all I bought was a glass locket as a souvenier.The Penang Hill was given a miss as we had to wait hours before we could get on it.
Unique is what you'd describe the toy museum.There were so many miniature toys and life-sized ones of movie heroes and villains.The place was small and dingy but it was an enjoyable tour.If ever I visit Penang again this is the place I'd like to revisit..and also the beach.I would want to summon up all my strength to go paragliding!!
The chidren spent much of their time swimming in the pool on the roof-top pool.It was altogether a very enjoyable trip and made even more enjoyable when we stayed the night at The Crowne Plaza Mutiara before leaving for JB the next day.Its a good hotel to stay in and you'll be sure it will be on my good hotels list.
Next destination??Still mulling over it

Now he's gone.

Denan slipped away last Friday 5th of June at 2.32pm.On Thursday,he had a bout of very high fever and had to be sent by ambulance to GHKL.He however succumbed the next day.We only got the news at 3.32pm and so were unable to attend the final rites.Muslims believe that the dead should be laid to rest as soon as possible.However we left JB at 6 the next morning to go to Kajang to pay our respects.It was a tiring time as we had just come back from our family vacation in Penang.Everything was so sombre and solemn.Now I have lost a brother-in -law who has by far been a pleasant and unassuming man.AL-FATIHAH.
(Denan's on the left of the picture.This was taken when he visited about 5 years ago.He was well then)

Success is an option

Last night we had dinner with Gina at the hotel she was staying.She's here for a conference for specialist doctors and also presenting a paper.She looks well and she deals with little children who have dental problems.For the moment there are only 25 of these specialists in Malaysia.She deserves this because she worked hard for it.
There was so much to talk about and we almost forgot to eat.We click even though she's so much younger than I am.As I watch and listen to her I can't help but notice that she's so much like her late mother my late sister-in law.She even laughs like her!Well, she's her mother's daughter.It also reminds me that we are all getting on in age and that we should strive to do better (for the young ones) and not to be fastidious and fussy (for the older ones like me).For this life is short and we have no time to stand and stare or pick up silly quarrels over silly things!!

DE JA VU

Went back to BP to visit the columbrium.On the way home we dropped by 336 to take a last look before it was flattened by the bull-dozer.The whole area is scheduled to be flattened to make way for the expansion of the BP hospital.
There was a feeling of wistfulness because that was the house I grew up in.It was a rambling old bungalow house with massive rooms and a quaint kitchen located downstairs.The old 'jambu' tree by the kitchen was where we,my sisters and I spent our time.The ants and the occasional vists by furry caterpillars did not put us off from climbing it and eating the fruits while reading a book.And we were champs where tree-climbing was concerned.We could shimmy up the tree in seconds.The only tree that we were forbidden to climb was the coconut tree by the front door.Yes that's the tree I'm talking about and that's my sister and I trying to look sweet and demure for the picture.
Like the learned say...we need to change with times but thank God for digital cameras that allow us to store such precious memories of the past.
(The jambu tree is in the background to the left.The kitchen's to the right)

Happy days are here.

Remember the two little devils in disguise that I blogged about?Well,they sprang a surprise on me yesterday...a nice one at that!!!They presented me with a present ..a mechanical pencil and in my favourite colour.They were sort of shy to give it to me in front of the others and so dragged me to a corner.I guess they must have missed me last week when I took the day off to go to KL.So absence DOES make the heart grow fonder.YAY!It was an enjoyable session yesterday and I hope each lesson will be so.
The last 10 minutes was spent on story-telling and they came up with "the three little pigs"..their own version.It must have been their own because I know the wolf did'nt lie under a BANANA tree to rest!#%*.First they read it aloud and LOUD it was.Then they decided to do it with actions.So while I narrated they acted.They were cute,really cute.I saw 2 little sweeties in front of me.I hope they'll be just as sweet tomorrow.

About pending death

Denan and his family came to visit today.He looks gaunt and tired.His speech is slightly slurred and he is often breathless.Amin says the cancer is at its last stage but Denan nor his mother know about it.I feel sad.Here is my brother-in-law sitting infront of me and I know it might be the last time he is visiting his Kak Teh.We'll be going out for dinner tonight and he wants to go somewher near the sea.So we'll bring him to Senibung and he requested for 'udang galah'.I hope they have it tonight.
Things like this always make me sad.I don't like deaths and I don't like hospitals.My Dad and Mom died in the hospital.Doa Kak Teh untuk kau Denan.

Another dilemma?

Drove up to KL to pick Haireen up from her residential school.She wanted to spend the week-end here in JB..for a change.She's not to happy about life there.They have a very tight schedule and she claims she does not have time for herself!!What do I tell her.I tell her the choice is hers and that the road to success is NEVER easy.To my mind she's just being 'manja'.Everyone is rallying around her to make it easier for her and she does not realize it.I feel sorry for H because he's running around all the time.EVERYONE'S running around for her.Time to knock some sense into her.
We managed to squeeze some time for shopping and after that came straight home.The heavy downpour along the North-South Highway was an experience!If not for H's good sight,we would have taken shelter somewhere till the storm receded.
Today Haireen and I will go to the hair salon for her trim.Life in the hostel does not do wonders to your hair..and everything else!!!
Tomorrow we'll send her back to KL.It's another long trip but what the heck..she's my grand-daughter!!

My special days.

Today's Mothers' day.I've often wondered why 10th May is MD.Are mothers invisible on other days of the year?Yes?You ungrateful wretch you!
Every day should be mothers' day and Fathers'day and teachers' day.They are the people who guide and mould you and whom you practically see each and every day.
I have my special days which I think are very important and should be celebrated!The first is birthdays.It is a day for me (note that I don't use the word 'us' or 'you')to be grateful that I've been given another chance to live this life on Earth with my loved ones.Some people disagree with me for they say it is 'sambutan orang putih dan kita bukan OP'.It depends on how you look at it.When my late father-in-law was alive,and if he happened to be in Muar where we were living and it was my birthday or anyone else's,he would read the doa.I like this form of celebrating.Presents and cakes are just extras...but welcome ones!
Wedding anniversaries are important but only to those who have had a good marriage.There's no point celebrating whatmore remembering, if your marriage is on the rocks!I celebrate mine with him.
Hari Raya is the last .After the fasting it is time to be proud of what you have done and to celebrate.Of course ,in-between when someone dear informs me she's got her doctrate (ahem),I celebrate quietly within me.The latest good news that I've received is when Hadifah my pupil in my last school before I retired,tells me she'll graduate this July!Hers is truly a story of grit and determination and I celebrate with her.I'm proud to be part of her life!

Her dilemma is also mine

Last Friday,I received a call from a dear friend.She had bad news for me.Her cancer had returned.About 12 years ago her kidney was stricken with cancer and she had to go for surgery.It was a success and her follow-up was to go for annual check-ups.Among the medical fraternity,if it does'nt strike after 10 years you're considered to be safe from that debilitating disease.But she discovered it had recurred not from her annual check-up but from a scan she took because she had swallowed a bone.One thing led to another and the result was the cancer was now in her sternum.The surgery cannot be done immediately what with the swine flu scare,so it is scheduled for June 10th.
I was aghast at the development of her health and for once I was at a loss for words.I guess it was better that way as I think she needed a good listener.It would have been futile if I had told her not to worry and that everything would be alright because that would have been a great lie!Cancer wil never be alright.It just the beginning of a long and painful journey to meet your Maker.
I will be visiting her very soon and I pray to God for strength to be calm and not break down.I want to tell her that I will be there for her in her time of need.So God please help me help her go through this with grace and strength.AMIN

Of obnoxious people

Grant me a rant today.It's a harangue about people...some people...people who don't care a toss about other people's feelings and not even know that reciprocation is the kindest thing one can ever commit.It is sad that the person is young but old enough to put two and two together and get four.On a hindsight,I think it's more to
having a bloated ego and being in the position where you are the boss's daughter and that no-one can touch you!Someone like her should be put in her place and I think I have done well in totally ignoring her.Period.
I recently was given the task of tutoring two eight year olds.The moment I saw them
I thought to myself that they were really cute and I'd enjoy teaching them.Oh! was I wrong!@#$!.They were in reality two little devils in disguise!They were DISRUPTIVE(that I can take having been teaching for 35 years)NOISY (okay by me)TALKATIVE(I always welcome talkative ones because a teacher sometimes feels lonely when pupils are too quiet)BUT downright rude and uncouth...something which is so unacceptable to me.They did not show any respect whatsoever for the teacher and behaved as though they were in command!It took me some time to tell them who the boss was and when they had calmed down,I managed to find out a little about their home bacground and their parents.
Experienced teachers always hit the nail in the head when their pupils behave in certain ways.If they are pleasant and well-mannered,then their parents are too.If they are rude and behave like punks,guess how their parents behave.If they shout at their friends and the teacher you know that their parents shout at them at home!
My guess about their parents was right.One has parents who work the whole day and have no time to nurture their little girl.The other has a father who teaches her to be materialistic (at such a young age )and tells her that she should not be a teacher because teachers DO NOT earn a lot of money!!!!She proudly announced that she wanted to be a boss like her father.I personally wonder who taught her father to read and write and count???
That is why there are so many unhappy children in the world today.If they are bold enough to kill themselves ,they do it.If not they lead unsavoury lives just to spite their parents....which comes to my tirade about people.
If I were to be given three wishes,one of them would be that all mothers be given an allowance so that they do not need to go out to work.They can stay at home and bring up the kids and hopefully we'd have less or no problems with juvenile delinquency.Wishful thinking but it is a thought.I think I'll talk to Muhyiddin about it.After all, he's a relative!!HA HA

MY SAY TODAY

My! my !my!It was a great mistake he made!After all the talk of being fair,he undid it all by making the wrong move.Did he not stop to think that he cannot do what he wants to do if he has someone else persistently hovering over him..someone else perpetually urging him on even if it might not be his cup of tea...Earl Grey or Camomile if you please?Or,on second thoughts,it could be one way to evade the possibility of being criticized in public or in the international arena.And if it is so,then ,I think you are not your own man...a ------ in the making?@#$%!God forbid!!!
I foresee a sojourn for you in the making.Trust me and it'll be bad for you because you have to be accomodating!Good luck to you,my man.

(The apolitical me has to speak up again.The country needs to settle down
and start solving the people's woes and bring them out of this quagmire..
pronto!!)

So my country's got a new Prime Minister and a new First Lady.Welcome to you both and may you bring forth this country of mine to further levels where we the different races can live in peace and harmony.I hope too there will no more be acts of bigotry which have gone out of control lately.
To PL,thank you for being the man that you always will be..kind,calm and always having a good word for people.Thank you too for NOT being nasty to anyone even if that 'anyone' has been cruelly nasty to you.To me,you are indeed a true Muslim.
Like you said,the first thing you'd do is to get some sleep and then to move out of SP.Then you're going to take a holiday with Jeanne and then return to life as an ordinary citizen.Good for you.This is exactly what you should do.Your time as the the PM is done so you should move on and let your successor do his thing.I sincerely and fervently hope that you will give advice only when asked to and when asked to,to give it in the most positive manner and fatherly way.NO heckling and bad-mouthing please.It's just not your style!Bad-mouthing a leader in your OWN country especially in the international arena is despicable and desperate.Muslims refer it to as MENGHINA dan ia sesungguhnya mengaibkan saudara sendiri!!
Most people especially politicians,claim that what they do is for the hoi-polloi.But when they do do it, you can see that its not for the people but for themselves.Period.When your successor takes over,he will have his own ideas of how to run the country.It is dictatorial to say the least if you expect him to do what you desired to do but could not because you had to leave!That was why there was so much angst and scorn for you.Its like my piano teacher getting sore with me because I decided to play' Getaran Jiwa 'in the rhumba tempo than in largo beat.I know that you will not publically hug someone and immediately bad-mouth him in the same breath.You are you PL,and may Allah bless you and your family and a long and fruitful retired life to you!AMIN.
(I am apolitical truly but at certain periods of my life when the situation in my country is not to my liking,I need to say my piece.After all, this is where I live!!)

Me and the gang

At last!!...success!!!I've been trying s-o-o-o=o hard to make a slide show on photobucket.com and failed miserably!I just could not find the URL they wanted.I guess it was because the instructions given were meant for another brand of laptop.Not one to give so easily,I surfed you-tube and found some tutorials and this one offered by animoto.com is the result of this very short vid.Do i hear distant applause.Thank you .

The word 'sanctuary' was indeed a long word for me as a child.On inquiring what it meant,I was told it was a place for the insane!On a field trip with the teacher,I found that we were heading for SANCTUARY as the arrow indicated.I told her respectfully there was no way I would venture THERE .So she explained it was a sanctuary for birds and that I would enjoy the stop-over.From then I knew that a sanctuary was a place and there were so many types of sanctuaries...sanctuaries for the insane,for birds,for people who were ill,for people who found wearing clothes a great problem..for everything.
I have one too.It's not a far away place in the woods where a babbling brook passes by.It is right here in my very own garden.This is where I go when I need to be on my own.This is where I go when my feelings have been hurt and where I ponder why certain things happen to me.I try to sort out my thoughts and wonder if it happened because of me.Trust me when you're alone you get to see things straight.
I'm not the only fellow in this sanctuary.I share it with a flock of birds who to my mind are the happiest birds on Earth.They are constantly singing early morn,noon and evening.Twilight is the noisiest time.I guess it's nagging time!When the flowers are in bloom especially the orange jessamine,buzzing bees make a stopover.All are welcome EXCEPT the monitor lizard and her baby.Frankly ,she ,the mother ,frightens me.And she's just as afraid of me too which often makes her scramble for her life when she sees me.Then there'll be at least a few broken pots because she' not good at handling sudden skirmishes.I've not seen her for some time though.
Even while I write this post,the birds are out there in my sanctuary singing and chirping.Maybe they miss my presence.Ha ha ha.Okay,hold on.I'm coming!!!

School reunion.

For the past two months or so,I've been getting calls from quite a number of people telling me about a school reunion to be held this October.It's a reunion for the boys from High Schol and the girls from TIGS my alma mater.The organisers are the boys.Some of the callers I remember and some I don't.There are also some whom I don't really know.At any rate,they tell me I should attend.There was one reunion that was held in KL last year but I was not able to attend because of a prior arrangement.
I'm debating as whether to attend or give it a miss this time around.I've heard so much about such reunions.Some attend for the sake of comparing notes (usually these are about how they make in a year,how many titles they have at the end of their names etc,etc)Some go to catch up on news about each other.
I'd like to meet my old pals and on the other hand there might be some whom I'm reluctant to meet!I still have 5 months to decide.For the moment,I'm quite game to go.

glitter love

red designer bag

I love this bag.I love the bling!!!

I am sailing by Mr. Rod Stewart

This is the song that plays in the background of the movie that I have just made on the laptop.Well,most of it was done by ML with me hovering in the background.
Thank you again ...ML.The movie is about the cruise we took together with Haireen and Fazree.It was their first and our second.We hope to make a third cruise and this time it will include Lihin.She was too young then to be on the second one.I hope to be able to put the movie on the blog soon.
Making the movie was indeed a great revelation to me about how people make the real movies.It must take a lot of creativity and for all the trouble taken,the movie should have a really good storyline.Some movies have such WEAK storylines and I wonder why the producer takes the trouble.To me as a newbie,I think the synchronization of the music and the change of pictures is the most difficult.Like ML says the pic changes with each accent of the melody ie,the first note of each bar.
It is not too easy for now but I will survive!!

A little triumph for me today

As a new kid on the blog (pardon the pun)3 months old ,I initially found the laptop very daunting.The lingo used was totally different from its meaning in English and boy,did many things get lost!!Other experienced laptoppers advised me to be BRAVE.Hey! just click and you'll learn as you go along..which is exactly what I'm doing.
A few days ago,I was feeling adventurous.I decided to 'quik post' a layout of smileys on to my blog and it even included a smiley cursor banging on the keyboard.Nobody can experience that feeling of elation when I visited the blog-site.
There were the smileys who had practically taken over the whole page...yellow smileys.After a few days looking at them I thought I had had enough of them.So I visited FAQ for for help.The first 3 attempts failed and sadly I erased the most recent entry.The reason for the failure was that the areas(do I call them that?) where I was supposed to click to delete could not be found.I later discovered they were under a different name in my laptop.So now the job's done and can we have applause please??
The next assignment if you please will be to use the blogger layout features and I've got the instructions all printed out.But not tonight.I've got a headache coming on after the smileys saga!!

The magic of the rain

It has been raining these few days.I love the rain.It cools the day down and the trees get a thorough 'bath'.The flower heads however get a bashing as they droop after the shower.
The rain reminds me of the warm lights in people's homes.It makes me want to rush home and snuggle up to him under a warm blanket.It reminds me of the little match girl who had to sell matches on a cold wintry night.Everyone else was having dinner by the fire place and she was shivering in the cold!I wonder if there are any more of these girls out there.My heart goes out to them.
The rain makes me realize how lucky I am to have a roof over my head.I know there are still many who are homeless and I say a little prayer for them.
On a brighter note,the pitter- patter of the rain on the awning gives inspiration to the melody of the song I want to write.The rain..it makes me wistful and it gives me inspiration.It gives me hope...hope that everything to do with my family will always be like I wish it to be.AMIN

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The two other golden rules

The two other golden rules that M drummed into our heads is still very clear in my mind.When you're in love and all lovey-dovey,you swear to go to the ends of the earth for each other etc,etc.Hey what's yours is mine and what's mine is yours.Remember?Yes- agreed especially when both are working but a big but there.The lady ,like M says, must always have her own little nest-egg....a private one where only she knows of its existence.You never know when it'll come in handyIf you are a housewife learn to budget with whatever he gives you each month.Keep the extra in your nest-egg.No! you're not cheating.Consider that your salary??.
I have personally witnessed a young wife practically begging her husband to buy her something.He refused her downright and if you had seen that crest-fallen look on her face ,you would have wept for her.I did...silently.Obviously she only got things if he decided to buy her things.What a life!!!So much for the story of the nest-egg
The last golden rule has and still is a great mystery to me.M says never tell him everything about you.I mean if you are part of the Mafia gang then it'll be hard to keep it a secret.It is about things that will keep him wondering about you..you know that mystery about you.It will make each day an exciting day with him curious to find out more about
his wife.That she says will keep the marriage going!If he knows everything,then boredom sets in and you know what can happen.I've never understood this rule till today but we've been married 45 years.So I must have done something right !Hurray for me!!
Those two are the last of M's golden rules.Read it with a pinch of salt.SEE YA!

International Women's Day

Today's a day for the women of the world.Yay for women's sufferage and boo to all the MCPs of the world.This is a day to reflect how you have performed as a woman.Were you determined not to eternally be dependent on the men?Have you ever thought that if he left you,would you be able to take care of yourself?In short,can you do it yourself??
My late mother was unfortunately born during the era where girls were not to be seen nor heard.Determined not to be left out,she would secretly leave the house each day to learn to read and write from an old 'sifu'.From her basic foundation,she found she could read all kinds of books and embrace all kinds of knowledge.It was from this ability to read that she learnt so many skills.She could tailor the most beautiful dresses for us, crochet table cloths,sew blankets (patch) that had such intricate patterns.The only thing she did not relish doing was cooking!She found it a bore.Books were better companions than the skillet.She was lucky we had a maid then.
Mother had a few golden rules for us to follow.Each time one of my sisters was to be married,she'd gather us all in the room.The piece of advice was meant for my big sister but we had to be there.In my lifetime I have listened to that piece of advice 4 times.
She told us about the things that had to be observed when we became someone's wife and some child's mother.The first rule was of course to get an education.I'm glad to say all of us girls have done that.There are quite a few more.Maybe the next time around.Chai Chien.

A lady's wrath

I was randomly reading blogs on a site when one particular blog caught my eye.It was one that contained numerous expletives and four-letter words and it was written by a lady blogger.Curious,I read on to find out why she had to resort to such crude and vulgar language.After all,she was a lady and she did'nt belong to a world of dirty language.
She had just lost her pet dog.When she mentioned it to her friend,her friend told her -Yes, go get another dog as a pet-.This enraged her so.She went straight to her computer and to her blog site.There she ranted and raved.She cursed and swore at her friend.She used mean language on her friend and that included the four-letter .Every other word in a sentence was punctuated with the four-letter word.Her blog was like a battlefield except that there were no corpses on the ground ...only four-letter words.
She was so incensed because her friend had been sarcastic about her getting another dog for a pet.You see this raging bull of a lady was a Muslim by faith and keeping a dog for a pet was wrong!Obviously she did not think so.
I would have told her that if she were that angry with her friend there was no need for her to have used all the profanities and expletives.It went to show up her true character.She should have been 'refined' like her friend.She should have just been as sarcastic as her friend because sarcasm strikes deep.It hurts.
I would also have told her that God works in strange ways.Maybe he was trying to tell that it was to have another kind of pet...one that she could hug and play with.
I would suggest a macaw and I'd hope she'll refrain from teaching it profanities???
The world is ever so changing nowadays.People like our angry lady go against their religion because they want freedom.People kill because they want to get what they want.People's morals are at the lowest ebb.The Bible talks about Judgement Day and the Quran Hari Kiamat.This is the day when we the human race will be punished
and soothsayers say that day is drawing near.Who are we to blame but ourselves?

Alone @home

Have you ever experienced being left alone at home?Everyone has business to attend and you don't.The house will be very quiet and you can do whatever you like.Perhaps you might want try out those slick dance moves you saw on youtube.
Well,I'm alone at home now.I'm tired of practising on the piano and there's no line on the internet.I take my book and go sit in the garden.I cannot focus because my mind wanders.I think of my late mother and I wonder where her soul is.Is she happy where she is?I think so for I will never forget that look of peace on her face as she lay in her casket.God is great I think.When someone dies,that someone always looks so serene and beautiful.I guess its his way of helping us remember our dear departed in a happy light.
In two weeks time it will be the first anniversary of her death.How time flies and if she can see me now I want her to know that there is not a day that I do not think of her.I remember her peaceful face and the beautiful red costume that she wore.She looked as if she was smiling.I'm glad for I don't think I want her to feel sad at her own passing.I want her to know that I say a little prayer for her in my own way each night and that she is never alone.It's just that we are apart for now.Hi Mom and so long.

Little things DO mean a lot.

Today I have a grouse....not a personal one but a grouse on behalf of a good friend.She says the raconteur in me will help tell the story better.I hope I live up to her expectation(s).She married young, to someone more than a decade older than her.Married life was blissful and they had the kids who soon left the nest.So it was just the two of them and to her it was a chance to catch up on what they had missed...what with her time taken up for the kids.So she thought!!She tried to relive the times when they were young and vibrant..when they were in love but she had the greatest surprise of her life.He wanted no part of it.Too old for such things he said.And as time passed the marriage became jaded and now she has her reservations as to whether she made a mistake.
Now they are like house-mates.They don't share the same bed and life on the conjugal bed stopped a while ago.He's not interested although she's still willing.Much as she's still willing,she does not make a fuss over it.What she misses most are little cuddles,hugs,pecks on the cheek to show her or to prove to her(her own words)that the love is still alive.
She is hurt very deep that he has taken things for granted.He seems to be in a world of his own and she does not even belong in even the minutest corner in his life!She feels so left outShe can't do anything about it.She's too old to get a divorce.She's too old to get a job.She's too old to spread her wings.What a dilemma!!
Anyone listening to her lament would tell her to sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk with him.She's tried and he changed.He becomes more attentive but hey it was shortlived.So it was back to square one.
Frustrated,she tells me that if anyone were to tell her that she's getting married to a much older man,she'd flatly tell her NOT to be stupid.The early days will be fine and dandy.Its the latter part that you'll find frustrating.
As I listen to her,I see the remorse and dejection in her eyes.I ask myself how I can help her but I find no answers.It would be easy to tell her to pick up a hobby,do something she's always wanted to do but never found the time to do so.You don't need a degree in counselling to come up with that solution because it will be of utmost difficulty for the person concerned to practise it.The solution lies in the man and for the many problems that women (married and unmarried) face,the solution is ALWAYS with the man.And many a time the man does not want to do anything about it....his ego gets the better of him!
There a deep silence between us as we are both in deep thought.Then she says she's glad she's got it off her chest and she simply says that tomorrow's another day.It might be a good day insyallah God willing.We say our goodbyes and promise to keep in touch.
That heavy feeling is still in my head and I head for the kitchen for a cuppa.I see him there his head bent low over a sodoku puzzle and I wonder.Hey he might do this too then I've got to find another story teller...just joking!Igive him a peck on the cheek and ask him if he too wants a cuppa.

Perhaps Love video

This song is for all who are in love,all who have loved and all who will love soon.Enjoy the song.

Unconditional Love

What is this thing called unconditional love?No conditions set?Just love?It is difficult.Married couples expect each other to stay committed to the marriage and to be faithful to each other.Parents would surely like their children to be around or at least take care of them when they grow old and grey.It is hard to practise this kind of love nowadays.The rat race makes people want to chase their dreams and all they want is money,money ,money!!They forget their committments to the people to whom they owe these committments.
Take the case of the Indian man who literally 'dumped' his Alzeimher-stricken mother in the public rubbish dump.He was caught and sent to jail.Nearer home,there is story about this lady who managed to inveigle her old parents to sign over their house and land to her.She promised them that they could move in with her in their house and they could live with her.She would take care of all her parents' needs.The parents were fine with the plans.There would be someone to take care of them.But a few weeks after the papers were signed,the daughter kicked the old couple out of the house.And so they were homeless.This case is still ongoing as the couple were picked up by a good Samaritan and sent to a home temporarily.
Some of us practise unconditional love.The conditions are already there...not in black and white but somewhere in the recesses of our hearts.Its whether we remember them or not.

Just the two of us

This is just the two of having a quiet moment.Wel, I've done enough reminiscing for the day.It has been a quiet birthday as the boys are away.It's just the two of us again like the old days.There I go again!!!!

Is'nt she beautiful?

Here's H at 2.It was taken during her birthday

H and I

This is me with H at 1.Now she's a blooming teenager and pretty too.She's been doing very well academically scoring straight A's in public examinations.

My 3 sons

My three sons.

Me at 40

Me at 40

The Mexican hat Dance

I hope you noticed starting from SAB the pictures are in colour.With the school sports coming soon ,I was tasked with training two classes for a mass dance.I had never done this before but then who was I to refuse .Not one to complain I set about planning the choreography.Then there was the buying of material for the costumes.It turned out well and I consider that as one of my triumphs as a teacher.The next dance was a Malay dance for the end-of -year concert.I managed to clinch it mostly because of my photographic mind.

Thespian or teacher or both?

We moved again.This time I taught in an all-girls school-a premier school.This was the school I where I spent my happiest days as an educator.The girls were smart ,polite and ever willing to learn.One trait among the girls was to snap pictures.This is a candid shot of me just before the dance rehearsals for sports day.I want to reminisce on one incident which revealed to me one of my callings as predicted by the stars.We were doing Eng. lit.The story was Mill on the Floss a very sad tale.I was reading to the class when suddenly I heard a sob,and another and another.Looking up,I saw that the whole class was in tears.I stopped the class immediately for fear the headmistress would chance to pass by.Her first impression would be that I had caned them.It was later that I found out that I had read so well that the tears fell!Back to what the stars predicted about my choice of career...thespian teacher or a counsellor.

Si Rusa Inn

After I got married I stayed in many places.Each time he was promoted,we moved.But wherever we moved to Si Rusa Inn in Port Dickson was our choice for a holiday.It was run by a bespectacled Indian man with a Japanese wife.They had two sons who helped at the resort and a spastic daughter.We loved SRI because we had a choice of different types of rooms.They had houses,rooms and even caravans.We once stayed in the caravan and we did not feel unsafe at all.It was because the beach front was a private one.The restaurant was the place to go to after a swim.The cooks were all Hainanese and they are known for their Chicken chop dish.WE never tired of this place.Another attraction were the Malay ladies who would without fail arrive at SRI each morning.They would sit under the angsana tree and weave away.They weaved anything and everything that could be woven.Here you see me in a huge beach hat which I borrowed for the pic.Sad to say SRI is a ramshackle place now and everytime we pass by there is that tinge of regret that it is no more.

Too young

I started school young, that is,a year earlier than the others.M was running the canteen in the school and she managed to wrangle a place for me in year one.When I finished my "O" s,I was hardly 15.The trend those days was to temp as a teacher bit nobody wanted me!Too young they said.It was only a year later that I finally got the chance to temp at the Convent school mainly because mother knew someone there!!A year later I finally trained as a teacher.Tht's me in front of my brother's volkswagen.No,I did'nt drive....just posing,just posing.That suit was sewn by yours truly.At that time the bookshops were full of dress-making Japanese books.Though they were all explained in the Japanese language,I managed to figure out what it was all about and hey presto there was I with new clothes every now and then.My favourite book was SOEN ..Until today I do not know what SOEN means.I should find out!

My first formal portrait

This wasthe first portrait taken of me at the photo studio.Iwas 12.I remember that frock.M made it and it was the one that always in the wash....my favourite dress.It was a combination of pink and black.Those days we were the ones who set the trend.Mother was a very good seamstress and she had lots of ideas.Each year on festive days we'd each get at least 4 new dresses to wear.Neighbours used to come to take a peek at them and voila the next day they would come traipsing to the house to show us their newly copied ones.Enough was enough so we hid our new clothes until the day we were to wear them.All of us ..four girls take after our mother as we can all sew pretty well.Thanks M!

At 11

This ole me at the age of 11.Iwas tall for my age and my shoes were...NO not number 9..were the same size as my second sister.So I had double the choice of shoes to wear and it was a pleasure.This extra bonus has had an effect on me till today because I'm a shoe freak.I remember that skirt.It was checked and yellow and white.It was the first skirt that I made myself but the blouse was the compliments of my mother a great seamstress.I am standing tall on a rock at the only seaside in my hometown.

Toni model

See the cutie pie on the left?That's me and I just had my hair 'done'.It was the fashion those days to have home-done perms and TONI was the most famous brand then.My big sister MM was the expert in this and we were her guinea pigs.But we were always happy little guinea pigs because she never failed us.MM is gone now.She died of cancer many years ago and she was a good sister(Half-sister like they say for we shared the same father).Ihope you're happy where ever you are.Be rest assured your girls are doing well and so are the grand children.

Two friends

This pic was taken when I was about 4.The girl next to me was a neighbours's daughter.Icannot for the life of me remember her name but I know we were constant playmates.We played as often as we fought.But it was an unspoken understanding between us that we would make up before bedtime.So we always started the next morning friends.Ps.I don't why this pic is positioned this way and I don't know how to reposition it.Pps.I'm the shorter one in the pic.

Happy birthday to ME

Its my birthday today.Which one you ask..65.Yay and boo hoo.Yay because I'm another year older and more experienced.So you can call an old hand???Boo hoo because this birthday tells me age is catching or has it caught up???Note the number of question marks .This pic was taken as I was reading an sms from M.Thanks M ,for remembering my day.

You know, people often say that seniors like to reminisce and I find it particularly true now that I'm qualified enough!So today,indulge me.Pamper me,oblige me,spoil me and humor me.Allow me the pleasure of reminiscing about the old days.

Flowers,flowers,flowers 10

The lily family-this is the crinum lily or the spider lily.The petals that extend into long ,thin finger-like strings reminds one of the spider's legs.Again it is a fragrant flower and this is one of the flowers I painted for the mural outside the school art-room.Also an easy plant to care for,it has never-ending flowers.

Flowers,flowers,flowers9

Its called Thai Melor and all melor flowers are superbly fragrant!However this melor has NO scent at all....not even the faintest!Still it is a beautiful plant especially if you let it grow tall and plant them in a clump.When the wind blows they sort of sway sensually from left to right and is indeed a sight to behold.

Flowers,flowers,flowers 8

This is the most prized flower in my garden--the phalenopsis.I bought it at the farmers' market at the handsome price of Rm 15.That's the lowest price one should pay for a good orchid plant...I read this in the orchid manual.It used to have only one spray each time it bloomed but this time around there were 2 sprays!!You cannot see the beauty of the colour (purple) because the picture was taken with a camera phone.The blooms are the size of my palm and they have lasted for more than 3 months.

Flowers,flowers,flowers7

The heliconia plant is a very special kind because the flowers come in numerous colours and shapes.I forget the number ..apologies.It is considered an exotic plant and in great demand in countries that experience the 4 seasons.This is one plant that can be left alone after you 've planted it.It needs no fertilizer except for the occcasional trim.However after the flowers fade they have to be cut.You should cut it about 3 inches from the ground so that new shoots will grow.A mass of them in a tall vase makes a great difference to your home decor.

Flowers,flowers,flowers 6

This is actually a cactus plant without thorns though.Its called Desert Lady.This pink one is an ordinary specie and easy to grow.It is the yellow one that's special and all special ones are difficult to care for.I'm happy with my pink one because it never fails me.

Flowers,flowers,flowers 5

The Frangipani was in the old days considered taboo in gardens.It was a plant found only in Muslim cemeteries because theflowers have a very subtle fragrance.So the connection was if the flower is fragrant,spirits head for it!But not now...the belief that spirits love this plant.Why,they are all over gardens in Indonesia!Because the rage was gardens fashioned after Balinese ones,almost eveyone has a pot of this plant.Mine was a cutting from the neighbour.From a little sapling it has grown to a height of 4 feet and more.

Flowers,flowers,flowers 4

This orchid comes from the cattleya family.He bought it for me even though orchids are not really my cup of tea.Still,I appreciate the gesture.The only fertilizer that I've sprayed on it is the soluble type and so far it has worked.Its also a frequent bloomer.The only shortcoming is that it has VERY short stems...the blooms