Cakes Galore !

She's at it again...mooncake craze is over...back to cakes.

She received the order for a carrot cake ; made it and delivered it on time. Aunt Joan said it was up to expectation and Uncle Soon took it with glee...RM60.00 for 2 kg...very reasonable. But more importantly, it was yummy...so we have been told.

Tomorrow, mummy has some guests visiting the school...teachers and students from Lawley Senior High School, Perth, Australia.
So she has been given the privilege to bake for them.

She calls it chocolate rojak cupcakes...why the rojak, I don't know...but Garrett says the best ever...




She also baked vanilla flavoured ones... very pretty, aren't they ?
Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow...I will serve them to my visitors...Sara's goodies. I can proudly tell my friend of old that my daughter baked them...proud, proud.

Mama

I miss my ma.

Reflections are good for life because they teach us how to lead a life. I reflect upon my childhood days and how they have made such imprints in my life till today... one of the most unforgettable being my mama's way of keeping the house clean.

Mama is neat, clean and house pride. She is adamant that things be put right in the correct places and I could vouch that when young she would slog for anything as long as her home is neat. I am so proud of mama for until today she still holds this virtue true...that's why I miss her ways.

Residing high up in one of the units in the high rise, it's therapeutic when you look around the places surrounding the unit. You gain calm, peace and a deep sense of desire to be there. At night, the flickering lights way beyond becomes a scenic picture and the often strong breeze gives the much needed coolness on hot evenings.

Mama opens her door to friends and relatives with much warmth and love. She is gracious, generous and hospitable. She dotes on her children, grandchildren and even neighbours' children. She is addressed as Por por by everyone and people remembers her grace.




She keeps her units in order and seldom does one see her cushions not in place. Her tea towels are uncomparable...so white and clean that it may bring some bathing towels to shame. After being with her for 28 years of my life, I find it difficult to adapt to anybody just like that. I find it very very difficult to stay with anybody...without remembering the cosy and comfortable home that Por provides...more than anything else...cleanliness. I love to be associated with her style.



Por's fingers are green...virtually green. Plants grow fat and well under her care and love...what more about humans. Whatever little space she can find...she puts it to good use.

As you walk out of the lift to her unit, you are greeted with an atmosphere of cheer...her lovely flowers.

Lovely, aren't they? That's my mama...so house proud and neat. She keeps her door way clear of dry leaves, dirt, rubbish...and sweeps diligently. Ma is so diligent. I miss her ways.

The welcoming entrance to her house speaks of love. I miss mama.

I must thank mama for her exemplary ways and the way she nurtures us.

Thank you, mama.

Fairuz & Hana

Fairuz Bin Yusuf ; head boy 2000-2001.

He took great pains to come into the school office and looked for us, personally coaxing us to attend his wedding. He related that he just came home from the UK after an engineering degree in Imperial College and had to rush into many things...but one thing he did not rush in without thinking ... getting Hana to be his wife. Both husband and wife will be leaving for the UK next Wednesday, he being attached to a firm in the capacity as a consultant and his wife to complete a PHD program in Cambridge University ; a great future ahead.
The wedding was simple and meaningful with both Pn Loy and I telling his wife how lucky a woman she is to have him as a life partner to which she replied..." He's lucky to have me as a wife too..."... but of course.

At the main table were guests; possibly from the UK and they were treated to a typical Malay bersanding ceremony ; perhaps to have memories that would last for quite a while.



The handsome couple cutting the wedding cake in great joy and delight.




Both Fairuz and Hana are indeed a match...Fairuz always has eyes for pretty girls !

But perhaps a very meaning ful part of the day was when we encountered so many ex-students of the school.

The Seafield boys but I must apologise for the poor memory...I could not remember all their names...faces I could place here and there but names...I am sorry.

I spoke to some of them and they seemed to have found their bearings in good vacations and life partners.

This boy or man rather is Nik ... an architect from UIA and he told me that he is already married...that's the wife beside him. His dad has a history with the PIBG of the school and I know 2 of his youngest siblings are still with us in school. The family sure has a thick connection with the school.

The bright ones of the school...Johnson Lim and Anton. Johnson, a keen lawyer is with Shearn Delamore & Co and he asked for Grace... they being contemporaries and were friends since school days. He learnt from face book about her well being and was glad that she is well in Singapore. I asked him when would be his turn and he shyly said not so soon. Anton is a HO with Ampang GH having graduated from AIMST.

This macho guy flies MAS regionally and has been flying for 5 years...wow...so when I asked if I could contact him for privileges he gave me his number immediately. Not bad.

This a sister and brother team...Nadiah and Termizi. Nadiah is a secretary but the brother...I forgot what he told me he was doing.

A lovely pose between the teacher and her protegee. Puan Loy was the discipline chief and this batch of prefects was especially close to her. Elina on the left is a trainee with CIMB and Puan Khaizamah's daughter is on her right doing an IT website project at the moment. Name...it slipped my mind. Puan Loy was all praises for the boys and girls and told me that during a prefects' camp then, both Fairuz and Asraff ( Pn Aminah's son) sat and watch the safety of the girls dormitory the whole night through. That was how resposible they were. She further reiterated that when given an assignment, Fairuz would by hook or crook see to its completion. Commendable indeed and it was really heart warming to see the young men and women coming up to us to greet us with smiles and hugs. Oh...so good to see them grow up well... like a job well done in school.

To all ex students an evening for you will be coming soon on Dec 19 2009 in the school hall to appreciate all your contributions to the establsihment. Please contact the school for further info.

To Fairuz and Hana ... may the days and challenges ahead make you strong in your relationship as husband and wife and have a meaningful stay in the UK.

To market, to market...

To market, to market, to buy... a pair of crocs.

Saturday mornings are meant for the wet market where one gets fresh supplies of almost anything and where some happenings may just happen!

So I was attracted to this huge heap of shoes strewn on the floor...

It's a common sight these days , but they are displaying the coveted brand...Crocs ! So now the brand has found a new niche...in wet markets and not only in grand shopping malls ! How come? Crocs are known for her comfort and the way they change her shape according to the client's feet. They are light and carry you without effort and therefore allow the wearer to scour miles without heaping stress on the feet. So you pay for such features.
But no more do they look high and mighty in the market place where everyone has a chance to prance on them...and I am just an ordinary local folk. So I took my chance on it too.

Choices, choices, choices...do you see my choice ? your choice? The purple pair with a strap across it ... I have been told it's the latest for the week. The vendor said every week they will try to display some new looks. So I picked my choice.

The brown version of the purple pair. Not too bad , yea?



Well, it feels comfy...but dad chided and said , " It's all imitation stuff...you are so gullible ." Hei, it's alright for the price... a mere RM 20.00 after bargaining...SD8.00 only ; Grace will be glad. I can put it on when I go market next and maybe look for the latest next week!

Crocs fernzy !

WJN 628

Goodbye dear car.

Thank you for serving us a good 7 years. You came to serve us in October 2002 and you have never failed to send us safely to every destination assigned to you. You have been with us ever since Grace enrolled in the SAM programme and saw Esther and Sara through their secondary school years and you have faithfully ferried them whenever the need arose.

You accompanied dad in his daily work and dad loved your versatility...you were sometimes an office , at others you took the role as a truck to carry goods and constantly saw him through thick and thin.

When you were first brought home, dad said he would keep you for a long, long time...cos you were carrying a benz engine and was supposed to be hardy. So dad said he would keep you as long as he could.

You never once met an accident...maybe because you were big and looked tough...so no one dared to go near you. You provided good shed and transport.

You looked steadfast and reliable...parked everyday on the same spot in the home.

But like people, when you have grown old and were overused, you showed signs of wear and tear. You began to get sickly...too often. One by one, the organs gave way. First, it was the gear box, then the brake system, soon the radiator , then the air-condition. Much was spent looking after you.

Then we were not too sure if you could carry us safely to our destinations anymore. We tried ways and means to find reasons to keep you but the time has finally come when we had to make a cruel decison...to send you away.

So, the day came when we drove you out of the favourite lot in the house and sent you away. Even when driving you to your new home, you stopped at the mileage shown above...226822km.

You must be tired now.

Parked at your new place of residence, dad said he was 'sim tia' (heartbroken) when he bade you goodbye. We wish you all the best in your new home and once again want to reiterate that we love and thank you for having taken care of us the last seven years.

Seven is symbolic for changes.

Bye car...we will miss you.

The Handy Man

Dad, the handy man.

We took advantage of the Hari Raya break and took a long drive down South to see the old folks in Muar and to find them hale and hearty. Kong Kong was his old jovial self and Por seemed to be in real high spirits. It is good to be old and yet able to earn a living for yourself cos it makes one useful and meaningful. Kong Kong laughed at himself being so old and lamented that all his old clients are long dead and gone and he finds it hard to understand the needs of the present cohort of clients. Told him to take it easy at his own pace and not to be overstressed about making money. He cheekily bursted out that his is an 'old man business' and that it is also not meant for making big money.

I happened to meet a teacher from Seri Kembangan who came down to Muar to visit relatives and I could not help laughing when she said " Nyonya , Ah Pek, masih ada? Salam..." She later related that her mum who used to be a client of Kong's was long gone and she took an old bracelet belonging to her mum -in -law for repair. She was amazed at Kong.

After an evening with them, we made our way further South to Singapore to see Grace on Tuesday morning to find her on call which meant we could not see her till the next day.

"Mum, I couldn't get to change the dates cos I am on call on Friday and Sunday too." But her kind MO let her out for an hour to see us and she brought us to her apartment.

The 2 ladies at the counter smiled as they saw mother and child hugged and were sorry that Grace was on call for the day. Well, we had no choice but to wait till the next day arrived.



Dad picked her up from the hospital the following day to her delight...otherwise it was the MRT...and to find her labelled as the property of NUH...hahaha.

A property of NUH ? She seemed to have lost some weight and had to remove the contact lens as it was a great stress on the eyes throughout the night. She had dark rings under her eyes and it was heart breaking to see her virtually working day and night. Her Hokkien has improved though and she jokingly said that the first question she would ask was " Auntie, wu chuan bo?" (Madam...are you short of breath?) ...In Singapore you'd better learn to speak dialects...

The only consolation is she is still young and need to "piah" ( stress out) for life.

Dad with eyes for essentials for decent living could not stand the arrangement of her bedroom and decided to shift the furniture around. That was precisely what Grace was waiting for.

We were kept busy the whole afternoon with me mopping the floor and dad repairing and shifting furniture. See the whole family making sure things were set right before we could go out.

Later Grace drove us to VIVO and found our very own boy...Giant...the name synonymous with affordable things and got somemore stuff to make up for everything that was missing. We later found that we had to make our way to IKEA to get things not found in Giant.


Father and daughter fixed up a cabinet for storage purposes till late in the night. Dad would not leave the place until it was comfortable enough for the daughter. All parents go out to do their bit to make life happy for their children...don't they ? Dad did that too in Brisbane to make life easier for her the last time.

After putting the place spick and span , Grace said it was time for some fun despite a night of no sleep. She insisted we went out against my wish. We wanted to try the famous Singapore chicken rice and she took us to Boon Tong Kee...the place you wanna be for chicken rice !

Chicken rice scoop shaped in the form of a pyramid...first time I witnessed chicken rice served in this fashion...chicken rice balls is a common sight in Muar but in pyramid form...never.



Well, the chicken rice is better than that of Nam Heong of Subang Jaya but dad commented that it was of the same standard as the ones found in Jalan Imbi in town.

Besides chicken rice, we were treated to a dish of spinach cooked in the accompaniment of 3 types of eggs...and it is gaining great popularity here.

Yes, salted egg, century egg and the ordinary egg. The dish tastes quite ordinary but nice and I could see chunks of unchopped garlic. Try cooking the dish...coincidentally this dish was picked the previous night when we had dinner with dad's brother.

Next, we had deep fried toufu dipped in special sauce. This dish is not to be done in the home. Seldom can we purchase toufu of this texture. So what you can't cook , just buy la.

After a sumptuous meal, we took a shopping spree down town and it was indeed pleasurable when your child foot the bill...hehehe...a good feeling that she is independent financially and I kept reminding her to save...not how much you earn but how much you save...Kong's wise words. Dad felt bad that she was treating us and lamented that we had caused her to spend so much to which I replied " It's ok dear...a treat for all our hard work and energy on her..."

All good things must come to an end...before long we had to rest and the next day dad sent her to work which allowed her another 30 minutes of precious sleep...grateful to God.