on Chin Peng [and co]: So he's a hero eh.....

            Try telling that to my late dad......
            He was a member of the Royal Malay Regiment during Chin Peng's heydays of pillage, slaughter and terror. Who spent countless days in the jungles of Kelantan, Perak and several other states. Who experienced several Ramadhans there. I believe, there were several Syawals that he wasn't home too.
            Who saw his buddies being murdered right before his eyes.
            Who had to "clean up" the villages after massacres by the "glorious" PKM. Villages close to jungles were mostly inhabited by Malays. Who were predominantly farmers. Who became the "food source" of the commies.
            Yea...tell that to my late dad......
            Who almost died during several ambush episodes.
            Who discovered that the communist he killed was sometimes of his ethnic race.
            Tell that to Pakcik Mansur who lost his leg - thanks to a commie booby trap.
            Tell that to my maktok [grandma] whose army son went missing for 2 years....and presumed dead. Only to turn up with healed gunshot wounds.
            Tell that to my mum who had to console numerous army widows. Who lived in fear of being one herself every time dad left for the jungle.
             Dear Bawani, Khalid Mohd Ismath, Hishamuddin Rais,
             I'd love to slap your faces. With both hands. Real hard. Until I'm too tired to slap.
             And I think many army kids from that era would like to do the same....if not worse!
           

on Mothers: You'll need them forever.....

            No matter how old I get, I never want to be alive without my mum. Not that I'm particularly close to my mum. My relationship with her is arm's length at best. But I've always counted on her being there. Always on top of whatever transpires in this big family of mine.
            I don't confide in my mum. Or have much to say to her. She sees the cheerful side of me most of the time. But there were times when she confided in me. And times when I fought for her - me being the outspoken one in the family. There was a time when I took care of all her worldly needs. Now, my sister does that....plus taking care of her emotional needs. She, along with my youngest brother, are the two people who connect with mum on a deep level. I'm happy to be on the peripheral playing cheerleader.
            Social events at No30 centers around mum. This has been the way since bapa passed on. During the months after mum's stroke, there was a dearth of social functions involving non-No30 residents. We just weren't up to it. It seemed strange to host events without mum being the grand hostess. Close family friends who visited also felt this. Normally mum would be the one "holding court" and taking center stage.
            Family activities eg vacations, eating out etc were non-existent. We are a very sociable lot her at No30. But since October of last year, we've been somewhat quiet. No open house last year. A lacklustre raya this Syawal too.
            However, mum's condition improved a few months ago. And she wanted to be up and about. So the family eating out sessions resumed. She even managed to go raya-visiting.
            Things looked well for her until the open house a few days ago. We rushed her to Ampang Putri. She was okay after a couple of days there. But a heart problem was detected. There's nothing much the doctors could do given her age and health condition. So we prayed that all will be well with her.
            Now she's back in hospital. With a worsened heart condition.
            I'm ready for the worst.....though I still pray that she'll make it this time around too......

on Price Hikes: Life's like that lah.....

            Folks who know me would say, "Of courselah you have nothing to complain about. You still live with your mum." And they'd be spot on!
            I live in a tiny flat behind mum's bungalow. Rent free.
            Most of my meals are consumed at other people's dining tables - mum's, sister's, daughter's, brother's. We all live on the same compound. I dismantled my stove and gave away the gas cylinder.
            Which makes me a parasite of sorts I guess..........
            I don't own a car. Or motorbike. Not even a bicycle. I walk when I can't hitch a ride or get a taxi.
            I smoke cheap cigarettes because I feel it's sacrilege to pay RM10 a pack to slowly kill myself.
            I attempt to grow my own greens and stuff. So far the kailan, carrots, kangkung, tomato, chilli, spinach, okra, cucumber, pegaga, mango, guava, soursop plants are still alive. Though I've yet to experience the thrill of harvesting them. Am praying that I'll get the chance to do so.
            I now drink Kopi Hang Tuah because I'm somewhat rascist.
            Endeavouring to stay away from Zionist friendly products have saved me some RM.
            My daughters' eatery provides my contribution to potluck parties. A good thing my friends love the food.
            Being abaya clad I needn't worry about my wardrobe. What I have takes me everywhere. Nobody notices black clad ladies in oversized clothes much.
            Being over 50, single mum, unemployed get me a lot of invitations for free meals. Free rides too.
            My grandkids think I'm dirt poor as I only have biscuits and dates in my flat. Add that to a yet-to-be-fixed-for-the-longest-time refrigerator. So they hardly ask me for anything. They only drink plain water in my home as I only stock that plus tea and coffee. I figure they could easily run home to get their Milo, Vitagen, CalciYum, Peel Fresh fix.
            All visitors to my home know that they'll need to bring their own food when they visit at mealtimes. They bring enough to feed me too. My friends are really very nice people.
            My electricity bill seldom exceed RM100 every quarter. I know that if I sleep regular hours like most folks, I'd probably cut that down by 30%.
            A 3kg box of MaxKleen 9 laundry detergent lasts for more than 6 months.
            Since I don't cook and mostly eat at other people's dining tables, I don't do a lot of dishwashing. I've the same bottle of dishwashing liquid which I bought when I first moved in - sometime in October last year.
            My family's water supply is free. We pipe in spring water from the hills at the back of the property.
            I'm a lazy so and so who loves staying in. And can comfortably survive on biscuits and dates.
            I'm SO blessed! ;)
            Sorry I can't bitch along with you......but I promise to nod emphatically.......

of Gardens: My sister's handiwork

 

                     

  Zai, Leha and I enjoying the garden - with Khadeeja :)