A MUST SEE

Just returned from a trip to GUILIN, China. This you must see . . .

The SILVER CAVE, a magnificient limestone cave, formed millions of years ago, It runs through 12 mountains and the roundabout tour (entrance ticket RM 65) covers approx. 2 km. Ohhh my sore feet!

SIMPLEMENTE MAGNIFICA! Just Magnificient!

NEWSPAPER - RECYCLED

Just returned from attending a short course in KL organized by the Women's Institution on how to make this craft. Looks like rattan baskets, don't they? Actually, strips of newspaper were rolled into very thin cylindrical "sticks" and then woven as you would in basketry. As you go along, you join the paper "sticks" (sorry I don't know what to call it!) until you get the shape you wanted. I had problem joining the paper sticks. The next step is to touch-up the pieces with lacquer or paint. Once they are lacquered, the papers become stiff. The two baskets on the left in the picture are in their natural state - newspaper. And the dark coloured ones are painted. Now, the next big problem is I have to master the technique so that I can in turn pass this craft to the members in my locality, in preparation for a competition. It's not merely teeny weeny baskets, mind you. Oh no! A 10 inches diameter sewing basket PLUS (mind you PLUS) COVER! Will I be able to it? So that's my BIG challenge for now. I'll keep you posted of my progress . . . . wish me luck, folks!

PEARL OF KEDAH - LANGKAWI

Here's wishing you a Very Happy Start to a Brand New Year! May 2011 brings you happiness, good health and good fortune.

I celebrated the coming of the new year in the bus returning home from LANGKAWI, a beautiful island right up north of the Peninsula.

I went with a group of senior citizens - all ladies - whose main purpose was to shop at the many Duty Free Shops, naturally! I, on the other hand, took the opportunity to spend the last few days of my holidays enjoying the camaraderie with my friends and to enjoy the scenery of this beautiful island.

LANGKAWI consisted of a group of 99 islands (so said the tourist guide). I love the high hills dipping into the clear, blue seas. Also I liked the colours of the many boats bringing tourists by the loads from island to island. We went to one or two tourist spots and "island hopping" but due to the short stay (also time taken with shopping!), I didn't get to see much of the island. Hope to return to explore more of the island some other time.

HOME AGAIN

Greetings! I just returned home from my pilgrimage to Mecca. Was away for 45 days. Here's wishing you all "A Happy and Prosperous 2011".

CLASS REUNION

The day I've been looking forward to finally arrived. "Don't forget, Naz," said Alice, "lunch at The Renaissance Friday, 15th October." Alice reminded me. I looked through my box of old photos and found several class photos taken years and years ago when we were at good old CHIJ. I smiled thinking of the happy times we shared. So I thought it would be a good idea to make several copies of the old photos and distribute them to my former classmates at the reunion. I also prepared little gifts for each one of them.

In front of our class, Form 1A with our teachers. Me front row third from left.

This one taken when we were in Form 4 with our class teacher, the ever popular Miss Dutt. That's me seated far right.

Then the moment arrived. As I was walking towards a group of 'young' ladies whom I presume were my classmates, I could hear my name being mentioned. "There's Naz, She's here!" And then there were hugs and more hugs as I recalled each person's name. We haven't met for a lonnnng time. There's dear Lil from Melbourne, Swi Neo from Singapore, Beng Kim, Jit Neo, Siew Fah, Kim Tee, Goon Hong, Ruby, Guek Lian and last but not least the organizer of the lunch, dear Alice. Obviously there were lots of chatter, exchanging news about grand-children, family photos to be shared . . . now and then trips to the buffet spread. Everybody were trying to scrutinize the old class photos, figuring out who is who, now and then bursting out laughing! Those were really precious moments for me, so happy to be remembered and cared.

Thank you dear friends. Hope there will be more moments like this, remembering that once for 11 years we were classmates in CHIJ Melaka.

Look at us now - Class of 62.

SAVINGS HABIT

While sorting out the mass of books in the box just now, I found this faded, yellowish 4" x 6 1/2" little book - The Post Office Savings Banks book. It has about 30 pages and interesting to note, on the front cover the notification was written in 4 languages - English, Malay. Chinese and Tamil. I smiled - it was my savings account book with the Post Office - No. 27679. Upon opening it, I realized that my first deposit of $10.00 was dated 23/12/52 (oh, that was the year I ended my Kindergarten education at the Sacred Heart Convent, Malacca - 6 years old!)


So you see, I started saving from a very young age. I must thank the Kindergarten teacher then and also the Malacca Post Office for initiating this savings program. Every morning, each child would buy a 10 cents stamp and affix it to a special Post Office card. When the stamps amounted to $10.00, we would go to the Post Office, hand the card over and have the amount stamped in our Savings Book. I remember as children, we were very enthusiastic and liked the idea of pasting stamps on our card and return it to the Post Office and at the same time, having our very own Savings Account book.

That was how it all started. Since that moment in 1952, I never stopped saving (and withdrawing :-) too). But it was a good habit initiated from young, don't you think so?

Full layout of the savings book when opened.

EID MUBARAK

Hari ini hari terakhir bulan Ramadhan bagi tahun ini. Esok 1 Syawal, kita Raya. Semoga segala amalan kita diterima dan diberkati. Semoga kita ditemukan lagi dengan Ramadhan tahun hadapan, إن شاء الله

OPEN LETTER TO THE BIRTHDAY GIRL

Dear Iman,

18th August was your 15th birthday but only today I got the time to jot this. We had a very delightful 'buka puasa' with 2 tables spread with what-you-can-name-it, thanks to your very generous Mum and Dad. And I did notice the rare, wide grin on your face when you showed me the brand new guitar, a present from your Mummy, at last!

I want to share here with you my experience with the musical instruments. It started with the ukelele (sort of like a baby guitar, used to strum along Hawaiian style). I first got attracted to it when I saw my classmate in Form 6 playing it during a concert. Now, I thought, that was not so hard. Then when I was studying in Australia, during the summer vacation, I worked for a week as a 'Nanny' like Nanny Fine you saw on TV. When I got my pay, the first thing I bought was the Ukelele. It was so funny, tried as hard as I could, I couldn't get the correct chords. I could only strum the chords for 'You are my sunshine'. So I gave the ukelele away to a friend. After several years of working, I received a 'bonus' for my pay. Again, the first thing I bought was a musical instrument - larger than the ukelel - the Piano. I had always wanted a piano since I was young but my Mother, your Moyang, couldn't afford it then. So now I had a piano but again I could not play it because the Piano was home in Melaka and I then was transferred to K.L. So it was left to your Mum, she was in her Primary school, to make full use of the piano. I didn't think she liked it but she was 'forced' and lasted till Grade 6, if I'm not mistaken. Then when she moved to the Resedential School in Seremban, she gave a big sigh of relief - no time to practice the piano, she said. In the mean time, I managed to teach myself simple tunes like 'Home on the Range', 'Mega Mendong'. Before long, the piano ended being infested with white ants, thus ended its history.
Then in K.L. I bought the guitar. I took classes at Yamaha Music School where I learnt classical guitar. I could strum several basic chords, but the strings hurt my fingers, So the guitar was put to rest in a corner, later given to cousin Ridzwan. My greatest wish and dream is to be able to play a musical instrument, but I guess I can only dream.

You too Iman, I remember had several encounters with the musical instruments when you were very young. Remember Mrs Janet Yong coming to the house to coach you at the piano. Was it easy then? You gave up, remember. Then later was it me who bought you the violin when you were at Miss Avoynne's kinddy. Then you stopped because your baby sister, Amal, broke one of the heads. That was a good reason to stop, eh? So it was not easy to master the musical instrument. I hope this time you'll be real serious with your brand new guitar and one day will perform for us, accompanying your beautiful soprano voice.

All the best wishes. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Love from Nek Ngah.

1st DAY OF RAMADHAN

1 Ramadhan 1431

SEMOGA ALLAH MEMBERKATI SEGALA USAHA KITA

DI AMBANG RAMADHAN

BERGEMBIRALAH MENYAMBUT BULAN RAMADHAN AL-MUBARAK!

SELAMAT BERPUASA DAN BERIBADAH!