Happy Valentine's Day 14February2009

It's a big day today. Ma & Abba and Ivy & Sulau will renew their marriages vows this morning at St. Faith's church. I thought it will good for me and hubby too since actually we are in our 10th years of marriage but he had to go for a course; so...... maybe next year.

How can I describe it......

It was hilarious

It was interesting

It was fun and funny

It was beautiful.

You don't get the chances of seeing your mother and dad or sister and brother in-law saying the marriage vows again and what was more interesting; a couple who has been married for more than 40 years renewing their vows....

Mr & Mrs Toda

Unfortunately, I don't have the photos of Mr & Mrs Sulau (so Bee, you know what to do)

photo of Mr & Mrs Toda courtesy of David Toda

REST IN PEACE AKIK....... A tribute to Henry Jeom.

We buried Akik today. He was the closest I get to having a grandad. He died peacefully at 4pm on Friday after 2 months battle with cancer. Ironically, he was diagnosed and admitted on the 2nd anniversary of his beloved wife's passing too.

I never known my real two grandads but it seemed that this grandad of mine who regarded my mom and dad as his own was always around when I was growing up. He was the reason we 'balik kampung' during Gawai or Christmas. Now............

What can I tell you about My 'Akik'. I didn't know much about him but I know he was always there on every important days in my life. I didn't have any close relationship with him but knowing that I can looked up to him to be an elder in my life was just enough. He was family, he was my grandad, the only one that accepted us as we were, opened his life, his house and his entire family to us and I loved him for that.

My only regrets is not being there when he was hospitalised and going through the ordeal of fighting the sickness. Honestly, I just couldn't bear the thought of him dying and that he had limited time with us. I didn't want to cry in front of him and I know it was even harder on all his children especially Aunty Linda and his grand daughters Emma and Michelle.

My prayers with you Akik; kiss Inek when you see her and you will be missed until we meet again.....

Obituary - courtesy of Borneo Post 8thFebruary 2009.

Happy Birthday Ma!!!

Ma turned 62 today. What will I do without her and everyday I just thank the Lord that I still have her here with me, even if it's only for selfish reason. Let me tell you a bit about my "Ma".

Ma - during her single days

She is a daughter to the late Siba from Bukit Aup, Sibu who married my grandma Mengan (my daughter is named after her) from Batang Rejang, Kapit and named Ijah. She is the youngest (I think) out of many brothers and sisters from many marriages from both 'grands'.

Fortunately, she was given the basic education during the British era and one of those Iban girl who managed to find work, moved out of poverty and made it in a 'modern' world. She worked with the Agriculture Department in Semenggok. I don't know how she met Dad but they ended up together and raised the five of us in Sibu.

I think she was dating here - with her best fren I only knew as Indai Tupa

Ma raised us the best that she can and single handed too coz then Dad were always away fighting the communist in the jungle. She had helped from nearby neighbour and we are friends until now(We even have a malay family as our 'family' too - Mak & Bapa Eli).

That's Ma, me, Abet, Anddy and Mak Eli....(Background was our first car)

I thought I had a hard time growing up because I always have this feeling that Ma loved, liked, sided my elder sister more than me and I always have hands downed or second hand items. It bothered me coz I felt like second best. One incident which I remember was when she sew a bed sheet for her and I threw tantrum so she had to used the leftovers material; patched and sew together - lagi I threw tantrum.

She joined me in one of those cute babies contest and I won third prize.

But, I just love to see her dressing up for events. Being an officer's wife she was involved with activities like Perkim or just parties at the Officer's Mess. She will dressed-up put her best front and I enjoyed watching her. She was so beautiful and I always wished that I can find my own 'Officer's' and dressed up for parties like Ma.

I have outgrown those phases and I realized the best thing that Ma taught me and my sibling was to be independent; to have that motto 'Berani buat berani tanggung'; the heck with what people says as long as you know the truth....and that blood is thicker than water.

So Ma, thank you for having us in your life, for taking care of us; young and old, even though money is not everything I wish I have more of those so that you do not have to work so hard; cooking, doing the laundry and taking care of the children ( big and small). I love you Ma for the very simple reason - you are our Tower and our Refuge.

Happy 62nd birthday Ma. May the Lord give you all the happiness, joy and love He can give a mom. We love you.....

Woww.... I just love fire works!!!!!

Chinese New Year Eve was different this year. Although I didn't managed to get my boy to watch it with me, I managed to get my daughter this year. We were shouting with oohh and ahhh, it was a sight to behold and it was fun and I am just sorry that the government banned this Chinese tradition. Accordingly, Chinese believes the noises from the fire crackers can "chase" the evil spirit or any bad elements on the new year and I for one tolerated this culture for few nights in a year all my life. I didn't mind because it's my neighbours' culture and I in return will expect the same from them. I will joined-in in anticipation and would dragged everybody out to watch. I enjoyed it.

NOW, on what ground does a government decide to ban the culture, way of living or even how we call our God? Is the ban applicable only when it applies to certain issues that only involve certain "party"?

I like to share a view from fellow country man that make sense to me. This is a letter sent to Malaysiakini. (http://www.malaysiakini.com/).


'Allah' ban: We Muslims not easily 'confused' Abdul Rahman |
Jan 23, 09 5:10pm


I refer to the Malaysiakini report Ministry to probe Herald's use of 'Allah' despite ban.

As a Muslim, I find it quite incomprehensible why the home ministry or government - as exemplified by our Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar - keeps talking about banning the use of the word ‘Allah’ by people of other faiths. If I'm not wrong, besides the Catholics, the Sikhs also have laid claim in that they use this word in the context of God. And I've also seen it being used by people of other religions when I was in Indonesia or in the Middle East. No Muslims there make any fuss over it. Why in Malaysia does the government makes such an issue over it?

If it is true that this word has been used by people of other faiths and that it was used even in the pre-Islamic era, then what is the fuss of it being used to describe God? Also if it is true that the terms ‘Allah’ has been used by other faiths for centuries in Malaysia, why is this ban being enforced only now but not in the past?

Could some learned Islamic scholars verify these facts ? I found the words spoken by Syed Hamid Albar even more absurd. He was quoted as saying ‘Religious issues are a sensitive matter. That is why I refrain from debating the issue but if a religion decides to show its strength and numerous other actions, I think it is verging on dangerous territory.’

He was also quoted as saying ‘The decision to disallow the weekly from using the word 'Allah' was a government decision and not that of the ministry’. What and who is he implying?

The Herald on its insistence of using the word or the government for banning other faiths from using the word? It seems to me like he is implying that he is showing his strength, meaning the government. Seems to me like he is talking about us Muslims, who being the majority in the government, are showing our strength in pushing others by preventing them from using this word.

Please, Mr Syed Hamid Albar, you speak for yourself or the government which you are a part of, but not on behalf of all Muslims. It is an insult to a majority of the Muslims here when it is implied that we can be influenced just because other faiths use this word. Are you implying that by allowing other people to use this the word, it can ‘confuse’ us as Muslims or cause us to be apostates to Islam? This is the biggest joke I've ever heard!

No wonder there is so much misunderstanding that the world has over us Muslims. These so-called ‘champions of Islam’ in the government speak as if to protect us Muslims from being ‘confused’ or from being potential apostates and this is creating to all these misunderstandings. The same guy who uses ISA ‘to protect’ people.

That's the problem with the government - getting incompetent people to do the job. This is the biggest embarrassment to us Muslims in Malaysia, especially to the silent majority. If there are sites or people that insult the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), then, by all means prosecute the person or persons behind them as it is not right for a person to insult other faiths. Please put up laws to prevent certain people with unsound minds from doing so and charge them in court. The same goes to anybody who insults other faiths, not only us Muslims. I think this is acceptable to all.

As for the Herald, I would like to ask for some understanding on its part to not be confrontational over the use of the word ‘Allah’ for the time being until the problem is resolved by the courts which is just next month.

The editor, Father Lawrence was quoted as saying: ‘We find this restriction on the use of 'Allah' unacceptable when we have been using it as a translation for 'God' for centuries in Malaysia’. Let the courts decide then on whether this claim is true or not as I believe that historical facts can be proven through written records.

A Muslim with a sound mind will accept facts as facts and not be threatened if history shows it to be that way. As a Muslim, I do not think that the word ‘Allah’ whether it is allowed by the courts to be used or not by other faiths will impact my faith in my Allah.

Here comes the Ox!!!!!!

It's 'that' time of the year again!!!!!

It has been a tiring 4 days for me but hey, I do enjoy it coz you can only see "this" kind of people around this year. It is big thing for my office around this year as we are in the Services' Industry/Customers' Orientated Industry and that means treating them like Kings and Queens even if they projected themselves like paupers!!!! Please don't get me wrong, I got nothing against Chinese but really, what is your obsession with Ang-Pau packets ?(even the non-Chinese are guilty of doing it). I like to list some of the dos and don'ts when asking for the red packets.

Do take whatever is given, maybe 1 packet(10pieces) is ridiculous, 2 are just nice, 3 are ok but 4 - you are too much, NOT AS IF YOU HAVE LOADS OF MONIES TO GIVE AWAY!!!!!!!

Don't bang the counter or stomp your feet when there are no more to give away - you will look like overgrown kid and it's not pretty (especially when you are over 50).

Do go around town - other organization produce better and sometimes for marketing purposes, companies giving it out more freely.

Don't be dependent on others - you can get it out of your own pocket. There are so much nicer.

and lastly,

Do use Internet banking to give monies then we do not have to produce a lot of the packets; cut cost, cut paper; save the trees.

Anybody want to add??

Anyway as my Chinese friends ushering the Ox's year I would be taking an easier and slower pace - having 4 days off.

Happy New Year my friends!!!!!!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, JUSTDOLI!!!

I was supposed to post that on Thursday but the other half had to go to KL for a meeting that day so the kids and I have to sleep over at mom's for 2 nights. Why? - you may ask. Because I can't handle the kids in the morning. Aren't you surprise. Well helllllooooooo. I wake up every morning to prepare the snack boxes for the kids. I can't be running around overseeing them, that's the dad's work.

Surprisingly, when at mom's they were angels - mom said they did it ALL by themselves. So what does that tells you - Yeahhh the dad has been pampering them. Well, as long as they don't stress me early morning, I am fine with that.

So, I have been blogging for a year now. I couldn't believe it. I, with no knowledge on computers and is IT illiterate is able to have a blog. Friends thought I am 'clever' - I have my own blog. Actually it us really easy once you get a hang of it. It is just like an intranet - you log on when you want to update or search for items. So frens, start your own blog, it is the easiest way for me to know what is going on in your lives....

For me, it has been one year of experiments, experiences and journey. I am glad I took this road because with it comes open doors, doors of opportunities, of trials, failures and such. I took another step of improvement - step of faith. You may not understand it but when I triumph I will let you know. Until then, Good Nite - I am going to bed.

Should have got this toy a long time ago......

Ya, I installed streamyx yesterday and I am so happy coz it is very fast and I am enjoying myself..

I started work yesterday and for me going to work on a Friday is always the best deal coz you are preparing for the next week and your body is looking forward to the next two days of relaxing again. Come Monday things will be back to normal. Jaja will start class; 2H and Beth will be reporting on Wednesday@Kindy 2. No more sleeping late for us.

3 days into the new year and I still feel sulky........

Anybody got any antidote?