90210 horror

When the show 90210 came out, the first thing that came to my mind was "Oh no, why are they still churning out teen flicks with the same old recipes? Like can't people come up with original ideas anymore these days?"

So imagine my shock, horror and complete amazement to discover last night that a lady in her early fifties was relentless in me switching tv channels because she watches, no wait, follows the show. The said woman is my mother!!! OMG. And she can tell me all the names of the characters, their relationships with one another and the plot. Fulamak, impressive...

I think my eyes popped out of the sockets, rolled on the carpet as I launched into a semi-speech about such shows and how of all people in the world (she despises the tv, never wanting us to become tv addicts when i was growing up), she watches 90210.

I'm gonna *pengsan* if i ever hear even whispers of her vaguely watching the L Word.

My New Toy

After 5 long loyal years, I put my handphone to rest. It served me very well but in the past few months have been showing signs of collapse from wear and tear and of course, its very matured age. I still remember the days where I grit my teeth with the phone gets cranky. One such incident where it stop vibrating anymore.

So, let me present to you my new toy: The Nokia N79! Seriously, after my old phone, the current one is a whole world of difference! Its got all this cool funky features that i know everyone else's phone got except mine. And i have yet to pick up the instruction manual prefering to explore its functions on my own. Of course i did come across not knowing how to undo a setting simply because i cant remember where the hell was the application/fuction/feature placed in the menu. Lol.

But i totally *heart* my phone. It was down to the N82, N85 and N79. I do wish the keypads were as soft as the N85 but the N85 is a slide phone and i know these generally dont last long, at least not at the rate i use my phone. The N82 while it has excellant features (actually, they're all pretty much the same), the keypads were just freaking ugly and hard to press. The N79 won hands down as it was candybar and the keypads albeit being a lil hard, were still much better and nicer too. You can read reviews of the N79 *here*.

And who i have to thank for the amazing birthday present - Dad!

The Raya Weekend

My only complaint about raya weekend was that 5 days wasn’t enough to be called a break. Before heading back to home sweet home, I figured 5 days in office seem to pass rather slowly so 5 days home is more than enough time to do much. Oh, how wrong was I.

In fact, I felt I should have forfeited my 1.5 days of sleeping and headed out to catch up with my friends instead. In trying to meet everyone I can, family to spend time with and also my beauty sleep which is a luxury I no longer have since starting work, I rushed in the last 2 days between people and places. I do feel awful about it, it is really unfair to meet up with a friend for 1.5 hours and then having to dash off somewhere else.

Raya is a quiet affair for me. I went to one open house and was helping myself to all the yummylicious cookies. I miss just having such delicacies to munch on when I’m bored or just itching to eat something. Seriously, if my skin was any thicker, I probably could have summoned enough courage to ask the aunty if I could tapau some for myself. Every single kuih raya was delightful to my taste buds which didn’t discriminate between the butter, chocolate, peanut butter and the myriad of flavours of each cookie. I’m already getting hungry typing this out.

With promises to meet up in KL and Melaka, I do hope on catching up with my friends soon. I do think we may eventually hang out more in KL since quite a number of us are based all over the Klang Valley save Ah Ken and Sakura whose presence will be missed dearly. I didn’t realize how dependent I have become to Sakura for all her food recommendations, I miss having her around.

Till the next cookie filled Raya, hope everyone had a fantabulous weekend.

Ang Pows for Merdeka

As weird as this sounds, I received a number of ang pows during my Merdeka family gathering. In fact, I don't remember receiving so many ang pows even for Chinese New Year! So, how come ang pows on National Day?
Well, its for my graduation! I had no idea my uncles and aunties were going to give me those red packets. I've already gotten so much support and love, beautiful messages and emails from them about my recent convocation (it's exactly a week ago, oh, how time flies!) and this was so unexpected in the most pleasant way.

Well, like most girls (ok la, just me) , the money can be spent in one or two shopping trips. So, i got myself to the bank and deposited the money in *like a good girl* cheh. I am hoping to go for a holiday at the end of the year so this will be part of my vacation fund. Now, where should i go for holiday? hhmmm.....

OMG

My memory has lapsed and failed me again. i cannot believe i forgot! thank heavens i had some sense to call superman to confirm my flight details or else i would have missed it altogether.

i'm speaking about my flight to kuching to attend the world famous Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF). and the tickets were booked somewhere in april and since it was sooo long ago, i really thought that superman booked the 1pm tickets. little did i know, my excitement to go for the event was so HUGE that i actually demanded ( ok, no la, i excitedly jumped up and down while talking) that he booked us the 9.45am tickets. i wanted to explore kuching since i'm already going all the way there. so an earlier flight would give us more time to go sightseeing and my favourite activity of all - EATING!!!

it all came back to me when i was talking to superman. phew... i would kill myself if i had missed the flight because i've been wanting to go for RWMF for years and years. but it always comes down to two reasons - money or rather the lack of it and time as it falls during the first week of the semester.

you know what's the best part? going for rainforest is my graduation present from my parents. yippee!! my heart's still beating so fast from thinking how could i possibly think i was on the 1pm flight? like seriously, i'm so known for wanting to make the best out of everything, so how could i think i would have asked superman to book such a late flight when we could have gone at 7am or 9.45am. I've already researched (yes, google is a life-saver) of places to eat and explore in kuching. thank heavens i didnt leave that to the 11th hour of i'll be scolding myself.

anyhoo, i have to run. will need to go pack my bags coz i'm headed to KL tomorrow. and thanks AA for telling me to load up on insect repellant. apparently they are very fiesty over the east.

will update when i get back. im soooo freaking excited. and i get to see my besties from kerteh and bintulu too!. YiPPeE!!

The Only Child

Sis B and Sis S have gone back to campus leaving me the only child at home. So after so many years, I’m now the kid of the house! Yes, I’m quite grown-up to sound so happy but I’ll take whatever comes along.

The house is quieter without them. I no longer have to endure Sis B’s lectures on my slackness of whatever that she seeks slacking. The downside is I don’t have someone to share the chores especially during the last week when she was home. Sis S will be back for the weekend as she always does but she’s so quiet I doubt it would make much of a difference.

My best companion is my music. I’ve burnt a few hundred mp3s to play as I work around the house because I don’t think I can take listening to the radio any longer. They keep repeating their songs. For crying out loud, I think I’ll puke if I hear 4 minutes by Madonna, JT and Timbaland for the umpteenth time today. The overplaying of it spoils the good song altogether.

So yes, the only child can be spoilt for a bit. I don’t have to share anything and I get all the attention in the world. Lol. Ok, I was kidding. But yeah, it’s a nice change.

I got a jab!

My sister and I have yet to get chicken pox all this years despite my mum’s repeated attempts to get us infected. Among such ingenious methods include making us play with her friend’s children who have chicken pox hoping we would get it. But yet it didn’t work. Our immune system must be heck of a powerful huh. Hehe….

Well, Sis S’s best friend contracted the *horror* chicken pox not too long ago and when my mum saw her condition, it shocked her to see how adverse the effects could be on a slightly grown up child. The scars were bad and she took a much longer time to recover. So we’re getting inoculated against it.

I had my first jab today. The doctor insisted i not look while i got my jab. I breathed in, breathe out. Nothing. Then breathe in .... oooowwww!!!! and breathe out. I was glad it was over so fast. It was alright, like a sting of a red ant. No scars, no bumps and my arm functions just fine. Phew...

I'll get my second dose on the 25th of August (2 months from now). And when I looked at my card, I smiled coz 25th is a day after my graduation ceremony. All things happen at the same time huh.

Sisters and Suits

my parents picked me up yesterday from campus where i loaded my whole 5 years worth of things and some junk to lug it back home to Melaka. thank heavens i've given away all of my books and notes (that saves me a good 20liters of space) or else i wouldnt have a seat in the car. the boot was filled to the brim and there were some spill over at the passenger seat.

so then we headed to ipoh and stopped by shinder bollywood (a shop on Little India selling punjabi suits and sarees etc). mum wanted to sew three suits from the materials she had. and while we were there asked me if i saw anything i liked. i was looking for the barbie doll suit (its fittin on the top and flairs out at the waist) but i didnt find any that looked nice, they either looked ugly or too gaudy. and yet my mum who never lets me buy a suit everytime she's there was pretty insistent on me gettin something, which was really weird for me coz this has never happened before.

we then headed to the next shop (this shop is run by the brother of the lady who runs shinder bollywood) to see if there were better options there. this is the case of a different shop but same story. this time around, my mum was not about to give up so easily so she suggested i looked at the materials and sew a suit instead. another weird episode coz the logic she used ALL this years is that a person my size can always get a ready made suit (which is true not including all the alterations i have to do coz the sizes are too big for someone so tiny like myself) therefore there is no need to spend money sewing one. i do see her logic in this. depending on the material and eloborateness of it, they cost a minimum of RM150. and to sew will incur an additonal RM30 or Rm65 if you include lining. and this is for the same suit you can buy ready made at about RM100.

she was pretty persuasive in me picking out a material. so i looked and the owner showed me a good 40 designs for me to choose from. i had to even insist he didnt open some of them whenever i saw a colour i didnt like. but nope, he wouldnt listen and opened up everything in the end. so there i was flooded in a sea of colours trying to pick out something i liked. the selection was pretty good but only if i was looking for an ordinary suit. and i wasnt. what i had in mind was something grand, something spectacular, something WOW. and i didnt get that mojo looking at my choices. nothing really made me feel like "YEAH, now that's the one i was looking for".

at long last i found a pretty nice colour, yellow background with green patterns on it. but even this was very ordinary. i was actually kinda hoping to find a nice outfit for my coming graduation and this just do not make the cut. long story short i got it still coz mummy dearest was going to get a material for herself if i didnt buy one. oh yeah, she was not leaving that place till we bought something.

i really felt something fishy was up. like why would of all people my mother insist on me getting a suit when every other time i accompany her and i do find (i ALWAYS do) something i like, she'll find excuses to not buy it. ironically, the only time she gave me a free hand in choosing, i didnt find any that i particularly liked. well, anyhow, so i dig around a lil bit more when we got back to the hotel and then the whole story came out.

last weekend was barsi and during this time suits go on sale and almost everyone who is anyone would be shopping like crazy and bargaining like its the only thing that would secure their lives on earth. ok, i do exagerrate but you get my drift. as the last 5 years went including this year, barsi falls during finals and i couldnt make it again. and i discovered that the suits my sisters picked out for me were, how do i put this, not up to standard aka not grand aka very very simple aka theirs is superbly and fabulously beautiful compared to mind. OMG ! so out of guilt, my mum wanted to get a suit to compensate for it!!! yes, that's a nice thought but i was pretty upset with my sisters.

they go every year and couldnt they just pick out something nice for me for a change. cant they when they see a nice suit say, "hey, let's get that for kul" instead of grabbing it for themselves? every year without fail, i get the remnants, the ugliest ones, the ones that no one else liked and i have no choice in choosing them at all. and after so much of warning and partial begging in getting them to get me a nice suit, i ended up with really cheap ones. like the suits my sisters have for themselves cost a good RM150 at least. wanna guess mine? the most expensive one (i only have 2 btw) is rm50! now you do the math and convert the monetary value into the exclusiveness of their outfits. i'm telling you, its a HUGE difference. and belle had the cheek to tell me, "Oh, you mean this one, nah, this is such a simple one i got myself..."

are you crazy? her supposed "simple" one was really really grand and she dared say it was SIMPLE! gosh, i wonder what her grand must have been like. so using her scale, mine is definitely ugly. not that it was particularly ugly, they are just pale in comparison, completely background suits compared to their red carpet suited outfits. at that point of time, i wished i just walked up to belle and slapped her in the face, shake her real hard and scream WAKE UP, DONT YOU SEE MY SUITS HERE!

oh, that's not the end of it. belle could kindly put on a very sweet smile and said if i didnt like the ones i have, i could pass them over. like are you mad? i only have 2 and even that you want. hell no way. i dont have to like them but i most definitely am not going to give them away. you wanna swap, yup, we could negotiate. but to give away, wow, do you think i'm a charity organisation?? oh no, i'm much smarter than that my dear belle.

geram geram geram. is this wat its like to have sisters? anyone? help. me poor soul with leftovers, not so nice suits while my sisters have ones that make them look like princesses. sigh

Wesak Weekend Part 2

Day 3 (Sunday, 18 May)

Off to KL. Had lunch in Aunt Sugar’s place before heading off to 1Utama with the cousins. Big J drove, Middle J was the co-driver while Sista B, Sista S, Lil J and I squeezed at the passenger seat. In times like this, I’m glad we’re all thin. Lil J was hungry so we all got ourselves Big Apple doughnuts. Yummy yummy.

Big Apple Doughnuts

I loved my Chocoring, it was rich and left me wanting more. As usual, I never fail to get chocolate smudged on my face and all over my mouth. Everyone had a good laugh at how the oldest amongst us was the messiest eater. Well, the kid in me comes out more often, what more can I say.

Walked all over 1U till our legs felt like they were going to detach from their sockets. Got myself a white frilly top. Sista B, Sista S and Lil J preferred the other dress I tried on but I’m very into white so I stuck with what I liked better. Afterall, they cost the same so I might as well get what I like. Sista S and Lil J also tried out some outfits.

Sista S and Lil J

So we then drove all the way back to our side of town to have dinner in Pavilion’s food court. I must say, I like the atmosphere there, it is cosy with the warm lights and unlike most food courts, it is not so noisy despite the number of people around. There were also ample seats and the variety of food immense. I was in the mood for tom yam so I headed to Thai Food for Tom Yam Beehoon. It had a lot of ingredients but the tom yam didn’t have the kick I was looking for. The soup was watered down, probably coz it was night already.

I highly recommend the toast from Toast Box. It costs around RM3 and it tastes much better than the ones you get in Old Town Kopitiam. We finished the two sets of toast we ordered (kaya and peanut butter) within 5 minutes, that’s how delicious they were. The peanut butter especially was heavenly; it literally melts in your mouth. The toast here isn’t those on the thin bread, it’s as thick as the French toast from Old Town.

We wanted to catch Prince of the Caspian but tickets were sold out for the 10.10 pm show and selling out very quickly for the 11.15 show. So we headed home. Ended up chit chatting till 2 am.


Day 4 (Monday, 19 May)

Aunt Sugar’s room is pretty dark with the curtains drawn. I woke up thinking it was 8.30 am to find out it was already 11am. Had meehon for breakfast and an hour later lunch. Dad dropped me off to Ah Kie’s place around 3pm. The rest were off to my cousin’s birthday party. Ah Kie’s mum was so sweet to pack me food for dinner. She made sambal petai but I don’t eat petai. So I got the chicken sambal, egg and veg. *Thank You Aunty*

Due to the recent clam on Konsortium buses, I noticed all buses stuck to the third lane on the highway on my way up to KL. So when Frank and I boarded our 6.30pm bus, we were expecting to arrive at 10.30pm coz that was how long Frank took to get from uni to KL on Thursday. Ironically, despite keeping on the slow lane pretty much throughout the journey, we arrived in campus at 9.30pm.

Ah Kie and I in the bus

Halfway through the journey, I woke up and had trouble going back to sleep. From then onwards, I kept smelling the sambal from the food Ah Kie’s mum packed. However I think I was only imagining it coz the food is sealed tight in a plastic container and previously I did not smell anything. So I had to be imagining it which got me hungry after while. Hehehe…

So after a very nice weekend from all the superb food (which I hope would beef me up), great company, lovely things I bought, I’m back in Cowboy Town Uni. I think having a big gap like this is a bad idea. To first start studying for the earlier 2 papers took a lot of conscious effort and after the break, the momentum is all lost. So wish me all the best getting into the mood for my final paper.

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I missed the Wesak Procession in Melaka but anyone did go, I’d like to hear all bout it.

Wesak Weekend Part 1

Day 1 (Friday, 16 May)

I went home from Friday – Monday to enjoy the long Wesak weekend as I have a 9 day gap between my papers. Left campus on Thursday taking the 12 midnight bus. The journey was extra long this time around as the bus tyre was punctured and changing it took one hour in Ipoh. I only arrived home at 8am. My whole body was aching from sitting 8 hours in the freaking freezing bus. The first thing I did was to hand in my laundry to the helper, got a hot drink, changed and headed straight to bed. Siesta-ed till noon.

I wanted to explore the first Cold Storage in Melaka (gasp!) which is really near my house and to my horror my mum drove at a mere 40 kmh!!! I tried so hard persuading her to go faster. I could see a long trail of cars behind her (as the road is one lane with a double line) and she could not be coaxed. Due to her accident not too long ago, her idea of driving safe was to drive slow. Gosh. I was really irritated after 15 minutes. Personally, I felt it was rather selfish of her to hog the road. Plus she could have been the cause of an accident for driving too slow. And driving slow does not guarantee she’ll be accident-free. Another car from the opposite direction could still swerve into her lane and hit her still. But all my words and breath fell to deaf ears. It’s been a long while since I felt so *geram* with my mum. I shook her real hard and told her “WAKE UP, its driving safe that’s important, not driving slowly!” Of course, that only took place in my imagination.

So after the geram-fied journey to Cold Storage, we explored every nook and corner of the place. My love for Cold Storage resurfaced again. I loved visiting Cold Storage on my way to the LRT station in KLCC after work back then. This time I put my persuasive skill to another use – to get my mum to make spaghetti. And this time it worked!! Dinner was superb as I had a choice of rendang And spaghetti. It was rather confusing to me coz just about an hour later, the same person who made me grit my teeth made me all warm and fuzzy inside.

Off to Popeye’s place and we chit chatted for quite long. I didn’t realize the time until she yawned and I was like, OMG, I better get running. Poor girl, she has a test this week to study for and neither one of us realized it was getting late. I felt a lil bad for taking so much of her time. But I’m glad good ol’ Popeye is back. We all missed her during her 2 year stint in Manipal India.

Off home to watch the American Idol Marathon!

Day 2 (Saturday, 17 May)

A lazy day with me waking up at a princessly hour of 11am. Helped dad run some chores. Celebrated Mother’s Day since all of us are home this weekend, had dinner in Pak Putra where the naan and tandoori is yummylicious! Also did some shopping. Dad was the cashier for the day (and night) and I managed to get myself a pair of shoes!

After dinner, we headed to Jonker Street. Mum bought 8 really pretty necklaces (and dear me got myself one too, daddy sponsor mah). There were so many to choose from, all very chic and elegant. I got myself one with a black pendant so that it would be easy to mix and match. Mum bought a rainbow of colours. Got a decent discount too from our purchases. Next stop was earrings and here I got 2 pair of button earrings (again, sponsored by daddy dearest).

Headed home, packed my bags for we were headed to KL the next morning. Sista S did my nails. I liked the design I chose!

I Love You Mum

Mother's Love

Her love is like

an island in life's ocean,

and wide

A peaceful, quiet shelter

From the wind, the rain, the tide.

'Tis bound on the north by Hope,

By Patience on the West,

By tender Counsel on the South

And on the East by Rest.

Above it like a beacon light

Shine Faith, and Truth,

and Prayer;

And thro' the changing scenes of lifeI

find a haven there.

Author Unknown

Dear Mummy,

I know I hardly ever show my thanks. For all the sulky faces I make when you say No. And the tantrums i used to throw when i didnt know better. For all that you have done without me asking, i don't know how many of those went noticed consciously. While i dont always agree with you, it is not that I love you any less. It is in times like these, i seek to break boundaries and try my luck. For all those times I am not in my best form, you have stood me through it all. Words of comfort are temporary but it is your words of encouragement and support that is carried with me all the way. Thank you for everything you have done, you are doing and you will do.

I Love You Very Much Mummy. Happy Mothers' Day to the Bestest of Best Mums in the World.

Whizzing By

Dear Diary,

I’ve had so many things up that I haven’t really had the time to update. Last week was crazy with 3 major projects due – Facilities, Operations Management and Engineers in Society. The bulk of the work was from the Facilities project. Initially, it was overwhelming but as we went along and figured out our way, the project was do-able. And seeing that most of us were going home for the weekend, there was urgency to finish everything by Thursday.

I was home for exactly 31 hours!! It was so short but nothing beats coming home. Got my sister to bake chocolate chip cookies for Ah Kie’s birthday party and mummy dearest made my favourite chicken curry! So yummy!!

Saturday was spent on Ah Kie’s birthday party with so many people. Had a really awesome time meeting the rest of the gang. We continued the celebration with dinner at La Bodega in Pavillion. Then instead of heading back to Ah Kie’s straight, I hung out at Hobbes, where I watched the youtube of Veyron, discussed music, Imogen Heap, movies etc etc. Oh, Hobbes even lent me a book, Bone which I totally dig! Wish it wasn’t so heavy so I could bring it along for class to read during boring lectures. :P

This week will be spent on completing the draft of my thesis which is due on Friday. And I’m really sorry for not being in touch with some of you (and you know who you are). Work was extremely stressful especially last week, pretty tensed too. So I didn’t come across as friendly or borderline pissy even, and I’m really sorry. I feel awful bout it but I’m pretty hopeless at multitasking especially when the projects are humongous with deadlines screaming at my face. But good ol’ Ohkulala is back. It feels good to be back too.

It’s the last week of the semester. Gosh, time really flies. Come Friday, it is officially my last day of my FINAL semester AND 2nd may also marks exactly 5 years I’ve been in Cowboy Town Uni. Part of me feels happy coz it marks another milestone in my life that I am coming to an end of my uni life (Cowboy Town Uni makes you feel that way, especially with its location). A part of me feels sad to leave this place as it holds so many memories of new friends, adventures, experiences and most importantly, of growing up. *Thoughtful*

Mum

Pre-post: My youngest sister wrote this article / biography of my mum not too long ago. A very long, touching post ahead.

22nd March 1956, Mum was born as the 7th child into the Tara Singh family. At such a tender age, you had “kudis” on your head. Your mum used to boil your head to kill the germs and your innocence was portrayed through your pictures, your head,p always wrapped in a scarf. Every morning, you and your siblings will wait faithfully for the bread man to come on his motorcycle, delivering your food to be eaten during recess. It never dampened your spirits to go to school even if it rained cats and dogs or having to carry Uncle Inderjit once while embracing the floods at Kampung Bandar Hilir to school.

At standard 5, while I was still running around playing hide and seek, you had already shouldered endless responsibilities. Not only did you have to do your homework and face such tyrant teachers those days, you had to juggle between folding clothes for what you said was like a “Dobi” or cooking as if it’s for a “kenduri” everyday in between taking care of Rani. You learnt the hard way of life at such a young age. I know now the true meaning of looking at your coarse hands, knowing all the hardships you have been through.

You, Aunty Honey and Uncle Inderjit were infected with chicken pox at the same time. Being quarantine in the same room and skipping school for two weeks, the 3 of you had extreme fun, even if meant having to eat green apples everyday. That would probably explain why you still like green apples till today. Your leadership skills bloomed when you organised your class trip to Penang, Cameron Highlands and KL. It was the 1st time you had ever used a telephone and the trip made you feel like you saw the world outside Air Leleh.

After your HSE, you enrolled yourself into the teacher training college, Maktab Perguruan Jalan Raja Muda. Coming from an all girl school, you found it difficult to get adjust to the boys who seemed so notorious and mischievous in their ways. With the minimal RM150 allowance that you got, you bought a teddy bear for Aunty Cindy, Tiffin carriers and sarong for your Mum.

You adapted yourself so well into your new environment, sharing a house with 7 Malay girls. And because almost everyone was malay, so much so, the landlord used to call you “Sharifah”. But your finishing touch at the college was most memorable when you graduated with your diploma in teaching and was given the title “Graduation Queen”. I still remember how radiant you look in your black baju kebaya with a red hibiscus tucked behind your ear flashing that million dollar smile which we are all sure was why dad fell in love with you.

Uncle Heera sent you off when you had your 1st posting to Sek Keb Air Manis in Kulai. You went up the ladder very quickly and as appointed as Head of Department. Later, you moved in to stay with Isweri. You remembered that faithful day when you were teaching in class and Isweri told you that your mum was very sick. At 21 years of age, on 17 Sept 1978, your Mum passed away. With much grief and sadness, life still had to go on for all the 10 of you... Life wasn’t the same, it wasn’t easy, but it made you stronger.

Uncle Harbans and Mr Kuldip Singh were colleagues at National Semiconductor and little did you know that Mr Kuldip was going to be your husband. Standing tall with a 6 metre turban and speaking English with an Indian accent, Dad swept you off you feet and you were wedded on 7 August 1983. You got your posting back to Melaka and both of you proudly bought your 1st car with the plate number MJ 1717. Mum was then pregnant with Kul.

Over the years, you and Dad are blessed with 3 girls, Kulvinder, Belvinder and I. In between juggling your hectic work schedule and home chores, you never failed to make time for us. You taught us how to read by pasting words on the wall and bought a small table which had pictures for every letter from A – Z. For every word we got right, we received a kiss. And you thought us counting and money using real money, bringing out the coins and dollars from your purse.

You always told us that you wanted to give us what you felt you lacked in your life and music was one of them. That was when you enrolled all the 3 of us for Junior Music Course (JMC) and never once in 6 years you left us throughout the course. You can sing all those songs we learnt even till today and proudly tell people that your 3 girls can play the organ.

It was more than luck when you were offered a scholarship to do your degree in UK, a lot of effort and hard work went into securing the scholarship. I was only 2 years old at that time and banging my head against the wall when I slipped in the toilet just before you left, didn’t make it any easier for you. With a heavy heart and having to answer people who kept asking you how could you ever leave your 2 year old daughter, you bravely faced the challenge and left overseas. At 36 years old, it was the 1st time you sat on an aeroplane. UK was an eye opener for you, being able to learn much more than you thought you could. Experiencing snow for the 1st time, going ice skating and skiing was among the memories you’ll never exchange for.

Life for you wasn’t a bed of roses. Your heart sank when you found out Bel ran through a glass door and required stitches. You heart ached knowing that she screamed “Mum..Mum!!” only to know that you were not there. While everyone was busy finding brochures to find places to travel, you were busy finding brochures for the cheapest flight home. Every letter that you received from home was the most priceless thing you owned. We all missed you very much in those 2 years and somehow your summer and winter breaks always flew in the blink of an eye.

Dad coped pretty well with the 3 of us. Bringing us to the Singapore Zoo, I take my hats off for Dad having to prepare my milk and demanding ethics at the age of 2. Handling 3 small girls at one time alone wasn’t easy. But Dad believes we should have a childhood rich with memories.

Mum, you came back from UK 2 years later. All your family members were there to greet you at the airport. You taught at SMK Seri Mahkota and within 3 years, you managed to bring the English pases to 56% and having 2 students getting an A1. Until today, you still hold the record in that rural school.

You then proceeded to do your Masters at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). You said it was easier than doing your degree and you had more time to spend with us. You made us get the reading habit by borrowing books from the library so much so, it was almost entire children’s book we have read by then. You made the Malaysian ice cream when Kul had to sell those during Sports Day and helped her get sponsorships for her class magazine. You wanted so badly to watched Bel doing her taekwando actions but never had chance since Bel was so shy, so you resorted to peeking in the bushes. You even took the time to make my costume for my fashion show. Painstakingly sewing the sequins and then making my necklace out of roses you planted in the garden.

You felt like you made up for all the lost time when you were away. And mum, you did much more than just to fill in the gaps, you craved our lives and made them so meaningful. Guiding us from step to step just to make sure we got the best. It is so rare to find any mother who tells their children to take a break, or skip school and tuition. But you are so cool about it when you feel we deserve a time-out.

Many people ask you why don’t you just leave the teaching profession. Your answer is simple and honest. You enjoy teaching and feel that every child is entitled to get a good and proper education. You feel you have a calling to give back to these innocent lives through teaching. Politics around work might be different, but the moment you entered class, the passion for teaching burns in your soul. You have made a significant mark in their lives, you have made a difference.

Mum made us believe that we can achieve anything if we put our mind to it and to never be afraid of hard work. Life is full of opportunities and there will be challenges along the way, the ride was not a guaranteed smooth one. But with every up and down, it serves to make us stronger and better. I know you are proud of how far you have gone in life, from a little kampong girl to a great mother and wife and wonderful lecturer, and look forward to continuously develop yourself everyday. Mum tells us to not put a timeline to our dream, persevere and do not lose hope in them, they will all come true when you work at them.

I am so proud to be your daughter. You are a pillar of strength and a source of inspiration to us in the family. And I know no matter how often we say it, it is never enough to tell you how much we love you and we thank you for everything we are today because of an amazing person called Iswander Kaur.

The Accident

My mum met an accident yesterday. A truck knocked her car from the back thus leaving her pretty brand new car rather damaged. But I'm glad she's alright. No injuries, just a shaken soul to boot her very indented bumper.

Apparently, the truck driver was running late for a delivery, hence the hurry. Well, at least he wasn't so bad, he did admit his mistake. Mum's car damages will be covered by his insurance.

Superstitions says bad things come in three. I'm not superstitious and I don't really believe in this. But if it is true, I hope this will be the end of a series of unfortunate events for my mother. She has had 2 very bad falls last month, 2 weeks apart. She hurt and scraped her knees very horribly, leaving a muddy brown patch, overstaying their leave on her knee caps. And now the accident.

I do hope that will be the end of it. May things turn for the better for her, I really hope so.