Purple Journal In My Mahogany Desk: September 2010

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Akad Nikah (Wedding Vow Ceremony)

Adam and Farah

The Flower Girls

Flower girls try their dresses for the Reception

The sweet look

The cheeky song, 'Are you sleeping, Mak Su?'

Some wedding gifts

Ipad takes centrestage

My darling Inas arranged and decorated the Patchi chocs

Favourite fruits galore!

Another long day tomorrow for the Reception.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Italian 101

Fellow blogger Sender posted this video to accompany a poem.

A wonderful read, which brought to mind my Italian 101 class in the summer of '89.

The Italian dream lives on.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Kak Ross is a very dear friend whom I have known since my teen years at Sekolah Seri Puteri, a residential school in Kuala Lumpur. On the last day of Ramadhan, after a whirlwind visit to the Museum, a quick view of the Kelantan Palace, not knowing all the excitement that was to occur in the following days and a trip to PCB beach, we drove over to Kak Ross's place in Kota Bharu. It was a lovely reunion and a chance to introduce our grown children to each other. I also got to contact Kak Ani Haroun! Ahhh, it was heavenly.

Seri Puteri, earlier known as Sekolah Menengah Perempuan Jalan Kolam Air, was established in 1968 annd her first headmistress was none other than Adibah Amin, the celebrated journalist.

When we were at SSP, we were under the watchful eyes of the strict Headmistress Puan Zainab. The school band was where Kak Ross and I met - she was the band's drum major, I was a mere drummer. A normal weekly routine would be band practice 3 days a week and often during school hols, we would sacrifice the term break and stay back to practice for Merdeka Day.

But SSP was more than a school, it was where we made lasting friendships. I was also a gymnast and poet who contributed monthly without fail to the English bulletin, The Grapevine ran by us students under the guidance of my English teacher and gymnastic coach for five years, Mrs Khaw Choon Ean.

SSP forever!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Annual Home-coming to Rantau Panjang

It was tough. We had planned to go back to Rantau Panjang, our 'kampung' just at the border of Malaysia Thailand. However, Iman and Inas both had extra tuition classes right up to the day before Eid. It was exam year for both of them. Finally I relented.

The girls stayed behind with my mother, their Tok Wan for Hari Raya. Bik went home to Indonesia for a week. Her mother is getting old.

Still, it was a marvelous trip. As soon as we left the busy bustle that is KL, all stress levels were lifted from my shoulders. I wasn't even aware I was so stressed out until I felt stress free!

We took the Simpang Pulai - Cameron Highland way and stopped in Cameron Highland for strawberries and tea - a must every year!

It is a a pity the girls were not with us. Inas loves animals and in Rantau Panjang, they are everywhere. This goat was a firm favourite.

Don't mess with our goose - the official neighbourhood security guard!

My father in law has goats and cows which the girls just adore. Ikesha talked goat cow and monkey for three days...

Bouquets
Every morning, Ikesha asked for flowers.
There was no point telling her they looked better on the trees.

To her they are supposed to be gathered into a little bouquet...

Or on her shoes...

Thank God it was time for a rambutan feast!

Running free
Irani said something profound. "Here it is safe to run about..."

Bicycle Time!

The Museum
The day before Aidil Fitri, we went to Kota Bharu
the capital of Kelantan. I visited an old friend. And we took
the girls to places like the Museum!

Ikesha was quite a handful and I was fasting...

A century old barge

Beautiful carvings

The Old staircase at the Museum

At the beach

After the museum, we dropped by the beach. Its official name is Pantai Cahaya Bulan (The Moonlight Beach) but to me it is always Pantai Cinta Berahi (The Beach of Passionate Love)

Iman would have lovvveeeedddd this.