An Ode To My Grandmother

Rahmah Nik, the only daughter of Nik bin Besah and Yang Chik. granddaughter of storyteller Bebunga from Endau. An avid reader, Syair Ken Tambuhan, Hikayat Tajul Muluk and Hikayat Abdullah enthralled her. It was the 1930s, life was charmed yet turbulent with her policeman father travelling around the country. He was honoured for saving Dato Hussein's life during the war.

My grandmother
Young reader
Lovely daughter
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Cikgu Rahmah Nik, young teacher in her teens. She taught school children during the day and adult literacy classes at night in Pekan, Pahang. At a school fair, a visiting teacher - Jaafar Awang Pekan bought a blue muffler she knitted from her. Little did she know, Jaafar fell in love with the hazel eyed vivacious teacher in kebaya there and then.
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My grandmother
Young teacher
Beguiling beauty

Puan Rahmah Nik, married at eighteen years of age. This was not an easy endeavour as Jaafar was engaged to another in Chenor. The break up caused a minor family riot which took years to settle. But both Jaafar and Rahmah were very much in love and remained so for the rest of their lives. During the war, she spoke of tapioca days and thread made of pineapple leaves, saving matches to last the day. Hiding neighbours in the kitchen, masquerading as maids. Sisters masquerading as boys. Later they were involved in the National Teacher's Union, fighting for a better life, then for the country. There were conferences and rallies to attend. She gave up jewellery and time for the cause.

My grandmother
Good neighbour, quick witted
Passionate about Malaya

Tok Rahmah Nik, grandmother at age 41 when first granddaughter was born far away in Australia. Together with Tok Jaafar, they were pioneers, he as headmaster and she was a teacher at the first Felda school in Lurah Bilut. Life was hard at the Rumah Kongsi - she negotiated with the Orang Asli for supplies as they loved to barter for batik, and other household stuff.

My grandmother
Knew hardship first hand
She kept the family together

Mak Chu Rahmah Haji Nik, back in Chenor was mother of ten, and Wanita UMNO leader. The household doubled up with nieces and nephews coming to stay. It was not luxurious but everyone had enough to eat and most importantly, the discipline to study hard. Everyone of the children and adopted children earned a place in residential schools.

My grandmother
Generous as she knew how
Problems to be solved - now

Tok Rahmah Haji Nik took in her eldest grandchild, yours truly who needed to be schooled in AlQuran and religion. At age 10, I could not read the Al-Quran nor understood the need to pray. Grandfather, Grandma and Tok Lebai took charge and I finished reading Quran the year after. Long after I left Chenor, I was told how Tok Lebai Ismail praised my ease and determination to read the Al Quran until his dying days. He passed away when I was overseas in Canada.

My grandma cooked breakfast for the poor students in school and entered craft fairs. She held Tupperware and Arcopal parties for the ladies. At night, she would faithfully prepare her notes for lessons the next day and she wrote in the most meticulous and beautiful handwriting I have known.

We watched Peyton Place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, P Ramlee on Friday nights. School holidays started with Tok Jaafar going to the train-station in Mentakab to fetch my aunties and uncles who returned for the holidays from MCKK, STF, SDAR, SEMSAS, STAR and more. She took me to do my IC. When I was to be sent to boarding school, Sekolah Seri Puteri, Tok Jaafar and Tok Rahmah drove me to Kuala Lumpur. We stayed at Hotel Asia.

My grandmother
Showered me with attention
Told me stories - Ken Tambuhan
To think through problems
Always surmountable

Hajah Rahmah Haji Nik went to Mekah after Tok Jaafar recovered from a prolonged illness which left him bones and skin. Whenever he was ill, that old blue muffler faithfully kept him warm. He recovered and they went for pilgrimage the year after. This started a passion for travelling in Tok Rahmah. After Tok Jaafar passed on, Tok Rahmah travelled to Jordan, Turkey and Egypt. She bought a little camera and used it with sheer delight.

My grandmother
Late starter traveller
Stories from abroad

Hajah Rahmah Yang Chik, passed away after being cared for by my mother in Taman Melawati. She was in pain, we told her stories and she wanted to hear Ken Tambuhan for the last time. As always, the Classic Nasional on the radio was by her side. She had always wanted her final resting place to be in Pekan where her father and husband were laid to rest. So we gathered as family in Pekan, the sky was overcast, there was the gentlest of drizzle.

My grandmother
Is no longer with me
Her last quiet breathe
Softly exhaled
She left gently

A lifetime of purpose.

The Wedding Day

My darling 16 year old Iman thanking the 400 odd guests


Flower girls at final rehearsal at 6.00pm


Getting ready


With Iman and Inas



Last photo the night before - Sisters Iman and Inas

Coming up next : The Wedding proper

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.

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.

Beraya with Kak Ross

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!

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.

Ilena - waiting

Irani - soaking in the sun

Daddy and Ikesha at the beach

The skies light up

Fireworks all the way from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang

The girls catch the action from the car rooftop

The skies - the journey back to Kuala Lumpur