Changes

 Changes happen ; even in good old Muar.

Fronting  the Muar river is the new esplanade which used to be a mere pathway along the river front.

Yesterday's stroll along the esplanade reminded me of my younger days when I used to walk in the evenings after dinner. It is much neater and presentable today.

 It is perfect for rest and relaxation; just behind my father's shop.

 The covered seats provide shade in the hot afternoons. We never had such a facility before. The local council is doing a fine job.

 The jetty constructed is quaint and unique; picturesque.

 At the background is the half a century-old  bridge; a site where anglers try their catch in the evenings and mornings. It is also famous for locals taking their own lives when they are not able to find a way out. I used to hear eerie stories when I was a little girl.

Walking around the town, I noticed a new feature mushrooming. The local tastes have been upgraded and are into greater details and designs. My parents kept ranting the place is for the old and retirees; people don't make the buck here. They may be highly mistaken.

 A wedding boutique right in the heart of the town; I remember being simple and going to any tailor that could sew my 'cotton' wedding dress. I still hold dear to it. Nowadays brides ask for the world.

 Then I notice this dress boutique occupying a corner lot that used to be a hotel.

 Then there is this too;  a new boutique.

 A shoes boutique. The locals are into fashion alright. The town was pretty quiet throughout the day; I wonder how they manage.

There is one thing common though; all the boutiques are white.

Does white give them the right feeling?

 However right the feeling, these stalls should remain; they provide good breakfasts for the locals. They have been there ever since; ever since...

 

 This 'Teo Chew' delicacy stall must also never vanish; they reminded me of my grandmother who used to make them whenever I visited her. My grannie was a typical teochew who would only consume things made by her own self and kept her house clean everyday.

This stall must remain in Muar.

 

 

 Despite and in spite of all the changes happening, lanes of this pattern dot the townhouses. They remind me of my younger days when it was difficult to have a fridge, a television and a playhouse and so these lanes were typical spots for us children to meet, play and have fun.

We grew up just as well.

Muar.

State of Art

 Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS)

When you have decided to go down South alone, you may want to take a coach and so you have to head to a State of Art terminal called TBS about 10km from the city centre. Yesterday, while at the terminal I was deciding whether I should visit the younger or older ones; the girls in Singapore or my old parents in Muar. Very quickly, the decision was to see the older ones; the younger ones may not find my visit very necessary but my father and mother will always want me home. So I left for my good old hometown.

 The coach terminal is one place that I am proud to be associated with in this country. It is impressive being well organized and sparklingly clean. It is as if you were going to board a plane. There were signatures showing directions that lead you to get tickets and information.

 The schedules were clearly stated and the pleasant ethos was felt as the place is fully air-conditioned and offers much comfort and it is not a chore to wait for the coach to arrive.

 Surrounding the terminal are some convenience stores for last minute shopping and food.

 You will have to show your tickets to the police officers before you are allowed to go down the escalator leading to the departure gates. So well organized and safe.

 The foreigners; I observed were highly impressed by the systematic way things are run here. It is indeed a great pleasure to be at this terminal. The ticket to Muar is a mere RM16.00. The ride was equally pleasant and easy except I must confess that the coaches need to be better maintained and swept.

The visit home was a most enjoyable one especially when I get to share and talk with my parents about almost everything on earth from siblings to medical reports and food. So we whiled away the hours just talking and eating and watching the never ending Taiwanese Series "Niang Jia" . How many times can you get to be together chiding one another and laughing at the funny moments of life ?

My father and mother never fail to amaze me with their zest for life and their spirit of independence.

God bless my parents.

The Flower Drum Song

 You must listen to this lovely tune and follow the lyrics if you can.

The sweet and demure Miyoshi Umeki sang so beautifully and touched hearts.

This song though many, many decades old is still relevant as it gives hope to those who hear it;

A hundred million miracles are happening everyday.

 

 My father says that children keep growing,
Rivers keep flowing too.
My father says he doesn't know why,
But somehow or other they do.
--They do! some how or other they do.--

A hundred million miracles,
A hundred million miracles are happ'ning ev'ry day,
And those who say they don't agree
Are those who do not hear or see.
A hundred million miracles,
A hundred million miracles are happ'ning ev'ry day,

--Miracle of changing weather:--
When a dark blue curtain is pinned by the stars,
Pinned by the stars to the sky,
Ev'ry flow'r and tree is a treat to see,
The air is very clean and dry.

Then a wind comes blowing the pins all away,
Night is confused and upset!
The sky falls down like a clumsy clown,
The flowers and the trees get wet.--Very wet!--

A hundred million miracles,
A hundred million miracles are happ'ning ev'ry day,
And when the wind shall turn his face,
The pins are put right back in place!
A hundred million miracles,
A hundred million miracles are happ'ning ev'ry day!

In ev'ry single minute so much is going on,
Along the Yangtse Kiang or the Tiber or the Don.
A hundred million miracles!

A swallow in Tasmania is sitting on her eggs,
And suddenly those eggs have wings and eyes and beaks and legs!
A hundred million miracles!

A little girl in Chungking, just thirty inches tall,
Decides that she will try to walk and nearly doesn't fall!
A hundred million miracles!

A hundred million miracles, a hundred million miracles,
A hundred million miracles are happ'ning ev'ry day!

My father says the sun will keep rising over the eastern hill.
My father says he doesn't know why but somehow or other it will.
--It will! somehow or other it will.--

(Reprise)
--Miracle of making music:--
When an idle poet puts words on a page,
Writes on a page with his brush,
A musical friend writes the notes to blend
Suggested by an idle thrush.

Then a young soprano reads what they wrote,
Learns every note, every word,
Puts all they wrote in her lovely throat,
And suddenly a song is heard!
--Very Pretty!--

A hundred million miracles, a hundred million miracles,
A hundred million miracles are happ'ning ev'ry day!

And, and, and... you must, you must, you must listen to the next one ; 'Chap Suey'.

It will leave your spirits high.

Ladies Now !

 Where did the years go?

 This is my favorite photo of Sara with her friends Anusha and her sister; but I have forgotten her name. They were such thick pals and had real fun together; birthday parties and get togethers. Now all have finished their tertiary stints and each following their own destiny; trodding on different paths. I hope they are all fine and happy.

 Now Sara is a lady already. Seen here are her friends; Evelyn and Vuina? I have not met them but they seem to be thick with Sara.Soon all will be home again and fighting for their causes and dreams in this country. I thought she was still a baby and now she is a lady alright.

 Standing on the piano are 2 photos of a favourite niece. To me she is always a baby. I thought it was just yesterday that she was born; 1.9kg and I remember telling my sister that she needed a lot of tender loving care. So in her baby days, she would be in my house being looked after by Allie. Oh she was not spared of the 'sarong' and she was cradled in it daily to ensure good and long naps. The 'sarong' is a taboo in this modern era but believe me it is a practical lullaby trick.

When did she grow up?

There; pretty lady on her first prom date. Not bad eh. My little niece is no more little. She 's a lady too!

Oh where did the years go ?

When You Ask

 

 The Power of Asking

My daughters will not agree; they will be quite mad at my audacity.

They always say I ask for the most unthinkable thing at the most embarrassing moments.

But that, unfortunately is me. 

  

 When you have no one around in the house except for your spouse, you will look for something to do on a Saturday evening. So today is one of those which saw both of us looking for something to munch after dinner. Don't you think the 'tauhu bakar' looks good?

So we decided to have a go at it.

The illustration looks better than the taste though.

Promise you my pai tees taste many, many, many times better.

If there is an opportunity and the mood and setting are right, I will offer you; free of charge.

 The boys at the counter are cute. Hey aunty, can we be in your pic too?

Sure , why not?

 

Very soon, the bill came. Not a big sum; only RM5.30 for 2 pieces of 'tauhu bakar' ( roasted toufu). 

So I asked dad for the wallet. All in notes and a 20 cent coin. 

"Dad, just 10cents more please. Dig your pockets , please." But when there is no more coin you cannot do anything about it but to lament at the way we carelessly throw our coins around the house.When you only needed another 10cents to complete the payment; there is none in sight. So I had to give the RM6.00 notes.

It came; my audacity.

" Boleh kurang sepuluh sen ka?" ( can you give me a discount of 10cents, please?)

I know my daughters will be gasping in shame.But I believe in the power of trying and asking. It's not the amount but the sheer shame that I lack only 10 cents and then to carry that 90 cents in the wallet.

The cute ones up there said; " Ini macam ah... boleh, boleh." ( sure, why not?)

Yea. Mission accomplished.

Dad will never on his last breath do what I did.

But I did it. Not feeling shameful. It was only a request. They obliged.

Girls, sorry la...mama is like that.

Never Too Old

To read A Tale of Friendship 

by

Carol Moore

The Final Chapter

The truth is that no matter how noble or terrible our intent, we must face the consequences of our actions. But so strong and pure was Dooro and Miena's friendship that it had not gone unnoticed by the Creator. Such devotion and self-sacrifice are rare and in this case rewarded. Mysteriously, magically, wondrously, Miena and Dooro's wounds were healed -- as surely and quietly as pure love warms a frozen heart. In the twinkling of an eye they were transported halfway around the world to another continent, a new land with new woods and waterways. While transported they were transfigured. Miena lost her feathers, then her wings, which turned into arms, and a thick down of fur enveloped her body. Dooro's nose stretched and spread until it became a bill like Miena's and his body shrank, flattened and grew more compact. In this new land they became a new animal, an animal not quite a bird and not quite a mammal but a bit of both with a broad flat tail and fur softer than a beaver's, with a bill like a duck and "oviparous," which is to say it lays eggs. The Creator looked on his newest creation and saw that it was good.

For one long moment they stared into one another's eyes. Then he cried, "Miena."

She cried "Dooro."

They fell into one another's furry arms, caring not about the how or why, but embracing and tumbling over and over with joy.

That, dear reader, is how the Platypus came to be.
 


 Why not read the whole story?

 Strange, but true. A love action is best shown under duress and difficult times. May all potential life partners learn the basics of true friendship and care in their love for one another for a lifetime of meaningful existence. Life is too precious to be taken lightly; and what I like most about the Facebook boss and his practical wife is: 

NO PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT. 

Absolute trust and lifelong perception.

Fine example.

May they be happy always; in good or bad times.

The Little Hats

Cravings
Another term for the hats is the pai tee cups.
When you go pass The Chicken Rice Shops in malls, you will surely notice the pai tees for snacks.
Daddy has always a love for these little hats; way back then in the 80s whenever we visited Singapore, we would visit stalls famous for them.
Last night dad's craving for it reached the epitome; he insisted I COOKED them. How unreasonable can he be? But at the same time, I had no reason not to try to make them. I have been asking around for places to get the hats but with little success.
The google did wonders.
Find the recipe to concord.

 I found this blog;it gave simple and achievable steps. So I did not try to give up. I laboured  on with the help of dad of course who told me that he used to make those hats in his younger days with grandma Lau's recipe. He even inherited the mould!
So there was little choice but to bulldoze through.

 Simple.
100gm corn flour
60gm rice flour
60gm plain flour
a small egg
180-200gm water
a little salt
a little sugar

 Put everything into a mixing bowl and add water slowly. The mixture shown still needs some more water. It should be "runny" in texture.This is to avoid too thick a skin for the hats.

 Next, heat up enough oil.

 That's the mould dad inherited; to be dipped into hot oil for a while before it is ready to be dipped into the flour mixture.

 When well heated, dip the mould into the flour mixture. Make sure it is not fully covered to the top.

 The oil must be sizzling hot.

 When dipped for a little while,use the chopsticks to remove it from the mould. Not easy for the first few trys but you will get the hang of it after a while.

 Cute little hats floating on the oil.

 I can sell them now if I want.

 The ingredients for the filling include french beans, carrots , turnips and shrimps. Fry them till fragrant but at the same time do not allow it to be soggy.

 This is optional. But dad wants it. Lightly fry some groundnuts and pound them.

 This is also optional.Scrambled egg cut into thin strips for decor and taste.

 Does my pai tee snack look professional?
It tastes better than some of those in the malls; so said dad.
Now I can include a new recipe for parties.

Pai Tee for Sale.

All Time Favourite

Who Will Buy?

                                                              

Who will buy my sweet red roses?
Two blooms for a penny.
Who will buy my sweet red roses?
Two blooms for a penny. 

  ...     Who will buy

        Who will buy
          This wonderful feeling

                I'm so high
             I swear I could fly.
                 Me, oh my!
               I don't want to lose it
               So what am I to do
                  To keep the sky so blue? ...

This clip keeps me in a happy mood.

The Alpha Gen

They are here to invade the world.

The babies of the X and Y generation.

 The babies of the baby boomers of the 50s and 60s watched the box for learning and entertainment,. I remember putting my girls to watch Sesame Street and the like to take time off for a while and at the same time hoping they would learn through songs and games. So mother and daughters would get all excited when we sang the Sesame songs and even more when daddy bought home sesame dolls.
In the evenings before bedtime, the kiasu mother would be playing intelligent toys and games so as to pump in as much knowledge as possible. Then of course the mother would act out when she sang nursery rhymes to instll all possible kinesthetic skills. One, two, three, four , five, once i caught a fish alive, ... bonding time.
That was already ahead of mothers of the Veteran era and we thought we had done a pretty good job.

The Alpha babies are different. They are from parents of the X and Y generations who have conquered the cyber world. Oh dear the television is obsolete. Now things are happening only in the cyber arena. They are now exposed to the savvy cyber space. I watch in awe as my grand nephew and niece handle the ipad and ipod.

This is what they indulge in when they open their eyes or whenever they want to be entertained.They press all buttons and icons to get their target. Very soon, as they go to play school they will also meet them in the cyber world for communication times. While I only learn to be less scared of the cyber world in recent times, the Alpha babies seem to be out to conquer the cyber world.
I learn the computer and the like out of necessity for work and more recently to be in contact with family and friends. It's either people of my generation learn or we would be dinosaurs. Very soon we will become obsolete as we will not be able to handle them in the cyber world. Their needs and demands will be so different. Teachers in school must now be more equipped and talk the cyber language to sustain learning and interest in the classroom.
Aother pertinent question will be: why do Alpha babies need to go to school if they can gather knowledge on the internet? Home schooling can be easily conducted with easily available cyber information.
My opinion is you cannot live alone in this world. Even the greatest knowledge acquired cannot be replaced by the human factor; the need to socialise, talk face to face, touch and be encouraged by the physical voice and not "the unheard voice" over the cyber world.

Let's hope the Alpha babies will not turn out to be robots and lack the human skills to care and love others around them. I noticed in church last week a baby girl of 2 suffering from shortsightedness (600 degrees) and I was told that she is already so savvy with the ipad; could it be the effect of the ipad? Grandpa shared that teachers of the baby boomers era will not be able to entertain them anymore in Sunday School... they already too clever.

The Alpha Babies need a different set of syllabus in school.