Archive for Down Memory Lane

My Popo Kota Belud

November 19, 2009 · Filed under Down Memory Lane, Me

Yes thats what me and my sis use to call my mother’s mum… popo Kota Belud. I guess it was because she was from Kota Belud. My popo KB is with the Lord now and its been about 14 years. That was a long time ago and yet at times I still think of her.  

She was a real character :) When we were younger we would get really excited when my popo KB comes to visit. We know she’ll always bring goodies (food) to Tenom everytime she visits. I remember eating lots of kuihs, I especially remember eating some round kuihs brown in colour sweet, tasted like gula melaka…

She would then bring us (me and my sis) to the coffee shops and we could order whatever we wanted and if we asked she would buy anything for us. We would have the luxury to drink cola and eat keropok (by the way not to my mother’s knowledge as we were never allowed junk food when we were kids). Popo KB would give us 50cents each and we would walk round the shops with money in hand to buy whatever we fancy. I remember once me and my sis really fancied some pop pop guns. Its a small plastic gun where you have to put a roll of red paper with black dots on and everytime you pull the trigger it would make a pop sound and sometimes smoke will come out of the gun. So when popo KB took us out, we asked if we could have one and of course she bought it for us hehehehe. We would then play with our new toys and eat our keropok while popo KB chats with her friends. Aaaaaaah those were the good old days.

Oh and popo KB likes to hug and kiss kiss, I remember she’ll come over give me a great big hug and a wet wet kiss on the cheeks which I’ll wipe off quickly after. 

When I got older, I stayed with her in KK. She enjoys cooking for us and every morning she’ll make us breakfast, sometimes fried eggs, sometimes fried mee, fried mee hoon there’s always something to eat. If you ever mention you like something… she’ll cook it everyday or she’ll buy loads of whatever you fancy. Yes thats my popo KB.

I did say she’s a character didn’t I… well my popo KB swears *smile smile* Yes and she’ll say things like ‘tan ta lao’ *lol* and other obscene stuff. She pronounces library as ‘bibary’ or vacuum (for vacuum cleaner) as ‘cofuum’. She likes to shout too, my oh my she can shout… She’ll stand by the door and shout for me to come home if I’m at my friend’s house 3 blocks away and yes I can hear her ‘Liiiiiiiiiiiiissaaaaaaa sit fan loooooh’. hahaha

Oh thats my popo Kota Belud…..    

 

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Feeding the chickens

August 7, 2009 · Filed under Down Memory Lane

IMG_5132Tonight the three of us had half a watermelon. When I was still living in my old house in Tenom.  We always have fruits in the fridge… including watermelon. I always prefer to have either watermelon or papaya. I eat them not because I prefer them to other fruits but mainly because I get to feed the chickens after.

My grandma use to rear some chickens and ducks at the back of the garden. I would grab a wedge of watermelon and start making my way towards the back door into the garden. While making my way there I would be stuffing my face with the watermelon. By the time I reach the end of the garden, I would throw the left overs to the chicken. Upon seeing the leftovers, the chicken would peck away excitedly until theres nothing left to peck. Watching the chickens peck peck peck on the watermelon always make me feel good. It gives me a tickling sensation, a happy feeling.. I really don’t know why but it was great fun and always a joy to see.

mmmm where can I find chickens around here?

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Drinking Cola

July 18, 2009 · Filed under Down Memory Lane, Me

Kevin walked in the room holding a glass of Cola with some ice cube in it. He was shaking the ice in the glass making the all so familiar sound of ice hitting the sides of the glass. ‘clic cloc clic cloc’…

It reminded me of my daddy… Dad always likes playing games in fact I would say he’s addicted to sports. When we were young, he would go for a session of badminton in our local ‘dewan’ (in fact he still goes now). He would go right after work at 4pm and come back at about 530pm. At home he would quench his thirst with some fizzy drinks. I don’t know why but he would use a stainless steel pot put some ice in it and plonk a bottle or two of fizzy drink in it. He than shakes it a bit ‘clic cloc clic cloc’ gets a straw and starts drinking. Now while he’s doing all this, me and my sisters would be watching him like hawks with straws in our hands. Dad would then sit on a stool by the kitchen and start drinking… we would dive in stealing sips of sweet sweet fizzy drink. When he (or we) had finished me and my sisters would grab an ice or two and start munching on them.

But as we grew older I wondered what happened to that ritual…need to ask dad.

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Moments

July 18, 2009 · Filed under Blessings, Down Memory Lane, Husband & Wife

Kevin was taking a nap in Dylan’s (soon to be) room after working nights. He was sleeping on a single bed so when it was time for him to wake up, we all snuggled up in the tiny bed. We could hardly move… but it felt nice and warm as it was a cold day.

While we were squashed on the tiny bed with Dylan wriggling around, it reminded me of when we were in our old house in Stoke. Just days before we were about to move house, the three of us was cramped up in a tiny room full of stuff. It was messy with boxes everywhere, bags stuffed with clothes…etc etc it was simply untidy and cramped. To top it up the weather was lousy… wet and cold. It was really late that night, I was awake because I couldn’t sleep and Kev just finished revising for his exams. We sat on the bed looked around, I asked ‘what if we are forever in this mess, stuck in a tiny room?’ He replied ‘it doesn’t matter as long as the 3 of us are together we’ll keep each other company.’

I know we were not really in that situation, but his simple answer made me feel so blessed… I’m happy to have a husband who loves me and our son so much. I thank the Lord each day for being with my family. I know there would always be ups and downs in life but Jesus will always be there.

I love my family and I thank the Lord for such a great blessing.

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God is Good!

July 13, 2009 · Filed under Blessings, Down Memory Lane, Me

I started knowing my best friend Jesus when I was 7 in Singapore. He has always been my friend even before that but I couldn’t seem to remember much. I use to go to church as early as 6 in the morning and then go to Sunday school after the service. By the time we get home it would be about 11 or 12 o’clock (I think). I remember always being hungry on a Sunday, it was always a joy as I get to eat my favourite mee poh from the market when I get back home.

Moved back to Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu (KK) when I was 11. This was the time I got to know Him really really well. I decided to except Jesus properly into my life when I was 13, that was the best day of my life…and then got baptisted not long after that. From then on I knew I will always have a friend beside me protecting me, listening to me, caring for me, making sure that I’m ok every single day. He has never let me down.

When I first came to England…that was way back in 2000 (can’t believe its been 9 years!!) I was keen on going to church… to see how church life was like in England. Church to me in England was a bit different, I had difficulty fitting in hence I backtracked a bit. I still talk to Him like I would back home, but Sunday did not have the spark I’m used to anymore. I would always find excuses for not going to church on a Sunday morning…. Deep down I felt really guilty, initially I asked God to provide me with a church that I’m comfortable in. He did… but I still manage to skip services. I then prayed for support … He provided. I was living in Langdale Hall, with His guidance we managed to form a small group where we prayed almost everyday. I missed home so much…I prayed for that… he provided me with Malaysian friends. God was soo good to me.

I then moved to Stoke… the whole cycle started again. Working almost from Mon-Fri plus some Saturdays, Sunday was a ‘rest’ day. I was practically dragging myself to church. That guilty feeling came back… this time I prayed for God to provide me with a church that is close and a church that I can fit in and grow….Guess what I had a dream that night …

I was walking along the road not far from my house, I heard loud music… the sound of guitar, drums, tambourines… I could hear people singing songs of praise. Followed the music went up a flight of stairs and found a church. I was happy.

I woke up that morning smiling to myself thinking it must be because of that prayer the night before for me to have such a dream. Didn’t think much of it … a few days later while I was on the computer, I decided to do a google search for fun. Typed Albert Street (my street) + church. Stunned by the result….there is a church down that street I dreamed of…. Thinking … I must be very careful with what I pray!! So close to home, it was practically 2 minutes walk. Praise the Lord it was the best, I had fun in church everything was fine until it was time to move again….

Birmingham… I did a ‘simple’ prayer, Lord I need a church really really close + a place where Dylan can make friends and grow + a place where Kevin & me can grow in You + people who can support us + lots and lots of friends…. etc etc. Deep down I was a bit doubtful… my fussy prayer… I would be happy if He didn’t punish me for being so annoying & naughty. I know it was wrong, it feels as if I was testing God’s patience. Following my first experience, I googled my street again… Result: Monyhull Church 2 minutes walk away 11am service Sunday…200 people mostly young adults and family!! I almost fell off my chair…

I went to church with Dylan that Sunday (Kev had to work)…it was the PERFECT church…everything every single request answered. They even do play sessions for Dylan on Tues & Fri, Sunday schools, lots and lots of young mothers like me, He even provided me with lots of friends, I felt so so at home, so so welcome. I went home practically beaming, smiling all the way home. Aaaaaaahhh God is so good, God is so good to me!!!

God has done all He can….its time I do mine.

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My relationship with food

July 9, 2009 · Filed under Down Memory Lane, Dylan, Me

While I was feeding Dylan today he started to shake his head everytime I try to give him a spoonful. I’ve notice he’s been doing the same action towards the end of the meal and think he’s trying to tell me that he’s had enough. But today he’s not even half finish…

His actions reminded me of my own experiences with food. When I was young I spent part of my childhood in Singapore. At the age of 8 I stayed in Singapore with an aunty&uncle who also cater for 12 other children. It was kind of like boarding school where we had fixed meal times, fixed study time, no TV except on a Saturday between 7pm-12pm..etc etc. I was the youngest.

Meal times always reminded me of eating in a canteen… we would wait for the sound of metal plates (yes metal plates- its a plate with three small hole at the top for the different dishes and a big hole at the bottom for rice), then que for our meals. Being the youngest my plate would always be the 1st one in the line of 13 other plates. I hate meal times mainly because I fear I would not be able to finish the food on my plate. Every meal time I would be the last one sitting on the table with everyone walking pass glaring at me as if telling me to finish it. After an hour sitting on the table I would then brave the journey from the table to the bin throwing away what I cannot finish. On a lucky day I would get away with it but on a bad day I would get a telling off. Aunty have tried all sorts of tactics to try and make me finish my meal e.g. get someone to feed me (thinking of it now sounds ridiculous I do know how to feed myself), having a later meal time. Well nothing worked, up until today I still do not know why myself. Was it peer presure? was it home sick? or was the portion too much? I don’t know.

Up until today even thinking about it gives me a sinking feeling. I do not blame anyone, I know everyone meant good when they want me to finish my meal.

Hence when Dylan started shaking his head and protesting everytime I put the spoon close to his mouth, I knew he was trying to say stop. So I stopped mealtime with no big fuss and offered him his leftovers an hour later which he happily finished. I was glad I didn’t make a big fuss over it as it would only bring unnecessary stress to both of us. Thinking of it now, I’m sure God created us in such a way that it would be human nature not to starve ourselves. As long as he’s not filling himself with junkfood I’m happy if he says ‘mummy I’m full’.

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