Dari poster di Muzium Padi, Kedah:
Peribahasa Melayu yang menggunakan perkataan padi, beras dan nasi.
1. Padi dikebat dengan daunnya
2. Padi ditanam tumbuhnya lalang
3. Padi masak, jagung mengupih
4. Padi rebah mangsa terkukurlah
5. Padi setangkai bernas semuanya
6. Ada kerak ada nasi
7. Ada padi masak adalah pipit
8. Beras tinggal, sekam melayang
9. Jika ada padi, adalah hampanya
10. Beremas kemas, berpadi menjadi
11. Bersisih antah dengan beras
12. Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi
Maksud:
1. Modal yang sama digunakan lagi.
2. Nasib malang
3. Berkali-kali untung
4. Dapat untung tanpa susah payah
5.. Keluarga yang hidup bahagia
6. Tiap kejadian ada bekasnya
7. Orang yang baik budi disayangi orang
8. Yang baik akan kekal, yang buruk akan dibuang
9. Kalau terasa bila disindir, tentulah bersalah
10. Orang kaya, semua kehendaknya tercapai
11. Yang miskin tidak bercampur dengan yang kaya
12. Orang yang dipercayai mengkhianati
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Grand Family Outing 2007
I just came back from 3 days and 3 nights stay at hotel Le Maziah in Tasek Gelugor, Penang where our family (comprised of some 30 odd adults and children) stayed for this year's gathering. It was a lot of fun. To summarize, here was our programme:
Saturday nite 18th Aug - Feringghi night market with children in tow for quick shopping. Of course yours truly only hang out at the pirated dvd stalls. My Penang bred nephew told a first-time going Uncle that he only visits the FNM when Mak Long comes to Penang!
Sunday 19th Aug - Three-quarter day at the Carnivall, a water-themed park in Sg. Petani (Much thanks to Uncle for sponsoring the tickets). Everybody had a wonderful time.
Monday 20th Aug - A whole day in Alor Star. A visit to my landscaper friends' who fed us laksa Kuala Perlis (sans belut) and loads of rambutan and dokong. Next to the Muzium Padi where we were awed by a panoramic 3d painting of a kampung. Then to the famed Pekan Rabu for some kuali shopping.
We reached home at midnight, and today I give myself one day to rest. Going on a holiday is so tiring!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Embak jadi cikgu!
Buat dua minggu berturut-turut, Embak telah diberi kepercayaan mengajar Pengurusan Kewangan Peribadi kepada pelatih-pelatih Khidmat Negara di dua kem. Satu di Negri Sembilan (gambar) dan semalam di Selangor. Tak bolehlah cerita dekat mana sebenarnya sebab sensitif - Embak nak komen pasal perbezaan kualiti kedua-dua kem tersebut!
Pelatih-pelatih di kumpulan ketiga ini (Jun-September) rata-rata adalah dari remaja 18 atau 19 tahun yang keciciran pelajaran, majoritinya dah bekerja dan ada yang dah berkahwin. Ada yang di antara mereka buta huruf, dan ada yang tak pandai berbahasa Melayu. Bayangkanlah cabaran nak bercerita pasal bajet, matlamat kewangan, simpanan dan perbankan!
Dengan pra-tanggapan yang rendah, Embak dengan perut yang senak pergilah mengajar di kem yang pertama, iaitu di Negri Sembilan. Sejumlah 160 orang pelatih semuanya. Walaupun ada segelintir pelatih yang tidak ambil pusing dalam kelas, Embak puas hati dengan yang selebihnya sebab semangat dan tumpuan yang mereka berikan melebihi jangkaan. Embak tengok suasana di kem amat menyenangkan, penuh dengan disiplin dan pelatih-pelatih secara umumnya gembira di sana.
Dengan pengalaman dari Negri Sembilan, Embak agak selesa untuk mengajar di kem berikutnya. Rama-rama dalam perut dah kurang sikit. Kali ini Embak adakan kuiz bersama cenderahati untuk lebih menarik minat para pelajar. Kali ini bilangan pelatih lebih sedikit, 192 orang. Cukuplah Embak rumuskan yang pengalaman di Selangor tidaklah semanis di Negri Sembilan. Kali ini Embak rasa kurang puas! Pada hemat Embak, kualiti remaja yang akan keluar dari kem yang di Negri Sembilan itu akan jauh lebih baik dari kem yang satu ini di Selangor. Pucuk pangkalnya ialah kualiti kepimpinan di dalam kem itu sendiri.
Komandan kem yang pertama menunggu hingga Embak tiba pada petang Jumaat itu sebelum beliau berangkat balik untuk bercuti hujung minggu ke rumah beliau di Kuala Lumpur. Sepeninggalan beliau, timbalan komandannya sentiasa di sisi Embak, melihat anak-anak buahnya belajar. Tetapi komandan di kem yang lagi satu langsung tiada kelibatnya, begitu juga dengan timbalannya. Sepanjang Embak berada di kem, Embak dibantu oleh para jurulatih yang sebenarnya sebelum ini tidak tahu-menahu akan kedatangan Embak. Hakikatnya, komandan dan timbalannya tidak komited pada kem, maka tercerminlah kekurangan dedikasi mereka pada suasana di kem itu sendiri. Disiplin para pelatih amat lemah, sampaikan semasa dalam kelas Embak ada pelajar yang nak bertumbuk! Begitulah, lain padang, lain belalang. Apapun, Embak gembira sebab dapat peluang melalui pengalaman di kem Khidmat Negara. Ada satu lagi kem yang akan Embak lawati bulan depan iaitu di Perak. Apa pulak yang menanti Embak... akan diceritakan nanti.
Pelatih-pelatih di kumpulan ketiga ini (Jun-September) rata-rata adalah dari remaja 18 atau 19 tahun yang keciciran pelajaran, majoritinya dah bekerja dan ada yang dah berkahwin. Ada yang di antara mereka buta huruf, dan ada yang tak pandai berbahasa Melayu. Bayangkanlah cabaran nak bercerita pasal bajet, matlamat kewangan, simpanan dan perbankan!
Dengan pra-tanggapan yang rendah, Embak dengan perut yang senak pergilah mengajar di kem yang pertama, iaitu di Negri Sembilan. Sejumlah 160 orang pelatih semuanya. Walaupun ada segelintir pelatih yang tidak ambil pusing dalam kelas, Embak puas hati dengan yang selebihnya sebab semangat dan tumpuan yang mereka berikan melebihi jangkaan. Embak tengok suasana di kem amat menyenangkan, penuh dengan disiplin dan pelatih-pelatih secara umumnya gembira di sana.
Dengan pengalaman dari Negri Sembilan, Embak agak selesa untuk mengajar di kem berikutnya. Rama-rama dalam perut dah kurang sikit. Kali ini Embak adakan kuiz bersama cenderahati untuk lebih menarik minat para pelajar. Kali ini bilangan pelatih lebih sedikit, 192 orang. Cukuplah Embak rumuskan yang pengalaman di Selangor tidaklah semanis di Negri Sembilan. Kali ini Embak rasa kurang puas! Pada hemat Embak, kualiti remaja yang akan keluar dari kem yang di Negri Sembilan itu akan jauh lebih baik dari kem yang satu ini di Selangor. Pucuk pangkalnya ialah kualiti kepimpinan di dalam kem itu sendiri.
Komandan kem yang pertama menunggu hingga Embak tiba pada petang Jumaat itu sebelum beliau berangkat balik untuk bercuti hujung minggu ke rumah beliau di Kuala Lumpur. Sepeninggalan beliau, timbalan komandannya sentiasa di sisi Embak, melihat anak-anak buahnya belajar. Tetapi komandan di kem yang lagi satu langsung tiada kelibatnya, begitu juga dengan timbalannya. Sepanjang Embak berada di kem, Embak dibantu oleh para jurulatih yang sebenarnya sebelum ini tidak tahu-menahu akan kedatangan Embak. Hakikatnya, komandan dan timbalannya tidak komited pada kem, maka tercerminlah kekurangan dedikasi mereka pada suasana di kem itu sendiri. Disiplin para pelatih amat lemah, sampaikan semasa dalam kelas Embak ada pelajar yang nak bertumbuk! Begitulah, lain padang, lain belalang. Apapun, Embak gembira sebab dapat peluang melalui pengalaman di kem Khidmat Negara. Ada satu lagi kem yang akan Embak lawati bulan depan iaitu di Perak. Apa pulak yang menanti Embak... akan diceritakan nanti.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Jenaka benar
Irfan, 2 tahun melawat Zoo Johor Bharu bersama Atuk, Nenek, Pak Lang & Mak Lang, dan sepupunya Raihan.
Irfan: Pak Lang, itu apa?
Pak Lang: Itu eagle.
Selang beberapa sangkar;
Irfan: E-boy mana?
**************************************
Nani menerima tempahan "name tags" murid-murid sebuah sekolah. Beberapa "name tags" yang rosak atau salah dipulangkan. Arahan pembetulan ditampal dibelakang "name tag".
Setelah dibetulkan, Nani membuat pemeriksaan. Salah satu nametag telah di"engrave" semula - "Gam Tak Kuat".
Musik latar -- Kwang kwang kwang!
Irfan: Pak Lang, itu apa?
Pak Lang: Itu eagle.
Selang beberapa sangkar;
Irfan: E-boy mana?
**************************************
Nani menerima tempahan "name tags" murid-murid sebuah sekolah. Beberapa "name tags" yang rosak atau salah dipulangkan. Arahan pembetulan ditampal dibelakang "name tag".
Setelah dibetulkan, Nani membuat pemeriksaan. Salah satu nametag telah di"engrave" semula - "Gam Tak Kuat".
Musik latar -- Kwang kwang kwang!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Look at what we made!
Last week, I went to a week-long landscaping course, and one of the things taught was how to construct a pond. With a team of 1 very cute instructor, 1 very enthusiastic photographer, 10 "workers" and 18 "observers", the whole feat was accomplished in less than two hours.
The pond was not quite finished. We didn't have enough rocks to cover the canvas. If you get to go to FRIM's PR building, you will find this pond with a few more rocks and some railway slippers added, if not already.
The pond was not quite finished. We didn't have enough rocks to cover the canvas. If you get to go to FRIM's PR building, you will find this pond with a few more rocks and some railway slippers added, if not already.Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Menang membeli, alah memakai
Semalam semasa berjalan balik dari Tasik Permaisuri, kasut Bata Embak berbunyi "pelepek-pelepek". Rupa-rupanya tapaknya dah renggang. Inilah dia padahnya kalau beli semasa jualan murah. Dari pengalaman Embak, inilah hakikatnya. Kalau beli beg tangan, dompet atau kasut, janganlah beli yang diskaunnya lebih dari 30%. Nescaya stok lama, yang takkan tahan lama. Macam beg tangan, Embak dah kena banyak kali. Koyaklah, gelung besi terpatahlah, merekahlah, gam terkeluarlah, dsb. Kasutpun sama.
Jadi, janganlah ghairah kalau diskaun 50%. Yang 70% tu lagilah, stok dah 10 tahun agaknya. Yang berbaloi beli kalau diskaun banyak ialah buku. Ni dah bulan Jun; tak lama lagi Payless Bookstore akan adakan warehouse sale lagi sebab menurut Max, staff PB, mereka adakan sale setiap 3-4 bulan sekali.
Bulan depan, khabarnya Megasale seluruh Malaysia akan diadakan selama sebulan, jadi berhati-hatilah bila membeli-belah. Biar menang membeli, menang memakai.
Jadi, janganlah ghairah kalau diskaun 50%. Yang 70% tu lagilah, stok dah 10 tahun agaknya. Yang berbaloi beli kalau diskaun banyak ialah buku. Ni dah bulan Jun; tak lama lagi Payless Bookstore akan adakan warehouse sale lagi sebab menurut Max, staff PB, mereka adakan sale setiap 3-4 bulan sekali.
Bulan depan, khabarnya Megasale seluruh Malaysia akan diadakan selama sebulan, jadi berhati-hatilah bila membeli-belah. Biar menang membeli, menang memakai.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Pak Lah kawin lagi
Tahniah kepada Jeanne Abdullah kerana berjaya menawan hati Pak Lah. Kayaknya Pak Lah suka pada bukan Melayu sebagai isteri. Dulu Arwahpun separa Melayu. Embak pun sebenarnya 1/4 Cina, layak jadi calon. Walaupun tak hantar permohonan, hati ni rasa kecewa juga, sama masa Jamal Abdillah kahwini Dee dua dekad dulu, M.Nasir kahwini Marlia dan yang terbaru Raja Nazrin kahwini Zara.
Sesuai betul buat Jeanne ya, dia dibinti Abdullah, jadi tak kekok kalau orang sebut Mrs Abdullah. Cubalah bayangkan, kalau Embak yang Pak Lah pilih. Ramailah kawan lama telefon.
Sesuai betul buat Jeanne ya, dia dibinti Abdullah, jadi tak kekok kalau orang sebut Mrs Abdullah. Cubalah bayangkan, kalau Embak yang Pak Lah pilih. Ramailah kawan lama telefon.
Bonding Time at FRIM
Semalam Embak bawa anak menakan seramai 9 orang; yang paling besar 16 tahun, yang paling kecil darjah satu, ke hutan di dalam bandar iaitu FRIM, Kepong. Kami tiba di sana kurang lebih jam 10 pagi. Embak memilih tiga orang yang besar untuk jaga kanan, kiri dan belakang kumpulan kami, dan Embak di kepala kumpulan. Mereka ini dibekalkan dengan lakaran “trail” yang bakal kami lalui.Kami bermula di tasik yang menempatkan sepasang “arapaima” atau ikan naga yang berukuran 5 kaki. Selepas itu kami berhenti sekejap di rumpun buluh gergasi yang berasal dari Myanmar. Embak berlagak sebagai pemandu pelancung gitu. Selepas itu trek yang sebenar bermula. Menurut peta, kami akan mendaki hutan sejauh 1 km sebelum sampai ke jambatan gantung. Ada juga anak-anak menakan yang mengeluh sebab penat – iyalah, first time masuk hutan. Embak beri mereka kata-kata semangat.
Wira-wira Hutan FRIM (2 wirawati tak enter frame)Kami berhenti rehat dua tiga kali juga. Embak pun sebenarnya dah terasa semput; by this time posisi embak dah bertukar ke belakang sekali. Kami lega bila akhirnya kami sampai ke jambatan gantung. Umur minima untuk pelintas jambatan ini ialah 7 tahun, jadi semua ahli rombongan Embak layak. Jauhnya dalam 200m dan ketinggian 30m dari bumi. Ada anak menakan yang “beku” di tengah-tengah jambatan, tapi abang sepupunya bantu dari belakang. Embak bangga semuanya berjaya sampai ke penghujung tanpa menangis.
Selepas itu kami menuruni bukit untuk ke air terjun sejauh 500 meter. Masa ni semua orang dah gembira sebab menuruni bukit kurang perlu tenaga seperti mendaki, Cuma perlu pasang brek lebih sebab licin. Bila deru air terjun mula kedengaran, anak-anak menakan dah bising kegembiraan. Trek tu sepatutnya mengambil masa satu setengah jam; kami cipta 2 jam - kira oklah.
Embak biarkan mereka main air sampai hujan pada jam 3.30 petang. Pada jam 5 petang, Embak dah selamat di katil, kepenatan dengan semua otot kebas. Semua anak menakan Embak “enjoy” dan ada yang nak datang lagi. Nampak gayanya, mereka kena ajak orang dewasa lainlah untuk temankan mereka.Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Masam-masam manis
The holidays are here again! Twice a year, my nephews and nieces from Penang will visit their Atok and Nenek and Mak Long.
I always look forward to these visits, but honestly, after a few hours, I would have to put on a shield to survive, which is turning on a deaf ear when one child screams to another and holding back when a parent scolds a child. And a blind eye when the house starts to resemble a shipwreck. Cooking and washing will increase a few folds, the tv, cd player and computer will be surrendered to keep the kids entertained.
My brain cells had a good crack to find that cuti-cuti Malaysia spot that’s not too far from KL that will provide precious bonding opportunity with the young ones. Am I complaining? Hell, yes! But at the same time, they give me a good excuse to skip work for a few days. Me smiling.
I always look forward to these visits, but honestly, after a few hours, I would have to put on a shield to survive, which is turning on a deaf ear when one child screams to another and holding back when a parent scolds a child. And a blind eye when the house starts to resemble a shipwreck. Cooking and washing will increase a few folds, the tv, cd player and computer will be surrendered to keep the kids entertained.
My brain cells had a good crack to find that cuti-cuti Malaysia spot that’s not too far from KL that will provide precious bonding opportunity with the young ones. Am I complaining? Hell, yes! But at the same time, they give me a good excuse to skip work for a few days. Me smiling.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Write a will today
Amanah Raya Berhad is having a promotion on will writing now until 30th August 2007. It now only costs RM150 to write a will (usual RM350). No extra charge for rewrites later and free safekeeping for life. Hurry to your nearest ARB branch, or you could register your interest with me as I am an authorized agent of ARB.
In your will, other than the distribution of your estate (less debts), pay attention to:
1. Appointment of ARB as the wasi/administrator of your estate.
2. The guardian of your underaged children.
3. Your favourite charity should you want to generate eternal pahala.
ARB staff will guide you on faraid distribution and probate matters. You could also contact me for clarification.
In your will, other than the distribution of your estate (less debts), pay attention to:
1. Appointment of ARB as the wasi/administrator of your estate.
2. The guardian of your underaged children.
3. Your favourite charity should you want to generate eternal pahala.
ARB staff will guide you on faraid distribution and probate matters. You could also contact me for clarification.
The grass is not always greener the other side of the longkang
I used to envy a friend.
Today, I sit in her living room, in a grand house, in a posh area. I see that she has some white hair now, but her complexion is as fine as a twenty-year old. We talk about the inconveniences of growing older, but agree that age has somewhat made us see things more clearly, i.e wiser. In passing, she mentions something about her “polygamous” husband. That’s new; in the past she has never mentioned him like that, just “my husband”, even though she is in fact wife no. 2. And then, she confesses, yes her husband has taken a new wife. And she is heartbroken. Who wouldn’t? For many days and nights, she struggles to find acceptance, to have “redha”.
She says, One day, my daughter (8 years old) came to me and asked, Mommy, do you regret marrying daddy? She waited for my answer, I just couldn’t respond, my heart was heavy with sadness. And then she asked again, Mommy, do you regret having me? Then, it hit me. I realize the marriage had not been all futile. It takes my innocent daughter to make me realize something good did come out of the marriage.
Tears well up in my friends eyes. Embak, always the emotional, cry along. I am learning to cope with this trial, she continues. My children are very supportive and understanding. I read books about women in Arabia and how they cope with polygamy. And I turn to Allah most of all.
It is heartbreaking for a wife when her husband takes a new wife irregardless what th wife she is. Another friend of mine who is a third wife fell into depression when her husband took wife number 4.
I guess a rich polygamist will always strive to fulfill his quota.
I am no longer envious.
Today, I sit in her living room, in a grand house, in a posh area. I see that she has some white hair now, but her complexion is as fine as a twenty-year old. We talk about the inconveniences of growing older, but agree that age has somewhat made us see things more clearly, i.e wiser. In passing, she mentions something about her “polygamous” husband. That’s new; in the past she has never mentioned him like that, just “my husband”, even though she is in fact wife no. 2. And then, she confesses, yes her husband has taken a new wife. And she is heartbroken. Who wouldn’t? For many days and nights, she struggles to find acceptance, to have “redha”.
She says, One day, my daughter (8 years old) came to me and asked, Mommy, do you regret marrying daddy? She waited for my answer, I just couldn’t respond, my heart was heavy with sadness. And then she asked again, Mommy, do you regret having me? Then, it hit me. I realize the marriage had not been all futile. It takes my innocent daughter to make me realize something good did come out of the marriage.
Tears well up in my friends eyes. Embak, always the emotional, cry along. I am learning to cope with this trial, she continues. My children are very supportive and understanding. I read books about women in Arabia and how they cope with polygamy. And I turn to Allah most of all.
It is heartbreaking for a wife when her husband takes a new wife irregardless what th wife she is. Another friend of mine who is a third wife fell into depression when her husband took wife number 4.
I guess a rich polygamist will always strive to fulfill his quota.
I am no longer envious.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Excuse Me
I have not blogged for 2 weeks now - last week I was couped in a hotel for 5 days (actually 3 and half , because we had field trips on the remaining days). My mind was focused on learning, and meeting new people. So that's my excuse. Heck, I can't even convince myself that is a good one.
Really, I do not have much to say; my life is that flat. Perhaps you could go to these blogs for the time being. I peruse this daily,
http://www.rickey.org/ for the latest on Sanjaya Malakar and other AI contestants, and this, weekly:
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-bSgka9MjerQP1V1Jo45o
for beautiful prose to wind down over the weekend. Deli, the latter is actually your blog. To the other 3 readers, you should visit Deli's blog. This poet had people in tears last Saturday when he recited his poems before them.
My current read: E. Annie Proulx's Shipping News (which I pick after watching Brokeback Mountain and reading Ms Proulx's short story of the same title).
Really, I do not have much to say; my life is that flat. Perhaps you could go to these blogs for the time being. I peruse this daily,
http://www.rickey.org/ for the latest on Sanjaya Malakar and other AI contestants, and this, weekly:
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-bSgka9MjerQP1V1Jo45o
for beautiful prose to wind down over the weekend. Deli, the latter is actually your blog. To the other 3 readers, you should visit Deli's blog. This poet had people in tears last Saturday when he recited his poems before them.
My current read: E. Annie Proulx's Shipping News (which I pick after watching Brokeback Mountain and reading Ms Proulx's short story of the same title).
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Lets not be idle
Wah, what a long break we are having; it’s a week off work if one takes Friday and Monday as leaves. Since I am without agenda this time, my yesterday and today were spent on watching and re-watching Robert Altman’s Gosford Park VCD, which I bought during a trip in Hong Kong 4 years ago which by the way, I still do not know whether legal or pirated. The packaging and the VCD's quality are convincingly original but it cost me equiv RM10 only, - what da ya think? It was a title that I was looking hi and lo for in Malaysia at that time, so when I saw it in Hong Kong, I grabbed it. But the Chinese sub-titles irk me every time.
I have actually watched this video twice before, but this time, with surplus free time, I looked up the internet to research the movie. I joined the discussion board on IMDB website, looked up for Ebert’s review and downloaded the script to make sense what the mostly British cast are saying.
It’s a story set in 1930’s that takes place over 1 week or so at a grand manor in the English countryside with a murder thrown in, in the middle of the story. The cast is comprised of two sets of people; the upstairs people i.e. the aristocrats and the guests, and the downstairs people i.e. the servants. I don’t know how to summarize the storyline, because there are so many characters and sub-stories, so I just say this. It’s a movie that you cannot blink, because you chance to miss a gesture. Many times I have to press the replay button to see what all the characters in that frame are doing. All in all, it is a very well made movie.
Do you know that the Americans and the British have different pronunciation for the word “valet”?
Ah, I also stumbled upon this website http://www.gutenberg.org/ which hosts millions of e-books that you can download for FREE. And Frank McCourt’s favourite author P.G.Wodehouse’s works are listed. Yay! I know I’ll be as busy as a bee tomorrow.
I have actually watched this video twice before, but this time, with surplus free time, I looked up the internet to research the movie. I joined the discussion board on IMDB website, looked up for Ebert’s review and downloaded the script to make sense what the mostly British cast are saying.
It’s a story set in 1930’s that takes place over 1 week or so at a grand manor in the English countryside with a murder thrown in, in the middle of the story. The cast is comprised of two sets of people; the upstairs people i.e. the aristocrats and the guests, and the downstairs people i.e. the servants. I don’t know how to summarize the storyline, because there are so many characters and sub-stories, so I just say this. It’s a movie that you cannot blink, because you chance to miss a gesture. Many times I have to press the replay button to see what all the characters in that frame are doing. All in all, it is a very well made movie.
Do you know that the Americans and the British have different pronunciation for the word “valet”?
Ah, I also stumbled upon this website http://www.gutenberg.org/ which hosts millions of e-books that you can download for FREE. And Frank McCourt’s favourite author P.G.Wodehouse’s works are listed. Yay! I know I’ll be as busy as a bee tomorrow.
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