Tales from Jitra....The Sweet Temptations

"Precious Moments" was a hasty choice in my eagerness to get a glimpse of my blog when I first experimented with blogging. Now, after almost a year, I feel a new title "Tales From Jitra" would be more appropriate.

Today's tale is about my monthly blood sugar check-up. I'm not diabetic, never have been and would prefer to remain that way forever, God willing. I can't remember exactly when my husband first started acting the doctor, pricking our fingers with such finesse that would put many  nurses and even doctors to shame!! But, it was not an overnight success story. It took him years to hone his skills to perfection, and it was in both my mum and me that he experimented zealously. We had to suffer the brunt of his hands-on, trial and error art of finger pricking, in silence. Any show of resentment at being made guinea pigs would doubtlessly put an end to our regular monthly tests carried out in the comforts of our home and FOC, too. So, my mum and I decided to submit to his well-meaning "onslaught" despite the numerous painful finger pricking sessions we had to endure before he finally turned pro.

The "doctor's" gadget

The results were  normal for both mum and me, according to the  "doctor".  I thought mum's 5.8 reading was a bit on the high end but the "doctor" explained that, given her age, this was OK.

So, mum celebrated her results by making bubur kacang. And some bubur kacang it was, with very thick santan and a generous amount of sugar,of course, cooked to a perfect gooey consistency; Mum loves her bubur thick and creamy. Not wanting to lose out to mum, I also celebrated my victory in great style, nonetheless......went to the market and bought 4 durians!!! After all, there's a lot of time to surrender to all the sweet temptations before the next finger pricking session.

Mum's extra rich, extra creamy bubur kacang

The Fate That Awaits UPSR And PMR

Picture taken from New Straits Times

I read with interest and listen in earnest to all the discussions and debates that have been dominating the local media for weeks now on whether or not to abolish the UPSR and the PMR. The proponents to abolish these two exams have gone to great lengths to prove their obsolescence while the opponents have not budged an inch in their efforts to retain them.

I find it hard to remain neutral and indifferent. Having been a teacher for the best part of my life, all 32 years of it, it is extremely difficult to detach myself and make a clean break from the profession. When an issue of this magnitude surfaces yet again, I feel as though I am still a part of the whole system and hence the need to give my views. So, here goes.........

I strongly feel that PMR should be scrapped and immediately, too. What is the point in having an examination which serves only to......

i)     complicate a student's already tight and hectic schedule 
ii)    burden a teacher's already heavy workload
iii)   meet a principal's unrealistic target
iv)   heighten a parent's anxiety
v)    exaggerate the Ministry's role in increasing the percentage of passes

And all these for NAUGHT!!!!!

Yes, PMR serves only to bring a moment of glory or despair to students, teachers and parents. It has no long term discriminating effects on the student. In fact, emphasis is often placed on these weaker students to ensure that they would not bring down the overall percentage passes of the school in the next exam, the SPM.  A student who scores straight A's will continue to Form 4 on an equally same footing as another who scores straight E's. The only concession being, the top scorers will be placed in the Science classes where as the mediocres and the failures will fill up the rest of the classes. And they start all over again regardless of their performance in PMR. This time they strive for the final and most important exam in their 11 years of schooling, the SPM. Unlike PMR, SPM is the one which will ultimately determine whether they can continue to pursue their education right through the tertiary level.

So, why be sentimental over an exam which has no significance whatsoever. It is wiser to scrap it and devote time, energy and money in preparing for SPM. But my hunch says that the Ministry will retain, if not both UPSR and PMR, then at least one of them. Well, may be not exactly a hunch.....

Mahyuddin who holds the Education portfolio has made his stand loud and clear. He is all for the termination of the exams. Read more of what he has to say here. Mahathir (our ex-Premier), on the other hand, is against the termination. It is interesting to see what the final outcome would be. If I remember correctly it was to old man Mahathir that Mahyuddin ran for help during the Badawi crisis. It would be impolite to go against the old man's wishes now, wouldn't it?

We'll just have to wait and see  but whatever it is, l am all for the abolition of UPSR and PMR once and for all. 

The Outcasts

PM and his new orange and white Persian kitten

It's not often that you get to see a picture of a nation's top man and a cat together. Are we trying to imitate The United States Of America where all the Presidents are required to adopt a dog upon being elected to the White House? I don't think so. According to Najib, it was a spur of the moment buy when he launched the "Buy Malaysia" campaign yesterday.

I find it disturbingly ironical though that he chose a Persian kitten at a campaign to promote Malaysian products. But then again, it was a spur of the moment thing which is not easy to resist. Yes, Mr. PM sir, I do understand how it feels gazing down upon those languid eyes and feeling the soft and velvety hair pressing warmly against your skin. It's simply irresistable. Another good reason would be that the kitten was born here so that makes it as Malaysian as you and I. Hence, the Persian tag should not evoke any form of displeasure or doubts amongst kampung stray cat lovers, correction, kampung stray cat guardians, like yours truly. Apparently, the parameters for 1Malaysia have been stretched to include not only human beings but cats of all races as well!!!

I hate it when people ask me how many Persian cats I have everytime they see me buying cat food  at the supermarket. Are they saying that the kampung strays are only fit to eat the leftover rice and curry or worse still, left to starve to death? Are Friskies and Whiskas only meant for Persians and other exotic pedigrees? Hey, we are talking Friskies and Whiskas here, the cheapest brands, which some cat owners would never ever dream of feeding their exotic fuzzies. Unfortunately, my meagre Cikgu's pension can only afford these cheap brands. But these are good enough for my kampung strays. In fact, they would be grateful even if I were to feed them the leftover rice and curry. But, I choose to pamper them a bit. 

It would have been a moral boost for the whole kampung cat population had PM decided to get one of their kind, but then again, may be, there were no kampung cats on exhibition at the launching of the campaign. It is not easy for these kampung cats to have access to such a high profile occassion.    

May be it's the status symbol that's associated with keeping cats and dogs of impressive pedigrees. It would be pretty embarassing and cheap skate to own a kucing kurap (a connotation of the stray cat). One has to maintain a certain level of aristocracy, if not through birth or marriage, then, at very least, through cats. 

I just hope and pray that PM's spur of the moment move would not set a trend sending ordinary Malaysians scurrying to pet shops to acquire  Persian cats for pets. It is already bad as it is now for the thousands of homeless kucing kuraps without aggravating the situation further by having Malaysians following in the footsteps of the PM. This would inevitably erase any hopes of these kucing kuraps being adopted. Persians cats have already carved a niche in Malaysian hearts. They don't need anybody to further strengthen their already safe and comfortable place in our society. 

I don't have anything against Persian cats or any other cats for that matter, or their owners. I just feel misearable for those hungry kampung cats. Their fore-fathers were once pedigrees, too, but circumstances forced them to inter-marry among themselves, hence relegating them to the lowest caste. 

 PM has urged all Malaysians to suggest a name for his new Persian kitten. Whatever the name given, you are one lucky cat, not just by being Persian but also by having the Prime Minister of Malaysia as your foster father. I bet you'd have a life of luxury better than even some of us, human beings, let alone the poor lowly outcasts, .........the kampung stray cats. 

The Passing Of A Friend

A text message came in at 9.25a.m. yesterday morning from a former colleague, Cikgu Zamri. Going by past experiences, I knew instinctively that something was not quite right for ordinarily, Cikgu Zamri would not have texted me. He was the first one to inform me when two mutual friends passed away on two separate occasions a few years ago.

Hands trembling, I fumbled to access the message and my worst fears were confirmed. It was with shock and disbelief that I read the text " Cikgu Mat Zin meninggal". I was momentarily engulfed by the all too familiar  intense feeling of sadness, helplessness and remoteness all rolled into one, every time a news of this immense gravity hit me. I knew he had some heart problems but he was a picture of perfect health the last time I met him some two months ago.

I called back Cikgu Zamri and another former colleague, Cikgu Shukri  to get the details and was told that he complained of breathing difficulties the night before and was rushed immediately to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital Alor Setar. He succumbed to his death in the wee hours of yesterday morning.

I knew Cikgu Mat Zin when I was a teacher at SMK Tunku Seri Indera Putera, Jitra. His stern and formidable exterior, which was expected of a descipline master, belied the the gentle, kind and jovial personality that he truly was. It was to him that I ran for help every time I encountered problems putting down the few student hardcores who caused endless trouble in class. He would round up these rouges and after a few sessions, they returned to my class, as timid as a mouse!!!

I shall miss you Cikgu Mat Zin. May your soul rest in peace. Al Fatihah.

When There's A Will

My husband is trying to write a book! To those who know him well, this piece of news deserves to be aired over "Ripley's Believe It Or Not". Yes, bizarre as it may sound, he is actually very serious about it.

It all started when there were talks of bringing Chin Peng back to Malaysia. He was dead set against this proposition and felt the urgency to voice out his thoughts and what better way to do this than to blog. It was a readily available and easily accessible medium but it posed a few problems for he was unsure what a blog was in the first place.

Starting from zero, he bull dozed his way and managed to post his first entry on the 20th June 2009. He was hugely excited over this "masterpiece" and went about promoting it aggresively. Friends, relatives, everybody who happened to cross his path were not spared. Even my friends, some of whom he had never met before, were boldly reminded to visit his blog.  He stopped at nothing and as if that was not bad enough, he even  told them to leave their comments after reading his article. Of all the nerve!!!

All his efforts in selling his blog, going about it with such blatant crudeness and determination, has paid off. Like all bloggers, he now has his own group of followers. What started out innocently as an outlet for expressing his thoughts  has escalated into a full-fledged passion superceding even golf.

So, when friends suggested that he should seriously consider writing a book, he jumped at the idea and there was no stopping him. I suppose he was already secretly toying with the idea long before it was put across to him but was waiting for some form of assurance before venturing into it. For someone who used to resort to writing only when it was deemed necessary and even then,  would religiously stick to his "short and sharp" format, I find this change of heart incredulously interesting. He would frown upon my style of writing as awkwardly long-winded and boringly detailed. Hmmmm, may be, but it is better my way than his "short and sharp". "Short" ....yes, but the "sharpness"  not only cuts off the frills but also the facts, unfortunately!! To think that someone who used to be very sceptical of "The pen is mightier than the sword", dismissing it as outdated and unfashionable, he has proven against all odds, that when there's a will, there's a way.

The book is still in the making. I don't know whether it will eventually materialise but with the conviction and commitment, it would be a shame not to try and make it a reality. He has been giving his all ever since he got started on it and typical of a military man that he was, I am conveniently roped in as a proof reader!!!

The objective of writing this article is just to highlight the fact that I now have my hands full, proof reading his manuscripts at the expense of putting my blog temporarily on hold but as always, to quote his uncomplimentary description of my  "awkwardly long-winded and boringly detailed" writing, this got me carried away so far. There must be some truth in his assessment of me, after all. Point taken. 

Compassion For The Untouchables

It is a lousy feeling when you desperately want to follow what your heart says and yet mindful of the serious repercussions resulting from it. Following my heart here means showing some kindness to a starving stray bitch and her three puppies and the repercussions are....

 It is a known fact that Islam forbids any direct contact with these canines. All contacts, either intentional or otherwise, should be followed by  a special cleansing ritual using mud and water. It is this rigid condition that have the  Muslims shying away from the dogs. (At least that is the reason I would like to believe) Even if I'm prepared to undertake this tedious religious obligation, mud and all, I am sure there would still be a few who would be misled into thinking that I am a tad too compromising, as far as religion goes. On the other hand, I am positive the vast majority of Muslims the world over would not hesitate to show the same compassion for these unfortunate strays had they been presented with the same scenario that was portrayed before my eyes.

A few mornings ago, when the garage door was opened I saw this poor thing and her young ones crouching in front of my gate. They were obviously not bothered by my presence, giving not the slightest of indication that they would leave the place immediately. Ever the soft-hearted, I decided to let them stay and rest their weary bodies for a bit more until I saw mummy scratching herself raw, an obvious sign of the presence of fleas!  Despite the darkness of the early morning sky (it was 5a.m.) I could still make out their balding skins with scattered patches of the remaining hair.  I had no choice but to shoo them off and only when they stood up did I notice how thin and scraggly both mummy and puppies were, one pup was limping badly.

Yes,I solved one problem in chasing them away only to encounter yet another one which is even more heart wrenching, one that keeps gnawing at my conscience even as I am writing this. 

Was I cruel in chasing them away when all they needed at that time was just a temporary shelter before starting their day scavenging for leftovers? I am in a terrible dilemma.........giving them food, even once, would have them camping outside my house for good. This gesture, no matter how noble and appropriate they may appear to me, would definitely be met with an all round disapproval from my neighbours. They would most certainly resent sharing their living space with a bunch of hungry, dirty, smelly, flea-infested and occasionally violent four-legged intruders. Much as I hate to admit, they are absolutely  right!

Then, there are my eight stray cats to consider. These fuzzies will emerge from all corners of the earth converging in my house for breakfast and again in the evening for dinner, without fail, before disappearing to their hideouts. Like my neighbours, they, too, would not have consented to my desire to take custody of their life-long enemies as well. The dogs would be another hurdle for them to overcome before they reach their destination......my house, of course!

Last but not least, there are those fleas to consider. I don't want them crawling all over me. I have seen how my cousin suffered huge rashes over his entire body and it took days to ebb off. I am not ready to take the  risk.

So, where do I go from here? How do I feed those hungry dogs without making my neighbours wary of my religious beliefs, without betraying my poor cats and without exposing myself to those dreadful crawlies. Should I just erase the whole sad episode from my mind or succumb to my heart's desire and hence, risk being ostracised yet again? I am at a very difficult crossroads. I just hope and pray that I don't see them again and that God Almighty has found shelter and food for them.

I should have taken a photograph of those poor things that morning but my sole objective then was to chase them off and I worked really hard at that to the exclusion of everything else. Ordinarily, that's how my one-track mind works but at 5 a.m.,it automatically shrinks to a much narrower track, unfortunately!!!!! So, that explains why there are no photos.

P.S.  I managed to capture an image of mummy minus the young ones when it came round again a few days after I started writing this article.

This is the best shot that I could offer of the poor dog minus her young ones.  Her legs are obviously faster than my aging ones for me to focus properly.

The black patch outside the gate is the silhouette of the unfortunate dog

One of the stray cats waiting for breakfast to be served in a danger-free zone atop my dividing wall at the break of dawn!

Two more of the strays on the other side of the dividing wall on no man's territory 

One more stray cat waiting patiently for its turn to be served.