Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

We have a long narrow stretch of land next to our driveway and we've planted a range of edible and decorative plants in it. For now, the strawberries and broad beans are ready for harvest and we're anxiously waiting for the cauliflower and brussels sprouts (perhaps the children's extreme enthusiasm to grow them will heighten their interest in consuming these vegetables). The petunias, roses and few other flowers I've forgotten their names have been brightening our front but my carnations are still a little shy.

Everyday, except when it drizzles or rains, the children will fight for the watering can to water their thirsty plants. But when it comes to weeding, they leave it to their mom (what's new?).

Oh, soon the tomatoes on my kitchen windowsill will ripen and Abang H's solo sunflower will also bloom!

Reading Jawi

Every Sunday evening, reading an article from Utusan Zaman was a ritual I dreaded as a child. It wasn't so bad deciphering those arabic letters that formed Malay words (Jawi), but the exercise was so dreaded because Abah would drill me by making me read it repetitiously, until my reading was fluent.

Sometimes, I'd accidentally release a soft grunt or snort when prompted and asked to repeat. This would only make Abah mad and annoyed, occasionally leading him to ask me to choose a SECOND article to read!

At other times, Abah would even ask me to take my Jawi school textbook which was usually still crisp and almost brand-new, due to the teacher's lack of enthusiasm in conducting the weekly lessons because it was not an exam subject. Jawi lessons were usually free-periods for us to play games together or finish off copying notes from the board.

Today, I feel that the younger generations in Malaysia are lucky. In general, there has been a greater awareness in religious education and the curriculum has also been greatly improved. I remember being amazed at the rate my sons were reading Jawi at the age of 7 and 8. Definitely better than the mom at that age!

However, since coming abroad, their Jawi (and Bahasa Malaysia) readings have been neglected. It's quite hilarious to hear them articulate the words as if the words were all Arabic (like reciting the Quran). Oh boy, I've got to encourage them to read from time to time, before the forget the whole thing entirely!

Throwing messages of love and peace

My early memories of Michael Jackson's songs were probably Beat It and Billie Jean, from Thriller. Whenever his songs appeared on the music videos over the new TV channel at that time (TV3), I'd shout out for my late brother and we'd be glued to the box, mesmerised by his well-choreographed steps.

I also vividly recollect my first real Listening lesson, introduced by my Form 1 English teacher, Miss Koh. In our language lab, she brought Michael Jackson to us. She distributed us the lyrics of We are the World with words omitted for us to listen for. Being teenagers, we welcomed the lesson excitedly - being allowed to sing in the classroom was most definitely not an opportunity you get everyday!

In years that came after, I followed my teachers' footsteps and then brought Michael Jackson into my own classrooms. Heal the World and Earth Song were aptly introduced, with messages of peace, harmony and tolerance to one another emphasised.

Today, as I sat infront of the television watching the memorial service organised for the King of the Pop, tears escaped my eyes to hear the words of praises uttered by his friends and family. He was indeed a man with a big heart, even though his disturbed mind invited many controversial issues. When one manages to touch so many hearts, you know that he must have done something right, if not everything.

If you enter this world knowing you are loved

and you leave this world knowing the same,

then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.

Michael Jackson

The heat

It's a really hot summer in the UK this year with temperatures soaring up to 30C and beyond. Come to think of it, we had an extremely cold winter hence it's only fair to get a summer that lives up to its name. In the mornings, it tickles me to discover that the children are sprawled apart from each other, often shirtless. Windows open and fans whirling, it seems just almost like back home.

The heat has probably dried up all my blogging desires - ergo the long silence. The twins went for their school trip to Marseille and had returned really tanned! While they were having fun, Little D was down with some sinusitis that caused him to have high fever for a few days. At the same time, Princess was feeling a tinge of jealousy over her brothers' trip, thus demanded a little bit of attention and fun. So when Little D was a little better, we spent some quality time together - indoors and outdoors; resulting in me getting my dose of the pollen attack.

All back on track now.

How time really flies.

Feeling good... praises to the Almighty

Just when I was beginning to feel a little bit down in the dumps, the Almighty knew best to brighten up my day by presenting me with joy upon joy.

Firstly, He granted us some sunshine. So warm and sunny it was that I happily hung our laundry out to dry under the sun and we spent time pulling out the weeds in the garden. I am, however, more wary of staying out when it's warm, i.e: high pollen content in the air. I must remember the consequences of exposure to pollen - horrible skin rash!

The great weather invited us to our second joy which was strawberry picking with some friends, followed by a picnic at our favourite park: Coombe Abbey (definitely where memories were made with the beloved and some precious friends, namely Mamasarah and Halwafy).

We are now going to have a strawberry feast this week, bagging home approximately 4kgs yesterday. After giving away a bucket to a neighbour, I joked that we'd be having ayam masak strawberry (chicken strawberry stew), sambal strawberry (strawberry chillies or chutney) and gulai strawberry (strawberry stew) the whole week! Chuckle!! Of course, it is in actual fact going to be more of: strawberry slush, strawberry shake, strawberry dipped in chocolate, strawberry tartlets, strawberry jam, strawberry shortcakes and strawberry tortes! Yum yum!

One thing about strawberries is that they don't always taste exactly the same. A piece may be sourish, while another may be lushiously sweet. Another attempt might prove in between while the next one seduces you even more! Little D announced yesterday that strawberries were his favourite fruit, but when I asked him how it fared compared to durians, he paused and said, "Well, durians are my favourite in Malaysia but over here, my favourite fruit is strawberry!"

Arriving home at 7.30pm, which is still early as the sun only sets two hours later, we were all knackered - ready for bed. We each showered, performed our solah and had a light dinner of left-over pasta from the afternoon. I was ready to hit the sack when the twins reminded me that they had to read their Qurans. Oh dear... I obliged seeing that Abang was excited as he was already in his final chapter of the Quran. Alhamdulillah, he has finally completed his reading of the Quran.

Unexpectedly, I was filled with a feeling of euphoria - undescribable and unexplainable. I didn't expect to be so overwhelmed over my boy's achievement but it just happened. I wanted to shout to the world - to close family members and friends, but I realised that there wasn't anyone around. People back home were still asleep at 10.30pm GMT (5.30am Malaysian time). I didn't want to scare my dad or sister, by calling them up too early; neither did I want to disturb friends with an unexpected beep on their mobiles while they were still in slumber. I thought of my friends in the UK, but quickly erased my text when I realised that I must sound like a crazy OTT mom, excited over nothing! After all, other people had their children complete the quran at a tender age of 7 or 8. And here I am, dubiously elated over her first-born completing it at the age of 11+. Big deal!

However, let me share why such feelings seeped through me. Even though the children go to the mosque to read their quran, they have completed their readings this time under my supervision - 100%. We started the journey at the beginning of 2008, and the journey has been beautiful. In my honest opinion, it didn't drag too long and the children were already familiar with the quran due to their previous experiences. My tajweed is not perfecto (and I'm dying to learn more!) but I have had my fair share of Quran and tajweed classes during school days (including those sleepy afternoon lessons during Forms 1 and 2 with 'ol Ustaz Dahalan) and also post-school days. The children are continuously asking about what a symbol means, and how the readings of certain areas should be - prompting me to search for an answer myself when things became vague.

We also shared stories of the different surahs and the significance of some stories. I attempted to introduce them to some arabic words and understand the structure of the language itself so that they would know where to pause, etc. I saw the twinkle in their eyes when they triumphantly recognised words and their meanings, or even names of prophets or even names of some friends or relatives! The repetition of certain phrases, such as in Surah Ar-rahman illustrated how beautiful the language of the Quran is, especially when they rhymed. Short and common du'as were marked for us to return to and memorise. It has certainly been education for us all!

In short, I retired last night with praises to the Almighty, for showering me with goodness and well-being. Upon reflection, His rezq certainly comes in various forms and shapes, and the best of them all is the gift of my Fantastic Four! May Allah bless us all always...

p/s: The house is also now more complete with the arrival of two wardrobes to hang our clothes up! No more living from a suitcase for us!!

Christina Rossetti's

UPHILL

DOES the road wind up-hill all the way?
Yes, to the very end.
Will the day's journey take the whole long day?
From morn to night, my friend.

But is there for the night a resting-place?
A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.
May not the darkness hide it from my face?
You cannot miss that inn.

Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?
Those who have gone before.
Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?
They will not keep you standing at that door.

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?
Of labour you shall find the sum.
Will there be beds for me and all who seek?
Yea, beds for all who come.

Huh? Blog?

Variety in life is what makes it most exciting and enticing. The same is reflected in my sidebar where updates of other bloggers' entries flash on my page. In the past 48 hours, I have shed tears, smiled from ear to ear and gasped reading some of the entries. Some are written by individuals who have now earned a place in my heart that I include them in my prayers every time I lift up my hands. Some still remain quite anonymous yet I feel as if I've known them for many years.

While one blog shares news of a new life, another seeks prayers for a suffering one. Doesn't He always work in wonders? There are the talented few who can put together poignant entries so thought-provoking that we always return for more.

Hence, I am not bothered by my friend's accusation (surely, she wasn't referring to me) which was a pathetic generalisation that those who blog, facebook, twitter, etc. are arrogant anti-socialites. In my opinion, her hypothesis lacked logical justification that I merely laughed aloud when I heard it.

Blogging is not the pulse of my life yet from it I gain a little from experiences of others. For me, blogging is often a form of therapy - expressing myself by putting words and thoughts together. It is not all entirely true neither are they all fictional. I write and publish whatever I want to, occasionally being a tad conscious of who might be reading this mumbo-jumbo (yes, Ms B, thus we resort to writing analogies...).

Of late, I no longer have so much time to linger in the blogosphere. At times I hop without leaving a print. Normally, I check my favourites once I get the newsflash on my page. For those who have never blogged, give it a shot - though please don't abandon it like two of my friends who employ the concept hangat-hangat tahi ayam. For those who insist they are not good with words and are happy being silent readers, keep on reading. After all, reading is a worthy act, isn't it? ;)