Nostalgia 3: Ma-ma-sak 家家酒

     As a girl, this is another favourite childhood games of mine!

      The name Ma-ma-sak was derived from Malay -  "Masak-masak" which carries the meaning of "Cooking".

     So, from the name itself, you would know that this is a game that involves cooking.

     I believe, there are still many children who are playing this game nowadays. However, they get to enjoy a more "luxury" game, where better "cooking tools" are used compared to my era.

     Having said that, the experience of playing my version of Ma-ma-sak still put a nostalgic smile on my face, until today!

     Living in a poor family in a small town, we don't get a chance to own "luxury" cooking tools, instead we played with some unwanted or broken kitchen utensils given by our parents.

     Although the cooking tools look shabby, but being country kids, we got to play with real "ingredients"!

     Vegetables = leaves picked from the trees;

     Fish = small fish caught from the drain; (thinking back now, urrgh...how cruel were we...but kids being kids)

     Soup = water took from bucket;

     Money = little rocks pick from the roadside.

     Ready? It's play time!

     Role playing: 2 girls (most boys think this is a girl thing, very few will enjoy playing it together with the girls)

    "I will be the papa, and you will be the mama."   "Ok, ok!" 

     Scene 1: At the market


     Leaves were being tied into small bundles, putting on the table (that served as a stall)...

     "How much is this choy-sum*?"   * cabbage in Cantonese


     "20 cents."

     "Wah, so expensive... 10 cents la..."

     "Ok la...ok la..."

     "And I also want the fish."

     "Here is the money." (handing over the rocks)

     Scene 2: Back home 

     The leaves were being chopped into smaller pieces. And the fish....Nah, you don't want to know about it.

     "Hmmm... nice smell, what are you cooking?" Papa walks in pretending he just came home from work.

     "Choy-sum soup and fish curry." Mama answers while stirring the leaves in a pot of water.

     "I'm so hungry." Papa said while rubbing her* stomach.

     "Ready to eat now!" Mama put the pot of soup and the fish on the table.

     "Yummy!"

     And both of the girls eat happily (pretentious of course!) 

     These are just two of the many scenes we played in the game, we were so creative back then that we created interesting storyline for our game.

     Sometimes, when I do my grocery shopping in the supermarket, picking up vegetables or fish as the ingredients for my meals, I can't stop but recalling the wonderful game I was preoccupied with as a kid.

     Ma-ma-sak, anyone?

What does a promise mean to you?

 What does a promise mean to you?
It can be as light as a feather, or as weight as a mountain.
A broken promise is like an overdue cheque, not only it's regretted, but the issuer would lose two important things in life - credence and respect from others.
Don't simply give a promise without knowing whether you could keep it, never lose your goodwill simply because of your impulse!

诺言，对你来说，代表着什么？
诺言，可以是一诺千金；也可以是信口开河。
没有被兑现的诺言，就像是一张逾期的支票；不但让人感觉惋惜，也让发票者失去很重要的 ～ 信用与尊重。
如果没有把握可以兑现诺言，就别轻易许下，别因为一时的冲动，而将人生最重要的信誉给丢了！

满载美好记忆的车子，我怎么舍得换掉？

     六年了，我仍然开着同一部车子； 一部车龄17的车子。偶尔，朋友们见了，会好奇地问：“都这么陈旧了，干吗不把它给换了？”

     “难道你对车子都没有要求吗？” 有些朋友看见我那陈旧的车子，觉得不可思议。

     他们，只说对了一半。 事实上，对于车子，我是一个没有什么要求的人，只求它可以将我带到想去的地方，免我日晒雨淋，就已经足够 。至于什么牌子、有多豪华，这一切，对我来说，都是其次。

     不舍得将车子换掉的最大原因，是因为它装载了我跟先母的许多美好回忆......

     居住在乡下，生活一切从简，脚踏车是我们家最主要的代步工具，我总是陪着母亲，一人一车，到菜市场里为家中的三餐张罗。

     后来，我步入社会工作，不久，我购买了人生的第一部电单车。母亲，再也不需要骑脚踏车，而是由我驾着机车，载她到菜市场。可是，母亲个子矮小，每每看着她艰辛地攀上机车后座，我总感觉心里戚戚然，心里想：“如果有一部车子，那该多好！”

     “妈，将来我买了车子，一定会常常载着你到处去。”有一次，我这么对她说。

     她听了，嘴角涌起一丝欣慰的笑容。

     22岁那年，我购买了人生中的第一部车子；虽然，那只不过是一部二手车子，可是，那一刻的兴奋，却是笔墨难容！

     有了车子，我兑现了当初的诺言，经常载着母亲到处去 ~ 菜市场、百货商店、兜风等等。

     后来，我陆陆续续换了三部车子，都是二手车； 不过，每一辆车子，都满满地装载着我和母亲的美好记忆。一起出游时，她是我最好的助手，总是适时地为我递来食物与水。

     最后一次载她，是从医院归家。离开医院前，医生用手轻拍我的肩膀，“回去吧，好好陪着你的母亲，度过她剩下的岁月。”

     那一刻，我感觉那肩上的一拍，重若泰山。

     归途中，三哥陪着母亲坐在车子后座，即将抵达家门，母亲用她微弱的声音叮咛：“叫你大哥准备一个火盆，让我进门前跨过，所有的霉气就会过去了。”

     纵使被诊断为末期癌症，乐观的母亲，仍旧相信她会痊愈，会陪着我们更长的时间。从望后镜里，我看着母亲发黄的脸，眼泪已经在我心中索索而下......

     那是母亲最后一次坐上我的车子，一个星期后，她安详地与世长辞；留下的，是我们对她无限的思念......

     每一次，当我坐进车厢，总感觉慈祥的母亲就坐在我的身旁，随时准备为她疼爱的女儿，递来食物与水，就怕我饿着了、渴着了......

     每一天，坐进车子里，我总会说一句：“我爱你！” 是对逝去的母亲而说，也是对车子而说；感谢他们在我生命里的某段岁月，陪着我，给予我满满的爱，让我不曾感觉孤单！ 

     我定期将车子送去维修与检验，为的就是延长车子的寿命，而更希望的是可以持续保留着我和母亲的美好记忆！     

Appreciate life, you will never get a second chance!

     Yesterday, a sad news was broadcasted over the TV, a girl who had a heart transplant 5 years ago died due to heart failure.

     She is no stranger to us as the news of her waiting so long for a suitable heart has been reported years ago. Although she has to rely on a battery-operated artificial heart for her survival, she has always been a happy and optimistic girl. 

     I still remember how we felt happy for her when a suitable heart finally brought new light to her life 5 years ago!

     She is a real fighter and I truly respect her will to live a normal life despite her complicated condition.

     As many of the people shed a tear or two for the passing of this brave girl, another sad (or perhaps the more appropriate word is indignant) news was broadcasted on TV on the same day. A 23-year old woman flung her new born baby girl out of the window from her home on third floor, and the worst part is, the baby was still alive while her mother (I'm not sure that's the correct term to be used as she seems too cold-blooded) tossed her out from the window!

     While her ruthless act was frowned upon by everyone, I recalled couple years ago, a young boy (most probably in his 18 or 19) announced his suicide on Facebook due to relationship failure. No one has taken his posting seriously, everyone (including his family and friends) thought he was just joking, sadly, this boy took his own life jumping off a building, not long after his posting on Facebook.

     Seeing all these news, a question kept pondering in my mind: "What does life really mean to them?"

     And what does life mean to you?

     For the brave girl who long for a life which can provide her a longer chance to experience this beautiful world, to be with her loved ones; and yet, God took away her life, and all her wishes......without any negotiations.

     For the baby girl who was flung out the window, she didn't even get a chance to see how beautiful this world is; her so called "mother" crumbed her rights to live......

     For the teenage boy who ended his own life, not only he broke the hearts of his loved ones, but his act was a real mordacity to those who merely beg for a chance to be able to breathe, for example the girl who died of heart failure......

     Life is beautiful and yet fragile at the same time, for some, life could comes with hardships, but even it is, no one has the rights to take away a life, be it the life of their own, or someone else's. 

     Everyone born into this world with a purpose, and life is meant to be celebrated, not to be ended.

     At anytime, if there is a thought of hurting yourself, or ending a life, please, and please, stop for a moment and think: " Do I really want to do this? Do I have the rights to do this?"

     Life is so precious, no one has any rights to end such a precious thing; to be able to breathe, is a blessing, please remember that!

     Most importantly, appreciate life; as once you lose it, you will NEVER get a second chance!     

Be punctual, please!

     I dislike people who are not punctual.

     I even dislike more those who dislike people who are not punctual, but they themselves are not punctual.

     Get it?

     I often see people who always complain and make a big fuss when others were late, however, they themselves are always late, yet they feel it's not a big deal!

     I have no respect to these people at all!

     I'm a punctual person in life, especially when it comes to appointments with others, I always make sure I go out from home or office earlier, so I can arrive early to wait for the other party; that's my habit.

     Everybody equally has 24 hours a day, so why should we waste each others' time spending it waiting?

     It's not difficult to be punctual, you just have to put a priority to it, get ready and go to your destination a little earlier.

     Life is like a mirror, it treats you the way how you treat yourself and others; so never expect others to respect you when you couldn't even walk your talk, let alone complaining too much on what you don't even believe.

     Being punctual is a virtue, keep it up in your life and you will be well respected!

Nostalgia 2: Seven Stones 七粒石

     Being a girl, this is one of the games I liked and played the most as a kid.

     How to play? It's simple!       

Tiny rice-filled sacks made of colourful rags.

     But first, you need to get yourself a set of 7 stones. During the impoverished era, we don't have the luxury of making rice-filled sacks like what they did for Batu Seremban now; so we do we get our stones? 

     Well, we normally get it from the roadsides, personally, my favourite spot would be a place where a house is in construction, with sands and tiny rocks piling up at the site. Sometimes, I can spent hours picking and choosing the tiny rocks of my preference! (Tips: the rocks must not be too big nor too tiny, best to be roundish in shape)

     Now, we are ready to play!

     1.  Throwing
         * Throw the 7 stones on the floor;   
         * make sure the gap between the stones are not too wide, or else it would be difficult to pick it up later;
       * For those who enjoy challenges, they would purposely throw the stones with wider gaps; during the catching process, they will then pick up the stones by swiping across the gap. If they succeed, they will be cherished by their playmates.

     2. First Catch

        * Throw 1 stone into the air, quickly pick up 1 stone from the floor and catch the first stone that being thrown into the air earlier.

     3. Second Catch

       * Then, throw another stone into the air, this time to quickly grab 2 stones from the floor before catching the stone in the air.      

     4. Last catch
       * 1 stone is thrown into the air, but to quickly pick up the remaining 3 stones from the floor before catching the stone in the air again.

     5. Flipping

       * Once the throwing and catching are completed, hold all the 7 stones in your palm, then flip your palm so the stones are now on the back of your hand;

       * when you do this, not all stones will stay as some might fell off)

     6.  Dan （担） - to count the points gained
       * Then comes the trickiest part, now you have to throw the stones directly from the back of your hand into the air and quickly catch it, the numbers of stones to be caught must be even i.e. 2,4,6. Each of the even numbers of stones caught is consider your points, 2 stones equal to 1 Dan, 4 stones equal to 2 Dan and 6 stones equal to 3 Dan;

       * if you think this is easy, then you might want to think again. More than often, you might end up catching an odd number which gains you nothing at all!


     7. The player with most points WINS!

     This game is being labeled as "girlish" as it's more popular among the girls, however, there are also some boys who enjoyed the game too!

     Back then, almost every kid has their own set of stones and they normally don't share their stones.

     Due to frequent practices and playing, the stones which were once rough and thorny can be easily polished up to be roundish and shiny in no time!

     Sometimes, I wonder, instead of swiping their fingers on the iPad, isn't it nicer for the kids nowadays to swipe the 7 stones from the floor?

     Is it my wishful thinking, or will it be a reality as retro is slowly emerging into our lives again now?

     Ough, I should have kept my set of 7 stones from my childhood!

Feel grateful to wake up! 梦醒，真好！

     Last night, I had a funny dream about my sister and my niece who are 400km away from me.

     When I opened my eyes this morning, recalling the dream, I couldn't help but giggling on my bed.

     So, I picked up the phone and called my sister, "Hey sis, want some morning jokes?"

     "Sure!" she said.

     "Last night, I dreamed about......" I shared the funny dream with her over the phone.

     Then, both of us had a good laugh in the morning breeze!

     I always feel grateful about waking up in the morning, and will smile into the mirror as I dress up, telling myself: "Hey, you have woke up to another brand new day, it's gonna be an amazing day!"

     Wearing my favorite perfume to complete my dressing up, I will then begin my day in a good mood! Most of the time, my day will be smooth sailing!

     Many many years ago, I worked as a temporary teacher at a primary school while waiting for the results of my high school exam. I remembered one of my students who was then a 12-year old boy died in his dream, without any prior symptoms nor any last words; besides dying too young, the saddest part is, he didn't even get a chance to wake up and share his dreams with the people he loved.

     As I grew up, I witnessed and heard of many cases where people passing in their dreams, without getting a chance to share it, but to leave their loved ones with broken hearts.

     Because of that, I always feel grateful to be able to wake up every morning (in the voices of nature as I live close to the woods), it's even better if I had some sweet dreams the night before to be shared with my loved ones!

     Isn't that wonderful?

     Live and enjoy every moment as life is too precious to be wasted! Carpe diem!