Goin' Back

I think I'm goin' back
To the things I learned so well
In my youth

I think I'm returning to

Those days when I was young enough

To know the truth


Now there are no games

To only pass the time

No more colouring books
No Christmas bells to chime


But thinking young
And growing older is no sin
And I can play
The game of life to win

I can recall the time

When I wasn't ashamed
To reach out to a friend
And now I think I've got
A lot more than a skipping rope to lend

Now there's more to do
Than watch my sailboat glide
And everyday can be

My magic carpet ride

And I can play hide and seek with my fears
And live my days
Instead of counting my years

Let everyone debate the true reality
I'd rather see the world
The way it used to be

A little bit of freedom

Is all we lack

So catch me if you can

I'm goin' back.....

See video : http://youtu.be/gV1bnDqhMws
                  http://youtu.be/gvE2mppEDfg



I first heard this song in 1967 sung by Dusty Springfield. I was all of 16 years old then and the song touched me so profoundly with its beautiful lyrics by Gerry Goffin (melody by Carole King) about the loss of innocence that comes with adulthood along with an attempt, on the part of the singer to recapture that youthful innocence. Since then the song has always remained one of my eternal favourites and it has been recorded by scores of other singers over the years, the latest being by Paul McGrath, ex-Ireland football legend. And now 45 years since I first heard that iconic Dusty Springfield version I heard a new version which touches me even so much more. A month ago, my friend Hoong Po gave me a new compilation CD of Diana Ross, and surprise, surprise track 21 was "Goin' Back" and it was such a beautiful rendition. I even found a video of Miss Ross's version on YouTube. Surprising, the recording was made in 2001 and I had not heard of it. Thanks dear HP, Miss Ross, Carole King and Gerry Goffin. "Goin' Back" is forever....

Eid Mubarak Aidil Adha

Salaam and greetings! Been so busy to write anything of late! Just back from a 5-day Deepavali break in New Delhi and was sick all the time there! The air was so horribly polluted there but had a great albeit quiet time with Seng Sung and Julia all the same. Home with a bagful of goodies as well! India is so fascinating and colourful, dirt and dusts and all....

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha all.
(Foto is of a batik "Segala puji hanya pada Mu" I made a few months back - all praise to Him!)

Latest artworks

Voila, my latest artwork, pastel and acrylic on canvas, just completed - it took some thirty minutes and very dirty fingers and hand, and stained kitchen table and towels and all! Don't know if it will even qualify for Pak Yusof Ghani's KALAM exhibition next month!

Big and small mercies!

Saturday again, free at last! No appointment whatsoever. I really should be working on a painting I have been invited to exhibit next month! The days and weeks have gone so fast and there have been some trying periods for me, which led to the ever-ongoing internal debate within me whether I want to continue working. Patience, patience my man - it will have its rewards, if not already there.

Tonight three of my 'better' staff go overseas. One of them for an 18-months masters degree programme in the UK, for which we went through endless hassle getting the approval and the funds. But it is a good investment for the institution though we will sorely miss his expertise for some time. The other two, ladies, I dispatch to Frankfurt and Berlin for a week to do some homework and research on book fairs, museums and galleries. Steady now ladies, get the most of your trip! My own proposed trip to Melbourne last week was overturned by the powers-that-be, which is just as well. I am in no mood for travels at the moment. Anyway I will be spending Deepavali in New Delhi with dear friend Seng Sung and Julia and Christmas in Canberra with friends there.

I had a good Hari Raya Open House two Saturdays ago at my Club house. Could not invite as many people as I would like but it was a warm cozy number, mix of friends and relatives.

Over the Malaysia Day long weekend I made a trip to my favourite East Coast, a two night stay at the ever busy and crowded Hyatt Kuantan (with the oh so noisy air con system!) and a day outing to Cukai/Kemaman where I had lunch at my nephew's brand new expanded house. I discovered some new nurseries near the hotel and went home with a car full of plants. As usual I made a stop at Lanchang to visit my darling cucu Kuca and had a nice lunch with the family. Kuca is such a doll, and such a bundle of joy! Frantically learning to speak and can relate well to her 'atok'.

The budget announcement yesterday was somewhat predictable! From what I gather I will get my RM500 pensioner's bonus and half month's salary bonus in December. And my pension will be increased by 2% yearly. Retirement age has been moved up to 60, the second time since I went on retirement at 56! But I shouldn't complain. I was given a tree year extension of service on contract when I retired, and five months after that was over I was offered this present job. I have now passed 60 years of age and am still working, what's there to complain about about (haha - so why the ever ongoing debate whether I should continue working?). Anyway, Alhamdullilah for big and small mercies.

This month four of my friends, Mushlim, Rezal, Fauzi and Amin embark separately on the haj pilgrimage. May you all be blessed with a good pilgrimage and may Allah SWT facilitate all your rituals and grant all your prayers my friends, amin. 

Have a nice weekend all, God bless.     

Dawn from my bedroom balcony some days back.

Of Bandung, Hari Raya season and painting with the maestro

It's the 12th day of raya and being a weekend there are open houses everywhere, including right at my front neighbour's house (a single mother with three young kids). But I was not invited, understandably as we hardly know each other except for the early introduction when I first moved in and the occasional hi and waving from our cars or driveways. But isn't open house meant for everyone! Anyway just as well I was not invited; I would not have tolerated the food with the current state of my stomach. I had food poisoning last Sunday night at Bandung and it had taken so long for my stomach to settle back. I also skipped a wedding luncheon invitation today at my (again) front neighbour of my Putrajaya house. I had even loaned them my garden compound for the occasion and had ensured Mehbob cut the grass and cleaned up the garden yesterday. Well my brother Wes and his wife did attend the luncheon, in a way representing me as well. I hope my absence did not offend them.

Last Friday, the fourth day of raya I flew to Bandung with my loyal travel companion Hoong Po for what was supposed to be a 6 days holiday. I really should have trusted my first judgement, that Bandung was not a great place to visit. My first visit there was in 2004 only for 2 days and I did not like it at all. Against all odds, I decided to give it another go and it proved to be AGAIN, disappointing and rather a disaster with the food poisoning! So instead of coming back on Wednesday I flew back on Monday, forgoing two night paid hotel accommodation and having to pay penalty on my airfare! Hoong Po stayed on and was in Cirebon that disastrous Sunday. I did not want to join him on that long drive to that hot, sweaty place and just as well as it took him a marathon 9 hours to get back to Bandung the next day! And there wasn't much for him to do to pass the days till Wednesday either.

 On the positive side, today spent a few hours with maestro artist Yusof Ghani who invited me to jointly paint with him at his studio in Shah Alam. Wow, what an experience that was. The results are the two paintings here. The green/brown one is his though I started with the base and outline. The other one is mine with some instruction from him. The subject/theme is mine - for me always the same subject - ALLAH! I look forward to more painting sessions with the maestro.

My darling cucu Kuca who turned two years old two weeks go had her birthday party at her kampung in Lancang, Pahang today (I'll visit her next weekend when things are quieter). As a present I gave her a painting of flowers by an autistic female artist which I bought at the MCAT (Malaysian Contemporary Art) art exhibition of autistic artists at MATIC in July. Although it is still early, hope this will inspite her to love art like her atok.     

Aidilfitri 2011

What a blessed and happy day yesterday, the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2011. I went to the mosque, made my rounds and was informed that my relatives wanted to visit me in the late afternoon. Luckily Hoong Po was staying with me, was worried if I could cope, though my nieces would always help out.
Well at 4.00 pm 10 families and their brood descended on me simultaneously! It was such a warm, feel- good gathering and I am touched that my family decided to make my house the venue for our gathering.

Selamat Hari Raya and maaf zahir batin everyone!

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2012

See video: http://youtu.be/I10PsRWHICk