SIBLINGS 72: ANTI GOUT TIPS

Since touching 60, I have been frequently been visited by Miss Gout which would naturally immobilised me for a few days. As such I have cost a lot of inconveniences to the get together programs proposed by my buddies who came back to Alor Setar such as taking breakfast at the Batas Paip famous mackerel stall . To ease my burden and indirectly to facilitate their programs, my sympathizer friends has offered me a lot of tips about turning away the frequent visits by Miss Gout.


Here are some the useful tips for the benefits of other gout sufferers especially to third generation sufferers such as Alun and Farli. I do not guarantee its effectiveness for it has minimal positive impacts on me but I believe it would not cause any harm to you because all the tips are very tasty to consume and too good to be true. However all the tips has proven their effectiveness as vouched by the prescriptors themselves . Take at your own risk as the tips are not insured.


One of the simplest tip offered by Tunku Zaidah is for the gout suffers to peel the potatoes' skins and boiled it without the flesh. Then consume the boiled water of potatoes skins daily according to your convenience.

Prescription by Halim @ Rofie Hamid SMOne 1956 classmate
Direction for use: Take 2 fresh kiwi fruits twice daily in the morning and evening
Origin of prescription: Brother in law in New Zealand

Prescription by Harun Ali, SMOne 1956 classmate (Harun Ali: left)
Direction for use: Take 2 natural ayam kampung eggs and place them in a green papaya and grill the papaya with the eggs inside for about 15 minutes. Take the two half boiled eggs three times within a space of 7 days in between.
Origin of prescription: Ayam kampung eggs dealer

Prescription by Tajudin Ramli, SAHC Form VI classmate
Direction for use: Take steamed tapioca with coconut flesh/sugar twice daily (morning and evening) for 7 days continuously. Do not be alarmed if your body is full of wind on the fourth day for it will vanish on the seventh day together with the gout.
Origin of prescription: The aborigines in hinterland Pahang.

Prescription by Idros Zainol, Insurance Consultant and family child hood friend
Direction for use: Take one potato and slice it as potato chips with the skin in tact and place it in a glass filled with water (submerged wholly under the water) and store it for 24 hours. Consume the water without the potato. Take one glass of water (after going through the process) every morning for 7 days continuously.
Origin of prescription: Medical doctor from India

Prescription by Dr. R. Naidu (batek shirt), Senior Surgeon and College-mate.
Direction for use: Do not take peas and nuts, red meat, internal organs and sea food.
If gout still persists, for immediate relief, then come to me for a jab.

SIBLINGS 71: POKOK SENA

On Saturday, 26 February 2011, all the descendants of Luang Nara Borirak has traveled 15 kilometer journey up to Tea’s son wedding at the distance village of Pokok Sena. Although Tea’s residence is located in the village of no where, yet with the spirit of closed knitted kinship, most of the our family members were there. Reciprocating to the positive responses from his relatives, I was very impressed with the articulated reception at par excellence with any of the modern reception at any hotel.


I was made to understand, if ever the need arises about the exhaustion of food, then Tea's other son who is a hotel chef in Putrajaya would come to the rescue with his other chef friends by preparing hotel dishes to the guests. It was rather unfortunate for me as I did not have the chance to taste tthe hotel foods in kampung surroundings since there were a lot of foods available when I arrived at the feast before noon. However I was extremely happy to meet my old friends such as Halim @ Rofie and nasrun, my tennis buddy.

Zam took the opportunity to hand the last Syun’s flood relief fund to Kak Norain who has suffered the worst from the flood. Apart from material losts Kak Norain also suffered hip fracture which needed hospitalisation.

Lavish reception at Tea's son wedding reception with up to date modern facilities in the distance village of Pokok Sena

Under the scorch sunlight of Pokok Sena, Mek Tet pondering where is my husband and favourite son, Farli who was supposed to take care of her

Murtaza, the famous nasik mamak consumer @ taster with wife Yati walking with confidence for a sumptuous lunch after a long journey from Alor Setar

From left: Mek Tet, Zam, Mak Su Aziah (the late Pak Tam Shafie's younger sister and Mak Chik Sayang

Syun's flood relief committee in action at Pokok Sena
From left: Mak Chik Sayang, Zam, Kak Norain (flood victim) and Mek Tet

Zam handing over belated Syun's flood relief fund to Kak Norain who has suffered the worst

REMEMBRANCE 82: MERRY CHIPPINGS IN

The second house from left is Shiwar's house

Nana looking at the empty space located at the back of the house.
Is she contemplating to chip in also for her brother

Afiq and Alya giving the Yes sign for Shiwar's house

Aisyah also showing the Yes sign for Shiwar's house

My contribution just for my comfort

It was Allah’s blessing that Shiwar has decided to buy a double storey link house at Taman Suria 2, Pantai Johor, in August last year. Shiwar managed to buy the house through the housing loan provided through PKNK by the Federal Treasury. Apart from the core house, Shiwar has got to come up with some allocations for other accessory works such as electricity, plumbing and other minor works. We understand his financial predicaments as he was just past three years in service in PKNK and it would be difficult for him to have much savings.

Seeing his poker face which we could not tolerate and to ease his their financial constraints, we started the parents' program of chipping in for the costs of plumbering, electricity, kitchen cabinets, dining table and the living room upholstery. I started the chipping in program when I found out that the housing developer only provided squatting toilet on the ground floor. To ease my physical impediment as the call of nature does not care for time and location, I initiated the first chipping in by providing a sitting toilet for the ground floor. My sitting toilet was the catalyst for the other chippings in by Zam and also Che Omar, Shiwar’s father in law.

Just to please us for the chipping in efforts, during the farewell high tea session for Che Omar on 14th. April 2011, in a lack luster mood, Marini told Zam that when ever she looks at the dining table and the sofa at the living room, she would always fondly remember Zam, her mother in law. Then if she ever looks up the plaster ceiling and the lighting, she would always fondly remember her father, Che Omar. I concluded her show for affections by saying that if she ever use the ground floor toilet, then she would always fondly remember me, her father in law.

Whatever it is, Shiwar would always has the last laugh because he does not have to empty his own pockets. Deep in our hearts, it was indeed a merry chipping in exercise just for the comforts and well being of our children with what ever Allah has blessed us with. Insya Allah.

REMEMBRANCE 81: 26TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

26th wedding anniversary couple, Mek Tet and Wan Mansor looked very contended when receiving congratulatory messages from their relatives. Remorse was clear on her facial expression since her CNN counter part in Sungai Merab did not seem to remember her wedding anniversary.

While waiting for our foods, Mokhtar who has already consumed his foods gave us consoling advice about the wisdom of waiting patiently for your food.

Every body were satisfied with the tasty foods served although they were served so late beyond their tolerance limit. My in law Omar (far right) was smiling away with contentment after consuming his fried kowteow

26th wedding anniversary Mum enjoying her food while Marini was laughing away on her hand phone after receiving SMS messages from Mak Suna

Ezwar enjoying his second helpings of gear box soup under the watchful eyes of his totting father in law. Being a strategist, Shiwar was very shrewd when he managed to order dishes that were delivered to him speedily ahead of every body else

Since my in law. Omar from Sarawak likes so much the kopi o served with dry biscuits @ roti mayat at the Ruslin’s Kopi O Restaurant, Zam decided to host a dinner at the Restaurant for Omar who has just retired from the Royal Malaysian Customs Department. It was just a coincidence that Mek Tet and Wan Mansor were also celebrating their 26^th Wedding Anniversary on that very night (Tuesday, 12th April 2011) .

Except from Shiwar, it was a total catastrophe for us since it was indeed a total chaos when our favourite foods were not available and those we ordered were instead not delivered promptly. Temperature ran high especially with Wan Mansor when the foods we ordered took ages to come to our table. However the over heating atmosphere cooled down when the foods served especially mee tomyam ordered by Wan Mansor were very tasty.

We missed our steamed tapioca since it was not available that night but our misery were consoled when my in law, Mr. Omar gave credit to Nami’s special culinary prowess in preparing the durian paste much to his likings as a Sarawakian. Kudos to Nami who has missed her birthday dinner on Saturday, 9th April 2011 due to Khalid's mishap.

REMEMBRANCE 80; TAKES THINGS FOR GRANTED

We take things for granted because we were lucky not to experience the agony of a simple task of filling up our fuel tank. When I filled my car fuel tank the other day, I pitied my friend on the motor cycle who has to dismantle his trading accessories just for the purpose of filling his motor cycle fuel before taking his deliveries.

SIBLINGS 70: MAMAKS TRAIL

From right facing camera: Kak Fuzna without her ECPI water, Kak Yunis, Bang Mat Zakiuddin, Mohd. Fuad, Mak Teh and Pak Teh.

Pak Chik Mat was seated to my right with ala carte menu of porridge which he shared with me. He was always on the move looking for foods to his likings from the buffet set menu. Any dish he fancied, he would take some extra helpings to share with me although I have ordered for ala carte of Norwegian Salmon Steak. In the final count, both Pak Chik Mat and I enjoyed both sides of the world of ala carte and buffet at the expense of the Regency Hotel.

I really envied Bang Mat Zakiuddin who is 6 years my senior who could still consume anything under the sun as compared to me who has only a limited number of choices of the foods that I could take peacefully without the negative impacts of triggering the next bout of gout.

Zam enquiring from Muzli about their next visit to Tama Kristal Gem-shop in Gunung Keriang

Birthday boy of double cangkul @ 77 was very contented with the grilled chicken chop of the Regency Hotel and Pak Teh kept asking me diligently about the price of the chicken chop. His high level of health conscious about his food has gone to the winds when he was ever confronted with chicken chop.

Bakaq Nayah, Alun and other nephews of his has really spoiled the forever young man with their charity of chicken chop. Whatever it is, I really appreciate Pak Teh who would always adhere to the protocol dressing code compliance i.e he knows when to wear a shirt instead of his favourite kancing peraq T shirt whenever he attends any function.

Mohd. Razif (white shirt back to camera) was the main culprit who served dishes from the buffet sets to those ala carte guests especially to both of his parents.

From left facing camera: Mak Teh, Tunku Zaidah, Mohd. Fuad, Bang Mad Zaki and Kak Yunis.
From left back to camera: Syon, Mak Chik Sayang and Zam


Although her health was not at her best, yet Mak Teh was very determine to attend Syun's dinner at the Regency Hotel. Due to their physical impediments, both Mak Teh and Mek Tet has got to use the hotel's staff escalator to ascent to the Dining Hall on the first floor of the hotel. Her gallant efforts proved futile since the char koew teow served to her was very salty to the extend that the Regency staffs agreed to omit the cost of the char koew teow. To my opinion, the hotel chefs should instead seek Mak Teh's guidance as her culinary expertise is par excellence that has been recognised even by the Kedah Royalties.

Belated birthday dinner party for Pak Teh with grilled chicken chop as the main birthday dish

From left/back to camera: Pak Teh with his chequered shirt, Mak Teh, Tunku Zaidah and Mohd. Puat
From right facing camera: Syun who was very occupied with his mobile phone or rather he was busy calculating the cost of the dinner, Mak Chik Sayang and Zam

From left: Mokhtar, Rohani, Noraini, Roslina, Yazan and Shazwan
From left: Wan Mansor, Muzli and Mohd. Razif
Back to camera: Nalin

Shazwan (in green T shirt at the far end of the table) who looks leaner and handsome (verified by Kak Fuzna) was kept busy looking for the needs of his parents and grand parents.

Friday morning (9th April 2011) at Nasi Royale

From left: Wan Mansor, Syun and Mohd. Fuad who shares Syun's interest on Mamaks food at whatever location or at whatever time of the day. According to Fuad, his closed association with the Mamak community in Alor Setar would enable him to last at least one month on Mamaks charity if ever he is short of money. This startling statement is verified by his spouse, Tunku Zaidah.

Apart from the normal fried chicken and boiled egg, the specialty of Nasi Rayale is the spleen. To Nana and Alun, surely Nasi Royale would bring fond memories to them as the visit to Nasi Royale is a must to them when ever they are in Alor Setar or even when Mat and Nami were in Alor Setar.

In contrast to them, their favourite uncle, Syun does not have any special Nasi Mamak he fancies but when he is in Alor Setar, he would leave behind his Mamak's trail all over the town, be it Nasi Ayam Kampong Majid, Nasi Royale, Nasi Yasmeen and others. I admire his endurance in pursuing the Mamaks trail for I could not follow him all the way through. Luckily for Syun, he has able bodied cousins Mohd. Fuad, Yazan or even Wan Mansor who could accompany him all the way through. Surely his nephew, Farli would be another obedient follower of his Mamak's trail.

MAMAKS' TRAIL

All his siblings in Alor Setar were totally surprised when Syun informed them that he and Kak Fuzna would be coming back to Alor Setar on Friday and Saturday (8 – 9 March 2011). Although taken by surprised, yet all his three siblings in Alor Setar prepared a very meticulous itinerary for their brother with nasi Mamak as the mainstay of their proposed program of the visit.

They started off with nasi tomato Majid or nasi ayam kampong for lunch on Friday and for tea, Syun And Kak Fuzna were served with beehun Cheangmai and Laksa Lemak Siam which is the favourite of Syun. On Friday night, Syun has invited all his aunties, uncles and cousins to a dinner treat at the Regency Hotel. We did celebrated belated Pak Teh's birthday of double cangkuls @ 77. Although we were enjoying the sumptuous foods of the Regency but all of us did not forget Nami in Shah Alam and we took the opportunity to informed Nami that we were in fact celebrating her birthday in absentia of the birthday grand mum.

We were very thankful to the staffs of the Regency Hotel for their deep understanding on our lack of etiquette in ordering ala carte menu while simultaneously enjoying the dishes from the buffet menu. Mohd. Puat and Mohd. Razif were the two main culprits who served the dishes from the buffet menu to the ala carte guests.



The promotion price for the buffet dinner was just RM 25.00 per person and Mohd. Puat has recommended to Zam that it would be more convenient and cheaper to have anniversary functions at the Regency Hotel. His argument was simple because it was more economical with the fact that there were more varieties of foods to choose from with only the price of RM 25.00 per pax. Puat's quotation was typical of Astro promo "macam-macam ada Kak Zam". My typical response as a gout admirer was "walau macam-macam ada tapi macam-macam pula tak boleh makan." So it is back to square one for both of us.



On Saturday morning, we brought Syun for a treat of nasi Mamak at the original Nasi Royale in front of the late Royale Theater. We ended with lunch prepared by Mak Teh, Mek Tet and Wan Mansor’s famous BBQ of chicken and beef. It was a very satisfying home coming for Syun as he seemed to enjoy every moment of his stay in Alor Setar. He even took the time to visit his parents grave at Alor Merah Cemetry

For us in Alor Setar, it was a very memorable visit indeed by Syun and Kak Fuzna since it was on the week end. Even Syun appreciated the fact that his siblings who are still in service did not have to take official leave from their offices. However we did miss the likes of Shiwar and Farli when there were lot of foods remained on the table.

In contrast to the happiness of Syun’s visit, we did received the agonising news that Khalid, Alun’s second son has suffered a freak sporting accident whereby his left arm was fractured on Saturday evening. We all shared the misery of Nami, birthday grand mum and we all prayed for the blessing Allah for Khalid’s speedy recovery.

SAHOCA 23: THE RETURN OF AL CAPONE

Backs to the camera/from Left:1. Haji Yaacob Mohamed 2. Al Capone
3. Haji Ismail Tok Wan

Facing the camera/ from left: 1. Man Tekong 2. Syed Zain 3. Pak Ya Kalut
4. Bakaq Aloq Belat 5. Harun Ali

On the 1^st. March 2011, Professor Shuaib Din has assumed the post as a Senior Fellow at KUIN or University College of Insaniah. He rented a house at Taman Rakyat from our colleague Hafiz Hussein. Rahman Md. Noor, another colleague of ours informed us that Shuaib would be coming to the rented on Wednesday 2^nd. March 2011. As Halim Dollah was in Alor Setar that, the three of us agreed to ambush Shuaib at his rented house.

The three of us persuaded Shuaib to join us for tea at Kopi O Restaurant, Jalan Sultanah. The three of us (Halim, Shuaib and myself) were classmates in Special Malay One class at Sultan Abdul Hamid College in 1956. There were 5 of us from the villages in the vicinity of Pekan Tunjang, District of Kubang Pasu. Only Shuaib and me are the remnants from the group of five. There were namely:

1. Wahab bin Musa from Kampong Pulau Kechik, Tunjang, (deceased)
2. Shuaib bin Din from Kampong Jeram, Tunjang.
3. Halim bin Mat Ninggal from Kampong Lubuk, Tunjang (deceased)
4. Mat Noor bin Taib from Kampong Pulau Nyiur, Tunjang (deceased)
5. Syed Zain bin Syed Abdullah from Kampong Hutan Setali, Tunjang

Since we have not met Shuaib for quite sometimes, Shuaib has a lot of stories to tell about our school days. He has been keeping the stories to himself over the years since he has not met our other classmates who could share the memories of the primary school days. Influenced by the western movies together with the facial appearance of Shuaib, during our school days we used to associate Shuaib with the mafia lord, Al Capone.

Shuaib told us about his desire to meet other SMOne classmates to which he could not even remember their names and appearance. To fulfill his genuine desire, we managed to arrange another rendezvous at Kopi O Restaurant on Thursday, 10^th. March 2011. As Shuaib could not remember the route to Kopi O Restaurant, I have to fetch him from his house

.

Although with a very short notice, yet 11 classmates managed to join the evening tea of Ubi kayu and Kuih Peknga at Kopi O Restaurant. The classmates who obliged the call for the evening tea were:

1. Shuaib Din

2. Abdul Halim Abdullah

3. Abu Bakar Yaacob

4. Haji Yaacob Mohamed

5. Mohd. Shariff Saad

6. Haji Ismail Ibrahim

7. Haji Mohd. Saad Shafie

8. Ibrahim Subhan

9. Haji Yahaya Ahmad A

10. Harun Ali

11. Syed Zain Syed Abddulah

12. Rahman Md. Noor (College mate)

REMEMBRANCE 79: TAM'S LEGACY

Sparkle gave birth to four kittens on Wednesday, 23 March 2011 under the bougainvillea plants of our patio. Since it was raining coupled with the sizes of the kittens, Ezman left Sparkle under the assorted umbrellas to fend for her kittens for two days. .



Sparkle with her four kittens under the shades of the bougainvillea plants

On Saturday, 25 March 2011, Ezman bought a new cage since we were deprived of Mek Tet's cage as she also received new born kittens of her own cat.

Sparkle in deep sleep in her new cage while shielding and milking her four kittens

One month old

Waiting to be named by Enstek residents

We did not intend to domesticate cats in our house because I am asthmatic and allergic to cats furs. However as we can only propose but in the end Allah will compose, a black male act dropped by at our house in the middle of 2009. As the black did not disturb the tranquility of our house, we decided to let Tam to stay in our house. Then came along another stray female cat which named her as Toi. Tam passed away peacefully on 19.09.2009 but at that he has fathered three kitten with Toi which my grand children named them as Naruto, Kitty and Boboy. Unfortunately all the three kittens have a very short span of life.


Fortunately for my grand children, after the demise of Tam, Toi gave birth to another female kitten which my grand children named them as Sparkle. On 23 March 2011, Sparkle gave birth to four kittens. They are the legacy of our fondest cat, Tam. Unfortunately for the four kittens, their grand mother Toi vanished without trace three days before their birth.


We will wait for the return of Aisyah, Alya, Afiq and Adli to name the four kittens if the kittens themselves would survive until their return. All the kittens born in our Pumpong house would be named by our four grand children but ironically based on historical facts, all the cats named by them would have a very short life span. Even by this time around, Alya is very skeptical that the kittens would perish even before their return to Alor Setar. in the next school semester break. We have got to wait and see..