Snippets from life in K.L.

 

"Little boxes on the hillside

Little boxes made of ticky tacky

Little boxes on the hillside

Little boxes all the same.

There's a green one, and a pink one

And a blue one and a yellow one

And they're all made of tricky tacky

And they all look just the same."

This protest song was written in 1962 by Malvinia Reynolds, a social activist. When I look out my window from the twenty second floor here in Mont Kiara, Kula Lumpur , this song rings true. There are high rise building after high rise building! From my vantage view I can also see that most blocks use either their roof or some other part of their building for a swimming pool which is absolutely essential in this heat.

 

 

There is nothing I love more at night than opening the lovely big sliding doors of the lounge and to try and take in the magnificent sight of all the twinkling lights coming from the various "little boxes". My mind then begins to wander and I start thinking about the people who live in all these thousands of little boxes!

 

The view is different from my bedroom which is at the 'back' of the apartment. This apartment block is the last building before we arrive at the Kampung or rather what is left it.

 

 

Originally K.L. Was a collection of Kampung which is a Malaysian village or hamlet. Most of them have been lost to development and I am pretty sure this last bastion of traditional life for Malaysians in the city won't last too many more years. While watching, one can see that the kampung is pretty much self contained with little shops and eating houses. As it is the month of Ramadan all Muslims fast during the day so many of the temporary eating places only set up in the evenings.

 

Umbrellas go up, tables are unfolded and the Mamas start cooking. Many years ago when I first came here I asked a shop keeper if she knew of any quilting guilds and her answer was that Malaysia is a nation of eaters not sewers! She has proved to be so right. One can eat on any corner, down lanes, nooks and crannys.

 

 

Delicious food is obtainable for a few ringgit all over the place. This month of fasting must be very difficult for Malaysians and a real sacrifice. The second interesting face that I read is that in a survey done, eighty per cent of Malaysians said their most favorite thing to do for their holidays is shop.

 

 

I don't think it means spending vast amounts of money but going to the malls is so popular. Saturday's and Sundays it is so difficult to find parking in the various malls as every one is taking full advantage of these air conditioned havens. I LOVE to walk around the malls too and to people watch.

 

 

 

 

Off to Malaysia!

This was the first time we were flying using Qatar airlines. It is an eight hour trip to Doha and an hour to get off the plane and onto our link to K.L. for another eight hours! We had an allowance of 23 kilos and when we get to the check in counter I always have to hold my breath as I worry about our luggage being overweight, it's not because I have packed too much but because a certain person keeps adding bottles and other goodies he thinks we can't live without! I remember eleven years ago when we flew to Australia for Chris and Diana's wedding and I unpacked my suitcase on arrival and between us there were seven bottles!! That is without the duty free stuff! Nothing has changed. The routine now is...I pack my case and if it is interfered with, it is without my knowledge!! On arrival in addition to the bottles we had a couple of fillet steaks and blocks of cheese! Next will be the kitchen sink!

Nicks favorite!

 

I try not to be too negative about the long journey and the first thing I do is suss out the movies on the entertainment channel. I was desperate to see "Quartet" but could see "A Late Quartet" advertised so I thought maybe I had got the name wrong. I settled down to watch this movie and was not disappointed! It was really good. The main plot was about four musicians three men and a woman who have been playing together in a string quartet for twenty four years. While two of the members are married with a daughter, the woman has a different relationship with each of the other players. As the Quartet approaches their twenty fifth anniversary concert one of the ensemble reveals that he has a debilating illness and will have to step down. This was indeed a lovely movie to watch accompanied by beautiful chamber music. Highly recommended.

 

I still wasn't sure that this was the movie that had been recommended and on arrival in K.L. Nick was proud to demonstrate his new T.V. And music centre and he loaded up the real thing I was looking forward to and I was able to sort some of my jet lag out by watching Quartet. This movie is set in an old age home. This home surpasses any Old Age home I have ever seen....a beautiful building set in magnificent surrounds. In fact the film was made in its entirety at Headsor House in Buckinhamshire. The home is used exclusively for retired musicians and the story centres around organizing a concert to raise funds to keep the home open. It has a magnificent cast of Bob Comolly, Maggie Smith, Pauline Collins amongst others and is directed by Dustin Hoffman. A truly lovely experience.

These two movies plus The Best Exotic Marigold hotel have to be the best three movies I have seen for a long time. The common theme and thread running through them all is that they are about "older" people and two of them are specifically about retirees!! Is this why they are so appealing? Or do young people also enjoy them?

Not to be too single minded I also watched "Safe Haven". The movie is an American romance based on a book by Nicholas Sparks. The critics have given the film between on and three stars I do think it will appeal more to the feminine sect! While talking about movies last night we watched "Broken" which also gets about a three star rating. Warren was so upset that he wanted us to switch off. The story is set in North London where several broken and dysfunctional families live in close proximity to each other. A young girl witnesses a violent fight between a neighbour and a retarded young man who is blamed for raping his promiscuous daughter. It is all very possible and upsetting. As Nick says who wants to bring kids up in England?

At this rate I may just get through "The Thousand movies to see before you die."

It is great being back here and seeing Nicks new apartment, having lots of time with Joshua and spending

time with Moira.

 

 

I am back swimming.....the first after nearly a year. Maybe I will get rid of some of those kilos I have piled on!

 

Keeping Busy.

 

 

After a week at home with Oscar we are back in the Golden City. Oscar is back at school and we are getting ready to fly to Malaysia. It was fun having the little fellow with us but it does mean that one has to put most projects aside and just be there for him. 

 

Fortunately I have this lovely friend Bridget, who has Jonathan who is two turning three and Bridget pointed me in the right direction for holiday activities for little ones.It was fun being part of the Yummy Mummy brigade and being reminded about those early years of bringing up children!

 

 

We baked, dressed up, read, and went out and about as much as possible. We even went to a book launch with Tina Scotford at the Book Boutique.

 

I purchased "Saving the Rhino in the Land of Kachoo". I am so glad I bought this book. I brought it to Malaysia for Joshua who is turning five and he LOVES it. In three days he has heard the story five times! He loves it and has learnt lots of new words too! It was lovely chatting to Tina about writing, I have googled her and she started off as a nutritionist!

 

The weather in Johannesburg was rather chilly especially in the morning and evening. Sarah's flat faces north and has huge big windows where the sun shines in and one can almost catch a tan! The north side where Oscars bedroom is is FREEZING! I bought a new water bottle for the little fellow and made winter sheets for him which I hope makes Winter a little less chilly for him. But I have decided that nothing is going to change Oscar from waking up and crawling into bed with whoever! I usually woke up with a little hand tucked around my throat, the body cuddled in and the little fellow fellow saying "Gan, Gan I Love You" aren't I fortunate to have this great little fellow who is so loving?

And now for Malaysia......!

 

Artist'sDate.

As a special treat for Father's Day Sarah had booked tickets for us to attend the John Cleese show at the Monte Casino in North Johannesburg. What a treat. We have been watching Fawlty Towers for years and years. Warren never fails to laugh and laugh!

We arrived early and enjoyed wandering around the shops and Casino. The disturbing thing is seeing so many older women playing the machines! Clearly these women don't have much and are probably addicted! I am sure they are hooked and loose more than they win! I don't wish to be judgmental but it is worrying!

 

Show time. The Teatra holds up to 1870 people and it felt and looked pretty full for the Sunday midday show! John Cleese is in South Africa for the movie Spud Two and is doing these monologue shows around the country. He calls it his "Alimony" show as he is still paying off his third wife and recently John Cleese(71) married again, to Jennifer Wade who is forty years his junior.

 

John Cleese took us through the journey of his career. He blames his Mother for his Black humour because she had a phobia about everything. At this point he pulled out a long list of his Mother's fears and as he read them the audience laughed and laughed and at the very end the last fear on the list was his Mother's fear of Princess Margaret!!

 

In between his chats he showed a few excerpts from his various shows. His favorite moments were ours too! What a privilege it was to see and hear John Cleese in person and to have a glimpse into this brilliant and talented man's life!!

Thank you Sarah and Adrien.

Oscar's birthday!

What fun it is to turn four and once again we are reminded that time flies! It is a whole four years since we were catching public buses to get to the hospital in Liege with Sarah to check up on her pregnancy! Catching buses was not a pleasant experience for a nine month pregnant, first time mother. Eventually Sarah was booked in to the hospiital as baby was well overdue and she needed to be monitored closely. This took place on a Tuesday and by Saturday morning she and the doctors gave up on wanting a natural birth and Oscar was produced by C section in the early hours of Saturday morning, the 21st June, 2009. Four years later here we are celebrating his fourth birthday!! Oscar loves parties and was very excited about his own.

 

On his actual birthday we all went to the school to enjoy the traditional lighting of his candles and singing songs with his classmates. His Dad had made a cake which was a practice round and it was too cute.(and a little scary).

The following day was his classmate Gia's birthday which I had the privilege of accompanying him to. It was fun to see all the children and meeting the yummy mummies.This Mummy hired a face painter and Oscar chose to be Spiderman

 

At last! Saturday dawned, the day of the party. It is mid winter and we were so relieved to see the sun shining and no wind. Perfect. The birthday boy and I stayed home while everyone went off to prepare the venue. The theme chosen for this year's party is Peter Pan!! Our outfit was all ready and waiting and off we set! got ready and off we set.

 

Sarah had hired Trefoil Park which is situated in Delta Park just down the road from their new home. It was PERFECT for the children with lots of space, trees and adventure trails. A huge jumping castle was the perfect place for children to have fun. Peter Pan had to have a Treasure Hunt with exciting prizes and of course Pass the Parcel!

 

Captain Hook made the most amazing Crocodile cake! He and Mrs Darling loved lighting the candles.

Everyone had lots of fun! Poppie played barmen and the big pirates and fairies also had lots of fun!

Everyone was so generous and it took Peter Pan several days to open all his gifts!! What a lucky little boy!

I wonder what is in store for next years party! Adrien says dinner at the Spur!

Mid year.

It is almost mid year and one wonders where time disappears to! I have loved being home and having time to do all sorts of fun things. 

 

 

I have completed my double bed quilt top and back using my beautiful Malaysian fabrics. I pieced the back as I was determined to use what fabrics I have in the cupboard and not buy anything. The back took longer to make than the front.

 

 

I absolutely love the colours of the top. Now to quilt it! It is not easy cutting into one's precious collection and I found this rather apt quotation on Pinterest.

 

 

 

It is so true and I know the bug has bitten Sarah who has just returned from Swaziland with a pile of fabrics and Diana loves fabrics too. Moira has a stash which I drool over when we visit her, so I keep good company. My sons like to accuse me of influencing the girls but I would never do a thing like that!

 

It was also time to attack some UFO's and I am so pleased to have got to the binding stage of this stunning appliquéd quilt. This quilt was started at least thirteen years ago in Swaziland. I was part of a group of quilters, Big Bend Quilters, who met regularly every month. A couple of us formed a sub group and each month a quilter would get a chance to choose their pattern and fabrics and the rest of us would make the blocks. I confess that I chose a very challenging pattern which I then had to assemble and hand quilt. I was supposed to do appliquéd borders but gave that up as after thirteen years I was no where near completion. I have put all the blocks together and machine quilted the in between bits and now all that's left is the binding. My husband, who never says much about my work just oohed and aahed over this one. My thanks to all the contributors. (Zelda, Joy, Elsa, Celma, Patience, Bizzy,....who else?)

 

 

 

My dear friend Bridget turned forty this week. I wanted to make something special for her and decided to finish my "Sri Lankan" block. It turned out really cute and I hope she feels happy every time she sees it. We met twice this week at the Book Boutique. Once for Bridget's birthday and once to see Erica Carle. A bit of a Masterpiecers reunion. It was great a seeing all the ladies and the Book Boutique is a great venue. I guess time flies when one is busy and happy.

 

 

Our ray of sunshine.

It was time for the much awaited visit from Oscar, our nearly four year old Grandson from Johannesburg. Sarah and Adrien and a bunch of friends were off to "Bushfire" a festival of music held annually in Swaziland. We fetched him from Durban airport and as usual the handover went smoothly. The fact his Mom and Dad prepare him for a week before talking about all the fun things he is going to do plus it is his third time to visit us on his own, he handles it all with such ease.  

The drive from Toti to the airport is long but quite lovely and once there one is filled with pride that we have such super airports. We were met with live music which gave the whole place a rather festive air.

Oscar settled in quickly and enjoyed exploring all the nooks and crannies in the flat and pulling out my dolls and teddies. I always have a stock of toys, paints, puzzles etc. available and somehow it is much more fun to play and use these things in Granny's home.

 

As Oscar is turning four in June and is having a "Peter Pan" party I had bought some green fabric and was planning on making him an outfit. My sister popped in for a visit, took one look at the fabric and was totally inspired. Within fours of taking it home she had a delightful outfit made for Oscar. Can you imagine the excitement and delight? He couldn't wait to see what Granny Robyn had made for him!

 

Note the delight on Oscar's face. He was over the moon! Robyn even made a sheath for his little sword.

Note the delight on the Grannie's faces. That is me on the right and my clever sister on the left!

Our own Peter Pan ready to fly off!

 

Poppie Warren (grandpa) and Oscar spent a few hours most mornings on the beach. Despite it being Winter it was warm enough to swim and enjoy the waves.

 

The week went by very quickly and not much else was achieved besides watching the Robin Hood movie five times, reading loads of stories, (the favorite being Roald Dahl 's Magic Finger), playing with Oscar and doing a bit of visiting of friends.

I miss his cuddles in the morning and look forward to our visit for his birthday party later this month.