Yesterday while I was browsing for new entries in my friends’ blogs, I came across a friend’s new entry which read: A Tribute to a Very Special Mother. The first thing that came to my mind was why is she writing about her mother. Mother’s Day is long gone. But as I read more and more, I realize that it was about me. ME! A tribute to me. Moi! Aww…. shucks *blushing red* I was so touched. No one has ever “tribute” anything to me before. Thanks a lot.
All through my school years in Malaysia, I was lucky enough to have 3 best friends whom I’ve know since we were 10 years old. We’re all still the best of friends now but there was a time right after SPM when all four of us went our separate ways to further our studies: one to the US, another to Penang, another to Sabah and me to the UK. That’s where I met Iza. We were both studying in the UK; in Berkhamsted to be precise. That was in August ’93. We hit it off soon after we met. We have so many things in common. We share the same taste in music, read the same books, love the same TV series, have the same kind of sense of humour. Those days it was always about Bon Jovi (ahh.. Abang Jon!!), Judith MacNaught books, Friends and ER. But at the same time, we were into different things too. I was more of an outdoor kinda girl and she’s not. We were comfortable with each other’s likes and dislikes and we were both not fussy about money. We could talk and talk for hours just about anything. I guess being so far away from our families kind of bonded us more.
During our two years of A-Levels in Berkhamsted, we were the only two Malaysians in our year who got along well with the English or other foreign students for that matter. The school we attended was an all girl school but we were the only two in our year who took up Economics which was taught at the boys’ school. That was fun. All those talks about the boys. But too bad they were younger than we were. The may be big and tall but oh… so young!!
Me and Iza at a Bon Jovi concert in London. That was a blast!
Us in Stradford-Upon-Avon
One of the funniest things that happened to us was when were sharing a room with Rachel, a Hongkie, and Jenny, an English. One weekend, Rachel and I decided to have a concert in our room. Iza was reading a book by her bed and Jenny had gone home for the weekend. This is an old house we were in with wooden floor and we had forgotten that directly below our room is the Housemistress’ sitting room. Rachel and I were really into our “concert”; bouncing up and down like crazy people so you can imagine the racket we were making. After a while, I was tired so went to lie down on the bed and Rachel came over to talk to me while Iza was still reading. The music was still blaring away and this is when the housemistress, Mrs Putt, opened the door to our room, shouting over the music that she was having a hard time entertaining Miss Shephard, the headmistress, with all the noise we were creating and how people from across the road can hear us and could we please turn down the volume of our… hhmm what did she call it? Music system.. music something.. ah yes! To turn down the volume of our music centre. The thing is, our “music centre” was my discman connected to these tiny speakers. When Mrs Putt actually had a good look around the room, she finally noticed that Iza was reading in one corner and Rachel and me were quietly talking in another and I don’t think she realize where the music was coming from. Also there was absolutely no signs of any “monkeys” making so much noise that she heard through the floor earlier. She had this confused look on her face as if not believing what she was seeing. And all of us were looking back at her as if to ask “What are you talking about?” As soon as she left the room, we all just burst out laughing. And I still laugh out loud whenever I remember that incident.
After Berkhamsted, we both went to Coventry for our degree. Since we have been in UK for a couple of years now, we didn’t act like typical ‘freshies’ that out seniors expected. We were loud and we hang out with the guys all the time. I don’t think a lot of the girls liked us very much. They all think that we were “gatal and gedik”. That’s why we hang out with the guys all the time; because the girls won’t hang out with us. We really couldn’t care less. But somehow towards the end of our year in Coventry, we sort of drifted apart. I don’t like that time very much and I hate talking about it coz I still don’t really understand what exactly happened and why.
After UK we both got married and had our own families and were busy with our lives. But whenever we get in touch either via phone or email, we could just pick up where we left off. Luckily she married a guy from Kedah so we get to meet up whenever she comes back to her in laws’.
Actually, my trip to KL last week was partly to see her to pass over her dress that I was working some beadwork on. It was such a relief that she liked my work because truthfully she is my first non-relative customer.
It was nice to get to spend time with her on Friday. It was the first time we met up just the two of us (plus Nadiah) after UK. I was kinda nervous and excited upon meeting her but like I said; we just picked up where we left off. It was a fun day and thank God Nadiah was a good girl that day!
She had mentioned in her blog entry that she admired with how I handle Nadiah. Funny.. coz I always thought that she’s been doing such a great job with her kids. I mean, I am a stay at home mom so I have no excuse but to devote my time for Nadiah. And there is only Nadiah for me to look after even if she is a special kid. But Iza, she has three kids, a career and no maid to help out. And from all the stories that I’ve heard, she and her husband has managed to raise three very happy kids. I think that is the best thing you can do for any children – to make them happy.
So Iza, thanks for being such a great friend. Thanks for all movies we’ve watched together, for the times spent at Zul’s, for the “kelentong” we came up with to go watch David Copperfield, for all those hot chocolates at McD with Mamat, for Morten and Ian, for “berebut-rebut” with the others to get the best spot of the beat-up sofa to watch Top Of The Pops, for fu**k and for all the great memories we had together.
Tabit springggg!!!!!
All through my school years in Malaysia, I was lucky enough to have 3 best friends whom I’ve know since we were 10 years old. We’re all still the best of friends now but there was a time right after SPM when all four of us went our separate ways to further our studies: one to the US, another to Penang, another to Sabah and me to the UK. That’s where I met Iza. We were both studying in the UK; in Berkhamsted to be precise. That was in August ’93. We hit it off soon after we met. We have so many things in common. We share the same taste in music, read the same books, love the same TV series, have the same kind of sense of humour. Those days it was always about Bon Jovi (ahh.. Abang Jon!!), Judith MacNaught books, Friends and ER. But at the same time, we were into different things too. I was more of an outdoor kinda girl and she’s not. We were comfortable with each other’s likes and dislikes and we were both not fussy about money. We could talk and talk for hours just about anything. I guess being so far away from our families kind of bonded us more.
During our two years of A-Levels in Berkhamsted, we were the only two Malaysians in our year who got along well with the English or other foreign students for that matter. The school we attended was an all girl school but we were the only two in our year who took up Economics which was taught at the boys’ school. That was fun. All those talks about the boys. But too bad they were younger than we were. The may be big and tall but oh… so young!!
Me and Iza at a Bon Jovi concert in London. That was a blast!
Us in Stradford-Upon-Avon
One of the funniest things that happened to us was when were sharing a room with Rachel, a Hongkie, and Jenny, an English. One weekend, Rachel and I decided to have a concert in our room. Iza was reading a book by her bed and Jenny had gone home for the weekend. This is an old house we were in with wooden floor and we had forgotten that directly below our room is the Housemistress’ sitting room. Rachel and I were really into our “concert”; bouncing up and down like crazy people so you can imagine the racket we were making. After a while, I was tired so went to lie down on the bed and Rachel came over to talk to me while Iza was still reading. The music was still blaring away and this is when the housemistress, Mrs Putt, opened the door to our room, shouting over the music that she was having a hard time entertaining Miss Shephard, the headmistress, with all the noise we were creating and how people from across the road can hear us and could we please turn down the volume of our… hhmm what did she call it? Music system.. music something.. ah yes! To turn down the volume of our music centre. The thing is, our “music centre” was my discman connected to these tiny speakers. When Mrs Putt actually had a good look around the room, she finally noticed that Iza was reading in one corner and Rachel and me were quietly talking in another and I don’t think she realize where the music was coming from. Also there was absolutely no signs of any “monkeys” making so much noise that she heard through the floor earlier. She had this confused look on her face as if not believing what she was seeing. And all of us were looking back at her as if to ask “What are you talking about?” As soon as she left the room, we all just burst out laughing. And I still laugh out loud whenever I remember that incident.
After Berkhamsted, we both went to Coventry for our degree. Since we have been in UK for a couple of years now, we didn’t act like typical ‘freshies’ that out seniors expected. We were loud and we hang out with the guys all the time. I don’t think a lot of the girls liked us very much. They all think that we were “gatal and gedik”. That’s why we hang out with the guys all the time; because the girls won’t hang out with us. We really couldn’t care less. But somehow towards the end of our year in Coventry, we sort of drifted apart. I don’t like that time very much and I hate talking about it coz I still don’t really understand what exactly happened and why.
After UK we both got married and had our own families and were busy with our lives. But whenever we get in touch either via phone or email, we could just pick up where we left off. Luckily she married a guy from Kedah so we get to meet up whenever she comes back to her in laws’.
Actually, my trip to KL last week was partly to see her to pass over her dress that I was working some beadwork on. It was such a relief that she liked my work because truthfully she is my first non-relative customer.
It was nice to get to spend time with her on Friday. It was the first time we met up just the two of us (plus Nadiah) after UK. I was kinda nervous and excited upon meeting her but like I said; we just picked up where we left off. It was a fun day and thank God Nadiah was a good girl that day!
She had mentioned in her blog entry that she admired with how I handle Nadiah. Funny.. coz I always thought that she’s been doing such a great job with her kids. I mean, I am a stay at home mom so I have no excuse but to devote my time for Nadiah. And there is only Nadiah for me to look after even if she is a special kid. But Iza, she has three kids, a career and no maid to help out. And from all the stories that I’ve heard, she and her husband has managed to raise three very happy kids. I think that is the best thing you can do for any children – to make them happy.
So Iza, thanks for being such a great friend. Thanks for all movies we’ve watched together, for the times spent at Zul’s, for the “kelentong” we came up with to go watch David Copperfield, for all those hot chocolates at McD with Mamat, for Morten and Ian, for “berebut-rebut” with the others to get the best spot of the beat-up sofa to watch Top Of The Pops, for fu**k and for all the great memories we had together.
Tabit springggg!!!!!
2 comments:
those were the days.....thank you for the memories, i will treasure it like for ever and ever. especially with things like abang jon, ingat darren tak??? kih!kih!kih!..sanggup I memperbodohkan diri untuk menetackle the only male at Russell House!!!! INGAT CUCUMBER!!!
Who can forget Darren. After all, he is the only male in the House. Except for Mr Putt but he was too ancient to count. Cucumber? Tak ingat pun. I remember we used to go up to Darren to mintak ketchup. Mula2 bagi sikit je, then semangkuk, last2 one whole tub dia kasik!!!
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