Friday 20 April 2007

The Gift

There’s not much one can do when one has a bad back. You lie down and contemplate the spider web at the corner of the ceiling, the curtains with several hooks missing, the dandelions fighting for survival with the grass growing longer by the minute, and the window badly in need of a good wash! And there’s not much you can do about it.

Since coming back from Malaysia, I’ve had fever, flu and now that dull aching pain in my lower back. I have a history of slipped disc and I can tell you it is the most painful thing after childbirth. It happened some ten years ago and a few days ago – the pain came back and I am too embarrassed to say how it happened.

Okay, I might as well tell all as I have not much to blog about.

I was lying down watching TV and drifting in and out of sleep, when Snowbell came in with ‘a gift’. One look at ‘the gift’ Nona who was at the computer jumped on to the stool, Taufiq made a dash to the bathroom, Rehana locked herself in her room, hubby continued with his wirid and moi? Well, I tried to dodge ‘the gift’ still alive and running around in a daze in the front room, and in doing so brought back the mother of all pains.

Snowbell

It is hard to be angry with Snowbell for too long. She meant well and I am sure she wanted me to enjoy ‘the gift ‘ as well, the way she did tossing it about before it made an escape. But, she shouldn’t have presented it so close to me as I was dozing off watching a very boring documentary on TV. She practically placed it near my face – I don't know whether I was more scared of the little mouse, or the little mouse was more scared of this screaming mama doing the jig in the front room.

Cats, and I now have five with Jasper gone, have a habit of bringing in gifts like this. Many didn't survive the journey in their mouth from the garden, though the cat flap and into the house. But those that did, try to escape. Once, Tabby brought in a dead squirrel and presented it at our feet. then Kissinger brought in a big lifeless pigeon and proudly displayed his prize in front of the TV.

So, that’s it. This time you are spared of my usual long rants as I cannot sit for too long and write long rambling pieces.

Have a nice weekend!

50 comments:

Queen Of The House said...

Dear Kak Teh, it's hard to be angry too long with that cute cat-face! Tell me about a bad back - I have had the unfortunate experience with it many times. Hope you get well soon - it feels weird reading just a short entry from you!

salwa said...

Hi Kak Teh, first time leaving comment here. My cat - Abu, pun suka tangkap tikus. Kami tak ada masalah dengan tikus hidup tapi dengan bangkai tikus yang ditinggalkan Abu.

Hope you feel better.

Jane Sunshine said...

Arrggghhh....sorry I dont like cats and the image of the various 'gift' bearing cats doesn't help. I think all the cats of the world must have a sinister laugh together though because most of my friends are cat lovers and I am connected to them vicariously nevertheless.

Kak Teh said...

QOTH, snowbell is still puzzled why we dont appreciate her gift! and yes, the pain is more bearable.

salwa, thanks for the visit. Abu!!!! what a beautiful name. klasik gitu.

jane, now i know what you want for yr birthday. see ya!

Kenny Mah said...

Dear Kak Teh,

Yes, I was a bit concerned when I noticed you haven't been updating much of late. Didn't realise your bad back condition is so serious. Have you taken any measures, besides seeing a chiropractor? Sometimes traditional remedies work even better, in their own mysterious ways.

Perhaps when you're much better, you can consider taking up a bit of yoga, if you haven't already. I'm addicted to it, and probably Dina Zaman too, after our own fashion. Hope you get well soon, get well lots. :)

P.S. I love your long, rambling posts, so am waiting for their return! :D

Fauziah Ismail said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Fauziah Ismail said...

Alamak Kak Teh
Me and mouse are not exactly the best of friends. Kalau I in your position, mau pengsan dibuatnya. Dulu masa ada mouse in kitchen, yang jadi mangsa would be whomever is in the house. Selagi tikus tak keluar, dapur tak berasap.
Never had kucing before because Bak and Cat were like me and mouse.
Take care and have a good weekend.

Hi&Lo said...

Kak Teh,

Take it easy. Don't sit too long on a chair. If possible, get a chair that straightens your back and posture.

Agree with Kenny on the benefits of yoga for back conditions. But you don't do it on your own. You need a good guru.

Can see you always see the good intentions of people the way you see Snowbell. hehehe

Hi&Lo said...

Kak Teh,

Forgot to ask you whether you melatah .

wonda said...

A quick drop by. Been busy for the whole week preparing for the church garage sale tomorrow.
Aw... Snowbell looks so cute; she needs a pat on her head and a rub on her tummy.
Rest well and don't overstrain yourself.

ROYAL JESTER said...

i was laughing so hard at ur predicament (not ur bad back but the mouse being so close to ur face!)that I woke up little daril.
I know how the back ache can be..ouch...take care.

Anonymous said...

Salam Kak Teh,

Semoga cepat sembuh dan selamat berhari minggu...

nyonyapenang said...

hmmmm....you need to practice your joget more often. LOL
get well soon, kak teh.

J.T. said...

Kak Teh, sorry to hear about your bad back. I can just imagine that excrutiating pain. All you can do is lie on your back and stare at the ceiling.
You take care of yourself and see you soon with your heartwarming jottings.
P.S. Snowbell is cute. She meant well and wanted to you to be proud of her catch.

Blabarella said...

Not trivialising your injury, but Snowbell (and all the rest) are just so desperate to show all of you how much they LOVE you!! Hmph, makes you wish that they could instead learn to go to a sweet shop and buy a packet of chocolate mice rather than real mice (or god-knows-what-else) huh?

Now about that back? I think you should heed what Kenny said. Get into yoga or pilates after this! It'll do you good!! In the meantime, rest that back. I haven't been well too .. *subtlely saying tak buat lagi 'homework' yg KT bagi* Get well soon!

Tumpang lalu KT - Jane! I didn't know you didn't like cats! ;D

msiagirl said...

I used to live near a stream in NY and one day my housemate's cat brought us a water moccasin (snake) and dropped it by us while we were sunbathing! *Shudder*

Glad your back getting better! Can use tiger balm or Golden Man patch on it? Pilates and yoga great but need good teacher. Happy resting!

Anonymous said...

Kak Teh, take care of your back. I know it is hard to keep still for such an active person as yourself. :)

When we had Sophie, we had to get rid of our lovely pond and water feature because Sophie was bringing in frogs from the pond. Now that we no longer have Sophie, we are thinking of putting back our pond.

Get well soon.

Judy

KopiSoh said...

Kak Teh I hope you feel better soon, yaaa this flu is nasty, here I brought over some lemon honey tea for you and some pulut hitam with thick santan. Go rest okay, hugz.

melayudilondon said...

oooo KT sakit ye? meh saya picit belakang tu.

J.T. said...

Alamak... I had a typographical error there. I meant to say "...She meant well and wanted you to be proud of her catch." not what was written earlier.

NorAiniJ said...

Salam Kak Teh,

Although I haven’t done much bloghop lately, I always try to hop to at least your blog daily, and juz like Kenny I was slightly worried when you have not been updating your page, now I understand. So sorry to hear about your backache Kak Teh, and I do hope you are taking the necessary things to mediate it. And Snowbell… with that angelic cutie look I don’t think anyone could stay angry for too long... Insyaallah you will back to your normal self soon, and I can’t wait to read another one of your long endearing ranting…hehe

Pi Bani said...

Kak Teh,
I bet if you were having hiccups, the gift Snowbell brought in would have cured you straight away. Too bad, no such luck with your back. Nevertheless, hope you're feeling better by now.

Hi&Lo said...

Kak Teh,

From this entry of yours, it brought forth an outpouring of affection and concern for you.

Each of the comments are genuine. Some injected a touch of humour to cheer you up.

When I didn't see your new entries for past few days, I thought you were having blues leaving your Mak and wonderful relatives and friends behind in KL.

Kak Elle said...

kak teh I hope your back is better now.Snowbell really give a surprise kan?he looks so cute:)

UglyButAdorable said...

kak teh, i also snapped my back about 2 weeks ago. with you at least u can blame the mouse, me?? it happen while i was putting on my jeans... wht cud be more embarassing ehh...calling office and telling them that..

anyway after 3 days in a row of acupunture and treatment massage i'm now back to normal..wish you the same too :)

meanwhile just enjoy the lazing around..

ubisetela said...

Ouchh... I hope u're feeling better, KakTeh.

*did you get to contact Pak Ngah's family in Msia?

Kak Teh said...

kenny, you know, i did yoga when i was much younger and then i stopped. perhaps i shd take it up again or do some other simpler and gentler exercise for the back.

fauziah, me and mouse also no no no! it is funny that our cats are also scared of mouse...especially the male ones.

hi&lo, yes, i cannot sit for too long but it is making me really restless. suddenly work thathas been neglectedfor so long, needs to be done. suddenly i feel the urge to cut grass,do the floors - macam-macam!

Kak Teh said...

ooops sorry - i didnt answer yr question abt melatah! hehe - no not really - but my friend, ena does. My melatah is so mild - only - oh mak!

wonda, enjoy yr garage sale! and blog abt it.

puteri, yes, back pain can be so ouchhhhhhh!!!!

ayie@penang, terima kasih ayie. kak teh dan agak sembuh. cuma kalau nak berjoget atau breakdance tu tak boleh laaah..hehe!

Kak Teh said...

eh nyonya, iw as just saying i cannot joget oredi! i just need to practice jumping without hurting one's back when cats bring in mouse!

jt, thanks - the ceiling must be the most boring place to concentrate on! hmmmph!

blabs, i know you know so well abt backpains...and mine is not even half of what you went through, I hope you are better too. If my cats can get me gifts from the shop, theymight as well buy their own food, no?

Kak Teh said...

msiagirl, snakes??? NO THANK YOU!!! Mouse can tahan a bit. yes,tiger balm is good. malaysians never leave home without tiger balm!

judy, judy, judy, no thank you to frogs too! i remember frogs in school shoes, yikes! will call you one of these days!

firehorse, bubur pulut hitam?? oh no! my favourite!

Kak Teh said...

melayudilondon, pucuk dicita ulam mendatang - kecik tapak tangan , belakangku ku serahkan! anytime beb!

jt dont worry, i leave lots of typos in comment boxes! hehe.

nj, thanks. if only i can do some work whole lying down..but i tend to fall asleep! i suppose its good as i am resting, kan?

pi bani, yes, i know my hiccups wld have been cured. but no - she chose to bring the gift at the wrong time!

Kak Teh said...

hi&lo, yes, i am feeling better already reading all these comments! everyone so concerned and caring - and that is how we shd be - no matter where we are.

kak elle, yes,she used to be cuter - now dah kurus sikit and dulu sangat gebu.

uBa,you too? aaah, kalau kak teh di malaysia dah pergi urut and also acupuncture will be cheaper! thank God u are better.

ubi, thanks - i have sent you and email.

Hi&Lo said...

Kak Teh,

Pleased to know you are feeling better.

Many years ago I read abt the exploit of a world champion golfer from Australia. He was unbeatable.

Unfortunately he was struck by an illness that sentenced him to 2 years bedridden.

After he recovered and up on his feet he was at the circuit and amazed the world by reclaiming his title.

Naturally, he was asked abt the secret of his comeback victory.

"While I was lying in bed, I practised my golf in my mind."

Our mind can work unlimited wonders. By translating our imagination into belief, action will follow.

Anonymous said...

Salam Kak Teh
*** hubby continued with his wirid and moi? ***
At first, I was weirdly imagining that AG was doing wirid, and simultaneosly having moi (bubur). Then on second reading, I realised that you were talking french. Duh!
and have a speedy recovery.
aMiR

D said...

get well soon, Kak Teh. Me feeling unwell too but never left for Malaysia!

Unknown said...

HI Kak Teh,

Oh my word! I am so sorry to hear of your bad back. duh! Yes, do take some rest and hope you will get better.

I can't stop admiring Snowbell. What a gorgeous looking cat. Gerrrrramm nya tengok dia.

Oh! What a shock you must have had! I read in some books sometime back, that's the way cats show their love and appreciation towards you. Another trait, they'd show their backside to you, saying, 'I love you', hmm..cats are quirky creatures but adorable.

Anyway, do rest dear till you're better.

wmw said...

Take care of your back. I have a back problem too (got it from the days of looking after my late dad). I know how much it can hurt. But I remember my sis laughing so hard when I was moving around on my hands and knees. :o)

Though I was in pain, I started laughing too, and I truly know why laughter is the best medicine. The pain was gone for that short period of time.

Count Byron said...

Kak Teh.. salam. I just trooped from Fauziah Ismail's Thinking Box and was sad to hear that you are having back pain. Kak Teh, what you need is a real massage, someone who really knows how to correct that ailment. I had once had that problem and was almost not able to move except painfully. But I was lucky to have found the masseuse. He was very good, and after 3 visits, I was up and running.. never had that again. Plse take care of your health KT. I pray for your recovery.

Kenny Mah said...

Yes, do take it up again but go slow la. No hurry ya. All good things take time, no? :)

May you feel better and better with each day...

Azmi said...

Dear Kak Teh, we met at the recent KLILF(you know my sis in Ldon). Ala, sorry to hear about your bad back..how about trying acupuncture.My friend had a bad back for years following an accident. Her condition improved after a few sessions of acupuncture. Mesti ada in London.
As for Snowbell...I adore cats. My cats do that to me as well, newly hatched birdies, butterflies, cicaks, you name it. So far no mice yet,maybe the ones we have in Melaka are bigger than cats. The Cat Manual says they do this to get a pat on the back for their "achievement". And we are not supposed to reprimand them. No mention of doing a jig though!. It is their natural animal instinct to hunt, and as you rightly titled your entry, give it as a gift to someone they care about! So what to do....!

Unknown said...

Dear Auntie Zaharah, sorry you had a bad back because of Snowbell but the story was funny. Manja sangat kucing itu sampai boleh menunjukkan tikus yang ditangkap kepada tuannya.

Hope you get well soon.
From: Shuqran

Faten Rafie said...

kak teh, that's snowbell's way of 'bringing home the bacon', kira2 share responsibility tanggung makan minum keluarga lah...

my late cat, Armani dulu selalu bawak balik macam2... semua selalunya dah lembik kena uli dgn dia. mula2 we used to scold him, tapi he always looks upset afterward. after my other half discovered thats his way of being a family member, we just thanks him & quietly disposed the 'hadiah'. Purring pulak kucin sekoq tu...

Btw, Snowbell reminds me so much of Armani, how old is he? Is he thinner & shedding because of old age?

Hope your back pain dah kurang, I know how bad it is, because I'm having one - aftermath of the kenduri kesyukuran for my mom. Take care of yourself, the windows, cobwebs & garden can wait...

ManaL said...

Kak Teh,

Cud it be that snowbell is doing a Tom befriending a Jerry?

I remembered back in May 2004 when i was suddenly getting an acute backache. But then i knew i had it coming esp when it all started during the moving into my old flat in sept 2003 and been working my arse off trying to finish my experimental and simulation works in the lab. Those mounting stress pun contributed a lot gak. One bright saturday morning, when the excruciating pain began attacking me, i had to ring my blockmates to help me walk to the opposite hospital all the way from the 5th floor! Alhamdulillah, after taking two very strong painkillers, the pain gradually disappeared and I was fine not long after that. Except that i still had to be careful whenever i had to lift any object from the floor.

The best part time sakit tu was that I got a handsome polish doctor who was so tall and strong, he made me feel like a little girl when he conducted the physio nerve-checking treatment on me. The downside: I was such in great pain, i cudnt enjoy much of the session much.

Get well soon!

Theta said...

Snowbell sounds so precious!
Speaking from experience, it's hard to remain angry with a cat when you've a natural affinity to felines....
Have a good rest now Kak Teh!

Kak Teh said...

hi&lo, good idea that! may be I should be thinking of great intros to the books that I plan to write!! hehe! In fact i did. by my bedside are a number of books -writing for young adults, write away,write your own life story...hmmm,now i have to start cracking.

a Malaysian in Riyadh! long time no see. yes, moi trying to speak perancis! am much better now , thank you and fighting temptations to go rollerblading in this glorious summer afternoon!

d, what's wrong with you? and where are you? kalau dekat boleh kak teh jenguk!

Kak Teh said...

ruby, is that what they are trying to say when they show their backsides to you?? hahahaha! Yes, many,many times they show their affection and profess their love to us that way.

wmw, i know that back pain is not laughing matter - but yes, if i can see myself crawling to the kitchen I think i'd laugh too! My husband tried to help to carry me but it is more painful that way.

count byron, welcome back. you have been missing and missed! yes, i have made arrangements to have a massage and perhaps acupuncture. thanks for the advise.

Kak Teh said...

kenny, how true!

azmi, i have seen the cuties in your blog! arent they adorable! One day I am going to blog abt dear jasper who left a few months ago. It is too painful still to think about it.

shuqran, thanks for visiting my blog!!! and you've grown to be a big and handsome boy now!! get your parents to buy you a ticket for a holiday in London!!

athene, snowbell is a she and she must be about five. I think her fur is thinning because of the heat. It is very hot now. Snowbell used to be so white and gebu - thus the name.

manal, you spoke about the hemsem polish doctor - now listen to this. While I was nursing my bad back - i had to do an assignment and had to work with this hemsem young creature of a cameraman. he was such a gentleman - holding my hand and helping me in and out of the car. hmmm so the very pampered i was!

theta, yes, very difficult to be angry with them. They can be real cuties. last nigth, Moaner waited for us by the roadside when we came home. he accompanied us all the way to the front door - two police woman stopped and asked , is that your cat? and two girls too stopped and enquired. they were amazed at Moaner's behaviour, coaxing us to come home.

Hi&Lo said...

Kak Teh,

When you are lying down, you shld be relaxing. Perhaps, just savouring the joy of writing. If you are tackling a particular issue, see with your mind how you triumphantly overcome every obstacle.

When Zhao Jianhua first won the All-England title agst Morten Frost, it was a classic cliffhanger. The former was a virtual unknown and his first international while Frost was a proven cool Dane.

BBC commentator: Zhao executes his jumping drop shots other players could only dream of.

Anonymous said...

Assalamulaikum Kak Teh

I came to know yr blog tru some friend. Me and my family will be moving to Reading, Berkshire somewhere in mid June. Hope can berkenalan dgn u later....nice blog banyak cerita2 lama...and I am ex-Bernama.

Kak Teh said...

Hi&lo, you do have some wonderful stories which is why you shd have a blog!

anonymous,

Insyallah, when you are here - contact me again.