SELAMAT MENYAMBUT HARI IBU

Salam semua,
Antara sedar dan tak sedar, banyak yang Kak Teh terfikir tentang apa yang nak blog untuk Hari Ibu. Dua tiga hari ni, Kak Teh demam teruk juga...mula-mula ingatkan Hayfever yang memang Kak Teh dapat setiap tahun menjelang musim bunga dan musim panas. Tapi lama-lama, badan panas sejuk, tulang sengal-sengal..kepala semakin berat. Sahlah Kak Teh dapat flu. Jadi, sebab tulah, satu apapun tak dapat tulis untuk Hari Ibu.

Dalam keadaan begini, terlentang tidur banyak juga yang datang melayan fikiran. Teringat Mak yang lebih sakit, lapan ribu batu jauhnya. Masa Kak Teh balik tahun lalu, Mak sakit kuat. Malah orang semua dah baca YAssin. Kak, Kak Cik, Abang, Ajie dan Lilah semuanya tak jauh dari Mak. Semua berjaga siang malam. Kak Teh saja yang jauh, dengar cerita dari jauh. Cuma dapat menangis dan berdoa sempat jumpa Mak. Alhamdulillah, Kak Teh dapat beli tiket dan terbang pulang.

Sampai saja ke rumah, Mak nampaknya macam tak ada harapan. Dia pandang lama muka Kak Teh, dia kata, "Anak Mak dah balik, anak Mak dah balik." Kak Teh dah tak berdaya kata apa-apa. Kak Teh ingat itulah mungkin kata-katanya yang terakhir. Tapi dengan takdir Tuhan, Mak menjadi segar semula. Dapat berjalan dan makan seperti biasa. Kak, yang menjaga Mak siang malam, jatuh sakit pula dan terpaksa tidur di bilik lain, takut jangkit pada Mak pulak.

Dan Kak pesan, jangan bagi tau Mak dia sakit, sebab nanti Mak risau. Tapi Mak, seperti mak mak lain, dia tau. Dia kata, "Lebih baik Mak yang sakit daripada anak-anak Mak sakit. Mak tak sanggup tengok anak-anak Mak sakit,"

Kak Teh bayangkan, kalaulah Mak tau Kak teh sakit, dia pun tak boleh duduk diam. Selalunya kalau anak-anak sakit, Mak masak moi - atau nasi bubur dengan sup ayam. Apabila makan, terus selimut dan terus kebah. Baik cepat. Mak akan usap-usap kepala.

Masa Mak sakit dulu, anak-anak yang jaga Mak. Memang tak sama.

Mak ialah seorang yang bersih dan cermat. Makanan yang dibawa kepadanya mestilah dalam talam yang beralas. Semuanya mesti beralas. Selepas mandi, dia nak pakaian yang sudah diseterika dan bersih. Dan mesti pakai minyak wangi. Dia kata, "Mak dah lah sakit, jangan bagi orang tengok macam orang sakit." Betul jugak, kan?

Semasa dia menjaga emak dia sendiri (Tok Kak Teh), teruk juga sebab masa tu umur Mak Kak teh dah dekat 70 tahun. Tok dah tak boleh jalan. Tapi cerewet. Tapi semuanya dia nak buat sendiri. Letak saja flask air panas dengan kopi, dia buat sendiri. Ambil baju yang dah kering dari luar, dia sendiri yang lipat. Orang lain lipat tak cantik. Semuanya tak kena.

dengan mak

Pix by Nadya Shahabudin

Kalau Mak dah tension, dia pergi ke pekan Alor Star, tengok-tengok kain murah buat baju. Dia pi Pekan Rabu, beli barang. Kalau tension tu menjadi-jadi, Mak terbang ke Kuala Lumpur, dok dengan Kak Cik atau Lilah atau Ajie.

Bukan orang tak tau Tok. Dia rajin berleter. Daripada Mak berdosa melawan dia, Mak keluarlah - pi release tension. Biar Mak Som jaga Tok. Mak Som tu tak berapa dengar, jadi, apa Tok kata dia tak ambil kesah.

Semasa Tok dah teruk sangat, belakang Tok dah dapat bedsores. Kesian. Semua ni pun, Kak Teh dengar khabar dari jauh. Lagi banyak Tok menggaru, lebih banyak keluar daging-daging belakang dia. Keisan.

Tiap-tiap malam, sebelum tidur, Mak akan hampiri Tok. Dia kata," Mak, Yun minta ampun minta maaf, Mak. Yun terpaksa ikat tangan Mak. Kalau tak ikat nanti Mak garu lagi," Menangis Kak Teh dengar Kak Cik cerita kat Kak Teh dalam telefon. Sabarnya Mak. Esok dia lepaskan balik ikatan tu. Jadi, tok tak menggaru sangat. Kalau doktor datang balut pun, dia garu jugak.

Masa Tok sakit, masa menjaga Tok, Mak tak pernah sakit. Malah, dia tak boleh sakit. Sebab tu lah selepas Tok pergi, dia mula sakit. Baru dia boleh let go!

Kak Teh terfikir, bolehkah kita jaga Mak , macam Mak jaga Mak dia?

Di sini, Kak Teh nak ucapkan beribu terima kasih kepda Kak Cik, Lilah, Ajie, Kak dan Abang kerana menjaga Mak. Kak Teh jauh, cuma boleh hantar duit beli vitamin, duit tambang kapal terbang dia nak ke sana sini, dan Kak Teh tetap berdoa supaya Tuhan ringankan beban sakit Mak.

Dalam dua tiga hari ni kata-kata ini bermain di kepala Kak Teh:

Pimpinlah tangan Mak semasa Mak boleh lagi berjalan,
Bercakaplah dengan Mak semasa Mak boleh lagi dengar,
Tenunglah mata Mak semasa Mak masih lagi boleh melihat,
Ucaplah sayang kepada Mak, semasa dia masih lagi boleh faham.

Dari nak tulis sikit, dah jadi banyak, sehinggakan sup ayam panas yang anak letak tepi komputer dah jadi sejuk. Sang suami buatkan sup macam Mak buat dulu.

SELAMAT HARI IBU KEPADA SEMUA IBU-IBU DI SINI.

PS
Mak, anak Mak nak balik tak lama lagi, tunggu, ya?

Syaer Untuk Sang Suami

Dengarlah semua Kak Teh bermadah,
di hari yang mulia, mengarang sudah,
usia suami setahun lagi bertambah,
namun si dia sikitpun tak gelabah.

Berhari-hari gundah gulana,
hadiah tak beli nak buat guana
nak belanja makan, entah kat mana,
India, Arab, Melayu atau Cina?

Teringat sewaktu berjumpa dulu,
tampan dan segak tersenyum selalu,
lucu dan lawak tetapi pemalu,
bila bertemu lidah pun kelu.

Kak Teh terpikat pandang pertama,
duduk berdepan, kerja bersama,
diajak keluar tak berapa lama,
berdentum dentam jantung berirama!

Selang bulan tahun berganti,
kasih mula berputik di hati,
namun tugas memisahkan kami
setahun lamanya menggigit jari!

Aduhai kasih, aduhai sayang,
siang malam terbayang-bayang,
tidur tak nyenyak makan tak kenyang,
teringatkan kekasih yang belum pulang.

Kepulangan membawa ke jinjang pelamin,
Syukur kepada Allah Rabbul ‘alamin,
Dibawa terus ke negara atas angin,
memulakan hidup di negara dingin.

Dialah suami, dialah kawan,
teman bercerita, hati nan rawan,
lucu berjenaka yang itu tak tahan,
lawak yang lama jadi ulang-ulangan.

Dipendekkan cerita di pagi hari,
Sukanya hati tiada terperi,
Anak empat sudah diberi,
Lengkaplah keluarga lagi berseri.


Ku ucapkan selamat suami tersayang,
bacalah syair yang baru dikarang,
sebagai hadiah yang bukan sebarang,
tapi ikhlas dari hati ku, sayang.

Of traditional uruts and bad back

I think I’ve done it again. A sharp twinge in the back when I bent down to pick up something yesterday told me I should be back on my back and contemplate the ceiling once again. Instead, I have other things to do.

A massage would be good, so I am told. But the very thought of hands; foreign, alien hands up and down my ample body – oh TIDAAAAAK!!!

I remember times when Mak needed a massage. With a bottle of minyak angin Pak Awang loceng, which soon reeked throughout the whole house, we’d rub it down her soft white skin. Mak worked hard, from morning she’d be preparing kueh to sell and then there’s all of us to look after.

When we were smaller, she’d ask us to step on her back. And we’d do so ever so gingerly lest we break her back. Right now, I wouldn’t dream of asking my children to do that. They’d break my back into half.

Talking about massage, even after each childbirth, I refused to have any massage, raising quite a few eye brows that I should be so bold as to disregard such practice. However, now I see a lot of my younger friends here, who would pay an arm and a leg to get some mak ciks over and do the traditional massage after they gave birth. All they needed to do was pay for the flight of the Mak Cik, give her a room and pay for her services. Once the word gets around that there’s a mak cik urut, she’d be doing the circuit, with more than enough money to take back – in sterling!

Anyway, with my bad back and all, as soon as I publish this entry I’d be ouching my way to Harrods. No, not to shop. But, as chance would have it, Harrods is launching its Malaysian Spa at Urban Retreat at 4pm today. It is a week long festival which brings together the spas from Spa Villa Kuala Lumpur, Tanjung Jara and Pangkur Laut – all in Knightsbridge.

This is what you get at Urban Retreat:

Campur-Campur
The name Campur-Campur means “a blending of varieties” in Malay. Combining the best techniques of Malay and Thai massage, our special creation uses touch, tone and aromatherapy to deliver a memorable and sensory experience. The scent of lemon grass and pandan leaves fills the air as steamed herbs are pressed along the body using a traditional steam pouch.


Traditional Malay Massage
The art of traditional Malay massage is passed on from generation to generation. The technique consists of long kneading strokes that focus on the muscles and specially selected pressure points in the body. This treatment uses oil made with local herbs such as turmeric, cinnamon, garlic, onion and citronella blended to invigorate the circulation. The treatment is concluded with an ancient remedy mixed in an earthen pot filled with scented herbal roots and flower buds. This special tonic is believed to be the secret of Anti-Aging.

Ulik Nyiur (Malay Hair Treatment) 50 minutes £xxxx
This therapeutic traditional Malay hair treatment begins with a head and shoulder massage using specially brewed herbal oil, followed by an application of freshly blended coconut crème. This treatment helps condition the hair and scalp, maintaining its lustre, condition and colour.

Bamboo Tapping Tui-na An Mo
One of the major differences between Chinese massage and other massage techniques is the emphasis on the acu-points and directional flow of the subtle channels in the body. Tui-na massage is more than a system of relaxation and tension release. Although attention is also placed on the tendo-muscular system, the focus on subtle channels allows one to influence the organs on a deeper level and treat complex complaints. Bamboo Tapping is well-known in martial art circles. It is believed that by tapping the body with bamboo bundles, it will bring energy to the surface and improve the immunity of the body.

Chinese Pearl, Rice and Egg Undulation Facial
A perfect complexion is prized by the Chinese and so this traditional and effective treatment was quickly annexed by the Malay people from their neighbours. In keeping with ancient Chinese tradition, warm hard-boiled eggs are rolled on the face simultaneously with focused and specific strokes. This treatment quickly soothes facial breakouts and settles inflammation. The egg massage is followed by a pearl and rice facial for a superior clear and complexion.

During the Malaysian Spa Festival additional exclusive retail items will be available at Urban Retreat, create your own Malay Spa experience at home with Aroma incense cones (£9), Minyak Puteri or Princess Oil (£14), Baros Rapi Herbal Scrub (£24) and Malaysian Scented Soaps (£12).

The Malaysian Spa Festival runs from May 2nd—28th for bookings call 020 7893 8333.

Will certainly update once I am back from there. If I dont break my back further at Harrods, it'll be my already very fragile bank account.