Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Life of a bapak!

'bapak' yang harus kita bersimpati

My idea of a macho 'bapak'

I stole the title from this blog.

This topic can be expanded into a novel - of maybe 500 pages. Afterall, I have been a bapak for the last 23 years - and to six anak! However, my story as a bapak will not be half as interesting and LiL's story as an ibu. So to any would be publishers, you are well advised to go along with her story ....

But I do have a story to tell. My target audience is not any would be bapak - hence this is not for educational purposes! It is also not for existing bapaks - you already have a story of your own to deal with. This story is for ibu-ibu....hehehehe.....especially ibu-ibu who are currently unhappy with their own bapak-bapak.

"As a bapak we sleep late, wake up late, have our foods served on silver plates. We don't do dishes nor wash our own clothes. We could never find sugar jars nor the tin openers from ibu's kitchen whenever 'ibu' is not around. It puzzles us why 'ibu' don't just leave everything everywhere - which makes it easier to find. Afterall, we always find our remote controls and that is because we simply leave them everywhere.
One more thing you need to know, we bapak are deaf to any babies crying at night. We simply can't hear their wailing. Changing diapers is a no no. That is so ibu-ibu and not sightly for us bapak to be seen doing so. We will be a laughing stock amongst our friends. You wouldn't want us to be laughed at, do you?
If we go shopping together, we can't be seen carrying your shopping bags. Please ask one of our childen to do so if you need help. Cammon la, as a bapak we are too busy to show our children to do their homework la.....and any little time we have is to catch up with our mates over teh tarik at a mamak stall.
And who says that as bapak we need to have decent conversation with our children. Isn't it enough that we provide them with their pocket money and we ocassionally make grunting sound and nod our head when they talk to us.
As ibu, please don't be annoyed of we kick off our shoes anywhere and leave them there for you to pick them and store carefully in the shoe rack. It is an accepted bapak's habit.....for centuries.
If we turn over and snore after our 'little bedtime game' - it is because as a bapak we must rest for tomorrow's work. Anyway, what is ibu doing staying awake for? We bapak find that hard to understand.
Life as a bapak is 'hunting' to bring foods home. Sometimes as a bapak we come home injured - emotional drained, physically exhausted, and mentally jaded. We then expect 'ibu' to swallow all of her own frustrations and tend to us without questions. Other times, we come home expecting a lot - hot tea in a cup on a saucer, 'ibu' in her best home dress with glossy lipstick freshly applied, children quietly doing their homework in their own rooms, soft musics playing, and 'ibu' looking at us adoringly while we unwind from another hard days work. A bapak - afterall is the King of his castle."

If I remind you of someone in your own house - take solace in the similarity. If I sounds far fetched from the hero character you have read in so many novels - stop believing the novels. Life is far too real for you to live in a fantasy land. :-)

Ok, I do the odd dishes. And I do take out the garbage bins. Ah yes, I am the one who goes round the house at night making sure all doors and windows are locked. And more often than not, I am the one who volunteer first to give LiL her shoulder massage....which often leads her to return the favour. But I am no angel, and wish to remain as the King of my house. Hehehe

This entry is partly inspired by a Korean series I watched on cable TV today - Two 'bapaks' were put side by side to share what type of a 'bapak' they are. One is a successful sugeon - and he sounded in control of his destiny. Another is a singer - he potrayed himself as an ideal husband who does dishes and all sort of chores. The surgeon looked like a happier man, looking youthful despite them being of the same age group (Mid fourties). The singer sounded very bitter. One of the things the surgeon said is worthy of repetition "A bapak who focus too much in pleasing his wife often compromises his ability to be at his best in his work and not so good socially as well".
To which the singer replied spontaneously,
"No wonder I have not a hit song for years - I have spent too much time doing the dishes".

My point from this rambling is .......to all 'ibu-ibu' and including my 'beloved ibu - LiL ( hehehe....I am smiling sheepishly) treat your man like a king in his palace - and he will be happier, stay youthful for longer, and become more successful in his career too. And it is more likely that your King will treat you like a special queen after the bedroom light is switched off......when it matters on the mattresses!

But if you let your 'bapak' slaves it out at home - he will be one grudgingly, believe me! Just look at the top picture.....do you think he is a happy man? We would not want to be seen in his company.....not in a million years. hahahaha

Now - I am ready to be shot!!! hehehehe

Thursday, November 1, 2007


Should this blog one day goes silent
no more replies to your comments
and new entry not to be seen
would you be asking...."how have I been?"
I wonder.....

Who am I, but a blogger
known to only a few, to others a mere writer
and if one day, I remain in sleep
and all my passwords scattered at my feet
would you visit me at my final resting place?
Or in my absence you seek solace?
I wonder......
Here close to me are people I often ignore
in my earnest pursuit of reaching different shores
and should my children weep my final departure
and in silent tears they will say prayers
"Daddy is gone - God loves him dearly
In Heaven he rests and looks down on us smilingly"
Should this blog one day goes silent
wonder no more....
for I may have found my reason.

Tears ... are words a heart can't bear to say
my tears flow, just thinking of the final day
Would I pass the test
Have I been at my best?
Forgive me God....for all of my sins
In the night darkness, I stay awake counting
My days are indeed numbered
it has taken me this long to have that figured
In you O the Merciful and Compassionate
I place my trust, my fear, my hope.
A reminder unfolds before my very eyes
In life and death, we choose our own ways
"Which way shall I take?"
"Take the God's way" I'm reminded of that today!

Should this blog one day goes silent
wonder not how have I been.....
For I may have made my choice
To make up for the time I have lost.

But I won't bid farewell
I may return one day with a story to tell...

.....


(I offer arwah Al Fatihah )

(I offer her and her children prayers)

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Pantun BBQ ....

"Sebakul manggis untuk tetamu
Rendang, limau purut limau kasturi
Tersimpul manis tersenyum malu
Kenyang perut suka hati"

Dari arang jadi bara
Dari bara jadi abu
Makan se orang tidak berselera
Hati terkenang pada diri mu
Kipas-kipas api membakar arang
Basah arang api terpadam
Kisah yang lepas usah di kenang
Kisah sekarang jadikan teman Pasang pelita bersumbukan benang
Pelita menyala berkelipan cahaya
Terpandang mata, hati pun sayang
Di serata dunia terkenang jua


Pada tulang ada daging
Mari di makan bersama-sama
Rasa sayang mata menjeling
Hati berkenan, jodoh tiada.
Ah, musim bbq telah tiba.....bau aroma daging dan ayam panggang dari laman jiran menusup kalbu.
Tiba-tiba LiL memanggil, "Abang....datang...cepat!". She was in the bedroom. But it was only 7pm....I thought to myself, "Buang tabiat ka si LiL nie....baru kol 7 petang dah panggil aku masuk bilek tidur nih".
"Tu bang....the neighbours sana tu dok pasang bara .....and that one sebelah sana tu dah bakar2 dah tu....patutlah dari tadi macam ada bau kan....".
That was on Thursday night.
Dan aku pun memasang hasrat.....berdendam! hehehehe

So semalam (Friday), aku ajak LiL and the boys to Emirates Mall - nekad untuk mencari BBQ set! We got the one yang guna arang rather than a gas aided type CheaperMore original lah kan....!
We also masukkan satu beg besar charcoal ke dalam trolley. Then we took another trolley to fill it up with two garden tables and ten chairs - BBQ bersama kawan2 lagi best la kan...hehehe.
Before we left, we realized we needed one more trolley - for daging, lamb, prawns, chicken and some veges. While driving back, I called a few friends with families - they declined because ada raya open house invitations else where. Called the Bujang friends from Arabian Ranches - they said, BBQ punya pasal, they will come!

Waduhhh, untuk pasang the BBQ set tu satu hal la pulak. Tercabar sungguh kesabaran dan kejuruteraan skill pak idham! In the end, I gave up! Amirul however persisted and sorted out all the parts, screws and nuts. He only came to ask me for help when he needed some brawn work....all the brain work was done by him!


Bravoooo Amirul, caya lah!!


For effect, we pasang also pelita minyak tanah ....macam survivor series gitu. Kebetulan, our back yard is sandy - so we did have a beach like effect.
Tepuk amai amai
belalang kupu-kupu
Bergambar ramai-ramai
Nanti malam mimpi susu!
Susu lemak manis
santan kelapa muda
Alahai, jangan lah nangis
walaupun tidur tu sorang2 jer!
hehehe...gurau usik orang-orang dok bujang tu....!
It was fun!
I am sure we will have more bbq......in our back yard
Sedap makan-makan
Berselera....walaupun hanya nasik putih dengan kicap!