Back To Gardening

Do you still remember the last time Pak Zawi did some gardening in this area? The area was turning into a productive vegetable plot when together with another neighbor we cleared the area of shrubs and grasses and tilled the soil to plant various vegetables. We had to stop the gardening because the landowner came with a team of surveyors as he wanted to build his house then.
Now it has been several months and no sight of any building activity and the area is covered with shrubs and mimosa which we fear may harbour dangerous snakes and other pests such as rats.
The need to exercise is another reason why Pak Zawi wants to go back to gardening. It doesn't matter if I don't get to harvest anything, the strenuous work of clearing the place of the luxurious growth of mimosa plants and other weeds will be good exercise for Pak Zawi. A blogger friend who lives on the Island of Pulau Kapas has been given me great advice on diets and all the rigeurs on how to keep fit. Exercise is the most important he said. I must sweat it out beside taking healthy food, food supplements and whatnot. he said I will paint better if I am in the best of health as a healthy mind is only found in a healthy body. thank you Tokuban of The Captain's Longhouse or the Pirate of The South China Sea as he sometimes called himself.
The best way to sweat it out is by gardening. So here I am, doing it again on a piece of idle land in front of my house. If time permits I may get to harvest the fruit of my labour, otherwise I will just enjoy sweating it out and at the same time keep the area free of unwanted weeds.

Hard at work using the brush cutter.

Tried an an experiment to see whether machines can work on there own. The conclusion: Machines need humans to get it working. Only that machines help to make the work done faster with less effort.


how the area looked after a short workout.

How the area looks after another evening of clearing away the grasses and shrubs and use of the changkul to clean weed the grasses.
Today Pak Zawi bought some vegetable seeds comprising of kangkong, bayam, sawi, choy sam, ladies fingers and sweet corns. The idea is to start planting on a small patch at a time without waiting for the whole area to be cleared up. This way I hope to be able to harvest early those vegetables that will be planted earlier.
So about 4 weeks from now I will be harvesting some early crop of kangkong or bayam. It doesn't matter if they are not matured enough, they younger they are, the better.
A few days ago, my former teacher by the name of Chegu Rahman Ali came over to Kelantan to join a dinner hosted by the former students of Upper Six and Lower Six Arts of my Alma Mater. Cikgu Rahman on his return home to Damansara KL, came to Pasir Mas to embark on the train back to KL. The train was the only mean of transport left as every other mean was full. Due to that Pak Zawi and a few friends managed to send him off. At the station Pak Zawi presented Cikgu Rahman with a painting Pulau Pohon Batu Labuan. It was a small gift for someone who had given Pak Zawi so much. For those who attended schools in SIS Pasir Mas, SIC in Kota bharu and MCKK in Kuala Kangsar Perak and knows Cikgu Rahman Ali, see his photo at Pak Zawi's Paintings. Mat Salo of Borneo Blues: A Mat salo's Perspective is one of those who knows him.

Idil Fitri With Pak Zawi

Our Hari Raya Day always begin with the prayers at the surau near the house. We used to go to the Mosque but lately, we felt the congregation at the surau is better because they comprise of our immediate neighbours and we know them all except for the younger generations who comes back only during Raya.

Azrin making last minute adjustment to his son Irsyad's samping.

Haji Deraman always ride his trishaw to the surau. At 80 years old Haji Deraman is still quite healthy. His wife rode in the children's car instead of riding along with him as they usually do.

Before the prayer begins we did the tahmid for about half an hour until the prayer started at 8.30 AM.
The prayer will begin soon. As it is only two 'rakaat', it was only a short prayer followed by the sermon by Ustaz Zawawi. Ustaz Zawawi is an Azhar, Egypt graduate and he also led the prayers. For the past one month of Ramadhan, Ustaz Zawawi had led all the 'terawikh' prayers at the surau.


Irsyad did his prayers at the back of the congregation as his prayers is only an initiation and at 4 years old, Irsyad has yet to learn about the actual prayer.

Mak Jah is one of the oldest female in attendance. Pak Zawi recorded Mak Jah's picture here lest she may be to ill to attend next years prayers. Nowadays Mak Jah had to pray while sitting on a chair.After the prayers, we did the family photograph. Azuan and family was over at his in law's place so he wasn't in the picture.

The first visitor to arrive was Haji Hussin's family. It was quite a large group and we will be joining them to the mother in law's place next.

They were the first to sample our delicacies of ketupat, rendang, satay and whatever have we.

The bigger girl is Leen and she is a star. She represents Malaysia in gymnastics. Her younger sister will be following in her footsteps soon.

Later my wife's pupils came cycling all the way from their village.

After that we all trooped to my mother in law's place. Here we had the taste of great Satay Baung ordered all the way from Kg. Baung, Kota Bharu.
One for the album with the grandma for my children and great grandma for their children.

Another one for the album. This one was taken at my sister in law's home next door to the mother in law's.The next stop is the uncle's home. When my wife's family was living in this home, Pak Zawi had his wedding here.

My daughter Azura had a new look this Raya. Here she is seen posing with her cousin Haleeza and sister in law Yanie.

Azura posing at the resort like home of Uncle Kamal.

By afternoon, Irsyad and his sister Syakirah was out. Another sister Ayin slept on the couch. This happened when we were at my sister's place.
We started the next day with a visit to the sister in law's place in Kota Bharu. A PSP was the center of attraction with Adam in control. The rest looked with envy.
Azuan and wife Ijjah joined us on the second day's visit to Kota Bharu.

Of course they are in control back home at Pak Zawi's place. Pak Zawi's PC and notebook are their's while their father's netbook are tucked away safely out of their reach. The PSP is of no interest to them anymore. At 4 years old, Irsyad can navigate his ways to UTube to look for Mr. Bean for himself and Gummi Bears for the sisters.

The visit to eldest surviving brother was also done on the second day.

On the third day of Raya, we had a surprise visit from Wan Nordin of GUIKP's fame. Wan brought along his wife Azura and children.

Wan had notified us that he would be arriving at 5.00 PM and he caught Pak Zawi with his pants down when he arrived at 4.00 PM. What happened was, the expected traffic jam from Kota Bharu did not happen and Wan saved an hour of precious time.
Wan made his choice. He chose 'The Old Building In Kota Bharu' among the many that Pak Zawi offered to him to choose from. To see the choices that he had, please visit Pak Zawi's Paintings, a blogsite dedicated to show what else but Pak Zawi's paintings.
Wan forgot to take the painting so Pak Zawi called Wan on the cellphone to stop by the roadside and wait for Pak Zawi to deliver the painting.

While sending Wan's painting, Pak Zawi's friend Zakrey came with his family. He had reserved that painting of The Traditioanl Chinese House of Kelantan which Zack prefers to call as Rumah Tepi Sungai as the village with all of that kind of houses were located on the river bank of Sungai Kelantan.
Zack's wife Rohani and son with Pak Zawi's wife Fatthiyah. Zack's daughter was busy with Irsyad watching Mr. Bean on Utube.
That was in a nutshell, this years Idil Fitri with Pak Zawi. The coming Idil Adha should be merrier as everone of my children will be home. Pak Zawi and wife is really looking forward to Idil Adha.

Celebrating Idil Fitri and Launching of A New Blog

Idil Fitri will take a new meaning for my family this year as most of the family members will be home except for Azini in Labuan who has made a decision to come back fro Idul Adha. Azuan has been backfrom Shah Alam since a few days ago to be together with his wife Ijjah who had been home almost 2 months ago afer delivering son Adam Hakimi. Tonight will see the arrival of our eldest daughter Azura who will be leaving KL around noon and Azrin with his family will depart his father in law's home in Taiping around the same time. It has been awhile that my family has been able to be together for Raya. Hopefully the coming Idil Adha will be a full gathering as everyone has set their mind to come back again for that festival as it is considered a more important celebration among Kelantan moslems where a sacrifice will be made.
To all my moslem readers, Pak Zawi would like to wish you a Happy Idil Fitri and pohon maaf zahir dan batin. Maaf jua di pohon sekiranya Raya messages via sms and internet was not replied or reciprocated.
If you are around Pasir Mas during Raya, do drop by at Pak Zawi's humble home at PT26, Jalan PamAir KADA, Kg. Mekasar,Pasir Mas. Please call 09 7903785 or 019 9125647 to ensure that we are home to receive you.
Pak Zawi has prepared some home made ketupat daun palas to serve you beside the normal fare of satay (available only on first day of Raya).

Pak Zawi has launched a new blog called Pak Zawi's Paintings at http://mohdzawi.blogspot.com. This blog will showcase all the paintings by Pak Zawi. Zendra Hassan has given Pak Zawi the idea to use the new site to sell Pak Zawi's paintings. That is a good idea really wort considering. Thank you Zendra.
The blog will aso be used to record who owns my paintings and their approximate location so that my future generations will know where to locate them should they want to buy back the heritage from Pak Zawi. Hahahaha some whimsical thinking.
Once again Pak Zawi and wife Fatthiyah would like to wish all readers of LAISI, Selamat Hari Raya Idil Fitri.