I have just wrap up reading “As I was passing” Volume I by Adibah Amin. It was indeed an amazing anecdotes. It has given me this sense of nostalgia that drives me to engrave my very own journey of my life throughout the seventies.
During the seventies, I was in my childhood era (as I was born ten years later after independence). Alas I do not have a good eye for details, very little I could reminisce during those infantile days.
At the early seventies, my family lived in a squatter area at 5th mile of OKR, which is just opposite OUG. I remember my father works at the nearby industrial area as a security guard and he cycles to work everyday, be it morning or night as he works shift hours. While my mother was a full time housewife taking care of her three young children. I do not attend any kindergarten since there was none at the time (even if there is, I don’t think my parents can afford to send me). There was no such thing as ‘Tadika Kemas, or “Tadika Perpaduan” whatsoever where the unaffordable parents could send their child.
My world was my friends and games. We played all sort of conservative games (or shall I call it long-established games), which I hardly see my children play them nowadays. There was “teng-teng”, “Galah Panjang”, “Batu Seremban” or even more boyish games such as “Police & Thief” or “Rounders”. I could spend the whole day long with my friends having fun and pleasure around the “kampong” without parents having worries of us being kidnapped (or anything like it). It’s not like these days; children have limited freedom to enjoy themselves outside the house. My brood for instance, could not even enjoy themselves at the nearby playground, for I’m afraid of their safety. Unless hubby or myself to accompany them, I would prefer the brood to be at home (enjoying PS2 of course).
The only thing (or rather person) I was afraid of was my mother. She was an extremely fierce person. She has this very aggressive character of spanking and whipping me up even on my slightest faults. Sometimes I feel that she can’t even see the sight of me, she will always find fault to punish me. Ever since I was a child, I had always had this belief that my mother does not like me because she holds a different character when it comes to my brother and sister. I failed to understand this fact even right until this date.
Given that, I usually elude myself to a friend’s house or just hide somewhere where she can’t find me. Only when nightfall that I return and after cleaning and had myself a quick dinner, I would straight away retire to bed. But still I could hear her nagging until I doze off.
At a certain point of time, I recall my parent sending me to my mother’s hometown in a remote area of KP to attend my pre-school. I was made to understand later that due to my birth date, which falls in the month of January, I am allowed to register as a standard one student a year earlier than the normal practice. (Which means that I can enroll at the age of six). But only in the “kampong” area where not many students attended the school.
I was so excited because I get to reside with my “Atok” and “Wan”, which also means I will be estranged from my mother. So there I was in a small isolated "kampong" attending my primary one. Everyday I walk to school with my youngest auntie (I address her as Auntie Bedah) and my mother’s youngest brother (I called him Pak Chu) who was in their Standard Six and Standard Four respectively. There were also other grown-up aunties and uncles who live with my grandparent.
The "kampong" lives is totally different from the one I had in town. The place is more peaceful and serene. I only had a few friends though, but I was more than ecstatic. My new friends always take me for a walk at the paddy field and teach me to swim in the stream. My Auntie Bedah will take me for a ride in her bicycle around the "kampong" and sometimes she takes me to town (actually its more like a cowboy town with only a row of wooden structure) for a treat.
But my excitement was only for a short period of time when I had a misfortune. A neighbor in his motorbike had knocked me down while I was walking to school one day. I had a minor injuries and gets immediate treatment at the nearby government clinic. And due to this, my parents had to move me back to live with them.
There goes again my miserable live with my mother and her tantrum.
I shall continue the journey of my 70's live in my next write-up. Until then, adios.
During the seventies, I was in my childhood era (as I was born ten years later after independence). Alas I do not have a good eye for details, very little I could reminisce during those infantile days.
At the early seventies, my family lived in a squatter area at 5th mile of OKR, which is just opposite OUG. I remember my father works at the nearby industrial area as a security guard and he cycles to work everyday, be it morning or night as he works shift hours. While my mother was a full time housewife taking care of her three young children. I do not attend any kindergarten since there was none at the time (even if there is, I don’t think my parents can afford to send me). There was no such thing as ‘Tadika Kemas, or “Tadika Perpaduan” whatsoever where the unaffordable parents could send their child.
My world was my friends and games. We played all sort of conservative games (or shall I call it long-established games), which I hardly see my children play them nowadays. There was “teng-teng”, “Galah Panjang”, “Batu Seremban” or even more boyish games such as “Police & Thief” or “Rounders”. I could spend the whole day long with my friends having fun and pleasure around the “kampong” without parents having worries of us being kidnapped (or anything like it). It’s not like these days; children have limited freedom to enjoy themselves outside the house. My brood for instance, could not even enjoy themselves at the nearby playground, for I’m afraid of their safety. Unless hubby or myself to accompany them, I would prefer the brood to be at home (enjoying PS2 of course).
The only thing (or rather person) I was afraid of was my mother. She was an extremely fierce person. She has this very aggressive character of spanking and whipping me up even on my slightest faults. Sometimes I feel that she can’t even see the sight of me, she will always find fault to punish me. Ever since I was a child, I had always had this belief that my mother does not like me because she holds a different character when it comes to my brother and sister. I failed to understand this fact even right until this date.
Given that, I usually elude myself to a friend’s house or just hide somewhere where she can’t find me. Only when nightfall that I return and after cleaning and had myself a quick dinner, I would straight away retire to bed. But still I could hear her nagging until I doze off.
At a certain point of time, I recall my parent sending me to my mother’s hometown in a remote area of KP to attend my pre-school. I was made to understand later that due to my birth date, which falls in the month of January, I am allowed to register as a standard one student a year earlier than the normal practice. (Which means that I can enroll at the age of six). But only in the “kampong” area where not many students attended the school.
I was so excited because I get to reside with my “Atok” and “Wan”, which also means I will be estranged from my mother. So there I was in a small isolated "kampong" attending my primary one. Everyday I walk to school with my youngest auntie (I address her as Auntie Bedah) and my mother’s youngest brother (I called him Pak Chu) who was in their Standard Six and Standard Four respectively. There were also other grown-up aunties and uncles who live with my grandparent.
The "kampong" lives is totally different from the one I had in town. The place is more peaceful and serene. I only had a few friends though, but I was more than ecstatic. My new friends always take me for a walk at the paddy field and teach me to swim in the stream. My Auntie Bedah will take me for a ride in her bicycle around the "kampong" and sometimes she takes me to town (actually its more like a cowboy town with only a row of wooden structure) for a treat.
But my excitement was only for a short period of time when I had a misfortune. A neighbor in his motorbike had knocked me down while I was walking to school one day. I had a minor injuries and gets immediate treatment at the nearby government clinic. And due to this, my parents had to move me back to live with them.
There goes again my miserable live with my mother and her tantrum.
I shall continue the journey of my 70's live in my next write-up. Until then, adios.
4 comments:
As I Was Passing your description of yesteryears, or to be specific the times of the 70s, yonder the memories of kampong life still lingers on. Most of us cherish the moment of living in the kampong, mandi air sejuk, tangkap ikan haruan, main teng-teng, batu seremban (wonder why seremban eh), police & thief (aha good to be the thief) or rounders and there were so much more we could think of. I remember cycling to school from my kampong to school in towm about 8km away but it was such fun. Nowadays kids are being chaufferred even if the school is just a stone throw away. Such nostalgic times would not easily fade away in our memories and as such, your writings do bring back memories of yesteryears. It's a pity that cheap videos are not available at that time to captute the moments of childhood for our kids to see the vast difference of our time and theirs. Before you go into the 80s, do rekindle some other significant events in the 70s. Cheerio. (RF)
It's coming to the end of September now and you havent penned your memories for this month. We enjoy reading your tales of the past in a frank and open style. Be more vivid and candid. Cheers.
Hi there,
I've notice that you’re a regular visitor to this humble blog of mine thus I wish to express my apologies for not updating/continuing my journey in the 70's. I have been distracted with workloads and also due to some problem with my pc. Hopefully I will be able to update some anecdote in due course. Meanwhile, I enjoy your comments and companion. At least there's someone out there who shared the memories that we had in the yesteryears, or perhaps someone who passes through our lives during our journey. Who knows?? It’s a small world afterall.
Adios.
Yes, it's a small world out here. I am not a blogger but someone who just browses through the internet and stop at something different. I was reading my friend's blog and then click a link there and when I clicked another link it went into Memoirs of Yesterdays, I supposed a very nostalgic site for nostalgic people like you and me hahaha. I comment you for being very daring in your description of yesteryears in particular where it touches your deep feeling and emotion. That's real and sincere. Yet you dare to share with the world. If you enjoy writing, go full speed ahead and I will enjoy the reading. One day you may publish your own short-stories (cerpen) or Anecdotes of Yesteryears or Tales from the Heart. Wish you best of luck. (RF)
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