21 August 2009

A Clean Bill of Health - Almost

The two of us went over to see our regular doctor for our not-so-very-regular annual check-up. Of late a number of ex-Almanar pupils had been showing concern when, on seeing Pakcik, they asked, “Pakcik betul sihat?” So, it was not without some trepidation when the two of us sat in front of the doctor to get the verdict. For us, just about welcoming our 45th anniversary, we have little to worry, said the doctor. Alhamdulillah.

Pakcik have been avoiding telling my Almanar pupils my age. They are all a Nosey Parker when it comes to my age. I can bet my bottom ringgit they never pose the same question to their class teachers. So (watch this word ‘so’ which Dewan Bahasa will soon include in Kamus Dewan to replace ‘jadi’ and ‘oleh itu’ because everyone uses it on TV!) my answers over the years have been consistently ‘25’. But these children of Almanar will invariably respond with a chorus of laughter – without any show of respect! That is a typical example of familiarity breeds contempt. Not many teachers can claim being with any one individual pupil for three continuous years teaching him/her English, Maths and Science, breeding that kind of bond and ‘familiarity’.

Now that I am disclosing our wedding anniversary of 45 I will be able to prove my point to Pakcik’s ‘anak buah at Almanar’. This is how I will explain to them. 45 years has passed since Pakcik married Makcik. If I married Makcik at my age of 20, my true age now must simply be 45-20=25. If they still laugh at that, it would take them quite a while to figure out. After all they have never questioned my Mathematics! To those who find it hard to believe my age, they would have to take a close look at the anniversary photographs.





O, what a couple that is, never growing old – at heart if nothing else!

But don’t look now, says Daphne du Maurier (a book recommended for reading at Almanar)..






Now that 45th anniversary has come and gone what warranty period has the bill of health to offer Pakcik and Makcik?




“ …………….. and no one knows what he can expect tomorrow and no one knows where on earth he will breathe his last …………..” Luqman, 34

A sobering thought indeed that ayat gurantees us, an unquestionable certainty. For the infinite number of gifts we have been receiving and enjoying from Him over these many, many years we will carry on with Almanar all the way.

“ ……………and should you try to count God’s blessings, you could never compute them …………” Ibrahim, 34



Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Addendum:
Did we celebrate the day? But of course we did. We had a romantic twosome dinner while a younger artist doing her songs softly. As if that was not enough, on the day itself we went for a lunch at a familiar restaurant. I had my choice and Makcik had her nasi berryani. Plus fresh fruit juice and all Pakcik had to fork out a whacking sum of RM11.50 (repeat, eleven ringgits and fifity cents), the tip one pays in a KL restaurant! How we laughed all the way home like a young couple. But of course we are, Pakcik being just 25! Our phones, facebook and e-mail were busy with messages from our loved ones in Kuala Lumpur.

35 comments:

Kama At-Tarawis said...

Awwwww... Pak Cik! Happy 45th Anniversary to the lovebirds! What a lovely posting this is, so uplifting amidst all the depressing news. Semoga Allah swt panjangkan umur dan murahkan rezeki Pak Cik and Mak Cik berdua. Amin.

PS: Your picture makes me wanna cry. Teringat kat Mak.

Kak Teh said...

To dearest Abang Ngah and Kak Mah, a very, very happy 45th anniversary to both of you from both of us. Both of you are such an inspiration to us and I thank God for the day you and kak mah appeared at our door 28 years ago. You've been blessed with very good children and now grandchildren.
and selamat menyambut bulan Ramadan yang mulia ini semoga segala ibadat kita diterima Allah.

Al-Manar said...

Kama

I warned you not to look at the NOW picture so that you would not cry. The two of us, on the other hand, have to look NOW because looking at the lovenirds makes us want to cry!

Kepada Hajjah dan 'the tiger' yang baru menyambut hari jadi
kami doakan apa yang terbnaik diperkenankan Allah.

Pakcik

mekyam said...

happy 45th, merpati dua sejoli. what a goodlooking couple, didn't age a day too. ;D

bet the secret in in your maths, pakcik. and the al-manar kids are wise to it. hehehe!

selamat puasa!

p.s. i owe u mail. will get to it as soon as i calm my poor synapses, all jammed from this wretched fragebogen.

Al-Manar said...

Mi and Zaharah,

A long happy life is the greatest gift of all. Sadly it carries with it the pain of looking back, knowing fully well those memorable moments we frequented the shops around Queensway from your flat, the slow walks the two of us (love birds) had up and down the Fairway, cannot be retrieved, yet permanetly etched.

Our love to every one in the family,
Abang Ngah and Kak Mah

Al-Manar said...

Mekyam
Thank you.
We all have our secrets. I would only let out a little, for a fee no doubt.

Pakcik

Memorable trails... said...

Happy 45th anniversary to Pak cik and Mak cik.Both of you look happy and very much in love before and also now.Am sure you two have sailed through many many happy wonderful years together.

Selamat menyambut Ramadhan yang mulia untuk Pak cik sekeluarga...

Awang Goneng said...

Abang Ngah & Kak Mah!

May Allah bless you both now and always. Puasa reminds me of those Raya cards you sent to Father all the way from Loughborough. Made me want to know in which neck of wood it was. (I still don't know!).

You are doing a sterling job Abang Ngah, and Kak Mah is playing a superb supporting role. I am sorry we couldn't meet when we were both back home. Insha Allah, another time.

I like your maths. Too many busy bodies in this world. Two years ago, we were interviewed by Astro on the tangga of our Tanjong house. When the interviewer said they were interviewing two 'warga mas' I nearly did the Goosey Goosey Gander and kick him down the stairs. I believe you are 20+45. When anyone asks me my age I tell them a tree was planted when I was born, then it had to be cut down to make way for progress. So now the tree is gone, we shall never know.

Mekyam probably has a tree too in Wakaf Che Yeh.

Wan Nordin Wan Hussin said...

Ahhhh, a truly blessed couple. We have yet to reach our 15th anniversary, and you have just celebrated your 45th. May you have many more joyous ocassions together-gether. And a blessed Ramadhan too.

Zendra-Maria said...

To the happy bidadara and bidadari of Al-manar, may Allah grant you togetherness in faith here and in the hereafter. Ameen.

Zendra-Maria said...

And a blessed Ramadhan too!

Al-Manar said...

Madam gold

We have indeed sailed through many happy years, and many worrying ones too, one of which was at where you are today with your children’s exam. For that reason, as I commented in your blog, I feel certain all will be well despite your worry. Enjoy all these while you are there, and tomorrow you will recall these worrying moments lovingly,insya-Allah.
Selamat berpuasa dan seterusnya berhari raya.

izah hamid said...

Pak Cik and Mak Cik,

Happy 45th Anniversary! May Allah bless both of you and family. You have done a great and noble job with al-Manar.

45 years!!! =)

i'm wondering what is happening with the married couple nowadays,a grand wedding yet getting divorced just months after that.

Perhaps you can share some secrets of being healthy and happy despite many challenges you have faced together with Mak Cik.

Salam ramadhan for you and Mak Cik

azie said...

i've always been a silent reader to this blog. but now after reading this post, looking at your picture i feel like i want to comment. when i first came to your blog, i was amazed of the charity you did and hoping one day i'll be able do the same. u know what, i did read the whole blog.i was wondering how old is the man keep calling himself as pakcik. i bet u r on ur 60s or 70s. my dad is at his 70s. anyway pakcik and wife, happy 45th aniversary n wish u all sihat selalu, panjang umur, murah rezeki.

Naa..a said...

pak cik,congratulations! Wow wonderfull couple.. actually agak terkejut juga bila saya baca post pakcik..sebenarnya saya punya birthday dan anniversary saya sama dengan pak cik. Pada tarikh ini juga genap usia perkahwinan saya yang ke 15 tahun dan umur saya yang ke ?. Tapi saya agak malu nak menulis diblog saya..bezanya pakcik dah 45 tahun saya baru 15 tahun. Anyway saya mendoakan pakcik bahagia selalu. SELAMAT BERPUASA...

Al-Manar said...

Awang Goneng.
Mi,
It surprises Abang Ngah that you know about those Hari Raya cards from Loughborough, the small one-horse university town, where I had had very lonely moments about Hari Raya periods in years gone by. That I chose to send cards to Arwah shows how much I respected him and dearly thought of him during those precious solitary moments away from home and family – when the so called telegram was the fastest means of communication – and Arwah luckily was in charge of that in KT. At best it took three days to get the few words across. You had to fill in the form at one end. The message was then morse-coded across the world, and someone still had to deliver the decoded message personally at the other.

Later, back in Malaysia, the two of us hunted your parents down in Alor Setar, our first trip ever up north. From there the four of us merrily drove across the border all the way to Songkhla where we spent the night in a chalet by the beach. Your dad was steadfastly looking after his health then, living on bread mainly. That did not seem to bother him, a gentleman perpetually wearing a smile on his face, a religious man without any doubt.

It is a blooming shame that your historical ‘age’ tree had to go in the name of progress. Well you bury your age with the tree and Abang Ngah will keep juggling with my Maths!
Selamat berpuasa and seterusnya Selamat Hari Raya to all of you from us,
Abang Ngah and Kak Mah

Al-Manar said...

GUiKP
Aren't you lucky with just 15 years of anniversary to your parents' credit you have been globe trotting with them? Give them another 30, you and your family would have stepped on the moon surface!
Selamat berpuasa dan Selamat Hari Raya to you and your wonderful parents.

Al-Manar said...

Zendra.
Thank you for your kind thoughts. A few days ago I found out that you had moved your re-inventing Zendra, and have kept wondering why. Hope you would not close it down. Some good materials are being collected in there.
Wish you Selamat Berpuasa dan Hari Raya - with your son overseas?
Pakcik

Al-Manar said...

Izah,
I am sure you will be back for Hari Raya. Hope to see you. Irsyad has been absent from Almanar. He is the best boy in his group and Pakcik would feel sorry if he chooses to stop.
Selamat berpuasa dan hari raya.
Pakcik

Al-Manar said...

Redline,
Cease from being a 'silenr reader'. Come out and face the real world. Pakcik will help you if only you wish. After all, as you said, I am like your father, right? I am sure you are much, much younger than my daughter. I will visit you insya Allah. Selamat berpuasa dan selamat hari raya dengan keluarga semua.
Pakcik

Al-Manar said...

Rosnah,
Happy 15th anniversay.Anak perempuan Pakcik pun ulang-tahun ke15 dalam bulan ini. Tapi Pakcik percaya Cikgu Rosnah lebih muda.Pakcik memang hendak tahu lebih lanjut tentang SMAMML. Munkin Rosnah boleh terangkan melalui e-mail pakcik. Kalau boleh ingin keKB melawat sekolah yang banyak mengeluarkan hasil pelajar yang baik, tetapi setakat ini tidak kenal sesiapa.
Salaam dan selamat berpuasa dan berhari raya.
Pakcik

Zendra-Maria said...

Pak Cik, thanks for your concern about my "re-inventing" blog. I moved it actually, to dissociate it from the frivolities of the "fascinations" one. In fact I had provided a link from the old place, but I have yet to learn how to forward readers automatically to the new address. Anyway here is the new URL:

http://re-inventingzendra.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Dearest Babah,

Some of my friends like Leed & Mimi commented that they like this posting.. I'm sure you remember them, some from my school days. Leena commented in her facebook, “ … so sweet! Your dad is as I remember him when I met him years ago in Blethley, i think a little greyer but, hey, so are we..”

Ainun

Anonymous said...

Pakcik
selamat menyambut bulan ramadhan.

Sharifah

Anonymous said...

Sharifah

Please come over to see us when you are back on holiday. Selamat berpuasa dan hari raya- juga kepada ayah dan mak

Pakcik

ARZ said...

Akum Pak Cik & Mak Cik,

What a pleasant read from all the well-wishers. Let me not be the last, though I am not the first to wish you.

HAPPY 45th ANNIVERSARY and thank you for opening a window to your glorious past.

What a couple!

P/s,
I picked the Surah Lukman from this blog to place it in my latest blog, in memory of a friend.

Al-Manar said...

Ramli,
I wish I had known your late friend. In your position I would certainly miss him dearly. Alfathihah and may Allah reward him in abundance.
Pakcik

Anonymous said...

Babah and Mami,

Wow, look at that young couple, with all their hopes and dreams still ahead of them! I hope and am sure, looking back, many of the dreams have come true.



Happy anniversary Babah & mami. We are truly blessed that you are both still healthy. Last weekend was a little sad for my office because an ex-colleague who had just left the company passed away due to a heart attack. He was only 45. Many many of us went to his house, and it was heart breaking to see his teenage children, robbed of a father whilst still so prime in their lives. Some had just met him a few days earlier, making golf plans and dinner plans etc. How something like this remind us of our mortality, and sometimes how insignificant all our planning are! I think almost everyone there (including me) vowed to go for a full medical check up soon.



Nadia hit 39.5 degrees a few hours ago. We rushed her to the doctor and after some drugs, her temperature has come down a little. We will be monitoring all night to be sure. The doctor said at ANY sign of breathing difficulty, head straight to Univ Hospital.

Please monitor the kids closely.

Love
Amran

Al-Manar said...

Amran

Your comment is now a new entry, and so is babah's response.

Babah

gayong said...

Pakcik, happy 45th Anniversary to you and Makcik.

p/s : and selamat berpuasa

Al-Manar said...

Gayong,

Thank you for the wishes. You have recived my e-mail, haven't you?
I wish you and family selamat berpuasa and selamat hari raya of course.

Pakcik

oops did I just say that? said...

Hi Pak Cik..

Happy 45th anniversary!

Many happy returns and salam ramadhan to you and your wife.

Al-Manar said...

Thank you Irish girl.
Oops did I say that? Your dad did.
Pakcik

Unknown said...

dear pakchik, at last i have a face to match with the 'pakchik'. you don't look that much different from the image my mind conjured up. and makchik...such goodlooking couple. the number 45 is now 46. masyaALLAH, to have spent that amount of time together. awesome.

Unknown said...

dear pakchik, at last i have a face to match with the 'pakchik'. you don't look that much different from the image my mind conjured up. and makchik...such goodlooking couple. the number 45 is now 46. masyaALLAH, to have spent that amount of time together. awesome.