The oil palm story (part 2)

Now at my kampung,visiting my parents.Alhamdulillah ..they are in good health though in their mid seventies. The chilly dawn air kept me intact in my bed that I nearly missed my subuh prayer.It was so nice to be in the old familiar surrounding, which brought fond memories of my happy, carefree childhood days..
After subuh, I went through some old pictures of my precious childhood and school days. Some are still good but a few are faded and with white patches.Maybe I will find time to scan those for future keep so that my grandchildren and great grand children can see how their granny look like during her youth..
One of the many camping activities...
This yellowish newpaper cutting was found in one of the albums..The article appeared in Indiana Daily,1982, the Bloomington community became the host to foreign students. Me with Mrs Martin.Mr Martin is the professor in IU Business School back then..

Now I am waiting for Along to wake up .Our plan is to tour our kebun sawit which has been abandoned by its former tuan tanah.He is so busy chasing a middle-age Phd holder who just came back from down under earlier this year that he has forgotten about his kebun sawit which he has invested almost a hundred thousand ringgit.Amazing ..how a woman can change a man 360 degrees..and the woman does not have to look like Kim Kidashian..
So the co tuan tanah had no choice but to put her hat and boots on, visiting the site.Yesterday, Along said to me, "Mama, if you want to continue with this project, you have to be strong and stern with the helper.Mama tak boleh lembut2, kena keras sikit nanti dia buli je mama.Ni nanti next year Along tak de for three years ,sapa nak teman and tolong mama urus kebun tu..."
Ahh... the role is changing ..years ago it was me who tried to protect the innocent him but now he is protecting me..There was a lump in my throat.I was so moved hearing his concern.Then I said to him "dont worry Along,mama senang je...orang tipu mama hari ini, nanti jawab lah di akhirat nanti..."
Yes, insyallah Along is getting along fine with the previous plan.Yesterday, we went to The British Council to get Along's IELT results. After three trials he managed to get the grade specified by MARA.Actually he has nearly given up but I kept on reminding and advising him to get back to the track.Different people are tested differently and this is your test.All along you have smellled only the roses..I know you can do it Along and you did it!The key word is PERSEVERANCE..Please take this as your first lesson of failure.Failure should serve as a motivating factor for you to work harder and NOT a hindrance to achievement. Remember that son..
I know I need to learn a lot as a new tuan tanah...like which weed killer should I use or which fertilizer is the best so that the trees can yeild quality heavy fruits that can bring in big bucks.
The first test came this morning.I made rounds with Along on my dad's old motobike.At certain part the undergrowth are so tall that we couldnt race through.So I decided to get some weed killer. At the shop the towkay asked me what type of weed killer I would prefer?I said give me the one which normally use for kebun sawit.He said there are many..Paraquet, Round up, Ecomox and many others..which one would I like.
To decide I called the former tuan tanah....
I told the towkay that I need 3 20-liter containers of Ecomax and one container of paraquet.The towkay was so nice that he taught me how to mix the mixture..60 ml of Paraquet to 240 ml of Ecomax.He even gave a a gift that was a set of stationary.All in all the bill came up to rm 624 plus a new pair of boot for me to be used for site visit.I have to take care of my feet wouldnt I?I need to walk into the classrooms and to kebun sawit,so I have to take care of those feet.Maybe a pedicure from time to time would be advisable..
Well, I am going to end this post...I am at home now.Along has gone back to his college.Ifah is reading a story book since PMR is over.So there goes my weekend...
My new pair..tuan tanah kedaong is ready to make rounds in style...

Tipah oh Tipah...

Lama Tipah tidak menulis.Banyak yang bersarang dalam kepala Tipah yang tak berapa besar ni dan otak Tipah yang dah kurang ketajamannya ni.Kerja..anak2..rumahtangga..ibubapa..semua perlu dijenguk dan perlu difikir.Rasa nak balik ke alam remaja.Tapi tazkirah di kolej setiap pagi Jumaat yang tidak pernah Tipah terlepas mendengarnya mengingatkan Tipah agar reda dengan ketentuan Illahi.Sekiranya keredaan itu mampu singgah di hati ini,Tipah kira dunia Tipah menjadi lebih tenteram dan tekanan berkurangan.Tapi manusia yang lemah dan alpa serta dengan yang iman yang sekelumit, seperti Tipah ni mudah lupa akan ketentuan itu.Lebih mudah ikutkan apa Tipah hendak,apa matlamat Tipah,apa keinginan Tipah..Tipah kira apabila keredaan itu telah bertakhta, datang apa pun,Tipah tetap mampu tersenyum ,bertenang dan tidak mudah gelabah... Masa itu tidak perlu lagi personal ISO.Itu yang cuba Tipah ikhtiarkan dan Tipah tahu bukan mudah untuk Tipah mencapai tahap tesebut.Tingkatkan kesabaran Tipah Ya Allah dan reda dengan segala yang telah berlaku..itulah doa yang tidak putus2 Tipah minta dengan airmata yang tergenang...
Biarlah apa pun orang nak buat kat Tipah atau nak menegakkan benang yang basah..Allah ada..Sesungguhnya Allah sebenar-benarnya mengetahui apa yang berlaku dalam dunia Tipah.Itu yang cuba Tipah masukkan dalam kepala Tipah ni.Sesekali datang rasa untuk membalas dendam..mengaibkan mereka-mereka itu, tapi Tipah urut dada dan sabar serta bersabar..Tiada kesudahannya..Biarlah Tipah serahkan kepada Tuhan yang maha esa untuk membalasnya nanti di akhirat..Tipah tak rasa Tipah pengecut,tapi... Tipah sekadar nak mencari ketenteraman dalam diri Tipah ini..
Dunia ini mungkin Ante yang punya,tapi tidak di akhirat..15 tahun bukan masa yang singkat yang Tipah dan anak-anak lalui, tapi dengan kebesaran Allah, Tipah dapat bersabar lagi hingga ke hari ini...