端午节

端午节总是认我想起粽子。屈原似乎离我们那么远，赛龙舟在这儿也不常有。不信问任何一个人，端午节是什么节日？大多数的人会回答：“吃棕子。”记念谁？他们才会说：“屈原。”一个有伟大爱国情操的从政者，却因太过悲观，投江自杀，为自己的生命划上句号，让后人深深为他感叹！
在诗巫，每一天都可以在食摊买到粽子，肉粽，花生粽，红豆砂粽，白粽，林林种种，任我们选择。但随着物价高涨，以前一粒花生粽只卖五毛钱，现在非要一零吉不可。所以，就有了要学包粽子的冲动。一天，买了糯米，花生，猪肉，粽叶，还有咸草。特地请嫂嫂来教我。糯米的料我早就预备好了，用蒜头加油爆香，连米一起炒，加酱油，真是香味朴鼻而来。嫂嫂是个包粽专家，一公斤的米，三两下就包完了。我却是手忙脚乱，折腾了半小时才裹了十粒可怜兮兮的小棕子。还好老妈没在场，不然面子都给我丢光了，她可是包粽高手，而我，不只笨手笨脚，怎么会有如此丑陋的创作？真恨不得把不成形的粽子悄悄藏起来，还好嫂嫂一直安慰我，让我重拾信心。等了两个钟头，心里竟紧张起来。当我打开热騰腾的肉粽，品尝着一口又一口美味的粽子时，那股成就感，真让我感动！我的粽子虽然很丑，但很好吃。
第二次，信心满满，又有了想尝试的念头。这次不敢劳烦嫂嫂，就自己动手吧。当时心里就有点发毛的感觉，望着一大盆炒好的米，却不知从何下手。漫漫然，只好硬着头皮，以蜗牛般的速度埋头苦干。包了几粒已满头大汗，看着一根根断咸草，真的很泄气。粽叶在我手里特别容易破，米粒故意跟我作对，时不时就从粽角溜出来，害我又得重包过，重复了几遍，粽叶怎么会不破？我心想，考大学的税务考卷都比包粽子容易。天！我好后悔。终于，我也不知道我是怎么包完那几十粒的粽子。把它们统统放进大锅里煮的时候，我明白了什么叫“收拾残局”。
等了两个小时，该会熟了吧。小心翼翼的翻开锅盖，水气迎面扑来，不是我眼花吧？我看到的是整锅的肉粥，加上片片粽叶，随着翻滚的粥，翩翩起舞。我的天！还好只有老公知道我学包粽子，他从不取笑我的。这次没跟嫂嫂提起，可以省了向她报告”令我难堪的成绩“。不然她一定很失望，名师却出了一位不成器的徒弟。
现在想起来还是不服气。煮饭作蛋糕料理家务是我习以为常之事，念书时大学的学分也修得不错，打工时曾经还是经理级人物。怎么就被这雕虫小技难倒？虽然说上帝给人不一样的恩赐，但圣经也告诉我们,“我靠着那加给我力量的，凡事都能作。”我会再接再励，请祝我成功。

小病是福

前阵子，应该有三个星期了吧？外子去中国，我得替他打点店里的一切，整天待在店里，午餐马马虎虎，似乎是为了生存而吃。当时口腔就已经开始溃烂，喉咙痒痒的，有时咳了几声，感觉舒服点，但胸口总是很郁闷，有点喘不过气的感觉。晚上咳得更凶，睡不好，精神也差。但我可不以为意，小病嘛，不值一提，何必让家人担心。
接下来的三天，药也服了，不只病情没有好转，伤风也来报到，鼻子里真象有虫在开派对。第五天早上，头痛欲裂，整身热滚滚的，又咳嗽，又打喷涕，泪眼汪汪，非常难受。开了店，只好让员工去打理，自己跑回家，躺在床上，懒散的骨头，迷迷糊糊的脑子，多么想不用爬起来。无奈工人的下班时间到了，拖着沉重的身躯，轻浮的脑子，驾车的似乎不是我。撑到工人回来，我迫不及待的又赶回家休息。待到关店时才又逼不得已的带着散慢的脚步。。。
外子当晚的斑机是八点半抵达，就只有让家公去接机了。当我躺在床上时，我有个预感，我是真的生病了，而且至少会病几天，但我终于可以好好休息了。突然，我想起前一天曾经跟小儿子说，”伟，妈咪快要生病了，就等你爸爸回来。“想不到吧？有时候我的预言是很灵的。那是星期六，五月二号。
第二天是礼拜天，起不了身，崇拜是免谈了，主日学只有请假了。躺在床上，喉咙像发火似的，身上热腾腾的感觉，喝了一杯又一杯的水，开了冷气，还是又渴又热。但咳嗽却显著的减少。心中存着感恩，若每一天能减少一样病痛，几天后，又是生龙活虎了。
星期一，伤风也不见了。虽然还是发着烧，但是喉咙没有火辣辣的感觉。只是，身体和骨头开始疼痛，连转动身子都难，一想到上厕所，心里负担就来了。不上厕所又不行，不是说生病要多喝水吗？那几天，拖着疼痛的身子，拉着酸硬的脚步，我突然明白了，老年人为什么总是用脚板拖地而走，原来他们的脚没有力气，提不起来。我竟然也衰弱到这样子！
当天晚上，我们“门徒”的弟兄姐妹本来在“知音老地方”有联系会，因卧病在床，不能出席。想着不能和这群可爱的朋友相聚，不禁有点遗憾。我们在一起，总是一片欢笑声，有时好像屋顶会塌下来似的。
星期二，烧完全退了，但身子痛得好像体无完肤。我跟外子说，“我得看医生了。”外子开始担心，因为我是很逞强很耐痛的人，竟然自愿看医生？他答应下午带我去，早上有事走不开。躺在床上，我唯一能作的只有向上帝祷告，并向他感恩，因为我只剩下身体痛，其他病症都好了。只是病了这么多天，大肠未畅通，大概吃太少的缘故吧。我想如果有萍果吃就好了！但不想麻烦别人，还是算了。
下午，外子回来吃午餐，先来看我，问我要吃水果吗？“你的朋友送了很多水果给你，有萍果，橙子。。。。”我跟他说，太好了，我本来就是想吃萍果，想不到上帝这么爱我，藉爱珠姐送来我心所想的。这决不是偶然的。吃着萍果，心里甜丝丝的。
结果，也不用看医生了，身体的疼痛已经减轻一半，再多休息几天，应该没事。果然，星期四我可以上班了，虽然会有点头晕，噁心，力不从心的感觉。每个清晨，灵修之前，我都喝一瓶鸡精，另加一杯营养餐。外子说我像是縮水了，让我心里不禁沾沾自喜，看来减肥成功了，但是有点元气伤损，所以还得好好调理身体才是。
差不多有一个星期没跟在英国的小儿子谈话，还有大儿子克俊和二儿子克彦也因为学业忙没和我联络。当他们知道我的近况时，问我为什么没有人告诉他们？我不想让所有的人担心，没有这个必要，反正有上帝看顾我。说真的，我曾经猜测是否患上A型流感，但并不害怕，是因为上帝把平安放在我心里。
在病痛的时候，其实有太多要感恩的。家人的爱心，朋友的问候和关心及带代祷。上帝的带领和医治，甚至还以一篮礼物来肯定他对我的爱，不然有谁知道我想吃的是什么？
小病是福，就像约伯说的，从前我风闻有你，现在我经历到你。感谢你，我的上帝。你真是耶和华以勒！

老家

记得我十二岁时，我们从巴杀的老店搬去甘榜的新家。那是一间独立的高脚木屋，蓝青色的。座落在一畝多的草地上。那年代，在沐加小镇，可算是相当体面的上等屋子了。有五间房间，一个客厅，饭厅和一个很大的露台。从远处望去，屋子给人一种很踏实的感觉，就象爸爸那样的忠厚老实。我和哥哥，姐姐还自己动手油漆地板，看谁的房间漆得最光亮美观。爸还称赞孩子们作得很好。因为，爸的称赞很稀罕，所以就特别有份量，特别让我们珍惜。
我们的家园带着很浓的田园风味，四周围种满了各种各样的蔬菜水果。一眼望去，一片绿意婓然。在屋前楼梯旁，摆放着整百盆的五颜六色的花，那可是妈的宝贝。在露台下，挂满了红，黄，白，紫，橙，粉红，棕色等高贵雅致的胡姬花。这是嫂嫂百般呵护的心爱花儿。在傍晚时分孩子们都加入劳动行列，主动帮忙爸爸妈妈，有割草的，浇水的，施肥的，忙着养鸡鸭和猪的，小哥则负责把牛赶回牛棚。而我最喜欢和爸爸一齐烧草和树枝，再堆上泥土，让它慢慢的焚烧。一缕缕白色轻烟从土堆里冒出来，带着烟草泥土味，在微风怀抱里散佈在整块土地上。我们的家园，在晚霞里，形成了一幅充满爱和温馨的景象。
爸和妈都爱种植，喜欢劳动。爸爸种了番石榴，水桃，红毛榴莲，芒果，玉粟米，酸甘树，蜜柑等等。妈妈就种了油菜，拉子菜，薀菜，辣椒，白菜，粽叶树。这些植物都是用有机肥料来施肥的，所以果子和蔬菜长得特别香甜，青翠肥美。吃不完还可以拿去菜市场卖。爸就把所赚的作为生产奉献，向神感恩。虽然我们的土地质地不很肥沃，但在爸爸耐心施肥和细心照顾之下，我们的田地不断都有收获，上帝恩典数算不尽。
爸爸是个很爱家的人，也很有创意。他请人挖了四口池塘，一口养水鱼，一口给鸭子游泳，另一口用来洗猪栏。最后为孩子和孙儿们建造了一口游泳池。我家的水鱼总爱在月夜里，静悄悄的爬上来，三五成群，排列在水池旁晒月亮。我们的鸭子像穿了洁白圣袍，猪栏嘛，应该比一般的养猪场干净。最快乐的是孩子们了。在傍晚时分，孩子们一个个跳跃进游泳池，响亮的欢笑声和着水花四溅的哗啦声，顿时赶走了寂静。让我们也感染了他们的喜乐，心情不禁开朗起来。
这时妈妈和嫂嫂忙着预备晚餐，阵阵的香味随着晚风迎面飘来，肚子突然饿了起来。拖着湿漉漉的身子，嘻嘻哈哈的嬉笑着，互相追逐着，我们争先恐后的赶快冲凉，然后好好享用可口美味的晚餐，难怪妈的孩子和孙子没有一个是瘦的。哥哥们在三十多年前正属青少年，一餐吃两盘饭是平常事，所以妈妈用的饭锅是大型的那种。想想我有六个哥哥，应该是正常现象吧？妈妈煮食时总是很丰富，每个人一定吃得饱足还有余。爸爸常说，一个人如果没有不良嗜好，（意思是没有乱花钱），吃好一点是最值得，也是应该的。所以我们一家人受了他的影响，都很看重饮食的品质。爸爸是有点挑食，我也有一点点，可能是遗传吧。
当黑夜笼罩大地时，漆黑的天空挂着无数闪耀的星星，调皮的向我们眨着眼睛。我们依偎在露台的栏杆旁，沐浴在清凉的晚风里。一家人闲话家常，多么写意。远处，传来狗吠声。。。虫儿也开始演奏美妙动听的交响曲了，那，是要用心灵去聆听。
老家，我怀念你！

天气

蔚蓝的一片天，滚滚热浪，加上郁闷的湿气，不作事也会汗流狭背，刚冲好凉又冒汗了。二儿子克彦说，“美里太热了，又加上露天焚烧，而且又是油城，我们这里热疯掉！”美里，肯定会比诗巫热。大儿子在古晋，似乎好点，每天会下阵雨，但还是驱不走闷热的暑气。我想我们最羡慕小儿子，他在英国，春天的温度介于五至十七八度之间，非常凉爽。据我所知，英国的春天总是充满着生机。到处翠绿一片，清新的空气，凉凉习习微风。难怪，鸟儿柏在枝头，都显得消摇自在，尽情欢唱，在清晨里先向上帝献上悦耳动听的感恩之歌。出外只需加件毛衣，轻便写意。冬天，一件内衫，加件毛衣，再穿上大衣，最后还要披上又厚又重的冬装，才敢上路。那种笨重的感觉，让我想到大象，拍出来的照片象只熊猫，所以我喜欢春天。当年，我就在伦敦渡过五年春夏秋冬的留学生涯。
曾经有位已故政治家去英国公干，回到砂拉越感到自己大开眼界，很是得意。逢人就说，“英国实在是富有的国家，到处都有冷气，连街上也不例外。”我们听了不禁莞薾，但他的族群相信的人不少，羡慕的人更多，毕竟他们的代表是有料的。我们不可以取笑他们的无知，但听了这则笑话至少也开心了起来。
最近印度四十四度的热浪造成三十多个人死亡，其中大多是老年人和贫穷的人。老年人体弱，穷苦的人流落街头，无处避暑，甚至连水都没得喝，怎么能生存下去？我们有了风扇还要加冷气，该向上帝感恩。
圣经说，“人饥饿不是没有饼，口渴不是没有水，乃是因为没有听上帝的话。”我们的地球生病了，环境污染，生态被人类肆意破坏，恐怖战争的蹂躏，带来只有无可避免的饥荒，疾病，灾难与死亡。世界本来是美好的，上帝看着都觉得甚好！什么都应有尽有，但为什么会演变成今天的局面？看我们人类的自私自利，贪心，可恶，就知道了。世人如果还不知醒悟，没有环保意识，那我们这地球的天气会变化得更快更可怕。
近来很多人都提倡制造酵素，我也是响应者之一。感觉是能废物利用，不制造垃圾，又能施肥，净化环境，何乐不为？况且，作个环保份子，人人有责，因为我们是上帝的管家。要尽心作到最好，才是忠心的好管家。

清明节

记得念中学时，唐诗里有一首，“清明时节雨纷纷..."那是我们都很熟习的。当时我们大概是处于多愁善感的年代，每每念到“路上行人欲断魂”就想象在微风细雨的路上，那些带着心酸，凄凉的心境，赶着回乡扫墓的游子。在这样的节日，总是叫人特别伤感。
今年，没有雨纷纷，却是艳阳高照。所以没有了那份忧伤的心情。似乎只有应该尽孝的心意。我和外子清晨六点就开车前往诗里街。外子的祖父母是葬在那里的义山。先祖父名江履统，以前是当地的乡绅，很得人们的尊敬。他还特地在义山建了一座亭供路过的人有歇息的地方。梦华亭是记念先祖父在中国福州的祖屋，梦华小筑。每年我们去扫墓，看到梦华亭就自然而然的想起先祖父宽广博爱的心怀。他实在是我们学习的好榜样。
抵达墓山已经七点十五分左右，我倆就动手拔草，扫四处狂飞的落叶和泥沙。墓碑上的字每年一定要重漆过。我们用毛笔沾着金粉和着油，跪着写。间中有时必需爬起来伸伸发麻僵硬的腿。雄（外子）望着我，笑得几得意，一边说，“都跟你说了，不能站起来了，哈哈！”亏他那么辛灾乐祸。其实他还不是一样酸痛。想到他是苦中作乐，我也被他感染了，大家都笑了起来。一阵微风迎面拂来，带走了热气，顿时心旷神怡。安放好两盆花，侍立在墓前，心里默默记念先人，尤其是雄，思念先祖父母的过去，一阵伤感浮现在他脸上。我知道他的感受。当我望着我祖父母的遗照时，心里就酸痛起来...应该是血脉相连的缘故吧！
我们下山时已经是九点半。忘了带雨伞，天空一片蔚蓝，太阳笑得那么灿烂。多好的天气，但曝晒在烈日下，我的偏头痛又隐隐作痛了。我跟雄讲，明年五点就启程，不让太阳欺负我。
地球你不需要我，这地方我一方来，将八方离去。这曾经是一名诗人说的。想想也有些道理。所以我认为火葬是不错的选择。干净快速，一小把骨灰，洒向大海，多洒脱。或是埋在泥土里还可以当肥料。圣经里都说人是尘土嘛。哈哈！而且以后也不必麻烦亲人年年扫墓。
思念是放在心里，孝顺要在父母有生之年。最重要的是离开世界后我们的灵魂去那里？若是回天家岂不是好得无比吗？

Country road

I love to go home, but whenever I think of the conditions of the road,it gives me creeps and put me off.My hometown is in Mukah,and the most convenient way is to go by road.Anyone who had traveled on the Mukah Selangau road can tell you that it is a notorious road,simply "horrible" beyond description.There are pot holes every where, some as big as our dinning tables,and they can be as deep as one to two feet.Just imagine a Kancil struggling on the road, or a ten tons lorry stranded with punctured tyres in the middle of no where?
Last Monday, I took a bus home,because dad and mum wished to see me, and I missed them too.The moment I boarded the bus, I knew the air condition was not working even though the bus ticket stated that the bus is air-conditioned.I was being compelled to travel in a bus, packed with sweaty bodies , under the merciless blazing sun.Eventually, when we were heading towards the "bad road", the warm air turned into stuffy ,smelly hot air,as the "should be condemned " poor old bus moaned heavily and fought desperately to move its heavy body, feet by feet on the dusty road at 12 noon.We, the passengers were being thrown and swayed from side to side, some banged their heads against the windows, whilst others screamed when they were thrown into the air.We were like,inside a washing machine.My goodness, my head started to throb and I felt dizzy.God, help us,I prayed.If this goes on, I am going to be half dead when I reach home, and I don't want my dear old parents to see me in this miserable and sorry state.
God was good and gracious, when I finished my prayer, I felt a stream of fresh cool air gushing down from the roof of the bus.There was one Malay man, who was clever and kind enough to open up the "top windows" of the bus.Deep in my heart, I was praising God for he had answered my prayer.Amazing, isn't it?Even at times like this, God tended to my needs.God, I love you, I whispered to him.
During the good old times, we could travel from Sibu to Mukah by air, paying only RM35 per trip,inclusive of airport tax, likewise from Mukah to Sibu we just paid RM30,no airport tax.Nowadays, we have no alternative but to travel by road or by boat.We would have thought our nation is progressing, Malaysia boleh,and that peoples lives should be improving. But look at us, we cannot even have assess to a decent tar sealed road.Is this too much to ask?We have been waiting for nearly 30 years.My mother used to be in her 60's,and now she has turned 90, does she has another 30 years? We are totally disappointed with the authority.An empty promise is just like a bounced cheque, it reflects the dishonesty and lack of integrity of the drawer. who would want a bounced cheque?

Food for thought

Adrain told me he loves to drink lactose free milk, but because it is expensive he has to refrain himself from drinking at his heart content.True, in our lives, there are many things we have to "give up" sometimes in order to strike a balance, and it is not easy.But look at it positively, too much milk will make one fat and that is unhealthy.So, it is not just money matter, rather it is for practical reason.Likewise, even rich peoples have to discipline themselves from indulging in food that they crave, otherwise they can harm themselves by over eating though they can afford it.God is fair, after all.We can only eat our fair share if we want to live healthily.
This morning, while I was doing my marketing in Central market, I met my friends.They were grumbling they did not know what to buy and cook for their families.I don't doubt their words because I have the same problem too,running out of ideas .Many housewives will surely face this problem as we are the "only cook of the house.".Most of the time when I ran out of ideas and asked my love ones for their suggestions, they would surely gave me the same answer," anything".I was annoyed by their indifference , but after much thoughts,I told my self,if I have full authority to cook whatever I want, why not enjoy it? Since then, whatever I cook, they will eat and hopefully,enjoy.(No complaint, so far.)
My children miss my cooking when they are away from home.Perhaps they are used to my styles thus why they prefer mum's cooking.My cooking skill is simple, I only know how to prepare typical home meals.But the secret is that when I cook,I do add in a pinch of love,a pinch of thoughts, and a pinch of sincerity,and pray that all of them can eat well , enjoy themselves and stay healthy.Try my recipe, it will make a lot of difference.
Foochow peoples, especially Sibu Foochow like to eat Kam pua mee.Peoples here can eat Kam pua for breakfast, kam pua for lunch, kam pua for dinner, and kam pua for super.Even if they go to other places, they have the tendency to order kam pua if they are indecisive of their choices.Luckily, I do not like it, or any other type of noodles.Otherwise, I will be rounder than now.I always opt for Kuih, as I grew up in Mukah, and I pick up more Hokkien peoples eating habits.Hokkiens like to drink coffee , so am I.I used to drink 7 or 8 mugs of coffee a day, and that was really excessive.When I realized that I was addicted to coffee, I quit the habit, now I drink occasionally, not even once a day.The best choice is still, plain water, or " sky juice."
My 3 sons are not very fussy over food, but they sure like to eat good food!Whenever we went traveling, their father would be interested in two things, that is, taking photographs and secondly, searching for nice foods.We went to China last year, and were disappointed with the food there. Not a single dish impressed us. The best food is China sweet potatoes roasted in hot charcoal.When we were at Cheng De, it was below 13 degree, snowing actually.The hot sweet potatoes tasted heavenly and unbelievably welcoming.Every one wished to hold it because it was so comforting, our fingers were numb from freezing cold.
Thailand is a country that has a lot to offer. Besides sight seeing and entertainments,they have many varieties of food to choose,most of them are delicious, exotic ,different and definitely worth trying.Prices are reasonable too.I love almost all the Thai dishes.The tom yam soup is hot and sour and spicy and simply exciting!Don't mind going again,if I can afford it.