My son just came home from school today and his rolling backpack... well, I swear it's gonna disintegrate into nothing in the next few weeks if I (that means the husband) doesn't do something about it. And what, it's only February. Just 2 months into using his new backpack.


Noooobody wants to listen to me. I say no to rolling backpacks but my sister buys him a Transformers rolling backpack, anyway. The whole of last year, I let him use this laptop/book bag which was water resistant (something like one of those north face book bags) but he complained that it was too plain and he wanted something more cool. All his friends were using Angry Birds, Ben10, Transformers, etc backpacks and he wanted one too.

Now, he's complaining that there's not a lot of compartments, the material can't support heavy books, the rolling "thingy" digs in his back when he carries it using the straps instead.. and another 1001 complaints.

That's what I've been saying all this time. Simplicity is comfort. Why doesn't anyone want to ever listen to me? *sigh*

I've been wanting to put up this song for this week's Music Monday segment because this whole weekend, my children has been watching the late P.Ramlee's movies from Labu Labi to Tiga Abdul to Nujum Pak Belalang, Madu Tiga, Masam-masam Manis, etc.. and they just love it so much. They get into a fit of giggles and they'll imitate the scenes when they're playing with each other. It hardly comes as a surprise, though, as seeing as that's how my siblings and I were when we were their age watching these movies.

The song Lagenda (Legend), performed by Sheila Majid, was written and composed especially as a tribute to Allahyarham Tan Sri P.Ramlee -- who was and will always be my favourite Malay actor of all time.


On Sunday, the world lost another legend -- power house artist, Whitney Houston -- whose sudden demise rocked the music world as well as everyone else who has ever listened to her music.


My sister and I used to sing and dance to her songs all the time and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" still remains our "pick-me-up" song. My sister was saddened by her passing but at least she was able to witness the magic of Whitney Houston at her show here in KL some years back.

I'm sure this Music Monday, many of you will be featuring her music as a tribute to her so instead, this song "Lagenda" is my tribute to mourn the passing of a great singing legend.

Also, this song is dedicated to my late father, who is a legend in MY eyes. Today, marks his 11th death anniversary according to the Islamic calendar -- 21 RabiulAwal. How time flies.. at times I still feel like I can just pick up the phone and call him for advice. I miss him still with each and every passing day. Al-Fatihah.


Here's the song Lagenda.. dedicated to everyone and anyone who has been affected by the death of someone they love and idolize.



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Next month is my husband's birthday. I don't know what to give him. Last year, I forgot his birthday. BUT, I did make it up to him by giving him awesome corner grandstand seats to watch the F1 race in Sepang, with the help of my best friend, Moose. So this year, I don't wanna bug Moose and ask him if he can score me more tix, and I know it will be hard to top the gift last year.


Sooooo, I think right now, instead of thinking of what I should get him, I could help the kids with THEIR gift for dad. It's easier, cheaper and I'm sure my husband would love whatever THEY give him. I know he'll love whatever I give him and I know he'll love me even if I don't give him anything. But still, I feel the pressure. Any ideas??

A relative of mine, a young 9 year old boy, came over to my house one day. He saw a snail in the yard. He said.. “Ohhh.. there's a siput babi (snail). Ooops!! I mean, siput khinzir! Cannot say babi (pig) because the word babi is haram (forbidden/prohibited/banned). Dosa kalau cakap. (It's sinful to say it).” I asked him, “Who told you that?” He said it was his teacher. According to his teacher, every word with babi has to be changed to khinzir because it is "haram and berdosa" (forbidden and sinful).


The word babi means pig. Pigs are haram (forbidden) for Muslims. We aren't allowed to eat or touch a pig or eat in a restaurant that serves pork, and other prohibitions that go along with it that I don't have time to explain in depth today.

However, the WORD is certified by Kamus Dewan dan Pustaka (The Malaysian equivalent to Oxford dictionary). It is said to be one of  the four original Malay words that is not derived and adapted from any other language. It means pig. Khinzir is the adapted Arabic word for pig which is also used widely in the Malay language.


So basically this teacher is telling that it's haram and berdosa (forbidden and sinful) to say it in Malay but okay to say it in Arabic? *Turn on your sarcasm detector.* How about saying the word in English, or any other language for that matter? So do we resort to saying “oink oink” like a 2 year old child?
I am no religious scholar. However, I know enough to know that the teacher is sending out the wrong message to his students. It is sinful to maki (curse) someone with the word babi (which I know and see a lot of youths doing, and I see the teacher's point), but can't he just tell his students it is simply sinful to curse someone in the first place? Regardless of the choice of word?

I honestly think it's not right to use the child's fear of God and making him believe he will be damned to hell just by saying this word? When this boy grows up and learns that the teacher is misguided in his teachings, how many more of this teacher's teachings will this boy start to doubt? That, I believe is more detrimental in his education and his learning process, don't you think?

I have nothing against teachers, whether regular or religious teachers, and I have the utmost respect for them. However, I just think teachers need to check themselves before they impart knowledge on young, impressionable and naïve children. At this tender age, teachers are more credible to children than their own parents. They think the world of their teachers and their teachers can do no wrong.

So back to the topic at hand. The word babi. Arguably, the word khinzir is more polite, yes. I don't oppose that statement. However, saying the word itself in a conversational context is NOT haram and berdosa. Siput babi (snail), gila babi (epilepsy)? HARAM and BERDOSA? Siput khinzir and gila khinzir. Same thing.

It is NOT haram and berdosa to say babi. I believe with all my heart and mind and soul that I will not accumulate sins just because I have been saying siput babi rather than siput khinzir.

HOWEVER, at the same time, to all the youths out there, be mindful of your choice of words. I do get why teachers, be them religious or not, scare the young ones to saying the word babi altogether. I don't agree with it. But I get it.



If somehow, somewhere, by some higher decree it states that saying the word babi is haram and berdosa, then I seek forgiveness from the AlMighty, then also to my readers for this post is peppered with it.

p/s: Righteous comments by easily offended people are welcome.