Wednesday, 13 February 2008

Hakuna Matata

I first heard the phrase "Hakuna Matata" while watching Disney's The Lion King, back when I was in high school. Did not know what the song really meant at the time, except Simba was a handsome lion and that the song had a very catchy tune. The phrase is actually Swahili's which literary translates as "There are no worries here". Indeed, if I was asked to create a tag line for daddy's Orchard, I would say just that.

Noooooooo, not Hakuna Matata, silly. I shall coin it as "Orchard, there are no worries here". (*Hint* Daddy darling, I believe this is the part where you should say, "Baby, that's a wonderful idea. Why don't I reward you for your efforts". I know, I know - just pushing my luck here :)).

Frankly speaking, I am a city girl who is used to the hustle and bustle of the hectic city life. So when I first came to the Orchard, I found it to be a little bit intimidating for me. There was a vast of land overlooking the lake. Lots of trees, plants and live stocks. All the sounds and smells that were emanating from the orchard is anything but, citylike. I remember thinking to myself, bloody hell,how in the world am I going to sleep tonight since there isn't any aircond??

However, over a period of time, I find myself looking forward to our weekly/monthly visits to the Orchard. The thought of the green, green grass and the clear blue sky with the orchestra of chickens, geese and ducks playing in the background actually comforts me. I can't begin to describe the feeling that I have when I am over there, surrounded by nature. But all I can say is that, when I am there, it's as if I have finally found peace. For that short moment in time, I am without any worries. Nothing to weigh me down. Nothing to hold me back. I am able to just relax, sit down and enjoy life while bonding with my family.

We went to the Orchard again during the Chinese New Year break. Arrived at 10:30 on a Wednesday night, we were welcomed by the fresh air and the cool breezy wind. At midnight, there was a display of fireworks presumely from the town centre, which was visible from where we were.

We spent our days chatting, eating, chatting, taking walks, cleaning up the old garage, chatting again, target practice (daddy calls me "trigger happy people" ;) ), gardening and more chatting. Yes, we love to talk, especially the ladies in my family. We could talk for hours!! Long after all the men have gone to sleep, we will still be gossiping away, giggling and laughing - sometimes sitting close together in the darkened room, talking about the good 'ol times, the present and of the future. Father once asked me how could we talk and talk for hours and not get tired of each other - talking endlessly, sometimes repeating the same story over and over again. To the question, I replied, " Ayah, us ladies - if we don't talk, we will certainly die!!". Not everyone, particularly the men in my family, would be able to understand this. Well, all I can say is that, you wouldn't know now unless you try, right? ;)

I took the opportunity to take some pictures - using my humble camera phone, so that when I am back in the city, I will still be able to remember the beautiful orchard.







Before we went back to the city, father asked me, if I would consider staying here at the Orchard - permanently. He plans to retire there, amidst the serenity and tranquility that is just divine. To finally enjoy the fruits of his labour - his reward for all the hard work he has done for most of his adult life. His blood, sweat and tears.

What is that?? Moi?? Stay here at the Orchard??

But of course!!!

..... errr, provided KLCC is just around the corner, preferably just outside the entrance to the Orchard..hehehehe ;)

Sorry daddy, but alas, I am afterall, a city girl at heart. I don't think I could live there knowing there isn't any McDonalds within the vicinity should I need to indulge on my McMuffin cravings at 4:00 am in the morning!!

But then again, having said that, who knows? Perhaps the calling of 'Hakuna Matata' in the future might just be the 'it' factor to propel me to ...have a change of heart ?? ;)

Tuesday, 5 February 2008

What's In A Name?

I was recently asked by an acquaintance of mine, who asked me the origins of my name.

" Your name is quite peculiar for a Malay. Are you of mixed parentage? " he asked.

Peculiar? Never gave much thought about it, really. The name was associated with me since my birth and to this day, I have never question the meaning of my name. Of course, I have previously asked my family, in particular my parents, on the reason why they named me so. According to my mother, it was my father who chose the name. Perhaps he acquired it during one of his overseas trip, back when he was younger and was always on the road, she said. My father's response was somewhat more along the lines of practicality, really. His exact reply, and if I were to remember accurately was,

" Entah, tak ingat la. Tak salah ayah masa tu belum decide nak bubuh nama ape, pulak tu nurse tu ugut ayah kalau ayah tak bagi nama, dia akan bagi nama die sendiri." ( Can't really remember why. If I am not mistaken, I have yet to choose a name for you at that time and the nurse had threatened to name you herself if I fail to do so).

Frankly, I was hoping for a more 'romantic' version. Being a romantic that I am(I totally blame it on Mills & Boons for this), I thought perhaps, just like the movie 'Becoming Jane', the name was picked by father because it reminded him of the girl he met but wasn't able to pursue a relationship with, due to the many obstacles that he faced. A lost love - which was doomed from the beginning by a cruel twist of fate. My late grandmother had offered a more 'interesting' version to it. She claimed that back then, in the roaring 60's, my father was a huge fan of both the movie, Lawrence of Arabia and that of the Italian actress, Sofia Loren and that is how he came up with my name. Seriously and truly, till this day I still cannot find the connection between those two given facts and of course the rationality which links them together, but what the heck, this 'version' DEFINITELY sounds a whooolllleeeee lot nicer then the explanation that was given to me by my father :).

So I decided to conduct my own research, through the limited resources that I have. After 'googling' it over the net, this is a basic summary of my findings -facts on the origins and meaning of my name :


1. A female's name;

2. Definitely not associated with the Malays;

3. Origins of name most probably is from Ireland. Used mostly by the English and Irish;

4. Closest meaning I could fine is "Norene" and according to babynamer.com, means :

Meaning: Its source is Eleonora, an Italian name meaning "Compassion"

Narrative: It developed as a short form of the names Eleonora, Honora and Leonora.

Though Nora is not Gaelic in origin, it has come to be especially associated with Ireland, and in Scotland is often used as a feminine form of Norman.

(Wicked, eh?!!) ;)

5. Name was most popular during the early 1900's;

6. ...which means most of the people with the same name are either old or already dead !!! (found a lot of obituaries for the same name....huhuhuhuhu).


So, I ask ye again, what's in a name? ;)