3 Weddings and A Funeral

That's how my last week of 2005 ended.

One day before Christmas, I received an SMS from my youngest brother that a neightbour had passed away. He was 61 years old. I would say that he was still quite young. According to the wife he had a heart attack. He is an imam in the mosque in my kampung, as well as the PIBG chairman at the primary school. He left 4 sons all are still schooling, the youngest son is not yet entered school. Took my mak to visit the arwah and in the afternoon we all headed for my eldest brother's (Abang Long) for preparation to the son's kenduri.

On Christmas day, Abang Long side held the kenduri for Mamat. We went there to help since the day before, stayed until very late. Came back hungry so had to stop by the nasi kandar to buy some curyy ayam to add to some food that I had prepared, As always, my 3rd brother and family were staying at my house. The next day at the kenduri, had the chance to meet with relatives whom we seldom meet. The usual tradition nowadays, relatives would only meet during weddings or deaths. Again stayed rather late. Took leftovers food for my family and Abang Lang's family to eat the next day. It is difficult to estimate the amount of food so, it is quite natural there are lots of leftovers. Abang Long and his partners cook the food themselves for the kenduri.

On Boxing day, one of my first cousin held a wedding reception for her second son. It was done in Penang. Again we took mak to attend the wedding. It was held in a dewan in Penang Island. It is quite common for those people in Penang Island to hold the kenduri in a community hall. Especially when they stayed in apartments and flats. Between the food and the meeting of the relatives, we received 2 more invites to weddings in January 2006. Tak habis-habis lagi orang dok kawin ni kan. 2 ladies cousins are getting married.

Lastly to end the 2005, my niece (My elder sister's daughter) was also married on 31st December 2005. I had only managed to go to Kak M's house after work on Friday. Arrived after maghrib, my sister in law (Kak Ngah) said that they were going to dinner. I joined the other 4 siblings and family totalling to 19 of us to a dinner at the nearby fourt court overlooking the sea in Butterworth. Free makan since it was our youngest brother's treat :-). Murah rezeki tu!!. My hubby and daughters were not with me since hubby took them to Penang Island for some shopping. Kak Long wanted to buy something for her assignment.

After dinner, went back to help Kak M around the house for the kenduri the following day. Managed to get home with Kak Ngah and Ina at around midnite. Abang Ngah and family decided to spend the nite at my house since Kak Ngah and Ina were to cook the lauk pengantin for the next day. Reached home after midnite too tired to do anything but get into bed. Abang Lang arrived at 2.30 am so had to wake up to open the door for them. For the past few weeks my house is like rumah tumpangan when we have all these kenduri. Poor Abang Lang had to come back to kampung 2 weeks in a row.

When the weddings were over, on Sunday I and adik S took Kak Lang to do some shopping. Abang Lang's eldest daughter is planing on getting married in August, so my sister in law wanted to get some stuff for the hantaran etc. Knowing that thing in the Klang valley would be expensive, we took her to shop around Kulim. Many shops were not opened, so she just managed to get some things only.

In reflection, 2004 was the year where we had many relatives passed away. Amongst them were my father, 3 uncles, 2 aunties, 1 cousin, the cousin son (this is the case of father, son and grandson, all 3 dies within a few months of each other). A few other close relatives. 2005 was the year for wedding. What would 2006 brings ? The next generations I would think. OH NO...... it is too fast, by next year have to change my nick from AuntyN to GrandAuntyN.........muahhhhhaahhhaaa!!!