Country Cottage Arts

 I make it a point to stop by at MPH bookstores in Mid Valley  whenever I'm going to KL  because that's the only way I can read all the latest books for free , in comfort too !!  It's a terrible situation when books are so expensive to buy, although we get a tax deduction... and most often, its an almost common phenomenon that interesting books worth exploring - with new ideas and takes - are banned or confiscated by the ' I know it all '  authorities.  What stupidity I think,.  I've passed 50 and I'm pretty sure you'll agree with me that I can choose what I want to read .   and have the right to read what I like, no ?   And you know what happens when people don't/ can't read books?  The ' don't read books' type talk like low life politicians and display their  equally low thinking capacity ......

A case in point would be our defacto Law Minister addressing in the Dewan Rakyat proceedings recently,  in such  unbecoming and uncouth language when he labelled himself as ' Saya jantan ' ( I'm a cockeral )  and the opposing  male politician as ' dia betina'  ( a coarse and uncouth reference to a female, akin to a bitch ) I'm not interested to whom he said and referred it to. I don't care a hoot about our jackass  politicians  from both sides of  the divide but I strongly object to the tawdry  and coarse language used by anyone to demean us, the women, in general. .

And true to form and Malaysian politics, although some of the female MPs  present  and NGOs did object to the Chair over the crude language used, neither the Speaker/ Deputy Speaker nor the VIP who uttered the words apologised  for it.( I think we should change it to VVSP - Very Very Stupid Person).

My strongest criticism is aimed at our 1 and only female minister who is supposedly into women and welfare affairs .  She gets the VVVVVVVVVVVVSP award.  She should rightly have brought it up with the VVSP and asked the VVSP to apologise to all women....... instead of which we don't  even  hear a whimper from her.  .  Probably safeguarding her post...... aiyo.....I'm soooooo angry la. What a crass, tasteless, boorish and vulgar remark from a  VIP/VSSP politician.   Just reflects his breeding, I suppose...........


I've to take a breather here before I go ballistic...  tell me, am I the only woman who feels this way or are you all like the VVVVVVVVVVSP award holder ?


Ps:   The ' want to buy all books in the bookshelf but can't afford all the books ' types spend their  whole       day   in      bookshops reading for free,  fast and furious and subsequently rant and rave when they get angry or feel they have an issue to settle.

This birdhouse shaped bookstand case was given by my quilt making friend, Jackie.  She wanted it to look kinda whimsical .  So I painted this  

Is is whimsical enough, you think?

Ha, thought it was a supermodel of the humankind, didn't you all?

Mrs Henny Henrietta is actually from the super modelling agency  of  Country Lady  Chickens Inc.  The picture was taken from one of my designer collections  of the  Country Club Chicks.  As  you can see, Mrs Henny Henrietta  is sitting in her designer pose,  prettily preening herself in all her glory . Sharing her bed are her equally polished and primed  designer eggs. 


Notice her  chicks?  They've just come from the  exclusive Chicky Chicks Wonder  Hair Styling  Saloon.  All four of them were given a  Deep Conditioning &  Intensive  Mousse Wash  treatment , after which they were blow dried with the Fluff Me To The Max XFactor  Dryer .

The picture says it all and more , I think !!! 




Ps: Ms Henrietta was actually the name of my English Teacher when I was in Primary 2 in the 1960's in St Anne's Convent.  She was always well dressed and groomed to the max all the time, complete with a  long sleeved blouse, skirt , scarf, brooch and pumps. She did look like a model and Mrs Henny Hentrietta is in remembrance of  her.

A set of 3 trays which was given for painting by Cikgu Zaleha  who wanted 3 different themes, thus the fruit, flowers and tea set.

Cik Zaleha is such a sweet and charming lady and these painted trays absolutely go in  tandem with her qualities .


How lovely to be able to use these trays in your everyday life, Cikgu Zaleha,  which I'm sure you will .





Why put it away for decor only when we can fully make use of it?  The tray is such a versatile item that we can use it for practically anything.  And not to forget, its a great gift item too..................

 So said Marian Wright Edelman, an American activist for the rights of children. who is also  the president and founder of the Children's Defense Fund.


For the past 2 months, I've been a volunteer teacher for some very young underprivileged school kids.  Every Monday aftertoons, I drive over to the school with stacks of storybooks, notebooks and workbooks to  help the kids with their English Language.  Most of these children lack parental guidance and  simple words of  encouragement .  They are the  latchkey kids - where both parents are away at work and the children are left on their own in the house without any supervision. Some of them have difficulty expressing themselves while some are so eager to  just talk, talk and talk non stop! Out of loneliness, perhaps? 

My volunteer class starts after their normal school hours and this bunch of students wait  patiently for me to arrive. Although they are 12 year olds, they look more like 8  year olds and could be blown away by a gust of wind.  That's how small sized and thin they are.  My heart really cries out when I see them so.  I am in no position to blame anyone, neither their parents nor the kids. Nor do I want to be judgemental. Perhaps its a mixture of  factors - poverty, ignorance, misplaced priorities, lack of adequate  teaching skills and facilities,  indifference by those concerned , politics and an  ever changing for the worse education policies .  The bottom line is - its always the children who are at the receiving end- not only here but all over the world as well.

It was during one of my classes that I noticed a boy, sitting at the front row,  straining at the blackboard to read the words.  Finding out that he was short-sighted and that his parents were unable to take him to an optometrist, I spoke to the Headmistress and volunteered to take him to one and get him a proper pair of spectacles .

Thinking that there could be a few more unnoticed cases and not sure that I could handle more than 1 at the moment,  I made some enquiries  through my friend at the Klang Kiwanis Club to see if they could sponsor a few students. And God bless my friend, she managed to convince them to sponsor corrective eye glasses for  5 more students!  

I'm so terribly happy for the  kids and can't seem to wait to take them out for a treat too - probably to the ' ABC Ais Kachang ' shop ( local granita like iced drink)

Wasn't it Aesop who said that we can't please everyone everytime?  How true.