Raya 2013

It looks like we won’t have our annual joint family breakfast together at Taman Perwira house this time round. Mek is still wheel-chair bound, Zaki and Sabrina are at her mother’s, Fahd still in New Zealand, Nani in Dubai and Ida in London.

That leaves Faizal and Faritz, two late-nighters who are unlikely to even want to get up early in the morning. So, it’s just me and Ham then for Raya breakfast tomorrow morning. Never mind, it’s Raya – Maaf Zahir Batin. Open House                  This is just a few of Mek's nephews, nieces, and grandkids As usual Mek would have her open house on the first day of Raya. And this time it's no different. Even before the appointed time of 12 noon, we had our first visitors. The stream of relatives and friends continued right through to just before 4 pm when the caterers prepared to pack up.  The weather was lovely thanks to a bit of rain the night before.  Everyone enjoyed themselves and one Rotary wife even quipped "Please don't change the menu.  We love your lamb, mee curry, kuey teow, rendang, lemang, ketupat, spaghetti, ice kacang, cakes...and what else ah..." Mek is also a good storyteller.  So when her niece Raja Maizura and her family came on Saturday 17 August night for Raya, her son and daughter -- the curious duo --  had Wan Mek tell them bits about their grandfather Raja Arif, their ancestry and also an interesting story of how Kelantan was won by their mutual ancestor Long Yunus by winning a cock-fight with the Sultan of Trengganu. And how she sorted out Raja Zainal's Shell station business in Jalan Raja Chulan.  To top it all was the story about her mother's elephant ride back to Kelantan. I think one day I'll write a book on all her stories.