Today, my dear friend Siti and a kindred spirit, sent me this video clip, amongst many others earlier; ever since the latest assault on Palestine. Forget about names like West Bank and Gaza Strip. Call a spade a spade as before 1945. It has been and will always be Palestine.
[Just like Semenanjung Tanah Melayu and not Federated Malay States, the Straits Settlements, and the Unfederated Malay States .... and many other 'creative' name plates given by the British to the Malay Peninsula.]
Here's hoping this posting will not suffer the fate of my previous posting 😓.
All I can say to dear Siti ......
Siti, I hate it, I hate it. The hypocrisy and double standards of the Western/Christian/Zionist Lobby is despicable.
There are people much younger than us today who will find this atrocious and unacceptable, and will dedicate themselves to giving voice to the powerless and afflicted.
But 30 to 40 years from now, I dearly hope they will not end up like me (and Iain if he is still with us today), holding their heads in their hands and crying out, " Why? Wny? When will this end?
You are much younger than us two - you will carry on.
In two days, at this time, Ash will be on the M1 on her way to Heathrow for another 13-hour journey to KLIA.
I have this album by Mark Lindsay given to me by my late brother Akim when I moved to Brunei in 1978 to earn my living and escape the oppressive world of teaching in Singapore. I remember this one song (though not my favourite) 'The Man from Houston'.
This time, on this journey which I have been doing since 1985 with Iain (at least twice a year) I will be treading a new frontier. From now on this will be a solo trip, just like when I departed KLIA for LHR in August this year. Just like some previous arrivals at LHR or KLIA I can depend on him to be waiting.
From now on, on every arrival, I will be wondering ......
why there ain't nobody here to meet me
I wonder why there's no one here to greet me with a kiss
tell me everything's all right
and boy I sure missed you
and please don't stay away so long next time
... and oooh I love you .
That's as far as it goes for me. The rest is for Shah,( my late brother Mus' son )for whenever he has to leave his wife and kids behind when he's away on Company Business.
Memories of Leicester to take back include the warmth, love and kindness of friends like Jackie and Julia, Jagdish and Punam, Deanna, John, at Leicester Animal Rescue, Naseema our neighbour and Mohammad and Moriom our good neighbour who live just next door, for Siti, a dear friend from Malaysia who, with her lovely daughters Sara and Hana came all the way from London to keep me company in Leicester. And finally, some last words from our dearest and kindest of friends - Colin Brooks.
A conversation with Colin, our dear friend in Leicester
Colin - my version
Iain's view and mine as well
On Sunday 15 October .
BW - Colin, can we make it on Tuesday after 3? Am dealing with Council and the solicitors for the Will.
COLIN - Sorry, that's the day I'm in Northampton.
BW - What about Wed afternoon?
COLIN - Yes, that's fine. What time does the Queen of the Orient command my presence?
BW - Afternoon at 2-3 says the Dowager Queen if that's okay with the Grand Vizier.
COLIN - Your wish is my command.
BW - I shall command the glass carriage to transport you, to avoid the Cycle Lane and leave a trail of horse poo for the Council to clean up for the gardens of the Green Brigade.
COLIN - I can remember ladies rushing out with buckets to collect horse poo dropped in the road by the milkman. Well not really the milkman, his horse! Perfect food for the rhubarb. The poo, not the milkman!
BW - We do share mind-boggling knowledge. Iain would really approve of this!
COLIN - It's amazing how conversation seems to distil down to good honest s**t! 😀
Yes I miss talking to Iain. He leaves a gap in life no one else comes close to filling. His wife isn't a bad cook though.😃
On Thursday 19 October
BW - A confession Colin. I ate 5 pieces of your Lindt chocolate. Yummy!
I recall what you said Colin; of saying goodbye to someone who is not there.
To comfort me , my late brother Mus (when he was still with us) reminded me of a quote from Wordsworth. "Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendour in the grass ....... we will grieve not but rather find strength in what remains behind." {He was a strong shoulder for me to lean on, the last of the four most loved men in my life.}
Departed in 2023 - the last two of my most and well-loved men.
The strength is something I can sustain, but the grieving is relentless. Thank you Colin (and this I know he would repeat to you if he could) for being there and for being you.
Take care of yourself and look after your diet, England expects every man to do his duty.
See you in Spring, God be willing.
From the Oriental Queen of Leicester.
COLIN - Wordsworth's words recited by a Malaysian Malay man. What a wonderful thought that he used English literature to describe the world.
Grieving lessens but never fades. Ironically, without its presence we would forget those we love. So fortunately every negative event has an equal positive.
I too miss Iain. There was someting deep inside that I related too. I hope your journey is not too daunting and remember that England and Leicester awaits to welcome its Queen once again.
PS : The Brook by Alfred, Lord Tennyson for another Brook - the namesake Colin Brooks.
An extract from The Brook by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
"I wish I had more words to say for that beautiful man of yours, Ms Hamid."
Also yesterday, Dr Chandra Muzaffar kindly wrote this tribute to Iain Buchanan.
THE PASSING OF IAIN BUCHANAN
Thank you very much Chandra. He would have especially loved your reference to 'humane' and not just 'human' values. More and more we both realise that most of the time humans cause a great deal of damage to the planet with their greed and ethos of profit and enterprise. In being humane we include the protection and survival of our trees, rivers, oceans and 'all creatures great and small' but for Iain, especially trees.
Just a little slip. He departed very quickly, of a heart attack on Sunday 8th January 2023 while we were on the way to hospital.
Early this morning , I sent this photograph to Bride, my sister-in-law in New Zealand.
AsH Dear Bride. Here's Iain's final resting place with our favourite Banjaran Titiwangsa in the far distance."
Bride That is a lovely setting. The one with the flowers all over it? How are you doing Maz?
AsH Yes, that's where my maddeningly 'beautiful' ole git is enjoying his snooze before his Malay tart arrives. I am still expecting him to come downstairs, make me my coffee/tea. (he 's a fabulous beverage manager) albeit after getting an earful of cussing and threats. After that he will nestle in his rocking chair, gaze at the birds and tree-shrews and perhaps Mr Toad - in his unkempt garden, then shuffle about in the chair to settle Comot and Socks on his lap, pick up the mobile and get the news and lovely pictures of NZ from his crabby little sister.
Bride You're back on form Maz. Yeah! And I'll miss all those little calls asking odd questions I'd never have the answer to. I hope you can find a new equilibrium and comfort space.
I just sent these to Keith he asked if I'd sent to you. I have sent to Iain in the past (yes we have but he has tucked it away where I can't find it - because it's a handy tool for blackmail) but as he died on Elvis's birthday they are probably rocking' on down somewhere rather than getting on with the housework!
AsH Cool man! Reel cool.
Bride What a dude eh?
AsH Indeed! Your lovable, wacky brother, my beloved pain-in-the-everywhere and soul-mate and Keith's loving dude of a Dad.
Rock on sweetheart!!! We miss you but look out for bus number 104319 and keep the kettle on warm.
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