Saturday 30 January 2010

..London..


..like most people  my generation, I know most things about London, England..

.being part of the Commonwealth, we sang 'God Save the Queen' in school assemblies in the early 50's..and followed with rapture Princess Anne's progress throughout her teen years into adulthood..and Prince Charles was as near as a picture in our school bags...

..daughter in London..

..long before the internet, we were familiar with London's landmarks..seeing pictures of Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge often enough, enabled us to recognise them at a glance..

..when the Beatles burst into the scene, it was easy to identify with their songs..as was Ferry Cross the Mersey..by Gerry and the Pacemakers..

..a little cove in Winchelsea, East Sussex..

..as a schoolboy, I learned where is Stratford-Upon-Avon and places like Northumberland..and later as a fumbling youth in KL, I continued reading about it..a mention of anything London, I can conjure images of it in my mind's eye..even the beautiful Lake District with its rolling hills..

.. as a junior clerk with the then Public Services Department at Federal House, KL, pens, papers, and clips were from London, ordered through the Crown Agents..

..now I have a daughter there..with two grandchildren and a son-in-law, Tom, .. and home for them is about a hour's drive north of London..and when she talks about taking the Tube to work everyday, I can visualise her journey..facebooking along the way on her Iphone..

yet, I have never step my foot on it..maybe I never  will..unlike most people I never had the opportunity to..not because for lack of opportunities..but because I never tried for those opportunities..as a youth, or  as a n adult..like the sand of Pantai Irama, Bachok, I let all those opportunities slipped through my fingers..

..maybe, one day I will make that journey..and set my foot on Trafalgar Square..and walk through Kew Gardens..or gaze up the Tower of London..and ride that double-decker..and take a ride on that black cab..or  take that ferry cross the Mersey from Liverpool on the  Wirral..or visit that little cove in Winchelsea..

..maybe..

..but no...there is another journey that I have to make first..a journey that I should have taken years ago..when I have the strength and the means..but I was so taken up by everything that was worldly to take heed.. of that soft whisper that beckons....for then, the ears hear what the soul doth not..and the eyes  see what the  heart doth not...

.. I am looking forward to that day..and I am saving my energy and resources for it..for I realised, in all humility, that not everyone can be His guest..for inasmuch as I seek His Forgiveness, I also seek His Consent...God willing...

16 comments:

Cat-from-Sydney said...

".....but no...there is another journey that I have to make first..a journey that I should have taken years ago..when I have the strength and the means..but I was so taken up by everything that was worldly to take heed.. of that soft whisper that beckons....for then, the ears hear what the soul doth not..and the eyes see what the heart doth not..."

InshaAllah PakMat. We'll make du'a for you.

Granny Hani said...

InsyaAllah..

Pak Zawi said...

Pak Mat,
When your heart and mind is set to do it, InsyaAllah you will make the journey. Do it while you are still healthy.
Bila nak minum kopi bawah pokok di Pasir Mas? Pak Zawi masih menunggu.
Incase you forgot, I can be reached at 0199125647. Let us have lunch in Pasir Mas.

Kama At-Tarawis said...

Insyaallah Pak Mat.. akan sampai hasrat kedua-duanya..

PS: Cucu Pakmat come lote!

rizal hashim said...

PakMat, yes PakMat, InsyaAllah...Kak Puteri has performed her duties...so will you. Once you've completed the mission, Lake District beckons...maybe...

Unknown said...

..thank you for the dua, my dear cat..this tom must do what a cat must do..

..thank you, hani..and you take care..

salam pakzawi..yes, we owed each other lunch or breakfast..pl.take a rain cheque..but I will call you..and I have yr number..thanks..

cucu come lote..lady kama..tok tuo gerdo..and I do see some possibilities ahead..who knows..

lc..maybe..I might even fished in the Lake District..ikan puyu..maybe..

Anonymous said...

If ever I make it to London again, or make it to Mekah (hopefully both), you Pak Mat, are the one I'd like to see beside me.

Unknown said...

..and as the Brits are fond to say..blimey, mr. bankai, I would be 'onoured..

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Pak Mat, make those 2 trips as priorties as both holds dear to your heart & don't wait too long!

Ikut Nike's 'Just Do It'; jangan macam tu terbalik Ekin Cheng kata "It Do Just"

I look forward to read about your adventure from Mecca To London by this year end!

Cheers,

Tommy

Fauziah Ismail said...

Insya'Allah, Pak Mat, you'll make the journey there. I hope to make the same journey soon.

Unknown said...

..no,Tommy, not this year, next year, maybe..but then, who knows..? and I will certainly blog about it..for it will be like going home..

..God willing, lady latte@chinoz on the park..it was your post that sets this old man musing..you strum a guitar somewhere in my heart..and I found myself singing ferry cross the mersey..:)

Lee said...

Hi Pakmat, I'm sure you will make that long hoped for journey.
And later go over to London....good reason too as daughter and grandkids there.
I love London, been there few times, just across the pond from us.

You keep well, Pakmat, best regards, Lee.
Oh ya, don't forget London's fish & chips! The best! Must be eaten out of an old newspaper...

Cat-from-Sydney said...

PakMat dear,
My Mama's experience, once she said "OK" to Dad's "Jom", somehow the path was very very clear for her journey to the place you so wanted to go. Even to the point of looking for people to look after our feline family in their long absence. InsyaAllah, kalau dah sampai seru, akan dipermudahkan. Bila dah sampai Makkah and London, lepas tu kena datang Sydney tau! purrr....meow!

Unknown said...

..hi, lee..of course I will try the fish and chips..partaken by the roadside..wrapped in newspapers..thanks, lee..and you take care of yourself..tapi sudah tua ini, tak bolih lagi main pranks...:)

..Sydney?..dear cat..I have a cousin in Adelaide..a bit far from Sydney..but a stopover can be arranged..take care cat..and regards to Brad..

Snakebite said...

betul sangat lah tu...insyaAllah

Unknown said...

Hi, snakebite..and I wished I could decipher ZuAr's smile..but thanks, anyway..cheers..