Kawan Di Rumah Panjai ...

Kami kemari bisi ke rumah panjai, lalu ngaga meh anak aku ketegal betemu enggau kawan-kawan mit iya. Sida iay bersulu di bilik, ngirup, makai kuih, etc sehari-hari. Datai aku ngalih hari, sempat ngah aku ngambi gambar sida tiga. Sama cantik, sama cute magang sida tu!!

Chrissabelle, Valerie, & Felecia.

Belelang enda lama ....

Minggu nyin kemari aku sempat ke London seminggu ketegal kerja. Sambil kerja, aku mega sempat bejalai nemuai ngagai sekeda endor di luar kota London; laban progrim digaga betemu enggau bala diluar kota.

Aku endang rindu endal meda menoa diluar kota London, laban setiap endor endang bisi sejarah magang. Munyi ko kawan aku, iya diau aba rumah ke berumur lebih 100 taun; tang iya enda tentu berati ke pemanah tauka sejarah. Dibai sida iya aku ke Oxford serta di pelilir Leighton Buzzard - nya alai sambil berandau ke pengawa, sempat mega raun meda menoa.

Penemuai aku sekali tu endang meda countryside England, makai pemakai sida 'pudding', serta nyium sida angin luar kota!

Siti ari countryside ke dilawa aku semak Leighton Buzzard, lebih kurang 40min kena keretapi ari London. Munyi ko kawan aku nya, penyukup jauh ari kota London ngambi diau ke luar bandar, tan penyukup semak ari kota London ngambi ulih dilawa setiap hari enti bisi pengawa!

This trip I had a wonderful time visiting the English countryside with friends (Stephen for taking the time to be with me in Oxford and Jo for the other sites!); it was partly work (with Jo) and just purely for pleasure with Stephen. Had a wonderful time exploring the sites! Lest you think it was a pleasure trip; no such luck .... I was in London for a conference and was given an opportunity to once again present a paper. A very well received paper and I was honored that most of them enjoyed it and were vocal enough to tell me so - later! Of course, I planned it such that the work part was mixed with pleasure. I had a meeting with Jo Parker, a specialist in water management, and instead of meeting in London, we met in the countryside!

Bandar Oxford University tu chukup manah endal peda aku. Aku endang lama udah ka nyenguk kitu, nie nemu bala anak belajar kitu kini ila; ngambi udah ngah ngelala menoa mimit. Sehari suntuk aku enggau kaban belajai ditu. Kaki ukai main enda pedis pengelama bejalai.

Oxford University which in itself is full of history and being there, I feel so 'learned'! What a priviledge to study in such a place and hope one day I will get to do that or my daughter will?

Siti ari endor kolej mit di Ashridge ke dilawa. Chukup manah serta 'posh' endor tu serta 'formal' endal. Endor tu enda dibuka ke orang mayoh; tang ketegal kaban aku nya nyadi 'kaban' endor tu; ulih lah tama meda pemanah endor. Utai irup & pemakai disedia ke 'kaban' lalu ulih mega releks. Pun kayu, bunga etc semua chukup manah magang!

Aku ngambi gambar apai tuai tu nuchi cermin tingkat 3 enggau tali ke chukup panjai. Enti dimenoa nuh bejelakit bala kitai aba jendela. Kena iya penyambung, iya nuchi pen baka ke senang endal.

Bala ke enggau aku conference, lalu sebuat ke enggau sama-sama.

Some of the participants at the conference and we had a wonderful evening of fellowship with them. L-R: Andrew Clark (friend), standing Paul Fanner; the rest forgive me, I forgot but I know Assad & Gale?


Bala kami ke indu ke enggau ragak sepiak. Ke sepiak kanan nya, kitai se-menoa ke jadi enggau sida din ie laki iya enggau kami. Lalu laki iya pengudah betemu eggau aku, lalu nyebut bini iya mesti betemu enggau aku laban semenoa!

The wonderful ladies at the conference, L-R: Merilyn of UK, Dana of Israel, yours truly, and Cecilia of Malaysia/UK (Paul Fanner's wife).

A wonderful couple, and I spend the next evening with them at China town for dinner - Thank You for fulfiling a craving!!! After days of not eating rice, I was 'desperate' for rice!! I note here that I enjoyed western food but after days, rice rice rice, please!

Penghulu Indu Iban ...

Udah datai maya iya kitai indu Iban dikelala ketegal pengawa, pemansang & kaul kitai enggau bala rakyat & perintah. Peluang patut diberi ngagai bala indu kitai ke ulih dilantik nyadi pemesai kitai raban bansa. Besampi ke tu ulih diatur Perintah enggau naka pengelekas!

Kelala pengering bala raban indu, kering ke penglemi; serta sokong meh pagan diri ngambi kitai indu mansang. Ingat meh ke leka jako: Deh mansang, Aku mansang!

Sapa fikir kita indu kitai Iban di Sibu ke patut dilantik nyadi Penghulu? Aku mega udah nganjung siko nama kitai Indu Iban di Sibu ke bala pemesai ke patut megai pengawa tu. Anang saru auk, ukai aku. Enti aku nganjung nama aku empu, dianjung aku nyadi State Secretary :D!!! hahaha!!




Iban woman as Penghulu (community leader) is a long awaited appointment. The time is right and there's so many Iban women who have contributed to community and deserved to be recognized and take up a more active role in decsion making & policy matters of the State/Nation!



Pray that this recognition will come soon for an Iban woman Penghulu! :)

Betemu enggau Kaban ...

Kemari aku enggau ngulu makai kahwin, lalu maya nya bisi betemu enggau kaban/ kelala lama. Kaban ke terubah enggau aku betemu ianya Dr. Jawa & bini iya. Bini iya betemu lalu nanya ke berita apai & indai, tertanya-tanya ngah ati aku; dini meh aku ngelala seduai iya. Bisi ngah di padah ke mimit sapa seduai olih kaban siko ke duduk sepiak aku. Nuh ka ambis lemai baru iya madah ke diri selalu diau aba niang aya Charles Saong (tepak ayak ari Ranan, Kanowit) maya taun 1973 di Kuching. Retinya suku juru meh iya tu, kini - nganti betusut ila!

Gaga ngah ati ulih betemu enggau seduai melaki bini, taja aku enda ingat. Maya nya agi biak endal aku, nadai tentu berati ke kaban belayan. Semina ke ingat maya di Kuching kelia selalu nemuai ngagai kaban suku juru ianya niang uncle Charles Saong & niang uncle Boniface Jarraw. Tang diatu nuh enda ngah semak enggau bala anak-anak sida. Sinu endal maya berati ke nya. Nya meh pengurang bala ke biak, nyebut aku empu; enda berundang enggau diri sekaban/suku juru. Enti orang kelia, nemuai ngagai pagan diri belama orang. Kitai diatu, utai ke kena begiga enggau pagan diri nuh mayoh nuh canggih agi; tang peranggai kitai enda begiga tauka berandau enggau pagan diri. Tu siti pemansang dunya ke aba aku endang tentu dikerindu, tang meh enda ngah diri ka ngubah! Nya alai salah diri empu meh nya!

Dr Jawa & bini iya

(arap ke betul meh sepel nama iya, enti salah minta ampun)

Alam pemayoh bala ke datai enggau ngintu makai kahwin nya, gaga amat ngah ati betemu enggau kaban Sarakup lama, ianya Pn. Rita Insol ari Bintulu enggau sida sebilik. Sayau endal meh iya enda aktif endal alam Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak. Enda sempat beranda lama engga iya laban aku ke baru ka pansut pulai. Tahniah ke anak deh ke deka kahwin enda lama dah.

Pn. Rita enggau aku.

Kaban ...

Penyukat pengaya mensia di dunya - mayoh macam cara, lalu siko-siko kitai ngemerat ke utai ke lain. Aba aku, siti ari penyukat pengaya ianya pemayoh kaban. Duit ringgit nadai, tang enti belelang bisi aja bala kaban ngerindang!

Aku berasai berkat endal aba senentang tu laban ke mayoh amat kaban, ukai semina di menoa tang mega di merata dunya. Kaban ke dikelala ari belajar suba lalu sekeda ke dikelala ketegal kerja/pengawa diatu.

Siko ari kaban baru (enti iya belaboh betusut, suku juru!) ianya Tina. Iya udah ngelala aku lama agi, laban iya selalu nemuai belalai ngagai rumah aku kelia; maya nya aku agi belelang. haha! Diatu betemu baru. Nuh pemuas iya ngasoh ngiga iya maya ke KL, tumu pagi hari lima tu kemari tua menyanak nurun ke Bangsar betemu enggau iya.

Udahnya nya nuh pedis kaki enggau patung aku dibai iya nyukat & survie Pavillion! Ni alah disukat endor ngemesai-mesai nya, agi pen rega utai nuh beratus-ratus! Agi pen tu ukai pengalu aku, lalu utai ke dibantai amat manah tang meh meli dua iti ditampil baru ulih dipasuk! Rega utai dia pen chukup manah.

Enda ditinggal ngetu aba The Loaf ... sapa2 ke nemuai ngagai aku alam tiga hari tu bisi nyepi roti ke terbilang ko sida Sabugey ke nuh di-ining2 belama haha! Aba aku enda tentu laban kelalu mayoh cheese, lalu perut aku tu enggai endal nerima utai nya enti kelalu mayoh! Tang anak aku sigi rindu! Terima kasih Tina ke udah mai kami duai menyanak nyukat Damansara/Bangsar/Pavillion! Ila mayoh agi utai sukat kitai ... nganti aku bersenam dulu nyendia ke diri!

Friends are so precious! At this holiday season, I was so happy and blessed to be able to meet up with some friends from my secondary years (high school); and as usual any gathering is followed with food!

On Friday, I spend almost a day with Tina, friend (and she's good with family tree and note that we're related - how? Ask her!!) and sister in Christ. We had a wonderful fellowship at her house and then she insisted that we go to the Pavillion (THE desginer mall, as I called it) to buy the cheesy bread and to have lunch!

Udah bersukat ke pemesai Pavillion, kami tiga dibai iya nguji pemakai aba The Loaf! Chukup sedap sida pasta & salmon. Anak enggai kongsi-kongsi, negali ke steak anak dara aku nya!

Tina and I shared a giant bowl of pasta and a medium size salmon - yummmy; but my girl loves steak and she had it all to herself! She says if Aunty Tina is reading this - she wants to eat Kobe Steak, the next time! haha!

Roti ber-cheese

Tina & kami dua menyanak aba istana iya.

Hari siti, aku mega betemu enggau bala kaban aku kelia munya - bala ke enggau aku begulai secondary school kelia. Buk aku tu nuh bisi uban aba tisi-tisi, nge sida tu agi bekilat chelum baka kelia; serta tubuh agi baka biak kelia. Tu MESTI bersenam endal aku tu, enggai ke nuh tuai gamal ari sida tu. Sigi nurun ke salon aku minggu tu ngesep diri haha! (Lalu ngesep ke diri ke deka nurun ke menoa ribai ~ tang meh nyamai endal ngah ngintu buk lurus, sugu2 lalu temu!)

On saturday afternoon, it was high tea time with a group of friends from Methodist Girls School Class of 3E & 3D of year 19xx (I was told not to tell the year! ha!) and what a wonderful fellowship. Years ago, the topic were of mills & boons, school works, and boys .... now its life, children, work, and men .... deeper subjects ;) haha!

Aku, Ginny, Dr. Mary, Mala, Pauline & Jennifer.

Tu kami sekawan ke selalu aja begulai enggau pagan diri maya biak kelia. Ke paling semak amat enggau aku, endang selalu berundang berandau ianya Jennifer (belakang kanan). Dr. Mary (belakang kiba) ianya ke paling emum ke kami sebuat, tang diatu apu udu endal bejako serta lucu endal! Mala tu meh geng aku berapi alam kelas Domestic Science! Ingat kita kelia bisi kelas berapi manok macam-macam utai - nya nemu aku berapi! Mala tu meh ke selalu nyangkong aku alam pengawa di dapur sekula!

Cerita bulan Mei ....

Bulan Mei tu kemari, kagau endal enggau pengawa Sarakup, kerja serta mega Makai Malam Gawai. Kadang-kadang terpikir mega namay kebuah ngagau diri sampai nadai tentu masa ke diri empu. Tang ke amat endal iya, ketegal ati rindu begulai enggau pagan diri, ati tepaut nulong pagan diri, ati ke rindu ngemansang ke pagan diri, serta ati ke deka nyerah diri.

May had been a very busy month with various activities arranged; and at times I wonder why I get involved in so many activities ... and so limited time for myself. At the end of it all, its the joy & pleasure of contributing to the women, community, and also for self satisfaction. I really enjoyed all these activities and I tried to instill the joy/pleasure of community service to my daughter. I pray that she loves it, too! I do take her to some of my activities and she does seem to like it.

Antara pengawa/aktiviti ke dikerja aku ianya:-


Nemuai ngagai Rumah Sri Kenangan, Sibu lalu begulai lebih kurang beberapa jam berami enggau bala orang tuai ke diau dia. Sinu meda sida orang tuai ke nadai orang ngibun serta nadai kaban belayan. Sekeda dipelaba ke aku, kaban belayan jauh ke enda ulih ngibun sida.

Maya aku kitu, terkenang ke rumah orang tuai di menoa tasik ke jauh manah, bisi indu misi/lutor serta macam-macam endor sida bemain. Endor tu orang bebayar ka tama!

Visited the Rumah Sri Kenangan, home of the old/aged who have no families. This home is government funded but it still received contribution from the public. What we did was just bring in some snacks for tea time and had a great time of fellowship with them. We chat and entertained them to some dances and singing. It was great fun for both!

Then participated in not one, but two, Mothers' Day celebration organized by Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak, Sibu and the Singles' Mothers Association. Two great events, however differently organized. I just got involved with the Singles' Mothers after much persuasion as I felt that I have nothing in common with them. How WRONG I was!! As mothers, all we ever wanted are to provide for our children and to ensure they have a great future; and I always wonder what I have in common and how I could contribute - but I am finding my momentum with them. Pray that the Lord will guide me in this. The pleasure & welcome given by the members of the Singles' Mothers were an encouragement in itself and they inspired me!

Pengudah nya, aku bisi mega enggau bala ngintu Hari Indai ... dua kali!! Sekali enggau Sarakup Indu, lalu konsep ngintu pen lebih 'posh' serta bisi stail. Manah serta rindu bendal ati begulai enggau bala indai-indai serta anak-anak.

Bala Sarakup ngintu Hari Indai.

With Sarakup Ladies ...

Udahnya, aku bisi mega bergulai enggau bala Persatuan Ibu Tunggal, Sibu ke ngintu aba rumah siko ari kaban di Rantau Panjai. Cara ngintu chukup manah serta sinu ngah ati aku enggau bala tu ketegal penusah sida ber-idup ke diri enggau anak-anak.

Bala Persatuan Ibu Tunggal Sarawak, Sibu
Single Mothers ...

Kena 21/5 kami ngintu Makai Malam Gawai Dayak di Kingwood Ballroom, lalu aku sinu ke diri ketegal gambar kami duai menyanak enda tentu manah diambi tukang gambar! Chukup Sayau!

Anak & Indai! (yeah, dissappointed in this picture taken by a friend - I always take one with my girl and this year I was busy being a busy bee and forgot to check how well it was taken. I thought that it was well taken in view that the photographer had a more sophisticated camera than mine! Well, learn my lesson, never trust a man with a sophisticated gadget!)

This Gawai holiday, my family and I will be celebrating in Kuala Lumpur with such different atmosphere ... its just family time with lots of food!!

Pengudah nya, kami duai menyanak lalu terus ke KL ketegal deka ngintu Gawai dia enggau bala sebilik ke bukai. Sebillik aku enda ulih pulai ke menoa taun tu ketegal mayoh penanggol, nya alai kami sebuat ke KL.

Kami duai menyanak seminggu di KL nadai pengawa bukai tang tak makai aja-aja. Malam 27/5 kami duai makai enggau kaban aku di Equatorial, Bangi. Nadai ngambi gambar laban ke tembu merati ke endor ke manah serta pemakai ke chukup nyamai. Malam hari satu (30/5) kemari, kami duai mega makai enggau kaban siko dah aba Shangri-La, KL - 'exquisite'.

Enggau diri sebilik, mega makai-makai di TGIF aba Putrajaya kena ngintu malam Gawai ianya 31/5 ...

Gawai eve, the family decided to do it at TGIF at Putrajaya and these were some of the food that my daughter and I had ...

Tu kami duai menyanak di TGIF Putrajaya malam Gawai .../ My daughter and I. I just realized that I am wearing my latest favourite blouse ha! I wear it in most of my pictures for the last few months! haha!! Friends are also probably wondering whether I've gained weight and this is the only blouse that can fit me!! haha!

Tu pizza nite kami, peda gamal bala ke gaga ati ...

Family pizza nite ... yeah, we do have one of those here!!


Maya tu semua, terima kasih sebilik ketegal ingat ke Hari Pengada aku. Sengaja mantai ke gambar sebedau sida anak/indai dian di-ujak haha! enggai ke umur ditemu kita!!! hahaha!

Thanks to my family for remembering my birthday! Purposely showing the cake before the candles are put in ahemmm a lady's age is secret ha! Friends/family ... thank you for all the wishes and God Bless you all!

Ngagai semua bala kaban blog/sebilik, terima kasih ke pesan hari pengada & pesan Gawai ke dikirum.

Berita bulan April tu kemari ...

Nyampau meh pemayoh pengawa bulan April tu kemari. Kadang-kadang enda chukup jam endor ngereja pengawa; nyengkaum pengawa opis, Sarakup Indu Dayak, Bala Indu Methodist, enggau pengawa bukai. Taja sibuk, tang rindu mega ati ngerja iya ketegal pemansang kitai indu Dayak alam pelbagai segi.

Cerita tu ditusi nadai ripih, lebih nitih ke gambar-gambar ke dibantai. Aku tu selalu enda sempat ngambi gambar ketegal ke enda lanchat mansut ke kamera, nya alai nadai tentu mayoh gambar.

It took me a while, but finally I am able to put out my acitivities in April which are varied and many! I had a lot of fun attending/speaking at some of these functions from the NGO that I am involved with.

Pengujung bulan Mac (nya neh, bisi cerita bulan Mac!) tu kemari, Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak bisi ngator Aum Besai Sekali Alam DuaTaun di Kuching. Lalu maya nya suba, bala indu Iban di Kuching mega bisi nubuh ke siti gerempong Iban Women Charitable Trust Fund (IWCT) kena nulong bala kitai. Visi, Misi & Objektif sida udah ditulis; lalu diatu nganti progrim sida meh. Maya malam nya, pengudah Aum Besai; IWCT & SIDS bisi ngatur progrim makai malam. Dia setiap pampang SIDS bisi diberi geran nitih ke peng-aktif. Aku gaga ati, madah ke kami di Sibu diberi RM25,000 lalu dagih ke aku, pampang ke-2 paling aktif! Terima kasih IWCT! Pengandal aku & bala di Sibu ke SIDS & IWCT tu endang besai, lalu arap meh ke SIDS/IWCT tu ulih nyadi tunjak ngatur serta ngemansang ke semua kitai indu Iban!

The SIDS held its TGM in Kuching, and it was attended by all its branches; and its business as usual. We need to make a greater impact within the community, and hope that the leadership will do it. The time for action is now, in view that we have talked or 'dream' of it for decades.

I took the opportunity also to visit the Kuching South Sejiwa Senada program, and its wonderful and enjoyed the almost 3 hours visit to ALL the stalls!! Why? Well, there was a contest to win a car and participants had to visit certain stalls to get their 'stamps' to get an opportunity for the draw. I am still driving my 'old' car!! Yeah, I didn't win!! Next time! (I am also hoping to win the JACKPOT ... Mary & Jenny are relying on it!! hahaha!! so that the three of us could go to London! haha! ) Met up with some friends/colleagues also while there; water people always stick together. It was a nice fellowship with others.

Maya ke di Kuching hari nya, aku sempat nemuai ngagai progrim Sejiwa Senada ke diatur Kuching South. Rindu diri ngah meda stal sida. Tang meh nuh berpeluh-peluh aku ke berjalai din! Maya nya mayoh endal kaban ke enggau betemu ari opis-opis perintah. Nuh rindu berandau, ukai meda utai!

SIDS Sibu mega ngatur AGM, lalu bala komiti baru dipilih ngenuai ke Sarakup setaun agi. Alam komiti sekali tu, semina bisi siko kaban komiti baru, ianya Endu Michelle Anthony. Tahniah. Kami endang ngasak bala ke biak2 & ke bepelajar sama-sama enggau, ngambi bisi meri penemu & cara baru. Sekali tu bisi lebih kurang 250 bala kaban bisi enggau. Taun baru, target sekurang-kurangnya 1000 bala kaban enggau! Arap ke ulih!!

Your truly was re-elected to lead SIDS Sibu for another term. Thank you ladies for your confidence in my leadership, and hope that we would be able to move ahead this year. We have been trying to get our members & Sarakup to be seen and heard over the last 10 years and it seems that we're bearing fruits now! Our request for consideration for certain community positions are being seriously considered, and we eagerly awaits for good news!

One of my many books for this year is this book on Sarawak Women (courtesy of State Government & borrowed from my office resource center) and noticed that we lack outstanding Dayak women or maybe more accurately 'acknowledged' Dayak women. Its time that Dayak women make an impact in the development of Sarawak/Malaysia. Leadership is still 'heredity' whether qualified or not; and I strongly believe that each of us should make an impact in various fields. At this juncture, I would like to note that there are so many Dayak women who have served the community in various fields and many more who are 'shy' to be in the public domain. I thought of listing but decided against it; in case, I get many calls from them! haha!

Tu siti ari pemayoh bup ke dibaca aku, ianya pasal Tuai-tuai Indu kitai di Sarawak; lalu dipeda aku tak nadai mayoh kitai indu Iban. Arap ke sida ke dudi/biak mansut ke diri ngambi dikelala lalu ngemansang ke bansa kitai. Beguna amat kitai ke bala indu ke bepenemu ngiring raban bansa.

Tu gereja menoa aku; gereja ke endor aku sembahyang ke digaga alam taun 1963; lalu pengandal bala ianya gereja baru ulih di-diri ke enda lama agi.

This is my local (rural) church which was built in 1963 and the committee is planning to built a new church, when the fund is sufficient.

This weekend, I had a wonderful experience of attending the 2nd Methodist Prayer Convention in my little town! James Shia (Taiwan), Graham Power (S. Africa) & Dion Forster (S. Africa) were here!!! Unfortunately, I was too far to get a picture with them -and guess didn't try hard enough!! :) All were great speakers!!

BTW (picture below) the one of the left is one of the pastor translating into Mandarin for the convention! Yes, it was held in 3 languages - English, Mandarin & Tamil!!

Ujung minggu tu tadi, aku enggau bala Methodist di Malaysia bisi Begempuru Besampi Besai; lalu sida bisi ngagau ke 2 iko orang bejako ianya Dr. James Shia & Graham Power, lalu dibai mega Dion Forster. Rindu amat ninga sida tu bejako pasal Kuasa Sampi. Penemu ke diulih mayoh serta aku enda nemu ngerintai, nya alai naka tu aja meh utai ke ditusi aku!


Kami duai menyanak bergambar enggau tepak menantu enggau tepak uchu aku ... nuh asai tuai tu, udah bisi uchu!!! hahaha Kami tu ke rumah panjai minggu orang ke benong hebat berkempen ketegal progrim Bala Indu Methodist, lalu maya nya mega bisi progrim Jiwa Murni Tentera. Nya iya ko aku, sida di ruai berubat, bala ke dibilik sembahyang ... awak ke sida ninga ko aku!

In mid April, during the campaigning period, we were at the longhouse for the Methodist Women program; and the Jiwa Murni Tentera activities were also held. This program is where the army sent out their medical team of dentist, general practitioner, and pharmacist to the longhouse to give medical care for all. It was a great program and I hope that in future, they should include Health talks/advices.

Extracting a tooth/ Nyabut ngeli

Ladies awaiting their turn with the doctor/ Nganti dipereksa Lutor