Our new home in a single-storey terrace house, though it's smaller than our previous one but it's not that small after all. Me and my siblings thought our carefree and roaming around life is over, as it is a housing estate and not much space for us to run about and play and no more fun-time moving around in the surroundings of trees, flowers and plants!! Not long after we've moved there, and after much exploration around, we found that there is a stretch of forest, just few yards away from the back of our house. Beside our row of house is also a big piece of empty land, surrounding by bushes. The areas around our new home seem to be just starting to develop - what a relief, as our new home turns out to be another great 'playground' for us!!
During the weekends, we will move around in the forest looking for wild ferns (midin and paku), pick them and happily bring them home for my mum to cook. We enjoyed looking at the Pitcher Plant and the insects which got trap inside as well as plucking those 'wild green berries', which we called 'Pip Pop Seeds'. Funny though, popping those seeds direct into our mouth without having to wash it first seem to bring no harm to our health. At that time we are all as healthy and strong as a bull!! We also make caves out of the bushes next to our row of house and enjoyed playing there till we heard the voices of my mum's calling us for dinner. Thinking about those days, I really appreciate my mum's patience with us all.
Soon enough when all the houses are being occupied, we make more friends and enjoyed every moments of our childhood years. We played games on the road, in front of our houses - skipping rope, "what is the time Mr. Tiger?", London bridge is falling down, hide and seek and I believe there are many more which I can't recall after so many long years!!
As years passed from our Primary School years to Secondary School years, our interests also seems to change. We no longer play or run about outside our house. I recall that on Saturday nights we love to group together in one of our house, on the music out loud and dance the night away!! Thanks to a few of our group's parents who allow us to enjoy our self in the heart of our homes, than roaming outside!! I still remember clearly all the sweating from the shaking and twisting as we dance to the music.
All those running about and around, playing together and off course at times some misunderstanding which leads to small childish quarrels seemed to pass without much realization. Soon everyone grew up, get on with our own ways, some lost but found, while some lost and never found!!
Remembering those old days always reminds me of the song "Those were the days". How I wish everything never have to end.......
