“Oouch!” Holding a coriander, I spun from the kitchen sink, about to rush to the wet kitchen behind the wall so I could drop the Bulk Buy choy sum into the pot of boiling Tomyam soup. My right foot hit the red bucket on the floor, I almost fell.
“Ai yoh! This is not the right place for the water bucket!” I screamed.
My daughter, Big R, rushed into the kitchen. Seeing that I wasn’t hurt, her eyes pierced the injured victim mercilessly, “You box yourself in a one square foot area, because you insisted that the bucket must be next to the sink and behind you so you can scoop the water out easily.”
“So, now, where should we put it?” Arms akimbo, she narrated the whole bucket story in one minute, “Two weeks ago, it was right at the sink, but you can’t reach the tap like before because your legs and arms are short. So you hit your toes every time you washed something. A week ago, it WAS at the wet kitchen but, too it was too far for you. Last month, it was two feet away from the sink, but it was a waste of your time to walk two more steps!”
“What do you want, boss?” She enunciated the last word.
The victim, now recovered from the toe pain, was able to think more clearly. “Uur…. We have water cut three times in the last 6 weeks?”
I walked meekly to the Tomyam soup…….. The soup was too sour, too much Tomyam paste….. not enough water. I walked back to the water bucket to get more water. 6 steps to the bucket and 6 steps back to the soup. 12 steps. What a waste of time! The numerous water cuts this year had finally brought awareness about time use in getting water from the kitchen tap.
“Ya, we have had water cut nine times so far this year, and we have tried nine different spots for the water bucket for you!” An arrow was shot. “Where do you want the water bucket to be in the next water cut, boss?”
“Uurr… OK,OK, this spot will do…. I must remember there is something behind me … ….” The Tomyam tasted just right with addition of water. I turned off the gas.
Diverting the attention to my victimhood, I lamented, “Nine times of water cut? It is only October! What is happening to this country? We have lived here for over 26 years, this is the first time there are so many water problems!”
I turned around and found myself alone in the kitchen.
End of story. Red bucket would stay in the same spot. For now.
Six hours later, the water supply was back. How I needed a shower after gardening in the morning and making lunch. I closed my eyes, face tilted upwards to the shower head in the bathroom, expecting to feel the cool, refreshing clean flow over my face.
“What? Yuk!” Brownish smelly water gushed out of the shower, running all over my body.
“Ai yoh, I should have remembered to let the tap run for a few minutes before I shower!” The water was really dirty. I stepped out of the shower to let the water turn clear.
While waiting, chat messages on my handphone caught my attention. One from the environment network — “ ‘Selangor Water Supply Crisis’, a webinar, join us to find out what is happening.” Then, a video, filmed by a Malay lady hiking in a forest reserve. In a very emotional tone, she called on all Malaysians to wake up to protect our catchment areas from illegal logging and abuse of catchment areas with commercial activities. Then from my neighborhood group: A piece of news about Taman Rimba’s court case. Another message about the shrinking acreage over the years of my beloved hiking ground, Bukit Kiara.
One comment stood out – It is time to take care of ourselves, team up with neighbours and those with the same interests. We have to do something for ourselves – save water, harvest rain water, report polluters, do home edible gardening for food security, etc. “Can we trust those responsible to take care of our basic needs?”
My heart cringed.
The chicken farmer (partner of the Bulk Group)’s emotional voice rang in my ear. It was August, just before he folded his farm. Disruption in transport and manpower during Covid19 lockdown had hurt his farm even though the group bought chickens and eggs from him since May. But the sales to us dwindled in July when most neighbourhood buyers returned to the supermarkets. He didn’t have enough cash flow to sustain. “There is not enough food in Malaysia, some who want to farm can’t get low cost rent for land, some who want to continue farming can’t earn enough to keep going. Wife screaming, no money, why you not go to work in factory… ?“
I have known him for over 18 years, he was always coming out with ideas to help low-income women to earn income through homebased farming. My non-profit, eHomemakers had embarked on several innovative schemes with him for patients with chronic illnesses.
“You better take care of your food supplies yourself!” His departing advice for me before he drove off in his 30-year old truck. Standing by the roadside in front of my house, I watched the truck till it disappeared from the end of the road. This scene, will forever remain in my mind.
The water from the shower head was clear. “How nice!” My face tilted upwards to receive the steady gush of clean water.
A new conviction grew in me. My toes didn’t hurt any more.
It is time to continue with what I do in Bulk Buy, “Jiran Jaga Jiran” – the new normal.