La Belle Sauvage en Malaisie

It’s a funny thing coming home.

Nothing changes.

Everything looks the same, feels the same, even smells the same.

You realize what’s changed, is you.

~Eric Roth~

It was time for my bi-annual trip back to Malaysia and I was so looking forward to it. This was the first time I flew back in June and not December. A number of reasons and among them was that my father was seriously ill earlier this year and although he pulled through, I needed to see him for myself. My brother-in-law passed away last August and I couldn’t fly back. I wanted to be there for my sister and her children for the first Eid without him. And this was also my first Eid celebration after 22 years away. It was also to celebrate a new Malaysia, as the 60 year old ruling party was defeated in the May elections and she’d her first women deputy prime minister and the oldest prime minister in the world.

Babe took the first photograph of my flight as it flew over Brandon Marsh. He went there as soon as he left me at the airport. The trip from Birmingham to Dubai went smoothly and I was chuffed that Emirates had the film Black Panther on board. Apart from watching some other unmemorable films, I spent the 6.6 hours journey doing Sudoku, playing CandyCrush and reading Phillip Pullmans latest novel ‘La Belle Sauvage’. I was only in transit for 2 hours but the flight was delayed for nearly an hour because they were waiting for passengers from other flights. It was the umrah season and there were many Malaysian pilgrims making their way home for Eid.

The flight arrived in Malaysia 1.5 hours late. I e-mailed Babe while waiting for my luggage which due to the number of passengers, was taking a while to arrive. He knew my flight details because he was monitoring it remotely. As  soon as I exited from the arrival entrance, I could see my sister waving enthusiastically. Poor girl. She’d been waiting for nearly 2 hours. After hugs and kisses from her and my nephews, we made our way home. I called my father who was waiting at home and then Babe, to say that I’d arrived safely. As soon as we arrived at my sister’s house, my father was already waiting under the porch. After the obligatory bear hugs, he said a prayer of thanks for my safe journey.

We chatted while I’d a late lunch. Everyone else was fasting for Ramadan and I was exempted due to the long journey. Then a cold shower before heading for bed. They woke me up about an hour before breaking fast time. All the children were home to break their fast and the dining table was groaning, loaded with food. It was a smorgasbord that looked like a visual encyclopaedia of Malay cooking. During Ramadan, food stalls propped up selling all sorts of food and each of the children bought something home to be added to the table. My sister had 6 children and going food shopping when you’re fasting wasn’t a good idea. The table was so full that another table was added so that we could eat together.

We’d a fabulous polishing the food. I missed having long dinners around the table, enjoying each other’s company, sharing the day’s news over lovely food, fostering that sense of belonging. It was nearly 2 hours before everyone left the table and the men missed their tarawikh prayers. Oops …We continued chatting right through the night and the telephone started ringing as my cousins and aunties got the news that I was back. My sister and I didn’t sleep at all as we waited for sahur, the meal before sunrise. This was the only meal we were having for the day until the sun sets at about 7.30 pm.

As usual, I called Babe every morning at 7 am, Malaysia time which was 12am UK time. Malaysia was 7 hours ahead which meant that when I said good morning to Babe, he would wish me good night. After all these years, it was still confusing. I spent most morning reading La Belle Sauvage which was very intriguing. Later in the afternoon, my sister and I would go to the supermarket and wet market to get stuff for the evening meal. Since I was here, I got to choose the menu, which was very exciting. There was soo much food that I wanted to eat and so little time. We don’t start cooking until about 5 pm. Since it was so hot, everyone had a siesta for about an hour. That helped to pass the time and the hunger.

About 5 pm, my sister and I were in the kitchen preparing the meals. My father was always around to supervise and helped a bit. The children would call to ask if there was anything we wanted to add to the meal. Often, they came home to take me out to these pop-up food stalls which was mind blowing, selling all kinds of delicacies. One of the most distinguishing aspect of Ramadan in Malaysia were the Ramadan bazaars that were popping at almost every corner, selling a huge array of mouth-watering delicacies to break your fast with. A visit were a feast for the senses, as we were assaulted with all kinds of aromatic smells wafting in the air as we walked from one end to another. It was easy to get carried away, buying more than what we could eat, which defeated the purpose of the holy month. Most often, those who were working just bought the food to eat at home. People from other races were also seen out and about as this was also the time for them to buy and taste authentic Malay cooking. I tended to buy savouries and the barbecued meats.

The fasting don’t deter us from making preparations to welcome Eid. The excitement had built up usually on the first day of Ramadan itself, where families started shopping for new clothes and accessories, baking cookies and decorating their homes. Brightly coloured twinkling lights were seen adorning houses, mosques and shopping complexes. There was the visits to various banks to ask for money envelopes which were given free with their logo printed on it. These were filled with money and given to young children or the elderly.

The festival of Eid was announced on Friday the 15th. It marked the end of Ramadan and was on the first day of the month of Syawal. It was the day (beginning at sunset) of the first sighting of the crescent moon shortly after sunset. The day before Eid, my sister was busy preparing the obligatory rendang, a rich and tender chicken stew made with chicken, spices and coconut milk. It was cooked on a low heat for hours and you have to sit beside it to stir it occasionally to make sure it doesn’t burn. We left this to my nephews with my father supervising them.

Later at night, one of my nephew invited me to Kuala Lumpur to see last night of Ramadan shopping. During Ramadan, one of the major shopping area, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman was transformed into a night market where petty traders and hawkers sold an assortment of Raya goodies in the open air. This stretch of road was flanked by pre-war buildings whose distinctive facades had been preserved and readapted to accommodate modern retailing businesses. Here, cars were parked haphazardly with the stalls spilling into the street. What a festive atmosphere. Raya songs was blaring into the night, with the honking of horns and from time to time and firework displays lit up the skies. You have to have your wits with you and lots and lots of patience. Traffic barely moved that we were able to stop beside a cookie stall and bought tubs of cookies before joining the traffic. No one bat an eye-lid. Everyone was in a good mood.

On the way home, we stopped at Dataran Merdeka to watch the clock chimed at midnight. It was situated in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, a late 19th century building which originally housed the offices of the British colonial administration. It was here the Union Flag was lowered and the Malaysian flag hoisted for the first time at midnight on 31st August 1957. Since then, Dataran Merdeka had been the venue for the annual Merdeka parade. In front of the building was located a 95 metre flagpole, one of the tallest in the world. When the clock struck 12 midnight, the 5 of us stood under the flag and sang Negara ku, the national anthem. There were a lot of visitors about and they joined in and later everyone clapped their hands and shouted Merdeka, Merdeka. It was hilarious but so much fun.

On Eid morning, everyone got up early and dressed in their best clothes. Blue was the colour they chose this year and they even got me a beautiful long maxi.The males went to the mosque to perform the Eid prayers with hundreds of other Muslims. Before performing the prayers, one of my nephew paid the zakat for the whole family. Zakat was the 3rd pillar of Islam, a mandatory charitable contribution which would be distributed to the poor. While the men were in the mosque, the women stayed at home to prepare the Eid meals. We could go to the mosque if we wanted to. About 2 hours later, the men returned and all of us enjoyed the special celebratory meals.  After that was the posing for the obligatory family portrait and then going around asking for forgiveness, with the youngest starting first.

After the Friday prayers, we headed to my late brother-in-law’s grave. The cemetery was busy with families paying their respects. We laid flowers and my father said prayers. RIP Khamarul. Then we got ready to drive back to Port Dickson to visit my late Mother’s grave. We headed straight to the cemetery, laid flowers and said prayers. I was chuffed to find a bird nest with 2 tiny eggs on a shrub that we planted on top of her grave. Even the birds wanted to keep my mother company. Then straight home and found out that there was no electricity!!! One of my nephew called the electric company and they came straight away. After they’d restored the electricity, we invited them in for cookies and coffee. It was Eid after all. Later that night, the youngsters were outside letting off fireworks,  firecrackers and sparklers. They were having a competition with a few houses around the village and all you could hear were the sound of exploding fireworks echoing. They were trying to do each other with massive displays and huge bangs.

The next day, all of us headed out searching for breakfast. Most shops were closed because it was still the holiday and festive season but we found one by the beach. We’d a leisurely breakfast before planning our itinerary for the day. My father wanted to go back to my maternal grandmother’s home about 2 hours drive away. Usually, the first three days of Eid were reserved for visiting relatives. In Malaysia, the first 2 days were public holidays but most people took a week off. Those working in the cities returned to their hometowns and reunited with their parents and old friends, leaving the cities quiet and empty. And the roads leaving the cities would experience a horrendous traffic jam as people made their exodus.

We closed the house, packed our stuff and went to my late Mother’s grave to say goodbye. On the way to my grandmother’s, we stopped at my favourite place to feed the monkeys. There were already a few cars by the lay-by throwing fruits to them. A few came over to check us out. As soon as they saw  a car stopping, they would come close and waited in anticipation. They never climbed on top of the cars like the monkeys in the safari parks here in the UK. We threw bananas, water melons and carrots from the safety of our cars. We didn’t stay long.

Our first stop was at my Grandmother’s house. The place was buzzing as all the children and grandchildren had turned up. It was a tradition that on the first day, everyone congregated at the most senior family home. It was a joyous occasion filled with festive cheer and merriment.  My poor aunties were swept off their feet, entertaining and preparing the meals. It was lovely catching up with everyone, some of whom even my father had not seen for a long time. Eid was seen as a time for reconciliation and the renewal of family ties and it was touching to see the festive season beyond feasting and celebration. We let the visitors had the first share of the food as they were leaving together to visit another relative in another town.

When they’d left, my aunties took the opportunity to have their lunch before the next visitors arrived. Before we left, it was the obligatory photograph on the steps with the tribe. Most of the houses in the village were built on stilts which was originally built to avoid wild animals, floods, as a deterrent for thieves and most importantly, for added ventilation. Steps were built to reach the elevated interior and there were additional steps at the back of the house. Nowadays, the lower spaces were normally boarded up and made into extra rooms or garages.

Our next visit was to another aunt’s house in another village. She had not been well and it was a great opportunity to pay her a visit. Again, her house was packed as all her children and grandchildren were here celebrating the festive season. My cousins worked all over the country and because of the long holiday season, Eid was the only time they could all meet and celebrate together. It was a golden opportunity to catch up while indulging in the various delicacies. And what better place than at their parents house. Once a year, this house was filled to the brim again. I was also chuffed that another cousin who had studied at the University of Kent was also there.

Our last visit was to another aunt, this time from my father’s side, in Seremban. I haven’t been to their house since I moved to the UK and there were a lot of changes in the area. I stayed in a boarding school in Seremban and it felt strange coming back. It had changed so much. My Aunt was at home with my eldest cousins but the rest of the tribe were out visiting their friends. We didn’t stay long as it was getting late and we’d received news that all the roads into Kuala Lumpur were congested. Before we left, I took the opportunity to check out this amazing playhouse that my cousin had built for his children. It was a replica of a traditional Malay house.

 

One of my nephew, Erif, celebrated his 20th birthday and we surprised him with a huge party at  the Aroi Dee Thai restaurant  located at the Palm Garden Hotel IOI Resort City where my niece used to work. We told him that it was a dinner for me and you could see how shocked he was when the waiter brought the cake after we finished our dinner. We embarrassed him more by singing Happy birthday and the hotel staff and the rest of the diners joined in. It was wonderful. He was so overwhelmed that he shed some tears. Happy birthday Eriff and may you have everything you wished for.

The restaurant had moved to a new location by the golf course. The name ‘Aroi Dee’ simply meant ‘great taste’ in Thai and that was what we were served at this lovely restaurant. As usual, we started the meal with Tom Yam seafood, a spicy and sour soup. Then the main meal which consisted of Kai Kha Tak (sizzling chicken style), Near Pad Prik Thai Dam (stir fried beef with black pepper), Plar Neang Si Eaw (steamed fish with ginger and soy sauce) and fried mixed vegetables. All eaten with fragrant steamed Jasmine rice. We finished the hot, spicy meal with a cool dessert which was Tab Tim Crab (water chestnut with chilled coconut cream). We’d a wonderful time polishing the meal.

My niece later accompanied me to Kuala Lumpur because I wanted to get some souvenirs and tee-shirts for Babe. We took the LRT (Light Rail Transit) from Pucong to Kuala Lumpur. It took us only an hour and we whizzed past some amazing sceneries. It was very strange that only 20 years ago, the housing estates that we passed through were either tin mines, oil palm and rubber plantations. All these industries were now long gone and replaced with homes while the people worked in the cities. That was also why LRT were built to make it easier for people to get to work and discouraged them from driving. The train were running every 15 minutes and fares were reasonably priced.

We disembarked on the Central Market station which was just a few minutes away from our destination, which was the Central Market. The original building was built in 1888 by the British and was originally used as a wet market. The current Art Deco style building was completed in 1937. It has been classified as a Heritage Site by the Malaysian Heritage Society and was now a landmark for Malaysian culture and heritage. It had stalls representing the different items and ethnic groups living harmoniously within Malaysia.

We stopped for lunch at one of the hundred stalls scattered around the area. We didn’t eat in the Central Market because it was quite expensive. We’d Indian style fried noodles with satay and washed down with a tall glass of iced lemon tea. Then we went back indoors to get a few tee-shirts for Babe and a few obligatory souvenirs. At first, I planned to check out the famous Petaling Street but it was too hot to wander about. We bought a few traditional cakes for tea and headed home.

We were shocked when one of my nephew, Evin, was hospitalised for a week with dengue, a viral infection. The viruses were transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus female mosquitoes that fed both indoors and outdoors during the daytime (from dawn to dusk). Thankfully, it don’t spread from person to person. We still took precautions by closing the house at dusk and sprayed with mosquito repellant and burning mosquito coils indoors. It was a common outbreak in Malaysia and monthly Spray Chamber Thermal (Fogging) and Environment Fumigation Spray (ULV) were carried out.

I’d a very busy time visiting relatives and friends, shopping, travelling and eating out. There was so much catching up to do during the three weeks I was in Malaysia. In between, I managed to watch the World Cup when it was played on terrestrial tv. The popular team matches were played on subscription tv which we don’t have. It was quite difficult to follow due to the different time zone. I was chuffed to see England playing well. I also read Philip Pullman’s La Belle Sauvage at every opportunity. The camera was never far away and I love this shot of my youngest nephew, Eris, imitating the pose of his pet cat, Oranjie. Both of them were real posers.

After 3 weeks, it was time to fly back to the UK. I’d a wonderful time with my family but I have commitments in the UK. My heart was in Malaysia, but my life was here in the UK. The whole family took the day off to send me which I found hilarious. I stopped at the hospital to say good-bye to Evin. Since it was an early flight, we decided to have breakfast at the airport. Then it was time for good-byes and hugs. It was very hard to say good-bye to my elderly father but cie la vie.

“The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave,

And it feels even better to come back”

~Wendy Wunder~

Days of Barnaby Bright

The day they called Barnaby Bright
Was the longest, and shortest at night.
The eleventh of June,
They would all sing a tune
As they basked in the languorous light.

The nursery rhyme was attributed to Saint Barnabas, an early Christian convert and later patron Saint of Cyprus. His feast day was known in Medieval Britain as "Barnaby Bright" because it coincided with the Summer Solstice. The tradition dates from those days before the 1752 Gregorian Calendrical Adoption when the solstice was moved up ten calendar days. Barnaby Bright was therefor the beginning of Midsummer--or what was also popularly called the "Nightless Days."

June was a warm and dry month with many seeing their warmest and driest June on record. Throughout the month, high pressure dominated the UK weather bringing more than our normal share of fine sunny days with high temperatures and very little rainfall. The prolonged hot weather led to many stories in the media predicting drought conditions and water restriction. The warm weather came from high pressure dragging air from the Mediterranean across the UK. A tropical plume blowing northward from Africa had brought the unseasonably hot weather.

We celebrated the sunny weather with another trip to Slimbridge when we found out that Sedge and Monty had a chick. Woo…hoo. We left the casa at 11.45 am and the mercury was already reaching 22C. We weren’t surprised to see the car-park full and had to park in the overflow car-park. Words had got out about the latest arrival and Rushy Hide was standing room only. We waited (im)patiently for a space and me for the step. I needed the step to stand on because the hide’s window was a bit too high for me to use my camera comfortably.

At first, we couldn’t see the piece de resistance. Monty was standing proud on the lower pond island checking out the number of cameras, binoculars and spotting scopes pointing directly at his family. This was 8 year old Monty third attempt and everyone was rooting for him and his mate, Sedge. Sedge was still incubating another egg and according to the warden, the chick (in the egg) could be heard chirping. Not long now.

Suddenly Sedge turned her body, and beside her appeared the most adorable bundle of fur. Everybody go ‘aaaaah’ or in our case the cameras rattling away. It had brown plumage and was just 15 cm tall when hatched. Crane chicks were nidifugous which meant they were able to walk and feed after hatching. Over the next week, both parents will protect the vulnerable chick from predation and teach it how to find food it needed to grow and survive. The hatchling used its wee wings to stabilise itself. It walked towards Monty who showed the hatchling what to eat and also fed bill-to-bill. The chick was very confident and even had a swim.

While Monty was busy looking after the very inquisitive chick, Sedge took the opportunity to stretch her long legs and gently rolled over the remaining egg to insure a proper embryo development. I strained my ears to hear her purr to the egg but I couldn’t hear anything. She also collected a few pebbles and sticks and re-arranged her nest, which was an abandoned Black-headed gull nest. Common Crane nests were usually constructed from dead vegetation such as reeds, bulrushes or rushes.

She then joined her little family for a brief get together before going back to incubating duties. After the egg had hatched, the family typically foraged close to the nest site for the first week or more. But as the chicks got older, the parents expanded their pre-fledging foraging area and escorted them over greater distances to favoured feeding grounds. This was also for their safety, hidden in the reed marshes and rough grasslands.

At the halfway point, the Avocets were bickering again. After 23-25 days, eggs had hatched and fledged after 35-42 days. But they often remained dependent on their parents for sometime afterwards. The juveniles were similar in appearance to the adult, but with brown colouration in the areas where the adult was black. The long legs were conspicuously blue-grey and dangled well beyond the tail  when they were in flight. The vocalisation included ‘kloo-it’ or ‘kleep’, which was heard more often during the breeding season.

Apart from bickering, a group of juveniles and adults were busy feeding by wading in the shallow water at the edge of the lake. In the clear water, they fed by sight by picking prey from the surface of water or mud. In poor visibility and when locating prey from within the sediments, they foraged by touch, sweeping the long, up-curved bill from side to side through water or loose sediment to locate hidden prey. In deeper water they swam readily and buoyantly, up-ending like a duck to reach food below the surface. At times large feeding flocks assembled to feed co-operatively. The primary food was invertebrates, especially crustaceans and worms. They also took insects found on the surface or within the top layers of the bottom sediments.

On the grass, were these adorable black-and-white mint humbugs having a siesta. As usual, we gave up counting because they somehow blended and multiplied at the same time. They were also various sizes and ages in the group. In their natural environment, most Shelducks often desert their ducklings at a young age, leaving them in creches with just one or two adults to look after them. Both ‘chosen’ parents guarded their ducklings for 55-65 days until they were able to fly.

We were chuffed to bits when the long-staying hybrid stood up and flapped its wings. This was the first time we’d seen it doing that. He looked like he’d angel wings. Most often it was seen in the water, busy surface feeding, dabbling for aquatic plants, grasses and roots with his partner, a Wigeon.  The hybrid, a Chloe X Eurasian Wigeon was stunning with its green blue iridescent green band from the eye to the back of the head, shimmering in the bright afternoon sun. The steep forehead and bulbous rear was very prominent.

Then it was time to check out the rest of the hides. Along the path were patches of Common Spotted orchids with their delicate purple-pink spikes. The flowers were densely packed in short, cone-shaped clusters.They actually got their name from their leaves, which were green with many purple, oval spots. They formed a rosette at ground level before the flower spike appeared with narrower leaves sheathed the stem.

We didn’t stay long at any of the hides because there wasn’t much to see. The dry weather had turned the marshes into grasslands and cattle were brought in to feed on them. Conservation grazing was a natural and sustainable alternative to mechanical mowing and the selective nature of the grazing produced a tussocky appearance, providing a vast range of structural habitats for insects, reptiles and amphibians. The cattle’s diet wasn’t restricted to grass as they also ate brambles and weeds. Their hooves broke up bracken and rushes which made them essential for managing the spread of invasive and undesirable plant species. They also fertilised the area.

We headed straight for Wader Shore and was entertained by the breeding antics of the male Ruff. In order to attract a female, the male displays on his small territory or ‘residence’ which was just 50 cm in diameter and visible as a bare patch or trampled grass.The display involved wing fluttering, bobbing movements and squatting. The display was further enhanced by the male’s plumage, most notably a collar of feathers around the front and sides of the neck and a pair of head tufts. A displaying male in all its breeding finery was visually stunning and also bizarre looking.

Nearby, a pair of Black-winged Stilt was getting jiggy with it. Everything about them looked delicate, from their incredibly spindly salmon pink legs to their jet-black slim wings and their needle-like bills. Their legs were longer in proportion to their bodies, providing them with a feeding advantage over other waders in deeper waters. They moved fast and had an elegant stance. The nest was built by both parents, a simple scrape in the soil and lined with pebbles and debris. 

From here we headed to Discover Hide overlooking South Lake. I squealed with delight when I spotted the Common Crane adults heads bobbing behind the bushes at the opposite end. This meant that the chicks were with them as they foraged for worms, insects and plant materials. I was delighted when one of the parent was out in the open with an adorable fluff. It was looking so well. Each chick was looked after by one of the parent which was good news as this gave each of them a better chance of surviving. They didn’t stay out in the open for long and went back into the safety of the bushes.

We went to Hogarth Hide when we noticed a large flock of Black Tailed Godwits feeding outside the hide. They were large and elegant wading birds with a very long straight bill. The males were in their stunning breeding plumage with bright orangey-brown chests and bellies. A flock flew in to join the party. In flight, they displayed a broad white bar on the wings, a white rump and a black tail. The feet were held out behind the tail, with the long bill projecting forward, giving them an elongated appearance when flying. They had a strong, direct flight with horizontal bodies.

Whilst feeding, these sociable birds formed dense flocks. They waded in the water, picking and forward-probing the mud with their long, dark, slightly upturned bill with a pink base.  They fed on insects, worms, bivalves, crustaceans, larvae and tadpoles. The food was swallowed by upward flicks of both bill and head. They uttered low, deep ‘kett’ or ‘chuk’ while feeding.

On the right hand side of the hide, an Avocet was still incubating her eggs. The eggs were incubated for 23-25 days. The nest, built by both sexes, was a shallow scrape on bare stones and was composed of short pieces of stems, roots and leaves of marsh vegetation. Avocets were well-known for their aggressive behaviour during the breeding season. I was expecting this Avocet to do the usual aerial wing-flapping attack when this female Tufted duck waddled up to her. They seemed to have a conversation. I wonder what they were talking about!!!!

Then we heard the powerful rumbling sound and right in front of us, this splendid aircraft flew past, looking stunning against the backdrop of a clear blue sky. We rattled a few shots when Babe said that it was a Lancaster.  The 2nd World War aircraft’s powerful four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines sounded amazing as it went past. It must either be flying to an air-show or flying back from one. Air-show displays were very popular at this time of the year and this heavy bomber was always in demand. PA474 was one of only two Lancasters in flying condition in the world, the other being owned and flown by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. In fact, we might be seeing it again during the Royal International Air Tattoo in July.

The powerful rumblings from the Lancaster spooked one of the Common Cranes and it was seen flying off.  We watched it did a pre-flight pose where the neck was stiffly stretched horizontally prior to take-off. Cranes were one of the tallest of all breeding birds, with a wingspan up to eight feet.  It was slate-grey overall.  The overall colour was darkest on the back and rump and palest on the breast and wings. The primaries, the tips of secondaries, the alula, the tip of the tail, and the edges of upper tail coverts were all black and the greater coverts droop into explosive plumes.

After the Crane flew off, we decided to call it a day.On the way out, we scanned the rocky island on Swan lake and spotted the Oystercatcher family. The juvenile looked a bit different from its parent. The eye was dark instead of bright yellow and don’t have the red orbital ring. The bills were also different, the adult’s bill was solid reddish orange while the youngster had a dark tipped bill with faint dark tones all the way to where the bill meets the face. As the juvenile grew, it was able to find its own food, but was often seen begging from its parents well after fledging. Parental feeding often extended well after the youngster developed independent flight. The diets of adults and chicks consisted earthworms, insect larvae, bivalves, limpets and mussels.

The weekend also saw the return of the eagerly-anticipated Coventry MotoFest event. Held across Saturday and Sunday in the city centre, Motofest 2018 brought fast-paced and full-throttle entertainment to the city. MotoFest was a unique blend of motorsport demonstrations, static displays, live music and anything else with a connection to Coventry and transport. Thousands came to the city to get a load of the action. There was motorsport demonstrations, sprint circuits, static displays, live music and much more. Expect everything from cars, motorcycles and trucks, as well as buses, stock cars, armoured vehicles, taxis and even some bicycles. There was also a range of automotive activities taking place from pop-up and demonstration events to static displays and fringe events at what was claimed the largest free urban motorsport festival in the UK.

We went on Sunday because the weather was forecasted to be sunny. But first, since the infamous ring-road was closed to traffic, we’d to find a place to park. Thankfully, my colleague who lived within a walking distance, allowed us to park at his drive. Thanks GLW. We walked past a huge fairground at Grosvenor Road to where the action was. We hadn’t even reached the ring-road yet but the incredible noise of highly tuned engines revving up, the screeching of tyres, the smell of burnt rubber and exhaust fumes were in the air. Thousands of people were already packed on both sides of the ring-road but somehow we managed to squeeze in. The Friargate-bridge deck and nearby Greyfriars Green were awashed with static displays of cars, motorbikes and simulators to keep fans of all ages happy.

As it was closed to traffic, the ring road was used as both a pit lane and circuit. The 1.98 mile long temporary track took in a section of the ring-road beginning just before the slip road on J6, before heading all the way down to J4 and then returning to finish at J6 again. The circuit’s official start line began at the slip road just before J6, setting off into the Friargate tunnel. On the circuit, drivers negotiated chicanes before heading under J5 at Holyhead Road, with a ‘turn around’ in the central reservation. The track featured a series of crash barriers and marshal points, along with various viewing areas and spectator zones along the route.

We hung around the Friargate-bridge deck waiting for things to happen. Looking around, I noticed that the organisers had noted my observation. Last year, I highlighted a major problem. Advertising banners lined the barriers making it impossible for someone like me who is 165 cm to see what was going on the road. Imagine for someone on mobility scooters and the young children. They wouldn’t be able to see anything. A few children were seen climbing on the barriers which were very dangerous. I sent the organisers a tweet and a few people retweeted it. The organisers responded and this year, a metre of space was left empty between the advertising banners.

After about 20 minutes of standing around waiting, we heard the sound of motorbikes being revved.  Then we were covered with clouds of smoke and the smell of burning rubber before the riders made their way towards the starting line. All manners of motorbikes  went zooming trying to outdo each other. A few revved up and did a wheelie that thrilled the crowd.  There was plenty on show to keep bike fans interested including the Bennetts Suzuki GSX-R1000, ridden in 2016’s British Superbike Championship by Tommy Bridewell. The superbike sported the special commemorative Barry Sheene livery worn for the BSB round at Brands Hatch in 2016 to mark the 40th anniversary of the motorcycling legend’s first 500cc world title. There was a display bike by the Telefonica MoviStar Suzuki RGV500 that Kenny Roberts Jr. used in 2000 to win the 500cc World Championship, and Kevin Schwantz’s 1993 Moto GP Championship winning RGV500, clad in the Lucky Strike livery that it ran during its victorious championship year.

Next was the Performance Heritage Cars speed demonstration laps. A select group of motorsport marvels from Jaguar’s illustrious racing past including the TWR XJS, winner of the European Touring Car Championship in 1984, Group 44 E-type which won the US SCCA Championship in 1975, the 393 RW - 1956 Long Nose D-type, sixth at Le Mans and winner of the Reims 12 hour race along with support cars that include a XJS Police car completed with blues and twos, a 2015 Project 7 pre-prototype and a 2015 XJR saloon, which had been used as a 'Nurburgring Taxi' in the past. The Jaguar brand was such an important part of Coventry’s motoring heritage and the Jaguar Historic Trust had brought such a fantastic selection of vehicles from their collection to run on the Toyo Tires sprint circuit.

Then it was back to the motorbike speed demonstrations laps again. We took the opportunity to check out exhibitions dotted on Greyfriars Green and the surrounding Friargate. We were chuffed to see a top-fuel dragster from Santa Pod attracting quite a large crowd. Babe wished that the company would revved up the engine and demonstrated the obligatory storming blow-out. That would surely blow the spectators socks off. But that would cost them a fortune as a dragster could consumed as much fuel as a Boeing 747.

We walked past the usual exhibitors such as Citroen,BMW, Ferrari, Jaguar and Landrover showing off their latest cars. But we were much more interested in the Electric Zone arena with Tesla, UK Autodrive and Electric Zoo. Here visitors were able to see first-hand inside the self-driving vehicles which provided a clearer understanding of the future of driving.  I fell in love with this black and pink Nissan Leaf but unfortunately it cost as much as a small house.

Then we headed towards the Band Hatton Button Arena where there was a large crowd gathering. Stop the Crash was in Coventry to promote car safety and spectators had the opportunity to experience it first hand. The partnership, led by Global NCAP, aimed to raise awareness of Advance Driver Assistance Systems and tyre safety. The crowds were given in car experience of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with demos highlighting how technology could assist drivers and prevented avoidable accidents.

On the way to Broadgate, we walked past stalls selling all kinds of exotic food from modified vans. They were making a very brisk  business judging from the long queues. In the Bullyard courtyard, crowds were gathering for the extreme wheelie and by the fountain were classic bikes on show. It seemed that every public areas (and pedestrianised zones) had become a stage to celebrate Coventry’s automotive and engineering pedigree.

We headed towards Broadgate where the Classic Car Owners display featured the Global Care stage and funfair, which was a very strange mix. We checked out a few classic cars with their very friendly and proud owners who were more than happy to chat about their pride and joy. For me me, the main attraction to all these displays was the golden opportunity for spectators to get up close and personal with the array of spectacular vehicles from the past, present and future with no barriers or viewing restrictions. It was a challenge taking photographs too because everything was photo-bombed. There were also plenty of displays scattered through out the city centre which we didn’t have the chance to visit.

Then it was back at the ring-road and we arrived just in time for the BARC Midlands Sprint practice session. The sprint races, drawn from the British Automobile Racing Club’s (BARC) various championship series, took place on a circuit formed by part of Coventry’s inner ring road, which was right below us. It was the first time competitive motorsport had been hosted on a UK city centre circuit since the Birmingham Superprix event featuring single-seater and touring car racers in 1990. Motofest Coventry had been working closely with the MSA and Coventry City Council to host the competition event since April 2017 when the MSA, and its sister governing body for two-wheel UK motorsport, the Auto-Cycle Union (ACU), were made the authorising bodies  for closed-road motorsport events. Competitive motorsport had returned to a UK city centre for the first time in almost 30 years when Coventry Motofest stages time trials as part of its festival of motoring.

We headed towards the ‘turn around’ in the central reservation where spectators were gathered in their thousands lining the raised platforms of slip roads and bridges, watching everything from the Class 1A-Road going series production cars up to 1400cc to Class 3B-Modified series cars 1400cc-2000cc charging along the temporary course. On the circuit, the drivers negotiated chicanes on a track that featured a series of crash barriers and marshal points, along with various viewing areas and spectator zones along the route. The practice laps were followed by timed runs, creating a true spectacle.

We decided to call it a day as it had been a long day for us. We found something missing at the Motorfest, a certain je ne sais quoi. Although there were the incredible noise of highly tuned engines revving up, the screeching tyres, the smell of burnt rubber and exhaust fumes were in the air and hundreds of people about, it didn’t had the vow factor. We think this might be our last visit to Motofest.

The race begins,
as engines roar.
They charge ahead,
like a wild boar.

Immediately they,
vie for position.
Victory and glory,
is their common mission.

Every driver,
maximum speed desires.
Each sharp turn,
burns their tires.

Magnificent machines,
often tease disaster.
Fearless warriors,
strive for nothing but faster.

Their greatest nemesis and savior,
are known simply as brakes.
In order to pass,
they wait for mistakes.

In the end,
only one gets to brag.
The first to kiss,
the checkered flag.

~anitapoems.com~

I was also off for a couple of days due to an attack from hives. Hives was a skin reaction that caused itchy swells, which range in size from small spots to larger blotches several inches in diameter. Thankfully, I don’t have it on my face but my legs were worst affected. It was so itchy and swollen making walking quite difficult. I’d an appointment with the doctor who gave me a very strong antihistamine tablets, cream and lotion. I was also advised not to take hot showers and not to use soap. It was very frustrating not to know what caused it to flare up off and on.

After staying a few days indoors and trying my best to calm down my very itchy skin, I was beginning to get cabin fever. We decided to check out the Leamington Spa peregrine falcon family which I’d been following diligently via Twitter. The Peregrines had nested on the bell tower of Leamington Town Hall and they had laid 4 eggs. Webcams had been installed so that Warwickshire Wildlife Trust could monitor them and also live-streamed their activities to the public. The Peregrine was a successful example of urban wildlife, taking advantage of of tall buildings as nest sites and the abundance of prey such as pigeons and starlings.

The first egg was laid on 20th March at 3 am. The 2nd egg arrived at 12.42 pm on 22nd March, the 3rd arrived at 3.45 am on March 25th and the 4th and final egg was laid at 7.51 pm on the 27th.  Incubation took place between 29-33 days. 2 eggs hatched on April 29th and a 3rd on April 30th. Unfortunately, the 4th egg didn’t hatched. Most of the brooding and feeding was carried out by the female, while the male hunt to supply the food. And he was a good hunter, bringing in lots of food mostly pigeons. I loved watching them snoozing together snuggling up close in an indistinguishable mass of creamy-white down or sitting like white Buddhas. These chicks called eyases looked quite comical as they toddled about with their disproportionately large feet.

They fledged at 35-42 days and remained dependent on their parents for up to two months. As soon as I found out that they’d fledged, we just had to see them. We walked straight down the main street keeping an eye on the sky. Unfortunately, there was no one on the main street looking which wasn’t a good sign which meant that they hadn’t been spotted. If they were around, all the bird-watchers, twitchers and photographers will be out and about. We heard a loud shreek and when we looked up, high up in the Warwickshire sky, an adult was circling.

We then walked to Regents Grove where a huge crowd was gathering. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust had set up a Peregrine watch with telescopes trained on the birds. The eyases were seen earlier, out and about in the balcony but they’d gone in and stayed in the shadows. They were begging for food from their parents, loudly vocalizing which could be heard. Here, we met a few regulars and found out that they’d been here since early morning and had seen a lot of action. I also met a few people who’d turned up when they heard about the Peregrines and some even had joined in to become members of the WWT. It was brilliant the way these birds inspired people and brought them together. Sharing our towns and cities with them was helping to change public attitudes towards them for the better and for now, it looked like these urban Peregrine Falcons were here to stay.

We then walked to the main street where we met Mr Greenman, a Brandon Marsh regular. We’d a wonderful time catching up in the lovely sunshine. As usual, a few people stopped to ask us what we were doing with our cameras, spotting scope and camouflaged gears, standing in the middle of a town centre. We had attracted some attention.. Of course we told them what we were up to. A couple of guys then came up to sell home-baked chocolate cookies for charity. We bought some but they were disgusting

About half an hour of  standing around, a pair of youngsters popped their heads between the balusters. They were out and about, having a conversation and checking out the enamoured audience below. We had fantastic views of the young birds. We could see the blue-grey above, with a blackish top of the head and an obvious black ‘moustache’ that contrasted with their white faces. Their paler eyebrows imparted a distinctive face pattern. One was peering over the edge, cocking its head to size something with one enormous eye. They didn’t stay out long and went back into the bell tower.

Then another errant chick was seen walking around the ledge. It didn’t look stable at all. For the first few weeks, when perching on the ledge, the youngsters were often described as ‘dragging their wings’ ‘almost toppling over, or ‘tilting’. These are all normal behaviours.They needed to work at strengthening their flight muscles by flapping their wings and loosening the few remaining down feathers. Most of the down, but for a few tufts on the breast and top of the head, had now given to regular plumage.

The chicks will start to fly in about 42 days, but were still dependent on their parents to learn how to hunt and handle prey in flight.  Often, they’d their eyes to the skies, looking out for their parents and if seen, started screeching for attention and maybe demanding to be fed. The parents often perched out of reach whilst the chicks tried to snatch incoming food. They also had a variety of calls, including a loud, harsh persistent chatter. The juveniles will disperse naturally and occasionally seen hanging around their parents but will go away before the next breeding season starts.

As we were about to leave, we spotted an adult perched on one of the bars beside the building. It was busy preening. It gave the youngsters a quick glance before continuing preening.  One thing a Peregrine does a lot was preening. The preening was a necessity to keep the feathers neat and clean, preserving their streamlining and insulating effects as well as their colour pattern. Because of their high metabolic rates, they consumed more food in proportion to their size than most animal. To be efficient players, the digestive system had to be both as light and as efficient as possible. This is why the Peregrine was renowned for its speed.

June was always going to be a sad month for me and my family. My beloved Mum left us 3 years ago and it still felt like yesterday. In Malaysia, my father organised a prayer reading for her and invited relatives, close friends, neighbours and religious men from the mosque. Here, I prayed in the mosque and since it was Ramadan, contributed fruits to the breaking fast meal.

If roses grow in heaven,
Lord please pick a bunch for me,
Place them in my Mother’s arms
and tell her they’re from me.

Tell her I love her and miss her,
and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek
and hold her for awhile.

Because remembering her is easy,
I do it every day,
but there’s an ache within my heart
that will never go away.

Al-Fatehah.