Sunday, August 31, 2008

SELAMAT HARI KEBANGSAAN & SELAMAT BERPUASA

To all Malaysians:
SELAMAT MENYAMBUT Hari Kebangsaan ke 51
..... Sambut dengan Jiwa yang Merdeka!

















To all Muslims :
SELAMAT MENYAMBUT Bulan Ramadhan Al-Mubarak
..... Sambut dengan Jiwa yang penuh Ketenangan dan Keimanan!

Friday, August 29, 2008

Why I don't own a Bungalow - according to Haifa

Hanna and Hasya had the piano exam today. After more than 5 years of learning the notes, this was the first time they were taking the exam. Their mother was more nervous than the girls, so you can imagine how her teeth were making the clattering noises when Hanna’s name was first called. Then Hasya’s. At that moment I understood how all the Mothers who’d been there felt like whenever their kids were to sit for big exams. And this was just a piano exam, not big ones like UPSR or PMR or SPM. How would I feel if my kids were to sit for the big exams??

I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Anyway, after the exam, we and the girls went to MV and later Bangsar Village. On the way to NPE, we took the shortcut thru the big bungalows/mansions in Bangsar. I was trying to make a point with my girls who had jaws on their laps looking at those big bungalows! Never mind the OOOOHs and the AAAHHHs sound they made.

Tengok rumah-rumah besar tu. Diorang belajar pandai sangat masa sekolah dulu, tu yang diorang boleh afford rumah-rumah besar macam ni.

And I added some more... If you want big houses like these, kena belajar pandai-pandai lah. Nanti boleh beli apa yang mahu.

There came a comment from the back of the car -

Ibu tak pandai lah masa belajar dulu. Sebab tu lah tak ada rumah besar macam ni..

Alamak terkedu aku. What should I say now? Hanna and Hasya were laughing like hyenas. Heeelp Ayah...!

Taklah, Ibu pandai apa... masa belajar dulu..

Tapi tadi Ibu kata kena belajar pandai sangat baru dapat ada rumah besar macam ni. Jadi Ibu tak pandai sangatlah ...

Hmmhh.. betul jugak..alahaiii ...

Ayah was smiling ear to ear. Hanna and Hasya were laughing uncontrollably.

... And me? I managed to Tersenyum Kelat..

Haifa..Haifa... :)

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Mega Sale Marathon Shopping

A week before the school holidays:

Ibuuu, betis Hanna sakit lagi lah Ibu.

My God, after like 4 days, she could still feel the aching? The 7-hour of marathon shopping was last Monday, Hanna, how could you still feel the pain?

OK OK - I’m Guilty as charged. I admit I’m a bad mother. I was an inconsiderate mom who made her two children skipped schools just so that they could tag along with her to MidValley. But I didn’t blackmail them or anything. They were all full of smiles that day. They liked it, especially when the exam was just over and they wanted to spend some quality time with me - besides getting new shoes and clothes for Raya of course.

I don’t like to procrastinate when it comes to buying things for my children. I made a vow earlier this year that I won’t be doing what I had been doing all these years – go shopping for Raya during Ramadhan! This year, I don’t want to be caught in the throngs of people who seemed to like what I liked. In the end, it was very frustrating when you got hold of the one that you desired but couldn’t get the size that you wanted. Or you liked the one on the mannequin, but that was the last piece and the wrong size. Or worse, you couldn’t find anything for anybody at all!

That was why I took leave on Monday and went shopping with Hanna and Hasya.

There were a zillion things to buy. Imagine how many blouses, t-shirts, jeans, pants, skirts, gowns, sandals and shoes that made up the long list of my To-Buy things:

Let's do a simple math:

There are 11 people living under the same roof with me. Six of them are my dear children, another three my maids, my dahhling Ayah and moi!

1) Each of my maids needs 3 blouses/t-shirts, 2 pants/jeans, a baju kurung and a pair of sandals – that makes it 7 items for each. Total : 21 items altogether.

2) Each of my 5 girls needs 4 blouses/t-shirts, 2 jeans, a baju kurung and a pair of sandals/shoes – that makes it at least 8 items for each. Total : 40 items. Don’t forget the extra skirts/gowns and stockings for the younger three which equals to 6. So, the Grand Total for the 5 girls : 46 items

3) My only boy – 3 jeans/slacks, 5 shirts/t-shirts, socks, a pair of sandal and a baju Melayu. Total : 11 items

4) Ayah – TBD
5) Moi - TBD

(Post-script Correction):
The total amount of things to be bought was 21+46+11 = 78! Minus the Baju Kurungs and the Baju Melayu that I’ve already bought/ordered (all 11 of them), and minus Items 4 and 5 (which aren’t important), the Grandtotal of the things that needed to be bought was 78-11 = 67!

I'd never accomplish buying those even if I had 4 arms! Not while you’re fasting or got pushed and pulled during a weekend sale. So I know I made the right decision to buy them on Monday, with the Mega Sale going on especially.

What left, you ask me?

I’m only left with less than 10 items to buy now. Pretty impressive, huh?

Draw the Line

I know it's my blog. And it's supposed TO BE :

1) where I can write how & what I feel
2) my outlet to vent & let off steam
3) 'MY'-time - where I can have the "MY-time" all to myself
4) sort-of a journal where my children can read when they're older
5) my realm of infinity

This morning Ayah asked me to remove one of the entries I wrote earlier. He said - "Jangan cari pasal".

I guess he was right. That entry might hurt some feelings. And I don't want to lose some friendships just because I wrote what I wrote.

At this age, friends and relatives are very much important. The older you get, the more you treasure what you have. And it's important to multiply that rather than having the numbers slashed off ... just because.

Come to think of it, although this cyberworld offers borderless/limitless opportunity for me to write whatever I want to, it's actually up to me to sift thru the cans and cannots.

"The best way to keep your friends is not to give them away."
- Wilson Mizner

Friday, August 22, 2008

Here and There

My weekend plus the three days that I was on leave were wonderfully spent. My three older siblings (Bemmie, Benjie and Kak Anim) with their families came over. The main reason was to attend my cousin’s wedding on Sunday, this time on the Groom’s side. Although my dear parents and my younger brother and his family couldn’t make it, it was still 'perfect’ for me.

Saturday night was BBQ night. Since it was already 4pm when we decided to have the BBQ, this time there were just just prawns, crabs, squids and Honey BBQ Chicken Wings - served with Sos Chili Thai and Argentine Salsa Criolla (TQ Farina!). I also prepared Bubur Durian and Baked Tuna Cheese with Pasta. There were also fruits from the orchard brought by Benjie. Ayah set the tent up for the children to play in and the noises that the children made was like a kenduri!

The next day was the real kenduri in Semenyih. It was good. We met our relatives from up North and kudos to my cousin (the Groom’s eldest brother) and his wife(and her family) to have gone through so much and made the kenduri a success. Since both their parents have died (alFatihah) this eldest sibling took the responsibilities to make it happen for the younger brother the Groom. And I was lucky again to witness another Silat Pengantin and the Gamelan – played by a group of young men. We were entertained by the used-to-be-popular singer – Zaiton Same’on. I couldn’t help feeling pity for her who obviously is now a has-been :(

Monday was Berjaya Times Square indoor-theme-park day. The children just loved it although there weren't as many games as there were in Genting. That was my special child Haziq’s third time there... and I was rather nervous coz he didn’t want to eat anything while we were there. Too excited maybe :)

And guess who slept like a log that night? It was me, not my Haziq. Penat!

Tuesday was Zoo Negara day.


It was my 2+yo Hanis’s first time there, so you can imagine how happy she was seeing the animals she saw in the books for real! My special child Husna was all smiles as usual.


The animals looked so much better since the last time we went there. The smell in the air was ok. There were many Minah/Mat Salleh volunteers doing all kinds of work in the zoo. I wondered where they came from.

Anyway, this Orang-Utan was funny though – he actually posed for his picture to be taken!

Wednesday was Wall-E day at Cineleisure. Since Ayah wasn’t on leave, I brave myself to drive my car for the first time. Made it finally :) Hanna and I wanted to watch The Mummy but Hasya, Haifa and Hanis wanted Wall-E – so they won. But on the way back, I heard Haifa reading out loud what she sent via sms to Ayah : “Wall-E tak best lah Ayah.”

La pulak....

Anyway, I'm sure all of us had fun during the holidays. And oh, I'm going to catch The Mummy before school starts.

Ok now, back to work!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Au Revoir!

Au Revoir my dear Matrix! Thank you for the good five years you've shared with me...



Come visit me when you can... And please take care of the new owners - like what you did with me.





Meanwhile, say Hello to my new car... sleek, huh?


drool...

drool...

drool...

drool...

See Lewis Hamilton posing for me?



Hehehe.. perasan... Dream on Dreamweaver!

(Actually I shot this beauty during the Sepang F1 race on 23rd March08. Pretty neat...)

Huh... Finally I drove my new car this morning - after 5 days of it being stationary in the car porch. I'm trying to get use to it. Love it, but I do miss you my Matrix.

But I'm very sure you're in capable hands now :) Take care of your owner and the family for me, ok?

Friday, August 15, 2008

My 42nd Year

If I were to live in India, it’d be a Public Holiday today, and I’d be celebrating my 42nd Birthday with India’s Independence Day!

Yes, I’m 42 today. I was born at 12:15 midnight of 15th August 1966. My parents were living in Langkawi at that time, but my AYAH insisted that Mak should take the boat ride to cross the ocean and gave birth to me in Kodiang, Kedah where AYAH’s kampung was located.

I’d like to thank everybody who had called me and sent me Birthday Greetings via sms, and emails since last night. I feel truly blessed to be given this life which is full of wonderful people of families and friends from all walks of life.

My Hubby – I’m genuinely happy to have a terrific husband like you. TQ for the birthday gift :) though it’s not a surprise. I can’t wait to drive it this afternoon. Love you ..mmmuuuaahhh...!

My Children – My Angels- Haziq, Husna, Hanna, Hasya, Haifa and Hanis. I love you with all my heart! Ayah and all of you make me complete. My special children Haziq and Husna – remember Allah chose you to be special because you’re SPECIAL. Your Ayah, Ibu and sisters will always be there for both of you.

My Parents – AYAH and Mak – I’m truly blessed to have parents like you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live the life that I’ve always wanted. Thank you for being there for me all these 42 years!.

My Siblings – Bemmie, Benjie, Kak Anim and Adik – and my ipars – Kak Zue, Kak Dora, Abg Rosli and Juin – love y’all! Hope all of you will have a tremendous life. And I wouldn’t trade you with anything in the world!

My Relatives – My Tok, aunties, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, grand nephews, grand nieces, my mom in law, sis-in-laws, brother-in-laws – you are wonderful people!

My Friends – My Primary School friends who are a bunch of fantastic ladies, my MRSM friends who are ever so marvelous, my Uni friends whom I’ve mostly lost contact with, my Office friends who have seen me from a Fresh Graduate to a mom-of-six, my friends I acquired thru the blogging world, my neighbors, my family friends and everybody I’ve known – you guys are amazing!

Thank you for being you!

Happy Birthday to Me :)

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Shoeless

I know there are some women drivers who do not wear their shoes while driving. I’m one of them :) I tried wearing them a few times, but felt rather clumsy and awkward. I guess my toes need to be 'naked' when touching the gas and brake pedals...(Hmmmhh... I wonder how I passed the driving test with my shoes on?)

Anyway, like soooo many other women drivers out there, I have several pairs of shoes in my car. Two pairs at the front passenger’s side and three in the car boot. I don’t know why I have them in my car especially when I like to wear only one pair in like 4-6 months before I switch to another.

Since I have my shoes ‘living’ in my car, every morning I’ll just have to get in the car without any shoes on, make sure that my sunglass and laptop are there - and drive off to work. It worked that way until one Thursday morning when I had to hitch a ride with Ayah.

I hopped into Ayah’s car and chattered away until we reached my office. Then only I realized... ALAMAAAAK... I didn’t have any shoes to wear!

Luckily, I remembered my colleague, Suzanne, who had many pairs of shoes in her car (see, I’m not the only one here!) I called her up - it was very nice of her to come down, opened her car boot and gave a pair to me. Phew.. lega!

And it was not nice to wear another person's shoes the whole day, right? Now.. ehemm... I had a valid reason to get a new pair of shoes. Got one Snowfly from OU JJ that afternoon itself...Yippee!

The moral of the story : Ladies, if you just need a reason to get a new pair of shoes - despite all the ones in your shoe cabinet or car boot - do what I didlah... tak lah rasa guilty sangat membazir....LOL!

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Happy 66th Birthday Mak Dearest

Mak,

Happy 66th Birthday! Semoga Mak panjang umur, murah rezeki, diberi kesihatan yang baik, happy happy selalu & dipelihara Allah dalam kebaikan.


You've been there in my everything and I really thank you from the very bottom of my heart.

I love you so much that it hurts...

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Happy 47th Anniversary AYAH & Mak!

Selamat Hari Ulangtahun Perkahwinan buat AYAH dan Mak tersayang. Semoga Allah menambahkan keberkatan dan keharmonian di dalam perkahwinan kalian berdua.


Semoga dipanjangkan usia, dimurahkan rezeki, dipelihara Allah dalam keimanan, diberkati dengan kesihatan yang baik, dilindungi dari segala yang tidak baik dan dilimpahi rahmat setiap masa...

Friday, August 1, 2008

Happy, happy me

Yay! Mak and AYAH are coming today! But only for ONE night. And that ONE night will be spent at a hotel in PJ. Alaaaa...frustrated betul! AYAH was asked to participate in a discussion with UM’s Akademi Pengajian Melayu (if I’m not mistaken) tomorrow. On what, I’ve no idea. And all sponsored by them. But the thought of meeting them even for a few hours really boost my spirit today.

The last time Mak was here was in May08, and AYAH back in December07.

After work at 5, Ayah will go fetch them at the hotel and bring them back to our house – have dinner, chit-chat a bit, Mak to try baju raya I bought for her – and then we have to send them back to the hotel tonight.

They’ll be going back to Alor Setar tomorrow evening, but I won’t be able to see or send them home since Haifa will be having her Tadika concert on the same day. That 6yo has been practicing hard every day with her dance that I don’t think we could slip out from the Dewan MPPJ to send Mak and AYAH to the terminal.

Whatever it is, the kids will be ecstatic to see their Tok Mi and Tok Wan today. And I know Hasya will cry again during the parting. She’s very sensitive every time she sees Tok Mi leaving.

And I’ll have quality time with my Mak and AYAH... happy....

Soooo happy that I spent buying unnecessary things at IKEA during lunch time... Okay what, IKEA's having a sale!!