Gartblue Growls ...

Happy Mother's Day`

2011-05-09T12:41:00.003+08:00

I missed it?
Did I?

Actually I did not but I was quite content on not begging for attention and more to giving to others. Sure signs of getting older, I guess.

Anyway, the weekend started off as usual. Me, revising with the girls as the exams are creeping ever so sneakily on us. Worse is that I've registered all 6 of us for this Chicken Run thing (we are all running between 2-4 km carrying a cone with an egg in it) and it did not dawn on me that it will be right smack in the exam week. *kicks self*

Anyways.

More reasons to study early then. Kids are getting all excited about it.

Well, I spent the day sewing these pouches for my Mak and for the kids' Teachers Day pressies for their teachers.

I bought some gorgeous fabric from IKEA and used my stash of fabrics and can't wait to upload pictures of them here. Cool cool pressies for Teacher's Day.

MrGart who is as romantic as Bubbles the Cat, spoke about massage for two which I had to organise and Ayisha wished me 30 times during the day. Ayisha is my intuitive child, always spot on on feelings, she knows when to push the button and when to let go. She's really intuitive, can't explain any more than that. Ariz coyly kissed me and whispered Happy Mothers Day to me. He came home on Friday with a beautiful card.

Aliya and Adani are always reserved with emotions. Aliya, the lack of it and Adani, spurts of strong emotions.

Anyway. To me, Mother's Day is about celebrating what we mothers have all known all this while. Unrelenting devotion to the kids and family. We need no presents and we need no recognition but what we need is for the family to be well. That's all. Insyallah.

Here and Now

2011-05-06T08:29:00.002+08:00

It's been a long while since I last blogged. Maybe I should somewhat update a little about ME. *snicker*

1. Hopes and prays to go for umrah or even hajj anytime soon.

2. Realises that my cookies and cakes business just don't gel well with the needs of the family. So, I hung my business apron and donned my mommy apron. Still teach though. Whatever little knowledge I have, if it benefits others, I'll be pleased.

3. Accepts Aliya, Ayisha, Adani and Ariz just the way they are. Academically, Aliya is alright. Ayisha needs serious one-to-one coaching. She scored a big fat 0 in Paper 2 Science in Monthly Test 1 and that I did a lot of soul-searching and crying. Now, I turn to Allah and seek his guidance, his help in helping me to help Ayisha. Insyallah. More of that in next posts.

4. We have expanded the house to double its original size. The contractor we trusted has betrayed us and I've learned to forgive. Allah gives and Allah takes. We have now engaged a new contractor to finish off and complete whatever's left undone yet.

5. Adani and Ayisha now go to BJ KAFA instead of Ad-Daris before/after school and since the school does not do mengaji and looking at the exorbitant rates the Ustaz and Ustazah charge to come to the house to teach the kids mengaji, I've decided to take it up myself. Why of why did it take me so long to realise that, especially when I've already completed my tajwid lessons many years ago. But of course, time is always limited and if I can do 3 nights a week, that is already an accomplishment. Insyallah. May Allah ease the way for us.

6. Ariz is READING! Yay! Alhamdulillah. In the last few weeks, his reading skills picked up exponentially. Last night, in bed with me, in the dark, he whispered that he knew how to spell starfish, and he asked me how to spell know. *wipes tears* but of course it didn't come without some hilarious moments. One day, he asked how to spell fa-ke (he pronounced it like the f word with -er). Aliya was with me and her eyes buldged. My heart stopped and I had images of banning Internet in the house. I kept calm and asked how the word is spelled. f-a-k-e. Phew! Fake, as in Make, as in Cake. You scared me, dear boy!

7. I think Adani is feeling slightly more miserable this year. She's a perfectionist and little imperfect things bug her a lot. And she's a social person and hurts easily if friends hurt her. I really need to boost her EQ.

8. Aliya has a new Blackberry and has been on it forever. She's on Twitter too. Must keep track of what she does. She still tells me what she does and where she goes with her friends. I pray that Allah guides her heart and makes it easy on her.

9. MrGart is doing is Master's degree and I've been rather unsupportive lately, especially with the late nights classes and the ignored family. After a few skirmishes, I've learned that a wife supports. Even if it hurts. She supports. I will.

10. I feel wiser now. I think more and I feel more. I definitely am getting older. Sigh!

Holler Back

2011-04-29T11:45:00.002+08:00

You know what?

I do love to write. To blog. To pour my emotion into words strung together perfectly capable to deliver my utmost deepest feelings.

So, what the heck. I'm blogging again, even if the world is dominated by the social media networks.

Insyallah.

I'm Hollering From Over There

2009-10-19T20:06:00.003+08:00

Dear fellow growlers,

Alhamdulillah, my blogging years have touched 5 long years and although I've changed platforms a few times and names too, from modblog to efx2, efx2blogs and wordpress and blogspot, it does not stop me from blogging.

Well, the rather sad part is that, I think I may need to just jump ship and abandon this blog and continue my blogging at blog.razzledazzlecookies.com . No particular reasons why.

Just that it gets hard to put up 2 different presences, one where I'm blogging as myself, unadulterated. And the other, the baker part of me. So, it's time I guess, I realise that why 2 blogs ?

It's the same me. I may bake, but I still pick fights with the tailgaters (in my dreamworld). I may decorate cookies but I still abashedly spill all about my misfortunes. Who can forget, the incident when I forgetfully and mistakenly left 2-year old Adani in the car under the hot afternoon sun ? And to you and you and you, who looks up to me as a benchmark of a Queen of Murphy's Law, I still am me.

So, there. If it's ain't soppy yet, I don't know what will. This is as soppy as Gartblue would ever get.

Conclusion. The layout of this blog is screwed and I'm jumping ship over to my blog. So, come with me and discover more mishaps.

Feeling Neglected Eh ?

2009-10-01T09:35:00.004+08:00

Yikes!

Almost a month of not updating the blog. Gosh! I must have been in a daze.

*thinking of an excuse*

*thinking hard*

Ah well! No excuses, really. Just plain M-A-L-A-S !

Anyhow.

To recap the last month. Ramadhan is over quite uneventfully for us this time around. I wanted to focus on more of ibadah this Ramadhan hence the lack of anything else. Not even kuih raya or cookies.

Hari Raya was kinda muted. We spent the first Raya at my parents' in Gombak and hopped over to Seremban where the rest of the clan congregated. We had a big family meeting in view of the looming crisis in the family and insyallah things are sorted out now. Unfortunately, we did not take a single Raya photos this time around. I wonder why.

2nd Raya to the 4th, we spent it at MrGart's hometown.

Came home on Friday to a messy house and no maid and a 300 pcs of cookies to do. Alhamdulillah it workd out fine. Being without a maid means picking your battles. It's okay to step on stegosauroses every few steps but at least they're on the floor, not beneath a mound of dust. Eh ?

Anyhow.

Andes came home last Monday. Alhamdulillah. We are so blessed to have her with us for the past 7 years and although not without trials, we are better off than most. Insyallah. What I can say here is that, it's hard to get a good maid, but to maintain a good one takes effort. Seriously!

My meeting at Danang, Vietnam on Tuesday was postponed due to Typhoon Ketsana and I am just thankful that the meeting was called off at the very last minute especially when I saw a picture of Danang, flooded this morning.

The Earth was indeed angry yesterday. I pray for the peoples of Indonesia, Samoa, American Samoa and the Ketsana stricken victims. Life indeed is a test.

Kids wise .. Aliya completed a month's fasting. Ayisha missed a day for food poisoning. Adani is still thinking to fast. Ariz says Optimus Prime does not fast. And he only fasts when it's time to eat. Sigh!

Ayisha got her handphone since dia puasa penuh. Now Adani is pining for one. She has to wait till she's 9, I said. She's counting now. Adani got her left ear pierced (her right was pierced a year ago but the left's hole closed after a mishap) to prepare for her Indian dance at her concert next month.

House-wise. We got TM, the designer/consultant to knock down the porch wall separating our house and uhm our house and she spruced up the lawn, planted some weeping (Mrgart says sweeping) willows and found some kayu jambatan to be fashioned into a long bench. I thought the bench looks awesome. Love the unique look.

But sedih sekali, after 4 hari at SP, the smaller willows died on us and some annoying cats have poo-ed on the newly laid grass. The annoying cats' owners' kids have also annoyingly trespassed into our house to play and ransacked the house during the holidays. I have since warned them not to come and only to play at the park, not at our house. BTW, these are also the kid who early this year have accused my daughter of bullying her and I have not heard any apology from mother or daughter even after Ayisha was cleared and the culprit was the the kids herself, although I never expect any. But it gets to me that she and her brother just climb the walls (because they know we lock the doors) to get to our house at all hours of the day and demanded to naik atas to play with the PC and notebook. That is a major no-no to me.

Anyhow. *checks mood*

Selamat Hari Raya peeps.

One Bad Night At The Masjid

2009-09-03T09:00:00.003+08:00

Day nearly fell off the chair, laughing when I lamented this story to her just now. Not exactly the sympathy I expected. Duh!

Anyhow.

After a cooperative 11 nights (minus 3 nights) of tarawih with the kids at our local masjid, last night was most unbearable, to the point that I rotan-ed each of them once on their palms, once we got home.

Before you dial the TeleDera line, let me just share with you what happened.

You see, our masjid is friendly to kids. In fact, it has 3 different places for muslimat to pray. The main area is upstairs, air-conditioned and within the masjid walls. The second is a large wakaf, built very close next to the masjid, open-air with fans and curtains on the walls. Most women who are not to fit to climb stairs and mothers pray here, for ease to monitor their kids and it's away from the main masjid, so if the kids run around a bit, the only people affected are the jemaah there. The third is a newly opened carpeted, open air terrace of the masjid, with a sliding door separating the men and the women. I like this as it's carpeted and Ariz and Adani can do their stuff at the back and we would not be disturbing too many people.

So, we've never prayed at the upstairs area and I thought since the kids have been exceptionally wonderful, we could give it a shot. Last night. We did.

I had a sackful of books for Ariz and Adani. And a bottle of air sirap too.

During 3rd rakaat of Isya', Ariz gleefully ran through the saf towards me. I shuddered. He's never done that downstairs. After Isya' was over, the makcik next to me screeched, "Siapa la yang bawak anak ni. Ish".

After a lot of stares and figger-wagging, Tarawih 1 and 2 went well. Tarawih 3 saw me running downstairs since Ariz needed to pass huge motion. Tarawih 4 was a little noisy, with Adani reading aloud a poem from Shel Silverstein with a friend and Ariz was in a discussion over t-rex and kamus dewan (brought to masjid by Asiah's 4yo daughter).

Since the jemaah was doing 8 Tarawih with a tazkirah, the witir was done in jamaah too. That went well too.

The last single rakaat of Witir saw me seething. Ariz was running the full length of the upstairs area in what would be best described as "mengilai and mengelekek". Sungguh menggangu konsentrasi aku and what was more annoying was that Aliya and Asha who were sitting nearby did not stop bubur-lambuk high Ariz. He was in a crazy mood and I snapped.

I stepped back, glared at Aliya and Ayisha angrily, tarik telinga Ariz and pulled him to the door and asked him in a murderous tone to stay there. I gathered our stuff and went to the door to find him NOT THERE. Geramnya. He was downstairs, tears streaming down his face, trying to find his shoes. The girls wanted to eat moreh but I said, get inside the car right now.

I gave an earful about being noisy and running at the masjid and also, the sisters, should be more responsible to stop their little brother or sister from being a nuisance like that. Excuses like, "Ariz tak nak" is simply unacceptable.

Coming home to MrGart who just got back from his bukapuasa at the office, I immediately instructed them to sit at the sofa, where I gave a lecture of how irresponsible for all of them to do what each of them did that night and how dissapointed I was last night at them.

I fetched the rotan and all of them received a lash on the palm.

Safe to say that, we will be avoiding the upstairs of the masjid till Ariz is at least 13 years old. So, we'll be at the wakaf or at the terrace, if you're looking for a mom and 4 of her kids.

It Rains Cats and Dogs

2009-08-28T12:11:00.001+08:00

Gambar hanya hiasan. Ariz, Adani & Ayisha in their super-hyper mood.

Wet, rainy season's here, my friends.

And it rained super heavily last night, before iftar yesterday and more days before. Alhamdulillah. *must remember to make dua when it rains*

So, when it rains, you know what follows la kan. Leaks!

Gosh!

We have leaks. Inside, outside, tepi-side all sides.

We have them outside, nearly missing the shoe rack. We have them indoors too. There are 3 lines of leaks snaking down in my master bedroom's wall. There are 2 more down in the upstairs living room. And there's one near the PC. And in the girls' room too. Arghh!!

I guess I have to resign to the fact that the house is rather in need of repairs. It's 11 years old, mind you. Aliya was still toddling around when we moved in here. Now she never lets anyone touch her hair and she'll myspace-ing away most free time.

And the girls for the past week have been jumping the gun on it, demanding to rearrange the sleeping partners. Aliya wants the room she's sharing with Ayisha TO herself. Ayisha wants the same. Adani proudly declares that she's not afraid to sleep by herself. And me, I woke up last night to a sound of something drop somewhere and immediately worried where the girls are.

Now they want to sleep in their own rooms by themselves. What happens to all sleeping in my our room? Why ? Why ? Why? *overdramatic mode*

I guess kids do grow, even if I'd like them to grow a little slower now, but I have to face the facts that they'd be needing privacy soon.

BUT GIRLS! CAN"T YOU JUST WAIT A FEW MORE MONTHS?

Grrr .. We've started to plan and get people in discussion on ideas for the Gart'sAbode1 and newly acquired Gart'sAbode2. And construction works ain't starting at least after Raya.

And these girls have started shifting things around and memeningkan kepala Mummy.

Arghhh!!

Musang Oh Musang

2009-08-25T08:55:00.003+08:00

Suffice to say, my office is a WRECK ! A sick building.

And what could be worse is that, it's infested with rodents, in all manners, flying, crawling and balancing.

Let me count them all, just to sure that we qualify for a Petting Zoo criteria and maybe we should start charging fees too.

Cockroaches. Hmmm dah beranak-pinak dah. Tak kuasa nak kira.

Rats. One died in Bobby's room next to mine and it reeked to no end. One's been ransacking the pantry and I'm sure it's like the Ratatuoille, you see one, there's a whole clan somewhere.

About 2 weeks ago, we had a swarm of langaus in the office. Not the fast-evading lalats. These are at least 3 times the size of lalats and they are heavy and rather dumb too. We spent one morning swatting these and they're mighty easy to swat. For some or another, although there were everywhere in my department, at the height of it, there seemed to me significantly more in my room. *shudder*

I freaked out. We closed the door and sprayed ridsect, by the bottle. And from the window, we all stood and watched them dropped dead. And shortly after, a band of cockcroaches came out dizzy and dead too. Sigh!

I came the next day with gloves and dettol and literally scrubbed the room down. It smelled like a hospital for the whole day.

Langaus don't appear if nothing's dead. And the last time the rat died, there werent' any. So, I said, someone must've died, maybe the AKP assesors. Heh! But there was no smell. But we secretly thought and talked aloud too about the musang's family that's been plagueing the building.

Gina thought it died somewhere. By end of the week, the mom or dad, came to Gina's place and shredded some papers under her table. Pee-Pee-A ke? Ni musti musang spy aI-Pee-Pee. Hehehe.

Anyhow, after a trip to kerteh, laden with keropok of all manners and shapes, Shabbir left his at the office, only to find the next morning, that it has been eaten by the musang. Fina spoke about her apple which cikmus ate and the pear which he left teethmarks on. Gina spoke too about seeing a long bushy tail balancing itself on the gypsum cubicles tops. *naik bulu roma*

So, this morning we were shocked to come to the office to the sight of a musang in a trap. The building maintenance guys fixed a trap, a specially ordered trap since these musangs are pretty nasty. And it's the anak that was caught since it's only about the size of agrown cat. *shudder* Apparently mak bapak dia lagi besar and cantik. Shabbir named it W.Muna since the guy said it's a girl.

It snared and it hissed and it banged its head toward the walls. It chewed the spring of the trap, trying to pry itself loose.

By this time, a small audience was already oohhing and ahhing and arghhhing. Shabbir fed it biscuits and shredded kurma only to have to it hissed and snared back with teeth and fangs, nastily displayed. Brutal giler.

Fina was pleading for the maintenance guys not to kill it. It's kind of pretty too, with stripes of grey on its black body. I thought musangs should be purplish!

Anyhow, like I said. This is a sick building.

Ramadhan Beckons

2009-08-24T09:08:00.004+08:00

Gambar hanyala hiasan. Lil' Garties jakun tengok fountain kat Hospital Ampang, nampak sangat kat rumah tak ada. BTW, avoid hospitals at all costs, these days.

It's Day 3 today.

And suprisingly, the Gart's household stayed at home the whole of the weekend. Wow! The only places we went to were the bazaar ramadan at Bkt Jelutong to get some air or some kuihs or some rendang for sahur and of course the Pasar Tani for replenishing the depleting haiwans and dauns and the masjid for tarawih prayers.

Partly this was because I wanted to hop over to Mak's for buka puasa only to be told that my younger sis, Eni and family were at her inlaws in Tganu and that maybe next time lah. Frust giler! Kena masak sendiri.

I vow to cook something less complicated this Ramadan to free more time for me to do other things. Like I masak canggih sangat la all these Ramadans. Hehe!

And I think we can make it to masjid every night since we're not looking at many buka puasa dos elsewhere, insyallah. The kids too have been cooperative.

Aliya and Ayisha prayed with me through to 8 rakaat of Tarawih. Last night because there was a kuliah, they even did the witir jamaah. Although I kept telling Ayisha to try to keep still in solat and not sway or look around or even raising both hands to close her mouth when she sneezes or tucking in her wild hair. Haish!

We've got a good spot at the wakaf, if we get there early. A good place that Ariz can find me without disturbing too many people and I can give him my chilling stare if I find him throwing stones or talking too loudly or running around. He makes friends easily and always can be found a band of boys that short. Adani, meanwhile sticks to her girlfriends and Jehan comes up tops.

MrGart told me that on the first night, Ariz stayed through the Isya' and only disappeared just before Tarawih started. Last night, he bolted at the 2nd rakaat Isya'. Adani was obedient enough to ask me if she could be let off and play and I usually say yes. Rather than having her tergeliat-geliat and tergedik-gedik kat situ.

Anyhow.

This Ramadan like most Ramadans, the temptation is not always the food or the drink. It's always the temper. I've gone over the bridge a few times and it's only Day 3. Sigh! I can only improve, insyallah.

A little snag this year. Our office canteen will be closed for renovation for 3 months.

Good, cos we'll be having a brand, spankingly new canteen soon.

Bad because, kat mana nak beli foodie for buka puasa. I don't like the bazaar Ramadan too much since I think they're way too pricey but I don't have enough time to cook properly when I get home. So, the solution is to buy a lauk or two and a sejenis kuih or two, at a reasonable price from people whom I know and supplement with a main dish I will cook at home.

So, canteen tutup. So how now brown cow ?

You Can't Blame Me

2009-08-20T10:55:00.000+08:00

For feeling mighty suspicious if you read this on your tall, dark and handsome, not to mention sexy hubby's phone ..

"Abg nampak sangat faham"

Dah la nombor asing, xde nama and it was sent at 3:47pm and is that word read Abg?? WTF?? Faham? Faham what? What am I missing here ?

I threw patience and understanding out the window and brewed a mighty storm. I vividly remember I threw the phone down after I shoved it to him with an ashen face. I actually must have looked like Gollem in LOTR, or better still, the Ice Queen in Narnia, when she realised Aslan has assembled his army to fight her and that spring has come and melted the winter away.

I digressed.

Well, to make matters lagi kelakar or even more suspicious, MrGart couldn't remember who it was, muttering something about a meeting and he was nodding off and that's about it, one of his colleagues.

Storms brewing still.

The next day, he called me from his office with the background buzzing of office talks and he said that he remembered what it was now.

Apparently that was a long audit session and he slept and that, that rather DAFT person sent that message sarcastically to say that, his nodding meant that he understood.

Hokeh!

I get that. But what still annoys me like mad is that what business does one have in a professional office environment to be calling anyone, let alone someone's husband Abang? I mean, it's not like that is an environment where you should be calling anyone, for that matter, Abang.

I feel like going over and ketuk that person's head for sending out that message to MrGart. I ain't KillKillDieDie but any sane person would feel exactly how I feel.

So, to you out there, for you own safety, think before you do something stupid like this because I ain't standing by watching this unfold and I will put a stop to this, even if I have to pull a lot of strings. I will.

*bunyi macam threat, tak?*

*lipat sleeve tangan, flex muscles, checks knucles, practises punching*

Sugar Cookies Recipe

2009-08-18T11:56:00.002+08:00

This is THE recipe I use for all my cookies and also the same recipe I use in my Cookie Classes. It's taken from the Toba Garret's book which I thought is a real gem.

Although the recipe gives the Glace Icing, I never seem to have much luck with it. So I always use Royal Icing or fondant to decorate the cookies.

Makes: about 20
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Total time: 1 hour (plus chilling time)

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups sifted all purpose flour

Glace Icing
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons milk
6 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl. Mix for another 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Beat until well combined.

In a separate bowl, sift together baking powder and flour. Add the flour mixture 1 cup at a time to the butter mixture. Blend in the last cup of flour by hand. Refrigerate the dough until slightly chilled; this will make the dough easier to roll.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

On a floured surface roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thick. Cut cookies with desired cutters. Place cookies on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake for 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.

To prepare the glace, mix the confectioners’ sugar and milk with the electric mixer for 2 minutes. Add the corn syrup and flavorings and mix for 4 additional minutes. Separate the icing into several bowls for different colors.

Ice and decorate cookies as desired and allow to dry. Glace icing requires 12 hours total drying time.

From Dawn Schwanke, Berkley. Adapted from "Creative Cookies: Delicious Decorating for Any Occasion" by Toba Garrett (Sterling, $12.95).

Life Is Like That

2009-08-18T09:15:00.003+08:00

It ends. It's been promised that way.

Dah lama pulak tak ber-blog. Dah nak bersarang dah blog ni. Bukannya apa. Mula-mula tu, M-A-L-A-S tapi lepas tu, I realised that ramai dah kawan-kawan bloggers ku yang tak update blogs diorang. So, herd mentality sikit la.

But I figured, I love to write and yesterday, Clipperseep emailed me an excerpt from the post I wrote about Adani's stitched chin, where she cried and I thought, something I write makes little dents in people's life, so I should continue to write. It's a community service, I guess.

*even if the community begs me to stop pun, I WILL write. Hehehehheheh. Evil!*

Anyways.

Too much has happened since August 3rd.

Adani's stitches have come off. She held her fort at Stitch #1. Stitch #2 saw her eyes squinted and lips pursed. Stitch #3 let out a little yelp from her pursed lips. Stitch #4 , 5 and 6 saw the whole of the ER reverberating with her high-pitched screams. Aliya told me thta everyone who waited outside the Treatment Room was shocked to hear her scream THAT loud.

I begged the doc and nurses to let us come back again tomorrow, in tears cos I felt her pain. But alhamdulillah, they were off eventually and we wiped the tears off her pretty face and we hugged for the longest time and she's back anew. Alhamdulillah.

*telinga sedikit berdengung sbb Adani jerit tepi telinga ku*

I had a telling off from Mak. Not sometthing I'd like to elaborate here. But it hurt nevertheless. I've gone passed it to see the merits of that. I shall abide.

Ariz, we realised is such a talker these days. He yaks and he growls and he grrs and he screams and he shouts. Most of the time to his Autobots and Decepticons and his batallion of lions and tigers and goats and toy soldiers. Other time for everyone else to change the channel to his fav Cartoon Network. But he's still a little pelat. Oyang (orang) and mayah (marah) are still the order of the day.

Ayisha has got me worried sick when she was feverish but she's all better now. We've stocked up on surgical masks but one day, she told me that hers was soiled when she sneezed snoot into it, and she din't bring a spare one. *sigh*

Aliya has 41 friends on her MySpace. *geleng kepala* And most of the time if she's standing still, she'd be shuffling or doing the Miley Cryus' dance steps. *pening* Now all the girls and the little boy shuffle whenever they find themselves standing up.

MrGart has been questioned by me and been given dirty, murderous look by me when I found a suspicious text on his phone. *I'm still watching you*

And me, I'm preparing myself, emotionally and mentally for Ramadhan. Lollies gave a booklet of lecture series of Ramadhan and I thought that was exactly what I needed. *muahs*

Now, going back to the title. This year has been a very sad and sorrowful year since I've received news of so many of us who lost their fathers, brothers and friends.

It started with Naimah's father, then Zul passed away, then Azizan's father and Khai's brother. Not to mention Michael Jackson, Yasmin Ahmad and the late Ustaz Asri. My mom told me of my sister-in-law's brother who collapsed and died. And last Sunday, Haiza lost her father who left so swiftly. And last Friday, I received news of Rashidi, who in 1999, started work at our office and he never failed to greet me, everytime he saw me, passed away at the age of 29, leaving behind a wife who's due to give birth to their very first child this week. And I'm sure there were so many others.

Deaths are harrowing, but they serve as a reminder to us all. A little kiamat to us, to remind us that our time is short and it's not ours to begin with. Start with the end. Death. We all will. Yang sudah pergi, kita doakan Allah permudahkan perjalanan. Kita nanti, bagaimana pula? That's what my Harfiyah Ustaz says to us, everytime he hears of a death.

Al-Fatihah.

Another Bloody Weekend

2009-08-02T19:13:00.004+08:00

Okay. *tarik nafas panjang-panjang*

Remember this ?

And of course that was Bloody Weekend #2. We had Bloody Weekend #1 and #3, all courtesy of Ariz. I'm still trying to pick the all of the pieces of me, after those trips to the ER, bloody-ly.

Anyhow.

This was completely unexpected. It was Adani. My princess-y Adani. My Adani.

I was in the shower and I heard shouts and shrieks. I thought it was Ariz so, I continued lathering me with soap. Heh! Then MrGart knocked on the door rather urgently and I came out to the sight of a wet and bloody Adani with a towel on her mouth. Bloood was trickling down her body. Then I saw the gaping wound right under her chin.

Yikes! It was GAPING ! This was nothing like what Ariz had. This was like 3 of Ariz's combined into one. It was deeper and longer and I could see the white flesh. I thought I saw bone too.

Well. We rushed to DEMC and luckily GartRed was nearby and she came by too. That helped cos I got instant attention and went straight in and the doctor attended to her immediately. Nepotism? Sue me!

Dr Amarjit cringed and said that I had 2 options. Either stitch her up with LA or she goes under. Going under means a full GA and I was not too keen but right there, there's this boy being stitched up because he fell in a longkang and the way he screamed, the whole of Shah Alam could hear. I decided GA.

But a little later the doc came and said that maybe we should try to stitch her up there, with LA. I kinda agree since Adani has always been very calm and composed. She takes instructions well too. So, yes it was.

She was prepped up and the minute the LA needle went in, she cried and wailed but never moved. I was squirming like a jellyfish. I nearly cried too. Tears were welling. Sungguh mengharukan. I wish I could take away the pain from her. My baby!

GartRed was a jellyfish herself. too Cringing. Good thing Adani was looking up and did not see our aghast and jellyfish-ed faces. It took 2 shots to numb her chin I felt like hitting the doc when I saw the needle under her skin.

Then the stitching. This was my first time and it was the most horrendous thing to have to watch. Especially when the subject was my own.

The short curved needle looked mean. The dark blue thread looked sinister and when the needle jabbed her skin, I felt parts of me died. Adani was numb by this time and I was holding her hands and I asked her to close her eyes and she obediently did so. She was so calm through it all, I was so proud of her.

She had 6 stitches in all to close the cut and once it was all done and plastered, she hopped off the bed and reminded me that I promised her to pierce her other ear and domino's pizzas and a couple other bribes I rattled off in my unnerved state. Yikes!

Last night, when she was sleep and after my Isya', I was a puddle of tears.

The images of brave Adani and her plight came to me emotionally. I was holding my fort so well throughout the day because I wanted her to feel okay and there was enough drama without me disintegrating too . But when all's well, it came to me in a rush. I felt so blessed and thankful for all that's given to us. And I prayed for His mercy and I felt deeply in my heart that He heard my prayers. Tears streamed down my face and I felt really humbled by this.

Rabbi yassir wa la tu'assir ya karim.

p/s The stitches looked fine and dry this afternoon when we changed the dressing and the stitches looked less mean. Am dreading Thursday when the stiches are due to be off. *gulp*

The Kamachis In Our Lives

2009-07-23T11:51:00.006+08:00

I started blogging in 2003, shortly after the birth of Adani. So, there's not much being written here about the days when Aliya and Ayisha were babies.

Anyhow, when Aliya came, we were staying with my parents but I sent her to a nursery near my office when she was about 4 months old. I could not get my mom to watch her since she was already taking care of my brother's baby. *sulk*

When there were just the four of us. Baju pun matching lagi.

Aliya around 2 months old. Hmm, abaikan itu aurat dibelakang.

With Daddy dearest.

So, the days began by dropping her off at the Kompeni's taska and often Lollies and I would chitchat and share horror stories. I knew Lollies from the UK but we didn't work together then yet. But both Haziq and Aliya, being of the same age, were in the same care until they were about 4 years old.

The thing about the Kompeni's taska is that the caregivers were so different from one another. KakTun was so caring and gentle. Nellie on the other hand scared me shitless. KakShidah was very gossipy but nevertheless very nice.

The principal KakDalilah still scares me, even when she's been relocated and works as a receptionist in my building. KakTun is now the tea lady at our eS-Vee-Pee's office and I get special treatment when I go to meetings there. Nellie, altough she knew I was scared of her, gave me special treatment at the Dispensary. Yay!

Like I said all the time, always be nice to everyone because you don't know where you'll end up and who you'll be asking for help in the future, so make friends, people!

Well, Aliya as a baby had very bad separation anxiety and I had sorrowful mornings having to tear her away from my arms into KakShidah's or KakTun's or Nellie's arms. All through the 4 years, I think I shed a lot of tears, doing this. Walking away from her, hearing her cry, just pained me to no end. I later learned that as soon as I turned away, the cries always stopped. But aku kan ada selective hearing.

So, it never got any easier. So, I'm very blessed now that the kids have Andes when Mummy's making the dosh for our living.

Aliya cried buckets and wailed and screamed. But respite came to us in the form of a small, gentle Indian lady called Kamachi. She spoke oh-so-softly and has always been super-gentle to the kids. Aliya soon got attached to her and I was told stories of how Kamachi had to put a small towel on her head for Kamachi to even go to the toilet and the mornings when Kamachi's on leave, I would cry too when Aliya cried in the not-Kamachi's arms. Mornings became easier.

Fast forward 7 years.

Last Saturday was the Kompeni's Family Day. Not personal at all as it was Kompeni wide which means that half of KL was there. I always make it a point to go, always looking forward to meet friends in the Kompeni I don't see everyday. Yes, I am that positive or sicko, some would add.

We walked and I saw Kamachi and my heart leaped cos Aliya was with us. When I greeted her and pointed to her that this was Aliya, she melted. She held Aliya's cheeks and kissed her, just like when Aliya was 6 months old. It was certainly touching.

Love has no boundaries, surely. It touches everyone and anyone and it never lets you forget.

Walaubagaimanapun, my ever so grateful daughter Aliya, looked completely tak-kenal and stood there, squirming. Well, I didn't expect her to be melting and crying buckets, but ah well. Memang dia tak ingat pun rasanya.

So, there you go. That was the Kamachi in our lives not too long ago and I'm so grateful to her for all she's done to Aliya, her love for her and her gentleness that got me to work sanely.

Thank you KAMACHI and Aliya, babe, can you at least show some emotion? Ish!

Tulis Tangan

2009-07-22T15:31:00.004+08:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Hehehehehe ..

New gadget. It's called Livescribe and it's the funkiest little thing.

Hehehehe..

Well, this is what I've planned for the class I'm doing this Saturday at Cake Connection. We're doing the Wedding theme and I was blown away by the number of students who've paid up for it well in advance.

We Are the Champions

2009-07-20T10:13:00.008+08:00

Whoohoo!!

Image via Wikipedia

Hmm .. Naib Johan is still CHAMPIONS, kan?

Anyhow, since EnScrew has retracted his doubts of me and futsal should never be in the same sentence, I feel no need to lepuk him for a bout a week or two, unless he shoots me another official letter la. He joined us for a training session on Friday and squashed his own doubts and I suprised myself and pulled a muscle or two too.

Well, leaving EnScrew topic now.

Anyhow. Sunday, we had the tourney, official Division stuff. We were short of a ladies team and Fina quickly assembled a team, inclusive of me and mosh and some other sporting gals, plus a few import players. Someone wanted to name us BELASAHAN for reasons best not to be elaborated, but someone wiser came up with Wonderpets purely their lyrics. I've never heard this song but the lyrics in BM is really cool.

Wonder Pets! Wonder Pets! kami datang,
Membantu haiwan yang dalam kesusahan!
Kami tak besar,
Dan kami tak kuat,
Bila Bekerjasama semua jadi mudah.
Yeah, Wonder Pets! Yay!
Apa yang penting??
Kerja~sama~!
Apa yang penting?
Kerja~sama~!

I, for the live of me, never thought I'd be good at futsal. Although I should add that I spent the whole of my 5 years in the UK, following all the games of Manchester United, including chasing Ryan Giggs through the Arndale Centre while he was evading the papparazzi and parading

Cover of Giggs

through the Old Trafford when they won their Treble, the day before my Final Year exams.

But I never touched the ball. Until Friday.

Image via Wikipedia

Apparently, I played a good defence and striker too, but pancitness took the best of me and I pleaded to play defend. So, all the 4 games yesterday, I played full-time at defend. And managed to not let goals through to Mosh, our goalie. Except when we played the real champion team, Naimah and the gang. Intimidated siut! And we let them scored 4 goals. Chit!

I felt like my lungs were about to burst from the sheer tiredness and pure unfitness of me. But I did hold my fort kinda well and we managed to win 2 games, drew 1 and lost 1. That gave us the 2nd place. NAIB JOHAN! Whoohooo. Moshie kecundang in his team of Perut-Jalan-Dulu. *lari*

MrGart brought his team too but the men's teams were super fast and scarily ganas. Yikes!

We came home yesterday, me with kaki lebam kena sepak dengan penat ya amat, tido sampai petang. Bangun lagi sakit! But I thought we had fun, tremendous fun!!

Whoohoo .. We Are the naib Champions!

The Aftermath of A Birthday

2009-07-15T09:20:00.003+08:00

And yes, MrGart is walkng fine this morning. *specially directed to curious Roti*

And me too, if you're wondering still.

And no, there's not much celebration yesterday either.

Since it was a Tuesday and the girls have tuition and Ayisha needed te be picked up and 9 and Aliya at 10 so, no birthday dinner and no cutting cakes either. Maybe tonight.

Walaupun, the sidekicks of SarahFizz and Ken, brought a cake during a morning meeting. Yay!

Anyhow.

Being 36 feels .. uhmm .. the same. Although MrButterflutter clearly pointed out that 36 sucks as a number since it's rounded to 40! *what?????*

But seriously, it feels no different. No different than when I turned 24, 18 or 31. But that's life, eh?

Well, am in a very long and tiring and boring akp session the whole day today .. so wish me luck. kamarul is looking extremely bored and azlan is counting the hair on his arm. that bored!

ciao!

I Need Coffee

2009-07-14T10:58:00.005+08:00

Today is the day. The 12th anniversary of me and GartRed's 24th birthday! Geddit?

Hahahaha ..

Ye la tu, if I were 24, I'd better not be beating round the bush. When I said so this morning at a meeting, these engineers who make and break the country mind you, added it up very intentionally wrong! Cehs!

So, there.

For you mathematically challenged folks, I'm 36 today. Yikes! But it's just a number. *gulp*

And thanks to fb, my phone has not stopped beeping since morning. Yay! Thanks for remembering today.

And to GardRed, Happy Birthday to You!

*going to get coffee, black*

Anak Jantan Sorang

2009-07-13T12:03:00.002+08:00

Tu la orang dah kata.

I never really agree to the notion of boys are a lot of boisterous than girls are, while I was doing my rounds with the 3 girls. That's until I held Ariz in my arms.

And that was fine.

Until he turned uhmmm let's see. I guess 4 last February 14th.

Ariz now is most destructive and prone to self-inflicted injuries after naps and especially between 8 to 10pm. Remember the 3 bloody incidents. Arghhh!!

And he's a lot more talkative too. He talks back too. Sikit-sikit "Tak nak kawan dengan Mummy". "Mummy tak cantik pun". "Nanti Iz letak Mummy kat luar". Grrr !!

But he's really funny too.

These days, I make it a point to call him by his full name. Normally with a murderous tone when he's ruffled Ayisha's hair, or punched Adani at the back or ran around with Aliya's book in hand.

So, in bed, after we're done reciting the doa tidor, ayat kursi, the 3 Quls, we'd normally chat and when I asked his name, he proudly said. "Ahmad (Ar)Iz Zuhayr". *Ah well, he's still a little pelat and he still calls himself Iz, instead of Ariz. "R" is not that easy to pronounce, hokeh!

And I asked him my name, and he said "Azrina" and when it comes to Daddy. He said "Ahmad Daddy Zuhayr". What??

Eh, bukan la.

Betul! Ahmad Daddy Zuhayr! *repeat 3 times with escalating tone*

Apa-apa la labu!

Jalan Jalan Cari Gas

2009-07-07T08:55:00.003+08:00

Ish! Dah naik bersarang dah blog aku ni. Lama eh tak update. Bukannya apa, saje je nak letak gambar Anuar Z@in kat top page. Bagi roti nyampah sikit je lagi ... hehehe

Anyhow. Am going for a overnight to Kerteh to the place where you see the gas flares on top of those structures. With a bunch of colleagues, fun ones may I add.

Yay!

Am so looking forward to this. We're doing the pool this afternoon. Mosh is planning for a skinnydipping session at midnight and I'm so locking myself in the room. Bukannya apa. Takut my innocence kena zap!

Ciao.

Fantaslistic Concert .. WhooHooo

2009-07-02T10:15:00.003+08:00

*suara sangat serak dan hati sangat gumbira*

Let me tell you this.

Am glad that my kids didn't get to see me clapping, gasping, screaming and singing at the top of my voice and generally swooning at the very sight of Anuar Zain.

And am so glad too that they didn't get to me waving my hands up in the air and whoohoo-ing every time Anuar look at my way.

Am relieved that my kids or MrGart didn't see me with my swoon-ed expresion on my face, hands on my chin, head tilted in a dreamy kind of way, when he belted Mungkin and Terman Terulung.

Am so relieved too that they didn't see me screaming and giggling happily at the very sight of him taking him his jacket and THEN .. his tie. And they didn't hear me when I screamed "ME" when Anuar asked if anyone would help him take off his tie off.

Phew!

Where is GartRed ?

2009-07-01T17:21:00.006+08:00

It's 5:19pm and an unusual time to find me still sitting in my room.

Normally, by 5:15pm, I would've dashed to the car headed for home.

But. Jeng jeng jeng...

Tonight is the Anuar Zain's concert. Yay! And I am going. With GartRed, since MrGart has developed a sudden allergy over the sights of MrCroon's meneran while he sings and for the life of him, he could not tolerate seeing MrCroon's whites of the eyes while he belts out his ballads. So Gartred it is.

Where is she?

Anyhow, thought I'd gloat a bit, while I wait. No?

Here's what kept me busy last night. 50 of these.

The theme was silver and white. And I am so so glad that the silver worked. Heheheheh! Serious. I've never done silver before, something about metal fear. But I did an Aztec Gold before and it was a blast.

Nah! Close-up. Obviously still swooning over my silver.

The Garties at Pulau Redang

2009-06-26T16:23:00.004+08:00

This is turning into a photo-blog since panjangla pulak if nak tulis sebijik-sebijik.

Ariz trying his luck climbing up a coconut tree. *nasib baik tak nampak tangan MrGart propping him up*

We went in a group of 41 of MrGart's office and there were a couple of young trainees who who doing a lot of photo shoots and they were jumping and pose. So, this were the girls' attempt to emulate. Kakaka!

MrGart and his lovely model, Adani. A natural photogenic and a camera lover. She really loves to pose. *risau gak ni*

The morning. One of my favourite pictures. Looks peaceful and they're at ease. The sea looked calm, the kids looked err busyuk but they all look at ease.

Before breakfast and just after Ariz woke up, obviously pining for Mummy and not in the mood to pose.

Adani. The model. She now hates her layered hair. Sigh!

One of the snorkelling sessions. This was at the resort's jetty waiting for the boat. The kids were all wet from mandi laut at 1pm when everyone else was berehat. Tu yang berkilat semacam aje tu. Ariz especially discovered that the life jacket was a great floatation device. Duh!
At the Marine Park. All of these underwater pics were taken by Aliya. Ayisha and ALiya had a blast, snorkelling non-stop. This trip was truly theirs to own. Mummy, kena ikat dengan Ariz dok tepi je .. habis seluar aku masuk pasir.

Aliya, underwater. Enjoying it tremendously.

Ayisha, a natural swimmer.

And that my friends, were snapshots of our wonderful island holiday. We stayed at Wisana Resort, a locally run resort. And the beach was exclusive to us. Was told that the Berjaya beach was shared among 10 resorts. Tapi the sights of flesh, tattoos and beer cans, just didn't agre with me. Mrgart went for mencandat sotong and came back, exhausted from puking. Yikes ! But the huge sotongs they caught tasted super sedap, goreng tepung. Fooh and then lebih tu, buat sambal sotong for nasik lemak. Foohh!

We had fun.

Ariz's Best Friends

2009-06-26T15:57:00.002+08:00

Being the only boy and a rather mischievous one at it has a little snag in that the sisters will soon tire of his rough games and they'll retreat from him.

So, these are his current best friends. A bunch of stegos, t-rex and triceratops. A bucketful of soldiers. Semalam aku terpijak sorang, rasa macam nak bercabut tapak kaki. Grrr!! Eh, macam cerita Toy Story la pulak.

Opps, jangan lupa, Ben10 and HeatBlast and FourArm always keep him company. Especially those nights when Mummy was catching up with missed episode of grey's at midnight.

He, by the way, talks to these friends and that never fail to amuse me. At least he doesn't do like this blogger's 5yo son. Aisey, Dilla something. Now dah lupa.

Apparently, she found his found alone, spender-less on the king-size bed with a HeatBlast in hand. Suspicious, she asked and he replied. It's like a trampoline. Referring to his test1cles. I leave it to your imagination, tuan-tuan dan puan-puan.

I, if you must know, was laughing so hard, ppl must have thought I'd gone bonkers. I guess boys are a curious lot. I've caught Ariz "experimenting" with his and quickly made a mental note to mrGart to have a little talk. MrGart has never obliged. Ceh!

Abang Micheal Dah Tak Ada

2009-06-26T15:42:00.003+08:00

He's dead. I pray that he died a Muslim. Insyallah.

It was so shocking to hear about it in the car this morning. Not that I knew him in person. But I love his songs.

Jangan jeles ye kawan-kawan .. I was one of the thousands who were at the Stadium who rocked and swayed and shouted at his one and only concert in Malaysia. And that was in *counts* at least 12 years ago cos I wasn't married yet.

I was there with GartRed and a childhood friend, Nazli (whatever happens to him, I wonder). We were so sengkek that where we sat, he looked like a kerengga. Tiny. But the huge screens helped. That was after his Bad album and I remember getting hooked on Man In The Mirror, Black and White and who could've missed You Are Not Alone.

Suprisingly, when I was chatting with friends, somehow BigKahuna mentioned that she too went to the same concert. And since she was sitting so close to the stage (nampak sangat kitorang sengkek), she could actually see him lip-synching some songs. Yikes!

Lucky for us, I could barely make out his nose and that's supposed to be prominent, let alone his lips. Haha.

Anyhow.

I thought he was a great music influence to me. Like Madonna. Yup. I love her. And Anuar Zain. Hmm .. maybe that one I should keep a secret eh?

Saya Sedikit Sedih

2009-06-25T14:15:00.006+08:00

Nota Kepala : Hari ni mood sangat tak bagus, so tak sempat lak nak cerita pasal the awesome Redang.

Bukannya apa.

Saya ni takde la cemerlang sangat kat ofis. Boleh la cari makan. KompeniKedekutLetrik ni, saya dah lama dah putus harapan untuk di-reward atas dasar kecemerlangan. Dah bertahun-tahun dah. Even sebelum MissKLSentral resign lagi.

Tapi sejak dua tiga menjak ni, ramai pulak kawan-kawan saya yang resign. YY for one, has finally thrown in the towel and called it quits. Years of trying to weather it, obviously not working sunny enough.

Everytime, sorang kawan resign, saya termenung sendiri,

Kenapa aku masih kat sini? Adakah aku kurang talent berbanding dengan mereka? Adakah aku ni tak marketable langsung? Terlalu niche sangat ke kerja yang aku buat selama ni?

Nagai is out there menggeleng kepala sebab dah bertahun-tahun dia suruh aku resign but aku masih disini.

Let me tell you this. *cakap mat salleh la pulak, since nak tunjuk aku ni marketable, kalau x terer, goreng jangan cabar*

The only thing that's keeping me here is my passion. I love what I do. I love doing the things I do. I love my job. I love my colleagues. I love the exposure I get from the job. I love that I get the opportunity to do what I thought I couldn't but the bosses thought I could and I found that I could. I just love it. And I love my bosses.

Bukan la nak bodek. Boss-boss aku selama ni are the out-of-the-box types. Liberal ones and I love their outlook of life. Never bureaucracti, never picky and never ones to sweat over the small stuff.

Tapi kan, lately. It doesn't feel that way anymore. Boss pun dah lain. *sigh*

In fact, aku today am in my lowest ebb that I think I've ever been in. Nak jerit pun ada. Nak nangis pun ada.

Moments like this memerlukan satu pinggan warm walnut brownies dengan vanilla ice-cream with 4 spoons to share among friends. Or Zen's little cup of tiramisu. Or Chilli's Molten Chocolate Cake. Kalau dah terdesak pun, that 5-minit chocolate cake dalam mug boleh la.

Sigh!

Nota Kaki : Takde motif langsung post ini hari. Rugi je if you're already here. Mintak maaf la.

Rants, I Have Not Done In A While

2009-06-23T16:41:00.001+08:00

Have I?

Was doing some bloghopping and I realised that my blog has recently become boh-ring since i have not rant and I've not cuss-ed and I've not bi-atch in a while.

Hmm.

Progress?

Note: To you and you, apasal gelak guling-guling? Kelakar ke?

Whoohoo ..

2009-06-22T15:00:00.002+08:00

I'm back! We're back from Pulau Redang. Arrived from KT at midnight and Aliya &Ayisha were up till 1am, finishing up homework and Adani was crying this morning for some unfinished coloring homework. I then had to call up Teacher Badri to warn Teacher Jeya to be "kind" to her today.

Have tonnes of pictures, some remnants of my horribly disfiguring heat rash and 4 very happy and tanned kids.

Tapinya.

Am swamped with work, right now. So will need to excite you guys later la.

Ciao.

*macam cicak kudung*

Hari Khamis Yang Mengantuk

2009-06-18T14:57:00.001+08:00

Uwarghhh !!!

Mana tak mengantuk, tido lambat.

Waiting for my meeting to start now. Uwarghhhh !!

Note: Must take a short nap karang since balik karang nak start journey to KT. Uwarghhh !

Re-dang

2009-06-17T15:22:00.003+08:00

*grins*

At the cost of skiving one day of school for the kids, we are leaving the haze-stricken city to this island.

and this will, insyallah what I will be looking out to on Friday morning.

Lil"Garties Up and Personal

2009-06-16T11:53:00.002+08:00

These were taken last weekend. Tapi tak cukup sorang i.e. the Lil'Garty1, sebab she's gotten quite concious now about her pictures being taken, sbb takut x cun. *nyampah*

This was the 3rd try to snap Ariz's picture, but he kept shoving his much-begged and whined "Missing Link" toy. So, just imagine how he looks la. BTW, Ariz & Adani's pictures were taken while we waited outside Sogo, tunggu pintu bukak since it was barely 10am. Tak pernah-pernah tunggu pintu bukak, macamla nak shopping sangat.

Since Aliya & Asha were toting bags into the ESQ seminar, Adani would not wanna be left out. Posing!

Ayisha on 2nd day, before she went it. She's so skinny these days, aduhhh! Aliya ran away, refusing for her picture to be taken. Hmmpph!

Pukul Berapa Sekarang, Bapak Harimau ?

2009-06-16T10:27:00.002+08:00

Pukul karang !

Heheheh

This morning, I thought I was late since when I glanced at my dashboard, the clock showed 7:28am (hampeh, lagi lambat from semalam by satu minit) and my fuel tank was nearning E, very very close.

So, I drove as usual, singing to Anuar Zain's (after IKIM's Ustaz Zawawi's Major Signs of Kiamat short leacture). After Subang Toll, I stopped to refuel and traffic then on seemed a little heavy. But I figured, since I was already late, I might as well enjoy the morning.

Then it hit me, eh, takkan la Ustaz Zawiwi bercerita sampai dekat 7:50am. Check phone. Heh! Sapa pulak yang menekan-nekan jam dalam kereta ku. It's actually 8 minutes cepat! Fooh, makcik terpakca mencilok sedikit sebanyak. So alhamdulillah, clocked in at 8:04am. Yay! FYI, kitorang now (atas kebaikan hati orang2 tingkat 3) ada grace period of 5 minutes before you're officially late and screwed.

Anyhow. The story of this post is that, we have many many time-showing devices in the house. From watches (MrGart and the kids aje, since I stopped wearing watches since I carried Ayisha, about 8 years ago) to wall clocks, alarm clocks that beratur atas shelf, hand phones and the latest addition is a azan clock that my mum gave us.

There's only one little snag.

MrGart is a believer in cheating time. He thinks that if he sets the clock 10 minutes early, he gains 10 minutes. I for one, NEVER subscribes to this school of thought. I in fact, have tried in vain to tell him that it doesn't work like that. But I like said, IN VAIN!

So, now, the clock upstairs is 15 minutes late (which is seriously mengabui mata). The digital clock downstairs tells the right time (according to my phone, according to the RedFM), the azan clock typically is later than the azan from the masjid (this could be due to salah baca, bulan ni bulan berapa) and the clocks in 2 cars can vary between +2 to +15 minutes.

If my kids aren't confused yet, I am so proud of them But I am confused.

Today was much worse, since ada orang fiddled with my car's time yang +2.

The immediate concern is that upstairs clock has got to be fixed, but it's so high and there's a huge TV cabinet that I need to spread my thin self over before I can blardy reach it. So MrGart's perfect for the job. It's just that he doesn't think anything is wrong with the constant confusion of what time it is now, at all times.

So, how now brown cow?

Weekend Kalut

2009-06-15T16:32:00.002+08:00

Inspired by Roti's experience in her ESQ's training, I vowed to go myself. But since moolah's a little short, I figured I'd send in the girls first. Insyallah, kalau ada rezeki, I will go.

So, early Saturday morning, MrGart sent Aliya & Ayisha who were actually excited to go. Either the uneventful school holidays were boring them to death or they're just genuinely excited. Heh! I didn't sit through the parents' session that morning as I was teaching a Baby Shower Cookies Class at CakeConnection. I should blog about it cos it was one of my lively classes with 9 students. It was certainly fun and the cookies decorated by the students were just stupendously gorgeous.

We picked the girls up at 7pm and MrGart brought us to Al-Rawsha, Jalan Damai, Ampang for dinner for a bit of kebab and chicken madan (eh tak sure pulak la). Food was good but I was so in love with these never-seen-before bottles carbonated drinks. We ordered strawberry and pineapple and they came in unopened twist caps bottles. I twisted it and hurt my palm. Aliya then figured out that you need to press and twist. Duh! But it was good. Food's great, I love bread and kebabs. The kids didn't each much, they just wanted to play at that spin-a-round swing.

Anyhow.

On Sunday, I snuck into the hall during the parents' session and I had such an awesome experience in what short time I was there. It was lively, energetic but most importantly I felt the grace of Allah and it was certainly deep. And it was just an hour. I'm not a cry-er but the minute I went in, I felt a little sebak.

We shopped a little at Sogo, since we were at Maju Junction (my first time ever there) and Ariz conned me and made me pay RM103.80 for an Omnitrix. Grrrr!!! We then, broke and hungry left for my parent's at Gombak.

Lepak, makan nangka yang gemuk-gemuk and super-succulent, courtesy of pokok nangka yang sungguh renik yang berbuah dengan sungguh ganasnya. Foohh ... meleleh air luur.

I digress. :)

Well, we came home very late, lepas hantar nangka gemuk-gemuk kat GartRed. Lepas tu tidooo.. Penat.

He's Doing a Solo Concert

2009-06-15T10:53:00.003+08:00

*gasps*

*despair*

*termenung sebab MrGart would never in his lifetime be seen in the same room as MrCroonAndMyHeartSkipsABeat*

*sigh*

Edited: Dang! Tickets yang murah dah habis .. uwaaaaa ! Guess today will be spent imagining how it would have felt sitting in the gallery, having him croon to me. Despite his popularity consensus or none, I love him still. The only little snag about him is the way he sings, makes it a little painful to watch but I love the mouth twitch and how his mouth just go senget sebelah and his closed eyes. Foohh .. tangkap leleh babe ..

The Haze Is Back

2009-06-12T10:19:00.003+08:00

I hope not with a vengeance. *yikes*

But it sure was hazy when I set out for work this morning. Bkt Jelutong is quite green but I looked at the horizon and it looked awfully hazy.

Not unlike the cold fog in the frosty mornings at Crescent Park, Peterborough where I walked each morning to go to college which dissapeared when the sun warmed the air and thawed the frost. I half-expected to see the veil of fog lift before my very eyes but it just lingered on. I saw few joggers today, instead of a batallion of them usually. I did not envy them today.

Right now, Bangsar is shrouded in a thick haze. Good thing is that I don't smell the smoke like I did in BJ on Monday. Yikes!

And reading the papers this morning further dampens one's spirits too.

The haze is back.

WHO declared a pandemic on the flu.

Possible water shortages and rationing in store for us.

And the worst is that picture of the bini-pm dengan ex-president-singkapoh. That made the hairs on my back stand straight. Who's scarier? Definitely the stodgy woman. *slaps hand*

Anyways. Late last year, I had the priviledge to sit through an Energy Lecture with the man in the picture, the slitty eyed, old man. And I was in awe of him. The minute he walked in, you could feel his presence, strong and unwavering. When you hear him speak and his gestures, he's very commanding and very opinionated and very much influential. He spoke from his mind, never needing a full script like most politicians do. Even in his frail frame of an old body, his mind was ever so sharp.

But the haze is back, people. It's back. *sighs*

Gumbira

2009-06-11T09:42:00.000+08:00

Semalam (or was it the day before), front pages of the dailies were about whether English should be made compulsory to pass for SPM. It was a poll, I read and not yet a decision. Brickbats aplenty, I should think, for the one asking.

Personally, I think it should be okay. Walaupun saya cakap English boleh tahan la, tapi saya rasa English ni senang sikit la dari bahasa ibunda saya, dari segi SPM. But to make it compulsory for all walks of life, yikes!

Let me tell you this. The minute you make a subject a MUST to pass if you wanna pass the exam, you have problems.

Bahasa Malaysia is not a hard language, seriously. If you're speaking it la. But if you're taking an exam on it, I can tell you, it's a killer. The objective questions can kill you, but the Karangan will just chew you up and spit you out. Mercilessly.

It's oh so darn hard. Did I tell you that during my trial-SPM exam, I passed with Grade 2 (which is major sin because you a pass is Grade 1) because I got a C7 or was it C8 or F9 on Bahasa Malaysia. What made that especially hard to swallow was that I scored all As for everything else, including the killer Physics and AddMaths and just the blinking BM.

And to add salt to injury, my father is a BIG BIG proponent of Bahasa Malaysia. He used to mark STPM Bahasa Malaysia papers and I once peeked through the answer sheets and gaped, susah siot! Lepas tu gelak sebab bebudak ni desperate siap tulis note note "Cikgu, saya sudah 2 kali ambik STPM, tolongla passkan saya".

Anyway, going through Aliya's BM paper pun it's quite tough. I've had to peek at the answers to confirm my guesses.

Sigh ..

And that 's why saya berazam nak blog dalam BM every now and then. Boleh ?

BTW, the title GUMBIRA is the state of me at the moment. Nak pegi Midvalley la ni. Ciao!

Saya Rasa Sungguh Tidak Rajin

2009-06-09T17:07:00.003+08:00

Pagi tadi, masa meeting, Yus instead of saying "idiotic move", he said "tidak bijak". And I thought that was really bright.

Hence, the "tidak rajin". Positive!

Anyhow. Boss cuti semalam and hari ni, so saya sungguh kurang bermotivasi. Bukanlah sebab Boss yang memberi motivasi, tapi, dah dia takde, tak payah ler terkejar-kejar. Yes ? No? Maybe?

Eh, dah lima suku. Balik!

Slightly Hazy These Days

2009-06-08T16:17:00.002+08:00

Not my state of mind, dear .. it's the weather!

Or rather that was Fina's excuse for not attending the official gathering 2 hours ago. The excuse I bought and made my own. Hehehe!

Right now, thunder clapped in Bangsar and Adani in her 4th phonecall to me today reported that Bubbles, the cat has just came in the house, all wet from the rain. Hmmpptt! Guess B.Jelutong rained earlier, eh? Somehow, although I feel that Bangsar and Shah Alam are not all that far apart, when it rains, it never seems to rain at the same time.

I've sat in car drenched from the rain and 20 minutes later, arrived at BJ all sunny and bright.

I've driven home, eyes squinting from the glare of the evening sun to a pouring, thunder-clapping and lightning touching the earth at BJ.

Anyhow.

We're back home now and I'm at work. We spent 4 days up north and it was hmm rather uneventful. I made 6 batches of sugar cookies for a total of 200 cookies due this weekend. And my finger is burned for holding too many hot cookie trays. *ouch*

So, while the cookies were taking shape in the freezer, we took the kids out to movie. Failing to get tickets to the NightKatMuziumBukanNegara, we managed to get 4 tickets for us, gals to watch Hannah Montana and 2 tickets for the boys for Terminator.

Hahah. MrGart gulped fearing that Ariz would look for me but I assured him that it's robots, mean robots in high tech bikes and guns and lasers, Ariz'd be okay. I also purposely did not tell him which cine we were in, fearing him come and hand Ariz over. Haha

So, us, girls, 3 popcorn buckets and fizzy drinks sat down peacefully in a hall full of teenage and tween girls. Hardly a guy around. Aliya was excited and Ayisha was trembling with excitement too. Adani was so eager to just get away from Ariz, Adani's perennial tormentor.

The movie began to a chorus of ooohhhs and ahhhhsss from crazy, fanatical girls. Everytime scenes like this came on,

I've had to roll my eyes to a bunch of comments of the girls next to ours about the guy's so cute, Hannah's really pretty and all the other girlish-ly comments on tweens can make. *uwekss*

All 3 sisters enjoyed the movie tremendously. I was only looking forward to the "climb" song. That was pretty good. All in all, storyline ain't unique at all, but it did sell well cos it's Hannah Montana!

BTW, Aliya & Ayisha have officially kicked Daddy from using their bathroom. It's off limits to Daddy now. It's theirs!

Blew That Fuse

2009-06-03T15:41:00.003+08:00

I feel bad.
I blew my fuse.
I lost my temper.
And that's after much deep-breathing and telling myself that I would just listen and not take any position.
What how could I not?
And I lost it.

And this is what happens when you lose your temper.

First, you head spins.
Then your face feels like a massive aneurysm waiting to spurt dark red blood all around.
And then you have a out-of-body experience.
I heard my voice went sharp and deep.
Then I started to stress of every word and kept tapping my palm with my fingers. Very very firmly.

Then guilt will come swiftly, unlike anger which creeps up on you ever so softly. Guilt comes unannounced.

I feel bad.

School Is Out

2009-06-02T09:07:00.003+08:00

Yesterday was the beginning of a 2 weeks school holidays for the kids. And I can vouch that the bickering and the restlessness set in very early, even on Saturday. Hehe

Mimi & Farah, Aliya's bestfriends slept over the night before and Adani & Ariz fought for Aliya's attention. Ayisha wanted to be included as well. In the end, I concluded that our house may not be the perfect place for sleepovers for tween girls. Too much distraction.

Did I tell you that Ayisha failed her Math paper this PKSR1 ? You see, this took me a lot of courage to write because I felt seriously like a failure myself when I saw her paper. The only consolation is that she can do the addition or subtraction or multiplication or division BUT she completely does not understand and unable to resolve the problem. So even if the calculation is right, it's all wrong since that's not what the question was asking. Sigh! *termenung kejap*

Anyways.

We are driving up north on tomorrow night as MrGart has a work engagement on Thursday and we will bunk down at my auntie's at Alor Star for a while. We should be back on Saturday. The girls have been pressuring us to take them to Genting Highland. But in light of the current non-cash-rich situation we have been for a long time now, that's a little too over the top for us.

We may just go to one of those theme parks, the top in THEIR list is Sun-way Lag-oon. Hmmm We'll see.

Apart from that, nothing much is planned. The girls are slated to attend the ESQ for Kids session on the 13th June and we're going to Pulau Redang on the 19th June. So, I hope the kids will not be too restless until the 19th JUne.

Yikes!

Tanned And Tired

2009-06-01T10:02:00.005+08:00

The weekend was 2 real hectic days for us. Ceh ceh ceh .. macam AJK pulak bunyinya.

The Bukit Jelutong Karnival was held at the padang 2 blocks away from our house throughout the weekend. We've had a karnival almost every year but this year took the cake as it was significantly bigger with corporate sponsors particularly TM. There were many many white tents and there was a huge air-conditioned domed tent hosted by TM where there was a stage for activities.

Saturday.

We set out early. Had Mee Udang Banjir. Delicious! And wandered about. My excursion was cut short as Ariz saw a Kuntum mascot, then a Blue Hyppo and then a clown! Sigh. Even Teacher Badri couldn't calm him down. He just wanted to go home. I obliged.

Aliya, Ayisha and Adani were freely going around meeting friends and playing games and stuff. I looked around and there were a lot of boys and girls, of whom I've seen them grow and I feel somewhat contented that this was why we chose Bukit Jelutong. The camaraderie was real and the community is so alive.

Neighbours and friends were abound. This is akin to Ramadhan at the Masjid. The air os festivities and the air of familiarity. And the venue was very very suitable. Apart from dekat rumah I ler. The newly built d'Bayu has great impressive toilets, I learnt. And because it was sited at a slope of a hill, it was instantly bayu-ed i.e. banyak angin.

The padang where the football matches were held. Saturday we had the MBJ United International Football Tourney 2009 for the Under-7s to the Under 14s. BTW, MBJ stands for Masyarakat Bukit Jeluong. Apt, isnt it?

Our very own Under-11 won. yay! I'm waiting for Ariz to be mature enough to participating before calling myself a SOCCER MUM!

I saw Koreans, Brazillian Football School, Vietnam or Laos and some other international schools participating. And all manners of coaches, many of them sporting huge huge pot bellies. Hahahah.

Sunday saw the many veteran matches for residents. MrGart spent the whole day at the field, plotting his fellow neighbours how to win. Hmm, they did win 3rd place, but not without injuries.

I was in blue tudung, sitting out waiting for MrGart's tug-of-war event, with friends and beighbours. They girls have just spent a small fortune and had to sit out with us since Mummy's completely dried up (money-wise).

Saturday night, we milled about there again, for performances and fireworks display. The weather was cool and kids were running around on the field, under the moon. Parents chit-chatted as usual.

There were a few Shuffle competition and I stood gaping. Fooh .. these boys sure have such hairstyles these days. Ruffled hair, highlighted and some have red hair. Hmm. BUt they shuffled well, I thought. Ariz was all eyes. The girls too. *rolls eyes*

Ooooo .. Sheikh Muzaffar, the astronaut was here too, for a few hours and I got to ogle and drool over him in person but not close enough to shake his hands, for fear of ter-hugging him. He's really gorgoeous in person, no touchup!

Sunday morning, I was out at 7:30am with Ras for the Taichi, Line Dancing, Aerobics and Poco-poco. And I had BLAST!

Taichi was subdued and I was sweating profusely. Aerobics was great but the poco-poco was the best fun. We twirled and we whirled and we stepped and we spinned. The instructor was great and the participants were very cooperative. The Line Dancing was all over the place for us, non-line-dancers so we just danced freesstyle in the middle of the stage. It was truly fun.

BTW, I emerged from the 2 days of karnival, tanned and penniless. I had 4 new tudungs (damages best left unknown for fear of MrGart's volcanic eruptions) and I spent a small fortune on some supposedly original crocs at half the price. For me and each of the girls. A neighbour was selling off her grown children's toys and she;s known to inly buy original ones. Grab grab grab. I even got an IKEA kiddie round green table for RM45. Hahah. A steal, really!

So, to those *points to Combi & Elisa* who are still mulling over where to stay, consider BJ. Disclaimer: I welcome any commision.

Orang Utan vs Orang Hutan

2009-05-25T11:06:00.005+08:00

Life resumes after I got back from Sing-ka-poh Friday night. Funnily the Changi seemed a little quieter than normal. There were less ppl around. Much less than I've seen Changi ever. Even KLIA. The Lounge was deserted. On my flight back, in the Biz Class, there were about 4 passengers. Hmmm .. takut nak travel ke?

At KLIA, we had to pass a temperature screening booth but these nurses in masks only were interested to screen you if your eyes were blue/green or grey and your hair was not black. Otherwise, you're free to go and spread the germs! Hmm .. Discrimination tak habis-habis.

Anyhows.

Ayisha did have an athma attack on Tuesday night last week. Dr Rasool asked me to be alert anytime she complains of shortness of breath. Apparently if you have a family history, you're at risk at all ages. Hmm I thought once you sail through childhood with no attacks then you're fine. Hmm. Allergies too. Did I tell you that after Ariz weaned himself off me 3 months ago, he's had 3 allergic reactions that needed Zyrtec intervention immediately? He's never had any allergic reaction while he was on the breast. Now I'm feeling about him weaning.

Anyhow.

We were back at the clinic straight from the airport as Aliya was teary-eyed and coughing with headaches. She has very low pain threshold, even headaches will make her cry non-stop, but not whining, just sad tears. Found out that she has throat infection and apart from that was okay. The weather these days are seeing people and kids fall sick all the time. Adani and Ariz as usual, tried to fish for attention and tried to sound sick. Ish bebudak ni!

Well.

Today is super-hectic. I have a long list of things to do today and blogging ain't in it. But hey! A girl's gotta unwind. HOKEH?

Ayisha asked me what's the difference between Orang Utan & Orang Hutan?

I said that Orang Utan is an ape, from the monkey family, large and hairy and very like you when you're grumpy. hahahahha. *mummy ni!* Orang Hutan is someone who lives in a hutan! Okay ka?

Then I was reminded of Ariz. He now has this penchant for reading encyclopeadias and factual books. He's not into storylines like the girls. He loves to flick through my 2inch thick of History of the Ages (from the Ice Age through to the Modern World) and finds much excitement looking at pre-historic animals and dinosaurs and mammoths and animals with at least 5 syllables to their names.

Anyway, we were reading a Two-Can Animals & Planet book one night and we're at the Apes and Monkeys section. There was a picture of Orang Utan and Spider Monkey. And he took them in with keen interest.

So, when Ayisha asked about the Orang Utan. He loudly proclaimed that "Mana ada orang utan? ~~ORANG MONKEY~~ MONKEY HUTAN la! Macam SPIDER MONKEY"

[edited to reflect Mummy's failing memory, as highlighted by MrGart]

Errkk .. no amount of convincing him will do. So, we're stuck with Orang Monkey from now on. Sorry Orang Utan, just bear with us a little longer.

A Whirlwind

2009-05-20T16:09:00.002+08:00

People can only see so far, the rest of Allah's will.

This week has been crazy. Really crazy.

Last week's been crazy too, but not as crazy as this week. Work has been a pain. I've been swamped and didn't have time to blog properly, which was unusual for me. The kids have been rather well-behaved considering exams were over. But we were slightly more edgy and get upset easier.

This week, we have it all sorted out. I have a sudden trip to Singapore (am writing this in MAS Lounge) and MrGart has a golf time with his buddy today. Work has been crazy since Monday and I put in more hours than I normally do.

Then just when we thought things were falling into place, Ayisha complained of chest pains and difficulty in breathing. She didn't look so good so I let her off school. I was on leave yesterday and I gave her ventolin as she was coughing a bit. She slept all day long and I completed my 120 milk bottle cookies for Farida.

By nightime, she wasn't getting any better and MrGart took her to the clinic as I was packing brownies for Ariz and Adani's Teacher's Day do today. mrgart called later to say that the nebulizer didn't work and she was referred to DEMC.

Off we all went, cookies left at home, untied.

The Emergency doctor ordered a chest x-ray cos her chest sounded tight. He needed to rule out pneumonia. Alhamdullillah the chest x-ray showed mild pneumonia and she needed to be on the nebs every 4 hours. The rooms were full, so we needed to come every 4 hours.

We came at 6am, groggily.

But this morning, Asha seemed okay and I decided to continue with trip (as if I can cancel it la kan?).

BTW she just called to report that Ariz has been bulllying the little Rexx and she sounded really "herself". HMmm..

Anyhow. Need to get to my Gate now. I love the Lounge when it's less ppl around. I literally curled myself on the sofa. Bliss!!

Ciao people. Lion City, here I come. Hmm sapa nak ajak I dinner malam ni ha?? screw dah balik mesia.

Lega ..

2009-05-14T14:26:00.002+08:00

Exams is over, folks!

Err only if you're between the ages of 7 and 12 and schooling at Buikt Jelutong. And DAY, your ACCA is still not over yet. *hugs*

Anyhow.

Am so glad that it's over. I don't have to keep reminding (or rather shrieking to) the girls why are they watching TV and not holding a book. Or chase Adani & Ariz out of the sisters' room. Sigh!

Insyallah they will do well. *sedapkan hati*

Meanwhile. We're almost *pinches fingers* this close to getting the keys for our new abode err next door. And I'm thinking hard about the rooms' arrangement.

Aliya is big enough for her to need privacy. From us and especially from the prying and nosey sisters and brother. I think she is brave enough to sleep on her own these days, provided that her room is decorated just straight off IKEA's pages.

Ayisha may need to bunk in with Adani instead now that Aliya needs time to herself. Next year kan nak UPSR. I know both Adani and Ayisha play very well together, especially on their specialised topic of "alienating ARIZ".

Adani has been pining for us to move her toddler bed to the girls' room. BTW, she was there for a few months but walked in the middle of the night, every single night to our bed that we moved her back. Now she wants out. Pening! And her toddler bed. Hmm .. kena tukar tu.

Ariz. Talks about his room, his bed, his pillow and his everything but sleeps bawah ketiak Mummy. So not yet la. Maybe a play room just for him, for his cars and dinos and his many herds of animals and trucks and stuffs.

We're also talking about converting the other kitchen into my Cookie Studio. Fooh .. bunyi mengancam siutt!!!

Last week we dropped by uninvited to Ninuk's newly renovated place and ooohhh-ed and ahhh-ed. I love her renovation ideas. *must copy*

Hmmm itu la sahaja angan-angan di siang hari ini. Jom zuhur!

Aliya Aliya Aliya

2009-05-13T09:43:00.004+08:00

This is one of the recent picture of Aliya. Lucky she's sitting down and not standing next to me. That would certainly put a new meaning to "short" and "stout" to me.

Anyhow.

Aliya is really tall now. I think she's only about few inches shorter than me and when we walk arm in arm, she's at par already. She's also wearing my pants (the sporty, stylo jogging pants which I no longer wear due to uhmmm excess inner capacity) and been seeb trying on my shoes and all.

She also gets a lot of phonecalls these days. Most of them are from Mimi or Farah or Azmina. Her classmates. These days, when the phone rings, we no longer get excited cos we know it's always for her. And she carries her hand-me-down handphone everywhere now.

Which I check every now and then. The ones she calls and the ones calling her. The messages and all. So far, it's still very girlish and all.

Aliya is really showing off her true character these days. She's the cool chick. She's not the talkative type, but rather the stand at the side, head tilted and scrunches her face, summing up the situation. And peole will always ask her what she thinks. Ala-ala wise la kot. *musti gene aku la tu*

And dressing wise. Hmmmm .. she doesn't like skirts. She doesn't like flowery stuff. She doesn't go for pinks anymore. She loves jeans and because she's slender and slim, she looks great in them. I think she looked like me when I was her age. Slender and her posture is straight which I so love. She loves long-sleeved t-shirts the most, especially ones with damask designs or swirls, but never flowers. She loves the type of shirts which is short-sleeved but has an inner sleeve. see picture. get it?

She loves layered look these days. Her hair is very wiry and straight length hair makes her look hefty, so this haircut is pretty new. Layered and it makes her face looks even longer.

But one thing my anak dara still does is twirl her hair. Now that her hair is short, we no longer find her in the mornings, finger stuck in the twirled hair. A habit she started when she was a baby and has never seem to be able to shake it off. Hehe!

Drive On The Left Lane, would'ja?

2009-05-12T09:47:00.002+08:00

I should declare today as ROAD-HOGGER'S DAY !

I should also make cookies on a stick of a driver, in a car with elongated hands stretching over and under his car, hanging on to the road and fearing the car in front. All the while in the blinking fast lane.

Hmmmppttt!!

I never understand this. There are rules on the roads and there are more unwritten rules on the roads too. Let me make this clear. Crystal.

1. Close the gap. If the car in front of you moves, you move. If it stops, you stop. If it farts, you fart. Get it? So, why oh why do you have to move at 30kph and leave a gargantuan gap in front of you when the traffic was moving at 110pkh?

2. Drive please! Not read papers on the steering wheel. Not playing with your kid on the steering wheel. Not texting someone. Not on the phone with someone while you hands play charade. Just drive, will ya?

3. If you have some incurable disease of fear of driving, just stay off the roads during rush hour, please. Pretty please?

4. If you insist on driving at 30 kph when the traffic's at 110 kph, please stick to the turtle lane. That's on your leftmost lane. I know, sometimes even I confuse my rights and my lefts.

5. And please, if you insist to be unconventinal, if you demand to be different than the rest of the world and if you absolutely abhor organisation and conformity, instead of driving smugly, hand hung outside your window, looking absolutely nonchalant at the turtle speed that you are driving at on the FAST lane, go create a blog and tell people of how different you wanna be than the rest of the world.

Boleh tak??

Disclaimer : I am a veryu berhemah driver and I no longer drive on emergency lanes at Federal Highway in the mornings and that is because the police allows people to drive on emergency lanes in the mornings. Told ya!

Indeed, There Is Justice

2009-05-12T09:04:00.002+08:00

I hope it prevails, though.

Not one to talk politics, I have been following the development of the Perak state debacle closely. Thanks to Google Reader and wireless, I get updates, even late at night and it's exciting and at the same time you feel like banging your head against the wall.

Anyhow.

I hope peace and justice will be served.

Some people forget that life is indeed a test. As the lyrics in "The Heart of A Muslim" by Zain Bikha.

Looking up at the sky, searching for Allah most High
He rejected the way of worshipping Gods of clay
Prophet Ebrahim knew that Allah was near
And that the heart of a Muslim is sincere
Under the hot burning sun, he declared God is one
Though with stones on his chest, his Imaan would not rest
The Muadhin knew that right would conquer wrong
And the heart of a Muslim must be strong

Chorus:
It’s the heart of a Muslim through the guidance of Islam
That makes you fair and kind and helpful to your fellow man
So living as a Muslim means that you must play a part
Allah looks not at how you look, but what is in your heart

In our poor meager state, little food on our plate
Mother said she was glad, always sharing what we had
When I asked how can we share what’s not enough
She said the heart of a Muslim’s filled with love

He said its time you should know, you will learn as you grow
That some people around will do what’s bad to bring you down
Father said to be a star that’s shining bright
For the heart of a Muslim does what’s right

Chorus

So whatever you, make sure your words are true
Honesty is the best, because life is a test
Even if it hurts so much you want to cry
For the heart of a Muslim does not lie

Post Mother's Day

2009-05-11T09:33:00.003+08:00

Was it Mother's Day yesterday? Cause I didn't notice it.

Could it be because apart from the kids' early Mother's Day presents, I didn't get anything else at all ?
Could it be because my special Mother's Day lunch consisted of leftovers of MrGart and the kids? As usual.
Could it be because I was still the one ensuring that the kids were dressed, showered and fed?
Could it be because I didn't get to spend some time on my own at all?
Could it be because no bouquets of flowers came my way? and no spa/massage either !

Well, I guess .. that's the huge difference between Mother's Day and Father's Day. On Father's Day, the daddies get great lunches, some feet off time from your normal chores (now, that's a real joke!) and great hugs and kisses to appreciate everything a daddy does and time off the kids and the whole day is spent reminding of what a Daddy means.

On a Mother's Day, a mother gets to be .. tada ..a MOTHER!

It's a never-ending thing. I get kids surrounding me everywhere I go. Even to the toilet sometimes. I find them upstairs when I want to pray. I find them at my feet when I'm cooking. I find them in the bathroom when I'm peering over the many ubans that's colonising at my jambul. And wherever I find them, I sure hear them.

Heh!

If I sound a little dejected that my Mother's Day was a dissapointment. I'm not.
If I sound a little frustrated and a ~~severely~~ little under-appreciated yesterday. I'm not.
If I sound a tad sad for not being seen. I'm not.
If I sound a little ungrateful for the beautiful children that I have. I'm not.

*lap air hidung* what?? I have a cold.

*reminding self that every little thing that I do, it's "kerana Allah"*

p/s to all mommies-like-me, I urge you to get the Anuar Zain CD. It has proven to be an effective stress-buster, frustration killer and balm for wounded ego for me time and time again. He will sure make you cry and then he'll lift your spirits high enough that you'll find yourself belting out his songs at the top of your voice within the sanctity of your car and you will emerge a fresh and a new person. trust me. he soothed my nerves this morning and I was a wreck.

Labour Day Weekend

2009-04-30T13:18:00.002+08:00

Tomorrow is Labour Day. I feel labour-ed enough today though. So, we're looking at a particularly long weekend. yay!

Nothing much planned.

I have cookies to make and tudungs to sew and books to arrange.

I have excess fat on my girth needing a jog and a twist.

I have girls and a boy who are restless and needing a distraction. A cheap distraction's the best. Ooh. You remember the Nik NurMadihah, the girl who scored 20A in the last SPM. I received a txt from Shah Alam Library inviting us to the LIbrary for her talk on Sunday at 8:30am. There! Cheap and informative.

I think we need a pool trip this weekend. Maybe early tomorrow morning, once we all wake up and before the hot sun shines.

I think I need an Orange Glow Chiffon Cake or maybe a Chocolate Souffle Roll with whipped cream filling this weekend. Oh oh oh, I know. A Cordon Rose Cheesecake with strawberry toppings. Or a Pavlova with strawberry topping. Or better, a tiramisu. Hmm .. decisions. decisions. decisions.

I think to think how best to get Ariz to get his haircut. Or not. He looks rather cute with his long hair. If only it's not as itchy.

I think this weekend will be fun, family-fun. Insyallah.

Hope yours will be too.

Mother's Day Is Coming Up Fast

2009-04-30T11:13:00.002+08:00

Mother's Day is sneaking behind you fast, people. And these were what I've been working on last night.

It's the second Sunday in May and you have less than 2 weeks to impress and to show your love for your Mom, Mak, Mummy, Amma or Ummi.

Razzle Dazzle Cookies have teamed up with Farah Florist & Gifts to come up with a perfect gifts for your moms.

See the flyers below. For a mere RM75, the woman who painstakingly listen to your babbles when you were a baby, change your soiled diapers and wipe your puke and you thrown spaghetti off the floor, will receive a bouquet of flowers, 3 of my cookies and cupcakes to boot.

So, sons and daughters. Call Farah at 019.220.4939 or email her at farahfloristngifts@gmail.com

Still Worrying But A Tag Would Help

2009-04-29T09:46:00.002+08:00

Since famy kinda tagged me on this and I'm still planning my report, I guess, there's no harm in doing this. Right ?

Thr33 Things Tag

The Three Names I go by
-Nonche
-Ina
-Gart

Three Jobs I have had in my life
-Counter girl at McD
-Executive here at KompeniLetrik
-Trainee at Skegness Pleasure Beach

Three Places I have lived
-Kuala Lumpur
-Peterborough
-Manchester

Three TV Shows that I watch
I do watch more than 3 shows actually, but if I had to pick then they would be:
- Desperate Housewives
- Brothers & Sisters
- Grey's Anatomy

Three places I have been
- dalam negara: Pulau Langkawi, Sabah, Sarawak, all over lah but wanna go to Redang.
- luar negara: US of A, 10 countries in Europe in 28 days, Thailand, Singapore.

People that e-mail me regularly
-boss
-Big Boss
-the girls

Three of my favorite foods
-coffee
-i don't love food that much.

Three things I would like to do
- read more books
- master the dslr and take lots of pictures
- learn to paint or sketch

Three friends I think will respond.
- Nagai
- Moshie
- Butterflutter

Things I am looking forward to
- the day I can leave the KompeniLetrik
- the day we're membesarkan empayar ke rumah sebelah
- the day the house keeps itself clean for more than 10 minutes.

There!

Worrisome Days

2009-04-29T08:53:00.002+08:00

I couldn't help myself but worry incessantly everytime I pick up the papers these days. Yesterday, I got even more worrisome.

The swine flu outbreak is super-scary, with the rate it's propagating and of course the lack of cure. Yikes!

Anyhow.

At the home-front, the kindy Ariz and Adani go to is closed for a week, starting yesterday. Very immediate. They were containing the spread of the hand, foot and mouth disease in the school. I seriously appreciate the long letter they sent out to parents explaining their rationale for closing the school down even when there are a few cases todate instead of waiting for 7-8 to make that decision.

So, Adani and Ariz are at home, probably at each other's throats over which channel to choose and who gets to hold Bubbles the cat. Me, I can rest easy in the mornings cos it's just me, myself and I need to get ready for work. Normal days, I need to get both of the showered, dressed, hair-tied and bundled downstairs. So, I'm early today.

Last week, while I was waiting for Ayisha at the school, the teachers announced at the assembly that all pupils who are sick and feverish to stay at home. HFM is rife too at the school. The teachers blared on the PA system that cleanliness should be the utmost concern. No sharing tupperware of water bottles. Wash your hands.

Aliya came home saying her class of 38 was reduced to 26 cos people are dropping off, feverishly. Yikes! I pray that Allah protects my family from this test. Last night, all of the were sneezing and oozing clear snoots. A round of Actifed. Must get more supplies today.

Anyways. My throat seems a little scratchy today and my voice keeps hoarse-ing every now and then. Hmm. I need coffee.

Btw, a bizarre thing happened yesterday at the Bukit Jelutong Toll Plaza. A car stopped and a woman stepped out hurriedly. Hmm. She then started to bend down and look under cars, not hers, but others. I was like "EH?, biar benar makcik ni."

Then I saw them. 2 or 3 kittens were running and jumping about. *terbeliak mataku*

They must be hers. All cars stopped. Even the PLUS girls helped to look for these kittens. But I didn't see any caught. After a few minutes, the line started again. I couldn't see where the woman was by now.

When I passed the tollbooth, after the bar was lifted, my eyes buldged when I saw a scared brownish long-haired kitten cowering in the middle of the other Smartag lane and cars whizzed past her. I thought I saw the woman by now.

I hope the kitten is okay.

Dough-y Kiddos

2009-04-28T09:19:00.002+08:00

The weekend before last, MrGart's office had a BBQ for his office staff. There were games and foods and more games.

The location was superb, near a lake and the amenities were great.

However, while the adults were watching a "tarik tali" event near the lake, these were what my kids were doing.

Ariz being cheeky.

Ayisha being a leader.

Adani just being a kid.

The plates of flour were from the "find sweets in a plate of flour" game for 6 to 8yo which Adani refused flat. She said that no way she was gonna stick her nose into a plate of flour, for sweets?

Well, she did that well afterwards, huh!

Let's Walk to the School

2009-04-28T09:06:00.003+08:00

These days, I prefer to walk to Ayisha's school and pick her up. It's scenic walk, under trees and there are plenty to see. There's a wakaf before we reach the school and the walking path is away from the roads, so I can let Ariz loose while he jumps and skips. Adani is more content to pick up sticks the shapes of Y and I and X. I would point out the leaves, from tiny pine needles to huge ketapang leaves. Ariz would pick 2 dried ketapang leaves and pretend he has wings and fly.

Well. Last Friday, as we were setting out, MrGart came home. I heard a loud whirring of a helicopter, which is all not unusual since BJ is near air force base and there are all manners of jets and planes and choppers which fly at all hours of the day, very low or very high up in the sky.

But this particular time, it was extra loud. In fact, I couldn't hear myself scream. Hmm. MrGart stepped out of his car and quickly ran to the source of the sound i.e. the huge 3-fields park a block from ours.

To our amazement, a slick modern black heli just landed, right smack in the field. Boys playing in the north basketball court stared. The boys playing football in 2 other fields stared too. I stared.

MrGart said later that he ran towards it because he thought it was a army chopper in distress. Aha.

The even more bizarre thing next was a Malay man in a blue shirt nonchalantly stepped out of the heli and walked towards the houses and the chopper flew straight up and left the field.

I guess, he could tell his wife .. "Honey, I'm home. In a heli today".

Home and Away

2009-04-26T00:50:00.003+08:00

I am still kicking myself for forgetting to watch Grey's tonight. Grr!!

So, while I was busy downloading and catching snippets and spoilers of Season 5 of Grey's, I found that a new character will emerge. Sadie.

I stared at her in scrubs and I knew I've seen her before. Not personally, within the idiot box.

A little googling and tada ..!!

I knew it! She was Angel in Home and Away. I should admit here that between 1991 and 1995, I was an ardent and fanatic fan of Home and Away and Neighbours. I was. these were soaps, mind you. Downright soaps. But once you get caught into its nasty web, you're in.

I remember watching each episode in the evening or catching it at noon. And I remember Angel very well. And Shane and Shannon (Isla Fisher) and Ailsa and Alf and Fisher and Marilyn and Sam and Sally and OMG! I googled again and came up with this clip of the opening of the episodes in 1993. Click here and remisnisce over the good old days.

Good old days in deed.

Now, I should get into bed. Tomorrow morning it's Pasar Tani and IceBlended Cappucino satu!

Pick Munch Pick Munch

2009-04-24T14:10:00.002+08:00

Just got back from a fun lunch with the gals and MrSarahPiss. And it was like a blitz. And everytime we lunch there, it's always blitzy.

We would sit down, laughingly. Then we'd be ordering the one who sits closest to the belt to "quick quick, get the baby octopus". There's always "cepat, cepat, that wrapped unagi".

And the plates would be piling.

Today, we measured the plates and they were the exact height of Hazel, sitting down.

I'm full and heading over to PJ for a meeting. Hope to keep myself awake.

MrGart's Birthday in Colour

2009-04-23T14:31:00.002+08:00

Okay, I have a lot of work .. but I thought I'd spiced up MrGart's nofrills birthday piccies last February 2009.

Hehe.

*suka*

Notekaki : I know I misspelled "birthday" but imagine that I didn't. Boleh tak ?

Scrapbooking .. First Cut

2009-04-23T11:49:00.003+08:00

Har har har har har ..

Ain't this pretty?

Har har har har ..

I am fasting today, many more to come and while I was waiting for some feedbacks from a party we're negotiating, I became bored. There's nothing much on my Google Reader apart from some political stuff. Sigh!!

People are not blogging heavily as they used to, I guess.

Anyhow. I downloaded a scrapbooking free kit from ShabbyPrincess and went through a tutorial on Photoshop and tada.....!!

Har har har har ..

The Bane of Mommies

2009-04-22T11:07:00.004+08:00

Obviously, I would suck if I were a lyricist or an author, trying to name a thing, a book or a nukilan. Bane and mommies should never go together.

And that is why I guess, I'm stuck at blogging and baking and trying to be a mom.

Talking about being a mom. I might not have noticed it before but the minute Aliya popped out of me and changed my status from a hip chick to a mom, I became one, regardless if I felt the same person that I was before. *if you do not understand this, me neither*

And these days it's apparent.

2 weeks ago, the whole neighbourhood were jolted by sms-es of a 7 yo boy kidnapped in front of his house at 8:20am. I received no less than 5 sms-es. Aliya came home reporting that all of her friends' parents who live at BJ received the same sms-es. The sms didn't mentioned which street but had a name and a phonenumber. It looked authentic. Alarm bells sounded and warnings were promptly issued to my kids and the maid, Andes. It turned out that it was a hoax and that the exact same sms was circulated with a Subang Jaya address before.

Such a sick sick joke !

Anyhow, there's been talks too of a foiled kidnapping attempt at school few months ago because the man who was supposed to pick up "his" child did not know that the child was off sick that day. And of course news of kids being snatched at roundabouts make hearts like mine, quiver with fear.

I worry. Mothers worry. It's never-ending. When you think you're just not care right now, you can't because the nature of a mom is to worry and cause grey hair to sprout more.

Then last week, a colleague emailed a footage of CCTV of a maid literally kicking, stepping on, slapping a little girl and I had to stop watching it. It was too close to home. It was harrowing. It was too painful to watch. I join the bandwagon for career women who leave their kids in the care of a maid during the hours they spend at work and the risk is there, permanently. It scared me shitless. Seriously.

I'm a mother. Watching another child suffer is too much on my maternal instincts. We always put ourselves in that child's shoes and think what we think he is thinking. Too much analysing, I know. But that's what we do well.

I know that when I wait for Ayisha at school, each time a boy falls down or I hear a cry, I'd hurry and ask to help. Because deep in my heart, I hope that when of my mine does fall or cries for whatever reason, another parent would do the same for them like I do to theirs. Insyallah.

Head Splitting 42.2

2009-04-21T12:02:00.001+08:00

Hot, Sweaty Weekend

2009-04-20T11:24:00.002+08:00

I cannot remember when the last time it rained here in Shah Alam. The serious, cats and dogs rain.

Saturday we were at Cyberjaya for mrGart's office BBQ and sort of family day event. The venue was perfect. It's at a park near the Community Park behind the MMU Campus. There was a stage and a BBQ pit. They were next to a lake.

There were ample funkily modern designed benches and garden tables for picnics and designated picnic areas. Trees were aplenty and they were such heavenly things to sit under when the sun shined so brightly. The lake looks not so clean but there were lotus leaves and Ariz even spotted a frog sitting on a plate-sized leaf. Cool, I thought.

There was a very huge playground with ladders and bridges and all manners of play stuff to satisfy the mosy physically inclined kids. I sat swinging myself on a swing which was shaded while the kids ran themselves silly. Must protect my not-fair-at-all skin. There was a floating bridge to the middle of the lake which I thought was cool.

Anyhow. But it was hot. Severely hot.

Ariz refused to join the pick-the-sweets-off-the-mat games. Adani refused to stick her head in a plate of flour, fishing out sweets. No way. hose. Ayisha refused to sit on balloons to pop it the fastest. Instead, joined Aliya in a Musical chair. All was fine and Ayisha was out at the last 4. Aliya made it to the final 2, against this rather hefty, cheeky port boy, about Aliya's age, I assume.

That boy has his eyes fixed on winning, whatever it takes. When the music stopped, he grabbed the chair and swung it to his side. Aliya acted timely to avoid sitting on air and fell rather ungraciously. I yelled "Unfair" and demanded for the sneaky boy to be disqualified. The crowd loved this. And it continued. Second time, he grabbed it again! Darn! I thought. Aliya had the expression of ish-mmg-nak-kena-lepuk-mamat-ni.

They still let this cheating boy in the game, after committing fouls twice. Aliya should have won cos both times, Aliya had the chair but he had to snatch it away, almost causing injury to Alilya,

The third time, he got lucky and sat instead and won it. Hmmpppff!

Anyhow, I thought it was battle not to be fought anyway. Bullies are bullies, however you call him.

Well, during the tarik tali event, I was lending support to huffinf and puffing Mrgart while my 3 youngest charges were playing baking with the flour and water. Sungguh comot. There were white with flour and their slippers had dough on them.

We went home, head pounding and tummies full from the roast lamb and the bbq chicken and everything else in between. I had so much fun and I take my hats off to MrGart's colleagues who are sporting enough to do this. My office has not had a family day in, I dunno .. before Ayisha was born. Maybe?

Ayisha Ayisha Ayisha

2009-04-16T11:02:00.004+08:00

Ayisha at 2 years old, back in 2002.

I wanted to name her Alisha, initially. But my Harfiyah ustaz said that Alisha meant "shelf" or "para" in Malay. Uhmmm.

Then we were talking a lot about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)'s most beloved wife, Aisha r.a. and I instinctively knew Ayisha was right. I pray that my Ayisha will grow as inquisitive, as bubbly and as knowledgeable, a fraction of Aisha r.a. was.

My Ayisha is rather cembeng, actually. She was born on the 1st December 2000. I remember telling myself earlier that 2000 was gonna be full of babies, a Golden Dragon year and a millenium to boot too. But Allah has other plans and Ayisha was impatient in emerging.

She's pretty challenging compared to Aliya who is less complicated, more obliging and quite agreeable. Ayisha wanted things done her way, her colors, her time and her her and her.

She is headstrong from day 1. Remember the drinking milk from syringe by Kak Jun at 2 months old. She is still headstrong today. Unwavering.

Academically, she's lagging and that worries me to no end. She's a late baby, I heard myself muttering excuses. At Std 1 when she just turned 6, I was coaching her to read. Spelling was a challenge. I had suspicion of dyslexic but that soon was ruled out. Alhamdulillah. Now, she no longer writes b as a d.

Last year, I taught her Maths and all subjects at night and most nights were unpleasant. This year, I thought she has improved and I thought she needed to learn the techniques that I couldn't teach in maths that I sent her to a tuition centre. Just for Maths and BM. Aliya needs to go, so I thought she'd tag along too.

On Monday, MrGart reported that the teacher said that she's lagging and needs to do more maths at home. And I got upset.

So, this week, I thought tuition with Mummy resumes.

Last night. I yelled and I slapped her hand and grabbed her arm. She had tears streaming down her cheeks. She had snoots all over her face. Over a page of addition. My palm hurts today drom slamming the table. My voice got hoarse. The whole street must now know what I sound like, shouting.

This morning. I hugged her. She said that her arm hurts. I said that my palm hurts. And we hugged. I promised to make it up to her. I promised to be better if she would work harder. We hugged.

The Chatterboxes in The Family

2009-04-14T11:35:00.005+08:00

Last weekend, my mom dragged all of us to my Mak Ndak's place at Taman Rashidah Utama, Seremban to visit my bed-ridden Tok. Mak Tam from Kedah was there for the weekend too.

I made a Guilt Free Chocolate Chiffon cake as buah tangan. My mom has this rule that you'd better be taking something when you visit someone. Except her house as we always trot down to Gombak on empty stomachs and plenty of empty tupperware for takeaways, even frozen cucur udang for us to fry when we get home. I know. I know. Such spoilt kids!

Anyhow.

Gartred and me, Gartblue are such chatterboxes. When there are the two of us, anywhere, be assured that it will be merry.

Gartred works in a hospital and has been evern since she started working and she always regale us, the clan with stories of illnesses and dead bodies having to be brought downstairs via the stairs since the lifts could not accomodate a body lying down, before rigor sets in. She also tells of the people stories and it never fails to fascinate us. And of course, the boob jobs, the tummy tucks stories are always the best, particularly who's who and how it's down. We'd be oo-ing and ouch-ing and ehem-ing.

Our little sister, call her GartLilSis is also a pharmacist but she works at a drugs enforcement agency, a governmental body, if you may wonder. She's not like Gartblue or me at all. She's rather small-ish and a lot less talkative than us. But when she does share, we'd love to listen to stories of what drug will come in and what drug's been taken off the shelves and sometimes she shares with us the samples which she gets by the bucket.

Anyways.

I work in a very boring industry, not worth mentioning to my clan, unless I want them to sleep. Face it! Compared to haunted hospital lifts and drug scandals, my coal and gas issues are rather bland, to say the least.

But I've found a new topic which caught the attention of my clan. Not that there's any competition. Yikes!

It's baking. My aunties still can't believe for the lifes of them that I can bake. And teach people some more. So, everytime I bring a cake, they'd be peppering me with the questions of how, what and the rest. Finally!

Anyways.

Remembering the reason why we're there, we set out butts in my Tok's room, massaging her skinny legs and helping her to change sides to relieve her sores. And new topics began anew.

Mak Tam was talking about the current fave of "rebung madu" i.e. honey bamboo shoots. I love rebung and never made them. Gartred was dishing out how to make masak lemak rebung with only 3 ingredients. Kunyit, cili api and santan. Then the rebung and ikan bilis la.

Then Mak Tam said, "bawang takkan takde" to which a resounding no from Gartred, my mom and Mak Ndak. Mak Tam then said "la, Mak yang ajag ni." She then turned to Tok and said jokingla " Mak, mak cakap kat cek sekarang sementara mak ada lagi. Apa lagi ajaran-ajaran sesat mak dah ajag cek selain dari masak lemak".

We all were laughing with tears streaming down our cheeks. Tok just smiled.

Rumah Merah Menang

2009-04-13T09:27:00.002+08:00

I have completely forgot to blog about this.

It's that time of the year again, when parents make a beeline to the fields, under the hot, smoldering sun in sunglasses to cheer on their precious athletic kids.

Anyhow. My kids aren't particularly sporty. Hmmm. Kenapa agaknya?

Well, Aliya was not given a part in her Hari Sukan. Her bestfriend Farah was in the marching. Ayisha meanwhile, participated in her Sukaneka. This was Friday before last, uhmm the 3rd April 2009.

MrGart couldn't make it. I had to squirm and got away from a meeting to attend her Sukaneka. It was hot. Super hot. And it was Friday and alhamdulillah I had my silk kebaya. Good that it's cooling but not that great that I looked out of place.

Anyhow. The event itself.

Ayisha in the thick of things. She has to walk with a beanbag on her head. Manoever a football with a hockey stick and then put on a pair of construction boots. She was smiling all the way. I thought she looked a little too relax while she was managing all this.

Yes, Rumah Merah of 3 Keruing won!! With her fellow Rumah Merah-ans! yayaya!
*mak over dari anak*

A group photo of the winning team. Yee haaa! Looking at this, Ayisha isn't the smallest of the lot after all. There are smaller kids. *phew*

Ta?

2009-04-10T10:26:00.002+08:00

Ariz : Mummy? Mo apa?

Mummy : Moolah.

Ariz: Bukan la. Move it! *jigs to the Madagascar sing*

Mummy : *rolls eyes*

Ariz: Ta?

Mummy : Tanah?

Ariz : T-aik!

---------------------
Fast forward to the bedtime story time and I was reading "It's Not Easy Being a Bunny", an eternal favourite of Ariz & Adani.

Mummy : ".. PJ did not like being a bear, a bird, a pig, a beaver or a ?"

Adani : "Possum!"

Ariz : "T-aik"

-------------------
This morning, after he's all dressed and ready for school, singing ..

"Happy t-aik to you. Happy t-aik to you. Happy T-aik to you. Happy t-aik to you"

--------

Mummy & Daddy : Geleng kepala! Hai! Anak teruna aku ni. Obsess sungguh with that word. Not too long ago it was a d-ick, and then there was "b-on-tot" and now it's t-aik. Apa cerita ni babe?

And by the way, Ariz is still not pronouncing anyti=hing with a r right. Orang becomes oyang. Marah is mayah. Sembahyang is fayang (don't ask me how this comes about). It's funny when he pleads with me "Mummy jangan fayang tau" at 11pm when he's sleepy and needs to sleep and needs me to hug him for him to fall asleep.

Pelat!

Monday Is Not So Blue Afterall

2009-04-06T10:49:00.004+08:00

It's blue-r.

Had a run-in with a friend and though that hurts her more than me, I do hope that she accepts my apology. Sincerely.

On the other hand. I'm feeling a little behind myself.

I feel like I'm reading less to the kids these days. I've not been terribly successful in introducing them to new foods or vegetables. I've had my eyes buldged seeing the results of Aliya & Ayisha's Ujian Bulanan. I've forsake my one-hour a day without TV this year.

I think it's time to buckle up, Gartblue.

Yesterday, I took charge again.

We are doing the one-hour no TV again. Strictly. I hope when we re-do the new wing's master bedroom's into a study, we can all congregate in that room and do what's best for all. Readings or anything.

We are doing the jamaah prayers together and I will do lessons for them. Yesterday's hour long discussion on Jannah and Jahannam was peppered with questions and even bizarre answers from the girls. The discussion on Jannah intrigued them. Insyallah, I pray for Allah's mercy in seeing me through all my aspiration.

We are doing reading-alouds every day. Adani's been reading by herself lately and I've been slacking with her cos I know she can do it by herself. But I forget that she needs a step forward and I should be giving that to her. Ariz is intrigued with books these days but I was also intrigued with my TV, *shame* And the girls. Did I know vow to read to them, Shel's poems ? Whatever has happened?

So, today on a blue Monday, I'm making renewed vows. It's up to me to make the difference, and insyallah, by Allah's will, I will.

Note: Pictures were taken at Genting late last year. That's the foggiest day ever in Malaysia and the coldest (I thought -9C or -14C were normal to me, heh!) . *brrrr*

Wet Wet Weekend

2009-04-06T09:20:00.002+08:00

It rains a lot these days. Bucketfuls of fresh water from from the clouds. Alhamdulillah.

Yesterday it rained twice, stormy. Heavy enough to suspend the F1 at Sepang which MrGart gleefully went and came home to a pants stained with red earth and not knowing who won the race. Ceh! I had to tell him the results. Hmm!

Anyhow. We stayed in while MrGart was fending the rain at Sepang. Wanted to hop over to get supplies at Gi-ant but it rained again late afternoon. The girls painted stones to make paperweights while Ariz napped. I was reading.

Well, quite uneventful.

Eee bohsannya ini entry.

*must think of more interesting thing to write about*

Ariz is Weaned. Finally !

2009-04-01T10:14:00.004+08:00

I know. I know. *shakes head*

I could've written this when Ariz was 30 months old and not when he's err *counts finger* 49 months old! 49 months .. 4 years and a solid month and 2 weeks Wow!

Anyhows.

Yes, people. Ariz is officially weaned. He hasn't asked to be nursed for the last 8 days. I feel like Firhad when he annouced his 5 months of cig-free days. Haha!

Suddenly he seems like a big boy.

Suddenly I feel a little less needed. So I hug him a little more at night. Smelling his hair and snuggling close to him, just breathing him in. He's oh so peaceful when he sleeps, not the tornado that he is when he's awake.

I'm a little loss now that he doesn't breastfeed anymore.

I kinda lied when I said that I was trying to wean him off. Half a lie, actually. Especially when I "thought" about weaning him and did nothing whatsoever to effect that. I thought about the asam jawa. I talked to him though, but never with much conviction. I just love breastfeeding him.

I gave in to him, everytime he needed to nurse. He needed the comfort as much as I needed to be needed.

I love breastfeeding. I love his dependedness on me. I love the thought of a physical and emotional submission to a child, all by Allah's will. I love that I was able , alhamdulillah, to fulfill what was the fitrah of a child and I love the feeling Iget when I feed a baby and knowing that every single drop of milk he gulps down, there's barakah to it to me and him.

To all of you out there, young wives, young mothers, young husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends. Breastfeed your child. Make that effort. Do not look back and regret that you never tried hard enough.

It's a new world altogether. It's far more rewarding that you'd ever think possible. Trust me. I went through 4 babies and a total of 9 years of full exclusive breastfeeding and I love every minute of it.

But pardon my sombre entry. My lull of happiness just ended.

Note: Hugs are welcome.

The Fever, The Hour and The Sleepover

2009-03-30T15:05:00.001+08:00

The Fever, The Hour and The Sleepover

It’s a baton-passing thing that my children are playing between themselves and MrGart.

2 weeks ago, Ariz was down with stomach flu. He was better in 24 hours.

Then, Adani was down for 6 days for throat infection with 40C fevers and left her weak, lethargic and clingy. She had zithromax and now a jumpy, excited Adani again, slightly thinner from a week of no appetite. At the same time, the biggest baby of the house, MrGart caught the same thing too and later complained that I did not sponge him down when he was feverish like I did Ariz. *eyebrows menjungkit*

Last Friday, Ayisha had a 40.1C fever at 4am and woke up crying and skipped school. I came home from work in the afternoon to a 39.3C feverish Ariz. Off we all went to see Dr Rasool at the clinic.

Both have inflamed throats and I didn’t even object for antibiotics for both of them. He mentioned that throat infections always lead to high grade fevers. I quivered. Yikes!

True enough, the whole weekend, Ariz went through a cycle of 39.5C fevers every 5 hours. He had a lot of problem swallowing the zithromax which he said was “macam pasir” but I made him pinch his nose while he swallowed it. Course completed.

Ayisha was better by Saturday but since she already started her augmentin, that’s gonna have to complete la.

This morning, I thought Ariz was better but he had a 39.3C at 7am. I thought of calling in half day leave but by 7:30am, his fever was subsiding and I thought I’d save the leave for worse rainier days.

I just called home and he was ok but throwing tantrums. Yikes!

Anyways.

Aliya had her first sleepover at her best friend Farah’s place for 2 nights. We missed her but she apparently enjoyed her stay very much. *sulk* But I guess she kind of deserve the time off away from her demanding little brother and sisters. I’m glad that she enjoyed that. Ayisha and Adani meanwhile were asking where Aliya was every few hours and when to pick her up again.

Ariz suddenly had an imaginary friend who asked him for sleepovers and Mummy should be sending him off to that friend’s house with a bag full of books and clothes. Hmmm.

Earth Hour. We were so prepared. MrGart put the tent out. He charged our emergency light (BTW, everyone should have this in case for another involuntary national blackout, like it never happened before la kan?). He had both torch lights ready. I had the 3 little battery powered star night lights from IKEA ready. We had candles, scented ones prepared.

So, when the hour came, we gladly put out all lights and stayed in the tent. 10 minutes later, we gor bored and decided to walk around the neighbourhood to a street full of wandering neighbours and crackles of laughter from the girls next door. It takes a dark night to get neighbours together.

I felt so good doing what little we could do in the name of the Earth.

Well, by 10pm, we’re ready for bed and me, ready for Grey’s. Heh! Once a TV addict, always a TV addict.

Fever .. Fever .. Beaver

2009-03-27T11:30:00.001+08:00

What a week, man!

Just fevers though. No beavers yet. Thought fever rhymes with beaver. Anyways!

Adani's better now, alhamdulillah. After close to 6 days of 40C fevers and a course of Zithromax (her first every antibiotics) she's kicking now. Turned out her throat infection was kinda not relenting. But she's teary-eyed this morning. Guess the many days off got her hooked on home. Ish.

Ariz meanwhile has been going to school without so much as a whimper for the whole of the week. Considering that the normally the 3 of them (Ariz, Adani & Ayisha) would hop of Manjit's van, the past week saw only him, or him with Adani or him with Ayisha. I'm so proud of him. Takut jugak kalau dia pun nak cuti macam kakak-kakak yang kurang sihat.

Aliya's been busy with school projects and we've been ferrying her to her friend's house for her project team to work. Bless Allah for making us decide to stay here where her friends' houses are nearby and I can get to know them in person. too.

Last night, Ayisha ran a fever. At 4am, she was at 40.1C. yikes! She's been coughing the dried ivy leaf cough meds I gave her, obviously not working that well. Hmm. Must pay a visit soon.

In the meantime, today is Friday and it's pay day. Whoo hoo! *macamla nak shopping sangat*

Loo Trips Would Never Be The Same Again

2009-03-24T16:09:00.000+08:00

The Big Kahuna's last day is tomorrow and they're planning a big send-away do for her for the traditional last swipe before she goes off.

I have been working for the Big Kahuna for the past 7 years, maybe more, I wasn't counting since it's too far from my retirement. And I have such huge respect for her.

She has an envied photographic memory which is a bane to us sometimes and scares the hell out of me when I forget a page she remembers some 6 years ago and wants to see it again. Darn!

Her attention to detail is just amazing. She remembers every single letters and events and literally put me to shame, at times. She's one of those rare women engineers who climbed up to the top, in this sexist world and even more sexist organisation and remained true to herself.

She believes in the marriage and family institutions and has told us that if your children are sick, be with them instead. For that, I take my hat off to you, Big Kahuna.

There are other types of the Veeps who think that just because I've scraped and struggled and burned bridges with my wife and children and friends to get where to I am today, you should too. And the other sicko types who think that weekends are best spent poring over documents and having meaningless meetings.

I loathe these veeps, typically men who are short and pudgy and stout and portly with fake grins and they normally gorge their faces with food during official dinners and they normally have their gargantuan-sized egos as their bestfriends.

Anyways.

My Big Kahuna has never been any of the above. She hardly ever holds meeting past the official working hours, unless it was completely necessary. For the days, I was kept in meetings way past time, I have accepted it as I saw it fit for her to conclude issues. And she was always asking me about my kids and my plans and personal stuff.

For the past 3 years, I think, I've worked closely with her and I saw the unadulterated part of her and I'm proud to be there. She might not have won many hearts but she sure struck mine. My respect for her was truly earned and never demanded.

Colleagues would argue that I felt that way since I was always picked by her for assignments and she would march down my lowly-end-of-the-world room to tell me a conversation she just had with someone.

But like my SecondInLineBigKahuna would say, my toilet trips would never be the same again once BigKahuna retires.

You see. For some reason or another, I bump into BigKahuna the most at the exact spot in between the 2 sinks in the women's toilet.

I've had assignments handed over while I washed my hands.
I've had to present status of current crisis and issues to her while I put on my hijab after ablution.
I've had to report to her how my feverish child was recovering.
I've had small talks of where I bought my simply brooches.

My last encounter with BigKahuna in the loo was last week.

She just finished ablution and I was walking towards the loo at the very end of the toilet. She hmmp-ed at me and I acknowledged her her a hmmp myself. I went in the cubicle and locked the door.

Then I heard. "Gartblue!". Yikes!

I unlocked the door and came out, nature call aborted for the next 6 minutes as she was asking me about one of her current favourite issues.

I had no choice but to succumb to it. My kidneys just had to wait a bit longer.

When I was relating this to SecondInLineBigKahuna , instead of nods of sympathy, she might as well rolled on the floor, laughing, because that's exactly what she did. In fact, she ended her hysterical laughing fit by saying that, "Your loo trips would never be the same again!".

Anyhow.

I hope the she enjoys retirement. I hope she enjoys not having to deal with this crap on a daily basis ever again. I hope that she finds new adventures in her travels.

And thank you for teaching me what I need to learn. A living example of a working, successful woman with all her values in tact. Thank you, so much.

p/s Now I can pee in peace. No pun intended.

It's Really Hot These Days

2009-03-23T15:51:00.003+08:00

Scorchingly hot, may I add.

Last night, we had all the kids in our room since except Ariz, all the girls are either feeling quesy, fevers and coughing-kung-kung-kung. Aliya and Ayisha bunked down on the floor and Ariz and Adani wedged in between us. I was lying in bed, diagonally, constantly worried about MrGart squashing Ariz and Ariz's free-kicking legs would do extra time with Adani next to him.

Woke up around 3-ish to a whiny Adani and a 39C fever too. Once that dealt with and her asleep again, I turned the air-con on again. After the July 2008 electricity tariff hike, all the bedrooms air-cons are set to go off at 3:30am. Even with that, our electricity bill is around RM250. Ciss!

But last night, it was so hot that I had no choice. Berpeluh-peluh ni karang Ariz sure mengamuk punya. Good thing too the girls are with us, so jimat satu malam punya aircon costs. Haha!

Anyhow.

We're supporting this next week, the 28th March 2009. We've been spewing too much CO2 and the SOx and the NOx and I feel kind of weird for having a hand in burning a rough total of 12 million tonnes of coal last year alone. *points to the sinful power stations*

So there. We're going dark, next weekend.

This is what we plan to do.

Spread a mat on the field, grab some food and drinks. Get some balls to kick and just chill. Probably I should print some stars charts and we could try to spot them.

But what if it rains? Yikes!

The Unwell Weekend

2009-03-23T10:09:00.003+08:00

It started really well.

We decided to join my colleagues to attend Matju's wedding at Terachi (must drive through Bukit Putus and lalu Ulu Bendul).

Ariz was better by then, still no appetite but chirpy still. The girls were fine. Then at fast lane near Senawang, we heard a loud knock from under the car. Yikes! Then the air-conditioner blew hot air instead. Double yikes!

Hokeh! A check at the nearby PETronas revealed a long cable (possibly from the cable on top of cars and has become un-tacked) tangled under the bumper. Yesterday MrGart found out that it leaked the radiator and would be a little costly and not to mention, one less car today.

Well, we're almost there but now we're nearing the kenduri in all our fineries, dripping in sweats. We wound the windows down for some cool air, but Bukit Putus jam la pulak. Adoi! Saturday turned out to be one of the hottest day this week, or this month! Tak apala, practise for Earth Day.

Kenduri done. Congratulations to MatJu and Liza and thanks for having us.

We stopped at Ulu Bendul for a dip. Best jugak. Ramai orang Kompeni yang singgah after kenduri. Even my brother took his kids over there too, knowing that I was there. So, I left Aliya and Ayisha with them while we drove to my Mak Ndak's at Rashidah Utama with Ariz and Adani, who's now feeling feverish.

Sunday. Adani got worse. She complained of stomach aches and feverish and a little cough. This Last night Aliya threw up once. This morning Ayisha called me crying kata she's coughing and "bernafas laju" and boleh tak tak pegi KAFA? Hmm

So, so much for the first day of school. Aliya's at school now. Ariz went on the van this morning alone, minus Ayisha and Adani. I hope Ayisha feels better to go to SKBJ in the afternoon.

And I hope that the kids will all get better soon. Insyallah.

Stylo Girls

2009-03-20T18:11:00.002+08:00

We were at Sunway Pyramid last Saturday and at the Orange Atrium, there's this charity Cut-A-Thon by A Cut Above. They were targetting for 1500 heads for RM10 per Dry Cut.

Well, I got 3 tickets for Aliya, Ayisha and MrGart. Ariz refused and Adani was adamant of wearing her hair long.

Here's Ayisha with her graduated layered look. The guy who cut her hair was cautious about cutting it really short. But her supervisor came and snip snip-ed and the result was remarkable. I like!! She loves it!

Aliya was a little more more nervous. The hairstylist kept her length and looked perplexed on what to do with her long fringe. She consulted her Supervisor and he took a hold of that long fringe and with a long steady move, it was done. And Aliya couldn't be happier.

For RM10. For Charity. I like!

The Stomach Bug Came Calling Again

2009-03-20T17:12:00.003+08:00

This was Ariz yesterday around 8pm. From the time I arrived home from work yesterday to 8pm, he had thrown up about 5 times. The last time was greenish, indicating there's nothing else in his tummy.

He became thirsty and parched and asked for ribena or water and as soon as he plopped himself back after drinking it, he would weakly said to me "Nak muntah .." and I quickly got the puke bowl to him and held him while he wretched and he shuddered.

MrGart went out and got him 100Plus. That spent about 5 seconds before it too got ejected out. At 3am, he was still throwing up every single drop of liquid he drank.

It was harrowing. This was painful for a mother to go through and this was nothing, mind you. Apatah lagi, the mothers whose children have much much more severe illnesses than Ariz's. Astaghfirullahadzim.

In those wee hours of the night while MrGart snored and Ariz rested in between his throwing up sessions, I rubbed Minyak Yuu Yee on his tummy and patted him to sleep. I was reminded of Kak Jun who babysat Ayisha when she was 2 months old until she was about 9 months old i.e when Andes came for good.

You see. Kak Jun is such a strong person. At that time, she was caring for Fatin, her 9 years old invalid daughter, body twisted, bed-ridden and was fed through a tube. Fatin always laid in the middle of her quarters at the Kompeni, a few doors from the Kompeni's Nursery where Aliya was. Kak Jun's husband was paralysed on his left side froma stroke suffered a few years back. But he still went to punch his card in the morning and came home. The Kompeni kept him on its payroll.

Kak Jun was so determined to give the best to Fatin and her other sons. But sometimes things got a litle harder. Ayisha was once left to the care of her 15 yo son (who is now at Germany, I believe studying Engineering) while she carted off Fatin in a rickety stroller to the nearby Pantai MC. Mind you, she had to push the stroller, rather heavily too, down a hill, cross a very busy Jalan Pantai and up the hill to the Hospital. All because she couldn't afford a cab fare. If she had told me.

Once, she told me while I was dropping Ayisha off hers, how she was so tired that she didn't wake up and Fatin was seizing for a good half hour due to her high fevers. She felt so guilty because of that. And during the day, she still had the tenacity to care for Ayisha who was the most strong-minded baby I and she has ever known.

You see, Ayisha loved to nurse. Fullstop. Straight from the breast. Nothing else matters.

So, we've gone through a gazillion teats, bottles, formula and none worked. In the end, what worked was feeding her my expressed breast milk from a syringe. Imagine that! Even I was not that patient. She was used to it, she said. Sometimes she used a spoon. But syringes were easier. I cannot thank her enough for her patience and I so respect her for her strength and determination.

Kak Jun now lives in a flat at Sentul. Fatin passed away at 13, a coupe of years ago and her husband was finally terminated under a medical board by the Kompeni and they had to vacate the quarters. Her eldest son, Idris is now a clerk at the one of the Kompeni's subsidiary where I always go for meetings in PJ and he recognised he immediately. I thought he looked familiar but never would've guessed the connection. The son, who was minding Ayisha on that fateful day, is studying at Germany and I'm sure the mother is proud of him and his other son.

Anyhow. Kak Jun might have lost her only daughter Fatin, but I can assure you that throughout Fatin's short life, Kak Jun cared for her with such love that was above herself.

Today I took a day off. I did not answer phonecalls. So to Sara-With-A-Fizz and Ken, I will speak to you on Monday. Bukannya apa, I hardly slept last night for fear of Ariz running up a temperature. So, I was napping with him. Ariz when he's sick, became a clinger, a super-clinger. So I had no choice but to snuggle on the sofa, with a glass of iced coffee and the Astro remote.

Ariz meanwhile ate nothing today. But alhamdulillah he could keep fluids down and has not vomitted anything yet today. But he stil refuses to eat. I guess I could keep offering and he's bound to accept a bread or some porridge later. Insyallah.

I think we can skip the trip to the clinic la since he's getting better. He's doing the Madagascar 2 dance right now. His favourite. The one Alex performed while both he and Zuba was cornered by the newyorkers.

Ah well.

Cuti-Cuti At Sg. Klah Hot Springs

2009-03-19T12:04:00.006+08:00

Yesterday, as promised, we took the kids away from home for some fun. To unwind.

They were not too excited when MrGart shot their Sunway Lagoon and their Genting Highlands ideas. Yikes! But when we mentioned the Octopus pool, they were eager.

We first discovered the place when the whole of Gart's clan (Tuk, Mak Ngah, Mak Ndak, Pakcik Awi, Azfar, Mak Teh etc) were menghantar rombongan meminang Yazzir's bride at another Felda around here. As the main agenda then was to meminang, we didn't spend a lot of time at the pool. The kids were not that happy and the whole gang of counsins under 12 rebelled and sulked then.

So, we came back to redeem ourselves.

The place was only about an hour away from Bukit Jelutong. Toll was RM15.30. Drive up north and and take the Sungkai Exit. Then drive for about 10 mins into the place. Follow the signboards for Kolam Air Panas Sg. Klah. It says something abour Felda Villa and Spa.

We arrived around 11-ish, having set out from the house at 10, in gloomy skies and drizzles. Alhamdulillah, weather was great when we arrived.

BTW for adults, they charge RM10 per head and kids at RM8. Told Aliya that, kat sini, satu family boleh masuk, kat Sunway Lagoon, sorang je la.

Anyways. This was the Octopus pool. It's actually Mountain Springs Pool. In BM it says Air Gunung. Even in the hot hot sun, the water was so cool. Sejuk! Mengigil la jugak. And I didn't smell chlorine at all. Wow!

It's a massive pool divided into 2. The one you see here are below 3 ft depth. It has graduated depths so the littles ones, babies will stay at the gigi-gigi air la. Ariz could walk the whole of the pool without assistance, air the max at his chest. They have pebbled stoned as flooring which I thought was great. The pool was clean too, I'm impressed.

BTW, the facilities are great and modern and clean. Super-impressed. The toilets are plenty and clean. The changing area was great and nestled in greens. Murah pulak tu! Mai mai!

After a while, I said that we should check out the Hot Springs, which was just a short walk. People just walk in their wet attire. I'm not talking about one little pool, ok. There are at least 3 small pools kot yang yon can sit in and have therapeutic benefits of natural hot water. Tahan dengan tak tahan aje la kot.

We went into the 30 - 30C therapeutic small pool. Basically, you step inside and brace yourself. Tapi panas weh! Itu je la yang mampu. There was one at 40-50C in which MrGart dipped his toe and winced greatly. There was one at 35-40C and there was one makcik sitting there with scrunched up face. I dipped my toe and opps, next one! There's also a reflexology path where the hot water runs through them. Makcik sakit kaki ler. There's a ayurvedic treatments amidst the park too but we're too broke for that!

Anyways, I think this is a great place for families of all ages. Your makciks and datuks and neneks can lounge the hot springs while the younger, livelier ones splash themselves silly at the Octopus pool. Cool mountain springs vs hot springs. And it's cheap too. How many times did i have to stress that? Haha..

See the massive park. For RM10, a great deal, I thought.

We then walked to the fenced up areas where the source of the hot spring. Membuak-buak and berasap. Foooh.

Here's the 90-100C pool where you can boil your eggs. They have the raga for you but you can buy the eggs from the cafe nearby. Kids are off-limits, understandably.

A view of the hot springs massive pool.

This is the Hot Springs Pool. Dunno how hot, probably at least 30C. It's floors are pebbled stoned and depths were graduated too, so babies can sit at the gigi-gigi air while mak mak test power duduk air panas.

The trick is to step in slowly and lower your body very slowly and brace. After a few minutes, you'll feel more comfortable. There are 3 tempayans, huge ones at the entrance for you to rinse yourself with cold water just to cool off. That was bliss. My Pak Lang kata, lepas berendam dalam kolam panas, mengantuk kalau nak drive balik. So, kena siram banyak-banyak dengan air sejuk. Memang betul pun, aku tido tak bagi can punya on the way back!

The view from the other side of the Hot Springs Pool.

BTW, I would've loved to stay here longer, but Ariz would'nt hear it at all. Panas dia kata! The girls were sitting down and chatted but soon the novelty wore off them. Off we go to back to the Octopus Pool.

Bliss!

Boycott Story

2009-03-17T15:41:00.003+08:00

Few weeks back, I was driving 3 of my girlfriends to our favourite MV for lunch.

It was a short drive. Typically, on the way to MV, we would be talking about work and who's pissed who and who got promoted and meetings and whatnots. On the way back, conversation would be very lively and at the traffic light from Abdullah Hukum to Bangsar, we would break out in great huge laughter, often in tears over something typically small but hilarious, nevertheless.

Anyways.

On that very day, Day was talking about boycotting the mcd and the nestle and all. Lay was not and was vocally voicing that out. So, we have Day and Lay (both of their names rhyme) arguing about the merits and demerits of boycotting giant companies like that.

Although I love lively debates like that, I know both of my friends and they're not about to let it slide. We were at the parking area then I said something about being awkward and the debate ended to be replaced with where-to-eat conversation.

Anyways.

I agree with Lay that 1 or 2 persons may not make a big change in the world. The giants will stay giants. A ripple is the sea ain't gonna move the beach. *peribahasa buat sendiri*

But I agree more with Day that although 1 or 2 may not make the change, it is a person or 2 persons' efforts towards change. We do what we can afford to do.

Ayisha, my 8yo very strong-minded daughter was very adamant that we never set foot inside Mcd ever again. Adani still says that "tak boleh makan mcd, nanti kena bom dekat gaza". Aliya is neither ok nor ko. But Ayisha really suprised me by her steadfastness and unwavering belief. Once she sets her mind on something, that gets done. Insyallah.

So, there we are. What little I can do, I will do.

BTW, for Nescafe addicts, maybe you wanna try Old Town Coffee, the 3 in 1, coffee with 40%less sugar with sugarcane. I'm a new fan. Seriously.

English. Bahasa Malaysia. So?

2009-03-17T09:04:00.002+08:00

The country is in disarray. Front page news aren't about how the country's achievement, its doom economic outlook or even the caring Government actions to safeguard the welfare of its people. No siree.

The papers flash news of who's has graft charges, whose dirty hands in money politics, who's under disciplinary probes for election wrong-doings and all these are not crooks. These aren't thieves. These are personalities that we (at least the unsuspecting majority) have entrusted to run the counrty. People with titles, datuks and tansris and puansris of whom I supposed was blessed with these titles from their lifelong devotion to the country.

The only news that catch a mere mortal being like me is the Nik Nur Madihah success story and her many scholarship offers. By the way, obviously I had to show and tell the story to my own children to have them realise that what a blessing they have. Nur Madihah ate bread so much that she came to love it that much. My kids had ikan kembung goreng one night and was complaining to the heavens how they hated fish.

Anyways.

I for one, could not care a hoot for anything "political" in nature. I do not associate myself with any political parties, not even the Kompeni's women association.

Anyways.

I read with alarm in the UKS about the views mortal people like you and me have, on the issue of Teaching Math and Science in English. Last week, I read with much dread about the nation's lead sasterawans marching to the Istana to hand over some memorandum to abolish the policy. And the not so peaceful gathering too. Sungguh merisaukan.

Hokeh.

I dunno about you, Mr Politician or you too, Mr Sasterawan. But I have school-going children. 2 this year and another will join the bandwagon next year. I betcha you have yours either in private schools or they've graduated from UK universities or have taken residence in Australia and London and ain't coming home anytime soon.

But sir.

You do not introduce some policy as widespread as this and 6 years later, just say "Opps!, twas a mistake". No you don't! I don't give a hoot about winning elections or garnering support from the not-so-urban people about going back to Bahasa Malaysia as the language to teach my kids their Math and Science.

Let me tell you this. Kids have already gotten used to this. They've adjusted well to this. So, back off! Did you care to ask a typical Standard 3 boy? or a Standard 6 girl for their views on this? After all, it isn't you who's gonna have to flip flop and get confused all over again. It's them. All this flip-flops will only damage the kids. And you, fight for credits which is worth shit to their eyes.

Come on you grown men! You say you have ambitions. You speak about visions and missions for the people. But you're on a policy today and change your mind tomorrow not unlike my daughter who changes her clothes 5 times a day. She can change her clothes as many times as she wishes but you, Mister have the future of the generation in your hand.

I plead with you MrPolitician and MrSasterawan and MrPolicyMaker and MrNormalPeopleOnTheStreet and MrNeedPoliticalLeverageToWinElections, just leave things the way they are.

Kids have adjusted well. Maybe you can learn a thing or two on the subject of integrity from them.

Bored-Kids Buster Ideas

2009-03-16T11:40:00.004+08:00

Here's the thing.

We're so ill-equipped this term school break that we have not planned for any breakaway trips, no hotel rooms, no cheap flights in or out of the country and not even day out at the beach. Well basically, no plans whatsoever.

Here's the trouble. 4 very restless and bored kids. And mummy and daddy who cannot afford to take time off work for too long. Meetings and whatnots. I always save my leave days for emergencies and for when the maid goes home. MrGart generally saves his leave days for golfing session or self-fulfilling activities. *pout*

Anyways.

Here's the plan.

Wednesday, both parents have taken time off work. I may take Friday off too to just be with the boisterous kids and home.

Either :

1. Lepak at Mines Resort & Mines Villa (apatah namanya which has a sandy pool). Kids want to just swim in pool. This is completely FREE.

2. Genting Highlands. Aliya's perennial favourite. She's egging me to get on that Solero Shot ride again. Me? Green with puke! This will easily set us back RM400 for tickets, food and other fanciful stuff the kids would get crazy on up there on that rather sinful hill, what with the gambling and all. I never like the place. But the cable car rides and the coolness of the highland is refreshing. But bukan baru je ke kita pegi. Gambar pun tak post lagi kat blog.

3. MrGart fresh from his camping trip a week ago is still gung-ho on going back to nature mode. He suggested we drive up to Kalumpang or Lintang (on the way to Karak, my father suggested this place) and camp for the day. Hmmm. Yikes ..

4. Another of the kids' favourite. Sunway Lagoon. Great entertainment for the kids. Great big hole on the parents' pocket. Tickets will set us back around RM200. But the kids will love us to bits for this. Jusco card boleh dapat diskaun kan? Or was it TouchnGo card?

5. MrGart and another green, cheap idea. Drive to Sungkai and go to that Kolam Air Panas place where they have huge huge pools and the place is done up nicely. Well shaded. Minimal cost. There's a smaller hotter pools where you can even rebus telur. We discovered the place while menghantar my cousin's Yazzir's kenduri last year.

Pick a number, people!

School Is Out

2009-03-14T10:59:00.002+08:00

Woke up early this morning. And it looked bright. After Subuh prayers, MrGart and I took out the bikes, I'm borrowing Aliya's to go round the neighbourhood. My thighs need some intervention.

We were also looking forward to check out any other houses in the area for renovation ideas.

Anyhow.

The neighbour who had early this week caused so much headache to us had parked his huge XC90 right smack in front of our new property. Completely blocking the house and made taking the bicycles out a hassle. *sikit lagi aku nak calarkan aje kereta dia ni* Hishhh! Geram jugak.

Anyways.

Baru 2 streets away, raindrops fell. First tiny ones, then they got bigger. Quick quick! Home abound.

Well. Coffee time. Nak buat macamana. Dah hujan. Bila hujan teringat kubur arwah Zul. Wonder if the tent was still over his grave?

I was watching American Idols while I piped letters A and H for Hazel's engagement favor cookies this weekend. And sapatah-namanya was singing You Are Not Alone. Termenitik air mataku.

Anyways. A short term break of a week for the kids. We have no real plans. Nowhere concrete to go. Anywhere cheap, I guess or better, free! Haha. Aliya was telling me about her friends who are going to Hong Kong and Bandung and Disneylands and the faraway places. And I was only offering Genting Highlands. Sungguh sedih! But alhamdulillah we are together.

Anyways. The girls are getting ready for the hari jalan-jalan sedunia. Tengahari karang nak makan domino la.

In Remembrance of Zul

2009-03-13T09:34:00.003+08:00

Received an email this morning about a blog post of zul during his teens and the heart operation he underwent in Australia. Read it here.

There was also a lot of pictures of the burial ceremony taken by mamanuraina and here's a picture of the family.

The one in white headscarf was Zida, the wife and in white baju melayu was his eldest son, Danny. The 2 girls in shades of blue tudungs were his daughters and the little long-haired boy in beige baju melayu (not facing the camera) was his 4th son. The youngest son was being comforted by relatives.

pictures taken from the blog post by mamanuraina.

If the morning after is hard on us, I can't even begin to imagine how hard it is on Zida. I pray that Allah gives the family strength and patience to get through this test. Insyaallah.

I thought I was okay this morning. Until I was at the canteen and stood there at KakNor's stall. My voice broke when I asked KakNor for nasi lemak. I remember how Zul loved KakNor's food. Chapati. Roti Arab. And of course Nasi Dagang.

This morning too, as I walked into the office, I stole a glance at his room. Still dark. What was I expecting? He was normally early. He always closed his door before 8am. And I never knew what he was doing while the door was closed. But past 8, he would always respond to my "Jom makan" calls.

I miss Zul.

The End Of The Story

2009-03-12T13:52:00.002+08:00

Read Saya Sangat Berang.
Then read, The Sequel : Saya Sangat Berang.
Then cool down by reading Hati Sudah Tenang

What follows is the conclusion.

This was what happened on Tuesday.

The 2-page letter I wrote to the school focused on 7 reasons why Ayisha could not have bullied Tasha, even if she wanted to. These range from the weak premise on which the accusation was formed, Ayisha's physique, her character predisposition and interaction they have had and so on. My letter had 2 objectives. I wanted to clear my daughter's name from the malicious accusation thrown at her and I wanted the school to understand my fear of retaliation from the brothers.

I met the Penolong Kanan, Penyelia Petang and the highest ranked Discipline Teacher. I thought I had to fight my case. It turned out that once I've explained that this was a very petty and minor issue. The only reason why I was there was because the parents had over-reacted and dragged us into this. The teachers knew the family and thus, I sat there a good hour listening to THEIR horror stories. But point was taken, from both sides.

I picked Asha up on Tuesday evening and she was so chirpy.

She spoke about being called to a meeting between Discipline Teacher, and class teachers of hers and Tasha. The teacher asked Tasha to tell the truth now of what really happened.

Tasha said that opps, it wasn't Ayisha. It was someone else who bullies her at school but does not attend the school there. I was like, eh, biar betul! Kalau dia tak sekolah sini, siapa dia? Entah-entah, she was making up stories all along.

Whatever her reasons are, the teachers got the truth they were after and Ayisha's name has been cleared from the accusation. Alhamdulillah. I asked for Allah's guidance and help and also a jalan keluar and alhamdulillah.

I am so happy that the school acted swiftly after I met them in the afternoon. I am so happy that the teacher managed to dig the truth out of that girl and set my girl free. I al so happy that Ayisha is happy again. Hati kan dah tenang, this is an added bonus. Alhamdulillah.

Now. Do you think an apology from the parents will come? 3 days have passed. Counting.

I Lost A Friend Yesterday

2009-03-12T13:16:00.002+08:00

I just came back to the office from the burial of my friend, boss and colleague.

Eyes puffy and head splitting from the crying, I need a short nap.

Zul passed away yesterday at around 4:30pm from complications from his second surgery after his first gallstone removal surgery. I regret not finding time to visit him before he went under his second surgery and never regain conciousness again.

Yesterday, we were jolted by news that he had a turn for the worst and we came in droves, hugged Zida, the grieving and sad young wife. Patted the shoulders of Danny, the eldest at 15, Nina at 13 and Alyssa at 10. We took Andri and Baby who are 5 and 2 to breakfast and stayed around to babysit the younger ones.

It looked bad. I came to his bedside twice. This was only the second time I ever was in the ICU/HDU. The first was to visit Lollies' mom. Zul looked pale, he looked asleep but I prayed for him. He was sweating profusely the second time I went in.

By 4:30pm, the dreaded phonecall came in.

I rushed to the hospital with Hisham, his fellow Kelantanese and a very good friend, being of the same age. I saw the kids and tears flowed.

It was time. It was time. This is Allah's promise.

And this morning, alhamdulillah the burial went well. The sun shone brightly. Fresh tears flowed.

I came in the office, glancing at his room, dark and read his name on the door and I smiled through my blurry eyes. I knew him from the very first day I started work here, 12 years ago. We shared many stories together. Many jokes together, most of them rather x-rated and trips all over the country, meetings , negotiations and every possible thing that could have befall us, 8 hours a way, 5 days a week.

We bought our first houses together and celebrated the birth of our children together. We discussed what cars to buy and he would always ask me of my opinion with his health or Zida or any of his children. You see, Allah is great. Zul was worrying about having to have an open heart surgey to replace his now-warranty-expired 23 years old mechanical heart valve. And this surgery he had was a minor one. And that's what caused his death. His ailing heart held out longer than his body could. Allahu akbar!

MissKLSentral was a wreck too last night. Lollies would be too, if she was here.

Zul was a super likeable person. He was always making people laugh. 2 weeks ago, in his last Harfiyah lesson, he was cracking jokes and we were all reduced to teary-eyed laughing growups all through the class. More than usual, I thought and I was telling everyone about THAT particular harfiyah lesson because I enjoyed it so much. Moshi's missed the class, otherwise we would be on the floor, in stitches. He was always the class's clown. Making jokes and asking innocent questions. Who would've thought he would be gone today?

The last time I saw him, he came to my room returning azGROWLen's cds of The Hereafter series by Anwar Al-Awlaki. A month ago, he saw them in my room and was instantly intrigued. I was telling him the lessons I've learnt from those 18 CDs and he was instantly sold.

We discussed the CDs, the many many things that we never knew that we really should. He was so feeling slightly guilty for holding on to the CDs for so long to which I said, I was sure azGROWLen wouldn't mind. Zul was so so grateful that he had the opportunity to listen to the Cds again and again and he told me how his children, especially Nina was into them.

He completed the whole series last 2 weeks and now his journey has begun. I pray that Allah have mercy on him. I pray that Allah have mercy on his widow and young children. I pray that Allah grants us all enlightening. A death is a minor sign of kiamat. Especially when it's someone we know and we've grown close too, almost family.

Al-Fatihah.

Hati Sudah Tenang

2009-03-10T11:12:00.002+08:00

I'm done "makan Hati" and I'm done worrying. Why should I? Haven't I known it already that Allah knows best. Aliya told me that the du'a of those oppressed will be heard by Allah, no hijab whatsoever. I was so consumed by anger that I forgot that.

From then on, I realised with a pang that, in moments like this, one should turn to Allah. In any moments whatsoever.

So I prayed for peace of mind. I prayed for His protection upon us all.

I realised that humans are humans. But what makes us a person is the sense of right from wrong and that our reliance on Allah.

So, I'm taking a half day leave today. I have just written a 2 page letter to the HeadMaster, copies to Penyelia Petang and Ayisha's school teacher to explain what the incidence. I have made the letter very point-form, factual, staying away from emotional outburts. My hands trembled with anger still and my heart was bursting with the unfairness of it all. But I firmly believe that Allah knows what's best for us. This is my part, whatever happens next, is Allah's will.

Just like when Maryam, weak from just delivering Isa under the tamar tree, Allah asked her to shake the trunk of the tree for dates to refresh her. Tamar trees has the sturdiest trunks and Maryam couldn't have shaken it even if she tried. But Allah wants us to do our part, the rest of it is His part.

So, this is my part. I'll send in the letter and I'll just carry on as usual.

The Sequel : Saya Sungguh Berang

2009-03-06T20:21:00.002+08:00

Things exponentially got worse since I last posted the entry.

Okay. *heaves in*

I went to pick up Ayisha at school, as usual as this is Friday. Saw both the husband and wifey's cars were at their house, which was unusual. Should have suspected something. Then at school, while I was chatting with a friend, saw the Mother. She looked at me and looked away, rather too quickly.

I gave no notice of her. Then I saw Ayisha and she looked different, slightly quieter. She said nothing happened. Until her friend asked her while we walked to the car, saying "Apa Cikgu Asma tanya?" and he told me about Asha being called by the Discipline teacher.

*darah sudah naik upstairs*

I thought I already said to her that I would talk to Ayisha and didn't they called MrGart to complain too? Why go to the teachers and complaine about something which was so bizarre? Are you trying to ruin my kid's reputation at school? Character assassination, even when she's completely not guilty?

I asked Asha and tears welled up. She said that during recess she saw Tasha's parents, brother and a cousin at school and the older brother called her but she ran away. She tried to call me but I didn't pick up. I had 2 missed calls from the school.

I put them in the car and ran back to school hoping to catch Teacher Asma. Alhamdulillah, she was still there. She said that the parents complained but she and Asha's class teacher had problems believing them. But she had to make sure and called Asha to ask.

I explained to the teacher that this could be a case of baseless accusation made by Tasha's parents and I do not believe that Asha was capable of bullying anyone.

I pleaded with her to watch out for Asha and told her that I could not prevent what the parents would do and have done. But what I can do is distance my family from them from now on. We will not associate ourselves with them anymore afraid of what they are capable of. It is clear that we are victims of circumstances and Ayisha has been accused of something she would never be capable of. In fact I would like to write to the school to set the record straight.

I cried when I talked to the teacher. I felt so teraniaya. I felt cheated that a neighbour whom everyone has shunned all this while and to whom I've kept completely neutral of, could frame us like this. What have we done to her? What have my kids done to theirs? They were the ones desperate for friends and when we became their friends, this was what you repaid us in return?

I was furious and when I was telling the kids that from now on we avoid the kids and their family at all costs, like a plague, Adani told me that the secondary school brother came looking for Aliya in the afternoon. I immediately became alarmed.

So, I've talked to the kids. Anytime anyone who's not a teacher disturb you at school, immediately run to a teacher. Call me. I am afraid for my kids if the brothers take it out on my other kids at school or wherever it is.

I've talked to a neighbour about this asking her and her maid to watch out for my kids and to the van drivers to just keep an eye out for them.

I am scared.

Saya Sungguh Berang

2009-03-06T15:43:00.002+08:00

Translation : I'm Pissed As Hell.

*breathes in, out. In. Out*

A phonecall received a moment ago. A little background info. These are the neighbours ALL of my street neighbours and probably the whole of BJ have issues with. I wrote about their kids come-a-calling at our house, messing up the house at all hours of the day. Read here. The older brother has a long list of delinquent unspeakable acts that have brought the whole neighbourhood to detest the kids. I have had no issues with them, as long as I'm not dragged in any incidents. We have remained neutral, never taking sides all this time.

Anwyays.

The super-busy mom called me up and first thing she said was "You have a problem, Gartblue!". I was stumped. "Err hhhmm.". Apparently, her std 1 Tasha has been throwing hell-ish crazy tantrums over the many days and refusing to go to school. Okay! BTW, I noticed that for the last few weeks, she has put Tasha on the same van Asha goes to school with, i.e Auntie Mala.

How is this my problem, I asked. She said that today her workers sent Tasha to school and while Tasha was screaming and refusing to go to school, Tasha pointed to Asha (who was at the time was talking to a bunch of her friends and was allegedly pointing at Tasha). Even Ilham (her Frm 1 brother saw Asha sinfully talking to her friends and pointed her fingers at Tasha. Apparently Asha's been telling her friends not be befriend with Tasha.

BTW, Asha is Std 3 and Tasha is Std 1 and this week was Exam Week.

And she also added that even at the padang, Asha's been telling the rest not to play with Tasha.

Hokey! Is that all Asha did? Talking to her friends and pointing to Tasha? Could Asha been telling her friends that Tasha lives 3 doors from me? Or That's Tasha, my neighbour? Did Asha beat Tasha up? What? What? What? The mother then said that I need to solve the problem. I said that I will talk to Asha to see if there's the truth in this to which she said that I needed to solve this cos she is so upset that Tasha is not gong to school.

*face is red now*

BTW, Tasha is tall and big for her age and Asha is pretty small for her age. They are in different levels and have different sets of friends. How is this my problem again? I just don't get it. I'm pretty pissed that she accused my Asha of this.

Could her child refused to go to school because of the Exam Week? Could there be other problems, non-Asha related? Could Asha is just a scapegoat?

Tasha's brothers are well-known for a long history of broken car windows, punching an adult in full view of the parents who said "biasala", beating up their maid with a golf club, shouting profanities to their maid (in Malay, mind you) while the whole neighbourhood gthered to see what the fuss was about, running home to get a pair of scissors during a fight at the padang, causing deep woulds on a neighbour's son's head after one son crashed intendedly on the poor boy with his bike and the parents never apologised, parents threatened to sue a child over a missing slipper, stolen type caps for all cars in the street which they used for their bikes.

MrGart called just now to say that the father called him up too to complain about Asha too. Wow!

I'm getting super-vexed now. But I think this is what I will do.

Nothing.

I'm just gonna ignore her. But I will swap Asha from her Aunty Mala van to Aunty Manjit who already ferries Aliya, Adani and Ariz to school. Asha's been asking to change and Manjit gives me better rate and she's very personal with me and the kids too. I like Mala but I don't like Asha to associate with Tasha anymore than she has to.

Saya sungguh berang. Sangat berang sehingga report saya tergendala sebentar kerana masalah ini. Grrrr ...

Thunder on Thursday

2009-03-05T11:59:00.003+08:00

The title should give away the clue that I have nothing specific to write about.

I heard a thunder just now and Thunder begins with a T just like Thursday. Genius!

Anyhow, Aliya and Asha have their Science and Spelling and Maths papers today. Aliya is mostly studying downstairs or in her room and I am okay with that as she comes up to me every now and then asking specific questions which makes me feel okay la since the questions are legit.

Ayisha, I still have to hold her hands and read the stuff together. Last night, we went through the notes for Science. And thank you to Bubbles, I could gladly point out the difference between "fur" and "feather" and "moist skin". I think, insyallah both of them would be okay today. Hasil? Insyallah.

While the TV was off ( CSI was on at 10pm, so okayla) and we were reading and cramming, Ariz was busy revising too. Not books, but how to run on 4 limbs, like Wildmutt. He was busy practising how Wildmutt roars and perfecting his running up and down the little steps we have on all arms and legs. He was also busy fighting off aliens and changing his alien form by the constant hitting of the invisible omnitrix on his wrist. Hmm!

Adani was very interested in what I was reading with Ayisha and Aliya and would keep by my side, reading together with us. After 10pm, I caught her in Aliya's room reading Aliya's grammar revision book. Hmm.

I should also mention here that Ariz has developed a penchant for being read to these days. His favourite books are "Baby Rhino's Escape" and "Hush". That got him going everytime. He makes me read like 5 books while Adani looks on impatiently with her own 5 books. Adani's into Horton Hatches The Egg now and Princess and A Pea.

Yesterday, Adani excitedly told me that she had an Agama lesson. She told the Ustazah that "Allah is up there and Allah sees and hears everything that we do even if Mummy doesn't see it". Exactly what we discussed during the Aqeedah lesson (baru 2 kali) we had with the kids. She said that Teacher Badri wanted to give her 5 stars for that. Adani beamed! I beamed too. Wow! I'm impressed and alhamdulillah.

Anyhow. It's about to rain cats and dogs here in Bangsar. I have Harfiyah lesson at 1pm and Moshi's not in today, so ada sedikit bohsan. Moshi makes any class feels less stressful.

Btw, I got The Reader cd and am so gonna watch them tonight. Have a copy for Famy too. Thanks to azGROWLen. *muahs*

I'm Not Gartblue. Just Her Twin.

2009-03-04T09:07:00.005+08:00

I thought I should do a community service this morning. There's been too many incidents of mistaken identity this year and the year is only quarter done.

Some of you may know that I have a twin. Not just any twin. An identical twin. One who looks exactly like me (maybe a kg lighter than me and slightly, I mean seriously slightly taller than me), sounds like me and even wears the same style as I do. Tudungs and all. Call her Nobita.

I once looked at a picture of me and I wondered why that dress on me was so unfamiliar. Then it hit me. Heck! That's not me, that's Nobita. Darn! Even I confused us.

Our real names are the same except for a letter, I'm an N, she's a T. And no, I'm not Nobina. Our IC numbers are 2 digits apart. I was always dressed in blues and she'd be in reds when we were huge, fat, cherubic babies. My grandparents even had an artist painted us and the big potraint of us cute, fat, twin babies is hung at my parents' now.

Side Note: Apparently identical twins are far less common than fraternity twins. Hmmm.

We're born 10 minutes apart and I don't care what you think but I am the older of the twin as I came out screaming at 8:29pm on a Saturday night 10 minutes before she did.

Anyway. We always have separate sets of friends after school. I went straight to the UK after my SPM and she spent 3 years here before flying to UK. Then, it's always her friends thinking I was her and my friends thought she was me. They never saw us together, so that's forgiveable.

Now, we both live near each other. And now our kids go to the same schools. Adani & Ariz attend kindy with Imran. Aliya & Ayisha attend SK and AdDaris with Annissa.

So, the circle of people who know us both has considerably grown larger. And so, the incidents of mistaken identity increases. These normally escalate in the first few weeks or months of the beginning of school years and should taper off by the end of the year.

I've had friends and neighbours commenting how foolish they felt when they said hi to "me" only to be gently and embarassingly told that I'm not "me". It's her twin. Everytime me and Nobita meet, we'd be exchanging reports of who's been mistaking us with whom and we'd be describing how that person looked like so that the other can be reminded who she was. Sometimes we call that person up to say that "sorryla, that wasn't me la babe!"

I had 2 incidents in the last week. One was last weekend at my cake deco class. Patutla dia senyum semacam je kat I. I thought she was just friendly until she asked me about one of "our" mutual friends at KPP/ITM and then I realised she thought I was Nobita. I never did attend KPP/ITM.

Then last night at the friendly DincyStore. One of the storekeeper who knows us very well over the years and she knows my kids too, especially Ariz's penchant with ice-creams and she was also the one who called us up when she found Asha was about to throw a big spending party for her friends with RM50 that MrGart mistakenly gave her for pocket money last year.

She was red in the face when she told me that she asked Nobita why weren't Ayisha and Ariz with "me" to which Nobita replied that "these are my children" poniting to her own i.e. Annissa, Imran, Irfan and Arissa. The storekeeper then disbelieving said "Ala kakak ni bergurau pulak". Nobita was gently letting her in that she was really not Gartblue. Adoi!

Anyhow. Not to discourage you. Say hi to me whenever you see me. Do not fret if I may have a look of completely not recognising you. Chances are that's not me. Nobita is as nice as I am. We may bite but we normally smile, warmly, may I add.

Whenever we have to do the yikes-you-got-the-wrong-twin we always always do it gently.

Betul. Serious. I will you down gently. Lepas tu, I gelakkan you la pulak. Hahahaha .. this is amusing. I guess, all those years of sharing rooms and stuff and everything else finally pays off with seeing these looks on your faces. *evil laughs*

News? What News?

2009-03-03T09:41:00.002+08:00

I was reminded last night of WHY I hardly watch the primetime news anymore.

When I was younger and was still in school, we watched the news every night. Because at 8:30pm, shows like the 21 Jump Street, Knight Rider and the likes would be aired. It's a compromise. We would never wrestle the remote control from our Abah who's determined to watch his news. And there was news on the TV. I watched and I felt and I believed.

Last night. Since there were just me and Adani in the living room while MrGart sent off Aliya & Asha for tuition, I flicked to the TeeVeeTiga.

Menyirap darahku bila isu-isu like the name of Allah be bandied about by these politicians (of one single party), the way they haphazardly slandered a MB of the state of Kelate when he said that "Allah is for everyone". There was also a high-ranking ustaz or a mufti who held a press conference denoucing what the MB was said.

People of all ages, races and religions all are servants of Allah. Their beliefs in Allah and its Messengers are what set them apart. But we are all servants of Allah. That should never be bandied about.

I shook my head in disbelief at the disarray the country is in, politically and economically too. I had to refrain from uttering profanities hearing these arrogant and self-righteous grown, old men who think they are the great leaders and perfect leaders for the people, for Adani was doing her homework and have such sensitive ears.

I shuddered seeing their big-headedness with such unflappable air of arrogance, no heed whatsoever of what the HereAfter will befall them. Astaghfirullahadzim. Don't they realise that we are all judged for every zarah that we do? Good or bad? And worse if you are leaders and you're dishonest and you're slandering others and just playing dirty? You think you're getting away with it? Seriously!

Then I watched the clip on the secondary school boy being bullied and punched and kicked and he just slumped over. What are they teaching kids these days? Don't people believe in punishment and Hellfire anymore? What's wrong with our people?

Then the business news came on. I was ready to flip to AFC to watch Sugar cos I need some much-needed dessert to soothe my frazzled nerve. Before my finger hit 703, the newscaster was announcing about how stock markets of the world tumbled down yesterday and they flashed that FTSE's report on its decline. But they din't spell FTSE. They spelled FOOTSIE!!

What? And you call your segment Business? You should know that although FTSE is pronounced as "footsie", it should be written as FTSE? Gila ke hapa? Sungguh memalukan. TeeVeeTiga should be ashamed of itself.

Now footsies remind me of some footsie being played under the table during a official meeting many many years ago. Opps! Too much already.

Safe to say I will not be watching anymore of those primetime news anymore. I doubt if I'll miss anything. I wish to preserve my sanity and my peace of mind and watching it rattles me far more than keeps me informed.

Ciao!

The Weekend We Stayed In

2009-03-02T09:16:00.002+08:00

It rained. And Aliya and Ayisha have Ujian Bulanan 1 this week. So, we the parents put our foot down and said that we're staying in throughout the weekend. No movies. No window shopping anywhere. (Ik-ea tengah sale ni, sigh!!)

Minus the local trips for milk and bread and ice-creams and such. Unavoidable.

We watched the Slumdog Millionaire Friday night. I found it truly harrowing and the epitome of human suffering. The girls were glued to the TV too, asking questions about hows and whys. I guess my kids, our kids are sheltered from these hard living conditions and they'd never imagined life harder than theirs would ever be. Seeing movies like this and Bersamamu on teevee3 sure will open their eyes a little.

Even Mummy flinches every now and then. The part where Jamal jumped into the shit hole determined to meet this idol was a bit too much, I thought. The storyline was clever, dissecting each question and how Jamal knew the answer. I laughed when Jamal broke into a large grin when faced with very last question on the Three Muskateers. His acting was superb. I believed him.

But I never did get Latika. She didn't connect with me. I didn't like her. But the Bollywood musn't be forgotten cos long after the credits rolled, I was glued watching the dance, the sashaying of butts and arms, Bollywood-style.

Anyhow.

We went to look at potential friends for Bubbles, the pet on Saturday. He's 4 months old now and very big. He looked like a typical adult cat, even when he's only a baby. A Maine Coon trait. We were at the cattery where we got him and I met Bubbles' parents, Mulia and Aurora (eh, betul ke? funny la pulak). They are just HUGE cats. Yikes!

Anyway, another Maine Coon was giving birth while we're there. I ain't watching, if you're wondering. Ouch! We sort of put a deposit on its baby, if it's red and a boy. Uhmmm .. wonder if Andes is thrilled at this propect. But I guess Bubbles will be thrilled for a friend he can gang up against Ariz.

Ariz. Ariz. Ariz. MrGart and me did such a great covering-up job at the cattery when asked by the owner how Bubbles is settling in at home. We said that the kids adore him, especially Ariz. We talked about Ariz had allergic reaction to a neighbour's cat but never to Bubbles. We talked about how the synergy at home has changed with the presence of a cat. We talked about the kids becoming more responsible with the cat.

BUT. We were silent about the stomping and the chasing of Bubbles, Ariz does on an hourly basis. We were mum about Ariz opening the cage and carried the sleeping Bubbles to keep him company while he watches Ben10 on TV. We kept quiet about the bickering who gets to hold Bubbles and the tug and the pull. Responsible? Ayisha definitely. Aliya is still not touching Bubbles or any other animals, insects, birds or even ants. Adani is very compassionate with Bubbles, especially if Ariz is holding him. Ariz is uhmmm too much stomping. Ouch!

So, how now brown cow?

Birthday Cookies For Adam

2009-03-02T09:11:00.002+08:00

Nadia from D-EMC requested for these for her son's Adam 6th birthday. She didn't specify any designs except that she wanted the name Adam and 6 on the cookies for his party.

So, here they are. 15 of these half-car on a round cookie and 15 of these number six-es with dots. I sure hope Nadia and Adam like them.

MrGart Turns 37 38 Today

2009-02-27T09:53:00.004+08:00

Edited to reflect the true older age of MrGart

*snicker snicker*

That's so close to 40.

*snicker snicker*

Ancient !

*snicker snicker*

ANYWAYS.

Happy Birthday Sayang! *muahs*

The Little Spelling Bee In The House

2009-02-26T15:50:00.002+08:00

Mummy .. Ariz tau nak spell ELEPHANT.

S .. D .. E-LE-PHANT !

Mummy, mummy. Iz tau nak spell RAIN.

S .. D .. RAIN !

Daddy, Iz tau nak spell Bubbles.

S .. D .. BUB-BLES !

Mummy, mummy. Ariz tau nak spell Mummy.

1 ..S .. C .. MUM-MY!

These sessions get ALiya and Asha and Adani in stitches. They'd be so tickled by this and I would be squinting warnings to them to not say otherwise. Menjaga hati!

Yikes! Exactly how do you disagree with a very opinionated 4 year old. He holds out 4 fingers and confidently says "ONE". After the 4th cycle of "ONE la", Mummy lets go and nods her head.

And why or why, everything is spelled with an S and a D?

Melaka Was Fun

2009-02-25T16:38:00.002+08:00

Sometime in January, my maid went home for a week visiting her ailing mother.

We were at Melaka one day to pick her up at the port. The kids saw the signages for the Zoo Melaka a number of times already and since we're still ahead of the schedule, we thought we'd pay those Melaka-ed animals a visit.

It was amazingly big and clean zoo. I'm sold.

Kiddos sitting atop a fake turtle, eating ice-cream for the 4th time that day and MrGart (ignore the belly, yikes!)

They also have this long bridge on stilts over a safari. Kalau sakit kaki, jenuh jugak nak menapak. But the kids were excited. It's drizzling and there were a pack of zebras taking shelter under us.

After Andes safely arrived, we saw this Taming Sari ride and the kids pestered us. So, there. MrGart was trying o hide his gayat-ness. Although this is really high, but sangatla harmless.

2-Tiered Cake For Amalina

2009-02-25T16:30:00.003+08:00

E71 takes such poor pictures under poor lighting or closeups. Or was it poor photographer ? Hmmpfft!

Anyhow.

This cake was meant for a little get-together for Amalina's friends. A neighbour. She just wanted a cake. I wanted to experiment. So I made a 10" of All-Occasion Downy Yellow Butter Cake on NeoClassic Buttercream and a 8" Perfect All American Shocolate Butter Cake with Chocolate Cream Glaze.

Those little balls are made of fondant, rolled and cut out with a cutter to get uniform sized balls.

p/s if you're wondering, I'm bored, and realise I have pictures abound. So bear with me.

Chocolate Domingo

2009-02-25T16:22:00.004+08:00

This is the most melt-in-the-mouth-before-you-blink chocolate cake ever. This was so good, even I had seconds.

This was Aliya's 11th birthday cake on the 9th January 2009.

And here's the clan and their cousins.

I just realised I have not posted this yet.

Aliya doesn't like thick icing on cakes, so I choose this cake, which is rich and does not need icing. Just a dust of icing sugar. Scrumptious!

This came from the book Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum. I am just a huge, huge fan of her book. If you need the recipe, just shout!

Is That A Threat ?

2009-02-25T09:06:00.002+08:00

A note found in Asha's school bag on Monday night :

Untuk Ayisha. Mula dari esok bawa :

1. Satu kotak.
2. Beads.
3. Kertas Manila warna biru
4. ...
5. ...
6. ...
7. ...
8. ...
9. Duit 30 sen hari isnin-khamis, 20 sen hari jumaat. jumpa kami di lobi 3.

*takes deep breath*

WHAT???

Initially MrGart thought it was a list of Arts class, except that item 9 was super-suspicious. I lost sleep Monday night pondering this over.

Should I talk to her teacher ?
What if I speak to the teacher and she suss these kids out and then they retaliate against her for ratting them out?
What if this destroys her budding confidence ?
Should I speak to the suspected bullies themselves ?
Haven't I made myself visible at the school enough that these kids would see what Ayisha's mother would like ?
Do we give her too much money to school that she immediately becomes a target?
Was that note a sick joke ?
Who would write such a note ?
Are these extortionists boys or girls ?
How old are they? In the afternoon sessions, there are only Standards 1,2 and 3. Ayisha is Standard 3. Could these be her friends ? Classmates ?

Questions. Questions. Questions.

No answers yet.

I have not had a chance to speak to Asha seriously about this as she has tuition last night and was just tired and got into bed.

But yesterday, while I was at school waiting for Asha, I climbed the stairs to the school's office. There were 2 lady teachers and I cordially asked them if there's any reports of money extortion at the school this year. And I told them of the note. They were suprised and agreed that there could be a threat in it. I did not think any of Asha's friends I know, would have the mind to do that.

But then again, I could be wrong. Not some months ago, I blogged about Asha being targetted as a "Fund Manager" for a girl who used that fund to generate income for her, no interest nor dividends was disbursed to these Fund Managers, mind you!

So, you see. Need advice. I'm not sure how should I broach this topic to Asha without her feeling as if she's ratting out on these kids, nor should she feel that she's running to Mommy everytime trouble hits. I also need her to know that she can and should tell me everything, right or wrong.

*worries myself sick*

p/s btw, a BJ kindy and the addaris is closed for the rest of the week for an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFM), so folks, keep an eye out.

*worries even more. HFM is a viral infection with high-grade fever.*

Tok Is Well Again, Considerably

2009-02-23T10:27:00.003+08:00

Last week has been quite hectic, for us, the clan.

On Wednesday, struck by a fever-induced infection, Tok went into a delirious state, refusing water and food and it soon got kinda serious. Dehydrated and all. BTW, she's about 88 years old and has only been bed-ridden for the past few months, having spent a few years on and off wheelchairs.

When I was at Mak Ndak's place (where Tok is )and I was looking at a picture on the wall of us all during Hari Raya in 2003 (Adani was still a baby and Ariz was well, not here yet) and Tok looked strong and nowhere near the frail old body she's in today and her eyes looked the same, just much much more sadder. Time sure flies.

You see, my Wan passed away on the 5th April 1996 of lung cancer. It was a huge blow to the family and to Tok. Incidentally, then the four of us, cousins were not informed of his demise until we came home for the holidays. We were studying at that time in UK, Ireland and Liza was in Australia. This was new to us because we never experienced the heartache and the worry and the prospect of a death in the family.

So, when Mak Ndak called crying telling us that she didn't know what else to do cos Tok looked like she's given up and now is just in the "berserah" state. We all came running. My uncle, Pakcik Awi, Tok's favourite who was at Gloucester, UK, was in tears over the phone and 3 days later came home. Even Tok's favourite cucu, studying medicine at Indonesia was sent packing home.

I picked up Nobita from her hospital on Wednesday and drove to Senawang where everybody's already arrived. Liza and Airena, the doctors of the family were already fixing her IV line, since she refused food and water and even hospitals. She was delirious, not recognising some of us. She remembered us, the twins, but she didn't remember us having babies of our own.

In fact, she was mumbling about the time my grandfather was still a policeman and they were living at the police baracks at Alor Setar. She was muttering 9644 over and over again and Pak Lang told us that that was Wan's police number. I was a baby then. She kept asking whether all her 9 children were home already. Pakcik Awi was en route from the UK and we prayed that he would hurry.

Anyhow. Alhamdulillah. By Friday after Pakcik Awi arrived, she got better, drinking and even eating a little. And she's a lot calmer too. My aunties and uncles are still berkampung at Senawang.

Yesterday, we made it back to Senawang and she was a lot of better.

Alhamudulillah. I pray that Allah eases her suffering and I pray that Tok would have patience through this test Allah puts her under. Insyallah.

Ariz Zuhayr Turns 4 Year Old

2009-02-17T10:00:00.006+08:00

Remember this ?

and this?

and this?

and of course, the infamous this? *shudder*

and this chubby baby who coaxed even the most grumpy person on the street to come and pinch his cheeks and would always always be shocked to know how an 8mo baby could weigh 11kg and worse, he's on full breastmilk, no solids whatsoever?

and who could forget this sunshine-y little benjol-ed 1 year old?

Well people, let me tell you this. I'll shout this in fact.

ARIZ ZUHAYR IS A BIG 4 YEAR OLD BOY!!

Cake is Moist Chocolate Genoise with Dark Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache, easily decorated with Spiderman cake toppers and a Spiderman candle. Mummy ada sedikit malas!

Look at him, my little man !!

He turned 4 on 14th February 2009 and it's such a great joy to see him today, all lean and muscular and happy and mischievous and pretty much a nuisance, as only 4 year old boys know how to be.

We celebrated his birthday at my parents. I baked his cake, a two-layered chocolate butterless genoise because I know he won't mind as long as it's chocolate and as long as it's covered in chocolate ganache that he could lick. The girls have specific requests! Grrr!

He's been off diapers completely and since he's still on the breast (that seriously needs a review), no formula milk is available in the house at all. Since he started kindy, he's used words like "huge elephant" to MrGart's suprise and he's talking less about his imaginary friends, though he's constantly fighting aliens with his animals and ben10 friends and transformers' peers.

He goes to school willingly these days, if you consider, showering and dressing him while eyes tightly closed is "willingly" la. At least he WANTED to go to school and goes EVERY MORNING without fail. He kisses girls in the van, which I think needs a man-to-man talk with MrGart.

Hes's crazy over ribena and requests for a "Ribena yang SEDAP" every now and then. Because I used to make him (and the family) diluted sirap or ribena, just to be less sugar, but he equated that with "tak sedap". Now he gets Daddy to make him Ribena yang sedap. Insulting eh?

Anyhow.

Alhamdulillah that he is 4 now. Alhamdulillah that he has been healthy and happy and just being a 4-year old. Alhamdulillah that I get to breastfeed him as long as he wants to and I want to. Alhamdulillah that we are a much happier family since the day he was plopped on my chest, the day, I gave birth to him. Alhamdulillah.

Sangkut Kat Amcorp

2009-02-16T11:48:00.001+08:00

Hari ini I have a day chock full of SWOT analysis for one of our subsidiary's business.

All I need to say that the laksa johor and kuih ketayap dia sedap! can't wait for lunch's menu. Saw a subway downstairs. wud love to have a BLT on harvest wheat, but maybe not.

shud get back to looking interested. Ciao.