So Long Our Little Hut

To those who frequent our house would remember this little hut which never fails to welcome its guests. It holds to lots of our family memories. The elder girls especially have such fond moments together under our little hut. Playing dolls, pets, colouring, painting name it...

As we are getting ready to move on to a new place, we decided to give away our little hut to a new owner. The hut was built by HB & it is a sentimental value to us. To transport it to the new house is possible but no longer practical. Hence passing it to our dear neighbour whom we know will take good care of our dear hut.

With our little pondok in the background. Carrying Nadeen at 8 months

Our hut hosted lots of the girls birthday parties. These 2 photos were during the last birthdays celebrated. We normally have 2 celebrations each year. Wardah & Yasmin in Feb, Balqis & Nadeen in Dec.

Feb last year

Dec 2010. We had the younger girls' at McD last year because we were already busy packing.

Now here go the pictures when we shifted the pondok to its new place...

This was the tricky part... There was a slope that hindered.

Zaki, our neighbour, the new owner of our little hut was leading the movement

Off it went...

A smooth ride...

Another challenged moment... To transport it across the big drain

This mini forklift was a great help...

The plan was to forklift it the other side... but failed.

Hence the manpower of 6 men...

Good job boys!!

Its new place

The girls seem satisfied with the new place. May it build more fond memories with the new family. So long our little hut... You'll be missed.

Farewell Sk TPP

Last Friday marked the final day of me ferrying the girls in & out Sk Taman Putra Perdana. It gave me this melancholic impact. Really... You see I had been running the chore ever since the year 2006. That year & the year 2008 was a single shift for me.Year 2007, 2009 & way till 2011 I was doing double shifts, morning & afternoon. Sure it was only a 2.5km drive but to think of the kilometres I traveled! Kindly do the Math for me... :-)

The truth the school was not our 1st choice when I registered Yasmin for year 1. We submitted her name at a smart school in Cyberjaya. It was quite a distance yes then unlike now. But me being me... I want a school that is best for her (well private schools were & still are not up to our budget.. ;-)) At the same time I heard that most Cyberjaya residents in those days didn't really send their kids there. There were less residential areas compared to now & most expats there rather chose a private school in Seri Kembangan. Hence my concern over her potential peers...

Canceled her registration & reregistered her at the nearest school of a Petaling District. The school was doing very well & was quite picky accepting its pupils. Knowing that, I borrowed a friend's address which was quite closed to the school. Our registration was rejected... What gave it away could be the house phone I jotted down. It was clearly not from the same district of the school. The teacher in charged actually gave the number a call merely to confirm that the number was from a resident in TPP & my maid who answered, revealed the answer she needed. I later gave her a call as she requested me to return her call. She was kind of annoyed upon finding out the address I used was from a group of bachelors' house... This teacher practically drove to check on the address! By then I was no longer interested in that school... Hence Yasmin's name listed for SkTPP.

The first few years in that school I could see that the school was struggling to achieve. The first HM was not well. A few years after he passed on (Al-Fatihah...). An acting HM was in charged & later came another HM who was nearing retirement. It was the HM replacing him who made the difference to SkTPP.

What I like most about the school is its utilisation of technology. It has its own homepage. Updated almost daily... Even a full report of its weekly school assembly is posted every Monday. Both for morning & afternoon session. It even has its on FB account with loads of photos uploaded for parents to view. The best of all is this HM is merely a phone call, an sms, an FB msg & even a Whatsapp away. He might not reply immediately but it wouldn't take him more than a week to attend to us parents.

We are moving pretty soon. Hence my transferring the girls to a different school. Wardah I had shifted as early as January since she would be taking UPSR this year. Ironically, as much as I tried not to register Yasmin in SkTPP, it was really this school I prefer Wardah to be this year. The journey is a hinder though. HB was teasing that then I was so wanting the girls to be schooling in Petaling District but now when she could be in a school situated in the heart of Petaling... I want the Sepang District instead...! Hehehe... very funny!

To all teachers of SkTPP, from the bottom of my heart I thank all of you. It was an honour to me & especially to my girls to have a learning experience with such dedicated lots like you. The school will be missed but the memory will be cherished.

Enjoy the pictures....

Balqis making her way out of the school for the final time as a student.

She was smiling away... it was really not a big deal to her ;-)

I insisted her to pose here... & the smile was no force! ;-)

This was taken on her 1st day as a pupil of SkTPP

With a heavy heart I drove off but... I was not done yet. Instructed Wardah to snap photos of my journey back home from school. She gave me a sneer & murmured "You're the weirdest..". Huh! You'll be thanking me when you go through this post a year from now!

And here you go... My route of 6 years & 2 months. I bet I can drive in & out blindfolded!

Now here are photos of Balqis in her new school. She's doing fine there. On her first day the remark was "Tak best langsung...". The next day was "Balqis sukalah sekolah tu..". Hold that feeling Balqis :-)

The first thing I asked her to do was to copy down the time table

... and of course a pose for mama is a must ;-)

Her new class mates

It was hard but I had to...

A month plus has passed but I can only find tonight to share the day I braved myself letting go of my first baby. It was not an easy task but I had to do it...

The moment she applied to go for a boarding school, I knew that parting would be tough. Really didn't want to think about it but went through the days as usual. When she was called for an interview to the school I allowed her to apply, I had a very strong feeling that she could get a place. After the interview she looked happy. Was confident with her answers. I didn't pressure with notes or what not for the interview. Merely to be herself but HB highlighted & polished on her voice projection. Yasmin has that problem. When she speaks she is lazy to open wide her jaws & she can go very fast too if she gets nervous.

The joy she wore on her face upon discovering her application was accepted almost put tears to my eyes. I knew that all her effort had been paid off. The only boarding school I gave my consent for her to apply & she was selected... I had no valid reason to say NO.

The preparation was done at the last minute. The packing too. I hated to see her luggage ready to leave the house. Even her documents were completed at the very last moment. It was really a chaos that night.

Packed! Sob! Sob!

HB was not around to send her off. He was working & away for a few days. I was there when father & daughter bade farewell. Yasmin was backing me so I didn't really see her expression. HB was right in front of me. The look he wore was rare. I didn't know it was tough on him too. He hugged her, kissed her forehead & wished her the best.

When he found out that he would be away during Yasmin's registration, he asked Yasmin whether she would mind his absence. Yasmin didn't argue. She didn't mind. But later I found out that she hoped that HB would swap his schedule. Lesson learnt... Never trust Yasmin's words when the situation is not convenient for her. She always putting others first...

Ok. The chaos the night before registration... I had some documents to be verified & having a good friend nearby I did that at the last minute. I thought I had everything ready but no. I forgot to xerox her certificates. This friend had a copier at her house so before finding out about the certificates I realised I didn't get Yasmin's IC photostatted. So we had hers copied but I needed to come again with the xeroxed certificates.

As I was making a checklist after coming back from my friend's place for the second time, I noticed I didn't get a page signed by her! I hate starting a day unprepared. Hence my driving to her house for the 3rd time that night!

The next morning was a hectic day for me. I had 2 girls starting school in new schools. You see we are moving to another area somewhere this year. Since Wardah is taking a major exam this year, we shifted her to a new school early. Wanted her to adjust early for the exam.

I was in Wardah's school that morning with Yasmin tagging. Reached the school around 715am but the headmaster informed us that her clerks would handle new students registration. Office started at 8am.

What annoyed me was when the number of parents started increasing & a clerk or 2 had already arrived but they refused to entertain us merely because they began work at 8am... What a mentality! True as I expected at 8am sharp only we were entertained.

Wardah during the school assembly...

Oh I missed the part when I received a a phone call from my friend from the night before. She was asking about my day & I thought she was expressing her concern since HB was away & had to do everything on my own. Then she told me to breathe in & out ... Informed me that I left Yasmin's original IC in the copier at her house! Duhh!! So once Wardah was settled in her new class we left for my friend's house. Good that her house was on the way to Yasmin's new school. Phewww! And the day was only beginning...

Reached the school about half an hour after registration started but the school seemed way too quiet. I saw lots of cars but no people around. Later we discovered everyone was inside the huge hall.

We were coiming from a different direction hence the confusion. If we were to enter from the main door things would be simpler. At the entrance Yasmin was introduced to her CS - college sister, Kak Mya. She took over the registration from me. I simply rested on a seat & called upon when needed. How cool was that? That was the time I updated my FB status, checked in Foursquare & chatted on whatsapp ;-)

Still it took us till 1pm to settle with all counters. Now let the pics show you around the school.

Yasmin with a new look in front of the school building

Check out the pose.. Love it!

Getting ready for bacaan ikrar

Her packed schedule during orientation... Was not allowed to go home that weekend.

With Mya her College Sister

A locker each.. cool!

All seats in front were booked. Settled with the 3rd row..

Her dormitory, sharing with another 9 girls

Her locker

She's in the Emerald house

I had to leave by 6pm. Managed to get all her stuff unpacked & nicely arranged by 3pm. After solat, we went to the cafe for a drink. Yasmin was still in her chirpy mood when I started giving pieces of advice about life in the hostel. I was in the middle of a sentence "If you miss me..." but failed to go on... I lost. In the middle of the cafe I was in tears.

Yasmin held my hand , she looked just fine. Comforting me when it was supposed to be me doing that to her. Managed to get hold of myself & completed my sentence. I thought this could be easy. It was better me shedding tears than her.

A pose of us together...

It was finally time to let her go... I drove back to her hostel. Braved myself & fought away my tears to face her. My Yasmin was already shaking. Ouhhh! Both mother & daughter embraced in the middle of the parking lot. She didn't show signs of letting me go. I told her to get inside the car again tried to comfort her. Still remember my words to her...

"Yasmin, in life we need to sacrifice in order to pursue our dreams... As much as I hate to leave you I need to let you go for I know this school will benefit you a lot. You're a smart girl. You need a school that can challenge you & this is the one. Take the opportunity..". Told her to walk to her dorm. I didn't want her to visualise her mom in a car leaving her. Once she disappeared from my view, I drove home.

It was really tough but we have improved. A lot! It is really not bad. I see her every weekend. She's not allowed to go home each weekend but seeing her is ample. She calls regularly. No more cryings like she used to in her first week. Every time she calls, she will start with "Mama sihat..?" which is so soothing to the heart.

These are our pictures during our first visit...

The Pledge

Tonight I have all my girls with me again... Ever since January 4th, my Fantastic Four is down to 3 & only reunited during weekends.

Yasmin is in boarding school. At 13 I thought & still think it is such a tender age to start a life away from your parents. I did not agree to the idea but HB managed to convince me to let go of my 1st born baby. He sort of applied a reversed psychology on me... You see, Yasmin has always been an active student. She has the potential to achieve more for her future. As HB put it "She needs a school that can challenge her & you're (referring to Yasmin's mom... ;-P) just being selfish for disagreeing to the idea". The word selfish was a bit disturbing. Nah..! It was a major disturbance!

The truth hurts... I wanted her near. Doubt that another person can take care of her rather than her own mother. Being a full time mom, I sometimes even doubt that she could handle her own self!

Made a pledge... She could make an application to a boarding school. I clearly stated ONE & I will choose the school. She agreed. Hence the online application to the nearest boarding school in Cyberjaya.... less than 15 minutes drive from home ;-P

My doas was if the school is a platform for her future success, please make the path easy for her. The result came out & she made it... Alhamdulillah. Then came the mental preparation for both mother & daughter.