A Change

Well I'm supposed to continue writing on my travel journal  but there's no progress... hence this post. 

A change. Yes I am at the phase of turning my lifestyle to a better & healthier way. All this while I always have this love & hate relationship with this thing called exercise but this time around... it's going to be a love affair! You may want to read my journey on this exercise thing here & here.

You see after a long hibernation... since early March I started doing workout again but this time with JM 30 days shred L1. I just love that 20mins workout... you girls have got to try that. It's fun & pretty easy once you get used to it. It gets you soaking wet in sweat in no time!

I do the workout religiously every evening before fetching the girls from school. Instantly I felt the changes in me especially my sleep pattern. No more  sleepless nights & I feel very energetic during the days. 

Apparently somebody has been observing... I didn't know that HB had been wanting to sign up as a member at FF. When he noticed that I was disciplined with my workouts he brought me over to the gym. I didn't really like it at first. Working out with a bunch of people, indoor & those machines sure looked creepy! I thought he was registering for himself alone but no. He wanted me to join him. I wanted to decline but hey... for him to work out at a gym alone, no company, will get company, who's the company & with a blink of an eye... his wife agreed. I had no choice but to agree! Hahaha...

Now, I've become one of those gym-goers & loving it! I even have a Personal Trainer. Signed up for a 20 sessions workout which I was in doubt I could complete it within the time period of 100 days. Surprise... Surprise... I've attended 6 sessions in 2 weeks! 

My schedule is a bit packed now that I have included gym in my routine. Monday, Wednesday & Friday are gym days. I thought I was too busy to include workouts in my busy routine... but really when there's a will, there's a way. 

Come one people! Let's change to healthier lifestyle... 

Cleopatra no more...

Yes. I'm a full time mom at the moment till my maid comes back end of Dec... So far I'm coping  quite well. This time around at our new house the feeling is different. It is really my first time managing & handling the house on my own without a maid.

I normally take this chance to turn my girls to be more domesticated. The elder girls especially have been helping a lot. The only dependent girl is dear Nadeen. At 5 she is most of the time impossible.... We have to have reasons to everything that we prohibit her to do. Like the other day..... HB allowed her play in the rain. The next time it rained she requested to do the same thing. I said no. She asked why. Told her that she might fall sick. She answered that she didn't get sick the last time she played because papa gave her Scott's Emulsion right after she showered. Told her we ran out of  SE which the truth a bottle was hidden in the cabinet.... & she reminded me to get a new bottle the next time I do groceries shopping.

I am out with the elder girls at this moment. Sent off Balqis for UCMAS & Nadeen for art class. We are at a kopitiam & I decided to update my blog. The elder girls brought their books as instructed by HB they have to start making notes for the coming school term. Frankly I disagreed to his idea at first. They totally have to stop facebooking & tweeting. Only given like half an hour on a weekend. But looking at the progress of notes they made & how their time is well spent... I have to thank HB for being firm. Or not the whole month of November right after the school holidays.. they were like using our unlimited broadband to the max!

I notice that the elder girls are more responsible in term of house chores. Even the younger girls I don't really have  to handle much. Their sisters are good with them though of course I won't lie.... All just loooove to tease Nadeen & make her whine & cry. When that happens only mama can solve the matter by showing my affection only to Nadeen & only Nadeen ;-)

We have like 2 weeks more before Wari our maid comes back. I plan to bring out all the Cinderella in them. Yasmin is good with the vacuum cleaner & broom, Wardah handles the toilet up to my standard, Balqis loves to help with anything but only her height & age hinder... Nadeen.? Well she's a challenge & entertainer to everything we do....

38 going on 18?

Alhamdulillah.. we have settled in comfortably at this new house. It has been.... wow! 7 months? Will update more I promise ;-)

Now, someone just turned 38 early this month. She was rather down the morning of her birthday. No cards, no cakes, no gifts... Only Wardah presented her with a birthday kiss & a hug. HB too before he left for work. Yasmin was in her boarding school. The younger girls were not aware of their mama's birthday.

A day before on the 30th, we visited Yasmin. She kind of expected HB to think like her & have a small celebration with all her girls around. But there was none... Yasmin anyhow made her day by presenting her a self-made card & a dainty jewelry box she bought in school. Thanks darling... (the picture is missing.. will share once I get hold of it..)

On her birthday, after her morning chores were done she logged in to FB & there were lots of wishes came from dear friends. Instantly she replied & updated her status that day. Her first 2 sentences rhymed hence a simple poem...

A digit added to my age today. 

But hubby's away. 

The girls are all in school with friends to play. 

Home alone with bibik I'm here to stay. 

Waiting for the time to fetch them in gay.

 Not a second I feel forgotten no way. 

My dear friends are non-stopping posting wishes on my birthday. 

I feel loved which money can't pay. 

That's what I call a facebooktastic way!

What on earth made her write such poem.. I too wonder. It got to be the age factor! That's no doubt...

Her best friend whatsApped for a lunch date. A birthday treat! That sure put back a smile on her face.. My! It sure was tough being 38 for her!!

With her best friend

They couldn't spent too much time together though. Anyway, it was supposed to be a quick lunch but ended up until 3pm. A call from her best friend's staff hurried them to the basement parking. 2 patients were already waiting for their runaway doctor... ;-)

Upon reaching home, Wardah told her there was a surprise on her bed. Oh really? Things were getting better for her that day... A bouquet of red roses! With a card merely written - From : Secret Admirer

SA? Hmmm... that would be no other than HB. Positive! Called him up but there was no line. He was flying.( Psst... baby! If really you wanted to SA me, could you at least not use the florist card with  the address clearly written...)

She was indeed in cloud nine. HB is not really the type to give flowers.. Just not his way. He prefers to give me a cake... something he can share with girls he said. And it was the cake she expected when they visited Yasmin!

She didn't smell it at all. He was good. Normally all surprises she was able to guess.. Apparently that weekend they put up the night at her in laws. She drove & HB rode his bike for it had not been ridden for quite some time... It was on the way back home that he detoured to the nearest florist.

The supper they had together before he left for work on her birthday

That night each of her other girls made a birthday card for mama... The younger girls of course had no idea of her birthday. Wardah who is in charged now whilst Yasmin is away, was occupied with school activities now that UPSR is over. Hence the almost belated cards.. 

Last week when visited Yasmin,  they felt like trying their skill in basketball. She was just monitoring but when insisted by Yasmin she joined in. Shot twice in a row on both her maiden throws...! And Yasmin went... "Are you 38 going on 18 mama?" Ahaaa...

A Gift

Today marks my parents' wedding anniversary. Their 37th year together. 37! I still have a looong way to go... :-)

We had an earlier celebration last weekend. Had dinner together with my other siblings at Wadi Hadramawt in Ampang. Great place. Scrumptious food. Wonderful company. What else can you ask for?

As for the two of them, they did lunch together. For no particular reason, their lunch date on a special occasion together (which also include birthdays) will always be the Secret Recipe Restaurant at Alpha Angle. They will order the usual... In fact, they get to know this staff there who is very familiar with their orders. I'm not sure of the drinks but their main course will be a Japanese Soba & a Lamb Stew which they will share together :-) But something funny happened today. The usual staff was no longer working there & they had to go through the menu. Assisted by their reading glasses, they somehow had a problem with the Irish Lamb Stew they were familiar with. It has been so long the Lamb Stew is now Lamb Shank ma... ;-)

Before lunch they were somewhere at Jln TAR. Well... you see, my dad sometimes has to go do his errands in town & whenever it is at JTAR or even somewhere near JTAR, my mom can't be happier ;-) But today they did not go separate ways like always. My dad was with my mom searching for something in particular.

Remember my post on A Start? Well, my parents are aware of my schedule every Wednesday afternoon & they looked so please when they found out that I have now started attending the class privately. Yes, twice a week... just me & the ustazah. Alhamdulillah...

It was only a couple of weeks back that I mentioned to mom that I was getting a new Al-Quran. The one I am using does not highlight on the tajwid & my ustazah has recommended one for me to buy. Upon hearing that, my mom announced that she & my dad would get one for me. Apparently, they have already the intention to get one for all 3 of us.

They day at SR, Alpha Angle did not stop there. They called me up to inform that they were coming over to give me the gift. It touched me.... It is indeed a very meaningful gift.

This copy indicates the tajwid through specific colours with page by page translation.

Thank you abah. Thank you ma. Happy Anniversary!! You know... it is really me who should get you something :-)

A Start

I have been wanting to do this. It is either courage or time that always puts a halt to my intention. The truth it is more of the former. I was scared.

I was at a neighbour's place. Got to know a few new faces. You see, HB once highlighted how I don't mix around in the neighbourhood. Only selected ones.

He hits the bull's eye. I can't really blend in when I have to do the "kak ni" thing & "kak tu" thing. Don't get me wrong... I am just uncomfortable when I have to be extra demure & proper. Not able to show off my prominent vocalized laugh & speak with extra pitch ;-)

The kakak-kakak I met were really nice. Oh yes! I was proper!! Only smiling... not laughing hysterically. I even noticed this one kakak who seemed to adore my modesty. Hehehe! (Errr... Shahid Shueb if you happen to read this I know exactly what crosses your mind at this very instant - Hypocrite!) I was blending in OK...!

Perhaps I passed their requirements or probably they were totally sincere... (of course I go for the latter!) I was invited to join them for their weekly class every Wednesday. It was a Tajwid class.

For my non-Muslim friends, Tajwid means elocution. When you read the Holy Qur'an it should be recited in a proper pronunciation & speed. It is required for every Muslim to know how to read the Qur'an but not many are able to recite in proper manner.

Yes, I can read but my recitation is far from good. I hardly have a former class in tajwid. My dad taught me to read the Qur'an but at that very young age I didn't really take the simple tajwid seriously. I learned tajwid in primary school but whenever the Ustaz asked me , I had an A student in tajwid next to me who provided all the correct answers (we were seated at the end of the row).

I have long wanting to enroll such class. The only place I knew available was at my girls' mengaji centre. What deterred me was that the Ustazs. Yes, only Ustazs available not Ustazahs. I prefer a female ;-)

Hence, the offer was really inviting. What more when I found out that the Ustazah was someone I knew. Another neighbour whom I address as Makcik... but I've known her for quite some time so being proper with her is nothing alien ;-)

I told HB yesterday morning before he left for work. He encouraged me to go. The only excuse I had for not going was fasting. Yes, I fasted yesterday. 3pm would be too hot for me besides the mosque won't be air-conditioned. Obviously, something with tail & red horns were trying to tempt me!

Right after my parents (they dropped by for lunch) sent off Yasmin & Balqis for mengaji, I went up to my room & got ready. Everything was so smooth for me. The baju kurung I planned to wear was hung nicely & I had a matching tudung ready. No matter how many times I misplaced my favourite brooch, it was there staring back at me on the dressing table. Even my lightest shade of lipstick I managed to search in a blink of eye!

So off I went to the mosque. There was nobody! I was a couple of minutes early though. Decided to give the kakak who invited me a call & she confirmed the time & place. As I was entering the premise, a group of ladies emerged. They threw a smile & greeted me with salam.

I really felt at home even though it was my first time. Love Makcik's (or should I address her Ustazah now..?) approach. I expected we would be learning the theory of tajwid instead, she pointed out the tajwid as we recited. I am so looking forward for the next lesson next Wednesday.

PS - this post was written last week but I didn't have the chance to edit & publish. Class today was interesting as I got to hear other senior students recited. They were good & hopefully insyaAllah, I will be as good as them or not better. Slowly but surely :-)

Us

I have plenty of stories to blog but when everything rushes out to be put into words, there is a massive traffic there in my head. Ever experienced that?

Now this is my attempt polishing on my menglipur lara skill. I shall start with....HB. My frequent readers I'm sure is aware of HB's job patterns. Ever since early this year things have changed a bit. Nooo...! He's with the same company, the same department the only thing that differs is his time.

Nowadays, he is always home. Always means we see him every single day. He sometimes goes to work very early in the morning & will be home by 5pm. At times he goes off somewhere after dinner & comes home right after my daily morning menyupir chore. Most of the time he is home but we can't make plans for he might be called for duty.

The truth, it is kind of difficult for me & also the girls to adjust. We are too used & comfortable with his irregular existence at home ;-) Having him over a week with us is funny.

I am not so domesticated when it comes to house chores. I don't fancy cleaning up. Mopping, sweeping, vacuuming.. what more scrubbing toilets! Unlike HB who is very rajiiinnn. He likes things to be in order & spotless.

My trick then was to chill whenever he was away & make sure the household is presentable during his return. No! Don't get me wrong... My house is nothing like a ship wreck. Those who have been here should know. At a glance things are tidy. I always make sure the living room especially is nicely arranged. The living area is the first you see once entering the main door. I of course depend on such room to welcome my fatigue husband after days away from home.

Remember Monica Geller of Friends? Well, I'm pretty much like her. House organised but I have this habit of dumping things that are an eyesore into cabinets & drawers ;-) Since HB has the extra time at home, he now discovers his wife's imperfectness ;-)

Have I changed over the months? No, I haven't. I have been living with such pattern for too long & it has become my comfort zone. True, I have a helper at home but she is a fast learner to my making things disappear habit. (Sighh...)

How I wish HB gets busy again... Heard that he would by the end of the year. To maintain the house in order is merely a small issue. My concern here is our relationship. I just don't know how others do it but with HB home almost all the time limits our daily conversation. I know there are couples who work at the same place & see each other daily. How do they survive? Having HB around 24/7 & going through the days together... we are sometimes lost of words. No more topics to discuss. Hahaha! Seriously... and I better not forget to make an appointment with my OB/GYN by December. My IUD will due ;-)

Now at this very moment, I'm blogging & he is next to me playing his favourite game in my handphone. We even played Jenga together this afternoon... Hahaha!

Give It Back To Me!!

Notice my posts recently? What I meant by recently was early this month & early last month ;-) My... I'm getting slow in this. I've lost the passion in writing! See... it stops there. Not like it used to be.

When I read my previous posts before, I sort of wonder... "Did I really write all that? How did I manage?" Oh well... Hope it comes back home again.

And signing off now... Contemplating though. Should I or should I not publish this lousy post? Oh well... Here we go!

I'm A Working Mom

Yes, this space has long been untouched. I realise some of my dear friends in the blogsphere have been curious about me & I decide to update.

I have been a full time mom for close to 8 years. I quit my job long ago when Wardah was 22 months. Managing our own new house & the girls (then was only Yasmin & Wardah) was pure satisfaction. Anyhow when I conceived Balqis, we decided to employ a help. She helped with the housework but the girls were still attached to me.

When the girls one by one started schooling, I in a way was looking for something to do. But in the end of the day, I preferred to be with my girls more than anything. Furthermore, HB is not so keen of me working out. He prefers me home with him whenever he's off duty. So, I continued supervising my family & I got occupied with the girls' school work & other extra classes I enrolled for them. You name it... they have almost tried everything!

This homepage is the time I spent for myself & of course all the books I own... :-) By chance, HB bought me a sewing machine plus an over lock machine last year. Well, it was not that he surprised me with them but I was the one who wanted to try my skill in sewing. Really have to thank HB for the faith he had in me. The day I purchased those machines was also the day I bought this book called " Seni JahitanPakaian Kanak- Kanak". Yes, I did not know a thing about sewing!

Since I have the leisure time at home, I managed to learn the tutorial online. So basically, when I bought those machines they remained untouched since I was most of the time with my NB googling for sewing sites :-)

My mom was there to assist me. She knows how to sew baju kurungs & it was from her I practised on my theory I gathered from the Net. My first piece was Wardah's baju kurung. You may read it here. I started to explore on bags, dresses but when it came to tudungs I got hooked. Now I have started my online shop selling tudungs & my hands are full.

As Yasmin & Wardah put it, I am now a working mom. Not that they were complaining but I sensed pride in their words. Balqis too understands her mom's new passion & wouldn't mind sharing the table with me doing her work. Nadeen is a different story. She , I can see doesn't like sharing me. Enough that she has 3 sisters to compete with but now a machine? So, I have to stop my sewing when I'm needed by the little boss.

Sad to say, ever since I wean her off breast milk, she is very much attached to Sri, my maid. She still doesn't agree to the idea of me feeding her with formula. Only Sri can do that! On top of that Sri is excellent with children... She can manage all my girls at ease.

Now, I understand whenever my friends long for the weekend to spend time with their children. Even though I work at home, my time is no longer spent with them all the time. Yes, they grow right in front of my eyes but it is not the same anymore.

I asked the elder girls the other day... Do they prefer me then or now that I have other commitment besides them. Their response was the latter. I'm not surprised though. My sewing time is done when they are in school & at night I still assist them with homework together.

My guilt is towards Nadeen. Worse that now she refuses to sleep with me but chooses her sisters! No, Sri sleeps in her own room. But at night she attends to Nadeen when she wants milk... I don't know how things will be when Sri returns home next month. Yes, this is her final month with us & I pray that the one replacing her is as good as her.

HB now is most of the time home. But whenever he is away, I will make Balqis sleep with me so that Nadeen will come along. I miss her. Could it be a post-nursing syndrome? Is there such thing?

35 & wiser I hope

Yesterday, October the 1st I turned 35. A year older that's for sure but wiser..? I'm praying hard for that ;-) My day started less than 3 hours before my actual birth date. Was at our dear friends' for raya dinner & they surprised me with a cake...

Frankly I kind of expected it. I know HB too well. But what surprised me was how he sacrificed his rest on his off day to go out & get a cake for me. His excuse to go out was to accompany that very friend to the driving range. Little did I know it was part of his plan to surprise me. How sweet...

My HB is no Uncle Lee ;-) To him flowers will go to waste. So cakes & chocolates should do the trick.

The birthday cake

Look at Nadeen staring at those candles... ;-)

Balqis & Nadeen took turn blowing out the candles. Far right is Fatin, anak tuan rumah cum photographer.

First was Balqis...

and next was Nadeen with a little help there ;-)

A family portrait but Yasmin was purposely blocked by Wardah! These girls kan...!

Together we cut the cake...

The famous pout ;-)

Nadeen was having way too much fun with the cake...

The morning on my birthday was the usual. I played chauffeur as always. HB was out at a golf course.

I anyhow didn't cook. Sri prepared my favourite Indonesian Padang cuisine. Ayam goreng bumbu & pucuk ubi with sambal.

My lunch

After sending Yasmin & Wardah to school I put Nadeen to bed for her day nap. A free time for myself so I decided to make a self birthday gift :-)

Later in the evening both Yasmin & Wardah came home from school with a wrapped gift. How sweet of them. When asked where did they get the cash from. They answered simultaneously... "Korek tabung!". How cute.

The gift was wrapped by Wardah & her friend. I'd been told that Yasmin spent her money at the school bookshop for the gift & Wardah used hers for the wrapper. Hmmm... :-)

My gift. Still wrapped

In the box, a candle holder. I really love it. Thank you girls... Muah! Muah!

A birthday card from Wardah

Another one from Balqis.

Yasmin & Nadeen made one as well but it was misplaced somewhere... Grrr!

In the evening I went out for dinner. Nope. Didn't bring the girls though how much Wardah wanted to tag along. I was surprised that Balqis was such a sport. She was OK with the idea. Yasmin? She's the homey type. Nadeen would want to follow I'm sure but dinner was served
on the table & she preferred to have her chicken ;-)

I explained to Wardah why I chose not to take her. If she were to join us, it wouldn't be fair to her sisters. Hence the whole platoon would tag along. Having the younger 2 around, the time to myself is limited. I asked her... "Can't I spare for only a few hours just for myself?" She instead argued... "How come papa can go with you?!". Adoiii! To get the story short, I used the same old phrase "I'll get you something nice...".

We had a hearty dinner. Enjoyed each other company. At the restaurant that night I was not the only birthday girl. I heard at least 2 birthday songs sung.

We were at the non-smoking area & HB as usual would excuse himself for his ciggy break. And it was during that time he made plans with the staff there.

I could smell it. Furthermore a staff naively gave out a clue. You see, I asked for the menu to order dessert but he innocently answered "Your husband has already ordered the dessert for you". Hahaha...!

Since it was quite late & there were less customers around, half a dozen of the staff came to my table pretending searching for a birthday girl. I played along ;-)

Yours truly clowning with the restaurant staff

I've got something even better... Here's a video HB took. An evidence that I make such lousy participant in "Jangan Lupa Lirik" :-)

HB made the staff sang a birthday song to me in Tagalog.. Hahaha!

Now the backward song...

There was one more song but HB's cam ran out of memory. It was sure one memorable night. HB will always be HB. The plan & all sounded very like him. Tx baby. It sure was fun ;-)

Now here's the birthday girl with her gift for life ;-)

A gift? Well, HB has never been on time when it comes to gifts. He will either be too early or too late. Well Baby, I know what I'm getting & I don't mind the wait ;-) Oh yes, yours truly is wearing her selfmade gift on the head. Woohoo!

I thought the day was already over for me today. Not so... Yasmin presented me with another surprised gift. She won 3rd place for an essay writing competition & was given a KFC voucher. A chicky meal buddy which she wanted me to have. Thank you Yasmin. I'm so proud of you. Didn't help her with the essay at all because I thought it was just another school work.

The certificate & voucher.

To those who wished me via FB & sms, thank you so much. Appreciate it :-)

Another toy?

It never did cross my mind that one day, I'd get myself involved in this. What I meant by this was a new passion I had recently possessed. A couple of friends did try to encourage me but it never worked. I totally rejected such ludicrous idea.

Somewhere last month however, I fell upon a friend's FB photo album. In fact, it was after like 2 weeks she uploaded her first project photos only did I feel like checking them out. It had been in my FB news feed for days. Friends commented but I was just not attracted to the picture.

It was after she uploaded the 4th album of her works that I started to show some enthusiasms. Browsed through all her previous works & from there I began dreaming of yet another toy...

Since my recent toy is still new, planning for another needed lots of strategies & plenty of research on my part. Hehehe... (No way! I don't play the old trick!! If that's what you're thinking...!) Deep inside me I sort of felt that I could win this negotiation ;-D

HB is never good with words but there is an exception. I have to give credits though to his choice of words in writings. In verbal I knew long, long ago he was bad & even though he had tried, he is still at where he started! Hehehe... Once, he commented on my FB status that I had hidden talents. Hmmm... With that statement, it carried the 50% of the negotiation points ;-D

Woohoo!! I won! I got myself the new toy... & I am sooooo in love with it. Such a brilliant thing! Should have gotten it earlier. Now this the toy, fresh from the box.

Any idea yet?

How about now?

Here comes the box & I pretty sure you do read well ;-)

Yes, I at 34yrs & 7 months own my first sewing machine. Before, I was so worried of space... as if "portable" is an alien word.

It's computerized with many stitching patterns to choose from.

Errr... not only that. HB just had to overdo it again. He got me this too.

Rested on one of the side tables in my bedroom is an overlock machine (mesin jahit tepi).

It was quite a pressure really when he bought that too. Frankly, the only thing I ever made using a sewing machine was a baju kurung kedah which was way during my teen years. It was for my mom on her birthday. My sister, a home science stream taught me, a commerce student. That was my one & only machine sewed material! (Well, used to be a fan of cross-stitching).

Seriously.. At one point it made me think. What have I gotten myself into?? I somehow pledge to myself, though how white those two toys are... they won't be another white elephant collection in the household!

A healthier ME!

I remembered posting "My first journey to a hot ME" not long ago. What a catchy title but as always... No progress. Not only on the postings but also the journey.

That is so typical of me. Dragging it whenever it comes to health. Food wise is not that bad. I do eat a balanced diet which includes fruits & also vegetables. Not much into junks but I'm a big fan of cheezels ;-) My girls as HB put it do not enjoy their childhood to the fullest. I don't totally forbid them to eat such food but I just don't buy it for them. They have their shares at birthday parties or perhaps in school... (offered by friends sometimes. I pack food for them to bring to school daily plus an RM1 as their pocket money just in case something would happen to their homemade food. Cukuplah seringgit... though they have been asking me why do their friends get RM 4 extra?). Now where was I? Ooo.. Junk foods. One more thing, I have never made Maggie for them. Never!

Being healthy to me is a synonym to a balanced diet. The foods intake... but when it comes to the big letter E, I always find excuses. It's EXERCISE!

Today, however I managed to drag this lazy bum outside my house & jogged. Woohoo! 1.4km non-stop. Hey! Stop the cynical smile. That was really an achievement to me... ;-)

Frankly, I had been wanting to start exercising again (Err.... not sure whether again is a suitable word in that sentence. Can't recall when was it that I was actively exercising!). Ever since I got to know of a friend who jogs in her house simply because she is concerned over her heart, her health & the well being of her 3 children if something were to happen to her nauzubillah... (Yes Intan if you're reading, it was you! Owe you one... on this. Thanks dear.).

Another is a remark from my mom. I was telling her how HB had been wanting me to jog with him. And how I came out with hundreds of excuses not to. Simple but went straight on a bull's eye to this thick head of mine came her reply...

"Pergilah jogging. Badan sihat, pahala pun dapat sebab ikut kata suami."

It hit me OK. My dad has been a jogger as long as I can remember. He still does at the age of 62 & my mom without fail always accompanies him. Perhaps no longer jogging but more to brisk walking.

So now, I'm changing my intention of pursuing to exercise. No longer to become a hot me but for a healthier & happier me! But again a hot me, is a bonus lah... ;-)

Pssst... Day 6 is in the process. Do bear with me. Going rather slow...

Here's the assignment...

I know! I know! This is way too late. Still I have to make sure that I hand this in. You see, I was tagged by our dear lecturer Pn Wanshana... well, it was last year! End of last year OK... So it is just a matter of months! I sort of put it aside somewhere in one cluttered corner of my mind & not a surprise at all that I totally have forgotten about it until I read Dalam Dakapan Ibu. Told you Kak Ja, yours was not the last one.

Ampun Pn. Pensyarah. Here we go...

Now I was supposed to write 16 randoms things about myself. Not only that, I was also tagged in FB on the same subject except that it needed 25! I settle with 16... ;-)

#1. I get very domestically diligent whenever I'm angry. It depends however, whether I'd do it merely with my hands or with the company of my nagging (if only my helper knows this...)

#2. I am a neat person. At times I can be pretty much like the character Monica in Friends. Though with 4 kids in the household, I (with my helper) always make sure that the living, dining & family lounge are in order. Why is that? These are the rooms I have to pass to enter the master bedroom.

#3. I am the eldest of 3.

#4. I just realise that I have more black in my wardrobe & am buying more of that colour. Those close to me know that red is my favourite but I can't recall the last time I bought something red.

#5. I tied the knot during my final year at uni. My mom warned me that she wanted to see HER daughter up there receiving the scroll. Not someone else's wife. I did exactly that. But HB was so sweet to give the pass to enter my convocation to my parents. As he put it, my parents deserved more than he did.

#6. I love gadgets which can sometimes be a headache to HB. My next in the list is owning a smart phone ;-)

#7. I used to be a better baker than I was a cook. Started baking during my teenage years ( no, was not a Home Science student) but cooking I started learning only after I carried the title wife.

#8. My mom has always been my idol. I hope that one day I will have the chance to be an inspiration to my girls.

#9. I enjoy the things I do now & never regret quitting 7 years ago. I don't mind at all ferrying them to school, playing teacher at home, cooking & baking their favourites but I am not the perfect mom. I normally drag bathing them, making their milk & feeding them. It is out of responsibility & love that I manage to carry out the duty. In other words, I am not a great babysitter to other children.

#10. I never mind ironing. Of course now I limit my ironing only to HB's working attire. (Nanti ada orang tu senyumlah kurang kerja.. hehehe).

#11. I hate the genre horror. I have never watched Poltergeist, Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream, Jangan Pandang Belakang etc. Yes, I am a coward when it comes to the horror genre. But I made an accomplishment with Waris Jari Hantu. Watched that from beginning till the end... ;-)

#12. I love photography. I felt in love with this hobby when my father brought home his Pentax SLR which was way in 1983. I remembered in 1984 (at 10 years) I was the wedding photographer to my cousin. The photos came out surprisingly magnificent (even the uncle at the photo shop complimented them!). That was one thing I have to respect my father's parenting. He trusts his children's passion & capability. I can't picture me trusting Yasmin ( who will turn 10 in March) with my DSLR without assistance.

#13. I don't watch movies from VCD/DVD. I either catch a movie at the cinema or simply watch any shown on TV.

#14. HB is my one & only steady boyfriend. Yes, I married my first love. How lucky is that? ;-)

#15. I am the determined type. If I want something, by hook or by crook I will find ways to have it. Kind of stubborn too.... hehehe.

#16. I was once a Tupperware Manager! Woo hoo...!

So, berapa markah kena tolak sebab lambat hantar Puan???

Off to work!

School reopens tomorrow & as usual I'm back serving my duty as the family chauffeur. This year should be less tiring for me as both Yasmin & Wardah are in the same session. Afternoon session. Still I need to send them for Quranic class in the morning & Balqis to her kindergarten. To tell you the truth I was getting kind of bored with this long holiday. I want to get busy again!

Yasmin is in year 4 this year which means extra subjects & definitely double the effort my dear. Don't worry, mama will be there along the way. Wardah, a school prefect this year. Please do not get too overwhelmed darling. Don't over do it... ;-)

As for Balqis, she will not start school tomorrow. Not that she refuses but I decide for her not to. You see on Tuesday the 6th she will undergo a minor oral surgery of teeth extraction. She will be on general anaesthetic to remove her 6 decayed teeth. I know, it sounds so scary but I have to be brave for Balqis (will update). Due to the surgery, I have to make sure that she is free from any illness - fever, cough, the flu. Which explains the reason of her not schooling tomorrow. I don't want her to get exposed with the other children.

OK. Have to hit the bed now. I'm off to work tomorrow morning!

I was once a teacher

To those who frequent my blog are pretty much aware that I am a Supermom. Well, at least for 3 solid weeks I was... (sometime in Ramadhan). Now Alhamdulillah my helper is back & I don't consider me a supermom any more, a stay-at-home mom yes.

Before I submitted myself solely to HB & my girls, I was once a teacher. A secondary school teacher of sub-urban Lembah Keramat. I served 4 years at SMK Lembah Keramat & before that a couple of months as a trainee in the same old school.

I have so many things to be grateful for. One of those is my workplace. It is not everyday that someone gets the chance to be in the same school for practical & posting. What more when the school is merely a 10 minutes drive from the written address on my application paper ( I used my parents').

Besides the distance, another bonus factor of a workplace is of course the people. My ex-colleagues are truly the most wonderful people I have known. I sort of grew up with them which I'm pretty sure they doubt me of actually grown up (Hehehe... that's the trick of what you call awet muda -stay youthful). The students? Well... I consider them the challenge ;-D.

To sum up, an almost perfect workplace is having marvellous people to work with, a lax drive to work & some challenges. Why merely an almost perfect? A perfect includes a better pay mah... ;-O

Last night, I had the chance in meeting my good old buddies again. It had been years. The last time I met the whole of them I was still a mom of 2. I tell you being a mom of 4 does make a little difference. Perhaps slightly more than little. Hahaha!

The school organised a charity dinner which I was more overwhelmed of the reunion idea.. :-) I hate admitting this but I was kind of nervous once I stepped into the hotel lobby. But that did not last. The 1st to greet me (or was it me greeting instead..) was Kak Nuri. A senior teacher whom I can't recall ever working together with but she recognised me. That I tell you was a good sign! It was either I still maintain the figure which most of them predicted I would fail upon quiting or I exactly like they thought never did grow up in my chirpy kind of way! Hehehe...

As I was being glided up the escalator to the hall, a man was focusing a video camera to whomever reached the top of the moving stairway. I let him be. The minute I saw a familiar face, I rushed towards. The hugging & kissing episode started. I met Patvinder, Kak Sham, Kak Nora, Kak Norly, Kak Aishah, Kak Solehah... so many kakaks! The man with the video cam like a paparazzi was busy at his work shooting such memorable event. He was none other than Zakiman, an extinct species in the school. Somehow came his insulting remark "Berapa kilo kau naik ni?" (How much have you put on weight?). %$#@! Need I elaborate further why I was so longing for their company?? Hahaha!

In the ballroom, I was playing treasure hunt. Hunting for my treasured friends. Again the same episode continued. Hugging, kissing, laughing, talking endlessly. My... I so missed them so much & the sparkle in their eyes upon seeing me, well just admit it! You people missed me too!! Perhaps more... hahaha. I slept smiling last night recalling each one of you!

Enjoy these photos. Eventhough these are only still images, I bet you can feel the love. To my dearest friends well done! After all these years you did not fail being such out-of-this-world companies to me. Mmmmuah!

This is Ain. She was posted when I was having this idea to quit. Didn't really have the chance to get to know her better. But we had a great time last night, didn't we?

My Kak Ru. I heard she obtained another Cemerlang (Excellent) recognition this year. Congratulations & thanks a bunch for the tips & tricks in teaching. You rock!!

With Kak Bahiyah, Kak Ru & Ain.

That's Kak Bahiyah checking on the menu of what she ate... hehehe.

Zakiman, that night was incharged of video shooting. Not sure whether he was really assigned or a voluntarily basis. I never knew he was ever good with gadgets!

Posing with Kak Ru & Cikgu Fauzi (the former Afternoon Supervisor, now the PK HEM - 2nd after the Principal). We had one big row right Cikgu Fauzi but if it was not for the challenge I caused, you might not be able to handle the students as a respected PK HEM as you are now;-D)

Here is Kak Laila. Very loud ( used to be the Head of Disciplinary Teacher) but with the heart of gold...

This is my lovely Patvinder. Though you can sometimes be an old school (sorry Pat... muah muah muah), you have always been the apple of my eye!

Kak Nora is my silent blog reader. This time around you have to drop your maiden comment. Sorry about this pic though. Don't blame my HB's point & shoot but blame it on that nyonya! She can't sit still even at snapping a photo... :-D

This is the nyonya whom I was talking about. My happy-go-lucky Lim. Life is never dull with her around. Full of laughters & laughters & more laughters...

Now, this used to be my partner in crime, Kak Rus. Just look at both of us in the middle of the ballroom. What was that pose really Kak Rus? More like a dance to me... ;-D

Purple was the theme for teachers that night. It was rather easy for me to hunt them down ;-)

With Kak Siti. I'm sure that you have forgotten this but it was really you who gave me the piece of advice on inner health & beauty. Hahaha! You don't look 40ish at all & I look in my early 20ish myself. No? :-D The guy next to me used to be my student. I taught Khaliq when he was in his Form 4 back in 1997. Was a trainee then. Now look at him. Married with 2 kids & an entrepeneur.

With another student of mine (the one on my right).

I have to thank Kak B. Not only for acknowledging me about this event also for updating me with such sensational stories of my one & only workplace, SMK Lembah Keramat.

Envy Me?

By now I'm getting used with this new supermom role. Pure supermom without a helper... But seriously, how can those true supermoms do it? I'm only hanging on until October the 6th. The day my helper is supposed to come back!

OK, I survived another morning on a school day alone with the girls. Not that chaotic really. The only thing was Nadeen & her early morning project... That girl will definitely poo right after she gets up. I prefer not to wake her up until I'm done with her sisters. She & her jolly mood in the morning is normally distracted by this sensational look of relief. Hahaha! Me an expert now managed to clean up in record time this morning. All reached school on time.

Another update of my helper's daughter. She called again informing me that the kanker has attacked the heart. That is difficult to swallow. She is not yet 30 with a 4-year-old son. Praying for her recovery.

HB is away again & should be back tomorrow night. Things were so much easier when he was around. I normally send off Yasmin to school & let him continue his sleep. The other day, when I got home from Yasmin's school & was about to get the other girls ready, I found Wardah & Balqis both showered. Nadeen? In the bathroom. Apparently, she did her business again & that time stained her jumpsuit. Hahaha! HB made a beautiful picture bathing his youngest in the babytub.

I ferried the other 2 girls with happy Nadeen tagging. Suggested him to continue his sleep since he got home quite late the night before. Did he? Once home, I found Blanco whiter & fresh. Someone groomed him! Went upstairs to get Nadeen's bip & discovered all beds were made. After her breakfast, as I was about to put Nadeen's to sleep, I heard the vacuum cleaner roaring. Later in the afternoon as I was almost done with cooking for breaking fast, somebody grabbed a broom & got busy in the kitchen. Late night, I felt a presence of someone at the porch. The same person was chalking the girls' school shoes. During Sahur, right after I was done eating, Nadeen woke up. Rushed upstairs to nurse her & later I found the dining table cleared.

That's my Cancerian HB. Envy me? ;-)

Surviving...

Surviving... yes. My helper called last night updating on her daughter. Well, I guess that's a good sign. I doubt she would bother to call if she had no intention to return. Am I not right? Anyway, according to her the operation went well. Alhamdulillah... Didn't manage to ask for more. The girls fought over the phone. Balqis was upstairs with me helping with the laundry. Once she heard her sisters answered the phone & screamed "Makciiiiik...!", she rushed downstairs & grabbed the phone receiver! She is the closest to my helper. Heard her asking "Makcik sayang Balqis...?" & I'm very sure my helper broke down on the other line!

OK. Now me. I am indeed a supermom! HB had been away since Wednesday & will only be home tomorrow evening. I am so checking my weight after this! Hahaha! So far, so good. It is just Nadeen however. Whenever she is sleepy. nobody can tend to her. Never have I heard her screaming before but she picked that up a couple of days back! Poor girl...

Balqis is known for her mood swings. But surprisingly, have not cried out for my helper. I told her that Makcik will be home after raya. She didn't argue much but kept on telling me, "Esok hari raya kan..? Balqis suka raya." Hmmm... as if I don't understand why.

Yasmin & Wardah have been a good help. Babysitting & especially watering HB's plants & grass... I'm not very sincere with the plants. Bad, bad me!

Time management is very crucial to a mom handling four children alone. Ooops.. 5! Blanco is doing very well in potty train. None of my girls however was willing to get rid of his stools. Well, someone has to do it... sigh!

This morning, my first time handling all 4 single-handedly on a school day. Not bad really. Nadeen woke up first, followed by Balqis & the elder girls. Decided to get everyone ready & taxied them at one go. Yasmin off to school at 740am, Wardah was next at 745am (her mengaji starts at 8am) & Balqis at 755am (kindi starts at 830am). By 8am, it was just Nadeen & I. After her breakfast & nap, I was done with the laundry & the kitchen was in order. Switched on the TV & managed to watch a Singaporean telemovie I had been wanting to watch, Cages. See.. who said a supermom can't have time to herself. Well, Nadeen was playing on her own most of the time ;-)

Tiring, yes. On top of that, it is Ramadhan. The weather is getting hotter nowadays, right? Am so looking forward for HB to come back.... Now, what shall I get Yasmin & Wardah for sahur...?