One of My Proud Moments

Yes, I know that I am due for my next travel journal post... but I just have to make way to this one first.

Early this year Wardah took an online test at home. I didn't interrupt her at all. She did everything all by herself. A couple of months back, her name was up for another test. She with 2 other students from her school were to sit for another online test. But this time it was conducted at a school near Puchong area. There were invigilators & the test was to be completed within a time period given. She came out of the lab earlier than others which was not to the liking of her dad ;-) Her prompt answer was... "Senang daripada test dulu!". That's my Wardah ;-)

Yesterday, she came home wearing a smile & a big envelope in a hand. My dear Wardah has been selected for the programme - Permata Pintar. It is basically a twin programme to Center for Talented Youth, Johns Hopkins University. It caters the special needs to students with high academic abilities. Locally the university responsible for such programme is UKM. Youy may read here.

Wardah has qualified as an alumnus for the Permata Pintar Programme. She will attend a 3 weeks holiday camp from 29 Nov to 17 Dec end of this year. Err... not at JHU but UKM ;-) That is a long period to be separated from my 9-year-old girl! We are allowed to visit her only on Sundays... How impossible it sounds I definitely have to let go...

With this piece of news, my parenting once more is challenged. It's Yasmin. She has always been the prominent one in the family & when she is not selected for this programme both, HB & I are worried. We both tried our best not to overdo it with Wardah's achievement. When they met, Yasmin did congratulate her sis. It looked genuine to me. Still I decided to have a talk with her.

As I expected, she was keeping something inside. She refused to admit but I know my Yasmin just too well. Hence, she started pouring it out to me.

I knew exactly how she felt. I was the eldest & pretty much like Yasmin was always a top scorer or amongst the top scorers. But many things didn't really get my ways. The chance to go to a boarding school in form 1 is one example. I knew I got her attention & slowly I could see her face softened. She understood.

Later right before dinner, Wardah came whining up to me saying that Kakak Yasmin accused her for getting a boyfriend at the camp. Seeing Yasmin teasing her sister like that & Wardah responded as she would always do, I knew I had passed that stage in parenting :-)

Tamil Nadu, India - The Journey & Day 1

Home sweet home... Alhamdulillah everything went off smoothly. Yasmin was a bit feverish on the last day but we were prepared with medicine.

We reached Madras International Airport at 2230 local time. The immigration did not give us any trouble at all & in fact they were pretty friendly. Well, perhaps we were lucky. The one attended to us was an elderly man & seeing my young girls he kind of softened.

It was an old airport. A new one should be ready in 2 years time. The walk to the exit was way too long for us. Perhaps the lack of sleep in the flight contributed to the situation. Once outside I was surprised to see the many people waiting. Softly in my heart I was wondering what if we could not find our dear Uncle Guthoose.

As I was minding the younger girls, I saw my father in law (FIL) who was leading the troop put a halt & gave someone a hug. Yes indeed, we found Uncle Guthoose & his wife, Aunty Parveen. It was such a warm welcome & deep inside I knew it was a beginning to something beautiful.

They ushered us to the side of the road. Uncle instructed us to wait by the roadside as he went to get the Tempo Van he had rented for our comfortable stay in India. Whilst waiting Aunty took out something from her handbag & presented a Kit Kat & a Cadbury bar to each of her grandchildren. What a lovely sight to see her distributing the goodies ... Sleepy eyes suddenly were widely awake :-)

The Tempo Van was not bad at all. At a glace it reminded me to the Britz we rented when we were in NZ. Remember? The motor home? It was white & huge enough for our party of 11. As I climbed in I knew it would be a comfortable ride. It was equipped with 14 seats.

From Chennai we had to travel to Uncle's place in Thanjavur which is 342km away but due to the road condition it took us a 7 hrs ride. This was the most challenging part of this trip. However, come to think of it was really not bad compared to my other previous experiences traveling. We were most of the time sleeping in the mini bus or trying our best to sleep. The younger ones had no issues at all. They slept for almost the entire journey. Nadeen especially. HB & I took turn carrying her.

We arrived in Thanjavur safely the next morning. Nadeen woke up the moment I stepped inside Uncle's beautiful house. It was not a good sign because my tired body longed for a bed but Nadeen was wide awake & active!

We freshened up. The room was air-conditioned & the hot water in the bathroom completed our coziness. As we climbed down the staircase such scrumptious aroma welcomed us. Breakfast was served. Aunty, though how tired she must have been went to the trouble instructing her 3 helps with our first meal in India.

Brothers - my FIL & Uncle Guthoose

I think breakfast was meant for a king! We had varieties of Indian foods. From Vade, Puree, Thosai, Idly to the sauces like chutney, dhall curry & potato marsala. All in one meal!! We had started to fall in love with this country... After breakfast we had a chat in the living area. But slowly one by one retired & surrendered ourselves in dreamland.

I was dreaming of Vade when an earsplitting noise woke me up. Nadeen was next to me playing with an alarm clock! I remembered telling Wardah to monitor Nadeen while I napped. Perhaps she got bored & sneaked out. The condition of the room was not actually a pretty sight. Nadeen was still new to the house so she wouldn't go further away from me. But I found our luggage ransacked & baby powder sprinkled on the floor & bed!

Wardah rushed in upon hearing the alarm clock. Gave some excuses that Nadeen was out of control. Didn't blame her because Yasmin was trusted with a more interesting task that was to take care of Balqis. They were on the flat rooftop playing.

The alarm clock incident caused me a mild headache. Searched for the PCM I brought along from home & headed to the kitchen to get a glass of water. One help was busy cooking. Another was asking whether I had dirty clothes to wash. Uncle & Aunty were no where to be seen. They were napping as well I assumed. Found Sajitha, Uncle's only daughter with her baby Ameera. We chatted & she was really bubbly telling me about my newly discovered relatives.

Sajitha Maryam & baby Ameera

After Friday prayers we had lunch together. You wouldn't believe what lunch was... Mutton Briyani with freshly squeezed orange juice! Not forgetting fried chicken. I was too scared to think of dinner!

Our Lunch

Balqis helping herself to her favourite -fried chicken

In the evening we visited Aunty's relatives who stay in the neighbourhood. Even though we are merely related by marriage, their hospitality was marvelous. We had the chance of meeting Aunty Parveen's mother. I think she is close to 90 years old. She didn't understand English & we knew nothing of Tamil but her ways & gestures hugging & kissing us were tremendously affectionate. It touched me deeply!

We had a tour of the town Thanjavur afterward. It was a quick one. Didn't even step down from the mini bus. (Sorry no photos. My point & shoot is missing... It's either somewhere in this house or it still in vacation right across the Bay of Bengal)

What awaited us at Uncle's was dinner... Aunty promised to keep it simple but her fish curry was nothing ordinary. Homemade spices, that was the trick ;-)

I was the first to retire that night. Nadeen had no choice but to join me. The next day would be the reunion of my FIL with his 3 sisters. A big day...

*to be continued

A Reunion

I have just finished packing. A chore which I wish someone could complete it for me. But thinking of the many things that might be left out, I might as well do it myself. Yes, we are going off again. This time it's to Incredible India.

This trip is a holiday cum a reunion & what better timing than this month of Syawal. The elder girls at the beginning were not so keen to go. The thought of having to skip school for a week isn't that appealing to them. Anyhow, I recently realised that the only days they are cutting class are this Friday & the following Monday. Thanks to the extra raya break & the UPSR.

Not many are aware or even crossed their mind that HB has Indian blood flowing in his body. His late paternal grandfather originated from India. It has always been HB's dream to take his father to India & visit his late grandfather's grave. But he didn't know where to start. Early this year his intention was made easy by dear Uncle Guthoose.

It was the day when my PILs' place in Klang received a surprised guest all the way from India. It was my FIL's half brother whom he didn't know he had. OK, let me guide you to memory lane. I have always been a good & tentative listener to my FIL & here I am putting them into words.

Uncle Ghuthoose is the one in blue with his wife next to him. My PILs are far behind, standing.

Arwah atuk (my late grandfather) came from a wealthy family in India. He was married to a local there but she died at a young age. They had a son but arwah atuk was devastated with grief & left India for Malaya. He was a good man. An honest merchant. His fluency in English helped the locals to communicate with the English who then were ruling the country. Due to his kindness, he was offered to marry a local girl, arwah nenek (my late grandmother).

They were granted with 3 children. A girl, the eldest & 2 younger boys. My FIL is the elder son. At the same time when arwah atuk & nenek were living happily, arwah atuk's mother in India was hunting for him. She sent a search party to Malaya & they found him. Arwah atuk wanted to take his wife along but her family in Malaya rejected. So off arwah atuk went alone.

In India, his mother was overwhelmed to see him but he didn't know her other intention. He was to marry another local girl in India as to secure the family wealthiness. It was a forced marriage which even Uncle Guthoose admitted it (my FIL was happy to know this new piece of news). Arwah atuk had always been an honourable person & when it came to his mother he had nothing but to give in. From that day arwah atuk had to cross the Bay of Bengal often to visit both his family in Malaya & India.

Being the eldest son in the family my FIL had to sacrifice a lot. He was most of the time the head of the family since arwah atuk's nature of work as a merchant required him to travel. It was when arwah atuk passed away that life became more difficult for his little family in Malaya. My FIL had to do all kinds of work even at his young age to support the family. They were poor to the bone.

I have always lent my ears whenever he starts telling me about his past years. From there I gather why it is only now he has agreed to meet his step siblings in India. Uncle Guthoose somehow has opened his heart to accept them.

I still remember the day when my MIL gave us a call. She would normally talk to me & ask about my girls. But on that particular day, she asked straight away for HB. Once they were done talking, HB made this announcement.

"Let's go to Klang. We have guests. Family from India!"

Even I was nervous with this small reunion. My concern was my FIL. How would he take it...?

The moment our car was parked at the front yard, I saw a glimpse at the door. My girls rushed in to get their grandparents but it was this man with my FIL's resemblance who greeted them. He put on this cordial smile & the spark of happiness showed in his eyes was genuine. My girls shook his hand & kissed it as we normally respect the elders here. His response was the light pinch on the tip of my girls' nose. Pretty much like the Hindi movie I used to watch! ;-) Once I saw my FIL's face, I knew it was a great sign.

Tonight, InsyaAllah we will again be meeting Uncle Guthoose & through him, we will meet the rest of the clan in India. To think of the heat & the 7 hours drive from the airport to Thanjavur (the town Uncle Ghuthoose resides) gives goosebumps. My prayer for our safe & easy journey. Amin... So India, here we come!

Salam Aidilfitri

It's raya again...! Why do I feel that it was only recently we celebrated Aidilfitri? Where has my raya spirit gone too? Guess it went off as my wrinkles start to look more prominent!

Alhamdulillah... I had managed fulfilling my responsibilities as a Muslim in this month of Ramadhan. Wardah fasted for the whole month & Balqis did pretty well with 10 days. For a first timer, she really impressed us.

Today is the 4th of Syawal & HB has started working. As expected, he was on duty on Aidilfitri. Was away on raya eve but he returned home on the very next morning. Obviously, he was awake the whole night! HB anyhow, was on time for morning prayer. He drove straight to the mosque & was the only one without a baju melayu ;-) and later hit the sack after we seeked for forgiveness.

This year we left for Rembau a little bit later than usual. Originally the plan was to drive to Rembau on the 2nd day of Syawal but the elder girls rejected the idea with pouting mouths. HB changed his mind & agreed to satisfy his girls (his wife too of course!). Hence, we drove off to Rembau sometime after 3pm.

I'm playing hostess in a few hours time. Need to check on the food again. So let the photos do the talking of our Aidilfitri this year.

The girls with their cousin

The girls with their mom

The girls' mom & dad

The girls with their dad ( courtesy from jabishah's collection except for the sampin ;-))

Raya portrait this year ( I really don't know what made Nadeen annoyed ;-))

The girls with their paternal family

The girls with wan nyang in Rembau

The house has a new look. It goes green this year...

Wan Nyang at her favourite spot

To my readers, Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. Maaf Zahir Batin.

Fasting

Salam Ramadhan everyone. I have been very busy for the past few weeks. Yes with my little business. Alhamdulillah... it is promising. Thank you to my dear friends for your supports. For my new readers, you might want to hop here & have a peek ;-)

This Ramadhan we have the sight of HB daily at the dining table during iftar & sahur. Something foreign in this household & we definitely enjoy it every minute. Yasmin & Wardah have no problems with fasting & waking up for sahur. One thing which hasn't changed is the menu they request for iftar. Both can't seem to agree with the same menu except for Roti John! However, this year I not only have to entertain to 2 girls but 3. Yes, my darling Balqis has started fasting this year.

Balqis will turn 6 this November & frankly, I didn't really expect to start training her yet. But having 2 fasting elder sisters, she decided to join us. It is very easy waking her up for sahur. She can really eat at the wee hour in the morning. Her first & second day, she managed until 1pm. Her sisters somehow encouraged her for declaring that as a day fasting ;-)

Last Saturday, she refused to eat at 1pm & at 3pm I asked her again whether she wanted to eat anything. Again she refused. After that I was the one who kept on briefing her on how many hours more to iftar. Balqis? She didn't even ask a single question on how long more to iftar. (Errr... perhaps she didn't have the chance coz I kept on providing her with the info ;-))

I made chicken curry that day. Nothing special to Balqis's taste buds. I really didn't expect for her to complete fasting. HB suggested to take her to the Ramadhan Bazaar & let her choose the food she wanted to eat. She agreed. But a 5-year-old girl is not very familiar with the foods at RB. Unlike their sisters who are both crazy over Roti John. (Seriously... what's so special of Roti John??) In the end, we ordered pizza. Balqis's favourite.

I don't know about your children but mine do not consume rice during iftar. They need to take something that is not rice first. Later at 9pm only they have their proper meal of rice, vegetables & any source of protein I cook (chicken normally wins over other things!)

On Sunday, my PIL & SIL's family came over for iftar. And Balqis made it until Maghrib. Good that my MIL brought Roti Jala & Kaya Durian. I just concentrated on the foods to complement the rice.

Today, she fasted again. With school & mengaji, I think it is a challenge for a 5-year-old girl. What more with the hot weather. Anyhow, she refused lunch. I thought she would be tired once she got home from mengaji. Yes, she did look less energetic but wanted to continue with fasting. Her request for iftar was Macaroni & Cheese.

As I was instructing my help to prepare the ingredients to cook, she informed that we ran out of cheese. How could I not fulfill Balqis's request. Obviously, I can't get Mac & Cheese at the RB. So off I went to the supermarkets at my area. All 3 I went to do not sell the cheese I normally use so no choice but to use sliced cheddar cheese.

As I was about to cook, noticed that we ran out of butter too... Hiyyaa!! So margarine, off you go in the pan. Made a smaller portion because I insist that they have a proper meal at 9pm. Guess what? Balqis complimented on my Mac & Cheese. The best she ever tasted, said she. Awww.....

For tomorrow, HB & I agreed not to let Balqis fast. She is still small & it is never compulsory for a child that young to fast. We have trained her & obviously fasting is just a walk in the park to her. We will let her fast on weekends. As for now Balqis dear... you concentrate on fasting half day & let your sisters do the calculation of how many days you really achieve this year. Remember Kak Yasmin & Kak Wardah... half plus half is a day ;-)

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 :-)

HB is 36

It's July the 16th, HB's birthday. He turns 36 today. The plan was to have an early morning date with the birthday boy. Made a booking for us to play badminton together instead he was called up for duty. Hah! Hated it when my plan needed a reschedule. But with him away, it would be easier to plan for a small party of our own.

I don't know about you but whenever there is an occasion to be celebrated, I always make a fuss over things merely to make the girls excited. I doubt at 36 HB wants a special occasion. He has had enough. (Errr... baby if you read this, I still want my gifts on my birthdays ;-))

There is this new bakery shop at my place. I thought of giving it a try. The truth, I kinda bored with SR cakes. At first my intention going to the bakery shop was to get cooking chocolate & decorate a cake myself (well... was checking my luck). Of course, it was not sold.

Today, I paid the shop a visit again. This time with Wardah & Balqis. Managed to sneak from Nadeen for definitely if she knew about the cake, she would want to have the feast right away ;-) Once I entered, I straight headed to the sponge cakes with butter icing. HB loves sponge cakes. To remind him of his childhood I opted for butter icing. If only they had the same deco with ground nuts decorated at the edge. Remember those days?

What I saw in front of me were the very same cakes I saw 2 days back.

I spontaneously said " Alaaa.. ini kek hari tu kan?"

The salesperson without guilt replied , "Kek yang baru, deco saja sama..."

I started to get annoyed. One thing which doesn't age in me is my memory!

I accused her of lying, "Jangan nak tipu saya!"

She still holding the same irritating look answered, "Dah 2, 3 hari tapi masih boleh makan..."

I began to be bitchy, "Soalan senang aja... Kek ni baru atau lama. Susah ke nak jawap?"

She wore a different look now which made me felt guilty. That's my weakness... Duh! But she gave me the answer I wanted.

"Lama"

I knew the cake was edible but I hated it when she lied. Still I purchased as agreed by Wardah & Balqis.

HB came home somewhere around 3pm. Only Nadeen was home. As he was about to retire Balqis came home from mengaji. As if like a ritual, she headed straight to search for us. I already told the girls to act that we have forgotten HB's birthday. So Balqis was playing her role. Now here's their conversation. How Balqis was trying her best to cover up & HB was taking advantage of her vulnerability.

HB : Balqis tak wish papa pun lagi.

Balqis : Wish? Wish apa?

HB : Oooo... tak ingat birthday papa ye?

Balqis : Hari ni birthday papa? (with a look which I wanted to burst out)

Now Balqis was already on the bed with HB.

HB : Balqiiisss.... Mana kek papa?

Balqis : Tak beli kek pun... ( right in front of her dad, she gave this cheeky wink at me)

HB : Cakaplah dekat mana Balqis hide the cake.

Balqis : Mmmmm... dekat fridge bawah (leaped to whisper at me that she tricked papa coz the cake was in the fridge upstairs)

HB : Betul lah ada kek. Balqis tipu ye... Kan papa ajar tak boleh tipu. Nanti masuk api neraka.

Balqis : OKlah. OKlah. Dekat fridge atas.

HB : What shape is the cake?

Balqis : Round

HB : What colour?

Balqis : Orange

HB : Bila Balqis keluar beli?

Balqis : Mmmm... Wednesday

HB : Tipu lagi ke?

Balqis : Yelah. Yelah. Today!

HB : Beli dekat JJ ke SR?

At this point she came to whisper at me. She didn't know the name of the new bakery show.

Balqis : Mama, apa nama kedai tu. Balqis tak bagitau papa...

Hahahaha. How cute... She tried her best to keep the secret though.

We had a small celebration after Wardah came home from school in the evening. There was another drama though. Nadeen claimed the cake was hers. While we were singing to HB at the verse "Happy birthday to papa...", she shouted "Nadeen! No papa!" So we had to sing the song & added "Nadeen" instead of "Papa".

Went out for dinner & on our way in the car, I asked the girls where they wanted to eat. Yasmin asked her dad to choose since it was his birthday. An instant answer we got was from Nadeen..

"Birthday Nadeen! Bukan birthday papa!"