The Eldest

I said to my other half, since i had dedicated a post for him, my next three posts will be of the children. So Iwill begin with the eldest - Izza Khaleeda. My princess. The one and only rose among the thorns. She is a joy to be had.

I had started to write this post some time ago.

Today, 21st October 2009....

Izza has finally completed her PMR exams. Good for her. She actually studied hard. Studying has always been a concept I can never get. I was never a good student. That's why I am pleasantly surprised that Izza is actually a studious person. Phew.... that's one thing I am glad she did not get from me. Throughout her studying period she was treated like a princess. All the more with the endorsement of her father. Yes Izza, no Izza, of course you can sit there the whole day with your books while we run around you at your service Izza. Yup, that was exactly how it was for awhile.

But it was certainly worth it. Based on my friends checking her answers, they said she did pretty well. We hope she'll get more than 4As. So, now that PMR is over, you'd think her princess reign is over. It was over, for awhile till yesterday. My darling, adorable but clumsy daughter sprained her ankle while crossing the road!!!! Innalillah.... It was lucky that there was no speeding car in the picture. Her ankle was all swollen. Coincidentally it happened about the time I left the office. SIL called me and I picked them up and we went straight to the clinic. Now, she has to keep off that foot. The princess is back......

Other than that, I have to admit, Izza is a gem of a daughter. Er....most times. Always willing to give a hand. But kids will be kids. Sometimes I forget that and expect her to behave and act like a grown up. Well, it doesn't help when she towers over me and looks so much more mature than her age. That, she gets from her father. The height and physical maturity. No wonder she's Baba's girl. He's always telling me that Izza has isuues with me and has confided in him. But at the end of the day, we resolve our issues and carry on to being mummy and daughter amicably. Ok Izza?

WHAT A DAY

Phew... it's only 4.00pm and I am soooooo tired. My day started out with a nutritious breakfast; courtesy of health concious mom-in-law. No nasi lemak, roti canai but whole meal bread with fresh milk steeped with dates, raisins kept in the fridge overnight. That's a good recipe for Ramadhan if anyone is interested. Better still if almonds, red dates and figs are added.

Anyway, after that we cleaned out the cats lair while MIL (mom-in-law) swept the kitchen. It's hard work not having the maid even for three days. At 11.00am took a shower and sent Imran to One U for his outing with his buddies. We gave permission reluctantly, with the H1N1 and of all days he wants to go out, today is his aunt's graduation day. Izza and I sent him right to McD, the rendezvous. Met with his friends and reminded them to behave.

Then i received a message from his aunt to pick her up in front of TV3 at 12.00pm to go to her convo. Incidentally she is also a finalist for the Gadis Melayu Season 2.

Comel kan??? So, Izza and I decided to have a second breakfast while waiting. Gosh, did we stuff ourselves at JJ's food court. Next brunch destination with baba. By the time she arrived it was 12.30 and it took us sometime to get out of One World Hotel parking lot.....I forgot where I put the car...hehehe.... As soon as she got into the car,"K Han, tolong hantar Nini ke UM dulu. Nanti biar Mak and Abang Yong gi later."

Ok sis, anything for you today. So we went home for her to get ready. MIL refused to go before she performs her Zohor prayers. Baba was not home yet. He and MIL will be the guests of SIL in the Graduation Hall. When SIL (sis-in-law) was ready, Izza and I sent her to UM. Luckily the jam was on the opposite lane. People leaving the morning session of the Convo. Dropped her right in front of the Dewan Chanselor. As we were leaving we saw a sign for an alternative route to Damansara. We took that and missed all the jam going out of the UM main exit.

On the way home, Baba called and I told him that I will send him and MIL later to attend the convo. Parking would be a nightmare. When we arrived home, he had arrived and was playing with his new toy - NOKIA N75 - courtesy of his boss-for achieving company target. After another 30 minutes, Izza and I were on the road again with another set of passengers. Baba and MIL sat at the back. Throughout all this, Izza was studying for her PMR Trials next week. It was that or adding details to SIL's flyers for getting votes. On the way home we stopped at the bookstore to add on a few workbooks for her.

Now, we have to shower and get ready to pick them up for a celebration dinner. It'll just be five of us. Imran is sitting this one out. Phew.........

Mummy and Bah

It was 9.00 am. I was in an MRSM in the East coast waiting to observe a teacher teaching when my phone rang. It was my Mummy. The conversation goes like this:
Mummy: Are you still in KB?

Me: Yes, what can I do for you?

Mummy: Can you get a pice of batik material to make a shirt for Bah?

Me: Why didn't you ask me yesterday? I'm leaving early tomorrow and I'll going to Mak's (my Mom-in-law) for the rest of the evening. By the time I get to the hotel dah malam.

Mummy: In that case please ask Mak to go get it. I need you to get it before you get home.

Me: Why this urgent? Nak beli kain ke nak beli baju nye?

Mummy: Actually, your Bah wants me to give him a present. Around RM200-RM300.

Me: Huh?

Mummy: So, boleh ke tak?

Me: I'll see what I can do......

To make the story short, yeah, I got it. Nice piece.

I reached home on Wednesday afternoon. Around 3.30pm Bah arrived at my house to pick up Tuti and Ilham to go to Banting and house-sit till Sunday. Mummy cannot stand leaving the house empty if they go away. So my maid will have to be in their house the duration they are away. And my son cannot be left on his own. So both have to go. Their maid has taken an extended leave (go figure). They are both going to Lumut for a convention (yup, busy people they are). So I gave Bah the batik. And the conversation goes like this:

Me: Bah, here.... Mummy asked me to get this for you. She is giving you a present.

Bah: Humph.... thank you. How much is this?

Me: Mana boleh cakap, present kan?

Bah: Do you know that I had to ask Mummy to give me this present?

Me: (hah? apa hal pulak ni? Lain macam je bunyi) What's the story?

Bah: At first I hinted to your mother - Mummy, over the years I have given you so many things, everything, I have given you a plot of land that costs RM1.8 million, I have let you collect all the rent from all the houses and apartments, on top of that I give you money to spend every month. But you have never given me anything. You know what your mother answered?

Me: Er..... what?

Bah: Of course she said thank you. But that's it. So after a few days I hinted again; this year i gave you 65 red roses for your 65th birthday. But you didn't give me anything for my birthday. GIVE ME a present la...... then only she got the hint. That was Tuesday morning. Tu yg dia immediately call you.

Me: Oh.... you mean she didn't give you anything for your birthday? We gave you something didn't we?

Bah: Ya.... her birthday, I kena belanja makan, my birthday pun I kena belanja makan...ingat tak?

Me: er... ya....Kesiannya Bah

Izza: (She was there the whole time)....eh..eh...kesiannya Tok Bah.... Teruknye Tok Mi....

(She's his favourite grandchild by the way and Imran is Mummy's, Ilham is everybody's)

Me: Well, I am not surprised. that's Mummy for you. Kalau nak apa-apa she does not take hints. Kena cakap terus depan-depan.

Bah:...hahahaha.... I have lived with her 45 years, tapi she never got the hint.

OMG..... kesiannya Bah. Actually we all always feel sorry for him. My mom is the dominant half of the partnership. He always refers to her to make decisions. But theirs is a tongue in cheek relationship. There's a lot of give and take - him give, she take. That's why she has become quite spoilt over the years. OMG....Please, please don't read this Mummy and Bah.

Many a major decisions have to go through the 'Queen'. And any decisions involving monetary issues will have to go through a vetting process, PMI, etc. Not to mention binding contractual agreements of payments - on paper!! She has millions (literally) in the banks and yet, her favourite phrase is, "Eh...I have no money la..." Ask your father/grandfather. And Bah's answer is always, "Nanti saya bincang dengan Mummy/Tok Mi awak.." and the cycle continues. Sigh....

Imran and Tok Mi (Egypt Trip)Imran and Izza Izza and Tok Bah

But since my brother's passing, Mummy has mellowed down a lot. But old habits die hard. Last year, she and Bah took Izza and Imran to Egypt for 10 days and this year they plan to take the kids to Turkey. What about me??? My best friend came up with the perfect answer," they've given up on you. Tu la....rebellious sangat" Too true my friend, too true. But I am not abandoning my filial duties. Don't worry.

MARA

So many things have happened since I talked about my significant other. Let's see, I went to the east coast and observed teachers teaching - OMG, do they need to be motivated. No wonder :

Mara kaji semula prestasi MRSM merosot
PEKAN 6 Ogos – Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) akan melakukan kajian semula terhadap peranannya berikutan kemerosotan prestasi pelajar-pelajar di Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) di seluruh negara.
Timbalan Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah, Datuk Hasan Malek berkata, kajian semula itu akan memberi fokus sama ada agensi itu perlu memberi tumpuan kepada pendidikan atau perniagaan.
“Mara perlu mencari kekuatan berikutan pencapaian pelajar-pelajar di MRSM pada masa kini yang semakin merosot berbanding sebelum ini.
“Oleh itu kita akan melakukan kajian semula bagi menentukan fokus sebenar Mara pada masa depan,’’ katanya.
Beliau berucap sempena lawatan kerjanya di Pusat Tenun Diraja Pahang dan Pusat Ternakan Ikan Sangkar di sini hari ini.

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=0807&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_25.htm

Well, my work is cut out for the next few months. I hope this piece of news will 'open' somebody's Mr Magoo eyes that he has surely done irreparable damages to the system with his hare-brained schemes and ill prepared plans.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER

I think it's about time I introduce my other half. After all, in the last few posts I've referred to him with wry humour as to his antics. Sorry darling, I just could not resist. A tribute it would not be because he is as normal as a regular joe, as I am as normal as regular jane. But for one who has put up with me all these years; he deserves a standing ovation. Even at times when my parents threw up their hands in despair at my latest pomposity, he is always there in the background, ready to calm me down or take me down a peg or two.

In the early years, of course, we would be at each other's throats constantly. During those times, murder was never far from our minds (as if!). It is really true what they say, give your marriage 5 years to build a foundation and another 3 to make it a real home. It's been 17 years and I can't remember the last time we had a real argument. Maybe because we each know how the other will react to our latest mischief that we alter the outcome in order to customise the reaction? Perhaps. But isn't this another example of being sensitive to the other's needs? Oh ya, maybe that's why when he asks about my monthly expenditure the answer is usually,"I spent a lot on grocery, the kids' school needs, McD, Pizza all for the children..." instead of "I bought new shoes, handbags, etc...." Hey, both answers are correct but he did not need to know both right? Opps... darling if you read this- I don't know what possessed me to write these things. No, my handbag is soooo old, can you get me a new one??? ;)

Sigh.... susah lah pulak. Nak puji ke nak ...? Doesn't matter, I am that confident in him that he will read this and laugh his head off. Kan darling, kan?? He knows this is his quirky and weird wife. It's taken him all these years to finally understand me, albeit his receding hairline and greying hair while my hair is still black and I actually look his age (by our friends' claim). Incidentally he is 8 years younger. Yup, he is a baby.... but my baby...and i love you to bits.

PAMPERED FELINES

Remember those kittens? 3 little orphans they are. But at the rate they are being treated, they are better off than having a mother. Well, for one thing, Baba is forever on my case asking whether the kittens have been fed, their litter cleared, their cage cleaned and so on and so on... But it's been fun taking care of them. Everytime I come out of the kitchen with a kitty bottle, they get all excited and climb all over me or whoever's feeding them. They fight dirty too, scratching and hissing at each other to get to the bottle. In the end we got another kitty bottle. Then we weaned them, :( , I missed them cuddling up to me during feeding times. Now Baba is all excited to get them the best kitten food in the market. At RM30 per 400gms!!!! And a brush to keep their fur sleek and tangle free. Macam pure breed - padahal mixed breed je.

Kesian juga Izza n Imran, clean the cage, clear the litter box, (Oh not forgetting Tuti), masak bubur nasi - oh ya, 2 weeks ago one of the kittens (Rock - short for Rottweiler - ask Izza why) had diarrhea..... ohhhhh baba panicked; "Izza! Get on the Internet and search for how to care for kittens with diarrhea, bahaya tau, boleh mati kalau tak jaga, kena pergi vet ni...bla bla bla..." Izza found that giving them rice porridge with chicken helps to ease their stomachs and control their fecal state. So baba ordered mummy to make the porridge for the kittens. Luckily it worked. So they got fed rice porridge for two weeks. And don't forget to clean the bowls after every feeding. Baba's orders. Now, if you are wondering what Baba actually did during the hiatus caring for the kittens? I wonder myself...hahahahaha

ISA

Oh dear, what is this country coming to? I know many, many people want ISA to be abolished but surely there are other ways to make the intention known. I think the idea that if we come out in droves and threaten the peace is not the way. This act itself is the reason ISA was put in place!! Take that lone man who walked all the way to the istana and managed to hand in a 38 page meorandum to support ISA; don't you think he had the better idea? He even had time for a bowl of refreshment before the reporters got wind of his presence. Compare that to the thousands who seemingly are against ISA, causing shops and businesses to close down, causing me not to be able to go to my friend's daughter's wedding, causing thousands of people to be locked out of KL. My heart went out to my friend, who had the bad luck of planning his daughter's wedding on that day. Of all places to hold the reception, it was very,very near the march area. I think he must have thought that he'd better hold the wedding in a place easily accessible to family and kin; but it turned out to be the worst possible place to be in. Sigh....Kesian dia. Have yet to talk to him