Mengejar Matahari

di sini ada satu kisah
cerita tentang anak manusia
menantang hidup bersama
mencoba menggali makna cinta
tetes air mata mengalir di sela derai tawa
selamanya kita tak akan berhenti mengejar matahari
tajamnya pisau takkan sanggup
goyahkan cinta antara kita
menembus ruang dan waktu
menyatu di dalam jiwaku

Islam the Religion of Ease

Was quite annoyed by someone who thinks Islam agama yg merumitkan. She has this strong impression that Fasting has made Muslims weaker as we are running on half battery (?) She believes that we always want special consideration and privileges like having all evening activities cancelled to suit us(?!!)
Hmmmm... I speak for myself - I will attend whatever functions aka work related necessary in the evening during Ramadan because that is my obligation. However, I believe that it is not too much for me to ask for 15 minutes for me to break my fast and do my solat magrib.

We will ease you to the Easy Way. (Qur'an, 87:8)
...He has selected you and not placed any constraint upon you in the observance of your religion - the religion of your forefather Abraham...(Qur'an)

The month of of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was sent down as guidance for mankind, with Clear Signs containing guidance on distinguishing between right and wrong. Therefore, any of you who are present in that month let him fast. But, any of you who are ill or on a journey should fast a similar number of days later on. God desires your well-being, not your discomfort. He desires you to fast the whole month so that you may proclaim God's greatness for the guidance He has given you and so that hopefully you will be thankful. (Qur'an,2:185)

Of Hari Raya Spending.

Baju Kurungs-mint blue. Kain Sampings. Songkoks. Shoes. Socks. Pants. Shirts. Kueh Lapis. Kueh2. Flowers. Marks&Spencer cookies. Winkplay Decals. Rugs. Brooch. Replace shower heads.....list goes on....

Of Children's Day & Fasting

Time of the year again when the entertainer in us come alive. Stand up comedy, dancing to hiphop music, singing, jamming in a band....the things teachers do for the kids. May have hung up my dancing shoes forever (i think), therefore contributed an item for the Chn's Concert that required no dancing nor singing-Guess the Baby Pic.?

Sam and Me ! :>


Almost through the 2nd week of fasting. We are training Ilyas to fast, but we are working backwards. He started fasting at 4pm and when he kinda get used to it , we go back an hour earlier. Right now he's starts to fast at 2pm. Good going!

of Bags and Sinetrons

Never been the one to buy luxury goods. Always thought that branded goods are for suckers - "only cows are branded". But at 30, a sudden love affair started with bags that cost way more than my washing machine and dryer put together. Tsk, tsk...can't believe it either, said hubby... one bag won't hurt right...hmmm...we'll see..
Another 'fling' with Sinetrons. The kids call Monday evenings Indon-nights for Ibu. Hikmah, Mimpi Manis, Rantapan Anak Tiri, Anakku Bukan Anakku...I never thought I would actually love soap operas. In my defence, I never waste that time just viewing the shows coz that's the time I fold all the laundry....

Of driving and babies

When I told my dad I want to buy a WRX earlier today. He rolled his eyes. My hubby thinks it's hilarious...Ah beng's car, he said. I never got around to finish off my driving lessons coz...hmmm...i don't know...it sure got my dad annoyed at one time coz way back in 1999 , he paid 100% for my lessons..oh, yeah, that was the time when I threw a tantrum at the nasty instructor- i left the key in the ignition ,slammed the door shut and walked off, just when we were about to go up the slope in the driving circuit. Geram sey. Then again in 2001 and stopped again, can't remember why, then lessons again in 2003 and 2005. I just don't feel like going through the entire process again...even my kid sister got a license..but I still want a WRX.

I am going to be a Wak Long soon! Just counting the hours. Hubby says that I am even more anxious than my bro...

Ilyas and Ilyasa are crazy over Gypsy Kings and Queen. We've been playing the CDs over and over again. Ilyas does a good Sean Ghazi. Laughed till my sides hurt.

Thirty-one

Yikes! Big number. Well, like they said, age is just a number. ..Cheers to me!

Lifestyle Choices

Having children is a lifetime commitment. I've seen many cases of weekend parents who let the caregiver or their maids raise their children. Just like distant relatives, they pick up their kids only on weekends.

I choose to be a mother to my kids .. from the moment they wake up, I am there to shower, cook, feed and play with them. Only for that few hours that I am away at work each day will my mother be their caregiver. After that, I take over. No matter how exhausted I am.

I choose to sleep in the same bedroom with my younglings. I choose to be there to teach my sons. I choose to as much as a fulltime mom as i can. I want to be involved in every aspect of their growing years. To wipe their tears, to share their laughter and joy. I choose to be the one bring up my own kids to in hope that one day they will become good Muslims. People of strong character, grounded and compassionate.

Kids @ 3 months

Old passport pics before the digital camera.

Ilyas Muzaffar Ilyasa Muhammad

Faster and cheaper way to transport the kids for a holiday!

Chalet

Spent some time with the kids at the Costa Sands Chalet during the Term 1 break. Finally had time to upload photos. Just the 4 of us goofing off without any care in the world.

The kids had a ball of time. Ilyas is pretty cautious about things around him. On the other hand, Ilyasa is not afraid of embracing new things and ideas. Here, Ilyas was annoyed with some children playing rough. He showed his disapproval by telling them firmly ,"Excuse Me!" llyasa was more than happy to pelt this same group of kids with the balls.

Ilyasa giving a running documentary about Dora the Explorer.
Kids at play.
My 3 boys . Tera and Apin joined us.
The Ben and Jerry's cow.

The Ben and Jerry's brownies are to die for.

Life So far.

It's finally the June hols.
A couple of significant things happened the first half of the year,
my paternal grandma passed away peacefully at SGH on 29 Mar 2007. I was there in the room when she drew her last breath. I stood near the doorway like a stranger watching an unfamiliar movie with a heavy heart. I saw my father, Yayi, Wak Hassan and Cik Nut reciting prayers. The most heart wrenching scene was when Yayi kissed his dying wife's forehead and whispered to her that 'it's alright if she wants to leave him'. His exact words were,"Mah, kau nak pergi ye. Abang reda." He then calmly walked to the window and took a deep sigh. When I saw my dad and his brothers cry softly, I couldn't take it and walked out of the room.

My maternal grandma was also hospitalized almost at the same period. She has sinced recovered though with episodes of pain every now and then.

My father-in-law was hospitalized and had an operation. Right now he is recuperating well.

Ilyas is no longer in JustKids. He is now happy in Al-Mukminin Kindergarten.

Another whatever.

An Indian man- a parent came to interrogate me as to why his son got a minor injury during a tussle with another boy. Came with crossed arms and raised his voice at me. Kurang ajar. Tak de adat.

He tried a typical scare-the-teacher tactic by saying," I want to see your principal. I want to make a complain."

Oh puh-lez!!Apa you think I will shiver in fear?!! Common lah, kau ingat aku budak, nak momok momok kan.Kepala hotaklah. You think I'm afraid? ....tolong sikit lah beb...lu gi relak one corner...

I rolled my eyes and I told him squarely,'" GO AHEAD. She's in her room."

He backed off.

Then, I had to explain to him the whole incident - of course in a tone I would use to explain a 4 year old.

Then he sheepishly smiled and tried to change the topic. How typical. No word of apology. No word of thanks to the teacher who ran up and down rendering first aid to your dah-ling spawn.

Packed like sardines

Way too many people in this country. Try walking in Jurong Point. Parting the Red Sea may be easier. Downtown East? Tampines Mall? IMM? West Coast park? East Coast Park? There's hardly room for you to reach out and scratch your bum.

Went to Giant Tampines. Madness. We are so compacted. Everyone is almost rubbing/touching shoulder to shoulder, bum to bum, squeezing our way through throngs of crowd. So much pent up anger. Everyone is a walking pressure cooker. The lines were ridiculous. Everyone is snarling and snapping at each other.
We need personal space. 1 square foot per person is not enuf. 6.5 million people in a couple of years? How will we survive?

Holiday at Avillion

Finally uploaded the pics of our December vacation at Avillion Sea Village, Port Dickson. Wonderful place to relax. The kids had lots of fun. Nenek, Yayi and Cik Yah joined us.

The Temasek Beach. Our place is out towards the open sea.
Mesyuarat tepi tingkap.
Yayi and the kids preparing the thing-a-magic to catch crabs at night.

What No Crabs????

Merajuk pasal tak dapat ketam.

Extended Family

The balcony is getting a bit crowded now. Frogs, tadpole, fish and terrapins- the house is becoming a pond habitat.

The 2 babies- Tera and A-pin Tady

Some of the goldfish and kois

Pond habitat

Be the change you wish to see in the world.
I will try to be this person in 2007.I will not get so overly worked up when I see stupidity in people. I will be patient with ignorant adults. I will be more tolerant to idiots who speak Mandarin when I am part of the conversation. I will speak up when I see rudeness.

Issues

I have issues with people who sit on the fence. I don't need you to take sides but I think you should be able to have an opinion. A thinking adult can make an informed decision. I hate it when doing group work, there are people who wish to remain part of the furniture and not contribute.
I hate it more when these 'silent killers' then push and nudge the more vocal ones to become presenters. If this was Survivor, I would have voted and literally kicked you out. Recently at a workshop, 2 people in the group decided to act dumb and not contribute in the discussion. These two just followed the motions. Hey, they didn't have a gun to their head; we didn't want you in the group either. Be more proactive lah!!!! They took a vow of silence. And when it came time to present the work, they pushed the job to someone else, citing excuses of sore throat, poor English, stage fright, etc.... c'mmon lah

Tell me why, Ibu?

At the age when his senses are very much awakened and his curiousity is alive, I am bombarded with many questions to things that as an adult, I take for granted.
Ilyas: Ibu, why do we have two eyes?
Hmmm, 1 second pause..
Me: Well, to see the beauty Allah has created.
Ilyas: Then why do we have two ears?
2 seconds pause..
Me: So that one ear will hear good things and bad things we hear will go out the other...
Ilyas: Then, what about 2 hands? 1 to do good things and the other bad?
3 seconds pause..
Me: No. To do good deeds only. One hand will support the other hand when we help other people, when we doa to Allah...
Ilyas: Then, how come we have two legs?
4 seconds pause....
Me: To go to good places.
Ilyas: What are good places, Ibu? Is the library a good place? The other day you said that the library here is a lousy place..
Alamak....
Me: Well, the library is a very good place. But when other people talk very loudly, leave books on the floor, eat in the library, it becomes... er..
Ilyas: then the people are bad people?
Aiyoh...
Me: Not really bad people. Inconsiderate people. It means you don't think of the inconvenience to other people.
Ilyas: Ohhhh.... Power Rangers are good people. The apek at the coffee shop no good.
Me: Huh?
Ilyas: Ya lah. Dia spit on the floor and talk very loudly.
Me: Oh..

The Asshole

Read this somewhere.
The asshole wanted to be the leader of all the bodyparts. He said he was the most powerful and important body part of all. Naturally, the other body parts laughed at him. The legs, the eyes, the hands, the ears, the eyes... all tsk tsk-ed in disbelief as this asshole ranted and raved on and on as why he was the almighty surpassing the brain. The asshole was not liked by most of the body parts because he was an obnoxious, loud mouth,...you get the picture. When he realized that the other body parts will not listen to him, he felt insulted and when on a strike. Well, the other body parts couldn't care less. However, by the 7th day of his strike, the other body parts began malfunctioning. The eyes began to water, the legs and arms grew weak, the muscles began to ache.. and all this while, the asshole was still on strike, sulking and pouting. The wise brain decided this has to end, he told the other body parts to bestow the asshole the honorary title of a leader. And so, the asshole was happy, stopped his sulking and things went back to normal. The moral of the story is, if there is, that there will be asshole amongst us who will spew crap. This loudmouth will think he is better than the rest. And chances are , he is the leader.

Fat Equation

Recently, I read with much interest about a lady who swears by the 'half-diet' to maintain her svelte figure. She would only eat half of the food on her plate for every meal. And she only eats at high end restaurants. What a waste! Think of the millions starving in other parts of the world.
On an ordinary 'eat out' for my family; 2 plates of nasi ayam for the kids - adult portion, and 2 plates of food for me and my hubby. If the kids don't finish their food, we two will end up finishing their portion. That's the 'fat equation'. Gotta do something to that.... So now the kids and I will share a plate of food. I will eat whatever portion that is left....
The lady mentioned also said that she knows the chefs well, so they would only serve the best food for her.
Hey, I consider Ben & Jerry, Ronald, Col. Sanders, Hajah Maimunah and Long John my buddies. We even go by first name basis....
My new year resolution, to change my daily diet. More greens and proteins; lessser carbo. Will try. Hard.