These days, I prefer to walk to Ayisha’s school and pick her up. It’s scenic walk, under trees and there are plenty to see. There’s a wakaf before we reach the school and the walking path is away from the roads, so I can let Ariz loose while he jumps and skips. Adani is more content to pick up sticks the shapes of Y and I and X. I would point out the leaves, from tiny pine needles to huge ketapang leaves. Ariz would pick 2 dried ketapang leaves and pretend he has wings and fly.

Well. Last Friday, as we were setting out, MrGart came home. I heard a loud whirring of a helicopter, which is all not unusual since BJ is near air force base and there are all manners of jets and planes and choppers which fly at all hours of the day, very low or very high up in the sky.

But this particular time, it was extra loud. In fact, I couldn’t hear myself scream. Hmm. MrGart stepped out of his car and quickly ran to the source of the sound i.e. the huge 3-fields park a block from ours.

To our amazement, a slick modern black heli just landed, right smack in the field. Boys playing in the north basketball court stared. The boys playing football in 2 other fields stared too. I stared.

MrGart said later that he ran towards it because he thought it was a army chopper in distress. Aha.

The even more bizarre thing next was a Malay man in a blue shirt nonchalantly stepped out of the heli and walked towards the houses and the chopper flew straight up and left the field.

I guess, he could tell his wife .. “Honey, I’m home. In a heli today”.

Har har har har har ..

Ain’t this pretty?

Har har har har ..

I am fasting today, many more to come and while I was waiting for some feedbacks from a party we’re negotiating, I became bored. There’s nothing much on my Google Reader apart from some political stuff. Sigh!!

People are not blogging heavily as they used to, I guess.

Anyhow. I downloaded a scrapbooking free kit from ShabbyPrincess and went through a tutorial on Photoshop and tada…..!!

Har har har har ..

Obviously, I would suck if I were a lyricist or an author, trying to name a thing, a book or a nukilan. Bane and mommies should never go together.

And that is why I guess, I’m stuck at blogging and baking and trying to be a mom.

Talking about being a mom. I might not have noticed it before but the minute Aliya popped out of me and changed my status from a hip chick to a mom, I became one, regardless if I felt the same person that I was before. *if you do not understand this, me neither*

And these days it’s apparent.

2 weeks ago, the whole neighbourhood were jolted by sms-es of a 7 yo boy kidnapped in front of his house at 8:20am. I received no less than 5 sms-es. Aliya came home reporting that all of her friends’ parents who live at BJ received the same sms-es. The sms didn’t mentioned which street but had a name and a phonenumber. It looked authentic. Alarm bells sounded and warnings were promptly issued to my kids and the maid, Andes. It turned out that it was a hoax and that the exact same sms was circulated with a Subang Jaya address before.

Such a sick sick joke !

Anyhow, there’s been talks too of a foiled kidnapping attempt at school few months ago because the man who was supposed to pick up “his” child did not know that the child was off sick that day. And of course news of kids being snatched at roundabouts make hearts like mine, quiver with fear.

I worry. Mothers worry. It’s never-ending. When you think you’re just not care right now, you can’t because the nature of a mom is to worry and cause grey hair to sprout more.

Then last week, a colleague emailed a footage of CCTV of a maid literally kicking, stepping on, slapping a little girl and I had to stop watching it. It was too close to home. It was harrowing. It was too painful to watch. I join the bandwagon for career women who leave their kids in the care of a maid during the hours they spend at work and the risk is there, permanently. It scared me shitless. Seriously.

I’m a mother. Watching another child suffer is too much on my maternal instincts. We always put ourselves in that child’s shoes and think what we think he is thinking. Too much analysing, I know. But that’s what we do well.

I know that when I wait for Ayisha at school, each time a boy falls down or I hear a cry, I’d hurry and ask to help. Because deep in my heart, I hope that when of my mine does fall or cries for whatever reason, another parent would do the same for them like I do to theirs. Insyallah.

I cannot remember when the last time it rained here in Shah Alam. The serious, cats and dogs rain.

Saturday we were at Cyberjaya for mrGart’s office BBQ and sort of family day event. The venue was perfect. It’s at a park near the Community Park behind the MMU Campus. There was a stage and a BBQ pit. They were next to a lake.

There were ample funkily modern designed benches and garden tables for picnics and designated picnic areas. Trees were aplenty and they were such heavenly things to sit under when the sun shined so brightly. The lake looks not so clean but there were lotus leaves and Ariz even spotted a frog sitting on a plate-sized leaf. Cool, I thought.

There was a very huge playground with ladders and bridges and all manners of play stuff to satisfy the mosy physically inclined kids. I sat swinging myself on a swing which was shaded while the kids ran themselves silly. Must protect my not-fair-at-all skin. There was a floating bridge to the middle of the lake which I thought was cool.

Anyhow. But it was hot. Severely hot.

Ariz refused to join the pick-the-sweets-off-the-mat games. Adani refused to stick her head in a plate of flour, fishing out sweets. No way. hose. Ayisha refused to sit on balloons to pop it the fastest. Instead, joined Aliya in a Musical chair. All was fine and Ayisha was out at the last 4. Aliya made it to the final 2, against this rather hefty, cheeky port boy, about Aliya’s age, I assume.

That boy has his eyes fixed on winning, whatever it takes. When the music stopped, he grabbed the chair and swung it to his side. Aliya acted timely to avoid sitting on air and fell rather ungraciously. I yelled “Unfair” and demanded for the sneaky boy to be disqualified. The crowd loved this. And it continued. Second time, he grabbed it again! Darn! I thought. Aliya had the expression of ish-mmg-nak-kena-lepuk-mamat-ni.

They still let this cheating boy in the game, after committing fouls twice. Aliya should have won cos both times, Aliya had the chair but he had to snatch it away, almost causing injury to Alilya,

The third time, he got lucky and sat instead and won it. Hmmpppff!

Anyhow, I thought it was battle not to be fought anyway. Bullies are bullies, however you call him.

Well, during the tarik tali event, I was lending support to huffinf and puffing Mrgart while my 3 youngest charges were playing baking with the flour and water. Sungguh comot. There were white with flour and their slippers had dough on them.

We went home, head pounding and tummies full from the roast lamb and the bbq chicken and everything else in between. I had so much fun and I take my hats off to MrGart’s colleagues who are sporting enough to do this. My office has not had a family day in, I dunno .. before Ayisha was born. Maybe?

Ayisha at 2 years old, back in 2002.

I wanted to name her Alisha, initially. But my Harfiyah ustaz said that Alisha meant “shelf” or “para” in Malay. Uhmmm.

Then we were talking a lot about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)’s most beloved wife, Aisha r.a. and I instinctively knew Ayisha was right. I pray that my Ayisha will grow as inquisitive, as bubbly and as knowledgeable, a fraction of Aisha r.a. was.

My Ayisha is rather cembeng, actually. She was born on the 1st December 2000. I remember telling myself earlier that 2000 was gonna be full of babies, a Golden Dragon year and a millenium to boot too. But Allah has other plans and Ayisha was impatient in emerging.

She’s pretty challenging compared to Aliya who is less complicated, more obliging and quite agreeable. Ayisha wanted things done her way, her colors, her time and her her and her.

She is headstrong from day 1. Remember the drinking milk from syringe by Kak Jun at 2 months old. She is still headstrong today. Unwavering.

Academically, she’s lagging and that worries me to no end. She’s a late baby, I heard myself muttering excuses. At Std 1 when she just turned 6, I was coaching her to read. Spelling was a challenge. I had suspicion of dyslexic but that soon was ruled out. Alhamdulillah. Now, she no longer writes b as a d.

Last year, I taught her Maths and all subjects at night and most nights were unpleasant. This year, I thought she has improved and I thought she needed to learn the techniques that I couldn’t teach in maths that I sent her to a tuition centre. Just for Maths and BM. Aliya needs to go, so I thought she’d tag along too.

On Monday, MrGart reported that the teacher said that she’s lagging and needs to do more maths at home. And I got upset.

So, this week, I thought tuition with Mummy resumes.

Last night. I yelled and I slapped her hand and grabbed her arm. She had tears streaming down her cheeks. She had snoots all over her face. Over a page of addition. My palm hurts today drom slamming the table. My voice got hoarse. The whole street must now know what I sound like, shouting.

This morning. I hugged her. She said that her arm hurts. I said that my palm hurts. And we hugged. I promised to make it up to her. I promised to be better if she would work harder. We hugged.

I have completely forgot to blog about this.

It’s that time of the year again, when parents make a beeline to the fields, under the hot, smoldering sun in sunglasses to cheer on their precious athletic kids.

Anyhow. My kids aren’t particularly sporty. Hmmm. Kenapa agaknya?

Well, Aliya was not given a part in her Hari Sukan. Her bestfriend Farah was in the marching. Ayisha meanwhile, participated in her Sukaneka. This was Friday before last, uhmm the 3rd April 2009.

MrGart couldn’t make it. I had to squirm and got away from a meeting to attend her Sukaneka. It was hot. Super hot. And it was Friday and alhamdulillah I had my silk kebaya. Good that it’s cooling but not that great that I looked out of place.

Anyhow. The event itself.

Ayisha in the thick of things. She has to walk with a beanbag on her head. Manoever a football with a hockey stick and then put on a pair of construction boots. She was smiling all the way. I thought she looked a little too relax while she was managing all this.

Yes, Rumah Merah of 3 Keruing won!! With her fellow Rumah Merah-ans! yayaya!
*mak over dari anak*

A group photo of the winning team. Yee haaa! Looking at this, Ayisha isn’t the smallest of the lot after all. There are smaller kids. *phew*

Ariz : Mummy? Mo apa?

Mummy : Moolah.

Ariz: Bukan la. Move it! *jigs to the Madagascar sing*

Mummy : *rolls eyes*

Ariz: Ta?

Mummy : Tanah?

Ariz : T-aik!

———————
Fast forward to the bedtime story time and I was reading “It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny”, an eternal favourite of Ariz & Adani.

Mummy : “.. PJ did not like being a bear, a bird, a pig, a beaver or a ?”

Adani : “Possum!”

Ariz : “T-aik”

——————-
This morning, after he’s all dressed and ready for school, singing ..

“Happy t-aik to you. Happy t-aik to you. Happy T-aik to you. Happy t-aik to you”

——–

Mummy & Daddy : Geleng kepala! Hai! Anak teruna aku ni. Obsess sungguh with that word. Not too long ago it was a d-ick, and then there was “b-on-tot” and now it’s t-aik. Apa cerita ni babe?

And by the way, Ariz is still not pronouncing anyti=hing with a r right. Orang becomes oyang. Marah is mayah. Sembahyang is fayang (don’t ask me how this comes about). It’s funny when he pleads with me “Mummy jangan fayang tau” at 11pm when he’s sleepy and needs to sleep and needs me to hug him for him to fall asleep.

Pelat!

It’s blue-r.

Had a run-in with a friend and though that hurts her more than me, I do hope that she accepts my apology. Sincerely.

On the other hand. I’m feeling a little behind myself.

I feel like I’m reading less to the kids these days. I’ve not been terribly successful in introducing them to new foods or vegetables. I’ve had my eyes buldged seeing the results of Aliya & Ayisha’s Ujian Bulanan. I’ve forsake my one-hour a day without TV this year.

I think it’s time to buckle up, Gartblue.

Yesterday, I took charge again.

We are doing the one-hour no TV again. Strictly. I hope when we re-do the new wing’s master bedroom’s into a study, we can all congregate in that room and do what’s best for all. Readings or anything.

We are doing the jamaah prayers together and I will do lessons for them. Yesterday’s hour long discussion on Jannah and Jahannam was peppered with questions and even bizarre answers from the girls. The discussion on Jannah intrigued them. Insyallah, I pray for Allah’s mercy in seeing me through all my aspiration.

We are doing reading-alouds every day. Adani’s been reading by herself lately and I’ve been slacking with her cos I know she can do it by herself. But I forget that she needs a step forward and I should be giving that to her. Ariz is intrigued with books these days but I was also intrigued with my TV, *shame* And the girls. Did I know vow to read to them, Shel’s poems ? Whatever has happened?

So, today on a blue Monday, I’m making renewed vows. It’s up to me to make the difference, and insyallah, by Allah’s will, I will.

Note: Pictures were taken at Genting late last year. That’s the foggiest day ever in Malaysia and the coldest (I thought -9C or -14C were normal to me, heh!) . *brrrr*

It rains a lot these days. Bucketfuls of fresh water from from the clouds. Alhamdulillah.

Yesterday it rained twice, stormy. Heavy enough to suspend the F1 at Sepang which MrGart gleefully went and came home to a pants stained with red earth and not knowing who won the race. Ceh! I had to tell him the results. Hmm!

Anyhow. We stayed in while MrGart was fending the rain at Sepang. Wanted to hop over to get supplies at Gi-ant but it rained again late afternoon. The girls painted stones to make paperweights while Ariz napped. I was reading.

Well, quite uneventful.

Eee bohsannya ini entry.

*must think of more interesting thing to write about*

I know. I know. *shakes head*

I could’ve written this when Ariz was 30 months old and not when he’s err *counts finger* 49 months old! 49 months .. 4 years and a solid month and 2 weeks Wow!

Anyhows.

Yes, people. Ariz is officially weaned. He hasn’t asked to be nursed for the last 8 days. I feel like Firhad when he annouced his 5 months of cig-free days. Haha!

Suddenly he seems like a big boy.

Suddenly I feel a little less needed. So I hug him a little more at night. Smelling his hair and snuggling close to him, just breathing him in. He’s oh so peaceful when he sleeps, not the tornado that he is when he’s awake.

I’m a little loss now that he doesn’t breastfeed anymore.

I kinda lied when I said that I was trying to wean him off. Half a lie, actually. Especially when I “thought” about weaning him and did nothing whatsoever to effect that. I thought about the asam jawa. I talked to him though, but never with much conviction. I just love breastfeeding him.

I gave in to him, everytime he needed to nurse. He needed the comfort as much as I needed to be needed.

I love breastfeeding. I love his dependedness on me. I love the thought of a physical and emotional submission to a child, all by Allah’s will. I love that I was able , alhamdulillah, to fulfill what was the fitrah of a child and I love the feeling Iget when I feed a baby and knowing that every single drop of milk he gulps down, there’s barakah to it to me and him.

To all of you out there, young wives, young mothers, young husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends. Breastfeed your child. Make that effort. Do not look back and regret that you never tried hard enough.

It’s a new world altogether. It’s far more rewarding that you’d ever think possible. Trust me. I went through 4 babies and a total of 9 years of full exclusive breastfeeding and I love every minute of it.

But pardon my sombre entry. My lull of happiness just ended.

Note: Hugs are welcome.

The Fever, The Hour and The Sleepover

It’s a baton-passing thing that my children are playing between themselves and MrGart.

2 weeks ago, Ariz was down with stomach flu. He was better in 24 hours.

Then, Adani was down for 6 days for throat infection with 40C fevers and left her weak, lethargic and clingy. She had zithromax and now a jumpy, excited Adani again, slightly thinner from a week of no appetite. At the same time, the biggest baby of the house, MrGart caught the same thing too and later complained that I did not sponge him down when he was feverish like I did Ariz. *eyebrows menjungkit*

Last Friday, Ayisha had a 40.1C fever at 4am and woke up crying and skipped school. I came home from work in the afternoon to a 39.3C feverish Ariz. Off we all went to see Dr Rasool at the clinic.

Both have inflamed throats and I didn’t even object for antibiotics for both of them. He mentioned that throat infections always lead to high grade fevers. I quivered. Yikes!

True enough, the whole weekend, Ariz went through a cycle of 39.5C fevers every 5 hours. He had a lot of problem swallowing the zithromax which he said was “macam pasir” but I made him pinch his nose while he swallowed it. Course completed.

Ayisha was better by Saturday but since she already started her augmentin, that’s gonna have to complete la.

This morning, I thought Ariz was better but he had a 39.3C at 7am. I thought of calling in half day leave but by 7:30am, his fever was subsiding and I thought I’d save the leave for worse rainier days.

I just called home and he was ok but throwing tantrums. Yikes!

Anyways.

Aliya had her first sleepover at her best friend Farah’s place for 2 nights. We missed her but she apparently enjoyed her stay very much. *sulk* But I guess she kind of deserve the time off away from her demanding little brother and sisters. I’m glad that she enjoyed that. Ayisha and Adani meanwhile were asking where Aliya was every few hours and when to pick her up again.

Ariz suddenly had an imaginary friend who asked him for sleepovers and Mummy should be sending him off to that friend’s house with a bag full of books and clothes. Hmmm.

Earth Hour. We were so prepared. MrGart put the tent out. He charged our emergency light (BTW, everyone should have this in case for another involuntary national blackout, like it never happened before la kan?). He had both torch lights ready. I had the 3 little battery powered star night lights from IKEA ready. We had candles, scented ones prepared.

So, when the hour came, we gladly put out all lights and stayed in the tent. 10 minutes later, we gor bored and decided to walk around the neighbourhood to a street full of wandering neighbours and crackles of laughter from the girls next door. It takes a dark night to get neighbours together.

I felt so good doing what little we could do in the name of the Earth.

Well, by 10pm, we’re ready for bed and me, ready for Grey’s. Heh! Once a TV addict, always a TV addict.

What a week, man!

Just fevers though. No beavers yet. Thought fever rhymes with beaver. Anyways!

Adani’s better now, alhamdulillah. After close to 6 days of 40C fevers and a course of Zithromax (her first every antibiotics) she’s kicking now. Turned out her throat infection was kinda not relenting. But she’s teary-eyed this morning. Guess the many days off got her hooked on home. Ish.

Ariz meanwhile has been going to school without so much as a whimper for the whole of the week. Considering that the normally the 3 of them (Ariz, Adani & Ayisha) would hop of Manjit’s van, the past week saw only him, or him with Adani or him with Ayisha. I’m so proud of him. Takut jugak kalau dia pun nak cuti macam kakak-kakak yang kurang sihat.

Aliya’s been busy with school projects and we’ve been ferrying her to her friend’s house for her project team to work. Bless Allah for making us decide to stay here where her friends’ houses are nearby and I can get to know them in person. too.

Last night, Ayisha ran a fever. At 4am, she was at 40.1C. yikes! She’s been coughing the dried ivy leaf cough meds I gave her, obviously not working that well. Hmm. Must pay a visit soon.

In the meantime, today is Friday and it’s pay day. Whoo hoo! *macamla nak shopping sangat*

It started really well.

We decided to join my colleagues to attend Matju’s wedding at Terachi (must drive through Bukit Putus and lalu Ulu Bendul).

Ariz was better by then, still no appetite but chirpy still. The girls were fine. Then at fast lane near Senawang, we heard a loud knock from under the car. Yikes! Then the air-conditioner blew hot air instead. Double yikes!

Hokeh! A check at the nearby PETronas revealed a long cable (possibly from the cable on top of cars and has become un-tacked) tangled under the bumper. Yesterday MrGart found out that it leaked the radiator and would be a little costly and not to mention, one less car today.

Well, we’re almost there but now we’re nearing the kenduri in all our fineries, dripping in sweats. We wound the windows down for some cool air, but Bukit Putus jam la pulak. Adoi! Saturday turned out to be one of the hottest day this week, or this month! Tak apala, practise for Earth Day.

Kenduri done. Congratulations to MatJu and Liza and thanks for having us.

We stopped at Ulu Bendul for a dip. Best jugak. Ramai orang Kompeni yang singgah after kenduri. Even my brother took his kids over there too, knowing that I was there. So, I left Aliya and Ayisha with them while we drove to my Mak Ndak’s at Rashidah Utama with Ariz and Adani, who’s now feeling feverish.

Sunday. Adani got worse. She complained of stomach aches and feverish and a little cough. This Last night Aliya threw up once. This morning Ayisha called me crying kata she’s coughing and “bernafas laju” and boleh tak tak pegi KAFA? Hmm

So, so much for the first day of school. Aliya’s at school now. Ariz went on the van this morning alone, minus Ayisha and Adani. I hope Ayisha feels better to go to SKBJ in the afternoon.

And I hope that the kids will all get better soon. Insyallah.

We were at Sunway Pyramid last Saturday and at the Orange Atrium, there’s this charity Cut-A-Thon by A Cut Above. They were targetting for 1500 heads for RM10 per Dry Cut.

Well, I got 3 tickets for Aliya, Ayisha and MrGart. Ariz refused and Adani was adamant of wearing her hair long.

Here’s Ayisha with her graduated layered look. The guy who cut her hair was cautious about cutting it really short. But her supervisor came and snip snip-ed and the result was remarkable. I like!! She loves it!

Aliya was a little more more nervous. The hairstylist kept her length and looked perplexed on what to do with her long fringe. She consulted her Supervisor and he took a hold of that long fringe and with a long steady move, it was done. And Aliya couldn’t be happier.

For RM10. For Charity. I like!

This was Ariz yesterday around 8pm. From the time I arrived home from work yesterday to 8pm, he had thrown up about 5 times. The last time was greenish, indicating there’s nothing else in his tummy.

He became thirsty and parched and asked for ribena or water and as soon as he plopped himself back after drinking it, he would weakly said to me “Nak muntah ..” and I quickly got the puke bowl to him and held him while he wretched and he shuddered.

MrGart went out and got him 100Plus. That spent about 5 seconds before it too got ejected out. At 3am, he was still throwing up every single drop of liquid he drank.

It was harrowing. This was painful for a mother to go through and this was nothing, mind you. Apatah lagi, the mothers whose children have much much more severe illnesses than Ariz’s. Astaghfirullahadzim.

In those wee hours of the night while MrGart snored and Ariz rested in between his throwing up sessions, I rubbed Minyak Yuu Yee on his tummy and patted him to sleep. I was reminded of Kak Jun who babysat Ayisha when she was 2 months old until she was about 9 months old i.e when Andes came for good.

You see. Kak Jun is such a strong person. At that time, she was caring for Fatin, her 9 years old invalid daughter, body twisted, bed-ridden and was fed through a tube. Fatin always laid in the middle of her quarters at the Kompeni, a few doors from the Kompeni’s Nursery where Aliya was. Kak Jun’s husband was paralysed on his left side froma stroke suffered a few years back. But he still went to punch his card in the morning and came home. The Kompeni kept him on its payroll.

Kak Jun was so determined to give the best to Fatin and her other sons. But sometimes things got a litle harder. Ayisha was once left to the care of her 15 yo son (who is now at Germany, I believe studying Engineering) while she carted off Fatin in a rickety stroller to the nearby Pantai MC. Mind you, she had to push the stroller, rather heavily too, down a hill, cross a very busy Jalan Pantai and up the hill to the Hospital. All because she couldn’t afford a cab fare. If she had told me.

Once, she told me while I was dropping Ayisha off hers, how she was so tired that she didn’t wake up and Fatin was seizing for a good half hour due to her high fevers. She felt so guilty because of that. And during the day, she still had the tenacity to care for Ayisha who was the most strong-minded baby I and she has ever known.

You see, Ayisha loved to nurse. Fullstop. Straight from the breast. Nothing else matters.

So, we’ve gone through a gazillion teats, bottles, formula and none worked. In the end, what worked was feeding her my expressed breast milk from a syringe. Imagine that! Even I was not that patient. She was used to it, she said. Sometimes she used a spoon. But syringes were easier. I cannot thank her enough for her patience and I so respect her for her strength and determination.

Kak Jun now lives in a flat at Sentul. Fatin passed away at 13, a coupe of years ago and her husband was finally terminated under a medical board by the Kompeni and they had to vacate the quarters. Her eldest son, Idris is now a clerk at the one of the Kompeni’s subsidiary where I always go for meetings in PJ and he recognised he immediately. I thought he looked familiar but never would’ve guessed the connection. The son, who was minding Ayisha on that fateful day, is studying at Germany and I’m sure the mother is proud of him and his other son.

Anyhow. Kak Jun might have lost her only daughter Fatin, but I can assure you that throughout Fatin’s short life, Kak Jun cared for her with such love that was above herself.

Today I took a day off. I did not answer phonecalls. So to Sara-With-A-Fizz and Ken, I will speak to you on Monday. Bukannya apa, I hardly slept last night for fear of Ariz running up a temperature. So, I was napping with him. Ariz when he’s sick, became a clinger, a super-clinger. So I had no choice but to snuggle on the sofa, with a glass of iced coffee and the Astro remote.

Ariz meanwhile ate nothing today. But alhamdulillah he could keep fluids down and has not vomitted anything yet today. But he stil refuses to eat. I guess I could keep offering and he’s bound to accept a bread or some porridge later. Insyallah.

I think we can skip the trip to the clinic la since he’s getting better. He’s doing the Madagascar 2 dance right now. His favourite. The one Alex performed while both he and Zuba was cornered by the newyorkers.

Ah well.

Yesterday, as promised, we took the kids away from home for some fun. To unwind.

They were not too excited when MrGart shot their Sunway Lagoon and their Genting Highlands ideas. Yikes! But when we mentioned the Octopus pool, they were eager.

We first discovered the place when the whole of Gart’s clan (Tuk, Mak Ngah, Mak Ndak, Pakcik Awi, Azfar, Mak Teh etc) were menghantar rombongan meminang Yazzir’s bride at another Felda around here. As the main agenda then was to meminang, we didn’t spend a lot of time at the pool. The kids were not that happy and the whole gang of counsins under 12 rebelled and sulked then.

So, we came back to redeem ourselves.

The place was only about an hour away from Bukit Jelutong. Toll was RM15.30. Drive up north and and take the Sungkai Exit. Then drive for about 10 mins into the place. Follow the signboards for Kolam Air Panas Sg. Klah. It says something abour Felda Villa and Spa.

We arrived around 11-ish, having set out from the house at 10, in gloomy skies and drizzles. Alhamdulillah, weather was great when we arrived.

BTW for adults, they charge RM10 per head and kids at RM8. Told Aliya that, kat sini, satu family boleh masuk, kat Sunway Lagoon, sorang je la.

Anyways. This was the Octopus pool. It’s actually Mountain Springs Pool. In BM it says Air Gunung. Even in the hot hot sun, the water was so cool. Sejuk! Mengigil la jugak. And I didn’t smell chlorine at all. Wow!

It’s a massive pool divided into 2. The one you see here are below 3 ft depth. It has graduated depths so the littles ones, babies will stay at the gigi-gigi air la. Ariz could walk the whole of the pool without assistance, air the max at his chest. They have pebbled stoned as flooring which I thought was great. The pool was clean too, I’m impressed.

BTW, the facilities are great and modern and clean. Super-impressed. The toilets are plenty and clean. The changing area was great and nestled in greens. Murah pulak tu! Mai mai!

After a while, I said that we should check out the Hot Springs, which was just a short walk. People just walk in their wet attire. I’m not talking about one little pool, ok. There are at least 3 small pools kot yang yon can sit in and have therapeutic benefits of natural hot water. Tahan dengan tak tahan aje la kot.

We went into the 30 – 30C therapeutic small pool. Basically, you step inside and brace yourself. Tapi panas weh! Itu je la yang mampu. There was one at 40-50C in which MrGart dipped his toe and winced greatly. There was one at 35-40C and there was one makcik sitting there with scrunched up face. I dipped my toe and opps, next one! There’s also a reflexology path where the hot water runs through them. Makcik sakit kaki ler. There’s a ayurvedic treatments amidst the park too but we’re too broke for that!

Anyways, I think this is a great place for families of all ages. Your makciks and datuks and neneks can lounge the hot springs while the younger, livelier ones splash themselves silly at the Octopus pool. Cool mountain springs vs hot springs. And it’s cheap too. How many times did i have to stress that? Haha..

See the massive park. For RM10, a great deal, I thought.

We then walked to the fenced up areas where the source of the hot spring. Membuak-buak and berasap. Foooh.

Here’s the 90-100C pool where you can boil your eggs. They have the raga for you but you can buy the eggs from the cafe nearby. Kids are off-limits, understandably.

A view of the hot springs massive pool.

This is the Hot Springs Pool. Dunno how hot, probably at least 30C. It’s floors are pebbled stoned and depths were graduated too, so babies can sit at the gigi-gigi air while mak mak test power duduk air panas.

The trick is to step in slowly and lower your body very slowly and brace. After a few minutes, you’ll feel more comfortable. There are 3 tempayans, huge ones at the entrance for you to rinse yourself with cold water just to cool off. That was bliss. My Pak Lang kata, lepas berendam dalam kolam panas, mengantuk kalau nak drive balik. So, kena siram banyak-banyak dengan air sejuk. Memang betul pun, aku tido tak bagi can punya on the way back!

The view from the other side of the Hot Springs Pool.

BTW, I would’ve loved to stay here longer, but Ariz would’nt hear it at all. Panas dia kata! The girls were sitting down and chatted but soon the novelty wore off them. Off we go to back to the Octopus Pool.

Bliss!

The country is in disarray. Front page news aren’t about how the country’s achievement, its doom economic outlook or even the caring Government actions to safeguard the welfare of its people. No siree.

The papers flash news of who’s has graft charges, whose dirty hands in money politics, who’s under disciplinary probes for election wrong-doings and all these are not crooks. These aren’t thieves. These are personalities that we (at least the unsuspecting majority) have entrusted to run the counrty. People with titles, datuks and tansris and puansris of whom I supposed was blessed with these titles from their lifelong devotion to the country.

The only news that catch a mere mortal being like me is the Nik Nur Madihah success story and her many scholarship offers. By the way, obviously I had to show and tell the story to my own children to have them realise that what a blessing they have. Nur Madihah ate bread so much that she came to love it that much. My kids had ikan kembung goreng one night and was complaining to the heavens how they hated fish.

Anyways.

I for one, could not care a hoot for anything “political” in nature. I do not associate myself with any political parties, not even the Kompeni’s women association.

Anyways.

I read with alarm in the UKS about the views mortal people like you and me have, on the issue of Teaching Math and Science in English. Last week, I read with much dread about the nation’s lead sasterawans marching to the Istana to hand over some memorandum to abolish the policy. And the not so peaceful gathering too. Sungguh merisaukan.

Hokeh.

I dunno about you, Mr Politician or you too, Mr Sasterawan. But I have school-going children. 2 this year and another will join the bandwagon next year. I betcha you have yours either in private schools or they’ve graduated from UK universities or have taken residence in Australia and London and ain’t coming home anytime soon.

But sir.

You do not introduce some policy as widespread as this and 6 years later, just say “Opps!, twas a mistake”. No you don’t! I don’t give a hoot about winning elections or garnering support from the not-so-urban people about going back to Bahasa Malaysia as the language to teach my kids their Math and Science.

Let me tell you this. Kids have already gotten used to this. They’ve adjusted well to this. So, back off! Did you care to ask a typical Standard 3 boy? or a Standard 6 girl for their views on this? After all, it isn’t you who’s gonna have to flip flop and get confused all over again. It’s them. All this flip-flops will only damage the kids. And you, fight for credits which is worth shit to their eyes.

Come on you grown men! You say you have ambitions. You speak about visions and missions for the people. But you’re on a policy today and change your mind tomorrow not unlike my daughter who changes her clothes 5 times a day. She can change her clothes as many times as she wishes but you, Mister have the future of the generation in your hand.

I plead with you MrPolitician and MrSasterawan and MrPolicyMaker and MrNormalPeopleOnTheStreet and MrNeedPoliticalLeverageToWinElections, just leave things the way they are.

Kids have adjusted well. Maybe you can learn a thing or two on the subject of integrity from them.

Here’s the thing.

We’re so ill-equipped this term school break that we have not planned for any breakaway trips, no hotel rooms, no cheap flights in or out of the country and not even day out at the beach. Well basically, no plans whatsoever.

Here’s the trouble. 4 very restless and bored kids. And mummy and daddy who cannot afford to take time off work for too long. Meetings and whatnots. I always save my leave days for emergencies and for when the maid goes home. MrGart generally saves his leave days for golfing session or self-fulfilling activities. *pout*

Anyways.

Here’s the plan.

Wednesday, both parents have taken time off work. I may take Friday off too to just be with the boisterous kids and home.

Either :

1. Lepak at Mines Resort & Mines Villa (apatah namanya which has a sandy pool). Kids want to just swim in pool. This is completely FREE.

2. Genting Highlands. Aliya’s perennial favourite. She’s egging me to get on that Solero Shot ride again. Me? Green with puke! This will easily set us back RM400 for tickets, food and other fanciful stuff the kids would get crazy on up there on that rather sinful hill, what with the gambling and all. I never like the place. But the cable car rides and the coolness of the highland is refreshing. But bukan baru je ke kita pegi. Gambar pun tak post lagi kat blog.

3. MrGart fresh from his camping trip a week ago is still gung-ho on going back to nature mode. He suggested we drive up to Kalumpang or Lintang (on the way to Karak, my father suggested this place) and camp for the day. Hmmm. Yikes ..

4. Another of the kids’ favourite. Sunway Lagoon. Great entertainment for the kids. Great big hole on the parents’ pocket. Tickets will set us back around RM200. But the kids will love us to bits for this. Jusco card boleh dapat diskaun kan? Or was it TouchnGo card?

5. MrGart and another green, cheap idea. Drive to Sungkai and go to that Kolam Air Panas place where they have huge huge pools and the place is done up nicely. Well shaded. Minimal cost. There’s a smaller hotter pools where you can even rebus telur. We discovered the place while menghantar my cousin’s Yazzir’s kenduri last year.

Pick a number, people!

Woke up early this morning. And it looked bright. After Subuh prayers, MrGart and I took out the bikes, I’m borrowing Aliya’s to go round the neighbourhood. My thighs need some intervention.

We were also looking forward to check out any other houses in the area for renovation ideas.

Anyhow.

The neighbour who had early this week caused so much headache to us had parked his huge XC90 right smack in front of our new property. Completely blocking the house and made taking the bicycles out a hassle. *sikit lagi aku nak calarkan aje kereta dia ni* Hishhh! Geram jugak.

Anyways.

Baru 2 streets away, raindrops fell. First tiny ones, then they got bigger. Quick quick! Home abound.

Well. Coffee time. Nak buat macamana. Dah hujan. Bila hujan teringat kubur arwah Zul. Wonder if the tent was still over his grave?

I was watching American Idols while I piped letters A and H for Hazel’s engagement favor cookies this weekend. And sapatah-namanya was singing You Are Not Alone. Termenitik air mataku.

Anyways. A short term break of a week for the kids. We have no real plans. Nowhere concrete to go. Anywhere cheap, I guess or better, free! Haha. Aliya was telling me about her friends who are going to Hong Kong and Bandung and Disneylands and the faraway places. And I was only offering Genting Highlands. Sungguh sedih! But alhamdulillah we are together.

Anyways. The girls are getting ready for the hari jalan-jalan sedunia. Tengahari karang nak makan domino la.

Read Saya Sangat Berang.
Then read, The Sequel : Saya Sangat Berang.
Then cool down by reading Hati Sudah Tenang

What follows is the conclusion.

This was what happened on Tuesday.

The 2-page letter I wrote to the school focused on 7 reasons why Ayisha could not have bullied Tasha, even if she wanted to. These range from the weak premise on which the accusation was formed, Ayisha’s physique, her character predisposition and interaction they have had and so on. My letter had 2 objectives. I wanted to clear my daughter’s name from the malicious accusation thrown at her and I wanted the school to understand my fear of retaliation from the brothers.

I met the Penolong Kanan, Penyelia Petang and the highest ranked Discipline Teacher. I thought I had to fight my case. It turned out that once I’ve explained that this was a very petty and minor issue. The only reason why I was there was because the parents had over-reacted and dragged us into this. The teachers knew the family and thus, I sat there a good hour listening to THEIR horror stories. But point was taken, from both sides.

I picked Asha up on Tuesday evening and she was so chirpy.

She spoke about being called to a meeting between Discipline Teacher, and class teachers of hers and Tasha. The teacher asked Tasha to tell the truth now of what really happened.

Tasha said that opps, it wasn’t Ayisha. It was someone else who bullies her at school but does not attend the school there. I was like, eh, biar betul! Kalau dia tak sekolah sini, siapa dia? Entah-entah, she was making up stories all along.

Whatever her reasons are, the teachers got the truth they were after and Ayisha’s name has been cleared from the accusation. Alhamdulillah. I asked for Allah’s guidance and help and also a jalan keluar and alhamdulillah.

I am so happy that the school acted swiftly after I met them in the afternoon. I am so happy that the teacher managed to dig the truth out of that girl and set my girl free. I al so happy that Ayisha is happy again. Hati kan dah tenang, this is an added bonus. Alhamdulillah.

Now. Do you think an apology from the parents will come? 3 days have passed. Counting.

I’m done “makan Hati” and I’m done worrying. Why should I? Haven’t I known it already that Allah knows best. Aliya told me that the du’a of those oppressed will be heard by Allah, no hijab whatsoever. I was so consumed by anger that I forgot that.

From then on, I realised with a pang that, in moments like this, one should turn to Allah. In any moments whatsoever.

So I prayed for peace of mind. I prayed for His protection upon us all.

I realised that humans are humans. But what makes us a person is the sense of right from wrong and that our reliance on Allah.

So, I’m taking a half day leave today. I have just written a 2 page letter to the HeadMaster, copies to Penyelia Petang and Ayisha’s school teacher to explain what the incidence. I have made the letter very point-form, factual, staying away from emotional outburts. My hands trembled with anger still and my heart was bursting with the unfairness of it all. But I firmly believe that Allah knows what’s best for us. This is my part, whatever happens next, is Allah’s will.

Just like when Maryam, weak from just delivering Isa under the tamar tree, Allah asked her to shake the trunk of the tree for dates to refresh her. Tamar trees has the sturdiest trunks and Maryam couldn’t have shaken it even if she tried. But Allah wants us to do our part, the rest of it is His part.

So, this is my part. I’ll send in the letter and I’ll just carry on as usual.

Things exponentially got worse since I last posted the entry.

Okay. *heaves in*

I went to pick up Ayisha at school, as usual as this is Friday. Saw both the husband and wifey’s cars were at their house, which was unusual. Should have suspected something. Then at school, while I was chatting with a friend, saw the Mother. She looked at me and looked away, rather too quickly.

I gave no notice of her. Then I saw Ayisha and she looked different, slightly quieter. She said nothing happened. Until her friend asked her while we walked to the car, saying “Apa Cikgu Asma tanya?” and he told me about Asha being called by the Discipline teacher.

*darah sudah naik upstairs*

I thought I already said to her that I would talk to Ayisha and didn’t they called MrGart to complain too? Why go to the teachers and complaine about something which was so bizarre? Are you trying to ruin my kid’s reputation at school? Character assassination, even when she’s completely not guilty?

I asked Asha and tears welled up. She said that during recess she saw Tasha’s parents, brother and a cousin at school and the older brother called her but she ran away. She tried to call me but I didn’t pick up. I had 2 missed calls from the school.

I put them in the car and ran back to school hoping to catch Teacher Asma. Alhamdulillah, she was still there. She said that the parents complained but she and Asha’s class teacher had problems believing them. But she had to make sure and called Asha to ask.

I explained to the teacher that this could be a case of baseless accusation made by Tasha’s parents and I do not believe that Asha was capable of bullying anyone.

I pleaded with her to watch out for Asha and told her that I could not prevent what the parents would do and have done. But what I can do is distance my family from them from now on. We will not associate ourselves with them anymore afraid of what they are capable of. It is clear that we are victims of circumstances and Ayisha has been accused of something she would never be capable of. In fact I would like to write to the school to set the record straight.

I cried when I talked to the teacher. I felt so teraniaya. I felt cheated that a neighbour whom everyone has shunned all this while and to whom I’ve kept completely neutral of, could frame us like this. What have we done to her? What have my kids done to theirs? They were the ones desperate for friends and when we became their friends, this was what you repaid us in return?

I was furious and when I was telling the kids that from now on we avoid the kids and their family at all costs, like a plague, Adani told me that the secondary school brother came looking for Aliya in the afternoon. I immediately became alarmed.

So, I’ve talked to the kids. Anytime anyone who’s not a teacher disturb you at school, immediately run to a teacher. Call me. I am afraid for my kids if the brothers take it out on my other kids at school or wherever it is.

I’ve talked to a neighbour about this asking her and her maid to watch out for my kids and to the van drivers to just keep an eye out for them.

I am scared.

Translation : I’m Pissed As Hell.

*breathes in, out. In. Out*

A phonecall received a moment ago. A little background info. These are the neighbours ALL of my street neighbours and probably the whole of BJ have issues with. I wrote about their kids come-a-calling at our house, messing up the house at all hours of the day. Read here. The older brother has a long list of delinquent unspeakable acts that have brought the whole neighbourhood to detest the kids. I have had no issues with them, as long as I’m not dragged in any incidents. We have remained neutral, never taking sides all this time.

Anwyays.

The super-busy mom called me up and first thing she said was “You have a problem, Gartblue!”. I was stumped. “Err hhhmm.”. Apparently, her std 1 Tasha has been throwing hell-ish crazy tantrums over the many days and refusing to go to school. Okay! BTW, I noticed that for the last few weeks, she has put Tasha on the same van Asha goes to school with, i.e Auntie Mala.

How is this my problem, I asked. She said that today her workers sent Tasha to school and while Tasha was screaming and refusing to go to school, Tasha pointed to Asha (who was at the time was talking to a bunch of her friends and was allegedly pointing at Tasha). Even Ilham (her Frm 1 brother saw Asha sinfully talking to her friends and pointed her fingers at Tasha. Apparently Asha’s been telling her friends not be befriend with Tasha.

BTW, Asha is Std 3 and Tasha is Std 1 and this week was Exam Week.

And she also added that even at the padang, Asha’s been telling the rest not to play with Tasha.

Hokey! Is that all Asha did? Talking to her friends and pointing to Tasha? Could Asha been telling her friends that Tasha lives 3 doors from me? Or That’s Tasha, my neighbour? Did Asha beat Tasha up? What? What? What? The mother then said that I need to solve the problem. I said that I will talk to Asha to see if there’s the truth in this to which she said that I needed to solve this cos she is so upset that Tasha is not gong to school.

*face is red now*

BTW, Tasha is tall and big for her age and Asha is pretty small for her age. They are in different levels and have different sets of friends. How is this my problem again? I just don’t get it. I’m pretty pissed that she accused my Asha of this.

Could her child refused to go to school because of the Exam Week? Could there be other problems, non-Asha related? Could Asha is just a scapegoat?

Tasha’s brothers are well-known for a long history of broken car windows, punching an adult in full view of the parents who said “biasala”, beating up their maid with a golf club, shouting profanities to their maid (in Malay, mind you) while the whole neighbourhood gthered to see what the fuss was about, running home to get a pair of scissors during a fight at the padang, causing deep woulds on a neighbour’s son’s head after one son crashed intendedly on the poor boy with his bike and the parents never apologised, parents threatened to sue a child over a missing slipper, stolen type caps for all cars in the street which they used for their bikes.

MrGart called just now to say that the father called him up too to complain about Asha too. Wow!

I’m getting super-vexed now. But I think this is what I will do.

Nothing.

I’m just gonna ignore her. But I will swap Asha from her Aunty Mala van to Aunty Manjit who already ferries Aliya, Adani and Ariz to school. Asha’s been asking to change and Manjit gives me better rate and she’s very personal with me and the kids too. I like Mala but I don’t like Asha to associate with Tasha anymore than she has to.

Saya sungguh berang. Sangat berang sehingga report saya tergendala sebentar kerana masalah ini. Grrrr …

It rained. And Aliya and Ayisha have Ujian Bulanan 1 this week. So, we the parents put our foot down and said that we’re staying in throughout the weekend. No movies. No window shopping anywhere. (Ik-ea tengah sale ni, sigh!!)

Minus the local trips for milk and bread and ice-creams and such. Unavoidable.

We watched the Slumdog Millionaire Friday night. I found it truly harrowing and the epitome of human suffering. The girls were glued to the TV too, asking questions about hows and whys. I guess my kids, our kids are sheltered from these hard living conditions and they’d never imagined life harder than theirs would ever be. Seeing movies like this and Bersamamu on teevee3 sure will open their eyes a little.

Even Mummy flinches every now and then. The part where Jamal jumped into the shit hole determined to meet this idol was a bit too much, I thought. The storyline was clever, dissecting each question and how Jamal knew the answer. I laughed when Jamal broke into a large grin when faced with very last question on the Three Muskateers. His acting was superb. I believed him.

But I never did get Latika. She didn’t connect with me. I didn’t like her. But the Bollywood musn’t be forgotten cos long after the credits rolled, I was glued watching the dance, the sashaying of butts and arms, Bollywood-style.

Anyhow.

We went to look at potential friends for Bubbles, the pet on Saturday. He’s 4 months old now and very big. He looked like a typical adult cat, even when he’s only a baby. A Maine Coon trait. We were at the cattery where we got him and I met Bubbles’ parents, Mulia and Aurora (eh, betul ke? funny la pulak). They are just HUGE cats. Yikes!

Anyway, another Maine Coon was giving birth while we’re there. I ain’t watching, if you’re wondering. Ouch! We sort of put a deposit on its baby, if it’s red and a boy. Uhmmm .. wonder if Andes is thrilled at this propect. But I guess Bubbles will be thrilled for a friend he can gang up against Ariz.

Ariz. Ariz. Ariz. MrGart and me did such a great covering-up job at the cattery when asked by the owner how Bubbles is settling in at home. We said that the kids adore him, especially Ariz. We talked about Ariz had allergic reaction to a neighbour’s cat but never to Bubbles. We talked about how the synergy at home has changed with the presence of a cat. We talked about the kids becoming more responsible with the cat.

BUT. We were silent about the stomping and the chasing of Bubbles, Ariz does on an hourly basis. We were mum about Ariz opening the cage and carried the sleeping Bubbles to keep him company while he watches Ben10 on TV. We kept quiet about the bickering who gets to hold Bubbles and the tug and the pull. Responsible? Ayisha definitely. Aliya is still not touching Bubbles or any other animals, insects, birds or even ants. Adani is very compassionate with Bubbles, especially if Ariz is holding him. Ariz is uhmmm too much stomping. Ouch!

So, how now brown cow?

Mummy .. Ariz tau nak spell ELEPHANT.

S .. D .. E-LE-PHANT !

Mummy, mummy. Iz tau nak spell RAIN.

S .. D .. RAIN !

Daddy, Iz tau nak spell Bubbles.

S .. D .. BUB-BLES !

Mummy, mummy. Ariz tau nak spell Mummy.

1 ..S .. C .. MUM-MY!

These sessions get ALiya and Asha and Adani in stitches. They’d be so tickled by this and I would be squinting warnings to them to not say otherwise. Menjaga hati!

Yikes! Exactly how do you disagree with a very opinionated 4 year old. He holds out 4 fingers and confidently says “ONE”. After the 4th cycle of “ONE la”, Mummy lets go and nods her head.

And why or why, everything is spelled with an S and a D?