London 20 years after ...

It took us some 20 years to come back.

I left London in 1999 after completing my degree years there, wishing to come back sooner or later.  The opportunity only came recently, when I had a few meetings to attend in London and Dublin.

We flew with Qatar Airways this time, arriving Heathrow at 8.30 pm, 28th June 2017 after some one hour plus transit at Doha.  By the time we reached the rented apartment, it was almost 11 pm.  The kids had their bath, prayer and slept.  Fajr prayer time would be around 2.45 am.

Butter Cake for Abah

Well, I 'm not so much into this baking thing.  But I have a daughter, and I am responsible to make sure that she grows up like a daughter :)

So ladies bake.  And we baked the simplest cake on earth.  We added some novelty i.e. calories to it by having a layer of chocolates in the middle.  Speccy design by Achik.

Lopsided specs :)

Holidaying at Home

It's school holiday that is not so much a holiday.  Along started his additional classes at school yesterday while Angah today.  They left home as early as 10 minutes shy of 8 o'clock in the morning, pretty much like ordinary school day.  No holiday for them means no holiday for us all.  They have major exams this year.  They have to learn the meaning of this word known as S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E.

Only Achik is enjoying the school holiday to the brim.  Well, she has just started school this year and not having any major exam.  In fact, she has just discovered that there is a much bigger play ground than her kindergarten compound :)

Everybody Goes to School

Crazy.  Four posts in 2014.  Three in 2015 and two in 2016.  What a waste of blog space :)

2017 certainly marks a new beginning.  Achik, my youngest little one, starts school.  Now the house is empty and in complete silence as early as 7 a.m.  Oh my.  How I miss those times when they were small and running about the house around the clock.

I know this time will come.  And there will be time when they have all grown up and perhaps leaving the house.  I shouldn't feel sad.  My mum has gone through the cycle.  So will I.  But I do have this feeling of emptiness.  Something that had gone, and will never come back.

Wish you all the best, Along, Angah & Achik.  I love you so much.

Apples of my eyes

Japan trip - Day 2: Exploring Hakodate

20 January 2015

I spent the whole of the second day at the conference (of course!).  The kids and their father went to explore Hakodate town, the fish market and the port after they had their breakfast.

Snow 'mountain' near Hakodate port

We met briefly during lunch break, and then the kids went up to pray and rest.  Right after the first day of the conference was over, we rushed to Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, as it would be closed by 7 pm.  It is basically a shopping mall that sells a lot of items, mainly souvenirs.  Achik taxed us there, as usual.

When the warehouse was closed, we headed to Mount Hakodate.  The night view from Mount Hakodate was rated three stars by The Michelin Green Guide Japan whatever it is.  Again, finding the exact locations of the two places was challenging.  We asked around, communicated like chicken and duck, and finally managed to reach both places :)

Journeys up to and down from Mount Hakodate were via cable cars (they called it ropeway).  Travelling time from the base station (Sanroku station) to the top station (Sancho station) took less than five minutes.  It was freezing cold of course.  We didn't linger there for the sake of the kids.  We had been out for quite a long time already for the night.

At Jujigai trem stop.

View from the top of Mount Hakodate.

At the base station, just before leaving.

Japan trip - Day 1: Travelling north to Hakodate

19 January 2015

We flied Malaysia Airlines MH88 and arrived at Narita Airport (terminal two) at 7.15 am as scheduled.  Achik was fast asleep when we landed.  Everybody was in good mood, despite feeling sleepy.  Right after settling the immigration matters, which didn't take long at all, we went to collect our luggage and then headed straight to the Japan Rail Ticketing office, which was at one level below.  Few things started to seem familiar to me from Nagoya visit in 2009.

 

The first thing to do was to exchange our JR exchange order slips to JR passes.  The exchange order slips were purchased at the Japan Travel Bureau (JTB) in Amoda building, right next to the Imbi plaza and opposite Berjaya Times square, before the trip.  The queue at the Japan Rail Ticketing Office was quite long.  Everybody was using JR pass I guessed, as it could save a lot of money on train tickets, depending on your journey.

 

Exchanged.  JR passes for me, Abah, Along and Angah.
Achik travels for free as she was below 6 years old.

Our destination on that day was Hakodate, which is located in the Hokkaido prefecture of Japan.  Upon completing exchange process and obtaining our JR passes, we were given three tickets each for the following journeys:

 

1. Narita Airport terminal 2 station to Tokyo station (approx. 1 hour via Narita Express train)
2. Tokyo station to Shin Aomori station (approx. 1.5 hours via Shinkansen)
3. Shin Aomori station to Hakodate station (approx. 2 hours via local train)

The whole journey, including transit time, took us about eight hours!  We departed from Narita Airport at 8.48 am and arrived Hakodate Station at 5.02 pm.  As the Hayabusa Shinkansen moved towards north from Tokyo to Shin Aomori, we started to see snow right before the Sendai station, which was to the kids delight :)

Amongst the first sights of snow, taken from the fast moving shinkansen

If asked, whether it is easy to get lost in catching the trains, finding the right platforms and et cetera, my answer would be yes.  Because we were not used to the train system, and we had the kids and luggage with us, and we had to catch the exact trains that were reserved for us, which departure times were printed on the tickets.  However, the stations staff were very helpful too.  But language was a barrier.  What we did whenever we were clueless was, showed one of the tickets to the staff and asked for platform number.  They would show the direction to the platform.  They at least knew the basic vocabulary such as one two three and left and right.  Good enough :D

During approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes transit at Shin Aomori station.
The snow was already thick there.

Kikonai, the stop just before Hakodate station.
This train didn't stop at all stations along the route.

Welcoming 2015 with new hope

Yes.  With the hope that this blog is able to have at least one entry each month :)  It has been a long time, and it's good enough that I didn't forget the password.

Few things that I missed to update in 2014 are our trips to Singapore and the northern states up until Padang Besar.  And also about Along and his achievement in the UPSR.  Oh yes.  I must be very busy helping him with the preparation that I almost entirely forgot that I have a blog.

Few more things to look forward to in 2015 are Along entering secondary school, Achik entering kindergarten and trip to Japan.

May Allah bless us all always, aamin.

Cameron Highlands 13 years after

It was almost the end of the school holiday and we hadn't visited anywhere yet.  Mainly it was because Along was not around until 22nd of December 2013, attending a tahfiz camp, and Angah also had school holiday programme that ended on the 20th of December 2013.  During the last weekend of the school holiday, when everybody was eventually home, we decided to go somewhere and that somewhere was ...  Cameron Highlands!

The last time I went to Cameron Highlands was 13 years ago!  No joking.  And that was on official visit to one of the hydroelectric power generation stations there arranged by the company.  I could hardly remember anything from that trip.  I was a bachelor then.  And now, I am back 13 years after with three kids.  And a husband, he he he ...

It was 28th December 2013.  We departed from home around 8 a.m. and reached Brinchang through Simpang Pulai route around noon.  It was still foggy and cold when we stopped by at Kea Farm.  We checked in at Equatorial Hotel (that is now known as Copthorne Hotel) after lunch.  The kids really enjoyed being engulfed in the mist most of the time and having vapour coming out from their mouth when they talked.  This was their very first time there.

During the 2-day trip, we managed to visit the Rose Valley, Lavender Garden, Uncle Sam Nursery, Big Red Strawberry Farm and BOH Tea Plantation and Tea House at Habu, Ringlet.  Hopefully I will have the time to share the stories later.  Just look at how long it took for me to update this on the blog "(

It's white rose

I think the bud is taking a longer time than usual to open. As if it knows that we are eagerly waiting to see who would be the winner of the guessing game. I was beginning to wonder if it will ever bloom at all. There was no sign of thrips attack though. Hopefully it is just the gene.

Finally ...

A peach rose

Here we are. Not fully bloom yet, but already revealing its colour. It's light peach. It may turn white when it blooms. So, the winner is ... Along!  Clap, clap, clap. 

Presenting the first bloom in our little garden ...

From bud to bloom

posted from Bloggeroid

Being bossy

During our usual ride to the nursery today ...

Little boss huh?

Well, I know it is an MPV.  But do you really have to be on the very last row to show me your point?

Guessing the colour of roses

I bought a small rose plant that day.  It was amongst the three pots of roses left in the nursery.  The soil was dry and I think it was going to be on the to-be-disposed list.  I managed to get it for the price of RM 7.  A bit expensive and not worth it maybe, but hey, this is not Sungai Buloh okay.

Fresh from the nursery

There was not a single bloom when we bought it.  After a week, it has started to have buds and shoots.  So we played a guessing game yesterday.  Along guessed that the colour of the roses is going to be white.  Angah said that is will be red roses.  And Achik said it is going to be pink.  We'll see ...  Hopefully we will be able to see the result in a couple of days.  I am kept in suspense too!

After a week

After the long 'eid break

It's the first day of school after a long 'eid break.  Here is my to do list this morning ...

Ironing everybody's uniform/clothes
Ironing Achik's raya clothes.  She will be having a raya celebration at her nursery today.
Preparing super duper simple breakfast for Along and Angah
Packing 6 pieces of raya cookies for Angah - He requested 6 pieces and he did count them when I gave them to him!  Unbelievable.
Packing Achik's bag, including a new milk bottle and a bottle of paracetamol.  She had slight fever last night but she was fine this morning.  Just in case.
Putting Along's and Angah's shirts and slippers into the car - for change later after school.
Hang the washed clothes to dry.
Watering while checking the flower plants.
...

Mr. boss, please don't ask me much if I can't be in the office by 8 am :-)

Salam Aidilfitri 1434H

Salam 'eidul fitri.  Maaf zahir & batin.  It was the fourth 'eid for Achik and the fourth that we celebrated as a family of five.  It is expected that next 'eid will be the same :)  We were in purple this year.

'Eid this year was a bit sombre though with what is currently happening in Egypt and Syria.  It is difficult to enjoy the moment, knowing the hardship that our beloved brothers and sisters are facing over there.  Some have even met their martyrdom.  May Allah bless them.  Eternal bliss is indeed for them.  Our prayers are with them.  The truth will surely supersede the evil and wickedness.  It is just that Allah hasn't decreed it to happen yet.  Maybe we haven't done enough.  We have to strive harder.  To work in unison, to disregard the national and international boundaries introduced and created by our enemies.

Sign of judgement day (qiyamah)

As she inches closer and closer to her 3 years old check point, Achik now has a 'collection' of behaviours that, to certain extent, intolerable by her brothers.  Being bossy in the sense that everybody-must-follow-what-I-say-or-else-I-would-scream-out-loud-and-cry is one of them.  And when she starts to cry for not getting what she wants, the brothers will usually be asked or rather instructed to give in.  Somehow, this has been mistakenly translated by Along as my husband and I are following whatever that Achik says.  He warned me that day.

Along: "Ummi, jangan ikut cakap Maryam sebab itu tanda kiamat." 
           "Tanda kiamat ibu bapa ikut cakap anak-anak."

Certainly laugh of the day.  But silently of course :-)

It's the haze (again)

Sigh.  Year after year, it is the same problem that we have to face during this time of the year.  Is there any other solution to this?  Putting our health at risk is one thing.  Unexpected closure of schools is another.  For families like us, who have no helper to rely on, impromptu action and plan are needed when such announcement is made.  Luckily, I only have a one hour lecture today.  I can still perform my duty while taking care of Along and Angah.  Leaving them unattended for one hour is still acceptable.  But I have 5 hours of lectures to deliver tomorrow!  What if the school is still close tomorrow?  I can't possible leave them alone for 5 hours.  I hope the university is also close tomorrow.  Sigh.

Children and politics

The election mood is certainly permeating the air.  The obvious proof is when Along is also asking questions that 'smell' politics.

"Ummi, kita mesti kena sokong PAS ke?"
"Ummi, kalau kita sokong PAS nanti kita dapat wifi percuma ye?"
"Saya nak mengundi PAS lah." - Err, you're not eligible yet, okay.
"Kalau PAS menang nanti dah tak adalah perkara-perkara yang haram yang tak elok kan?"
"Nanti siapa perdana menteri kita kalau PAS menang?"

He did ask one question about Datuk Najib, but I did not remember ...  Interestingly, why were all the questions have PAS in them?  I wonder what he has been chatting with his peers at school lately.

Achik will just comment on the many moons that she sees along the roadsides.  Few interesting facts:
During general election 11 in 2004, Along was 2 years old.
During general election 12 in 2008, Angah was 2 years old.
We're supposed to have our general election 13 in 2012, when Achik was 2 years old too.  But due to the infamous delay, we're going to have it this year when Achik is 3 years old, spoiling the figures.

Well, enjoy the moment kids.  It comes only once in 5 years.

Umrah journal: Visiting outer Madinah

5 March 2013

We first went to Masjid Quba', the first masjid built by our beloved prophet upon reaching Madinah.  We performed tahiyatul masjid prayer and one other sunnah prayer there.  We were not given much time as there were few more places to visit after that.  From Masjid Quba', we went to Mount Uhud.  It was very hot, dry and dusty, so we didn't linger there for the sake of the kids.  The sun was shining so bright that we could hardly open our eyes.  We took few photos, visited the martyrs graves and quickly went back to the bus.


With Mount Uhud at the background

On the way to the date orchard, we passed by the Qiblatain masjid.  We didn't stop there.  According to the mutawwif, the qiblah that is facing the Masjidil Aqsa has been demolished, leaving only the one that faces the Kaabah.  We finally visited the date orchard and did some shopping there.  Dates, chocolates and nuts.  We got back to the hotel just in time for lunch.  Lunch at the hotel was superb.  At par with buffet lunches that you can find in most of the hotels here.

After Asr, we went around Masjid Nabawi to visit the Baqi' Cemetery and the Baqi' market.  While waiting for the Maghrib prayer time, we sat on a spot right in front of the green dome of the masjid, retrospecting the sirah.  The wind was blowing strongly.  The kids were enjoying themselves.  Achik was singing and dancing around.  What a place to dance!  Along and Angah were excited to see the giant umbrellas at the masjid being automatically closed during sunset.  It was a wonderful moment that we are going to cherish forever.  Already missing it =((

The lost Japanese tourist with her bodyguards :)

"It's the green dome, don't you see?"

Wordless entry #1

Accompanying children in ward

Alhamdulillah, Achik was discharged from the hospital yesterday at 6.04 pm.  Hospital stay this time was a lot more bearable due to the short duration, the home leave and the collection of 'accessories' that we took along with us :-)

Cooking utensils ...

Cars ...

Books ...

Colour pencils ...

Bed time story book ...

I let Achik have them all at one time.  For longer hospital stay, you may want to consider not showing all of the toys at once.  Show one at a time and change when the child gets bored with the one she is currently playing with.  We also received a goodies bag filled with activity book, pen, pencil, stickers, pillow and stress cow - it's like a stress ball, but it's a cow.

Her next appointment with Dr. Khairul is on the 1st March.  I have to make sure that she recuperate well and is fit enough on that day so that she will get a clean bill of health for the umrah trip.  This will be her medication schedule for the next two days which adds up to the existing schedule that we have already had.

6.00 am	rhinathiol (cold), zyrtec (flu)
8.00 am	flyxotide (inhale)
10.00 am	antibiotics, ventolin (inhale)
2.00 pm	rhinathiol, zyrtec
4.00 pm	ventolin
8.00 pm	flyxotide
10.00 pm	antibiotics, rhinathiol, zyrtec, ventolin, singulair (diluted)
4.00 am	ventolin

Achik and pneumonia

It has been one and a half year since Achik was last admitted to the hospital.  She is back this time for the same reason.  She started coughing last Wednesday and didn't sleep well that night.  She was breathing fast.  We took her to a nearby clinic on Thursday night and the result was not good. We were given a referral letter, which meant that Achik needed to see a paediatrician.   I took her to see Dr. Khairul on  Friday and it came as no surprise when he told me that Achik had to be admitted.

Where we are this time

Because the rooms were fully booked and occupied that Friday, we only managed to 'check in' on Saturday, after Maghrib prayer.  Prior to that, we had to commute to the hospital every four hours for her nebulisation and Oxygen reading.