Dilemma di antara 2 Kedai

Assalamualaikum.

Been a while since I last wrote.. Been organizing all my teaching materials that I've been prograstinating for the past 2 years. Now that I've started teaching form 3 part time, I really need to get organized.

I haven't been cooking properly since last week. Ada dilemma sebenarnya nak memilih antara 2 kedai. Sebenarnya memang dah biasa pergi kedai Acheh. Orangnya jujur. Tak pernah menipu dari segi harga. Kalau harga barang naik sikit memang dia bagitau sekian sekian.. Tapi masaalahnya.. bos sahaja yang bagi servis yang bagus. Kalau kita minta potong ayam, buang kulit dulu, potong 16 dan sebagainya.. memang dia akan berhenti buat apa yang dia buat dan terus buat dengan muka yang manis.

Kadang-kala memang agak cerewet sikit. Minta tolong dia buang kaki, isi perut dengan kepala je. Kadang-kadang potong tom yam (extra small). Bukan apa, bila balik rumah boleh terus masak..

Masaalahnya.. co-worker dia tu la.. Bila kita bayar, kita pulak kena tunggu dia habis tengok tv lah.. Yang paling sakit hati, kalau terkena dia baru bangun tidur, muka mencuka 14 depa. Kita nak minta pun serba salah. Yang lagi sorang pulak, sebab kita ni "regular customer", bila orang lain datang lambat, dia bagi orang lain dulu.. dengan alasan, kita mungkin boleh faham. Mula-mula tu bolehlah tahan, lama-lama kita pun fed up juga.

Dipendekkan cerita, masa tengah-tengah bengang tu, bukaklah satu kedai baru. Nak boikot kedai Acheh lah ni. Pergi ke kedai lagi satu. Sebenarnya dah lama berhenti pergi ke supermarket atau hypermarket sejak boikot Israel hari tu.. Beli barang sekadar yang perlu sahaja, tidak stok barang seperti selalu. Kononnya nak tolong orang Islam.

Layanannya first class, ikan daging semua segar-segar. Ambil terus dari pasar borong Puchong. Banyak lauk-lauk untuk masakan kampung, nangka, pucuk ubi, ulam-ulaman, mangga untuk buat kerabu. Pendek kata sesuai dengan selera orang Malaysia. Bila mula-mula beli di kedai, ada tetamu, borong sakanlah sampai RM30.00-RM40.00 sekali beli. Lama-kelamaan, beli pun makin berkurangan sebab beli barang harian. Sekarang ni asyik-asyik tanya, "beras ada lagi kak, minyak? Tak nak beli pisang ke?" Saya bergurau "Semua benda nak suruh kak beli ya?" tapi sebenarnya malas nak layan.

Saya serba salah. Nak pergi kedai Acheh, servis macam hapa, nak pergi sini, dah terlebih ramah sampai semua nak disuruh beli.

Minggu lepas, saya nekad buat keputusan setelah insiden ini terjadi. Teringin nak buat sup, saya minta 1/2 kilo tulang, dia pun bungkus. Bila dah siap beli barang-barang lain, saya pun tidak banyak cerita, bayar dan pulang. Setibanya di rumah, baru saya perasan tulang macam banyak, saya timbang. Rupanya 940gm dah dekat sekilo, bila saya cium bau, sudah tak 'fresh' macam biasa. Jadi ini kes nak habiskan barang lah ni. Saya terkilan tapi bersyukur pada Allah kerana memberi saya petunjuk.

Kita ni sebagai orang Islam.. kenalah tolong orang Islam, "support" perniagaan orang islam. Tapi yang berniaga pun kenalah cara orang islam. Jangan ingat nak untung je. Tak berkat. Layanan pun mestilah first class. Tengoklah Rasulullah berniaga, sampai Saidatina Khadijah jatuh hati dan terus pinang baginda. Walhal, Saidatina Khadijah tu memang orang kaya bangsawan, cantik yang menjadi rebutan pada masa itu. Saya baru je balik dari kedai Acheh.. Malam ni bersemangat nak masak!

Dilemma di antara 2 Kedai

Air Asia oh Air Asia

My booking date was 30th June 2009. I just got everything settled by yesterday (21std July 2009). Honestly, it was partly myself to be blamed for the delay. But then, if it's not too difficult.. it would have been settled weeks ago.. So, just let me share with you what happened in case you need to deal with Air Asia.

It was not me actually.. flying anywhere, it's my son's teacher who is going back to Jakarta for Raya. We booked really early to get a cheaper fare. It was really cheap. Back and fro, it costed her only RM302.00 including tax, luggage as well as chosen seat for both ways compared to the normal RM600.00 she used to pay.

It would have really easy if I have a credit card instead of a debit card. The problem is, it was told in their site that payment could be made via Maybank2u. If I can make the payment via Maybank2u, it would have been really easy, but we couldn't so I'd try my debit card instead. However, there's an option for Debit Card, but then Maybank Visa (Debit Card) was not one of the options.

When I called up the first time, the salesperson (salesperson no. 1) asked me the time I tried to book the ticket and I told him just before midnight. He checked his computer and said.. it can be done now. The problem is, I told him, if I failed I have to call them again and .. their line is always busy. He simply asked me to try again. I hung up and tried again, still I could not make the payment.

Annoyed, I called them again, this time another salesperson (salesperson no. 2)said "why don't you click on the MEPs icon" I had to hang up since I was not in front of the computer.. (clever me) and I swear, there's no such icon. I had to call again, this time it was a different salesperson (salesperson 3), she told me that some of the flights are not supported by Maybank2u payment and suggested that I go to their sales counter at either KL Sentral or LLCT. Then, the problem would be solved. Okay... by this time I felt much better, at least she didn't ask me to click on an non-existent button. But is it worth it to go to KL Sentral or drive 50 minutes to LCCT?

The problem with paying at the post office is you have to book via the telephone. At this point, you are not able to choose a seat as it is not a confirmed booking. So, basically, I have to go to the post office and make the payment for the ticket and the tax (RM277.00+a whopping RM2.50 for the commission). Then, I have to call up again to choose a seat and luggage, and then go back to the post office and make the payment for it.

That's what I did. I paid for the booking. Exactly after I was out of the post office, I called up Air Asia and I told her I have already made the payment. She told me (salesperson 4), the payment is still pending. Asking where my location is, she told me, depending on the location of the post office, it may take 2 days to clear. Until the payment is clear, I can't pick my seat and pay for my luggage. What? That was another big mistake that I made. I actually made the payment at POS at Tesco instead of a big one. It may take a longer time to clear. [sigh]..

By this time, I called Azly (my husband) and tuuuuttt ttuuuutt ttuuuutt... I was really furious. I called my bestfriend, and told her I should have gone to her house for a favour of using her credit card and pay her cash. I really don't mind paying whatever commission and the service charge to her instead of all the hassle at the post office..

The next step was to wait two days for the payment to be cleared. So, I waited and received an email from AirAsia that my booking is confirmed. The next step was to call them and choose a seat, make the payment and get it confirmed. Easy right? Nope! This time, instead of going to the post office, I tried to make payment using my debit card. The salesperson (salesperson no 5) told me that he can try to charge it using my debit card. Then, I realized that I have taken all my money out to save all this RM1 charges when if I take out bit by bit. I only had RM22.00 in the account and the seat and luggage would cost me RM20.00 He told me it might not be possible. So, I told him, I'll call him later once I have transferred some money.

My husband transferred money in my account and I called them up again. This time, a lady salesperson (salesperson no 6) told me that I have to make payment by 15 July or the booking for the seat is cancelled. It was 14 July and I was furious as nobody told me that there was a dateline for the payment. I was just too busy with my son's sports day to be bothered with the payment. She told me, after the phone booking, I can't make any payment using POS Malaysia but have to pay at the sales counter instead (KL Sentral or LCCT). Debit card was also out of the question. #@!^&%!!! I argued. I told her I'm not driving to LCCT just to pay RM20.00. She put me on hold to ask her supervisor.

She agreed that I could pay at POS Malaysia and jotted down a note there. The problem is when it will take 2 days to clear and they might not hold my seat. Desperate, with my best friend's credit card no in my hand, I called them up and decided to make the payment for once and for all.. This time, a male salesperson with a very fluent native-like slang answered (salesperson no 7) and he called me MAM.. That was a good sign!

I told him about me wanting to make the payment using credit card.. As expected, he asked me to give him the card number and I gave it to him. Then, he asked me the card's expiry date (opps!!) as well as the security number at the back of the card. I hesitated, "I thought the security number is private and you are not supposed to share it with anyone". He patiently explained, when you are making an online transaction, of course it is dangerous to expose the number. But then, when you are making payment using phone booking, we cannot proceed unless we have the number". I was really confused. Okayla.. it was for security purposes. But I dare not take the risk.

Actually.. the security number was the reason why I didn't want to make the payment using my bestfriend's credit card. I simply don't want to know her security number though she does not really mind sharing with me since we are really close and she never doubted that I'd do any harm with her security number.

But then, I told her, I savior (is there such a word).. okayla.. I treasure our friendship more. In case anything happens with her credit card and it has nothing got to do with me.. of course it's gonna be really crazy I don't even want to imagine what will happen.

Anyway.. since it's gonna be a hassle, I decided to stick to making the payment at the post office. I told him that I was told earlier that the seat booking is reserved for me only if I the payment is clear by 15th July by midnight. "It's not advisable to make the payment at the post office if the date of the flight is near, mam" (that was about 2 months before the departure actually).. I told him the flight is not gonna be near soon, it's just the expiry date for my seat reserve. Still, he insisted that I should not make the payment at the post office if it's too near the date of the departure. I was even more confused. Then he gave me an option whether I can pay using credit card, or pay at the sales counter or the last option that he does not really favour is to pay at the gate on the departure itself. Blimey, it's like a never ending circle..

I suggested that he cancelled my seat booking and rebook, hoping that I'll get the chosen seat and a longer expiry date so that I don't have to worry about the payment being cleared before 15th July. My son's teacher told me that, if we don't choose any seat and pay in advance, you'll end up in a mess walking here and there looking for an empty seat and I understand completely. I myself would rather pay extra RM10.00 so that I can go straight to my chosen seat than the trouble of pushing here and there just to get a seat.

Perhaps he didn't get the idea.. or perhaps my Malaysian English does not match his native slang that he had trouble understanding. I told him I'll just pay and see what happens. He told me that once the payment is cleared, I'll get a confirmation (I assumed via e-mail like when I booked the flight).

After making the payment at the Bangi Post Office, I waited for the e-mail. I did asked POS Malaysia and they said it should be cleared by midnight the same day. I made the payment on the 14th, the payment was cleared on the 15th and yet on 21st, I still haven't received the e-mail. I called AirAsia for the final time. The salesperson (salesperson no 8) told me that if I have an account online, I can just check my booking under "Manage my Booking". But then, lucky me, I quickly remembered that I did ask my husband to check my booking online but he did mention to me that it was not possible to check online when you make phone booking. He received like.. you are not authorized to blah blah blah. I told this to her and she said she'll e-mail me the details. That was the only time when I got it straight on the spot. A few minutes after that, I received my e-mail.. confirming my luggage payment as well as the seat. Finally.. Alhamdulillah.. It was a loonnngg journey to Jakarta.. even before you board the flight..

I printed the e-mail and asked my son to send straight to the teacher. She was relieved. Imagine, she gave me RM300.00 cash. That was at the end of June, and she finally received the booking detail on 21st July. Luckily.. the date of the booking as well as the date of payment was stated in the e-mail which is 30th June. I really don't want her to think that I must have used the money first..

At the same time, I learnt a lot of new things. Honestly (and surprisingly).. I have this fobia of dealing with people whom I don't know on the phone. It's just awkward to pick up the phone and talk to strangers. But then, knowing that someone relied on me for the ticket and it actually save her RM300.00, I braved myself and did it anyway.. In return, I managed to overcome my fear and learnt it the hard way.. I thank Allah for the lesson. Normally, I'll just get my husband to do any phone call like this..

Hopefully, if there is any next time.. I know exactly how to do it.. Or perhaps, I should have just brought a notebook, went online and get someone to pay using their credit card and pay straight to them.. or the best thing is to go straight to their ticketing counter though it takes 50 minutes of driving but I can just get it done and over with there and then rather that making a few phone calls and go through all the hassle..

My phone bill is higher that usual.. not because of the number of phone calls that I made to Air Asia but the waiting time.. listening to their "konon2nya" soothing music and the prompts "Thank you for calling Air Asia, All of our salepersons are busy, blah blah blah..or feel free to call us back later" after every 15 seconds.. But then.. the experience is PRICELESS!

Air Asia oh Air Asia

Let's Improve Your English!

Assalamualaikum..

Recently a daughter of a friend of mine asked me on how to improve her English. Many of my students and close friends ask me the same question too. Most of the time, what amazes me is the fact that they have more or less the same reasons for not being able to speak in public (not unable to speak English.. but then to speak in public). Let me share with you what their reasons are. I'm sure you have more or less the same thing!

1) They can't just blurt it out!

They unconsciously have a long list of grammar rules in their mind, adjusting and readjusting their sentence before being able to come out!

Solution: Let it be.. I remember telling my students not to correct others! It does not really matter whether you speak perfect English or not. I remember one of my instructress in OBS, Lumut who really speak English like nobody's business. I can write a whole book on "English Errors" and gain money out of it just based on her grammatical errors. However, she spoke so confidently that I noticed nobody realized her errors! If you can do that, you are one step ahead!

Tips: Try speaking to yourself first, or pretend like you are talking to someone.. or just imitate the dialogues on tv. Sounds crazy? It does sound crazy.. but it helped a lot.. Nobody will say you are crazy when you are suddenly confident and fluent in English.

2) They just don't have the right vocabulary!

Most of them get stuck in the middle, not having the right vocab. The truth is, based on a research, we only use about 300 - 350 words repeteadly.. I have a list of 500 common words in English.. When I read together with my students, we realized that most of the words are understood by my students..

Solution: It's okay for you to mix up the language (Pecinta Bahasa will hate me for this). Just fill up the words that you don't know with Malay words. Who cares? Later, you'll get it. At the same time, try to read more english material.. and they need not to be boring.. Just read the subtitle when you watch "Cerekarama" or any Malay movies. Trust me, it'll help. In fact, it really help as it's mainly words used in our daily life.

3) They are scared if the pronunciation is not right!

Some of my friends really asked me just how I get it right. Honestly.. I started speaking in English in public at the age of 18. Being a TESL students was really hard as my friends came from English-speaking background, some of them come from Elite School like Tengku Kurshiah, MRSM etc.

When I first started speaking English, my heart would pound, I would start sweating and my face would blush like my first wedding night. We were required to have speeches every week. I remember waiting until everyone sleeps and practice my speech in front of the mirror at 3 o'clock in the morning. I felt stupid by it was worth it!

Solution: Get a good dictionary and learn how to use phonetic symbols at the back or the front page. Many think that it is difficult, but the truth is they are really simple. Close the words and practice pronouncing the words by looking at the phonetic symbols only!

Tip: Get Oxford Pocket Dictionary.. It's so small and handy that it fits your handbag.. The best part is, it only costs RM19.90! Honestly, I've bought many already but ended up giving it to my hardworking students. I remember one student who accepted my challenge to copy 2000 english words with definition to get the dictionary! She got it!

I think that's it for the time being! The most important thing is to keep on telling yourself! I'm good at English.. and insyaallah you will be!

GOOD LUCK!

Let's Improve Your English!

Tak payahlah salam, kalau dah haram..

Satu hari kami sekeluarga ke satu majlis. Biasalah, kita akan saling berkenal-kenalan dengan tetamu yang lain. Tiba-tiba bila diperkenalkan, seorang tetamu lelaki menghulurkan tangannya untuk bersalaman. Alhamdulillah, sempat saya hulurkan tangan anak lelaki saya, "Salam uncle.. salam uncle..". Saya terus menyuruh anak-anak lelaki saya yang lain bersalam. Tangan saya terus disorokkan ke belakang dan saya senyum dan bersembang seperti biasa.

Saya perasan, muka lelaki tersebut berubah. Saya pura-pura tak perasan dan beredar. Harapnya dia tak tersinggung. Tapi sepatutnya dia tidak tersinggung sebab dia pun seperti saya, seorang muslim.

Memang saya sebenarnya pernah bersalaman dengan lelaki. Tetapi itu apabila tidak dapat dielakkan. Pernah saya diperkenalkan dengan seorang lelaki serani yang betul-betul kacak oleh kawan rapat saya. Dia menghulurkan tangan, saya tak teragak-agak untuk menyambut.

Tergelak saya tengok mata kawan rapat saya yang macam nak terjojol keluar.. "Ustazah, salam lelaki! Eee tak sangkanya! ustazah salam lelaki". Sebenarnya saya memang bukan ustazah, tetapi kawan rapat saya sengaja mengejek saya kerana saya selalu menegurnya bila tangan dia gatal mencuit lelaki.. Bukan cuit gatal tapi cuit menyakat.. Dicucuknya pinggang orang, sengaja suka tengok orang melatah. Tapi masaalahnya yang dicuitnya lelaki.. Jadi sebagai seorang muslim, saya menegur.

Berbalik kepada cerita tadi. Saya bertanya lelaki serani tersebut "since we are into the topic, how would you feel if I didn't shake your hand?". Dia menjawab, "like you slap me right on the face!". Oho.. malulah ya..

Dia menerangkan, sebagai seorang pegawai bank, dia banyak bertemu dengan klien dan memberikan tips pada saya. Jika tidak mahu salam, letakkan tangan kanan melintang atas dada ke arah bahu kiri. Eh.. jelas ke? Cuma letakkan tangan ke atas dada kiri sambil "bow" sikit. Jangan lupa senyum. Menurutnya, bila di hotel-hotel, selalunya penyambut tetamu akan buat begitu kerana tidak tahu sama ada tetamu ingin bersalam atau tidak. Lama-kelamaan, budaya ini menjadi trend tapi saya tidak pernah nampak pula. Sebelum dia balik, saya perasan, kali ini dia tidak menghulurkan tangannya.. Wow, impressive!

Walaupun tips itu telah diberi, sebenarnya saya tidak berani untuk mencubanya. Di majlis tadi, sambil makan, saya nampak tetamu lelaki tadi asyik menjeling ke arah saya. Saya rasa mungkin dia tertanya-tanya kenapa saya tidak bersalaman dengan dia. Dalam hati saya "Nasiblah.. you are a muslim.. you should know better". Saya ternampak seorang rakan. Dia asyik memperkenalkan teman lelakinya kepada kawan-kawan yang lain. Saya terus menuju ke arahnya. Alamak.. kantoi.. teman lelakinya menghulurkan tangan, saya terkedu.. Anak tiada di sisi...

Saya terus menghulurkan lengan saya yang berlapik, jadi tak tersentuh. Tapi agak janggal kerana mana ada orang salam lengan.. he he.. Takpelah.. janji tak kena.. tapi rasa macam terkena sikit kot.. Astaghfirullah...

Saya malas buat dosa kering sebenarnya.. Kata ustaz, daripada bersentuhan dengan lelaki bukan muhrim, baiklah pegang anjing. Itu yang saya terbayang tu, tak sanggup rasanya nak pegang anjing walaupun kering sebab haram di sisi agama kita. Walaupun begitu saya tidak pernahlah hina anjing. Anjing makhluk Allah juga. Ustaz siap pesan lagi, kalau ada lelaki yang nak pegang terus cakap, "Eh! Jangan! Engkau anjing!". Tentunya dia bergurau tapi bayangkanlah kalau kita cakap gitu.. Mau pengsan dibuatnya.

Sebenarnya, dengan suami makcik-makcik saya pun, saya tidak bersalam.. Pada mulanya memang janggal, saya letakkan tangan di belakang sambil bertanyakan khabar. Pakcik-pakcik pun ada yang nampak kecil hati. Tapi bila mereka hulur, saya sambut. Sampai suatu hari, seorang pakcik tidak menghulurkan salam, dia menerangkan "Ada air sembahyang". Maknanya taulah hukum ya! Jadi sekarang, mereka sudah biasa, kerana walaupun saya tidak salam, saya pergi jumpa mereka seorang demi seorang bertanyakan khabar.. Bukan main gamit dari jauh saja. Abang-abang ipar dan adik ipar lelaki pun sama. Memang saya tak salam juga.

Saya ingat, sebagai muslim, tak payahlah kita bersalaman dengan lelaki yang bukan muhrim. Kerana dosa-dosa kering macam ini ada kesannya pada hati. Timbul titik-titik hitam di hati yang lama kelamaan menjadi kekotoran seperti karat yang memang susah dibersihkan. Dosa tak kering pun memang dah banyak.. tak payahlah tambah lagi.. Kita pun jarang beristighfar.. Bila teringat sahaja. Bukan macam rasulullah yang begitu konsisten beristighfar 100 kali setiap hari..

Tak payahlah salam, kalau dah haram..

The Class is Cancelled... Again.. [sigh]

Menyampah betul.. I hate it when I sent my kids to the nursery for afternoon classes and take the hassle of going off early from home to fetch my kids at 4.00, nothing is more frustrating than having a cancelled class.

It's really annoying when you take the trouble reading up notes, doing a little research in preparation for the class and yet, when you reach there, a bunch of kids will ask "eh, ada kelas ke hari ni? Hari ni kami ada mesyuarat agong". That means the students already know that the class is cancelled.. Nobody had the courtesy of calling the teacher..

That's the thing with charity work. When you are cheap, they'll find you cheap. I bet if the time is charged, whenever the class is cancelled or not.. or if I charged a fixed pay for the month, they'll think twice to cancel it off..

The most frustrating thing was when the person in charged said "Taknya.. buat kelas pukul 4 la!". Do they really think that due to their mistake, I should be okay with waiting 1 1/2 hour and spend another 1 1/2 hour instead? I wonder if they really consider the fact that kids sent to nursery requires money? Do they ever bother to consider that we have other commitments as well?

The last time, the same thing happened to me. The school did not inform me there is a change in the timetable. The minute I entered the class, the students asked me "Eh! cikgu ajar bahasa Malaysia ke sekarang ni?". Seems that my class ended just before my scheduled time.

I'll take this as a challenge.. Maybe next year, I won't volunteer.. I'll get myself a part time job somewhere and make myself unavailable for charity work.. Maybe it is going to be more rewarding spiritually and financially!

The Class is Cancelled... Again.. [sigh]

Organizing BBQ

3 weeks ago, we had a BBQ with the neighbours.. It was a first time experience for most of us.. It was a small crowd with 6 families attending and we did it all by ourselves..

The first step was to call for a meeting.. Only 4 families attended the meeting (of course we dared not invite all because it was the first time..). It went well.. and alhamdulillah.. we had a jolly good time.. the kids were running and eating at the same time, the parents were busy catching up, and finally.. we cleaned up everything together.. hoping and promising there'll be another one before ramadhan..

So, I'm jotting everything down so that you can organize one with your friends! It may not sound perfect but it was our first attempt and to us, it was a success... Maybe I should write down tips in another entry...

Menu

BEEHOON / MEE SUP with SUP TULANG

DAGING / AYAM PANGGANG
SEAFOOD (KERANG, SOTONG, UDANG)

AIR ASAM
GRAVY
COLESLAW

NUGGET AND FRIES WITH CHILLI SAUCE N MAYO (it was a hit with the kids!)
AIR

Step-by-step on How to Organize

1. Decide on the date of the event. Get someone to ask everyone who can come.

2. Once you have all the attendee, decide how much money to collect and set the latest date to make the payment and to whom.
There were 6 families attending, we collected RM50.00 from each family and we had food leftover as well as almost RM150.00 extra...

3. Come out with a menu as well as the list of work to delegate (read up more to see the list :) )Just remember, no one is hosting so everything should be done together.

A good tip is to delegate according to expertise.. We chose Kak Yana to do the marketing because the market is like a playground for her as she goes there every week.. and we asked Ita to make drinks as she has access to the surau's big water cointainer.. he he..

4. List out the things that needs to be used
This includes mat, fork and spoon, plastic cups, plates, and tables (amazingly, we managed to get 2 plastic table, 1 big 'pasar malam' table, mats as well as dining chairs scattering around the place plus 1 big drum for the BBQ!)

5. Call up for a brief meeting.. make sure to make enough copies of the menu, list of work, list of things as well as the agenda of the BBQ.

6. Get everyone to volunteer on the task
Let them decide what they do best!

7. Get a treasurer who will collect and handle the money..

8. Pray hard everything will be a succes and HAVE FUN!

LIST OF WORK TO DO

1. marketing at the market
2. marketing at the supermarket
3. marinating chicken
4. marinating beef as well as making the gravy
5. making the soup
6. drinks and ice
7. frying fries and nugget
8. setting up fire
9. BBQing
10. setting up the table
11. making the coleslaw
12. air asam






Have fun!

Maybe i'll compile all the recipe in one entry! We had to look for all the recipe!

Organizing BBQ

Finally, Sports Day is Over

Alhamdulillah.. after the whole week struggling with the pom-pom and the script as well as the donut making at the very last minute.. D-day is finally over..

Haziq's 'rumah kuning' was the champion.. the grand event was definitely the 'tug of war'... It was hilarious to see the parents cheering for the kids.. it was even more hilarious to see the 4-year-old kids agonizing face to pull... Memang ada yang tergolek.. and I couldn't help laughing..

Being part of the teachers' team gave a whole new experience.. I couldn't cheer for Haziq that much, being busy throughout the whole event but then, it was great to be the part of the organizing team compared to the audience!

So today, I'm declaring the day off.. which means i'm ignoring everything else but myself.. A sink full of dirty dishes, a dining table with more dishes.. a heap of school uniforms that demand ironing and plenty of house chores... I deserve it! I'll think about the chores later.. but now.. I'm rewarding myself for the whole week work!

Finally, Sports Day is Over

Pregnancy Check Up

Yesterday was my 29th week pregnancy check up.. There were a lot of questions in my mind. I did made a mental note of the things that I need to ask the doctor. Though this is going to be my fifth one, giving birth is always a new experience..

Even until now, I still haven't done my pelvic floor exercise, my breathing exercise consistently.. I haven't even done my usual revision of my Dorling Kindersly book on giving birth..

From my check up yesterday..

1)I'm suppose to tell the doctor (during labour) that I want to fully breasfeed my baby if possible within the first hour after labour. If not, they will think that you need rest and feed the baby in the nursery.

I remember waiting for the nurse to send me my second baby. To my dismay, they have already fed her. What mommies do not know is that it is really important to feed your baby within the first hour to stimulate your breast into producing milk. Giving them formula milk will only delay the milk production. As soon as you feed the baby.. you can actually feel contraction to show our body's natural process of healing. Thank you Allah..

2)I must have the courage to ask for bonding with my baby.

The only time I had 'bonding' right after birth was with my first child. The minute after birth, the nurse put the baby right on my bare chest. The baby was alert and the minute the nurse took him back.. he cried his heart out as if he was really sad to be apart!

I can never explained the feelings back then. Every birth, I really want to do this but I never had the courage to tell the doctor.. Maybe it is time that I speak up..

3) The minute I have signs of labour, I should go immediately to the hospital.. It can be a a plug of mucus or the breaking of the water bag. saspennya!

4) Since I have a history of early labour, I really should pack my stuff at least 1 month before due. This time I'll pack stuff for my kids as well as they will be sent straight to the nursery if I have to go to the hospital.

and finally..

5) I'd better come out with a list of things to pack.. and things to do..

start praying doa nabi yunus! i forgot totally bout that!

Pregnancy Check Up

Mesti 'Grand' ke Wedding?

Assalamualaikum..

Baru lepas cuti sekolah, banyak wedding yang sempat saya pergi. Bermacam-macam konsep dan style yang kita jumpa.. dari pelaminnya.. sampailah ke bumbung dan khemah yang ber"scallop-scallop" mengikut tema warna..

Ada yang grand.. tak kurang yang simple. Saya tertanya-tanya.. apa sebenarnya fungsi majlis perkahwinan? Pada asalnya memanglah untuk memberitahu tentang pernikahan. Barulah orang tahu yang bunga sudah dipetik orang.

Terdengar-dengar masa kenduri kahwin, orang bercerita, rumah orang ni macam ni, rumah orang tu macam tu.. Bunga telur tu dah fesyen lama.. sok sek sana sok sek sini.. Rimas telinga mendengar..

Teringat satu kenduri yang saya pergi.. memang meriah. Nasi putih berlaukkan masak lemak daging. Memang hebat kenduri tu. Pelaminnya memang simple, sekadar langsir sebagai backdrop.. platform yang kecil cukup untuk mengambil gambar dengan background yang cantik. Tak pulak nampak pengantin sedih sebab pelaminnya tidak grand.

Hidangan pengantinnya memang sama macam tetamu lain. Ayamnya dah siap potong, bukan ayam golek seketul yang memang tak mungkin pengantin akan makan.. Karang orang kata gelojoh pulak. Siap dengan cocktail sebagai pemanis mulut.

Saya 'salute' mereka yang berani menghidangkan nasi putih, lauk kampung! Kerana sudah tentunya, mereka tidak berhabis, berhutang untuk menjamu orang. Mereka tidak takut dikata dicemuh orang kerana tiada nasi minyak. Yang saya paling suka.. disebabkan musim nasi minyak, ramai yang suka masakan kampung kerana sudah jemu dengan nasi minyak dan nasi tomato.

Sebagai orang Islam.. eloklah kita perbetulkan niat buat kenduri. Kita kan meraikan anak kita yang kahwin. Saya teringat bunga telur yang saya dapat, cantik bakul emas bermanik. Terkejut bila saya tengok harganya RM5 satu (ternampak di kedai). Bila balik rumah, bakul kecil tu sekadar hiasan.. cukup setahun, mungkin orang akan buang sebab dah berhabuk dan malas nak cuci.

Berbaloi ke berhabis untuk bunga paha dan bunga telur sedangkan orang akan buang.. cuba bayangkan 500 bunga telur x RM5, dah RM2,500 untuk bekas sahaja. RM2,500, kalau didermakan untuk surau atau masjid.. bukankah mendapat pulangan yang berlipat ganda di akhirat nanti.. Jangan duit habis.. timbul pula riak di hati.

Yang paling takut sekali kalau lepas kenduri kahwin, duit pulak tak cukup nak bayar baki duit carpet, pelamin atau catering. Mana nak cari? belum lagi 'personal loan' yang terpaksa dibayar selepas kahwin.

Saya teringat majlis perkahwinan saya sendiri.. Memang simple.. Masa saya kahwin, saya masih belajar di U. Saya sedar sendiri, duit tiada, malas nak minta itu ini dari ibu bapa saya. Majlis saya tiada pelamin, saya perasan, melilau orang cari pelamin saya kalau mereka masuk ke rumah. Bilik pengantin pun ikhsan opah saya yang meminjamkan backdrop dan cadar yang dipinjam Maklang.. Dia terkejut katil biasa, terus dia balik dan bawa cadar broketnya yang masih belum dipakai. Saya letakkan cadar lace ibu saya. Memang simple.

Baju pula saya pakai kebaya yang saya tempah dengan kain yang dipilih ayah saya di Labuan. Cuma saya pakai 'veil'. Mengamuk makcik saya.. nanti orang tak kenal pengantin yang mana.. Pergi cari kain songket.. Saya pekakkan telinga.

Meriah majlis saya bukan sebab lagu, kami tak ada PA system pun.. tapi meriah mendengar orang bersembang, bergelak ketawa dengan rakan-rakan. Alhamdulillah.. ramai ustaz-ustaz (kawan bapa saya) yang datang. Mereka datang bukan datang kosong.. saya mengharapkan doa-doa mereka agar kami bahagia ke anak cucu.

Mungkin sudah tiba masanya kita kembali ke fungsi sebenar kenduri kahwin itu sendiri. Insyaallah, jika kita berniat untuk menjamu, Allah akan bantu.. Jangan ikutkan sangat apa orang kata.. kerana orang memang akan mengata.. Yang penting ... NIAT..

Mesti 'Grand' ke Wedding?

4 Important Things

Got this from my mail..

The Holy Prophet (SAW) Said:

1) Four things that make your body sick:-
a)Excessive talking
b)Excessive sleeping
c)Excessive eating and
d)Excessive meeting/outing with people

2) Four things that destroys the body:-
a)Worrying
b)Sorrow (Sadness/Grief)
c)Hunger
d)Sleeping late at night

3) Four things that make the face looking dull and haggard:-
a)Lying
b)Being disrespectful/ impudent (knowingly)
c) Baseless arguements
d)Excessive immorality (committing sins without fear)

4) Four things that make the face glow and shine:-
a) Piety
b) Loyalty
c) Generosity and kindness
d)Helpful to others without being asked

5) Four things make the Rizqi (Sustenance) stop:-
a) Sleeping till late in the morning (from Fajr to sunrise)
b) Not Performing Fardhu or Irregular in Prayers
c) Laziness/Idleness
d) Treachery/Dishonest y

6) Four things that bring/increase the Rizqi:-
a) Staying up in the night in prayers
b) Excessive Repentance
c) Regular Charity
d) Zikr (Remembrance of Allah)

4 Important Things