Babbling time

This morning I woke up to the ringing of the alarm clock, really wanted to continue sleeping but knowing better than that. I somehow lost my voice today since having a slight cough yesterday. It is really no fun talking today and when I do not have the wish to talk, somehow, there’s lot of things crop up, discussions etc and I just had to talk with this hoarse voice sounding very foolish indeed. However every now and then, it sounded like a romantic sexy voice though or I’m just trying to kid myself or dreaming perhaps in order to feel better about it.

This week it was a shopping season in KL and working in KL in a place that is within walking distance to the big shopping center, what else I could do but shopped. Truthfully said I found it to be a wonderful, wonderful experience to do this, it’s quite therapeutic in nature to be able to possess something new by just exchanging it with signatures on the credit card slips. It soothes my soul and makes myself feel good looking at the inventory of materials bought and it did not take a huge effort to just ignore the damages.

I can be compulsive to the extent of bankrupting myself but once I have done it to the extreme I will stop doing it for ages to come. It’s like when I have the urge to eat chocolate and I would buy the biggest box I could find of an expensive succulent chocolates that warmed my heart and soul as I devoured them and I would not stop until the whole box was vacant. But once it’s finished and I was fully satisfied, I wouldl remain so for the next couple of years and would not even look at the chocolate with any interest again. Until such time comes, when the desire returned but then the whole consumed calories have been wasted away.

There have been changes at the office as well and some are leaving to the greener side of the pasture. So there have been farewells at the office as well as after office hours. I don’t really like the after office affair except I felt compelled to celebrate for those who I have worked closely. Like yesterday, I went to spend some time with friends for a farewell of a colleague. I was there but my mind was in the state of hovering over the feeling of guilt for leaving the children behind and the need to have times for myself occasionally. However I found that I couldn’t wait to get home and once I reached home I was received by a beaming Emir who ran downstairs to greet me and acted so happily like he hasn’t seen me in months. My heart was filled with warmth of having seen him, gathered him in my arms and showered him with kisses as I carried him upstairs. I also acted as if I haven’t met him in months. Fatini was sleeping though. As I watched my kids I felt like I do not want to leave them for any length of time ever again.

The cute boy singing

Emir took a stool, put on the hat he made in the art&craft class, took the guitar and began strumming and singing with earnestness that he possesses. (look at the way he hold the guitar hahaha). He looked so adorable (to me) that I quickly grabbed the camera and took shots.

Actually Emir sings all the time, in the car, in school, in the house, while doing his work... I can see he enjoys singing tremendously and musics seem to be next to natural to him. He sings english songs and chinese songs he learned at school, on the player and on TV. He appreciate musics. Lately I have been looking for the CD from his musicgarten class which I had misplaced (or Fatini had misplaced) so that I can play it on the player. I still haven't gotten around to do this searching thoroughly so I still haven't found it

Emir started attending musicgarten since he was 2 1/2 years old and Fatini since she was 4 years old. This class is prerequisite for them before taking any musical instrument. They learn to appreciate instruments, musics, rythms, tones etc. Fatini is at the stage where she will start on the keyboard next week. However Emir is the one who I can see more musically inclined and seems to have remarkable enjoyment in musics and songs.

I believe musics is essential for children in their early years brain development. I can't explain it but maybe the experts can. As for me, I'd like to sing and play but it's all in my head as far as I can do. I don't have any talents nor the voice nor the tunes inbuilt in me.

and there are 3 little girls ....

There are three little girls Fatini, Mysara and Uzma who like each other so much but one of them live far away from the other 2 sisters. However when one knows the other was coming, they will feel so excited and will wait for the arrival of the other one. They are so excited to see each other and will play together the whole day long. They eat together and even take showers together.

There is also one little boy named Emir who always join the girls but since he was the only boy, he sometimes get bullied by the other three. He is always the one who has to become the monster and chase the girls who ran away in excitement. Emir is about the same age as Uzma. When they fight Uzma always win though and that's because Uzma is one determined little girl.

The two little girls called Fatini's mommy with "Mommy" as well which always melt the woman's heart.

The 3 little girls and 1 little boy will grow up and have many memories of times spent together.

Welcome to the world

We welcome the latest addition into our family from my youngest sister Azizah who gave birth last Thursday. An extremely adorable baby girl, resembling very close to her two elder sisters. Still unnamed.

Welcome sayang....may God grace you with abundance of prosperity and success.

Vanity keeps me alive

My genius conversation with hubby. Every time it crops up along this line.

Conversation 1

Me: I think I'm so fat now. What do you think? Am I looking fat to you? (me in front of the mirror in my new clothe)

DH: No...you're just fine ! (Lazy answer from him without looking)

Me: Come on…. Look at me and tell me the truth…(me scrutinizing my form)

DH: I like you the way you are (still not looking at me properly)

Me: Don’t say that! Just tell me the truth okay!

DH: Well, if you lose that flab a bit, it would be nicer

Me: Flab....? What flab? I don’t see any flab. (Now me twirling around really looking for those flabs he mentioned)

DH: Okay, No flab, you are just fine.

Me: Come on… tell me the truth….!!!! Am I fat or not?

Conversation 2

Me: Do you think I’m beautiful? (while checking my wrinkles and pores in the mirror)

DH: I don’t know

Me: What do you mean by “I don’t know”? You must have some opinion

DH: I think you are just okay

Me: What do you mean by just okay. I can’t be just okay to you..I'm your wife!

DH: Yes, you are beautiful, otherwise I won’t marry you (what a standard answer coming from him!)

Me: Why do you say that I’m beautiful, which part? (unbelieving but still want to probe further)

DH: Well, maybe your nose

Me: What! My nose… A nose cannot make someone beautiful. Come on why do you say I’m beautiful

DH: I don’t know, you nose, your mouth, overall maybe

Me: How can you say that? It’s illogical! Tell me truthfully, am I beautiful or not?

Haha, never get satisfactory answers until now. I’ll ask the questions again next time around.

Kuantan

(who's this guy?)

It was a lovely time spending the weekend away.

We went to Kuantan for the weekend. I thought it was only a two hour journey. It turned out to be 3 hours and we arrived in the evening. But just enough time for the kids to splash in the pool. It’s been a while since we went anywhere to the east coast. However the roads still looked familiar to me as I have travelled this way so many times some years ago. I was delighted to see the town and the beach. It was amazingly beautiful. The kids had a great time especially Fatini. Came night time, Emir wanted to go home because he missed home and he said he wanted to water the plants at home. Emir was such a homely person after all.

School, kids and others

Hahaha. I’m so happy. Yesterday, totally unplanned, I bought a digital camera. Not really unplanned as I have been thinking about it, it's just I didn't think it would be yesterday. (I’m really not sure whether I’d been conned on the price, I’m not normally a smart buyer. And since the shop wanted to charge me extra if I use credit card, I paid cash. Another mistake!)

But it’s been a while without me having a proper one since that fateful day when Emir dropped my RM1700 camera and stuck the zoom. Since then I didn’t have any. Instead I thought it was smart to combine a handphone with a camera and had bought my Nokia instead which has 5 MP camera. But now I want better quality pictures (my new one has 12 MP). And on top of the handphone I had bought a videocam which I regretted after because the battery life was so short. (Seems that I’m very good at wasting money!,)

Actually I have lots other reasons why I should buy a new one. My kids’ school projects, the holidays coming, my growing up children, etc etc. Lots of reasons….

Look like I’d be posting more pictures now. Not yet anyway, since I just fully charged it last night. This month it’s been shopping, shopping and shopping for me. The sales started everywhere and what else can I do during my lunch hour? The option is eat or shopping. I did both. So next month it will be a painful one for me when the credit card bill arrive.

Fatini has started her Taekwondo just after my posting on Emir’s last time. She wanted to do it. So both of them have been going to the same Taekwondo class twice a week and already have the uniform and white belts. So far they have enjoyed the class and never complain.

I have been busy checking private school for Fatini. I have actually registered her to the SRJKC because she wanted to do Mandarin at Chinese school, but thinking about long term planning and everything that going on now, I plan to send her to private school instead. It will be more convenient for me anyway since I’d be at work in KL the whole day. So I need a good, comfortable and a secure place for my children. Anyway Fatini and Emir are still doing the daily mandarin classes in the afternoon and I hope will continue.

Emir has made a major milestone. He has started reading three letter words. His phonic recognition is excellent. Mommy is so proud of you, Emir. Before this, Emir read a lot of books at a speed of 10 books within 15 minutes, Yes, 10 books! But by just looking at pictures and making up stories based on his imagination. He seems to enjoy reading which I hope it’s true. As for his pelatness, it’s improving a lot now!

As for Fatini, she has now become a fluent reader suitable for her age and can read books by herself. She can read English, Malay and Mandarin. Her Mandarin teacher really have good words for her. She said if you cover Fatini's face and ask her to speak Mandarin, people will think she's chinese from her pronounciation. Good job sayang.

Photoshoot

The other day Fatini told me, just when she woke up, “Mommy I think when I sleep. Do you also think when you sleep?” O oh… my girl has started to be aware of her dream. “No, mommy don’t think when I sleep, Mommy dream….” I told her.

So from that time on when she woke up sometimes she told me that she dreamt. Yesterday she told me, “ Mommy I like croissant so much. At night I dreamt about eating croissant!” Now, she must be thinking about food so much.

Yesterday after picking the children up, the road was unusually jammed with traffic. If we take too long on the road, the kids would start telling me they want to shee shee. Which really irritate me because I have to find a place to stop and it was not easy considering the traffic was not moving. Anyway, somewhere in Tropicana I stopped at one gas station. The toilets were outside and guess what the ladies toilet was locked. Why do they lock the toilet? Bloody h*ll. My children couldn’t wait. The male toilet got a few men inside. So I went to the back, and let my children release themselves there. No choice! Anyway Emir got his pants wet. So I went into the gents toilet and clean the kids, and made one man wait outside patiently. I didn’t care anymore. Leceh betul….

I already planned to take the kids to the photo shop because I need some photos of Fatini for her primary school application. I had told the children so they were looking forward to it. So even though we were late we stopped at one shopping mall. I parked the car and walked in with the kids. Only one photo shop was there and the printing machine or whatever was down as they told me. Feeling disappointed for wasting my time I told Fatini maybe we could take the pictures tomorrow. She was unhappy about it and I didn’t have the heart to let her down. So back into the car, and we went to another part of the town.

Okay, so we found the shop at last and walked in. Emir took a seat first and started posing. The funny thing was he looked into the camera but as soon as the photographer counted to three he will look downward or side ways or up or shut his eyes. So every time the picture was snapped his eyes was either close or looking somewhere. After about ten shoots, and still no good pictures, the photographer gave up and asked Fatini to take a pose instead. Fatini being good finished after two snaps. Then Emir took the seat again, this time he completed after two snaps. Thank God!

A backward mind

In my blog I really refrain from commenting on politics or anything close to it but this morning I was so upset when I heard the news that the current government reverses back the teaching of Science and Maths subjects from English to BM. They have lined up all measures instead to improve the children’s English by increasing hours in English Language class and increasing the numbers of English teachers. When I read the measures the more pissed I become.

This person whoever that is making the decision has missed it. The so called experts and specialists that were involved in the task force team or workshop whatever they called it have been misled. They are confused about English as a language versus the usage of English in Maths and Science subjects.

In English language classes, students do not learns science and maths!!!! English class is language class! Science and maths are technical subjects!!! Language subject versus technical subjects, get it? English teachers don't teach maths and science! The maths and science teachers are not language experts.

In language classes they don’t apply the Science and Maths terms and application!! In maths and science classes grammar don’t matter! In addition, they are so many branches of maths and sciences. For example, in Biology at A level grade there are lots of writing but hardly there's any language structure there, mostly facts and figures. A level Chemistry, Physics, add maths, where do we use so much grammar or full structure of sentences here? Don't even mention the local curriculum in these subjects for primary and secondary.

Maths, Science and technology do not originate from this country and our people hardly make significant discoveries in these areas. We learn from other countries discoveries and advanced research. Because theseother countries can afford to spend billions in research. Even in my field, the oil and gas industry, all programs, equipment, new technologies, even some experts etc are all imported.

So really, we don’t care whether children’s grammar is correct or not in English when they learn Science and Maths subjects. We want them to be familiar with the technical terms and application and this really help them in life. We want to create a new generation with broader mind here. There are thousands of children reference books in Maths and Science in English which are very well written whether local or overseas. These available references expand the children minds after learning some basics at school. At least our children do not become “ katak bawah tempurung”. What’s important is the knowledge and that they are at par when discussing these subjects with students worldwide. Their grammar in English as a language will improve as years went by and they grow up. These are not concerns.

So I wonder what are the actual problems?

Children and students are not the problems. You put them anywhere in this world and they will catch up very fast. Even if I send my children to Germany and get them to attend classes in German now, language or technical subjects, I bet they will have no problems in no time. That’s how absorbing, expanding and adaptable the young minds are.

If the problems are teachers, solve the teachers problems. Why do the children have to take the blow if inadequacy comes from the authority. Anyway, the teachers need not be perfect in English to teach Science and Maths. They just need to apply the correct technical terms. The medium of instruction can be mixed at this stage until they improve the teacher’s college curriculum.

Or is it the bahasa ibunda problem? Then improve and add additional hours on the local language classes!

Everybody wants the best for their children. The world is moving fast forward and we cannot reverse backwards. The rich will send their kids to private or international schools now. The average and poor ones will have no choice. Who constitute the rich in our country and who are the poor?

Ghost

These nights it was so cold at night with the aircond on. It was so difficult to get up in the morning. However last night for whatever reason that beyond me, I woke up and couldn’t sleep. When this happened I will normally get out of bed and went to watch TV. Sometimes I even enjoyed the solitary moments in the middle of the night. However last night failing to return to sleep I decided to go downstairs to grab a drink. The house was quite dark with a couple of night lights here and there. However I noticed shadows seems to be everywhere. As I stepped down the stairs, I began to imagine long tussled hair ghost with white long dress lurking somewhere and everywhere and I began to feel scared. My imagination started to get wild (I hate it when this happened) so I avoided looking anywhere and especially at the windows when I was in the kitchen, too afraid I may see something horrid. The more I tried not to think of it the more images came to my ever so creative mind. Quickly I open the refrigerator and took out a drink and began to walk to the stairs again. I really wanted to dash upstairs like a scared chicken as I imagine the ghost following me closely behind but I refrained myself. “Cool, cool….there’s nothing there…” I read some verses quickly. Once upstairs quickly I opened the bedroom door and looked at my hubby and children. See, they are here, nothing to be scared of!!!” I told myself. I felt so relieved back to my sanctuary.

Hahaha. How come I still think of this at this age? Being scared in my own home! Well, all this occur because some months ago the neighbour told us that their maid saw a ghost outside the window around midnight. Well, it could just be anybody but I was feeling scared all the same. The conversation still played on my mind sometimes. I hate it when I remember these ghosts stories. It really scared me. I never watch any local ghost or horror story. I don’t like them and watching these movies are just pure tortures. I don’t mind watching the western Vampires movie though, somehow somewhere in my mind Draculas and Vampires are not that real. Local ghost is something else. Are these ghost for real? Nobody knows for sure. I hope they are not!

Well this morning I woke up not thinking at all about the ghost. It just seem so unreal at daylight. Fatini as usual woke up early as well since she slept early last night. I made her toast and marmite that she liked so much. She even had some time to read rhymes from the book while waiting for me to get ready. Emir was something else. He continued sleeping even as I transferred him to the car. I hope they will have good day at school today.

The weekend

We had a good weekend. Saturday afternoon we went to the Garden to watch the current hot film the Transformers. I have seen the first one so I was looking forward to this one. We brought the kids and Emir was wearing the Transformer t-shirt. Because of the kids we bought the Gold class. It was my first time in the gold class at the cinema. I enjoyed the seat and it was so comfortable. I had quite a good time snuggling with Emir throughout the movie. Emir is still like a baby to me. It’s so nice to hug him. The movie kept Emir interested the whole time. Fatini slept in Papa’ embrace after 5 minutes the movie started and woke up only when it ended. When I watched the first Transformer, I had an ache in the neck possibly due to the tension watching the fighting etc. this time I didn’t have that pain because of the comfy seat. Emir was so besotted with the movie that back at home he was still playing pretending to be the Optimus and refused to let me become Optimus.” Mommy is Bumblebee!” he said.

That night my husband siblings and their families dropped by. They came from up north to send one of the kids to college. As always I love to have them around because they are such lovely and lively lot. Orang utara noh… We chit chatted until well over midnight and the kids were happy to see their cousins too. As they announced quite late that they were coming, I didn’t prepare anything but ordered foods from the café nearby. Hahaha I’m so lucky that we have a café behind the house. Guests to my house will always have food no matter what!

On Sunday, as usual we went to the swimming pool and let the kids splash in the water. I went to the gym just nearby trying to burn calories while waiting for them. Sweat a bit and felt quite happy about my little exercise.

Sunday night normally stresses me knowing the next morning I have to get up early to prepare to go to work. So this morning I was really dragging myself. I really hate Monday morning or weekday mornings actually for that matter! And I always came in late to work on these Mondays.

On the more somber note, my nephew Hakeem was in the hospital for minor infection and as per last night he’s still there as he had to finish the antibiotic course. Expected to discharge today. I had told Fatini about Hakeem being hospitalized last week and from time to time kept asking me whether Hakeem has gone home already. My husband had gone last week to see him and he was okay. We decided not to bring the kids to the hospital because of current pandemic situation. Hakeem, hope you will be patient until you get out of the hospital today, ok!