Sahur

My two boys seem to be ardent fans of the internet. They have occupied this chair for quite some time before I successfully take over ........

By the way, it is the holy month of Ramadhan .....and we are not spared the thrill of performing the fasting ibadah together , with family members and with all the Muslims all over the globe.

Actually, this year the first week of Ramadhan coincides with the mid-term holidays. Hence, my culinary skills are put to the test again (because since Mum is not going to school, she must be preparing some delicious meal for Sahur - which we take at about 5 am).

At this moment, I am thinking of making 'nasi lemak' for sahur. Emm, how's that? I hope one of my children has brought in some pandan leaves from the backyard.....Otherwise, the menu has got to be changed. I'd better start cooking now, bye2...

Happy Birthday

It is my turn this week to oversee the school or rather the staff in the school office.

The beauty of carrying out this duty this week is that I only need to work on two days- exactly only yesterday and tomorrow. As for today, I am allowed to finish my paperwork at home because it is a public holiday.

My new boss however decided to come to school on 10 December 2008, on the very day I was on duty. She shook hands with me while reading my name on my name tag. (Oh God! She might come for her second visit tomorrow!)

The good news was that my mum, my nieces and my nephew (Nazmi) had come to pay us a visit. Today all the girls and my boys had had a wonderful time in Kuala Lumpur- playing like little children at the Times Square. As for me, I became the dutiful housewife, chatting with my mum before doing some shopping....and of course, doing my paperwork. (I am beginning to become obsessed with this work....)

By the way, thank God it was a public holiday! Happy Birthday to the Sultan of Selangor.

I Can't Believe It

Wow! I have not written in this blog for a week!

Guess where I had been and what had kept me busy: anyway, just enjoy the photos below:-)

The real A Famosa was discovered by accident and now it is being reconstructed by the state government.

Hi Datuk SRK!

The crowd waiting for Datuk SRK

A memorable pose before we went back to our house in T

Our first stop was the World of Bbbbbb

A trishaw ride

Mukhlis found a friend on the Flor De Lama ship

More photos next time.......................................

Grids or No Grids?

Enjoying the holiday while it lasts

As soon as I left my bed and my sejadah (praying mat), my mind was totally focused on completing last night's task. It was slightly after 6.30 in the morning.

Last night, while my family members were watching 'Harry Potter' and playing 'Monopoly', I was left on my own, at my desk, sorting out a few documents , planning my girls' study area (that was identifying the paper/books to be recycled) and wiping the cabinets and shelves.

At midnight, my daughter invited me to watch 'Midsomer Murder' as my hands were too weary to proceed with the cleaning up (during the day- folding clothes and then at night- my desk) , but I declined the invitation, knowing that a good night's sleep would allow me to resume my spring cleaning the next morning...

So, five hours of gruelling task proved to be fruitful when all my daughters (who must have felt pangs of guilt), also took part in this marathon of spring cleaning. By noon, the study area was transformed and I gladly changed course by preparing lunch.

What followed suit after that was attending an open house and shopping for a pair of basketball shoes for Mukhlis. Should I mention that we came home empty-handed? Yes, it wasn't easy finding a most 'cool' pair of shoes for him.

My next task was answering calls from students who wished to get clarification from me. That started at 8pm (Oh, yesterday was from morning to 11pm). My son too asked me about summary writing, whether to draw grids or not? (Yes, what a coincidence, I know). According to his friend, grids should not be the practice when answering the summary section, his friend was reminded by his tuition teacher and the tips in the newspaper.

My instinct told me that I had better ask my senior teacher who had marked SPM paper for many years. Her reply was simple, " The grids should benefit both parties, the candidate as well as the examiner. Hence, candidates are encouraged to draw the grids for the summary section."

May I add that the grids should be drawn in pencil, neatly and lightly , so as not to disrupt the overall neatness of the summary writing.

To the student who cares to ask me the same question raised by my son, thank you very much for doing so, I always respect your dogged determination. I guess now we know what has propelled me to change to a better person.................

The Bad Server, The Cute Cat, The Happy Birthday and Our Raya Photos

Happy Birthday S Hawa N M

The cute cat with the cute guys

First, I'd like to mention about my daughter's birthday 'party' that we hosted in Melaka. My daughter was all smiles because she didn't have to struggle for the exams anymore. She's so lucky!

On that night, we went to my auntie's house where we met a very cute and responsible cat. Since 'talking-to-cats' is my middle name, I had a fun time with this cat....

Oh, one bad news is that now I encounter a problem with the server, thus affecting my site 'www.Maheranhz.com/" . The updated version may not be accessed tonight... sad, very sad.

Please be patient......

To my students who came for Raya visit, thank you for coming. Our photos MAY be posted somewhere, some day......

Aidil Fitri

At my Mak Long's house (she is also my mum's neighbour)

It's already the fourth day of Hari Raya. As a Muslim, I celebrate Aidil Fitri as a sign of victory...that I have fulfilled my duty as a devout Muslim to fast in the whole of Ramadhan. It is a requirement which could only be assessed by Allah.

My absence from this blogspot was not intended in any way! It seems that Melaka is not really the best place for me to blog in this blogspot. There were a number of technical hitches that really took up my time....

But today I am already back..... mmm, I met the crossroads again. But this time, another good Samaritan had removed the flower pot a few feet away, making it possible to see the oncoming cars, without much hassle!

My balik kampong started with doing the much needed spring cleaning in my Tampin house. Wah, it is spick and span now. It is a real bless to have six children! The word to describe that house was 'Dusty' (when we first stepped in) but within 18 hours everything was changed-----inside and out. Thus, I breathed a sigh of relief and the whole family quickly packed up again to add the camaraderie at my mum's house in Alor Gajah.

My mum whom I consider a woman of grit, was unwell but her Aidil Fitri spirit was nonetheless unaffected. She prepared a fresh rendang for us (and for my sister and her family, and my brother and his family, who were scheduled to come back later that evening).

My Aidil Fitri schedule was packed with attending open houses. In the picture above , we were at my Mak Long's house. Well, she seemed unwell too... but this could be because two of her family members were down with the Chikugunya disease! (pardon the spelling mistake, if any).

I guess I can sum up my diary of my stay in Alor Gajah as full of visits and makan-makan.....and my children became richer than their mother at the end of the balik kampong!

The Crossroads I 'Love' ....

After 7-Eleven, you'll see a small bookstore. Get ready.....

This is the crossroads, take the left turning. Go straight on until you come to Jalan 11 where you should turn right.

When you want to go back to Rawang town, you'll have to be careful with that flower pot which will obstruct your views....can you see it?

By 4.30pm, I was done with my Raya dishes.... among others- Sambal Kacang, Rendang Ayam, Ayam Masak Merah, Ketupat, Vegetables and Ayam Masak Kicap (for the little girls) . My plan to make Mee Rebus was changed at the last minute 'coz I felt that it would spoil our Raya eve dinner. Aisyah and Hawa baked a special cake and they also made raya cookies, but I had surrendered after 5 hours of cooking.

"Yeah, shall we go buy a few more items for Raya?", a brilliant suggestion by my husband.

As we were in the car, it occurred to me that I should remind my Raya guests about the crossroads to Taman Mawar.

*Please refer to the pictures above.

I would like you to be careful when you are coming to my house as this crossroads is quite tricky to the motorists who think that most pedestrians are law-abiding citizens.

Some of these pedestrians think that they are stronger than the lorry. Being hit or not, won't make any difference to them.

Some 'beautiful' girls think that the drivers are enviously looking at their body which may make J-Lo rush to the best plastic surgeon!

Some 'busy' pedestrians must start dialling a number on their handset when they are crossing at this crossroads.

In the morning, some students are walking half-asleep at this same place!

Motorcyclists must do some stunt acts here.... weaving through cars which stop at this place.

Certain 'stuntman' who comes back from work, loves to drive straight from the road beside the 7-Eleven to Tun Teja....

A 'good Samaritan' has added the beautiful feature at this crossroads by placing a flower pot, so that more drivers will curse him when they can't see the oncoming cars from the main road.

Anyway, when my husband and I were using the road just now, the crossroads was quite deserted 'coz many people had balik kampong. We too will take a break from this crossroads, only to find many, many more crossroads in Melaka!

Doubts

A helping hand

I am not very sure if I would get the chance to blog in the next couple of days.

3 reasons for my doubts:

a) I'll be quite busy with household chores , plus making some Raya cookies and rendang, also painting and spring cleaning, oh yes, maybe I want to go to the beauty salon (gosh)

b) I may have to spend hours contacting my friends via the phone and the net (Yahoo Mail and Facebook, just to name a few)....

c) I should start packing to go back to my kampong in Alor Gajah, Melaka and next, I'll be busy cleaning my house in Tampin 'coz little children will surely come even though I only plan to rest there.

Anyway, if I happen to drop by, I'll be happy to do so...

Homely

I am a homely person today. It is Saturday and I can almost smell the enticing aroma from the school canteen ( even though to a number of people, they can only mention the less favourable adjectives to describe its food ) . Perhaps I am not very fussy about food that I have to take at my workplace. Anyway, these people who complain may not be able to serve the delectable food that would be expected from them.

The moral of the story is do not complain too much. A colleague of mine is sincere in her comments and sometimes she brings her own food from home. This is what I consider the ability to practise what one preaches. Her food is undoubtedly delicious and she also offers some of it to us in the canteen.

So, the first term school holiday is almost over, and I am going to take my son back to his school tomorrow. I think I am going to miss our daily routine during the holidays especially when it comes to doing the household chores. My children will get back their report cards whereby I will submit my students' marks to their respective form teachers on Monday.

But for now I will go back to the living room, where my children are watching tv and I would like to make the most of my time with them.... in 10 years time, things will be different in this living room....but as the saying goes, a man's home is his castle.

Virgin

That is exactly the name of the new supplement given to me this morning by my husband. I read the instructions and I noticed that I should take 4 spoonful of it every day. Well, since it meant he cared about me, I did not hesitate to take a gulp of the supplement. Not bad! One of the reasons for taking the 'Virgin Coconut Oil' was to help fight against any potential cancerous growth in my body. Maybe I could escape the surgery....who knows. This is what we call " In sickness, health is known".

Talking about oil, I just came back from the Taman Bersatu Petronas gas station - I actually had to spend about 45 minutes there and I found it quite amusing observing the behaviour of the drivers, in their attempt to save a few ringgit. In fact, one driver almost hit my lovely car and another driver got caught in a minor accident as it swerved and knocked the kerb making it impossible to move. The other drivers (including yours truly) were reasonably cool, waiting patiently for their turn...

But in my mind, till now , I keep wondering why one country is allowed to manipulate the price for the whole wide-world....Something is very wrong somewhere. I think the world trade must change, but it requires a proper understanding of trading and its consequences to the world population on the part of the suppliers. Sigh, at least I took up Economics as a subject during my varsity years...however, in the mean time, I am going to check back my budget for June onwards, bearing in mind that I need to add the 'Virgin Coconut Oil' in my revised budget. Excuse me....

One Wife

My schedule was tight over the weekend as I attended a number of wedding receptions organised by my friends, neighbours and relatives. As a rule, I did not spend more than half an hour at one place and I avoided going into the house to 'check' on the bridal chamber- which could be the practice of some people.

It was good to see the couples tying the knot and I did not wish to pry into their private lives. I was simply there to share their happiness of starting a new life with someone they care and they love. I am no judge to their choice of partner even though it is said that 'marry in haste, repent at leisure'. Furthermore, life is not plain sailing , so whatever it takes, the newly-weds will have to learn to adapt themselves to their new life. Remember, when Adam was lonely, God created for him, not ten friends, but one wife. So, good luck!!

On-duty

After taking 4 days off from school, I finally made my way to school again today as I was 'on-duty'. My definition of 'on-duty' is when the other teachers have the option to come or not, but I must, I repeat, I must clock-in and spend 5 hours in school. Plus, I must be seen doing my duty - overseeing the activities such as extra-classes, filing, stock-checking of the SPBT books and also the tedious task of painting murals and classrooms- just to name a few.

That was quite easy as everything was actually done by other people, unlike my previous duty (in 2004, 2005 and 2006) as the ICT Lab co-ordinator whereby I came (at my own will) to school almost every day during the school holidays. Those were the days!

I met a few teachers who had quite a lot of things to tell me. I found out that one of my students was in the Sungai Buloh Hospital after undergoing a surgery. Though I was offered to go along to pay him a visit, I chose to decline it as I was on-duty. Get well soon, AFHH.....

Oh my, tomorrow is another day awaiting my presence in school.....

April Showers Bring May Flowers

It started quite bad as I was late for my morning exercise - an activity that is going to be my daily routine during the school holidays.

"Mom, are you coming with us?", my little SSS (who just celebrated her 9th birthday yesterday) was asking me from the porch.

"No, honey", I replied hastily before changing my mind. "Oops, I mean.....", I rushed out of the bathroom but it was too late as my husband had already started the car engine. Phew! I had to catch a bus to the lake at Taman Bersatu since I knew he would take me to a restaurant after that.

Within half an hour, I was already at the lake, smiling triumphantly as I saw his car. 'I made it!' Unfortunately, the moment I started doing my exercises I realised that his car was no longer in the parking area! God! My knee-jerk reaction was to grasp my handset and try calling him- but there was no answer. I knew it, he must have left his mobile at home.

"Well, think positive...", I told myself. I wasn't going to waste another 70 sen, in fact I needed an exercise- so eventually you can guess what happened- I went back on foot. I reached home like a cat that got the cream. Of course, walking more than 1 km was indeed a good exercise.