Fun With Playdoh

My eldest boy entertaining his youngest brother, not with computers or a playstation system...just the old fashion fun time with Playdoh!

Summer Barbecue

It is nice to be invited to a barbecue party...and it is even nicer your designated chef doesn't give up when the demands keep coming from the hungry party guest...Me! Thanks Josh Ramly! and Mrs!

Clowning Around

My five year old is always looking for ways to entertain himself and always a smile on his face. Today he decided to be a clown's apprentice. A happy child is a blessing, and Saud is like sunshine to me. Even if it is pouring, I hope he will learn to dance in the rain.

When my first son was born, I think we went all out...bought all the things we thought we would need; a crib, a moses basket, a playpen, bottle steamer, you name it - we had it. The bottle steamer was of course the most used item next to the travel system stroller. If  he drops the pacifier, another is on hand and the pacifier is washed and back in the steamer. We were excited over everything he does. A camera is never far behind to take those precious moments...his first step, first birthday, first everything. If he coughed, we would think it the end of the world and drove straight to the doctor.

Then three years later, came the second boy. Somehow, with him we were a little relax. OK, a lot relax. Perhaps because we were no longer new to parenting. He drops his pacifier, we applied the one second rule ~ just say Bismillah and wipe the pacifier with the back of my hand and back into his mouth. And by the third child, forget the pacifier! As we were always travelling between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, the children hardly get any hand-me-downs.  Basic needs such as stroller and babies crib were always new too because it is troublesome to bring them back and forth.

I would like to think that I treat my children equally and that they have a balance life. If I buy anything, it comes in three so that nobody feels left out. So when my second born started displaying certain characteristics, which bring me up the wall, I've been reminded about the 'second child syndrome'. Is there really a second child syndrome? This 'second child traits' which I see often in my second born is he does things that get him into trouble, simply as a way of seeking attention from me. Other than that, he is the exact opposite of what has been described in most psychology books.

They say second born may not respond to your bout of affection as a way of probably making you feel guilty about not giving him enough time.  With  Saud, he's always kissing or hugging me, his older brother and anyone who remotely gives him any attention. In fact, sometimes he follows me while his brothers wait at home. I try to give him more attention specifically because I wanted to avoid creating second child traits. There is a 3 year plus gap between him and his older brother, and a 2 year gap between him and his younger brother.

The books I read also say that the second child may be a loner...Saud loves company. If my mum or my sister, pays us a visit, he would ask without fail, " I love you Grandma/Auntie Lind.Come sleep in my house." He hates it when they leave. I also read that second child hates to be compared to his siblings, with Saud it is not so. He always have this nonchalant look when I tell him not to miss behave. And when I scold his brothers, he would flash a big grin and says "I am good right, Mama." It is not question, rather a statement.

Saud told his Grandma in the car today that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is named after him and not the other way around. We named him Saud, because he was born in Saudi. Around the time he was born, my husband was close to a member of the Al-Saud royal family. A week after he was born, we still didn't have a name. We were on the telephone with my mum in Malaysia when my husband told her we were considering Saud, and mum told him, "Oh, Noreen' s great great grandfather's name was also Saud." So hubby decided that was it.

Saud is derived from the Arabic word Sa'eed which  means happiness. It also carries the meaning of fortunate, wellness and felicity.  Felicity is of Latin origin and the meaning too, is happy. The meaning of the name, maketh the person, I've been told. If so I am indeed Grateful! 

Beware! Child Proofed

Grateful for one less thing to worry about...now that I have child proofed the house. Next, look for alarm, buzzer, camera implants to ensure child safety?

Today the nation is rocked yet again of another child been kidnapped. This time a 7th Grade student, Nayati Moodliar, was abducted by unknown perpetrators whilst on his way to school (Mont Kiara International School) on Friday morning. The abduction occurred at approximately 7:35 am. Like most boys his age, they all walk to school which is just a short distance from home.

It was just over a month ago, that another child  was kidnapped and murdered.  Five-year-old Nurul Nadirah Abdullah charred body was found buried in an oil palm estate in Nusa Damai, Masai, on March 8. Nurul Nadirah, went missing on March 1 after going to the shop near her flat alone to buy some instant noodles. The incident also occured near her home.

So are we going to keep our children prisoners at home to feel safe?...Usually, I would send my son to school right infront of the gate, but after the tragedy that took the life of Nurul Nadirah, I would wait at least another twenty minutes before moving away from his school even after the gates are locked. I get all worked up when the road is jammed (on a two-minutes drive to his school) thinking anything can happen if I am late to pick him up.

Constantly reminding him not to follow strangers or be conned into taking sweets or gifts from people he doesn't know while waiting for me. Always telling him to think fast and scream his lungs out if anyone as much as try to talk to him (anyone who is not in school uniform that is). Not trusting my husband, when he volunteers to pick him up from school, I would call him, five minutes after he leaves, to find out if he has the child in custody.

At night, before going to bed I make sure that I locked, latched, bolted the doors and repeated the efforts within the space of fifteen minutes, just to be sure I locked the doors and still wonder if have I done enough to keep the children and house secure. Yes, I have become paranoid, where my children are concerned. I am even going through my blog just to be sure there is no mention of place where we live or go to school.

Parents and the MKIS school community were putting up posters through out the day and night, created facebook page "Please help us to find Nayati Moodliar" and doing what they can to give moral support to Nayati's parents.  Twitterverse is also doing what they can to help spread the news. I can't imagine what the Moodliars' are going through, watching the television today, distraught is not even close to describe it. This boy maybe a stranger to me, but he is a "son" to all now. I pray for Nayati's safe return. Hopefully it will be soon, though soon is not soon enough for the devastated Moodliars.

It brings shivers and heart breaking just thinking of what is happening to the child right now or his family. Ya Rab, protect my children, my family and my marriage from harms way...be it human, animal or natural disaster.

إِنَّ رَبِّيَ اللَّهُ هُوَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمُ ،مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ كَانَ وَمَا لَمْ يَشَأُ لاَ يَكُونُ لاَ حَوْلَ ،
وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ ،
أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ،
وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا،
أَعُوذُ بِالَّذِي يُمْسِمِنْكُ السَّمَاءَ أَنْ تَقَعَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ شَرِّ كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ رَبِّي آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَا إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ

Skype...Yipee!

Last decade's must have gadgets must look silly to the next generation. I am grateful that cutting edge technology has made it easier for my five year old to connect to his dad who is away. No more costly phone bills, just expensive gadgets. I myself though still prefer phones that are attached to the wall.

Remember when all you had was the rotary dial house telephones, or that when making a call requires you to look for coins and the phone booth? (I feel like all these new gadgets just took away half the fun) and then it was the cordless phones and now you have smart phones...kids nowadays would probably think what kind of device is this... a phone stuck on the wall? whoever heard of such a thing? a phone on the wall? My five year old looks at me incredulously when I ask him to answer the house phone. He has this "You have got to be kidding" look when he picks it up.

Or remember the time when you thought it was fashionable to have one of those walkmans? discmans? and jogging around the neighbourhood with your ears all covered with the headphones. Nowadays I see children going around with those match box ipods complete with uncountable list of songs and really tiny barely there earphones. And of course no old neighbourhood jog for them, you must belong to a fitness club.

Even super size computers are revamped and resized to the shape of my palm! I used to go around with a separate bag just for the laptop. Emails replacing letters. I miss those moments when you see the postman and you get all gleeful that someone thought of you and wrote an actual letter...Now, it is instant messaging, facebook, twitter, skype and other social applications on the world wide web. Now, if I do get anything from the postman, they are only bills and reminders. Crap!

And now even my watch has become a piece of jewellery. If you look around you everything comes with a digital display of the time. In the kitchen on the microwave, on the TV decoder or the DVD player, your telephone and even this computer, right at the right hand corner. I step out of the apartment, I see the clock on the KLCC tower. So who needs a watch?

My five year old couldn't care less, as I reminisce all these long-forgotten gadgets...to him Baba  (his father) is on the screen...Mekkah suddenly is just a click away.Grateful!

Dinos Alive!

Earlier this year, my youngest son had a fascination with dinosaurs, and said that he wanted to see one...Where am I going to find dinosaurs in the 21st Century? Only in Ultraman series  (you know the raksaksa gorgon) or cartoons like Flinstones (I still laugh when I see Fred Flinstone making his getaway powered by his feet)...so I was lucky coincidentally there was an exhibition on dinosaurs at the National Science Centre. I am grateful his fascination was temporary...I can't imagine if they still exist and keeping a pet-dino in the backyard and little 3 year old going "Here Dino, Dino, Dino!" (like a normal pet fish and the child goes Here fishy, fishy, fishy" as he proceeds to throw the fish food). Dibo the gift Dinosaur was as far as it goes. It would have been a very expensive pet to keep. I probably have to get my roof fix or have my house trampled on every other day.

Housekeeping

Another surprise from my  first born...he probably feels his mum was sad, he asked me "Can I do anything for you?"...and obediently make his bed! Grateful!

And my second boy, probably has a big smile because he doesn't have to do anything!

Raising Mum (And Dad)!

So happy my first born woke up with a smile and eager to go to school. I am grateful because today was a breeze instead of giving me a hard time and asking for 5 more minutes of zzzzz time, and another 5 minutes, and another 5....and 1001 excuses on why today is not a good day to go to school.

I am a really easy going mum...that's because I grew up with a stickler for discipline, my Dad!  So raising my own children, I didn't want my children to be scared of me like I was of  my dad. I think children who had a parent or parents who were (or are) in the armed forces will know what I mean. Let me put it in the easiest way I can think of...his discipline method was so easy, he would just give us "the look" with his eyes, a sign that something bigger was coming if we continue anything that he disapproves off (My dad was a drill Sargent  when he was younger and you probably could hear him from miles and went on to become KL Traffic Chief  and retired as the Selangor Commissioner of Police).

Like the English saying, "Children should be seen and not heard." That was how we grew up, nobody dared to cry let alone fight or make noise when he was around. This should explain my passion for books because I am sure I will never get in trouble and when Dad asked me any questions, I had the answer at the tip of my tongue. I didn't want to hear the booming voice, because that could only mean somebody has done something wrong. But my Dad never raised his voice or his hand on any of his children. Never! because there was never a need to, we were well behaved children, my Mum will proudly vouch for it, but she will add "but I don't know what happened to them when they grew up." Thanks a lot Mummy.

Mind you although my parents were strict, I could always speak my mind and let my arguments be heard. Dad was fair, if I had a strong argument for doing against something and can stand my ground, my Dad would let me have my ways. My Dad believed times have changed and It is the survival of the foetus, and he believed his two daughters can grow and survive anywhere. Living in a house full of brothers, my Dad raised us girls to be tough like boys and to be independent. He would always challenge me and see if I would rise to his challenges.

The first day I had my driving license, my Dad shove the car keys and told me to drive him around. A week as his chauffeur, I had a dispute with a motorcyclist, my Dad just watched and let me settle the matter myself and of course I was on the right! The man said sorry and hurriedly went on his way.  Even now, sometimes, my husband tells me "Can you be like a woman and let me handle the problem" when we are faced with kiasu drivers and I am ready to roll up my sleeves to pick a fight with the male driver who had crossed my path. Temper! Temper!

Now, back to my own children, this same method wouldn't work. I've tried! I guess as people tell me all the time...Children nowadays...It's the food... Anak engkau tak makan saman!...I blame it on their non - Malay genes (sorry hubby). Hehehehe. I try to get my children to be the best children you could ever wish for ~ obedient, eat at the table not in front of the TV, in bed by 8pm, everything-you-want-Mum-I-will-do-it...but no such luck.  There will always be an argument on everything. The only way we have learn from each other is to compromise and bargaining, of course; for example I let my son sleep an extra 10 minutes, he would pack his school books the night before. Or he would wear his pyjamas to bed, if I would let him have a little TV time before he goes to sleep.

I wasn't keen on the ways of my parents and I am not keen on my husband's side too, so I guess we are raising our children (with lots of trials and errors) the best way that suits us. My siblings and I grew up with fear and respect for Dad (Mum was  considered the "good cop") and I felt that we couldn't always be open with him. I don't want to be my children's friend, I want to be their Mum. I want my children to have admiration and respect for their parents, that they will open up and seek our opinions when they grow up and face life challenges. But for now no matter how much kerenah they put up, I am grateful I have been blessed with beautiful healthy children. Starting the day today with little resistance was enough to make me grateful. Alhamdulillah!

Typical Sunday Bazaar

A day of leisure at a bazaar...Grateful!...found cute smock dresses, kids pajamas, washable sanitary pads and other eco friendly home made products. I think bazaars in other countries offer things at really bargain price, I mean much cheaper, compared to bazaars in Malaysia. Things like home made handicrafts, orange or lemonade stands, spices and vintage things are in abundance. I love watching the street scene, merchants bargaining with buyers,and when you are tired of typical Malaysian food, you might consider eating at those open courtyard bazaars. Everything is so colourful, so vibrant.

One of the more famous souqs or bazaars would be the Souq al Hamidiyah in Syria. The bazaar is located in the old walled city of Damascus. This is a must visit bazaar, if you ever get to travel to Syria. It is the largest and oldest bazaar in the world, it dates back to 1863, during the Ottoman ruler Sultan Abdul-Hamid, after whom the souq was called.

Souq al Hamidiyah is covered with high iron vaulting, so old that sun rays filter through it into the darkness of the souq. The shops here sell just about anything and everything, from tissues to leather-work, from sweets and ice-cream to exquisite handmade brocades, mosaic, and copper inlaid with silver, everyday wear to wedding dresses.

This bazaar consists of three interconnecting souks; Souq Midhat Basha, Souq al Harir and Souq al Bzourieh. Souq Midhat Basha, or the Long Souq stand stands built around 1878 above the Roman 'Street Called Straight' which used to traverse the city from Bab al-Jabieh to Bab Sharqi, and runs parallel to Souk al Hamidiyah, with numerous side-souqs separating them.

The entrance of Souq al Harir is at the end of souq al Hamidiyah just outside the Omayyad Mosque. The shops here are filled with local embroidered clothes, perfume essence, and tailoring and sewing needs.Here, too, a number of old khans have been converted into shops, best known for their cloaks, capes, mantles, shawls, and galabiya'.

Souq Al Bzourieh extends between Souq Midhat Pasha and the Omayyad Mosque and is famous for its quaint little fruit, medicinal herbs and confectionery.  In the middle of this souq you will also find those public baths similar to Turkish Hamam which has been in continuous use from the twelfth century.

It took me two whole days and I still feel that I have not really covered the whole bazaar. My first trip to Souq al Hamidiyah was in August 2009. I hope it won't be my last. (See my Syria album if you are my Facebook friend)

Tutti Frutti

While other parents complained that they struggle to get the children to eat vegetables and fruits, I am grateful my children can never get enough...Alhamdulillah!

TGIF

Thank God it's Friday! Alhamdulillah...I get to breathe and live on a day filled with barakah. My boys look forward for Fridays because they get to follow baba (Mohammad) to the mosque for the Friday Prayers. Only my three year old is left behind because his dad can't handle all three.

In Mekkah, both boys used to follow Mohammad to the mosque most of the time. On Fridays especially, they don on nice clothes and put on perfume, get pocket money, and then follow Mohammad for a gathering (it is similar to a gathering) at the mosque. They get all excited about going to the mosque, because they meet relatives and friends there. My eldest attends the tahfeez after Asar everyday except on Thursdays and Fridays, and masyallah commit to memory several of the Juz Amma, infact more than I do.

While I am very relax about religion, I am glad they pick on things by themselves like when they watch us pray, the children too, try to imitate what we do. Tofe has come to an age that he understands religion at the basic level, like what is wrong and what is right behaviour and what behaviour would be rewarded and what he would be punished.

I feel that while Friday is a day full of barakah, everyday that I get up is a blessing in itself.

Helping Hand

Going for a walk with hubby...Alhamdulillah my husband's nephew is around to watch the children while we are gone. I am not sure if he is going to be (baby)sitting or  be bullied by the children though. I feel safer someone is watching them, although there are CCTVs around and house guests must use key cards to get on to any levels of the hotel floors.

We don't have a maid and because there is no one around in the house, I usually take my troopers with me everywhere I go. And to me this can really be a pain, especially if I am planning to run errands or just make a quick stop to the 7/11 store. Taking them with me to run errands means there will be extra expenses because my children think money comes from trees and just pick things from the grocery store aisles, and a quick one minute stop means ten minutes because they would insist for something each.

I hardly leave my children with anyone, even if at my mum's house, there is a maid who entertains their needs while I attend to my chores but my mum is around to keep an eye. So, getting a helping hand once in a while is something I am grateful for, at least it gives me some time for myself.

Hair Salon For Kids

Mission accomplished! Moving to a new city or just tired of the same old thing, finding a new stylist can be a challenge especially when it involves children. So I am grateful we found a hair dresser in Kuala Lumpur who is good with kids...you know how kids are, they never stay put long enough at least until the hair dresser finishes. My kids usually go back with half of their heads done and some people came to the conclusion I had done the job myself because they are lopsided.

Arabian Food In A Box

Although my husband loves Malaysian food, he wouldn't mind home cooked Arabian meals sometimes. I am grateful that Middle Eastern supermarkets exist in Malaysia so he can never use the "I miss Arabian" food line on me.

One of the things I miss most when we return to Saudi Arabia is Malaysian food. Being married to a non-Malaysian, initially I did not realised that there would be problems regarding food or culture. I had assumed food was the same anywhere else in the world. I mean there are so many non-Malaysian restaurants that we go to in Kuala Lumpur and I really enjoyed those that I've tried here, and I assumed it would be the same in Saudi Arabia.

So when I first got there, I tried everything, there were some I liked and there were some that until now I could never get used to. And in our household, the women folks loved the sour taste too much! Remember those beribu-ribu lemon, in the dish washer advert, that is nothing...I can't remember a day without lemon in the food...It is catastrophic if you say out loud there is no lemon in the house. I mean even the kids would just cut up a lemon and eat it. I cringed everytime my kids do it.

When I first discovered that there was a Malaysian restaurant nearby, I thought I can live here, I was so ecstatic, until I had my first taste of their rendang and sate, they don't cook the same way we do in Malaysia or remotely taste like Malaysian food. So how was I going to survive in my new home? Will I die of starvation?  The alternative was to get used to Arabian food, learn to cook or just live on take aways.

Unlike living in Riyadh or Jeddah, where you can easily get home deliveries and things are basically like in Malaysia, minus women are not allowed to drive, in Mekkah where we lived along with the extended family, you have two choices; eat what ever they cook in the house or if you want a KFC, learn to make your own. Because I have to depend on any male family members to drive me (read "hubby but he is rarely home"), I can't have outside food as often as how I live in Malaysia. It is not that we eat out all the time in Malaysia, I love home cook food (read "eat at mum's place) it is just that I have a choice in Malaysia, to cook or not to cook.Whereas, in Mekkah, cook or starve, and with three kids to think of, (and it is not easy because there is only one common kitchen, so if I cook anything, I have to think of others in the house too) I had to learn cook Arabian food. 

You must be wondering that surely the ingredients would be available in Mekkah to cook Malaysian food.Why didn't I cook? ...I lived with my in laws and there are like 20 people in the house. My husband's sisters-in-law does the cooking at home in the common kitchen, for the whole family and we all eat together in the main dining hall. They have become accustom to cooking for many and usually take one and a half hours for 20 people (Allah atiqun afiah! meaning God give them good health always). My husband, my children and I would eat anything on the table, no complaints.

If I were to cook Arabian food, it would take me at least three hours and if I were to cook Malaysian food, there would be hungry people in the house. So, I would wait at least until they travel to cook Malaysian food or just keep missing my favourite rendang until I go back to Kuala Lumpur.

Now, we are back in Malaysia, and the situation is reverse. My husband however, doesn't have much to complain. We live on our own, eat what we want, how we want, cook at home, eat at mum's, take aways, deliveries...there is no issue here. And should he crave Arabian food, there is no shortage of Middle East restaurants or supermarkets. All the things he (I mean me/I) needs to cook up an authentic Arabian dish is available. I know how it feels like being deprived of the food you love or having no relatives in a foreign country, so I am grateful I live in a country where others are making it their second home and of course having specialty markets is a boon to hubby and me.

Sisterly Love

The A.Samad clan is male dominated (8 brothers) so I'm grateful for my two sisters who are still around to manja-manja the children when they are too much for me to handle.In fact, at home now I am surrounded by three boys and a man. So I am extremely grateful to have my sisters around. Here in this photo is my older sister Lind and our youngest sister Zizie. I have another sister Jozieta who lives in Alaska. I love my sisters and that love will always remain, no matter where we are. It was nice growing up with a sister  - someone to lean on, someone to count on... someone to tell on!

Sweet Little Treats

The first place I would go to in a restaurant or cafe is the dessert table. Dessert is usually a sweet course at the end of a meal...but I usually have it backwards, desserts first and then the main meal. Always grateful to see a colourful array of cakes,pies, puddings, crepes and everything sweet!

Happy Birthday To You!

For the last two years, we couldn't spend Mohammad's birthday together because we were geographically separated...so I'm grateful this year we are finally spending his day together in Malaysia. To my Habibi 'A Very Happy & Awesome 35th Birthday today. May u gain great blessings, good health, happiness, rahmat & barakah.

Quote Of The Day

There are philosophers, there are writers and there are those who write to inspire...who ever they are I am grateful because they offer words of wisdoms and insightful thoughts.

Pseudo - Kampung Life

Grateful for such a lovely day, surrounded by greenery and the tranquillity of pseudo-kampung life.

While the feeling is just like going back to kampung, it offers all the luxury of modern home...complete with a hot tub jacuzzi! Even if it doesn't offer the jacuzzi, I would still be grateful. I call it pseudo - kampung because the setting; the chalets are built like kampung houses, a river flows right behind it and to top it up are the coconut trees. What a feeling! It evokes a sense  of kampung life and when wind blows, the trees swaying, I can't help but wish I was back in my kampung. Of course, kampung doesn't come with huge TV screen, water heater and room service.

All that is missing is the kampung folks...but you do see across the river, tug boats and maritime patrollers. Today, when we went on our gondola ride, saw a fisherman boat going out to sea...and looking at the condition of the sea earlier today, I guess we are fortunate, despite the bad weather and unpredictable open sea condition,  there are people who would still risk their lives so that we can have our fish. The smaller boats go out for a week while those with bigger vessels, can stay out in the open sea for a month. This place is a fishing village, of course, apart from the batiks, keropok and keropok lekor or the tembaga and other cottage industry, fishermen contribute to the economy of this place.

I really like it here, and perhaps will write more about this place...for now, the jacuzzi is waiting for me. See you!

A Home With A View

Grateful for this lovely view from my temporary home for the last seven months...Masyallah! Greenery amidst concrete jungle. Grateful!

Rain Is Barakah

Rain! Rain! Everwhere! Rain on the windscreen, Rain on the road, Rain on the trees. Rain is barakah! Alhamdulillah! Grateful...There is something beautiful about the world when it rain; it makes the green looks greener, leaves collecting droplets of water, highlights the blue of the azure sky or the gloomy grey that mirrors melancholy in the wind or it is just my mood. I think this is a beautiful picture of rain droplets on my car window.

Shower Heads And Water Coming Out Of It

Two shower heads?! The basic shower head can be hand held or fixed mount and has three functions; the mono (almost like a trickle for me), the rain (as if you are in the rain, only indoors) and the massage (quick massage but suffice if you can't get a real masseur) function. Grateful...I guess that's two things I am grateful for; shower heads and water coming out of it. It has been so hot and humid, the feel of water against skin is a relief. It is as if all the dirt, filth, dead cells and fatigue went down the drain in the shower. Apparently, since records began in 1895, March 2012 was the warmest month ever.

The Love Of A Child...Grateful!

While I claim I don't have a favourite but Aman being the youngest steals my heart everytime. This morning I opened my eyes and found him looking at me, he said "I love you Mama!". Imam Bukari says in one Hadith the Prophet Muhammad SAW says that the child is a source of joy. Indeed Grateful!Alhamdulillah.

My husband quoted one Hadith which sums up how I love my three boys at certain moment, it goes something like this... a man told the Prophet Muhammad SAW he helped his poor son and did not help the rich son...so the Prophet SAW said that he should be adil (justice/fair) to all his children, except in three situations...1) when your child travels, you would love him more than others until he returns. 2) when your child is sick, you would love him until he recovers, and finally 3) the baby of the family or the youngest, you would love until he grows older.

The Kids And Uncle

My children spending the day with their uncle Jimmy on one of his rare visits. Grateful!

My parents came from a small family, from my father's side ; three uncles of which two passed away a long time ago and from my mum's side I have three uncles and one passed away I think before I was born.

My uncle Wahab or Pak Cu as he is fondly known (on dad's side)  who lived in Ipoh and Pak Long (mum's older brother) who lived in Terengganu were considered far but they would always come down when there was something important concerning us and the rest of our relatives in Kuala Lumpur. We often get wedding invitations from my father's relatives and I try to attend just to get to know them better. It is always nice to see people, who although for the live of me cannot recall meeting them when I was four, they remembered me as the tiny Noween.

Pak Uda (mum's youngest brother) lives in Taman Tun and he visits my mum weekly. Pak Uda's special request when he comes visiting is teh tarik and condensed milk. Without fail, he would bring up about his 17 years living in Sydney "I am a Sydneysider" stories and we would nudge each other's elbows and give that "here-we-go-again" look. But, respect and love for him, we would patiently listen over and over again as he tell his tales.

I remembered my late uncle Pak Chek Karim, the third among four brothers (on dad's side) because he too comes to visit us on weekends and if I remember right he used to stay with us for awhile. It was always a delight for me when Pak Chek was around, I would sit on his lap and he would love me as much as his own. He continued to visit us even after my dad's demise. In May of 2002, although my uncle's health was failing he still managed to put a smile and attend my wedding, sitting with me and my groom. Sadly a few months later, Pak Chek passed away (Al-Fatihah).

I am glad I still have uncles, aunts and my uncles' wives who are still too close to us. Just like how I was close to some of mine, and now having my own nephews and nieces, we too have a really close relationship.  I hope someday when they understand and can appreciate family ties, I want my children to get to know and have a strong relationship with their uncles and aunts too.

Memories Of Childhood

I am grateful for the memories of my childhood days...if photos are anything to go by, I was a really happy child (on the tricycle which is almost faded). At the back, is my sister Lind, right behind her my late sister kak Mek.The other two were relatives, kak Ton and kak Non who helped take care of us. My Mum at around this time probably had her hands full, with four kids between the ages of 6 to a few months old.

This was taken when I was 2+ at our house at Police Depot now known as Pulapol, Jalan Gurney. While we haven't seen kak Ton for ages, kak Non has constantly kept in touch, always can count on her when we needed an extra hand. Kak Ton was the one who took care of me until she got married when I was four. Kak Non took care of my brother Ad and Lind. Both were like family, my parents infact played matchmaker arranged marriage between kak Non to another family friend of my late father.

I remembered as a child, always pretending to have stomach aches so that I could get everything my sister owned. It was kak Ton who would always pacify me with gifts and took me jalan-jalan to the shop nearby. It always worked.

I am grateful that these photos are still around, they certainly bring back memories of yesteryear. Looking at the old photos reminds me of so many things...the house we lived in, my late father, the gardens we had, the old Volvo, relatives who came and lived with us (kind of like what my children have, living with cousins and uncles and aunts in one house when we go back to Mecca), grandpa's old Jaguar (the car), playing in the river when we go back to the kampung, helping my grandma cut down branches of rambutan trees which were  within the perimeters of her house, picking mangosteens on the ground or getting chased by geese .  Like we always say, "those were the good old days."

I hope one day, when my children come across any of these old photographs they will get a sense of who their mum was, the simple pleasures/things we grew up with and  how things have changed along the years. And  I hope they will appreciate life with their loved ones even more and that family ties can never be broken.

Postscript/On Saturday April 7, we had a family get together and we were talking, my sister Lind said I knew you wanted everything I had! You were so sneaky...I told Mummy you were just pretending and she fell for it. And I had to give in everytime...Mum always had that" Dia kecil lagi, awak kakak" line on me. I read your blog yesterday. I knew it! We had a good laugh reminiscing those days growing up and even as teenagers, although we fought a lot, we love and took care of each other, we sort of only had each other then. I am thankful that our bond has stood the test of time and distance.

A FamilyThat Plays Together, Stays Together

Nothing brings a family closer than a wedding...or a funeral. Nevertheless, I am grateful for such moments. It reminds me that although we are far apart, we are still united and can always count on each other in good times and bad times.

I have a big family...there are some people missing in this photo...but they remain in my heart...We don't get to see each other often but at moments like these, when we meet up, it is as if we have never been apart. 

Let There Be Lights!

Seven hours and still counting...of power failure...no lights, no air conditioner, no TV...I know what I'll be grateful for today...electricity! This picture was taken in the hallway, the only place we had any form of electricity powered convenience.

Now it is almost noon, Thursday 5th April, and we are still without power. Hmmmm! I always thought staying in a hotel would be an ideal life...when others would complain about electricity power failure or water ration, cleaning up house or making the beds....I scoffed at all these ideas. I said to my kids "We will live in a hotel!" because that won't happen at a hotel. NEVER. Or so I thought.

So we have been staying on and off in this hotel suite the longest would be two months, when we return to Malaysia for the last seven years. This time around we are living here indefinitely...right now it is close to seven months and we are really enjoying all the facilities. No power failure, air conditioner 24 hours a day, water when you want when the rest of Kuala Lumpur are rationing their supply, cleaners would come to make the beds and clean the apartment plus we can have room service all day. What a life! (I am not boasting, mind you but wouldn't anyone wants to have such an uninterrupted easy life?)

Yesterday, (I couldn't post this earlier because the computer couldn't be charged) after a brief walk in the park, I found the hotel staff looking a tad worried...I too wore the same look when news of the power failure was announced. Two hours without the convenience, I can tolerate. But i t is now close to 24 hours without power supply...not so much I can't use the computer or watch my favourite shows on TV or that I have to entertain the children the old fashion way, with paint books and colours...now it bothers me that the meat, dairy products and  other food would be spoilt.

So after 24 hours I am so thankful that we have all these infrustractures such as electricity, transportations, highways, public wash rooms at our disposal. Those hours reminded me of the simple life that even if I don't have them for a few hours, I shouldnt take things for granted. As for life in the hotel, I am having second thoughts. There is always something to be grateful for even the simplest thing life has to offer, and I for one am most grateful should the power be back on ...I have to go because the computer is running out of battery.

My Brothers, Well Some Of Them!

Meet some of my brothers....growing up it was really easy to get rid of pesky attention...only had to mention I have 8 brothers and everyone would quietly leave.  (will update soon)

Grandma's In The House

My mother will be staying with us for a few days. The children have so many show - and - tell sessions just for grandma. You know how it is, when they get visitors staying over, they get over eager to show her what they have, what they have been up to, the toys they just bought, hugging grandma, jumping on her bed, putting on her house slippers. Grateful!

Food! Glorious Food!

Grateful for the gift of food. Alhamdulillah there's always home cooked meals at mum's. I grew up with home cooked meals and am grateful my kids get the same privilege. Not store bought,  just food cooked by mum with love!