Birthdays

The kids with Yasmin's BD cake (I forgot to take it out of the pan)

Yasmin just celebrated her birthday last week. She is the first kid to celebrate her birthday during the fasting month. So we didn't perform our ritual which is going out to eat at KFC or Pizza Hut but instead we ordered 3 pizzas (1 large peperoni, 1 large Hawaiian chicken, and 1 regular veggie lover)for breakfasting. Sorry Danial, you missed that one. Yasmin wanted to have a cellphone as a present. Steve almost gave in but hey I have the veto power. So she got a few novels instead. Not a bad deal considering the extra costs - money wise as well as health wise - that will be incurred by cellphones. I got my first cellphone when I was 40 years old, as a birthday present from Steve. So I think Yasmin still has many more years to wait (maybe not until she's 40) to get that little gadget.Well, we can not have what we want all the time.

Harris was cutting his BD cake

They got to eat out at their favorite restaurant

Last month was Harris' birthday. I didn't get the opportunity to be there with the kids because I was busy playing tennis at the inter-varsity tournament in Malacca. We only managed to enter the quarterfinal round but we had a great time. We got RM200, two weeks unrecorded leave, and most importantly we had a chance to meet with friends from other universities around the country. Anyway, this entry is not about the tournament but it's about Harris' birthday. Sorry, I digress. Where was I? Oh yeah, I was not home when the celebration was taken place. However, I left my camera with Steve so that he could take some photos for me to see when I got back. Of all the places that he could have taken the pictures, he took them in the middle of the mess! That's why I had to crop the first 2 pictures (if you guys noticed :)). I guess that shows how creative men are ;) Like I said earlier, I was not home ( for almost a week) therefore my house was in a shambles. At night they went to have their regular birthday dinner at one of the Pizza huts in town.

Irsyad's Sports Day

Never in the history of Irsyad School having its annual sports day at the Kuantan football stadium. When I was told that this year's event was going to be held on Saturday (April 3rd) at the stadium I was ecstatic. It was a grand event for my kids Harris and Hannah who are still in the elementary school there. I don't know about other parents but to me and my husband, our kids' activities are very important and significant. No matter how busy we think we are they must be celebrated and enjoyed so that the kids feel that they are being appreciated.

Coincidentally on the same day our new Big Boss was scheduled to come and visit our campus in conjunction with the entrepreneurship day function. I went to see my boss to get an excuse not to attend because I wanted to go to my kids' sports day. As expected, the answer was no, and I was very disappointed. Since I am leaving this College real soon, I could have just ignored my boss' request. However, being a good employee as I am (though not many appreciate that!) I still attended the function but my heart was at the stadium. Everbody in my family was there except for Danial. I kept on looking at my watch and finally when the function was stopped for a break, I took off and joined my family. I missed all the games etc but I managed to watch the end of the award giving ceremony. Thank God Yasmin took some pictures.

Anyway, when it was over I went back to my College and continue attending the afternoon session which finally ended at 5 pm. It was a win-win situation because both family and career are important (though not equally important). That reminds me of the speech by Bryan Dyson, the former Coca-cola CEO who said that life is like a game in which we are juggling five balls in the air namely work, family, health, friends, and spirit. He said work is like a rubber ball because when you drop it, it will bounce back. However, the other four balls are made of glass. If we drop one or all of them they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same. Therefore, I do not feel too bad for leaving the function momentarily becausel it was a Saturday and we were not given any unrecorded leave or anything like that. Even if we were I was already decided to forfeit my share. Such an angel I am :)

Just look at their faces, how could I not want to celebrate together?

Busy Weekend

I thought weekend is supposed to be the time when we can rest and catch up with unfinished business. However, things don't work that way when you have 5 growing children. Poor Steve looked more tired in 2 days than he did in the entire week last week! We did a lot of unpacking, rearranging, and throwing things.

On Saturday morning I went alone to piano lesson because Hannah participated in coloring contest at KPTM. Besides, she left her piano books at Da Vinci Art Center last week, so she couldn't finish her theory assignment. Najla was supposed to have art class that morning but she refused to go. She insisted in participating in the coloring contest also. Luckily the art teacher allowed her to do the make-up class at 3 in the afternoon. Both of them won and received a hamper each.On Sunday I took Najla to the telematch at KPTM. She participated in 2 games: filling an empty bottle with water and carrying a ping-pong ball in a spoon. Her groups won and they received 2 hampers. Harris came with us but Hannah and Yasmin went to their art class with Steve. The telematch was over around 11.30 but I had to wait until 1pm to get my present for winning the ping-pong match which was held a few weeks back. I got a medal and a small hamper also. By the time we got back I was tired and sleepy. I always feel that way when I stay out in the sun. That's why I prefer exercising early in the morning.In late afternoon all of us except Yasmin and Danial stopped by the contractors' houses to give our house plan. We are looking for a few quotations before we can decide which contractor to hire. Unfortunately both contractors weren't at home. Missions not accomplished. That means we have to see them this week.

Hadi and Gang’s Visit

My favorite students visited me at the College today. They came to fill in their official withdrawal form and to get a verification letter that they were our students. The letter is needed to be sent to their prospective university where they want to further their studies. We played a round of ping pong after I got off work. At night, we went to have dinner at one of the nearby restaurants. Danial, Hannah, and Najla came along.

Haris, Hakim Zaki, Hadi, and Danial

Wonderful Weekend

Last weekend was busy but wonderful. On Friday night (19 June) Danial and I went to Chung Ching School in Tanah Putih to watch the Kuantan Amateur Ping Pong Tournament. Only four of us from the College entered the competition: Azah, Hisham, Mus, and I. Although I wasn’t playing that night, I went to see my two friends playing in men’s doubles. They tried their best but they lost. They didn’t wait until the end but Danial and I decided to do that. After the matches were over, I took Danial to Taj Restaurant in town. I had “roti nan” and Danial ordered fried noodles. We came home at midnight.

The next day (20 June) Hannah and I had our piano lesson as usual. At 2 pm I had to attend the officiating ceremony of the “OPKIM”, a social service operation, which was organized by the KPTM Student Government. The ceremony was held in Kampung Ubai near Pekan. The program was officiated by the Deputy Minister of The Rural & Regional Development Ministry. It was over around 4.30pm.

I rushed home, thinking that I could rest before I had to play in the women’s singles at 8 pm that night. Unfortunately, as soon as I got home, a mountain of clothes were waiting to be folded. To avoid being too nervous, I went to the tournament hall early. I took Danial with me too. The other kids were not interested in watching so they stayed home with Steve. The first round I played against a Malay lady and I won 3-0. The second round I had to play with a Chinese lady and I was whipped 3-0. I tried my best but she was better. Anyway, it was a good exposure for me. If I am still in a good shape as I am today, I will enter the competition again next year. I also signed up for a short course to be a certified ping pong referee which was announced that night. I hope there will be enough participants so the class will be offered soon. Danial and I stayed until the end of the night matches to watch men’s singles. Two of the pairs were playing really great and it was worth waiting for.

On Sunday morning, Danial had a futsal tournament in Indera Mahkota. He went with his friend Khairi. In the afternoon, I asked him if he wanted to go to the ping pong tournament with us but he was too tired from playing footsal, he declined. Yasmin and Harris decided to stay home too. Only Steve, Hannah, Najla and I went to see the final games for men’s doubles and singles. Around 5.30pm, Steve, Hannah and Najla went home to get the other kids so that we could go to Teluk Chempedak beach. I decided to stay at the hall to see the prize giving ceremony and of course to take some pictures of the winners. Perhaps someday I will be one of them.

Around 6pm we all went to the beach. As usual, the beach was packed with visitors bringing their loved ones to relax and enjoy their weekend. Since everyone was hungry, we hurried to the food joints. Najla, Yasmin and I went straight to the restaurant while Steve was far behind, entertaining the other kids who were distracted by the play ground. As I was busy looking for a table to sit, a very nice man offered his table to us and he moved to the nearby seat. I asked him where he was from and invited him to join me. He said he is from France and on a 3 month vacation in Malaysia. He brought with him a mobile home, so that would make it easier to move around and much cheaper to stay. Since I took a few French subjects while studying in college, I blurted out a few French words to him and boy he was really excited by that. He gave me his web site address, which is written in French. Mon dieu! Je n’ai pas comprend! I wish I could understand what is written. The good thing is, I am all excited to relearn my French so I registered in one of the free sites on learning French on the internet. Messieur Parez, one day I will write to you in French.

Messieur Parez, Steve, Yasmin, and Danial

Sukan MARA & Balik Kampung

I got back from “Sukan MARA” (I will write more in my other blog) in Johore last Friday and decided to go back to the “kampong” to visit my mom. So after attending my piano class and two friends' weddings we left Kuantan to go back to Ulu Bendul. We haven’t been home for quite sometime because either the kids or Steve and I had activities going on for the past few weeks. It’s always relaxing being in the kampong and of course our favorite pastime there is sleeping. I hope in a few weeks time, the rambutans and durians will be riped. I can’t wait to go back again.

Some scenes during Sukan MARA in Johore

Our tennis star

MARA greatest bowler

Pingpong champs (for 2011 games)Our favorite past-time

Baini's wedding

Trinkets we received at Baini's wedding
Kak Ani's son's weddingMy good friend Sam Choy with his wife and 2 cute girls whom I met at Kak Ani's son's wedding

Cool Sunday

I felt so good after my 4 km jog alone. My regular jogging friend Faridah got up late and Elly went back to visit her parents. Then I tried Kathy Smith Latin Rhythm cd. It reminded me of my college days when I hang around with bunch of Hispanic friends. Since my tajwid class was cancelled this morning, I took advantage of the free time cooking rendang. Then Steve, Najla and I went to 2 weddings near my house. After “zuhur” prayer Steve drove me to town to get the t-shirts for our ping pong team. Each player will get two shirts, 1 red and 1 blue.

Some of us might practice for the last time before the tournament this evening. Tonight there will be a briefing for the games at “Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi MARA (KKTM)”. I heard we will get sports shoes, another shirt, and track pants. Previously, we were given jackets too. I wonder if we will get one this time around. I guess I just have to wait and see. As time gets nearer I am beginning to feel jittery. I hope my team will win. I still haven’t packed my stuff yet. I will probably do it sometime later tonight.

Friendly Match

Unlike my typical Saturday, yesterday (5 June) Hannah and I didn’t have our piano lesson because Yamaha music center was close for the King’s birthday. Instead my ping pong buddies and I arranged a friendly match between MARA star players (J) and PKNP club members. The match was scheduled at 10.30 am but due to technical problem, we started at 11. There were 3 categories: women’s singles, men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles. And the winners are (drum roll please…) MARA star players! Yahoooo

My New Ping Pong Bat

Last Monday 25 May my ping pong buddy as well as “sifu” and I went to buy a new ping pong bat. I have been thinking about getting a new one for quite sometime but I was reluctant to spend a few hundred ringgits for a bat! I am not a pro, why would I spend so much? But I guess God heard my silent battle and sent a 225 ringgit check! So I quickly spent it before I even had a chance to change my mind. Voila! My new purchase to be used in a week’s time: