The Sweet and the Bitter Chocolate in the Family

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Glamorous Wedding

Salam, I was going through Wiz's blogspot and she was talking about weddings. How two people get together and "two less lonely heart". I just cannot stop thinking about all the glamorous and grand weddings - is it worth it? What i mean is - is the event important or the getting married and the promise 'till death do we part' important???

Last Saturday, mawi and ekin got married? I wonder will it last since the latest trend for Malaysian artist is kahwin glamour and then ada problem. Of course many will say that 'jodoh di tangan Allah' but husband and wife have to make it work first, right?

I keyed in mawi and ekin and found an interesting site with their wedding pictures.
http://isuhangat.blogspot.com/search?q=mawi+dan+ekin

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Health and Food

Daniel waiting for Dr Roland

Salam, yesterday was the second time Daniel visited the dentist - Dr Roland. His first was on the 17th of Dec 08. He actually fell and broke a teeth when he was in his tok wan's house 2 weeks ago. He complained of pain on the 1st day but then he was ok till last Tuesday when he couldn't sleep because of pain. So, off we went to the dentist in Rafflesia Medical Centre. The doctor was very nice when I told him it was Daniel's first visit. He only checked and gave some antibiotic and pain killer for the swelling. The best part for Daniel was when he got a donald duck sticker. I made another appointment to check the swelling and if Daniel is ok to do a few fillings. Yesterday was the day. Everything was fine and Daniel was brave enough to open his mouth for a clean and three fillings. I was so worried during both visits - afraid that he would bring down the hospital with his crying and screaming. Nothing close to it happened - alhamdullillah. He is actually looking forward to his next visit to the dentist.

Dinie - Fried Mee & Everyone - Satay


Deena - Nasi Ayam & Daniel and Delaila - Roti Telur

So, that evening I treated all the four to a dinner out. (actually i try to avoid taking them out since i am alone - so difficult to make them sit at the table with proper eating manners. If the father is around, they behave a bit better). Off we went to Sinar Mustika, one of the famous restaurants in KK. Me and hubby love to order Soto Makasar if we go there (the sambal is delicious). However, last night I was full cause I had ubi keledek rubus for tea, so I only drank.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Farewell to my dear Dino

ARWAH DINO

Salam, so many things has been happening to me the past 2 months. In my hectic schedule of travelling weekly, settling my Sg Buluh house and also my Sabah house and also the kids transfer; my dino was hit by a car.

It happened on Sunday, 9th November 2008. That was the first time that i left him for two nights in Bangi. Me and Azhar were busy and didn't had the time to go back to Bangi to pick him up (if we go to Sg Buluh on Friday and he is not around, we would always go back the following day and he will be waiting by the door). On Sunday, when we returned to Bangi, the security guard told us a cat was hit by a car that evening. When we went to see, it was unrecognisable. We waited for days; hoping that the cat that was hit was not him. Up to now he never return.

However, the security guard offered another cat to me - same mother as Dino but different father. We took it but he will never replace Dino.

Younger brother of Dino - Wei Wei

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

What's new???

Salam, how do i start my blogging again.... Let's see what photos i can share with all of you and update on what has been happening to me the past 2 1/2 weeks.

This was my 'home' from 20th Oct till 29th Nov 2008 - Tune Hotel, Kota Kinabalu.


Me and my hubby's first bus trip since our UKM time. 6th Dec, 1120am - off to pick-up the kids in Penang. Lovely bus that had movies and games. Also gave us mineral water, chicken rice, hot drinks and a wet tissue each.

Raya Haji was spent at my in-laws. Azhar sempat beli cempadak for tea time too.

My travelling has finally ended. The kids are with me now in KK. Last night, since my maid hasn't arrived, and my hubby is still in Sg Buluh, I took the kids to Mc Donald for dinner.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

To All Teachers

Hi, i was going through my email and found the following inspiring story from a friend :
WHAT TEACHERS MAKE
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, 'What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?'

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: 'Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.' To stress his point he said to another guest; 'You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?'

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, 'You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)

'Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental. You want to know what I make?' (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)

''I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything. I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator. I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America. Finally, I make them understan> that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.' (Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

'Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant... You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE . What do you make Mr. CEO?' His jaw dropped, he went silent.

THIS IS WORTH SENDING TO EVERY TEACHER YOU KNOW. Even all your personal teachers like mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, your spiritual teachers

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

My Weekend



Saturday morning (22nd Nov) : breakfast at a restaurant in Saujana Utama, Sg Buluh....

Sunday morning (23rd Nov) : catching a chicken for lunch
(Dinie, Daniel, Delailah, a cousin and an uncle)

An Afternoon Out with Jun

Last Friday (21st Nov), I had lunch with Jun. We headed to Sushi King in 1Borneo (the biggest shopping mall in Borneo). We ordered udon soup and fried udon (can't remember the exact name of the dishes). On top of that, we had a few dishes from the 'railway track'.


After the Japanese meal, we went back to UMS and headed to the School of Business and Economy to buy Turkish Yogurt. What is this? It is a project initiated by a Turkish student. It produces organic yogurt and cheese. It was just delicious. (it was too delicious till i forgot to take a photo of the food. I only have the leaflet - even that was taken sideways - so sorry)

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Visit to Singkir, Kedah

Salam.
It has been a week since i wrote in my blog. Well a few things has been happening to me. Let's start with my visit to Singkir (my dad's kampung). Last weekend, i did not go back to KL. Instead, i flew from KK to Penang on Saturday (15 Nov) and met my kids and hubby there (they drove up). On Sunday morning, my kids, hubby, mum, dad and i drove up to Singkir, Kedah. WHY? Well, my dad is building a small hut there for his retirement (he will be 65 next yr and is getting ready if his contract is not renewed next yr).

He has own the land for many years (paddy land) and has been collecting income from the paddy. Early this year he decided to take a bit of the paddy land to build his hut. For me, hubby and kids, this is our second visit (1st time was in August 2008). Enjoy the pictures below.


Friday, November 14, 2008

Kenduri Bacaan




Last week Dinie was not well. He was down with bad fever and cough. So, on Saturday we went back to Tanjung Karang. My mother-in-law prepared a dish called Nasi Ambang for a kenduri called Bacaan. It is said done to help the child recover fast and not fall sick again (if i am not mistaken). Nasi Ambang is actually rice served in a big tray together with a few dishes (one of it is fried mee) and is eaten in a group (save on washing plates). The kids had their nasi ambang after maghrib.


Before that, for tea in the evening, i bought a cake from Secret Recipe - Chocolate Indulgence. Again the kids helped themselves to the cake. The leader was the 2nd eldest cousin who is 17 years old. The eldest cousin couldn't make it because she had exam (UITM). All in all there were 13 children and 1 baby. They sure had fun being the focus for the evening. Adults ate after them.




Wednesday, November 12, 2008

FACEBOOK

Salam, it has been a week since i last wrote in my blog. Been busy with getting to know FB.

Still figuring out the function of FB. So far, what i know is i can chat live and write on the wall. With all the modern technologies, communicating has been easy; to the extent that i can sit in front of the computer for hours pressing the keypads for trial and error, chatting with friends and going through people's writing... BUT not a good thing to do ( i think ), right? No face to face contact and social life.

One thing good is that i found a few lost friends and also got a few new tips and ideas to complete my proposal on the translation unit. I dont need to leave the comfort of my office.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

A Reminder of the Works of ALLAH!

One of the two tigers caught by villagers after the Tsunami for eating the corpses.

Salam, i was going through my picture folder on the laptop and found some interesting photos of Aceh that my husband took when he was there end of 2007. Let the photos be a reminder to all of ALLAH's great power.
A big ship that landed in the middle of the town
A fishing boat that landed on a house

The only building standing up straight, when all others around it were destroyed - a mosque

A graveyard that was not drowned by water when all around it was destroyed. It belongs to 'orang alim2' of Acheh

Monday, November 3, 2008

Proud to be a Mother





Salam, yesterday was Deena and Dinie's Sport's Day cum Prize Giving Day for their KAFA school. It started at 8 with a simple but fun telematch. There were games for the parents as well. The father joined in the fun too.
Academically, both got 2nd places in their respective classes. Azhar and I were touched because they both did not study plus Dinie has a slight problem (dylexia and slow). On top of the second place, alhamdullillah, we also did not receive any complain from the ustaz or ustazahs. Despite my busy schedule up and down Sabah and Azhar with his thesis, the kids are ok.