Haiqal and me

Day 3.  I thought Haiqal would not need me today.  A call from Mekah last night with things to buy and my brother sadden by his cries on the phone had proven otherwise.  So this morning, I did my aunty thing and drove dutifully to Mck Halimah's house.  Haiqal called 8 times, 4 answered and 4 went to mailbox. 

Today is outing day to Giant Mall and lunch with Huzaifi and Kina in tow.  I had a good time, putting Haiqal in the shopping trolley and shopping for Hajar's ingrediants. He was well behaved.  I bought sticker activity books for him, to introduce him to books and mental activities. 

We came back to the house, after sticking 5 stickers, he pushed the book away. And shouted 'BOSAN LAH!!'  Obviously he doesn't think much of books.  Then I coaxed, encouraged and cajoled him.  5 more stickers stuck, this time with more thought. Eureka!!! I repeat, with more thought.

Then I told him I have to go home.  He started a terrible, terrible tantrum that made Huzaifi cry.  I  hugged him from the back and Huzaifi hugged him from the front until he quietened. Goodness Gracious me,  I hope I am doing the right thing.  I thought of Anne Sullivan and prayed that I am doing it the right way.  I am sure, if there is love, it won't go wrong. Would it?

I made Huzaifi and Kina make other words from the word encyclopedia and would pay 1 sen for each word.  These two very cute children are cutting alot of classes, so the teacher in me has to give them some lessons. With good incentives.

Tonight I will do some homework on the net because I better equip myself with some knowledge, since being Aunty Cik does not seemed to be enough.

Haiqal and I

Haiqal is my nephew and is a special child.  I don't know what is the medical term for his state, being physically and mentally challenged and a few years delayed in his growth.  My brother Aziz and his wife had put alot of effort in helping him develop and now he can walk, talk and communicate, eventhough not like his peers.

I would meet Haiqal whenever I go to their house and he would always ask to ride in my car.  So I would take him one round and back. By doing this a sort of bond has been formed between him and my family.

Yesterday when Aziz and Kak Anne has to leave him for Haj, Haiqal was really upset, crying and protesting amongst many family members.  Until I took his hand, he let go of his parents.

As their Aunty Cik, I was given some chores by my brother during his absence. Easy stuff, see to the day maid. fetch Helmi and Haifa from their hostel, send back.  But yesterday, when Haiqal wanted to follow us and spent one whole day with us, I think my chores had just increased in manifolds.

Haiqal  at the moment stays with his grandparents. Taking care of him includes a table of procedures. His medication, his food, his likes and dislikes.

I am going again this morning with a few plans in my head for Haiqal and Huzaifi.(see if it works) Out comes the teacher. In MHI this morning, coincidently, one topic discussed was on 'how to leave your children to go for haj'. They say, give them a mini project to fill their time until the parents come back.

Ok, I am off to spend some time with the boys while waiting for the day maid to do her work. 

Being Haiqal's aunt, and loving the cherubic face and his friendly and innocent personality, lets see what he has to teach me today.

Tips on cleaning house part 1

1. Reward yourself when your work is completed.  Get a new brooch for your tudung,  something that you like to eat, a new book or magazine.

 

2. Plan your work

3.Start by evaluating each room and jot down everything that needs to be addressed. Example, if there is a messy table,  make a note to get a rack.

4.For motivation, bring out your favourite snack for breaks. Turn on whatever you like to hear such as Maher Zain,  Siti,  In-team or recitation by Mashari to keep you going and make the job go faster.

Little Ladies Part 11

I just came back from delivering cream puffs and pizzas.  Hmm...notice something? Last week, delivery work, this morning, delivery work...Ahah! Thats where my talent lies, in delivery!  After so long of soul searching....

Alhamdulilah, Allah has given Hajar a talent in the kitchen.  It started out she had nothing to do last Ramadhan and I asked her to make something from what she learnt at the cooking classes to give people for buka puasa. So cream puffs was her first attempt and it came out  fluffy, puffy and lemak berkrim that everyone who got them really likes them so much that they started ordering, especially during the month of hariraya.  Eversince, its every weekend of cream puff baking for her.

I told her it is not easy to sell our goods.  Not everything that we cook is marketable.  Most of us wish we can sell something but to get people asking for more takes a special touch.  And Alhamdulilah, having that,  she is able to do a small business from home.

Customer asked what else do we make (we is she) so we started making pizza.  Hajar makes the dough, I assemble it.  (ssshhh...hajar is good at making anything fluffy, because she is kind of fluffy herself hehehe) And will try out more. Next one is kek lapis strawberry.

When Kak Asmah gave her an oven for the birthday on the 9th that day, (an oven!!!) it was an encouragement to push herself.

I am her biggest supporter and believer, Mimi and Aishah her most ready testers, Fauzan and family her best customers, with Bahiah and Adi repeating orders.

Rezeki comes from Allah and if He wants to give, He gives in ways you do not expect, to whom He choses. 

Aishah is happy her dream of having a small foodie outlet (like Dellize) is showing signs of coming true.

Who knows, with doa and hardwork and making sure of its highest quality, it can be a source of income one day.

Move on, chop chop,

Ok, its gone....the sister thing.

Be grateful for what we have. Count your blessings.  3 daughters, 2 cats, a palmful of friends. auntie-turned-model,(suddenly) grandchildren to watch grow (ziyad, omar, mia, ja'a, danish, redho, Kaklong's 6 days old unnamed baby girl ).Hajar's small business. Tabung Al-Bir. Qoroh the cow.

Quote of the day

"A penny saved is a penny earned." 

Save but sedeqah always.  Jangan boros tapi jangan kedekut. Acquire the art .

Tips on savings

1. Buy  frozen foods and stock in freezer.

2. Make or bake foodies that can be frozen like cakes, muffins, pizzas, pies and keep  as long as its shelf life.

3. Spend one day cooking a few dishes for a few days ahead and freeze.  Thaw and reheat for lunch or dinner. Cook dishes that can keep long like rendang, ayam masak merah and fried chicken. 

4. Pack well. Cakes need to be wrapped twice, first with plastic, then with foil.

Ready food + less time cooking = more time to do important things

sister again

47 and I am wishing for a sister.  It sounds sooooo childish, like a wish of a twelve year old. Old adults like me should have outgrown those type of wishes. hahaha

But please, forgive me, for I have a reason or two for what I wrote.  You see, I do not have a husband, or a mum, I have not set foot on my dads house for close to 18 years, forbidden by my stepmum and  I have given up waiting for King Charming to come along.

I have 3 daughters whom I love with all my heart, but we need to talk to adults too.

I have 2 brothers that are very busy all year round and a younger sister who does not seemed to travel in the same orbit.

Would it be nice to go somewhere where I can open her refrigerator, or ask her to cook for me something I like, or just drop by at my whim and just stay as long as I want, to leave my children to. Someone you just can be your most stupid self and still be loved and excused.  Someone with whom you do not have to pretend because she knows you in and out. Who knows what you like and buys it for you. I can go on and you will but notice how real and alone I have felt.

Wait a minute!!!I think I have a sister somewhere........!!!!

Tips on saving

1. Buy cheaper detergent, use half of recommended usage and add a squirt of dish washing liquid to clothes (have not tried this)

2. Make clothes last longer

3. Do not wear so many clothes in one day

4. Less clothes+ less detergent+less water =  money/time saved

Sister

I wish I have an elder sister.  A few elder sisters.  Kak Limah has 9 sisters, both younger and elder and they always have a jolly good time together. They go shopping together, eat out, travel, with that number, you don't need other people.

I read in the net, people who have sisters are happier than they think, because they have someone to share their lives, ups and downs.  A place to go. 

So I guess, it is justified, this sudden wish in me, to have one.

I guess I have to be content with having sister-like people, like Kak Hanim, Kak Anne, Kak Pah, Kak La, Kak Ilah, Kak Limah, Kak Fauzy, Kak Ani, Kak Timah, and the latest, Kak Asmah.....but I see these people very rarely.

Yap, second top on my wish list, an elder sister.

Giogio the pissing cat

Giogio is pissing everywhere again.  His latest gimmick is pissing on plastic bags.  That day he pissed on a plastic bag of dukus Mimi bought from the pasar malam. Luckily he missed the dukus.   Day before yesterday he wanted to on the bag of rice but I managed to stop him, nearly stumbling down, hurting my toe. This morning, on my blanket.

Sometimes I feel like sending him away, but deep down I love him despite his pissing.  His saucer eyes, his goofy look which is only a cover because he is smart, actually, and he does'nt  mind people coming up to him and the funny sound he makes, ank! ank!ank! All is forgotten, until he does it again!!

Motto of the day

Menggapai awan, mencapai bintang!!

Woman of substance

Mercy sent me an email thanking me for being a volunteer.  It made me so happy eventhough I only went for one day only.  The thought of me being a part of a team that helps people in trouble and in need had always been a dream.  The spark to help out is still there.  But in reality, my life and I might be more a hindrance then help.  I am not upwardly mobile like them, I am an introvertly stick-in-the-mud.  hehe. 

This week  I was down, in a far from jubilant mood.  Maybe it is the passing on of Makcik Alia, my sister-in-laws mother who had been a part of our family eversince Kak Hanim married my brother.  She was a teacher and a single parent bringing up 5 children. I saw her more when she came to live with Kak Hanim for the past  8 years.

When she was hospitalised due to a fall on the eve of hariraya, we thought that she would be strong enough to pull through. Maybe because she recovered from her stroke, she would recover from her fall. Although she is 74 of age, Makcik Alia, whom to me had gritting determination and a positive attitude, she never looked old.

However it was time. Innalillawainnailaihiroji'un. One grand lady, who was salt of the earth, had left us. 

That leaves me thinking. Who would take the place of these wonderful people.  Nowadays, in this generation, we hear terms like hot mamas and hot grandmas, who work hard to keep looking youthful and beautiful. To look great and ala mode.

No such thing with the older generation, they were not at all hot, but they were full of wisdom and substance.  They were epitome of the righteous.  They lived by the law of doing everything right. (No doubt they have flaws..) The right way to act, the right way to keep house, the right way of bringing up children, teaching them religion and the ways of life. Their mission in life is to put straight their families.  Their advice came in the form of alot of nagging, which would only be missed when they are no longer around.  By then, most of their job is done. They had made good people out of their lot.

They are also examples of endurance because they had standards to keep. High ones.  They do not easily settle for less than what they expect out of us.  More for our sake then theirs.

Makcik Alia had given me some advice which she got out from a few books. She photostated many copies to give her family.  It is still in my file. 

May Allah bless her and put her among the elevated souls. Al-fatihah.

The question is, can we do like they do?  Can we produce results like them? Can we teach the next generation good qualities so that they would impart the same on the next?  A tall order to fill their shoes.  Nevertheless, their shoes need to be filled.

diversion

Emmmm....lets put Mercy aside ....until I recover from the humbling experience that I am waaaaay behind.....meanwhile I will hum a song...(from Mimi's CD, a compilation of famous nasyids.)

OK!  I am over it! (Time is precious, chop, chop)

I have been reading alot of western quotes lately which are really inspiring and enlightening, lifting my soul, learning much from it.

However, the quotes we live by are those that contains therein the teachings of Islam.

Two of my favourite Muslim writers are contemporaries, the late Dr Hamka and Dr Aidh Al-Qarni. 

Here I share with you some of their qoutes:

Orang yang redha dan sukacita apabila melihat alam sekelilingnya, timbul lah kesenangan dan kegembiraan. Kesenangan dan kegembiraan hati itu adalah pangkal jalan menuju bahagia.Redha menghilangkan cela dan aib. Lantaran redha yang telah lekat di hati, kalau ada cela, akan lupa dalam fikiran. Kalau ada cacat, cacatnya tidak disedari. Hal ini bukan di sebabkan bodoh atau gila, tetapi sudah dasar redha memang demikian adanya. Redha tabiatnya pemaaf dan benci tabiatnya tidak adil. -( Dr Hamka)

Kata-kata yang lemah dan beradab dapat melembutkan hati dan manusia yang keras. (Dr Hamka).

Bertambah kuat kepercayaan kepada agama, bertambah tinggi darjatnya di dalam pergaulan hidup, dan bertambah baik tingkah laku dan akal budinya. (Dr Hamka).

Pergaulan mempengaruhi didikan otak.Oleh itu, untuk kebersihan jiwa hendaklah bergaul dengan orang-orang beradab dan berbudi mulia yang dapat kita kutip manfaatnya. (Dr Hamka).

Orang beradab pasti pandai menghormati keyakinan orang lain, walaupun dia sendiri tidak sesuai dengan keyakinan itu. (Dr Hamka).

Perbendaharaan qanaah tidak pernah kekeringan dan tidak memerlukan penjaga sepanjang masa (Dr Aidh Al Qarni)

Ketenangan hati ketika ditimpa musibah banyak bergantung sejauh mana iman dan keyakinan kepada qada dan qadar ( Dr Aidh)

Jalanilah hidupmu dengan gembira, kerana sememangnya hidup itu indah. Sekurang-kurangnya anda boleh menjadikan hidup ini indah dengan kebaikan anda (Dr Aidh)

Lakukanlah apa yang sepatutnya anda selesaikan hari ini, kerana hari esok belum tentu berpihak kepada anda (Dr Aidh)

Kelembutan Allah akan berterusan dalam tempoh yang lama, bak kesayuan pandangan mata (Dr Aidh)

Anda lebih bahagia memberi sepotong roti berbanding orang yang menutup pintu kepada para pengemis (Dr Aidh)

A good try

Sigh...how would I describe my first stint as a volunteer at Mercy.  I dreamt of posting something all of us could be proud of, but instead, I have to be honest and say it was...a flop.

It has been many years since I was in an organisation. And Mercy, located in the heart of the city is international and made out of upwardly mobile staff who are outgoing and competent taking on the world and its calamities.

I was given a job to get 39 letters addressed from the excel spreadsheet.  Rusty I was using windows but I succeeded in finishing all 39 letters, a little slow because I first copied and edit excel to word because some data were surplus, then from word, copy paste on the appeal for donation letters. Old lady you see, one step at a time. Nevertheless, s.l.o.w. Huhu.

Compared to them, I was a shrinking violet.  The longer I was there the more I shrank. When I got to my last letter, all I knew is that I lacked what it takes.  Where have I been, I don't know. But definitely far from where these people have been.

I don't know whether I have the guts to go again. :-(

47

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to meeeeeeeeee, happy birthday to me.....huff huff, puff puff 47 candles.

Thank you loved ones, for the wishes and the presents and cakes.

I got myself a present too. A good pair of glasses since 2 already lost shape.

And  then went to Mercy Malaysia and volunteered. I did it! I went for it!  On my birthday.