SALAM MAULIDUR RASUL

OUR FIRST TRIP BY PLANE

Today is the second day of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese believe that the Year of the Tiger symbolises something good. To me, its the effort and the spirit to carry on that counts. Think positive towards everything.  Then, whatever will be, will be. Finally, we have to accept what is fated for us by ALLAH.

Although four of my five children are back home for the holidays, we have not planned to go anywhere. Unlike when having long holidays, my hubby and I will plan for the family to go somewhere. Just to reward ourselves after a whole year of hard work... Fathi missed home so much that she wanted to spend her time at home most of the time. I bet Nadiah envied her a lot when I mentioned this...

One of the most unforgettable trip that we had was to Singapore in 1994. For the children and me, that was our first journey by plane. We were staying in KL at that time. As the Airport Security Officer, my hubby would always go for official visits to almost all the major airports in Malaysia. My four beautiful girls would always ask me where their father was. I would show them the map of Malaysia and pointed to the place that their father went.
One day, my hubby brought all of us to the Photo Saloon. After having our photos taken, we went to the Immigration Office nearby Subang Airport to have our Collective Travel Document done. Our children were very excited when my hubby told them that we would be going to Singapore on an airplane! Although it was only a journey of  about forty-five minutes from Subang Airport to Changi Airport on China Airlines, we felt on top of the world at that particular moment...
Back home, we started making preparations. Everybody except Aisyah and me would have to pack her own clothes and necessities for a three-days-two-nights stay in Singapore into a small backpack. Not forgetting to tag their names on the bags. No hand luggage for them. Simply because my hubby would prefer to handle my four kids during the journey rather than the bags...

Aisyah, who was still a baby at that time whined all throughout the journey. Everybody, including the passengers tried to console her, but she refused to stop. Finally when the air stewardess gave her a packet of biscuits, she  cooled down. Oh my! We were so busy handling our luggage and the children that we forgot we have missed our lunch! Thousand apologies...

My family with Atok Anis and her daughter-in-law.

In Singapore, we spent the nights at my hubby's grandaunt's place in Woodlands. We spent a whole day at Sentosa Island. We visited the Zoo, Aquarium, Amusement Park and even a ride on a cable car to Mount Faber, too. Not forgetting our journey to Orchard Road, the shopping paradise of Singapore, on a Mass Rapid Transport (MRT). We really enjoyed ourselves, despite Aisyah who would start to whine whenever she's hungry. Actually, Aisyah did not take powdered milk. She was on Mother's milk 100% until the age of 5! So, by hook or by crook, I have to breastfeed her whenever she needed her supply...

Fathiah, Huda, Nadiah and Aisyah.

Finally, we were ready to fly back home. That morning, Tok Anis served us Bread with Kacang Pol for breakfast. It was very delicious. Our flight back was not as hectic as before. No whines from Aisyah and no chuckles from Huda, Nadiah and Fathiah. Just because the kids just dozed off during the journey as they were so tired and full...

Our children and me at Changi Airport.

I could see my hubby smiling with satisfaction. At last, he managed to let me and the children get the chance of a life time. A journey by plane. At least, for that moment...

Until today, I am sure my four beautiful girls would still cherished their first experience in a flight, overseas!!!

TAHUN BARU TANGGUNGJAWAB BARU

Mulai 1 Januari 2010 ( 010110) ni, ( cantik nombor tu ) bermulalah kehidupanku sebagai seorang pesara guru dan suri rumah sepenuh masa. Dalam perkataan lain, cikgu pencen... Bahasa Inggerisnya 'retired teacher and a full-time housewife'. Rasa-rasanya macam faham saja dari mana asalnya perkataan 'retired' tu. Agaknya dari perkataan ' really tired'. So, in other words, I am now a really tired teacher...

 Ringanlah rasa kepala apabila telah melepaskan jawatan ini. Meskipun aku tidak menyangka akan menjadi pesara seawal usia ini, namun aku tetap bersyukur kerana telah bersara pada ketika kesihatanku menunjukkan perkembangan positif. Alhamdulillah... Yang tinggal pada diri ini hanyalah panggilan 'Cikgu' dan kadangkala 'Teacher' oleh murid-murid dan bekas pelajar ku apabila kami terserempak di mana-mana. Once a teacher, forever a teacher...

Jadi, dapatlah aku memberikan sepenuh perhatian ku kepada suami dan anak-anak tersayang. Terasa seperti sudah agak lama suamiku dan anak-anakku terpaksa berkongsi perhatianku dengan tugas yang aku sandang selama ini. Kasihan mereka...

Suamiku, seperti biasa, mula sibuk dengan projeknya. Yang aku tahu ada sebuah banglo dua tingkat kepunyaan seorang guru yang sedang dalam peringkat awal pembinaanya. Sibuk tu tidak lah sesibuk seorang tokoh korporat. Masih ada masa lagi untuk berjoging dan melaksanakan keperluan keluarga kami.

Anak sulungku Huda, seorang guru dan warden asrama sentiasa sibuk dengan tugas dan tanggungjawabnya. Kadangkala ada juga dia meminta pendapat dan nasihat dariku dalam menyelesaikan masalah dan hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan tugasnya. Maklumlah, kami berada dalam bidang yang sama. Kami selalu juga berbincang dan mengupas pendapat-pendapat untuk dinilai keberkesanannya agar dapat dicari kesimpulan yang paling bernas sebagai panduan dirinya.

Nadiah, anak keduaku sedang menghitung hari untuk pulang ke Australia semula untuk menyambung pengajiannya selepas bercuti selama 2 bulan. Masih lagi mencari-cari menu hidangan untuk dijamah sebelum pulang ke sana nanti. Sama ada aku yang memasaknya atau hidangan istimewa di gerai-gerai tertentu seperti Mi Racun, Baryani Sham, Sop Sitam, Roti Canai DJ dan Soto Mak Bedah Hilton. Di samping itu, dia sibuk merangka percutian kami ( Nadiah, suamiku dan aku ) semasa di Australia nanti kerana kepulangannya ke sana akan ditemani oleh kami suami isteri.

 

Anak ketiga kami, Fathiah pula telah mula sibuk dengan kuliahnya di UiTM Shah Alam. Meskipun baru selesai SPM pada hujung tahun 2009 yang lepas, dia telah pun memulakan pengajiannya di bidang Asasi Sains Perubatan di sana. Hanya dapat berehat selama 10 hari sahaja dan terus ke universiti pula. Kami menggelarnya 'siswi muda'. Namun, lagak dan gayanya masih seperti pelajar sekolah dan masih tersasul memanggil pensyarahnya dengan panggilan 'Cikgu'.

Aisyah, anak keempat kami akan menduduki SPM pada penghujung tahun ini. Masih lagi mencuba menyesuaikan jadual pembelajarannya dengan waktu Tuisyen. Kalau boleh, dia hendak mengikuti kelas tuisyen untuk hampir kesemua subjek SPM. Bila pulak waktu nak berehat?

Anak bongsu kami, Ghazi pula sedang hendak menyesuaikan diri dengan tanggungjawab barunya sebagai Ketua Kelas di Sek. Keb.  dan Pengawas di Sek. Agama. Pada hari Sabtu lepas, selepas pulang daripada aktiviti Kokurikulumnya yang pertama, banyak perkara yang perlu dijelaskan kepadanya. Dia memilih untuk menjadi ahli Per. Bulan Sabit Merah. Bila ditanya kenapa, ini dialognya:

" Aji nak tolong Ibu nanti kalau Ibu sakit", jawab Ghazi.

" Itu kan kerja doktor" kata kakaknya.

"Tolong Ibu masa kat rumah lah...", jelas Ghazi.

Kami sekeluarga pun mengangguk-anggukkan kepala tanda setuju. Pertolongan Cemas lah tu...

"Ibu, apa tugas Ahli Jawatankuasa?" tanya Ghazi.

"Kenapa Aji nak tahu?" soal ku pula.

"Aji masuk Kelab Bola sepak. Kawan2 undi Aji jadi AJK, wakil Tahun 4." jawab Ghazi.

Lalu, aku dan kakak2nya pun meyenaraikan tugas2 seseorang AJK.

"Abis tu, AJK Per. Agama Islam pulak buat apa?" Ghazi terus bertanya.

Sekali lagi kami memberikan jawapan yang mudah untuk difahami oleh Ghazi. Setelah selesai kami menjawab, dia pun mengangguk-anggukkan kepalanya tanda faham. Ghazi....  Ghazi.... banyak juga tanggungjawabnya di sekolah untuk tahun 2010 ni. Larat ke tidak dia menjalankan tugas-tugasnya itu?....

  

Walau bagaimana pun, wahai anak-anak kami, Ayah dan Ibu sentiasa mendoakan agar kamu semua menjadi anak-anak yang soleh dan solehah serta berjaya cemerlang di dunia dan akhirat, Ameen...

SALAM MAAL HIJRAH

OUR FIRST CHILD

Salam...

Another weekend had ended. There are still 4 weeks left before school reopens for the new year on the 4th. of January 2010. 

My third daughter, Fathiah is still struggling with her SPM exam. Two more papers to go before she will finally pack her things and come back home for good.
My second daughter, Nadiah is already home for her summer holidays until end of January 2010. Although she has been home for almost 2 weeks, she still goes to bed not later than 10 pm. and wakes up before 5.00am. the next day. Simply because of the 3 hours difference in time in Australia!

While my youngest daughter, Aisyah and youngest son, Ghazi are still enjoying the holidays. Helping me with the housework, doing their homework, (either being provided by the teacher or by me), their Quran lesson, serving the internet and watching television. There goes their routine for the holidays.
My eldest daughter, Huda is still attending school although the school holidays is only 4 weeks left. Starting from the first day of the SPM exam, she had been on duty as the invigilator in a big school in town. Nowadays, she is seldom at home because of her duty as a warden in the hostel until the SPM exam finishes on the 16th. of December. I could see the tiredness shown on her worn-out face when she comes home, but one thing for sure is, she seldom grumbles...

My hubby is as usual busy with his job...
Well, most of my friends, the ex-SMSJians batch 1974-1978 are planning to attend the Mini Gathering (MG) in Tanjung Malim on the 13th. of December. So, do I. We have been invited by our friends, Prof. Dr. Rosly and Fatimah to attend their first daughter's wedding ceremony. Insyaallah, Fati, I'll be coming with my hubby and children.

What a coincidence! We had our first Reunion for our batch after leaving SMSJ 30 years ago, on the same date last year in Kluang. And another coincidence!! My wedding anniversary falls on the same date, too! This year is our Silver Jubilee (25 years)!!!
We have just celebrated my eldest daughter's birthday more than a week ago, on the 26th. of  November. To think of it, Huda is our First Anniversary gift from ALLAH. Alhamdulillah... I could still remember being admitted to Batu Pahat Hospital in Jln Kluang a few days earlier before I finally gave birth to her. How my hubby had spent the night in our car on the night I went into labour. My! He just dozed off and slept very soundly until the nurse had to knock the windscreen several times to wake him up and told him the good news...! Just imagine, Huda was born at 3.03am! Almost everybody was sound asleep at that hour...

Every child is special in their own ways. As for Huda, besides being our first child, she is also my parents' first grandchild. She is also my parents-in-law first grandchild. Huda is the third generation in my family that pursue "teaching" as a profession after my father and me. Her students addressed her as Miss Radin and I came to know that she is a strict teacher. I guess the personality really suits her as a warden.

As parents, Ayah and Ibu wish you the very best in life. May you succeed well. We love you...

Huda's 1st birthday.

                                         Huda's first car.                                             Miss Radin

Huda and Aisyah's birthday cake.