Dear Papa -Day 6

Dear Papa,

To Mama's surprise I woke up really early today on my own (at 7am!) because today is my "Thomas Show Day" - horrraaayyyyyy!!! (clap, clap clap!). I even helped Mama with breakfast, making sure I ate all my Coco Pops and mandi quickly without my blue gayung because we don't want to be late and miss the train!

I walked all the way to Sutton station singing my Thomas song with Mama. We managed to catch the 9.25am train to London Victoria in time and throughout the whole train journey I behaved really well. Here's a picture of me in the train, munching on my Gingerbread Man biscuit, being careful not to get my new Thomas & Friends t-shirt messy:


We then got a taxi to HMV Apollo theatre in Hammersmith and I was so excited to see big posters of Thomas and his friends all over!!! Uncle Marc greeted us there (not that I really noticed though coz I was more excited to get into the hall as soon as possible!).



When the show started, I was so happy and excited, especially when Thomas came out!!!


Look Papa! It's Thomas!.. and Gordon!... and Percy tooo!!!!


Wow look!!! Here comes James too!!!


I was singing and dancing and clapping my hands all the way.


Here's a short video Mama managed to take while I was watching my Thomas!!!....
(Note from Mama: "Ayang, check out the kiasu mother seating in front of us yang sengaja angkat baby dia tinggi-tinggi throughout the show. I was so crossed! For goodness sake, they are 3 seats from the stage already and her baby is too small to understand a single thing anyways!").



Overall it was a really good show and I enjoyed it very much. I told Mama that I promise to be a good boy so that I can go and watch more Thomas shows and also go to Thomas Land again!!


Later, we had yummy duck rice lunch with Uncle Marc at Bayswater and by 3pm we left for Wimbledon to catch the train home to Sutton.

I had so much fun today and was all excited to tell you all bout it... but I suddenly realised again that you were not home and started to get sad..... especially tonight during bed time. I kept telling Mama I was sad and I missed you very much.... and I missed your cuddles before bed time and how you like to 'eat' my ear.

Papa, please come home soon OK. I love you.

Dear Papa -Day 5

Dear Papa,

Yeayyyy!!! It's Saturday! That means it's gonna be a busy day. This morning, Mama made me my favourite breakfast - beans, toast and turkey, yummy!


I then had my shower and we were off to my tennis class. I insisted that I want to carry my tennis racket on my own down the stairs.

At tennis, I had a little accident where I ran straight into the net and hurt my upper lip. It's a bit sore and slightly swollen, but Mama kissed it better now...

We then went to Sutton because Mama had to collect her shopping from Mothercare. Mama said because I was a good boy, she bought me a brand new Thomas & Friends t-shirt which I chose myself to wear for the Thomas show tomorrow- hoorrraayyyy!!! I also saw some really nice Thomas underpants and a big Thomas potty that looks like a chair. I tried to convince Mama that the Thomas potty is a good buy but but she wasn't convinced... she said I was err... what's that word.. oh yes.. 'poyo'.. ??? (whatever that means!)....

After that Mama also let me play at my favourite toystore in Sutton. I made sure I shared the train and toys there with the other kids in the store. Soon it was time to leave for my swimming lesson.

At swimming class, Mama was being naughty - she made me wear my rubber cap but she put it on too tightly on my forehead and managed to pull some of my hair out! OUCHHHH!!! (I think I lost some of my eyebrows too!). Anyways, swimming was OK - I was a bit tired to be honest and this week there were no jumping in (which was quite disappointing because I was looking forward to it!).


When we got home, Mama was really excited because her shopping parcels arrived..... (hmmm, since you were gone Mama has been doing quite a lot of shopping lately, so you might wanna check your credit card balance, just in case ok). One of the goodies that caught my eye was my new Trunki booster pack:

It's convenient enough to carry around like a back-pack:

It converts into a portable car seat, as well as a booster seat for my future cinema and theatre trips!:


And there's a zip here...I show you arrriiittteeee....:


Which opens up with lots of space for my Thomas and Friends trains when we are out and about!!!! I love it!

Dear Papa - Day 4

Dear Papa,

Mama was craving some beef and cheese fajitas so we made some - she didn't take any pictures because I was busy irritating her in the kitchen. I kinda gave her a hard time today because I made a mess in nenek's room and I had quite a lot of accidents at the nursery for Mama to sort out the laundry. She broke down and cry because she was too tired and I felt really guilty.... so I went straight to bed when Mama told me so.

I'm starting to miss you now, especially during bed time. I missed your wrestling cuddles and your irritating ear nibbles. I also miss staying up late watching Thomas on the con-tem-puter with you. Since you were gone, the study room seemed to be too quiet, dark and cold.

Dear Papa - Day 3

Dear Papa,

Today was an exciting day because we hosted Aunty Carolina's and Aunty Maria's birthday party at our home. All my favourite Aunties from Mama's workplace came and I was especially excited because Diya and Santi came too! We had yummy pizzas and we played Thomas tracks, blocks and watched Wiggles together.



Although Mama was tired, I can see she was really happy that her friends were there to cheer us up while you were away. We also had chocolate and carrot cake and I helped blow the candles!

Dear Papa - Day 2

Dear Papa,

There's not much to write about today except that Mama was really late picking me up from the nursery. We then had to rush to Morrison's to get some stuff for the party we will be hosting for Mama's friends tomorrow. I'm excited coz Mama said Diya and Santi will be coming too!

When we got home, I surprised Mama by going to the potty on my own - hoorrraaaayyyyyy!!!! So, Mama gave me the thumbs up to have a colour bath. I picked GREEN just like Percy!

Dear Papa - Day 1

Dear Papa,

It's the first day you are gone and I'm already missing you very much. I had a bad day - I didn't do too well with my potty training today and had 4 accidents, which includes soiling my suede shoes. Mama had to pick me up wearing a girl's pants I had to borrow from the nursery and my welly boots.

When we reached home, I had tummy ache but as soon as Mama put me on the potty, I don't feel like going. So Mama decided to leave me on my own to give me some peace and privacy. Five minutes later, Mama caught me squeezing out all my lotion into my potty and Mama punished me with the dreadful rotan!!!

So I had to go to bed early - no colour bath (just a quick shower) and no TV for the night :(

Dear Papa - Day 0

Dear Papa,

To support Mama's attempt to keep this blog alive and active, we have decided to make a diary of all the things you missed while you are away in Dubai.

Last night after you left, Mama made me chips for dinner and let me watched Thomas with my new Gordon because I was a really good boy - I used my potty for my first ever 'real' wee - hoorrraaaayyyy!!!

Then Mama disappeared in the kitchen. Apparently she was indulging on the de-frosted durian we bought and I could hear (and smell!) her busy away making pengat durian in the kitchen.

By 8.30pm, Mama told me to go to sleep (she seemed very nice and contented after her pengat durian for some reason....). Anyways, here's some pictures we took before you left. We miss you very much Papa!

My big boy.... (and big bump!)

Last Wednesday, Haidan survived his first day with no nappies at the nursery and did very well. Colin (his carer) said that he went to the toilet himself twice and no accidents! Well done Haidan!!!.... (though macam sabor je lah kannn coz kat rumah meraung tak nak use the potty and accident memanjang!).

That evening Haidan also had his first independent swimming lesson without Hubby/me in the pool. Yes, he was the youngest and we could see he was very nervous at first... but he soon warmed up and did not cry at all throughout the lesson.

The fact that Haidan's now in underpants and us observing at the sidelines while he swims, hit us that my son is a big boy now..... he's no longer the little baby who I cuddled constantly in my arms while humming 'Negara ku' to sleep..... It feels just like yesterday we went home from the hospital with baby Haidan for the first time and admiring how amazing he was.

Speaking of hospitals, I have been recording this series on tv - One Born Every Minute. It's a documentary of the daily 'adventures' of a labour ward in Southampton. It's good coz it will help me with the expectation of giving birth to my second baby now that I am better prepared mentally this time around.

And speaking of baby, my bump is growing (s)well! Although I feel heavier, but I noticed the bump is growing at a better rate than I was carrying Haidan. Maybe because I did not indulge in food as much this time around. I remembered at 30 weeks with Haidan, I had loads of stretch marks already (my bump macam kena cakar harimau!). But this time, no stretch marks at all (well, yet!).... although I have to admit, badan dah ter-stretch (gemuk!) dah pun, so tak ada apa nak stretch sangat dah lah.... sigh...

Anyways, here's our latest pic, taken on my 30th week of pregnancy:

Haidan excited mode with me & bump:


Haidan jiwang mode with me & bump:


It's gonna be a busy day today - Haidan's tennis class, followed by swimming, and then grocery stock-ups and later to Amy's for dinner. Tomorrow hopefully we'll be at home coz I really need to catch up with the laundry and spend time with Hubby, as he's leaving for Dubai for 2 weeks on Monday (which I so NOT look forward to!)... sigh...

Project Bathroom Update

Me so excited!

We have decided to renovate the guest bathroom coz it's in a really bad shape. This gave me the opportunity to design a new layout and give the bathroom a new facelift! I have made sketches for my design, ensuring all measurements are correct and did some research on where to get most of our shopping done. In the end, we went to Bathstore for all our bathroom needs... it is slightly more expensive than other DIY stores or websites, but the quality is better and I knew the customer support is above par.

So here's the plan:

1) Both the old sink and WC really needs to go.

Firstly the sink is so damn irritating coz I hate 2 separate taps! It's just so leceh to wash your hands or face trying to balance the extremes of scorching hot with freezing cold water! So, I'm replacing the sink with a desktop basin, which I had long fancied having if I had my own home :)

The old WC's flush dah longgar giler and when I asked Natig (my builder) to fix it, he can't coz they don't make my flush fixing type anymore (that's how nazak this bathroom is hokkayyyyy...). The wooden toilet seat pun dah nak hampir patah and kalau silap duduk, bon-bon can tersepit! So, it's not only uzur but hazardous too! For the new WC, I chose nothing special - just a standard white modern look WC.


2) From bath tub to walk-in shower
Yes, the old bath tub is made of plastic and sempit and the panel height is quite high. So it is a struggle to 'climb in' the bath especially for my mom and my inlaws who are using this bathroom the most. Plus, we already have a nice bath tub in our ensuite bathroom, so we don't really need this.
So we decided to put in a new walk-in shower instead, big enough to fit 2 people so senang nak mandikan si Haidan kemetot! I've also designed it to have the new shower to be placed in the opposite wall so there's plenty of ceiling space for the new shower head.

3) Goodbye sprinkles, hello waterfall!
Have you ever experience having a bad hair day and when you step in a shower and turn the tap on, the water keluar se-ciput jer or the water pressure is so lame that rasa macam tak puas sangat mandi?? Well, this is exactly what my old shower head can offer. Because it was originally built as a bath, the pipes runnning to the bath taps are installed low, hence no complain on water pressure if nak takung air in a bath.... but when the previous owner added a shower head to the tap system, the water pressure was not enough to give a satisfying shower output!
Hence, introducing our most anticipated newbie in the bathroom of all - our new Mira Divisa electrical shower system. Unlike the conventional electric shower, this 10kW machine has a wide rain drop overhead shower and a separate handheld shower. More importantly, it's got a built-in pump to ensure the pressure is always perfect..... bliss!

4) Heating with style
I cannot complain much about the existing bathroom heater at the moment.... although it does look bulky and old-fashioned, it works perfectly fine and it's actually heaven-sent if I need to dry something fast! But, because we needed the extra space for the walk-in shower, we terpaksa relocate the old heater. And relocating an old heater (along with the running pipes etc) seems more expensive than just installing a new electric heater, which looks more chic and modern.
5) Colour theme
Choosing the theme was the most difficult task for my project bathroom - coz the tile and flooring selection can make a difference: an expensive bathroom looking cheap or a cheap bathroom looking expensive. Obviously my objective is the latter. I have always preferred a modern look than a traditional country feel... so I was more inclined to choose a white/dark grey/silver theme than the existing theme, which was more neutral (beige with brown). It was a toss between a 'cool and crisp' or a 'warm and cosy' look.

In the end, I have decided to go for a 'modern but classy'- combining white and dark brown large tiles with marble & glass mosaic border/ feature wall as below.... I'm so loving it!!!


My next task now is to choose the matching flooring- either wooden or tile floor laminate. From the reviews, the tile flooring is the way to go... but I can't decide on the colour theme. Should I have a dark floor to match the mosaics or a white slate look to give a better contrast between the walls and floor???

Hmmmm.... I kinda narrowed down the following flooring choices already... but which one yek goes best with the above tile scheme???

My Boboy is 10 years old today

Happy Birthday my darling Boboy.

I can still remember 10 years ago, on the night of 12 Jan, Mate came down to Kg Baru and brought you in a little red basket. As soon as you set foot in our house, you settled straight in, as if you knew that it was meant to be called home. The first time I saw your big eyes and pink nose, I knew you were the one - my Boboy si ngong-ngong.






So here's to you Boboy to celebrate the smiles you bring and the love you share. I miss you so much and can't wait to see you soon with lots and lots of kisses and cuddles.

I love you!

Project 2011

Ushering in the New Year will not be complete without listing down my New year's resolution. Yes, it might just be a list of 'talk-cocks' or 'poyo-ness' but at least "niat" tu ada... ehehhe. So here is my 2011 wishes and goals, which I hope to keep me busy for the year.

1) Project UK Residency
This is my main to-do-list as my work permit visa expires this year. I have to sort out the necessary application papers and find out about the residency test and procedures. I bet there will be changes (as usual!) come April, so need to be aware and be prepared.


2) Project Bathroom
Following the huge success of my Project Dapur in 2009 (albeit being over-budget, ehehe!), I have now self appoint myself again as the official Project Manager to refurbish our guest bathroom. Based on his excellent experience and exceptional good looks, I have also self declared Mr Hubby as the official finance minister and fund manager to ensure the project runs smoothly this time. I am hoping the guest bathroom will be fully completed by end February 2011.... in time before Papa & Mummy arrives.


3) Project Potty
The most challenging project of 2011. After numerous failed attempts in 2010, I am hoping to get Haidan fully potty trained this year. To be honest, it's not just Haidan that needs to be brainwashed out of his nappies, but both Hubby and I have to accept the fact that we need to let go of the convenience of nappies (that we so take for granted!) and move on to the challenging demands of Haidan needing to go at the most inconvenient time and location, underpants and bed-wetting..... sigh.


4) Project Yummy Mummy
I am compiling all my notes from my last pregnancy and have decided that this time around I will try to do my best to breastfeed exclusively till baby is 6 months, hoping to hire a hospital grade breast pump this time. I also will try to stick to a better pantang routine (my MIL will be with me this time around, so I doubt she's gonna let me off easily!). I decided to not go for the traditional Melayu jamu/ pilis/ barut etc, but resort to my trusted Chinese red dates and hopefully engage the help of a professional urut lady to sort my self out. I will try to lose all the weight and get back to my cikgu-aerobics days (warning: talk-cock mode) by taking up gym classes, wearing my PB corset and sticking to my Herbalife diet vigorously.


5) Projek Celik IT
Finally, this is my most poyo project ever - a mission that I have been putting off a lot and have yet to materialise. Since I anticipate that this year I will be spending more time at home than at the office due to my maternity leave, I will vow to learn how to finally use iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie and iWeb properly and hopefully re-organise all my photo albums, movies and calendars. And when it's all perfect I will then create a website where I can update my blogs and photos directly from either my future iPhone or trusted old Macbook.... ala-ala IT Queen lah konon....Muahahahahahahhaa!!!! (notice the evil poyo laugh.... sabor je la kannn, nak update blog ni pun setahun sekali!).


So, that's it - I'm hoping these 5 projects will keep me on my toes for 2011, in addition to the excitement of organising our trip home to Malaysia in July. It is definitely not the best year career wise, but hopefully the year I can focus on my family, which I think I have taken for granted a bit for the past year.

Wish me luck!!!!

Bye 2010, Hello 2011

Alhamdulillah, the year 2010 has been a very memorable one for me.

Call it Feng-shui or coincidence, but my lucky number has always been the number 3, so ala-ala 2+0+1+0 = 3 and in 2010, I celebrated my 33rd birthday and Haidan turned 3.

I also visited 3 countries in 2010: Helsinki to meet Kak Zihan (and my handbag, heheh), Zurich to stay with my Auntie Kodel and Mumbai to visit my best friend Vasantha.

But I guess the highlight of it all is that I achieved 3 great achievements in my life in 2010:
1) I passed my UK driving test first time and got a UK driving licence (special thanks go out to Alan for his time and patience!)
2) Alhamdulillah, I have achieved my engineering chartership from IET and am now an official Chartered Engineer. It has always been my dream to get my Chartership for as long as I can remember and Alhamdulillah, syukur my dream has come true!!!
3) I found out I am pregnant with my second baby and am now about 28 weeks.

I count my blessings every day because 2010 I have been really blessed. I had the best time with family and friends, especially those who came a long way whom I have missed dearly -Elina and Vasantha came to visit as well as visits from Uncle Nasir, Uncle Yusuff and Zoran my brother. Papa & Mummy came early February and Mama was in the UK with no hassles on her visa this time.

It has also been a year that I learnt a lot about friendship. I learnt that there is always 2 sides of a story and that I have to be fair.... and sometimes being fair and standing up for what I think is right may prove unpopular. Miscommunications happen and burning a bridge unnecessarily is something that I cannot do or commit- I'm sorry. I always believe that good friends do not hurt each other intentionally and it is all right to agree to disagree. Yes, it hurts (especially if sometimes I think some public comments are made to attack me), but I'll just take it with a pinch of salt that maybe it is their nature to be that way when they are angry. I'm not the first and definitely won't be the last... and I have accepted that it is who they are and being themselves is what made them special.

2010 has also been a year of challenges - I have been mostly on my own this year as Hubby is travelling more to Dubai for work, sometimes gone as long as 2 weeks at a time. It is also the year when Haidan had his pneumonia- it was the worst week of 2010 for me! But looking back, i am grateful because these challenges have made me stronger and more patient as a person and it made me appreciate those who are dear to me.

I don't know what 2011 will bring but I'll embrace it with what I have learnt from 2010. I hope 2011 will be a year of good health (hopefully stop smoking for good) and get back in shape... I also hope Insyaallah with the arrival of my baby in March, 2011 will bring me much closer to my family - to learn to not take them for granted and try to be the best mom and wife as I can be and not stress myself out to be perfect!

In 2010, my best friend taught me that true friends will tell me when there's shit on my face, instead of smearing it behind my back.... (thank you Vas for being there for me and telling me off when I needed it!)... and that's the best advice ever, which I will carry through 2011. I know I cannot please everyone but I will try my best to be there for my friends and family when they need me, as I have appreciated how much they had been there for me too.

So Happy New Year everyone and may 2011 brings joy, happiness and prosperity to you and family. May all your wishes for 2011 come true :)

Cough, cough, snort, croak

Yes.

This is exactly how I sound right now.

Been down with the winter bug since Tuesday and have been awful- my nose is completely blocked, I croak when I talk and when I cough I sound like a mining site (kong, kong, kong)... just awful!

One more day to go and I'm officially on holiday for Xmas and the New Year.

The weather has been crap as it has been snowing and everything in UK just halts when it snows.... (except work deadlines funnily enough!).

I have loads to do at work, loads to do at home and I haven't packed for our annual shopping getaway this Saturday.

Sigh.....

The green one....

We were driving home from Westfields in Central London when suddenly:

Haidan (all excited): Mama! Mama! Look! That's you Mama!

Me: Huh?? Where?

Haidan: Over there! Look..... The green one



Haidan (beaming with pride): That's you Mama!

Me: Errr... ok then.... thank you, Haidan.

Haidan (smiling): Your welcome.

Sigh.....sabor je lah!

Home Alone

Six months have passed (time flies!) and it was time for Mama to leave us again. This year's departure was particularly sad because Haidan is a little bit bigger, hence he can interact with his Nenek. In fact they have formed such a close bond, Haidan was always excited to go home from nursery to tell Nenek what he had been up to. They spent so much time together - Mama being the one yang layan whatever Haidan wants to play. They cooked, they did gardening, getting wet washing the balcony and even mandikan Haidan's toys! Things that I rarely have time to layan Haidan with, to be honest.

I could see Mama left with a heavy heart at the airport, as soon as it was time to go. I'm sure she will miss him very much - she didn't want to talk about it when I asked her... that's Mama. She won't show emotions.

Hubby has been gone travelling for work (yet again) since last week. So, after Haidan and I sent Mama to the airport - it was just the 2 of us left. I wasn't worried being on my own to take care of Haidan - I was far more concerned on how Haidan was feeling when suddenly Papa & Nenek are no longer around.

But Alhamdulillah, he was OK. Yes he did ask about Nenek and Papa now and then but he didn't dwell too much on it. The best part was last night:

Haidan: Mama, where's Papa?
Me: Papa gone to work.
Haidan: Oooh.... Mama, where's Nenek?
Me: Nenek gone home.
Haidan: Oooh... everybody's gone now. Mama, dont be sad okkaaayyy. Haidan's not gone....

And he gave me a big hug.

Err... hello?

Errr... yes. This blog has been dead for exactly 1 year.

I blame it on the restricted access to update it - in the office blogspot is banned and at home with Haidan clinging on my leg most of the time. Oh and yes of course, it has everything to do with my ke'malas'an tahap tertinggi..... so I do apologise.

Mostly the apology is to myself (coz I don't think anyone reads my blog anyways!) - there were so many things that had happened within this one year, feel so rugi that I didn't blog about it. Ye-lah mana tahu, one day when Haidan grows up and gets married and have children and he wanted to share all the crazy things Nenek has been up to 20 years ago, he could have this blog to view......

In the meantime, I shall try my best to pick-up where I left off and try to update as much as I can.

It's Ramadhan now and Mama is here. Soon it will be Hari Raya Aidilfitri. So here's a message to everyone:


Selamat Berpuasa & Salam Aidilfitri 2010. Maaf Zahir Batin.

Hypocrisy at its best!

Its everywhere in the papers here.
A girl will get caned because she was having a pint in public. But it was perfectly fine when royals were toasting their glasses of wine in the local Tatler Magazines.
The muslims will not be allowed to go to the Black Eyed Peas concert. But it was perfectly fine when Siti Nurhaliza had her sold out concert.
It makes me really sad.