Word Sunday : Prohibited

I am taking driving license at the moment. If you know me that well, I would tell you that this is really an insult to my driving abilities. But take I must. And why is that? Because I need to get the Q@tari driving license. And this is because they do not recognise M@laysia driving license here. Our international license only last for six months here and my time is up.

And ok ok, rub it in. I have been driving illegally here. Eh no wait. I was using my international license ok. And well it just expired. Like this month.

But the need to take class is because apparently it is easier to pass if you go through the class. My lover had to take four tests. He passed after taking the class. Behhhhhh. But why he failed, even he was baffled. No poles fell. We learned later that when you do side parking, do not straighten your car. Once in the box, you are fine. And also you have only one chance to get it right. And the box is quite small I think.

But I have been observing that the ladies have an easer time to pass. Still, I took the class anyway.

The difficult thing was to undo your habit after years of driving. Like when I reverse and before I come to a stop, I like to turn my steering to where I want to go next, which they prohibit me from doing so. Or they want me to physically turn my back when I reverse. I am too used to using the mirror. Aiyaya

Then there is an oral test, which my rusty brain is trying to adapt. I must be able to answer the exact word and not be creative in any way. EXACT WORD ok.


I must remember which picture goes to "follow this direction" or "direction to be followed" or here comes another one "direction to follow".



And I must not confuse with "Parking prohibited" or "No overtaking". Or is it "No parking" and "Overtaking prohibited"? Oh dear oh dear.

I prefer "No U-turn" please. "Turning backward prohibited" is too mouthful. No Left turn sounds so much easier than "Turning to the left prohibited".

The word prohibit does make it sound authoritive though.

The Answers dot com says the definition of the word is to forbid by authority.

Wish me luck you luvelies.

Ahli Jawatankuasa Tingkap

Last Saturday I chatted with my good friend, Dory, early in the morning. Morning here, Doha time, midday there in Malaysia. There I was in my baju tidur. There she was in her day to day low neck to flaunt it all shirt.

We were on the webcam. Girly, giggly talks. Catching up on all the gossips. Exchanging tips demi kebahagiaan rumahtangga.

I was peeling off the tapioca. Duduk bersila kat lantai sambil menyusu anak. Keyboard pun atas lantai.

Ah Cik Kiah..macam ni ke ko selalu kopek ubi? Oh kat Kelantan orang suka makan ubi masa musim banjir? Eh aku suka betullah kopek layer pink kat ubi ni. Macam kopek sticker. Gian pulak jadinya.

She showed me all her embroided kebayas that she bought during her shopping spree in Jakarta.

Waahh cantiknya kain ko yang tu. Aku kenan yang pink and blue tu. Ko nak pakai corset ke? Mak mertua aku mesti terbeliak mata tengok aku pakai tu. Pasti kena lining.

Alaa ko tengoklah aku ni Cik Kiah. Pagi-pagi dah bangun nak rebus ubi ni. Kejap lagi aku nak masak mee hoon pulak. Si Jack ni pulak dah tak boleh lekang ni ha. Asik nak menetek aje. Ko tengok dia dok main rantai aku ni ha? Sakit leher aku di tarik-tariknya. Mahal ko tau emas aku ni. Dahlah memang berat.

Dah memang sahlah walaupun zaman beredar, makcik tetap makcik. Cuma ada vogue ajele. Cinta IT gitu. Kan Cik Kiah? Cik bedah? Cik Esah? Mak Mon?

Eh bila kita nak tubuhkan persatuan sexpat ni? Macam-macam aktiviti dah dalam kepala ini.

And Nazrah, I think convo berangan kita pasal our future tu besar kemungkinan akan menjadi realiti. I can see the two of us (kalau panjang umur) dah tua ganyut masih lagi berchatting sakan. Muahahaha. Alaaa sakit dada aku ketawa banyak-banyak ni ko tau. Anak aku tu tak boleh harap langsung. Asik meeting-meeting aje. Aku suruh urut pun malas.

Word Sunday : Gait

A domestic goddess not only is a goddess to her husband, in the kitchen but must be able to entertain her products of love. She must have the ability to be a clown yet remain sound and intelligent to make research, so the children will remain sane and not banter in the name of broodiness.

In the attempt to entertain my children, I read these poems to clown around with them. And for a moment they forgot about TV and trot around the house like horses themselves. Zachary remained the funniest because he looked like a small pony and was clueless but decided to do the same.

For your information also, within these four walls of blogging eh, I am a very animated person. So there I went around the horse doing all the actions with them. Kanak-kanak ribena aku ni.

THIS IS THE WAY THE LADIES RIDE

This is the way the ladies ride: clipclop, clipclop, clipclop
This is the way the gentlemen ride: trotalong, trotalong, trotalong
This is the way the old man rides: bumpalump, bumpalump, bumpalump
... and down into a ditch!

When you read the bumpalump, bumpalump , you should go out like a careless person and dropped yourself with them. Hilarious!

Clip Clop

Slowly, slowly
Walks my horse.
Clip... clop, clip... clop
Walking walking
Round the course
Clip clop, clip clop.

Frisky, frisky
Trots my horse
Clip clop, clip clop.
Trotting, trotting
Round the course
Clip clop, clip clop.

Crazy, crazy
Gallops my horse
Clip-clop, clip-clop
Clip-clop, clip-clop
Galloping, galloping
Round the course
Clip-clop, clip-clop
Clip-clop, clip-clop

Bravely, bravely
Jumps my horse
Clip-clop, clip-clop
Clip-clop - Jump!
Float through the air
And land with a bump!
Jumping jumping
Round the course
Clip-clop, clip-clop
Clip-clop - Jump!
Float through the air
And land with a bump!
Clip-clop, clip-clop
Clip-clop - Stop!

This one I like, because you can start off lowering down your voice and escalate it with excitement until the end where you land with a bump.

Then I went on to google the basic horses' gaits. Haziq loves this googling thing.

Walk. Trot Canter and Gallop.

Found many interesting sites. These one (HERE), shows the gaits in motion which I think helps a lot. And typically Wikipedia has a long description of the horses gaits. I used my copy of Britannica as well.

Then end the whole thing with drawing and colouring to wind them down. Haziq coloured his horse, silver. Sya had pastel colours on her horse. Jack wrecked the horse totally. I can't do crafts, so drawing will do.

Then for the rest of the holidays, I let them watch TV or play games.

So I can blog.

Err I find that one is easier to do.

P/S : If I have to quit my job (the one I still have in Malaysia), can I open up my own playhouse?

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Etymology of the word gait

circa 1200 :departure, journey," earlier "way, road, path," spelling was "gata"

Meaning "manner of walking" is from 1509.

Modern spelling developed before 1750, originally in Scottish.

The Milk

I ran out of milk today.

So okay, quick call to lover and reminded him to get the milk before he gets home. Unfortunately the grocery store near the house also runs out of milk. Eh?

So we decided to go out and drag the already bored kids doing the oh-boring thing call grocery-shopping. I only wanted milk. So quickie this one.

Got there. Eyed a fruit muffin. Good for breakfast eh? Also got all those fried processed food. The muffin was an alternative to the fried ones.

Got the fruit juice. Cheese. Hmm they have fresh beansprouts today. Yipeee! Got half a kilo of those. I think I want to make spring rolls. Bought the pastries too.

Ah! Let's get the asparagus. The kids love them. It is such sexy vege, no?

Eh tapioca. Nak buat ubi rebus dengan kelapa parut campur gula lah.Steaming hot, then lembik-lembik cicah kelapa. Lover get the guy to parut the kelapa can?

Mango. Get them mangoes. They are getting less nowadays.

And grapes. Love them.

Eh got banana for frying one lah. Like pisang nipah. Yay! Buy buy.

Fresh coriander. Please please check that they are not parsleys.

Oh there's only a little meat left. And cooking oil.

I think I want to find the glutinous ricelah. Eat with mango and coconut milk. Ahh goodness of fatness.

Eh you know, Batrisyia suddenly has this thing about cupcakes. She found a recipe and has been pestering me to make them. (Actually I don't like the recipe, I think I want too find another). I need to get the icing sugar..and and food colouring. Hmm blue and yellow for now. Where the hell is pink? Sya must have pink! Oh let's go upstairs, I need to find a sifter..and ohh is this how the icing bag looks like. Man I am not creative to make the colourful toppings. Nasiblah.

Hey lover lover..look look. Scales! We want to get scales kan? OK we get the medium priced ones. Don't buy that 20 Riyal one. I don't trust too cheap things.

Then the kids found toys. Well..okaylah.

Went back and lover was complaining that I spent too much. Got pouty and decided to iron instead.

Oh mana janji manismu? Katanya nak bayar equivalent my pay dulu? Nasib baik saya sopan santun serta penyabar. Oh and thanks for the new skirt and pants ya..Boleh tak kasi saya 3 jam kat kedai buku pulak? Alone?

Funny, I never did like ironing you know. But now that I have no where to channel my anger, ironing seems to fill that void. Press! Press! Hot steam iron. I am getting pathetic day by day! And becoming more of a domestic goddess while at that.

Alone,it gave me time to do self reflect. And suddenly it hit me! I cursed in between the pressings.

We didn't even get the milk.

Shuay Shuay

Shuay Shuay is a local slang meaning little bit. It usually refer to the lack of ability to speak the local language (Arabic). It is very useful for people like me, who can speak only basic Arabic sentences. Such that if I ask a question in Arabic and the person gives a lengthy answer, I am sure to gawk. Inserting shuay shuay would be good and do add a humble smile.

Yesterday someone rang the door bell. I peeped through the curtain and saw a presumably Arab lady in her full abaya and her face covered. You can only see her eyes. She had with her a little girl, perhaps in the age of five.

I was excited actually. Is she a neighbour? Perhaps she wants to say hi. Maybe she wants to borrow some salt. I have plenty. Maybe her water pump was out and her daughter seriously needs to take a leak. Ah any excuses is ok if she wants to be my friend. I am desperate for one, I must say.

I went out to her and she said Asslammualaikum, the way an Arab say it. With a twang.

I answered with a smile.

Since I am female she lifted her veil. Then she asked me something in Arabic.

I said. Arabic shuay shuay

Then she said mama? something something in arabic.

Oh I think she wants the lady of the house. I said Ana ummi baiti(grammar is wrong of course) But what I wanted to say was I am the mother of this house. I hope baiti means my house.

Then she said something in arabic. Really long sentences. I concentrated hard for familiar words and her body language. I think she told me her name which I didn't catch and also she is from Iraq.

Then I caught the word miskin. Miskin means poor. Then she said something in english. No money.

Oh! I get what she is trying to say. She has no money and she wants some from me.

Hmmm..

I asked, Lak fulus? (No money?)

Naam. She replied nonchalantly. No sad look.

Then I asked..Ante akala? I hope it means you want to eat, showing gestures of eating. Little one? Wants drink? Showing gestures of drinking.

Lak. Lak. (no. No) And she showed gestures of baby. Milk. Diapers. No money. Saying something that she would prefer to have money then eat.

I looked at her daughter. She had scratches on her face. I asked why is her face like that? Showing gestures of scratches on my own face.

She said something. I only caught Saghir. (little).

Her daughter was scratched by her other little ones.

Then I looked at her and said again Lak Fulus?. I also pointed out that she has a nice watch, and her abaya looks good. Why is she begging? Which obviously she didn't understand.

I asked her where her husband is. She stared blankly. Hmmm. Then I remembered a verse in the Quran where Allah created a partner for Adam(a.s.) and some other verses about partner. Partner is Zaujah. I remembered only this word in my harfiyah. I am hopeless.

So I asked her Aina zaujah?

She replied something which I didn't know. I think she said her husband is dead.

I don't know. I don't really like the idea of begging. Approaching anyone when you look like you have the capability to work. But then I am a sucker also. I just hope she is not a con. But all given are halal from me. I gave her little one a chocolate drink as well. For she is a kid. Her mother had better be true. Dragging that poor child under the hot sun is just terrible.

She must have her own stories. Everyone does. It has better be a good one for the Yaummideen. Pray for her betterment.

So that was my rusty arabic for you. If I have an arabic friend I can get better.

Word Sunday : Pristine

I have just finished reading "the five people you meet in heaven - Mitch Albom". I know I know its' an old story already. And nearly everyone has read it. Dah ada movie pulak tu.

It is more than natural that I thought of my mum all the way reading the book. Unlike many other good daughters in the world, I only learnt that my mum has dreams and likes after her death. I also got to know she has fears and hopes. That she was not just a mother. She was a person.

Sometime before her death, as narrated by my Mak Tam, she often dreamt of her mum, my late nenek. My nenek gestured my mum to come and follow her. Go to her world that she is in now. My mum woke up probably scared. She'd probably cried. I don't know. But she told my Mak Tam, she didn't want to go. Not yet. There are things she has not done yet. Unfinished business. (Actually when it comes to death, I don't think any thing is ever finished. There are always reason that we would ask given a choice to delay it unless under torture)

I find it chilling when I hear this story. Partly because of my late nenek kept coming in her dreams like a bad premonition. But also, I do wonder whether I am one of the unfinished business. I settled my hard feeling sometime last year which I have said often enough, I count my lucky stars for it.

You know I never did call her. When I want to tell my parents something, I called my dad instead. Or I ask Haziq to make the call for me. I regret that. Ever so often the wound throbs back in my heart and squeeze it tight as I sobbed to myself. However, I will always remember the last call I actually made to her. On purpose. I was already here in Qatar. My kids were still sleeping. I had her all for myself. No passing on the phone when we run out of subject.

I talked to her about the things that I wanted her to post over. All sterile subjects. Finally I made myself ask how she was. Not just because it is a standard thing to ask someone. But really how are you Ibu. She said sakit sikit-sikit je. Then I told her about my plans for my parents to come visit me for the next raya. That we bought an 8-seater car so we could bring them everywhere comfortably. That Mecca is near. That she should stay longer here. It was probably not as mother-daughter conversation that one should have, but I thought it was already beautiful as it was. I didn't ask whether she missed me and the kids though. Because it is just not the way we do things.

However, I have lifted the heavy veil , finally. It should be easier after that.

Only there were no other calls after. She was always in the bed each time I call or YM.

I have always wondered where did my pristine glass of youth go to? How did it got lost? Smeared by finger prints of adulthood? Cracked and jagged.

Well what are you waiting for? Go go call your mum. Make your day for your old life.

Chocolat

I never did like chocolates you know. Especially those with the sticky caramel that will get in between your teeth. And the one with nuts that will get into your teeth. I thought it was such a pain to eat them. Oh the sweetness itself is a pain. Probably the only chocolate I ate was the bitter ones. More like nibbling I would say.

Infact I am no sweet tooth at all. I didn't like anything sweet. So much so I even hated eating dates. Especially the soft ones. Oh the soft inner fillings were such pain to me. I dreaded going through fasting month because of them dates.

Pain! Pain! All these sweet things.

But but but I am now a convert. Evil has now possess me. I have changed. Something happened to me. I find myself enjoying chocolates now. Ahhh help!

Crunching the Snickers bar my lover brought home the other day. Ahh the caramel..ahh the crunchy nut. They are really good. Roll eyes. Roll eyes. And those Arab pastries. Such small sizes. Mini bites. Pop it in your mouth. And the taste of ghee, honey, pistachio all rush on your toungue. Swirl them in your mouth and let the sweetness linger a moment. Somehow when you finally swallow it, you forgot that it was too sweet the first time you tasted it. And on and on I pop it in my mouth.

Blame it on the 3 years stint of suffering the teeth braces. Not only that I wore those painful braces, but my dentist made sure that all my cavities are filled up. That my gums are in a good state. No more pain in the tooth! No more sensitive gums!

And hello sweetness. Come to mama!

This is a bad sign actually.

All those sweetneess goes straight to the derriere!

48 Hours After

Phew! I was actually feeling tired after the blogathon. A tired old goddess I am.

Blame me on my inefficiencies getting ready for the blogathon. Staying up late nearly everyday in the pretext of finding photos, preparing for the blogathon but instead surfing, reading blogs and err chatting mostly.

On the blogathon night, I stayed up a bit to keep Elisa company while she blogs. Chatted with her and the devil goddess showed me pavlova and talked about pavlova. Ayooooo die lah like this. Drooling non stop. I stayed a bit and couldn't sleep later. Too excited for my turn the next day and imagining pavlova non stop.

Everything went well for me that day. Alhamdullilah. PB managed to catch some beauty sleep, I heard. But I went non stop chatting and reading comments. I had two browsers. One logged in as Lollies the other as PB. And had a conversation between myself in her chatterbox. Sorry PB, couldn't help myself. I wanted to do more actually...but I was being nice. He he. Still the same password?

At 4:00p.m. here (9p.m Malasia time), I was pooped. Dead. My eyes was strained and hot. My head whirling. I felt terrible. I napped after I finished my turn. I napped again after four. And still have a throbbing headache at night. Chatted a bit but was dizzy all the time. Slept early but was coughing throughout. Bleergghh.

Woke up, a little better. But was saddened with the news of bombings at Qana. I think battles should revert back to big open fields. Face to face. Go grab the flag or whatever. WHY ARE YOU KILLING EVERYONE IN THE NAME OF DEFENDING THE WORLD? The world needs defense from you!!

Then I was tringed by Nazrah the Goddess. She brought better news. She said Kak teh was intrigued with this blogathon thing and wants to contribute. Did she say Kak teh? Kak teh? The Malaysian celebrity blogger? WOW!!! I got super excited of course. Because I am like that ok. So not macho. Made necessary arrangement (ni nak bunyi macam coollah. Padahal gila excited masa cakap dengan kak teh)with Kak Teh. And her post is now up at PB's blog. Thank you Kak Teh.

So at the end of a long award speech, mestilah ada thank yous kan? Thank you thank you to lover (especially) and kids because being understanding with me and my computer. MUAHHHHHZZZZZZ. Love you. That's why I cooked extra special the other day despite the headache. Sayang saya kan?

I like to thank other bloggers who go way out promoting us and supporting us. Moral or immoral. Spiritually everything. Who came by to comment. Who sprawled in the chatterbox. Who chatted with me. Who bother to ask. I really appreciate all the gestures.

Some even promoted the blogathon in their blog. Thank you UGLYBUTADORABLE. Love you. Cot cot (tu bunyi kissing pipi). And I found another blog doing the campaign by NANA. Muahs muahs thank you dear.

I like to bring special attention to NAZRAH again. She wrote something really special in her blog. She,for your information, is not only a goddess but one hell of a writer as well. She touched on the power of prayers. Yes my friends. Let us do that everyday for those who are misfortune. Like she said, let the power of prayers reign supreme.

And if you want some changes in the blogland at least, go and hail the self elect President of PARTI BERSATU RAKYAT BLOGGER...Encik Bisutulibuta.

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EVERYONE CAN STILL PLEDGE IN 48 HOURS AFTER BLOGATHON FINISHES. THUS PLEDGING ENDS AT 9:00 P.M TUESDAY MALAYSIA TIME. SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO. HOW? JUST CLICKY CLICKY THE BOX BELOW.



IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU SHOULD STOP DONATING TO AMAN PALESTINE THOUGH. GO AHEAD DO IT ANYTIME.

The registration of pledges makes us feel that the effort is worth the cause. Rasa macam semangat membara gitu.

IF YOU WANT TO READ THE BLOGATHON POSTS GO HERE

BLOGATHON 2006

Blogathon 2006 is up and running now. Visit us at PRIMARY BASIC. Support us. Jom ramai-ramai bertenggek kat situ.

Blogathon 2006

If you are the very few of my loyal followers since 2004 you might remember my blogathon stint I did last year. For the sake of those who have very short term memory or my new goddess-cult follower, I will tell you anyway. I participated in a blogathon to raise money for ACEH TSUNAMI FUND last year HERE.

And as if the last year's catastrophic yet hilarious blogathoning event was not enough, I am going to do it again this year. My friends and I. Kudos to Primary Basic for initiating this (again). Thus giving me the opportunity to join.

So what is blogathon, you may ask. Alaa I heard you ask just now. Dalam hati.

The Blogathon.org is a charity marathon event where people from around the world update their blogs at least once every half an hour for 24 hours straight. During those 24 hours they raise awareness of their chosen charity and aim to raise funds and collect pledges for it.

Dojnf the blogathon means we will blog and blog and blog just like walkathon where they would walk and walk and walk. The condition is we will blog for 24 hours with one entry for every half an hour. So it is basically non stop typing for most of us.

Why would I even want to do this? The main idea is to raise fund. Yes! Yes! Mintak derma. You know some people raise fund by running backwards for 100 miles non stop, or live in a glass cage with venomous snakes or kiss their partner non stop for 24 hours or sell cakes. All in the name of charity.

So I blog. It is not so easy actually. I usually put up an entry occasionally. And to come up with entries after entries for every half an hour is actually taking up all the possible entries for many month's entry ration. But do I must!

Why? Why?

We are hoping to raise fund for a charity group called Aman Palestine.. Aman Palestin is a non government organization, that surfaced late 2004. It was registered earlier this year in January as a foundation to help the people of Palestine, in a more collective, planned, continuous and effective way. It's newly relocated office, is in Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Since 2005, more than RM500 000 have been donated to the people of Palestine, via Aman Palestin.

The list of Charity and Humanitarian Mission of Aman Palestin at the palestine concentration camp in Lubnan, Syria, and Jordan are as follows;

1. Sponsoring of Palestinian orphans
2. Fending for Single Mothers
3. Education fund
4. Projek Pusat Jahitan (Sewing Center?)
5. Building of orphanages for the palestinian children
6. Waqf Palestine Project
7. Hospital Project
8. Medicinal supplies
9. Qurban Aidil Adha
10. School supplies
11. Ramadhan activities
12. Building a Qur'an Learning center
13. School for the children
14. Waqf transportation for Aman Palestin
15. Winter clothing project
16. Waqf building for Aman Palestin

So what is the deal? Again I can hear you asking.

On the 29th of July, 9pm, my friends and I shall start blogging continuously for the next 24 hours, with one entry each 30 minutes. For this, we are rallying that sponsors step up and pledge an amount that they would like to give to the said charity. By sponsors here I mean you and you. Individual or company. Anyone.

Oh please have a heart dear reader. Sponsor me. Help me make a difference.

You may honour your pledges, by banking into these account after we complete the blogathon

Aman Palestin Berhad Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad Nombor akaun: 12029010047880 Maybank Malaysia Berhad Nombor akaun: 562263010787 Contact : 03-89267019 I will be blogging here : http://primarybasic.efx2.com Date : 29th July 2006 Time : 9 p.m. (but my turn will start at 12 p.m. 30th July 2006) Malaysian Time

How do you sponsor me? Please click the boxes below and follow the link's instruction. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I love you all. Show peace sign "Are you enjoyyyyyyyyyyyyy??"