More Goddessy Gadgets

Once a while I try to reclaim my goddessy position in my imaginary goddessy world. Like in this entry for example. I present you my latest purchase.

THE STEAMER!

Yes you heard it right. The steamer.

It helps to smooth down fabrics which are tedious to iron.

Especially long thawb for example. We have been spending lots of money on sending the thawbs to laundry for ironing. Thawb are long and tedious to iron on the ironing board. With the steamer you can just steam the thawb standing. As in the thawb is put up on a hanger and hang up on its given rail.

And not to mention long flowing abaya. Especially if you have tedious folds or beads on them. The steamer is your saviour.

Also scarves with beads on them. Or any of your beaded baju kurungs. Steamer is just the best.

And also no wore ugly wrinkly table cloth for me.








Downside for me

I bought the steamer with a big tank - 2.8 litres of water. The more the water is the longer it takes to heat the water. So I am kinda used to the iron which just at at the flick of the switch, I can iron immediately.

But I have learned to manage the time. I will just heat the water up and do otehr things for perhaps 5 minutes. Then only I do the steaming.

The other thing, the pressing of the iron on the board gives a satisfaction of actually ironing wrinkly clothes. Then you are actually hitting on something. With steamer is like a quiet not much punching action. It is like doing a slow repetitive dance. In that sense it is quite boring.

I also think I need something to stretch the fabric to somewhat feel more satisfied when I steam.

Ahhh maybe i really am not this slo-mo kind of person.

I also think the rail they give is too short. It doesnt allow me to adjust it as well. I wish I could get it higher so i could steam the hem of the long abaya/ thawb easily.

I also do not own many beaded materials. LOL! But I guess when I do need to iron that, it makes me wonder how did I do without the steamer before?

I was just thinking whether you can use this to steam your face and attack the comedones myself.

Role Models

Haziq is a growing teenager now. In his young and cute days, I would (and lover) be his reference and role model. Ibu knows everything. And he learned really fast now that my answer when he asked usually comes out with a "I don't know Haziq."So yeah Ibu doesn't know everything in this world.

Haziq is a growing teenager with mood swings and bumps of pimple on his forehead. His hormones are raging and species of the opposite sex is peculiar and somewhat attractive. He is taller and stand towering against his siblings and his Ibu now.

These are the years that he would need good role models for him to emulate and learn from.

I am so glad that I (and lover) made the decision not to buy any hand held games like PSP and such. For I have seen children who are just too engross with games that they fail to realise that there are people around them and adventures to explore and ideas to be shared. Now the world has moved on to Ipods and Iphones and IPads and such, the children don't seem to know how to communicate with others anymore. Undeniably these I-products are very good and educational thus it should remain in the home for such purpose. Well except for Iphone because I need it. :P. And camera is allowed too.

I cringe watching the teenagers in a crowded place full of their peers, sit quietly in the corner of the room with ears stuck to music banging their head eyes fixed on the screen. They only became alive but frantic when their gadgets run out of batteries.

Anyway I was saying, I encouraged my children to talk to people. Start by giving salam (need reminder of course) and make friends.

Back to role model point. Hmmm due to our current lifestyle, the kids tend to be with us all the time and their schoolmates and occasionally some friends when I take them to people's house. So currently the one Haziq is closest to must be his Ustaz ngaji. Keh keh keh. He encourages and pushes Haziq to memorise even more. Perhaps also one of the most noticable thing HAziq has done is by improving his arabic font writing. LOL! It used to be really bad, but because Ustaz writes like as if it was printed from the machine, haziq tried his best to improve.



And who best can be the role models if not for his own father. This is what I have been sweet talking, pestering and bebeling my lover but he is just too lazy. My lover is very good with his hands. He loves DIY job and very good at practical hands on problem solving. I urged him to call Haziq whenever he is up to a project but he said, he didn't learn it from anyone. In other words, so why should he teaches Haziq.

But after years of sweet talking and pestering and bebelling, recently lover began to see my points. Haziq tu biasalah blur but slowly he is enjoying. Slowly I will sweet talk, pester and bebel lover to give Haziq more adult responsibility as part of his continuous learning process. Insya Allah khayr.

At the recent BBQ that I had, haziq enjoyed mixing with the older guys and uncles bbqing for all of us. Thus all the teenage boys got into action. Kalau tak duduk aje tunggu makanan. Meanwhile I enjoyed eating them because I can.



Having a teenager now, it's like jumping into paradigm shift mode in approaching parenting style I think. We need to be their friends but firm. Talk to them and advise them. Discuss with them and listen to them. Easy typed than done. because it is easier to say dengar cakap orang tua.

I am still on the look out for role models in all categories (yang baik preferbally. yang buruk jadi sempadan). meanwhile haziq can start venturing on his own and learn with guidance Insya Allah.

I ask Allah that He will guide us all on the treu path and that he brings to us people who will only bring the best out of us and pleasing to Allah.

If any of you have any stories or info on your own role model or your children or anything, do share. I would love to hear and learn.

Haven't Talked about the Dune for a Long Time

It's coming to winter nowadays. The weather is really pleasant. And indeed is not the time to be spending indoors. I went to dunes as usual. Didn't snap as much photos as before but bits of this and that.

Here is one. I don't know whether it is clear enough in the photo. It shows a car riding on the steep crescent of the dune. This requires high powered car, skill and bravery I must say. I have neither of those thus I will probably never do the stunt.



Or perhaps a youtube on the show. Don't mind the roaring engine sound that shook the sanddune.

Mind Your Language

I love my Arabic Class this time round!

I told you earlier that my new teacher speaks only arabic and when she does it, she does it slowly and ever so patiently. Allahuma Bareek.

Sometimes at the end of the class she would give us tadzkirah. Most of the time I do not know what she says but I do get the gist of it especially if she narrates hadith that I already know in english. A bit cheating but I must say the hadith does sound much better in Arabic.

She also makes us converse in arabic. She would ask to describe our weekends. She makes us write us short scripts, make sentences, write short essay or just hear her read aloud and answer some questions.

Sometimes she would laugh watching us trying to get the arabic words whle at many times she would look confuse with what we said.

I wonder whether she she feels like Mr Brown in "Mind Your Language" sitcom trying to teach us Arabic.

The Attack of the Comedones

Qadr Allah I have bouts of pimples every time I come back from Malaysia. Perhaps it was the dust in my left-not-touched-for-11-months house or the humidity or or or.

These are not the teenager pop pimple type even though I like to think that my body is slowly transforming into the teenage era but I would prefer it would be smaller hip and flatter tummy rather than hormonal fluctuations of these kind.

I had to go to the dermatologist each time. The pimples just refuse to go away even with my sworn to work cinnamon stick. Read HERE. This is the small type of pimple that will make way to become medium ones and will just stay there forever.

Anyway, as usual, i made the trip to the dermatologist. And this new lady doctor recommended that I go for comedone extraction. Hoping not to mistake this with strawberry flavoured toothpaste, I do like what other people do when they come across medical term. Google. And of course the only thing you find are the horrific ones.

Like this one for instance



GASPS!!

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I already went for the comedone extraction. It's like doing facial minus the massage and dim light and soft music that makes you go to sleep. It's just a session to attack on the comedones on the face. Piercing ouch!

____________________________________

Ooohh something happen on my first day of the attack of the comedones. Before I agreed, i asked the doctor how much. She told me a certain amount that I can afford.

But come that day she charged me QR100 more. Apparently there are other hidden costs that she didn't tell me beforehand. So I was not happy and felt that she should be honest from the start.

I got a free treatment the second round.

It pays to voice out unhappiness sometimes.

______________________________________

The pimples seem to be less now. But there are a few small ones springing out.

Insya Allah Khayr.

We all are growing up

Living in the country that is not yours, we are always reminded that everything is temporary. We are reminded often, because there are always people leaving us either to greener pasture and not to mention death.

My kids have somewhat learned that friends will leave them. They have bid farewell to many close friends since they start going to school, some more painful than others.

The latest one, just last Friday, we bid farewell to one of Mr Fath's daughters. If you have been my faithful stalkers (which are dwindling or non existent now)you would know who the Faths are. Anyway their eldest daughter has completed her IGCSE with flying colours or shall I say with brilliant stars. Scored herself straight As and rightfully take the best place in Qtar for Cambridge papers. Masya Allah! I am so proud of her.

Anyway all grown up (but only 16), she has left Qtar to pursue her tertiary education.

My dad said to me when I was about to leave for UK, that I am a person of my own now. Not fully daddy's girl now. I suppose so. One thing for sure, many decisions were made without may family's involvement. Perhaps my bad.

My heart tugs at the thought that haziq's turn will be coming very soon. About 2 and a half years more.

Oh.








I'll cross the bridge when I get there.

Meanwhile I am making Haziq fold his own clothes. Arrange the clothes in nice stack in the cupboard. And I may be a flunked Goddess but I am very strict about folded clothes on a stack. Soon he will iron his own clothes.

He can fry eggs - both scramble and sunny side up.

Sambal nasi lemak perhaps later?

And I ask Allah that he will instill Quran in his heart wherever he goes and all that we have been doing will guide him on the right path.




Suddenly I am feeling three are too few a children.

Tips dari Buku Sekolah

Hokeh my class is back on after months of being dormant! Alhamdulillah.

I have a new arabic teacher. She is new to the centre. A well experienced teacher I heard. But she hardly speaks any english. Oh dear. But she helps by saying things slowly and Insya Allah is very patient.

So today, my second day, and there she goes talking ever so slowly and repeating them again and again while i ternganga all the way. Allah Mustaan.

Anyway she understands that most of us can read very well. We can do the grammar works. in fact some say better than the arabs. But we still lack in vocabs and very weak in listening and speaking. This is mostly because this centre caters for mothers who go only for four hours a week and outside those time we don't speak any arabic at all. What to do? Where got arabs want to speak to us?

Anyway, thought of sharing this excerpt from my lesson today. A dialogue betweeen two students about learning arabic.



One of the students told the the other that she cannot speak in arabic. And that she want to make her Arabic language good. This is the advise of the other student,

"To memorise the quran. To learn some Prophet's hadith and to speak Arabic alot."

I just want to highlight to you about the memorising the quran. There are tremendous benefits in doing so. Of course when I write this to you, it is like a tongue in the cheek situation, for I have not memorise much but Insya Allah, i pray that this would be possible.

We must start with something. At least that something is better than nothing. And that something will lead us to more and will drive us more towards knowing Allah's words by heart and practising it too.


Contemplate this hadith

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “It will be said to the companion of the Qur’aan (i.e., the one who memorized and studied it): ‘Read, advance in status and recite as you used to do in the world, for your status will be commensurate with the last aayah that you recite.’”

I cannot get over this hadith. Imagine standing before your Lord, the one who creates you and being told to recite the quran in front of Him. Imagine you will be reciting it just like you recite in this world and for every ayah you recite, your level in akhirah will be increased.

subhanallah, reciting in front of My Lord the Compassionate teh merciful. reciting His own words?

And what if we are having difficulty reading the quran,

It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The one who recites the Qur’aan and learns it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven) and the one who exerts himself to learn the Qur’aan by heart and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward.”

Do you not agree with me that much of our time is wasted for senseless reasons. We run our emotions low listening to sappy music and watching depressing series. Our heart is sadden and wasted for reasons not taking us anywhere closer to Allah.

The tip from the book is to memorise the quran to improve your arabic. But I can tell you many more greater benefits in memorising the quran. For akhirah. And when you chase the akhirah, guess who will come running after you?

The dunya my friend.

Jom kita memorise the quran.

Same Message.

Al Shuara 26: 105-122
The people of Nûh (Noah) belied the Messengers. (105)
When their brother Nûh (Noah) said to them: "Will you not fear Allâh and obey Him? (106) "
I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. (107)
"So fear Allâh, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. (108)
"No reward do I ask of you for it (my Message of Islâmic Monotheism), my reward is only from the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). (109)
"So keep your duty to Allâh, fear Him and obey me." (110)

They said: "Shall we believe in you, when the meanest (of the people) follow you?". He said: "And what knowledge have I of what they used to do?."Their account is only with my Lord, if you could (but) know. "And I am not going to drive away the believers. I am only a plain warner." They said: "If you cease not, O Nûh (Noah)! You will surely be among those stoned (to death)." He said: "My Lord! Verily, my people have belied me. Therefore judge You between me and them, and save me and those of the believers who are with me." And We saved him and those with him in the laden ship. Then We drowned the rest (disbelievers) thereafter.

Verily, in this is indeed a sign, yet most of them are not believers. And verily!
(121)
Your Lord, He is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful. (122)

---

As Shuaraa 123-140
'Ad (people) belied the Messengers. (123)
When their brother Hûd said to them: "Will you not fear Allâh and obey Him? (124) "Verily! I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. (125)
"So fear Allâh, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. (126)
"No reward do I ask of you for it (my Message of Islâmic Monotheism), my reward is only from the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn, and all that exists). (127)

"Do you build high palaces on every high place, while you do not live in them? "And do you get for yourselves palaces (fine buildings) as if you will live therein for ever. "And when you seize (some body), seize you (him) as tyrants? "So fear Allâh, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. "And keep your duty to Him, fear Him Who has aided you with all (good things) that you know. "He has aided you with cattle and children. "And gardens and springs. "Verily, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day." They said: "It is the same to us whether you preach or be not of those who preach. "This is no other than the false-tales and religion of the ancients, [Tafsir At-Tabarî]. "And we are not going to be punished." So they belied him, and We destroyed them.

Verily! In this is indeed a sign, yet most of them are not believers And verily, (139)
Your Lord, He is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful. (140)

---

Al Shuara 26: 141-159
Thamûd (people) belied the Messengers. (141)
When their brother Sâlih said to them: "Will you not fear Allâh and obey Him? (142) "I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. (143)
"So fear Allâh, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. (144)
"No reward do I ask of you for it (my Message of Islâmic Monotheism), my reward is only from the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). (145)

"Will you be left secure in that which you have here? "In gardens and springs. And green crops (fields) and date-palms with soft spadix. "And you hew out in the mountains, houses, with great skill. "So fear Allâh, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. "And follow not the command of Al-Musrifûn [i.e. their chiefs, leaders who were polytheists, criminals and sinners], "Who make mischief in the land, and reform not." They said: "You are only of those bewitched! "You are but a human being like us. Then bring us a sign if you are of the truthful." He said: "Here is a she-camel; it has a right to drink (water), and you have a right to drink (water) (each) on a day, known "And touch her not with harm, lest the torment of a Great Day should seize you." But they killed her, and then they became regretful. So the torment overtook them.

Verily, in this is indeed a sign, yet most of them are not believers.(158)
And verily, Your Lord, He is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful. (159)

---

As Shuara 26: 160-175
The people of Lut (Lot) (who dwelt in the town of Sodom in Palestine) belied the Messengers. (160)
When their brother Lut (Lot) said to them: "Will you not fear Allâh and obey Him? (161)
"Verily! I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. (162) "So fear Allâh, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. (163)
"No reward do I ask of you for it (my Message of Islâmic Monotheism), my reward is only from the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). (164)

"Go you in unto the males of the 'Alamîn (mankind), "And leave those whom Allâh has created for you to be your wives? Nay, you are a trespassing people!" They said: "If you cease not. O Lut (Lot)! Verily, you will be one of those who are driven out!" He said: "I am, indeed, of those who disapprove with severe anger and fury your (this evil) action (of sodomy). "My Lord! Save me and my family from what they do." So We saved him and his family, all, Except an old woman (his wife) among those who remained behind. Then afterward We destroyed the others. And We rained on them a rain (of torment). And how evil was the rain of those who had been warned.

Verily, in this is indeed a sign, yet most of them are not believers. (174)
And verily! Your Lord, He is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful. (175)

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As Shuara 26: 176-191

The dwellers of Al-Aikah [near Madyan (Midian)] belied the Messengers. (176)
When Shu'âib said to them: "Will you not fear Allâh (and obey Him)? (177)
"I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. (178)
"So fear Allâh, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. (179)
"No reward do I ask of you for it (my Message of Islâmic Monotheism), my reward is only from the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). (180)

"Give full measure, and cause no loss (to others). "And weigh with the true and straight balance. "And defraud not people by reducing their things, nor do evil, making corruption and mischief in the land. "And fear Him Who created you and the generations of the men of old." They said: "You are only one of those bewitched! "You are but a human being like us and verily, we think that you are one of the liars! "So cause a piece of the heaven to fall on us, if you are of the truthful!" He said: "My Lord is the Best Knower of what you do." But they belied him, so the torment of the day of shadow (a gloomy cloud) seized them, indeed that was the torment of a Great Day.

Verily, in this is indeed a sign, yet most of them are not believers. (190)
And verily! Your Lord, He is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful. (191)

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As Shuara 26: 192-194

And truly, this (the Qur'ân) is a revelation from the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists), (192) Which the trustworthy Rûh [Jibril (Gabriel)] has brought down; (193) Upon your heart (O Muhammad SAW) that you may be (one) of the warners, (194)

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Different era. Different people. Different prophets. Same message of tawheed.

All these are sent down to us also as lessons that we can learn. Just go around facebook, youtubes and many islamic articles, the response of the disbelievers are the same. Sometimes even the exact words mentioned in the Quran.

Some random thoughts from me that I cannot even conclude to what exactly I am feeling.

I ask Allah to strengthen my eemaan and give us victory.

Whirlwind Start

School has started for the kids. And if you have been reading my past posts, you would know that this month is my new year following the new school term. Resolutions should be done now. Cleaning up and house keeping also should be done now.

We started this year with the kaput of our laptop and I believe will be followed suit with our two other desktops. The tell tale signs are there waiting for its end.

Not to mention, there was something wrong with the network, but it seems ok these couple of days. Insya Allah.

Our five year old car is also giving signs , with a few problem lights blinking now and then on the dashboard.

My phone is acting up also. Strange behaviour.

Did I tell you that my face is covered with zits and you don't have to look closely to connect the dots and form a picture?

And last Thursday Jack had a fall, and caused a slight hairline crack on his bone. Yeah on his left arm. The same arm as before. Just different bone. Read the old post HERE.I have been planning for a year of sports for the kids. I suppose swimming and football are off for him for a while.

Alhamdulillah ala kulli hal. Insya Allah khayr.

It's a Beautiful Day Today

I am back in Qatar and the school new year has started.

It's a beautiful morning today.

There are lots of spreading-slightly-puffed cloud in the sky. The sun was rising and there are rays threading in the cloud not so high.

My children woke up early and happy. Their new pants all bright and crispy.

Their school shirts were last year's, which are still good even if you are near.
But the school has a new logo, which I am sure they will force me to buy the new uniform, and set the old ones forgo.

I will take my time to buy. Until the school threatens us or the children become shy.

The children even get their stuff ready from yesterday. Hey! That must be my day.

So today is a good day. The sun is smiling and the wind is playing.

My lover was kind to come with me and sent the children to their new classes. Meeting the new teachers. Greeting old friends.

Today is a beautiful day. I have a good tudung day and my dress didn't make me look (that) fat, I must say.

We came early to school and even had a good parking spot. We only had to walk a distance that is short.

I strut in my boots, and wore my large sunglasses that hoots.

All are well until of course I had to OPOCOT, terpelecot.

On my knees I fell and my ankle began to swell.

My boots gave way to uneven floor. And my tudung jadi berterabor.

Regardless, Subhanallah walhamdulillah for a beautiful day today.

Atooiii sakitnyaaa.