Aliah and her organ...

One of the new subjects Aliah had to learn in Year 3's music. Once a week the students need to learn how to handle their musical instrument of choice. Aliah chose to play the organ. We kept on persuading her to choose a violin or even a recorder because it was easier to find... but she was adamant, she wanted to play the organ...sigh (Actually we also wanted her to find something that would not drive us up the wall...hehehe). She kept on badgering us with her request...sigh

So, we went around Khartoum to find an organ. We found a Yamaha organ but it was quite big and heavy. So, we asked my husband's brother, Angah to buy one in Malaysia. He bought it and sent it to Saiful (our next door neighbour) who was in KL. So, on the 24th of October, Saiful came back to Khartoum.

But there was a little bit of a problem encountered at the airport. Saiful had to pay quite a large amount of tax for it. At first, the customs asked for USD 300 and finally agreed on USD100. Luckily Saiful found someone to exchange currency with...sigh. So he arrived at the complex around 7.30 pm. Kak Long was unaware that we bought the organ for her, it was supposed to be a surprise.

Saiful was telling us about the problem at the airport...

My husband bringing it in...

Aliah was busy doing her homework when we brought it in. At first she just ignored us while we put it on her bed. Later she realised there was something going on and was happy to see what it was. The boys were busy wanting to play with the organ...hehehe

Concentrating on her homework...

She was doing her math homework...

She was still unaware...

Finally, dawned on her...

My husband setting it up...

Happy ler tu...

My husband cam nak marah la tu...

Amir, enter-frame...

So happy!

Suka sangat la tu...

Hehehe...

It's a bit bulky...

Thank you, Ayah Ngah...

With the tax that we had to pay, it was about the same if we've bought the organ in Khartoum. But the organ in Khartoum was heavier and without a bag. Though, the organ that we finally bought was also bulky, it was not that heavy. So, every Thursday, I'll be the one lugging the 'thing' around...sigh. 

Lantak la, at least Kak Long's happy to finally have her own instrument. The other two boys were also allowed to play with it, sometimes...hehehe

Silat practice...

On Thursday, the 22nd of October, I was approached by Kak Zainon PCO to help with the performance for Edufair on the 31st of October. See I told you, these PCO people really love to do their job in the last minute. I'm sure they knew about any project weeks if not months from the date itself, but they evidently think that Petronita's the worker of magic... and we'll always come up with whatever they need...sigh

Within a day, I managed to get hold of Kak Liza to train the kids for zapin and Ustaz Yaacob to train the silat boys... Not enough with those two, Kak Zainon also asked for kompang...sigh. Sometimes I couldn't believe the audacity of some people. So, I told her if you need my help, you need to pay for the instructors and also the participants. At first she was quite reluctant but I finally managed to convince her.

Can you imagine, they asked for our help but was reluctant to pay?!! I didn't ask anything for myself, just for the kids who had to practice everyday. They agreed to pay sdg 1 per day. Sdg 1, ok?!! Just enough for 1 drink a day...sigh. That's one of the things I don't like working for PCO, they 'pressed for your sweat and blood' and unwilling to pay for it.

Anyway, Kak Liza supervised the zapin kids while I supervise the silat practices. Sometimes even using my own money to buy them drinks. Pity the kids, practicing under the hot sun. Enjoy these pictures (taken one the second day of practice).

Having fun...

Yaacob showing them the moves...

Dedicated...

Practicing...

Concentrating...

Kuda2 mesti kemas...

They looked very serious...

My 5 pendekar...hehehe

An update on Hadi...

On the 24th of April, we went to Little Friends to meet Amir's teachers. At home, Hadi asked us to look at his blue hippo. When we arrived in Little Friends, it was still early so we straightaway went upstairs to see Amir's teachers. He was there for only two weeks, so there was nothing major and we had the feedback that he's been a good boy and adapting well to school...hehehe, Alhamdulillah.

After that we saw Miss Mona and she asked us to go to Hadi's class in Reception. I always dreaded going to see Hadi's teachers...hehehe. It felt like I was back in school and being judged...hehehe. Although there was nothing to worry about actually because we've had the worst parent-teacher meet last year...hehehe

As expected, he's doing well in his subjects, math, english, topics etc. His only handicap was arabic where he refused to learn...sigh...here we go again...hehehe. The other thing that we worry about was his anti-social behaviour. It seemed that his classmates liked to play with him but he preferred his own company best...in class or in the playground...sigh. 

We were told by the teachers that some kids actually helped him collect feathers and such like with the hope that they could play with him. But what would he do? He would accept their offering and said thank you but I don't want to play with you...sigh. Maybe the other kids would like to join his many 'invisible' adventures...hehehe. Other than that, he was praised on his general knowledge, about animals especially. Probably that's the benefit of him watching Nat Geo Wild everyday...hehehe

Then, we had a look around at his work. I was a bit embarrassed when I saw his free-drawing project. They were given a piece of paper to draw anything they like. What did Hadi draw? Hehehe... it was a swirls of red. 

When we got home, as usual we sat the boys down and gave them the reports from school. When I asked Hadi what was his free-drawing supposed to be? He said, "It's a map"...hehehe. I should have known he would say something like that. At least, it's not 'invisible'...hehehe

The kids' project...

Hadi's blue hippo...

His 'map'?!!

Colouring's definitely not his strong point...

His alphabets...

Both boys...

My Hadi...

My handsome boy!

Alhamdulillah...

Alhamdulillah, last night the performance was a success.

Yesterday, we did the rehearsal in MPH from 4 to 6. Although the kids were ready on time but the sound system did not. At first we rehearsed without music. The silat boys were very good but the zapin group was a bit shaky. While waiting for the sound system to be set up, the silat boys vanished. I know, I know, boys will always be boys...sigh

With music, the zapin kids were better. When I tried to ask the silat boys to perform, they came minus one member, Afiq. It seemed that Afiq hurt himself when playing (later I found out that he even broke his glasses!). When there was only the three of them on stage, they made a lot of mistakes. Fikri said his counting was affected because Afiq was not there...sigh.

By 5.30 pm, I asked them to rest. While I was there in the hall, I saw Kader was there also some times, but there was no greeting whatsoever from his part. Nevermind... I'm not the kind that 'simpan dalam' kind of person. Once I got angry and let it out, I'll be really calm and not bothered anymore...hehehe. That's how I keep my sanity and my bubbliness...muahahaha

Anyway, after maghrib, we went to bg5 for the make-up session. Nina came armed with lots of make-up. Kak Zila and Ina Wahab helped with the make-up and hair. Me? Tak boleh harap coz I don't normally put on make-up on myself, let alone on others...hehehe

Around 8.30 pm, we went to the MPH. The Sudanese group was on first. Then it was the silat. I was a bit nervous because they didn't practiced properly in the afternoon but I shouldn't have worried unnecessarily. They performed beautifully. Perfect! Standing at the sidelines, I felt so proud of them. Before the show, I asked them to act as the lions (brave and strong) and they did just that. Very serious and warrior-like...giving justice to the art form.

After that, the zapin kids came on... They were very colourful and though it was not perfect but the audience seemed to enjoy their performance. After that, we went to the cafe and had dinner of nasi ayam. Alhamdulillah... I'm so proud of the effort shown by my team (Kak Liza, Nina, Ina Wahab and even Kak Zila helped). Thank you, everyone!

Now, I'm just waiting for Kader to say thank you. Just a phone call or an email, saying thank you. But you know what, I don't think he will...hehehe. Being a very optimistic person, I'll let the line of communication open...hehehe (But En Kader, the next time you'll need my help with any event at the PCO, you'll have to come begging! Muahahaha!)

Puas Hati Tahap Gaban!

Just now I had a very interesting phone call...muahahaha

Let me backtrack a little bit...setting the scene kind of thing...

Last night, I got a call from Kak Jas telling me that Kader PCO wanted the kids to perform silat and zapin for a formal dinner in MPH tomorrow night. Tomorrow night, okay?!! Okay, granted that we already have the dancers for zapin and also teenage boys for silat. But I was not well and Kak Liza's also not well. Uji's at the site and Nina's staying out of the compound...sigh

So, today I arranged for Zai to help supervise the practice session because I was still not well enough. But, by 5 pm, I heard that they're still struggling with the practice, I dragged myself out of bed and I went downstairs. First, I checked out the silat boys... as expected, they're fooling around. I had to insist that they showed me their moves and they're nearly ready. They just needed a little bit of practice, insyaallah.

After that I went to the hall, where Ina wahab and Zai were supervising the zapin kids. Being kids, even though they've learnt their steps a few weeks ago, everybody sort of forgotten them...sigh. Hopefully, they'll be okay tomorrow night.

The 'interesting' thing was, I got to know that actually the PCO just wanted the zapin for tomorrow night and not silat...huh?!! I thought they wanted me to prepare both. But on hindsight, I didn't get any notification from PCO actually. Not a peep! Not a phone call, not even an email! I prepared the kids through information from a third party...

Wait a minute! This is not right! They should have at least give me a call?!! That should have been standard procedure! Even though 2 days notice is a kind of a bullshit dateline but at least have the courtesy to call me. I do live in the same compound as PCO... and calling me would be free, at no cost at all...

Hmmm. Before I gave Kader a call, I asked for advice from Kak Siti who used to be Petronita Miri's chairlady. She advised me to give Kader a call... as a courtesy call. Ok. I did just that.

When he answered, I introduced myself and suddenly he rushed in saying that, "oh, puan mazlina, the chairman was very impressed....bla..bla... " and when he thought I was not connected and kept on saying hello, hello... I answered him, " I'm listening... so, what do you want? Straight to the point, right? He was a bit flustered and asked me whether Rahmat gave me a call and I said flatly, 'No'. When he started to put the blame on another person, I came out and give him and earfull... I told him that I need to know from him personally and I don't like to be passed around.

When I asked him again, what exactly did he want, he said he wanted the zapin dance. This is where I was really pissed off, I told him straight that last night he said he wanted zapin and silat and I did just that... even in my condition, I went and supervise the performance and yet now you said you want only one?!! What exactly do you want?!! He then said, then if silat is also ready, he would like silat too... I asked him again, actually what did he want?!!

He then became quite angry and said that if it's too much trouble, we'd better cancel everything...hehehe. pucuk dicita ulam mendatang la... I told him, okay, I agree to cancel everything but what did he really want? He said he wanted Petronita to help PCO... Ok, I told him, of course Petronita's willing to help but please let me know! 

To that he said, he's a busy man...bla...bla...he's been at the friendship hall the whole day...bla...bla... I told him, I know you're a very busy man but a phone call won't cost you anything. Finally he said that so, is tomorrow done? I said, done! But next time let me know! Then I hung up... Puas hati tahap gaban, I tell you...

So, I'm rambling... but the main point was he didn't request for my help personally (only through a third party) and I wasn't sure what he wanted. Next time, if I'm not given a formal notice of at least 7 working days, I'm not going to entertain the PCO's request. They can perform themselves for all I care or maybe Kader could show some sort of silat...(pulut or otherwise...muahaha!)

Tomorrow, I hope the kids would perform their best and I would be there... even if I have to crawl...I wouldn't want to miss the expression on Kader's face....muahahaha

The doctor came...

2 days ago, a doctor came to my house and pronounced us all sick... Well, except for my husband that is. 

Well, let's start from the beginning. I've been feeling a bit under the weather since last week but I had so many things to settle. I was also so excited about learning to play badminton that I ignored all the warning signs (bouts of coughing etc). For the whole week I was playing badminton morning and afternoon. My addiction became so bad that on Thursday, I played morning, afternoon and night...hehehe

So, on Friday, I joined the aerobics in the morning and after that I went to Omdurman to buy gifts. After Friday prayers, I brought all the kids who was involved in Zapin and Silat to Kudu. And when I got home, I was really tired and felt really sick. And I was miserable all weekend. I had the fever, really bad cough (that I could feel deep in my chest) and the rest was history.

The kids also got it from me... Poor Amir, Hadi and Aliah. The worst hit was of course the baby because he's with me most of the time. My husband was sweet enough to do everything around the house for us. He had to do the household chores in between numerous meetings for the past 5 days. We were mostly in bed nursing a fever and coughing like mad...sigh. Thank you, dear hubby!

I was so sick, I didn't even remember that our wedding anniversary was yesterday. I was a bit surprised when he came home yesterday and wished me happy anniversary. We've been married 12 years already. How time flies...

Anyway, that's why I haven't had time to blog lately. And I would like to apologise to NekkRock for not banking in her money yet. Sorry, Nekk. Will do so, in these few days... 

Halaqah : Rumah Kak Siti...

On Wednesday the 21st of October, we had halaqah at Kak Siti's house. Halaqah is actually a 'majlis ilmu' where the ustaz/ustazah would share with us hadiths among other things. This time round, we started with yassin recital.

The funny thing was, we've forgotten to bring our own water to make air yassin...hehehe. So, we just put the big bottle of mineral water in the middle of the room...hehehe...Just look at the pictures...

Before we started...

Look at the background... hehehe

A clearer picture!

After the yassin recital, we listened to ustazah siti. After the halaqah, we were invited to taste the spread prepared by kak siti. She cooked nasi briyani if I'm not mistaken. The table was laden with food, as usual. I had to leave early as I had to cook for lunch and later picked up Amir and Hadi from school. 

Listening intently...

The other side of the room...

Concentrating...

Amboi, Kak Anum...

Macam2 ada...

The spread...

Amboi, manjanya kak siti...muahaha

Sembang2...

Makan2...