Family Day 2009: The beginning...

The preparation for the Family Day started sometime in early February. I was roped in because I was also a committee member for Petronita's Sports and Culture. At first I was a bit apprehensive because I'm definitely not a 'committee member' type of person, preferring my own company most of the time...hehehe

It was also my first time ever being inside the Petronas Country Office (PCO). I didn't even know how to open the door, okay?!! Even though I had my husband's security pass with me. It was definitely funny, well really embarrassing, actually...hehehe

Anyway, being me, I couldn't be quiet for long. I jumped right into the meeting with lots of comments and opinions...hehehe. As I said in earlier post, I was supposed to help as part of the events bureau. But since I felt that I could help in the gifts bureau, I did just that! I helped in going to the souks and other shops to buy gifts for the Family Day. 

My favourite was going to Victorinox shop and buying the kitchenware in souk Jumaa'. My worst experience would be buying carpets for the event. At first, we went to a carpet shop near souk Bahri and we got a great bargain there. We bought 5 beautiful rugs there, but unfortunately they didn't have big size rugs. So, we went to the next shop (infront of a cemetary). 

We were so lucky because they agreed to sell the big rug for sdg 100. The ladies and I decided to buy at least 5 rugs and we were about to pay when the owner (an egyptian man) rushed to the shop and said that we would have to pay sdg 130 for each rug. We were startled to say the least! We just decided to just let it go and walked out of the shop. The worst thing was that man siad that if we go, 1000 will come. To that I replied, "Insyaallah'. Well, if he's lucky he'll get 1000 customers but all must come from the grace of Allah!

It totally ruin my day, I tell you. It seemed that the egyptian man also owned the previous shop that we went to, as well as the one near sappco in Amarat. No wonder he was furious because his workers gave us a huge discount! Hehehe, serve him right! Anyway, I would give his shops a miss for at least a few months, at least!

As the day got nearer, I started panicking! Being in Sudan, there were a few problems, here and there. At first, we couldn't do a proper rehearsal on Wednesday as the hall was being used. After being directed first to the greens, then to the room next to the cafe, we finally got a little bit of space in the hall to do our rehearsal, which finished quite late, nearly maghrib!

On Thursday, we had a proper rehearsal on the stage. Though the stage looked terrible with old carpets and the promised 500 balloons did not materialise! Anyway, at night I went to cut the clothe for one of the games the next day. Almost everything's ready. I only worried about the lack of boxes for the family game! Some were already with Faatih and some were still in my house! I smsed Faatih saying that I'll let the door to my storeroom open for him to get the boxes whenever he's free. 

The sudanese staff finished decorating the stage at nearly midnight. Good job, guys! The promised tents which was supposed to be erected on Wednesday finally arrived around 12 am, can you believe it?!! But by then, I was already trying to force myself to sleep, to get ready for the events early in the morning the next day...

Family Day 2009: Early morning jitters!

I woke up very early on friday, just before 6 am. Around 6, I heard somebody outside. It was Faatih, picking up all the boxes, finally! Anyway, it seemed that the erected tents (there were 3 altogether) fell apart around 5 am. Can you imagine? It was erected around midnight and collapsed even before the event started! Well, they must have done a very poor job last night, well, what do you expect? They must be tired and probably couldn't see very well in the middle of the night! One good thing is that it's better to collapse then rather than during the event itself. A small blessing at least!

I went to Block B with a sleepy Aliah in tow. She's already dressed for her bollywood dance but I didn't put make-up on her. Around 6.45, Saufi and Army came. Everything was allright except for potatoes and the boxes. I asked Aliah to get some more potatoes from our house, so it would be enough for the potato peeling competition. But the major problem was the lack of boxes. Finally En. Kader stepped in offering his help. He called subalipak people to send more boxes by 8.30 am... Yeay! Finally my problem's over! Now, I can enjoy the day without worrying...hehehe

The PCO staff did a good job in decorating the stage. It looked simple and sweet. The event's catchphrase was 'All for 1 and 1 for all'. A little bit corny, I know. But it also captured the number 11 which was the number of years Petronas's in Sudan. Thumbs up to Noni and Army and their team for coming up with the catchphrase as well as a new song created and performed by Wahyu Singgih (live as well as in the music video)!

The stage...simple but meaningful...

The gifts table, laden with gifts and waiting for its owners... 

Did I mention that the stuff for the hampers came from my very own storeroom! hehehe, what do you expect? If we buy it here in Sudan, it'll cost an arm and a leg, especially food stuff. I didn't give it free, I sold them to PCO. 

Materials for games...

Some of the Sudanese already arriving. Behind them a row of polysterene containers filled with breakfast for everyone!

While waiting for the event to start, I peeked into the 'make-up' room where those involved in the performance were busy getting ready. Several madames volunteered to help with the make-up for the performers. I was a little bit shocked looking at Aliah because she looked like a performer in the chinese opera...hehehe. Anyway, thank you to Kak Faridah, Lynn, Winnie, Najwa and Lisna for helping the performers.

Lisna putting lipstick on Najwa's daughter, Nabila.

Winnie's eyeing her handiwork...hehehe

Lynn's patiently braiding Aliah's hair... Thanks Lynn!

Kak Faridah's putting on eye-liner on Mira.

The girls all made-up... So cheerful...

The poco-poco dancers getting ready to act...

Then, it's time for the show to begin...

Alhamdulillah...

I'm so glad that the family day's finally over. Yeay! No more meetings on Sundays! What can I say, I thought it went really well. 

My kids' birthday bash was also a success. I just wanted to thank Allah for everything. Alhamdulillah, everything went according to plan.

I am currently resting for a few days...hehehe. Finally I have time to 'blog-hop' and read my emails...hehehe. Hopefully I'll be able to update on both events in more details within the next few days.

Again, alhamdulillah...

Family Day Fever!

Tomorrow, March 13th is Petronas Sudan Family Day. I'm involved as part of the organising committee, though I'm quite blur in my 'real' task...hehehe. I was supposed to help in the event bureau but also chipped in the gifts bureau. Well, in my defense, it involves shopping, so it seems very natural for me to help buying the gifts...hehehe

Alhamdulillah, the gifts are 'settled' more or less. But I'm truly worried about the event section. For me, there could be 1001 things that could go wrong tomorrow. Let's just pray for the best...sigh... I'm already breaking in cold sweat actually. Never mind, we'll see what's going to happen tomorrow.

Apart from the family day, I'm also planning to have Aliah and Hadi's joint birthday celebration on the 14th. Alhamdulillah, I have Kak Halina, Kak Rehana and Kak Hanum to assist me in this...hehehe... So, I'm really busy and really acting busy...hehehe

Hadi's 5th Birthday!

Hadi celebrated his fifth birthday on thursday, the fifth of March. Since there was no school on that day, we decided to celebrate it anyway, at home. We had to asked Haithem the driver to collect the cake on the evening of the fourth at Holiday Villa which is also on the same road as the Presidential Palace.

My husband went to work as usual and alhamdulillah, everything went on as usual. From the complex we could hear shouts of 'Allah hu Akbar' from demonstrators nearby. That was around 10 in the morning. But apart from that, everything's normal. As people said, 'business as usual'... Alhamdulillah. Since then there were demonstrations nearly everyday and we had to restrict our movements in and around Khartoum. Definitely no shopping in the souks! Hehehe...

We only managed to have the cake cutting after isya' because my husband got two meetings in the evening. The cake did not look bad, actually. The kids were excited especially when the candles were lighted. It was a 2kg cake and it was too much for us...well, it was supposed to feed 45 small kids!! Anyway, we distributed the cake among our neighbours (Najwa, Asmaa', Lisna, K.Shidah and K. Hanum's house...) The kids enjoyed the trips that they had to do to sent the cakes...hehehe... Anyway, enjoy the pictures. A birthday celebrated during trying times is still a happy occasion if celebrated among loved ones...sigh...

The cake! Taste not as good as it looks! I really miss secret recipe...hehehe

Hadi was happy...

Amir perked up when he saw the 'fire'!

The brother and sister had to help with the candle blowing!

The cutting of the cake...Hadi's so tall for his age...

Tomorrow's Hadi's Birthday, but...

Tomorrow, the 5th of March is Hadi's fifth birthday. I have planned a birthday party for him at school. I've packed the goody bags for his friends, bought a cake and made the first batch of cupcakes for his party!

BUT, there's no school tomorrow! ARGHhhhh! We already know that today the ICC (International Criminal Court)'s going to serve the warrant of arrest to Sudan's President. So, we're already on alert for possible demonstrations. Last night, the parents decided not to let the kids go to school today, just a precaution actually. 

But I didn't expect that the school will be closed tomorrow...sigh... I got the notification while I was decorating the cupcakes. Luckily, it was only the first batch! Anyway, we'll try to have it on Sunday when the school's open again.

Since we're on the same street as the President's Palace, we're already feeling the heat, here. We could hear the helicopters overhead and my husband said that tanks were already infront of the palace. We also heard that there'll be a huge rally/demonstration in Khartoum tomorrow. So, I don't know whether my husband's going to work or not, because his office is quite near to the central of Khartoum. 

Anyway, I feel frustrated with this turn of events, actually. Why is the ICC so determined to serve the warrant? I really feel that they should serve the Israel a warrant for what they've been doing to Palestine! This would only halt the peace process that the Sudan's government trying to do with the South...ish, how unfair!!! Just because Sudan's an islamic country! Please pray for our safety. Insyaallah, nothing untoward would happen. Tawakkal illallah...

 

I decorated a few with a 'zoo' theme, tigers, elephants and dinosaurs (green)...

hehehe, animals are Hadi's favourite, especially dinosaurs!!!

When they heard that tomorrow's no school, they started eating the cupcakes...sigh...

A box full of goodies... 

My husband's stupid TAG!

My husband's going to kill me for this, but I really need to tell everyone about this! Hehehe... Sorry, dear... A girl gotta do what a girl gotta do...hehehe...

When we came back last year, my husband finally got himself a 'SMART TAG'... I know, I know, how outdated we were...hehehe. The funny thing was instead of attaching it to the window or if he was so concerned about the idea of somebody stealing it, just put it on the dashboard when we're in the car! 

But NO, he insisted to hold it himself!!! Huh?!! Yes, he would hold it while driving! At first, whenever we're near a toll booth, he would drive ever so slowly at the 'SMART TAG' lane... I got so fed up and we had several 'discussions' in the car. Finally, I threatened to take a picture and post it in this blog! Hehehe... 

The worst part was trying to get the 'right' picture. I tried many, many times to get the picture of him holding the 'stupid TAG' , but somehow he always managed to evade getting caught on camera! Even the kids had fun doing this, hehehe... At least, it was never boring going through the numerous toll booths around KL. The worst part was that even I have to hold the 'stupid TAG' when I'm driving. That really made me mad...and when I get mad, I get even...hehehe

Finally on the 29th of December I captured the perfect picture! Yeehoo!!! A few nights ago, he saw the pictures and threatened to delete it, so before he could do that, I'd better post it in my blog first! hehehe... Enjoy the pictures... Dear hubby, bak kata kak long, "Padan la muka!"...hehehe...

Holding the 'stupid TAG"!!!

This is some of the things he would do to keep from being photographed!!!