I hear thunder...

It's drizzling in Dubai the moment I'm writing this. I've missed rain so much since I came here last summer. I went out to the balcony stretching out my hands and I could feel very tiny drops of water falling on my hands. Aahhh...it feels so good. No wonder we could hear thunder just now. Eh no, I can hear thunder now. Loud ones.

This is the second one, the first was on Sunday (Nov 16) when the skies in Dubai opened up to bring light showers to Dubai and also other parts of the UAE. I didn't realize when actually it rained that Sunday or Saturday night. I was sending Along and Ain down to the lobby early that morning to take their school bus when we were greeted by a new cloud cover of Dubai, the fresh air and of course the wet ground. The smell of rain hhmm...I missed this! The rain, which had brought down the temperature to a minimum of 21 degree C, was followed by a sandstorm that evening. Again, I was safe and sound hibernating in my apartment and not knowing what was happening outside there. This one I've never experienced. I hope I get to experience it one day.

It's the beginning of winter in Dubai. Ain has had fever since last Sunday (Nov 23). Ain was given a two-day MC but until today she is still not fit enough to go to school. Along just had it yesterday. So, since yesterday I had to tend to both of them. At night, had to keep checking on their body temperature while they were sleeping. Although they're no longer babies, I'm so worried the temperature might go up drastically which could bring bad consequences. I've had sleepless nights these few days. For the kids, I don't mind.

Just now, Apit was in a bad mood. When I took him in my arms, oh no...a nasty temperature. Worse still, he refused to be given medicine, Ain's medicine. Seems like another sleepless episode for me tonight...

Could it be due to the weather changes? Probably. It's seasonal ailments that are brought in by change in weather.

p/s - What if the mother is having fever? I'm not going to ask who's going to take care of me. Instead, I'm going to ask who's going to take care of the kids..especially when the father is not around??

Nov 21...happy birthday to me

Glitter Graphics Maker & MySpace Layouts

I have pictures of my hubby and all my three kids either cutting a birthday cake or blowing out the candles. But I just can't find any of my pics in the same acts. :( There is none. I guess I'd have to stop being the photographer most of the time.

p/s - To all dear friends in Malaysia and in the UK who have sent me birthday wishes (up to now 1.30 in the morning...) via FB, email or sms, thank you very very much. I really appreciate it. I've received the birthday wishes as early as 2 days ago. To my dear Principal, thanks so much for being the first to wish me today. That's very sweet of you. :) Dearest hubby is jealous because he couldn't be the first to wish me happy birthday today...hi hi.

p/s - I wonder what hubby has for me. Let's check it out here...

Kelebihan dan kelemahan lahir bulan November...

NOVEMBER

banyak idea dalam sesuatu perkara
otak dan pemikiran yang sangat tajam
cara berfikir lain dari orang lain
berfikiran kehadapan, unik dan bijak
banyak berfikir, kurang bercakap tetapi mesra
penuh dengan idea-idea baru yang luar biasa
sukar untuk dimengertikan atau difahami sikapnya
perangai tidak dapat diramal dan mudah berubah-rubah
sifat yang berahsia, pandai mencungkil dan mencari rahsia
amanah, jujur, setia dan pandai berahsia
daya firasat sangat halus dan tinggi
bagus sebagai doktor
cermat dan teliti
personaliti dinamik
tidak hargai pujian
bercita-cita tinggi
terlalu degil dan keras hati
apabila hendak akan diusahakan sehingga berjaya
sangat rajin dan berkemampuan tinggi
kekuatan semangat dan daya juang yang tinggi kepada sesuatu kehendak
pandai mendorong diri sendiri
berani, pemurah, setia dan banyak kesabaran
mudah ambil berat terhadap orang lain
tak suka marah kecuali tergugat
pandai muhasabah diri
romantik
tidak pasti dengan imbangan kasih sayang
suka duduk di rumah
tidak berapa berjaya dalam mengawal emosi

Taken from : http://aidacutes.com/?p=9 (Thank you Ummi Afifah)

p/s - Do not know how far it is true but many seem to be true. Could be a coincidence...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY APIT!

19 NOVEMBER 2008 - Our one and only precious son, AHMAD AFIQ HILMY BIN HAZA HILMY has turned FOUR today.

Since all our babies are caeserean ones, getting the third one was my last chance. Thus, Ibu and Ayah had to really keep our fingers crossed hoping that the third one would be an 'Ahmad', since we've got 2 'Nurs' already.

Of course la Ayah Ibu berusaha keras he he. Orang kata banyakkan makan sea food dan kurangkan makan asam, so Ayah Ibu buat la (masa tu belum belajar tentang bikarbonat... ;) ). Di samping tu, amalkan doa tertentu untuk dapatkan anak lelaki. Doa tu Ayah bacakan setiap kali lepas solat Maghrib dan usap kat perut Ibu semasa Apit 3 bulan dalam kandungan (kalau tak silap...sebab masa tu roh telah ditiupkan ke dalam janin). Syukur Alhamdulillah berkat usaha dan doa, akhirnya keluar juga seorang Ahmad...Ahmad Afiq Hilmy.

Ayah dan Ibu bersyukur sangat-sangat, tu yang buat kenduri aqiqah dan kesyukuran sampai tumbang lembu seekor. Sebab memang dah pasang niat kalau dapat 'Ahmad', buat kenduri berkongsi dan sedekah makanan dengan saudara mara, jiran tetangga serta anak-anak yatim.

Semoga Ahmad Afiq Hilmy menjadi seorang anak yang soleh, berilmu, berjasa dan menyejukkan hati Ibu dan Ayah, serta hati semua. Amin.

The thought of not going to have another baby makes me feel that I just do not want Apit to grow too fast. I feel like I always want him to be a baby forever...although I know that is impossible.


For more of Apit's stories and lovely pics, refer to his Ayah's entry here.

Saturday (15.11.08) When the kids have become 'gila lensa'...

It felt so good strolling in the breezy evening. We were on the way to Al Rais Shopping Centre which was situated opposite Al Khaleej Centre. Hubby had to do some currency exchange at Al Ansari there. Along, Ain and Apit were all prepared with a sweater each in case it was as cold as the night before on the rooftop. Apit and Ain especially enjoyed the evening stroll. Just look at their pics above. Sempat posing sambil jalan.

The kids were attracted to this very colourful and attractive spot. Since Ibu starts blogging, the three As have also become gila lensa...ha ha. As if they understand Ibu likes to insert their pics in her blog. So, apa lagi posing la...

Ibu and Ayah would also want to be gila lensa...he he. Sekali-sekala...

We crossed Mankhool road afterwards to go to Spinneys as we had some groceries to buy. On the way back, Maghrib azan was heard. Afraid we might not be able to perform Maghrib prayer once we reached home, we stopped by Al Rolla mosque to perform the prayer. Here, the prayer will usually start half an hour after the azan. By doing so, more people will be able to get pahala sembahyang jemaah. One good thing I could observe was that the Muslims in the vicinity would rush to the mosque once they heard the call of prayer including taxi drivers, a scene seldom seen back in our country.

Along, Ain and Apit were enjoying the brownies bought from Spinneys while waiting for Ayah. Ayah and Ibu had shawarma and a cup of tea bought from Bin Awardh in front of the mosque for a simple dinner, a spicy one for Ibu and Along, and an ordinary one for Ayah. By the time we finished eating, Isya' azan was heard and hubby performed Isya' prayer before walking back. The way back that night was not as breezy and cooling as it was in the evening.

p/s - All the pics were shot using my old Nokia 6111 and hubby's Sony Ericson SEP1i. Berat la nak usung kamera.

Friday (14.11.08) - Suatu Petang Di Atas Bumbung...

As Friday is a holiday, we always think of a way to make the kids happy. This time, we took them up to the rooftop of our apartment building Al Attar Escala. See...there are lots of exciting family activities that we can do kat atas bumbung ni...

The swimming pool has always been Along, Ain and Apit's favourite place. Since this place we're staying is situated by the seaside and near Port Rashid, it's cold and breezy especially kat atas bumbung ni. No more scorching hot sun of Dubai as it is the beginning of winter. Rasa macam kat Cameron Highlands pula...syoknya. But the water in the pool is very cold that we couldn't dare to dip ourselves in it. So, we just spent the time in the jacuzzi since the water is slightly warm. Patut la mat salleh-mat salleh kat situ pun sunbathing je.

That was not the only activity. We brought Along, Ain and Apit to another favourite place of theirs, the children's playground nearby. During summer, it was very dusty in the playground. That's why we seldom bring them here. But today it was just nice. So, the three As apa lagi...

Pastu, pegi favourite place Ayah pula he he. Ayah seldom comes here as he is always busy at work or outstation. Tapi sesekali dah berada kat sini, bukan aje Ayah yang seronok main pool, Apit pun sibuk nak main sama walaupun batang pool tu lebih panjang dari dia hi hi...cute je. 8 has always been my lucky number (kebetulan...) and 9 is hubby's favourite number.

Before we 'climbed down', hubby snapped a few photos from the rooftop. Selalu melihat ke atas, sekali sekala seronok gak melihat ke bawah...Interesting, isn't it?

That night, again we climbed up to the rooftop to savour the night view from the top of Al Attar Escala. Except for hubby (who has a lot of hidden fat inside he he), the kids and me had to put on a sweater. It feels like at night in Cameron Highlands. Sangat nyaman dan mententeramkan berada di atas bumbung ni pada waktu malam especially when it is in early winter. Eh eh Uncle Amin dan Auntie Laila pun ada la, diorang selalu naik kat atas bumbung ni waktu malam rupanya...romantik gitu berdua-duaan.

We've made up our mind that we are going to stay here until hubby finishes his contract in another one and a half or two years' time. We have no reason to move out of this place as we like it here. We can have our family recreation without having to spend a lot of money. Most important of all, our kids are happy here.

p/s - Syukur Alhamdulillah...walaupun Ibu Ayah belum dapat nak bawa Along, Ain dan Apit pegi Burj Al Arab untuk ambil gambar tunjuk-tunjuk waktu malam atau pegi makan ikan bakar kat Jumeirah waktu malam tapi Alhamdulillah Along, Ain dan Apit happy. Harap Along, Ain dan Apit faham. Kita belum seswai pegi tempat-tempat macam tu. Sebab kita takda keta (lagi).

Good Luck For SPM!...to all form 5 students

Today, 11th November 2008, is the first day of SPM examination in all secondary schools in Malaysia. Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah papers start it all. Thank you Pn Basinah (my dear ex-Principal) for informing me through an email. So, all the best to all my dear Form Five students whom I left since June 2008. May you all get flying colours results (including for the subject I taught for just a few months). I believe you all are able to! I'll surely pray for your success from afar.

Also, all the very best of luck for SPM to my niece, Ayu, in Melaka. Along, Ain and Apit say good luck to you.

Tahun ni tak kena jaga periksa SPM (invigilating) because I'm on leave...in a far, far away desertland. Fuhh...selamat...ha ha ha... Well, it's not that bad actually. I'd prefer invigilating for SPM rather than just staying at home for 1 1/2 months school holidays. I get to know many new friends, teachers from other schools. To all my colleagues in school, selamat mengawasi peperiksaan SPM. Bekerja dengan ikhlas ya kawan-kawan...banyak dapat pahala. And soon after that, have to start marking SPM scripts. Again, I am spared the headache of marking essays this year. Aaah legaaa... Tak yah nak pening-pening kepala, migrain burning the midnight oil.

At this time around in November last year, I was busy marking the final exam scripts and preparing the final exam marks for all the classes I taught. Being a class teacher, I had to key in marks for all subjects, prepare the class mark sheet and report cards and 001 cards, and what not...In November this year, I'm here...hoyea...hoyea...enjoying myself before the laptop la la la la...