goodbye march

March round-up: gift from mumsy | some Arab-wannabe kid | same kid | bowling night with the crays | mosque | addictive ice-cream in Makkah | some kid with face mask 24/7 | Krisby Krim | some kid's ootd

As expected, we all came back from umrah like sick cows (no wait, I'm not sure how sick cows look like). Rumi started having high fever while in Abu Dhabi en route to Jeddah (in which a kind Arab woman came to ask  if we needed any help while we were frantically sponging him) and coughed the entire flight from Jeddah to KL (aaaand he is still coughing). Emre had pinkeye half of the time in Makkah (because he was allergic to dust and air pollutants); I was jet-lagged and my husband is currently down with super high fever. 

Sickness aside, I can safely say that our trip went well. Every imperfections that we encountered during the trip will be kept to ourselves, and when I find the time I will try to talk about my experience. Madinah was a God-sent (pun intended) but Makkah was a different ball game altogether. My heart breaks everytime i see old people especially those from our country, because Makkah is definitely not for the faint-hearted.

While waiting for our flight to KL, I sat beside a frail old lady fumbling with her inhaler. Her daughter watches helplessly, until her mutawwir came to help. Apparently she has never travelled before, let alone with an inhaler that she needs to carry around because all these while she gets help from the hospital if she has any breathing difficulties. I was so worried about her the entire time but then I thought, she has made it this far, God is surely keeping her safe.

I start work tomorrow. I've forgotten my computer's password (happens all the time when I go on a long break) and I'm not sure how to handle compliments (got news that I've been promoted!). Syukur sangat.  

Laters. Hope I can sleep tonight.

12/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Emre: A hit among the makcik2 and nenek2 during our umrah trip!

Rumi: Always ready to outsmart me.

Just hold on we're going home

37.

Obligatory birthday side-selfie. I am 37 today. I touched a camel. #nothingmuchtosay 

Salaam from Mekah

Yup, currently in Mekah. It's our third day here, after spending a week in Madinah. All is well with us, especially the boys. 

I will probably share my experience here when I get back but then again I don't want to over-promise. Maybe I'll write about handling the kids or about the food here (think I've gained 20kg already). 

Bye!

We're ready. 

10/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Emre: The cold never bothered me anyway. He's been watching Frozen every single night. 

Rumi: Minecraft gamer extraordinaire. 

korean blues

I can always count on my colleagues to take me out for good food during lunch time when I'm all stressed out (or angry). Korean food, with my favorite pa jeon (slightly burnt, the better) never fails to perk me up to keep going. And oh, a can of Starbucks latte from the Lotte Mart to complete my lunch.

My beloved pa jeon.

Yum.

Rice is evil! 

Terrible time we live in. Prayers and positive thoughts for those in MH370.

weekday view

The billboard says 'Hello. Mother misses you.' Hurts my heart every single day. Miss my Mama.

9/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Emre: Model behavior. Not.

Rumi: Doing pretty great in school, based on his report card. Yay us! 

feb un-fab

Sometimes you win some, sometimes you lose some. Career is going some weird tornado of uncertainties (i guess this is part and parcel of re-orgs) and it gets frustrating for all of us little fishes trying to survive in this big pond.  

March is my birthday month. Bring on the good news, please.

The 100happydays project

Favorite peanut butter.

So a friend who is battling depression for years (I call it depression, she calls it being stuck in a rut) decided to take part in the 100happydays project in her attempt to be a happier person. Whatever makes you happy, I thought. For me, it's not hard to find at least one thing that makes me happy on a day-to-day basis. I just snap a pic of my lunch, and wallah! 1 point for happiness! Heheh.

I don't post my 100happydays pic online daily but I do make it a point to send it to her without fail. She's on day 7 now, not sure if she's a happier person yet (because I still get her messages about how sucky life is) but I guess slow pace wins the race. Or something.

8/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Emre: Quite the ladies' man, this one.
Rumi: Still insecure, but that's okay.

Chee chong fun for lunch

gifts

Love, LOVE, love buying gifts for people (maybe I was Santa Claus in past life).
But bonus is looming, and as I always say, the best gift in life is the gift you give your self.
God give me strength to not spend irrationally! (but I do need a new must-have handbag hmm hmm)

Farewell gift.

Christmas gifts.

Are you meant for me?

Or are YOU? 

ex-6/52

Ah, I forgot I have this photo in my drafts folder. Guess it was meant for week 6/52 but I get so sick of iPhone photos at times (because you have the tendency to add filter to every photos) and I miss my Lumix babies.

7/52

“a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Emre: Abang's shadow. He aims to please his Abang all the time. But they still fight like crazy.

Rumi: Aish, more battle scars!

Childhood.

In Kg Baru for lunch, where we grew up. Bila nampak sira pisang rindu sgt pada arwah Mama. 

6/52

“a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.”

emre: the milk whisperer. most nights, he would slowly tip-toe to me and whispers that he wants milk. a nightly delight.

rumi: he can write in mandarin! (now Ibu needs to learn a new language)