Clan Annual Fun Picnic 2011

Held on Sunday 2nd January

"Tired But Happy" News

A very long time ago when I was in Std 2 or 3, part of our English lessons was to write little essays in our "News" exercise books. When our news was interesting enough we got to read it out in front of the class. I noticed that most of those chosen always ended with "We went home tired but happy".

Fast-forward 50 years, I do have a piece of news, though perhaps not too worthy of a classroom broadcast but which did indeed ended up with us reaching home "tired but happy".

"Tired" because of the somewhat hectic (but manageable) logistical issues of a small entourage, and "happy" due to the joyousness of the occasion - which was our son Amin's engagement to Dr. Hanis, a Terengganu lass about to complete her housemanship at Queen Elizabeth's Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.

Mum-in-law to-be marking Hanis's "taken" status :)

With Cikgu Hassan and Puan Samirah, Hanis's parents

Thanks to all who have joined us at the ceremony in Kuala Terengganu.

With that we now have two sons whose hearts have been captured by pretty "mek ganu" working in East Malaysia.

Two weddings in the pipeline this year kiddoes, and the gang have already asked about colour themes. Adeen wants beige for his and we think lime-green would be nice for Amin's.

As for the over-riding concept, shall we just stick to SIMPLICITY?

After all, as Leonardo Da Vinci observed " Simplicity IS the ultimate Sophistication ". YES, I agree...

Mulling over that little "eureka" moment, I shudder thinking of the daunting tasks ahead and the next 2 trips to Kuala Terengganu. Will people come home "tired but happy" then?

We will have to make it so, Insya Allah.

Aunty Works Out

My New Year's resolution was to get "more intensive" at the gym.

I didn't start immediately though. But our Clan Picnic on 2nd January helped to push in that direction.

I walked/jogged on the track at the TTDI park before joining Sifu Ramlah, my sis-in-law who took us through our qigong paces.

And then some cha-cha pocho-pocho afterwards.

That was the annual picnic. We played fun solidarity-type games as well (there should be a video of it which apparently is not forthcoming.. as yet)

So what's an intensive gym workout for a 57 year old aunty?

This definitely is:

15 min on the treadmill doing speed intervals ie. alternating between brisk-walking and jogging

3 sets circuit of:

• 20 repetitions of squats with with pec flys on standing
• 20 reps of step-ups and twists
• 15 push-ups pivoting on knees

30 secs plank on palms followed immediately with plank on elbows

Felt nauseous at the end but still adrenaline-high.

That was on Wednesday.

Last Friday it was:

15 mins on the treadmill doing speed intervals

3 sets circuit of:

• 15 reps bench press
• 20 reps step-ups on bench
• 15 reps back extensions

finishing with 3 sets 20 reps of raised leg crunches

Yesterday, we went through some serious pocho-pocho/line-dancing routines comprising:

40 mins pocho-pocho

2 rounds each of:

• "It's Now or Never"
• "Chilli Cha-Cha"
• "Demi Cinta"
• Waltzing to a Korean Song

Today, no exercise (yet). I'm floored by seedless guavas we had at dinner

*aauuwww!!! sporadic spasms* :(

The Clan Bowled

Hey there kiddoes!

I always imagine if arwah Atok could see what we, his children, nephews, nieces and grand-children, get up to in the name of the ClanofHassan he would not be at all displeased.

What with the usrahs at arwah Uncle Zoob's and Uncle Lat's, the monthly birthdays, the Hari Raya Open Houses, the weddings etc, it is nice to see us all gathered for some fun and games as well.

The 4th Annual Clan Bowling competition on Boxing Day 26.12.10 was one such. Not to mention our Annual Clan Picnic recently.

At The Pin Junction, our clan showed that some of us bowleh jugak bowl, while some bowlehlah practise some more.

There are plenty of pictures tagged to us on Facebook - thanks to Ayu, Azyan and Fina / Odin.

I've pasted here some that have my face inside - for my own future reference of course - and also the "important" people...

Heck, I'll paste all the team pictures here too, not just those with my face...





Widie the organiser











Energising first








"Spare" muscles










the ball slipped off my fingers










(ooops... like it's gone to me pooch)







but.... YESSSZA!!!




The teams:



















Shahir (in red tee) - awarded the best male bowler
and the overall champion!













Dr Su (in blue) - awarded the best female kegler
Azyan - the most animated








Little Amirah - the best under-18 (female)
























somebody here was the best over-50 (female)




The Winning Team:



Matzin - the best over-50 (male)
Maxim - the best under-18 male



The Committee:

The Group Photo

Next to Aunty Rose's for lunch, December birthday celebrations...









and doa kesyukuran










for THIS BIG GUY




who was still a little bit sore to bowl









See you at the picnic then, Raszlan!



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When He Was 64

My late father was born in 1922. He chose the date 4.4.44 to marry my mother. He was still only  a few months shy of 22. My mom was then only 17.

By the time he was 40, going on 41, they already had 9 children. Mom was just 35, 36. The gynae suggested that she had her tubes tied, to which she agreed. Otherwise there might have been 3 or 4 more of us.

The years passed, we finished our schooling. Dad made sure we all went through tertiary education, and got decent jobs and.... got married. By the time he was 64 and Mom 59 they've already had 15 or so grandchildren, and my youngest sister 23 years old.

Year: 1986

 

So I guess they could breathe easier with everyone grown up.

I am 57 now and if I get to see 64 my youngest would be 25 years old. No more school uniforms to be bought, even since last year for that matter.

It's just that I have a couple of 64, 65 year-old friends, albeit on Facebook, who still have teenagers running around them. And they are not the grandchildren.

These coots look youngish and spritely though. I'm just wondering whether they treat their young children as children, or grandchildren... because these daddies are old enough to be grandfathers anyhow.

I remember my own maternal grandfather had 3 little girls in his sixties when he re-married after my grandmother passed away. They were very much younger than me and I think he doted on them  as he did us, his grandchildren.

Usually grandchildren get away with things that would definitely be frowned upon by the parents.

Like peeing on grandpa

This is my nephew Rez

 

Or punching him in the eye

This is Amin

If my father were still alive, he would be 88 and probably enjoying his 31 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren like Mom is now. He passed away at the age of 71 with 9 additional grandchildren. May Allah bless his soul and place him among the righteous.



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The Shadow of Your Smile

Written by P.F.Webster & J.Mandel

Raya Open House 2009

Four generations present

Insy: Mak, you wore this same exact outfit first raya. Why not wear that killer sarong kebaya?
Me: Never mind lah. This baju kurung is the most comfortable. So what if not sexy - I can quickly langkah-langkah back and forth in these. Sshhh, that kebaya too special lah...
Insy: The caterer's ready... you can now buka langkah and go check the buffet hehe

Everything A-OK
Picture taken later cos someone
didn't charge the camera

Wo terk Kai Sing Peow Mei in tudung
and also from next door

Ajoi: Aunty, what's with your eyes?
Me: I put on mascara just now.
Ali: Aiyo put mascara
Me: That caterer was late, I had nothing to do and my hands got itchy.
Ajoi: One eye is red already.
Me: Yalah after that my eye pulak got itchy and I rubbed it a little.
Ajoi: Aiyo.
Me: Now I'm seeing something like a small spider in my visual space here at the side. I keep trying to catch it and crush it but it's just like a hologram.
Nora: I think it's your mascara clumped together.
Me: Ya kah? So not pro at it. Eh makan, makan I'll take a picture of you.


Babes, that spider? It's called a floater. Here read this:

Eye floaters are those tiny spots, specks, flecks and "cobwebs" that drift aimlessly around in your field of vision. While annoying, ordinary eye floaters and spots are very common and usually aren't cause for alarm.

Floaters and spots typically appear when tiny pieces of the eye's gel-like vitreous break loose within the eye's interior.

You'll notice that these types of spots and floaters are particularly pronounced when you peer at a bright, clear sky or a white computer screen. But you can't actually see tiny bits of debris floating loose within your eye. Instead, shadows from these floaters are cast on the retina as light passes through the eye, and those shadows are what you see.

You'll also notice that these specks never seem to stay still when you try to focus on them. Floaters and spots move when your eye moves, creating the impression that they are "drifting."

Well those are floaters for you..

But these are fliers and I mean 30,000 feet high fliers - Amal with some of his friends, dubbed the MCA gang, from Batch 06/06 of MAS cadet pilots.

Amal: This is KayJay, Hue and LupJoe.
Me: LupJoe, I used to read your blog you know.
Someone: Wah you got blog!
LupJoe: No more oredi.
Me: What happened to it?
LupJoe: Actually I participate in the forum only (airlinespilot.com). Just helping people how to apply for pilot course etc.
Me: That was very good of you, you know. Eh where's another one MCA.
Amal: He's married, he said he's too busy making babies hahaha!



Me: This Abu got too much hair
Abu: I'm not trendy lah Aunty. Actually this trend started by the Botak gang. They all gangsters lah.
Shazmi: I'm a natural botak as you know. These two are just wannabes.
Hanif: Better merasa botak when we're still young lah.
Ras: Yeah, yeah..... haha. Then we won't miss it when we lose it.



Umairah: Kak, the syrup's too sweet
Alfa: They haven't kacau the ice yet
Me: Add some mineral water lah (wondering if there's a relevant ayat)Capt. (rtd) Lat: How's the syrup now?
Umairah's hubby: Better than the ones you air-lifted in the Caribou, qwa-qwa


Jane: We must take a picture together. Katy and I used to work with your sis-in-law at a famous hotel.
Me: Small world isn't it?
Kaklong: Aunty Jane gave me a glowing testi lah.

Jane: And it was a real pleasure to work with your daughter too, and I just had to come and meet her parents.
Me: Waah that's too much accolades (blush). Work is work what!



Me: Kaklong take a picture here.
Kaklong: Oh my goodness, they are SO cute in their tudongs (Saya's little girls)
Saya: Shhh I'm here under-cover. Don't post my picture OK?
Me: Shhh, here I'm Maria OK?
Saya: heehee actually white makes me look big.
Me: Don't worry I'll edit your pic.

Saya: When you guys are free come over, I'll make you all my meehoon chicken briyani.

Alfa: Aaah we cannot ever miss that, can we? It's something I will be looking forward to, thank you.

Me: (while walking to her car) My God, I'm sure you can sing very well.
Saya: Why do you say that?
Me: Your voice, it's so melodious. You recite the Quran well too I know.

Caaaak!

Saya: Muah,muah,muah...... muah,muah,muah (Saya lost for words for once)


DD: I've got good news and bad news for you
Me: Tell me the bad one first.
DD: No I'll tell you the good one.
Me: OK shoot.

The enginerds - boss not pictured here

DD: The good news is we've got a project in --------tan.
Me: Congratulations.
DD: The bad news is we've got to send Alfa there.
Me: Well that's good news for him!
DD: His stint is for about two weeks.
Me: That's OK. Means I can have a second honeymoon (thinks "but we already had 2 or 3 or is it 4...?")
DD: Yeah I think you can get ready for another honeymoon.
Me: (thinks "YESSSS!")


Me: Doc, I'm surprised you don't sound like a Ganuman at all.
DrSam: A Ganu person is not as unchangeable as the Kelantan man. We can adapt more easily than them.
Zayda: He has been swallowed by the Perakian.
Me: Haha...."Saya" was here too.
DrSam: Yes I ada juga baca-baca dia.
Alfa: I like her candidness though some people may not appreciate that.
Me: Alfa hasn't gone beyond 2 postings.
DrSam: Yes, I noticed.Alfa: My comments can be too frank as well - even though I have my white gloves on when I type. But I like your madah-madah style.
DrSam: Sometimes it just comes hehe.
Me: Here Kak Long take a picture of us. Poor Doc's not been well lately. He's lucky to have a wife who dotes on him.
Kaklong: SMILE EVERYONE.

The Bye-byes

Conspicuous by their absence:

Tok Uban

Tommy, Tomee, Temusin, Unker etc

Double Celebrations

31 st August 1992 was the most memorable Merdeka for our family.

It was the day no. 5 of 5 was born.

As the laughing gas wore off , I summoned every ounce of effort for a final push, and baby emerged.

Congratulations, said Dr. Siti, it's A GIRL, holding her up for me to see.

Praise be to Allah, she's perfect! She's the spitting image of my mom-in-law.

It was 8.10 am and the military jets flew past overhead, marking a double celebration.

After 3 boys in a row, she was a joy for everyone.

Especially so for Kak Long, who had screamed in disappointment "KAK LONG NAK ADIK GIRL, KAK LONG NAK ADIK GIRL, WAAAAAAH" when Azeim was born.

"Insyirah" as baby was named, and Kak Long are now the best of friends.

And Merdeka has never been the same since.

Today she is all of 17 years old, facing the SPM soon and holed up in the asrama school for exam workshops and Latih-tubi, when others are on school vacation.

With the fasting month we are not able to celebrate in a big way, save for a small birthday cake and Nandos peri-peri chicken (her favourite) brought to the school for breaking of fast yesterday, the more convenient day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INSYIRAH, STUDY HARD, AND FOCUS ON YOUR DESIRED RESULTS.


This video is especially for you, Sayang........





Stress sangat belajar ye? Sampai jerawat pun bermaharajalela!!!



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Takde Bende

Tak payah tengok

Match Them Up

My, my kiddos, who is this naughty boy who refused to eat his nasi? Everyday he'd only eat potatoes mashed with butter, with a clear soup of meat and carrots. Day in, day out. Rice just bored him. Tch, tch, tch. Puas mama dia pujuk.






Still he's grown into such a fine young man today.






Here he is again with four of his little cousins.

From left to right - boy1 (him), girl1, boy2, girl2, girl3

Why don't you try and match the "then" to the "now"?










And include these cuties as well - boy3 and girl4










DAH BESAR!



From left to right and down - A, B, C






From left to right and down - D, E, F





From left to right and down - G, H, I



Who dare answer will get a Hari Raya greeting card from me. Send your name and address to kaizendra@gmail.com.

Format of answer:
Girl1 is ___
Girl2 is ___
Girl3 is ___
Girl4 is ___
Boy2 is ___
Boy3 is ___


Nepotism allowed here.

Hint: There are decoys



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