Fun time, the holidays are back!!!

zakiy the oil rigger

ashraf - heat scan image
ashraf n his dad on cabin 5 of Eye on Malaysia
Zakiy n Ummi on cabin 5 of Eye on Malaysia
Zakiy, Ashraf n their dad-background is the Eye on Malaysia
at Petro Sains - my boys the palaentologists?zakiy the archeologist
zakiy the astronaut...
ashraf - before the heat scan - dari jauh, like Harry Potterlah!

on our merry way to petrosains gallery...
the impressive petronas twin tower, kuala lumpur
zakiy, th f1 driver..he made it!!!
ashraf n zakiy, in the dinosaur's lair...
petro sains gallery this is what that first greets you..mr T- Rex himself! siap 'rap'lagi!


Aaaahhh...finally! my little boy Zakiy finally got his chance to visit the PetroSains at KL suria. We left early saturday morning, 17/11/2007, as soon as the holidays started. I have been there before, and I am glad that the gallery did not stay static. There were changes, and another subgallery - The Petro Speed was something new to me too. Hubby dearest, as usual, just sent us. He did not want to participate in our adventurous mood-well its his loss...



At petrospeed there was a game which i found very interesting. It was the Mind Ball. You know what? It is a game where you direct a small ball into your opponents goal post - just by the will of your mind. A kind of electrode? i suppose, is placed on your forehead, looking like you are wearing a bandana, n then by sheer control of your mind, you "will" the ball into your opponent's goal. It is all about brain activity wavelengths actually....your ability to bring yourself into a state of being in total control, totally relaxed, and you do that by getting your alpha and theta brainwaves under your control. Why should this kind of scientific game be included in the PetroSpeed gallery you think? Well, much of the success to F1 races, have a lot to do with the driver's frame of mind, his ability to stay calm and cool on one of the fastest race track ever, his ability to set his mind on a mission; hence the mind ball practice.



And you know what? I won both challenges i took with big boy, Ashraf...much to my joy! I lost my concentration for a moment with baby Zakiy (well...its understandable you will agree, if i say we always lose out to our youngest darling...heheheh...)But on the second challenge, I managed to put my 'winning' cap back on, and needless to say, i won, yet again. Ashraf is NOT SATISFIED. He blames it on his having a cold, which distracts his focus. I say...this proves one thing significant....MOM KNOWS BEST,MOMS ARE COOL...you moms out there rejoice..i have defended the SUPERIORITY of our species...hahahahah (boy, am i enjoying sweet victory or what?). Ashraf..jangan mare haa.....



From KL Suria, we went to see and eventually ride on "Eye On Malaysia"....big deal. It was an exciting thought, to ride on a huge Ferris Wheel for an aerial view of KL city. Unfortunately, it wasnt so aerial, at least to me. The view of KL from KL Tower is by far more impressive. We were supposed to do 4 rounds but lucky..or unlucky us...we went to as many as 8 rounds...by the 3rd round i was like begging to get out!!! Nothing great...for those who have not gone there, my personal opinion is...just turn a blind eye to it...



Anways, here are some pics for sweet remembrance. At the end of the day, the 3 of us, ahsraf, zakiy and I have decided to return to PetroSpeed sometime soon - just for a rematch of the mindball game.... just for the petrospeed gallery, rm 5 for adults, rm2 for under 12. It will take about 1 hr to enjoy yourself in that gallery. I recommend it...with your children....salaam, cheerio...

yet another year passes by

mom, 4 big brothers(by 2006, only 3), 5 big sisters and a younger sis -where it all started!

at sg. tua
in jeddah
in mekah

in sumatera - lubuk sikaping
in sumatera - my ancestor's museum - Imam Bonjor museum
in sumatera - at the line of earth's equator
in aquaria petronas twin tower
celebrating eid ul fitr -the big boy, ashraf, the hubby, zul, me, the ummi, the baby, zakiy

in cameron highlands
in cameron highlands
in madinah
in langkawi

at the highest peak in langkawi

The present - muslimah, wife, mom, teacher, writer (inshaallah), happy transplant patient

enjoying life and thanking God everyday

in Wales
at home sweet home then..tmn sri andalas klang

in Grantham Lincs, UK

younger days, living on my own, with kidney failure and 'in days of ignorance'



You know what? On 14th November I celebrated yet another birthday in my passage in time. I share this date with the late Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru and Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, 2 very well known dignitaries. Well I guess I must have something great in me too then, hehehe..




I guess I dont have that much years left in me, I reckon I have lived out most of my life, considering my 1 transplanted kidney, my hypertension, and my recently diagnosed liver cirrhosis. No problem there with me, when it is time to go, you just go...




But really I am not complaining. I have lived a wonderful life...wonderful in the sense there have been many experiences that I feel not many have gone through. I have looked death in the eye when I was terminally ill with renal failure, but God has been gracious and I am now enjoying a second chance to life..a good life mind you.




I have experienced excruciating heartache and heartbreak when I was forced to terminate my very first born due to my failing kidneys then. Till now, mention or even memory of my first born, dearest Abdullah, will touch a raw spot and it still hurts, even though the years have dulled it somewhat.




I have been privileged to go out, be on my own from the very tender age of 12 when I was selected to study in a boarding school, Sek. Men. Sains Selangor Cheras KL and then overseas to the UK, from Grantham to Salford. Leaving home from that tender age pushed me to be resilient and more self reliant. I learn to make decisions on my own, forced to learn from my own mistakes, widen my worldview. All these contribute to the person I am within me today.




I have been honored time and again to witness the true meaning of love, and countless encounters to appreciate God's love direct upon me. My sister, Oni showed me exactly what the word selflessness means when she gave me one of her kidneys, to which I owe her my life today. My hubby Zul, showed me the practical meaning of being patient in times of adversity when i was severely ill. For that I am grateful to him. The love of God has saved me numerous times from making mistakes in my life which if not for His love and Guidance, would have given me many regrets. He has blessed me with two beautiful, intelligent, and obedient sons, which make up a lot for the loss of their previous two older siblings. Ashraf and Zakiy you guys are the apples of my eyes, my right and left arm!




God has blessed me with my ever loving brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews ( and now grand nephews n nieces), so many good friends, numerous students over the years of my career as a teacher who accept me as I am, my strength, my weakness together. My life is blessed by their love and friendship




So cirrhosis or not, hypertension or otherwise, I must say my life is good, all praise be only to Him. I am so blessed, and that makes me abundant. What therefore remains of my time on earth, please dear God, let me spend in the worship of YOur Greatness, let me spend in the service of man, spreading the Word of God and spreading love that He bestows in abundance in my heart and in service of this mother earth in the education of my students to be responsible for what they do here on earth.




For the years that I have lived on this earth, and for all that remains, I thank you O God, for I am truly blessed and Guided.

Finally all that I ask for now is the Husnul Khatima, the best of all ends, the pardoning of all sins by God and a place in His Paradise, my final abode...

MY WITTY, EXCELLENT SON!

zakiy n dad - 2nd trip to madinah -2006
akiy, big bro, and ummi in cameron highlands -2006
baby zakiy - 1st birthday!
zakiy, par excellent- school sports
"anak ummi" with ummi, mekah 2006

HE was born at 11pm, on Tuesday, the 11th day of the 11 month...and today he turns 11! My cute handsome charming baby (i can say all this, after all, he is MY son) - AHMAD ZAKIY MOHSIN, The Witty, Excellent One.

How shall I describe him? Where his brother is more serious, deliberate young man, my baby is best described as a very social, friendly person, easy to talk to and make friends with, not forgetting cheeky...his presence brightens up this house, anytime...

Unlike with Zakiy's elder brother, hubby dear and I did not bother much about looking for a name for him, plus the fact that we never knew his sex right till the day he was born. But I had previously discussed with his dad that since big brother already has a name which means intelligent/learned, I would like this little one to be excellent/one who does good deed/doing well. So we ended up with Ahmad Zakiy Mohsin..and how he is living up to his name thus far...Zakiy means witty...o u can count on my baby to be witty! He is the apple of my eye true to the meaning of that phrase. Where my elder son would say Ummi is sweet, he would say I am enchanting (menawan..his exact words). A real flirt he is...how much more witty could a mom like me ask for...i smile every time i remember it.

And I can surely count on him anytime to help me around the house - to wash the dishes, to help me push off the water on our front porch after it rains, and of course to make my hot tea or cold vico...I can count on Zakiy to do it.

One thing about my boy, my baby...he is so down to earth. He will always introduce himself as the less smart son, big bro being the smarter one. And he believes he has a history to prove it. For all i can recall, i think Zakiy is the first youngster to be expelled from kindergarten!! for failure to count beyond the numeral 3! Well, personally, the problem was not my son, it was the school's inability to accomodate a smart child like my baby! Parents take note: check out thoroughly if the kindy you wish to register your child in has the ability to accomodate multiskilled children. I registered him to UMMI's Kindergarten - meaning i started to train him myself, and true enough, within a week he was up to the numeral 100! and the school said he had learning problems - as if!! Parents take note: always believe in your children's abilities and talents...they may seem too deeply buried initially, but they are there...trust me!

His fast witty comments have always been evident. Once his cousin who was then a univ undergraduate was attending an interuniversities function. So she said it was time for her to "pasang badan", hoping to meet some smart good looking undergrad i presume. Out of the blues, my little zakiy who heard her saying that, interjected,"kenapa? selama ni kak ....jalan bawak kepala saja ke?" much to my hilarious suprise! He was only 3 or 4 at that time.

Well my baby is 11 today...he is much much taller, eating more now, and has gained several kilos much to my delight, and he is nowhere a problem learner or child. He is a school prefect, he conducts the school assembly from time to time, he scores strings of As in exams...he is obedient to his duties to Allah and us, he is my beautiful handsome son, and I am so proud of you Zakiy! And I want you to know my baby, that even if I live till you reach 60, u can count on a kiss on your cheek from your ummi every single day. You are my sunshine, you are my smiles, and when i grow old, tired and weary, i know i can rest my head under your roof. Happy Birthday my darling baby! I LOVE YOU AND I AM SO PROUD OF YOU, AND WILL ALWAYS BE PROUD OF YOU!