Happy New Year 2011

2010 came conquered and leaving in 2 hours! I am home alone with my youngest son, Bhaarath who is recovering from German measles. My friends came over to accompany me, and it has been a quiet gentle day. I am waiting for Siva and Arjoonha to be home from Melaka! 2010 and 2011 is just a difference of another day but no one on earth will feel the same tonight as the new year approaches. Each will be in his thoughts, taking account of the year gone by and looking forward to the possibilities of a new year. New year resolutions to be made and everyone will strive to do better..isn't the spirit of this evening amazing to spend similar thoughts and feelings throughout the planet. I am so thankful for all that I have been blessed with and am so thankful! Looking forward to 2011, may the days be gentle, may it be filled with music, may it be spent with loved ones, may trouble forget me, may contentment fill me, may I give more then I receive.

Building character

My kids are going to be 8 and 5. Having a live in maid meaning most houseworks are done for you and you have someone there all the time to help. That is great, as you can do so much more but the downside of it is we become too reliant on the maid, and kids do not seem to be able to pick up after themselves. We have been pretty firm with them needing to do things for themselves, but they haven't started on doing chores. Have started them right away. I can think of so many to get them to do. Washing dishes, making beds, feeding pet, vacuuming, washing car, ...And to make it all fun..am gonna create a point system. Each chore has a certain point to it. And we can see how many points they collect monthly and that will be converted to something. For example 20 points, and extra hour on the nintendo, 50 points a McDonald burger..that way they earn it and something to look forward to...okay off to do the chart!!!!

Don't sweat the small stuff!

My Acer Aspire net book crashed yesterday, now I hear how crappy acer net book is, and my apartment's pipe busted yesterday, and my sore throat came back with a vengeance. Now do I fret and whine? But I look at my kids they are healthy and good, my hubby grumpy but he is there, my life so rich with friends and family, and I can't bring my self to whine nor be down! I have so much to be thankful for! Thank you!

Wholemeal Cinnamon buns!

We think something is very difficult even before attempting it...I have always thot making good loaves of bread is difficult what more making cinnamon buns!! Bun it's not difficult once you know how to and have the right ingredients. And I am ecstatic as with the whole meal bread dough I made some cinnamon buns..with brown sugar and cinnamon, raisin and walnuts and it was yummy, soft and moist...And I made 2 loaves of bread, one to give away...And now my sister once one and my colleagues too..and I am out of bread flour and wholemeal flour...I need to bake more to be given away for thursday...baking and learning to bake bread was one of my 2010 resolution, and fullfilled at the tail end of the year............Home made bread is here to stay!

Bread Glorious Bread

I have always wanted to bake bread, knead it, see it rise, punch it and form it and bake it...and fill the house with the smell of freshly baked bread. I got a 4 star recipe, and bought all the ingredients...organic bread flour and whole meal flour, honey and yeast...I baked a loaf, baked small buns with chocolate chips and it tasted so good..densed, moist and heavy!!! I am overjoyed..I am going to repeat this recipe very soon and add on some flaxseeds and sunflower seeds. I am going to bake as often as I can and try out new breads..and fill my family up with wholesome bread. I am going to bring a loaf of bread when i visit a friend, as a gift...it's going to be all about bread from,now on..Will this addiction last...and if it last...I will reward myself with a KitchenAid ...or a breadmaker..or both? It is is absolutely therapeutic to dip your hands into risen bread ..........And then seeing your kids spreading the butter and jam on it and devouring it.....Such satisfaction.

Rainy days are so cosy!

December is totally wet. It rains every other day and I so love it. Amidst the cool weather my heart warms up! Also because I love seeing my kids having carefree days with no schools and exams to worry about! Love love love December. Had a long great conversation today with a friend and it was all about forgiving and moving forward, seeing the good in people and the importance of spiritual education for our children. And the conversation made me lighter, happier and hopeful. Sometimes a great conversation with a good friend is the perfect thing ons rainy wainy day.

The sweetness of Friendship

Friends are totally important to me, they are an extension of family to me. I am happiest being with friends and family. Through the years I have learnt that with friends we must give without expecting, and with different friends I am comfortable to share different aspects of my life. I have friends whom I can call at anytime of the day, friends to talk about children, friends to talk about work, friends to talk about spiritual aspects and all of them enriches my life in different ways, and makes this journey of life so much easier and meaningful. I can't imagine not having them in my life. The times spent with friends over a cup of coffee, in the hospital cafeteria, curled up in the sofa, in the car..are special moments. Everyone...especially every girl must have good friends...as others can come and go but good girlfriends are forever!  My resolution for 2011 is not to take them for granted and to spend quality time with each of them.

December 2010

I can't believe it's December 2010, and very soon the year is over with all it's glory! I still remember like it was yesterday, that I was lining up all the resolutions for this year...I cant even remember half of it and definitely did not stick by most of it. This year has been a great year overall...I have been so very blessed in all the areas of my life, I really could not ask for more, while saying this i am feeling nervous knowing that 'To those much is given, much is expected'!! This is the month to reflect for all that has gone right and not so right, and what I could have done better. And more resolutions for next year...definitely..there will always be new resolutions...I want to be a better person next year then I have been this year. More then anything I want to be a great mother, a patient wife, and wonderful sibling, a thoughtful daughter a fun and understanding friend, a useful citizen of the world, and I want to be kind and fair to myself!!! 2011...I am so ready for you.... please shower me with sunshine, green grass, with love and fun, with God and money, with family and friends, with great moments, and manageable challenges, with new experience and gentle weather...

Blogging from ISTANBUL

I am at the hotel lobby waiting for our bus to the airport. Leavıng to home after 16 days, can hardly waıt to hold my boys and hug and kıss them. I feel for every parent who has to be away from her chıldren..ıt ıs paınful. Amıdst the paın Istanbul ıs an amazıng place a great mıx of old and new...and yes İ manage to see the Dancıng Dervısh!! Been travelıng for the last 16 days and what ıs most ıntrıguıng wıth places are the people and how they lıve! Travelıng does open up ones mınd and soul lıke no other and makes the world seem so small yet so much to see...

Change of taste bud?

My children do not eat papayas, more so my older one who is seven. I have tried many a times to feed this vitamin packed fruits but they wont eat them. We planted some papaya seeds about 20 months ago, and now the tree is about 6 feet tall and fruiting. We just got the 3rd fruit 2 days ago, and today it was ripe to be eaten. My older son after dinner looked at the cut papaya and said yummy picked it up and ate it. And I was totally surprised. He finished the whole bowl and I was thrilled. He has seen it grow from a seed...I am happy!!!

My life moves in some weird 2 monthly cylcle

The reason for the title of this entry. Each time I think of blogging, or need to blog 2 months has gone by. The last time I blogged was in August. Our wedding anniversary was 2 days ago. I have been so preoccupied with our oncoming travels to Turkey and beyond that I have forgotten about it. We have been married for 9 years, that makes it 18 years we have known each other, we dated for 9 years before getting hitched. I am happy, I am free, I do what I want to do, I love my job and my life, and I am what I am for the husband I have, as he is there to always support and to be my pillar. He let's me do and be what I do best. You may be crazy and silly but you are what I need to be what I want to be(does that make sense) So thank you Siva, I may marry you again if I were to live my life all over again(and he does not read my blog, so I can say anything without him getting big headed about it).

We have been busy coordinating and all for our oncoming trip to Turkey. We will be away for 2 weeks and this will be the longest we will be away from the kids. So going to miss them too much but I am getting excited traveling to that exotic country!!! Will post photos on the next entry.

Tea time

I love tea time. Either having them at a tea stall with friends, or having a traditional tea with family I simply love them. There is something unhurried and relaxing about tea time.a it's a no pressure meal! Growing up tea time was a daily affair. We had tea and my mother with the little she had made local delicacies and some days we had tea and cream crackers! I remember sitting in our kitchen under the hot zinc roof sipping away at tea. They are quiet precious moments. During the weekends we will have friends visiting us for tea, and during these times my mum will make something more elaborate for tea. Life is not as simple now as those days and our tea time is limited to weekends only, when we have the luxury of time to indulge in tea. As I was thinking about tea, I felt that having friends over on a perfect Sunday will be just right. So a quick invitation was carried out and accepted ... Now what shall we have for tea??

Sow and Reap

Tasted the first papaya from our tree. It took almost 15 months for the tree to grow from a tiny seed to a fruit bearing plant! We can easily go out and get a papaya for a couple of ringgit. But oh, the satisfaction of seeing it grow and fruit...it's something else altogether. Imagine the feeling of one's children growing up and becoming good and successful people...That brings me to another conversation that happened yesterday. My sis came down and she always has this thing about having enough saving's for retirement and children's education which not a bad thing. But too much of focusing on one's retirement sometimes makes one forget to live in the now...Siva and I went for a walk after my sister left. I thought he said something that made a lot of sense. He said focus on the children's spiritual education and in bringing them up to be good people and the rest will fall into place. So...yes save and invest for our future...but above all children's spisitual and moral education comes first..

A new chapter ... a new office

We moved office yesterday. We have collected quite a bit of stuff in the last 3.5 year. We have moved to our own office from the current office suite. Meaning to say our own pantry, and toilet and space. That should be a nice change. But as usual any changes makes me nervous and uncertain,and will take me a week or so to get used to. But plaza damas is nice. It has nice shops, ambience...and hope our business will thrive and grow here. So I am looking forward to go to work at my new office next week....

A New Chapter...a kitten

I am no cat person. But neither will I say I am a dog person..but given the choice between both I would say I am a dog person. My children are more of a cat person, Arjoonha is a cat person, Bhaarath he loves most cuddly animals. What i wanted to say is we got a kitten! Our first pet. Her name is Arba, and Arjoonha named it. He said it's a Mexican name. And when asked what it means, he said it means Arjoonha + Bhaarata = Arba! So Arba it is! Arba has been with us for a week now. I like to see my kids being gentle with the cat, stroking and kissing it and lowering the TV volume when the kitten sleeps. They have been fighting over it as who can have it on their lap...

I need IPad accessories

Went with Janice and Louis to BSC to look for Ipad accessories at Mac shop. But it was way too expensive. The Ipad screen protector is sold at RM129 and RM219. The Mac shop at Empire Subang is at RM79. I need to go there tomorrow to get the screen protector for my new toy. I love the Ipad now, it's my book, games and all ...I have to fight with my kids to use it. Anyway..though I did not manage to get any accessories, we had a great lunch at George and the Dragons, at Bangsor Shopping Complex. I really, really like that place. I had Cheddar Cheese Ploughman again:) ..Start to a beautiful weekend:)

Being Married

We meet someone, we fall in love, we get married, we have kids, and then some of us wonder what happened to the person we got married to. Either I changed, or he changed or something changed, and you can never almost get to that feeling when it all started. But then again we dont have to get to that feeling when it all started, we have to make it better or make it newer. And that brought us to leave work at lunch and to have that lunch together and spend that afternoon together probably cuddling up, just talking, and it's all about just us. And that's we did today.

iPad

It has been all about iPad from Apple this weekend. I recently got an iPad for my husband who turned 50. It was more of an excuse to buy it for him so the whole family can get to use it. It's an amzing gadget!!! Even my mum can use it, it's that simple. It's an absolute joy to browse on the iPad as it's fast and I love the mobility, you can use it anywhere. The one I purchased is the one with wifi, so wherever you are with wifi you are able to use the internet. My children, mother, husband and of course me have been enjoying this new toy. It's a book, it's a computer, it's a game console, it's youtube, it's literally perfect. Apple really does it like none other. I am excited to know what Apple will come up with next. And ...the weekend was sealed with a trip to my sister's place to celebrate Shannon's birthday, and also of course to show off the iPad.

iPad

It has been all about iPad from Apple this weekend. I recently got an iPad for my husband who turned 50. It was more of an excuse to buy it for him so the whole family can get to use it. It's an amzing gadget!!! Even my mum can use it, it's that simple. It's an absolute joy to browse on the iPad as it's fast and I love the mobility, you can use it anywhere. The one I purchased is the one with wifi, so wherever you are with wifi you are able to use the internet. My children, mother, husband and of course me have been enjoying this new toy. It's a book, it's a computer, it's a game console, it's youtube, it's literally perfect. Apple really does it like none other. I am excited to know what Apple will come up with next. And ...the weekend was sealed with a trip to my sister's place to celebrate Shannon's birthday, and also of course to show off the iPad.

Where did the year go?

The year has flown by. I have been blogging so rarely this year. It's almost as I have been wrapping myself up with all kinds of activities and waiting for something to release me. Make sense? I dunno. I have learnt something about me recently, that I have high level of tolerance. I can bear with a lot of nonsense, probably I am a coward in voicing out my opinion or I am just tolerant. I have been happy, I have been down, but there is something tight inside me that I cant put may finger on, and feel that I am not living and doing what I should. work has been better this year, and I am kinda waiting for my trip to turkey in oct. Kids are doing great, sheroz has been a teenager lately, and siva.. That's another thing altogether. Migration has been on my mind to provide the kids a fairer environment and future but the thought of starting all over and working for someone is quite daunting, So dunno again. I have not been praying much, and not cooking much, or creating much. I am almost waiting, ..waiting,,, So I need to make a decision now to stop waiting and to live in the now. Or one fine day I may realize I have wasted much a way. The other day a friend asked me if I am happy, I said yes I am most of the time. actually the truth is I am happy most of the time, I have much to be thankful for. much. i just need to pray.

I did not realise...

I know I have not been blogging for such long time...3 months! I have been blogging in my head and have been so busy . Weekdeays are at office and coming home to pick arjoonha from school and schoolworks ... weekends have been so very busy with some activities or another. Last 4 weekends we were either not around or having some function. Am so looking forward to this weekend... Fasting month has come and gone, Bahai New Year, Arjoonha's birthday has come and gone. Lots has happened, the economy seems better this year then last, politically the country is still stinking...I am so very disappointed with myself for not keeping true to my dont procastinate resolution!!! Sigh..I have to do something about this and once and for all STOP PROCASTINATING!...Photos of happening last 3 months.

New Year 2010 and First Day of School!

Happy New Year! 2010 is here! I am wishing and will be working towards a fabulous year...so in 2011 I can say that was a year I truly lived:):):) New Year's day had a small party at my place and gathered family and close friends to welcome the 2010. And the days went by fast and today both my sons started school...Arjoonha my started year 1 and he is 7 and Bhaarath is 4 and started kindergarten. It's amazing the anxiety we feel for our kids, trying to shelter them from all harm and making it an amazing experience. It was a good day...as it could have been worst, things went generally pretty smooth. I did not go to work today and I thought i will go to work tomorrow, but will play it by ear. Arjoonha will be going to a homework coaching centre prior to his afternoon school..(how i wish he can have someone teach him in the house), but I am not chinese educated and he is going to a chinese school and needs someone to coach him..(ok i am rambling here, but I am not sure if all this is good for him,and the arrangement is conducive). Under the circumstances I will stick to this till a better plan comes up! Sigh...why do I worry so much, I should pray trust in God and let it go...and I must do more letting go this year! Life has been a blessing and I have so many good things happening...and I realise I have no right to complaint. Anyway Happy New Year again.