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.

Year Ends

There is something hopeful and refreshing about year ends. Probably it's all the commercial, and hype..from the media. But year ends always makes everyone looks a little more cheerful, happier and relaxed. There is something exciting about a new year ahead, a chance to get things right, to start all over again, to wish and to hope to make things better then the past year! If I could just have a choice of one resolution, then it will be to try harder..and if I could have just one wish, then it would be wishing for peace to reign on earth! And we started our year end partying earlier...And had a sumptious dinner!

Simple Life!

When I was a young child our idea of a holiday or getaway is going to relatives or friends house during the school holidays. My parents will be busy catching up with their friends over meals or tv and we the kids will be chatting away or playing games such as hide and seek and as we grew older maybe monopoly. No strolling in the shopping mall, computer games and checking into hotels...we were not able to to afford that. And as a child I envied those who were able to stay in hotels and go to far away places for holidays. As an adult now I realise I begin to crave for those simple holidays where we are able to call into a friends or cousins place. This is exactly what we did last weekend. We took the kids to a friends place at another state and stayed at their home and we felt so welcome..and happy just catching up and chatting till the wee hours of the morning! We ate at home, went for walks and dinner...The kids...hmm they played, they watched lots of TV(sigh the idiot box seems to dominate all homes)... We did not spend much, it was a cheap break, but it was fulfilling, warm and fun..

My kids are growing up way too fast!

Arjoonha started school yesterday, he is in year one, 7 year old big boy! I cant believe it,still remember him being the cutest baby so gentle and easy to care for. Now here he is wearing his school uniform and going to the big school! i felt so anxious and nervous for him. How if he is bullied, how if he gets an ogre for a teacher, how if he is a very poor student and comes out last in class, how if he is depressed and despises school..how if he does not enjoy school the way I did a long time ago! I brought him to school, and was with him for awhile, he seems quiet but at ease, and soon i left and he seemed alright! I felt better seeing him all cool about it and not making a fuss...and i thought okay this is not too bad after all...the world is not as bad out there as i imagined it to be! Bhaarath my 2nd son is going to preschool in january and it's a whole lot of changes for us. Both boys in school. I will miss them just being crazy and young and not worrying about schoolwork! But they grow, and learn, and hurt and laugh and cry and smile and hopefully they will grow up to be courageous, kind and God fearing!

Good movies come in all colors...black,white, yellow or red!

I love watching movies, documentaries, cook shows, celebrity news and almost everything and anything. Nothing gives me more joy then a good movie, and my version of a good movie is a about 'women, and family, and love and friendship and jane austen kind of love! I also have a sadistic streak and once awhile enjoys holocaust and end of the world movies, and of course that will include going to the cinema to watch 2012! Have booked tickets for the family today evening! What i enjoy is not the sordid details of dying and the world coming to an end, I dont believe in that! But the good and bad of humanity when something terrible happens. I sure do hope 2012 will not be disappointing. Growing up I was a fan of little house in the prairie, and wanted to be laura ingalls(braid and all), or wanting to be Anne in Anne of Green Gables(with hair as red as carrot), or wanting a family like the Waltons(grandpa and grandma)! A dose of a good movie and a good cuppa coffee is all I need to perk me up...and also well behaved children, loving husband, lots of money, lots of free time...Hope I am not asking for too much here!:)

Maidless

Our domestic helper dear Awi has left for a 2 months break. Selfishly I so regret for granting her a 2 months break, though it's a well earned one. I was so nervous the thought of her leaving to indonesia, where she comes from. She has been with us for 5 years and we have come to rely on her more then we will like to admit. She cleans and cooks for us, and while we are out at work she minds the kids. So you can imagine just how much she does. Being working parents with a full time job and 2 active boys leaves us with very little time. Any time left after work is spent with them, or taking them for classes and prayer sessions..Without a maid we have to send them to daycares and childminders which can be more costly and not having a home environment. A good domestic helper is indeed a blessing for us. They take care of our home and kids while we are at work. Back to Awi being away, i was a bundle of nerves, and my sweet friend Louis offered his maid to help us for 4 days a week. That was so surreal and took care of most of our worries. So sunday till friday morning i have help with house and kids, and that is such a BLESSING. Friday till sunday afternoon without any help with kids and housework was making me all crazy and totally exhausted. There is just no way working mothers can hold a full time job and still take care of kids and run a clean home. So I am counting my blessings! And my heart goes out to all the women out there who does too much.. ! I am counting my blessings!

8 years of marriage!

Today is our 8th year wedding anniversary! We got married at 5pm, 20th October 2001. Siva my husband was so nervous walking down the aisle and I was busy waving at everyone and he was getting all nervous as I was all over the place. I remember when we were invited to give the wedding speech, I literally grabbed the mic from him and gave the speech first not that I was domineering(though Siva will beg to differ), but because I was nervous and wanted to get it over with, and I remember not having a taste of our own wedding dinner because we were busy talking and meeting guests...and later we were so hungry and when all went home we went out with shorts and tshirt to the nearest tea shop and had tea! I remember us feeling a little funny that we were husband and wife and not merely a couple still dating..It all felt strange and comfortable! I remember us feeling exciting and fun preparing for our honeymoon to Thailand.. I remember Siva having sore eyes during the honeymoon but we just didnt care..It feels like a lifetime ago, but only 8 years ago. I married Siva not for the usual reasons, of gentle and being tall dark and handsome...err he is tall and dark though...2 out of 3 is not too bad I guess.. But I married him as I know I can totally rely on him. ...And he will be and is a great father..and he is the most generous and helpful person I have ever come across ..And he will put my welfare, my children, family and friends welfare first...I sure do hope we have many, many more anniversaries to celebrate!

It's a all about family who became friends, and friends who became family

Last weekend was a weekend all about family and friends. My brothers and sisters gathered at my place and we had a cook-out...and also we took many family photos. I really wanted us to take some family shots with my mother...as she is not getting any younger..so many many photos were taken! I was glad. We wanted to get photos professionally done, but it was a Sunday and all photo studios were closed! But nevertheless we transformed my little garden into a photo studio... I was happy! And I have this urge to sit down with my mum and find out about her childhood, and how she met my dad, and more about my dad, as I never really knew him, and by the time I wanted to know him, he was gone. So must make it a point this weekend to get my mum over.

Something about year ends.

End of 2009 is fast approaching, and really what happened to the last 10 months...It just ran by while I was busy with life. Year end always put me in good mood, the thought of wrapping up, gatherings, beginnings...it is almost like a long extended Friday! If you know what I mean. The next 2 months is going to be different very different. Why? Awi my domestic helper is going back to Indonesia for 2 long months to be with her family. She so dearly misses her children. But the bright side is she will come back and extende her stay for another 2 years or so...God willing! So the next 2 months with no help in hand i have many delegations in mind. It is going to be pretty adventurous, with Siva and me working full time and no one to tend to home and kids. I need my mother's help...Time for the SOS call...and lots of arrangements. Kids are all growing up and soon another year older...

Yoga

After much procastination and failed attempts, I have alas enrolled in a Yoga class. The timing is perfect 8-930pm, a small class of 5, and 3 minutes drive from home.Perfect! My first class was yesterday and I literally got my body into a TWIST! I feel ache all over today, used muscles which I never knew existed. But I felt good, 1.5 hours of just about me and my body and my breathing:).That is a luxury...and to make it better I am slowly but surely trying to convince my husband to enrol too. Hopefully it helps with his back problems and also in keeping fit!....Road to a Healthier US!