My strength...

I need my strength desperately...

I am now lost in my bewilderment...

I am now lost in my helplessness...

Tonight I will have my strength...

Even for a short spell...

Even for a brief time...

...content...

...for now...

Water World Theme Park

When I thought hubby could not take leave during the last school’s holiday, I promised myself to bring the kids for a surprise visit to the Water World Theme Park at Bukit Padang. A surprise visit caused even being a KK town folks, we have never been to the place before.

A few days before the school holidays, hubby told me that his leaves were approved and that he would be taking us to a camp out at Tambunan. I thought then we would scrap the visit again but surprisingly hubby told me to proceed with the idea. We would have to do it on the last day of the holiday though, the day after the camping trip.

Then Adek fell ill during the camping trip. She was still feeling weak on our trip back home and there is a high possibility of abandoning the visit to the Water World. Kakak was very disappointed with the impending cancellation and openly demonstrated her unhappiness. We were supposed to have an early start but after a while Adek told us that she was feeling a little bit better and urged us to go ahead

On the advice of Momoi, I did not prepare any food for the visit as she told me that food was not allowed in. They had their bags checked the last time they went there. So, I only bring a small bottle of water. When we arrived, our bags were not checked and surprise, surprise, the food would only be served at around 11.00am if memory served me right. Gosh, we thought we would have our breakfast there.

So, while waiting for the food, I started snapping around when….

Man : Hello, hello…
Self : (turning around)…
Man : Ndak boleh tangkap gambar…
Self : Huh! Ndak boleh tangkap gambar...(repeating like a parrot)...
Man : Ya, ndak boleh...

I walked away confused and angry and tried very hard to remember if I missed on the non-camera signage. I told hubby of my frustration and we relaxed for a while just looking out for the kids.

After a while I started snapping around again. I was focusing on one of the kids when from the corner of my eyes I saw the same man coming over to where I was. Man, I was totally pissed off and was I ever ready to do a confrontation with this man.

Man : Hello, jangan tangkap yang kosong ah…
Self : Huh!
Man : Jangan tangkap yang kosong...(pointing to the slides)
Self : Oh, saya mau tangkap gambar budak-budak saya saja…
Man : Ok, jangan tangkap yang kosong...
Self : Kenapa ah...
Man : Ada orang tangkap gambar kosong, lepas tu bikin brochure...susah kami...
Self : Ok, jangan susa la...saya pun ndak mau buang masa tangkap yang kosong ni...
Man : Ok..bagus kamu pigi sana...senang mau gambar (pointing to where a couple of ”lifeguards” station themselves)Self : (walked with the man)…thank you (when I reached the place)...
Man : Ok…dia mau tangkap gambar budak-budak dia tu (telling his guys)…

...hubby giving out the do's and the dont's...

...checking out the facility...

...it's been a long time since they enjoyed a water slide...

...stunt went wrong...

...no worry...the sistas are on hand...

...my favourite...all my children holding out for each other...

(more pics will be uploaded at ZY's Images)...

At around 12noon, I signaled the kids to come out from the pool as we wanted to treat them to lunch at Gayang. I knew they were disappointed but what they did not know is that hubby has told me that he would be taking them for a return visit in the future. I purposely did not tell disclose that information or otherwise I will be forever harassed for when the next visit will be.

We only spent about 2 hours there but then again time is just not on our side. Hubby would have to go back to Labuan the next day.

The entrance fee of RM15 per pax is a tad expensive…
Compared to the joy the kids were having…
A pittance…

Not easy...

“Kau ok la Ton, anak-anak kau sudah besar” is a phrase that would often be thrown at me whenever the topic of kids came up. A popular topic among our small community at the office.

The ladies really do not know what they are going to be into eventually. Well, let me tell you these ladies. Bigger means literally just what it meant. Bigger.

A bigger set of predicament.
A bigger set of requirement.
A bigger set of…..well, everything.

When they were small, you’re the Queen that controls everything.
You cooked one dish, everybody would happily eat it. No question asked.
Now you have to prepare three different type of cooking for one dish.
“Udang masak kicap” for mum “udang rebus kunyit” for dad and “udang goreng” for the girls. Oh, and don’t forget, a none udang dish for Alli.
Or sometimes you would get this response, ini saja ka mum?

When they were small, you cloth them identically. Cute la konon, sedondon.
Now one would choose the feminine-in-thing type of clothing.
The other one would choose sporty type of clothing.
Sometimes you would choose something and received, not my type mum? Duh!
Or something like, macam orang tua ja.

When they were small, you would choose the school’s stationeries for them looking ever carefully over the price tags.
Now they happily choose them to their heart’s desires.
Now they happily just chunked them into the basket mummy dearest carry.
Not bothering to look at the price sticker.
No bother at all.
Mummy dearest will take the tab.

Sometimes I would put my foot down.
Sometimes I would just let it slide away.
Sometimes I would hesitantly compromise.

You would win some…
You would lose some…

So ladies…
I do beg to differ…

Fret not...

It was Saturday. 2 Saturdays ago. That particular Saturday kicked off with power failure.

The power failure is one of the occasions that would have made sure that no one is hooked up to the computers.

I thought then Kakak would be busy sketching her manga characters.
I thought then Adek would be just lazying around.
My thoughts were wrong, on both counts.

I saw them both in the kitchen, just finishing up with breakfast. They were sitting facing each other with their own gameboy advance on hand. Alli on the other hand was heard playing in the living room with his cousins. Only one reason hindering him from playing his, no more power.

Self : What are you doing?
Kakak & Adek : Lawan la…(obviously)

I thought they were playing their own gameboy advance. But as I walked past them...

Well, what can I say…
If there’s a will, there’s a way…

They've been hinting me to buy the PSP.
PSP x 3 kids.
The equation that would ensure a significant hole in my pocket.
The equation that has successfully refrained me from buying.

Shame shame...

I took a peek from my computer when I heard our glass door being opened and I saw him walking towards the toilet. I knew the routine. He would need to get the water from the toilet to water the office plants. He did not see me and before he reached the toilet...

Self : Ada orang...

From my cubicle, I saw him searching around upon hearing me. I guessed he did not hear what I was saying. He went to the toilet and stopped when he could not open the door.

Self : Ada orang...

He looked agitated and did not seem to hear at all what I was saying...

Man : Eh tiada kunci ka ni...

Self : (mati juga ndak dengar)...Ada orang...(3rd time in a row)...
Man : Eh mau cepat ni...(he was soooooo in a hurry)...

As soon as Anies exited the toilet, he did his business in a flash and left. He did not even clear the dead leaves from all the plants as his usual routine.

As it was Friday, I left the office at around 11.30am to fetch the kids. While driving my BB rang...

Anies : Ton, padanlah dia kelam kabut...
Self : Napa...
Anies : Handphone si Nas hilang...
Self : Hah! Di mana dia simpan...
Anies : Tertinggal dalam toilet...

Our lady cleaner remembered that one of the 2 guys watering the plants going into the toilet, quickly watered the plants and quickly exited the office. I then told Anies on what to do.

Before contacting the Company concerned, Anies and the boys reviewed the taping of our CCTV and they could see the peculiar behavior of the "suspects".

At around 2pm somebody called the office looking for Nas. Coincidently he was at our floor and while speaking with the person he gave us a thumbs up sign. As soon as he put down the receiver...

Nas : Oh syukur la puan...ada phone tu...
Self : You cakap sama sapa tadi...
Nas : Driver...
Self : Apa dia cakap...
Nas : Dia cakap ada phone tu...orang tu bilang dia tolong simpan...

We burst out laughing. The gall of desperate people. Macam la kita ni budak2.
We laughed even harder when Nas recited the many excuses given to him by the caller.

We learned something today...
...tolong simpan...
A catchy phrase...
A creative phrase...

A dimwit we are not...

Could not...

If it is my streamyx connection, it is beyond my comprehension how my daughters and brother could happily went internet surfing without any fuss or whatsoever. We reside under the same roof for God's sake!

If it is my lappy, then I am one very miserable-not IT savvy-customer.

Last last week, I could not upload photos...
Last weekend, I could not access the blogspot...

This week, I still could not access the blogspot...
Next week, who knows what not...could not...

Breathing in...breathing out...
...to cool oneself...

Flickr-ing in...flickr-ing out...
...to keep oneself busy...


p.s. office blogging provides less fun than in the comfort of one's home