BR1M

Remember Mama's previous blog entry about the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) and people will receive the financial assistance in the form of cash vouchers? The BR1M initiative is an effort under the Cost of Living National Key Results Area (NKRA) aimed to alleviate the financial burden of the middle to low-income households.

Mama has written about the distribution of the forms sometime in December 2011 and there were some funny episodes about people who came for the forms.

Anyway, the handing over of the RM500 1Malaysia People’s Assistance (BR1M) to households earning a monthly income of RM3,000 and below began nationwide last week.
Mama's school was picked as one of the distribution centres (again!) and Mama was one of the committee involved. There were criticisms about how the elderly and the physically-challenged people suffered in long queues and how the crowd became uncontrollable with long queues and such at previous distribution centres. Thus we were advised to make sure that everything went well and without any complaints from the public.
The distribution at Mama's school was yesterday, for 966 successful applicants.We were supposed to start at 2pm but when Mama reached school at 1.50pm there was already quite a crowd at the hall. The funny part is, many parents of the students were there too although they did not receive any letters or calls. They claimed the teachers told their children to inform the parents about the distribution. Hahaha, such the power of money. If we send them letters about PTA meetings or Parents' Day, only half would turn up.
As expected, there were also some elderly people who could barely walk.It was really hard for them to move around but the recipients could not be represented by others. There were long queues at all 10 counters we prepared beforehand according to their serial numbers. Luckily there was no untoward incidents and the weather was good yesterday.Besides the crowd was orderly and they queued! (and not crowding the counters in a rush)

Wordless Wednesday 7

Enjoying the TuFru

Mama and the children haven't been to Tengku Anis Recreation Park for so many months. Bro H, would always get Mama stressed every time Mama said it was time to head home. He would run and challenge Mama to catch him, which was quite an ordeal because the park was a huge place. Sis A would then follow suit (come to think of it, she always imitated the things her brother did) and can you imagine the scenario? A not so young mother chasing after her two over active children?
Today Mama brought the children to their grandparents' home just to get them out of the house. This week we have one week break due to Chinese New Year so Mama didn't bring them to their pre-school. A couple of days cooped up with them was enough to make Mama climb the walls. Atok then suggested going to TARP. True enough, they played to their hearts'content; kicking the soccer ball (for a while) and the rest of the time running here and there and also climbing the big and long slides. (check out the place here http://azurahakim.fotopages.com/?entry=836130
To our surprise, a new Tutti Frutti outlet is nearby. Right opposite the main entrance to the park. And Atok met his old friend there with his family too.
The best part was, the children fell asleep in the car on the way home and finally some peace and quiet for Mama tonight...

Merisik

E, my step-daughter called me today and told me that the 'upacara merisik' had run smoothly this evening. What is 'merisik'? Some of you, my readers might not know what 'merisik' is.
According to Wikipedia:
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The adat merisik (asking ceremony, or more literally 'spying custom') is the traditional Malay system for arranging marriages. When it is time for a young man to get married, his family will look around to identify a number of potential brides. Nowadays, the man might suggest to his family who he would like them to consider, and it may be that a romantic link already exists between the man and woman.
For this ceremony one or more representatives (wakil) of the man's family pay a friendly visit to the family of the woman whom they have in mind as his potential bride. A hint will be given to her parents regarding the purpose of the visit, and their reaction will be assessed. The woman's parents may also give the visitors some idea as to whether or not their daughter would be interested in the match. The merisik does not constitute a formal proposal. Following the visit both sides can begin to think more seriously about the possibility or otherwise of a marriage. It is possible that no progress may take place, and the man's parents or representatives will then look for another possible bride.
About that last part, nowadays it is only a formality. The girl and boy involved and the parents had already come to an agreement and the meeting is usually held anyway just to set the date of the wedding to take place.
As the case of E, the proposed date of the Akad Nikah (marriage contract) is 10th March 2012 and on the bridegroom's side 11th March.
The 'merisik' was at E's maternal grandmother's house in Pasir Putih and E herself was in Kuala Lumpur as the girl's presence was not required during the ceremony.

Happy New Water Dragon Year!!!

Gong Xi Fa Chai to all my Chinese readers and friends. This new year brings us the water dragon, which is a very auspicious animal to the Chinese.
From a Feng Shui standpoint 2012, the year of the Yang Water Dragon, brings many good possibilities and the Water Dragon people personify creativity at its best.

Water Dragons occur every 60 years so most probably this would be the only year Mama get to 'celebrate' it unless Mama is still alive and kicking at 106!!! Hehehe..

Alia turns 4

Today Mama's daughter turns 4.. no celebrations yet because a month after this Bro H celebrates his 5th birthday. This year Mama plans for them to celebrate their birthdays with friends at the preschool cum nursery.
Sis A has grown up a lot lately and becomes more demanding too. She's a perfectionist, that little lady and is meticulous with her tasks and stuff. A lot like her grandfather.

Hazi and Family

Last week, Mama and the children went again to visit Fazren Rafiqie and his parents.This time Mama's other stepson and step-daughter-in law came back to Kota Bharu all the way from Alor Setar, Kedah because Hazi (Mama's stepson) had to attend a meeting on Sunday. Their two children (Afqar & Ain) were also there so the kids were having a whale of time running everywhere and harassing Kakak (to Bro H and Sis A) aka Mummy (to Afqar & Ain). Ayu (Mama's step daughter-in law) seemed to miss Bro H and Sis A so much, and they seemed to miss her too. Spending time with them brought a lot of memories and Mama was sure Abah was smiling down on us that day.

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Wordless Wednesday 6

God Works In Mysterious Ways

Mama's tears flowed freely tonight. Mama had posted a picture of Mama and Abah on Mama's facebook a few months ago on a whim. It was nothing fancy. About a month after our wedding, Abah had come to Mama's school just to have brunch together during recess. One of Mama's students took a picture of us with her friends.
Mama could see Abah was happy in the picture and Mama could see Mama's face was glowing too.
Today Mama's step-daughter-in-law commented how happy Abah was in the picture and this has spurred more comments from Mama's friends. One comment made Mama's eyes filled with tears.

Ayu wrote: "he left u his most precious amazing children. sepasang lg (a pair)!! i knw u're a strong lady. "

Yes, again and again Mama was and is very thankful to God for blessing Mama with two beautiful children and for letting Mama feel loved by a husband, albeit temporarily.
GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS.

Busy

As expected, once school starts the new term, Mama again becomes a very busy career woman. Busy with the school programs, with preparation for classes and others. And not to forget the meetings. Last week was full with meetings and this week too it seems that the whole week is lined up with meetings. *Sigh*
At the moment Mama is planning to create a blog especially for Mama's students. A blog where they can find samples of essays which they can copy and use as references when they are required to write one. Yes, Mama knows that there are countless websites or blogs which serve this purpose but sometimes the content is a bit 'high-level' for Mama's mediocre performance students. However, just like this blog, Mama is trying to find or allocate a special time of the day to do this. Let's hope that Mama will be able to do that soon.

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Wordless Wednesday 5

Gifts From The Netherlands

Today Bro H and Sis A received a parcel from Mama's Dutch pen-friend (and now facebook friend). They were so happy receiving the presents but Mama was happier. Looking at the familiar hand writing, Mama reminisced the first time she corresponded with G in 1981 when Mama was 15. Back then there was this TV programme, "The Big Blue Marble", a children's tv program which aimed to promote cultural understanding and encouraged viewers to become pen pals with children from different parts of the world.
Why the name 'Big Blue Marble'? From space, our Earth do seem like a big blue marble. You sent a postcard to the program and they'd send you a card with a name of a child and her/his address and she/he also received your name and address. Usually they would give you a pen friend from another continent/ another part of the world and G was Mama's first pen friend. Mama also had friends from Greece (H), Iran (P) and a boy from Sweden (can't remember his name, though). But we grew older, and busier so somehow we lost touch. Despite that, Mama still retains the friendship with G (albeit on and off). And with the advent of facebook, Mama and G can keep track of each other's news and life easier and faster now. Thank God for technology...

Back To School!!!

The new school term starts tomorrow and another year of teaching, scolding and piles of work is waiting. Well, it's all in a day's work for Mama.

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These Fingers

what will these little fingers touch?
I wonder about it, oh so much.
will they draw a face,
or fly into space?
maybe catch a fish, or cook your favorite dish.
oh what will these fingers do?
will they learn to fix a car?
or shape clay into a jar?
will they help you climb the tallest mountain?
or scoop ice cream at the local soda fountain.
I wonder what these fingers will touch and do,
these little fingers God has given to you.
© Jason S. Miller


Source: Poem From A Parent Filled With Love To Children http://www.familyfriendpoems.com