Wednesday, August 22, 2012
as the malay saying goes...pejam-celik, pejam-celik, dah Raya... yes its already the 4th day of Syawal. The celebrations this year were somewhat mellow. Preparations were done in steps over the weeks so not much of a rush on the eve itself. Mak too decided to order the usual rendang & curry fare unlike yesteryears as she feels too tired already. which i am all for, consedering my condition now. But knowing my mum, she still cook her rendang & kuah kacang - untuk Emi makan- was her excuse. ok lah i thought as long as she dont feel like we are forcing it of her.
The first day of Hari Raya were pretty subdued too, we set off with the usual routine of going to Eunos first after the prayers then back home, then off to Mak Lang's house for the 2nd year as Tok is still staying there. It was a festival atmosphere as usual although its impossible to get all aunties & uncles with their offsprings to come all at the same time. like the past few years, we did not get to meet Pak Long's family as he had to leave for Tok Chu's house.
Hubster's cousin Yani, decided to drive down from JB after 12 long years. His car decided to give up on him after going through 5 hours jam along the causeway in the hot sun.luckily he reached circuit road so our afternoon plans were diverted to ferrying him to Mak Ngah's house & then off to Queen St so they can catch a cab to JB. our mandatory visit to Mak Yam's hse on the first day was postponed. It was in a way good as the kids & i were already worn out by the day's activity & the sweltering weather.
We make a vow to make the 2nd day of Hari Raya a short one as Amirul will be sitting for his prelims the next day. I know PSLE prelims already - where did the years go. We skipped a few houses & squeezed in some to visit Zizah who had given birth to her looker son Hershaan Ali a week ago. we managed to cover the 'major' relatives as we would like to call it & make it back home by 8 - all the better as i did not take any leave & due to return to office the next day anyway. All in all it was a pleasant Syawal. It does gets me thinking how long can we keep the tradition & maintain everything as it is now - age is creeping up on my parents & i wish i could just freeze time & make things the way they are as long as i can...wishful thinking i know...
my condition is better now. I can eat without having major after-taste after that. once in awhile i still get nauseous - although i suspect its because of the food that i take. tomorrow will be week 16 - start of 2nd trimester, may this feeling & condition get only better & better - Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all from 4 of us this year, for now :)
Friday, August 03, 2012
I had an amusing dream a few weeks ago. It was a day or 2 before Ramadhan, A Thursday work day. Saturday was the first day of Ramadhan. I was still in the midst of my bouts of nausea & morning sickness so any thought of food that I crave food I gladly welcome as it would prove to be the only food I can stomach. Although I do not have any ridiculous cravings, the first few weeks I can only get over the horrid after taste with dried mangoes. Not the normal ones, it has to be the 1st grade D ones form Phillipines. I read in a forum that gargling baking soda will also make the horrid aftertaste go away as it neutralizes your taste buds, so i went & bought a whole can only to discover that it didn't really work a few days later.So back to my dream. I remembered going to a food centre with Long & mak & Amir to buy some kueh(must be the mental cravings kicking in). The place happen to have all my favourite kueh of the moment like keria, pulot panggang, dhal & bakwan. I vividly remember salivating at the thought of relishing all this kueh's after im done buying them. So there i was, in my dream, happily shopping for kueh, and lo & behold, I WOKE UP. I was like, what??? couldn't you at least wait til i taste the kueh first??? hmmppph....it was frustrating...I started thinking of where & when I can get my hands on the kuehs. I know ABC market have them.BUT, that day was Thursday AND a work day so the only possible day to go ABC would be Saturday-like we always usually go. BUT Saturday is Ramadhan & fasting will start...whats a pregnant woman to do...left hanging lor....but those kueh images & the slight cravings didnt really leave me for good.
Thank God my sister bought a deli of kueh which fortunately consisted of keria & pulot panggang on the 10th day of Ramadhan from JB...and she bought kueh dhal, TWICE...so now I'm a happy fasting mummy :)
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
I have been missing out on terawih as i am always in bed by 9, latest 9.30 every night. our cousin Zimah, who is about a mth nehind me, is not doing so well. Morning sickness really hit her hard. This week alone it'll be the 3rd time that she's admitted to KK. I so can empathise with her. her twin, Zizah will deliver anytime end August. Bet the boy will such a looker :) on the home-front, amirul will be taking his prelims soon. Really hope he is fully prepared for it although there are still on & off days for him. Just hope that when the crunch time comes, its be good ON all the way, Insyaallah.
Tests & tribulations are always around. the husband is facing some of his own. I can only be a pillar of strength as there are only so much that i can do to extend as a helping hand. hoopefully things will only get better soon, berkat baby, that what people always say, Insyaallah...