Selamat Hari Raya 2010

Hope it still not to late to wish Selamat Hari Raya. This year we celebrated in Batu Pahat first and drove all the way to Perlis on 5th Syawal (Wednesday). Since cost saving measures started, the company standardized the holiday to 1 week for everyone (i.e forced leave).

This is the 1st year without TokCai but we still went to Minyak Beku to meet our relatives. On 2nd raya, we visited Pak Tan/Mak Idah, Mak Na and Mak Long. Since Luqman's family planned to visit my parents, we ended our 'ziarah' tradition for the day at around 3.30pm. On 3rd day, we visited Luqman's, Long Ani's and Mak Ngah Bukit Pasir.

On 4th day, we planned for a BBQ as an early celebration for Apis's birthday on 19th Sept (the day we went back to Perlis, 5th Syawal). The memorable part was how things didn't go as planned and i thought it was the worst plan ever. Then we had all this ad hoc plans eliminating the surprise elements and it turned out great! Even when we looked back on the video, it looked as if it was well planned! Among the things went wrong:
1. Ayah asked Apis who's birthday the BBQ is planned for....Duhh!
2. I gave Apis the paper with all my 'tepung & telur' plan when i wanted to ask him what to get for the BBQ (since he knew the BBQ is for his birthday)....Duhh! I didn't noticed until he smiled and said 'wow! siap ada plan siapa baling telur, siapa baling tepung, siapa tangkap video...' and he laughed!... I was so embarassed!

We planned to bring out the cake at 12 midnight but my mum insisted to do it while the guests were around. So Iza brought out the cake at around 10.00pm from the kitchen and suddenly Apis received a phone call! (he didn't know the cake was brought out) Can you imagine Iza and kids was walking and singing 'Happy Birthday' and the birthday person looked like ignoring the effort by taking a phone call? I thought this was the worst celebration ever! Luckily the phone call was right before he could see the cake. He didn't noticed and sat on the swing outside the house.

And the phone call was not a 1 minute call and we waited and waited. Even the candles were running out. Then came the ad hoc plan, to still throw 'tepung & telur' although he already knew about it. He was unaware of his surrounding, so it was a good opportunity to add in a surprise element! Lucky enough the call was rather long and just in time it finished, Amat, Radhi and hubby did the throw and Iza came with the birthday cake!

I think it was interesting and memorable the fact that although your plan did get right, always seize the opportunity when you see one. Always think of ad hoc plans to accomodate the opportunity.

It's already 6.27 am now. I've to have my shower and get ready for work!

Lessons in house chores

Bibik Lasmi went back to kampung yesterday by Airasia flight to Bandung 940am. So my days without bibik started yesterday. How is it going to be like?
My parents are here to help us out. My sister is also here because her landlord is back from Dubai (temporarily until after raya). Tomorrow Imi and Syafiq will be here as well. I like this.... people coming to the house....but can i manage without bibik? The floor already felt sticky from Milo and milk. Infact everything feel sticky from the table to the kitchen. I guess bibik did really a good job by keeping things clean. Thinking how did we get to live before we decided to hire a bibik, how did we survive?

A few things i learnt from this experience of hiring a bibik. I learnt things to do to keep your house clean:
1. Do not wait. Clean as you go. Don't procrastinate and wait until you have a mountain of laundry to fold, toys on every turn or unclear view of the tv because of the layer of dust.

2. Cleaning schedule starts wee hours in the morning. By wee i mean 5.00am... If you start early you'll get things done quickly because you don't have any distraction from the kids. Start with the kitchen: put away dried dishes washed last night (remember, don't wait until next morning), fill up bottle with drinking water, fill up washing machine with laundry, sweep and mop the floor. It will take about an hour to do all and if you start at 5.00am, you can have your shower by 6.00am.

I remember the above 2 points because these are so the opposite of me. Thus to improve myself, i have to improve on these 2 points. I must do things as i go. Tidy the toys, pillows, dishes etc. What i did before was to wait until the next morning because i thought i'll do things better in the morning. Unfortunately, i will have more tasks to do in a limited time. Mornings are highly stressed time in the house....
I thought 6.30pm is early enough. Unfortunately Rafiza, it's not. I have to start at 5.00am because these are the things to setlle in the mornings:
NOW                                                                              BEFORE
5.00 - 6.00am    Tidy up,sweep,mop,laundry                    Wait til weekend
6.00 - 7.00am    Pray, showers, prepare breakfast            same
7.00 - 8.00am    Hang laundry, help hubby to do the kids  same

I think i can manage this but there are things i don't think i'll be able to follow: IRONING! My bibik irons everyday and i don't think i want to do that.
All in all, i shall wait and see. Things are easier said than done. I've ignored kids and the fact that i'm working during the day when i'm writing this. I do get tired once i reach home and 3 kids to entertain. I need to cope to reduce my dependence on the maid....Ya Allah! Help me out!....