The New Adventures of Irfan and Aunty Wa: The Beginning

Wow...it seems a lifetime ago last I blogged.

Honestly I have been meaning to write but as always the case, life takes over - the drama, the solitude, the hoi polloi and of course, facebook, which was so attractive and sexy that I forgot my humble friend, the blog...for a while at least. Until the urge to spill arrives, further coaxed by a friend who told me that she missed my jottings (you are so sweet Zed!)...here I am - back where it all started.

After my XXth birthday...okay - who am I kidding...my ho-hum (nope still can't do it!) B day, life dawned on me like never before – well, AGE dawned on me actually. The creaking of my bones never was louder, what ails me don’t heal as fast, my skin needed a double dosage of moisturiser,my hearing seems rather testy - well you get the picture. BUT in place of all that seems to be changing with the advancement into a new decade, I gained (not pounds! Thankfully!)a little thing called wisdom – this wisdom is not of the clever/smart variety but one gained after having many, many “exposures” to the folly and finicky aspects of life.

I also gained a “son”. Yes – I am now a semi-mother. Since January 2009 to be exact. I have taken charge of my nephew, Irfan.

He now stays with me and I am responsible for his care and schooling -24/7. Truth be told I didn’t know what I was in for when I decided this in October of 2008. I do not want to dwell as to the “why-s” and “what-s” that resulted in the situation. In time and in the course of the journey of this blog – it will flow naturally I guess.

Irfan is the son of my youngest sibling. Unfortunately – things did not work out between him and Irfan’s mum. At the tender age of four, Irfan became a statistic and experienced the fate of being a child from a broken family unit (I hate to say that –but that’s what it is essentially). Shy of two months before he was to enter the world of primary education – a decision as to his schooling still could not be amicably reached.

Something just struck in me as I was about to go to sleep one night in October 2008 –and just like that – I called my parents at about 12.30 am and told them that I would take care of him and see to his schooling needs. After convincing them, my parents were sold on the idea and we later spoke to Irfan’s parents. In November, all was settled. Irfan will be living with me.

Foolishly thinking that I am “just” taking care of his educational needs- I was proven SO wrong. I needed a crash course on Mothering 101.

To be continued…

Reality 2009 - Into the New Decade

I have been meaning to jump start my blogging efforts but due to commitments and the advent of Facebook - I have not been very diligent. Will do from now on - it will be journal and a chronicle of sorts, of my journey as a caregiver and as a single woman still finding her feet in this world.

InsyaAllah!

My first blog via mobile

sad. My forrow Mt Kinabalu project was not to be. Trying to see the wisdom of it. Anyway i am so chuffed with kuya who will be ascending at 2.30 am. U GO GIRL!

What a weekend

Almost 3 days and I am still in a daze over what I thought was hitherto not possible. The football match at Sekolah Sri Petaling where we, the Class of 80 (did I mention that this is my PRIMARY school Alumni?) equalized the scoring at 2-2 with the Class of 83 is still reverberating in my mind. Through the efforts of a bunch of VERY committed alumni members – we managed the impossible – to form a football team and hold a football match – comprising of our schoolmates from primary school!! Its hard enough for a secondary school alum to do that ! During the match whilst looking at the faces of all the “girls” and “boys” that came – I knew it was a very, very special moment.

Even when I was at Sri Petaling – I knew that I was in a very special place. Everyone was kind and nice to me (as I was from an all girls school and boy was I freaked!). The teachers were superb and outstanding. Plus we had a canteen that served the best nasi lemak in PJ (or so it seemed). Girls & boys of all races got along well. My best friend was Kwinnie – I never saw her as anything else. We got into scrapes like you wouldn’t believe! I traded my lunch with Komathi (who taught me how to kill lice in our hair with our own fingers during Bahasa Malaysia period). I ran around with Amos & Simon. Played Charlie’s Angels whilst waiting to be picked up during “sekolah petang” with anybody who would care to join me (BTW I always was Kate Jackson – the smart and not so sexy one!).

There were three alum meetings held prior to the football match. I couldn’t make it to all of the meetings but wild horses couldn’t stop me from attending the match last Saturday. It was history in the making and superbly played. It was held at none other than on the field where I fell and scraped my knees, got tackled and caught in our many2x Police & Thief games during recess. Boy – the memories came flooding back and the emotions almost floored me.

The gals seemed to get better with age compared to the guys…It was hard recognizing the faces of the guys at first but there were some who seemed to have stood the test of time. Within minutes of arriving – I was happily chatting away with everybody.

After the match some of us adjourned to the mamak nearby to re-hash the game and reminisce over ye olde school days. It was 11 pm before I knew it and had not my bladder threatened to burst – we would have stayed on.

There are rumors afoot that we will be taking on the SSP 82 and SSP 75 alums next….Whatever the future holds – SSP 80 ROCKS!!!

*Warning: The above posting was written by a VERY biased (and old!) SSPian

Time to De-Bag

If I am not who I am now- in an alternate universe - I would have been an excellent Bag Lady. (you know the semi-sane ladies toting a huge bag and trolley full of "goodies" in Hell's Kitchen of the Big Apple).

Since my uni -days (meaning where I didn't have to approach FAMA- those on scholarships would know what this means- for moolah to buy what my heart desires) - I have been buying affordable bags of all shapes and sizes, which catches my eye and fancy...It doesn't help that everyone who knows me will buy me bags as b'day gifts - so much so - approaching forrow - I am buried knee deep in bags.

I have bags for all occassions and by that I mean MANY bags for EACH occasion. I have dinner bags of all shapes, color and dimensions. Bags for mountain climbing. Bag to put my diving gear in. Day packs for light trekking. Fanny packs given by well meaning friends (who do not realise that I already have a generous sized one!). Toiletries bags which comes free when I buy a favourite perfume or skincare. Bags my mum hand down to me as "harta pesaka" (read : Glomesh!). Hippy style bags which you thought looked cool in that "rasta" phase....me oh my...I feel rather faint already....

Lo and Behold - the time has now come for a major de-bagging exercise....Yes - I am giving away my treasured trove of bags - some of it wrought with memories of a holiday, an afternoon tea with a friend or a night where I danced till I couldn't even walk after ....

This exercise is made much harder as I am a "collector" of sorts i.e. I accumulate stuff (but not yet to the un-envied status of a hoarder!) and loathe to rid of them...But give them away I must...from the littlest of purses to the gargantuan of carry-alls - I shall be giving away to deserved individuals who needs to enrich their ordinary lives with a bag or two...:-))

I have, after all, to make room for a bright and shiny Longchamp tote bag which is SURE to be mine come August 12th 2008!

Going Dotty

Ahhh...a fresh start...its time for a change.

What do you think of this metamorphosis....?

I like it - its kinda funky!

Angst Venting

Today is just one of THOSE days.

Dejected. Cranky. Snappy. You get the picture.

A major reason is nature. I am about to hoist my "red flag" soon and my hormones are whizzing (at least in my imagination!) in all directions. Tidur tak lena. Makan tak kena. And then it hits. Deep serious thinking mainly about where the direction of my life is heading.

Its funny because about less than 6 - 7 months ago I thought I had my life mapped out pretty well. I thought I had found the person to be my partner in life. I had changed jobs and have a great boss and the pay was not too shabby. I was about to enter a sea of calm.

Then it started to unravel.

My big boss - the reason why I left my old job and took on the new one - left.

The person whom I thought will share my life - left (for eternity).

From then on - life is more of a coping strategy rather than actual "living". Remembering the Al-Mighty and concentrating on my spiritual side has been a great help. But I think a little of my usual "spark" is missing - I think its gone for a holiday.

These random thoughts of life, death and whether I am wasting my time in an office pen pushing ultimately leads me to think about where my passions lie. I have to give this a serious thought because my spirit is not getting healthy in my current space. Perhaps venturing into an environment doing something that I love with people I like would be the way to overcome this stupor.

Anyways - it feels good to vent. And for what I am today and what I have physical, mental & spiritual - I profusely thank Allah SWT.