Visiting Mia

There are changes to my visiting schedules with Mia now.


Mmmm its a bit embarassing but, I would like to admit here that ever since Mia entered boarding school last year, I never failed to visit her EVERY WEEKEND. (hehe....) Padahal I'm the type who thinks that when kids masuk boarding school, we should leave them be, jangan visit selalu sangat. Let them be independent. This was what my parents did when I was in MRSM, they visited once or twice a month.....and yeah it worked out pretty well with me.


It all started with me helping Mia with her laundry masa dia baru masuk Form 1. So every week kena datang ambik laundry, right. When I stopped doing that just before fasting month last year, patutnya tak payah datang every week dah.... but I guess dah jadi habit pun satu, Mia suruh datang bawak food pun satu..... hehe


So 2 weeks ago, I made a decision. and for the first time.... I did not visit her. It was quite an accomplishment for me tau.... hehe.


I do not plan to visit her again this week, tapi mmmm..... i wonder whether her pocket money is enough.....

Things that happened last week

CORRECTION : Pu3 demanded me to correct my previous entry on the Spell it Right Junior Competition. She spelt the word " mistreat" with a double "s"..... and not as what I wrote earlier.
____________________________________________________________


Lots of things happened last week. Some good, some bad. But mostly good.


A friend betrayed me last week. Hmmm.... i got several "I told you so's..." from my other friends. Do not want to dwell on this. Dah terjadi tu dahlah.....


I made a big decision last week. Well, to me its big. I have stopped Pu3 and Zaryff from Smart Reader. It was quite hard to reach to this decision as I have been sending the kids since 2002. Dah 6 tahun! Mia and Anastassia finished Level 10 and both of them benefited tremondously from this program. Especially Mia. Pu3 is now at Level 8 whilst Zaryff is at Level 6.


Memang sayang to stop them, but kesianla actually the timing of the classes tak kena with Pu3's schedule. So dia nampak penat. Kesian Helena tengok. Nampak penat sangat, i know she likes the classes but timing tu yang tak kena..... Apart then that, the class is like at the other side of town, because Helena mmg akan hantar to the best place (to me), although there is one very close near home.


After the decision was made, I felt as if a huge burden were lifted of my shoulder. Phew..... Yes, let me admit here that sending both kids for Smart Reader to a location quite far from the house, is very-very tiring. Very rushing, and kerja-kerja lain memang tergendala on the days ada SR. Its very time consuming...... For example, on Wednesdays, both Pu3 and Zaryff have classes, at different times. Lepas tu, money wise, I need RM20 just to send them to and fro. RM20, if I used the smaller car that is. Kalau pakai the big car, it'll be RM30. But to me, when education is concerned, duit tu not an issuela sangat......


Now, that we are free from Smart Reader classes.... I feel that there's more time for me, kids have a more relaxed schedule..... and hey..... there's more family time together too......


Pu3 who was upset at first, is now okay with the idea. I told her that she can just continue where she stopped anytime she want....... Zaryff pulak jerit "YIPPEE" was grinning ear to ear..... hehe. But i told them..... I will photostate theirs sisters SR books and they will have to do the exercises with me..... so at least dapatla sikit additional knowledge tu......


Oh Ya...... Papa's durian tree started berbuah this year.... Yeay!!!!! Sebenarnya ada satu pokok aje....... tanam kat hujung pagar....... I remembered that he planted this tree masa Mia in Kindy. Mia was asking about durians and I guess Atuk planted one just for Mia and Anastassia (and other future cucus - Pu3 and Zaryff, yet to be born).


And last week the first durian fell, and now yang dah gugur ada la dalam 15........ and nampak around 80 more kat pokok tu...... Papa now ada kerja baru petang2...... driving from one neighbour's house to the other...... kasi durian..... hehe....


I guess my dieting have to wait again..... hehe.

Sweet Sweet Pu3.....

Pu3 was in the papers recently. She got 3rd place in the NST-RHB Junior Spell it Right. She was frustrated as she aimed for the top spot to get the laptop..... so had to console her.....



The day after the competition, she woke up early, sebab nak tengok papers. (She was interviewed by the reporter right after the competition) And she was upset to see that her picture tak ada, despite posing here and there for the photographers.... alahai..... Helena pujuk..... dah ada cerita pasal dia dalam paper tu.... kira okayla..... But she was happy bila a week later, bila out of the blue, keluar pulak gambar dia..... hehe

Pu3 mispelled the word 'mistreat'. She spelled it with a double 's'. Helena mengaku kat dia, that Helena ada terpikir nak go through with her the words yang ada 'dis' and 'mis' supaya dia tak confuse..... tapi since I was busy with entah apa2.... i forgot about it....

So in the end, she blamed me for getting 3rd.... hehe.... okayla..... blame mama la.... i dont mind.... hehe..... I'm very proud of you dear, you made my day just standing up that stage...... immaterial menang ke tidak.....

Pu3 was calm but mommy was a bundle of nerves...... hehehe

Pu3 receiving the RM500 mock cheque......

Zaryff was supposed to enter the competition too, but puas Helena pujuk, dia taknak..... yang geramnya, masa tengok the competition, dia boleh kata.... ala mama..... kalau Zaryff masuk, pun Zaryff boleh jawab..... taklah susah sangat...... la..... rupanya he thought it was as difficult as the Tahap 2 punya Spell It Right which we went to see last month...... sigh........

Anastassia.....Anastassia.....

In the midst of preparing Pu3 for her Taekwondo hari tu, Anastassia came to me and said.....


"Mama, I was chosen to represent the school for Story Telling this Monday" she whispered.



"WHAAAAT?????"




"I didnt go for the audition, Mama..... really I didnt..." Anastassia said with a low voice.



"Then how come you were chosen? I thought your teachers and I agreed to one thing last week...... that will be no more competitions for you! Until UPSR!"



"Mama, betul Mama, I didnt go for the audition. So while the other girls auditioned I was doing my homework. Then someone came asking for me and said that the teachers asked for me. I went and was told that they want me to audition. I auditioned and I was picked." she explained.



"Sigh...... Anastassia....... let me call your teacher...... awak tarik diri ok...."



"Please Mama..... all this time its only BM competitions..... I want to try out competitions in English" Anastassia pleaded.



"No...... Anastassia..... You've went all the way to Hong Kong for your English Drama..... nak experience apa lagi..... you HAVE experienced it" I said, my suara dah naik.



"Please Mama..... please....... I promise I wont spend much time preparing" Anastassia pujuk I lagi.....



In the end I gave in..... dengan satu syarat.....



"You can only spend one hour ONLY preparing for this" I said with my no nonsence voice. Rasa nak sakit dada pun ada ni.....



Anastassia smiled, then grinned..... then skipped to her room..... siap nyanyi-nyanyi lagi...... sigh....



Sigh...... yup, the preparation was a brief one, i guess memorizing the story in English is easier for her compared to if it were in BM...... Dulu her Bahas, Pidato and Syarahan took quite a long time to memorize.....



Below are pictures for the ASEAN STORY TELLING COMPETITION...... organized by Kementerian Penerangan. It was shown on TV and it was also in the papers.

Anastassia..... she mesmerized the audiance with a a story entitled The Rabbit with the Mak Toom Tree, a story originated from Thailand.



Anastassia with her glass trophy and RM200 win. She got 3rd placing.



Anastassia actually aimed for the top spot. Seriously, she could as she did everything perfectly. Overall she was the best among the participants. However, she was a bit too fast in telling her story, it did not reach the minimum 7 minute time alocated. So minus point on the timing. Her English teacher also said that Anastassia slang may have contributed to some points deduction also.

Anastassia.... Anastassia......

Arghhh.... its already July!

Just got a call from Pu3's Master yesterday. He said that Pu3 was selected to compete in the selections to go for the Taekwondo Remaja Kebangsaan in Penang!

Alahai.... pening.... pening.....

Obviously this is a great opportunity for Pu3..... Mia dapat pergi Kebangsaan dulu pun masa dia dah std 5. But I have to take into account Anastassia's preparation for UPSR.

Peperiksaan Percubaan UPSR 2 akan diadakan mid July. Clashes with Anastassia's Choral Speaking in Trengganu. So arrangements has been made to allow Anastassia and her friends yang involved to take the exam the day after the Trengganu trip..... Sigh..... from experience, I know they will reach their school around 11 pm.... mesti penat..... next day nak ambik exam pulak tu...... sigh..... timing tak kena betul.....

The Taekwondo competition in Penang would be in August. Memang to me, August is strictly for Anastassia. UPSR trials will be in August. Penting sangat tu..... and i cant let Pu3 go with the State Team macam tu aje.... this is Taekwondo..... a sport known for injuries...... bukannya badminton..... I need to be there to oversee her fights....

Entahla..... hubby volunteered to accompany her..... mmm.... maybe i need to learn to let him handle the kids ..... but all the way to Penang??..... sigh...... Tapi what ever it is, provided if she get selected la kan......

OK la tukar cerita.....

Mia did something new last week. She acted in a Sejarah Drama! First time Helena tengok dia berlakon and well.... biasala being a mom.... rasa emotional pulak Helena ni... see her doing new things..... doing things out of her comfort zone.

She was Hang Jebat and in the scene ada 2 benda klakar yang tak disangka happened. First, masa nak bersilat.... her samping menyelorot jatuh...... Helena tak perasan but the whole dewan laughed..... Nasib baik Mia tak panik and just kuiskan the samping at the side angrily..... making the audience clapped for her unscripted move.....

Then, masa dia died in Hang Tuah's lap...... masa nak tukar scene, Hang Tuah had to drag Mia ke tepi..... tapi Hang Tuah tak tertarik.... hehe.... puas dia nak drag Mia, Mia tak bergerak langsung..... the whole dewan laughed again coz.... kelakar la tgk Hang Tuah beriya2 nak tarik Mia..... and Mia cant help coz she supposed to be dead, right? Hehe..... Yang buat lagi kelakar..... pengawal2 lain yang mati next to Mia, semuanya senang ajer di tarik off stage..... hehe....

Mia as Hang Jebat. Mia's voice lain betul masa berlakon ni..... yela dia kena garaukan suara. Boleh tahan jugak dia berlakon.....

Hang Tuah's confrontation scene with Hang Jebat. This was before the bersilat scene, sebelum samping dia jatuh...... hehe



They lost tapi to me.... it was the best play I've ever seen.........





Last Tuesday, Mia and a bunchful of other actors got rewarded. They went to see the Broadway Teater - The Beauty and The Beast at Istana Budaya.

Mia got 2nd for the Lalulintas Shell Competition.

Pu3 won a GOLD Medal!

Pu3 entered her first taekwondo competition last Saturday. Her weight is in the Fin weight category in this State Level competition.


I was a bit worried as Pu3 is kind of skinny and has a small bone structure. Mia has always been sturdy and has a tough built. So masa Mia dulu takla risau sangat padahal she started much earlier. Anastassia memang Helena tak kasi although dia nak..... first, due to her built which is like Pu3, secondly I know her interest pun bukannya kat taekwondo sangat pun.... so baik tak payah......






Pu3 during the fight in the Finals. She's on the left, wearing the white headgear.



Pu3 had 2 matches. The first one was stopped halfway through as it was a one-sided match. Her opponent was hit at the head several times by Pu3. Budak tu pendek..... so senangla for Pu3 nak kick her head. The Finals was a great match to watch, dua2 same height..... with Pu3's friends cheering up for her. Pu3 won the match with quite a big margin.



It was a sweet moment to see Pu3 won the Finals. However what made me amused was the way Pu3 fought. She showed a different side of her the minute she stepped into the court. She really showed determination and she was agressive. She kicked her opponent nonstop, left and right sampai her opponent asyik kena undur.... and sikit lagi nak terkeluar court. This happened several times. Although I can see that she was tired during halftime, tapi dia force herself to finish the match with her nonstop kicking.



Bila pikir2.... now i realize that this is Pu3's personality. In her own quite way, she is very determined when doing something.... she does the same in her studies.... if tak faham apa2 topic, memang nampak dia akan geram dgn diri dia..... and akan make sure dia faham.... If Helena nak tolong ajar, dia kasi Helena ajar sikit ajer, she said she needs to figure it out on her own..... and selalu time ni.... mmg nampak dia agressive......


Puteri posing at home. Her pictures masa masa ambil medal kat podium tak jadi.... bateri camera kaput.... wrong timing betul......



One mom approached me. Her 2 sons and daughter memang terror..... they compete sampai international level. Kakak ni kata, Anastassia has talent, Anastassia reminded her of her daughter masa mula2 masuk dulu..... Garang in the court. Her daughter (now 15) who just came back from a competition in Korea last month..... KO-ed her opponent in the Finals last Saturday. Dia suruh I beli protective gear for Pu3, and for Pu3 to actively compete in future..... (Mia punya protective gear is a bit too big)



Mmm..... nampaknya Helena kena get involved in Taekwondo lagi ni..... teringat lagi zaman Mia.... 3 times a week training...... jauh pulak training centre tu.......



Nampaknya now its Pu3's turn..... and she's really looking forward to it......

Hairan bin Ajaib!

Last Saturday, Anastassia and Pu3 masuk pertandingan melukis dan mewarna anjuran Puteri Islam Negeri. They won in the Daerah competition the week before.

As it was a Saturday, Helena pun sama melepak kat situ. Tengok2 and to give support.

During the competition, sememangnya Anastassia and her friend menjadi tumpuan. (and Pu3) Hasil lukisan mereka memang menonjol compared to the other students. Helena tengok yang pakai crayon adalah dalam 5-6 orang...... (of coursela yang pakai crayon akan lebih cantik dan ada potensi boleh menang).

I am not the type of parent who think anak dia pandai and terror. If anak i buat tak elok, I will admit it. But last Saturday, after tengok lukisan2 orang lain..... deep inside I know Anastassia can get no1. If tak pun, no2..... sebab kawan dia pun buat cantik jugak......

Again, during the entire competition, Anastassia and Puteri sememangnya stole the show. The girls were surrounded by other teachers and the teachers dok puji-puji and interview they all..... sekolah mana..... siapa guru seni...... dah berapa lama belajar mewarna..... Infact.... ada beberapa suara kata..... INI BUKAN LEVEL SEKOLAH RENDAH...... INI LEVEL SEKOLAH MENENGAH NI..... Few teachers siap ambil gambar...... bila nak hantar lukisan pun.... siap disuruh ambil gambar bersama lukisannya.....

Bila keputusan diumumkan...... I was dumbfounded when Anastassia did not win the top 3 spot. And mulut Helena bertambah ternganga bila TUJUH SAGUHATI pun takdapat?????

Sememangnya majlis tersebut nampakla kucar kacir perjalanannya...... salah nama dipanggil.... hadiah tak ada.... etc. I checked with the AJK Pertandingan Mewarna..... dia kata the box full of lukisan missing...... so tak dapatla explain and see back lukisan Anastassia and her friend.... why both of them tak menang....

Sigh ... malas la nak gaduh2 dgn teachers and mostly Ustazah ni..... but logically la..... Anastassia and her friend jadi tumpuan sepanjang pertandingan.... the oohhhs and the ahhhs..... tapi????? siapa yang menang? I dont see at all orang mengerumi and admiring lukisan the kids yang menang? (Sorry la..... but its true...)

Having said that, Pu3 menang no2 and her win sort of menyejukkan hati Helena. This is her 3rd win for peringkat negeri but for the first time la dapat no2. Dia dapat duit and sijil. Now waiting to know whether dia dapat proceed ke peringkat kebangsaan atau tidak.... (No 1 automatic pergi)

(To me Anastassia dah ada nama di sekolah..... now masa utk naikkan nama Pu3 pulak)

Another reason yang Helena taknak argue lebih2 with the judging committee is that..... if Anastassia menang.... satu hal la pulak kena gi Kebangsaan.... with UPSR around the corner.... obviouslt a no-no.....

But.... it frustrating to see the 2 girls yang terpinga-pinga bila nama tak disebut langsung sebagai salah satu pemenang. Padahal Mewarna peringkat kebangsaan pun boleh menang, compete wit chinese girls yang well known pandai mewarna....

Mmm.... rintihan hati Helena pagi2 isnin ni.... hehe