A first

Well theres a first for everything i guess.

After all this years and with the kids all grown, its the first time that this family's celebrating hari raya without the main man. feels wrong somehow and we were going about a little like lost sheeps for a while there. but thank god we've always been close.... we're now rallying each other. the kids have been awesome (thank you so so much darlings) and have been extremely supportive of their very 'poyo' mama. an occasion with the potential to leave me wallowing in sadness and misery has turned out to be ok after all :)

AF arrived the eve of raya. i had already 'tenggek'ed my rendang ayam and 'rebus'ed the ketupat earlier and planned to visit with the MIL that nite. found out that AF posa sunat isnin and only got to break fast on the bus with something or other. so goes without saying that he wanted to stay home and stuff his face. in the end it was only me and AH at the MIL's. of course she was also pining for her son but she allowed herself to be persuaded into eating the food that i brought (i'm lucky because she has always liked my cooking... get a man thru his mom's stomach hehehe). we stayed to bergebang till way past midnite. it was a healing time for restless hearts like ours.... i guess we needed each other bcoz we were missing the man and being together brought him that much closer.


Abe... heres the latest pic of ur 2 most fav gals heheh!!

Hari raya morning dawned bright and sunny. i was scared i'd be affected by the takbir raya and make a fool of myself in front of the kids; bawling my heart out like i did the 1st day he left. but again He showed me His mercy by giving me composure. kalau tak malu la gak kat bebudak, melalak kat masjid masa sembahyang raya.... org tua nangis memang buruk betul rupanye :) after i got thru the first hurdle everything else was plain sailing. berkumpul ramai2 at mek's as per usual but like i said before, what would i have done without the kids, without my darlings?!! boys, you are my pillars of strength and AH, thank you for doing what you did.....

My BILs have always been very helpful and supportive and Joe is especially close to AH because his daughter's the same age and the 2 cousins get along like a house on fire. knowing that AH must be missing her dad (anak abah) he offered to take AH along with him for the day.

"Jom ecah, ikut uncle... kita jalan2 beraya. petang nanti kita jumpa balik kat rumah uncle Olim", said Joe as he rumpled her hair. another BIL was having a birthday party for his youngest that evening and of course the whole clan was invited.

Smiling, my little girl looked over to me and replied, " Takpe la uncle... saya nak temankan mak saya yang lonely nih".

Of course everybody laughed at her quick retort, but i was so touched that my daughter was sensitive enough to consider my feelings. surely it was more fun for her to be galivanting about with her cousin. it made me feel sooooo loved. And yes kiddos, you're all without doubt the greatest joy of my life!

Love you to bits.... muaaaahhhh.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA QURBAN one and all.


** Caspian Newsflash**
Abe reports that theres been an unexpected occurence in ashgabat - the place is SNOWING!!!!! it hasnt snowed for years and even the locals are excited. hati2 main snow tu abe.... remembering our henniker days!!! :)