It's Burns Week Next Week

"Dear Parents,

As you know, next week is Burns week in school.  Children across all stages should learn Scottish poem with the infant classes learning a simpler poem which is not Burns!  There will be a competition at each stage group and although all children should learn our poem they can choose to not to enter if they are particularly nervous or shy.  Our poem this year is Cat and Mous by J.K. Annand.  I hope you will help the children learn their poem and best of luck to all for the competition."

Mia handed me the above message from school yesterday.  And attached to it is the poem which she is supposed to learn :

Cat and Mous

Said the poussie                                  

Til the mousie,

'Let me intil

Your wee housie

We will play

And we will sing

And we will dance

A jingo-ring.'

Said the mousie

Til the poussie,

'Ye'll no get

In my wee housie.

Ye are BIG

And I am wee

And ye wad eat me

For your tea.

A very cute little poem isn't it?

Sources of images : Siberian Cat from www.catsfact.org; Guinea pig from www.commons.wikipedia.org

Wha?!

A Dug A Dug  (by Bill Keys)

Hey, Daddy, wid ye get us a dug?

A big broon alsation ur a wee white pug?

Ur a skinny wee terrier, ur a big fat collie?

Aw, Daddy, get us a dug.  Will yi?

Whit! An' whose dug'll it be when it durties the flerr,

An' wets the carpet and messes the sterr?

Its me ur yer Mammy'll be tane furra mug

Away oot'n play.  Yer no getting a dug

But daddy thur gi'en them away

Down therr at the RSCPA

Yu'll get wan fur nothin, so ye will.

Aw.  Daddy, get us a dug, Will ye?

Dji hear um?  Oan aboot dugs again?

Ah think that yins goat dugs'n the brain

Ah know whit yu'll get : a skite oan the lug

If ah hear ony merr aboot this bloomin dug

Aw, Daddy, it widny be dear tae keep

An'ah'd make it a basket fur it tae sleep

An'ah'd take it fur runs away over the hull

Aw, Daddy, get us a dug.  Will ye?

A doan't think thurs embdy like you :

Yi could wheedle the twist oot a flamin' corkscrew

Noo! Get doon aff my neck.  Gies nane a yur hugs

Aw right.  THAT'S ANUFF. Ah'll get yi a dug.

Aw Daddy.  A dug.  A dug.

Well, this poem is sort of Hakim's homework last week.  I like it somehow - I can visualize the children asking, begging their father with pleading eyes to get them a dog.  And not let it go until they get under his skin and finally let them have their way!

And for his effort of memorising the first two paragraphs, Hakim was rewarded a pencil and eraser from his teacher, Mrs. McEwan.

Oh ..... Not So Smooth 2nd Day

I saw it coming.  Right from the moment we (Danish, Hakim & I) woke him up. He said he had tummy-ache.  He said he's tired. He said he wanted to go back to sleep. But none of us buy it.  We almost dragged him out of bed.  We cannot succumb to his wish.  We have to be strong for his sake.

We finally managed to get him ready.  It was already late for the three elder children so I asked them to leave first.  Mia insisted on waiting for him.  Finally, at 9.10 we managed to get him out of the house.  We made a very slow progress - half walking, half dragging.

I didn't send Mia to the door as usual. I just watched her from the gate.  Once the door was opened and she was lost from my sight, I continued to the entrance of the Nursery.  Our progress much slower. With him giving every reason to make me turn back to the comfort of home.  But I was very determined.  Send this boy to school I will.

The door was already locked when we arrived. We pressed the bell and waited.  Out came Mrs Ross.  And he started crying, pouring his heart out.  He cried and fought when we tried to take out his wellie and change to his ordinary shoes.  He struggled to be set free - but none of us were capitulated.

Mrs Ross took him from me. She picked him up and hold him tight.

"You just leave, OK? We have to be cruel to be kind. He'll be OK shortly. Just leave." said Mrs Ross to me all the while holding my struggling son. I did. I left - half walking, half running but trying to avoid the slippery hardened snow. Never turned my back.

And when I picked him up that day, he was one very happy kid. Forgotten were the drama he created that morning.  He ran to me excitedly showing the piece of paper with a report of his activities for the whole 21/2 hours. The report said :

"Hakim (for Hakim Aqil) settled as soon as he came into the nursery.  It will probably be the initial separation from Mum.  This may last a few days.  He seems happy enough when he is in nursery."

Well, sound familiar anyone? :-D

First step

After sending the children to school today and almost fell flat on a few occasions in the process, I came back to an empty house.  Normally I will come back together with Aqil but not today and not anymore. Suddenly the word "empty-nesters" came to me. The emptiness of home gives a very unsettled feeling - may be I need some time to accustom myself to this.

We have applied for Aqil to enrol at the St Ninian Nursery since September last year.  However as the intake is only twice a year - on August and January and there is no vacant place at that time we have to wait until January.   When the Spring term starts on January 6, we were informed that there is no place for Aqil. So, we have to wait until August.  I am quite OK with that, actually. Aqil is a shy kid and somehow I have a feeling that he's not ready for school yet (even if it is a Nursery!). He has never been separated with me. And when I go for my classes, his father will be home with him. I'm secretly smiling when there is no place for him yet.

However, two days ago (Tuesday), I received a call from Mrs. Longmuir informing me there is a place for Aqil.  So, yesterday I went to see her and Mrs. Ross (the Early Years Practitioner) and came back with a stack of forms to fill in and a handbook.

And so, today I sent my wee boy to school.  I left as soon as I could after a few words with the teacher (and leaving my contact no just in case). I walked home alone.  Snow is already melting and so the pathway is very slippery.  I hoped for him to be OK. It's his first step in education. His first step for whatever he will be in the future. And I, have a mixed feelings.

When the phone rang at 11.25, I was almost jumping! It's my kindly neighbour asking whether I am going to fetch Aqil.  Opps! I jumped into my coat and boots and ran all the way to the nursery! Trust me to be engrossed with something and forgetting the time.  I have planned to leave the house at 11.20 but.... I reached there breathless but I saw him happily playing with the slide with Mrs Ross watching him.  They were laughing in fact. And he looked happy.  When I asked him whether he enjoyed himself, he said yes but he said "Why is it so long before you get me back?" I just have no answer for that.  Instead I asked him "Did you cry?" His answer was "I did, just a little. Three times. I put my head down every time." I smiled. "Would you like to go again tomorrow?" "Yes!" He said.  Syukur Alhamdulillah - that's easy for a first day. I hope he knows how proud I am of him.

Ramblings....Again!

Oh... Dear, Dear....! Today is January 6, 2010.  Sixth day unto 2010.  Already? That fast? Hmmmm.... could someone tell me that it is still 24 hours in a day, please.  Or has it been lesser.  It feels such! Two things due today :

(i) Mia will start schooling again (after the long Christmas break) - which I detest. No! Don't get me mistaken! I am all for education. I will not be here if I don't encourage that! But the thought of braving the bitter cold, never mind the crispy air! We'll both be frozen before we reached school! Never mind it's only 200m or so from home! Well, I may be exaggerating! But honest! As I am writing this, it is -7 here with a forecast of -13 tomorrow. And, from Reporting Scotland yesterday, this is the coldest winter in 10 years - and yes! I chose this time to come over! Bravo to myself!!

(ii) House Inspection - The Agent will be coming at 12.00 today to check whether :

     * we are settling down fine
     * we are keeping the house in order (cleanliness is no. 1)
     * we have any request to make (oh yes! a humidifier/dehumidifier sounds good?)
     * there is any maintenance work need to be done

Would be nice if this could be done back home too. At least it reduces the possibility of landlords/landladies having heart attack after the tenants left. Anyway, this is not a regulation here.  It is just happened that our Agent is one of the more prudent - protecting the rights of both the tenant and the landlord. At least at the end of the term, we can be assured of the return of the deposit.

Well, I must go now. Have to wake Mia up. Or she'll not be ready on time.  But as announced in Radio Tay yesterday, we have to listen for announcement whether school will be open or not - Oh... Yes!... I'm not kidding! The weather is as bad as I make it sounds.

Have A Good Day Everyone! :-D

Source of image : www.newsimg.bbc.co.uk

Good Bye 09....... Welcome 10

New Year always bring me back to the time when I was embracing the coming of 2001 alone (without my family - then, I already have 2 children). Work brought me to the Fish & Chips land (to borrow DrSam's terminology). Watching people rushing somewhere with their loved ones while I dragged myself back from Cavendish Square to Porchester Mews in the cold winter evening made me feel so...alone and foreign. But, coming to think about it, I think it was more to the fact that I was down in flu than the celebration itself  - you see, I never actually celebrated New Year (I mean by having a special dinner or going to watch the fireworks and all - it is just that in Shah Alam where we stayed, we can watch it from my bedroom's window!)

What does it mean anyway, this New Year thingy? Other than the fact the Earth has completed its tour of duty around the Sun - completed its 365.24 days journey?

Could it possibly be a time for reflection? Looking back at what have been accomplished the past 365.24 days? And what not? If not, why? A time for post-mortem.

Or is it a turning point? To embark on a new career? To be kinder to oneself, to others, to Mother Earth? Or simply to set a new milestone. To change the way thing is done? Or, to look at the same thing through different eyes?  Whatever it is, it is good to at least have some points to reflect and to relook into the directions and the purpose of our life. It is also good to want to achieve something as long as it is not destructive to mankind.

As for the Moslem, our New year is 11 days earlier than the solar calendar. Islamic New Year is based on the revolutions of the moon, such the Islamic year is only 354 days.  It is a low-key event compared to Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.  There is no specific religious ritual on this day except many regard it as a time for reflections and resolutions. It is also a day to reminisce in the Hijra or migration of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from Mecca to Medina. And this marked the beginning of a Moslem community - a community inspired by the Creator to live in complete harmony;  a group of people who is bounded by faith with the responsibility of creating peace to the whole world - also, to treat one another with kindness regardless of race, colour and beliefs.

For my non-Moslem friends, suicide bombings and killings of the innocent people are not part of Islamic teachings. Islam in itself means peace.  And never once in its teaching it resort to violence.  It teaches its followers to avoid conflict :

But turn away from them and say "Peace!" (43:89)

.....take not life which Allah has made sacred, except by way of justice and law : thus He commands you that you may learn wisdom (6:151)

Even in war, there are certain rules which include :

(i) no killing of any old person, child or woman;
(ii) no killing of the monks in monasteries and those who are in the place of worship
(iii) do not attack a wounded person

So, to all of us regardless of race, color and beliefs - let us be kinder, more considerate and more generous with forgiveness for the year to come and more.  May 2010 brings us what we have wished for.        

Happy 2010 everyone! :-D


(Source of image : www.chemistry.about.com)

Our Journey to Edinburgh........Part 2

We left Livingston at around 1.30 p.m. and started the second leg of our journey to the City of Edinburgh.  The day before when we had our lunch at Taufik's place, it was planned for us all to have our lunch at the King Fahad Mosque - a very tasty pilao rice they said! So, we headed there.  Somehow, due to the cold and we were very hungry by the time we reached the mosque, we have forgotten to take any snapshot of the food that we had.  Our lunch yesterday :

(i)  6 plates of pilao rice (one for each of us)
(ii) lamb curry
(iii) 2 tandoori chickens
(iv) chicken curry
(v) 2 kebabs

And of course that's the first eating-out lunch we had since we arrived last September! And how delicious! Yummy!

Anyway, some snapshots for you! Enjoy!

                                     Oh the Clear Blue Sky!

                               Can you spot the red Chopper?

 2 hrs journey + 2 hrs shopping + 40 mins journey = 3 very tired children

King Fahad Mosque, 50 Potterow Edinburgh EH8 9BT (where Mi's shoes were snatched!)

Muslimat area of the Mosque. On the 2nd Flr - reachable through a spiral staircase

                                          Mia, Aqil & Fatehi

          The children enjoying a game while their Moms were praying

                                          Mia, Aqil & Balqis