Boring day

Boringnya hari ini. Not many holiday makers in this resort and so this place is quiet and peaceful. Thank God! But I am bored to tears, not in the mood to go out or do anything. It's so hot, so sweaty hot.



There's hardly any wind blowing and Mok is miserable too. Kesian Mok. So he just lepak on the floor to cool off his body with his thick coat of hair. He drank a lot of water.
I am sick of watching TV, DVD or internet especially now I can't load photos on facebook. Don't know why. Susah betul kalau tak tahu macam mana nak betulkan progran computer ni, stressful dibuatnya.






Rania in conversation with Mok at home in PJ house.










Ika sempat ambil gambar Rania tengah menonggeng tengok dari celah kaki dia. So cute and so cheeky. I have been trying to take this shot but before I could get my camera ready, she ended it.



















Rania posing bila tengok camera.
Tengah boring ni teringat Rania. Kalau dia ada memang tak boring, ada saja aktiviti yang boleh dibuat untuk mengisi masa dengan dia. Hai Rania, rindunya. Macam manalah kalau tak ada peluang nak jumpa selalu.
Powerpoint untuk digunakan di Trengganu bulan Mac ni dah siap. Ada buku yang tengah nak tulis pun tak diusik-tak ada mood. Boring semacam. Asyik makan saja, macam mana badan tak kembang. Anak India sebelah apartment ni menangis tak berhenti-henti, siang malam. Kata the hosekeeping ladies, mak dia leka tengok TV, tak layan anaknya. Apa nak jadi macam tu.
Ama, Mak dan auntienya datang visit hari Sabtu. Gembira mereka sudi datang tapi lupa nak beri Ama wall hanging yang dia hendak. Lain kali dia datang agaknya akan ingat.





Rania showing her one jutting upper tooth. She is in her huge playpen which she hates to be left in alone.













Rania the beautician. Tengah buat facial kat daddy dia.
















Hooray, esok boleh dukung Rania dan cium dia banyak-banyak.

New home

If you remember reading my blog entry on 16 September 2009 entitled "Poor and Neglected", I talked about how poor my cousin Jaafar is, and the struggle his sister Cham and I experienced in trying to get housing aid from the government. After over 2 years finally in 2011 the new very basic house was ready for occupation. It was very gratifying to see the brick wall of the house is not white ants infested, the roof is not leaking and there's proper toilet.
So today, I drove alone from PD in the morning to join the kenduri kesyukuran attended by the village people and the Ahli Dewan Negeri who represents the area. It was quite a confusing day for me when almost everybody acknowledged me by my mother. They are my distant cousins, uncles and aunties whom I have not met for ages, a golden opportunity for rekindling old relationship with my saudara mara.
It tickled my heart when my my cousin Cham said Jaafar refused to get rid of the little shack they lived in for a few months when the house was being built. He has formed an attachment to it and spends his daytime there but comes in the main house only at night. Part of the plastic covering of the shack is torn. But we are sure, eventually he will come around and accepts that the new house is his.
After lunch with typical Negeri Sembilan spread such as masak lemak ayam cili padi, labu and ikan sepat goreng which were delicious, I bade farewell and drove back to PD.
Mok is alone at the apartment though his food, trays and water were provided, I still worry. He loves laying around at the balcony especially when there's lots of wind. Mok's condition is not good at all. His kidneys are getting worse. My children and I are in fear for the day he is going for good just like Raisa did. I know I would be heart broken. We are giving him a lot love and making his life more comfortable. But giving him his medication is always a big tussle. He is smart. When we thought he had swallowed his pills, he walks away and spits them out. Many times I felt so frustrated and begged him to take it - as if he understands.
Going to see my 'Jantung Pisang' on Monday. Rania, I miss you so very badly!

Nak rehat kat PD

Batuk ni tak juga hilang, dah berminggu. Ubat dah tak larat nak makan. Cataract surgery terpaksa ditangguhkan hingga ke suatu tarikh yang saya bebas dari batuk. Teringat pada masa megajar di Unimas, pernah diserang batuk hingga 4 bulan. Akhirnya, Mages, seorang kawan lama yang baru pulang bercuti dari England membawa saya bertemu dengan kawannya seorang pakar di Arunamari Hospital di Pelabuhan Kelang. Thorough juga pemeriksaan itu. Conclusion pakar tersebut ialah saya menghidap reflux. Ala mak, dah senior ni ada saja organ tubuh yang sudah overused. Katanya gas dari usus besar yang proses makanan tidak dapat disekat oleh penutupnya sebab dah rosak. Rosak lagi! Itu sebabnya gas leaking masuk ke kerongkong yang mengakibatkan batuk berpanjangan. Ubatnya mahal pula.
Hai susahnya nak baikkan macam-macam penyakit. Doktor yang saya jumpa, baik private atau kerajaan, tak ada yang diagnosed reflux. Doktor India di klinik PD beri inhalers untuk asthma. Akibatnya lagi teruk batuk ini dan saya kembalikan inhalers itu ke klinik. Mengapa doktor tidak mengesyaki reflux? Isnin ini saya akan ke klinik lagi di PD dan beritahu doktor kemungkinan reflux yang menyebabkan batuk saya tidak pulih.
Selagi batuk ini tidak hilang surgery cataract tidak boleh dilakukan. Saya ingin sangat hendak membuang cataract ini supaya penglihatan saya jelas. Saya berdoa surgery cataract tidak menjejaskan glaucoma saya kerana surgery glaucoma akan dijalankan kemudian apabila cataract kedua-dua mata saya berjaya dibuang.
Jadi, hari Isnin ini saya balik ke PD untuk berehat. Kesian Rania. Rindulah neneknya dan terdengar suara Rania di telinga nenek. Terpaksalah Ika ursukan sendirian kerja rumah. Harap Ika tidak lupa menjirus air pada pokok-pokok bunga yang beratus di rumah PJ. Duduk di PJ, saya leka denagn garden dan dengan Rania. Tiada masa untuk berasa sunyi. Di PD pula, saya akan betul-betul rehat, tidak buat apa-apa melainkan tengok TV, computer dan jaga pasu bunga yang tak seberapa di sana. Kadang-kadang saya tidak keluar rumah pun. Bila tak tahan rindukan Rania, baliklah neneknya ke PJ.
Ya Allah, selamatkan penglihatanku semasa surgery cataract nanti.

How to stop persistent coughing?

My cataract surgery scheduled on 17 February maybe postponed. I am coughing so badly. I have taken cough syrups which I hated. It made me feel drowsy and lethargic. I have swallowed anti-biotics and other prescribed tablets but the cough still persisted.
I suffered from prolonged cough since I came back from Haj in 2009 which was at the height of H1N1 epidemic. My experience of having flu and cough there lingered in my mind. The virus spread so fast there because the pilgrims didn't bother to take care of themselves and thus spread the virus to others. Very few were willing to wear masks inspite of repeated appeals by doctors. Hygiene was taken so lightly. My room-mate refused to wear masks because she didn't feel comfortable wearing it. So, every time she has an attack, it infected me and I suffered. It took more than 2 months for the cough to subside after I came back. Blood screening proved me clear of any lung diseases. Since then I am quite susceptible to flu, cold and cough. And I am sick of it. I have tried almost every remedy that's recommended such as:
Air asam jawa and honey
Air limau nipis and honey
Air jintan putih and honey
Air rendaman nasi semalaman and selawat 3 times when drinking
Avoid cold water
Sapu dada dengan gel herba waktu malam.

All tak jalan! The cough is stuck to my throat like a leech.

I would like my cataract removed from both of my eyes. Driving is proving quite a hassle for me especially if I drive to unfamiliar places.
Last Sunday (13 Feb 2011) I kept my promise to Mila that I would come and meet her PRS of MRSM Kuala Kubu Baru. Ulu Yam is a place I have visited several years ago and have forgotten the way and so couldn't find the resort where her program was held. The road was unfamiliar and it was difficult for me for not being able to see and read the road signs clearly. Since it was Sunday, the trffic was quite light. I stopped at Ulu Yam Polis station and called Mila to pick me up from there. I made it on time.
Going back was difficult. Forgetting that unfamiliar road will cause some trouble driving, I chose to try the Batu Cave way. It was a mistake. Road signs and traffic worried me. Driving slowly irritated some drivers and I was horned and the more nervous I became. Eventually I stopped at a petrol station checking whether I was on the right track. The young man was patient enough to explain which road and exit I should take. Eventually I saw a Petaling Jaya road sign and with a sigh of relief followed it through to Federal Highway. I came home safely but promised myself not to drive to unfamiliar places until my sight is OK.
Anyway, thank you Mila and the PRS of MRSM Kuala Kubu Baru. I wish all of you success in achieving what you aspire.

Poor baby

My little Professor, Rania, delivering a ceramah on my bed! 050211









For the first time after 9 and 1/2 months, Rania fell sick with fever, cold and blocked nose.Yesterday night was quite a tough night for me and Ika. She fretted and cried most time, being so uncomfortable breathing through her mouth. Justin is in Sydney attending a workshop. So Ika and I took turn to hold her when she screamed so loud at midnight and at the wee hours in the morning.
Last night, Ika slept with her alone in her room. I needed to make up for lost sleep but at 3 am I woke up and couldn't fall back to sleep. So I sat up typing the yearly report on the charity work done by the women's section of Ar Rahman mosque, next to my house in PJ. I didn't hear anything in Ika's room and felt relieved that Rania was able to sleep.
The next morning after subuh prayer, I slumbered off for an hour or so before Rania woke up. Later Ika told me that Rania was fretting the whole night and that she fell from Ika's bed to the hard marble floor. I was appalled. I feared this would happen if Rania is sleeping on the bed. She will roll herself everywhere on the bed.
She was crying and throwing tantrums this morning, refusing her milk and her food.I was worried. Finally Ika called and made an appointment with a doctor in Bangsar this afternoon. I pray Nia is OK and that her fever is just an ordinary cold and flu attack.
It was. So far, according to the doctor, Rania doesn't show any signs of problems and we pray she will be OK.
After talking to the doctor, Ika and I concluded that Rania caught the cold and running nose by going to the swimmimng pool in PD before CNY. There were many children and adults and the virus was in the air. I hope Nia will be OK soon.







Happy Rania tentatively feeling the pool water. 020211














Rania and mom playing in the pool at the hotel in PD. 020211



















No other people were around, I took Rania to play at the beach. With each wave hitting the shore, the sound startled Rania and she was quite frightened. As a reasult, at night she has nightmares and cried and clung at me or at her mom. Poor baby! Eventually she forgot the ordeal and returned to her normal behaviour enjoying water during her bath. 020211












To get Rania out of boredom being cooped up in thr house, we took her to Giant Kelana Jaya and put her in a trolley. She loved it and had her lunch there with her eyes absorbing all the goings on around her. 310111












Lovely!! Playing with sand is something new to Rania. Engrossed, looking and feeling the rough sand at PD lagoon. 010211













Caught in the act. Mischivious Rania. She tried to fool us by playing with the lid of her soiled nappy bin but in actual fact, she was aiming to play with the electric plug behind the bin.


This adorable 9 and 1/2 months old little bundle of joy brings so much sunshine and joy in the family. 300111







Love you sooooooooo much my precious 'jantung pisang'. May you have a beautiful happy life in front of you,

New books 2011

Year 2011 seems to be a good year for me. After working so hard to edit, update and write current book, 4 came out almost simultaneously in January 2011. Christine Chong of Marshall Cavendish persuaded me to republish my 3 books with Time Books International (abolished) in 1980s and 90s in a new look and updated contents. With Kamal, the editor, it was quite a long laboriously attempt to complete the assignment to meet printing dateline. It wasn't easy, with a lot of heartaches. Syukur alhamdullillah, the finalized work went in on time.




I am so happy that my book 'Boleh Saya Tolong Anda' is back in the market. I hope the counsellors, especially the younger generation of school counsellors, will get hold of this book and use it as a guide when they introduce Program Pembimbing Rakan Sebaya (PRS) at their respective schools or institutions. So far this is the first book in Malay written on this subject followed by PRS-Langkah Seterusnya. I hope to see more being published with new ideas and approaches without sacrificing the basic philosophy.














Back cover of 'Boleh Saya Tolong Anda'















My old title 'Anda OK!' is now changed slightly to 'Pastikan Diri Anda OK' which is more apt. In the process of writing this book, I learned a lot more about myself and how to read others especially when they interacted with others. Definitely, this is one of the enjoyable books that I have written and I hope to write more fun books for general reading in future.




















The back cover of 'Pastikan Diri Anda OK'













'Kaunseling dalam Pengurusan' has gone through quite a significant change process, not only being updated but also the chapters are expanded to 9 chapters.
All these 3 books are now with new attractive looks sold separately or in a box of 4 (with Peter Shepherd's Ke Mana Arah Hidup Anda) with a retail price of RM159.60.


















Back cover of ' Kaunseling dalam Pengurusan'


















IBS Buku Sdn Bhd with which I have established a long time relationship, has published 'Penulisan Jurnal Kaunseling' in January 2011 which I co-wrote with Najidah. I am proud of this book actually, for this is one achievement I am proud of, having successfully trained a former student in book writing. I hope Najidah will get more confidence and produces more work in time to come.
















Back cover of 'Penulisan Jurnal Kaunseling'














I would like to invite former students Siti Atiqah, Norhidayah, Faridah, Nurulaini, Nor Asnida, Norshila and Nurul Farhana whose some jurnal entry we used in this book, to sms, call or email me giving their addresses. I would like to send a complimentary copy for each of you with a million thanks.

If those books mentioned above are not available within your reach, please contact me at HP 019-857-5188 or email: zuraidah.rahman@gmail.com or through this blog. Please include postage. For one book to be sent by Express mail, please include RM6.00 for the envelope.

Prices:
1. Boleh Saya Tolong Anda - RM 39.90.
2. Kaunseling dalam Pengurusan - RM 39.90.
3. Pastikan Diri Anda OK - RM 39.90.
4. A set of 4 books ( 3 above books and Ke Mana Arah Hidup Anda) - RM 159.60.
5. Penulisan Jurnal KKaunseling - RM 19.90.