Back from Penang

We are all back from Penang. Kids and I were there from Wednesday to Sunday. It was a tiring and stressful holiday. Whole trip started on Tuesday with me driving the 3 kids up to Ipoh where we stayed overnight at my uncle's house. Hubby had left for work in Ipoh and then Penang on Monday. So I had to drive. Thankfully, kids were well-behaved.
On Wednesday we drove up to Penang. Once again, kids were good. They did not make any trouble other than the occasional "Are we there yet?". In Penang, we stayed at my in laws' house. Hubby was staying in a hotel until Christmas morning. I know. Ridiculous, right? Guess how upset I was .... But having spent money on a gift for myself and billing it to hubby almost made up for it.
Anyway, we managed to spend some time here and there. There was a Christmas party for children. Christmas service was a tiring and stressful one. It was hot and tiring because kids kept getting me to carry and entertain them. Food was, of course, the order of the day for the few days. We ate almost everything that Penang is famous for. Even Joel enjoyed the assam laksa. Oh well.
Nothing much to say about Penang. Key words were "TIRED" and "STRESSFUL". Well, we came back on Sunday. Hubby drove with Jon. I drove with Jeremy and Joel. 5 hours plus. Very tiring. And the traffic was also heavy so we had to drive slowly. Thankfully Jeremy slept about 2 hours. Joel was okay. He didn't sleep but had a bit of food here and there and just looked out the window for the scenery.
There is les than a week to go before we're back to school. I dread it, and welcome it. I know. Full of contradictions. Will post some more when I am in the mood for it.

Less than 2 weeks to go

Time has surely flown by very fast. In less than 2 weeks, school will reopen. In the last one month or so, I have been kept busy with various duties, school and familial. Like mentioned in my last posts, I have attended some weddings. Other than that, let me examine what I have done.

I have gone to school a few times here and there - just to check on the cheer girls, as well as for SPM duty. I have also attended a 2 day course in the Selangor Education Department for the 2nd cycle of the literature component in Forms 1 & 4 starting next year. If you ask me, that was a total waste of time. So how are we (Mim & I) going to conduct an in-house? We're not. We're just going to pass the CD to the teachers and let them go through it. Everything is pretty much self-explanatory.

I have been writing. I have finished writing, rather. It was tiring having to come up with material for a workbook. I do enjoy making my brain work a fair bit but I was disappointed that I was given the wrong info on which level I was supposed to write for. So my material had to be rewritten or changed. Waste of time. Nevertheless, I am glad it is all finished.

I have attended Jeremy's music school's concert. He was in the choir and sang "Satu Suara" and "Heal the World". Poor dear, his performances were the first and last, so he had a looooooooooooong wait backstage.

I have attended a funeral. Mum-in-law's sister passed away after a long illness. In a sense, it was a good release for the family. It had been tough looking after her. But of course, she will be sorely missed.

I have been Christmas shopping. We have so many Christmas gifts to buy and it was tiring having to wrap them all up individually. But I do enjoy going to search for suitable gifts for others. I think I enjoyed buying MYSELF a Christmas present the most. After a whole month of not going anywhere for a holiday, I decided to reward myself. Of course, hubby is going to pay for it.

Holiday? My kids and I are finally going to have a holiday starting today. They are really looking forward to it. I am, kinda. Just don't fancy the driving I have to do. Am praying that the weather will hold so that the roads will be easy to drive on. Where is hubby? He'll meet us there. Not something I am happy about. But nothing can be done.

I will be back with updates and hopefully, pictures, when we get back. In the meantime, have a Blessed Christmas and meaningful New Year everyone.

The Malim Nawar trip - photos

Here are a few photos taken courtesy of Yik Leong.

That's the newly weds and us

Kuin Sheong, his wife (also my ex-student) and their elder child

My ex-students, the newly weds and us

The newly weds and the "sisters"

The newly weds and "brothers"

Big group at the end of the wedding dinner

They are finally married

For years I have been like a mother hen telling them to get married. I wonder if their mothers were even as insistent as I was. Who am I talking about? They are actually former students of mine from way back when I taught in Perak. They have been together for donkey years, since 1996 or 1997. It is now 2009, so you can imagine how long they have been an item. To top it off, the guy has been working in the Middle East, still is, actually. So it has been a long distance relationship for them. Not an easy relationship to maintain.

Well, finally, last year they registered their marriage and last weekend they had their wedding ceremony and banquet. It was a pleasant trip that I made to attend their wedding. The bride was radiant in her strapless evening gown, and the groom looked extremely happy in his sporty-looking blazer.

For me, the event was not only about them, as I got to meet up with so many of my former students who were the bride's and groom's friends. It was amazing how some of them have grown and matured into husbands, wives and parents. It was strange seeing them carrying their little infants and toddlers. They have become parents! At that moment, I felt old, but not for long.

Well, it was a good reminder about the culture of small towns. The food was in abundance. Portions were large. Most people were punctual to the wedding dinner. By 9:15, dinner was over, unlike in most bigger towns and cities. There was never a moment of silence as people were singing karaoke throughout the dinner. A bit too loud, if you ask me.

Well, all in all, it was a good weekend. I enjoyed the food and the dinner. And most of all, I enjoyed the company, the love of my life with whom I am celebrating 13 years of marriage. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY dearest!