Holiday came and went

.. and I am still wondering... what have I done?

Wardrobe situation still unresolved, we managed to clean up the main area but didn't have time to sort them.. so in a way it is worst than before but at least they are not littered on the floor so much - they are still littered but majority is in their unsorted baskets. I managed to have one big rubbish bag of old clothes for charity shop... there are a few that went straight to the bin. We missed the extra bin collection for Christmas too.. so my bin is going to be overflowing this week!

Amazing what unexpected visitors can do. I also scrubbed my kitchen floor and Hisham managed to clear all the rubbish around dining area [it was all mainly his rubbish anyway]. Shah one of the many students came with her parents, we took them down the untidy backyard and they still think it is paradise (what??). You see in between those horrible weeds we get some 'produce'.. which brings to my next point : gardening - nope didn't even pull a weed! but I managed to sneak in Hisham's cherry orchard and picked some cherries.

Sewing - aaaahhhh for my soul - yes I finished one shopping bag intended for Christmas present but I am not entirely happy with the outcome of the bag [it feels a bit 'limpy'].... I am making another one now. Considered a "tick" since I had some time in my shed sewing away and listening to Coldplay....

Third on my holiday list - catching up with friends - boy oh boy - big 'tick' on this one - it was like an Eating and Outing marathon... hahahahha - I went out with Gayle to Farmer's Market and went Christmas shopping afterward and had lovely lunch at the Seaport.

Then the visitors who is going back to Malaysia the next day. Troy and his family turned up on Boxing Day...

We went out as family also before the big day.. in the midst of frantic last minute Christmas shopping. Had a day with the boys at the archery place.

Took Faye to Farmer's Market and had brunch at Seaport again [I like this routine a lot] then went for a drive to Rossarden and catch up with the 'solitary' lady I met when I was looking for a wild lupins (so that was my quest).. unfortunately - the lupins are all finished. Next year I had to go out early December or even in November. No 'tick' for lupins but I had a lovely day with Faye, we stayed a bit chatting with the mysterious lady [Anne] then went to Campbell Town for a nice coffee and yummy pizza.

Yesterday I made chicken rendang to share with Rika [whom I haven't catch up for .. forever - every time we bumped into each other at the supermarket normally - she always insisted that I go and see her]. Unfortunately she wasn't home and I have to try again before her daughter-in-law go home.

Another neighbour that I had to catch up is Theresa, she lives across the road from me - The owner of the windmill. Her husband just passed away and she is in a mess. The last time I saw her she was still in a mess... I am kind of a bit apprehensive to see her again but I did promise her. Maybe I should take the rendang to her instead? hmmmmmm

Here are some random pictures... not necessarily taken during the holiday

First time testing their archery skills. Rohan got a bulls eye for his first shot but then he just shot off the board after that

Orion didn't come with us on this one, but he did on the next. Aladdin is getting good and he wants his own archery set

Lunch at Velo vineyard after archery. Dad wasn't with us

View from Velo

Wood fired pizza... very nice

Posing time in the vineyard

 

Spring and double chin lady

Family from Hobart aka Troy and the gang. Finally that little boy Carlin warmed up to me and this time I got a hug from him. But I am not sure if I like the name"nana Faridah" - sounds weird - I prefer if they just call me Faridah.

This is Faye, outside Anne's house. We stayed for a cuppa. I think we might overstayed our welcome- hahahaha

Marsupial lawn.. she doesn't need to mow the lawn - only have to rake the 'manure'. There's also snake vibrators around her house.. Apparently she has been bitten by a snake and she saw a few near her garden, that's why she is quite weary of them. I don't blame her. I must get them vibrators myself. This is a manicured lawn - so you can see snake easily, my lawn isn't as manicured... and snakes easily make their home there.. aarrgh.

The view from her house.. what I like most about this place is the sound... so quiet. I would love to live somewhere like this but I don't think I like to live by myself and I won't be keen on those snakes also..

Selpie

Stack's Bluff - made want to be a 'peakbagger'.. who fancy a field of scree?? Would love to go to the top.. only if I can drive all the way to at least at the bottom of the scree field.

Another view of Anne's house

My kids are just not that into me

Is it a sign of growing up? Well, Aladdin is going to be 13 soon - that's understandable... but once the "head" is like that - the other two follow suits.

What do I have to do???

Holiday - Yahoooooo!

Not really a "holiday" but I have many chores await.

I hope I can organise the 'wardrobe' from hell situation.
I hope I can do some gardening - doesn't matter what - as long as some gardening activities I would be happy
Some sewing - I want to make a few 'patchwork' shopping bags and some mending
Catching up with a few people - maybe do some cooking to share with them
Short drive with boys.. sight seeing drive [actually I am on a quest.... to be revealed later - I hope]
... lastly --- catch up with some sleep - and maybe a bit of bush walks [already have doubt on this]

let's see how many comes to fruition

How to deal with difficult co-worker

Last Friday I had to attend the above workshop. It was from 9 am to 3 pm. At first I grumbled for why I had to do it? shouldn't it be a "How NOT to be an A.hole at workplace" workshop? and those "people" can go to that workshop instead us the "good" people.

There were only 8 participants and 4 are from my department! Is my department in trouble?

Attending that workshop won't help my work place [unless everybody attend it - especially the bullies] but it will help me (maybe) cope with the stress???

Many people who are stressed at work - normally not due to the work itself ---- but with co-workers.

The thing is how do you cope with it - when it is not out right bullying all the time?

I think I should go seek employee assistance program

Do you know yourself

Somebody close to me said that she never knew the side of me that likes to "dressed up"

hahahahahaahah - I didn't even know that I would! [this is referring to my borrowed colonial outfit outing and spread all over facebook unashamedly]

The sad thing is .... she knew so little about me and we are supposed to be 'bff'. Don't worry this is not you my friends... [coz my "bff" never read my blog :-(]

My Dad

 It is very rare that my Dad would want to be in a picture. I think he agreed with this picture because he couldn't say no to Kak Mas [in pink] and her husband (heck who can say NO to the sweet couple)

This picture was taken in 2012 - when we all went home for Hari Raya. Big trip for us too. Kids missed so many school days it wasn't funny but I wouldn't change a thing. My Dad looked happy there and he looks very old. He is 73 this year (born in 1941 - when the Japan invaded Malaysia). I bet my Dad is fitter than me anytime. He is still working (as a short-firer) and he abstains Mondays and Thursday. He is a tough act to follow let me tell you. In my mind my Dad is never looking this old (I wonder why) so every time I go home I felt quite confronting to see my Dad (n Mum) are very old looking.

He was a 'hard' father, didn't have much to talk to us kids especially my brothers, with old age I guess he has mellowed a lot. I still can't talk to him without feeling emo. [cray cray]

He is a simple person - in many ways I am like him also [but complex emotionally] - He wears the same style all the time. Khaki pants with side pockets and 'pagoda t-shirt'. Offcourse baju melayu n 'jubah' for occasions. He doesn't like to travel. When I was at hostel and Uni, he came n visited me EVERY week.... but didn't say much. He rode a motorbike for as long as I can remember. He only bought a car when my sister (no. 8) was born. I remember falling asleep on bike on the way to the hostel.

When I lived in Penang [Island] he would visit me but NEVER stay overnight, EVER.
So he never visited me when I lived in Kuala Lumpur, Miri, Jakarta, New York, London [no - I never been to New York but just as well] - What are the odds that he will come here to Tassie??
He thinks 'travelling' = 'wasting money'. Even to go for umrah. He reckons it is wrong to go for Hajj so many times - give others a chance!. He never took us for picnic or just 'makan angin'

He was a good painter/drawer. I remember as a child always pestering him to draw for me.

He never have a new car. Bombed after bombed. I borrowed his car on my last trip to Malaysia and it saddened me to drive his car. I can't afford to give him a brand new car but I sure can give him a better car but nope... he loves his bombed car. I hope I can do something with the car soon.

He is 73 and still working. Maybe not for long because he fell (nearly fainted but not quite) at work recently, took all his belongings to come home, hopefully no longer going to KL for work. I don't know if I will see him again but I pray and pray that my Dad will be well and healthy soon.
He is yet to drive a better car, and take us all fishing and insyaallah  OR even come to Tassie!!

Old picture of my Grandpa (my cousins and I never met him, he died very young). Only two of the are still alive today and my Dad is the cutest!

I think my youngest brother looked a bit like Dad.

Bless him ya Allah...