When i got home from Bali,  i anxiously asked my son how his game went that morning ( they usually have match Saturday morning). He told me he missed it because he got the time wrong and they changed the venue. That made me feel bad, i would have waited a bit and ring up his coach for him had i been there. Fortunately it turned out, the match was a friendly so no foul.

Today they played against Tunas Menggatal and won. I don't remember the score. I can't wait for this tournament to be over. It's rainy season and he's constantly coughing and sneezing from training in the rain so much. His voice is croaky. Today he told me he wants to quit the Choir because he's losing his voice.  I didn't tell you he's in the school choir too, did I? He got many different interests, this boy. Football player....singer....and later, maybe, he told me..ustaz.  Hmm no comment.

I was also anxious for my other son, si Abang who was away in Membakut for Seminar PMR. He got back a day after we did. He passed with flying colors, alhamdulillah. A special PMR camp for KRK school Zon Pantai Barat. He came out top for his school, and second overall from 5 schools of Pantai Barat. Congratulations my boy and well done. (And..yes ..i know i promised..you will get your new handphone..).

What about the daughter, you ask? The least active in school. She doesn't care much for co-curriculum or sports or persatuan. Academic pun so-so ..i could only identify one clear interest of her so far, that is shopping. Dear me.. She has a school trip coming up in June to KL and she's excited. I hope she learns something other than shopping.

Beautiful Bali

For our 16th anniversary this year, we honeymooned in Bali.

This was last week.

Bliss. that's all i had to say. Bliss.

We stayed at Kuta Playa Villa at Kuta beach street. The beach is visible from the lobby, across the street.

Selepas saja check-in ada complementary foot massage. Awesome or what?

Did I say the beach is 2 seconds away and it's fantastic. It's not white sandy like what we're used to, here the sand is black due to volcanic effect. But the wave perfect for surfing , the beach stretches forever and the sunset beautiful. I can see why my friend Gina likes to come here, being the outdoorsy, sunset girl she is.
There's so many tourists here, SO many, all year round. Australians are so lucky. Qantas fly direct from Perth to Bali, only takes 3 hours and Perth-Bali is cheaper than Perth-Sydney. Add to that, their big currency. They could probably live on 50 AUD for a week here.

We made a self-guided tour to Tanah Lot.

Bali is home to temples. Lots of temples. The people predominantly Hindu and ritual observing. If I have a complaint, it's the smell of incense everywhere. In the hotel reception, in the mall by the cashier, in the taxi. There's no getting away. I should bring a mask next time.

Having said that there's no problem getting halal food here. Not in Tanah Lot though. In the city, yes. Fast food in the mall is generally halal. And  there are  many Indonesians from outside Bali touring here too ,  Jakarta and all.

I am in loove with their gado-gado. Authentic peanut sauce. rasa jawa asli.

Pak Jef kan kalau nda singgah Harley Davidson inda sah.

We miss Bali Galeria, the biggest mall in Bali, because no taxi driver keen to go there due to renovation work ongoing at the highway.

Three days isn't enough to enjoy Bali. We had 5 days but we travel via Jakarta so minus journey days.  Good news is there is direct flight soon from KK to Bali (why didn't it happen then..). There are a lot of fun stuffs for family, for kids. The Water Bomb (something like water world) sounded great. In the city, walking distance from where we stay. So maybe another time. Maybe.

another tournament

i've been meaning to update but it's too hot to blog. it is. we're in dead summer aren't we.

except footballer son, the rest of my kids are still at their grandma's. we got there wednesday only for Helmi to announce the coach confirmed a match on Saturday, a game match not a friendly so he needed to be back on Friday.  he is in another tournament, Junior KK League. his team is Sporting Kinabalu FC, consisting of St Agnes plus All Saints under 13 players. they're still in the first round, and doing not too bad, won 3 out of 4 matches so far. he was actually required to come for  daily training during the school break, but we thought we pulled him out for a bit rest case he burnt out. he's been home late after school EVERY day from training since 2 months ago and then there's the game every Saturday.

yesterday's game was entertaining. normally i didn't stay. i send him an hour early (as required by coach) and come back half hour into the game but since i don't have the other kids errand to bother me, i stayed and watch the earlier game while my son and his mates do warm up. i was enjoying the match ,both teams were good when an injury happened. this boy did a backflip and landed on his wrist. oh god. small relief it's the left hand but that hand went limp and the agony on his face just...poor lad. i'm not too sure,  either he tore a ligament or something (is there ligament in the wrist?) or crack a bone because he needed a sling right away before he could get up and whisked to the hospital. 

so ofcourse i quickly tell son he needn't need do that, tidak payah lipat macam sepaktakraw tendang biasa ja..
they were up against the Rhinos. waaa..takutnya nama...but alas the name don't live up. they crashed Rhinos Junior 6-0. To be fair this Rhinos physique is nothing remotely like rhino. they're so small they look like 8 yo instead of under 13. (reminds me of their first match 3 months ago against Tabs..it was lopsided like that). little rhinos..i guess  they do have the spirit..they're fighters, never giving up even tho they were losing and a couple of them got real skills. only they can't get past the tall and big defenders from All Saints. it was very exciting to watch them play. 2 of their players are twins, one is Abang, one is Kembar. and both skilled players. cute and skilled.

i don't have good, sharp pictures of him in action, or the other team i was too busy finding shade and avoiding migraine. he's in jersey no 10.

back to school tomorrow. back to black monday. enjoy your week.

winning his first tournament

SRK St Agnes entered their first tournament this year and against all odds came out champion.
Kejohanan Bolasepak Bawah 12 tahun MSSD Zon Likas telah berlangsung pada 5-6 Februari di Padang SRK Lok Yuk.

They trained intensively for 4 weeks at school and I think last week match against TABS (which they fared horribly) was the only friendly away game they could squeeze in before the tournament start.  Don't ask me what TABS stand for. Sampai sekarang aku inda tau. Tg Aru Boys kali..

Tapi faced with other schools yang sama amateur macam dorang, it's a more balanced match and real competition. The first day, they played 4 matches, dari 9.00 pagi sampai 4.30 petang in which they managed 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 lost and proceeded to semi final. Sehari di padang, balik punya hitam. Hangus bah, nampak mata saja.

Second day, semi final against SK Likas A. (Ada SK Likas A dan SK Likas B). This one was a shocker. SK Likas A expected to win and they were the reigning champion for many years. Cara main pun nampak pro, tapi nasib tak menyebelahi. Selepas seri tanpa gol, dorang kalah dalam penalty kick.

So tanpa disangka-sangka St Agnes mara ke final melawan SRK Lok Yuk.
DAN...walaupun seluruh sekolah Lok Yuk berhenti belajar dan bersorak untuk home team tetapi tetap Lok Yuk gagal menjaringkan gol walaupun beberapa cubaan baik, sebaliknya midfielder St Agnes berhasil menjaringkan gol. Itu pun tanpa sengaja, sebenarnya dia mau pass, tapi terus masuk gol. Boleh?

Memang nasib sangat berpihak pada dorang di samping dorang main pun not bad juga.
Tahniah, tahniah, tahniah to the team and my son Helmi who helped making SRK ST AGNES juara.

January came and went

in a blink.

The kids school is hectic and the calendar says this is going on up to February. Co-cum  and sports, every day through Saturday.

My youngest son makes the school soccer team. Today they play their first match after 2 weeks forming the team.  Against an experienced under 13 club. They were wiped out. They look pathetic and cute at the same time. They are so small and scrawny and way off the league of the opponents who some are already in  Form 1 (but not yet 13). Helmi is the smallest and the youngest. Most his mates are 12, he is 10. His jersey is hanging off him like a dress... comical. Honestly they got a long way to go (way way long) but it's a good exposure and experience. Playing more real matches like this will pay.

We are getting a new neighbour. They have taken over the house for months (maybe a year already) but were stalling with the renovation. They chopped off the trees, pulled away the fence and stop. For months. I thought they changed their mind and give up the place. Then they came back, hacked off the roof and the wall and then stop again for weeks. All of a sudden, yesterday they came with a crane and went all out , all day, pulling the house apart, banging everything right down to the ground. Nothing left. We have an empty field on our left side. I can see that pink house at the other side of the road from my bedroom window. As much as I'm curious how the next structure will take shape,(I heard they're planning to build 3 small houses in that plot of land), I realize this means a lot of noise is ahead. As it is,  feels like there's a quarry factory operating next door. Looks like migraine medication on the ready.

Wishing you guys a happy weekend. Until later.

Another Garage Sale

This time is better than the first. The preparation was better, we advertised, and the response and outcome is better.
It's a different crowd in Penampang, at another sis house where we held it. The ones who purchased most are maids from the housing area, shopping for christmas. And these maids' networking is very impressive. They're so quick.

Where we waited for hours at our previous sale for the first customer, this time around, we weren't finished putting up items they had shown up at the gate. These are pro at bargain hunting from the way they quickly pick out the best, mostly clothes ( in about 20 seconds), pleaded early bird markdowns and had them reserved before dashing back home (to finish up their chores I suppose) and returning after 3 hours with more friends and more purchases and more discounts. They keep coming 3-4 times, every chance they get. Amazing and amusing. We don't mind a bit.

We are happy the clothes are going.

And all the electrical goods. Rice cooker, Microwave oven, toaster,TV,coffee maker, juicer. Even gym equipments. Ab shaper and stationary bike. You wouldn't believe which one of us own these things. (hua..hua..hua..)

As I'm writing this we are still selling. My sis decides to open her garage for 3 more days. I guess she does have that much to clear off.

Well, merry christmas and happy holiday.

What Up

I'm a slacker I know. This is so long over due :

Mother in-law is recovering from an operation. A week before Aidil Adha she had a surgery to correct a spinal problem. She now has 2 screws secured on her lower back. She is recovering well and improving daily and is walking. We are so glad.

My son went for camping again (scout thing). Just around the corner here at the council padang but involving a massive number, 2000 participants including 2 groups from Indonesia and Brunei. It was a Pre-Jamboree International in conjunction with 100 years of Sabah Scout existence. Not so glad here. I wish he would drop this activity. My sole reason being he always end up not bathing for days. I hate that. 5 days in the tent and doing chores and doing rock climbing, abseiling and whatever stuffs scouts do, he only bath twice. yikes.  When my daughter and I went to register her at the secondary, she chose to discontinue her Pengakap and change to Pandu Puteri, seconded by me. She doesn't need to get burnt and stink.

Speaking of daughter, her UPSR result was out yesterday. She managed 4A 1B. Ok by me. She came a long way and we're proud of her.

Can you excuse my laziness, this post will be pictureless. I'm not up to loading any.
I hope you are enjoying your holiday. I'm thrilled for my friend Sri, who is away on a London and Paris trip. Already she's posting so many fun and beautiful pictures over there. I can't wait for her story.

See ya!