Being Manipulated

Brought my boy along to do some errands and banking, after everything done still got time left before JS’s school dismiss, didn’t want to travel home and come out again so I brought my boy for some window shopping at Giant. Outside Giant, there are alot of these little booths, among them 2 booths on children books/childhood learning tools. One is linguaphone teach your kids english (something like that) another don’t know what name. I walked by the one don’t know what program and the salesman approached me.

Salesman: Hi maam, how old is your kid?
Me: 1 1/2
Salesman: Would you like to spare a few minutes, let me show you this
Me: No thanks, I already got a lot of books at home, I have my Grolier set as well
Salesman: No no, this is not the same, in fact Grolier is for kids that is already able to read. You don’t have to buy my product, just come and let me show you this. You know how to teach young children to read
Me: No thanks. Not interested
Salesman: (show me a small paragraph on a children story book) How old do you think a child can read and understand this paragraph.
Me: (Took a glance) maybe 5-6
Salesman: Have you heard about Glen Doman. (Show me the book written by GD, highlighted paragraph – it shows something like a child can read at age 1 or something like that. Not paying particular attention, cause I’m really not interested. Salesman also mentioned something about flashcard and also show me a newspaper clip of a 3 year old boy which is able to read and told me he’s not genius or something like that, just because he’s “trained” hence able to read at young age, don’t underestimate our child, all sort of “bullshit”)
Me: Politely said no again and thanks and not interested in GD’s method then quickly walked into one of the shop. But I can hear this salesman screaming from behind that ” Maam, you better read up more ” (He meant on GD’s method) his tone was like you better read up more, else you will be sorry. I HATE THAT TONE!!! I FELT LIKE BEING MANIPULATED!!

What’s wrong with this society now. It keeps me pondering, shall we really start our kids with reading,maths or what so ever that young?? What benefits will they get? I’m trying to weight out the pros – cons, if they don’t start early, will they be left out later, or if I started early, will they feel stress, and lost the meaning of a happy carefree childhood. How can I be so sure that they will feel stress if I started early? Maybe they will end up enjoying it? I just don’t understand. It’s so competative now. Is this trend only happens in Asia or is it worldwide?

The other night I lament to hubby about JS not able to concentrate and doesn’t seems to be able to grap the concept of spelling, words and counting. Hubby said, last time he never attended kindergarden also, he learned all that when he was in primary school. To think about it, quite true also. Though I have attended kindy myself, but I don’t remember learning to read at the age of 3 – 4, and I have managed to learn how to read and write and have also cultivate a love to read ( eventhough I didn’t start young, but still I can read and love to read). So which means starting late or early, eventually they will learn. But again, 20 over years ago and 10 years later will not be the same. 20 over years ago, 9 among 10 of the children are on the same par, they started to learn at the same pace when in primary one, everyone is the same. Now, 5 years or 10 later, 9 amont 10 of the kids attended kindy and at some extend already have a bagful of knowledge, they might already be able to count , to read and to write, they have got tuition classes to brush up whatever even before then enter primary 1. If we still following the 20 years ago trend, will my child be the odd one out when she’s in primary 1? How would a teacher teaches a class of students which are already in a different phase of learning and where would my child stand?

Income Tax Form

Yeah… I have finally completed filling up the Borang BE. (I’m a last minute person), look at the form already caused a lot of headache trying to figure out all the very official Malay words. But this year, it was easier to fill up because I basically got no income last year, nothing to declare, no calculation needed.

The first time I got to fill up the form, I did a lot of cursing while filling up, there was not a single english word on the form nor the instruction sheet and the format is so confusing. (That’s how bad my Malay is) Wonder how come they don’t have a much user friendly form. I dreaded all these official forms!

Alternative Babysitter

Like most of the modern family today, I have an alternative babysitter at home as well, this babysitter is also my kids appetiser. I have developed a love hate relationship with it. Tadaa… my alternative babysitter is the TV.

Yea yea, when talk about letting kids watch TV, there’s certainly alot of arguments and surely is a controversial issue. Almost every parents talk about, be it a must or not.

When JS was still very young, even newborn time, my mum kept insisting that I shouldn’t let her watch TV. According to her (she’s a pre-school teacher and attended alot of courses) that the fast changing screen on the TV will cause young kids to have less attention span when there are put on the desk to do paper work. She also claims that prolong watching of TV will also cause eye problems, even when we place the baby in front of the tv and the baby is not watching, my mum would claim that the frequency from the TV will cause harm to the young kids. Asked her when is the best time to introduce TV to kids, she said best is when they are pre-schooler and also must have limits. Though as much as I would love to take her advise, I find that I really can’t get rid of the idiot box from my kids.

When JS was at the sitter’s place, she was granted 1/2 hour a day on Sesame Street. Now that we have Astro Play house Disney, I have actually increased her TV time to 2 hours per day. One during lunch time, another at dinner time. Yea yea, again the expert say no eating in front of the TV. But this is the way I get to feed my kids fast. Of course during weekends they get to watch the TV longer, because SIL, MIL will on the TV for the kids, they claimed that it’s the best way to occupy the kids, shut their mouth. . TV has since became their appetiser.WH will follow and glued in front of the TV. He has also became quite an addict already. I can’t deny that sometimes when I’m real busy and can’t entertaint the kids by sitting beside them, TV is my best babysitter.

Why have I not listen to my mum’s advise? Because I can see my kids benefit from the TV. They pick up new words, they learn about things happening around, some basic knowledge, science.

At the same time, I cannot deny that my mum is totally wrong. Eventhough JS can recognize all the alphabets, capital and lower case, can recite or rather “chant” from 1 – 19 and she can talk and argue like a lawyer buruk and can use sophisticated words, but her attention span and concentration is very low when I try to teach her things. She cannot graps the concept of putting alphabets together to form words, spelling bee is very poor, she might be able to recognize words by it form and on a high repetition, but she just can’t concentrate. When teach her maths, she can’t focus on counting those drawings, unless is something physical then she can count, her mind sway halfway during counting. She doesn’t know the sequence of the number. When asked what comes after 6 or any other number, she became blur. Tried to teach her, but I can see her mind wandering far far away and lack of interest no matter how interesting I’ve made the subject. Even those alphabets games on the computer to made up words also she can’t focus. I got very “mang zhang” when teaching her. In side me, I wanted to yell at her “Why you so stupid, Why so bodoh, sent you to school read 屎片啊.” Of course just in side my self yelling that way, but she’s really testing my patient and I lost it very fast when she just can’t follow and grabs the concept.

Another example is my brother. Brother and my age gaps is four years. When I was in primary school, brother is still a pre-schooler and dad is the one looking after him in the afternoon when my mum and me were at school. Being a man, and also dad is busy giving tuition at home, he would just on the TV for my brother in the afternoon. When my brother enter school, he has difficulties on focusing as well. Teaching him, coaching him with his homework was a very tough job for my mum and a heart breaking task.

JS’s godbrother is another example. During pre-school, because his mum didn’t want to put too much pressure and stress on him hence has not really push him much academically. He watched alot of tv, play alot of gameboy, playstation. When he started standard 1, he also had problem to focus. Until now, he’s in standard 5 already, still his mum having a real headache coaching him. His result really 满江红 (all red), everday “eating” 藤线煲猪肉 (being caned by his mum) , he can sit in front of the book but the mind wander off, daydreaming and in a daze. Just like my brother, when ask him to study , he would find excuses, thirsty lah, hungry lah, sit 5 minutes then want to walk away to do something else. I can see myself following JS’s godmother footsteps. Being “mang zhang” and impatient when coaching my kids on doing homework. I remembered seeing JS’s godbrother’s arm with this huge patch of bruises, the mum said that she got so angry teaching him one day that she lost her temper and threw something as his son. (其实是打在手里,疼在心. 为人父母也真不容易.)

What shall I do now? Cut down TV or totally ban it. But how long can I last without one, I have actually gotten quite dependent to the TV now. Shall I just sit back and relax, let JS progress with her own pace, anyway shes’ just 3 year and 5 months old now (excuse for her not to be brilliant, 自我安慰), let her catch up when she’s much older maybe 6 or when she’s in primary school. But again, we are sending her to chinese school, which mean more pressure and 1 extra subject to teach (成语,造句,写作) on top of others subject, can she cope??

I Love My Kids

I Love My Kids, I Love My Kids. I love them to the extend that I might spoilt them. Eventhough sometimes I scolded my girl or even beat her when she misbehaved, but I love them both dearly. I am not ashame to admit that they are the most prettiest thingy. (Not to say they got big eyes, long lashes, golden hair) To me eventhough they are “sepet”, I still find them “handsem” and beautiful.

I remember when before I had WH and even when I was bearing him, I keep wondering if I ever will fall in love with him. Will I ever love him as much as how I love his sister. Before that I don’t like to have son, only dream of having daughter. I don’t know how to play with boy, and cannot dress them up like a doll. When I found out about the baby sex, I didn’t feel the excitment as I was bearing JS. I keep doubting and doubting and I even tell one of my friend that I don’t know if I would ever love this baby. I have no feeling for boys.

When WH was born, it’s a different story. I love him instantly. Even with his cheeky and mishevious look now , I still love him very much. All my doubts were cleared. He just charmed my heart with his cute little look. I’m so geram and 肉紧 that I wanted to hug him so tight, I want to bite and pinch him. It gave me the “thump thump thump” in the heart when looking at him. That’s how much I love my boy.

I remember last time when I was young, I used to ask my mum “妈,你爱我比较多,还是爱弟弟多?” (mum, do you love me more or love brother more?) mum will always answer “都一样” (both the same) upon hearing it, I will start questioning myself, is it really true there is equal love?? Then many a time I would accused my mum of being biased “妈,你很偏心.” Now that I’m a mother myself, I know equal love is possible, that my mum has not lied to me. Mum loves me and brother, but she show it to us in a different way, accustomed to our character and habit and personality. Same goes to my kids, I show them my love differently. Though I might easily get angry with my girl, but deep down in my heart, I love them very very much.

My Boy Is 18th Months Old!

WH turned 18th months old yesterday. Can’t believe my boy is already 1 1/2 years old and no longer a baby.

Weight: 9.3kg
Height: 78cm
Teeth: All front 8 teeth is out. Sprouting 2 lower front molars, 2 lower eye teeth, left upper front molar and left upper eye tooth.

Went to the paed for his 18th month jab. My kids love to go to the paed office, not to see the doctor but to play at the play area (they thought that is a very good playground). When WH turn is called, get him to walk to the doctor’s room by himself. Once he step food inside and saw the doctor face, he cried. Perhaps still haunted by the last experience where the paed “force” the nebulizer on him.

Afternoon WH keeps holding his nappy and pointing to his bum. Asked if he wants to pee or poo, but he kept shaking his head, then only I realize the place that he got jab was quite sore, a little blue black. Even caught him sitting on one side of the bum only. Very funny. He loves it when I rub it with warm water.

More on his development

Mobility: Able to run more stable now, no more humpty dumpty tumbling down like a mabuk. Will carry a chair and climb up to reach up high surface. Loves riding on the car. Playing rough is his hobby. Will drive his little car and bang it against the wall, will ride it very fast, pretend to have an accident and fall down, also like to do pick up on his little bike

Language: Still doesn’t talk much. Prefers sign language and body gesture. Haven’t notice any new words. Ask him to say “Thank you”, he will gives a deep Japanese style bow. Ask him to say “Good night”, he will waves his hand and say “nia nia”. Ask him who naughty naughty, hew would say “yia yia, yia yia” (don’t know who is that, maybe himself ) Most often hear “hhng…hhng …hhng” . Can see him trying real hard to move his lips to speak up when we requested him to, but he just couldn’t make it, and he would shake his head with embarrasment if he doesn’t get it right. At least he can understand all that we tell him.(Maybe boy are slower at this area, MIL said hubby didn’t start to talk until 2 years old and they initially thought he was mute.)

The other night in the car, I told him “Hanh, Hanh big boy already, cannot nen nen anymore. Look, Che che also never ask for nen nen”, he quickly unlatched and sit very still on my lap. Throughout the whole journey, he just sit very still with the very very kesian look.

When the adults are talking. WH will listen instensly. When we have neglected for a little longer, he would join the conversation with his tougue twisting babble as if he understand what we say and want to be part of the conversation too.

Feeding / Food : Still being fed blended porriadge. Tried the unblended on, and he refuse to eat. He’s just being plain lazy to chew, because if he wants too, he can chew prefectly well on all the hard coarse food we gave him to nibble on. Still being nurse on demand. Formula, he will take only depends on his mood.

Emotions : Getting cheekier and cheekier each day. Likes to disturb his sister for no particular reason. Very good in exerting his rights. Will cry out loud in protest to get his way sometimes and will show the longing kesian look. Very loving to his sister also. Whenever JS vomitted, he would drop everything he’s doing and go to his sister and rub her back. When asked him to sayang, he would hug me and pat my back.
Usually I will call WH didi, di, Hanh or Hanh Hanh.. now I have also added a new name for him, calling him AhBeeeeeee. Whenever I call him that , he will give me a funny laugh.

Others: WH is a little Mr. Vain. Now he will choose his own shirt to wear. If we attempt to change him, he would kick up a fuss.
Able to tell when he wants to pee or poo. But still doesn’t know how to take off his nappy by himself. So sometimes if we are not fast enough, he would do it in his nappy.
He’s still as botak as when he was when he’s a baby

Harrasment?

When I picked JS from school this noon, she told me solemnly “Sashwin kiss me just now mummy” “See, now I got cough and alot of phelgm already” . I asked her why the boy kissed her, she can’t tell. Asked where the boy kiss her, she said on the cheek

Must talk to the teacher tomorrow. I have notice this boy of 5 years old very fond of JS. Ever since the first day of school, he would always come near JS, whenever JS cries, he would want to sooth and touch her.

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Another occation. JS came back from school and told me “mummy, Sashwin got a black birdie” I was shocked that she said so. Ask her why she go peek at people. Told her is wrong to look at people and also it’s wrong to let people see her and touch her.

Out & About With Men

Another post about going out. All these inspired by trip last week.

Friday night, asked hubby “What time are we leaving tomorrow?” “9am” (Hell, so early, you think I’m a super women meh)

Hubby’s suppose to go for breakfast with FIL at 7am and MIL requested us to sent the maid over her place to help out clean the place for the mere 2 hours prior to the trip. ( We stayed at SIL’s place at Ara, PILs are at Subang), I can handle and get ready the kids by myself, no problem, provided been given ample of time. Though I can get up early to get ready, but the kids just isn’t ready. 1st they are not use to sleeping early, hence not been able to get up early the next morning. As much as I like to wake them up at 7.30am, it would be very difficult with grumpy cranky little faces. They usually wake up the earliest at 8am sometimes at 9am. Hubby always wants to rush and blame me for poor planning, poor time management. I need to pack the things, make the bed, clean the room (since it’s only our weekend home and not coming back till next week), prepare the food basket (make sure all the necessity for the kids are there, filled the water, clean all the bottles etc etc), when the kids wake up need to feed milk, feed breakfast (feeding WH itself will at least take 1/2 hours), after that need to bath and change both kids and myself. Hubby is expecting me to do this all by myself in within an hour the kids get up and be ready to go when he got home. (Getting a little furious of hubby not being understanding, of course end up SIL told MIL that the maid need to stay back to help, that’s how we made it on time. If not hubby will be home with a long sour face look)

I find that man (especially 大男人 – dai nam yan) don’t really give a damn to all these details. When they want to go, they think they are still the single, carefree guy that can leave the house any moment they want. ( For me going out with kids takes in a lot of consideration, what to bring, whether we will be back in time for meal , if not need to pack out etc etc). Sometimes I get really “mang zhang” with hubby. There are times that he would just wait for us in the car with the engine on, with sour face, as if we were holding up his time. (这些男人,以为还是王老五,两袖清风,骚骚屁股,说走就走)

It reminds me very much of my father too. When we were young, dad will also sit in the car and wait for us impatiently and he would always blame mum for being “lou hei” (漏气), blame us for waking up late, taking our own sweet time..blah blah blah. I guess men are all like that. Don’t want to help, but expecting fast and efficient result. *sigh*

Out & About

I wonder why the goverment in Malaysia has not impose a law that at least all children below 3 MUST travel in a car seat just like other “ang moh” countries and also in S’pore does. I have seen driver putting kids on the driver seat when driving not to mention young kids sitting on the front passenger’s lap and also worst young kids standing out from the sun roof while the car in going on quite high speed and navigating a corner. My family are among the majority of Malaysian, who has taken the child safety on road for granted, which still have a third world mentality when comes to travelling with kids in the car. Which still have the mindset that as long as I drive safely, as long as I hold on the child properly there won’t be any thing happen to the child. I wish I could be more insistent, but no one seems to take me seriously.

When I was pregnant with JS, one of the thing in my preparation list was to get a car seat. I redeemed one of those infant carrier car seat (for 0-12 months) from Bonuslink. Later on, SIL#1’s friend handed us down another infant carrier car seat (but this one can only last until the baby is 6 months old) and another forward facing car seat.

The infant carrier car seat is strapped permanently in my car which I use to ferry JS to the sitter’s place every day, and hubby will occationally have another infant carried in his car when he knows he has to pick JS up from the sitter’s house. It has never been permanently there, because to him, he finds that the car seat is space consuming. Every weekend family outing, my PILs will come with us in our car, so he finds the car seat a nuisane. (He drove a Waja then), because of the inconsistency, JS refuse to be strapped in the car seat when we are in hubby’s car, but she will sit quietly and behave in the car seat when travelling in my car. From the infant carrier, she “graduated” to the forward facing one at 13 months. We then bought another forward facing car seat because SIL offers to sent JS back home from sitter’s place occationally and I refuse to let JS rides in her car without being properly strapped up. We bought a bulky Chicco seat, which again is not permanently strap in either hubby or SIL’s car ( in fact we hardly use it and is still in very good condition..cost us RM700++). Asked hubby why he never put the Expensive car seat in his car, he replied “No space lah, where my father mother going to sit”

When WH is delivered, the only way to bring him around when I’m driving was put him in the infant carrier. But the problem arise. How am I going to secure the upright car seat in the back passenger seat?? (Again, this STUPID Malaysian designed car – KANCIL does not come with a back passenger seat belt) I have wanted to fix a seat belt in the car, but hubby gave up after visiting a few car accessories shops, they just don’t have it. Very reluctanly , I have to travel without strapping JS in the car. I was paranoid! Quite worried when I first let her sit behind by herself . Keep reminding her to sit still, not to play with the lock /door , not to climb up etc etc, put on the child lock and central lock the car as well.

Now that JS is going to be 4, she’s use to sitting and playing behind without been strapped up. WH has graduated from infant carrier and sitting in the forward facing car seats whenever we travels in MY car. The old forward facing seats has long been given away when we moved house. One of the infant carrier has been chucked in the storeroom at SIL’s house and another one in my boot. I think it’s a matter of habit and consistency. When they are in my car, they know their seats. But when in hubby’s car, they know they got a chance to roam free and would never want to be strapped up.

Worst still, one week before we were suppose to go to Fraser’s, SIL#1 called, “E, do you think all of us can fit into CW car?” ( That would be 7 adults + 2 kids) “I checked with CW first” ( eventhough I know that wouldn’t make sense, but still I have to tell her I need to check with hubby. Because I don’t want SIL to think that I’m always the controlling one at home and she always thinks that I’m the decision maker, in away or other to influence hubby’s decision against whatever about his family) “Darling, your sister said all of us go into 1 car lah. I think it will be very cramped, somemore JS need a seat by herself. You go tell your sister lah” (Ever since hubby changed his car to Naza Ria when I preggie with WH (with his Waja, with only 1 kid already full of stuff most of the time, so with 2 kids we need bigger car), SIL#1 will suggest all of us go into 1 car, for convinience. Both SIL owns a Beamer, BIL got a Merz, even FIL got his Kembara, but still they prefer to travel in 1 car) There were even times that SIL suggested that I sit in the front passenger seat holding one of the kids in front!! SIL#1 will always say, “So easy for everyone to go in 1 car huh” (yea, yea, but you are also putting the kids safety as stake)

Short journey is still ok, but long journey is really killing. The last time we travel long journey was to Malacca. I dreaded for the journey to over. FIL will always take up the front passenger seat. MIL due to her back pain and knee pain, she can’t possibly climb to the seat right back end, so she and SIL#1 (which is big size) will take both the middle seats. The maid, SIL#2 (petite), me and both the kids will have to go “third class” seats at the far end. It’s very bumpy to seat at the back, holding and balancing a very mobile kids. WH wants to be nursed, JS wants to sit on my lap at the same time, both kids fighting, crying, all these plus the bumpiness makes me more dizzy. SIL and MIL will offer to JS, “come sit with ah mah” “come, sit here with ku ma” but because of lack of space, JS tends to be grumpy and would not comply. I want to scream, please treat these kids as an individual. They are entitled for their own seat as well, not on our laps or squeezing in between us!!

There is this habit of JS when she’s in hubby’s car. She thinks that she’s in the airplane, her mummy and the maid is the air-stewardess to serve her (Not that she’s been on the plane before). First thing she got into hubby’s car is to sit comfortably on her seat then she will request us to put down the seat into a recline post, ask for her milk and then a blanket to cover her up (no matter cold or hot, she just need the blanket) Short or long journey, she will do so. So whenever there’s a lot of people in the car, and she don’t get her seat especially when she’s really tired and sleepy, she will get very very cranky. I know why she’s cranky, no one else seems to be able to listen to this cue and thought that she’s just plain manja. I can’t speak right up that she needs her space, that would not be quite a nice to say it in front of my SILs and PILs. ( I seems to have alot of obligation to my in laws that I need to jaga hubby’s face, not to put him in a difficult position of sandwishing between his wife and family. there are lot of things that I don’t agree to, but still must stay silent)

Now when we travel in hubby’s car, the car in like a war zone with things here and there. Tissues, shoes, slippers, books, pens , crayons, milk bottle, blanket, pillows all over the place and floor… and the kids are not restraint to their seat. They are good when in my car, but a real monkey in hubby’s car, of course I’m trouble with GUILT.

PS:/ I remembered seeing this advertisement from the kementerian on TV. Something about love yourself, love your children, buckled them up when travelling in the car. How come they just don’t enforce the rule and make it compulsory? How come they don’t set up a place that we can go and get to fix the seat belts for the back passenger seats for those old model cars?

The newer model of Kancil has got back seat belt already. ( I got mine in year 2002, without back passenger seat belts), went to the Perodua Service Center, asked them if they can fix for me, they said no such service, no spare parts. So BLARDY STUPID isn’t it!!

Weekend At Fraser’s – Part II

Continue from part I

Sunday morning, all of us woke up at 8am. Breakfast already ready. We had Hanainese Toast Bread with Marmalade, Coffee, Sausage, Sunny Side Up and Fried Beehoon. All from Mrs Leong’s kitchen.

After breakfast, changed the kids and went to The Paddock. JS has wanted to ride on the horse. They just opened at 9am , and we were the first customer. JS was expecting some small tiny pony, but when she looked at the big full grown horse, she got a bit scared. When she’s about to mount on the horse, the horse turned and stared at her and frighten her quite a bit and she refused to go up for the ride.

Meanwhile, WH saw JS’s crying, he also followed and refuse to ride the horse as well. But we force him to. So eventually he went for a round, fussing all the way on the horse

WH with ta ku ma (SIL#1)

Since we have bought the ticket, and no one else wanted a ride, so hubby has to go for it.

The same place, 2 years ago, when JS was 15th month.

After the ride, we headed back to the cottage, packed and ready to go home. Didn’t want to have lunch there because of the winding road down, with full stomach, it will be quite unbearable. ( So we missed a chance to taste Mrs Leong’s yummy Hainanese Chicken Rice and Scones – maybe next time lah).

Again, on the way down, I kept burping and feeling dizzy. Real motion sick. JS as usual.. vomitted again and we have to break journey a few times.

Decided to have lunch at 1U Dragon-I. Head straight to 1U. After lunch the kids already very tired and not able to do much window shopping. Both SIL went ahead with their shoping spree while we sent my PILs back to Subang and we headed back to Seremban right after there.

Sunday is also the first time I didn’t cook porriadge for WH. For lunch, he had baby jarred food top with whatever we having at dragon-i. He’s still not use to eating what we are eating, just playing the food and nibbling it.

Weekend At Fraser’s

2 weeks ago, SIL#1 made an arrangement for a family trip to Fraser’s. (Yes, my family trip always include my parents-in-law and both my SILs and sometimes my BIL- SIL#1’s hubby. SIL#1 is the one who does all the arrangment and planning for all of us.So far, except for the time we go back to my hometown in TI, we have never really go for a holiday just the 4 of us, DH, JS, WH and just me, never even once we travel only with JS before I have WH. Anyhow we haven’t been travelling much lately. The last time I went for a trip with DH alone was Dec2003, we left JS behind with the babysitter)

We were quite excited to be able to get away, eventhough just for a short 2D1N stay. So all packed and ready to go. We went back to Subang on Friday night so that we would have more time for the next morning.

Saturday, we started our journey at 9am leaving Subang. Took the NKVE to Rawang, and from there took the coastal way to Kuala Kubu Baru and make our way up to Fraser’s Hill. Since it has been 2 years since we last went up (the last time I was 2 months preggie with WH), I have actually forgotten how winding the road up the hill is. It makes all of us including the maid car sick and dizzy and I dreaded for the journey to over. JS even vomitted twice on the way up. I just feel like vomitting, burping all the way. Worst still, JS is very talkative and didn’t stop chatting all the way from KL, asking a lot of questions. On the way up will, she kept asking “What sound is this” , I have to answer “Insects” “Monkeys”, I was just too sick to entertain her. We stopped at The Gap for a while, but they are closed for renovation. Anyhow, getting down from the car and did a little stretching and standing on flat ground did help to make me feel a little better. We reached hilltop at about 11.45pm. Took us 2 1/2 hour, and very tiring. Why we have to go through all the hazzle and dizziness to go up?? Because it’s a nice place for relax, nice weather, just like the countryside in UK, slow pace. The place we stayed is Muar Cottage. A very cosy and private little English-style cottage of 3 rooms just nice for the family. We always find that Muar Cottage is the most beautiful bangalow in Fraser’s. Not too big, just the right size to give it cosiness and also very upkept compares to the other.

This is the place that attracted us so much that make us want to go again and again
MIL and the kids at the front patio
There’s even a fire place in the living room.
We got to stay in the biggest room, because there are 4 of us. Still the 4 of us got to squeeze in the bed.

By the time we reached, lunch was almost ready. It’s prepared by the cottage’s caretaker, Mr. & Mrs Leong. (I find them a loving couple, in their fifties, working side by side, wife will do the cooking, husband will do the washing and also make sure that we are alright and serves us) We had chicken chop with fries and salad follow by chocolate puddings as dessert.

After lunch, dear hubby went to the garden to set up the tent for the kids to play. The weather is just nice this time, not too chilly , no rain and not too hot.

The kids are very excited. Especially for WH, he just roamed around, exploring the place.

The kids had tea at the veranda (So English) and then very reluctantly went for their nap. They woke up at about 5pm and dear hubby suggested we take a drive around. So all of us cramped into hubby’s car and went for a joy ride (bumping ride). First stop at The Paddock, but was closed, so decided to go back again the next morning. Then went to the tiny town for a while. Didn’t even bring WH to see the Ye Ole Smokehouse.

Went back to the cottage at about 6.30pm. Everyone bathed and waiting for dinner to be served. We had fishcake taufu, fried chicken, stewed chicken with mushroom, steamed fish, green vege and ommelette for dinner followed by fruits as dessert. Yum yum home cooked food from Mrs. Leong.

After dinner, dear hubby down with stomach ache again ( I think he’s got gastric) and called in a night early. FIL also slept early. Leaving the women behind. SILs and MIL played cards while I entertained the kids .Got the maid to massage me a little. Went to bed at about 10.30pm.

JS woke up at 1pm. Coughed and vomited (the weather too humid even I need my inhaler). So have to clean the mess before we really settled down for the day.

To be continued…