Sports Day

Its Sunday and I am at work.
I still have a few minutes before its time to put aside my personal internet page and do my work. Hehehe isn't it great that we can use the computer both for official and unofficial stuff!

Yesterday Mom, Bro. SIL and I went to see our little nieces at their sports day.
Little A was in the red house and little D was in the green house.
At their age, it was not a competition between the houses but mainly an indication of their age group.
Little D was like the captain for her team, carrying the banner, when the kids paraded around the grounds.
There was of course tears now and again by the little kids but with doting parents and grandparents around it was a fun day.
Little D was in tears before the start of her race (don't ask me why, kids cry often don't they?), but her mommy and I were cheering out so loud for her that she did her job of carrying a pingpong ball on a spoon so well that she also helped to do the run for her friend who had cried and did not want to run at all. Go little D, GO!!!
The nicest part was that when little D was crying, her elder sister little A was at the benches with her friends and they ALL cheered "Go D go! Go D go?" so loudly. Nobody else was cheered on so well too!
Little A was enjoying herself so well this year. Last year the family arrived a little late for the sports day and she refused to take part. She is so grown up now and is happily interacting with her friends.

Little A also won two academic prices for doing well in her Mathematics and language. She was the only girl to win such prizes as it was dominated by three boys in the class. Go little A, GO!
Her report say, EXCELLENT!
Little D (at 3 years of age)' report says that she does satisfactorily but does not listen to instructions. THAT'S our little D.......hopefully she'll grow up and become a little less strong headed.

One nice thing happened whilst I was seated with mom under the tent at Sports Day. A little boy, prolly less than two years came to me and stood beside me. I patted his back and he seemed to enjoy being with me. he even lay his head on my lap! Later we were told that he is a very shy boy who do not go to strangers. Wow! I got thru that kid!

Yuks! Its time to go to work now.

Polygamy

People of other cultures do not understand the polygamous life Muslims are allowed to have.
A Muslim man may have up to four wives if he is able to afford and be fair (this meaning more than just being able to afford in terms of finances but also in his ability to deliver other physical requirements that a man is to give his wife). He must be fair to all his wives.
There are other cultures like the Christian Mormons who also practice polygamy but they often take more than the 4 allowed to a Muslim.

Personally I think that only a man with the qualities close to a prophet is able to be really 'fair' when he has more than one woman.
I suppose there are some good points that those pro-polygamy can highlight but let them write in their own blog about it.

In my father's family where my grandparents had six sons and three daughters, polygamy is frowned upon.
I have relatives who have wed again and again but only after they divorce the previous partner or death had taken the previous partner.
I love that my dad's family has those views and I hope it follows thru the next generations.

My mom has only one living brother now.
Her eldest sister has passed on in childbirth leaving four children.
Her younger sister died in childhood.
This blog is about my mom's brother (mostly).

My uncle had married a beautiful long haired (previously) Christian lady who converted and became a very good Muslim lady.
She gave up her job and her family to come live here.
They have 3 daughters.
After a few years of married life, my uncle probably had an itch and got involved with a divorcee who had two children of her own.
He married the second woman and had two daughters with her.
My poor first aunt was frustrated and spent many phone calls complaining to my mom (poor mom had to listen and listen...). The situation hurt my aunt and she became a bitter person.
Her three girls faired no better.....children are more perceptive and sensitive in situations like this.
They had a high ranking govt official for a dad but they were not able to achieve good academic performances thus did not get good degrees and well paying jobs later in life.
My aunt (prolly due to stress) developed bone cancer and passed on almost 5 years ago.

My uncle never admitted or introduced his second wife to my mom all those years.
He pretends that he had only one family.
He is otherwise a good brother to my mom, and they even had properties and a joint ownership of a business.
The second wife was trying to get recognition from my mom (Mom is like the matriarch of her family cos she is the eldest surviving child).
It was pitiful yet irritating.

Now my uncle has finally introduced his only surviving wife to my mom.
Life goes on.

I still find it hard to accept the 'new' wife.
I remember the beautiful first wife when I first saw her when she first arrived here to marry my uncle. I am so glad that she got to be a good Muslim and hung on to religion during those trying years.
I have to accept the change that time brings us.
I have 2 new cousins as well as the 3 girl cousins from my uncle.

I haven't finished writing about polygamy.
This is a true story about a polyamous marriage where there was no fairness for the wives and the children.

I remember my dad and I appreciate the values I was taught about marriage and love.
I love u dad.

Footnote:
When JAR first heard about polygamy being allowed, he gave a cheeky smile, saying that it sounds like an interesting situation.....I responded by saying 'Yeah, sure.....but only after I am dead.'
Even the prophet was true to his wife Khadijah and he was married only to her alone throughout her life.

Rereading past blog writings

I spent whatever free time I had in the last two days rereading my blog writings from day one!

I started doing it after my cyber friend Terry mentioned that she was reading my blog from when I had started.
Oh oh! Had I written anything that might embarass me?

I decided to do a quick check but ended up savouring each writing, reliving the happy and the sad times.
My blog is my expression of whatever I was going thru at a particular time.
One more thing that I learnt thru the rereading is how my relationships have evolved.
I also found that its quite normal for me to go thru feeling down and up...its ok cos every 'down' is normally followed by an 'up'.
I need to remember that for the next 'down' time.

I dont know what perceptions others who read my blog might have of me but its really for ME that I blog.
Maybe my blogging style is like me writing a book on me.
When I am gone it might be the only record of what my life basically was.
Sad thing tho is no one in my real life (other than JAR) knows of this blog.

I also thought of the few people who had over time responded to my writings.
Some no longer communicate. I hope they are well and happy in their real lives.
I am glad that there is Terry my most constant communicator.
She actually helped me along during some hard times (medically speaking)
Wouldnt it be wonderful if someday I could actually meet her?

As usual, its time to get back to my work.
I shall continue to blog, God willing.
:)

June

Love in a Torn Land

I am in the midst of reading 'Love in a Torn Land' by Joanna Al Askari as told to Jean Sasson.
I bought the book, thinking I would keep it to read during my vacation/flight to my vacation.
Its a long 24 hour flight with transit included for me to reach JAR in late May.
However, I decided to take a peek just to check it out to see if it would be a good read.
I found that I could hardly put it down.
It even goes into my brief case to work though I dont know if I could ever find the time to read it during my breaks.
I am now on Chapter fifteen.
I have grown up together with the heroine. She is now about to marry the guy she loves but he is a Kurd freedom fighter in Saddam's Iraq.
I have cried along with her during the times that she felt her love was unrequited.
I am living her life thru this book.
Needless to say I love this book.
I have been an avid reader since I was a kid.
Its really true when they say that reading a good book allows u to live several lives.
I believe I shall prolly finish reading this book long before my vacation is to begin.
Its ok.
An excuse to go buy yet another book.
Thank goodness the Inland Revenue here allows tax deductions for purchasing books!

last weekend and this coming thursday

Not much new stuff to report.
Work is taking up most of my sttention, as usual.

Thursday is my nephew's birthday and I think he might be coming home from boarding school for the school break.
Thursday is also the day my other nephew is expecting his results (O levels equivalent) to be out. I guess he must be feeling pretty nervous about it.
I hope to do another cousins get together sessions for the kids soon.
Its always fun for them to meet and chat up every once in a while.
Their ages range from 3 to 25 years with most of them being in their teen years right now.
I am a lucky aunt.

My mom was down with a bad cough last weekend.
We all still manage to go out for breakfast on Saturday and Sunday.
Then I would drive her back home to rest whilst SIL, the two nieces, maid and I would go do our shopping.
I called Mom yesterday and she sounded a lot better. The anti biotics must be working :)

Oh oh.....time to get back to work.
Will continue laters.

Work and planned play times

Entering the busy phase at work.
This weekend I expect to have to bring work home to my mom's for the weekend.
Luckily my mom understands when her children go through the peak work periods and never expects too much from us during those times.

When I arrived at work this bright Monday morning I got a letter at my pigeon hole 'asking' me to work either this Sunday or the next Sunday or both!
Geez.....this is aside from the work that I intended to bring home over the weekend.
Well, I have decided.
I shall not die or work myself to death over my job.
I shall bring and intend to complete the work I bring home.
I cannot be at two places doing work.
I will not be AT work on Sunday.....this or the next.
I do my best at my work and in order to keep giving my best I also need a life.

Hehehe. Cyber world is where I complain and gather my thoughts and come to a thought out decision.
Terry, if u are reading this I hope that I have not bothered u too much with it ( I am such a complainer in the cyber world, am I not?).
Life generally is fair.
My schedules for this week stinks but I know I shall come thru with happy flying colors.

On the proposed vacation front, I applaud JAR for his seriousness and focused efforts in making the vacation trip a reality.
When u deal with many family members who say they are 'interested', 'considering' 'would like to know more', etc, etc but do NOT confirm their participation....it certainly is not easy.
There is a maximum number that a cruise ship can carry so one needs to make reservations early.
As it is, there is already a waiting list.
JAR and I discussed this topic several times over the phone.....waiting for actual confirmations from the others.
Finally today, he decided to make the bookings for those of us who confirmed.
Those who have not but are still interested will now have to book themselves I guess.

I am still hopeful that we will get more family members to join in.