If there’s something that we are above average is we are very early morning bunch. Breakfast always served before the first adzan. So, after doing the first prayer of the day, that’s when our morning routines start. By 9 am, we have accomplished sets of morning routines. Our morning could be considered the highlight of our everyday lives. The period of the day I treasure the most.
Real traveling seems too far to be possible. So off we went with the available ones. Doing major little things that we used to do during trips.
Parks. Good food. Ice creams.
If you can’t have what you love, love what you have, they said.
Other than Breakfast before subuh, one of my most enjoyable morning routines : admiring one of the highest level of arts.
Watching this regularly, some thoughts came to mind. The fajr skies feel so similar to a growing baby. Few minutes differences brought us to many different colors. They change a lot and fast, and there’s no way to return to the same colors anymore.
Maybe that’s why they call it the golden period.
Meanwhile, the sad news of the passing of Eric Carle, the legend who wrote A Very Hungry Caterpillar got some space in mind too. Thinking of him as the eyes watched today’s sunrise.
“One Sunday morning the warm sun came up and – pop! – out of the egg came a tiny and very hungry caterpillar”.
“Simplify, slow down, be kind. And don’t forget to have art in your life – music, paintings, theater, dance, and sunsets”.
Eric Carle.
I found comfort standing in front of the window watching the beautiful sky before starting the day. This Ramadan skies have been so breath-takingly beautiful.
This year Eid is also another year of pandemic Eid. But, unlike last year in London, we got proper vibe this year. Always love this time of the year when the house are all clean and the smell of sedap malam are around.
It’s been few years since ketupat is absent. Our little family is not really a big fan of ketupat and its companions. So, we didn’t really miss it. When we moved out, we could decide and fit the dish to our own taste. Last year we went with Lamb Shank. This year it’s Hungarian Beef Goulash. This dish was one of my mom’s finest dishes. The doctor tried to recreate it for this year Eid.
This Ramadan so far is one of the best Ramadan done in few years. Full ifthar at home, except one day at in-laws house. This year, the little girl finally had a chance to experience the real Ramadan vibe. She has already passed her target for this Ramadan.
She was fasting half day on the first ten days, three-quarter day on the second ten days, and finally the last ten, she did it until maghrib. Surprisingly, she enjoyed fasting a lot. She kept doing her usual schedule like gym class, art class, playing in the playground. Surprisingly again, she did sahur effortlessly. No drama, easily wake up and eat without any complaints. She kept saying several times that she was sad that Ramadan and the rituals were gone. She did full 30 days of tarawih. That was again, beyond the plan. If this Ramadan is an OWL test in Harry Potter, then her mark would be Exceed Expectation.
I pray nothing but may Allah keep such spirit inside her heart and hope that our fasting and prayer are all accepted. Another pray spelled whole-heartedly for us being granted a chance to meet the next Ramadan.
Amin. Amin. Amin.
So long, the best time of the year.
Jakarta, 30 Ramadan 1422H.
1. Reading corners around the house.
2.Happy feeling of having tidy and sparkling house.
Days after Eid Cleaning are those days when I wish everyone could just sleep on the floor or on the carpet. Using kitchen is prohibited. Toys are all locked. Everything should stay clean, clear, and perfectly neat as they are until Eid day.
Mais, bien sur, c’est impossible.
An idea popped up yesterday. As always, the impulsive plan often works better than the detailed one.
A newly open mini library drawed my attention to visit it. It is located near one of the parks, so we could have two spots in one visit.
It was only 20 minutes drive from home. The mini library is actually a mini cupboard with books. People can donate or borrow, or just have a quick reading on the bench next to the it.
We came around 9 am and it was quite empty. We spent around 20 minutes there and read a children book together. The collections are not that varied, I didn’t find something that interest me to be brought home. But, it is indeed a good idea.
Done with the library, we went to the park. We were required to fill in the book and we had the whole park for ourselves. The little girl was quite fascinated with the geese. I reminded her that the geese here were unlike those in London. So, I told her to keep distance from them. She kept going near and at certain distance, the geese started approaching her. Yesterday’s checked experience : chased by the geese.
We walked around the park, stopped in some bench, took off our shoes in therapeutic stones, the playground was still sealed, sat down and watched the small pond while having some talks. Since not many things we could do, after 30 minutes, we decided to return.
Although it was short and small, it felt nice to enjoy the outdoor park properly once again. We should have brought the skateboard and book for next visit.
Cheers for more easily accessible libraries and good park and playground around the town!
This week lesson on our homeschooling :
Second chapter on money. This time is about what we can do with money.
Certain amount received from a relative and it was a good chance to do something about it.
I use my (golden) principles since the first time I earned my own money at 18 and it’s quite applicable for a 6 y.o too :
1. Save 50% of them right away. Whether you will (need to) use some of it later, that’s another story.
2. Spend on whatever things you want with the rest and try to stick with that amount.
3. Share (at least) 2.5% from the whole amount.
We went to the bank to do the first thing.
She has something that has been on her mind for some time. We visited few toy stores and went home with empty hand. Why? Simply because it was out of her budget. She could understand quite well when she saw the price tag :
“How much is that?”
” 300 thousands”.
” So, can you buy this?”
“No, it’s not enough”.
So I told her to either wait until she has the money OR find another one within her budget, online.
No whinning on the toy store.
But, no waiting too long to execute the next plan.
We checked this morning and she found one within her budget in online store. Number two checked.
Finally, we did the last part and I let her choose to whom she wanted to donate her money and chipped in.
One simple topic can be used for : math, islamic, and writing.
Homeschooling is exciting IF you have enough energy, continous creativity, and adequate amount of time to design the lesson plan.
Homeschooling is a better option than an online school IF you have those three resources above. We have tried some pop up classes and they were tiring. For us.
There were days that we could learn many things, stick to the lesson plan, checked all the list.
But, there were also days that we totally left the plan untouched and replaced it with whatever activities that suit the teacher mood.
Ex : long hours of skateboarding, playing on the playground, swimming, going somewhere, cutting some food or fruit or simply lazing around doing nothing.
This week is one of the rainbow weeks in my homeschooling days, where I (feel) have full control on my child’s education and deliver some meaningful applicable lessons.
When the little kid learn three basic things about what money can do, the adult can learn the truth about money like one that written on one of the pages from Morgan Housel’s best selling book Psychology of Money.
wherever I open the window, beautiful skies greet me regularly.
Few weeks before the departure, I finally managed to experience one of the most wanted thing to do after three times being in London : to see London at night.
It was beautiful. It felt even more special because it was also the farewell after more than a year living there. Seeing the city centre full of lights, walking from Oxford Street to Piccadily Circus then a night bus ride to Tower Bridge.
I won’t write long about this. Hope the pictures and the video showed the beautiful scenes enough.
That night, Frank Sinatra’s London by Night became the soundtrack on my head :
London by Night was indeed a wonderful sight.
My favorite season and month of the year is here. The beautiful colors are everywhere and I couldn’t get enough of them.
These below taken from few locations like Kew Gardens, Stratford, Brockwell Park as well as my lovely neighbourhood.
Inspired by James Clear newsletter opening :
Autumn is in full swing here in Ohio (London) and the fall colors are starting to pop. Wherever you are today, I hope you’re enjoying some beauty as well.
A Penny for My Pensieve 