Salah satu momen lebaran yang paling ditunggu waktu kecil itu pas dapet THR. Wangi uang baru yang mengkilat itu salah satu bau yang paling enak selain bau airport. Apalagi almarhum kakek saya pensiunan pegawai BI. Ngga usah lebaran, tiap main ke rumahnya, kantong baju kokonya penuh dengan uang baru. Receh ngga masalah yang penting baru dan wangi, dan kita hampir ngga pernah pulang dengan dompet kosong.
Di keluarga saya, ada tradisi yang paling tua dapet lebih banyak dari yang lain. Semakin muda ya semakin dikit. Saya kombinasi cucu paling tua dari anak tertua. Mantap bener kalo udah lebaran. Bedanya sama yang paling kecil jauh. Beda nominal uangnya😄
Saya berapa kali memperhatikan orangtua yang anaknya masih kecil dan belum ngerti uang menganggap jatah THR anak itu adalah untuk orangtua. Saya agak janggal dengan ini.
Dari dulu, sejak saya sadar arti dan jumlah uang, semua uang yang didapat itu pasti masuk tabungan. Ibu saya buat tabungan untuk kami bertiga masing-masing. Saya inget banget itu di bank pemerintah bisa buat tabungan dengan nama anak dengan QQ orangtuanya. Jadi, setiap lebaran atau ulang tahun semua uang yang kami terima ngga ada yang masuk ke orangtua saya. Semua masuk ke tabungan masing-masing. Boleh diambil seperlunya kalo ada yang mau dibeli.
Menurut saya memang seharusnya seperti itu ya. Itu bukan punya orangtua. Dikasih jelas ke anaknya. Jadi, buat saya agak aneh kalo ada orangtua yang ‘ngambil’ THR anaknya hanya karena anaknya belum ngerti atau cukup umur.
Sejak lebaran pertama Langit tiga tahun lalu, semua uang yang didapat saya masukan satu tabungan yang jarang diotak-atik. Meskipun masih pakai nama saya, tapi hampir semua uang di dalamnya uang Langit. Rencana saya ketika dia sudah ngerti uang, akan saya buatkan tabungan sendiri. Tahun ini jumlahnya sudah lumayan banget. Karena ngga pernah dibeliin apa-apa juga.
Tapi, sejak beberapa hari lalu, saya pikir kenapa harus semuanya disimpen terus. Mungkin akan lebih terasa kalo dia juga bisa nikmatin sesuatu dari uangnya. Saya sudah tau kira-kira baiknya dibelikan apa. Cuma kurang tau persis harganya berapa. Saya ngga mau dibelikan mainan kecil-kecil yang cuma berakhir dipretelin dan rusak gitu aja. Budgetnya agak tinggi ngga masalah karena jumlah uang yang udah disimpen selama tiga tahun pun lumayan. Yang jelas ngga dihabiskan semua.
Saya jarang belikan mainan karena ngga tahan berantakannya. Biasanya juga abis dibeliin, mainin sebentar, bosen trus udah. Makanya lebih rela beli yang ngga mahal dibanding yg murah tapi cuma jadi remah-remah. Boneka sama sekali ngga pernah. Semua boneka pasti karena dikasih. ‘Mainan’ paling banyak yang saya semangat beliinnya buku karena memang Langit juga suka.
Rumah saya hanya sekitar 10-15 menit dari pasar mainan anak-anak yang terkenal tapi belum pernah sama sekali kesana sampai kemarin. Setelah cek di internet harganya lumayan, kami putuskan untuk coba cek di pasar ini kalo aja bisa lebih murah.
Ternyata ngga banyak yang jual. Setelah datengin beberapa toko dan dapet rekomendasi ternyata hanya dua toko yang jual. Toko pertama jual 200 ribu lebih murah dari toko kedua. Biarpun saya memang udah niat, tapi kebiasaan pasti pas mau beli mikir lagi. Biarpun ini memang uangnya Langit dan yakin dia bisa nikmatin dalam jangka waktu yang cukup lama, bisa dimainin bareng-bareng juga kalo sepupu-sepupunya datang. Jadi sebenernya nilai tambahnya cukup banyak.
Akhirnya abis baca bismillah berapa kali, dibayar juga. Lega. Liat muka Langit abis dipasang dan bisa dimainin tambah lega. Apalagi ternyata ada mainan lain seperti ring basket dan xylofonnya. Dua hal yang Langit suka juga. Makin ngga nyesel udah beli. Seneng banget rasanya beli sesuatu yang dia bisa bener-bener nikmatin.
Hasil dari THR tiga tahun berubah jadi tiga hal yang Langit suka : perosotan, basket, dan xylofon.
Hal lain yang juga jadi nilai plus dari pembelian ini adalah ngga perlu repot-repot nungguin playground TK depan rumah buka buat main perosotan. Juga ngga perlu ke taman buat main basket sama abg-abg. Semua senang.
Jadi, meskipun space rumah lebih sempit, tabungan lebih sedikit, tapi hati lebih penuh.
I had been and might still have been the title with the letters in the bracket since the beginning of motherhood. Being a mother without very least help from the elders, without my own mother, pushed me to go beyond what I could think I was capable doing of.
After 2,5 years, I am slowly heading to the title without the letters in the bracket. Watching Langit grows healthily and happily makes the confidence level is slowly going up. For a pair of mother and daughter who rarely meets others like doing playdate,etc, I rarely have comparison with others. So, basically, Langit is going according to my standard. Not others.
In her 30 months, I just realized that she is doing slightly better than others for certain parts. When I was talking to my sis in law whose daughter only two weeks apart from Langit, she said that Langit has been quite advance in her language. I don’t reallu know what should be a normal 2,5 years toddler acquire, but this is Langit’s :
– Counting 1-20, plus in a reverse way.
– Recognizing almost all colors. She loves purple and pink.
– Recognizing alphabet letters from A-Z, even when we were not going in order.
– Singing a complete few songs with the right tune.
We traveled for homecoming and challenged ourselves to let her travel without any diapers and she did it. Three days traveling without any single diapers and no accidents. She has already done well at home. But, we hadn’t been brave enough to travel without diapers before. So, we tried this one and she did it!! I am very proud of you, baby girl. And of course, you too dear self.
The trip also shown the improvement of her social skill a lot. For an introvert whose strength is not through meeting people, this year homecoming gave another surprise about how much she has improved. She played here and there without me and her father, hugging and kissing her cousins comfortably, not goes same with adults though. But still, she was doing way much better. Her grandma was busy showing off her here and there by continously asking here things, numbers, colors, etc.
I start wondering maybe the time for school is getting near.
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I hate being an unconfident mother. Saying this because I was in that position once when Langit went to the baby class when she was 15-18 months. I felt what I had been doing all day and everyday were useless.
Knowing she couldn’t adjust well to the classroom situations, while others’ child did, it gave me anxiety like piano exam. Watching other families enjoyed the activities instructed well, while I was busy chasing her and there. Not happy. I felt more like a nanny than a mommy.
That was why, right after I decided to stop going to the class, I told myself to stop comparing and looking at others. But still, keep in line. When she was really late, then we did something too.
There’s never been anything instant in my life. Guess it goes the same in raising Langit. When other mothers with similar child age still deal with No-Eating phase until this time, I am confidently say I don’t. I have been bragging too much about this before. The way Langit eats everything, not a session of Gerakan Tutup Mulut happened to me, etc. Exaggerating, perhaps?
I was not.
But, I would emphasize about how I have been through a year full of feeding battle and hassle. Those scary days, three times a day was a nightmare. When feeding time came, don’t ask how heavy this heart was. But still, quit was, is, and will never be in my dictionary. I kept going EVERYDAY, dealing with all those feeding hassles three times a day.
When others mom might have given up thinking there was no need to push, babies would ask for food later of they were hungry. I have fully understood that this kind of statement had more wrong than right.
Eating is a learning process and it takes quite amount of energy to do it for a baby. We teach a little human being whose knowledge about food and eating is zero. They have to learn to distinct the flavours, munch and swallow the food by using their jaws, and many more. Eating, like any other learnings, is tiring for the baby. That is why patience is needed in a big amount during feeding.
There were times I really wanted to give up, but then I knew, once I did it, the second time would be much easier. Then, I would end up giving up one of the most important things a child should get from her parents : the best nutrition in her golden years. Dealing with ‘makan diemut’ for hours seemed to be a better choice than losing.
When this phase was finally over, I couldn’t be happier. Yes, like happiness that won’t last forever, hassle and sadness are doing the same.
I was quite proud to see her among other children in my husband family during homecoming. She showed her manner well, saying thank you and sorry properly, cleaning her own mess, eat properly, rarely being cranky, and with those ‘look-smart’ counting in English, color naming, alphabet and things pointing, no wonder her grandma kept showing her abilities to almost everyone. Though, she’s not the type who enjoys a big full attention to herself, especially from adults.
It feels good knowing that you have been doing a good job. The best part of choosing to stay with the baby, you can take credits for the good result shown.
Don’t be too happy. It goes same thing when your baby shows something unpleasant, then you please take the credits too. What his or her parents doing will be the first that jumps into others’ mind when they see something unpleasant from the baby.
We all judge. No exceptions.
Sometimes, it feels hurt watching the baby slowly grow up right before my eyes. Yes, days are slowly. Years are the flying ones. Since I am living days with her, so it both feels slowly and quickly.
I feel like I will continue being both titles in the future years. The job isn’t going easier and smoother as she grows up. But then, as long as I can, I am heading and will be doing everything within my power, towards the title without the bracket letters.
Among those full of istighfar days in raising a child, there are also days when you feel so happy and grateful having motherhood (and parenthood) as one of the things given in your cards.
Eid Mubarak! Hope you have a blessed and joyful one!
I don’t know why I couldn’t do the editing on the pictures to write the captions so I just wrote it manually.It was fine before. Nevertheless, keep going to post these baby’s faces during the trip.
Trafalgar Square
St James Park
Manchester Piccadily Station
Anfield Stadium Tour, Liverpool
Old Trafford, Manchester
Manchester’s Air BnB
Sleeping at Vimto Park, Manchester
Ice cream on a cold day in Udderlicious, Islington
Parliament Square, Westminster
St James Park
Kensington Garden Playground
Ready to go home, Heathrow Airport
Thank you for the hospitality, Union Jack. See you again next time!
It’s been a while since the last babbling about the baby. I know she is no longer a baby, but still, she is a forever baby to me. Older baby.
Successful toilet training is the biggest milestone achieved this month. Although we had started since the end of last February, but she is only really nailed it recently. It means we had no longer accident, day or night, she can tell when she feels the urge (not like the previously when we had to put her every certain time and told her to pee or poo), also when we go out, she is no longer use diaper too. So now, life is much more easier for this part. Fully toilet trained, halfly saved the precious budget to other things. Alhamdulillah.
Verbal skill is still on progress. Being exposed to two languages at home, she prefers to use the foreign language to refer things around her. Such as using ‘banana’ instead of ‘pisang’, although she knew when we asked her, “banana atau?” She would answer ‘pisang’. Two-words phrase is done and we’re still going and waiting her sentence. We realize she’s somehow late, but since we observe that she keeps improving so far, so we decide to wait and home-train instead of asking outsider help.
I am not against any speech therapies. But for me, I prefer waiting to interferring BECAUSE we keep seeing her improving. If she hasn’t been doing so, maybe we take another more advance step. Beside, like I have always been doing during my 2,5 years of motherhood, waiting. One that has been saving me from lots of harms and disadvantages. I am going the same with this thing.
School. We consider, again, to wait. I have come to a certain decision that it is still not the time for her to go to school.
Why?
She’s just half ready yet.
I set certain points about her school readiness. First, I want her to go to school when she’s already fully toilet-trained and it has just been done recently. Second, I want her to be able to help herself doing things for herself. Example? Wearing clothes alone (shirt still on progress, pants done), wearing her shoes (almost done), putting back things to its places (done), cleaning her own mess (done), helping herself for drink or snack (drink done, she enjoys having water from the dispenser by herself. Over-enjoyed, if I may say. Snack, still not allowed. She still doesn’t know how to stop munching. Eating by herself is halfly done.
Other than those daily things, I want her to be emotionally ready too. I have been observing her during her social interaction with other kids and quite proud knowing her being quite mature.
She knows how to play by herself, knows to not take things that doesn’t belong to her, knows how to soothe herself when she misses something, she is careful and quite easy when others are doing something that disturbs her. Like whe she was playing with a toy and her cousin wants to play with it too, then she just gave it easily. Surely later she has to know when to defend herself, but for now, I prefer her losing for a winning.
Two of her cousins are the type of ones who couldn’t see when other held somehing that they didn’t, so they would ask for it too. So, whenever they play together, she’s been followed around here and there. When she did something, they wanted to do it too, when she played with something, they usually took one she had. It’s pitiful sometimes, but that is fine. It is only a toy, for now. I told her she could play it again later. The bright side, we know who is the leader here. She decides what she wants to play. Not by imitating others.
We had ifthar jama’i last week and I saw the difference between her and her cousin whose birthday is only two weeks apart from her. The way they handled their anger, the way they ate on the table, the eating manner itself, the way they cleaned their mess, I couldn’t be more pleased watching the differences between her and her cousin, in a (very) good way.
Sounds like an annoying brag, right?😆
It’s a brag of course. Which mother doesn’t brag about her achievements these days? I am just like any other mother.
I also encourage her to practice saying thank you and sorry in a suitable situations. Thank you has been acquired better while sorry, we still have to remind her for that.
I will feel more ease to send her to school when she has been equiped by the basic life skills and manners she gets at home. I want my and her dad’s rules that become her guide to do well outside. To herself and to others. It’s not the school jobs. It’s ours.
School can teach other things that, I believe, could be accomplished more easily, like reading, counting, or whatever things they do in school.
Basic life skills and manners, it is and should be on us.
I have been eyeing certain schools within our reach. By our reach I mean the location as well as the budget. Since I am quite knowledgeable in this field, choosing one that suits us better, in any ways, is also important. We agree not to go to those highly expensive famous school, despite the result they offer based on the parents testimonies.
Her most important education will take place at home. One that she goes outside to is for her to see the differences and goes along, adjust well with it. That is why I prefer a school, until certain grades, which allows her to spend only half day of her time there.
This is also why I stay at home. One who needs and deserves my most energy is her, not works. I enjoy working part time with such flexible schedules and being apart from her only for several hours. At least, during her first years, I think staying close to your child is the best.
I had worked crazily enough before motherhood. Seven days a week, in few places, and enjoyed it all. Money was so good of course. Even now, money feels as well good though the numbers are not as big as pre-motherhood. Big numbers are no longer appealing when it means leaving her more.
Sebelumnya saya pernah menulis tentang judul yang sama hanya saja tentang puasa sunnah di sini.
Alhamdulillah hari ini sudah (atau baru ya?) puasa hari ketujuh dan dalam minggu ini saya sempet dua kali olahraga dan masih menyusui. Kenapa mau nulis lagi, karena ternyata dari beberapa kata pencarian di sini banyak yang mau puasa waktu masih menyusui tapi ragu kuat atau ngga.
Puasa Ramadan itu puasa wajib, namun ada keringanan yang diberikan untuk yang ngga mampu menjalankannya karena fisik yang tidak memungkinkan. Ibu hamil dan menyusui (bisa) dimasukan dalam kategori ini, JIKA memang tidak memungkinkan.
Buat saya JIKA ya. Karena, kalau memang memungkinkan jelas puasa lebih baik. Ini tahun keempat saya puasa Ramadan ketika hamil dan menyusui.
2014
Tahun 2014, saya sedang hamil lima bulan dan saya berpuasa tiga puluh hari penuh dan lanjut ke enam hari puasa Syawal tanpa berurutan. Di tahun ini, pola buka puasa saya berubah setelah sekian lama. Dulu, saya ngga bisa buka langsung makan nasi. Sejak hamil ini, ketika buka minum teh sedikit, makan kurma, dan langsung makan nasi.
Biarpun ngga seberat itu, puasa dalam keadaan hamil juga bukan segampang itu karena ya lumayan juga bawa perut kemana-mana, kebetulan masih kerja juga di dua tempat seminggu lima kali, tiga hari diantaranya saya keluar rumah dua kali, pagi nyetir mobil, yang siang jalan kaki karena kebetulan tempat kerjanya dalam komplek rumah.
Energi yang keluar cukup besar buat saya, dan kalo buka dengan takjil dulu, nafsu makan saya keburu hilang dan malah bikin perut ngga enak. Makan nasinya jug bukan yang kalap ya, karena emang pas buka tu pas disirem teh anget aja udah terasa kenyang ngga sih? Saya iya😀.
Bisa puasa full 30 hari, saya lanjut puasa Syawal enam hari. Enaknya puasa pas hamil, ngga ada utang puasa! Saya dan keluarga menganut paham untuk puasa Syawal, hutang puasa wajib harus lunas dulu.
Perumpaan bayar hutang puasa Ramadan dulu baru puasa Syawal seperti kita punya uang lima juta, antara mau sedekah tapi punya hutang juga. Jelas yang wajib dibayar hutang duluan, bukan sedekah. Setelah hutang lunas baru bisa dan boleh sedekah. Beberapa referensi yang saya baca juga menganjurkan seperti ini.
2015
Tahun 2015, saya puasa Ramadan ketika Langit masuk tujuh bulan dan baru awal-awal MPASI. Saya pikir hamil aja bisa tiga puluh plus enam, yang kali ini ngga akan lebih berat harusnya. Ternyata salah. Tujuh bulan memang sudah ngga ASI eksklusif ya, tapi frekuensi menyusui masih cukup intens. Makanan pendamping masih bersifat support ASI.
Puasa tahun ini buat saya yang paling berat. Awal MPASI masih sibuk cari-cari menu, kasih makan sehari tiga kali, nyiapin buka dan sahur untuk orang serumah, dan kerja. Saya lepas satu tempat kerja setelah melahirkan karena waktu yang ngga memungkinkan untuk tetap di dua tempat.
Lewat jam 12, rasa hausnya mulai dateng karena dari pagi sibuk ngurus semua, sambil menyusui langsung juga. Saat buka puasa, energinya hampir habis. Kenapa ngga batal? Menurut saya batal bukan solusi. Langitnya juga baik-baik aja. Alhamdulillah, saya dikasih istirahat seminggu ketika haid datang. Itu pertama kali saya haid setelah 1,5 tahun absen. Selama ASI eksklusif saya ngga haid sama sekali.
Masuk Syawal, saya mulai cicil bayar hutang. Tenyataaa, puasa di bulan Syawal lebih berat lagi dibanding puasa Ramadan. Mungkin entah karena suasana yang beda, dimana Ramadan lebih terasa santai, semua orang juga memang puasa, jadi ya biasa aja. Saya ngga bisa nyelesain puasa Ramadan saya di Syawal dan cuma bisa nyelesain tiga hari hutang puasa.
Saya sudah puasa sunnah senin kamis sejak tahun 2003. Berenti puasa ketika pas hamil 6 bulan keluar flek. Jadi sampe 6 bulan, saya masih sambil puasa sunnah ketika hamil. Rasanya biasa aja juga. Tapi, setelah melahirkan, lalu menyusui, saya ngga bisa balik puasa sunnah karena… ngga tahan laper karena menyusui😕. Niatnya mau puasa lagi abis Langit MPASI, tapi ternyata hati kurang kuat. Tunda lagi.
Akhirnya karena kesadaran yang sudah terus terganggu, berhasil juga balik puasa senin kamis di akhir tahun 2015. Selain mulai lagi puasa senin kamis, saya juga balik olahraga.
Enam bulan pertama MPASI, benar-benar menyita waktu dan energi. Saya vakum puasa dan olahraga selama enam bulan itu. Ngga heran badan saya kaya ikan paus dengan nafsu makan kaya kuda (karena babi ngga terdengar menyenangkan).
2016
Tahun 2016 Alhamduillah puasa sunnah udah balik normal lagi, olahraga rutin seminggu dua kali, masih terus nyusuin. Ketika Ramadan tahun 2016, saya tadinya mau tetap olahraga, tapi waktu itu saya belum keluar dari masa kegelapan ngasih makan. Langit masih makan diemut. Ngga ada energi sisa untuk olahraga juga, sementara puasa Ramadan wajib dan terus menerus selama sebulan. Jadi, break dulu olahraga sebulan.
2017
Tahun ini, Langit sudah 2,5 tahun dan saya masih menyusui. Iya, belum (berhasil) disapih. Saya lebih milih toilet training dulu, yang alhamdulillah sudah tercapai siang malam, tanpa kecelakaan. Menyusui memang ngga sesering dulu, tapi ya masih lumayan sering juga. Tapi, mungkin karena sudah biasa juga di puasa senin kamis, jadi puasa Ramadan sambil menyusui memang ngga terasa berat.
Selasa lalu saya pertama kali coba puasa, ikut kelas olahraga dan tetap menyusui. Saya cuma ikut 45 menit karena saya ngga suka bagian latihan lantai. Kebetulan juga ada urusan lagi setelah itu. Sepanjang hari hingga buka, alhamdulillah ngga segitu haus kaya bayangan saya. Selain ngurangin waktu, saya juga sedikit ngerem di gerakan. Ketika high impact, saya sesuaikan aja.
Hari ini, saya olahraga lagi dan instruktur yang hari ini kebetulan puasa juga. Ternyata instruktur yang puasa lebih kejam dari yang ngga puasa. Saya sempet break dua kali. Terakhir dia pake lantai juga saya skip. Saya ngga suka lantai (sama sekali). Ngga papa de perutnya ngga rata.
Sepanjang hari rasa haus sih ngga seberapa, ngantuknya yang parah banget. Abis mandi langsung ketiduran tiga jam penuh😴😴😴.
Satu yang saya tanamkan di hati dan pikiran, puasa Ramadan yang paling penting dibanding olahraga dan untuk tahun ini, sudah lewat dua tahun, menyusui juga bukan wajib lagi (buat saya). Jadi, kalau tetap mau olahraga, harus tau diri juga.
Buat yang ragu, insya Allah puasa sambil hamil dan menyusui sangat mungkin dilakukan kok. Selain niat yang kuat, perlu juga atur kegiatan dan hal lain yang bisa meringankan puasa sambil ngurus bayi. Di hari saya olahraga dan puasa, makanan yang Langit suka wajib ada. Drama makan memang alhamdulillah udah lewat, tapi saya tetap cari aman.
Oya! Salah satu yang menurut saya wajib dilakukan adalah majukan waktu makan anak ketika puasa. Sesudah buka, energi sudah habis. Ngantuk pula. Belum mau solat tarawih juga. Kayanya ngga ada energi lagi kalo harus ngurus makanin anak. Karena saya dari awal Langit makan memang sudah menerapkan hal ini, jadi ketika puasa tinggal ikutin aja. Tiga kali makan besar, sudah harus selesai sebelum maghrib. Setelah maghrib, waktunya tidur untul Langit dan istirahat untuk saya.
Semua urusan yang berat saya selesaikan di pagi hari. Saya juga punya daftar menu makan untuk sahur,masak, takjil, dan makan malam yang saya buat per minggu. Jangan salah, perencanaan yang detil itu sangat menghemat energi lho. Apalagi selain ngurus bayi, saya juga harus ngurus tiga laki-laki lain. Alhamdulillah juga kerjaan rumah ada ART pulang pergi yang ngerjain.
Semoga yang berniat puasa selagi menyusui dan mau olahraga juga dimudahkan ya niat baiknya. Triple ibadah, insya Allah pasti dikasih jalan kalau memang benar-benar mau melakukan semua. Apalagi Ramadan yang cuma setaun sekali. Sayang kalo dilewatkan.
Sehar dan lancar semua puasa dan ibadah lainnya ya!
Mistakenly clicked the trash button and the long-written-PUBLISHED post gone in an instant😢
Rewriting those long stories are too lazy, of course. But, after some time, I’ll need the writing to back up this forgetful brain, to cherish the happy moments in the future. So, here we go.
Day 6 : London
The sixth day agenda was another trip to city centre. Actually, it’s more to shopping centre. Both my sister and sister in-law asked to buy some clothers for their kids in Primark. So, the first stop is Primark Marble Arch.
It was quite lucky to arrive there when it was just opened at 9 am. There is a bus which go directly from our airbnb to Primark Marble Arch entrance door. I spent almost two hours looking for the orders. Really, it was totally not my happy place. So many people and crowded. But, it made sense. They offered such a good price for everything there. I couldn’t help buying something too for others. And myself too.
Wait, didn’t I say this was my unhappy place?😒😒
We spent half day strolling in Oxford street. From west to the east. I wanted to have the famous Shack Shake for dinner. The closest store was on Leicester Square.
Shack Shake was quite full during lunch time. I had to wait for some time until ours were ready. We were quite lucky to find four seats by the window during those crowded time. Their portobello mushroom and fries were good. Price was so so.
We continued walking to Trafalgar Square where we planned to meet my brother there. We wanted to retake the same picture as we did in 1994. It turned out Trafalgar Square held a Vaisakhi celebration that day. So, it was full by Hindunese culture, Indians people, food, music, and art.
I couldn’t really enjoy Trafalgar Square that time. Me and crowd would never be a good match. We went home after retook the picture.
Having a break on mid day was a very good idea. We did it in Paris and we enjoyed the afternoon trip more after recharging the energy at home.
We strolled around Angel Islington once again in the afternoon. I went back to the small book store to complete my Guess How Much I Love You Series. After that, I wanted to visit a kitchen ware shop which I had been eyeing everytime we rode on the bus. I needed new thermos since the old one was broken.
We found the shop and yes, the thermos was there. Happily buying the new thermos for £ 12. We continued walking until the bus stop. It was almost 7 pm and it was time to go home already.
Oxford Street CrowdThe trio apparated here from Bill and Fleur wedding when the dark mark appeared. If you know what I mean.Leicester SquareTrafalgar SquareAfternoon stroll in Angel Islington
Day 7 : London
The planned itinerary was going to Greenwich Park. The reality said no. Since it was the last day and some things were still missing, so off we went once again to Oxford street.
Since it was on Sunday, the stores opened as late as 11.30 am or 12.00 pm. So, we went to Regent Street then continued to Kensington Garden.
Kensington Garden was the favorite royal garden of the late Princess Diana. Some of its benches were written by messages for her. There was a small playground too and Langit was so happy.
When it was about the time, we went back to Oxford Street to find what we needed. In spite of the crowd, Primark is truly one stop shopping place where you can buy almost everything without went broke.
We had a plan to visit my brother’s place after done with the shopping hassles. We took the bus to Shoreditch and first stop would be Brick Lane Sunday market.
It was quite hard to believe that Brick Lane was the place that drew the biggest smile on this group of mine face. Both my father and the doctor kept telling this was the place they have been craving for. Crowded small alley with lots of good street food, street musician, second hand shop, a real market to shop. Different hype and vibe from Oxford and Regent street in a very pleasant way.
My brother’s place was within walking distance from Brick Lane market. He told us that his class mates, two of the closest ones wanted to say hello to us. So, after few minutes arrived in his place, his friends came and we had some conversations in the living room. It was good to know he really met nice people there. His british and japanese friends were very warm.
Another highlight of this trip occured when my brother introduced us to his host. An old British man who lived accross my brother’s room. After having some conversations for a while, he said something to my father that hit me hard.
“You should be proud of him. He’s very nice and most importantly, very polite. Young people these days are having less manners to older adults, but your son is exceptionally very polite. You must be very proud of him,”.
Damn.
I want those words too for myself some time in the future.
What could have been better knowing that you’ve done a great job raising your kids? Having those words spoken by a stranger, whose culture is quite different, who met your child only for few months, yet telling you such words above in a very sincere way.
In the end, through this trip, I had been reminded once again, it wasn’t your look, wealth, social status, intelligence, or whatever things that attached to yourself that matter the most. Manners and kindness are ones that win the people heart.
Arranged this trip was not easy. It took lots of time to research about this and that, countless reading, full attention to the smallest details, with the thought and hope my father would enjoy this trip. I guess it was fulfilled.
Having trip with your parent might not as free as when you travel with your own family only. But, for me, it was worth all my time spent to make this happened.
We won’t be here forever, and our parents won’t be around forever too. Spend more time with them, travel to some places, and we’ll find something more than just things we buy on the stores or good pictures we take to be displayed in our gallery.
I thank Allah endlessly for making this trip happened smoothly, without any unpleasant things during the trip.
I want more.
I want more.
(Later child, set your next priorities right first!).
Well, okay.
See you then, airports!
Kensington Garden
Kensington Garden
Last picture of the squad before heading back home
Early morning in Manchester was even colder and colder. It was 2 degrees celcius. What kind of spring was that?😬😬😬
This morning we went to visit the famous Red Devil’s home in OldTrafford. It was not that far but we were a bit lost since the GPS map showed us another place called Old Trafford. We managed to get there after asking here and there and a short taxi ride.
We didn’t have the stadium tour here since none of us were a fan. So, we just took some pictures, circling around, sat down by the nearest bench and decided to continue the trip to Piccadilly city centre.
We used to visit Piccadilly city centre often. Enjoying summer sunshine with ice cream, played in its garden, and visited the Debenhams to buy Polly Pocket. This time we just strolled around, stopped by the pharmacy to buy a lipgloss and Primark. The doctor needed a warm pants to cover her legs.
We returned to our Air Bnb, packed up the luggage, having light lunch, and heading to the station.
Arrived at Euston at 14.30 we went home directly. It was quite tiring, and I felt needing some sleep.
We didn’t go outside anymore after this. We had to catch 7 am trains to Liverpool tomorrow. So, we had to leave home at the very late as 6.10 am. Early sleep was a must.
Day 4 : Liverpool
I wrote about Liverpool in a separate post, so guess there’s no need to repeat the story here. I had my Paris in Autumn, the doctor had his Anfield in Spring.
Maybe this is one of the best things marriage could bring : to help on another to complete each other dream, together.
The trip highlight : Anfield
Day 5 : London
The rest of the trip spent in London, finally. Moving here and there was quite tiring. But, since we did it for a greater cause, it was forgivable. This day, I told the squad that we would leave latter, because it was Friday, and there would be a Friday prayer. We left home around 8.30, not very different than our usual schedule.
Today’s schedules were Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Parliament Square, and London Central Mosque for Friday prayer. The doctor also had an appointment to meet his best friend who’s taking a master course in radiology in UCL.
We planned to meet at Buckingham Palace but it turned out we met at the bus. In one of the bus stop to Buckingham Palace, this friend entered the bus. It was such an unexpected and pleasant surprise.
Reyhan kept going with us to St James Park, Parliament Square and London Central Mosque. St. James Park was very big and beautiful. The baby enjoyed running around, chasing animals, feeding the doves, and screaming happily.
Having such a huge park in heart of the city is truly envious and they have many, not one. When will we have like those ones here?😞
Strolling around St James Park brought us to another place called Parliament Square. It was like a small park where many statues of famous people were built. We had Big Ben from another point of view than we had from the first visit. We waited for the bus to the Central Mosque there.
We had lunch at the basement of the mosque. The Chicken and Lamb Biryani were quite good. We also had a cup of ice cream for the baby and vegetarian samosa. The ice cream was a yes, a not for the samosa.
While the men was doing the prayer, I spent the time by chasing around the baby inside the women prayer hall. It was quite lot of people there. I didn’t join the prayer since I couldn’t leave this rabbit unattended.
Right after prayed, another friend of the doctor joined too. It felt like a small reunion for his year. We proceeded to another of his bucket list : Abbey Road cross road. It was where the Beatles had their last album cover picture taken. The famous four were crossing the street.
Abbey Road turned out to be an ordinary small road where buses and cars were passing by. In front of the crossroad, there were the small museum and the shop. The doctor had his picture taken crossing the road while pushing the stroller😄.
Finally, the three friends were parted here and continued their own journey on their own. We took a bus to King’s Cross station.
I was actually quite grumpy that day. I wanted to visit Natural History Museum but the distance wasn’t pretty convenient. So, with a heavy heart, it was skipped. So, done with the Abbey Road, I insisted that I wanted to visit Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross.
Platform 9 3/4 located inside the station. You just have to walk straight until the end of the station from the entrance door. The trolley and the wall barrier were there with lots of muggles queued up to have their picture taken while pushing the trolley with the scarf flown for £ 10.
Of course, I missed the queue. I prefered spending the time and money inside the shop next to the monument. The shop felt more like a magic shop packed with muggles who were shopping for their Hogwarts school appliances.
Notebooks, pencil, pen, gloves, scarf, hat, bag, shirt, and many merchandises were available. I decided to buy a bagpack from Gryffindor. Although it was quite expensive (for my wallet), but let’s close the eyes for I wouldn’t have any other chances to visit this place again during the trip.
We had a short walk from King’s Cross to visit one of the luggage store nearby. I needed a four wheels cabin luggage so during the return, I wouldn’t have to carry bags wihout any wheels, which I did during our departure and it was pretty exhausting. Another lucky deal gotten in the luggage store. A green four wheel Samsonite was on a discount. Made a purchase for £79 only. A good price tag indeed.
A direct bus to our home and its stop was just few meters away from the luggage store. Not for long the bus came. My father wanted to visit an ice cream shop along Angel Islington which he noticed several times when we went home. So, we made a stop in Angel Centre and continued walking. Just few meters walking, a little book shop was having a big discount and I couldn’t help stopping and shopping.
A bundle of six books from Legendary St.Clare’s Twins, Guess How Much I Love You series in autumn, winter, and summer, and few of very cheap children books. What a heaven! I had the intention to go back once again later.
It turned out the ice cream shop was not as near as we thought. But, with a better weather than the previous days, the big pavement, we decided to enjoy Angle-Islington by walk while having sight seeing to the shops on the left and right.
Udderlicious was a home-made and hand-made small and cozy ice cream shop. They had few customers when we were there. We bought three cups of their ice cream and yeah, they were utterly delicious.
We had been outside from morning and when we finished the ice cream it was almost 6 pm. Time to go home and rest.
A bus to Balls Pond Road sent us back home after a long tiring, yet happy day around London.
Buckingham PalaceSt. James ParkBrunch time at St. James ParkBig Ben from Parliament SquareWestminster Abbey. It’s where some famous were buried and the royals got marriedLondon Central MosqueA wall to HogwartsMagic shopGryffindor’s merchandises
Unlike the last autumn in Paris, this trip was quite an ambitious one due to the trip members’ bucket list. But, I had set the brain and heart from the beginning, (once again) unlike the previous autumn in Paris, this trip was not absolutely about me. I was here to ‘help’.
From the tickets purchasing (plane, train), accomodation arrangement, itinerary, until the least important like what and where to eat for those seven days. It felt more or less like a travel agent as well as tour leader.
It was actually 9-10 days trip if we counted the flights trip. Departed on 23rd April and arrived here on 2nd May. We went through three flights, two transits for depart and return. For the departure, we spent approximately 30 hours journey. Those were including the time we left home until we landed in our first destination.
The baby was doing very much better on this second trip. She enjoyed her own seat, slept pretty nicely, and very much less crankier than the previous long haul flights trip. I think 7-8 hours trapped in the plane is quite bearable for above 2 years old kid.
I had reviewed two airlines that we flew with in the previous post. Let’s just proceed to the city trips.
Day 1 : London
Arrived at Heathrow Terminal 4 around 9.05 and directly proceeded to the long queue of immigration. Thankfully, an officer spotted us and told us to move from the line and directly stepped forwars to immigration counter. Four of us altogether. Thanks to the toddler girl.
We were greeted by ‘Assalamualaikum’ and a wide smile from the officer. Such an unexpected warm welcome from the scary immigration. Alhamdulillah. The process took quite some time, but I felt at ease. We had light conversation with the officer. Done checking all of our passports, he bid farewell with another ‘Assalamualaikum’.
This was one example of my answered ultimate prays each time I travel : for us to meet the kind ones.
When we exited all the checkings, the car I reserved from a service called Unicorn Transfer had arrived there with their driver. We planned to check in our Air bnb at 12, but it turned out we arrived earlier than expected. The doctor sent whatsapp message to the host and he said it was no problem. His brother had waited for us at home.
It took about an hour to drive from Heathrow to our Air Bnb. Quite far and unexpectedly we met traffic jam here also. After a little elevator drama during the check-in, we could finally smell the comfort of home. About this airbnb, maybe another separate post will do. Maybe.
As usual, whenever I arrive in one destination, the first thing I do is always unpacking. While the others were doing whatever they wanted to do, I was busy putting all clothes to the cupboard, the food to the refrigerator, and made sure all the luggages were empty.
Done with that, time to rest? Nope. It was lunch time preparation. I didn’t mind a big luggage full of food until it was a bit overweight, as long as I didn’t have to go outside to find what should be eaten after a very long and tiring journey. We had a home-made chicken gulai with warm rice as our first lunch. Too yummy.
Full tummy, clean body, and done prayed, we went to the famous London Bridge. Well, this was actually not what I had in mind. I intended to visit Tower Bridge actually. But, I didn’t know why, it was London Bridge that kept flowing from my mouth. Sigh.
Another surprise we had during our stay : a very cold and windy spring. In our first day, we were having a lethal combination of cold, windy, and rainy weather. No warm spring for us yet. We couldn’t enjoy London Bridge view too long in such weather. After snapped some pictures, we ended up in Pret à Manger for coffee, hot chocolate and croissant. Done with that, we went home. Too cold for my preference.
Arrived at our home, we had dinner, and I told my father to pack for the next trip tonight. At the first day, almost all of us still enjoyed having jetlag.
London Bridge and the iconic red busTower Bridge as seen from London Bridge
Day 2 : London
I set as early as 7.30 to go outside for the second day since we had to catch the train to the next city at 13.00. I wanted to spend the morning time to see more of London. But you know, it was pretty hard to be on time with this kind of travel squad. I’d like to finish all the stuff before we left home. No mess should be left.
In fact, we could just leave around 8.10. We prepared more to face the cold weather. It was still too cold for spring this second morning. My hands were freezing. The baby chose to sleep a lot during outside on the stroller.
Ah, the stroller. This was one of my luckiest things I had on this trip other than the plane and train tickets. During the planning, I insisted to reduce the luggage as many as we could. The less, the smaller, the better, without leaving any important things behind. Then, the idea came up. Instead of bringing our baby elle wave stroller, I had in mind for renting in London. So, I did the searching here and there and found that the rental cost was quite agreeable. It was only around £14 for seven days. But, the major turn off was the deliver cost : £25.
Bah! Forget about renting, let’s just bring more stuff.
But, of course, giving up easily was never my middle name. I found another genius idea.
Knowing my brother studied there, knowing he might know one or two families with a baby or toddler, and knowing that they should have a stroller with them, I asked my brother to find if there was one that I could rent for a week. The answer came not very long after he asked.
One of the Phd students sent him a private message after reading his question in their group chat. Told him that he had one, unsused, but just an ordinary one. Told him he could borrow it, no need to rent. I could picture myself smiling ear to ear that time. Another Alhamdulillah.
Back to the trip. We visited London Eye and Big Ben for the half of the second day. I couldn’t help screwing for the weather. It was too damn cold. Not only me, the others also kept whining too. Until we had an idea to cut the itinerary and found a department store to buy warmer clothes and gloves.
But it was quite a tight schedule. After eyeing the giant wheel and giant o’clock tower, we decided to return home so we wouldn’t be late for the 1 pm train. On the way home, we stopped at Subway to buy some take-home lunch.
Arrived home, done with the last light pack, off we went to Euston station for the second half day trip to Manchester.
Big BenLondon EyeLondon Euston Station
Day 2 : Manchester
Virgin Train that took us to this nostalgic city after 23 long years arrived on time as scheduled at 15.05. Seeing Manchester Piccadilly station after a long time was too excited beyond words. My father, the primary reason this trip made, couldn’t hide his happy face.
We stayed for one night in Manchester and even for a night stay, Air bnb was still out best choice. We took a taxi to our Air bnb and it was just about fifteen minutes from the station. Unlike the crowded London, Manchester was quiter and calmer, as well as colder.
Arrived and settling down, we had our prayer then it was the time to revisit those memorable places. The first stop was University of Manchester, the place where the old man spent one of the best times of his life. UoM could be reached by walk from our Air Bnb and it costed less than the least expensive budget hotel for one night, five persons. Another lucky offer I got for this trip😉.
Manchester was raining hard and very windy that afternoon. Really, this cold, rainy, and windy weather was truly the enemy of our trip😑.
After having some journeys back to the past by visiting UoM, Precint Centre, and Arthur Livingstone student housing, we moved to places of my precious memory collections : Granby Row, Vimto Park, and Orient House.
They were all still there. Although they had some alterations, but everything was still really there. The Giant bottle we used to climb at Vimto Park now painted in more colorful colours. Orient House was under reconstruction, the small shop across the street was almost closed since it was almost 6 pm.
I spent only two months there. The memories lasted for a very long time, and it was such a great luck having a chance to revisit those places 23 years later.
I couldn’t stand the cold any longer and asked the other to go back home first. The toddler girl had had enough, I guessed. Time to give her the warmth she had been craving for after a very long day.
Arrived home, I prepared dinner and my father and brother went outside again to go to Piccadilly city centre. Three bears who couldn’t stand the cold prefered to stay at home, lazing around.
I expected Liverpool to be as quiet and laid back as Manchester. But, it turned out to be above expectation. At least, their city centre is surely much better than Manchester’s.
This one was a compulsory itinerary. While Anfield is just two hours away from London, of course the liverpudlian couldn’t miss it. The first four days, we’d been moving a lot.
We arrived in London on Monday morning. Then, we departed for Manchester on Tuesday afternoon and got back on Wednesday afternoon. Thursday morning we left for Liverpool. It was only three of us while my dad stayed in London woth his son.
The train to Liverpool departed at 7.07. We managed to leave our Air bnb at 6.10 and reached Euston at 6.30. Manchester’s drama wasn’t repeated, Thank God. We even bought some fruit snack first in Sainsbury inside Euston.
Arrived at Liverpool Lime Street at 9.20 and once we got out from the train station, cold breeze attacked with the rain. Really, that freezing weather was truly the enemy of our trip. London, Manchester, Liverpool, we had it all.
Watching the old architecture around the city centre felt so exciting. We boarded on the bus that took us to Anfield. It turned out almost all of the passengers on bus no. 15 to Anfield were mostly tourists who wanted to visit the legendary stadium too.
We arrived at Anfield around 10.20 and the closest stadium tour would be at 11.00 am. Instead of going anywhere, we decided to stay warm inside the Liverpool shop, of course buying some merchandises.
At 11.00, the tour began. It was quite lots of people. Surprisingly not only men or boys, some grannies were on the group too and they were sooo passionate. Really interesting. They asked questions, took pictures, and so on. Not only the stadium, we also visited the board room, the VVIP room where some selected guests watched the match, and paid £25.000 to sit there. Not only that, they couldn’t go alone and had to bring another guests instead. So, it takes £50.000 to watch there. It doesn’t stop there, they had to pay for two seasons minimum. So, all in all, please do the math.
The tour guide was absolutely charming and pleasant. He joked a lot and for the standard of cold British, he was very warm. I am not a fan at all, but I didn’t know why, this stadium felt so warm. The pictures, interior, and the people inside the tour. It’s £17 per person very well spent.
Done with the stadium tour, we could visit the museum without any guide. I lost my mood because of the cold weather and hungry tummy. Once the doctor finished his museum tour, I nagged him to go back to city centre to find some food.
We couldn’t make time for Beatles museum since our train back departed at 15.47 and it was 12.30 already. Too risky.
We had lunch in the city centre and found one noodles restaurant without any porks and it was so delicious. Done with lunch, we strolled around the station and visited Primark and another Liverpool store nearby.
Back to Lime Street station at 15.15 and the trains were there. It was quite full in our coach but still acceptable. Arrived in London at 17.59, tired and happy.
I had my Paris in autumn last October.
He had his Anfield in spring last April.
We’re even, right, Yobo?
The dream placeThe youngest liverpudlian in the stadium tour groupBefore me, this is the doctor’s first wife and forever girlfriend.Liverpool Lime StreetStrolling around the city centre and doing some window shopping and real shopping. It was such a gloomy weather that day.This is Anfield.
Here are several pictures from the very first city that made me fall in love with traveling when I was 10. Having a chance to visit this city after 23 years was such a great blessing.
Alhamdulillah.
It was a very cold spring in Manchester. Freezing to be exact. But, didn’t we care when the heart was absolutely warm?The legendary Vimto Park! We spent most of our evenings at this park chasing the trains😊The proud alumni is back!We said hello too to the Red DevilsPiccadilly GardenThe thick clouds on our way back to Manchester Piccadilly
A Penny for My Pensieve 