Friday, September 12, 2008

Pls let me be behind the wheels....

What will we do without transport eh? I mean...look at me.. how will i go to the kids' school if not for the mini busses n taxis ?? Walking from my home to the school for 2 hours is not the wisest thing to do often...Gosh! i simply hate the traffic..that is for sure...drivers not following the traffic rules... i hate that too.. n the small roads of istanbul...?? that is my worst fear... Still... some sort of mode of transportation will definitely not go amiss..it is very important indeed....to bring u somewhere..in my case... the kids' school.

I cant lie and tell u that the countless trips using the mini buses plus walking to school for the last 2 years didnt leave me screaming inside for some sort of release... the last 2 months of school of the 2nd semester.., every saturday, instead of taking the mini bus home from school (spring school)... i had resorted to taking taxis even...expensive? Yes...but when u have enough of the traffic and exhaustion.....well.. u have enough surely!Money becomes secondary!


And so..i begged my beloved to buy his own car...(we were using his aunty' car for years.. in which we will forever be very grateful..Allah Razı olsun Afife Teyze )...... so that despite my fear of driving in istanbul..i can perhaps pick my courage n drive our own car...I didnt push him much coz...well... a car is never cheap and we r not rich... and so we saved slowly...bit by bit... for years..

U can imagine how happy i was when while in Malaysia... my beloved told me that our money was enough to buy a hyndai matrix! i was jumping with joy... coz..initially...with the money we had...we could only buy either peugeot 209 or hyundai accent... the matrix came as a suprise....it is definitely a bit bigger than accent n most importantly... it is an mpv!! a family type car.. it looks small from the outside but really big from the inside..well... big enough to fit in all the stuffs i brought from malaysia! eheheheh so..that says a lot ( hazia and lyn can confirm betapa banyaknya my bags..)..n it was to be... my beloved'z first car...and we managed to buy it Alhamdulillah by cash..


Of course, my hands started to be *itchy* hehehehe i had not been driving for many years...the last time..5 years ago in Malaysia.. and i totally fear driving in istanbul traffic coz...well.. to see it is to understand it...the reason why...
But deep down...i really really got fed up taking mini busses n taxis... and remembering how helpless i was a few years ago when my beloved had stone in his kidney n had to drive himself to the hospital in pain... i was determined to start afresh...to learn to drive a car again... coz u will never know when the need will arise... emergencies can happen any time....(Allah forbids)

And so... in Sapanca... my beloved started to give me *reminders n techniques *on how to operate his..(can u believe it..i forgot where the brake was.. the gear was tc etc?? hahaha) our car properly...how to use this and that... i still get confused at times coz everything in turkey is totally the reverse of everything in Malaysia!! At the early days...i remember how i even managed to go into the opposite car's lane coz i forgot that i was in turkey! hahahaha..Allah had protected us of course...

Alhamdulillah..This man....this beloved of mine is truly a patient guy n teaching me how to drive again... he gives me confidence n trust in driving his new car... along side hatice... n baddin..U see..when u feel the love n confidence from the one who matters most... that gives u the courage and confidence to drive...


it was a good thing as well coz on the day we were to return to istanbul from Sapanca...my beloved had pain in the tummy due to indigestion problem... i had to be behind the wheel and drove home...

I think that one hour n a half was the scariest time of my life ever!!Of course the fact that i was driving around 120km/z to 150km/z didnt help heheheh..


Merve (niece) even said to me...

*simah..thank you for bringing me home İN ONE PİECE!!? hahahaha
that was how scary i was driving!! hahahahaahahahahahahah
But that is the whole idea isnt it... i am driving again...


No... i dont plan to go everywhere with the car...i will leave that to my beloved... All i want is...whenever the car is free.. whenever my beloved doesnt use or need the car...whenever i need to go to the kids' school esp at nite..whenever emergency occur (Allah forbid!)...i want to be able to grab the car keys n drive it without fear....


I am gaining the courage i lost in driving when i stepped into this land.I want that piece of me fully back...and i am glad that my beloved is with me on this...giving his full support.

Today (friday), i did my solo driving..without my beloved to give me instructions..... i went to the kids' school to buy some textbooks... i drove slowly but confidently... i even sent it to the oto kuafor to get it cleaned.... later, i went to the grocery market with the car... the space phobia (to be stuck in between cars in narrow streets)that i have......i think..i am taking over the fear..it is diminishing bit by bit.


I have also reacquaint myself with an old flame....Please... meet my old boyfriend...

Mr mountainbike!


All my TESL friends definitely remember how i used to cycle from the rented house in bangi section 4 till the university (UKM)... Remember the fakulti pendidikan yg kat atas bukit tu? i used to cycle till up up there as well....My mountainbike was my life... my love... my transport till i graduated...from 65kg..i was 52kg.. all because i cycled...


I bought myself this bike as a gift to myself during our 9th wedding anniversary that day..i parked it at baba's apartment ... i also went cycling at the seaside (sahilyolu) area yesterday..from my home to bostanci and from bostanci till fenerbahçe n later to babaz place...

...and what i discover is this...

At this age... after 11 years of not cycling ....and at this weight...


I seriously need training again..i seriously need to cycle everyday to get back into a fit form. It is not so much a matter of losing weight..it is a matter of getting back into a healthy body...doing one true sport i love most...cycling.... n just look at the view there? that is the view all the way till pendik... gorgeous eh?this will be my new sport... my next aim is to cycle (using the seaside area where there r pavement for cyclists)..i plan to cycle to the kids' school... (2 hours of walking will equal to ??? of cyling)...after that..i aim to go cycling till pendik...THat of course will take time...i need to change the seat first..it is too hard.. i need to buy a more comfy seat..right now, my bottom is painful because of it...and my legs n body?? hehehehe dont ask!!stretched painfully'! hahaha

Please wish me luck..both in driving n cycling..


And guess what?? Baddin is now a first grade student while hatice a 2nd grade student!!

Do go to their blogs to read the details...


hatice: http://www.haticeveokul.blogspot.com/

baddin: http://www.baddinveokul.blogspot.com/


all i can say is this... YA ALLAH..please give us mothers the strength n patience to deal with our first grade children!! :0)


Alhamdulillah..life is good...

I havent got much time to blog or blog hop much..but Alhamdulillah..life is good...

My kids r still fasting during the weekends only.. but since this is the first year for baddin.. we have decided to only force him to fast only on saturdays after this... but i made it clear to them... full 30 days fasting by the 4th grade... that i am very strict of. Pls Ya Allah..give them strength..i want my kids to grow to be among the people who fast...


Thank You for hopping by. Hope to see you again soon... :0)

17 Comments:

Blogger anggerik merah said...

Simah,

I love your mountain bike...boleh pinjam?..:-)

Enjoy driving dear..

September 14, 2008 at 11:32 PM  
Blogger Ms B said...

Simah dear,

U are really doing well! I know how bad the traffic can be over there. Drive more often k.

As for the 1st graders, kids will sail tru. We worry too much sometimes (my girl kept telling to relax. *LOL*).

If I'm bored, I'll call again. *winks*

ps: I had a bicycle too back in uni. I think it's the phase kot. *smiles*

September 15, 2008 at 12:23 AM  
Blogger Kak Elle said...

wei simah best kan to be behind the wheel now:)

I can't imagine u being on that bike...

reagrds to all.

September 15, 2008 at 12:50 AM  
Blogger KotaStar said...

Hi Cik Simah,

I happened to come across yr blog this morning while looking at Nor Zalina's ( Queen of the House) and very intrigued to read yr notes(impressions, feelings,fear etc). Obviously they struck me esp to know some of the insides of yr new/old homeland. It has certainly not been red carpet all the way but syukur kepada Illahi all seems to go well with you and family. I read about yr baba and it is good to know that the wonderful man has many admirers who came when it was necessary. All our good wishes to you and yr family including yr army-trained hubby. Selamat berpuasa dan menyambut AidilFitri.
Pak Non ( Queen of the House's dad)

September 15, 2008 at 1:43 AM  
Blogger Hazia said...

Simah, well done!:)
I also need to pick up on driving. At least you're in Turkey, can say tempat org memang la susah. Ini tempat sendiri pun tak lepas, hehe... My own apartment is going to be ready early next year and if I'm going to stay there, it's best that I learn to drive.

And happy biking too.

September 15, 2008 at 6:11 AM  
Blogger aNIe said...

Simah...alhamdulillah dah ada sebuah kereta untuk di bawa ke sana ke mari...

Takpelah pasal driving tu...Insyaallah...lama2 nanti pandailah...asalkan berhati-hati...heheheh...

Akak ni pulak rindu dah nak berbasikal...seronok masa muda2 dulu dpt menunggang basikal...dpt bayangkan simah mengayuh basikal tu...hehehhe

Take care simah...

September 15, 2008 at 9:25 AM  
Blogger Queen Of The House said...

Dear Simah .... I suppose your holiday is over now. Well, summer can't last forever. I am glad this summer was a wonderful one for you. Especially when returning to Turkey, you find a new 'toy' that Halil got for the family. Hmmm .... not really a toy but it's a necessity, kan? Good luck with your driving and enjoy your mobility.
p.s. I see my dad's a 'fan' of your blog now :D

September 15, 2008 at 9:28 AM  
Blogger Count Byron said...

Allah Kareem
May you be happy always. And you certainly have the strength to have Hatice and Baddin to fast come their 4th grades.
Countess once lost the confidence to drive. The moment she took up to driving again, there is no stopping her. Alhamdulillah she becomes the pillar of strength in the family, for which I am always indebted to.
May you be driving confidently, and may you succeed in this life, and the hereafter dear Simah
Salam
Countess and CB

September 15, 2008 at 9:55 AM  
Blogger Alinlai said...

bravo bravo... kalau citer kat abang bulat hang bawa keta kat IST sure dia kagum... driver sana mcm driver F1 ke ke ke... apa2 pun aku tau lama2 sure hang cekap ;) insyaAllah dua-dua orang tu amalkan apa yang sepatutnya sebab hang dah ajar depa awal-awal... aminnnn!!! Aku tlg doakan juga

September 15, 2008 at 11:13 AM  
Blogger cikMilah said...

Wink!
Cantik la color tu.. nak gi re-paint jugaklah!...ha ha ha.. wink!

September 16, 2008 at 2:39 PM  
Blogger dith said...

Yes, I too love your bike...is it high? I have problem mounting up and balancing myself if its too high. May you rekindle your old flame, :))

September 17, 2008 at 1:37 AM  
Blogger simah said...

anggerik merah
*************
pinjam beskal? bolehhhhhhh...:0)

thanks..

-----------------------------------
ms b
****
i know...*sigh*..i am too stressed out over their homework.. but first graders kan difficult phase...i worry a lot too...i suppose the kids will be fine without the mom bugging them all the time eh?

driving.. hehe pi sekolah aja.. one step at a time kan? to think of driving is scary... tapi bila dah duduk belakang stering tu.. nak takut pun tak dah masa sebab busy jgn langgar org hehehe

i suppose so.... the phase...naik beskal.. :0)
-----------------------------
kak elle
********
thanks akak... i am behind the wheels sebab terpaksa... malam malam leceh la nak naik bas... bahaya...

heheh u saw only one part of me... the more ladylike one... this is the other part of me...the adventurous one... been cycling eversince high school pun...
how r u akak?

-----------------------------

September 18, 2008 at 9:14 AM  
Blogger simah said...

kotastar
*******
salam pak non. thank you for honouring me with ur presence...:0)

i can see u have been godek godek ing my blog... :0)

Alhamdulillah.. i am blessed with wonderful people around me. True everything was not red carpet but life has been good to us all...Yes, arwah baba was a figure very rare to be found... i feel honoured to be able to serve him as his daughter in law for 8 years...he is still sorely missed...
Thank you for ur well wishes and
Salam ramadhan dan Salam aidilfitri dari kami sekeluarga utk pak non sekeluarga...

-------------------------------

hazia
****
trust me.. lagi senang nak drive kat mesia... :0)

mesti bestkan nanti nak decorate rumah u sendiri nanti? u too.. have fun driving nanti.. tak rugi pandai bawak keta :0)

balik kampung tak raya ni ???

-----------------------------

kak Anie
*******
alhamdulillah... memang lega ada keta sendiri... tapi kena book la bila pakai.. big boss selalu pakai.. :0) doakan saya pandai bawak nanti yea akak??


ala akak kayuh la basikal.. best tau..esp bila part sakit kaki dah over...

saya naik beskal pun ikut bicycle track... kat area tu ada polis ronda.. loads of people walking as well as cycling.. not to mention dogs!! banyakkkkkk serammmmmm......! hehehe but great fun indeed!! jom!

-------------------------------

September 18, 2008 at 9:23 AM  
Blogger simah said...

Queen of the House
****************
yup..Alhamdulillah..this summer has been really really wonderful.. malaysia... my family.. n i got to see u as well finally...and the new toy was..is a good addition...hehehe
halil gelak bila dia pikirkan mcm mana saya parking keta! heheheh

Yes.. pak non mai sini.. siap bagitau nama full akak lagi.. abis la pecah rahsia akak heheheh..

akak sihat? best posa ni??

-----------------------------
Count Byron
***********
Aminnnnnnnnn... insyaAllah doa count tu akan termakbul...

masyaAllah.. u r lucky to Countess in ur life.. she is everything... it only show how important it is to find the right spouse to share ur life with, isnt it?hopefully halil n i can like u n countess...

u take care count...may Allah bless us all....

-----------------------------

September 18, 2008 at 9:29 AM  
Blogger simah said...

alinlai
*********
aminnnnnnnnnnnnn... memang menakutkan hang tau... terima kasih sbb hang doakan kat aku... takut jugak tapi nak buat mcm mana.. bukan aku main main... ada hal pi sekolah budak budak tu...

kirim salam kat abang bulat yek? bila hang meletup??
-----------------------------

cik milah
*******
hahahahaahahah eh metalic grey lawa apa? akak kena siap pakai jacket panjang kaler hitam mcm dlm filem matrx tu.. nanti mesti gempak!

----------------------------
dith
***
yup..it was high..i had to get the steel of the seat cut off so that i can lover it to the level yg palinggggg rendah... else..like u said..it will be dfficult to balance up...but to be rekindled with an old flame??i become the happiest girl on earth!! jom akak kita naik beskal sama sama??

September 18, 2008 at 9:33 AM  
Blogger Queen Of The House said...

Simah ... hee hee, dah tak rahsia lagi laa.

Eh, kenapa beli kereta bayar cash? Kaya wooooo .... orang kat Msia semua buat hire purchase kalau beli kereta.

September 18, 2008 at 11:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hehehe now segala cerita akan terbongkar.. best best hehehehe

ala...bertahun dah safe akak... tu pun cukup utk beli matrix ja...sebenarnya we all malas nak berhutang dengan bank...actually..kitaorang berhutang jugak sebenarnya... from the kids...so sekarang i am saving money to pay back the 2000 euro we borrowed from them...tak selesa rasanya kalau tak bayar balik... walaupun dapat kebenaran depa...

September 18, 2008 at 1:30 PM  

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