b3 b0rn.. c0nf0rm, b3 si|3nt .. di3

not counting my marriage leave and the 3 maternity leaves la kan…

so after 10 yrs of working, have finally decided to take 2 weeks off from work early next month.

after the aborted trip up north in june to hotel batu keras, kakak has been asking when will we be going on a vacay.

we’ve finally decided on an itinerary. and we’re doing it the old skool way – by rail.

won’t share on the wheres and whens just yet – but will definitely be posting updates via fb when we are aboard. right now i am having heart palpitations at the thought of being in a confined space with 3 kids for long hours at a stretch…. road trips we’ve done, but we were always able to make a pit stop whenever we felt like it…. in this case, there’s only the scheduled stops at the stations… but that’s part of the fun ehh?

so am mentally preparing myself by checking out travel tips for family..

PACKING TIPS

Packing for a rail trip is similar to travel by air – you may have a little more room if booking a sleeper car but most luggage should be stored in baggage.  See Air Travel Tips for additional tips along with these additional suggestions for packing on a train ride:

• Limit each member to one carry-on piece – while the size restrictions are not as limiting as airlines, especially when travelling in a sleeper.
• Bring along some snacks, toys and activities to keep children occupied.  Some rail lines now have activity cars that may offer board games, scheduled activities and even video games and movies.
• Bring comfortable shoes and a change of clothing for each member of the family.
• Carry all medication on board
• Pack a toothbrush for each member in carryon luggage.
• Delays can occur so be prepared, especially if meeting a connecting flight, bus or train at your destination.
• Bring all baby-care items if you are travelling with an infant, including food.
• Bring headphones for a media player.

ON THE TRIP

When your family is ready and set to go on a trip, take advantage of these tips to help make your adventure an enjoyable and safe trip for all:

• Arrive at least an hour before your train’s scheduled departure to check your luggage and give your family time to find the departure gate and familiarize yourself with the train station.  Take the time to find out where you will also depart the train and pick up luggage on your return trip.
• If you have arranged to pre-board, or even if you haven’t, ask the Ticket handler if you can pre-board with children.
• Review Safety Concerns with children before boarding and after you have boarded.
• Supervise young children when using the restroom
• Settle into your seats as soon as possible to allow other passengers to settle in.
• Remind children to respect other passengers and Service Attendants at all times.
• Locate the washroom facilities.
• Introduce yourself to the Service Attendant and inquire where any special cars that you can visit may be and particulars of any meal service.
• Try to respect other passengers that may be napping or sleeping on the train – especially during the late evening and early morning hours.
• Feel free to tip Service Attendants.
• Take advantage of train stops that allow passengers to disembark for some fresh air and to stretch your legs – but make sure you reboard the train on time.
• Avoid high sugar and caffeine snacks and drinks for children.
• Ask the Service Attendant if any activity books or toys are available for children.

SAFETY TIPS

Safety tips to keep in mind for children and adults riding the rails:

• Keep well back on train platforms and keep children close – especially toddlers.
• When embarking, disembarking and walking beside the train keep hands and feet away from underneath the train.
• Never let children near the train wheels.  The train can move at any time.
• Never cross the rails or play on the rails.  Teach children never to play on rail lines at any time or go on rail bridges.
• Never cross in front of a train.
• Teach children not to play with any emergency braking systems.
• Children should not play or touch any exterior doors or emergency windows.
• Use caution when embarking and disembarking.  Take advantage of the assistance offered by Service Attendants.
• When travelling between cars, teach children not to put fingers anywhere other than the door handles and watch your step.
• Young children should not wander the trains at will.  If children are going to be permitted to visit other areas of the train on their own (over 12 years of age only) set guidelines for where they may go.
• Children should never go in the washroom or sleeper car with another passenger.
• If children are in another car or area of the train, they should return immediately to their seats if the train stops at a station or at any time.
• Use caution when walking or moving in the train as a sudden stop can occur at any moment.
• Sudden movements can also occur after the train has stopped.
• If children are sleeping in upper bunks, look for a harness or rail that will reduce the risk of falling out during the night.  Some trains have a harness system.  If a harness system is used that has openings – tell children not to put their head in the openings.

that’s for now.. will scour the ‘net again for further words of caution … better safe than sorry!

footnote: shall dub all entries related to this tgrt (the great rail trip)

pejam celik pejam celik. it’s been ten years..

if iP was a baby then, it’d be in year 4 at primary skool.

while with the company, i’ve been through:

• 2 ceos (both i’d say on polar opposites)
• 10 some-what offices (L16T1 – L10Dyb – L23T2 – L48T1 – L58T1 – L48T1 – L49T1 – L14T1 – L59T1 – L15MP)
• being assigned to the following units/depts – eProcurement-SystemDesign&Development-iPGlobalSolution-SystemDevelopment&ProductInnovation/Cons-ProjectServicesDelivery/IA(orAM)-ProjectServicesDelivery/CMT – but effectively still all projects-centric
• met quite a few interesting characters
• made a few close friends (some who already moved on to pursue their careers in other organisations)
• hopefully did not make many enemies

and a lot of memories of course… esp the heydays of L16 – when everything was new (e-biz was the buzzword then) – to how we struggled to merge 2 cultures in 2004 (which i stayed out of mostly due to being at the project site) – to the bewilderment when attending those oh-so-memorable annual ceo address at L41 conference hall (they were quite entertaining to say the least) – and now finally settling down in our own ‘home’ at jln perak.

what does the future hold? i don’t know.

am supposed to have this life story for when i am already 60 (if god wills that i live that long) and then revisit it every few months to see whether am on track for it or to update accordingly in the event that my priorities change. i have a pretty clear view on the personal/family/social&religion quadrants.. on the career part – it may change depending on how the next 1-2 yrs go.

until then – bring on the change

no real reason for the title – just realised that the last post was exactly 2 months after the one prior to it. i blame it to the fact that during ramadhan, i needed all the sleep i can snatch after the kids fell asleep and i need to wake up to prepare sahur. then was raya month and the madness of things at work… (yada yada… in actual fact, just don’t have much to update)

which was why when aryan found his walking legs, it was such a big thing i just had to drop a quick post. he’s now graduated to running… which is good exercise for me lazy bums (and a source of fatigue for the grannies…)

anyways, felt like changing the look of the blog so i just went to the trusty wordpress themes site and selected this one. (the real reason: somehow all the post texts are in italics – which i couldn’t be arsed to figure out in the themes – so i just tried any which resulted in the preferred font)

turning in now.. tomorrow’s an early day, let’s see whether i can get all that i planned to do done !
i leave you with a video

goodnight and fare thee well!

… if managing 6-10 steps at one go counts!

he started taking a few steps (with arms outstretched like a zombie) the past 2-3 weeks.. but i wanted him to manage more than 6 steps before getting super-psyched!

based on babycenter’s milestone chart from the latter half of the infant year, aryan has met most of the milestones.. but weight-wise he’s a bit light…still not above 8 kgs… though anaqi was roughly that weight at the same age so am not getting to hung up on that. eats anything you offer to him. 2nd syawal, my aunt snuck a rice cube with a bit of rendang into him when i wasn’t looking, but he didn’t seem to suffer any stomach complaints – so am good with that.

heard him say dada first last month before i could make out a mama… waves in a weird queen-ly style when saying goodbye to people. and likes to pick on abang when abang is taking his nap – i take it as aryan’s payback time for all the time that anaqi likes to tease and mess with him

2 more months and he’d be 1 year old.. how time really flies. oh btw, he’s still on breastmilk..so yeay me!