First Saturday, and I'm working

Well, actually the whole government sector and the banks are working today. What should've been a public holiday (being the first Saturday of the month) was postponed to next week. So since we're working today, next Saturday will be a Bank Holiday.
Eh, give chance lah, us in the banking sector a chance for last minute preparation for Hari Raya. :-)

***

I'm already in Raya mood. Erm, honestly? I've been in Raya mood after a week of fasting. LOLs... And going out to buy a cassette with Raya songs didn't help much to lessen the festive feelings.

I'm remembering my childhood Raya. Primary school years to be exact. Not that much pocket money, but somehow we still managed to buy kad Raya for friends.

And who can forget all the famous "pantun"s we used to write in those Raya cards:

1.
Pecah kaca
Pecah gelas
Sudah baca
Harap balas

2.
Pecah kaca
Pecah tong
Sudah baca
Harap gantung

Hehehhe... I loved getting kad Raya! (I still do! :-))) And of course with those pantuns in the kad Raya, you kinda have to send a card back to the sender.

We used to count the number of kad Raya we received, and compare with friends – who received the most. And of course, who gave us those cards. A sign of popularity, perhaps? At that time, if anyone of received a kad Raya from a senior, it definitely meant you're a somebody sampaikan senior pun notice. (Aiyoh, what do you expect? This was primary school! Those were the world we lived in... ;-Þ)
Another competition was to see who can fast the most number of days. Well, considering the canteen is just a few metres away, and the ice-cream man was loyally standing near the place we waited for the school bus, to buka puasa in the middle of the day was really a temptation with capital T.

And, of course, on the first Raya day itself, I don't think I was at home a lot. Busy visiting neighbouring houses and collecting Raya packets with duit Raya inside.
And after Raya, it was back to school, and another competition took place: "Who received the most duit Raya?"
Some friends would always always tell me that they went back to kampung and received duit Raya from the Mak Long, Pak Ngah, Mak Su, auntie this, uncle that...
And me? Abah has one younger brother, and Mak has one younger sister. Well, you can guess who NEVER won the "who received the most duit Raya" competition ;-Þ

Ahhh... those were the wonderful primary school years. What fun, eh?

But once I started the secondary school, somehow all those excitement (about getting kad Raya and visiting neighbours to collect duit Raya) started to fade away and eventually ceased to exist.

***

Eventhough I'm working today, I don't mind it so much, 'cause I have a facial appointment to look forward to this afternoon. What bliss... to make it a perfect relaxation I only need a full body massage. Hmm, yes I definitely should get one. Perhaps after Raya I ought to spoil myself. :-))

Happy weekend, everyone!