UK Visa for our Indonesian maid

We are spending Syawal in the UK again this year and we're bringing Nur along. Nur is our maid of 7 years and has been a faithful, reliable and trustworthy maid. We thought we'd reward her with this trip. She couldn't believe her ears when we told her.. haha.

And so after purchasing her ticket, we set out on Google to apply for her Visa. This is one of the moments you are truly grateful for being a Malaysian. You don't need a Visa! Well yes you do, but only the visa-on-arrival types, where you fill up a white card in the flight itself. I think it has something to do with us being a Commonwealth country or something.

For Indonesians however, it is a different story. And for an Indonesian who is employed under you, it is a whole different ball game altogether.

First we headed on to this website https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/ and created an account.
Log in and start filling up the multiple pages of info. Fuh penat I tell you.
Apply under Domestic Worker in a Household category.
Fee: USD491.00 (I know)
Pay and set an appointment for submission.
Visa processing center is Manila. (Don't ask me why)

Note: We argued that she is on holiday with us and therefore wanted to apply for a General Tourist Visa (which is a lot cheaper). Unfortunately, the permit on her passport has `maid' written all over it. So nope. On to plan B, which is the above.

Prepare all the documents, and mind you they are a lot; not leaving a single sheet, or a single signature behind, because if you do, you are made to turn back and get it. We had a few misses, and therefore were turned away several times. Nangis! If they say 6 months bank statements, don't pandai-pandai nak buat 3 months punya. You will regret it. Big time.

And omg the documents were a pile! I kid you not.

• Passport
• One Photograph
• Evidence of your permission to be in the country where you are staying – the Work Permit
• Previous passports
• Evidence of marital status. If single – no documents required
• Evidence of current employment – letter from employer
• a.       Detailing salary
• b.      That employer is giving leave for you to take the holiday
• and that the employer is fully responsible for your wellbeing
• Work Agreement
• Bank statements or bank book
• Bank letter or bank certificates
• Payslips
• Details of travel documents – flight tickets. Hotel bookings. 
• Accommodation with letter from the person you will be staying with in UK. 

I told you!

The Visa Application Centre is only open 8am-2pm, so time is very, very limited. We live in Melaka so the number of running back and forth that we have to do... well let's just say it's not fun.

So we finally submitted everything on 30th May. The good thing about them checking thoroughly during submission and getting all documents perfectly done is because during processing,  the documents should speak for themselves. And they did.

And on 17 June, we received this email.

No word whether it was approved or not. So we waited some more.
And the very next day, we got a phone call asking us to collect the documents, with this email.

So today we went to collect the documents and syukur alhamdulillah! She is granted multiple entry to the UK for 6 months. Senyum sampai ke telinga cik kak kita.

Now all there is left is to count down to D-Day! Yay!

Holy Smokes

Has it really been 2 years? Ohmygosh. I want to come back. Please. Let me come back.
I want to start writing again.

I'm done

At exactly one year after breastfeeding and pumping, I regretfully have to throw in the towel. This post is to remember those moments by.

This is bought brand new, solely for my breastmilk.

Put together in a ziplock bag and label by month.

The last few.. sob sob

Arrange this way in the freezer.. there was a time when I got 2 layers of this.

This is it

Another angle

And this is why I stopped. I was pumping blood for nearly a month and they just wouldn't heal. After a month, I gave up and took it as a sign.

Smart Aleck

I was watching the home-deco tv program "Find Your Style" yesterday with my daughters when a conversation erupted.

Me: *sigh* Everything looks so good there.
Sufya: So you found your style?
(^_^)

10 mins later...

Me: Suddenly I feel that everything in this house is ugly.
Sufya: So change it.
Me: It will be expensive.
Sufya: I meant the channel Ma. Change the channel.
Hmmph...!

Since when did you grow up and become such a wise-cracking joker??

My love is like a red, red rose

I recently had this delivered for someone dear to me and realized I would have loved to receive surprise flowers on my own. I told my husband once before - way back when - that he needn't bother buying flowers for me, I find them too impractical; gorgeous, expensive.. but goes straight into the trash can the next day.

Damn that day! Hehe. True enough, till this day, not a single stalk has come my way. Why do men have to take everything so literally?

Anyway, that aside, I've realized a few things when it comes to flowers.

1. A bed of roses, long-stemmed, arranged in a box, is very, very elegant.
2. Roses must be red. They're majestic, royal and dripping with luxury. The other colours are just wannabe roses.. they just don't quite cut it. (Okay, maybe champagne white is a close second)
3. Never underestimate the power of what flowers can do to pick up your day. The cheer is almost instant.
4. And lastly,...

 this one will do, thank you very much ^_^

One down

I am sad. After 4 months of life, my Ameda Lactaline is broken.
I was happily pumping away yesterday, when suddenly there was no suction. The light was on but suction was gone.

Now I'm packing it to send to a Mr. Tan, the authorised service person in Malaysia and enjoy my one-year warranty on the pump.

Hope it comes back all brand new.

Miss it already :-(

My Wipes

I pump on the road a lot. And I mean, a lot.

That's why I need a lot of pumps, I guess, so it's easy for me to grab and go and leave one waiting at home for me. And mostly, my pumping activities take place in my car. It helps that I drive a SUV so I'm higher than most people.. haha.. and they can't see what mischief I'm up to.

When you pump on the road a lot, most of the times it's not the most convenient way to bring the liquid cleanser, wash the pump parts with runny water and shake it off/towel-dry/wait for it to dry for the next session.

I found the best way is to use baby wipes to wipe the residue dry. But beware, not all wipes will fit the bill.

It has to be alcohol-free and food grade so that when milk comes into contact with it, it's fine.

I used to use this

but they're pretty expensive in Malaysia.. about RM70 for 24 pieces. So I started looking for alternatives and found this.

They're wonderful! and for just RM10 for 30 pieces.. they're a much better bargain.
But it wasn't until I stumbled upon these a few weeks ago that I felt like hitting the jackpot. Check it out!

They are from Pigeon - called Hand and Mouth Wipes - alcohol-free and 100% Food Grade Ingredients and can even be used to wipe fruits and vegetables before feeding to baby. How cool is that? And they cost RM20 for 2 packs of 60 wipes each. I am ecstatic. Heheh..

So you guys, get your Pigeon Hand and Mouth wipes and a mesh bag like this

Just wipe off and air-dry in here for the next pumping round on the road and save the proper washing for home later (^_^)

I love all my pumpsss!!!!!

Having said that, I just offered a friend if she would like to buy one of them. I try to rotate using them as best I can, still, I really, really don't need 3 double electric pumps. My manual pump is collecting webs as we speak too.

When she asked which one I was selling, I couldn't answer.

And then I realized I'd rather not part with any of them..no, no, no.. sob sob!

So Ain, if you're reading this, when the time comes that you need to buy a second breastpump, ask me again and I might be able to answer then. But I'm not ready now.. and no guarantees then as well actually... huhu..

If you've had a breastpump before, you'll understand this ridiculous attachment with it.

So until then, happy pumping everyone.. I know I am..! ;-)

Penantian itu suatu penyiksaan

Ok, ok.. I'll tell you. ( As if you don't know already.. huhu )

I bought another breastpump (^_^).. *silence*

Huhuhu.. am I pathetic to you?

Forget handbags, forget shoes, THIS is the flavour of the year. Breastpumps.

But no, it's not just another breastpump. I bought THE ULTIMATE BREASTPUMP - the mother of all breastpumps, the queen bee, the big kahuna.

The Medela Freestyle.

I mentioned before that due to some reasons I probably will not buy this pump, but *alas!* i succumbed to my curiosity and willpower to resist.

Like a teenage mad crush, I just couldn't get it out of my head.

Before I knew it, I was bidding at Ebay US and won.

In my defense, I got it cheaper that Malaysian prices. It'll arrive in 2 weeks when a dear cousin brings it home for me.

*Note: 15 May 2010 (oooh.. i cannot wait...!!!!!)

If you haven't heard of it before, here are some pictures.

The actual pump is only slightly bigger than your palm and it runs on built-in batteries (the type your handphone has) AND electricity. Super, super mobile.

I now own the top 3 most powerful breastpumps in the world. ..! (^_^)

Can't wait in 2 weeks time when this new baby joins the family.

In the meantime, here's the whole gang;

Eldest sister - Mamivac Lactive

Second sister - Ameda Lactaline

Next sister, my manual Mamivac Easy - very underused, mostly for emergencies and quick, short getaways only.

Adik bongsu (arriving soon) - Medela Freestyle

Medela Freestyle, mummy's waiting for youuuu...

I LOVE my kids..!!! (^_^)

Note to self: You're done, after this, ya hear??.. Huhu..

Twisted

A twisted ankle but never a twisted mind.
A limping foot but never a limping spirit.
A few days of downtime will not paralyse me.. I will be back..! Renewed and supercharged!!

In the meantime... ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow