As It Is

What could have been, have not

2012-01-17T07:27:00.002+08:00

That was the FB status I shared yesterday.

I lost the child, yea, just a 7week old foetus, to be exact, still.. he/she could have been.. Allah knows best..

Thankfully, I wasn't expecting and it was a surprise news when I got to know about the pregnancy last week. The sign was there, my growing tummy which I thought was because I stopped breastfeed Mazwin.. And thankfully too, it happen at early weeks. What if I've started to love more of the baby at 4 months? 5 months?

We brought back the specimen of the foetus and plan to bury them at the same place we buried Muiz & Mazwin's placenta at my father's house. The spot is where Papa planted the banana tree given by Arwah Ayah (my father in-law). It's Pisang Tanduk. And interestingly, the tree bear fruits at each time of my children's birth. This time, it's bearing two sets of bananas. Not sure what it meant..

So, this time shall pass.
As the doctor said, Cuba lagi :]

At it again.. with guilt

2011-02-10T21:43:00.002+08:00

I made up my mind on the offer and decided to stay with my current company.

So, I made a call to my former boss to inform the matter but couldn't get hold of him and so, sms him my decision, not wanting him to wait. I received his reply, one of which about his birthday today. I feel so bad for doing so.

Frankly speaking the pull factor was his knowledge about the area i'm doing, bonds.. and he is kind of objective in his decision making, which makes work easily done.

My decision this time.. better be good!

Decision please...

2011-01-10T00:45:00.004+08:00

I'm at it again.. seems like this is my cycle every 2 years...

I received a call last Friday about an offer.. Most probably, will get the formal call soon this week and it's time to decide.

I'm not sure how to decide.
I'm happy with what I do now,
yet I think that the offer is an opportunity for me
to try something new and
to expand my horizon (not that I'm short of it at my current place).
I also like the idea of transferring my knowledge and
in a way, develop the industry that I'm in.
It's a dynamic market, young & growing..
At the same time, I have the opportunity to expand my exposure to the global market at my current place,
with the plan that my new boss has..

Basically, i like both..
so, it's a matter of choosing one,
not that the other is better than the other ones.

Yes, it's time to decide...

Moments to be cherished 90DML

2010-11-20T23:45:00.003+08:00

In a week time, I'll be back into the workforce...

Happy, content, satisfied is what i can say about being at home.. spending time with my baby, my son and my parents at home.. Muiz certainly happy that his mother send him to school everyday, he insisted that i send & pick him up instead of his tokpa and eyang.. and sometimes, we would go to McD drive thru to buy his fries or sundae..

So, to sum it all, here's are the moments I will cherish about my 2010 90days ML..
- Breakfast with Mak & Papa; I would buy nasi lemak/roti canai plus the usual newspaper after sending Muiz to school.. We chatted a lot, that our breakfast normally lasted for at least an hour...
- Shopping with Mak & Papa with Muiz, Mazwin & Ana sometimes tag along.. This is something that I have not done for a long time.
- Oh yea.. spa session with Ozleen sisters, my cousin. Since Data was also on maternity leave, she asked me whether I want to join them, which i did..
- Online shopping, at least for the last couple of weeks, I've bought more than 10 scarves, some shirts, and some beauty product like pearl body scrub... oh yea.. I also bought my bengkung online.. imagine the poslaju postman came to my house like every other day.. heheh..
- Bathing Mazwin with Mak.. Mak is good at holding & bathing Mazwin.. I was only helping when Mazwin was done with her Eyang moment, putting on her baby suit & diaper..
- I showed Mak & Papa some interesting page online, that at certain point, they're the main user of my laptop..
- Survey survey for new home; which is still in progress..
- Best of all, Mazwin is still on fully breast feeding... this is also one of my best achievement, during the 1st month, I read a lot online about breastfeeding, like how to increase milk supply, the correct way to latch, store milk, etc.. yea.. the internet is basically by lactation counselor.. thanks to some wonderful BF mom who blog about their experience, which inspire me to continue trying.. and yea it work..

I must thank Hubby for letting me to stay at my parents'house during the day..

Should i go for another baby? For that 90days,. why not?? ;) of course.. in another 1 or 2 years lah..

I had a successful VBAC with a 3.5 kilos baby!

2010-10-07T16:13:00.005+08:00

Talk about 2nd pregnancy.. just to share my experience...

I read a lot before the due date,,, You see, i want a normal delivery, since i had a half way normal delivery which ended at the operation theater for c-section during my first..

So happen the second baby was considered quite heavy & big, my gynae proposed for induction at 38th week, i.e. while the baby weight is still suitable for normal delivery. Wanting to be more well equipped this time around, i surfed the net a lot, pregnancy websites, youtube, blogs --> reading about other mothers' experience with their induced delivery or those who have had VBAC,, yes, VBAC, virginal birth after caesarian., i also asked around from relatives and friends,, And the conclusion was an induced labour is only feasible if the baby's head is engaged as a prolonged labour may result to uterine repture as a c-sect scar at the uterine is more fragile to go through a long contraction .. if the uterine is ruptured, the labour may end up into a caesarian labour..

Not wanting another emergency c-sect delivery, i made up my mind that i'll onlu proceed with the induced labour if and only if the baby head's is engaged.. so, i postponed the date during each appointment with the gynae 3 times within 2 weeks.. i informed my gynae that i want a normal birth, not because of the high cost of caesarian but because i want to conceive again, without having to wait another 2 years like what i did after my first labour, which ended up to 4 years...

Towards the 39th week, my MIL helped by getting air selusuh from her relative which meant to speed up the labour, i also did more physical activities like cleaning up the house, walked a lot, and prayed for a successful VBAC.. interestingly, reading the Quran did wonders, as i started to feel my baby pushing herself down while reading the Quran, my favourite surah, Yassin and Mukminun.. i read after Subuh, and continued to feel her hard movement throughout the day that i just have to sms hubby who was with my MIL to her hometown, some 90km away about it, just in case, it happens anytime soon.. the next morning was the appointment with the gynae which also supposed to be the scheduled induced labour date,. Alhamdulillah, the gynae found that the baby has engaged and i was ready for labour. She said i can wait for another day... i was already convinced that the labour will happen very soon, as i already felt the mild contraction getting more frequent...

So, on THE day,
i entered the labour room at 10am,
heavy contraction started at about 1pm, and
yay! my baby was delivered at about 4pm..
and it was a VBAC..

Well, all the research about VBAC was worthwhile,,, am happy that i sticked to my decision to wait long enough for a successful VBAC.. guess, instinct helps too yea..?

Maid

2010-10-07T16:03:00.003+08:00

I just got a maid to help me with housework. She came early this week.
So far, she has been ok... a good part is that she can handle my baby well, as my baby cries less when the maid take care of her.. the maid has 2 children and she was working as a child care taker back at her home, guess, experience helps..

And i miss my previous maid too.. she's good in the sense u like that she teaches my son ABC, 1-2-3, etc... she was previously working in a kindie before getting married.. my previous maid did sms me last week, informing that she wants to work but no one is around to take care of her daughter and her house since her husband works in another town.. i told her maybe takde rezeki,, and maybe next time..

Despite having a good help, as always, i wish i don't have to take a maid at all.. i love to take care of my family and housework on my own,, i enjoy taking care of my children.. i love staying at home, to cook for my family, to help with schoolwoks (despite, loving my work too... )

maybe, in few years time, ada rezeki, i can work on my own, from home, and see my children grows with my own kudrat... insya Allah...

My new little one...

2010-10-04T14:47:00.004+08:00

It's been a long time since i ever write anything here... many things happens, the most wonderful one is the birth of our first daughter early of last month..

Mazwin
She was born in the month of Ramadhan, before Asar prayer. Her looks, reminds me of her brother, Muiz, born 4 years ago. They somehow look 90% alike. Talk about siblings, huh :)...

I like how she cries when she wants her milk, her cries sounds ladylike, heheh,, cute.. a polite cries asking for feed..

The first few weeks ain't easy for me. I haven't been doing this for the last years, you know, waking up in the middle of the night for night feeding, soothing a baby.. now.. am getting used of it already, i love to feed her..

oh yea.. i fully breastfeed my baby this time.. successfully.. so far already pass the 1 month.. this came about after much studying and learning from friends.. i hope i can continue as long as i can.. i dare not set a target.. just go with the flow.. huh?

and how's my Muiz?
I envy my son, 4 year old boy.. am sure, things has changed a lot since his sister was born.. i can't read storybook to him every night before bedtime, i spend less time with him, yet, he has not complained or merajuk.. Muiz helps me to entertain Mazwin shen she cries as i change her nappies.. he likes to talk to his baby sister.. once, i cried knowing how beautiful he has behaved, how giving he has been to his sister and especially me, despite getting less from me..

i'm still learning how to manage my attention to both of them.. definitely, i love them both, so much..

Happiness

2010-02-25T19:22:00.007+08:00

Sometimes, it cross my mind, whether anyone who read my blog post would feel offended if i wrote something good about my life.

I always write about my family members,
sometimes about those whom I will never ever be able to meet again and
sometimes about the moments I was enjoying with those around me.
I know, of some who have lost their family members, for what ever reason.
And if they read this, I could have make them feel incomplete and worst, sad.

I'm sorry if I do,
Trust me, I don't think life is a bed of roses,
Just like to cherish the good things I have gone through,
appreciating what i have now,
while it last.

In malay proverb,
hidup kita bak putaran roda,
kadang kadang kita di atas,
kadang kadang kita di bawah.

Happiness belongs to everybody, in what ever form they are.

My house is blooming yellow!

2010-02-25T18:51:00.003+08:00

The yellow blooms that colours my house sunny shade,
is an old tree,
as old as the house
and is situated just outside of my house.

The big tree provides cooling shade to the house
because a couple of the branches are bended into our compound area...
so, it's like having a big umbrella
covering us from hot sun or drizzling rains.

At this time of 'spring',
bees are buzzing around the tree
sucking into the small flowers,
that colours the green tree to yellow.

Once, we had to call the firemen
to remove a group of bees
making a hive on top of the tree,
proving such cosy place it is.

So, yellow at the rooftop,
yellow on the cars,
yellow at the lawn,
As bright as our happy family!

=)

My Top Post - Cara nak lanjutkan permit kerja maid

2010-02-24T18:56:00.006+08:00

As of today, about 107 clicked on my 'Maid' post.

I created the post more for my future reference, though.

And now, I don't have a maid.
Yep, my maid went back to her hometown, which I suspected due to her husband persistent request.

My maid extended 1 year contract with me on her will,
and with that, she didn't even went back to her hometown
after her 1st 2-year contract ended,
even though i insisted so.

When she renewed the contract,
she didn't inform her husband and family about such intention,
even when i asked her so.

Reason, she said,
she's afraid they will not allow her to come back to work in Malaysia.

We increased her pay by 25% when she renewed her contract.

She wanted to work as she wants to save money for her children's education.
She wanted her son to have the opportunity to study at technical school because of her son's interest and the school fees is quite substantial.

Well, she was with me for about 3 months after she renewed her contract when she abruptly request to go back to her hometown after she called up her husband on that one particular day. She said she will come back after 2 months break. As I have suspected, she didn't.

I miss her, especially all the helps. Then again, being a mother myself, I don't have the heart to see her separating from her family especially her growing children, going into teen years. She took care of my son very well. Not just that, she was also my son's teacher, at her will, taught my son ABC, 1-2-3, Alif Ba Ta, colours, and also to speak. She enjoys nurturing kids, I noticed, because she not only did that to my son but also to my nephews and nieces.

I now need a maid. I'm not sure how to start again.

http://as-baizura.blogspot.com/2008/12/suka-maid-sekarang-proses-nak-lanjutkan.html

Wedding No. 2

2010-02-23T19:14:00.002+08:00

My family just done with my sister’s wedding last weekend. Second kenduri kawin in our small family. Mine was 5 years ago, and we’re about to celebrate our anniversary soon.

The whole 3 days weekend was full pact. Nikah was on Friday. Our side’s wedding reception was on Saturday night and the groom’s family reception was on Sunday night.

Tiring? Yes.

Enjoyed? Yes.

But most of all, I feel so so thankful that sedara mara came over to help us out on preparation and on the kenduri itself.

Cik Ani, came to our house, straight from her office, almost everyday about 1 or 2 weeks before the kenduri. And she stays on the other side of KL. Up to the point that even when she didn’t came, I thought she was around on that particular day, heheh..

Hak, came over as and when Papa asked him. With his help, our house was well ‘prim & proper’ for the ‘show’. He painted the room with Abang, in 1 day, then painted outside in 1 day too. Very quick,they were. He also helped out during the reception, taking care of the sound system, and Papa’s music selection.

Anum, another cousin, with her husband, Sham does what she does best, the pelamin. The pelamin was beautiful with blooming roses in white and pastel pink. Not just that, she also helped out on the hantaran, and gifts.

Ata & Zulu, as usual, does the final touch and decoration on the hantaran for a couple of days before kenduri. She took leave for 3 days to help out.

Auntie Timah, with the VIP bunga pahar and flower decoration for the main table.

Mak Ngah with the soto ayam, which add to our collection of soto the night before nikah day, on top of Ali’s soto.

Abang Adi, got an ad hoc task, as the family photographer with Abang, to capture personal momentos throughout the family gatherings. He spent a considerable time, before the reception to prepare the photo slides. How thoughtful.

Alim, Palin, Cik Ina, are also the volunteered photographers, that we ended up having hundreds of photos for remembrance.

All the cousins, on bunga manggar.

Tom Som, brought frozen kuih, which she made herself to our house. Just as she touched down to Subang airport, she came to our house, to deliver them.

Kakna, Kak Nisah, Zulu, Alim, Cik Bom, Cik Ina, Zeti, Arni, were pretty much great usherers.

Again, Anum, invited make up artist for us all during the reception. We ended up having 5 make up artist that night for a bunch of sisters, nieces and aunties. Yea, girls just wanna have fun. 

My siblings, toksah cakaplaa..

Zura, the bride, was pretty much busy, every other day. It was amazing, her hidden talent discovered. Hehe.. she made lovely bunga pahar, made from crystal. As beautiful as those sold at the shop at a quarter of the shop price.

Abang, does what we all can not do, all those heavy duty task.

Ana, a born creative person, also does the bunga pahar, offering ideas. She has such a delicate hands, like Zura.

Aza, basically, has a temporary job, paid with love, of course, heheh, being almost the personal assistant and multi tasker for Zura.

Papa & Mama, the main wedding planner, has done well, organising & co ordinating.

Another best part, everyone from all over Klang valley, came on time for the groom’s wedding reception to make sure that the rombongan arrive as schedule.

Oh yea, the surprise visit on Nikah day. They are my granduncle and grandaunt who could not make it for the wedding reception and offered to come over to the house, even with their tight schedule. Such gesture, made it even more memorable.

There’s so many sedara mara to mention. Kalau terbaca ni, suatu hari nanti, please know… I just feel lucky to have you people. I really really do.

And yes, I have a younger brother now. How it feels like? Erm, let’s see,, hehehe..

So, when’s the next? *Wink*

Your prayer...

2010-02-02T16:21:00.002+08:00

Dear Uncle,

You may have left close 2 decades ago,
but what you wrote long long time ago which I read from your past article...
about how you prayed every night
that your family and loved ones will live long
so that you don’t have to feel the sorrow of a passing again,
having experienced it as early as at a tender age of 4..
makes me wonder
that for 16 years after 22 Feb 1992,
we never lost anyone within the family until only 2 years ago..
how ironic… should I thank you for your prayer… ?

And here I am still missing you…

Can someone do things for me instead of me doing things for myself... ?

2009-11-08T22:56:00.004+08:00

I can't wait for December...

I need a real break... exhausted...
just want to break free, not having to be responsible about anything,
and instead to just think about me.

It's just endless both at work and at home.
Maybe I should start choose either one.
I can't have the best of both worlds.

Weekend is as busy as weekdays,
washing & hanging & folding the clothes,
cooking,
cleaning the fridge,
shopping at wet market and hypermarket...
vacuuming, endless.

The past couple of weeks,
i left the clothes unfold after drying them,
only ironing my office attire in the morning, one clothes per day,
i didn't clean my bathroomn..
i ignored the dust on the table..
the bedroom was not vacuumed for a month,
all this, so that i have more time to just lay on the sofa and watch tv or spend time with my family or read a book or magazine..

Can someone do things for me instead of me doing things for myself... ?

How has euphoric & passionate love took me away out of my birdnest.

2009-10-13T19:09:00.003+08:00

Last night, in the middle of the night at my home, I cried and wept.

I thought about what has brought me to what I am now,
being married and stay on my own,
away from the comfy house and loving place
where I grew up and lived with dearest people in my life for 26 years!

It has been 3 years, the last time I slept at my parents' home was when my son was 9 months. I've never slept at my birdnest ever since, not even during Raya.

Yes, love, my then new found love
has brought me courage to move out and be independent and
live with my new young family whom I equally love.

When I was moving out, it was not much because I want to get out from the house.
Instead, I was thinking that my expanding family (additional 2) may be too full for the house of 7. I was thinking that my siblings would love to have their own room, things like that.

I miss my childhood days.
Me, Abang, Zura, Ana & Aza, I remembered, stayed up late until 2 -3 am, doing puzzles.
When we were in primary school, when we started to sleep in our room instead of our parents, we tested ourselves on staying up until morning, that one, with Zura, Ana and maybe Aza, although she was still small. To do that, by 4 am, we would go down and made some coffee. and Throughout the night, at times when there were no Astro and internet, we listened to the radio, singing, or chatting about loads of stuff. Those are beautiful moments I love to remember until old. These memories can just lift up my spirit, to be thankful about how I;ve grown up with my brother and sisters. I've never get bored of them, probably that's why I don't bother much about going out with friends at that time, as I was already having so much fun with my siblings.

I wonder how my sisters felt when I started to stay at boarding school. I really wonder, whether they're sad. Because, even though I complain a lot about staying at boarding school, I hardly calls them, asking how they've been. And they probably started to complain about how their weekends were taken away 2 times a month, to visit me, about 100km away from home.

I miss spending time with my brother and sisters.
I miss sleeping with them in a room, having sisters chat.
I miss playing video games with my brother, you know, Mario brothers and that olympic game on the PC, during school holidays.

How we have grown up and spending less time with each other.

If i can turn back time, I would love to do all these again with them!

and Yes, I do love my hubby and son.
That's the reason why, I'm now here.

Energy of Pregnant Ladies

2009-10-02T12:59:00.003+08:00

Something I noticed about pregnant ladies and about me when I was pregnant.

Pregnant ladies have high emotional energy,
they're expressive more than usual,
they're highly sensitive,
they go all out in what they believe in.
(and when I said they, yes, i was one :) )

Could it be because of her protective nature?
Could be.

Why I'm saying this?
Today, I attended a meeting and saw one lady whom I normally met in the past meetings. She was quite loud in the previous meetings, wanting every detail to be confirmed and clarified up to tiny little information, some of which I already knew. So, today, explain it all when I saw her entering the room, wearing maternity cloths.. No wonder, that's why... I thought.

I was one too. I was quite vocal when I was pregnant and mind you, I was at that time, considered new in the industry. In one EGM, about 4 months of my new job, I actually stood up in front of 20+ people (some are seniors, in front of the CEO of the company seeking approval from us) to clarify one issue which I think important to everyone. People must be wondering who was that pregnant lady, heheh. Even though what I highlighted was not in favour of the company, I still receive hari raya card every year from them. They probably remember me for that, huh? Hopefully in positive way.. hehhe

So, that's the power of pregnant ladies, when put into good intention..

So, whenever a pregnant ladies make a statement,
which sometimes harsh, yes, extraordinary than normal people would do,
I prefer to tolerate rather than criticise
but again only if I knew they're pregnant lah. ;)

- still vocal & expressive, if I want to -

Raya 2009

2009-09-28T12:51:00.003+08:00

So, how's my Raya this time around?

Well, great and... & still great.. heheh..

To sum it up:

I've not failed to be'Raya' every night since the 1st raya.
Went to aunties' house, grandaunt's house, cousin's house, you name it.
It's either from my side or hubby side.
Seems that both of our family celebrate Raya the same way,
where most are now in KL for 1st Hari Raya.
We only went back to hometown on 2nd or 3rd Raya day.
So, we did 1 round of Klang Valley from Bangsar to Puchong, or from Keramat to Bangi..
Last night, was at my house. Cooked a simple meal though for my parents & siblings.
My close friend Aida & her family were the 1st Raya guest at my house this year, yesterday.

With highways, a 90km is just an hour away
And we can go back home on the same day.
We went to Temerloh, spent a day.
We also went to Serendah, drive there at 8pm, and return home at 2 am for an hour trip..

Muiz & Bunga Api
On 4th Raya at 9.00 pm, Muiz wants to play firecrackers.
We just got back from an aunt's house in Puchong and
we didn't have stocks of bunga api and
we can't find any around our area.
We can only think of Keramat, a stall around my in law's neighbourhouud.
So, with DUKE, we arrived to Keramat within 15 minutes.
Muiz played with his cousin only to stop at 12 am.
And we arrived home at 2 pm..
It's kinda cute to see how my son has grown up.
Seriously, we never thought of bunga api at all before Raya.
He did played with bunga api last year.
This year, the 1st day, kind of kaku.
And last night, well.. siap posing posing ala kungfu with the bunga api pointed to the sky.. hehe..

Pusara Ayah & Kala Shida
The 1st raya, was at my in'law.
So, we visited Ayah's grave. Kala Shida is also buried there.
That was the 1st time for me to visit Kala Shida's grave on Hari Raya.
And yea... overwhelmed, tears just kept on flowing as I recited Fatihah, I miss her a lot. She has always been part of my Raya back then... my baju kurung, kuih raya, buka puasa, hmm...

Actually, there's lot more to talk about..

I'll continue later...
Do check out ok...

Going out for Open House .. tadaa!

Hamper Raya

2009-09-15T11:15:00.003+08:00

Raya is just around the corner.

Yes this year's raya will definitely be different from last year, for those who know why.

So, I'm going to make the best of this year. What more, my sis-in-law is expecting very very soon. I suggest she deliver on 20-09-2009, only to realise today that it is Raya day and which doctor wants to do a c-section on that day, when it can be planned. :)

Like every other raya, I would buy cookies to Mak & Umi.
To make it even more special, I pack all the cookies & goodies in a hamper instead of the usual red orange plastic bags.
On Go Green mood, I opt for a reusable shopping bag.

Tesco has this nice wooven shopping bag in natural beige colour with pictures of red ladybirds crawling across the bag.
The handle, in green, match perfectly with the Raya theme.
Yes, a 'Green' way of packaging :)

So what's inside, yes, I'll be a little bit more creative this year.
Besides kuih raya, which I bought mostly for them, I added
nice tissue box,
Glade's flower scented air freshener spray,
Palmolive honey hand wash foam, nice olive green coloured cream,
Lipton's instant 3-in-1 tea and
Cadbury chocolates and not to forget
a pink round tupperware container.

Muiz is helpful in helping me arranging those stuffs into the ladybird bag.

Yes, we are excited to show Mak & Umi on our lovely hamper...

And yes, I'm in the mood for Raya!

Complacency

2009-09-14T16:47:00.002+08:00

I find some people are complacent with the work they do.

Really, do they bother about keberkatan of their paycheck?

And this is the same people who complain about their pay...

...Sigh..

Buka Puasa @ Khala Cikwa & then I miss Khala Shida

2009-09-14T12:09:00.003+08:00

Sabtu lepas iftar dekat rumah Khala Cikwa.
Belajar dari bedtime storybook Muiz, dari pagi dah mula siapkan lauk untuk bawak ke sana. Pagi pergi pasar, sempat beli kuih raya untuk mak & umi. Sambil tu, stock up barang dapur untuk minggu raya, in case orang datang rumah..

Anyway, memang sibuk. Balik dari pasar, terus masuk dapur, terus masak, sampai pukul 3.00 ptg. Buat daging padprik, teringin sbb penah buat sekali sedap, sampai ingat ke hari ni :)

Pulul 3.30 dah nak bertolak dgn mak, papa, zura. So, bertambah sibuk bersiap, dapat rehat, bila masuk kereta je.

Sampai rumah Khala, me and Mak and Zura singgah ke Nilai, survey bunga pahar.. dekat sejam kut.. balik rumah Khala, just nice, lagi 15 minit waktu berbuka.. dapat jumpa sedara mara Khalo Yusof, yg dah lama tak jumpa, ada 2 anak sedara Khalo, dah besar panjang, sampai tak kenal.. jumpa kak noli, anak anak dia dulu, toddler je, sekarang, dah macam darjah 6 ke atas... betapa lamanye.. kitorang tak jumpa.. sbb Khala duk kat UK lama, more than 5 years, rasanye.. so .. tak berkesempatan berjumpa..

My family, sedara sebelah Khala Cikwa, selain my small family members, yg datang, Khalo Othman, Anum, Azimah, Kak Nisah and Family, Abg Adi and family. Anak Abg Adi pun dah besar panjang.. Last jumpa, masa i kawin, 5 years ago..

Bila nak berbuka, lauk pauk punyalaa banyak.. sampai penuh meja yg 8-seater tu.. semua ada, ikan bakar, kari kepala ikan, sotong kicap, udang goreng, ayam percik, kerang bakar, daging padprik, rendang daging, pulut kuning, keropok, bubur lambuk, sayur.. hmm.. so makan, semua sikit sikit..

Lepas makan, solat, tgk tv, sambil gather around, i tak sempat pun nak borak panjang with the rest, sbb kena jadi dayang Ali Muiz, I just have to be next to him wherever he goes,, so, sepanjang masa depan tv, tgk upin & ipin, kungfu panda (Muiz' favourite) and the cinderella story..with all the kids, 3 boys and 1 girl of Kak Nisah's, hostess daughter, Nurul, Athirah & Aniq of Abg Adi's, and later, sedara Khalo Yusof pun join sama..

The ladies, sibuk borak dekat meja makan, sempat join 2 mnit je kut.. lari sekejap dari Muiz, kata nak cari Ayah dia (yg sebenarnya dah keluar pegi tarawih kat surau with the rest of the guys).. heheh..

Anyhow, masa nak balik, terasa bezanya buka puasa kali ni... kali terakhir buka puasa kat rumah Khala, ada Khala Shida, arwah... which I consider, as close as my second mom... Khala Shida pergi tahun 2000, 2 minggu sebelum bulan puasa sebelum Tokba menyusul, 2 minggu lepas tu di bulan puasa.. Dulu, kalau ada Khala Shida, lauk lauk yg Khala Shida bawak,, semua sedap je.. makaroni bakar, egg tart (yg sampai sekarang tak jumpa yg sesedap egg tart Khala), seri muka yg lapisan hijau dia tebal & lembut, all in perfect texture... She's a great cook, and she can sew too.. Dulu, semua baju raya, Khala Shida yg buatkan, bila I dah besar sikit, I just need to finish up jahit sembat kat baju.. Masa mula mula Khala dah pegi.. jenuh nak cari tailor..

Whatever she does, she'll do it right,, kalau raya pun, Khala Shida jual kuih raya, so, we never buy from outside, it's either from her or we made ourselves.. and I'll still remember the taste & soft texture of the blueberry birthday cake and cream puff she made for my 18th birthday..

oh dear, I miss Khala Shida a lot..
I know my cousins, her 6 daughters would have miss her so much more...

Sunny Windy Sunday

2009-09-06T15:48:00.002+08:00

I love today.

Very relaxing that ironing task becomes a dance on a sunday afternoon, heheh..

In the morning, I get to do some weeding & clearing the lawn, preparing the garden for Raya, of course.

Then, we have few ulam raja just grown all over the garden.. I got an idea on how we will not accidentally step on this healthy salad..

my son's old bottle cover,
the ones where we put the sucking teat on...
we have few of them which initially i threw in my son's toy bag for him to play,
which instead was put back on his bottle drainer..
yep, this son of mine who likes things to be in order,,,
he says, bottle stuff should be where it belongs, his bottle drainer..

they're colourful and bright,, so, I put them on the baby ulam raja plant..

then, I did some laundry today, and place the dryer at the centre of the flower garden,, splendid, with the bright sun, windy air - very beautiful sunday..

after that, I did some ironing on our office attire while listening to the oldies station.. you feels like in the 50's and 60's era, specially without the tv on..
while i did ironing dance, my son was playing at the living room n hubby, resting upstairs..

I just love today...

Ramadhan Saya - dari dulu hingga sekarang.

2009-09-06T15:16:00.003+08:00

Masa umur 5-6 tahun,
Bulan puasa masa untuk pergi ke Bazaar Ramadhan, beli kuih muih sedap...

Dah masuk sekolah rendah,
Bulan puasa bulan untuk berpuasa,
merasa apa yg orang susah rasa sebab tak cukup makanan.
sambil tu, tengok Rumah Kedai pukul 5 :)

Di zaman sekolah menengah,
Bulan puasa bukan setakat untuk berpuasa,
tapi untuk bertarawih
dan nak dekat raya, sibuk buat 2-3 jenis kuih raya.

Sekarang...
Bulan puasa bukan lagi setakat untuk berpuasa, bertarawih,
merasa apa yg orang susah rasa atau bayar zakat fitrah.
Lebih dari itu, bulan puasa, bulan Ramadhan, bulan yg teramat istimewa untuk kita orang muslim,
Bulan yg ada malam Lailatul Qadar untuk siapa yg bertuah,
Bulan untuk mengisi harian & masa dengan amalan-amalan yg baik, yg balasan nya melebihi bulan bulan biasa...
Walaupun dah tahu, cabarannya, sekuat mana nak merealisasikan semua amalan ni...

Al Fatihah Tok Teh

2009-09-03T12:26:00.004+08:00

My Tok Teh passed away yesterday, at the age of 94.
She is the eldest sister of my Tokba, who is the second of the 5 siblings.
My Tokba passed away nine years ago, also during puasa month, to be exact, a day before Nuzul Quran.
My Tokba's siblings each has a long life, like their parents, so I was told. On average they lived more than 80 years.

I always thought of Tok Teh as this ever-smiling, friendly & soft spoken atuk.
Before Tok Bibi passed away in 2006, they were always together.
Tok Bibi also always smiled that she had this smiley wrinkle on her eyes and corner of her lips.

Tok Teh & Tok Bibi has lived together as long as I can remember. Their husbands passed away in the early 80's and I can't recall meeting them.

Tok Teh & Tok Bibi are one of the key highlights of my Raya in Kedah.
It's a must to visit them in Alor Setar, 20km away from my Tokba's home in Sungei Petani. And I always look forward for that. Whenever we go to Alor Setar, we would never miss visiting her. I like her a lot because she's very caring. She would ask about how we've been & what we do, in a soft spoken way. and she can joke around too :). She is my definition of a lady.

I would love to live like her, she take care of what she ate that even in the last time i met her few months back, I would consider her to be strong for her age. And she drinks tea or coffee in this very tiny cup. She would sip her drinks, little by little.

Since my Tokba and Tok passed away, close to 10 years ago, Tok Teh is the closest Atuk that I can have.

I will miss beraya with Tok Teh this year.

4 Sep: Just notice another relative has also written the same about Tok Teh, which you will find almost consistent with how I have describe Tok Teh.
http://rantingsbymm.blogspot.com/2009/09/rafeah-mohamad-iskandar-1915-2009.html

Urbanising my home

2009-07-20T18:15:00.002+08:00

An article in a business newspaper caught my attention.

It discuss on how my neighbouring residential slowly turning into a prime commercial address.

I've been living at my home, all my life, 3 decades to be precise, although at two different houses.

I've seen the place transform from a three closely knit residentials, with lushes of green that you have to pass through a two way 3-km federal road with greeneries on both sides of the road to reach my area.

into...
now 3 residentials each separated by three different highways of 2 lanes each to get across one another.

Many of the green hills which I used to see from my house surrrounding my residentials are now being replaced by concrete, grey condos or commercial building.

The articles talks positively in terms of business sense. About 3 current development projects which have slowly carving out the green lungs around my area.

To me, being the ulu of my kampung... hmm.. that is a sad news.

My Lifetime KPI

2009-07-14T18:59:00.001+08:00

(Riwayat al-Tirmizi)

Pada hari Kiamat nanti tidak akan berganjak kaki hamba Allah melainkan ditanya mengenai 4 perkara:

Tentang umurnya
Bagaimana ia menghabiskannya?

Tentang masa mudanya
Bagaimana ia dihabiskan?

Tentang hartanya
Dari mana ia dapat dan di mana ia dibelanjakan ?

Tentang ilmunya
Apa yang dia gunakan dengannya?

Frankly speaking, I'm not sure how I have fared.
In denial probably...

Muiz & Mama Just Wanna Have Fun!

2009-07-05T10:16:00.003+08:00

Yesterday, Ali has to go to work.
So, since it's Saturday,
and we basically have no real plan,
I decided to bring along Muiz and paint the town red.

Tudung @ Ampang Park
So, our first stop was Ampang Park.
I nak beli tudung baru,
Sebab: rasa macam asyik pakai tudung sama je week in week out.
Muiz ok je, walaupun shopping barang macam ni bukan nye ada kaitan dengan dia.
I practise what a colleague told me.
In the car before we reached Ampang Park, I told Muiz that we want to go shopping.
I asked him what he wants to do?
Muiz said that he wants to go to taman dalam kedai - indoor playground, that's what it is. Yep, Muiz called playground, taman. :)
So, I told him, "ok Muiz, first kita pegi Ampang Park, Mama nak beli tudung, lepas tu, kita pegi taman, k"
Muiz, cleverly replied " Ni, tudung Mama", showing the tudung I was wearing.
"Yea.. ni tudung Mama, Mama nak beli yg baru. Kejap je, cari tudung Mama."
So, there we were, going from left to right, front to back of Ampang Park, searching for my tudung. I asked his opinion so he's involved and not feeling bored.

Breakfast @ McD
Then, we went to McD and I ordered fries and chicken nugget for Muiz. He got this Ice Age 3 elephant from the Happy Meal packaging. And we played together while makan makan. It was fun.

Times up, it was Muiz' turn for his kind of fun, taman dalam kedai, that is.

As I drove, my mind rans through a few selection of shopping mall with a nice taman.
And Ikano was the chosen ones. While in the car, we sang ABC, Happy Birthday, whatever his favourite songs are.

Elmo, Taman @ Ikano
At Ikano, we went up straight to the top floor.
I have this idea for Muiz.
You know, this sand stick type of colouring. I have no idea what it's called.
The ones where we have to tear out the stickers, and then spread the coloured sand on it? I chose Elmo drawing for Muiz, it costs us RM4. So, we went to the colured sand bar, I let Muiz chose the colour while I hold the Elmo sticker drawing for him. At the end of the pick & spread session, we got an Elmo, in red, of course, with yellow shirt...and peach background... But, being a first timer, there's a flop.. Our Elmo has a red eye, when it's supposed to be white.
And our Elmo also has a white mouth that looks like teeth, when it's supposed to be black..
Well, Muiz just laughed off make jokes out of it..
I told Muiz, it's ok, next time, when we come here again, we will make sure Elmo's eye is white on the outside and his mouth inside is black.. But, Muiz still made fun with Our Elmo.. Whatever, we just want to have fun.

After that, I let Muiz played at the taman, he played this big leggo, colourful, and stackable toys, and a high & long slide that made him slide down so fast.. Muiz enjoyed it. I recorded his activities in my hp video as he played.

After about close to an hour, we left taman. Went to the washroom to wash our hands and then, sat at the bench placed along the mall street. I took out the nuggets and fried yg ak habis at McD Ampang Park. For drinks, I already brought a Mango & Orange Juice from home. We ate, and talked again about what we did that day and just laugh at our antics..

Speedy: Michael Jackson, upin & Ipin, The Car, Transformers
Close to 3, I thought we should go back. So, we took the lift. Kesian kat Muiz, dah penat. Keluar je from the lift, we saw Speedy Home Video store. And Michael Jackson concert was shown on the big tv screen at the front of the store. We decided to go in, and then I saw this VCD, Upin & Ipin. I like the tv show. Muiz don't know much about it.. But those two tv screen kids are adorable, baik, nakal, all in one. I thought, Muiz should watch this. So i picked one. Then, we go to the animation section, and found many cds of Muiz' favourite show like Elmo, Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends, Pocoyo, Little Einstein, whatever you name it!. Sampai rambang mata nak pilih.. Muiz kejap kejap amik & letak, amik letak.. then, i terperasan vcd Car the movie.. Memang favourite Muiz! The one we had at home, dah rosak,, dapat tengok 17 minit.. We instantly know we had to buy the vcd. Selesai sudah problem rambang mata.

Lepas tu, terus pegi counter, and bayar.. Upin & Ipin and Car the Movie. Cost us about RM32.++. Sambil bayar tu.. terperasan Muiz tengok Transformers kat TV kecik atas cashier tu. Concentrate teramat.. I heve never introduced Muiz to Transformers because I thought it's kind of violent, with all the bomb, figthting, fire.. In fact, my hubby & I have just went to watch Transformers 2, without Muix, last week because we thought he's not prepared for all the ganas ganas stuff.. But hey, we are wrong. Muiz enjoy je kat Speedy tu,,, sampai taknak balik.. cashier pun tersenyum je tgk Muiz.. I pulak,,. sibuk nak tengok Michael Jackson kat screen besar, dengan orang ramai kat depan tu. feeling somber.. yea.. tu yg nak tengok tu.. so, takpelaa. Muiz tengok transformers kat tv kecik, Mama tengok Michael Jackson kat tv besar. We spent like 10 -15 minutes there. I.e. sampai transformers habis.

Peck on the Cheek
Half way to the car park, still dalam Ikano, Muiz stop jalan, and cakap, Muiz penat. Ok, so, I picked him up, and dukung Muiz, Instantly, he kissed me on the cheek.. That's the best present for me for that day..

Yes, Mama & Muiz really had Fun!

Fruit Juice

2009-07-05T09:54:00.002+08:00

Jus Oren Muiz
Muiz suka minum air buah.
Paling suka, jus oren.

So, kat rumah, kalau weekend, memang dah macam routine pagi pagi,
potong limau & epal; on fruit juice machine, walla... siap jus oren muiz.

nak tau kenapa kitorang campur epal.. em.. epal buat jus oren tu rasa manis, natural sweetener...

Mango Lassi
Minggu lepas Mak & Papa bagi buah mangga.
Mangga tu memang dah ranum sangat.
Dapat idea, buat mango lassi..
Blend je mango, fresh milk & air sikit bagi tak pekat,,
Serius sedap,, macam nak buat lagi...

Revisiting FRSs

2009-07-04T01:42:00.002+08:00

It has been 4 years since I left accounting & audit world. 30th June 2005, that was the day.

Ironically, 4 years on, on 1 July 2009, I was pulled into discussion over the acounting treatment of this particular financial instrument which happened to be a settlement of which I was involved in since I joined the company.

My earlier involvement was mainly on explaining to the accounting team and the external auditor about how the settlement came about. By end of the day, the discussion progressed into the issue on initial recognition of the instrument. My colleagues and seniors believed that it should be at fair value, but the auditors, twice firmly said, it should be at cost, and at par. Being an ex auditor and being a member of the chartered accountant association, I felt the responsibility to offer my input and get involve in the matter, since I do understand FRS 139. I believed my colleague was correct. Not satisfied, before I left home that day, I printed out the FRS 139, and analysing the whole concept relating to the issue that we were discussing. At home, I studied again and then also studied on the accounting framework, what's the definition of cost and fair value and I found the answer. I jot it down on my notebook for my reference during the discussion to be held the next day. Somehow, tak boleh tidur, I felt like I need to do a proper discussion paper. At that time, it was already 2 am. I got out from my bed and room and restarted the PC and started to summarise my earlier reading and understanding over the FRS and the framework in MS Word, at the same time, relating back each relevant paragraphs to the issue of discussion. I slept at 3.30am.

In the morning, before leaving for a meeting, also, an eventful meeting, I forwarded my discussion paper to my colleagues at accounting unit. Just to share my view which supported their view. I told them, that i'll try to make it for the meeting with the auditor if my first meeting outside office ended early.

Somehow, the meeting lasted longer than expected. By the time, I reached office, I decided not to join in since I need to complete few reports and review other people's reports which were also due for submission. My supervisor already asked me earlier whether it was necessary for me to join as it doesn't involved our investment unit. I told him earlier in the morning that I think I can contribute. Yes, in my heart, I was already curious about the issue. Haven't been doing accounting for quite some time. So, it is fascinating to get involved once in while.

Then, I got a call from my colleague just to join them for a short while. As I entered the meeting room, about 20 people already there, my fellow colleagues and the auditors. I saw, each one of them has my discussion paper. My senior colleague has actually printed them out. I really have to thank them. I found out that the auditor agreed with my colleague's view that it should be at fair value. How wonderful. Yep, the late nights was worthwhile and I'm happy to contribute and share my thoughts with fellow colleagues, once in while.

Yes, somehow, after the whole discussion, I feel glad that I joined audit in my early working years. It became useful at times like this. The accounting foundation, remains relevant although now I'm more into investments, which is my cup of tea :)

An Ode to MJ & FF

2009-06-26T11:18:00.002+08:00

I’m no big fan of Michael Jackson nor Farrah Fawcett. Somehow, I feel mellowed and sad on hearing the news of their demise.

I think I know why…

I may have not known MJ. But I grew up listening to his songs, watching his dance moves, yep.. you know that video clip, Beat it and Thriller, those were cool thing in TV those days in the 80’s.

In the 90’s, he came up with Black & White.. Different faces popping from one to the other.. You really feel united, back then.

Ohh.. not just that, I sing to his songs occasionally.

One special song was We are The World, co-written by MJ and Lionel Richie.
I learnt this song and sang during my kindies’ year end concert in 1986, wearing pink Baju Kurung Kedah, with few of my friends wore other costumes representing a mixture of culture and races of the world.

Then, One Day in Your Life.
Another favourite song, because, my uncle sang this song too, beautifully. And although it was MJ singing the song, the words trickled down to my heart, I felt as if it was said by my late uncle.. It has beautiful lyric. I think I posted it here before.

It’s sad how he has lived. My wish, his children are well taken care off.. I hope they grew up well… no exploitation whatso ever.. Ohh.. this mother’s instinct…

As for Farrah Fawcett, she was the face and news I read in magazines, those teen years especially.. yep.. I spent my free times reading e-magazines.. the news about her, the dress she wore can spice up my day,… . I can’t recall much about Charlie’s Angel, but I knew it was replayed in the 80’s and I used to watch them. Quite odd, just on Tuesday after meeting as I was in the LRT coming back to office, my mind suddenly thought of Farrah, how she has been, knowing she was still fighting with cancer...

Am sure both of them made a big impact to many. Yea.. MJ’s songs, their existence, did in a small way, define my life.

Bosan layan orang yg bodoh sombong

2009-06-25T19:20:00.005+08:00

Yep, I have to deal with one such person today.

It's known among many pun this person's attitude who is egocentric and perasan bagus.
This person is lucky that I'm not the type yg bawak mulut although I feel like doing it a hundred time. So, I can just do it here. This person is lucky. But never mind, the fact that many in the industry tak nak kerja dengan dia pun means .. too bad for being badly mannered.. hahaha.. jahatnye I.

but yea.. I hate dealing with such person. Can you imagine,, boleh tak, baru je point out something diplomatically which I knew anyway this person won't like, but it is a fact, marah marah... taknak langsung discuss.. terus walk away.. so immature.. macam biasa..

Sorry.. boring sangat layan org macam ni..

Alhamdulillah, things will change very soon... that .. I'm SO HAPPY :)

Birthdays - A Triple Joy!

2009-06-22T16:42:00.000+08:00

Semalam celebrate birthday Muiz. His birthday was last week but we went to PD for my company’s trip at Tiara Beach Resort.So, this week is party week.

I thought, it’s fun to let the kids to party, not that they don’t do it every other weekend. But I want them to really party with birthday cakes and balloons, and the party hat, like I used to do at their age. So yesterday, me and hubby decided to head straight to my in law’s house in early morning before Muiz started to feel cosy at home and don’t want to go out like the day before.

I spent a good 10 minutes at the house chatting with my sis in law who was having her breakfast. Then went out to Jusco nearby to buy some party stuff, KFC for lunch and yes, chocolate cake, Muiz’ favourite.

So, wanna know what’s the goodie bags?
Well it is pencil case loaded with chocolates and treats inside!
For the boys, I bought those pencil case ala Ben10 and Lightning McQueens.
As for the two princesses, I bought them pink pencil case ala Disney Princesses.
The little baby girl got a purple barney pencil case, long term investment huh ;)
Other than that, their favourite sour n cream potato chips is on the plate.

Cute sungguh tengok diorang pakai party hat with their eye mask, sorang macam batman, sorang macam spider man, whatever, u name it.

And kids, they know how to party. Imagine, I didn’t buy any games for them but just brought balloons.. Nak tau apa diorang buat? Well, once dah tiup, they let it out so that the balloons spiral through the air and jadi kempis.. My son, couldn’t blow the balloon himself, so, I am his air pump.. They played like an hour just on that. It’s fun to watch them giggle and running so excitedly over balloons, colourful some more.

Ohh, Muiz was not the only ones celebrated, my hubby and his twin brother too. Yep, they get to celebrate and share birthday cake together every year :)

A Wedding & A Reunion

2009-06-22T16:12:00.002+08:00

Last night, a brief reunion with my batchmates in PwC, the workplace I left 4 years ago. We were at a batchmate’s wedding dinner, Faith. I haven’t met her, safe to say since I left PwC. Most of the chats we have, have been via facebook, friendster or on group email every 1st April of the year – an April Fool’s day for people in general, but more special to us, it is our anniversary date, the first day of our official job, for most of us and the day we become PwC Batch April 2002.

About the anniversary day, it was kind of cool, because on that day, about 15 to 20 of us, depending who were online that day, would be criss crossing group email to each other, wishing everyone well, updating each other about how we’ve been at our respective current job. And all of us are far away from each other, some in KL, in Penang, some other, quite a number of them in UK.
Yes, the world wide web does a wonder to us.
Yes, most of the time, the reply came, just in minutes,
Yes, we instantly chat with each other even how far the thousand miles are between us.

Talking about Faith, we were close especially when we spent a good 2-3 months together with another 2 of our batchmates on our first assignment at Maxis. The assignment is called the Retrospective, and so, we are the Restropective Attic team. Reminiscing the days innocent days, well, innocent in the working world, we looked like a bunch of students, given our looks, and probably our height, all 5 of us ..

Then, last night, as I saw her and her husband walking through the hall, looking stunning in her wedding dress, my heart actually cried feeling so so happy for her. More so special as I haven’t seen her for years since she headed off to UK to pursue her MBA and then work.

Other than that, it was equally great to meet up with the rest, Mazwin, Su Yin and Sau Kang. We chatted for about half an hour outside the hall after the reception. My husband seemed to blend well with them too. We realised yesterday that nowadays we mostly met during our batchmate’s weddings. So, we already started to guess who’s next to tie the knot. Hehehe…

For the first time, I’m starting to miss my PwC days, yep, the thought of spending time with the April 2002 Batch – a bunch of crazy innocent creative funny lively friends.

Back to old routine

2009-06-17T18:10:00.003+08:00

My maid had to go back to her hometown early of the month when she got to know that her mother has fallen ill.

We sent her home via Air Asia so that she can reach home asap. I was so sad about it that, yes, it did affects me, at times when I was busy preparing for my exam. The night before she left our home, I was so so sad, thinking of how my son would take it. He has been with the maid since he was 9 months old. So, he basically grew up in front of her, while me, busy working in office, from 8 to 7. Most of the time, reaching home, close to 9 or 10. He has never been alone. My maid, is so kind, and will do as what my son please. She is just like that. She never scold or pinch my son, even when I told her to do so, especially when my son is a bit out of control. She even cried whenever I scold my son. She is also his teacher, teashing ABC, 123, Alif, Ba, Ta, colours, singing. And boy, my son can speak well and clear even though he is just 2 years plus. So, my son is lucky to have her as his nanny. And that makes me a lucky working mother.

But, I knew, I can't have her all the time. She has her family, which I believe are all the reason why she came to work here. To provide better living for her family. And her mother has been so dependant on her before she came here because she stays at her parents home until after 12 years of her marriage.

So, she said she planned to come back end July but I don't want to be optimistic. Knowing her, her heart is so close to her family, would she want to come back? She has already been away from her family for 2 years plus. And then, August is puasa month, then Raya. I don't know. The fact that she cried the day before she left and refusing to tell me why, somehow gave me clues that she might not come back. And again, she also told me and my mom at the airport when we had our breakfast, that she can only plan but it's all God's willing. Hmmm...

It has been 2 weeks. I'm surviving, doing the cleaning up, drying and ironing clothes. I actually enjoyed doing it, but now at the expense of having less time with my family or to just watching tv. Everything has to be planned way in advance, like when I want to wash my cloths, to cook, and so on.

Muiz, on the other hand, seems ok. He knew his bibik is back to kampung. He didn't ask me to play with him, when we reach home, on weekdays to play with him as he knew that I have to do housework. He learns to play by himself, something he seldom do. But, if he is bored, he will tell me, like this one night at 12.00 am, that he doesn't have friends to play with, and want me to be his friend. So, we played his 'Bob's friends - all those tractors' in our bedroom, crossing each other using the pathway pattern of the carpet.

Ok, all is well. Hopefully, her mother is getting well too, she is in her 90's. I bet her son and daughter would be extremely happy now to have their mother back home.

Move over Plastic, you're so 'plastic'.

2009-05-27T16:27:00.008+08:00

Am I obsessed... with plastics?

Don't give me plastic bags.
Everytime, a cashier packed my bought item into plastic bags before I can say no, which happens whenever I was busy checking my wallet for cash, I have this 'ewww' feeling & 'don't give me another plastic bag!' thought in my mind. To ask them to transfer them out of the plastic bag into my shopping bag while other shoppers waiting in line, is not a pleasant idea.

Shopping bags in handbag
I've started to actively bring my own tote shopping bag about a month ago. If it just a small one or two stuffs, I would keep them in my handbag.

If I go to wet market, I bring my own plastic containers to keep the fishes and cut chickens. As for fruits and vegetables, I would stash them straight into the shopping bag.

Zero plastic bags at home?
And not just that, I have a big bag full of plastic bags, some are not that practical, you know those from magazine bookshops, the thin, zero width plastic bags. And now, I have this mission, to use them off for my rubbish collection. My aim is to see minimal plastic bags at home. Achievable? ermm, let see in 3 months time.

My Recycling Bins - bought at Ikea
By the way, last week, I went to Ikea, finally buying this storage boxes for recyclable item, which can only be found in Ikea, as far as my shopping trips experience is concern. I spent the money gifts I got from my lovable colleagues. So, those two are now proudly located at my porch. One for the papers (those milk boxes, cornflakes, flyers materials) and another for plastic bottles (think shampoos, bath foams, dishwasher liquids, cooking oil bottles). I forgot to buy another for glass materials (normally tomato ketchup, kicap,).

Buy in bulk, spend less on plastic wraps
Oh, there's another... erm.. since going and buying the biscuits in bulk last week, I'm thinking, hey, i can save more unrecyclable plastic wrap packaging (commonly used for biscuits). Hmm.. maybe I should start buying biscuits in bulk since the tin boxes can be returned to the shop with a fee. That translate to zero unrecyclable damaging material cost to the economy. Since I frequently buy the same flat rectangular biscuits every other month, that should be an easy task to start.

Paper box or Tin packaging?
How about milk powder packaging? Erm,, should I buy those in tins or those in paper carton. My thoughts are if i buy those in paper carton, yeah.,, the paper is recyclable, but, the tin plastic aluminium packaging inside the paper bag is not recyclable. So, relatively, tin packaging is a better option, huh?

From kitchen waste to compost
Whatever vege leftovers, cut roots, rotten fruits in the fridge, instead of those end up into the rubbish bin, I make it a practise to throw them into my compost bin. .

Ok that's how obsses I am with keeping the environment healthy.

I've been wasting too many plastic bags to the rubbish landfill. Wonder how it's like there and how long can the landfill accommodate our evergrowing waste.

I just want to leave a better environment for my future generations.

We should use plastic when it is the practical to do so,
like for our washable reusable food container.

Borong Biscuits

2009-05-24T01:27:00.003+08:00

On Friday, our payday, my colleague, Kak Ana, invited me to join her and Nadj and Kak Ros to Pasar Pudu to buy biscuits.

So, what is so special about this trip was that, we would buy biscuits in bulk, you know those in big tin boxes. So, we went out like about 12.30 and managed to arrive there at about 12.50 pm. The kedai borong is not at the Pasar itself but at the shopbuildings along Jalan Pudu. There's a number of them.

As I entered the shop, the first thing I searched for was the creamy chocolate wafer which Kak Ana bought last month. I love the wafer. It reminds me of my younger days, primary school days when I used to pack 3/4 wafers to school. I haven't seen the biscuits for a decade. So, that's one good reason why I need a big box of wafers. After taking a box of wafer, I asked the shop owner if they have chocolate love letters. Oh yes they do! And so, another favourite, I decided to get 1 more box. Those two are just enough for me to pay since I didnt get to go to the ATM as we were rushing there earlier on. So, while waiting for the rest, I just checked out the shops and well., if I have RM100 I would definitely spend the whole RM100, and if I have RM300, i think I could also spend them too! I found cashew nuts, packaged in big packs at a price of just RM15. which is cheap considering the small packet at normal store cost me about rm4.00. But i tried not to be impulsive, since I did't have much cash for even that. Then I saw kacang tumbuk at front of the shop, another childhood favourites. Since it cost only RM2.40, I decided to buy them.

By 1.30 pm, we're already done with the biscuit shopping. There's 4 big tin boxes of biscuits in the car.

So, now at the office, we have love letters from me, wafers from Nadj,crackers from Kak Ros and biskut kacang from Kak Ana. Enough to cover our makan makan in office , until the next pay day!

Company Trip on Labour Day

2009-05-22T00:05:00.004+08:00

Not that nothing exciting happened to me lately,
It just that the more things I'm enjoying, the less time I have to blog.

So, at the start of the Month, co-incidentally on the Labour Day, my company gave all of us, the staff and families, a 3 days 2 night trip to Sentosa Island.

I haven't been to Singapore since I was in Standard 2 despite visiting my relatives in JB nearby, every other years.

I was so excited before the trip, first because I was one of the working committee. I was in charged on the booklet, which serve as our travelling guide on where to go, the itinerary, the committee member, the bus list, et cetera. I got myself to be creative, doing things other than looking into research report and financial statement during working hours. So, to get the content fun and useful, I surfed the net, summarising info on Sentosa, Singapore city, downloading photos, and doing editing, like close to 20 times. For the cover, since it was a bus trip, I've skecthed a bus photo - cartoon like , yellow in colour with the tagline of our company trip to Sentosa.. the bus actually got the most attention, when my colleagues commenting the booklet. so, the whole experience makes the booklet like my one of a kind, once in a blue moon , treasured masterpiece.

Ok, a good start on the preparation yea... but, on the morning before the busride from our office to Singapore, I've made the most obvious blunt. We were supposed to arrive before 7.30 as that was the time when the bus will start it's journey. But, I woke up at 7am! Simply because I stayed up late until 4 am to clean up the house and finishing up the packings. Not that the packing was a last minute thing, I've already packed them few days back, but it just me... too slow, when it comes to household management stuff.. When we arrived at the office, there were 3 buses waiting for us and everyone was already inside, not just my colleagues, but also their families.. what an embarassing thing to happen! As I entered my bus, one of my colleagues ask me what happened. I just had to be honest and said ' Apa lagi, wake up late laa. Sorry'. To sedapkan hati the people in my bus, I started to distribute some chocolates and titbits I bought at Tesco the night before.. yeah.. I brought so many tit bits because I'm worried if my son ge cranky since it was his first bus trip, for a good 5 hours! But then, I told everyone, that I bought those titbits before I knew I'm going to be late.. SO, now.. this also explains why I packed my stuff until 4am, because I only left Tesco at close to 11pm. Phew!

Anyhow, the whole trip was fun, I really enjoy it, we have beach volleyball match, which I practised 3 times before the trip, we had our Gala Dinner where everyone get to perform.. and oh boy, it was so so entertaining that everyone even the families including hubby, enjoyed them. After the trip, we even had a makan makan at office to watch the video of our Gala Dinner, laughing at each other doing things we never do in office... I'm buying the DVD , there's 5 of them... By the waym, my skin got tanned at the end of the trip and I'm still using moisturiser to speed up the 'fairing' process. I want my colour back.. sob sob...

Throughout the trip by the way, reminded me of my schooltrip.. The itinerary was so tight that there's a couple of time, we have like 10 minutes to go back to our room to bath and change and go out again for another event. One time, we had to walk up and down of Sentosa just to go to this one particular restaurant that we ended up not going anywhere after that - with the tired legs longing for a good rest at the comfy hotel bed. Ohh.. my son love the hotel room especially the bed that he just didn't want to leave the room.

We played at the beach, my son doing his favourite stuff, sand castle while hubby got to play volleyball with my colleagues.. We took photos with friends, got to know each other's families.. had a great makan makan for breakfast, lunch and dinner.. so.. everytime it was ... superb.

One thing I'm impressed with Singapore was its cleanliness at the public area.. even at the backlane of restaurant.. Anyhow, I wouldn't want to stay in a 10-15 storey high buildings.. I love having my small, landed garden.

Thinking of going there again, for shopping pulak.. I didn't do any shopping like some of my colleagues since I'm the sort of person who needs a good 3-4 hours wandering around shops before actually doing the real shopping. Because of that also, I still have SGD300.00 in my wallet...

Muiz in Music

2009-04-19T23:58:00.003+08:00

Music is the In thing for Muiz now.

At his playroom, he has a guitar, a violin, a trombone, a drum, a harmonica, and clarinets. Tokpa bought them.

So, today, when we were in the car, I had this idea. Encouraging him to have an ear for music, to recognise different sound of different musical instruments, I played few fast beat songs from my handphone. When we heard the drum, I would act as if I were playing the drum, when we heard the guitar, I would pretend that I played the guitar, the same goes when we heard the piano, violin, etc. Muiz followed me. Then, we went on a bit advance, when two or three musical instruments were played, I would pretend that I were playing the guitar while Muzi played the drum. So, after the whole session, I leave it to him, to recognise the sound and acted out the performance on his own. It was fun. We were the musicians on a road tour.. heheh.

The songs we played:
- Anugerah dari Kegagalan - Dato' Shake
- Sedang Ingin Bercinta - Dewa 19
- Kalis Rindu - Elyana
- Sunday Mornings - Maroon 5
- I think I'm in Love - Mocca
- Me & My boyfriend - Mocca
- It's over now - Mocca
- Diari Seorang Lelaki - Pretty Ugly
- Dancing in The Moonlight - Toploader
- That Thing You Do

Presenting like a show performer - psyching up Me.

2009-04-19T23:43:00.006+08:00

At this hour, on Sunday turn Monday night, I'm about to make preparation for tomorrow's meeting which will start at 9.30 am. Why is it this meeting is different than the rest? Well, the CFO will attend the meeting and he is interested to get an update on this one particular company. I'm quite nervous, to be honest as I hardly dealt with him and don't know what to expect from him and conscious about how he would judge me. I also want to cover back my previous 'performance' in the last meeting.

I came in late towards the end of the meeting as I was attending an investors' meeting outside office. When I arrived at office close to noon, I noticed the office investment committee meeting was still on, so, I decided to join in. Just as I opened the door, I saw the CFO of the holding company. That was his first time joining the meeting. He happened to ask about this one particular investment, which was not under my coverage, which I basically understand more or less from the verbal discussion I have with my colleague. My explanation was pretty much general like I don't know much about the company.. Teruk kan,,, well, that's why for tomorrow, I've decided to explain in detail to him and requested my colleague to prepare detailed report.

So, it's Sunday night, not a night which you would be energetic to do work, but I have to. I'm psyching up my mind that tomorrow would be my biggest show performance ever, if I am a singer. So, I should be excited and energetic and hard working to make sure that I'm ready for it. It would be exciting and I should look forward for an excellent presentation. Is that enough? I'll know it later.

Stay - Cindy Cinderella

2009-04-18T15:16:00.004+08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcdLLgu1ggE

Sang by Bonnie Bianca & Pierre Cosso.

One of my favourite songs and movie video in the 80's.
A modern Cinderella movie, made in France.
I watched the movie with my siblings over and over again and never get bored of it. Nice storyline, that you feel like you're in that movie. The guy is cute too,heheh, look at his eyes and you know what I mean. :)

Stay
You are my life.
You are my only one desire!
You're the air that I breathe tonight...
Won't you stay here beside me? Stay!

When I see you there's a glow from the stars above.
Guess they know that I'm so in love...
Yes, I'll stay here beside you, stay...

Day after day feeling low in the evening sun,
till you came and you were the one. Now I'll stay here beside you,
stay...

Well remembered dreams of a foolish parade.
Didn't need to persuade you...
Hungry for a smile...
In the morning moonlight that'll be alright with you -
take my hand.

All I can do is to dream of you all day through.
Close my eyes- all I see is you.
Yes, I'll stay here beside you stay.

Stay by my side!
You're the air that I breathe tonight...
All I want is to hold you tight!
Yes, I'll stay here beside you, stay forever...
Here we'll stay tonight, here we'll stay...

Productive Day, Yay!

2009-04-18T13:07:00.003+08:00

From 8.00 to 1.00

Breakfast, 1 slice of bread and plain water

30 minutes on treadmill
ni sebab nak naikkan stamina untuk match beach volleyball nanti...

cuci bilik air

let go my sayang old 80's sofa
my father's actually.. dah berpindah dari asalnya kat rumah sini, then, bila pindah rumah baru early 80's bawak ke sana, then bila i pindah balik rumah sini, papa suruh transfer balik sofa tu ke sini.. dah buruk pun..tapi sentimental value punya pasal.,.. simpan jugak.. dah lama plan nak buang, tapi tak terjumpa lori mppj yg selalu angkat barang bukan sampah tu.. lori ni hari sabtu je.. and sabtu kitorang selalu keluar..bila nampak je lori tu, nasib baik sempat panggil.. masa orang mppj tu amik... nak simpan satu,, but hubby cakap, tak payahlaa.,. bukan nak pakai pun & dah lusuh... akhirnya.. let go jugak... sedih.. huhu... itulaa tempat i masa kecik kecik lepak kat rumah minum susu.. kat rumah ni,, lebih 20 tahun lepas...

Amik baju kat tailor kat pasar
Aha... kain ni dah beli lebih 4 bulan... hantar bulan lepas.. siap jugak akhirnya.. maybe,.. nak pakai masa kenduri esok..

Masak untuk makan tengah hari
Kat pasar, nampak ikan bawal kecik tu.. teringin nak makan.. tadi masak goreng kosong je.. menu lain, sayur campur, keropok, ulam raja kat rumah..

Ok hubby dah panggil ajak makan...

Jack of all trade.. when it comes to sports

2009-04-18T01:20:00.003+08:00

Petang tadi ada practise volleyball untuk match masa company trip tak lama lagi.. I awal awal dah volunteer nak main, heheh..

nak kata terror, sememangnya tidak... i just enjoy playing games.. agaknya sebab ada abang.. selalu je join dia masa kecik kecik dulu...

main bola sepak pun pernah.. masa darjah 4... boys vs girls.. i laa yg propose... yg awkward sgt... lepas 10-20 minit main kat padang sekolah, ada cikgu ni marah marah sbb perempuan main bola & sebab main ngan budak lelaki pulak.. lawak betul... kitorang main satu kelas.. tu kenangan masa budak budak lagi.. sekarang.. erm.. futsal pun tak pernah main walaupun teringin.. ada je orang ajak cuma malasnye nak luangkan masa, i ni kan homey sikit.. kesian laa kat anak, kalau kita seronok seronok kat luar.. it is just me.. kerja pun asyik balik lewat.. so.. rasa bersalah je.. kalau buat aktiviti yg tak melibatkan anak i yg sorang tu...

me, kalau orang tengok.. memang takkan sangka kut.. suka sports sebab tak nampak sporty & tough pun.. tapi.. kalau ajak main basketball ke, badminton ke, bowling ke, ping pong ke, i ok je... cuma tak terror... and then, I'm not the type who will take the intiative to play sports unless the opportunity to play is just in front of me.. so, masa uni days tu, memang tak ada kut, buat semua tu.. so, dear friends, kalau nak main kat mana mana tu.. jangan lupa ajak ye... :)

so, bila ada peluang baru ni, first dengan bowling 2 minggu lepas, now volleyball.. apa lagi.. rindu sangat.. sampai kat court tadi.. stretching dulu, jog 2 pusingan kat court.. takut cramp.. sebab dah lama tak aktif kan...

kebetulan, my team, ramai pulak yg tinggi tinggi.. and first time, main volleyball dengan guys.. rasa inferior pun ada.. sbb guys kalau serve pun, strength diorang 5-10 kali ganda kut dari perempuan.. my hubby sempat join for 1 last game... dia tak payah cakap laa.. any sports yg berkaitan dengan tangan...

hmm,, tak sabar nak main volleyball lagi ni.. siap pinjam satu bola tadi... ingat nak practise serve & spike ngan hubby esok pagi... woohoo!

So grounded and cocoon.

2009-04-15T15:21:00.003+08:00

Aging close to 3 decades and not moving elsewhere that much and staying at the same 2 houses all my life , I feel so cocoon.

My whereabout, has in most years been within the 10km radius.

I'm currently staying at a house which happened to be the place I grew up in my first 3 years. And here I am, two years ago deciding to move in again as I wanted to stay near to my parents. My father have been keeping the house in case his children needs them. So, the house serve its purpose now, me, being the first child to stay out from my parents' home(exception on those uni days).

Why I'm so cocoon and insulated, well, my workplace is just 10 minutes away.
And everyday i pass by this particular road, which I have been passing since childhood to my aunty's house for our weekend pot luck gathering, which we still do once in a while.

So, you see, I've been and being pretty much at the same place most of my life.
The only time I was hardly around was during 2-years of boarding school life.

And as I told you before, i have never used my passport since i was 13 years old.
Not that I don't have the means to do it, like holiday, but I'm saving my cash for more meaningful matters. Ohh.. a character I inherit from my dad.

I almost had a chance to study abroad and then the economic crisis took away my childhood dream. Alamak sound sad pulak.. but yeah.. that was the case.

I also had the chance to work abroad using my ACCA qualification like the rest of my colleagues but decided to stay put as I'm aiming for different career path and want to develop my base early here.

So, I am pretty much grounded in my country.

And I also go back to my parents' home on weekdays for dinner. Things doesn't change much for me, huh?

Maybe ada hikmah di sebaliknya.. I don't see my 'cocooness' in negative way, but I find it bizarre that this is the case of me. ;)

Another Kompang on Its Way

2009-04-13T19:28:00.004+08:00

My sister.

We have just done with the engagement last Saturday.
Oh well, it was an eventful day...

Happy to gather with my family and relatives from the preparation day and the day,
doing things together like cleaning up, moving furniture, taking out carpets, doing the final touch on the hantaran, and makan makan... i offered myself to cook nasi goreng for my family that night on the prep day. Mak has asked me to add more salt into the nasi goreng... I guess, my nasi goreng always tasted less salty. The satisfying part, my nasi goreng, both pedas and tak pedas, habis, even though there's also laksa, lauk on the table. And I became one happy chef that night.. hahaha... Thanks to my bits of promotion work too... that's why.

In the morning, before the event starts, I was very very busy. How I miss my youngest sister to be there... She is so detail, and pengemas when it comes to cleaning up the house and the kitchen. Mak, I understand was already very busy, Zura, who's getting engaged, i can't expect her to do the cleaning up stuff kan, she's busy with her special day, and my other sister, Ana, I think already too tired to do the remaining work. So, that left with me, on that morning to do all the clean up, putting all plates and glasses, pots and pans into the cabinet, clearing up the table, the sink and dish tray, so, that the kitchen looks clear and clean and organised. It would be a lot more easier, and lesser to do, if Aza is around. and that is why, Zura's wedding, had to be held on the month Aza on holiday, here. Hehehe... Hmm.. I actually went straight into the kitchen, right after arriving to my parent's home that morning and not going out from that kitchen room until it was just 15 minutes before the rombongan arrived. and that was when I rushed with my breakfast, and spent some good 5 minutes upstairs looking at Zura's preparation in her room...

Anyway,, I can't wait for The Day, next year. Already, I can't wait with the preparation and anticipation. I just love wedding, it's beautiful, not only because two person in love are getting married, and new ties of two families are developed, but also because the whole family can get to do things together, it's a beautiful feeling. I love my family, I enjoy the gotong royong. As always, there'll be kids who gets bullied, in a friendly and joking way, not to be spared my Muiz, by the elder cousins, uncles and aunties. There'll also be some aunties and uncles who will take that microphone and sing, and there will be loads of food on the table from the hostess and relatives who came to the house...

Hmm.. I getting a younger brother for the first time soon...
And that's another new chapter into my life story book.

What happen to my dilemma

2009-04-13T19:15:00.002+08:00

The drama is still on.

Why do I call it a drama?
Because I felt it just the way I felt when watching a tv soap drama.
I thought that the conclusion will come, yet there's always something to prolong it further.
Following up? Well, I'm trying to subtle yet being updated. But it's hard.

And here I am, still waiting.

Girlfriends Weekend Getaway & He’s not that into You

2009-04-13T19:05:00.002+08:00

It’s been a long time since I had a weekend just to have fun with friends.

I had one last week with friends from A-level days. We have planned for it many times. As always, time preferences always clashed. Me, being married, prefer after work weekday outing while some girlfriends prefer weekends where they can have all day to relax.

So, missing those moments, and hey, it’s just 1weekend, I accepted the invitation. We went to Cineplex, watching ‘He’s not that into you’. Nice line ups of actors and actress, Jennifer Anniston, Drew Barrymore to name a few.. And not to forget, Ben Affleck… my some sort of crush during uni days.. hahah.. that was like close to 10 years ago. I actually used his photo for my business communication presentation slide – that suave looking guy reading a book.. Something that’s still printed at the back of my mind. And Ben, if I were Jennifer Anniston in that movie.. I’d be one happy and lucky girl on screen. J. Off screen, I’m one happy married lady… ;)

So, we had lunch first at the Marche… updating each other about our well-being and also other friends. Some of our knowledge on our friends are outdated as if time has freeze for 5 years, like about this person has already move on to a new place, new job.. There is some tiny itsy bitsy stuff which Facebook has missed out, huh?

We ate each other’s food and desserts.. commenting on the restaurant and all… Doing girl stuffs.. all the girls talk.. Reminiscing things that happen years back, replaying the stories, and correcting each other about what has happened before.., So girlie, kan? I love them..

Oh.. did I tell you, before driving out from my house to Mutiara Damansara, I cooked lunch for hubby, spent some short wholesome minutes with my son. It’s like a huge step to make. To spend a couple of hours without them and leaving my son, playing alone on our usual weekend moments. It’s a dreadful feeling, just to go out without them. By the way, I did asked hubby for permission (yeah,, I’m that sort of old fashion girl who still feel the need to get hubby's consent….). I asked him whether it’s ok and he seemed ok with it.. It was just me… feeling slightly guilty. I told him that too.. He just smiled and just tell me to have fun.

He’s not that into you was ok.. But I guess, those single persons would enjoy it more than I do. Me? Been there and done that. So, I can’t help myself for being out of touch of those anxieties, rush feeling and the multiple guessing and what ifs. I’ve become so married (?). One good lesson though.. the movie reminds married persons, including me, to have that thrills and sparks with each other to make sure He’s still that into you.

We all went back home after the movie.
And I’m back being a wife & a mother, doing groceries shopping at the Tesco nearby :)

Been busy lately

2009-03-20T12:15:00.003+08:00

If you wonder what happen the past 1 month, well something did occur.
The issue consumes me too much to a point of a headache and stress.
Stressful than my job, that’s how it is.

Out of the whole episode,
I realise that I am emotionally attached with what I’m doing for a living.
Hehe, a good thing or what?
I think I’m lucky.

The tricky part is I am at a crossroad again, and this is not the first time.

Imagine that the road you’re taking is already your comfort zone,
everything around is supportive towards your well being,
you've passed the crossroad before,
back then, your mind is pretty much made up with promises laid.

Again, you came across a junction where the left/right turn is as just as enticing
and you don’t know when you will cross that path again
definitely not in the immediate term, with current economic climate.
so, the opportunity cost seems too expensive to bear.

But you love your current path
and you have strong faith in it
even though your earlier hope yet to happen.

I’m not passed the final episode yet, and the climax is, well, shall I say, now?

If there's happy ending, it will be here.

Wanna taste real tomato? Grow some!

2009-02-18T14:35:00.004+08:00

I tasted my first home grown tomato yesterday.

Superb!

All this while I always wonder
why was the tomato I bought at the market
didn't taste as sweet and sour
as the tomato ketchup in the bottle or
the tomato puree in the tin.

The ones I ate yesterday,
tasted so sweet and rich in flavour and heavenly
that the experience linger in my mind as I was about to sleep.

Yes, it tasted close to the processed tomato ketchup and tomato puree
But, without the preservative, colouring or food conditioner.

Real fresh tomato anyone?

I'm thinking of growing more tomato trees.

Hmm....yummy...

Let's Go Green!

2009-02-14T22:24:00.005+08:00

I admit, I'm becoming more conscious about the environment.
About what I put on the dining table and in the kitchen for my family's consumption.
About what I throw in the rubbish bin.
My motivation is, I want to grow old healthily and I want my family to stay healthy. And this also involves being active physically.

Some of the Green steps I've taken:

Grow own vegetable
Yes, especially leafy greens, as the ones industrially grown, I believe are more exposed to chemicals & pesticides. I have kailan, kangkung, pokok kari, limau purut, limau kasturi, daun bawang, tomato, ulam raja, to name a few. Even with these efforts, I still buy other vegetables at the market.

Recycle Paper Box
At office, I keep a box near my workdesk where I put all recyclable papers, either for printing or send it to the recycler.My rubbish bin hardly contain papers. Even the small notepaper will go into that recycle box.

Separate recyclable item from the normal rubbish bag.
My maid has been helpful on this. She would collect and group the recyclable stuffs like plastic containers, glass jar, milk cartons, paper packaging (as in biscuit and milk paper cover).

Think before buying - non biodegradeable?
Will it add more unrecyclable waste to our environment?

Say No to Plactic Bags
Whenever at the market or shops, if there's space in my bag, I'll put the stuff inside the bag, instead of the shop's plastic bag.

And my next plan would be:

Set up a Compost bin to compost kitchen waste.
What it does are:
1) It reduce amount of rubbish to the waste landfill.
2) I can save for the fertiser cost for my growing vegetables, and it's organic.
3) Compost helps to stabilise the soil structure naturally and allow the plant to grow healthily.

Add more growing container. Set up a stacks of growing pot. A nice view for my backyard.
My garden wish list are:
1) Carrots
2) Potatoes
3) Kacang buncis
4) Daun kunyit
5) Serai
6) Sawi
7) Daun sup.

Set up a Mini Recycling Bin comprise of 3 (For paper, glass, plastics items)
It makes the recycling efforts faster and minimise amount of recyclable item into the normal rubbish bin.

Bake own bread.
Mak has a breadmaker. I'm thinking of using it more often. So, I need to provide the supplies, like flour, baking soda, butter and maybe, some grains and raisins.

Could this be my 2009 resolution?
Yes my Green Resolution ;)

Muiz makan timun, for the 1st time - so cute!

2009-02-13T08:49:00.002+08:00

Baru jadi malam tadi, masa Muiz duduk sama sama I & hubby kat meja makan.
Ali offer dulu kat Muiz, and then I pun amik.
Agaknya, bila tengok kitorang makan timun yg crispy tu, Muiz pun try sama..
Timun tu dah dipotong empat, nampak macam triangle laa,

Seronok tengok Muiz makan sayur.

So happy!

Just touch down to KLIA? Jom makan makan @ Pantai Bagan Lalang

2009-02-02T11:04:00.002+08:00

Semalam, my family celebrate birthday Papa.

Asalnya, nak pegi Kuala Selangor, tengok kelip kelip, then, makan kat seafood restaurant and then (my idea) tidur kat D' Muara, Sg Besar which is a 40-minutes drive from Kg Kuantan, Kuala Selangor. Memandangkan D' Muara full house, kitorang pun calling calling resort baru je jumaat lepas, terpaksa tukar plan.

Tak ingat idea siapa,(was it me?) erm.. not sure, keluar idea, nak makan makan seafood kat Bagan Lalang, Sepang. It's an hour drive from KL.

Direction ke Pantai Bagan Lalang
Ok, masuk ELITE highway, keluar kat exit KLIA, lalu jalan yg nak pegi Sepang F1 circuit, akan lalu Sepang F1 circuit, then, ikut je direction yg nak pegi Hotel Seri Malaysia Bagan Lalang/ Sepang Gold Coast, Sg. Pelek, Bagan Lalang. Sepanjang jalan tu nanti, akan lalu bandar Sg. Pelek. Old Town betul and nice scenery.. masa tu, rasa macam dalam tahun 80-an pulak... Rumah kedai pulak, bangunan konkrit, design, ala Colonial times... Cool.

Ok, with a brief research from the Net, I proposed makan kat Restoran Senandung Malam, bersebelahan dengan pantai & menghadap padang bola. That's the common direction that I saw on the Net. Memang senang nak cari pun.

Surau
Don't worry, kat belakang restoran Senandung Malam ni ada surau, rumah papan putih, cantik. Jadi, kitorang solat Asar dulu kat situ. Ni pun, I dapat tau from the net kata ada surau. Sebab tak sempat nak solat kat rumah dulu, Asar sekarang pukul 4.50, sebab itulaa, dah plan nak berAsar kat situ.

BerLayang Layang di Bagan Lalang
Lepas selesai Asar, apa lagi, Papa beli layang layang kat tepi pantai tu. RM5 je. Ada gambar Strawberry Shortcake cartoon, warna pink. Cute... heheh.. Tercapai laa cita cita Muiz nak main layang layang. Masa kat Sg Besar minggu lepas, tak sempat sebab sibuk mengemas rumah. Dari Muiz, main, Ali pulak main, then, I, then Zura, then Aza, then Papa.. Setiap orang, ada laa few photographers mengambil gambar scene main layang layang.. hehhe.. Best , best,. Yang paling tinggi sekali tarik Layang layang tu, Zura, not bad for 1st timer..

Kat pantai tu, boleh kata, ramai jugak, family, young family, big family macam kitorang, couples and also group of friends.. Semua pun nampak happy.. heheh.. Kalau nak cerita pasal pantai tu, memang tak boleh lawan pantai kat east coast. Tapi , cukuplaa untuk berseronok seronok dihujung minggu, tempat pun, boleh kata dekat dengan KL. A great weekend getaway - strolling on the beach, layang layang & makan makan seafood.

Makan Time
Oh lupa nak cakap tadi, selesai Asar & sebelum pegi ke Pantai, kitorang order dulu makanan. Ape kitorang order? Well, menu dia macam ni:
- kerang rebus
- ketam masak lemak
- udang masak cili
- ikan siakap 3 rasa
- ikan kembung bakar
- sotong goreng tepung
- pepahat, masak sweet sour
- sayur campur
- nasi untuk 8 orang
- air tembikai - dalam jug.
Dah order, kitorang reserve kan tempat, cakap nak makan pukul 7.45, lepas maghrib.
Memang betul, makanan siap dihantar ke meja makan, pukul 7.45. So, apa lagi, makan sakan laa kitorang. Sedap pun iye.. Ketam memang fresh, lembut je isi, panas lagi pulak tu.. Muiz je.. yg bising sikit.. Dia tak sabar nak makan kek coklat yg I beli petang tu, sebelum tolak.

Happy Birthday Papa!
Selesai makan, I amik kek kat dalam kereta. Beli kat King's. Kek tu baru siap. Butter chocolate kek. Macam biasa, posing depan kek ramai ramai, sambil Papa & Muiz potong kek. lilin tak pasang pun.. Hehhe... anyway, the shot is...memorable.

Kitorang balik, dah pukul 9.50. Orang masih ramai lagi.

It was a fun getaway & makan makan time.
Total cost, lebih kurang RM22.50 sorang.

So, people, jangan lupa singgah Bagan Lalang, kalau dah sampai ke KLIA, atau Nilai. Promote laa pulak I.
Cuti cuti Malaysia Getaway... :)

Sometimes, vouchers do come handy.

2009-01-29T18:36:00.004+08:00

I must admit, the past 1 to 2 months, my $$$$ almost run dry.

To solve the problem, I actually cash out what ever points I have from my credit cards, loyalty cards into shopping vouchers, Tesco, Jusco, you name it.

Once, I only pay less than RM5 for a weekend's food stocks at Jusco.

And the most interesting part, early last month, I was buying a calculator for my CFA exam.

I didn't know that the seller is not a shop.

I was planning to use my credit card. You see, even though I work near a bank, I'm the kind of person who is lazy to take out money from the ATMs.

When I was about to pay, the person, nice lady, informed that I have to pay by cash.

I asked if there's any banks around but there's none. The place is a new business centre.

So I dished out whatever RM10, RM5, RM1 and cents I have in my wallet, and those are just enough for that calculator.

And I'm left with two pieces 5 sen coin.

I told the person that I have money to pay for the calculator but not enough for me to pay my parking ticket to get out from the gated business park. She said happily said that the parking is just RM2. Already red-faced, I told her I have only 10 sen in my wallet. One of her colleague offered me RM2.00. But I was a bit hesitant. Then, I saw my Jusco vouchers in RM10s. So, I asked if she wants to barter her cash with my voucher. She happily did. heheh..

So, next time, I better keep vouchers in my wallet, save for the rainy days.

Ke Pintu Syurga

2009-01-28T18:19:00.004+08:00

Over the weekend, I spent time at my in-law's house.
We were busy packing as Umi plans to move back to KL.

While transferring Arwah Ayah's book into the box, I came across this book, titled "Hidup Selepas Mati"

The book describe how Heaven would be, the character of the deserving people of the eternal Heaven.

As summary:

Everyone stay youthful, being 30's forever. No need plastic surgeries, silicone, or botox to stay beautiful.
Everyone is equal, no King, no Slaves - enjoying each other's company without barriers or protocol.
In Heaven, we would have new spouse, angels, who never born into the World, and they're just perfect. We can still meet up with our spouse now. I can't imagine how it feels to be in that situation, but that's it.
Nobody needs to work. Foods & amenities are available upon request. I can't imagine myself not to work. I probably ask to do gardening and see my own tree grow fruits & vegetables for me. I'd love to have beautiful flowery garden :)

Having read the book, it got me thinking, what's there in this world, to strive for material wealth. okay, so, while Islam promote us to strive to be a better muslim, do good deeds, so that we can be Heaven residents eternally, Islam also ask us to seek for material wealth but not to overrides the wealth of good deeds.

So, basically, money can't buy eternal & Heavenly living.

But good deeds do!

Again, I read some Hadis somewhere that despite having millions of good deeds, a Muslim can not enter Heaven as long as the person has ill feelings towards another or not in good terms with another - at least try to patch sour relationship with another. Wow.. at current status, I don't think I'm clear of those.

What's there in a 80 years of living comparable to the Eternal Heaven.

And it only takes 80 years of being good to stay forever in the Hereafter. That's not much to ask for by the Almighty. Guilty guilty guilty, girl.

I need to be good. :)

Rukun Islam

Mengucap 2 kalimah syahadah
Solat 5 waktu
Bayar zakat
Puasa di bulan Ramadhan
Tunaikan Haji, jika mampu.

Sg. Besar

2009-01-28T12:27:00.002+08:00

What a break away - 3 days of delightful kampung scenes.

On the way to Sungai Besar, we passed through rows and rows of coconut trees and banana trees,
where next to the federal route were the decades old parit,
filled with bunga teratai and kiambang,
and separating the road and parit were lushes of colourful flowers,
the significant ones were the bright yellow and red bunga tasbih (canna), bougainvillea tree, also blooming!
once in a while, we saw wide landscape of paddy field, apparent near Kuala Selangor.
and also corns and sugarcane being planted, here and there..

Out from the main federal route and within the kampung alley,
we could see rows of papaya tree,
at a height of just 1 m,
already bearing fruits,
not one, but bountiful of them, fat ones...
A prove that Sungai Besar and the area surrounding the west coast area are just so so conducive for agriculture materials.
Even my in-laws house, their 10ft wide taman is full of pisang emas, pisang tanduk, pisang monyet, jambu air, jambu batu, serai...

Muiz loves the trip too, he's thrilled to see real hens and roosters, around the neighbourhoods.

oh, we also went to D'Muara for lunch before going back to KL.
D'Muara is a local resthouse, a decent ones and comfortable too.
I think it has been there since 3 to 5 years ago.
The restaurant was actually like a jetty.
So, while having lunch there, the kids were enjoying the scene of fishermen, coming back from the sea with their small boats. They also get to see squids swimming just below the jetty. Beautiful isn't it?

During the recent trip, while looking for paper packaging boxes, we were introduced with this old man, who collects old paper boxes from supermarket, and carry them on his bicycle (!). He suggested that we followed him to his home at Kampung Nelayan. Ali had to drive so slow as Pakcik Daud was cycling on his folded-boxes-laden-bicycle. That's really heavy!. Once, some of the boxes fell on the road. Instead of stopping, he just cycled away. We decided to stop and picked up those boxes into our car. We definitely can catched up tih him anyway. So I have my chance to see how a fisherman village looks like. The houses are small, even the ceiling are not that high, yet, these people really care for their house, bushes of flowers are planted at the front gate, we saw kids playing on the road, badminton, bicycle, you name it. the road is also not that wide, just enough for one car to pass by. As we reached the old man's house, packs of paper boxes were laid in front of his house. I wonder, what would happen if it rains, then, there'd be less income for him. As we selects the folded boxes on the ground, I actually like the serene feeling. Quiet and calming. Some curious neighbours, makcik makcik were looking at us. I just smiled at them. At the end, we took 14 boxes. Instead of putting his charge, he asked us to put our price. So, we calculate what would be the right price and then doubled them, as sedekah.

I kept on planning to go for a shopping at Pekan Sungai Besar but there's just so many things to do other than shopping there. Maybe I'll go next time.

There's this shop called Arked Man, where they sell nice and affordable textiles.
Not just that, the shop also sell telekung, pretty ones, again, at decent price.

As for food, this place is where I get my supply of fresh sea foods.
Arway Ayah would normally pack fresh fishes wherenver they came to KL.
My husband actually bought an icebox for Arwah Ayah, specifically for that purpose.
That was months back.
Since Umi is moving back to KL, we probably have to make our own fresh seafood shopping trip there.

You see, I've never actually noticed the kampung side of Selangor until I marry Ali.
The place is just an hour and a half drive from KL, yet I have never been there, until 4 years ago.

I would definitely recommend Sungai Besar for a weekend getaway. ;)

Al Fatihah - Ayah

2009-01-08T12:43:00.002+08:00

My father in law, Ayah, passed away last Tuesday night.
It has been 4 months plus, since he got stroke during dinner, 3 days before puasa month.
He was bedridden ever since then.
Stayed and taken care at two hospitals.
3 months at DSH and 1++ months at HUKM.
Went through about 4 to 5 operations,
either on his head to remove clogged water or on
his stomachs to clean his internal organ
as his antibody system weakened.
In fact, his last operation during the wee hours of Tuesday morning was 18 hours before he passed away .
I have to thank the doctor, Dr Hans and nurses of HUKM
who have made the fast & right decision to do that operation,
at least, to spare us a day with him.

Somehow, on Sunday, I already have this sad feeling that I'll be losing someone. I did not expect it to be Ayah but the feeling was just inside that my heart was crying for feeling that way.

When I visited Ayah on Saturday, I stared at Ayah, saying to myself, I only know Ayah about 5 years ago and yet, Ayah is like a father to me.
My parents in laws, Ayah & Umi normally stayed at our house whenever they're in KL so, we normally chatted over breakfast, over lunch, over dinner.

And I'll never forget one of the last few conversations I had with Ayah before he got stroke, he just came back from JB for a family's kenduri. My hubby accompanied Ayah & Umi since it would be a long journey. At night when they came back, Ayah was telling me that he's growing older for a long journey.

Ayah did not have any common sickness like hypertension or diabetic.
He's quite fit with healthy weight, does not smoke.
He was an athelete during school days & uni days.
He did annual check up, the last was about a year ago.
It took only 1 stroke attack, and Ayah was bedridden and then came along all sorts of sickness like phlegm on his lung and infection.
It was just 1 stroke to start all this.

I knew Ayah even before I met him or met my husband.
My father, Papa would tell me story during his younger days.
And Ayah is a friend of Papa who would give a lift to Papa with his Mini to go to work.
Ayah & Papa was a coursemate in Agriculture faculty in UM during the late 60's and then, had their first job in FELDA together until Ayah joined UPM since he was a govt scholar.
They never met since then, until I met my husband.
That's is why probably, our family can get along well with each other.

I'll miss Ayah dearly.
Al Fatihah.

CFA, Salam 1430H, Maid, Pop Corn, Choc Chip Cookies

2008-12-29T18:48:00.005+08:00

Hi All,
Been a while since I update the blog... been busy with work.. still trying to achieve my target for this half year. Nothing official for the KPI but something I want to achieve before the final countdown 6 months down the road. So, tomorrow, will be even more busier...

So many things have been happening to me.

-CFA-
Finally, I've registered for my CFA exam last week and my books arrived 3 days after online registration.. Well, it is costly, but I think the benefits overrides the $$$ that I have to pay.. I'll be using the dividends from my ASB to fund my registration which I've advanced via credit card... So, next 6 months, I'll commit my extra time for the exam. As I reviewed the syllabus, the subjects are well, something that I've learned during uni days & during ACCA days... maybe the questions, the level of difficulties is tougher... Anyway, I'm kind of excited to do all this. As what I've done in the past, I've timed the total hours, days for me to cover the whole syllabus, and target at least 2 months for full revision.. Basically, I'm targeting 4 months to run through the topics.. The first topic is about code of conduct, looks like common sense, but I'll still run through each of the examples.

Salam 1430H
Anyhow, as I studied, few days back, I thought, that as I spare my time for my career life, I should also not forget about my obligation for being who I am today to The One & Only & The Almighty. So, for this new year today, I'm committing myself to read more of the verses of the Quran. I want to be a good person, here and thereafter. That's my resolution for 1430. Oh yeaa, Salam Muharram everyone, May this year be a great year for everyone, that's my wish...

My Maid --> she is so nice
My maid's contract will end this March. I've asked her whether she is interested to continue for another year. I.e. whether she wants to come back here after going back to her hometown. Last Saturday, she gave me a good news, she wants to continue working with us and will only go back to her hometown after the 3rd year. How wonderful is that? I thanked her a lot , I really do appreciate that.. It's basically a win win situation for both of us. She gets to accummulate more funds for her family, what more next year, her son has the option to go to technical school and so, she'll be able to fund his education. Alhamdulillah... and for us, we get to save the extra $$$ which I find a bit unjustifiable to get a new maid. Anyway, my maid has been good to me and my family especially my son. She not only care for him, she also teach him. For a two year old boy, to know ABC, 123 and Alif, Ba Ta, Colours, to talk clearly like a 4 year old, that's a wonderful achievement. Thanks to my maid. So, we also decided to increase her salary. She deserves it. For all the things she done for my family, I've started to pray for her family, especially her son & daughter, hoping they will excel in their studies, as my maid always wish. For the sacrifice she & her family had to take to earn that $$ for better living, I think, it is only fair for me to pray for them too... Insya Allah.

PopCorn
I have a pack of corn kernels which I bought a year ago, still unused in my kitchen. So, yesterday, I decided to pop some corn. Relying on my previous encounter about 20 years ago - doing mischievous stuff at home with a friend-, I heated oil in the pan, add salt & sugar, and then, added the corn kernels. Close the pan, listened to the pops, and waited until the pops sound ended. Wallaa, I got my pop corn alright with some burnts corn kernels as well...
It was fun & cool, i think, to eat home made pop corn. Hehe..
So, you guys out there, wanna do some poppings? Here's a webpage I found on Pop Corn recipe. I'll try this too after this.
http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/000146perfect_popcorn.php

Hmm.. ok, I need to sign off...

I'm selling some homebaked choc chip cookies.
Interested?
Do call me, yea. :)

Cara Nak Lanjutkan Permit Kerja Maid.

2008-12-18T17:43:00.007+08:00

I tengah belajar cara cara nak renew permit kerja maid i.
It just me, I understand better when it's explained through drawings & flow chart.
So, I put it here for my easy reference in the future.
The procedure may change, so, that's why I put the website links.
Sorry for this bahasa rojak explanation.
I actually detailed out the process first, in BM.
Just that I express my thoughts better in English.

Fomema - Pemeriksaan Kesihatan Maid

http://www.fomema.com.my/regproc.html

Jangkamasa: 3 minggu
Dokumen yang perlu bawa:
Borang Pendaftaran Lengkap
Bank Draf/Money Order/Wang Pos
Salinan Muka Surat Pertama Passport Maid
Borang: http://www.fomema.com.my/download/RegistrationForm.pdf
Bayaran: RM190
Cara Bayaran: Bank Draf/Money Order/Wang Pos
Penama: Fomema Sdn Bhd
End Product: Keputusan Pemeriksaan Kesihatan Maid
Contact: 2094 6188

Jabatan Imigresen - Pas Lawatan (Kerja Sementara)http://www.imi.gov.my/bm/perkhidmatan/im_Separa.asp

Jangkamasa: 1 hari
Dokumen yang perlu bawa:
Passport Maid
Keputusan Fomema
Bank Draf/Wang Pos - untuk semua bayaran

Borang: Tiada
Bayaran:
Bayaran Levi: RM360
Bayaran Visa: Tiada untuk Pembantu Rumah
Bayaran Proses: RM10
Bayaran untuk PL(KS): RM60
Cara Bayaran: Bank Draf/Wang Pos
Penama: Ketua Pengarah Imigresen Malaysia
Nota: Nama & Alamat Majikan perlu ditulis di belakang Bank Draf/Wang Pos

End Product: Pas Lawatan (Kerja Sementara) Pembantu Rumah
Contact: 8880 1463

My Garden

2008-12-15T15:48:00.013+08:00

As promised, saviour the scenery of my garden.
A modest garden, cukup untuk buat tuan rumah rasa puas & seronok tengok laman rumah pagi pagi nak pegi kerja & masa bersantai di rumah di hari minggu. :)

Mac 2008

Julai 2008
Bunga Spider Lili - 1st time berbunga.
<
//.

Anyway, masa ni pagar rumah belum bercat.

Baru pasang, hardscape.
Saja buat diagonal... creative tak?

Ogos 2008
This is what I call, herb garden, kat belakang dapur.
That cute boy is Muiz, baru belajar senyum dekat kamera.. hehe.

September 2008

Oktober 2008

Disember 2008
Ni gambar hari ni,
Semua pokok kecuali Spider Lili berbunga.

Rumah Wan

2008-12-04T12:44:00.007+08:00

Rumah Wan terbakar semalam.
Macam tak percaya.
Banyak kenangan kat situ, paling ingat,
- masa beraya tahun 1987 - kena tahan dalam reban ayam, heheh, ada sebab
- masa cokman meninggal, mandi & solat jenazah kat situ
- masa kecik kecik, duk rumah Wan dekat 2-4 minggu sebab mak ada kerja kat overseas, nakal, nyang marah sampai nyang hambat sekeliling ruang kat rumah.. masa tu umur dalam 4 tahun kut, nyang ada kut dekat 90 tahun..
- raya, tidur ramai ramai kat ruang tamu & ngan ruang tv, borak sampai ke pagi.
- kat rumah ni jugak, sbb tangga batu rumah tinggi, nakal, pegi lompat turun dari tangga teratas, tanah situ, tanah kerikil merah yg macam batu tu, keras, luka kat lutut ni ada lagi sampai sekarang.
- main bunga api
- pagi raya, sure makan ramai ramai kat meja panjang, kerusi merah, muat dalam 20 orang pun boleh... makan nasi goreng Wan ngan kopi kampung original recipe Wan. Sape yg tak ada tempat duduk, makan kat tangga yg tinggi sebelah meja makan kat dapur ni.

Rumah Wan atas bukit, malam malam memang sejuk, kalau mandi pagi, air dia sejuk dingin, mandi pakai air dalam tempayan... nak mandi, sebab bilik air kat luar, walaupun kat tingkat atas, kat luar tu, ada pokok pokok, seram je... macam ada orang tengok.. perasaan orang penakut kan :) tapi tak ada pun kes x-files.

kat sini jugak, waktu nak dekat maghrib hari cokman meninggal & selamat kebumi, dah gelap, tengah mandi sorang kat bilik air tu, ada sepupu baru sampai rumah Wan, tak sempat tengok jenazah cokman, dengar suasana dalam rumah, dari dalam bilik air tu, sayu sungguh...

Kalau siang, ruang koridor luar rumah ni laa kitorang, yg budak budak seronok tengok tupai melompat dari pokok ke pokok.. Pokok sekeliling rumah memang besar, lagi tinggi dari rumah yg 2 tingkat tu...

Minggu lepas, Papa ada cerita pasal arwah Tok Arshad, meninggal sbb heart attack kat pintu yg nak ke bilik air luar tu.

kalau raya, sure melepak kat meja makan, ni meja makan kat atas... makan lauk pauk Wan..

Sayangnye kat rumah Wan. Itulaa kampung kitorang.. mana ada tempat lain lagi yg sama macam rumah Wan...

Baru je 4 bulan Wan pergi, rumah Wan pulak dah tak ada untuk kenangan.

Hari ni rasa tak lalu nak makan.

Siap beli nasi tomyam, teh ais, tapi semua tak habis.
Tengoklaa kalau chocolate yg baru beli tadi boleh membantu.
Mungkin sebab semua ni, badan pun rasa letih...

Last pegi rumah Wan, raya sebelum Wan pindah duk rumah baru Cik Ina, seberang jalan, dalam sikit. dah 3 tahun kut. tapi, pernah jugak, termimpi masuk rumah Wan tak lama dulu, boleh nampak dalam rumah tu semak, tak tau kenapa boleh termimpi sampai masuk ke dalam rumah tu. Macam betul je, roh boleh keluar pegi ke rumah tu dalam tidur.

Sayang sangat la kat rumah Wan...

My Garden Project This Weekend

2008-11-28T16:17:00.004+08:00

Pokok Tomato
Yg duk menjalar atas tanah kat halaman depan.
Esok, nak pasang tali atas paip kat bumbung.
Biar tali tu panjang jatuh sampai ke tanah.
Lilit pokok tomato kat tali supaya dia menjalar ke atas.
Sama jugak dgn pokok tomato kat indoor garden, nak letak tali atas gril sampai ke bawah, lilit 2 pokok tomato kat tali tu.

Pokok Bunga Alamanda
Sekarang, dah lama tak trim, nampak serabut, bunga penuh jugak.
Ingat nak pangkas sikit, & tanam kat sebelah pokok asal.
Supaya, alamanda ni jadi border sepanjang laluan nak masuk rumah, dalam 5 kaki je.

Sayur Kailan
Ada benih, ingat nak tanam bila dah beli pasu malam ni atau esok.

Have a nice weekend people :)

Al Fatihah

2008-11-27T19:12:00.003+08:00

I just got a news this afternoon from Mak.

One of our relative, by marriage, passed away early this morning because of liver cancer. The auntie is the wife of my late uncle who is a cousin to Mak.
My uncle, passed away unexpectedly last year after a heart attack when he was playing badminton.
The saddest thing is they have 1 child, in his teens, who now become orphan.
He is my second cousin, whom I only met once a year or in two, normally when we went back to our respective tok's kampung or during family occasions. Because of the age gap, we probably just bersalaman rather than play together.

Despite of the long distance relation and occasional meetings, I really feel sorry for him, at this moment.

and Al Fatihah.

My Son

2008-11-25T16:19:00.006+08:00

Semalam, balik rumah lewat, dalam pukul 11 lebih sampai rumah Mak Papa sbb pegi hospital lawat Ayah. Muiz dah tidur, kacau dia pun tak terjaga. Penat sangat sebab siang tak tidur and ikut Tokpa and Eyang jalan jalan.

On the way back to our house, sampai laa dah baringkan Muiz kat tilam dia, pun lena je tidur. Kesian Muiz, tak jumpa Mama & Ayah semalam. Sorry, Muiz.

Yg terharu, dalam hening malam, terjaga sekejap. Tengok kat sebelah, ada Muiz. Muiz bangun dari tempat tidur dia & tidur sebelah I kat katil I. Malam tadi kali pertama Muiz buat macam tu.

Sayunya rasa.

Hari ni nak balik awal.

Mama & Muiz 'Day In' on a Tomato Rice Weekend!

2008-11-24T14:44:00.005+08:00

Semalam, tak keluar langsung dari rumah...
Keluar ke compound rumah pun tak.
Siang panas terik, dah ke petang, hujan pulak, sampai ke malam.

Lagi satu, kitorang semalam bangun lewat.. dekat pukul 11 pagi.
Terus makan tgh hari, panaskan nasi tomato, ayam masak merah and salad...
Ni semua, masak hari sabtu sebelum tu.. by the way, sedap pulak kali ni masak... hheheh,,,angkat bakul... takpe ye.. only in my blog..

patutnya, lauk tu makan untuk dinner hari sabtu.. tapi sebab kitorang lawat Ayah tengah hari tu lepas lunch, then, singgah rumah kawan for her daughter's birthday party, then, singgah mid valley, beli barang ayah and barang rumah, patah balik ke hospital, and terus makan malam kat ampang, singgah rumah along,, at the end, balik dah pukul 1 suku pagi...

bagus jugak.. tak payah nak masak lagi... so, it's a tomato rice weekend for us all..

lepas makan tengah hari, main dengan Muiz... seronok habis.. you know what, being a mother allow us to be kids again... main lambung toys, then, hide and seek, sergah balik... Muiz hempuk Mama dia like what little boys would play, fun fun fun.. TV rasanya, tak tengok sangat siang tu, walaupun terpasang...

Malam, lepas makan malam, main drum pakai magic pen, pensil, plastic plate, kompang and cute steel bowl. The sound is great, sambil nyanyi lagu Baa Baa black sheep, tepuk amai amai, twinkle twinkle, rasa sayang eh, johnny johnny, pelangi, hickory dickory dock, a-b-c-d-e-f-e, yg lain tak ingat... then, main bouncing rubber, hairy ball yg Muiz dapat from birthday goodie bag birthday Lara. main bang bang bang, pistol made from his lego-like toy. Hubby, dah habis buat kerja join us after that...At midnight, pasang cd elmo, baring baring,

We had fun last night =)

I think I can make a good stay at home Mum... heheh

Aku & Dirimu

2008-11-21T08:23:00.000+08:00

I love to hear this song nowadays...

Aku & Dirimu
by Ari Lasso & Bunga Citra Lestari

tiba saatnya kita saling bicara
tentang perasaan yang kian menyiksa
tentang rindu yang menggebu
tentang cinta yang tak terungkap

sudah terlalu lama kita berdiam
tenggelam dalam gelisah yang tak teredam
memenuhi mimpi-mimpimu malam kita

duhai cintaku, sayangku, lepaskanlah
perasaanmu, rindumu, seluruh cintamu
dan kini hanya ada aku dan dirimu
sesaat di keabadian

jika sang waktu kita hentikan
dan segala mimpi-mimpi jadi kenyataan
meleburkan semua batas
antara kau dan aku, kita

Ayah

2008-11-20T13:59:00.006+08:00

As I came back home last night, resting in my room, it finally hit me that those days will be those days. Things will not return 100% as it was before. I miss talking to Ayah.

For the first time after 83 days, my heart sank, at the hospital. My state of denial came off, as I stood next to Ayah's bed. Unlike every other day in hospital, there were no guest or kids around, only me, hubbby, sis-in-law and bro-in-law. Umi and the rest of the siblings went back to hometown yesterday to meet someone who can possibly cure Ayah, traditionally.

Ayah is not getting any better. His condition worsen about two weeks ago and has not been able to do his daily physiotherapy, only laying on his bed. After the stroke, now his body, his spirit, is fighting against pneumonia and fever. I could hear the sound of phlegm in his throat or possibly from his lung as Ayah tried to cough out the discomfort. His eyes were half open, probably tired. There's once, three of us, me, hubby and sis in law stood at him, and my husband wiped the wetness on his forehead, I saw tears at the corner of Ayah's eyes. I felt really sad, up to this moment.

Hoping hard that Ayah will recover soon.

Downhill, here we go.

2008-11-17T09:14:00.006+08:00

Today's news and reading through past news and economic data made me nervous this morning.

German, US, Japan, Singapore, already officially experienced a contraction as evidenced from their GDP growth data recently.
In the WST Journal, a number of headlines telling me that big corporates worldwides are laying off workers soon, including one of the world big banks.
GM may have to seek bail out.
Nokia, Sharp reducing their their production and sales target.
Thailand auto's saw sales contracted.
Then, there's this article about some 89++ yearls old American describing how their lives were during the Great Depression.

Frankly speaking these all telling me that the economy across the globe is going down the hill and I frankly, after reading and analysing, have no idea whether it has bottom up. And onshore here, we are not insulated from all these downsides, which therefore implying that our position will be dragged down too. The quantum, may not be as bad as others given our lean and discipline bank regulation and operation but economic wise, we are very much associated and dependent on the rest of the world. How sustainable are our consumer spending to take over the role of external trades to support our GDP?

Time for me to buy more pots, seeds, and mediums.
You guys know what I mean, right?

My Virgin Passport

2008-11-10T19:27:00.003+08:00

Of late, there's a number of foreign corporates/institutions tapping on the local capital market.

With such, my analysis & research has encompassed wider horizon.

I've studied on Korea, briefly on Gulf states, and at current moment, specifically and intensely on Dubai.

So, there's loads of reading to do, researching on the nets,
Seriously loads of reading, either from the bloomberg, papers from brokers, analysis from rating agencies, news, the info memo. While doing this, it also requires in depth analytical thinking up to a point, I got so absorbed into it that I didn't want to stop. At times, it just too tiring reading from words to words.. you know, when it comes to speed reading.

Now, come to think of it, i've been doing research on foreign countries
but it has been a very long long time
since my feet actually touching the foreign land,
breathing the different air, possibly cold & windy, and
getting involved into different culture.

I want to do all this.
I really do.

I miss those short stint I had, back 16 years ago,
travelling across 6 Europe countries,
over the land and the sea,
crossing beautiful lake, or standing on an icy mountain,
by train, by cable car, by bus, by the shipboat,
listening to different languages, and
interacting with different sort of people and
eating different type of food.

During that trip, using my own money, I actually bought a keychain, with "London" word scribbled on it.
Colourful text with black background. I still use the keychain for my housekey.
The keychain signifies my promise to myself that one day, I will come again.

It has been 16 years.
I don't know what is stopping me from doing so.

Blast from the Past

2008-11-07T18:34:00.003+08:00

I had a training this week, for 3 days.

An interesting topic,
a chatty & loud & informative & knowledgable instructor, and
lively participants,
Enough to spice up my day.

And guess what, of all things,
this special lady whom
I saw the first time on TV when I was a little girl because she sang with my uncle,
and then, 20++ years later, i.e. about 1 and a half months ago on PC in Youtube,
was face to face with me during the last 3 days' training.
We happened to sit next to each other.

I didn't know it was her until I told my mom about this nice person I met and my mom asked me whether she is that singer. So. I asked her on the second day, which she confirmed.

I was excited to know it was her because I like the song they sang together.
3 of them, my uncle, this special lady and another lady, representing the main race of Malaysian.
The song is Tanah Pusaka.

It's pleasant, to meet someone who used to know someone I used to know.
Not just because of that, she is also a very nice person to talk to and be friend with, although I knew her only in the last 3 days. She actually gave me a lift with her family to my office.

It's ironic, who would have thought, I would meet someone I just saw on a 2 decade old video in Youtube about 2 months ago.

It is like a Blast from the Past.

Time for more analysis.

2008-10-24T19:04:00.006+08:00

At this hour, I feel like staying at the office.
I feel like sitting at the front of the Bloomberg terminal or my PC, browsing news, articles, reports, until I'm satisfied.

So many events unfold, I need time to understand, get grasp of things that happened and will happen, and strategize, at least for the benefit of my fund managers. Probably, I'll come back to office this Monday to continue anakysing,, I want to be on top of things... I know I won;t be paid for working on public holidays.. but I want to preserve, protect our investments. My company's investment..,. my client's money... I'm worried. My last call in September, a bit lari... it hit me a little bit. I want to forecast better this time.. who can predict well in this current market?

Property market,
capital market,
flight to quality,
inflation,
health of local banks - asset quality, NPL, loan growth, CAR,
auto sector market,
plantation & oil.. can it withstand the commodities slump now, will the price continue to slump?
Our economy, will we be dragged into the global economic turmoil...?
How sustainable are we, alone?
Ringgit, how low it will depreciate?
Our foreign reserve, how long it can save Malaysia...
What are the plans of BNM? What are their asssumption on planning of what they plan? Workable?
Will safe haven flow continue to boost the rally in MGS?
How low can the KLCI go?

These are the things that needs to be answered...

Interesting time, but loads of work

I Want To Age Healthily

2008-10-22T18:28:00.005+08:00

Yes, I Want to Age Healthily,
like people in the old days.
Like Tok Teh or
like Nyang, my great grand mother,
who had lived few years short of a century,
spent less than 5 years bedridden,
no cancer, no stroke, no hypertension, no diabetics, no alzheimer,
just weak knees, only bedridden when she fell on the slippery bathroom.

I Want to Age Healthily,
accumulating the good nutritions that earth can offer,
so that I can enjoy my old age
with my husband,
with my successful (to be, I pray) & loving children,
with my cheeky grandchildren, possibly great grandchildren,
Insya Allah, having strength to take care of Mak, Papa, My siblings and Families.

I Want to Age Healthily,
ensuring my well being,
the precious gift from the Almighty.

My flowers are blooming

2008-10-15T18:52:00.003+08:00

I've been wanting and wanting to tell this.

Yes, they bloom in blue, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple since Raya.

Poor thing, I can only enjoy the view in the early morning.
If I'm lucky, during weekends, you know, now sibuk beraya.. tak lekat kat rumah.
My bro in law is the one who can enjoy the view, if he wants to look lah...heheh

The best part is my Yellow canna dah berbunga.. after months since I planted them.

My Orange canna which previously flowered only, not in lush, now shows its real hot orange blooms. I just love it.

My driveway, now, is the home to the purple flower weeds, beautiful weeds that I don't bother to pull out. They stuck up high at about 20 cm along the middle, non cemented portion of the driveway.

Flower garden, the colourful ones, is such a relaxing therapy, don't you think so?

They made my day :)

Obstacle & Doa

2008-10-12T22:27:00.003+08:00

Hey, not to say I'm religious enough to preach,
I'm putting this down more as reminder to my ownself,
what crossed my mind at this juncture...

Everyone has problem of their own.
Problem with money.
Problem with work.
Problem with health.
Problem with relationship,
or not having that special one relationship.
And God knows what else happens in every other people around us.

What I can say is, my life is beautiful but not without obstacle.
But now, the obstacle is, at times too heavy to bear.

The fact is what happen now is not about things that happen directly to me, rather, indirectly affects me . I have been until now, be the supporting person rather being involved totally. And the other fact is, the things that happen, I think, are not because of some people mistake, laziness, or what ever negative things they did in the past. For people who never been in their shoe, they may not be able to understand it.

Who knows, people you know, live just like you, had decent work, decent family, living a good life, financially stable, until one day, gradually, dengan izin Allah, things just reversed, one by one. You wonder why these things happen? And why so many things happen at once. The life they once had, just like you, suddenly changed. Who would have thought? And it did happen. And the things is, I think, lagi berat mata memandang, lagi berat badan memikul.

For me, I've just been involved.
But for the people who've been in it, like almost a decade, they are still strong, emotionally & spiritually.
Being in it, at times, I almost gave up and felt down and wonder why that One & Only never grant my doa.

The other day, someone, without knowing what I have been through, said that Allah either grant our doa, while we are alive or reserve it until Hereafter.
Allah will grant our doa, with our usaha & tawakkal.

So, whatever obstacle that we face,
sometimes, it's not just about being able to resolve it
but it's also about being able to withstand those obstacle,
being strong emotionally & spiritually
as these are the things that will be rewarded in Hereafter.

Allah has His way to reward His servant, so I must continue to doa & redha.

2008 Hari Raya

2008-10-09T19:34:00.003+08:00

Aha... lama tak update blog... yea yea yea.. sibuk beraya...

So, how's my Raya?
It's a blast.. heheh...

First, the whole family is around since Aza came back for a week, just for Raya...
So, we get our full family picture on 1st day Raya..
Belum cuci lagi..

Then, my parents house, its was full house from afternoon to almost midnight...
Both from Papa & Mama's side.

Morning, with my cousin from my mom's side.
Including the cousins and their partner and their daughter and sons and mine, there was like 40 people in the house. Had fun taking photos.. bersalaman, borak borak...
Thanks Nana, Abang Adi, Kak Ida, Kak Nisah, Data, Zulu, Anum, Kakna, & Azimah sbb datang beraya sama sama... Kalau 10 tahun lepas... kitorang beraya sama sama kat Sungei Petani... tidur seilik, sekatil, sebantal, borak sampai nak ke pagi.. bangun raya pun boleh kata lewat.. heheh.. masa tu ... khala, khalo, tok yg masak untuk raya.. kitorg, the kids, just enjoy... now, mak masak most of the main dish and desert.. i helped out with the roti jala.. spend like 1 and a half hour, jala roti kat dapur i... it was a blast.. really love them all.

Actually morning tu, singgah ke hospital, lawat Ayah, teman Ummi beraya kat hospital.. Mak Andak and family pun ada masa tu.. seronok duk tgk Ratatooile... SO funny... I siap call rumah suruh on Disney channel.. sayang.. tak tengok habis..

Almost petang, lepas my Kedah side cousins balik, sedara sedara on my father side pulak.. pun a blast.. Hud , my cousin came back from Dubai.. borak sakan jugak.. sambil makan chocolate Paatchi dari Dubai.. walaupun ada je kat Malaysia Paatchi.. tthis one tasted different cos it's from Hud.. heheh... snap gambar pun berlaambak.. banyak pulak photographer, whether from phone camera, digicam or that high tech camera canon tu.. Thanks Ciklan, Cik Timah & family, Cik Ani & Family, Mak Ngah, Pak Ngah, Abang Adam & family for the wholesome day..

petang sikit, my uncles and aunties ikut my parents and me lawat Ayah kat hospital. then came back to our house for dinner... kebetulan my in law ada kat hospital, I jemput diorang datang., So, that dinner, 1st raya... it was with my Pahang's side family and my in law.. they mixed around well.. my sis in law got to know my sisters,,, my cousin play badminton (muiz punya) with my in law's son... it was a real happy family gathering.. i just love those moments.

For all that, I went back home at 1 a.m. Tolong mengemas lepas tu.. I have to thank my maid for helping out.. she is so nice... thinking that her family is an offshore away...

The 2 and 3 days after pun seronok.. Panjang nak cerita,,,

Can't believe it , I actually enjoyed my Raya...

haven't felt like this since those days raya kat Sungei Petani or Termerloh... Masa kecik kecik dulu..

With friends, beraya kat phone je.. ber sms raya.. :)

Weekend ni sambung Raya lagi...

Selamat Hari Raya

2008-09-30T14:11:00.006+08:00

Lagi 5 jam, bulan Ramadhan akan berakhir..
Cepat betul rasanya, bulan ni... Macam tak puas ngan bulan Puasa.

Yea,, it has been a different one for me.
Ayah masih lagi di hospital.
Hampir tiap hari kitorg berbuka kat sana.
Mak Papa pun rajin datang, bawak lauk..
Masa ni jugak, dapat practice masak sebab ahad cafetaria tak bukak, so, masak sendiri untuk satu family.. Best...
Dalam sedih tu, dapat jugak bermesra dgn sedara mara lain yang datang melawat.

Dari sehari ke sehari, kesihatan Ayah beransur pulih.
It's a small improvement which means a lot to us.
Contohnya, Ayah dah boleh angkat tangan, mata Ayah buka luas sikit,
Kalau bercakap dengan Ayah, Ayah response dgn angguk atau mata.
Nak bangun sendiri, belum lagi.

Hmm.. what else, this puasa..?
Bertarawih di masjid, langsung tak sempat.

Berbuka di luar? Dgn fellow colleague, ada 2 kali, kat Shangri La & Felda.
Dgn sedara mara, erm.. ada 2 kali jugak.
Dengan kawan, sekali, ahad lepas.. buat pot luck.. dah masuk tahun ke2 .. best,,, sbb rumah Aizah, retro.. 70's houses.. so, feel dia special jugak.. heheh.. girls' night out..
Kat rumah Mak & Papa... belum lagi... o oh.. belum lagi... (?)
Setakat berbuka sama sama kat rumah sedara tu ada laa..
Tahun ni, Mak Papa tak buat makan makan ngan family..

Interesting part, Aza, balik KL from Brisbane..
It's a surprise to Mak & Papa...
Hari Aza balik tu, just last Saturday, me masak lagi... Nasi daging (resipi Kak Shila, my sis in law) ayahm masak merah, daging masak merah limau purut, and sup sayur...Punya laa rushing masak, sebab plan nak buka kat rumah pun impromptu je.. start masak kul 5... sempat siap n hantar kat hospital untuk Umi & Annuar..
Result dia, not bad jugak rasa dia..
Then, kebetulan, Kak Shila and family singgah rumah malam tu, so, dapatlaa merasa nasi daging resipi dia... heheh...

Shopping raya... dalam tak plan nak bershopping... shopping jugak...
last minute... heheh.. kat Alam Sentral, OU, Ampang Park, KLCC, KL Sentral, Giant Kelana Jaya.
Mula mula beli baju muiz je, baju jalan kat OU..
Baju melayu tak beli, anyway, Mak Papa decided to buy for him.
Then, weekend ni, dari plan nak buat kuih karipap mini, Aza pulak ajak shopping kat Ampang Park dengan Mak & Ana. Teringat ada niat nak belikan diorang brooch.. so, ikut laa diorang ni.. kuih raya langsung tak buat... Zura je, yg tak ikut & sempat buat choc chip cookies..

Kat Ampang Park, had a great time dengan Muiz.. He's so cute... Semua baju dia nak pegang & angkat.. asyik tanya, ni baju apa.. sepuluh dua puluh kali, jawab, baju raya, baju kurung... For me, baju kurung, pastel colour, pink, peach & yellow, match dengan baju melayu Ali..Then, siap ada tarian melayu lagi masa tu.. Muiz sempat tengok tarian eh wau bulan.. so tradisional...

Malam tadi sempat gi Giant beli baju untuk Ummi ngan my maid, siap dgn tudung... cantik cantik & banyak choice.. kira.. dalam sejam tu, dapatlaa semua benda yg berkenan.. sampai kita pun jadi suka waiaupun style baju tu bukan untuk kita..

Kuih raya... erm.. beli 2 macam yg ada coklat, 1 jem tart, kerepek Anum sbb Muiz suka.. yg lain tu, dapat hamper kat office... Yg coklat dah makan dah.. heheh...

Yg tak sempat nak buat, beli lampu kelip kelip warna warni... takpe.. ni projek tahun depan.

Program malam ni..
nak beli lemang... bestnya.. tak sabar pulak...nak bawak Muiz sekali.lepas tu,
lepas tu, nak sambung jahit seluar baju melayu Muiz...
tgh malam, buat kuih karipap mini.. ngan Zura..

Pagi esok, masak Roti Jala..
Dah plan ngan Mak, Mak buat kuah kari, Me buat roti jala.
Kuah kacang & rendang daging, kitorg tempah ngan tukang masak Umi, Cik Leha... dah ada dalam peti ais kat rumah.. tunggu nak panaskan je esok.

Tak sangka.. seronok tahun ni...

To all my family & friends:
Selamat berbuka , Selamat Hari Raya & Maaf Zahir & Batin and Drive safely yea...

Ada masa, kita jumpa.. k..

Global Industrial Production

2008-09-24T17:08:00.004+08:00

I'm doing an update over the economic data for 7 countries including Malaysia plus Eurozone.

Comparing to about 3 months ago, 1 country, the US reported a YoY contraction.
Based on the latest data I got today, 4 countries reported a YoY contraction.
The 3 with YoY growth are Malaysia, Japan and China.
Except Japan, the two reported declining growth.

Down to the bear cycle?

Industrial
Production
Country (Y-o-Y%)latest
US -1.5 Aug-08
Euro -1.7 Jul-08
Germany -0.6 Jul-08
France -2.0 Jul-08
Italy -2.0 Jul-08
Japan 2.4 Jul-08
China 12.8 Aug-08
Malaysia 1.8 Jul-08

Industrial
Production
Country (Y-o-Y%)latest
US -0.1 May-08
Euro 3.9 Apr-08
Germany 4.9 Apr-08
France 3.2 Apr-08
Italy 2.0 Apr-08
Japan 1.2 May-08
China 16.0 May-08
Malaysia 4.3 Apr-08

Roti Jala lagi.. kali ni dengan Kari Daging

2008-09-24T12:36:00.003+08:00

Lupa nak beritau... minggu lepas, buat Roti Jala sekali lagi...
Sbb tak puas hati ngan kari yg buat sebelum ni..

Thanks to Mak and Nana for their advice, my Kari Daging menjadi...
(tambah minyak lebih & santan biar sampai naik minyak baru tambah air)

Habis ok kari tu... heheh.. dalam 2 hari..
Kebetulan, masa hari buat kari & roti jala tu, my in law with whole family datang buka kat rumah.. berbaloi jugak masak..

Ada orang tu on second day, dah habiskan roti jala.. kuah kari daging tu, sambung makan ngan roti biasa pulak... my hubby laa :)

Hmm.. baru puas hati masak..

I think I can make a good housewife lah.. kalau betul betul practise..
What to do, boleh kata, I was not trained or grilled to do housework as much as I was grilled and trained to excel in studies..

Mak pandai masak.. rugi kalau tak belajar masak betul2 ngan Mak... lepas ni kena salalu join mak kat dapur lah.. Nak ikutkan, ramai sedara mara yg bukak bakery shop and catering, ada yg jadi Chef, but I have never been so into masak masak ni except for brownies and chocolate chip cookies (my favourite) masa time nak raya...

Nana pulak.. memang rajin bagi advice dalam bab memasak.. resipi pun rajin bagi.. tak heran laa, kenapa resipi Kala Da (mak Nana) boleh masuk dalam majalah Rasa.

Nak masak apa lagi ye?

Toot Toot... Beep Beep... Lalalala.. Click! Click! ... You've Got Mail.. What's the time now?

2008-09-23T15:19:00.005+08:00

That's my phone, Nokia 6120 Classic.
Got it last year using my bonus, to replace my 5-year old Nokia 3315.

In a way, she is my PA.
She's a phone.
She's my alarm clock every morning.
She's my camera when I find something memorable to click.
She's also my video cam...
She's my radio when I need to concentrate on my work or in LRT.
She connects me to the World Wide Web when I'm bored and have no PC at hand.
She reminds me on important meetings and to do list.
She's my wrist free watch.
She's my photo album, whenever I miss my family and friends.
She keeps all my favourite songs..
She's my recipe book, I keep my fav recipe inside..
She's my mailbox as well... i can check my mail here...
She's my ATM to do money transfer except no physical cash involved...

Gadget wise, she's my everything.

I think my nokia deserves a title lah for all stuff she does for me 24/7..

Heheh :)

Stripping out the accounts.

2008-09-19T17:00:00.004+08:00

Today, I'm so into work.

I was doing a review on this one particular company.

Stripping out the whole financial accounts, analysing the meaning behind the relationship between the different items in the Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cashflow Statement.

The Cash Flow part was the most exciting. I found out that the company probably have got its subsidiaries to announce huge dividend upstream to make its Income looks great. But when I look into the cashflow, the actual $$$ never came in physically into the company's bank account. Instead, it sits on the Balance Sheet under Other Assets. I won't know just by looking into the Balance SHeet as it is parked under Other Asset. But when I go into the notes, I found out the huge jump in Other Asset was due to the sudden jump in Amount due from subsidiaries.

I was so excited to find them and wanting to explore further... until hubby called and said he's about 1 km away from my office.

So, now, before I leave, this findings happen only once in a while. so better put it here.. for my remembrance.. heheh...

I know I've done so called good analysis if I think I have strip bare the financial statements. Accounts is not all that boring, huh?

Ok then, I have a buka puasa today at a cousin's house.
Still thinking of what to bring ...since she said it's a potlock.

Have a nice weekend.

Hopefully I get to cook Kuih Cara..

Bye!

Tough time ahead

2008-09-18T11:10:00.003+08:00

Seems everything around is pointing towards a downside.

The country political landscape;
as liquid as water
as dramatic and fanciful like the latin soap opera.

The economy;
not just locally but globally,
the biggest economy in on on a slowdown
the big global insurance company is facing liquidity issue
the big local bank recorded a threshold performance
and having a tough time to close a deal

hmm... what will happen to my mortgage insurance
and property is supposed to be the safest bet
so, some protection may be diluted by now

Workwise,
With economy and political not so certain,
expect average performance of the company;
also average bonus for next year.
with this year already the lowest ever.
Time to save for the rainy season.

My solace - family and friends.

How about you?

Masak lagi - Roti Jala & Kari Ayam

2008-09-16T13:38:00.002+08:00

Minggu lepas, masuk 2 kali tangguh nak buat kuih cara.
Sebab nak makan roti jala...
Buat sendiri tau.

Sambil tu masak kari ayam.. tapi cair pulak.
Baru tau semalam, kalau nak buat kari, kena pakai banyak minyak ngan pakai santan asli, bukan yg dalam kotak, kalau nak pekat.

Me, memang kedekut sikit bab minyak ni, memang tak berseri kuah tu...
Mak bagi solution, kalau conscious sgt ngan minyak, takut kolestorl tinggi, ganti ngan canola oil ke... hmm.. nak kena try ni, lain kali.

Sehari dua lepas ada laa borak ngan kawan pasal buat roti jala...
Ada yg cam tak percaya je, boleh buat sendiri...
My mom in law, hari tu, siap tanya.. buat sendiri ke?
Mestilaa... :)

Nak buat camna, kita ni ada keturunan org utara,,,
tak sah kalau tak makan roti jala time bulan puasa ngan pagi raya...
memang happening... heheh...

Sabtu ni, memang akan buat kuih cara tu.. sbb ada kenduri buka puasa...
ok then.. sign off for now.

Bulan Puasa - Masak & Berbuka

2008-09-07T07:24:00.007+08:00

Nak tau tak ape yg seronoknya bulan puasa ni? for me laa :)

Masak masak(!)
Isnin lepas buat Mi Hailam.
Semalam masak nasi tomato, ayam masak merah & dalca sayur (ada kacang panjang, ubi kentang, tomato & carrot.. boleh tahan healthy .. heheh). Nak lengkapkan lagi menu set, mintak tolong maid goreng keropok.

Kitorang sekarang, so far, memang berbuka kat hospital... sbb nak jimat masa ... nak lawat Ayah kat ICU, sampai pukul 9 malam je.. so, sorong habis lauk pauk, bubuh dalam bekas, simpan semua dalam 1 storage box termasuk laa pinggan, sudu, senduk, tisu & kurma.

Kuih Cara
Ikutkan semalam, nak buat kuih cara manis sekali... siap amik acuan & daun pandan kat rumah Mak.. memandangkan kita ni kurang professional dalam bab masak memasak ni, lama laa nak siapkan lauk pauk tu.. ada 2 jam kut.. dari pukul 3.30 sampai 5.30. So, kuih ni, hari ni kut nak buat... bahan semua dah ada... nak buat lain sikit.. tukar gula pasir ngan guka melaka... nanti, rasa dia, ala ala onde onde buah melaka, without the kelapa parut... ok tak? takpe... dah buat & makan malam ni, kita buat review,kay...

Makan kat hospital - 1998
Berbuka kat hospital, something new for me... teringat zaman arwah Kalo Jit ngan arwah Tok sakit dulu, kat Pusat Pakar Utara, Alor Setar, sepuluh tahun lepas.. Kalo Jit sakit kanser usus, Tok, agaknye sebab risau ngan Kalo Jit, masuk hospital sebab sakit jantung sikit... so, masa makan malam kat hospital ramai ramai... masa tu. bukan bukan puasa.. macam macam jenis kuah kari ada... orang utara laa katakan..

Berbuka kat hospital - 2008
Sekarang, buka puasa kat hospital, kalau cafetaria bukak, makan dalam cafetaria, beli air je... ramai jugak yang berbuka kat situ... kalau hari sabtu ahad, berbuka kat lobby ... macam semalam, ada 3 keluarga... ada yang beli kat pasar Ramadhan, ada yang bawak dari rumah... siap tukar tukar lauk lagi... mesra di sebalik risau :)

Dalam 6 hari berpuasa ni, belum sempat berbuka kat rumah Mak. Mak Papa paham kut.. ada dalam 3/4 hari time hari kerja, Mak Papa bawak lauk dari rumah ke hospital untuk kitorang...

Oklah!.. Nak pegi pasar ni.. beli daun pisang,nak masak nasi lemak, sambal udang hari ni... udang ni Umi & Ayah beli direct dari jeti nelayan kat Sg Besar sebelum Ayah kena stroke baru ni.. maybe nak buat pecal jugak.. teringat kat sorang kawan baru ni kat hospital, husband dia kat ICU jugak, sebelah katil ayah.. mak dia teringin nak makan pecal... kita pun jadi teringin pulak... heheh.. boleh share.. sebelum tu kena cari resipi dulu..

ok.. bye!

Salam Ramadhan

2008-09-02T08:40:00.004+08:00

Selamat Menyambut Ramdhan.

Certainly, this Ramadhan would be different for my family. And Raya too.

Compared to previous year, I haven't prepared much for Raya. We decided two weeks back, to wear our baju raya lepas lepas for this coming Raya. Will only buy 2-3 baju untuk Muiz.

Anyway, I'm planning to have more meaningful Ramadhan. Kalau sempat, nak pegi terawih kat masjid. Tahun lepas sebab Muiz kecik lagi, so, tak pegi langsung. Kali ni, lebih excited nak sambut Ramadhan. Tak tau kenapa. Kalau ikut asas nya pun, memang Ramadhan yg patut kita utama kan berbanding Syawal kan. My plan for this Ramadhan includes reciting the Quran. I'm still learning to be good muslim.

May everyone is blessed with good health physically and spiritually this Ramadhan, Insya Allah.

Get well soon, dear.

2008-09-02T07:45:00.004+08:00

It's been a whirlwind weekend.

Ayah & stroke
Last Thursday, my father in law (Ayah) suffered stroke. He was having dinner when it happened. Luckily enough my mother in law (Umi) managed to hold on him, thus avoiding a fall, which could be even more severe. They were at their home in Sungai Besar and the neighbours helped to bring him to the hospital in Sabak Bernam. Ayah was conscious all through out the journey until he was at the hospital.

On the same night, 4 hours after the attack, Ayah was brought to Hospital Klang for scanning as the MO suspected stroke and they don't have the equipment in Sabak Bernam hospital. Even after the scanning in Klang hospital, they informed that they don't have neurologist to handle Ayah's case. The only two hospitals with such specialist are HKL and Sungai Buloh hospital but the latter doesn't have enough equipment. In HKL, the ward was full pulak. The reason why I put this here so that everyone know how it's like if this happen in the future.

So, the relative resorted for private hospital for immediate treatment. I wasn't in the hospital but at home. In the morning on my way to work, I called hubby at 7 am and was told that they couldn't get a place yet.. Sad isn't it? They've called two private hospitals, one in Subang and another in Bangsar, but their ICU were fully occupied.

I suggested hubby to call the one near our house. Kalau susah jugak nak dapat, I asked him to get my uncle's help in JB who is a doctor in one of the hospital chain with the one near our house. With some tips from my uncle and a call to that hospital, they got a place. That time, it has been 11 hours.

I decided to take half day leave to help out with the transfer in KL since most of the relatives were in Klang. Guess what, after meeting at office, when I called hubby at 11 a.m., they were still in Klang. They have to go through various procedure for the transfer including booking themselves a private ambulance since they can't use government ambulance for transfer to private hospital. I guess another reason is also because the ambulances were fully booked as well.? There's a lot to be done with our hospitals here. I wonder how it's like for people yang tak berkemampuan. When Ayah was at the hospital, they don't provide a proper ward for him, he was given a bed and placed at the hospital corridor with other patients there. Sedihnya.

Ayah reached the private hospital at about 2 p.m., that's like 17 hours after the attack. Within half an hour, Ayah underwent a surgery to remove the clot in his brain. The neurologist has rushed for the operation given the severity.

Now, Ayah is in ICU for about 4 days already. He gained his consciousness on the second day of the operation. I can sensed he was trying all out to move his body. Ayah suffered stroke on his left side of body. I've been spending the last three days in hospital. We had buka puasa in hospital as well, brought some food from my mom and some left overs from the night before.

Alhamdulillah, so many relatives visited Ayah, all the way from Melaka and Sarawak. All of his siblings and their families, anak, cucu came to the hospital. Their bond are just as strong.

Muiz and high fever
Nak buat satu lagi cerita, Muiz had high fever again, he had it last week from Monday to Thursday, had finished his antibiotic. His temparature can go up all sudden high and his cheek turned red but his hand was all cold. Panic, I rushed him to the hospital. The MO said that he was not happy that Muiz still had fever after the antibiotic treatment and so, suggested that I monitor him today. If still demam panas, will have to do blood test. So, here I am, at home, not working to take care of Muiz. He is sleeping right now. I'm thinking of seeing his paeditrician today when he woke up.

So many things happened to me lately. First, with my Wan, then Ayah, and also Muiz. I've been taking leave for all these reasons within a month. Guilty pun ada jugak, but family is important and health is so so important as well kan.

People

2008-08-27T20:11:00.004+08:00

I'm still in the office... at this hour.. 8.10p.m. to be precise.

It was a downpour at 5 p.m. what a bad timing.

I guess most people are stuck in the jam, so hubby decided to wait for a while.

And me, I just have to wait..

Initially, I'm kind of tired doing my work, but after maghrib prayer and chit chat with my colleagues here, I'm back to my working mode.

But, just a short while... thought of visiting here and post something .. it's been a while, kan...

What on my mind now... well... i'm just gonna describe it discreetly..as usual.. hehe

Well.. there are two type of people in this world.

One group are those 'what you see is what you get', they are not necessarily the outspoken person, but they are just frank about what they think and what they do. They're not afraid of being in disagreement. No cakap cakap belakang... Clear vibe ...

And then, there is another group of people who probably the outspoken sort of person, but when it comes to confrontation, they prefer to channel their disagreement behind .. i.e. cakap cakap belakang... how I know such person, well, most of the times, they only have good things to say about you but you know from the body language, there's something else..

Hmm... what to do... this is life... we just have to deal with them.

By the way, I belong to the first group.

Dream

2008-08-22T14:28:00.004+08:00

I had this heart stopping dream few nights back.

It was something like a scene inside the New York's World Trade Centre.
I was in this building, an office, but doesn't look like my current office and suddenly the floor just broke into pieces and the building was about to collapse. I couldn't hold on anything and just let myself fell and it did feel like flying as well and I was hoping that I could keep my balance and grab on something which I can hold on to as I headed towards the ground. Everyone was panic, and then everything suddenly disappear and I was already at another place.

? ?? ? ??

2008-08-20T12:00:00.004+08:00

Due to some complexity, there are things in life that will be left unanswered and once in a while, the question resurfaces as new events unfold. And each time, self rationalisation is the way to go. In denial or just being realistic? It's complicated.

44 days

2008-08-11T15:57:00.001+08:00

Baru je tadi checked out my previous posts in June and I did write something about my hunch on Wan.

I calculated the day when I had that hunch, on 24 June until the day Wan passed away 6 August totalled to 44 days.

44 days, number 4 is very much associated with dxxth.

Co incidence?
And why did I suddenly thought of Wan on that particular day, is also another matter.

Wan - AL Fatihah

2008-08-08T10:31:00.005+08:00

Wan passed away last Wednesday, right after Asar at about 4.45 p.m.

I came to know about it when I was on my way back to office after a meeting at Hilton KL. My last task of the day at office.

I managed to see Wan the day before. And I'm lucky as Wan was still awake when I arrived although she didn't responded to my presence. Her eyes would just stare at the ceiling with heavy breathing. Two hours later, her eyes were closed. Initially, I thought Wan was asleep but she stayed that way until her last breath.

During those last moments with Wan, I massaged her hands as I recited the Yassin, I recited Subhanallah Walhamdulillah Walailahaillallah Allahu Akbar to her ears, so that she will be spiritually strong and in peace, and hoping she recognised my voice. And before I left that night, I kissed Wan's forehead but didn't say anything as I don't have a heart to tell her that I'm leaving to KL.

In a way, I'm glad that Allah has spared me a day to see Wan for the last time. Those are the moments that will be permanently printed in my memory.

I will miss Wan's nasi goreng for breakfast, ayam masak lemak the minang style, the cute karipap serunding and the watermelon cake during our usual Raya get together.

For a young lady, about 50 years ago, who married a man with 6 kids aged 4 to 17 who lost his wife to cancer, and took care of them just like her own even as she had a son and a daughter after that and made her grandchildren had the best time of their lives during their stay at her kampung house, Wan is a beautiful person at heart.

Al Fatihah.

Wan

2008-08-04T17:31:00.005+08:00

My Wan is currently weak and I'm still here at office.

I feel bad.
I've been contemplating whether I should go back to visit her or not since yesterday.
Since Mak called me to inform of Wan's condition.

I don't know what stop me from doing so.
Probably I'm being optimistic that she will turn ok ?
But I keep on seeking approval for such optimistic outlook, yet I am not satisfied and convinced.
Probably, in denial?

I'm taking leave tomorrow to visit Wan.
Who knows, I probably go back hometown tonight.
I must see Wan and touch Wan's warm hand, hoping Wan can feel my presence.

Wan was ok when I visit her at the hospital twice last month.
The second time, her conditions actually improved without the need of the oxygen machine, whatever they called it.

Time is running out fast :,(

Warisan

2008-08-01T15:02:00.003+08:00

I'm listening to this song at current moment.

I love this song.

It reminds me first of Cokman,

It also reminds me of my childhood days, staying at home with my siblings,
singing out loud this song, our favourite song and the lyrics simply something we can relate to.

You know, especially on this clause:
"Aku
Bukanlah seorang perwira
Gagah menjunjung senjata
Namun hati rela berjuang
Walau dengan cara sendiri
Demi cinta ini"

Other than that, when I listen Cokman's voice singing this song, I can feel that he really meant what he was singing. His voice truly reflects how he felt. Just my thoughts.

For the rest of the song, here it goes -->

Warisan
Disini lahirnya sebuah cinta
Yang murni abadi sejati
Disini tersemai cita cita
Bercambah menjadi warisan

( korus )
Andai ku terbuang tak diterima
Andai aku disingkirkan
Kemana harusku bawakan
Kemana harusku semaikan cinta ini

Betapa
Dibumi ini ku melangkah
Keutara selatan timur dan barat Ku jejaki

Aku
Bukanlah seorang perwira
Gagah menjunjung senjata
Namun hati rela berjuang
Walau dengan cara sendiri
Demi cinta ini

( ulang korus )

Ku ingin kotakan seribu janji
Sepanjang kedewasaan ini
Ku ingin sampaikan pesanan

Aku lah penyambung warisan

Our perception rules

2008-07-28T13:11:00.006+08:00

What ever events, good or bad, it is up to us perceive them, positively or negatively.

It's wasteful to respond in negative ways, even how negative the event can be, if these events are temporary.

Because, by the time it's over and no longer affect or disturb our lives, the damage from negative response is just not worth to bear. What more if this involves relationship with people,

I prefer to look at the bigger picture of things and a longer horizon and nurture relationship.

Wanna know why I'm talking about this?

Well, this issue is lingering my mind, from my experience dealing with some personalities around me who always has negative response which makes people around don't feel comfortable dealing with the person.

I could have just responded badly but so far, I managed to be objective and understanding, although I get a not so nice feedback.

How I wish I could just highlight this to the person how people thought about the person.
But I know I have to be careful because this person has a tendency to retaliate, you know, since the output from the person is always negative.

You see, I'm the sort of person who believe that every one has a good and kind heart, despite how difficult that person can be. I don't mind dealing with difficult person if they're objective.

Since I'm not the sort of person who grouse to people on a person's personality, I do have issue if such personalities decide to play politics on me.

Small gestures with maximus impact - Aza & Mrs Field choc brownies

2008-07-28T08:27:00.004+08:00

Mak came back from her visit to Aza's place in Brisbane yesterday with full loaded of chocolates and other gifts for us.

When we arrived home from airport, Mak took out a paper bag.
Mak said those were Mrs Field chocolate chip brownies Aza bought for Me :)

You know what, I spoke to Aza about how I miss Mrs Field brownies, like a couple months back, telling her there's no more Mrs Field in KL or in Malaysia for that matter. Zura and I used to buy those brownies back 2-3 years ago at OU or KLCC.

Anyway, as we spoke on the phone, I was in the office heading to the lift to go somewhere.
So, when I talked about it I wasn't really focusing on it.
But Aza remembered!

So, I text her saying thank you very much.

Aza is so nice :)

I got my Mrs Field chocolate brownies.

Festival Laman 2008

2008-07-26T20:56:00.002+08:00

Tadi pegi Festival Laman 2008 dekat Lake Garden.

Boleh kata, memang dah lama target nak pegi festival ni sebab tahun lepas boleh terlupa pasal & dengar orang cakap boleh tahan best jugak.

So, minggu ni, awal awal dah beritau Ali sebab Laman 2008 dah mula dari sabtu lepas, an 11 day event. Ali pun memang tau kita ni suka sangat pasal pokok & taman.

Taman kat rumah pun dah makin cantik... chewah.,.. angkat bakul sendiri, well, cantik pada pandangan mata sendiri.

Dari bulan May lepas, dah berazam nak tanam pokok herba & sayur sayuran, apa apa yang boleh dimakan. Lagipun, tanam sendiri, kita boleh kawal pesticide, dan terjamin bersih & halal, kan kan kan? Nak kata save cost, nanti lah buat analisis. :)

Masa hari jadi baru ni, dekat office, dapat dalam RM190 sebagai hadiah. Dengan duit tu, dah rancang nak beli pokok pokok sayur & herba lah.

Jadi, target utama pegi Laman 2008 nak cari pokok limau purut & ulam. Teringin limau purut sebab sedap pulak baru baru ni masak telur bungkus, daging tu masak dengan hirisan daun limau purut ni...

Dekat rumah dah ada pokok-pokok ni:
- Ulam pegaga
- Daun bawang
- Daun sup
- Pokok Kari
- Pokok cili

So, hasilnya, tadi, beli Pokok Limau purut (RM8), Pokok Ulam Raja (RM7) & Pokok Limau Kasturi (RM8). Sambil tu, beli racun siput, nak buang siput siput yang makan daun & bunga canna tu. Esok nak mula operasi. Oh lupa, terjumpa satu majalah ni , nama dia Herba,... very informative.. Publisher dia, Zebra. First time dengar. Jadi, nbeli jugak tadi, mana nak dapat majalah2 cam ni kan.

Sambil tu, yang menariknya dekat Laman 2008, landscape yg cantik, dapat kenal pokok -pokok & khasiat dia, dapat beli majalah majalah laman/lanscape/herba yang lama-lama dengan harga yang murah & untuk Muiz, Muiz seronok sangat main dekat playground Lake Garden tu yg seluas luas lake garden tu. Walaupun ramai budak budak, permainan kat situ memang cukup. :) Seronok tengok Muiz, bagi dia exercise sikit, hirup udara segar.Muiz asyik cakap hijau hijau.. Sebab banyak pokok. Orang tu pertama kali kan pegi taman yang luas.

Dalam nak balik tadi, terjumpa kawan lama kat Uniten dulu, Su. Su yang tegur dulu tapi kita macam terlupa,.. Lepas dah lama borak baru teringat. Malu pulak rasanya.. Tapi Su memang nampak lain. Dia dah ada 2 anak dah. Bukak tadika dekat Bukit Mahkota. Sesuai sungguh dengan personaliti Su. yang memang nampak caring.

Nak balik, nasib baik ada tram. Tram ni macam yg kat Zoo Negara tu. Antar sampai ke parking lot dekat masjid bukit aman..

Anyway, hari ni rasa seronoik sangat. Tercapai jugak cita cita nak pegi Festival Laman. Tahun depan nak pegi lagi.

Relax, Garden, Insects, Paint

2008-07-24T18:34:00.007+08:00

At current moment, I just want to relax...

You know what, this is the first time since last week that I can just do something else other than work, in office. Mind you, it's already 6.34 p.m. So, it's not illegal, kan? Past few days, even at 7.00 p.m., it was still about work.. I'm sure persons who read this notice that the word "work" has been over used in my recent blog posts.

So, now, I want to think about
- my blooming orange canna flowers,
- my garden which now has attracted so many types of insects.

I found ladybirds several times, a red bee-like insect a size of 20 sen on my canna leave, and
every morning small insects were flying around my flowers, probably sucking the honeys inside..

Last night, there were 4 snails, a size of 20 sen, with flat round shell, not like the common mountain like shell snails on my canna trees, eating my (presumely delicous and sweet) canna flowers. I got panic and tried to get rid of them with salts.

Anyway, other than the snails, it's a beautiful small habitat, just like what a real garden should be.

And this week, I'll be helping my cousin, Hak, who is helping me to help Papa to paint my house, the exterior one. First paint since Papa bought the house in 1976. That means 32 years. This is just my courtesy to Papa for letting me renting the house at a depressed market rent rate.

Oh well, I'm just excited :)

Car battery, wheezes & teh bunga

2008-07-23T13:22:00.008+08:00

Being a parent means we have to constantly expect the unexpected.
24 hours a day.

This is what happened.

Yesterday, my mind was heavily occupied on work.
I hardly have moments to just stare at the PC blankly.
I got disconnected from work only as I stepped out from the office building at about 7.25 p.m.
So, you see, I was eager to go back home, to relax with my family.

Then, hubby decided to pray first.
So, we left at 8.00 p.m.
When Ali switched the car engine, the car just didn't start.
Fate has it, my new colleague have a family business selling car batteries.
So, I called him up and the whole waiting and replacing battery time ended at about 9.15 p.m.

By the time we reached Papa's house, it was 9.35 p.m.

At Papa's house, Muiz was wheezing, mild.
By then, we know we need to see the doctor.
Lucky us, Doctor Josh was in charge.
Muiz hardly cried with Doctor Josh attending on him.

So, by the time we reached our house, it was 11 p.m.

Then this morning, Muiz woke up crying.
He didn't want to go to Tokpa's house.
He even asked me to remove my scarve and blazer.
I.e. he didn't want me to go to work.
I was already late than usual.

At the end, teh bunga comes to the rescue.
Another bribe of the month.
Teh bunga after work.

Chaotic day but exhilarating.

2008-07-17T19:21:00.007+08:00

Thought that a four day break has allowed me to relax and freshen my physical and mental sense, I came back to office with non stop multiple tasks to be completed, several meetings to attend with different people in the industry, at one point my mind was running on multiple issues within a 5 minutes span.

Well, this is the effect of the unpredictable and susceptible-to-slow-growth capital market as well as dramatical political scenario.
How bad things beginning to be, yeah, these stuff do excite my adrenaline.

The chaos began even as I was just beginning to start my day.

I actually went out for office quite early, like 7.20, as I thought of arriving early to work, say 7.40 to complete my KPI which was supposed to be completed yesterday evening (!). But, I ended up to just managed to pass the first traffic light in front of my house which is just about 500 metres away from my home, after 20 minutes.

I arrived to office at 8.40. I.e. after about 1 hour plus sitting in the car. Ok, actually not through out, I stopped by the petrol station to buy my breafasts, nasi lemak and yogurt drink.

The traffic jam was actually caused by the police road block, as most people know, as a result of yesterday's event on the de facto TPM.

As I arrived at office, having a meeting to attend in 1 hour time, I need to discuss few matters with few people, so, I left my breakfast on my table untouched, until 12.30 p.m., i.e. after coming back from the meeting outside office.

By the way, I managed to complete my KPI just now.

Do I need to describe further my whole day today, I think not.

Well, how tired I am these two days, it was an interesting time to work now and also to live in.

;)

Ok, I need to go back home now to see Muiz. Already promised him teh bunga (chrysanthemum tea - the yeo's one). Terpaksa bribe pagi tadi sebab Muiz tak bagi pergi kerja.

Cuti cuti Malaysia @ Aquaria KLCC

2008-07-15T16:17:00.005+08:00

Yesterday was Cuti Cuti Malaysia day for me, Ali and Muiz.

We went to Aquaria KLCC, which is situated at the sub-floor of KLCC convention centre. Basically the attraction for us to go there is to watch fishes, mainly for Muiz. Sebab Muiz dah tengok cerita "Finding Nemo", and dah mula makan ikan (bawal & kembung & ikan bilis), kitorang saja nak kenalkan Muiz dengan ikan, yang hidup & yang boleh berenang.

LRT trip - first time for Muiz

To add more thrill with the trip, we took the LRT. Dekat stesen LRT, siap ambil gambar lagi, heheh... for the album :) Muiz kali pertama naik train, gayat jugak bila suruh dia tengok kat luar. Anyway, during the journey, (both from KJ to KLCC and KLCC to KJ) Muiz slept half way through the destination. Pening kut. The LRT fare to and from costed us RM4.80

Lunch at Burger King, eating "Alif" and "O"

We arrived at KLCC about 12.15 and had our lunch at Burger King at Avenue K. Not many people though, we're like the second customer there, other than a girl who was eating fries and reading book alone. Then, another small family came to the restaurant. They looked just like us, going for a short family trip, parents, a son and a daughter. Ali had a whopper, me, tuna sandwich from home, and Muiz had fries, which we called Alif, because the straight and thin shape of the fries, just like Alif (as in the Arabic letter, by the way). Muiz called the onion ring "O". So, we had "O" and Alif for lunch... heheh. Total lunch costed us RM17.00

Then, finally the Aquaria Trip

Entrance to Aquaria, costed us RM56 (2 adults @ RM28.00). Muiz, below 3 got a free entrance.

Well, the journey started with

the wildlife in the highland,
then to the jungles (reflection of those in Endau Rompin and Amazon, here we saw Ikan toman, Piranha, Ara...?, different types of tarantula, snakes, frogs - colourful ones and lizards),
then only to the sea (the water tunnel trip).

For something we don't see everyday, it was breathtaking. Reminds me again to my Perhentian snorkeling trip.

Just to sum up things, from the Aquaria water tunnel, among the creatures we saw were the sharks, turtles, very big, bigger than me stingrays.

At 3 pm, they have "feeding sand sharks" session. Everyone was asked to sit at the front of a glass screen, which was just like a giant TV screen.

Again, a sight to behold, because while waiting for the session to start, at the screen, we saw beautiful fishes and turtles swam across the screen. It's a big screen, about 7 to 9 feets wide and height. So, you can imagine how richly beautiful the whole scene was.

Aquaria is like a, international tourist spot.

We saw Malaysian of different races;

some with their small family,

some with aunties and grandmas,

some, wearing school uniform, with their school friends and teachers.

We also saw Arabs and Mat Sallehs.

Yea.. all doing a Cuti cuti Malaysia.

We left Aquaria after 2 hours, with us, a mug stamped with our family pic at the Aquaria, another family photo, and two freezer magnets.

Finale with Finding Nemo
The finale of our day was Finding Nemo movie at home, just to freshen up Muiz with the whole trip. Muiz memang happy sangat, the prove is, he hardly slept yesterday other than the the two 20-minutes nap on the train.

Hmm, I'm thinking of another KL trip, maybe Taman Rama-rama at Taman Tasik Perdana or Zoo Negara, perhaps?

Wanna know more about Aquaria?
http://www.klaquaria.com/index.html

Blissful day today

2008-07-11T18:39:00.003+08:00

A busy day today.

I was supposed to be on leave today, but yesterday I changed my mind and took a half day leave instead because of one particular issue that I need to settle before I go for leave. I'm taking leave until next Tuesday, just to spend time with my son since Mak and Ana and Zura are on holiday in Brisbane with Aza who is studying there.

You know, I thought a Friday half day should be a breeze one. Instead, after the weekly meeting, I was busy with another issue arose during the meeting, I was just helping out another colleague as I felt I can do something with it and did few callings to other investors just to gauge their opinion before I call the trustee. Well, it took me about an hour to finish the round of calling and I managed to get things through.

Then, I was on the phone again with another banker about something else, which somehow turn into something important again which my company didn't knew which will take place in th afternoon today. So, while I was on the phone with this banker, I was also posting message through our officeinstant messaging to inform my colleague about it and my colleague managed to get it done as well.

Thought I was done with the unexpected events and issues, I got another call from my colleague informing about another investors' meeting next week organised by another bank which co-incides with another company visit which I think, would involved the same group of people. So, I decided to make a call to the organiser of the company visit and the banker which organising the investors' meeting just to highlight about the clashing date and time. It so happen, these meeting and visit relates to the sector that I cover. It's a long story to tell here. So, next week, after my leave, I'll go only on either one.

After that, I'm back to settle the issue which was the reason for me to work today. That took me about an hour as well.

Full day, a 4 hour working day with 4 issues to settle.

At home, I was happy to see Muiz, I had lunch with my hubby after his Friday prayer. Put my son to sleep after that while hubby busy studying for his exam scheduled tomorrow. When Muiz already asleep, I was at my garden and did what I enjoy most, which is gardening. After weeks of unattended garden, there's weeds to pull out and branches that need some pruning. I did them with my maid. It was a bright sunny afternoon. A beautiful scene to enjoy. A quiet day too.

Ok, something I'm excited to tell here, my white lily, finally bloom its flower since 3 days ago. It is spider lily. The petals haven't shown yet. I'm eager to see those and take photo of it. Because, susah sangat nak tengok pokok ni berbunga. I'm thrilled about this :)

Muiz slept for an hour, after that I played with him again. My hubby taught him to bash people (actually, ME) with his blue pillow. Best best best. Doing a threesome play :)

Then, just now, I did some cooking for dinner. And now, I'm here blogging.

What a day, an interesting day.

If only we all work half day every 5 days a week, Life would be as blissful as today.

When we speak to Allah, The Almighty will speak back to us, in a way we never thought.

2008-07-09T13:33:00.007+08:00

It happens to me many times.

For example, in my work, when I don't know which bonds to review first, but worry if I miss out any potential issues on the ones we invested, I would doa and asked Allah to guide me. And He did and the bonds that I chose to review did have issues which needed attention. Some people may say it's luck, but I believe, my heart was guided to do so.

And, same thing happens again quite recently, last weekend.

As a background, of late, about a year ago, I decided that I should read the Quran translation. I have khatam the whole Quran before but never understood them except for Al Fatihah. I figured out that no point of me to simply read it again and again without knowing the meaning when the Quran is supposed to be the principal guidance to all Muslim, besides sunnah. I felt that my life would be wasted if I never take the opportunity to learn the meaning inside the Quran.

I also compared how I dealt with my work, where I always make sure I first rely on what's written in the signed agreement or trust deeds when ever disputes arise as those legally binding agreements are the documents that everyone should relies on.

It crossed my mind that I never and hardly do the same for the religion I believe in. Most of the things I do and I believe as the Islamic way of life , came from books, what people told me, all which are the secondary source but never to the main source which is the Quran. I never checked the accuracy of the things I decided to believe in.

So, that's how I started to read the terjemahan. The first book I bought is the terjemahan for muqaddam, i.e. Juzuk 30 of the Quran. Actually, the books is for kids as it has cartoon graphics to reflect the meaning of each of the surah. Anyway, I find it attractive to the eye to read.

On my birthday last May, my family, knowing that I've started to read the translation, has given me the Quran with the translation. So, that's how I started to actively read the meaning of the Quran besides the Arabic verse.

Long story huh?

Ok, by the way, as many would have known, our news are flooded with so many accusation of this person doing this and that person doing that and these are all serious criminal offense that no one actually know who is right. Same goes to me, it caught my attention too but, to tell the truth, I hardly follow the news now, about what every person involved has to say because, it just got confusing and complicated. I prefer to wait till time will tell. By the way, I also never put any judgement on who's right and who's not, for simple reason which is I don't know what has happened really to those people I don't personally know.

So, last Saturday, I read the Quran translation. Normally I read the Quran based on what I've read previously, i.e. in sequence. So, I've just started with the 1st surah which is Baqarah. But, don't know why, that day, my heart was telling me to read the An Nisaa, the 24th surah. So I did. One of the topic discussed in An Nisaa is about "Kenyataan Sumpah", or in English, To Swear or make an oath".

It's interesting, it said that if someone accuse someone without 4 witness, the accuser will need to make an oath or swaer 4 times about what he claim and the 5th declaration, he needs to say that if he is lying, he will be punished. The surah further said that people, those not involved should not spread stories if they don't know the truth, i.e. rumours (news without evidence). It's a very serious sin.

So, that clears up what I should do, and how I should respond to things that happening now.
Allah guided me again.

Just to share with the rest, what I've read -->

Surah An Nuur (Surah ke-24)

Ayat 6

"Dan orang-orang yang menuduh istrinya (berzina), padahal mereka tidak ada mempunyai saksi-saksi selain diri mereka sendiri, maka persaksian orang itu ialah empat kali bersumpah dengan nama Allah, sesungguhnya dia adalah termasuk orang-orang yang benar."

Ayat 7

"Dan (sumpah) yang kelima: bahwa laknat Allah atasnya, jika dia termasuk orang-orang yang berdusta."

Ayat 8

"Istrinya itu dihindarkan dari hukuman oleh sumpahnya empat kali atas nama Allah sesungguhnya suaminya itu benar-benar termasuk orang-orang yang dusta,"

Ayat 9

"dan (sumpah) yang kelima: bahwa laknat Allah atasnya jika suaminya itu termasuk orang-orang yang benar."

Ayat 10

"Dan andai kata tidak ada karunia Allah dan rahmat-Nya atas dirimu dan (andai kata) Allah bukan Penerima Tobat lagi Maha Bijaksana, (niscaya kamu akan mengalami kesulitan-kesulitan)."

Ayat 11

"Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang membawa berita bohong itu adalah dari golongan kamu juga. Janganlah kamu kira bahwa berita bohong itu buruk bagi kamu bahkan ia adalah baik bagi kamu. Tiap-tiap seseorang dari mereka mendapat balasan dari dosa yang dikerjakannya. Dan siapa di antara mereka yang mengambil bahagian yang terbesar dalam penyiaran berita bohong itu baginya azab yang besar."

Ayat 12

"Mengapa di waktu kamu mendengar berita bohong itu orang-orang mukminin dan mukminat tidak bersangka baik terhadap diri mereka sendiri, dan (mengapa tidak) berkata: "Ini adalah suatu berita bohong yang nyata."

Ayat 13

"Mengapa mereka (yang menuduh itu) tidak mendatangkan empat orang saksi atas berita bohong itu? Oleh karena mereka tidak mendatangkan saksi-saksi maka mereka itulah pada sisi Allah orang-orang yang dusta."

Ayat 14

"Sekiranya tidak ada karunia Allah dan rahmat-Nya kepada kamu semua di dunia dan di akhirat, niscaya kamu ditimpa azab yang besar, karena pembicaraan kamu tentang berita bohong itu."

Ayat 15

"(Ingatlah) di waktu kamu menerima berita bohong itu dari mulut ke mulut dan kamu katakan dengan mulutmu apa yang tidak kamu ketahui sedikit juga, dan kamu menganggapnya suatu yang ringan saja. Padahal dia pada sisi Allah adalah besar."

Ayat 16

"Dan mengapa kamu tidak berkata, di waktu mendengar berita bohong itu: "Sekali-kali tidaklah pantas bagi kita memperkatakan ini. Maha Suci Engkau (Ya Tuhan kami), ini adalah dusta yang besar.""

Ayat 17

"Allah memperingatkan kamu agar (jangan) kembali memperbuat yang seperti itu selama-lamanya, jika kamu orang-orang yang beriman,"

Ayat 18

"dan Allah menerangkan ayat-ayat-Nya kepada kamu. Dan Allah Maha Mengetahui lagi Maha Bijaksana."

Ayat 19

"Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang ingin agar (berita) perbuatan yang amat keji itu tersiar di kalangan orang-orang yang beriman, bagi mereka azab yang pedih di dunia dan di akhirat. Dan Allah mengetahui, sedang, kamu tidak mengetahui."

Ideas for Birthday Party

2008-07-06T12:16:00.005+08:00

We've been celebrating, a small one though, our special many many ones' birthday, on every other forthinght, since last May, which started with mine, then Muiz, a month later, Ali, a week later and just, yesterday, my mother in law, which was two weeks after Ali's. Coming in the next few days, would be Abang's.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BANNER
- Cheap, striking, colourful -
Because of the close gap between the birthdays, my Happy Birthday banner and the colourful baloons (used since Muiz' birthday) are still hang on the wall for the past 1 month. By the way, anyone looking for a less than RM10 Happy Birthday banner, colourful, big & shiny, please head to the Tesco. It's really cheap and really spark the day.

GIFT WRAP AS TABLE COVER FOR THE CAKE
- Nice view for the birthday cake candle blowing session photo -
We can also use Happy Birthday gift wrap as the table cover to put the cake. I bought this colourful wrapping paper with Happy Birthday signs all over at Carrefour Mid Valley. Really cute! Tengoklaa, ada masa I'll paste the photo here.

He said it just right - Malaysia, the World, Our Economy

2008-07-04T18:00:00.001+08:00

Wanna know what's happening to our cocoon and the rest of the world - economically?

I read this article, although nothing new to me, I wouldn't be able to describe them like this --> http://test.chedet.com/che_det/2008/07/malaysia-and-a-world-in-turmoi.html#more

Simple explanation + straight to point = A good read.

Wan & my experience this week

2008-06-28T21:19:00.005+08:00

Wan is my grandmother, from father's side.

Last Tuesday, I mean the recent Tuesday, don't know why, I suddenly thought of her. I haven't met Wan since the last 2 years' Raya because last Raya I went back to Ali's kampung. Although Wan stays only in Temerloh, just 2 hours drive from KL, I have never been to Temerloh since Raya 2 years ago.

But that day, myself was telling me that you know, I should take time to see Wan, and other people who were there for me when I was young, a time when I have to be dependent to other people. Besides Wan, I thought of Kala Fuzaimah, (wife of Arwah Kalo Jit) whom I've lost touch since Kalo Jit passed away. (By the way, on my Mum's Kedah side, Kala is Auntie and Kalo is Uncle, something the family decided to use to remind us of our Indian root)

Well, I said to myself that now I'm working and busy, it's not a reason not to visit them or keep in touch with them. And Wan has always been there for me during all those years, myself was telling me this, that day.

The time when, my parents had to go outstation and has no one to take care of me and my siblings, we would be sent to Wan's house for a week or two.

And when we stayed there, (those days, it was me, abang and baby zura) Wan would cook delicious food for us, still ingat, time makan, Wan suapkan, nasi dengan sayur kobis berkuah santan. Because of that cooking, I started to like sayur kobis kuah santan makan dengan ikan kembung goreng. I still can remember how tasty it was. She had a special plastic bowl, red in colour with matching plastic spoon, to feed us and told us she bought them, specially for me and Abang. Zura was still a baby then.

We also had our own bantal peluk, kid's size. So, whenever we balik kampung for raya, we're the ones with our own bantal peluk.

In the afternoon, standing on a chair in front of a big window (no grills) at the kitchen, me and Abang watched Wan fed the goose and chicken . At the same big window, we also saw how brave Wan, outside the house, using a stick, caught a small snake which tried to enter the house.

In the evening, Abang and I sat at the kitchen table, watched Wan fried cekodok at the wooden stove, for our makan makan in front of tv after Asar. Those days, TV started at 4 p.m.

Well, those were some of the memories I remembered last Tuesday.

So, I thought, I should make a call to Wan, on the next day, during lunch, just to tanya khabar. Hmm, that Wednesday, being busy, I forgot. Teruk kan I. Sometimes, I can be so absorbed with work that I sometimes, didn't prioritise personal matters.

But, on that Wednesday, when I came back to my parents' home from work, Mak told that Wan was admitted to the hospital that afternoon because of heart problem. And Mak & Papa together with Cikbom were planning to visit Wan the next day.

I told Mak about my earlier intention of calling her. Since I happened to think of her, I thought I should join them to visit Wan the next day. So, I did, even though I have to take emergency leave, it didn't matter anymore. All I want is to see her.

Alhamdulillah, Wan seems to recuperate well, she can sit, although has no appetite to eat. At one moment, my cousin, Adam, Cikbom's son was hungry, it was already 2 p.m. Since I have kismis in my bag, which is normally for Muiz, I decided to share the kismis with Adam & Muiz. Thinking that Wan didn't eat much, that day, other than breakfast, I offered her the kismis, since kismis is a good source of energy and tasty too. I'm glad the kismis seems to buka selera makan Wan. She had quite a substantial. So glad that I can offer some help, though in a small way.

After the visit, we went to my cousin's house Abang Li because his wife, Kak Tini offered to prepare lunch for us all earlier. I've never been to her house other than Raya time. So, that day, during lunch together, we talked about our lives, what we do, et cetera. You see, Kak Tini & her family, same like my Wan, I only see them most of the times, once or twice a year and during those time, we talked for less than 2 hours or 3 hours as you know, Raya, ramai orang.

That afternoon, I get to know Kak Tini better, get to know her children better like where her daughters & sons studied, about her youngest daughter likes cat, that Kak Tini no longer selling Tupperware, and so many more. Oh yea... I get to experience again, how a life in kampung is like. Like, neighbours would just come over and offered nice and still warm kuih. So, even as we made a surprise visit, Kak Tini , ada je foods to offer :)

What I can say now, the things that happened this week, reminds me that we should keep in touch with our loved ones, regardless of how our lives has changed. How far a distance we are, from each other.

We have phones, you see .. make use of it dear me, myself & I. Don't be so berat mulut & berat jari to make that call :)

You know, tanpa mereka, siapa lah kita.