Hooray !! Ramadhan is here !

Oh yay yippee !!  Ramadhan is here again after a much-awaited lonnnnnng wait (hahaha repeat and d*mn yourself - pardon me, I didn't just swear, did I ?)  After a whole year of waiting, the fasting month is back !  Ooh the lovely things that can happen in Ramadhan - and I am NOT talking about the food okay.  It is a month of miracles, prayer and hope.  Lots of ibadah int he form of tarawikh sessions, encouraging yourself to do more good deeds and generally promote brother/sisterhood "ikhwah" with your actions.  It is also a bit sad again, as the family is going through this month a second time without Mum and Sis.  I can still hear Mum saying every EidlFitr morning "I wonder if I will live long enough to see another Ramadhan...  I hope Allah will grant me that"  and no she and Sis didn't get to greet Ramadhan last year, as they had fulfilled their promise of their time with us, with all the extensions of delay given.

My children are all observing the fast, each in their own way.   I hope they fulfill their obligations to the fullest of their capacity.  Two are spending the month away - my Sweetheart is working away (and they don't start until Tuesday), and the Pilot is now in Miri.  Called him last night to remind him of Today being THE day and he said yeah, he'd heard the announcement over the TV.  Today is also a Public Holiday as the Malaysia National Day 31st August was a Sunday. We get a replacement Public Holiday on Monday which is good !  The kids get to sleep in :)

Abtief is strong - he's a pro now, all of 10 years old.  They all started at the 7th year - when at school in Primary 1. Full month, mind you, not the "yangyuk" kind where "tengahari bukak periuk" (half-day fast)  And this would be Adik's 2nd year of full fast, he was quite eagerly reciting the duaas and niyahs for starting a fast.  KakDa reminded him that it's in the heart that matters most - so even if you "lafaz" recite it wrong (in arabic) you get it right in your heart with the intent.

This is also the first formal puasa month to be observed by my friend Nur Iman Irdina... All my best to her in her new life. 

So today we will also see a hive of activity at the Pasar Ramadhan just 7 minute's walk from home.  All the lovely goodies that will be displayed for breaking of fast. The vendors must be pretty busy today, and people will start coming early as today is a Rest Day and many are excited.  There will be a lot of people a usual, and many would be the Non-Muslims who also look forward to the Pasar Ramadhan every year as this is their opportunity to sample some of the food and goodies that are not available otherwise.  This is the unique Malaysian food galore !   

Oh well, we'll see what we'll have today. I plan to limit to purchasing just 3 items - 1 dish, 1 savoury and 1 sweet.  We shall see how that plan stays true...

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan alMubarak !!  greetings for another brilliant month of Ramadhan from me..

Lunch and a Ghost Story..

Had lunch with an old friend at the Latest Recipe Restaurant (if I’m not mistaken it was formerly known as One on One) at the Le Meridien, in Sentral. It was a long-time-no-see and when-was-the-last-time-we-had-lunch-together lunch, which was wonderful!! After the usual how are you and how is work questions, we inevitably started talking about MY work life ! hahaha I only realised how bad it was for me when I said “Hey, what do you think it’s like when the highlight of my day at work is Where/When are we going for Morning Coffee/Lunch/Tea” ? OMG I never realised that was how pathetic it had become for me. I’d been feeling a bit dead lately, and not keen to go to work in the mornings. In fact, I actually have a big task of dragging myself out of the comfort of my bed/bathroom/bedroom/house every morning. My friend was shocked as I was known to be someone who was at work by 7:45am (I used to be the one to open the fire doors in the morning) and the last to leave (and close the fire doors behind me). Thinking of which, if there was no camera to record the visitors at the entrance, no one would know that the fire doors aren’t shut at night if I didn’t do it !

As to how late I usually stayed at work, I even remember this one occasion when I had an ‘encounter’ – I was working very, very late at night and all alone – was the only one there on my floor. I heard a cough somewhere near the copier, but I knew there wasn’t anyone else in the office. As the copier was next to the stairwell, I dismissed the sound as probably coming from a security guard making his rounds. I checked the time, it was getting close to the midnight witching hour. I still had a bit to do, the MD wanted it before 6am so he could start work on it (no kidding !!) So I just went on working on my report. Then I heard it again. This time, the cough was closer, like somewhere in the cubicle in front of mine. Checked the time again on my desk clock, 1:30am. Oh well. I had WORK to do, didn’t I ? 2:00am and the cough this time was next to my left ear !.. My hands froze. Hmmmm, how now, brown cow ? Oh well, feigning bravado (funny thing is, I had no visible audience hahahah), I said out loud, “Ok, Ok… I know it’s late and that I should get myself home, but I do have work and Bala is waiting for this, and it is important!! Just let me finish this tab and I’ll pack up after.” So I feigned work a bit (can you honestly work any more ? hahaha) shutdown my laptop, calmly put it in my backpack, cleaned my desk of papers I don’t need, walked over to my Manager’s room, switched off her lights and printer which I was using, locked her room door, switched of the lights at my place, walked out through the training room, switched off those lights and the ones at reception, walked out the glass door (coolly, mind you), shut the fire doors, walked down the corridor to the other fire door, went through that, and RAN LIKE HELL !!! I think if the whatever was watching me, he must have laughed his head off (or any other part of his body that is still there, that is).

I have had other encounters similar to that while working in different areas of that office, but this was the funniest. One thing I felt (or is it just me :P ) is that the whatevers are harmless. They have never had any bad intentions towards me – they have been rather cordial and friendly – keeping me awake, reminding me to go home etc. So my take on it is that I have been lucky that none have ever harmed me (well, maybe one had bad interntions but respected when I scolded…). They are there whatever they are and they share our space. Maybe it was just their way of letting me know that they want THEIR quality time hahaha

Oh where was I ? I went off at a tangent !! A large one ! Well it’s my blog, and I obviously can choose to write about whatever I want, yes ? Okay to recap my lunch, I was asked to consider if I would like to join my friend instead of fattening my behind at whatever I was doing now. But of course it has to be agreeable and acceptable both ways. The idea of me joining has to be presented to both our respective Managers (the Ops manager and My Darling Sweetheart hehehehe) and also must be a win-win accomplishment (I want to go for my December holiday and that is when work is expected to peak !!) So we’ll see how it goes, should know by next week on the outcome.

Wish me luck ? :D

Ouching day

Woke up with a bad throat today. Feels sore. After a bad night where I couldn’t sleep, I figured something like this would happen. My left thigh hurts too, when I walk or even sit. My eyes are heavy and warm on the inside. All the aches and pains seem like a sign that there’s more to come ! Oh well, after the soaking that I got yesterday, I suppose this is expected. I just hope that when Ramadan actually arrives, I will have no problems.

Got news yesterday about my old work-place getting eaten up by Infosys, a huge India outfit. They are buying Axon CASH… read about it here http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c58dea5c-72a0-11dd-983b-0000779fd18c.html or just Google “Axon Infosys” and you’ll get at least a dozen more news articles. Had lunch with some of my old friends from Axon yesterday and as things go, they’ll just wait and see what else will happen. It was a good lunch with them at the Thai restaurant, and since they graciously exclaimed “Eh, you are so much thinner now lah ?!” upon first chance of meeting me, I decided to pay for their lunch !! Ha ha ha

At the same time, I met a few other old friends from the same place.. great to see them. Linda, who decided to shop for groceries while her car was being cleaned, and a couple of others. One who had just got engaged on 08.08.2008 (Congrats Neeza, sorry I couldn’t be there with you on your special day) and a lovely surprise in the form of Nur Iman Irdina (I hope I spelt that correctly) who officially reverted to Islam on the same day ! Wonderful news and I pray that she will find the solace she seeks and that Allah will continue to guide her and her beloved family.

No pictures, unfortunately, as they girls were looking a bit forlorn with the news and probable uncertainties that life just might present for them in the future. I thought it would not be good form to publish pictures of them when they are not expecting to look their best..

oh well. that's life.

Subway dinner

Since the children forgot that they had to dress proper for the golf course (collared shirts, no jeans) we ended up hitting balls at the driving range. Did 300 for all - The Girl and Adik was just too lazy. Surprised that Abtief asked for another round, apparently unhappy with his swing. So we shared the last 100.

After that we headed for the Subway Restaurant nearest to the house. I had a craving for Honey Oat with what ever filling ha ha ha but I had the Club. And so... the bill came to as follows.... but it was worth it as we finished every bit. I'd rather go for Subway over McD anytime.

Pics from the 40th Anniversary event

Pics with my Dad, nephew, aunt, cousins, cousins and more cousins !

Durian oh Durian

I have always loved durian. Eaten fresh from the kulit, with santan and nasi, buat kuah pengat durian with santan and gula melaka.. Yum !! Also like durian ice cream and the cake variant. Teringat when I was about 7, went to my neighbour's birthday party. Came home gushing to Mum about how lovelythe cake was - durian cake ! Mum called up Auntie S and asked her for the recipe and baked me one - but I said it tasted different, and it wasn't the same one. Well it obviously was not THE same one !

Had some durian last night, Zahir wanted to eat the last one that we had and he got makcik to open it up. He finished the last piece just as Abtif asked for his ! Ouch.... And Adik said he had not had any either.. hee hee so told Zahir to drive out to the main road near the masjid to buy some more, and to ajak Tok to pick. Off they went and brought home 4 big ones. And he returned me the Rm50 I had given him - Tok belanja durian tonight!

2 of the durians were still young, kulit still hijau and tak nampak pun the belah yet.. so it was the pisau for them. That's when i got my durian thumb - got poked by the thorn of the big one. My bad - i should have 'smacked' the torns down earlier before attempting to open any of it.. but the durian flesh was yummy ! no 'gas' though, these were the siamese variety. The Malaysian ones would be more 'gassy' = yummy ! So Bapak had his fill of durian with rice - made some santan for him and he added a sprinkle of sugar to go with it. And malam ? He cannot tidor because too 'panas' hahaha I made sure I had some water in the 'kulit' durian - put drinking water into the skin cavity where the durian flesh used to be, and drink the water. This is a 'petua' ( loosely translated as 'wise action as practiced by the elders and handed down as advice') for reducing the heatiness in the body caused by eating durian.

Craving

I'm craving for a Baskin-Robbins sorbet,
in Rainbow..




and probably add some Manggo to make it even more fruity

I seriously need a pick-me-up !

From Our Heart to Yours

Happy 40th Anniversary - Ayah Pa and Wan Fuziah

Got them this as a gift for their anniversary. I had a pretty gold-coloured card with a single heart swirl motif on it to go with the box of pretty cupcakes. In my haste I forgot to get a pic of the box all ready with it's gold ribbon and card on top.. I had written in the card "From our heart to yours, Happy 40th Anniversary !" and then on the envelope "Selamat Pengantin Lama" hee hee couldn' resist that..

Look at the cuppies - pretty are'nt they ? I commissioned Fuzzy to bake the cuppies, decorate and arrange them in a heart pattern - I actually re-arranged the heart when I added a layer of cake board to stabilise the base, and funnily enough when I put back the cuppies, there were 3 reds left over... So I put 2 in the 'garden' area, and then the single one left - got eaten by one of my boys ! I only know they were chocolate cakes, and lovely butter cream (licked my fingers after the re-arranging haa haa..) Taste - I don't think my boy was a good commentator - he just said "MMMmmmmmmm!" oh - if you want to have a taste of Fuzzy's cupcakes, go visit her blog - I have it listed under my Friends in Need.

The night was wonderful - most of the family was there. Everybody was all over the place greeting aunties, uncles and cousins. The children were having a ball as usual as nobody really minded them running around. After all it was a family event ! I wish I could post pics of the event, at least mine.. I'll have to wait for the official photographer to publish them somewhere first. Soon I hope, I can't wait to see my posed 'naturally candid' shots :)

Look East - O'shima in the Hicom Area

Went to lunch last week - I was craving for Japanese - nothing fancy though. There's this place (there were 3 actually!) around our workplace, and it was definitely catering to the large Japanese community working in the area, near the Shintetsu premises. The first one we went to looked really really really authentic, but I quickly noted a 'Non-Halal' printed on the menu, so we excused ourselves. They smilingly nodded understanding.

We decided to go to the one on the corner - 'Oshima' - couldn't check out the middle establishment as it was closed undergoing repair work. The four of us - R, Naf, Rie and I had a marvellous time picking out what we wanted to have. R went with his usual Sushi Set (he's been there a few times). Naf decided to try the Salmon Teppanyaki ('Yucky' went his face when he found the veg too raw for his taste). Rie loved Udon and Tempura and lots of Wasabi - so however the Udon and Tempura tasted it did'nt really matter as the Wasabi kept him occupied enough. I had the Chicken Teppanyaki (or something !) and was a bit disappointed with it as it was salty ! Too much kicap cair methinks..

what I had for lunch.. loved the Miso soup, but still too salty for my taste

I would probably go there again - for the other menu !! Ha ha ha.. Imagine a Japanese restaurant - authentic la, of course - got real Japanese people serving you, Japanese cutlery, beautiful Japanese decor.. - and having an alternative menu of TOM YAM ! Go figure...

You do have to give them some credit in respecting local tastes and flavours... or is it that the proprietors consist of people who married the two customs (adat) together when they took their vows ? I have heard of a lovely couple on the East Coast, the wife is a Japanese (nurse ?) and the husband is a Kelantan batik entrepreneur. They are living happily in a culture that they both love and will cherish. They do intend to ensure the cultures they have are lovely inheritances for their children.

Conversation with my small ones - 1

Adik	:	Mummmyyyy…. ? I think you better stop eating..!
Mummy	:	Why Sayang ?
Adik	:	Because you are getting soooo fat !!
Mummy	:	(*passed the realm of insult*) Oh well, what can I do? I AM getting old you know !
Abtif	:	(*ever helpful with suggestions*) Maybe you can exercise !! Abah always say we should exercise !
Mummy	:	But Abah also said Mummy is going through the phase where it is difficult fror me to lose weight, no ?
Adik	:	Soooooo I think my suggestion is easier.. Mummy just stop eating !
Mummy	:	Ok Mummy stops eating.. then ?
Abtif	:	Eh cannot lah, then Mummy will get tired and cannot fetch us from Kumon ! (*brilliant idea!*)
Mummy	:	I think I should resume going to the gym…
Adik	:	Yes !! Yes !!, Mummy go to gym !!
Abtif	:	(*fake whisper*) and we can go ice-skating….
Mummy	:	But there’s one small problem… this has stopped me signing up at the Calif Fit gym …
Adik	:	Apa tu Mummyyy ?
Mummy	:	Sekarang Mum call you from the office to remind you to do your homework, kan ? But when I get home, tak buat pun gak kan? I actually have to sit with you and only then you will start work…
Adik and Abtif	:	Err….
Mummy	:	So now imagine, camner kalau Mummy pergi gym lepas work, and come home late… will you do your homework at all ?
Adik	:	Mummy….. When can we go play Archery again ? *Blink blink* (*evasive manouver in progress*)

Abscess in the abyss

Feeling tired, depressed and down. My body is hurting.

"I think it's psychological, Doc. The way I'm feeling now is manifesting in my body as aches and pains. Problem is, I recognise it, but how do I tell it to go away?"
"No lah.. you have a genuine case of pain, else you wouldn't be coming to see me. I know it's not for an MC because you know I don't give them out especially to you ! Ha ha"
"Errrr... yer la tu.. you did give me an MC the last time I came, kan.. you forced me to take 2 days off"
"Oh yes, tapi yang itu was because you were in great pain"
"So now in not-so-great pain la kot ?"
"Ha ha... now I'm giving you Arcoxia for your frozen shoulder"
"Frozen shoulder tu amenda nye ? I tau frozen lamb je la Doc"
"Ish.. you ni. Your condition is called frozen shoulder. And it's affecting you at the joints as well where you feel the other pain"
"Yeah given my previous record, I thought I'd come to see you. Just in case it was coming back"
"Record mana ni ?"
"Yang kes abyss in my upper torso tu la..."
"Abyss apa ? Tu Abscess lah !"
"Alamak... ok Doc... he he he yer, yer.. abscess"

So I'm cleared of any abscess in the abyss problems for the moment. Have been told to exercise my shoulder gently and put heat compress on the area. Adoi. Still sakit even after the Arcoxia.


So to cheer myself up, I went to lunch in SACC mall. Tapi tak habis pun. Tak lalu nak makan bila ingat kan issue lain yang even more depressing. Oh well. I cleaned out the mushrooms and chicken in the pie, and left the pastry shell and fries. I finished the veges. The freshly prepared Orange juice was good. It helped to cheer me up a bit.

Wow.. it's been more than a month !

It's been so long.. So many things have happened - and DIDN'T happen! Happy happy happy - the new dining table has arrived, to replace the old one. Got it in the same fashion, round and extendable so it can accomodate the whole family when we go home for Eid. Dad wanted to keep the old one "Still in good condition, la !" I said no. It's time to let go. You can donate the top - that is definitely still good, but the supporting bits are in terrible shape. Someone keeps on saying "ooh we can just repair this, bapak you have to do this, do that".. another someone always actually DOES the repairing so we can continuously use it, so I decided to just contribute to buy another one. The old one IS already almost 30 years old, after all ! Well-served and past it's time. Dad says, so is he..! he hee i said up to him lah to consider himself as what ever !

Sad sad sad - My sweetie couldn't make it home after all. His home Co's board meeting has been postponed indefinitely. Mad rush as he was supposed to fly home direct from AMS after his conference, tickets all ready. Imagine the mad rush to find tickets and accomodation to fly back to IFN on short notice! Bad enough the peeps at THR insisted that he get a visa to go to Europe on departure ! Malaysian passport holders DO NOT need a visa to go to Europe. Little did they know and wanted to understand ! A delay to the conference, obviously, even if they did compensate with a direct THR-AMS flight on KLM, with 3 seats allocated to him so he can sleep the night off; it was still a bad start, no ? Then it was a roundabout trip back to IFN being AMS-CDG-DXB(overnight)-THR-IFN.. fuh banyaknya codes.. I had my share of the action - did the online booking for my Sweetheart's stay in DBX. Good thing I wasn't yet asleep at that time. And since still not yet midnite, sempat transfer duit via MB2U sebab he had run out of cash. Abis nak makan kat DUbai kena pakai cash kan, as original plan he wud have arrived KUL by then !

Happy happy happy - went to visit little Justin of Emily and Chris for his full moon. The tiny one has gangly arms and legs and is seem to be on track to beat Mummy and Daddy at height and size. Congratulations, little one !

Sad sad sad - had a mad craving for Irani Kebab ! but the restaurant in YC Plaza is gone as the whole place is under reno, but happy happy happy again because we found the place on Jalan Putra to compensate. Not so great, hoping for better but enough to satisfy us for now. The Zaffron Ice Cream pacified us .. a bit ! Lovely !

Oh well so many things to be thankful for and I can't write it all here. More bits and pieces later I hope!

Tot Ziens !!

Sleep... Sleeeeeepy !

Just so terribly am not-here ! Am sleepy cos having a headache cos of eye-strain cos of weather too hot cos it hasn't rained... Adoi... Rasa nak duduk tidor on the cabinet bawah air-con tu je.. it's sooo tempting !

Anyway.. this is my ubat mengantuk (though not necessarily good for my headache lah). Took a pic with the SE phone, pic's clear and good.

After this post, it's au revoir, I'm going home to nap. after I cook dinner that is..