Car brokedown week

On Friday night at 11.30pm I got a call from Kak Liza telling me that her car gave her another problem. The car just failed to start. Eventhough she didn't asked for help but merely notifying me on her whereabouts, I immediately offer her to pick her up. Well it's just near Puchong Perdana not far from my house. I had to go alone as my husband was in Kuching. Sent her and her friend home and later I reached home near 1am.

Then today another call from my good friend Siti at 5.45pm. Her car brokedown. But this time is way far in Lancang. Where is the place?! I was told it's about 100km from Gombak toll (heading to Kuantan). Wow...woohooo.... That will take me like an hour to two hours drive, like driving from KL to Melaka. I called my hubby just to verify with him where Lancang is. The same reaction "haa jauh tu!" Then I asked whether I should go. His answer was "Why ask me?" That's not the reply I expect from him. At least provide me with some suggestion on what I should do. Man!

After knowing that Lancang is quite far, I had to ask Siti to try to take a lift from passers-by or the tow-truck and drop her at the nearest R&R (the one near Genting Highlands). Then it will be nearer for me to drive up. At that point, the tow-truck has not arrived. When I asked which tow-truck did she called, she said it's the Plus-Highway. I bet this people is taking their own sweet time and moreover, it's weekend. On the same note, I remember there was electicity breakdown at my parents at about 9.30pm. We called the TNB hotline thereafter and the help only came at 4.30am! Imagine how angry my husband was, cursing and #$&*@#$ who ever he ended up talking to at the helpline/desk.

After much thinking what's the best way to assist Siti, She text me that her sister Aisyah will be fetching her up. Ok that solves it. In actual fact, I am more than willing to help but all the close people around me didn't agree for me to drive that far. I felt as if, being 33, I am not mature enough to make my own decision and not independent. Nothing's wrong with driving hundreds kilometre away alone. What if I am not married, do I still have to ask others on what I should and shouldn't do? And if I am required to travel far, do I have a choice not to do it?

Raya Pictures

Pictures taken at Kelana Jaya's house. The younger cousins and niece.

The older cousins. See how huge they become....hehehehe..

My husband and the best uncle in the world, uncle wafa.

The models of Abdul Rahman's generation. The girls of Hamzah's on the left pix.

Tuesday, 16 October 2007

Today is the best day for me as we will be having lunch at Kak Yam’s house. She originate from Narathiwat, Thailand, the most muslim population in Siam. I have been there a couple of times and its specialty is delicious Thailand food. She served us Tom Yam, Ayam masak kicap, fried vege, udang masak lada, ikan goreng, sambal. Eventhough, it sounds like simple food but the taste is just superb. Somehow or rather the ingredients from Thailand is really good which one can’t find here (except maybe near the border in Kelantan like Rantau Panjang).

I had to excuse myself later to visit old friend (Fatihah) of ours back in MCC, Kuantan and MRSM KB for my hubby. It was her sister in law’s wedding or they call it kenduri sambut menantu cum Raya gathering. I have not met Fatihah since 1995. The last time was when she came over to Missouri and stayed at Norli’s and Farah’s house. That’s when she cooked Kelantan’s dish (was it nasi dagang).

This meeting was supposed to be meeting of old friends but it turns out a discussion on insurance. All of them save for me are insurance agents. Having my hubby as the “kapla” in that industry made them talk about it rather than updating each other on other matters.

Monday, 15 October 2007

How great since I came to Kelantan, we need not cook for lunch. We have been having lunch at my hubby’s relatives. As for today, his half brother treat us with ayam kampung, ayam kari tok, sayur goreng udang and sambal and the best is budu! Met my hubby’s half sister as well Kak Ha. Though his immediate family is small but by having his “other” family from his father’s side as well as his close neighbors and childhood friends would bring long lasting happiness.

I tried the web cam on my lap top. It’s so great that now I could yahoo message my close friends through web cam. I am no longer out dated ha. I realized that it’s high time that I own a laptop. Able to do office work or even personal works any time. Thanks to Ebi for pressuring me to have one (knowing that I am a VP which I think nothing great about it). And thanks to Rosman for providing me a very good advice in choosing the best notebook with my low budget. I bought it for only RM2,820 and with this price, I could get 2.0 GB, Window Vista Home Premium, Web Cam which I believe is the best gadget that I would need. Nothing advance but right stuff for me.

Sorry for being not an IT expert, I was searching high and low since yesterday for the web cam software. The Guide Book shows a Dell Web Cam Manager icon on the bottom left corner. But there was none there. In the end, my hubby asked me to do a search and walahh, there it was. Apa lagi, tried it. Took pictures of my hubby’s niece and nephews i.e. Uchup, Adam, Balqis and me as well as my hubby together Che ‘Ngh! See the result above.

Great Kelantan's food

Sunday, 14 October 2007

I was so tired having traveled in the car for 6 hours (reaching Gunong at about 10.30pm last night). But at least, the traveling hours is shorter since the road is clear no traffic jam. I was told by Farah (my sis in law) that the day she went back, it was a hell of a jam. They left KL at 3.30 am and reaching Gunong (Bachok Kelate) at 5 pm! I had experienced this last year. NO THANKS for facing it again!

The next morning on second day of Raya, my mom in law made nasi dagang. I have to compliment her ikan tongkol masak lemak. Memang sedap! Normally I will not add more nasi but I had to this time (it's fat consumption day mah...hehehe). While in the afternoon, we were treated with laksam (Kelantan’s famous food - a flour in the form of Kuih Teow and eaten with fish gravy, slices of cucumber and herbs). I have never tasted the gravy that nice, having so much of ikan flesh made it more sedap. I am worried if I gain weight. I need to maintain my ideal weight which I have successfully achieved during the puasa month (dropping by 10kg) . Che ’ah (my hubby’s aunt) invited to her house right after his uncle’s house. Eventhough no doubt her cooking is good but I was too full with nasi dagang and laksam. Instead I watched this movie acted by Saiful Apek…hehehe I just love his jokes…..gitu, gitu!

We reached home in the evening. But got scolded by my hubby’s cousin (Kak Mah) for leaving Che Yah at her brother’s house. When we left his uncle's house, Che Yah was praying hence Kak Mah suggested that Che Yah followed another group of family who will be going to my mom in law’s house BUT she didn’t! I am very well aware it was not my fault. Leave it as that and it’s not up for debate.

Ya Raya!

Saturday, 13 October 2007

“Selamat Hari Raya. Hari untuk bersuka ria.” Hari ini, saya dan suami beraya di Kelana Jaya. Saya diminta bangun seawal 5 pagi untuk membantu menyiapkan persiapan masakan seperti daging satay, kuah kacang, daging rendang, ketupat, nasi minyak, ayam kurma, acar sayur dan acar nenas. Susahnya nak berbahasa melayu. Tukar language le.

By 7am, the food and all the plates are ready! That’s the good part of having many girls in the family. So to everyone produce more female! Hehehe. Easier for my mom. But last year she complains that everyone went back to husband’s hometown, hence leaving her and Nadia (my only sis who is not married) alone at home, preparing the food. At that point of time, we do not have a maid. Thus, I bet how tired they can be. Pity them.

Being the eldest in the family, my dad’s siblings will be coming over at Kelana Jaya’s house. Thanks to Uncle Wafa for fixing with the rest on this get together. He will make the effort to call everyone to gather at my parents’ place. How nice of him! I have always have this is mind that he’s the very best uncle in the world.

After sembahyang raya and bersalam salaman & bermaaf maafan, we went to Pak Jang’s house (my mom’s eldest brother). I will never miss his house whenever I am in town as my Mak Jang always cook delicious dishes like ayam goreng berempah (her specialty…yummy), nasi lemak (but this raya she had something else) and ketupat, rendang and kuah kacang (of which she will always pound the nuts manually (the traditional way) rather than using blender). That’s make her kuah kacang taste even better.

Pak Jang with his jokes, Mak Jang with her long lasting smile. Pity my Mak Jang as she doesn’t have a maid anymore to assist her with the house chores. Sigh. I believe she needs one as she’s old and yet she always ensure her house is clean. but she must realized that she’s no longer young as before. Hence, her eldest daughter Kak Sabariah will always be with her on the first day raya.

After Pak Jang’s house we went to Pakcik Man’s and Ita’s house (this is my favourite because they serve nasi dagang or should I say my hubby‘s favourite food). My sis was surprise when I told them that I have told Makcik Lili (Pak Cik man’s wife) that I am not able to enjoy her nasi minyak as the next house is treating us with nasi dage. They both curse me for saying that to Makcik Lili. Yaiks….

The best part of today’s Raya is having all of my dad’s siblings coming over after zohor. This is the occasion when I meet my cousins, uncles and aunts. Although all of them are staying in town but we seldom meet save for any important function like weddings and kenduri. I am glad my hubby could mingle with them on his latest jokes. Having Uncle Din, Uncle Nal and Uncle Dol (not forgetting his wife Aunty Aiza) enjoying with the humor made by Mat Ju (that’s my hubby) allows me to mingle with the others. As usual I would be asking Natiya on the latest info on Siti and Dato’ K (since Siti’s brother is seeing my cousin Natiya). Nina called me as well. How nice of her. She’s now in Dublin awaiting for her first son (oopsss, nunni break the news which suppose to be a secret). Nina didn’t tell me earlier as she wants it to be a surprise. Nina is my closest cousin together with Ida as our age gap is close. Me being the eldest. Ida the second eldest and Nina the youngest. We used to be so close back then in school but once one of us left to further studies, we seldom keep in touch. Save for Ida since we went to the same school in Missouri.

Ida came later with her family and parents. Keep us updated on the latest development especially on my plans to adopt. She had helped me by providing with her contacts. I am glad she even encourage me to have one as soon as possible. Well that’s true. It’s high time for me to adopt after being married for almost 8 years without children. Insyallah with the blessing of Allah, maybe I will get my own soon after. I wish for a miracle.

Me and hubby had to leave for Kelantan later that evening. I had to excuse myself. Though I am sad not able to be there longer somehow I am very happy that they gather at my dad’s and that makes him happy and since he is happy, that makes me happy as well. Hope this shall be continued by us the cousins even though our parents are no longer around. As the eldest female cousin, I will ensure this happens.

Last day of Ramadhan

Friday, 12 October 2007

The night before Raya.
This year me and hubby decided to celebrate in Kelana Jaya during the first day of Raya. Hence, we stayed overnight the night before Raya at K.J. Normal custom, there will be lots of cooking (as my mom believe in cooking rather than buying). It’s just her but knowing that she’s not as young as before, we had to give a helping hand.

I had to work on Friday as I have shifted my leave on Thursday and Friday to the following week. That’s when my hubby told me at the last minute of his plan. By lunch hour at the office, all the muslim has left the office as well as the rest! What else, I am not going you stay alone here. But this is what I hate most, whenever I will be on long leave (this time it will be a one long week, a breaking record by me), the work suddenly comes non-stop! Ohhh nooo….please why didn’t this urgent work comes long before. It just came right before I leave. The worse part is all of a sudden, I receive a call from my hubby asking to exchange our cars as he plans to bring his car (which I am currently using) for polish and wash in Mid Valley. Now this has taken 15 minutes of my working time to drive the car out! I desperately need time at this juncture. As a preliminary solution, I send an email to my staff telling them exactly what they require to do while I am away. I am glad I have this new girl who joined the team last month. Well anyway, they could call me anytime in case they are stuck with it.

Soon after settling all the outstanding works, I had to bring three big stuff (my new laptop Dell 1420 and two hampers) from my room to my car. Tell me about it. And at the same time, I had to rush to the bank to change the notes as “angpow” gift.

I reached my parents house at about 1.30pm and noticed that my mom had made the major preparation like marinate the beef for satay, kuah kacang and all the ingredients for the nasi minyak. My task was to cut the cucumber and carrot for the acar. One thing for sure, I will always feel sleepy or tired when I am at my parents. Hehehe…. I guess I knew that there will sufficient assistance from my sis and the maid. I was yawning all the time. Hmmm…what else did I help? Yeah …. Setting up my new laptop! Hahaha….

Later that night, I didn’t help so much as I had to go home to pack all my clothes for the one week stay in Kelantan, my hubby’s hometown. Yaikss… I am still wondering what I should I do there during that long week.

Road to Recovery

It's pain to imagine how the girl has to go though the 24 hours operation, more so having to wrip open the chest! She had no choice but to proceed as it means life or death. I had to experience the same thing, I meant having a medical doctor to cut me up! This was in year 2002 when I was diagnosed of having a retroverted uterus caused by endometriosis. Ha ? What's that?

My gyneacologist patiently explain to me the meaning of that terms. Scientifically, a retroverted uterus is the name given to a uterus that is tilted backwards inside of the pelvis. Normally, women are born with a uterus that is located in a straight up and down position inside of the pelvis, or with a uterus that tips slightly forwards, towards the stomach. However, some women have a uterus that tilts backwards, pointing towards the spine. Commonly referred to as a tipped uterus, this condition affects more than 20% of women worldwide. Generally associated with no health complications, a retroverted uterus can occasionally cause painful symptoms or signal an underlying health disorder.

Enough said. Well I suppose this is the reason why I am still enjoying my honeymooning stage while the rest of my friends had to endure the hardship of raising children. As a matter of fact, I don't agree with the phrase "still in honeymoon mood". There is no need for that now after having married for years/ages. Whatever it is, I always believe that the time has yet to come or my rezeki is not there yet. Easy said. And people often tell me that I can't be so stressed up as this may effect my ability to conceive. Of course I am not stressed up but there will times when I am all alone, I'll be asking myself how does it feel having baby at home, having baby cot next to my bed, having a 15 minutes break during office hour to do that thingy, having to be on emergency leave when baby is sick, having to wake up early in the morning and etc. But instead, now I could read newspaper first thing in the morning during weekend, I could continue surfing or blogging or yming till late at night, I could go on vacation anytime I feel like one. Those things for sure any mothers are yearning to have. But I had enough of that. I need to experience the suffering and the torturing. Hmm...

Simply pray for the best to make it happen, insyallah.

Work oh work...

I am still sick but manage to drag myself to work. I couldn't understand why some people I know could easily run away from responsibilities by taking long medical leave. And that person doesn't seem to be sick the day before. Well, that's human character which I have to face every other day. They wouldn't care if I am being left alone doing the job which I am not supposed to do i.e. it's the work of supporting staff. Hello...I am your superior not your collegue! To them, they know that they're not going to get any reprimand if such job is not done. I think I should be more serious this time.

Another thing which upset me is the late comers. I could tolerate 10 to 15 minutes late but not an hour late or more! I have to put a stop to this and rest assured, I am gonna take immediate action, like it or not. Even if it takes the person hates me for the rest of his/her life. It's not fair to others and further, I do not want it to be an example to the rest of the team. Every one is an adult and should be very well understand their limits. It's not easy to be at the top.

Feeling Sick

Somehow or rather the last 2 days I felt that I am gonna fell ill. And I was right, not that I was hoping for it, today, the fever came. I had no choice but to drag myself to the clinic in the morning. The temperature was only 36 degrees. But the throat was extremely uncomfortable and dry. The doctor on duty is of no help. Unlike the previous doctor who attended to my hubby was very much friendlier and talkative. Well he needed that as his condition was worse than mine.

Despite the illness, I have to wash the clothes and dry them. My husband will always say that it's not me who wash them but the machine. Yeaahh...but due the fact that the machine is not "automatic" (only me understand what this mean), I had to also fill the machine with water at every interval, that is 3 times for each wash. Often, I will carry 3 to 4 rounds of washing. Can you imagine that once settled, I'll drop tired! That's when my husband will wonder why I get tired easily. After washing, since I was not well, I had to take a nap until 4pm. That helps a bit...yeah a bit only.

Later the day, my normal routine work during the weekend would be to send clothes for ironing and pick-up ironed clothes from the lauderette. I have thought to myself, wouldn't it be great to run this kind of business. At least, I need not worry about any deadlines, cracked my head to find solutions for any problems or unsolved issues, preparing boring report to the big boss or even managing the character(s) of the staff under me. But to me, the one and only business that I would love to venture in is a gas station. I have tried to apply then but it was unsuccessful. The income would depends on the strategic location of the station. It's easy to run this business as the company like Shell or Petronas would have its own guidelines to follow. Hence, it is as simple as abc to run a gas station.

As hubby was still outstation, my buka puasa would be at my parents and we were having nasi lemak and lemang! Yes my sis got it from Tampin. Wow...it's so soft and original. One can never find the best lemang other than in Negerin Sembilan. I have actually got shocked when I tasted the ketupat in Kelantan. It's sweet! How in the world can I eat it with kuah kacang. You can hardly find food that's not sweet there.

Fever has not reduced but instead getting worse. Tried to sleep but I can't after having slept for 3 hours in the afternoon. That's when I decided to update my Blog simply to keep myself occupied. :)

Sheena's 1st Wedding Preparations

"Kakak Naj, we'll be coming over to your house at 10am. The rest will be joining us as well." This was the text I received yesterday's night from Sheena while driving home. Knowing that I was driving, I still have the urge of replying her text message "Hey please don't call me kakak...urrgghh". Hehehehe...I am not that old ok.

Anyway, Sheena will be having her wedding reception next month in early November. She had planned to come last week to prepare the gift to be given to about 2,000 people but since no one could make it, it was postponed to today. All of my young cousins came over to help out. Hence, I have no choice but to mingle with them (which at times, they would give me that kind of look which tells me "what the hell are you saying?" or "Hello?").

As usual we'll make all sort of jokes especially teasing Aunty Noor of her abrubt and nonsense statement. She keep on ramblings and I realised she had only done 1 of the box! And that pun she already complain tired. She even suddenly asked Aunty Zahar if she want her to marry Arnold Schwarzenegger!! Everybody laugh out loud like nobody's business. What was she thinking!!

Maliha also help us out by folding the silver card box. She learn very fast for someone her age. We manage to finish tying all the boxes by 4.30pm. Sheena was very happy for us to generously allow her to use my parents house and the kindest of my mother of being so motherly. Sheena was just extremely happy with our hospitality. I guess this family is the closest family we have and hence, it is important for us to maintain this relationship. As our parents are getting older and soon they will leave us, we will be left with each other. Hence, I always believe that we need to stick together, always, forever.

"Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do...but how much love we put in that action."

The Crazy Gals of MCC (Block Q)

It was a buka puasa with my old best friends of MCC (Mara Community College). Pae being the most active one and the most rajin one (if you get the others to arrange this, I bet definitely it's gonna be a failed program) among us had successfully arrange this meeting at CititelExpress Hotel (in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman near central market). Hmmm...never heard of this place before but what the heck, for the sake of getting together. It was quite creepy when reaching the parking bay as there was a lorry loading the stinct garbage right in front of the entrance! I thought I was at the wrong place since the road heading towards the parking entrance was extremely narrow. Oh man, whom in the world got us here! For the sake of my good friends whom I have not met for quite sometime (well one of them for sure I know I have not met for almost a year after that incident). Once reaching the parking bay, I had to asked the ticket man if the level I was in is the nearest to the lobby. Well one has to be wary of one's safety as well as one's personal valuable asset. Anyway, got myself into the lobby of the hotel. Quite surprise by its main lobby compared to the horrible parking space. Got a text message from Pae asking "where are you gals?" So I thought ok at least one of us is here but I was wrong. I was the first to miracalously arrive there on time while the time showed 6.50pm. "Satu batang hidung pun tak nampak", as expected! The next to join me was Roha.

As Roha has correctly speculated we ended up buka puasa just the two of us when the magrib's azhan starts. The rest came along minutes later like Pae & the kids, Masrah & the kids, Mulia & a kid and Siti & a kid. It's quite understandable for them being late as all of them save for me and Roha had to tag their kids along. It's great to know that all the kids had grown up so fast with most of them age 3 years old. And it's also great to be able to chit chat just like those days while we were in MCC save for that all of us now are married. But our love on crazy things, on ramblings on nonscence are still deep in us.

Mulia with the don't care attitude even plan for our next holiday to either Sunway or PD in November when she had known in advance of Tiger's pre-planned trip to Indon. When I suggested to someplace else like Singapore, they interrupted me saying I'm the expensive type of person. Everybody agreed that we try to settle for the short distance holiday and if we (meaning EVERY single of us) successfully able to find time to be in this Holiday, then we could pre-arrange later for a holiday outside the country.

Funny thing is everyone of us is married but whenever we have these once-in-a-blue-moon get together, we will be seeing like "a single parent". Our hubbies will be either be too busy to join (god knows what they're doing) or too worried of being left-out when we'll be talking on something which man would never understand or just plain lazy.

As for me, I am glad that despite our differences in opinion which at times lead to a stress in a relationship, I could at least brushed the grievances aside and enjoy that moment. Furthermore, now is puasa month and one should forgive and forget. But I wish Suraya could join us as well. Sigh....

"The best advisers, helpers and friends, always are not those who tell us how to act in special cases, but who give us, out of themselves, the ardent spirit and desire to act right, and leave us then, even through many blunders, to find out what our ow"