It's 28th Ramadhan already. Tomorrow Hubby's coming home, and in a bid to introduce him to Baba I've invited the family to buka puasa at my place. Panicking already. The next morning we'll be driving back to Alor Star.
And so, in case I don't get to write again prior to the real occasion, here's wishing everyone Eid Mubarak, Happy Holidays and Drive Safely!!!
Sunday 28 September 2008
Saturday 20 September 2008
Lost
In the midst of all sorts of accountabilities and responsibilities, I'm not so sure what I am or what I really want right now. Right now I can only define myself in terms of what or who I am to someone else. In terms of what others demand of me.
I need to find myself. Who I am to ME.
This is as good a time to take a vacation.
Heck, all I need is a quiet spot with a notebook, cheesecake and caffe latte. On my own.
I need to find myself. Who I am to ME.
This is as good a time to take a vacation.
Heck, all I need is a quiet spot with a notebook, cheesecake and caffe latte. On my own.
Sunday 14 September 2008
Facebooking
Yes, I jumped onto the bandwagon. It seems that so many people have recreated their existence onto this portal, I just had to go see what I was missing out on.
I still don't quite get it, all the superpoking and sending people virtual gifts, but I do appreciate getting updated on all the stuff that's been happening to friends in faraway places. Time to see all of them (even on Facebook) is something I don't have.
I still don't quite get it, all the superpoking and sending people virtual gifts, but I do appreciate getting updated on all the stuff that's been happening to friends in faraway places. Time to see all of them (even on Facebook) is something I don't have.
Monday 8 September 2008
Kahwah wal-Kitab
NOTE: This post was originally written about 10 months ago, during my third maternity leave. I didn't realise it was languishing as a draft.
I was at The Book Cafe in MPH One Utama and browsing through a magazine, waiting for my spaghetti carbonara to arrive when I came across an article about sacrificing your career for something else, be it family, charity or whatever your passion may be. There were interviews with women who gave up their jobs to become stay-at-home mothers. One had me laughing as she stated how she couldn't even go the the toilet without a three-footer banging on the door demanding for "Mummy to come out and play now." Reminds me of my own three-footer and his shorter-by-6 inches brother.
It also got me thinking as to whether I would actually be able to make the same decision to give up my career. The answer, I have to disappoint some of you, is NO. If the question is about doing something I really love, I have to admit I really am passionate about my job. It really is NOT about the money. If it was, I'd be writing this post from a swanky apartment or five-bedroom bungalow in Abu Dhabi and buying myself a new luxury handbag every other month. Sometimes I think I'd even do my job for free! (If by some remote chance you happen to read this, please note that this is purely rhetoric and slashing my salary is a direct violation of my rights as a human.)
What I would really love, though, is flexi-hours and working from home. To be able to avoid wasting 2 hours or more of my day just getting through the crawling traffic to and from the office. And when the kids' demands and tantrums are just too much for me to handle, I can always use the office as an excuse to escape. Okay, I am so not an ibu mithali.
Hubby used to suggest that I start a business of some sort. He's seen some of his colleagues' wives open up bakeries and boutiques, so he thinks it's simply a matter of letting your hobby make money for you. But I just don't have a head for business. It would be fine if I could let someone else do all the money-managing for me. Of course, I would never consider him for that position. As a cook, maybe.
However, if I were to really give up my job for a business, it'll have to be in something I am purely passionate about. Something that combines coffee and books. Yes, I know the cafe-in-the-bookstore concept has been milked dry by the likes of Borders and MPH and such, but mine would be different. It'll be more like a bookstore-in-the-cafe, with lots of comfy sofas and bean bags for one to lie back in while indulging in a cuppa java with one's nose stuck in a novel or collection of anecdotes. And the books are not necessarily brand new either. I'd line the walls with some of my own collection, and there's no requirement to purchase a book to read in my cafe. Just pay for the coffee and doughnut. I'll even put Hubby's pau and curry puff on the menu. And my very own version of spaghetti carbonara (the one at MPH was disappointing).
The cafe will be called 'The Magic Faraway Tree' or 'The Wishing Chair' in honour of the first two Enid Blyton books I ever owned, which eventually lead to the complete 'Rewards' set of 48 Enid Blyton titles. Those were the books that introduced me to Greek mythology, golliwogs and boarding school. These books will have pride of place on the top shelf.
Hmm, I may just have a business plan there. You read it here first.
Saturday 6 September 2008
15 Questions
Another tag from Adita:
1.When you buy a greetings card, are the words or the picture more important to you?
:: Both - but I'll pick the prettiest cards before checking the words.
2. What's your favorite kind of cake?
:: Cheesecake. Taken with a cup of coffee.
3. Do you ever make gifts for people, if so what, or do you buy them?
:: I can't remember if I ever did. Nowadays I just buy gift vouchers. I'm not Martha Stewart.
4. What's your favorite holiday?
:: Probably my first ever overseas trip that included London, Boston and Los Angeles in the itinerary. It was April 1982 - there was snow in Boston, sunshine in LA and neither in London. It was my first Chinese fortune cookie, my first Disneyland and my first sighting of a colourful Mohawk hairstyle that left me gaping (it was the punk era, after all). I wish I could afford that kind of holiday for my kids.
5.Are you going on holiday this year? If so, where?
:: Obviously nothing like the answer to number 4. Initially we wanted to take the kids to Australia but Aiesyah is still too young. I might join Hubby at one of his FAT's early next year though...
6. What was the best party you've ever been to?
:: My new nephew Ziad's 7th birthday party, which happened to be last week on Malaysia's 51st anniversary of Independence and also the eve of Ramadhan. His mum runs a kindergarten in Mutiara Damansara, and that was the venue. Nuaim and Nu'man had a blast playing on the slides and swings, and the clown really got everyone going (except for Nuaim who was too scared of him).
7. If you are married, describe your wedding. If not, what would your ideal wedding be like?
:: My wedding was not exactly my dream wedding, except for the dress. But given that I was in Kerteh up to a month before it actually took place, I can't complain much. The colour was a peachy salmon pink, the venue was Dewan Perdana Felda which managed to sit 1000+ guests (most of them my mum's friends) and the 'cake', courtesy of the venue management, was a 5-tier fake. But the ambience was wonderful with strings of fragrant jasmine buds adorning the walls. Instead of a merenjis ceremony, we sat on the pelamin (wedding dais) to the narration of several verses of Surah ar-Ruum and its translation. Dalcha Duo provided the entertainment for dinner and there was a homemade slideshow prepared using Powerpoint (which, according to Mally, showed what an overachiever I was).
8. What's the most romantic thing that's ever happened to you?
:: When Hubby proposed. It was Christmas, I was in Kerteh, and he flew up for a day trip to meet me in Kuantan just for that purpose. Apparently, his car broke down on the way to KLIA and he missed the first flight. After all that, how could I not say Yes? McDonald's at Teluk Chempedak will always have a special place in my heart.
9. What's your favorite girl's name?
:: Errr, can't really think of one. Zulaikha, maybe.
10. What's your favorite boy's name?
:: Gibran.
11. Which celebrity would you like a dream date with?
:: I'd like to say a double date with Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt, but I think both Hubby and I would end up ogling Miss Jolie and poor Mr Pitt would feel left out.
12. Which female celebrity do you find beautiful?
:: I have to agree with Adita here - Aishwarya Rai is so out-of-this-world gorgeous.
13. Which male celebrity do you think is attractive?
:: I used to really love Tom Cruise until he left Nicole Kidman. Right now? Arjun Rampal (okay, too many Hindi movies already).
14. What is your best character trait?
:: Perfectionist.
15. What is your worst habit?
:: Procrastination.
1.When you buy a greetings card, are the words or the picture more important to you?
:: Both - but I'll pick the prettiest cards before checking the words.
2. What's your favorite kind of cake?
:: Cheesecake. Taken with a cup of coffee.
3. Do you ever make gifts for people, if so what, or do you buy them?
:: I can't remember if I ever did. Nowadays I just buy gift vouchers. I'm not Martha Stewart.
4. What's your favorite holiday?
:: Probably my first ever overseas trip that included London, Boston and Los Angeles in the itinerary. It was April 1982 - there was snow in Boston, sunshine in LA and neither in London. It was my first Chinese fortune cookie, my first Disneyland and my first sighting of a colourful Mohawk hairstyle that left me gaping (it was the punk era, after all). I wish I could afford that kind of holiday for my kids.
5.Are you going on holiday this year? If so, where?
:: Obviously nothing like the answer to number 4. Initially we wanted to take the kids to Australia but Aiesyah is still too young. I might join Hubby at one of his FAT's early next year though...
6. What was the best party you've ever been to?
:: My new nephew Ziad's 7th birthday party, which happened to be last week on Malaysia's 51st anniversary of Independence and also the eve of Ramadhan. His mum runs a kindergarten in Mutiara Damansara, and that was the venue. Nuaim and Nu'man had a blast playing on the slides and swings, and the clown really got everyone going (except for Nuaim who was too scared of him).
7. If you are married, describe your wedding. If not, what would your ideal wedding be like?
:: My wedding was not exactly my dream wedding, except for the dress. But given that I was in Kerteh up to a month before it actually took place, I can't complain much. The colour was a peachy salmon pink, the venue was Dewan Perdana Felda which managed to sit 1000+ guests (most of them my mum's friends) and the 'cake', courtesy of the venue management, was a 5-tier fake. But the ambience was wonderful with strings of fragrant jasmine buds adorning the walls. Instead of a merenjis ceremony, we sat on the pelamin (wedding dais) to the narration of several verses of Surah ar-Ruum and its translation. Dalcha Duo provided the entertainment for dinner and there was a homemade slideshow prepared using Powerpoint (which, according to Mally, showed what an overachiever I was).
8. What's the most romantic thing that's ever happened to you?
:: When Hubby proposed. It was Christmas, I was in Kerteh, and he flew up for a day trip to meet me in Kuantan just for that purpose. Apparently, his car broke down on the way to KLIA and he missed the first flight. After all that, how could I not say Yes? McDonald's at Teluk Chempedak will always have a special place in my heart.
9. What's your favorite girl's name?
:: Errr, can't really think of one. Zulaikha, maybe.
10. What's your favorite boy's name?
:: Gibran.
11. Which celebrity would you like a dream date with?
:: I'd like to say a double date with Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt, but I think both Hubby and I would end up ogling Miss Jolie and poor Mr Pitt would feel left out.
12. Which female celebrity do you find beautiful?
:: I have to agree with Adita here - Aishwarya Rai is so out-of-this-world gorgeous.
13. Which male celebrity do you think is attractive?
:: I used to really love Tom Cruise until he left Nicole Kidman. Right now? Arjun Rampal (okay, too many Hindi movies already).
14. What is your best character trait?
:: Perfectionist.
15. What is your worst habit?
:: Procrastination.
In Dian's Kitchen
For lack of ideas to write, I'll start by responding to Adita's Kitchen Tag.
Five things I want in my kitchen
Five things I want in my kitchen
- Time
- Space
- Being able to cook without referring to the recipe every 30 seconds
- An island unit - but refer to item 2 above
- Jamie Oliver - so he can do the cooking for me instead
Five things I plan on cooking pretty soon*
- 5-spice chicken
- Honey chicken a.k.a Ayam masak madu
- Chicken kurma
- Macaroni tuna
- Spaghetti bolognese
*Of course, pretty soon depends on when I actually have item 1 on the first list. And since most of these come out of ready-made Maggi mixes I already have at home, I don't need to refer to a recipe book so much.
Five things I have to get from the grocery store / supermarket
- Vegetables
- Dishwashing liquid
- Bread
- Nutella for Nuaim
- Ready-mixed 3-in-1 Coffee for me
