As this is my third post today, I'll keep it short.
Today is my last day at the office before I break off for the holidays, which also means I won't be able to get on the Internet again till 14th Nov (unless my sisters decide to take a break from hogging the PC at home). It also means the next time I come back to the office, I can have my sweets and cookies and Hot Milo (with a hint of Nescafe) to keep me awake!
So I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone Selamat Hari Raya, Eid Mubarak. Let us all forgive each other and ourselves, and beg forgiveness from Him for all our trespassings and wrongdoings, and come back in better shape of body and mind.
Hari Raya is meant to be the day to celebrate our 'victories' during the fast against our base nature and lusts, although I have to admit to not being all that victorious this year. May we all have the opportunity to greet Ramadhan again next year, InsyaAllah.
Monday, 31 October 2005
Tok Bik
Tok Bik lived in a big house in Subang Jaya with her son and daughter. Every so often, she would get visits from her other children and their brood. Sometimes they would stay over the weekend, so the house would be filled with the sounds of laughter and conversation.
Tok Bik had eight children from two husbands. She was divorced from her first husband after having two children, and became another man’s second wife. Tok Bik took the boy to stay with her, while the daughter was cared for by the father’s family. Tok Bik never met her daughter until after the girl was married at the age of 21.
As they say, history repeats itself. Tok Bik’s eldest son also married twice. His first wife was pregnant with his firstborn, a boy, when he left her for another woman. His second wife bore him four daughters, the eldest nine months younger than her brother. The boy and his father would not meet until 30 years later.
Tok Bik was only recently united with her grandson, but she welcomed him with open arms. She had always known about him, and had been asking her son to seek him out, but the timing was never right. It was not until he was about to leave for Haj earlier this year that he drew up enough courage to set up a meeting.
Last Saturday on the 25th of Ramadhan, around the time for Asar prayers, Tok Bik complained of a headache. She went upstairs to shower and lie down. Before doing so, Tok Bik asked her maid to take out the long kain batik lepas from the cupboard and place it nearby her bed so that 'nanti senang orang nak cari (it’ll be easier for people to find later).'
Tok Bik would usually come down to prepare for iftar at 6.00 p.m. When she didn’t make an appearance, her maid went to her room to wake her up. She saw Tok Bik sleeping in bed, but something looked amiss. Upon closer inspection she started screaming, which drew the attention of Tok Bik’s daughter.
When the doctor arrived, he confirmed what they had all suspected. Tok Bik had passed away in her sleep.
I heard the news just before breaking fast. It was a shock because Tok Bik seemed very healthy when I last met her just over a week ago. As my brother-in-law was having iftar with us that evening, we decided to go visit after Maghrib prayers. We reached Subang Jaya at about 8.30 p.m.
When I entered the room, there were several relatives sitting around reciting the Yasin. Some of them had tears in their eyes. Tok Bik was laid out on the bed, her face covered with gauze. When the gauze was lifted for me to look at her face, I could see she had passed away peacefully.
Tok Bik looked so serene, almost like she was sleeping. Her skin seemed so clear like a teenager’s. The apple of her cheeks even had a healthy shine to it. I was amazed that death could look so beautiful.
I settled down in a corner of the room to read the Yasin. Suddenly I heard someone crying loudly at the door. One of Tok Bik’s daughters had just arrived, clearly distraught. She was at KLIA, about to board a flight to Sarawak with her family when she found out what had happened. Her brothers and sisters quickly crowded around her and tried to put her back on her feet. I felt a bit confused, not knowing how to react to the situation, so I just dumbly sat back down and tried to read. Although I was feeling somewhat emotionally detached from it all earlier, I tend to get really affected when I see other people crying. I tried really hard not to let the tears flow. I succeeded, but got a headache due to the terrible effort.
Just as I was wrapping up my recitation, the men decided to move Tok Bik’s body downstairs. She was covered up in the kain batik lepas, her son holding up her head while her grandsons took the weight of her body. Her newly acquainted grandson was one of them, just as he was one of those to help lower her body into the grave the next morning.
It rained at the cemetery. It always does when good people pass away.
Rest in peace, Tok Bik. May Allah count your soul among the blessed.
Tok Bik had eight children from two husbands. She was divorced from her first husband after having two children, and became another man’s second wife. Tok Bik took the boy to stay with her, while the daughter was cared for by the father’s family. Tok Bik never met her daughter until after the girl was married at the age of 21.
As they say, history repeats itself. Tok Bik’s eldest son also married twice. His first wife was pregnant with his firstborn, a boy, when he left her for another woman. His second wife bore him four daughters, the eldest nine months younger than her brother. The boy and his father would not meet until 30 years later.
Tok Bik was only recently united with her grandson, but she welcomed him with open arms. She had always known about him, and had been asking her son to seek him out, but the timing was never right. It was not until he was about to leave for Haj earlier this year that he drew up enough courage to set up a meeting.
Last Saturday on the 25th of Ramadhan, around the time for Asar prayers, Tok Bik complained of a headache. She went upstairs to shower and lie down. Before doing so, Tok Bik asked her maid to take out the long kain batik lepas from the cupboard and place it nearby her bed so that 'nanti senang orang nak cari (it’ll be easier for people to find later).'
Tok Bik would usually come down to prepare for iftar at 6.00 p.m. When she didn’t make an appearance, her maid went to her room to wake her up. She saw Tok Bik sleeping in bed, but something looked amiss. Upon closer inspection she started screaming, which drew the attention of Tok Bik’s daughter.
When the doctor arrived, he confirmed what they had all suspected. Tok Bik had passed away in her sleep.
I heard the news just before breaking fast. It was a shock because Tok Bik seemed very healthy when I last met her just over a week ago. As my brother-in-law was having iftar with us that evening, we decided to go visit after Maghrib prayers. We reached Subang Jaya at about 8.30 p.m.
When I entered the room, there were several relatives sitting around reciting the Yasin. Some of them had tears in their eyes. Tok Bik was laid out on the bed, her face covered with gauze. When the gauze was lifted for me to look at her face, I could see she had passed away peacefully.
Tok Bik looked so serene, almost like she was sleeping. Her skin seemed so clear like a teenager’s. The apple of her cheeks even had a healthy shine to it. I was amazed that death could look so beautiful.
I settled down in a corner of the room to read the Yasin. Suddenly I heard someone crying loudly at the door. One of Tok Bik’s daughters had just arrived, clearly distraught. She was at KLIA, about to board a flight to Sarawak with her family when she found out what had happened. Her brothers and sisters quickly crowded around her and tried to put her back on her feet. I felt a bit confused, not knowing how to react to the situation, so I just dumbly sat back down and tried to read. Although I was feeling somewhat emotionally detached from it all earlier, I tend to get really affected when I see other people crying. I tried really hard not to let the tears flow. I succeeded, but got a headache due to the terrible effort.
Just as I was wrapping up my recitation, the men decided to move Tok Bik’s body downstairs. She was covered up in the kain batik lepas, her son holding up her head while her grandsons took the weight of her body. Her newly acquainted grandson was one of them, just as he was one of those to help lower her body into the grave the next morning.
It rained at the cemetery. It always does when good people pass away.
Rest in peace, Tok Bik. May Allah count your soul among the blessed.
It's a Goat eat goat world
The last few days at work have been quite hectic. The meeting with the compressor manufacturer lasted the whole of Thursday, and I had to get the minutes out by next day noon. I was half an hour late for the meeting - there was a long job queue at the only available printer/photocopier in the office - but since I was designated to take minutes, they all waited for me before they started. The meeting started off on quite a fiery note - one of the managers from the Owner company had a few strong opinions about the subject, which he decided to voice out in terms I thought were stronger than politely necessary, but fortunately enough the little Italian guy doing the presentation was mild-mannered enough to just take it in his stride (someone next to me is drinking coffee right now - the aroma is killing me. Aaarghh!).
I had my buka puasa at Suria KLCC that evening, as I was working late. I had a hankering for mee mamak so I went to the Level 4 Food Court but was quite disappointed with the taste. I suppose for only Rm5.50 I shouldn't be expecting much. The next night, there was a department get-together at Restoran Seri Melayu, courtesy of all the higher-paying colleagues (me not included). The carpark was packed by the time we got there with 10 minutes to spare before Maghrib. There was a large selection of food, but because it was all spread out over various sections of the restaurant - and it's a HUGE restaurant - it kind of spoiled my appetite. Somehow the largely Malaysian/Malay menu of rendang and curries and laksa did not quite tickle my tastebuds. The only thing I really enjoyed was the fresh garden salad and ulam. As a friend once commented on my eating habits, I eat greens like a goat.
Well, that night I must've been a cannibal since I indulged in roast lamb with mint sauce. Yummmy.
I had my buka puasa at Suria KLCC that evening, as I was working late. I had a hankering for mee mamak so I went to the Level 4 Food Court but was quite disappointed with the taste. I suppose for only Rm5.50 I shouldn't be expecting much. The next night, there was a department get-together at Restoran Seri Melayu, courtesy of all the higher-paying colleagues (me not included). The carpark was packed by the time we got there with 10 minutes to spare before Maghrib. There was a large selection of food, but because it was all spread out over various sections of the restaurant - and it's a HUGE restaurant - it kind of spoiled my appetite. Somehow the largely Malaysian/Malay menu of rendang and curries and laksa did not quite tickle my tastebuds. The only thing I really enjoyed was the fresh garden salad and ulam. As a friend once commented on my eating habits, I eat greens like a goat.
Well, that night I must've been a cannibal since I indulged in roast lamb with mint sauce. Yummmy.
Wednesday, 26 October 2005
Grumble grumble
I need a break from work. Maybe it's just not being able to have coffee that's really affecting my productivity, or it's this immediate internet access and hence gateway to Jamie Oliver's website that keeps distracting me from finishing this Instrument Selection Criteria, among other things. Or just that feeling of not really knowing what I'm doing. Whatever it is, I'm reminded of the time in Form Five when I had to walk in a boggy, muddy paya during a Student Leadership Course - the need to finish the journey really quickly but there's so much holding me down. Very high viscosity fluid there, now which flowmeter would be suitable?
Mama is coming down from Alor Setar tomorrow to spend some time with Nuaim. I wish I could stay home and play with him too. Instead I have to attend a meeting with some Italian compressor manufacturer and I don't even have a clue what the meeting is going to be about. The reason I'm roped in is because my Lead Engineer wants me to be on top of things, as his deputy for when he's 'off to the dentist' or some such other excuse for disappearing from work (I think he actually goes off to meet some 'lady friend' his wife doesn't know). I really hate deputising for other people - it's not like I don't have enough to do already. Okay, I admit I'm not all that busy right now, but I definitely do not want to get bogged down by things that are really beyond my understanding.
There goes whatever pahala puasa I've achieved for today. And I was salivating over Jamie Oliver's recipes again.
Mama is coming down from Alor Setar tomorrow to spend some time with Nuaim. I wish I could stay home and play with him too. Instead I have to attend a meeting with some Italian compressor manufacturer and I don't even have a clue what the meeting is going to be about. The reason I'm roped in is because my Lead Engineer wants me to be on top of things, as his deputy for when he's 'off to the dentist' or some such other excuse for disappearing from work (I think he actually goes off to meet some 'lady friend' his wife doesn't know). I really hate deputising for other people - it's not like I don't have enough to do already. Okay, I admit I'm not all that busy right now, but I definitely do not want to get bogged down by things that are really beyond my understanding.
There goes whatever pahala puasa I've achieved for today. And I was salivating over Jamie Oliver's recipes again.
Tuesday, 25 October 2005
Lailatul Qadr khairun min Alfi Shahr
I can barely keep my eyes open. I arrived at the office at 7.40 a.m. today, but spent the first 40 minutes asleep in the Surau. My lead engineer rang me up on my mobile to check where I was just as I was walking back to my desk.
Yesterday's PRA session lasted the whole day, right up to just before iftar. And we were only halfway through. Luckily, the next session is postponed till after raya, and there were even suggestions that it will take place on a weekend, away from office premises. maybe as some kind of team-building session, no?
Last night, being the night of 21 Ramadhan, also signalled the beginning of the quest for Lailatul Qadr, the Night of Power. The Quran states that this night is better than a thousand months, meaning that whosoever performs prayers on this night will be rewarded as if he has performed it for a thousand months. It is not disclosed when exactly is the Night in question, only that it falls on one of the odd-numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadhan. And as Islam interpretes night as beginning on Maghrib preceding the day, hence last night was the 21st, while today is the 21st day of fasting. Muslims generally are encouraged to spend the nights performing prayers and I'tikaf (seclusion) in mosques.
That, however, is not the reason I am so heavy-lidded this morning. Yes, I did spend my wee hours awake, but not for prayers. Instead, Nuaim decided to make 2.30 a.m. his new playtime. He woke up suddenly, asking for my mum's maid, Cik Dah. Now, whenever Nuaim wants his bottle of milk, he will only request it from her. So when he started going 'Daahh!' I thought that milk was what he wanted. I didn't want to have to wake her up in the middle of the night, so decided to make it myself.
I carried Nuaim to the kitchen and asked him again whether he wanted his 'Nenen', to which he didn't respond. So I thought maybe he just had a nightmare or something. We went back to bed, but again he started asking for Cik Dah. This time I made him his bottle, and he happily drank it all up. When he seemed to have settled down to sleep again, I changed his nappie (it's so difficult to do it when he's up and awake because he doesn't like wearing them), then went to the loo myself.
And what should greet me when I walk out of the bathroom? The sight of Nuaim sitting up in bed, insisting to be let out of the room. I carried him for a bit, sang a lullaby, but he simply refused to be lulled by it. I could see that at least someone was still awake upstairs, so ascended the staircase to where my brother, the Eternal Nocturnal, was playing a video game and my sister was chatting online (they have weird playtimes too, my siblings). Nuaim, wide-eyed by now, seemed interested in the video game for about 10 minutes, then decided to make a foray into my sleeping sister's room, presumably in search of her stuffed koala (the toy, not taxidermy variety) to which he has an attachment. Having found the koala, he seemed pleased, but no sooner than a minute later he was going 'Tuin' (downstairs). I thought I'd cracked it by now - that he wanted his teddy bear to sleep with, but he headed for the front door instead. By this time it was 4.00 a.m. and Cik Dah was in the kitchen to prepare sahur, so thankfully for me she was able to take him off my hands while I tried to catch a few winks.
Hubby was up to do his prayers, but I couldn't stay on my feet anymore. My slumber was quite fitful though, so by the time he woke me up again for sahur an hour later I was really cranky. Nuaim was still at it, insisting on going outside where it was dark and raining, so I let Hubby deal with him instead. Fortunately he must have felt tired himself, because he was quite willing to be put to bed after that.
I just hope there's no repeat performance tonight.
Yesterday's PRA session lasted the whole day, right up to just before iftar. And we were only halfway through. Luckily, the next session is postponed till after raya, and there were even suggestions that it will take place on a weekend, away from office premises. maybe as some kind of team-building session, no?
Last night, being the night of 21 Ramadhan, also signalled the beginning of the quest for Lailatul Qadr, the Night of Power. The Quran states that this night is better than a thousand months, meaning that whosoever performs prayers on this night will be rewarded as if he has performed it for a thousand months. It is not disclosed when exactly is the Night in question, only that it falls on one of the odd-numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadhan. And as Islam interpretes night as beginning on Maghrib preceding the day, hence last night was the 21st, while today is the 21st day of fasting. Muslims generally are encouraged to spend the nights performing prayers and I'tikaf (seclusion) in mosques.
That, however, is not the reason I am so heavy-lidded this morning. Yes, I did spend my wee hours awake, but not for prayers. Instead, Nuaim decided to make 2.30 a.m. his new playtime. He woke up suddenly, asking for my mum's maid, Cik Dah. Now, whenever Nuaim wants his bottle of milk, he will only request it from her. So when he started going 'Daahh!' I thought that milk was what he wanted. I didn't want to have to wake her up in the middle of the night, so decided to make it myself.
I carried Nuaim to the kitchen and asked him again whether he wanted his 'Nenen', to which he didn't respond. So I thought maybe he just had a nightmare or something. We went back to bed, but again he started asking for Cik Dah. This time I made him his bottle, and he happily drank it all up. When he seemed to have settled down to sleep again, I changed his nappie (it's so difficult to do it when he's up and awake because he doesn't like wearing them), then went to the loo myself.
And what should greet me when I walk out of the bathroom? The sight of Nuaim sitting up in bed, insisting to be let out of the room. I carried him for a bit, sang a lullaby, but he simply refused to be lulled by it. I could see that at least someone was still awake upstairs, so ascended the staircase to where my brother, the Eternal Nocturnal, was playing a video game and my sister was chatting online (they have weird playtimes too, my siblings). Nuaim, wide-eyed by now, seemed interested in the video game for about 10 minutes, then decided to make a foray into my sleeping sister's room, presumably in search of her stuffed koala (the toy, not taxidermy variety) to which he has an attachment. Having found the koala, he seemed pleased, but no sooner than a minute later he was going 'Tuin' (downstairs). I thought I'd cracked it by now - that he wanted his teddy bear to sleep with, but he headed for the front door instead. By this time it was 4.00 a.m. and Cik Dah was in the kitchen to prepare sahur, so thankfully for me she was able to take him off my hands while I tried to catch a few winks.
Hubby was up to do his prayers, but I couldn't stay on my feet anymore. My slumber was quite fitful though, so by the time he woke me up again for sahur an hour later I was really cranky. Nuaim was still at it, insisting on going outside where it was dark and raining, so I let Hubby deal with him instead. Fortunately he must have felt tired himself, because he was quite willing to be put to bed after that.
I just hope there's no repeat performance tonight.
Sunday, 23 October 2005
Things I need for Raya
Raya is about 12 days away. People are busy getting kuih, new clothes and bus tickets for balik kampung. I've never bought kuih raya before, but a couple of weeks ago I sampled some really good pineapple tarts that were sold by our receptionist so I placed an order for one pack. I might decide to get a couple more for Mak and Mama.
Nuaim has his new baju melayu ready. Like last year, Mak bought some voile material and Mama had them tailored back in Alor Setar. So spoilt la my son the first cucu ni. The five baju that were too loose last year now fit him just nice, so he has about SEVEN to wear this year. We've also bought him a songkok that I'm sure he'll keep pulling off during photoshoots. Size 19 1/4 - big head my son has. I decided not to get him a new kain sampin - the last one we bought is still serviceable.
But what about Nuaim's Ummi? Since a couple of years back, I haven't given much thought to raya preparations. If it wasn't for Mak and Mama's generosity in buying me new clothes, I'd still be wearing the same thing I did from six or seven years' back. But this year, I have a list:
Nuaim has his new baju melayu ready. Like last year, Mak bought some voile material and Mama had them tailored back in Alor Setar. So spoilt la my son the first cucu ni. The five baju that were too loose last year now fit him just nice, so he has about SEVEN to wear this year. We've also bought him a songkok that I'm sure he'll keep pulling off during photoshoots. Size 19 1/4 - big head my son has. I decided not to get him a new kain sampin - the last one we bought is still serviceable.
But what about Nuaim's Ummi? Since a couple of years back, I haven't given much thought to raya preparations. If it wasn't for Mak and Mama's generosity in buying me new clothes, I'd still be wearing the same thing I did from six or seven years' back. But this year, I have a list:
- New glasses. My only remaining pair is in danger of falling to pieces after Nuaim twisted the handle a couple of days back. Miraculously it didn't break - just. The new ones will be ready tomorrow. Thick reddish frames this time. Hubby liked the schoolgirl look - 'Nampak muda remaja sikit.'
- New shoes/sandals. I've been walking in the same pair of high-heeled green Clarks sandals for weeks already. They look cool (kinda retro) but lately they've proven to be precarious, especially with Nuaim insisting on 'Dum' all the time. Note to self - Don't get Clarks Springers. They're comfortable and all, but really don't last that well in our humid and wet environs. Bata is a safer (and cheaper) bet. And not just for raya, but to last the whole pregnancy and beyond.
- A baju raya. I've decided to spoil myself by buying something from ModernMum. There's a nice kebaya-looking top which I think might just do the trick. Plus can collect Bonuslink points. I'm a loyalty card junkie so shoot me.
- New seat covers for dining room. Next time I shouldn't get chairs with plain cream-coloured upholstery - cepat kotorlah. Saw nice blue stripey thingy in IKEA for RM40 each. If I need 6 that'll be RM240! Berbaloi ka, or cheaper to buy cloth and make my own?
Friday, 21 October 2005
Buka Puasa at Kelantan Delights
Some friends from the office decided to have a 'buka puasa' gathering. These are the same people I usually have lunch with, but for the iftar we decided husbands should join in.
Hubby was reluctant at first - after all, these friends are actually a couple (or more?) of years younger than me, and he felt like he'd stick out like the paternal figure. And he definitely didn't want to be stuck with a bunch of giggly gossipy women and their husbands whom he doesn't know too well at all. But I coaxed and cajoled and promised to pay for his dinner, and finally he relented.
So Thuisday night, after breaking my fast with a Mentos and performing my Maghrib prayers, we met up with the rest of the gang at Kelantan Delights on level 4 of Suria KLCC. I guess for RM39++ the spread was quite good. One wonders what's on display at the RM100++ hotel buffets around KL. Here's a roundup on the menu (look away now if you're fasting).
There were cute little buah tanjung (much lighter yellow than the ones I bought), jala mas and lompat tikam - and that was about all that was distinctly Kelantanese about the food (minus the budu). A few other assortments of local kuih were available. Appetisers included cucur udang, popiah and samosa, all of which were quite tasty. The menu was strictly Malay, with white rice, fried rice and a variety of dishes. I skipped the ayam masak merah and fried chicken (too common), went for the jenahak (red snapper?) curry, sotong sambal petai, paru goreng cili (Ubisetela eat your heart out), pari masak lemak, daging bakar and mixed veggies (a pregnant lady needs her greens). The plates were so small, I had to get a refill to properly satiate my appetite.
We were entertained by my friends' attempts to use the Bluetooth function on their handphones. Being a boring Nokia 3315 user (monophonic, monocolour and all that), I only played the part of bemused observer, as the three of them were trying to figure out what 'passkey' meant and found out that their phones didn't have the application to run the transferred file in the end.
On a side note, apparently the buffet spread at Awana Genting is pretty good value for RM45 nett. Got sushi and all that.
Hubby was reluctant at first - after all, these friends are actually a couple (or more?) of years younger than me, and he felt like he'd stick out like the paternal figure. And he definitely didn't want to be stuck with a bunch of giggly gossipy women and their husbands whom he doesn't know too well at all. But I coaxed and cajoled and promised to pay for his dinner, and finally he relented.
So Thuisday night, after breaking my fast with a Mentos and performing my Maghrib prayers, we met up with the rest of the gang at Kelantan Delights on level 4 of Suria KLCC. I guess for RM39++ the spread was quite good. One wonders what's on display at the RM100++ hotel buffets around KL. Here's a roundup on the menu (look away now if you're fasting).
There were cute little buah tanjung (much lighter yellow than the ones I bought), jala mas and lompat tikam - and that was about all that was distinctly Kelantanese about the food (minus the budu). A few other assortments of local kuih were available. Appetisers included cucur udang, popiah and samosa, all of which were quite tasty. The menu was strictly Malay, with white rice, fried rice and a variety of dishes. I skipped the ayam masak merah and fried chicken (too common), went for the jenahak (red snapper?) curry, sotong sambal petai, paru goreng cili (Ubisetela eat your heart out), pari masak lemak, daging bakar and mixed veggies (a pregnant lady needs her greens). The plates were so small, I had to get a refill to properly satiate my appetite.
We were entertained by my friends' attempts to use the Bluetooth function on their handphones. Being a boring Nokia 3315 user (monophonic, monocolour and all that), I only played the part of bemused observer, as the three of them were trying to figure out what 'passkey' meant and found out that their phones didn't have the application to run the transferred file in the end.
On a side note, apparently the buffet spread at Awana Genting is pretty good value for RM45 nett. Got sushi and all that.
Thursday, 20 October 2005
PM's Wife Loses to Big C
The wife of Malaysia's fifth and current Prime Minister, Datin Seri Endon Mahmood passed away this morning, succumbing to breast cancer. Read more about it here.
I have never met her or seen her in person - there was one function I attended that she was supposed to officiate but couldn't make it due to some health problems. Could this have been the reason for her absence then? But I do share her passion for the traditional fabrics and fashion she had championed, despite my husband's annoyance that the kebaya nyonya is so Unislamic because it is 'jarang' and 'ketat'. Hey, he wasn't complaining when I wore it once before we got married. But I digress.
I understand how this would greatly affect Pak Lah. They have always appeared as such a loving couple, even in public, and I always find PDA between not-so-young couples endearing.
At the office, we've started speculating which ex-TV3 celebrity will become the next first lady. Personally I think that is not Pak Lah's style. His ministers or ministers' relatives (even the Sultan of Brunei) may indulge in picking up wives from the Nona runway, but for someone so laidback yet publicly so in love with his late wife? Naaah.
Al-Fatihah to Datin Seri Endon. May Allah bless her soul.
A result of all this is a rumour going round that next Monday has been declared a public holiday. A colleague called up a friend at Bernama news agency to confirm. I just checked The Star Online - it's not. That means I still have a PRA to attend (iftar included - yay!!).
I have never met her or seen her in person - there was one function I attended that she was supposed to officiate but couldn't make it due to some health problems. Could this have been the reason for her absence then? But I do share her passion for the traditional fabrics and fashion she had championed, despite my husband's annoyance that the kebaya nyonya is so Unislamic because it is 'jarang' and 'ketat'. Hey, he wasn't complaining when I wore it once before we got married. But I digress.
I understand how this would greatly affect Pak Lah. They have always appeared as such a loving couple, even in public, and I always find PDA between not-so-young couples endearing.
At the office, we've started speculating which ex-TV3 celebrity will become the next first lady. Personally I think that is not Pak Lah's style. His ministers or ministers' relatives (even the Sultan of Brunei) may indulge in picking up wives from the Nona runway, but for someone so laidback yet publicly so in love with his late wife? Naaah.
Al-Fatihah to Datin Seri Endon. May Allah bless her soul.
A result of all this is a rumour going round that next Monday has been declared a public holiday. A colleague called up a friend at Bernama news agency to confirm. I just checked The Star Online - it's not. That means I still have a PRA to attend (iftar included - yay!!).
Wednesday, 19 October 2005
My son the Drama Queen
I haven't written about Nuaim in a very long time. For those who are curious to know how he's getting on, he's fine. Except for the occasional sniffles, and falls and knocks that are common to boisterous 16-month old boys.
He's got this thing about his right eye though, that's been there since 7 months ago. We've been to two specialists, and the last one at HUKM had to put him under GA just to have a really good look at his eye. They found a surface scratch that could have been caused by his nails and nothing else. The scratch should've healed by now (it's been 2 months at least) but he still squints in bright light, and sometimes he gets teary-eyed. And it only happens to his right eye.
Other than that, he's a right royal thespian. My father-in-law calls him 'The Little Prince'. I think he behaves more like a tyrannical emperor around his relatives. He still takes his milk by the bottle, but he won't hold the bottle himself. It'll always have to be held by someone else, or propped up with a pillow if he's lying down and we're too busy to do it for him.
And he throws a big hou-haa whenever things don't go his way - which is most of the time, since his way involves a lot of unsafe acts for children below the age of 2. He'll throw his head back, give a great scream and flop on the floor or try to wriggle away from you. He did it once at a friend's son's birthday party because I wouldn't let him have the camera, and my friend seemed so concerned that I felt so guilty for not just letting him ruin my RM1400 investment.
Despite the fact that he's going to become an Abang Long in 6 months' time, he's even more clingy than before. He's grown quite heavy now (must be about 13 kg at least) and in my condition I can't carry him for more than 2 minutes without some part of my body protesting. When he first started walking at 11 months, he just simply refused to be carried. But now, everytime he wants me to take him somewhere, he'll take both my hands, pull me down to my knees and say "Dum". I guess in Emperor Nuaim's speak that's a combination of 'Jom' and 'Dukung'.
The realy wonderful thing though, is his vocabulary. He first picked up words around the same time he could walk, and his ability to grasp new words just continue to amaze me. I sometimes doubt whether he understands the words correctly, though. For instance, he would address any kid, younger or older than him, as 'Baby'. And although he's heard us say 'No' to him in response to things we don't approve of, I think he doesn't understand the concept of it. Instead, he'll say 'No' in a very firm manner, and then proceed with doing exactly the thing we've forbidden him to.
His favourite word and object in the world is of course 'FIH' (fish). He endured a 90 minute wait to enter the KLCC Aquaria, and he's always looking at the dinner table under the 'tudung saji' for his favourite food. Pictures of fish in newspapers drive him to ecstacy, and you'll never be able to complete reading The Star or Utusan Malaysia once he's spotted his underwater friend on one of the pages.
Lately though, Nuaim has developed a screaming habit. He screams when he's angry, happy and feeling any other emotion in between. I suspect he's missing his grandmother.
He's got this thing about his right eye though, that's been there since 7 months ago. We've been to two specialists, and the last one at HUKM had to put him under GA just to have a really good look at his eye. They found a surface scratch that could have been caused by his nails and nothing else. The scratch should've healed by now (it's been 2 months at least) but he still squints in bright light, and sometimes he gets teary-eyed. And it only happens to his right eye.
Other than that, he's a right royal thespian. My father-in-law calls him 'The Little Prince'. I think he behaves more like a tyrannical emperor around his relatives. He still takes his milk by the bottle, but he won't hold the bottle himself. It'll always have to be held by someone else, or propped up with a pillow if he's lying down and we're too busy to do it for him.
And he throws a big hou-haa whenever things don't go his way - which is most of the time, since his way involves a lot of unsafe acts for children below the age of 2. He'll throw his head back, give a great scream and flop on the floor or try to wriggle away from you. He did it once at a friend's son's birthday party because I wouldn't let him have the camera, and my friend seemed so concerned that I felt so guilty for not just letting him ruin my RM1400 investment.
Despite the fact that he's going to become an Abang Long in 6 months' time, he's even more clingy than before. He's grown quite heavy now (must be about 13 kg at least) and in my condition I can't carry him for more than 2 minutes without some part of my body protesting. When he first started walking at 11 months, he just simply refused to be carried. But now, everytime he wants me to take him somewhere, he'll take both my hands, pull me down to my knees and say "Dum". I guess in Emperor Nuaim's speak that's a combination of 'Jom' and 'Dukung'.
The realy wonderful thing though, is his vocabulary. He first picked up words around the same time he could walk, and his ability to grasp new words just continue to amaze me. I sometimes doubt whether he understands the words correctly, though. For instance, he would address any kid, younger or older than him, as 'Baby'. And although he's heard us say 'No' to him in response to things we don't approve of, I think he doesn't understand the concept of it. Instead, he'll say 'No' in a very firm manner, and then proceed with doing exactly the thing we've forbidden him to.
His favourite word and object in the world is of course 'FIH' (fish). He endured a 90 minute wait to enter the KLCC Aquaria, and he's always looking at the dinner table under the 'tudung saji' for his favourite food. Pictures of fish in newspapers drive him to ecstacy, and you'll never be able to complete reading The Star or Utusan Malaysia once he's spotted his underwater friend on one of the pages.
Lately though, Nuaim has developed a screaming habit. He screams when he's angry, happy and feeling any other emotion in between. I suspect he's missing his grandmother.
Tuesday, 18 October 2005
The quest for buah tanjung
When I was a lot younger, my late father would spend Ramadhan afternoons driving all the way across KL to the Pasar Ramadhan in Datok Keramat to buy all kinds of kuih for the breaking of fast, but the two I remember the most are buah tanjung and jala mas. These golden yellow, syrupy sticky sweet morsels hail from Kelantan, and at the Datok Keramat market could be found in abundance. I'm not quite sure what goes into their making, but I believe it must be copiously unhealthy amounts of sugar and egg yolks.
The first time I attempted to fast was when I was six years old. My fasting would start in the morning like everyone else, but around noon I'd 'break' for lunch then resume fasting till Maghrib, when I'd be the first to gulp down the air sirap bandung. One day I decided to go all the way and fast like the grown ups. I felt so weak, and spent most of the day sleeping until it was time to go to Datok Keramat. My parents told me it was okay if I wanted to break my fast earlier, but I was adamant to prove I could do it. Even then I was hanging on to my parent's arm like a limp rag doll (I can't remember whether it was Mak or Ayah). Finally, at one of the stalls, they managed to coax a piece of buah tanjung into my mouth, after which I felt a whole lot better. I lasted till 6 pm that day.
Ramadhan always evokes memories of buah tanjung. It is not very common at the other PR (Pasar Ramadhans) I've been to. When I found out a restaurant near my mum's house was selling traditional Kelantan kuih like akok (akak?) and lompat tikam, I went to have a look but found no buah tanjung there.I guess people here just cannot take its high sugar content. Even my siblings don't seem to favour it much.
Being pregnant, of course, has its privileges. Hubby didn't put up a fuss when I suggested we go look for this rare delicacy. If Mak was around she'd say I was craving or mengidam for them.
Last Sunday we visited the Kampung Baru PR to try our luck. The first stall we approached on Jalan Raja Muda Musa had an array of kuih not seen elsewhere, so I was expectant. A thorough scan of the spread dashed my hopes. We tried the whole length of Jalan Raja Alang as well but to no avail.
Our final stop was the Datok Keramat market. As soon as I rounded the corner to enter, the whole place was familiar to me. The sun's rays cut across the stall shades at exactly the same angle, highlighting all the goodies the way I remember it in my mind's eye. The buah tanjung I found in a small round plastic container at the first stall on the right, the last pack left of its kind. I quickly grabbed it, worried that someone might snatch it away before I did. 9 tiny orange balls of sweetness.
We walked around the market a bit more, and I discovered how foolish I was in my haste. There were at least two more stalls selling buah tanjung and its eternal companion the jala mas. I bought a piece of jala mas - it was selling at RM1.50 a piece. It looks like roti jala but is yellow-orange and really sweet. Not as moist as the buah tanjung though, which is why I don't like it as much, but I felt a need to introduce my husband to its glory.
If I remember to, and if there are any left at home, I'll take a picture and put it up here. My reaction to all those pictures of sushi and sambal udang other people have on their blogs.
The first time I attempted to fast was when I was six years old. My fasting would start in the morning like everyone else, but around noon I'd 'break' for lunch then resume fasting till Maghrib, when I'd be the first to gulp down the air sirap bandung. One day I decided to go all the way and fast like the grown ups. I felt so weak, and spent most of the day sleeping until it was time to go to Datok Keramat. My parents told me it was okay if I wanted to break my fast earlier, but I was adamant to prove I could do it. Even then I was hanging on to my parent's arm like a limp rag doll (I can't remember whether it was Mak or Ayah). Finally, at one of the stalls, they managed to coax a piece of buah tanjung into my mouth, after which I felt a whole lot better. I lasted till 6 pm that day.
Ramadhan always evokes memories of buah tanjung. It is not very common at the other PR (Pasar Ramadhans) I've been to. When I found out a restaurant near my mum's house was selling traditional Kelantan kuih like akok (akak?) and lompat tikam, I went to have a look but found no buah tanjung there.I guess people here just cannot take its high sugar content. Even my siblings don't seem to favour it much.
Being pregnant, of course, has its privileges. Hubby didn't put up a fuss when I suggested we go look for this rare delicacy. If Mak was around she'd say I was craving or mengidam for them.
Last Sunday we visited the Kampung Baru PR to try our luck. The first stall we approached on Jalan Raja Muda Musa had an array of kuih not seen elsewhere, so I was expectant. A thorough scan of the spread dashed my hopes. We tried the whole length of Jalan Raja Alang as well but to no avail.
Our final stop was the Datok Keramat market. As soon as I rounded the corner to enter, the whole place was familiar to me. The sun's rays cut across the stall shades at exactly the same angle, highlighting all the goodies the way I remember it in my mind's eye. The buah tanjung I found in a small round plastic container at the first stall on the right, the last pack left of its kind. I quickly grabbed it, worried that someone might snatch it away before I did. 9 tiny orange balls of sweetness.
We walked around the market a bit more, and I discovered how foolish I was in my haste. There were at least two more stalls selling buah tanjung and its eternal companion the jala mas. I bought a piece of jala mas - it was selling at RM1.50 a piece. It looks like roti jala but is yellow-orange and really sweet. Not as moist as the buah tanjung though, which is why I don't like it as much, but I felt a need to introduce my husband to its glory.
If I remember to, and if there are any left at home, I'll take a picture and put it up here. My reaction to all those pictures of sushi and sambal udang other people have on their blogs.
An Engineer's Lament
To simulate or calculate
Those two words I love to hate
Alas, such is an engineer's fate
It has been so since time pre-date.
The numbers give me great affliction
When I face a complex flow equation
Dear Lord I crave some stimulation
To face my job with more affection.
Each time I try to do it better
Than past attempts at which I falter
But I always end up up with a fever
Simulate and calculate? I shiver.
Monday, 17 October 2005
Work under Construction
Today my blog has gone through numerous costume changes, much like a song-and-dance sequence in a Hindi movie. I've finally settled for a Blogger template and am experimenting with the colours. This has taken up a good 2 manhours of my time, but I still managed to get my work done this morning, so I shouldn't punish myself (I just hope no one from the Project team reads this and recognises me).
I'm not done yet with the colour experiments so please bear with me. Comments and suggestions are most welcome. Bear in mind I don't know HTML, and have just today stumbled upon some very resourceful web pages on html colour codes. So no complex IT-geek speak, please. Discussions on flow instrument selection, on the other hand, will be well received.
I'm not done yet with the colour experiments so please bear with me. Comments and suggestions are most welcome. Bear in mind I don't know HTML, and have just today stumbled upon some very resourceful web pages on html colour codes. So no complex IT-geek speak, please. Discussions on flow instrument selection, on the other hand, will be well received.
Tuesday, 11 October 2005
Bosannya...
For the past two hours or so I've been alternating between updating my Instrument Design Criteria, looking up Industry standards and reading other people's blogs. I am beginning to get very bored with my own blog's look and am in the hunt for a new, free, Blogger-friendly skin. An online personality quiz I took earlier said my blog should be teal (or was it purple?).
I am also getting very bored with work. This morning I half-heartedly told my husband that I didn't feel like going to work, and he said simply "Then stay home. You can take Emergency Leave or something like that." But workaholic, perasan responsible me gave him a funny look that said 'Be serious'. I should have just listened to him like any good Muslim wife would and took his advice.
As it is, I'm leaving the office early tomorrow to send Mak off for her umrah. I wish I was in her position to just take off and leave whenever and wherever I feel like it. This year alone, I think she's already been to Egypt, Moscow, St Petersburg and Surabaya. South Africa's on the list for next year. Of course, she gets a special deal from the travel agent for helping to organise the group of 20-30 middle-aged ladies who go on these trips, which is not a situation I'd like to be in. I'd enjoy the places they go to, but I'd want to go at my own pace, and I'm terrible at travelling with company. The last real holiday I went to was with my sister Ain to Bali back in 2001, and that was because the planned package to Spain, Portugal and Moscow got cancelled (the middle-aged ladies panicked from the Sept 11 incident, hence my current apprehension for joining them on any other holiday). My honeymoon doesn't really count because there was no sightseeing involved.
Hubby and I were talking about flying off to see Angkor Wat for the weekend, or a jaunt in Vietnam. Anywhere we can get to on a cheap Air Asia ticket. But in my condition now it doesn't seem very favourable. So I'll just have to look forward to Hari Raya in Alor Setar.
And get off my lazy bum to do my Zuhur prayers now.
I am also getting very bored with work. This morning I half-heartedly told my husband that I didn't feel like going to work, and he said simply "Then stay home. You can take Emergency Leave or something like that." But workaholic, perasan responsible me gave him a funny look that said 'Be serious'. I should have just listened to him like any good Muslim wife would and took his advice.
As it is, I'm leaving the office early tomorrow to send Mak off for her umrah. I wish I was in her position to just take off and leave whenever and wherever I feel like it. This year alone, I think she's already been to Egypt, Moscow, St Petersburg and Surabaya. South Africa's on the list for next year. Of course, she gets a special deal from the travel agent for helping to organise the group of 20-30 middle-aged ladies who go on these trips, which is not a situation I'd like to be in. I'd enjoy the places they go to, but I'd want to go at my own pace, and I'm terrible at travelling with company. The last real holiday I went to was with my sister Ain to Bali back in 2001, and that was because the planned package to Spain, Portugal and Moscow got cancelled (the middle-aged ladies panicked from the Sept 11 incident, hence my current apprehension for joining them on any other holiday). My honeymoon doesn't really count because there was no sightseeing involved.
Hubby and I were talking about flying off to see Angkor Wat for the weekend, or a jaunt in Vietnam. Anywhere we can get to on a cheap Air Asia ticket. But in my condition now it doesn't seem very favourable. So I'll just have to look forward to Hari Raya in Alor Setar.
And get off my lazy bum to do my Zuhur prayers now.
Monday, 10 October 2005
Technologically impaired
I really need to get myself a supergadget - one that can make and receive phone calls, organise my life, remind me where I put my house keys and allow me to blog from whenever wherever. I keep mentally composing blog entries in the car, in bed, when I'm playing with Nuaim, sometimes even in the lift. Unfortunately I don't have a Wifi-Bluetooth PDA with a full QWERTY keyboard that would make mobile blogging a reality for me. Heck, I don't even have a mobile phone now!
Hubby's trusty 3310 finally went dead on him, and because I received a bigger bonus than he did this year he's taken ownership of my 3315 and left me phoneless. I've been going on about getting the 3G A1000 for ages, but I just haven't found an outlet that actually sells one (I haven't really been looking, I know). Besides, no one else I know uses 3G, so who can I actually have a teleconference with? And the one time I attended a Maxis 3G demo on live traffic video, the camera feed didn't come through.
So my supergadget would have all these features:
Hubby's trusty 3310 finally went dead on him, and because I received a bigger bonus than he did this year he's taken ownership of my 3315 and left me phoneless. I've been going on about getting the 3G A1000 for ages, but I just haven't found an outlet that actually sells one (I haven't really been looking, I know). Besides, no one else I know uses 3G, so who can I actually have a teleconference with? And the one time I attended a Maxis 3G demo on live traffic video, the camera feed didn't come through.
So my supergadget would have all these features:
- Access to my documents, spreadsheets and pdf files (really handy when I need to attend FAT)
- Web access for blogging
- Bluetooth connectivity so I can sync to my laptop wirelessly
- IrDA so I can sync to my other laptop wirelessly (I've never tried this myself actually)
- Camera - optional
- Full QWERTY keyboard - or a foldable Bluetooth one that I can connect to wirelessly
Mp3s, radio and all that stuff I don't really need.
Now, is someone kind enough to read this and buy it for me as a pre-Hari Raya gift?
Friday, 7 October 2005
Marhaban Ya Ramadhan...
It's the fasting month again, and I'm trying very hard to stay focused at work. Obviously I'm not because I'm blogging right now, but I deserve a break after facing the PC for almost 5 hours non-stop, right?
As usual every Ramadhan I plan to attend the Terawih prayers and read the whole Qur'an. I think I'm already on the road to failure on both counts. The first time I attended Terawih at the mosque on the eve of Ramadhan, I was so sleepy that the patterns on the sejadah in front of me were dancing around and taking different shapes altogether. It's even possible that I was asleep with my eyes open! I could barely finish the 20 rakaat prayer that night. The second night I skipped due to a headache, and last night I only did 8 and waited for my family to complete the full set. And I haven't even started the Qur'an yet - my youngest sister has already read 4 juzuk!
The good thing about the fasting month is that we're allowed to leave the office by 4 pm. Of course, we're encouraged come in early and work through lunch, but who really checks? Besides, I still have last month's hours to make up for, the days when I sauntered in at 8.45 and still had the gall to leave at 5 pm sharp. Since Ramadhan started I've managed to make it here by 7.30 a.m. so that should more or less cover up for the lost time.
I really need to go to the shops and run some errands for Mak right now. She's going for Umrah on the 12th - that's a day before my sister's 21st birthday - and she asked me to get a battery for her free-issue Tabung Haji watch and a thermos flask. I bought the flask a couple of days ago at Parkson Grand, then discovered in their in-store magazine that I'm entitled to a free pouch and the flask should've cost about RM 14 less, so I plan to assert my consumer rights and politely demand that they provide me with said items.
Maybe I should buy a small Qur'an at Kinokuniya as well, so I can start reading at the office during my 'lunch' breaks. I've got a lot of catching up to do.
To all Muslim readers, Have a Blessed Ramadhan!
As usual every Ramadhan I plan to attend the Terawih prayers and read the whole Qur'an. I think I'm already on the road to failure on both counts. The first time I attended Terawih at the mosque on the eve of Ramadhan, I was so sleepy that the patterns on the sejadah in front of me were dancing around and taking different shapes altogether. It's even possible that I was asleep with my eyes open! I could barely finish the 20 rakaat prayer that night. The second night I skipped due to a headache, and last night I only did 8 and waited for my family to complete the full set. And I haven't even started the Qur'an yet - my youngest sister has already read 4 juzuk!
The good thing about the fasting month is that we're allowed to leave the office by 4 pm. Of course, we're encouraged come in early and work through lunch, but who really checks? Besides, I still have last month's hours to make up for, the days when I sauntered in at 8.45 and still had the gall to leave at 5 pm sharp. Since Ramadhan started I've managed to make it here by 7.30 a.m. so that should more or less cover up for the lost time.
I really need to go to the shops and run some errands for Mak right now. She's going for Umrah on the 12th - that's a day before my sister's 21st birthday - and she asked me to get a battery for her free-issue Tabung Haji watch and a thermos flask. I bought the flask a couple of days ago at Parkson Grand, then discovered in their in-store magazine that I'm entitled to a free pouch and the flask should've cost about RM 14 less, so I plan to assert my consumer rights and politely demand that they provide me with said items.
Maybe I should buy a small Qur'an at Kinokuniya as well, so I can start reading at the office during my 'lunch' breaks. I've got a lot of catching up to do.
To all Muslim readers, Have a Blessed Ramadhan!
The World's Shortest Personality test
| Your Personality Profile |
 You are pure, moral, and adaptable. You tend to blend into your surroundings. Shy on the outside, you're outspoken to your friends. You believe that you live a virtuous life... And you tend to judge others with a harsh eye. As a result, people tend to crave your approval. |
Got here from browsing through other people's blogs. Lots of interesting stuff, some familiar and some new. Try it out for yourself.
I don't quite agree with the description though.
