...just about.
I admit that Facebook, being more accessible, has been the recipient of most updates.
There are also more paper notebooks and diaries lying around that I have decided to use (I need to justify my constant purchase of pens in various hues by doing some amount of writing). And of course, there is also the Global Reading Challenge that has updates on my book blog.
As a result, this blog has not received as much attention from its owner as it used to. So sorry about that.
I will remember to post some raya stories and photos, as well as next weekend's Malaysia Day trip, InsyaAllah. Right now I am planning to go for a short stay somewhere near, just some quality time with the kids and Hubby.
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Saturday, 10 September 2011
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Creative people do creative things
Some blogs I go to just to have a look at the wonderful pictures and creativity:
1. Tablescaping
2. Interesting workdesks
3. Fashion designers
1. Tablescaping
2. Interesting workdesks
3. Fashion designers
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.
Sunday, 6 April 2008
8 Random Facts
Got tagged by Adita to do a simple meme.
The rules:
- Link to your tagger and post these rules.
- List eight (8) random facts about yourself.
- Tag eight people at the end of this post and list their names.
- Let them know they've been tagged by leaving them a comment on their blogs.
The rules:
- Link to your tagger and post these rules.
- List eight (8) random facts about yourself.
- Tag eight people at the end of this post and list their names.
- Let them know they've been tagged by leaving them a comment on their blogs.
List eight (8) random facts about myself:
- I’m an engineer. My dad was an engineer, so are my two surviving paternal uncles. My brother was studying engineering but quit halfway to sort his life out. I am married to an engineer. Guess what my children are going to be when they grow up? Definitely NOT engineers (if they have to, it’d better not have anything to do with Instrument, Electrical or Electronics).
- If I hadn’t become an engineer, I would have pursued a degree in History. Or Egyptology. Or Theatre. Or even Fashion Design. Once I considered opening a kindergarten but after three kids I’ve changed my mind.
- Between my sister and I, we have the whole Enid Blyton Rewards series. As a child I thought of turning our family home into a public children’s library but my parents didn’t like the idea.
- I love to collect recipes but the only thing I can confidently cook is Garlic Chicken (from Ken Hom’s Hot Wok). And any pasta dish that involves an Italian called Prego.
- I went to an all-girl’s school, but due to my voice I almost always played male parts in school plays. I finally got to play a female character in my final year because there were no male speaking parts available. But in university I reverted back to type and played Tun Perak.
- I never played competitive sports until I started working, where I somehow got roped in to represent my company during a volleyball tournament. We played against 6 other teams – won 3 and lost 3. Guess which matches I played in.
- I look good in maroon and royal blue. But now I’m into olive green and deep chocolaty brown. So Earth Mother…
- I have found The Bag…
I am tagging these people:
CikMilah
Careen
Ubisetela
Hubby
Stingrayz
Lina
Ayin
Lady Verde
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Blogger's Block
No, the reason I've been MIA from blogspot for a week is not for lack of anything to write. Somehow, since coming back from maternity leave I can no longer connect to any blogspot or wordpress website using the office network. I think we've been found out, guys. So now how do I fill in my time while appearing engrossed in the latest issue of 'Control' magazine? Maybe I should jump on the Facebook bandwagon, if Top Management hasn't already caught on to this as well.
Anyway, I did draft a few entries elsewhere, but since I now have very little time to blog outside office hours, the drafts have become, well, stale or basi. I suppose I could tell you about my progress with the house, Aiesyah's development or the latest celeb spotting (none, actually - saja je nak buat gempak) but I'm just too tired from a work-related trip back from PD. I should be sleeping by now, recovering my energy to undertake a journey tomorrow by ERL and aeroplane to Alor Star with two energetic boys, a breastfeeding baby and a maid who suffers from travel sickness. Should be fun.
You probably won't hear from me for another week or two, as I'm finishing off my Annual Leave to coincide with two public holidays and a weekend, so my obligatory 'Hari Kebesaran Agama' Well Wishes follow:
To the Muslims - Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha, may Allah Bless us all, accept our deeds and grant us our prayers.
To the Christians - Merry Christmas, hope you get lots of good presents and
enjoy your Christmas Eve dinners.
To everyone else - Enjoy the holidays!
Sunday, 10 June 2007
Top of the Pops, anyone?
Karin tagged me. The rules are:
* Go to Pop Culture Madness.
* Pick the year you turned 18.
* Get nostalgic over the songs of that year.
* Write something about how those songs affected you.
* Pass it on to 5 other friends.
This was tough. Since I spent most of 1994 in England doing my A-Levels - and the British pop charts don't exactly reflect worldwide tastes spearheaded by the great American economy and showbiz - the songs on the Year's Greatest Hits list weren't quite memorable. I mean, I know and love some of them, but there's nothing special about those songs. Anyway, the tag rules didn't say how many songs, right? So here goes:
1. I'll Make Love To You - Boys II Men (number 2)
I did my A-Levels in an English boarding school, and we were divided into single-sex Houses. I was in Upper Sixth then, and was singing the first lines of this song when I came to the common area where a small group of Lower Sixth girls where sitting about. Just as I went 'Close your eyes, make a wish,' one of the girls, whom I'd always been close to, shut her peepers and said, 'I wish Dian was my girlfriend.' I have no idea whether she was just joking or really serious, but I did a quick turnaround and went back to my room.
2. All For Love - Bryan Adams, Sting, Rod Stewart (number 25)
The only memorable thing about this song was that it came from the movie 'Three Musketeers'. Watched the movie, loved the song, thought Sting was such a Hot Old Man (I still think so). The trio were dubbed by one music review as 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly'. Wonder which was which.
I also 'discovered' Julie Delpy in that movie, which lead me to watch 'Reality Bites', which suddenly made backpacking around Europe so romantic. I did embark on a sort of backpacking adventure around Europe a couple of years later, but nothing spectacularly romantic happened.
3. Love Is All Around - Wet Wet Wet (number 41)
One of those songs that was played over and over and over again on the radio. Came from the movie 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'. Everyone wanted a boyfriend like Hugh Grant - till he was caught doing something very naughty indeed. I couldn't understand why he fell for Andie McDowell instead of Kristin Scott Thomas. He should've seen her in 'The English Patient'.
4. Stay (I Missed You) - Lisa Loeb (number 55)
This isn't exactly one of my favourite songs, I don't even quite remember what Lisa Loeb looks like. But a good friend of mine really loved doing an imitation of Lisa Loeb singing this song, and managed to make her sound really annoying. She (the friend, not the original singer) and I used to schedule our showers together (in separate cubicles, of course) so we could belt out Sheila Majid staples when no one else was around. Last time I met her, she's married to an Irish doctor, had a baby and living in the UK. By the way, our warm-up shower song was from a government campaign entitled 'Senyum'.
5. All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow (number 1)
This one's a late entry on my list. I never really understood the appeal of this song or the singer, but a guy I first met over the Christmas holidays was SO into it. He was pretty good-looking, and several friends of mine went ga-ga over him. I described him as a 'wonderful piece of decoration to have on your arm if you wanted to impress people at a party.' Ended up going out with him for 5 (or was it 6?) years after I finished A-Levels.
That's all I can think of. Nothing quite memorable, is there? Told you it was tough.
Right, I'm supposed to tag 5 friends, am I? Here goes:
* Stingrayz
* Verde (fotopages pun kira blog la)
* Ghazaaz
* Miss YY
* Scarlet
So people, go do your thang!
* Go to Pop Culture Madness.
* Pick the year you turned 18.
* Get nostalgic over the songs of that year.
* Write something about how those songs affected you.
* Pass it on to 5 other friends.
This was tough. Since I spent most of 1994 in England doing my A-Levels - and the British pop charts don't exactly reflect worldwide tastes spearheaded by the great American economy and showbiz - the songs on the Year's Greatest Hits list weren't quite memorable. I mean, I know and love some of them, but there's nothing special about those songs. Anyway, the tag rules didn't say how many songs, right? So here goes:
1. I'll Make Love To You - Boys II Men (number 2)
I did my A-Levels in an English boarding school, and we were divided into single-sex Houses. I was in Upper Sixth then, and was singing the first lines of this song when I came to the common area where a small group of Lower Sixth girls where sitting about. Just as I went 'Close your eyes, make a wish,' one of the girls, whom I'd always been close to, shut her peepers and said, 'I wish Dian was my girlfriend.' I have no idea whether she was just joking or really serious, but I did a quick turnaround and went back to my room.
2. All For Love - Bryan Adams, Sting, Rod Stewart (number 25)
The only memorable thing about this song was that it came from the movie 'Three Musketeers'. Watched the movie, loved the song, thought Sting was such a Hot Old Man (I still think so). The trio were dubbed by one music review as 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly'. Wonder which was which.
I also 'discovered' Julie Delpy in that movie, which lead me to watch 'Reality Bites', which suddenly made backpacking around Europe so romantic. I did embark on a sort of backpacking adventure around Europe a couple of years later, but nothing spectacularly romantic happened.
3. Love Is All Around - Wet Wet Wet (number 41)
One of those songs that was played over and over and over again on the radio. Came from the movie 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'. Everyone wanted a boyfriend like Hugh Grant - till he was caught doing something very naughty indeed. I couldn't understand why he fell for Andie McDowell instead of Kristin Scott Thomas. He should've seen her in 'The English Patient'.
4. Stay (I Missed You) - Lisa Loeb (number 55)
This isn't exactly one of my favourite songs, I don't even quite remember what Lisa Loeb looks like. But a good friend of mine really loved doing an imitation of Lisa Loeb singing this song, and managed to make her sound really annoying. She (the friend, not the original singer) and I used to schedule our showers together (in separate cubicles, of course) so we could belt out Sheila Majid staples when no one else was around. Last time I met her, she's married to an Irish doctor, had a baby and living in the UK. By the way, our warm-up shower song was from a government campaign entitled 'Senyum'.
5. All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow (number 1)
This one's a late entry on my list. I never really understood the appeal of this song or the singer, but a guy I first met over the Christmas holidays was SO into it. He was pretty good-looking, and several friends of mine went ga-ga over him. I described him as a 'wonderful piece of decoration to have on your arm if you wanted to impress people at a party.' Ended up going out with him for 5 (or was it 6?) years after I finished A-Levels.
That's all I can think of. Nothing quite memorable, is there? Told you it was tough.
Right, I'm supposed to tag 5 friends, am I? Here goes:
* Stingrayz
* Verde (fotopages pun kira blog la)
* Ghazaaz
* Miss YY
* Scarlet
So people, go do your thang!
Monday, 25 September 2006
Nawaitu Sauma ghadin...
Ramadhan al-Mubarak everyone!!!
True to my word, the first blog I visited since the fasting month began yesterday was Ubi's. And she has obliged by putting up some very delectable photos. If it's anything like last year, anyone who can't stand the sight of food while fasting should stay away from her blog for the next 29 days. Unless you are like me who is bent on torturing my own soul with such temptations.
Anyway I spent the first day of Ramadhan dozing away with little Nu'man. It is such a heavenly experience to be able to cuddle up with a chubby 6-month old baby in your arms, especially if he's your own offspring. You should all try it, works so much better than popping happy pills. I enjoy it so much I'm thinking of surrounding myself with 6-month old babies for an indefinite period of time.
Speaking of babies, 2 people I know are about to deliver their babies soon, and 2 more just conceived. An e-mail hubby sent to me from Sudan has me thinking about having more babies. Mak has started speculating that I am pregnant, on the basis that she's feeling under the weather and experiencing nausea after a meal. Apparently she felt the same when I was carrying Nuaim, so to her this is as clear a sign as any that another grandchild is on the way. Go figure. I think it's just the response of malnourished bodies to a sudden influx of ikan tilapia bakar.
True to my word, the first blog I visited since the fasting month began yesterday was Ubi's. And she has obliged by putting up some very delectable photos. If it's anything like last year, anyone who can't stand the sight of food while fasting should stay away from her blog for the next 29 days. Unless you are like me who is bent on torturing my own soul with such temptations.
Anyway I spent the first day of Ramadhan dozing away with little Nu'man. It is such a heavenly experience to be able to cuddle up with a chubby 6-month old baby in your arms, especially if he's your own offspring. You should all try it, works so much better than popping happy pills. I enjoy it so much I'm thinking of surrounding myself with 6-month old babies for an indefinite period of time.
Speaking of babies, 2 people I know are about to deliver their babies soon, and 2 more just conceived. An e-mail hubby sent to me from Sudan has me thinking about having more babies. Mak has started speculating that I am pregnant, on the basis that she's feeling under the weather and experiencing nausea after a meal. Apparently she felt the same when I was carrying Nuaim, so to her this is as clear a sign as any that another grandchild is on the way. Go figure. I think it's just the response of malnourished bodies to a sudden influx of ikan tilapia bakar.
