Sunday, September 27, 2009

Garden of weeds

A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds. And when the weeds begin to grow, it's like a garden full of snow. And when the snow begins to fall, it's like a bird upon the wall. And when the bird away does fly, it's like an eagle in the sky. And when the sky begins to roar, it's like a lion at the door. And when the door begins to crack, it's like a stick across your back. And when your back begins to smart, it's like a penknife in your heart. And when your heart begins to bleed, you're dead, and dead, and dead indeed.
Jamie, OTH

Some people have no qualms about sharing the details of their life. For some of us, we prefer to keep things to ourselves, even from those who appear to be close to us. There is no need to tell everything. Some details are on need-to-know-basis, as we normally term it in my line of work. Sometimes, due to our hectic schedule, we simply forget to tell or it slips off our mind.

Then, when there is a constant bugging of spilling the beans, one cannot help but feel annoyed by the whole thing. Occasionally, it is easier to blurt it out to someone who doesn’t ask anything or even to a stranger. I suppose when one is not provoked, the flow of sharing comes naturally.

Perhaps my lack of enthusiasm is a puzzle for some but I rather have flowers or even vegetables in my garden. Wouldn’t you agree
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Friday, September 25, 2009

Raya in a nutshell

I thought of writing a raya post as others but there is nothing much to share except that we had a great time. It was meant to be a low key affair ie invited 10 to 12 people with three quarter would be able to make it. However, just like last year, our home was ambushed by homeless kids who had nowhere to go after the prayers. My adik2 called, saying that they couldnt get rid of their friends and they begged to come to my place, without expecting me to serve anything. Somehow it felt dejavu and luckily I was smart enough to make soto. All I had to do was to soak a pack of bihun to accompany the soup. Thankfully, we had enough for everyone and they enjoyed themselves.

For the record, that group alone had 20 guests! I was told that the lamb cuisine was the talk of the town until late night. I reckon it was because they had typical malay food throughout the day, unlike the lamb dish.

My schedule is going to be very hectic for the next few weeks. I realise I have many things to do and none of them are work related! Slowly I am ticking them off from my list or at least, making some effort to get them done. I was told that the residency rules are changing again, which makes it more important to get it done. Yet, I do not see the whole point of doing so when I doubt we will be living here permanently. In the long run, it will be good for the young lady to pursue her education but what if she decides to go to the States or the Land Down Under? However, it is always good to have options, so I better get my ass up and start cracking (now why does this sound obscene?)

Oh well, at least I am making other plans, which is a good thing. Putting aside those dull tests and paperwork, I have pretty stuff to hunt which Ms V will be more than happy to help out. Something demure and a little bit of sparkle here and there will do the trick.

Thank god for polyvore for that! *wink*

*Ms B thanked her baju kurung for hiding her skeleton frame and made her looked curvy in the picture when taken at the right angle
.*

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Spirit of Eid

In a few days time, we'll be celebrating Eid and I thought since most of you back home will probably take tomorrow off to make a headstart of the "balik kampung" trend, I decided to post something today.

Over the last few years I have developed my own annual menu. The young lady knows this too well. In fact, once she asked when Eid will be as she missed having my signature dish! I told her that we can make it anytime and not necessarily have to wait for the Day to arrive. Apart from yellow glutinous rice or pulut kuning, we will have beef rendang and soto. We usually host our open house immediately after prayers, which means I will be burning the midnight oil the day before and wake up very early in the morning to make sure everything is in order. Last year, we were fortunate (or unfortunate if you were the cook) to have an extra 10 guests, courtesy from my adik2 as they didn’t have anywhere to go. I had to make extra pulut during the day.

Just after lunch, we usually make our rounds to our friends’ place. Mrs Dior whose lemang is to die for (I must learn how to make this before either one of us leaves this place) and Mrs Rock who is now back in homeland. I guess this year we shall visit Mrs Patience to replace Mrs Rock’s slot. Her house is just 10 minutes walk from Mrs Dior, so it makes sense to kill two birds with a stone.

Anyway we would like to wish Salam Aidil Fitri and Maaf Zahir Batin to D, Momster, Kak Teh, Naz, IDB, n.i, Fizzy, Darlene, Jane, Hunny, Simah, Inah, Danial, Jumper, Aporn, Akmal, Pak Idrus, LHM, NJ, Cosmic Gurl, Touch Cookie, Missus R, mun and Hazia.

To the ladies in the house, the young lady and I have chosen these for your gift. Feel free to take one and I hope we have enough for everyone.


Bags


I would also like to share this quote by Maya Angelou:

Well, I don't know if I continue, even today, always liking myself. But what I learned to do many years ago was to forgive myself. It is very important for every human being to forgive herself or himself because if you live you will make mistakes. It is inevitable.

But once you do and you see the mistake, then you forgive yourself and say, 'well, if I'd known better I'd have done better,' that's all. So you say to people who you think you may have injured, 'I'm sorry,' and then you say to yourself, 'I'm sorry.'

Quite often if we hold onto the mistake we can't see our own glory in the mirror because we have the mistake between our faces and the mirror, so we can't see what we're capable of being. It is equally important to see the mistake and to forgive oneself for it. You can ask forgiveness of others, but in the end the real forgiveness is in one's own self.

The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself. If we don't have that we never grow, we never learn, and sure as hell we should never teach.

If you have a moment to spare, please revisit my last year's posting on forgiveness

Of Eid Wishes.

May you have a blessed Eid!
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Sunday, September 13, 2009

She got the look

I am planning to get my cookies today (Sorry Naz. I don’t think I’m up to it to make them on my own. You and D are the masters in this subject). My regular suppliers said that they have more selection this year but I only take the usual. I need to store them somewhere safe, even from my own sight as I know the iman could not resist.

Last year I got this lovely baju kurung for the young lady a day before our departure from a nearby boutique. Even after alteration, it was still too big for her and hence, it was kept in the wardrobe. I took it out yesterday and now, it fits her nicely. During the summer sale a few weeks ago, she spotted a peach dress to her liking from Monsoon, together with the accessory and it will definitely be added for Eid.

As for me, I cant remember when was the last time I got myself a pair of baju kurung. For the past two years, my ever-so-thoughtful baby brother got me one. Since I’ve only worn them once (for both years), I think I might as well don them again. My only wish is that I can get back to my pre-ramadan weight. Extra flesh is much appreciated, thank you.

The young lady needed a pair of party shoes (I doubt her Sketchers is suitable for the baju kurung and dress). Off we went yesterday to the department store to search for the perfect pair. However, the ones she liked were either none of her size or uncomfortable upon trial. Feeling despair, I thought I could cheer her up by getting PlayMais, a craft made from cornstarch with different colours. They look like those wine corks, except you can squeeze or shape them and stick to each other using water.

Anyway, we thought of ditching the whole shoe hunt when I realised that one of her favourite shops has them in their range. As we walked in, she found a few items that she loved and she ended up looking like this (note: some of the items shown were already worn):

Her choice



She really looked so groovy that she decided to wear the hat after I made the purchase. Oh, we found a nice pair of shoes, so mission accomplished.

Just a few doors down the road, there is a new MD outlet and imagine to our surprise when the store assistant said that they have kids collection, the first in London! Oh la la! However, the young lady was still happy with her recent grabs that she didn’t bother to get anything from there. Oh well, maybe next time.

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Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Stalker & Shopaholic

Someone who follows or observes (a person) persistently, especially out of obsession or derangement. (source: thefreedictionary.com)

Have you ever been stalked? It could be anyone and for whatever reason. Maybe you have a die-hard admirer or fan (curse those beautiful skin and hair!). Or perhaps someone is in denial that you are not into him or her. Then, you have another type of stalkers; the one who dates or previously dated someone you know or close to you.

I am sure we have our own ‘leeches’ lurking around. I do not comprehend why they do so as I’m sure they have better things to do than getting the latest gossips or updates of our life (What is her latest handbag? What car is she using? Who’s her latest beau? Etc.) Perhaps they would like a slice of this lifestyle but they simply forget that one needs to go through much hurdle to be where we are, or we are just good planners and able to enjoy some comfort in life.

Once I was told that someone was checking me out when she heard the guy she used to date was about to meet me. We haven’t even met yet and it could probably end up as a lousy date (it didn’t, thankfully). Yikes! Just because we hanged out, it didn’t mean we were into each other. Besides, if the guy was on a dating spree (and probably so was I), should you be checking each girl that he was meeting?

Also, I think it’s a bit extreme if you take the possession of your other half’s mobile and start calling the women on his contact list, telling them to stay away from your beau. For all you know the ladies are happily married with kids or in a long term relationship and your man is simply their best buddy. They have known him way much longer that you do, probably during the time when he was a geek wearing spectacles and with pimples on his face. It doesn’t make sense when you start harassing the girls with constant texting and calling. Some of us do have a life (and a job to keep up with). Just because they are close, do you really think they want a piece of him? Besides, since you are young and energetic, with a whopping 10 years of age gap, that should give you an edge compare to the rest of us who are in our blooming years. If this behaviour exists before tying the knot, I wonder how much it will escalate after.

Some people need to take a reality check.

Now on a lighter topic, for those shopaholics, Vogue editors are hosting a shopping night in 13 countries tomorrow. Here's a summary of what London will offer (full article can be found here:
Confessions of Vogue's Shopaholics.):

At Browns on South Molton Street, Marios Schwab, Roksanda Ilincic and William Tempest will all be pitching in as personal stylists on the night.

Go to Gap on Oxford street for a live performance by VV Brown, complimentary styling advice, beer, burgers, and the chance to by a limited-edition pair of jeans.

At LK Bennett (Regent Street, Sloane Street, or Bruton Street) guests will have the chance to design, and win, their own perfect pair of heels. At Burberry on Bond Street, the Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman will host a party from 6pm, and Burberry fans including Amber Le Bon, Laura Bailey, Lily Cole, Antonio Berardi and Jonathan Saunders will be browsing the store.

Head to Marks & Spencer on Oxford Street to take in four catwalk shows, and then on to Selfridges, where Agent Provocateur is launching a new collection and there’s the chance to win a £1,000 shopping spree.

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Sunday, September 06, 2009

Matters of the heart

The school holiday has come to an end. We (or maybe I) survived the 7 week break without going bonkers. Entertaining kids these days is no joke, especially for a person who has limited vocabulary when it comes to fun and creativity. Thankfully we had the kids’ centre which provided the much needed activities. The young lady enjoyed herself, with trips to Safari Park, Zoo, theatre show, horse riding to name a few. On the days they stayed at the centre, they learnt arts craft, cooked/baked and played outdoor sports. All in all, I’m glad she had fun and made new friends.

We will go back to the usual routine but after weeks of having packed lunch, the young lady has requested for such during school term. I suppose it is manageable for the time being. Things might change after a few weeks, depending on the market. If it does, school dinners will do (it is actually lunch and I have no idea why they call it such).

The young lady looks forward to the start of a new term, but she knows it will be a matter of time for us to bid farewell to this place. Still, the heart hesitates for it longs for the presence of the rest of the loved ones back home. It doesn’t make it easier when they say one should follow one’s heart, only to be felt otherwise by the subsequent opinions given. If the heart rules, living back home is no longer ideal even in the long run. Many could not see the practicality of such decision.

Yet, if a compromise decision is made and in the best interest of all parties, surely it can be seen as a solution. What works for some, may not work for others. There will always be difference in opinions and to please everyone can be a nightmare.

There is one thing for sure. For the first in a very long time, I am looking forward to Eid...


Picture from MSN

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Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Staying in

So where will you go for berbuka?” asked a friend.

Admittedly, I don’t really fancy having iftar outside. Over the years I developed the liking of dining at the comfort of our home. This year I have been lucky. My schedule is quiet and thus, I manage to cook almost on daily basis.

Unlike the usual food galore we have back home, ours consists of a main meal and two types of desserts. I try to prepare something special over the weekend or cater to the requests from close friends. So far, we had ayam percik, steamed seabass thai style, pulut kuning and rendang. Weekdays are simpler, with a touch of international fusion.

My next challenge is to make Malaysian delicacies as I don’t think they are hard to do (as texted by one of you). The young lady is looking forward to this experiment. Hmm, I wonder if it turns out well, maybe I can do this as a side income? The going rate for a piece of Malaysian delight is 50p!

Have I gone soft, for just wanting to have iftar at home? I rather host dinner for friends than having our meal outside. I know it is tiring i.e. cooking for a group of people, but probably for just one month, I'd like to stay in.

Somehow I feel the young lady appreciates it too. It reminds me of the saying 'a family that eats together stays together'
.

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Monday, August 31, 2009

Lesson from Mraz




.......(still thinking of what to write)......

After almost 24 hours, I still cant manage to pull together my thoughts and let the idea flow. The mind boggles too much (or maybe the heart is trying to say something).

Darn! I hate it when I have no control of myself. I hate of having my words mumbled or tongue twisted. I hate it when I come back from a “hang-out” session singing to myself, raising the eyebrows of people close to me.

Most of all, I hate it when I dont really know what exactly is driving me nuts. The idea of meeting someone at this junction when I know which path I will be taking is just something that I do not foresee. Let alone when the person involved is the most unlikely to have anything in common as the gap is there. Which is bothering me the most, the junction or the gap?

But then again, who does?

Definitely I did not see this coming... Maybe I should stick to spending my time with books. At least when I reach the part which can be overwhelming, I can skip a few chapters
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

A tale of milk and cereal

Somehow I am lacking of ideas to write, probably due to the effect of fasting. I did have one or two posts drafted in my thoughts but it seemed they were not appropriate (it wasnt x-rated mind you). They were just provoking e.g. the marriage institution, the concept of love, of being a muslim etc.

Perhaps I shall write about the young lady's view on fasting.

It's a habit for me to wake up for sahur, even when I stayed on my own at the age of 18. However, instead of the usual rice and dishes (which includes salty egg and dried fish), mine consists of a mug of hot drink and bread. I cant stuff myself too much in the morning but I simply have to eat something, especially back then when the weather was blazing hot and iftar was after 9pm.

It happened a few years ago, I think she just turned 4. I remembered one morning when I prepared for my sahur, the place we lived back then was small (I had a hefty child-care expenses and my earnings was much less than now). I supposed the noise from the kitchen woke the young lady. From the bedroom, I could hear her tiny voice asking for me. I went inside and stroked her to go to sleep but her eyes were saying otherwise. She asked, "what are you doing mummy?"

I explained to her that I was going to eat as I'd be fasting. "May I join you?" she said without hesitation.

It was a weekend and we could sleep in, unlike on a normal working day which meant we needed to be on time to the nursery and my office. So I thought, why not.

So she waited patiently at the dining table while I prepared her milk and cereal. We then sat and enjoyed sahur together. From then onwards, she does her best to keep me company in the morning. Of course this is only allowed on weekends.

Eventually she developed an interest to fast. I only allowed her to do half day when she was five. When she was six, she managed to complete a few days. Perhaps one day I shall share the story with you but for now, I will leave as it is. To me, those moments were precious, having her to join me in the wee hours of the morning.

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Friday, August 21, 2009

Giddy-up horsie

Picture from wiki

The young lady wasn’t in the pink of health for a week but being her, she begged profusely to go to the horse-riding trip on Thursday. I had a dilemma, whether to let her rest at home or proceed as planned. Since her fever was very mild i.e. 37 degrees and her cough had stopped, I decided to let her go (obviously with guilt stuck down in my throat). I told myself that I would deal with the consequences later (but deep down I prayed that everything would turn out ok).

Oh boy! She had loads of fun! She couldn’t stop talking about it from the moment the nanny picked her up until I came home later that evening. Her horse goes by the name of Penny. It wasn’t like the typical slow ride we get at the zoos or funfairs (I told her I rode one when I was about her age during my trip to the National Zoo back home). She described the speed of the ride and her butt hurt because of the galloping. Oh, they had to wear those rider boots. She had to wear a few size bigger as there were none in hers.

and no mummy, horses dont understand ‘giddy-up horsie’. They wont move if we say that”, she said.

Ok.. mummy learnt something new. *grins*

I supposed the magic of the ponies somehow cured her as she is definitely much better.

Anyway, both of us would like to wish everyone a blessed Ramadan! Someone has started today, no? *winks*

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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Bimbo moment

The more evolved we are, the more complex our way of thinking.

I recently purchased a dvd player. The old one, which was by the way integrated with the TV, was not functioning well. It had glitches occasionally. Well, many times I must say that I got bloody irritated. As I was emotionally unstable, I thought it was a good thing to make the purchase (women and hormones. Excuses to get new things).

So the young lady and I enjoyed a few hours of dvd reruns in our living room. The other TV is in my bedroom. The TV in the living room is bigger and err... nicer. The young lady couldnt get enough of the quality of the picture and sound.

However, another glitch occurred. While trying to reconnect to my digital box set, all the channels seemed to have lost. I tried everything I could think of but nothing worked. I thought the problem was due to the main antenna and maybe an indoor stand-alone or reception booster could do the trick.

Obviously I was fuming mad and feeling frustrated, thinking once again on why these things keep occurring.

So I left the problem for awhile. It was best not to think of it and ruin the lovely weekend.

It was only late Sunday evening when I was compelled on putting the dvd player and digital box side-by-side instead of on top of one another. Somehow, miraculously the channels were back.
To even think that I would have spent on those additional costs (indoor antenna, booster, tv technician) for nothing when the solution to my problem was downright simple.

Or perhaps I had one of those bimbo-moments, minus the blonde hair and stilettos.

*Ms B is currently competing with Sneezy, the dwarf in Snow White, blowing her nose like there is no tomorrow. She tries to hide herself from the view of her colleagues, who think she ought to go home and give herself a break.*

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Thursday, August 13, 2009

Shake your booty

On a day when I got home early, I managed to catch an episode of this and somehow, I just cant get enough(please mute mixpod before playing the video):





Each time I watch, I can feel every muscle dancing along its tune, mentally speaking of course. I'm sure if I get up and shake my booty, I bet I can hear cracks here and there. I'm reminded of the days when I used to hit the floor for a few hours with the partner-in-crime, surviving on a bottle of water. As she now resides in the Land Down Under, it wont be anytime soon for us to rekindle the passion. Oh I forgot. The young lady has seen some of my moves and is keen to get my groove back, dancing together at a nearby park and totally oblivious of everyone.

Hmm, having an active child does keep you fit (at least it works for me. Why waste on gym’s fees?).

Have a good weekend friends!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Blast from the past

How was your weekend? Except for momster, I hope the rest had a good one. My weekend was awesome. On Saturday, I met a dear friend who went to the same uni. Her first remark was, “your skin looks good”, while poking my face (now I know why kids hate it when people pinch their cheeks). I told her she lost more weight from the last time I saw her (I reckon she's down to size 6), obviously due to workload. She's still a very cool chic and a hot mama of 2. We reminisced the past and she reminded me of what people used to label us, “the outcast”, simply because most of our friends were non-malay. I rather joined the college's chess club than those typical malay societies/clubs, not that I knew how to play one of course. The notion of meeting people from different background and trying to bridge the cultural and language barrier excited me.

Lunch took place in Covent Garden where I devoured a plate of fisherman’s pie. It was late and I was starving. The crowd was huge, typical on a sunny day as Londoners were out enjoying the warm weather. The street performers were happy as it meant they’d get more tips.

The shopping rendezvous planned on Sunday was cancelled as my friend had other errands. Nevertheless, I decided to proceed with the nanny’s arrangement and thought it’d be nice to shop on my own. As I walked into our regular hang-out for brunch, a familiar face appeared. He stood up and said, “I know this person”. I blurted his name out loud and couldn’t believe my luck. He was another buddy of mine back in uni who was here for a few weeks on an assignment.

As he had no plans, we decided to go shopping together at the mall in West End. Gosh, it really felt like the good old days. I cant remember how much fun we had back then. He still looks the same, in fact better I must say. Interesting enough, most of the guys I know who remain in shape or look better as they age are single (and successful). The excuses given were the lack of free time and demanding job.

Anyway, it has been awhile since I last shopped with a guy, or more like trying to help a guy choose his things. It was interesting and funny. We even share the same taste i.e. MD! And no, he is not gay. *lol* Maybe I should nominate him to be the next Cleo’s eligible bachelor.

On another note, I wonder when do we get to see him in a steamy scene *winks*:


Picture from IMDB

Friday, August 07, 2009

The very hungry caterpillar

picture from the telegraph.

The young lady is back to her usual self, chirpy and gutsy. I think it was because they had a trip to the zoo yesterday which made her more adamant to beat the blues. As for me, I am getting there. Thankfully, my work has kept me busy and includes higher responsibilities, preparing things which are usually done by a level above.

But hey, my life is still full of interesting happenings. *winks*

A few days ago, I received the following text (redacted version):
“hi hot hucci mama. Wanna eat me 2nyte?”

Thinking it was a prank (it is very common here), I showed it to a friend who is more of a younger sister to me. She then highlighted that the words used seemed to suggest that the person knew me and the spelling reflected that it was written by someone from her generation. It didn’t take me long to figure it out and my suspicion was right. A few days later, that person confirmed that the text was sent by him.

Ah, perhaps a candy boy was trying his luck, eh?

Age is not a requirement to hang out. However, it seems the younger generation is more direct and persuasive. They have no reservation to say what they really want. However, in my world, even if you look like Nate Archibald or Lucas (ok, maybe I should add Edward Cullen tho I still don’t see his sex appeal), the phrases used are such a turn-off. In addition, the spelling really shows the generation gap. I’d probably consider if tonight was spelt “tonite” instead of “2nyte”.

Why when they were boys, such innocence was portrayed? Yet, the moment they start working, they lose their way and become very itchy caterpillars. An entrance to the working class does not give you the key to unimaginable opportunities. If at the beginning you couldn’t go far, not even a date, what makes you think you can do so now?

Besides, I do not tolerate boys with raging hormones!!!! Get a grip, will you? Geesh!

As one friend said, “it is the role reversal when dating matured women is what makes the forbidden fruit sweeter.”

The caterpillar better finds another forbidden fruit if he does not want to be sprayed with pesticides.
Have a nice weekend friends!

*Ms B is looking forward to another girly weekend. A trip to the cinema tonight to watch Sandra's new film, followed by lunch on Saturday with a girlfriend & her boss who are in town for business meetings. She reckons it is a match-making scheme. She will end her weekend with a shopping rendezvous on Sunday.*

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Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Hope floats

Picture from foxmovies

Birdee Pruitt: You know, I always thought I was gonna be, I don't know, special. But I'm not. I'm just... I'm just an ordinary person. And that's OK. Because... you make me special. Don't you know that? Don't you know that you're everything in this world to me? And we're gonna make it through this because we are a team. Birdee and Bernice, the coolest chicks in Smithville. So don't you ever think about leaving me again... because I need you. I love you.
Bernice Pruitt: I love you too.

Childhood is what you spend the rest of your life trying to overcome. That's what momma always says. She says that beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up. And it will, too...
***************
I never get tired watching this but somehow tonight, I could relate to the story a lot. So many similar scenes.....
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Sunday, August 02, 2009

Much needed hot bubble bath

It hasn’t even been a week and yet many dramas unfolded. From preparing a proposal within a short notice to an urgent request for a deal abroad topped by the young lady’s minor accident, it is a surprise that I can still maintain my composure. Calm on the outside, freaking out in the inside. I just had to play my cards right of course. There is no escaping from being away but it is better to be on one with less time abroad or within reasonable distance from home in case of an emergency.

Just when I thought things were getting back to normal, fate decided to add more spices. Less than an hour ago, we had a fire brigade at our home. There was an electrical short circuit and they said it was a good thing that I called when I smelt something burning. Apart from the whole place stinking, it was safe to stay. They managed to control and isolate the trigger.

And no, there weren’t any cute or handsome looking firemen. I think those exist in tv dramas. As for me, I had some sense to change into decent attire. I wouldn’t want to look like the ladies in Desperate Housewives, clad in their sexy lingerie (my passion for this is as good as books and bags).

Before the young lady dozed off (for the second time tonight), she asked, “ were you scared mummy?”

“Yes. How about you?” I said.

“Me too.” She paused for awhile before continuing, “are you going to cry again?” She was referring to last night moment when my emotions were overwhelmed while I changed her bandage. I was quite good at maintaining my coolness since it took place but as like any mom and woman, I felt it reached its limit and let the dam burst.

So do excuse me if I am feeling low at the moment. With the dramas I had so far, I think I deserve to have a bath full of clear salty liquid.

Although I feel it makes more sense to have a hot bubble bath accompanied by The Man (I think I shall stick to Dempsey for this part, judging how he does it), caressing my body and soul with TLC.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Tagged

momster tagged me. I bet n.i. looks forward to this posting. *grins*

1. Bekas kekasih saya adalah:
*mengambil masa yang agak lama untuk berfikir disebabkan ada beberapa orang*

2. Saya sedang mendengar:
pengarah-pengarah sedang berbincang.

3. Mungkin saya patut:
balik ke rumah dan berehat.

4. Saya suka:
Melancong bersama anak saya, terutama sekali ke tempat yang mempunyai banyak peninggalan sejarah.

5. Sahabat-sahabat baik saya:
adalah mereka yang menerima saya dengan seadanya.

6. Saya tak faham:
kenapa orang berbelanja lebih dari kemampuan.

7. Saya kehilangan:
sabar apabila orang bertanya soalan yang sungguh tidak relevan seperti bila anda hendak berumahtangga.

8. Ramai yang berkata:
saya sombong dan tidak mempunyai perasaan.

9. Makna nama saya:
Azam and girang.

10. Cinta itu adalah:
sesuatu yang sukar untuk memiliki dan apabila sudah dijumpai, harus dijaga dengan seikhlas hati.

11. Di suatu tempat, seseorang sedang:
sibuk bercerita tentang lawatan ke safari semalam (anak dara saya). Antara haiwan yang dilihat adalah singa bersama 2 teman wanita, ‘antelope’, harimau, monyet, anjing laut, ‘penguin’.

12. Saya akan cuba:
sedaya upaya untuk tidak perlu pergi ke sebuah bandar Eropah berdekatan dengan banjaran gunung Alps untuk selama beberapa minggu atas urusan kerja. *dikemaskini – saya mendapat alternatif lain dan tidak perlu pergi. Gembira sekali*

13. Ayat SELAMANYA membawa maksud
infiniti (perkataan kegemaran anak saya).

14. Telefon bimbit saya:
Ada 3 (1 PDA/Blackberry, 1 kegunaan rasmi dan 1 peribadi). Saya sudah lama tidak membeli telefon kerana syarikat saya membiayainya dan boleh ditukar setiap tahun. Tetapi saya jatuh cinta dengan E63 berwarna merah dan membelinya pada tahun ini.

15. Bila saya terjaga dari tidur:
saya memandang muka anak saya.

16. Saya paling meluat apabila:
orang bertalam dua muka.

17. Pesta/Parti adalah:
sesuatu yang diraikan bersama orang yang bermakna didalam hidup anda dan tidak perlu berlebihan.

18. Haiwan yang paling comel yang saya pernah temui ialah:
koala di Sydney Zoo.

19. Peringkat umur yang paling menyeronokkan bagi saya ialah:
mestilah sekarang kerana saya rasa saya betul-betul menikmati kehidupan, terutama sekali di samping anak saya.

20. Hari ini:
saya rasa amat mengantuk sekali kerana saya hanya dapat tidur 4 jam sahaja semalam.

21. Malam ini saya akan:
Menonton tv.

22. Esok pula saya akan:
Datang ke pejabat walaupun hati saya teringin untuk pergi membeli-belah kerana gaji akan masuk.

23. Saya betul-betul inginkan:
Untuk berhenti kerja dan duduk di rumah menjaga anak saya, sambil membiarkan simpanan saya membuat pulangan yang cukup untuk membiayai kos pembelanjaan kami.

24. Ketika saya lihat wajah saya di hadapan cermin pagi ini:
pedulilah segala jerawat dan kedutan. Saya tidak mempunya masa untuk berfikir semua itu terutama sekali pada hari kerja.

25. Pusat membeli-belah atau arked permainan:
Pusat membeli belah.

26. Makanan Barat atau Jepun:
Barat.

27. Bilik yang terang atau gelap:
Bergantung pada aktiviti, betul tak?

28. Makanan segera adalah:
cepat dan ringkas.

29. Ayat terakhir yang anda katakan pada seseorang?
See you soon honey.

30. Siapa yang anda mahu tag?

inah, Jane, Hunny, Fizzy dan juga sesiapa yang rajin nak buat!

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Of half naked men and brand

AC & H


I always wondered what the fuss of the above clothing was. In fact, when I first passed by one of the shops, I thought it was an exhibition place or studio as the building was somewhere in a back alley and it had a queue in front. When I got closer, I saw a half naked man striking a pose at the porch, confirming my suspicions that it could be a studio which exhibited live models.

It was only much later when I was asked to find such brand by someone (it happens I’m a personal shopper for friends for a mere teh tarik and roti canai as commission) that I realised the place was actually a shop!

As one enters, one cannot help feeling how inadequate he or she is surrounded by gorgeous looking sales assistants. The ladies are tall, slim and slender with hour glass body whilst the blokes have well toned figure. The guys take turns to be a model at the porch, displaying their asset for the benefit of us ladies. Oh, one of the girls will be a photographer using a Polaroid camera and customers are welcomed to take a picture with the bloke.

Interesting eh? *grins* Of course, the young lady wasn’t impressed when she saw that, not when the girls went goo-goo ga-ga to get their hands on the poor chap.

My only reservation about these places is their concept of using very dim lights. I couldn’t see the items and where I was going, especially when they were crowded. Yet, I think the atmosphere helps customers to spend more than necessary as it makes them ten times gorgeous upon trying their clothing. Unfortunately, I have yet to be fooled by the whole thing and still dont understand why people keep flocking.

However, if you need some stress reliever or just to “cuci mata”, feel free to drop by. Just have fun with all those eye candies and if you are bold enough, take a picture with the half naked bloke. I wouldn’t be surprised if women pinch his ass.
*lol*



Thursday, July 23, 2009

It's raining

It’s raining.
It’s pouring.
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and bumped his head and couldn’t wake up in the morning.

And so it was. For the past few days, rain seemed to have taken the city, with occasional sunshine which was not enough to keep us jolly and for us be able to wear our frocks without hesitation. Whoever brought back the legging style, I’m sure most of us are thankful to them. The young lady is able to wear her dresses and skirts without feeling chilly. All girls (and women) want to be chic and the legging is definitely a solution during these times.

My routine has been somewhat off. I thought I would have trouble keeping myself occupied but boy was I wrong. Everyday there is something to do or people to meet. I suppose it was a good thing to be staying put. I managed to meet the Godmother, Mrs Dior, the lady with 3 heroes and one heroine (which ended up with ice cream treat for the kids) and a few others.

Thus, the blog was slowly drifting away, tucked in the corner of this mind of mine. I realise I dont have much to write whenever I’m on a break. Obviously I cant be a writer who often takes long holiday in a French chateau or beach villa in a middle of nowhere just to get their creative juice pumping. I suppose the daily (and dull) routine helps my idea to flow better. Or perhaps I perform well while under pressure (yeah right).

Despite the so-called hectic schedule, I still managed to squeeze some shopping time. One book shop was closing down, with 50% discount at a minimum. We came back with two bags of books! An Enid Blyton – The Family Collection book was only £2.50 (was £10).

Ah, I must admit that I have to stay away from MD. I usually end up with something each time I pop in. The last time I went, I grabbed 3 items of clothing. To be fair, they were 70% less, thus a good bargain. I must admit I no longer have the energy to show up at a store at 6am in the morning during sale season. I did that once just to prove to friends that I’ve tried that. *grins* I guess I’m lucky to be able to find something that I like even after the shops had their sales for weeks already, although I dont think it’s a good excuse to be getting an item each time I visit MD. (can you blame me when they are marked down seriously low?)

The sun is out now and I suppose I should take the young lady out for awhile. Perhaps strawberry milkshake might do the trick
.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Twilight books

Someone asked about the price of Twilight books. So far, the cheapest collection I managed to find was from WH Smith at £38.40 (was £60). The books are hard cover, thus pricier. (my fellow bloggers/regulars, appreciate your comments here. Feel free to share if you have seen better price).

However, the ones that I got were paperback. The price was £6.99 for two books. I have yet to see paperback version for Breaking dawn. If the remaining two books are bought from the same place, it’d be £12.99 (buy one get one free. The hard cover format is £12.99, paperback £6.99). I think online will be cheaper as seen from
here . The total amount will be under £10 for two books, instead of £12.99.

Ok... so the conclusion is, if you buy separately (not the collection as I mentioned in the first para), the total costs for the books if purchase online is £16.98 (excluding delivery charges) and £19.98 if you get them from the store. I am unsure how long does the offer last.

By the way, you might get them cheaper elsewhere e.g. amazon but please take note of the delivery charges. Some may waive if the total costs exceeds certain amount. I hope this helps you, ms anonymous.

Ps: Will reply to comments soon.