COVID-19, MCO, life and the new normal

My family went for umrah and came back about 2 weeks before MCO started in Malaysia. Panic buying started a few days before the announcement. I went to the nearest grocery and bought some meat, chicken, vege and rice. I was thinking, ok we can still go out to get our essentials after this. Don't have to worry so much.
When MCO really started I realized that I didn't want to go out at all. So I stayed at home from 18th March - 14th May 2020. That was even longer than my confinement after child birth. Usually my husband or my eldest son would go out to do groceries and buy other essentials.
Before Ramadhan started, I was cooking 3-4 times daily and during Ramadhan I cooked once for iftar and sahur.
Aidilfitri came and went so smoothly. I didn't cook much for raya this year, only instant nasi himpit, rendang daging and ayam masak merah. We were only allowed to visit close relatives on the first day of Syawal and not allowed to travel cross state. So, I didn't get to see my family in Pahang this year. Hopefully things will get better in July so that we can go back for Aidil Adha.
As I'm writing this, we are in the CMCO (Conditional Movement Control Order) phase in Malaysia. Many businesses have started operating, the government is re-opening the economy. However, schools and universities are still closed. My kids are doing e-learning at home. My 2nd son is waiting for his UPU application result, so we have no idea whether he will start his foundation soon or not. New university intakes will have its challenges. Other uni students will continue with e-learning until December 2020.
The saddest part is there's still no news when gyms will re-open. I need to be at the gym to really work out. When I'm at home, I tend to spend more time in the kitchen, and then in front of the TV or my laptop. Getting myself to do some exercise during MCO is such a huge challenge. I need a trainer/instructor to scream at me every few minutes, otherwise I'll just sit around and sip coffee.
So, after 9 weeks of staying at home I finally decided that I should write. I went through some of my old folders transferred from another laptop and found a few chapters of a manuscript that I didn't remember writing. That's funny because I'd usually remember things that I created. So, I just copy pasted the content onto wattpad and continued with the story. Loop holes everywhere but I hope there'll be a decent story. Well, at least I'll feel good when I come up with something during this MCO.
Follow this link if you'd like to read it. The title is MIMPI.  Enjoy!

My 2014

Body Jam 71 Release Launch at FF IOI Mall - 20th Dec 2014

If anybody ask how was my 2014, I'll show them this picture which somehow represents the whole year, I think. Yup, I've been partying throughout the year. Well, actually I went to the gym to work out, but I found parties - almost everyday. That's what happened when you decided to join all the dance classes. Everyone is always in the mood to party. I'm so glad I decided to dance. No long faces, no arguments - everybody danced and smiled and I was temporarily transferred to a happy land.
But 2014 was not party all the time. It was bittersweet. On 9th Dec I was hospitalized for 4 days because of dengue fever. It was an experience no one would ever want to relive. The fever was mild while the headache was not that bad. But the post-dengue fatigue was not easy to handle. I felt like sleeping the whole day and didn't have much energy to even cook a decent meal.
A few months ago I lost an aunt who was very dear to us and she was the only one who called me 'Ayang'. Manjalah sangat bunyinya. She hadn't been well for a few years and I managed to visit her a few times. So, next year's raya will not be the same because her house had always been one of the compulsory houses to visit.
I think I'm getting terrible at writing blog and might as well put things in point form:
Sweet things:
- went to attend Zumba basic training that was never in my plan. One day I just decided that I wanted to learn more and registered for the course online. I'm spontaneous like that.
- conducted Zumba class for my school friends. One of the sweetest memories in 2014.
- lost about 13kg (without dieting) - just partying. Went down 2 dress sizes and now I can wear cheaper clothes. Hehe.
- made so many new friends at the gym and Zumba events. I realized that it's easier to make friends while shaking your booties together than shaking hands.
- wrote a few short stories. I think I just found my style. At least the way to write in my most comfortable style.

Not so sweet things:
- my car caused a lot of trouble. It's getting too old, I know.
- haven't done anything at the new house. Too busy partying, kot. Hehe.
- didn't finish any new manuscript. Again, too busy partying. I have a few work in progress but a few things seem to be missing.
- couldn't finish many of the audio books I purchased. I think I prefer physical books. Even some of the short e-books took me ages to finish.

Oh, I'm too lazy to think. In a nutshell 2014 was okaylah. Not too much of emotional roller coaster ride. Mostly were happy times. Or perhaps, now that I've turned 40, I don't want to drown myself in sad, depressing moments. Just let it go... let it go.....

This is me. 40 and feeling fabulous as always.

The simple things in life

A few years ago I wrote something here about things I love like gardening, traveling and crochet. Well, crochet is a craft almost forgotten by the younger generation nowadays. I was lucky because my late grandma taught me how do it when I was only 9 years old. 

My mom never planned to get me to learn this craft because to her, I was too boyish to be doing anything this girly. Well actually this is not really a girly stuff because I've met a few men who know how to make beautiful crochet. 

So, one day in 1983 I went for a sleepover at my grandma's house. She was all alone. Well, in fact she's been living alone most of the time as my youngest uncle who was a teacher, was posted quite far from our hometown. My mom and I used to visit my grandma during the weekends. So, that Saturday I didn't follow my mom home and decided to stay with my grandma. 

My grandma was a strong woman who's not only independent but also very determined. So, that night she lectured me about a few things (not to be a tomboy was one of them). The next day she brought out a funny looking needle and crochet yarn. First she showed me how to do it, then she passed the needle and yarn to me. 

My hands are not that flexible, so it was very difficult to yarn over and sticking the needle in the right stitch without hurting my fingers. After about 4 hours, finally I managed to produce a decent looking basic stitch. 

Crochet pun ada encyclopedia, don't play-play.

So, that was what happened 28 years ago. Ever since I could master the basic stitch, I've been learning a few other stitches and patterns from relatives, friends and books. The funny thing was, most of the patterns I got were passed down from older relatives. They were photocopied from Japanese crochet books. I couldn't understand any of the instructions, so I just guessed them based on the patterns.
In 1998, I found the first crochet book written in English. I bought 3 of them. There are about 20 patterns in each book, but they were expensive. One of them cost me more than RM40.
I've completed about 10 projects ever since. The pieces are lying at a few places in my house: the coffe table, shoe rack, computer monitor and book rack. Some are kept in the drawers as I don't know where to put them. Some are just too 80s and don't match my furniture.
The last project I did was way back in 2001. After the birth of my first child, I couldn't find the time for crochet. I was either too occupied, or I was afraid that my baby would find the needle, play with it and hurt himself. So, my crochet box and books have been hidden in the loneliest corner, collecting dust.
Last week, as I was browsing books at MPH, I found the Crochet Stitches Visual Encyclopedia (picture). There are hundreds of stitches and patterns that I've never seen my whole life! I was so excited that I bought the book without a second thought.
Now that this major project I'm doing is almost completed, I'm planning to start a crochet project soon! However, I'll need to find a way to hide the needles from Zarif. He's just too curious about things.

Zarif is two!!

Zarif turned two during the fasting month. I was so lazy to blog about it then, so only managed to put up a few of his latest photos today. He is now big enough to take his own drink from the fridge and can take clothes off himself.

I love orange, look at my Asadi slippers

Now he can construct simple but complete sentences like 'Nak pegi taman!' and 'Taknak makan nasik!'. He can also pronounce his brothers' names properly.

I wanna play ball

But still, he's not that interested to watch TV. He'd rather watch You Tube on the iPad and plays with his toys. Almost every night, he's the last one to fall sleep (before me). He's probably not going to be a morning person too (just like me) as he'll only wake up at around 9a.m.
The Kakak at the daycare told us a few times that Zarif can see small objects from very far away, and it amazed them. I think my boy has bionic eyes (maybe, well... who knows). Perhaps that's the reason why he doesn't like watching TV. 

The losing big program starts (again) today...

I was having a serious discussion about losing all the fat accumulated during puasa and Raya with my colleague this afternoon .... in front of two large plates of pasta at Italiannies. It was either the conversation or the bread we had before the main course that we didn't manage to finish our pasta, so had to pack them. I'll be having those healthy pasta for dinner tonight. Besides the cheese, I consider pasta a healthy choice for lunch and dinner (and sometimes breakfast.. hehe).

We were discussing the best places for running. My colleague preferred the Kiara Park at TTDI while I had to be happy with running on the treadmills. My neighbourhood is not so safe for jogging and there's no recreational park in Puchong. The nearest is in Bukit Jalil.

Then we went on and on and on about the sinful foods we had during raya. My colleague was complaining that she became tired easily now and could feel her fitness level had gone down a few notches. While I could feel the extra fat building up around my mid section and thighs. I didn't dare taking my own measurement since Ramadhan, I knew I've gained whatever that's lost back in June 2010. However, the funny thing is, my weight maintains. I suspect I've also lost some of the muscles I built a few months back in all those BodyCombat and BodyPump classes. How sad...

So, now it's time to start working out and eating right again. Starting again is just as difficult as starting to be health conscious the first time. We have to take the same route but might not start at the same point. There's renewed commitment to ourselves and closer monitoring this time.

And, as if it was a sign from God, when we were walking towards the AutoPay station, I saw one of Biggest Loser Asia's participants from the first season (I think he's one of the finalists) walking with his family. I was quite sure it was him because he has this really sweet smile which was easy to recognize. However, I was surprised looking at his body. I remembered he managed to lose quite a lot of weight during the final weigh-in. Looking at him this afternoon, I thought he's gained about half of whatever he's lost back then. My colleague didn't notice him when I asked whether she saw the guy. So, I was left wondering all by myself. The BLA Season 1 ended less than a year ago... what has happened to this guy? If I slack, am I going to be just like him? Oh noooo... all the hardwork would go down the drain.... Yikes!

With that worry and realization, I committed to myself that I AM going to the gym this afternoon, right after work. Good thing is, my boss isn't here to call me up for late meetings that might take my gym time. Hooray!!!

Pesanan special sempena nak raya

Okay, korek punya korek punya korek.... ini satu je gambar yang aku jumpa yang ada muka lima-lima orang (dan posing agak senonoh). Take note: must snap more family pictures this raya. Selalunya, bila nak snap gambar, asyik-asyik muka Wazif ngan Zarif je yang banyak. Memang gila glamer dua-dua orang ni.

Family picture kat Avondale Rd. Lancaster. June 2010.

Maka bersempena dan ramai orang berduyun-duyun balik bercuti di kampung ni, saya ada beberapa pesanan penting (kalau nak buat checklist pun boleh) supaya hari raya kita lebih meriah dan happening:

1. Baju raya yang nak pakai kat kampung tu biarlah yang tahan lasak. Sila strike out silk kaftan dari list anda... hahaha. Ada harapan boleh tersangkut kat buluh lemang tu.

2. Kalau anak-anak tanya mana bunga api tahun ni, cakap kat diorang bunga api ngan mercun sekarang ada banyak radioaktif. Kalau diorang tak tau apa tu radioaktif, boleh tunjuk gambar mangsa bom kat Hiroshima & Nagasaki dulu.

3. Kalau tidur kat rumah kampung tu tidur berselerak kat ruang tamu, pastikan position anak bini anda yang sebenarnya so that, kalau bangun pegi toilet malam-malam takde lah confuse nak tidur semula kat sebelah mana. 

4. Masa on the way balik kampung, memang mengantuk bila drive sorang-sorang. Jadi, tukar-tukar pilot & co pilot setiap jam. Boleh? Hehe...

5. Mari tukar duit shilling kat bank untuk tahun ni. Dah boring lah letak duit kertas dalam green packets tu. Kalau duit shilling ada sound effect sikit.

6. Kepada kanak-kanak yang datang beraya semata-mata nak duit raya, kalau boleh lepas bagi salam semua berdiri tegak dalam barisan kat luar pintu pagar. Senang sikit nak bagi lima posen sorang. Sapa yang mengaku dia nak makan kuih je boleh masuk dalam dok kat kerusi (ya Allah, zalim jugak aku ni..)

7. Cara untuk mempastikan ketupat dan lemang sentiasa fresh dan tidak basi ialah dengan memasak lemang/ketupat yang baru pada malam raya pertama, kedua, ketiga, keempat dan seterusnya sehinggalah semua sedara mara dah kembali bekerja dan tak larat nak beraya.

8. Pada hari raya ketiga, juadah yang paling afdhal disediakan untuk menjamu tetamu ialah Nasik Lemak dan roti canai. Gerenti ramai orang datang.

9. Pada hari raya keempat, budak-budak semua dah mengidam nak makan KFC, sebab dah muak tengok ketupat/lemang/rendang. Maka orderlah KFC beberapa barrel untuk hari tersebut.

10. Jangan cuti raya lama sangat kat kampung, takut nanti ada pakcik/makcik yang sound, "ko ni dah kena buang keje ke hapa? Lama sangat cuti nya..."

Eh, aku sempat tulis 10 pesanan je ni sebab dah nak kena pegi masuk meeting. Yaaaaaa..... saya masih bekerja. Selagi tak keluar muka penyimpan mohor besar Raja-Raja kat TV tu, selagi itulah saya akan bekerja. 

Drive safely dan jangan nakal-nakal.

Interesting Friday

8.30a.m
Heard Salleh Yaacob saying the following lines over Sinar FM:
'Cinta zaman belajar - Cinta Monyet
Cinta lepas belajar - Cinta ber'uang'
Kalau takde uang, takde cinta, dik.....'

9.00a.m
Received a message from boss, 'Where are you.'
I replied, '9th floor'.
Then I realized that I was supposed to attend a big meeting that started at 8.30a.m. Thanks to my carelessness and my phone reminder, I've set it at 9.30a.m. Pandai....Rushed to auditorium Forgot laptop.

9.30a.m
The big meeting. Auditorium was filled with anxious faces.
Questions, questions and more questions...
Frustrating answers....
Didn't take down any note.

10.00a.m
Demoralized already. Bitched with Sukiman over the phone. He asked why didn't I ask more questions during the big meeting when I had so many points. Demoralized some more. Needed coffee and sushi.

12.45p.m
Sakae Sushi. Salmon teriyaki. I was a happy bunny again... yippeeee...!

1.30p.m
Window shopping. Looking for new shoes and dresses and jackets.. totally forgotten about coffee.

2.30p.m
Came back to office sans coffee.

3.00p.m
Another big meeting. Less questions but more frustrating answers.
Hilarious games organized by my colleagues, laughed so hard until my jaw hurt.
Didn't win the lucky draw. Damn.

6.15p.m
Post party of the big meeting. Eat, eat and eat. The chicken was so hard, my gum hurt. Had banana crumble with ice cream to sooth it.

7.30p.m
Traffic congestion near Kinrara. It was raining... no it was actually only drizzling. Stupid traffic system.

8.30p.m
Pasar malam Bukit Kuchai. Melawati Kebab was there, yeay! Bought three, yeay yeay!! Nasik lemak for Shawqi.

9.00p.m
Dinner. Shawqi told me he actually asked for nasi putih instead of nasi lemak. Next time, cakap biar terang, ok.

10.00p.m
Watched TV while playing with Zarif. Zarif crawled to the sofa, he grabbed it with both hands and he was suddenly standing up. He giggled looking at our surprised faces. I was a very happy mummy and almost forgotten about all the frustrations I had to deal with in the morning.

Well, that's why we all should have family and make more babies. Yippeeee!!

Torres punya pasal

We visited Anfield last year. Tapi alangkah malangnya it was summer, takde game and Wazif didn't get to see his favorite players in the flesh. We only went on the museum tour. Even the stadium tour was fully booked then. Again, Wazif was frust tertonggeng lah.
So, when we learned that Liverpool was coming to Singapore, Mr. Hubby quickly purchased 2 tickets, for Wazif and him. Since I'm now in my 3rd trimester (8 months plus some more) takde sapa yang pelawa I pegi la kan...

On Sunday morning, pagi-pagi lagi aku dah kejut Wazif. Senang aje nak kejut dia pagi tu. 'Sapa nak pegi Singapore tengok Liverpool, cepat bangun!!!' Heheheh. Berkobar-kobar Wazif bangun.

Right after having breakfast, Mr. Hubby, Wazif and in-laws bertolak ke JB. Mr. Hubby parked his car at his parents' place and took public transport to Singapore. At 4pm Mr. Hubby texted me that they're almost there.

He texted me again after the match telling that they're coming back to KL soon. Gila punya terrer, balik hari je. I didn't know what time they reached the house. When I woke up the next morning I found Wazif sleeping heavily on his tilam. When I got up to head to the bathroom suddenly I heard his voice, 'Mak, best mak pegi tengok Liverpool. Rugi mak tak pegi...' His eyes were still shut and I thought he must be mengigau or what. Then suddenly he continued, 'Kelakar tau mak, ada sorang tu datang pakai jersey Man U. Lepas tu semua orang Boo dia...' Ok, he's not talking in his sleep. He's just too excited to share his experience but his eyes refused to open. 'Torres score satu goal tau mak...'
After that I had to listen to all his tales and adventure sepanjang hari Isnin itu. I pity his friends who had to listen to the same stories throughout the week.

Entry berlagak di petang Khamis yang berjerebu

Korang trylah speed test ni. Menarik jugak. Tapi kalau korang selalu buat kerja menaip guna Bahasa Inggeris, tersasul jugak bila buat test ni. Sememangnya, masa aku belajar dulupun lagi senang nak menaip perkataan Inggeris daripada perkataan Melayu sebab kita belajar Bahasa Melayu guna kaedah phonics dan masa belajar Inggeris banyak menghafal ejaan. Bila aku menaip satu perenggan cerita Bahasa Melayu memang banyak yang tersalah taip.

65 perkataan

Speed test

Ni kira aku punya world ranking.... dalam lingkungan top 1500. Konon nak bangga jugaklah.

Nak belajar menaip guna 10 jari tak susah sebenarnya. Kalau takde cikgu pun boleh buat dengan syarat kena ikut aliran pembelajaran yang sebetulnya. Tak boleh langkau-langkau sukatan pelajaran dia. Lebih kurang macam mengaji jugak. Kau kena belajar alif-ba-ta, pastu alif diatas 'aaa', alif dibawah 'iii', alif didepan 'uuu'.

Tapi budak-budak zaman Iqra' ni mungkin canggih sikit. Tengok apa-apa kalimah pun diorang dah tahu nak sebut macamana. Tapi kaedah macam Iqra' tu tak boleh diaplikasikan dalam belajar menaip 10 jari. Suka ke, tak suka ke, kena jugak ikut pelajaran dia satu persatu dalam turutan yang betul.

Zaman dulu-dulu, lebih kurang dalam lingkungan era 60an dan 70an, barangsiapa yang ada kebolehan menaip 10 jari ni, memang ada harapan cerah nak dapat kerja pejabat yang ada kipas angin (walaupun mungkin takde penghawa dingin). Salah satu aktiviti penting bagi lepasan SRP ataupun SPM (tahun 60an diorang panggil MCE lagi) ialah masuk kelas menaip. Untung-untung lepas tu boleh minta kerja jadi kerani. Lagi untung, masuk kelas terus jumpa calon suami.

Pelajaran pertama sekali dalam kelas menaip ni ialah meletakkan 8 jari anda ke atas mesin taip. 4 jari dari tangan kiri kena letak dekat huruf a s d f. Manakala 4 jari dari tangan kanan pula letak dekat huruf ; l k j. Sepanjang hari pertama (atau mungkin juga sampai hari ketiga) pelajar cuma akan mengetuk 8 kekunci tersebut. Ibu jari akan dilatih untuk hanya mengetuk penjarak (dekat computer keyboard kita panggil space bar).

Bagaimana pelajar akan menjadi fasih menaip? Berdasarkan kedudukan jari jemari di atas kekunci tersebut pelajar akan menggunakan gerak hati di dalam menghafal kedudukan setiap kekunci. Dalam ertikata lain, kekunci tertentu cuma akan diketuk dengan jari tertentu. Contohnya, jari telunjuk tangan kiri cuma akan mengetuk kekunci r t f g v. Di dalam pelajaran yang seterusnya, pelajar akan berlatih membina perkataan ringkas daripada kekunci yang telah dihafal.

Sebelum khatam pelajaran menaip, setiap pelajar mestilah mampu menaip ayat di bawah tanpa cacat cela dan dengan penuh keyakinan:

The quick brown fox, jumps over the lazy dog.

Ayat di atas memiliki kesemua huruf di dalam alphabet rumi. Tak percaya? Cuba try check....

Satu perkara yang agak aneh ketika saya belajar menaip ialah saya tidak di ajar untuk menghafal kekunci nombor. Alasan yang diberi sangat logik, kesilapan huruf di dalam dokumen boleh dimaafkan tetapi kesilapan nombor....... bisnes boleh bankrap wooooo!!!

Showing off the new netbook

Many people (and websites) told me that it's a craze these days. The netbook that is. They're the lighter version of laptops. With lower spec processor, smaller size - some can even fit into your jean's back pocket, targeted use: browsing, Facebooking, blogging, some music and chatting (Skype especially). I bought one - Lenovo Ideapad S10; not only to keep up with the current trend but to make sure I can get additional tax exemption next year...


Big enough keyboard, even my chubby fingers are comfortable to dance on it. The only drawback is for 10-finger typist: the right SHIFT key is placed too far, you'll end up pressing the UP arrow key. But the touch pad gives a nice feeling when touched and you won't really need a proper mouse as the only reason you'd be using this is for surfing - not drawing Visio diagrams...

Here's how small it is compared to my bulky, heavy and bone structure threatening Lenovo Y400. 
Wide enough screen and the display is easy on the eyes; you can continue on staring at Pet Society for hours and hours. Besides that, you'll get all the standard things like LAN card, WIFI card, bluetooth, USB ports, memory card slots but no CD/DVD drive yaaaa.... It's really small, OK. There's no way to slot in a CD/DVD drive. The USB DVD burners are quite cheap these days, so not such a big problem, right?

One thing worth mentioning here is the one step recovery button provided by Lenovo. It'll create a system backup image on the local hard drive which later can always be transferred over the LAN or burned onto a CD or DVD. 

Another bonus (to me - as the perasan sangat techy punya pompuan) has got to be the Linpus Linux that came preloaded with this netbook. I can choose either to use the Linux or Windows XP. Both can run fast browsers: I put Chrome on the XP and Splashtop browser came with the Linpus Linux. So, who cares about MS Office when all you wanna do is email, blogging and Facebooking, right?

So, next action plan is getting the LV handbag to carry this cute thing around, lah.... apalagi....

Satu Malam di Kelab COBRA

I worked on the Saturday when my other friends were rushing their way going back to kampung. It was very unfair and I really hated the last minute plan. I didn't know whose idea was that to have a power maintenance on a long festive weekend. The Project Manager only informed me on Thursday morning after I've approved the whole team's leave application. Since I was not planning to take extra leave I had to volunteer (secara paksa rela) to replace my engineers for the activity on Saturday. Chaissss!

Anyway, I hurried back at around 7pm to attend this dinner organized by LSCM. I had no idea of the night's agenda. My hubby told me to be at the club before 7.30pm, so there I was fighting for parking with hundreds of Sikhs who happened to have a big prayer at their temple next to the COBRA club that very same night.

After having dinner and failed to mingle with the rest of the Liverpool fans (yeah, kami sangat pemalu, kami tidak berusaha untuk mingle-mingle pun sebenarnya) at about 9-ish I went to the washroom. When I came out everybody was kepoh-kepoh because the VIPs had all arrived. My hubby and I rushed to the back entrance to join the crowd. Little that we know the rest of the players were about to enter the club from there. So, I was in the middle blocking their entrance, every player who headed towards the table had to brush shoulders with me. Hehehehe. Imagine, kalau Torres ngan Gerrard pun ada that night, it would be history le.... kan? 

But I couldn't help but notice their height. They're not that tall, except for a few. I asked my hubby, if those ex-players were that short, how short is Owen? My hubby told me that Owen is about his height. Hehehe, iyelah tu. Brad Pitt pun is about his height and so does Tom Cruise....  

Yang banyak uban tu Ian Rush. Yang lelain tu, kengkawan dia jugak lah. (Don't ask me their names sebab aku memang tak tau). Hehehe.

Peminat Liverpool memang fanatic. Ambik gambar tak ingat dunia.

The Liverpool veterans strategizing the next day's match. Yeah, they had a match on Sunday but we were not able to join sebab balik kampung leee... Kalau aku main ngan diorang, mesti aku kena jadik striker, kan?

Saya ada jacket merah. Hari-hari saya pakai bila pegi data center. It was a damn hot night and I was in this. Saja le nak outstanding konon, lagipun the red Adidas Liverpool shirt I was wearing inside, rupanya ada sorang Apek pun was wearing the same one. Since I taknak boria ngan apek tu, I remain zipped up walaupun paneh nak mampuih.

Peminat tegar Liverpool. He's the only one wearing this jersey that night. It's a training jersey, I think and I still couldn't make out the color, though. Kelabu asap ke hitam cair? Ntah. Anyway, his mission was accomplished sebab the jerseys he brought that night berjaya di autograph oleh pemain-pemain veteran Liverpool itu belaka. (Although we only recognize 1an Rush punya autograph sebab dia eja nama dia sebijik-sebijik).

Hensem gak keta baru aku.

Who says cars don't have genders? My Cinonet was a girl and my new Stream is definitely a dude! How do you decide on the gender? Well, scientifically there's no way to prove the car's sex. But once you start driving a certain car, you can feel the chemistry. You will bond with your car just like how you bond with your new boyfriend or newborn babies.

I could feel a rather hostile welcome from my new Stream when I first drove it. Until today, I still feel like we're making a big effort trying to adapt to each other - hence my decision on it's gender! Hahahaha!

This pic was taken after my Stream arrived at the car dealer, before I paid the down payment. This was the 'can-see-but-can't-drive' period. So sakit hati!

Man, this dude is looong. Surprisingly, parking is effortless even at the narrow spaces at Giant and Carrefour; and I'm talking about reverse and side parking here. My colleague suspected that there's some kind of intelligence built in the car electronic system that will assist the driver during parking. I've checked the manual but it doesn't mention such feature.

It's only a few centimeters wider than my Cinonet and slimmer than a Civic. Driving it is not much different than a normal Sedan car.

Simplicity is my way of life now. My first impression of this design was, 'Okay, definitely won't remind anybody of Transformers!' There's a hint of 80s design influence here, and I just love everything about that period (even the big hair and big shouldered blouses!)
Sun roof! Sun roof! Sun roof! Need I say more? But, more importantly it has the lightest power steering I've ever handled. It's even lighter than Cinonet's. I've yet to test drive the new Accord and Camry, so once I did I will update my opinion here. Wah, sudah jadi macam car review blog la pulak.

In terms of driving experience, don't expect it has the pick-up that Civic and Jazz could offer. I had to learn the word 'patient' when I first tried to floor the accelerator. 0 - 100 Km/h took forever. But once I was on the highway, the speed was smooth and the car felt stable all the way. The fastest I've driven so far is 130 Km/h - ye lah.... belum first service lagi la... agak ngeri jugak untuk memecut sesuka hati, ok.

So, the main question remains: why in the world did I change to a bigger car even after the petrol price hike?

In economical driving mode, the average l/100Km is 8.5 and it can fit 7 people!

My priceless moment was when the whole family boarded the Stream for the first time and my son said, 'Yeay, I have my own seat!'

... and the decisions are.......

Well, I've spent over a week doing all the necessary thinking. At an average, I spent about 15 minutes per day thinking about them. As you can see, I am THAT calculative these days, after the petrol price hike. Now that Credit Card companies are going to charge 18% financial charges monthly, I am even more 'tangkai jering' than before.

Considering the rising inflation rate, I decided 'YES' I will move to JB if Mr Hubby allow me to become a full time housewife.

On the new MPV, 'YES' I just confirmed with the salesman that I'll be coming to the dealer's office to sign the official documents and trade in my Cinonit. Well, actually the decision to move to JB will be a 100% 'YES' if Mr Hubby agrees to pay for the new MPV's monthly installment, insurance and road tax. Hahahahaha.

Meanwhile, I'll be spending the next few months' salary clearing my credit card debt. So far, I managed to refrain myself from swiping the plastics for 2 months. TWO MONTHS you all! What an achievement. I am so proud of myself. Hii hii hiii!

Another even bigger decision I just made is to (finally) learn how to swim. Yeah, I told Sarcy to start swimming in order to lose her flab, but I also don't know how to. He he :)

I am still looking for a female swimming instructor who could come and teach at my office's pool. (YEAH, we have a 5 lanes swimming pool in the office, jangan jelesssss!!) It's near the cafeteria. Whenever we surfaced from the water, we could smell kaya toast and teh tarik!! Yummmmm! So, if you know any qualified female swimming instructor, please give me a ring/ SMS/ leave comment/ send msg at FB/ YM etc, okay?

Tapi, kalau dapat instructor macho macam dalam gambar ni, mesti lagi cepat aku pandai berenang, kan? Hehehe...!

Think...... quick!

I have about a gazzillion things to write today. Since it's a Monday, and all the Project Managers were freaking out to get updates from each Team Leader, I couldn't even spend 5 minutes in the loo. My cell phone has been ringing like crazy since morning and it was ignored a few times because I didn't recognize my new ringing tone, because it's a new phone.... bwahahahahaha! Nak berlagak jugak, tak kira.

My hubby will be stationed in JB for one year plus starting next month. I'm contemplating resigning and moving there. Should I? Should I? Should I? I'm not 100% in love with my career in IT. If I'm offered as a gembala kambing with equivalent pay, I'd accept. Shepherds get to ride horses, right? Or at least motor kapchai, lah.

Another option is for me to request for transfer to our JB office. Buuuuutttt..... the scope of work will be very different, and I don't like it at all. Furthermore, our office is in Skudai and my hubby's rented place will be nearer to Pasir Gudang.

Maybe this is going to be the turning point in my life. Maybe this is the transition period of me becoming a lady of leisure. Hehe. Bestnyeeee.... The only thing stopping me right now is my credit cards outstanding balance and my bank account balance. Before going for the pleasure of becoming a lady of leisure, I must settle my debt.

Another thing I must share with the whole world: right before the fuel price hike I booked an MPV. Baaaaad move. The loan has been approve and I'm getting a really good trade in price for my Cinonet. Makcik dilemma.... Although it's a 1.8 engine, you know the fuel consumption of an MPV, especially when it's heavily loaded. (Kalau I drive sorang pun dah cukup heavy!)

I'll be spending a lot of time doing a lot of thinking this week.... hmmmm...

The 6D day (080808)

It’s exactly 4 months away, but the office is buzzing with news of this friend getting married, that fella planning to propose, this dude planning to get hitched (boleh? Nak harapkan pompuan minang dia la tu….), that dude planning to go for his first bungee jumping, that babe planning to go to Bali with her dearest and macam-macam lagi lah. Everybody wants to do something meaningful on that day.

This is exactly like how it was back in 1999. Everybody wanted to make the midnight of 31st Dec 1999 a memorable one. I don’t know whether anybody commited suicide that day or getting a divorce, but most of my friends have done some of the craziest things in their lives. I can’t remember exactly what I did that midnight, but I think I ate a lot on 1st Jan 2000 and snapped a few photos of us, my then bf (now hubby) and me holding that day’s The Star newspaper: 01-01-00 was printed from the front to the back cover. Still have the piccies to prove it.

For those who decided to tie the knot on 080808, I wish you a loooooot of luck. I know the caterers and Mak Andams are charging more than double. Most of the dewan orang ramai have been booked by now, not to mention hotel ballrooms. Tok Kadhis are busy re-arranging appointments for that day, and I’m sure most of the big mosques will be filled with pengantins and sedara mara.

The best thing is the whole world will be so meriah on that day. Everybody will be wishing and hoping that it’s going to be one of their best days. The world will be filled with smiles and laughter, people hugging each other, non-stop party, food aplenty on the table (itu yang paling penting)and then, the TV and radio will be flooded with well wishes (I pray that Hallmark will print a card to mark that special day. Hehehe)

Some of the bad things I could think of: the hospital ER will be extra busy because more accidents are bound to happen when there’s a sudden rise in alcohol consumption. Operation and delivery rooms will be fully booked because so many parents would want to have babies with a very ‘ong’ birthdate. To all gynae, don’t dream to take off-day lah on 080808.

Traffic will be crazier than ever, especially in KL because at least 3 of our friends are planning to have their wedding receptions/akad nikah and they all live at both ends of Klang Valley.

Other than that, don’t be surprised when suddenly some people would want to mark the day by doing foolish things like climbing Petronas Twin Towers, disrupting LRT services, make prank calls, false bomb threats or sabotage UMNO (again?). But, if Pak Lah decides to step down, it’s a good date to do so. He he…

So, what’s your plan for 080808? Pegi tengok penyu bertelur pun okay jugak, kan?

Kisah tapau menapau

To the guys, it's totally cool to tapau your breakfast/lunch from home. Although those plastic containers don't bear names like Armani or Nike, it won't make you look less masculine.

I am definitely going green this year. I switch my laptop off when I don't use it because somebody told me that in standby mode, it will still consume power. I have already set a reminder to catch that show called 'An Inconvenient Truth' that will be aired on April 22nd. Earlier this week somebody told me that some villages in Thailand have started sinking, so I decided to wait for the laundry to pile up before stuffing them into the washing machine.

Some of the projects I'm doing this year will contribute to saving the environment, but it doesn't mean I'll be squatting in front of some building for hours holding banners and chanting 'Stop pollution, save the world'. Most of them will be on computer virtualization. Yes, I know it's such an alien term to most of you but it's not a new technology in the market. If your organization decides to go green, you can always suggest to the CFO/CTO/CIO to start looking at IT virtualization, and then please contact our sales rep. Hahahaha...

Back to the 'tapau' topic, I am going to start a campaign to 'tapau' food for breakfast/lunch from home to reduce the plastic bag/polystyrenes usage among Malaysians.

I know many people can do this. The main challenge remains: who's going to cook/what to cook in the morning? Afraid not my dears, I've seen many people from my neighbourhood buying kuih and nasi lemak at the stalls by the road side and they all brought plastic containers from home. Although it did look funny the first time I saw it, now it's becoming common and I saw more people are shoving their tupperwares to the Makcik to fill them up with nasi lemak/bihun/kueh teow and the kuih.

So, what are you waiting for? Tonight (or this weekend) start rummaging the kitchen cabinet for those tupperwares. Good luck in finding the lids, hehehehe.

The Raya: 2007

Oleh kerana Mak aku memang peminat setia kek coklat, maka malam sebelum balik kampung haritu aku dengan Wazif (merangkap Quality Assurer) berkobar-kobar mencuba resipi yang Spena bagi tu. Oleh kerana oven aku yang cenonit dan cake tin aku yang bulat tu, maka sejam lebih aku menunggu kek tu masak. Wazif pun dah naik fed-up asyik kena cucuk kek dengan tooth-pick. QA aku ni memang prihatin, scale akupun dia tolong callibrate. Nasib baik aku perasan, sempat re-callibrate... kalau tak, selamat dah terlebih gula.

Maka kek coklat yang tersangatlah delicious itu aku bawaklah balik ke kampung.

Nak dijadikan cerita, akak ipar aku semuanya terlebih busy dari biasa bulan puasa lepas. Sorang tu dok meniaga kuih-muih berbuka puasa, lagi sorang tu ada baby umur 3 bulan. Lagi sorang pulak aku tak pasti busy dengan apa, tapi setahu aku dia busy lah. Mak aku pulak cedera sebab tiga bulan lepas dia terjatuh kat market sampai patah bahu. Jadi, persiapan raya semuanya agak terabai.

Bila aku sampai aje kat kampung, akak ipar aku yang No. 1 dah siap masak rendang daging. Rendang ayamnya pulak, masak lepas maghrib (aku le yang kena jadi tukang kacaunya). Bila aku keluarkan kek yang aku bawak tu, semua orang gila punya seronok sebab diorang semua tak sempat nak buat kek.

Hari Raya tahun ni memang terlebih hectic sebab ramai gila orang datang beraya rumah mak aku. Aku sempat pegi ziarah kubur arwah Uwan dengan arwah ayah aku je, rumah sedara mara tak sempat nak jenguk pun.

Majoriti orang yang datang rumah mak aku ni aku tak kenal sebab diorang tu kengkawan abang-abang dan akak-akak ipar aku. Sedara mara pun ramai. Kebanyakan orang yang datang ni tak kenal aku jugak sebab aku kalau balik kampung pun setakat sehari dua je. Kalau sedara mara kenduri pun selalu tak sempat pegi. Bila raya macam ni, tak sempat jugak nak berkenalan dan berborak-borak sebab aku asyik kat dapur; buat sirap, basuh cawan, buat sirap, basuh cawan. Sirap pun dah bosan tengok aku. Aku pun dah muak tengok cawan.

Apa-apa hal, orang-orang yang datang tu semua suka kek coklat yang aku bawak balik. Asyik-asyik kena refill balang. Akak ipar aku yang No. 3 dok puji-puji jugak kek aku sambil bagi hint suruh aku buat lagi. Heheheheh, pandaile kau.

Paling best pada petang Raya kedua tu tiba-tiba ada terjengul 4 muka yang sangatle aku kenal. Tapi sungguh tak sangka diorang datang beraya kat rumah aku. Dua orang pompuan tu ialah Kak Fid dan Zarin, housemate aku masa kat UPM dulu. Husbands diorang pulak, facultymate aku dulu. Every raya diorang ni memang akan lalu jalan depan rumah aku tu bila nak balik kampung. Masing-masing anak dah besar-besar belaka. Paling kelakar bila salah sorang kawan aku ni buat remark: 'Kak Dayang ni badan tak naik lah. Macam dulu jugak.'
Hello Zarin, aku rasa dah tiba waktunya kau pegi jumpa doktor mata. Hahahahaha.

Memang tak puas raya kat kampung aku 2 hari aje, kalau 2 minggu mesti lagi best, kan?

Kids and Raya

I'm still recuperating (from the Raya madness). Here are some pics from Raya@Kampung in Bera. Stories will be posted soon.

The train story

Have you watched the TV3 Raya Advert that stars Adibah Noor? Try to catch it at TV3 tonight! It’s just so hilarious. With minimal dialogue but full of expressions; you can surely feel the emotions. Man, I was laughing my head off. For me, it’s brilliant.

The advert somehow reminded me of the days when I had to take ‘Keretapi Mel’ from JB to Triang when I was schooling in STF. This is Keretapi Mel I’m talking about, not express sinaran pagi or senandung malam which the KL girls would usually take then.

If you can’t imagine it, it’s like Kelas Tiga of the normal train. It’s free seating (if you managed to find a seat) and the seats are worse than those we used to have in our super-famous KL Mini Buses. They have a small canteen on the train, which was always full. Off course lah, those people who couldn’t get seat will have an 8-hour teh tarik session there. Even if there were available seats, believe me you won’t have the heart to enjoy a decent meal there. The greasy tables alone were enough to turn my appetite off.

I’m not going to describe the toilets because they were grosser than 8 series of Fear Factor challenges combined. Imagine this, if I felt the need to pee after Gemas Station, I’d rather hold it until I reached home. That’s about 2 hours train journey.

When it came to long holidays, especially festive seasons, we had to stand up throughout the journey. Mind you, my train journey usually took about 7 hours. The train usually departed from JB at 9 pm ++ and arrived at Triang at around 4.30 am. Yeah, I had to stand up while holding on to the seats or the slimy poles. If you’re familiar with the Putra LRT during rush hours, that’s how it was in Keretapi Mel.

If there were space, we would arrange our bags and sat on them. When it’s really packed, we could only stand and sometimes we couldn’t even turn our bodies because it was worse than sardine in a can. That was when I learned to master the sleep standing skill. So now, sleep sitting (usually in boring meetings) is like ‘kacang putih’ to me, lah. Hahaha. Squatting in the ‘gerabak barang’ was so normal and many considered that luckier than having to sit or stand by the doors. Thank god they’re not bullet trains, otherwise today, most of us are history.

It sends shivers down my spine whenever I think of those Keretapi Mel days. I was only 13 then. When I imagine a 13 years old girl standing by the train door braving the cold night wind as the train chugged away - swaying her body, I couldn’t believe that once upon a time that was me.

I haven’t been on a Keretapi Mel since 1992. I hope there have been a lot of improvements.

These days, whenever it’s time for Balik Kampung I’d feel really glad the journey would only take me about 2 – 3 hours depending on the traffic at Karak highway. Never mind the congestion at MRR2, Gombak or having to drive at 40km/h from Genting Sempah to Karak town, at least I know I’ll have a proper seat in an air conditioned vehicle. Then, whenever nature calls, I can always stop at the R&R along the highway.

Adventurous teenage days really taught us to be thankful for what we have now, huh?

While counting your blessings, don’t forget to check out this blog to listen to Aizat’s latest song.

Side story

Pagi-pagi tadi ada sorang manager datang jumpa aku dengan penuh gabra.

'Dayang, you free tak around 10 o'clock today?'

Akupun gelenglah, cakap takde. Pastu dia mintak aku attend satu meeting regarding ada satu proposal yang kitorang baru revise.

'The meeting's in KL. The meeting is at Chase Manhattan.'

Aku terkedu gak masa tu, cuba nak ingat kat mana ada bangunan nama Chase Manhattan nih? Nama tu memangle familiar, seperti pernah aku dengar.... tapi di mana yea? Memang dekat nak pecah kepala jugaklah aku pikir kat mana lah Chase Manhattan ni. Bukan nama bank ke tu? Pastu, aku pikir pulak, customer aku ni Oil and Gas industry, apahal nak buat meeting kat bank nih?

Nasib baik aku telefon sorang Solution Architect yang handle proposal tu.

'Woi, dekat Chase Perdana lah.....' hahahaha. Nasib baik minah tu tengah good mood. Kalau tak sure dah masak dah aku kena kutuk pagi ni.

Iye, tuan-tuan dan puan-puan.... itulah aku punya occupational hazard. Selalu dapat wrong instruction yang menyebabkan aku selalu ter pergi ke tempat yang salah.

Cerita ni memangle tak lawak, kalau uols nak gelak-gelak, pegi tengok video klip ni.

I heart my job not

... but my t-shirt says I heart Liverpool.

Well, I'm the unofficial vice president of W.A.G Malaysian chapter. I have to heart Liverpool (or any other football team), right?

Mr Hubby, the die hard Liverpool fan gave me this red t-shirt for our 7th anniversary. Thank you dear, I heart you long time!
However, I'm so broke this month, I haven't decided what to give him. Maybe his 138th Liverpool jersey kot? Exaggeration yang amat melampau tuuuuu... Hihihi.
I haven't found the time to take stock of Mr. Hubby's football jerseys in the wardrobe. Maybe I need to take 1/2 day leave.



I celebrate everything at Fasta Pasta, Ikano. Birthdays, anniversaries, farewells etc. Kalau tak celebrate kat Fasta Pasta, memang tak sah. Hmmmm... I wonder when am I getting my loyalty card. So, yesterday we had Pizza there. That was the first time I didn't order my all time favorite: Spaghetti Scampi.



Please forgive Shawq1's facial expressions. I don't know what got into him. He has hematoma on his right foot and has been behaving weirdly for the past few days. Yesterday morning he insisted he must have a baby brother. I asked him, 'Who's going to take care of the baby?' Then he raised his hand and made a very innocent face. Hahahaha.