"Banyak Akai!"

I was alone the whole week, last week. Not really so, ehem... since the hubby was at home in the evenings; usually at almost Maghrib. 

My baby, MyC, was away in Shah Alam representing her school for a workshop. She was among eight students selected for the T***** Eco Youth, running for the national level environmental project competition scheduled in October this year.
Her school came out top last year.So this year sees all the previous champions taking part, since its inception ten years ago.

MyC, (third from right), with her friends, advisors 

and two representatives from the sponsor

Looking at her picture here, I realized that she is getting taller by the day! Well, it's in our genes... hikhik!

Anyway, as I was somewhat 'merdeka' last week, I spent my time planning for Miera's upcoming kenduri at my mom's place this weekend in Ipoh. It will be on small scale and guests are mainly families and relatives.
There were pre-wedding dinnner to foresee, cakes, and breakfast for the next day to think about. Bagus jugak... hal masak-masak, serah kat akak... bab-bab duit serah kat adik!

 (Miera at her akad nikah in April)

Other times I spent reading and finishing all the books that I bought earlier this year. Now, tak ada buku... macam mana?

That whole week, I deprived myself of coffee; thus making me rather lethargic and sometimes erratic. But this morning....dah tak boleh tahan...had a mug for breakfast at my usual hang-out with friends. Kat umah stock nescafe dah sengaja tak replenish. Phew, lega! Mengalahkan orang undergo cold-turkey withdrawal... (Ni apa cerita? Oh, iklan!)

And when you're alone at home, you missed being a mother. I had no lunch to cook. I mean a complete lunch. Masak tetap masak! I ate what I like. Mostly clear-based soups with lots of stuffed fish paste veges... hmm...sedap....stuffed bitter gourd, green chillies, and lots of greens for a good home-made yong tau foo. Rice? I hardly found during that one week. Only one night tu, hubby ajak makan kat luar. Pekena la nasi sikit dengan tomyam. Not that I'm on a diet, saja tak lalu makan nasi. Nanti la balik Ipoh... makan tak ingat dunia.
 
All in all, last week was the most boring week in my life. It turned out MyC had a great time...

:-)

Yes, We "Ken Lee"!!!

Yeah, ve ken tulibu dibu douchoo... but ee sorro shoo!



P.S: Sensational Valentina Hassan makes it overnight.... :-D

Chotto Matte Kudaisai!

It's raining outside as I'm writing... but I couldn't write any.
Words just evade me.
But, wait a minute...hmm...I guess, a song will suit me fine for now...
And here's one for the song book... No, it's not that Japanese song, but it's nostalgic alright...

Tunggu Sekejap

Tunggu sekejap wahai kanda

kerana hujan masih renyai

Tunggu sekejap 

Dalam pelukan asmaraku

Jangan bimbang walaupun siang akan menjelma

Malam ini belum puas ku bercumbu dengan kanda

Tunggu sekejap

Wahai kasih

Tunggulah sampai hujan teduh

Mari ku dendang

Jangan mengenang orang jauh...

Jangan pulang 

Jangan tinggalkan daku sorang

Tunggu sekejap

Kasih 

Tunggu

Hairan ye, orang dulu menyanyi tak susah pun... asal ikut tempo, lenggok lagu ada... menjadi aje!

Straight from the heart.

   

p.s. Have a nice weekend, everybody! :-)

Put Me Right!

Just before breakfast this morning, I finished reading a book that I've been burying my face in these past three days. I blame facebook for stalling me to finish up reading in one sitting like I used to! By nine, if it wasn't for the phone call I received from my brother-in-law, I would have snugly tucked myself in again. I sprang out of bed and start breakfast; hoping today would be better than yesterday. Yesterday was a total disaster, if you must know...
Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit!

I had planned for Friday to fix something simple for lunch. But lazing on the couch, watching some reruns, I started the chores quite late. I wonder how many of us, mums, had encountered such self-made 'predicament' of not knowing where to begin! (this ! or this ?)!!

First it was the kitchen... as I was doing the dishes that was stacked happily in the sink, (obviously by people who love my breakfast but hate putting them away, CLEANED!) ... where was I... oh, as I was saying, I was doing the dishes when I remembered my night tumbler inside my room. I left the dishes for my room and as I was about to take the tumbler out, ahhhh....my bed hadn't been made yet! So, I made the beds first. Just as I was about to leave my room, it was a pile of clothes for the washer... Took them out, and threw into the washer.

Passing by the dining, on my way to the kitchen, I spotted some tiny weeny crumbs on the floor under the dining table. That meant war for all mother of dirt and dust and crumbs are my worst enemy. I thought I had the house swept earlier on that morning! It was now vacuuming time for me. And while I was at that, the kettle boiled, wailing like a baby and almost made me jump. And I guess, you got it right.... I was back in the kitchen, picking up from where I left with the dishes.... and ran back for the tumbler...and ...the washer was actually sitting still without activity programmed on it!
Oooohh, I JUST HAD TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!

Last thing I knew, I was having brunch with some friends :-)

Biasalah.... Ateh...

My previous posting on The House That Was Not Ours, with an accompanying photo, has brought the attention of my family members. As their comments in facebook are noteworthy, I am honouring them a special mention here in my blog. (Biasalah Ateh... suka kongsi-kongsi). That way, my gentle readers (ada ke? laaa!) will get the idea as to why such an ordinary place is treasured with love. Not one of us has ever spoken so passionately about the next house my late uncle was given. A huge government bungalow on a sprawling land in beautiful Taiping.

But we all know the reason too well. While the house above the post office makes us want to walk down that memory lane over and over again, the other saw only tragedies. And we practically stopped talking about it for as long as I remember. My uncle suffered a heart attack only after a couple of months there and never woke up till he drew he last breath. Over a month later, his eldest son, my very loving abang sedara, at twenty-one years of age, was electrocuted in the same house.

But I digress... (biasalah ateh... suka meleret...tak ada iklan tak sah!)

Here are some of the comments from the gang:

note* sila baca dalam loghat Perak! hikhik!

Cousin S.H. Ramly:
banyak kenangan manis... Kalau Yea nakal je...dema usik nak bagi asam masin Pah. Petang2, Wancu selalu bawak kami jalan tepi laut cari belangkas. Masa kecik dulu, naik teksi dari Lenggong, nampak je rumah ni mesti nak makan kari arwah Pah.....d best!

Rasa ternampak2 muka2 kita masa kecik2 kat celah2 tingkap tu... masa tu besfren Yea... Da Wancik

Cousin Doc Faisal (the tuan rumah!):
Romah ni dulu2 nampak macam beso...tak banyak yang berubah... kecuali (i) pondok tailpon dah modern, dulu booth warna cream & line hijo (2) Pokok okid, arwah ayah chik tanam dah tak der (3) Tempat PO Box, yg orang rame2 ambik sorat dah tutup buat dinding kaca.
Tangga tu selalu ler kita ramai2 naik turun, main masak2 kat belakang tu. Arwah Pah & Ayah Cik tak bagi turun tangga belakang sebab tangga pusing2....

Mahae gambo ni....  ( read: mahal gambar ni...)

Tangga tu banyak sangat kenangan....bila tengok lame2, ternampak kita dok naik turun... pegi pantai, pegi kedai mamak, turun beli pasembor tolak, beli roti dan mcm2 lain lagi... Arwah pah pun selalu naik turun tangga ni pagi2 exercise.. masa tu dia kuat lagi....
kenkadang, malam2 turun tangga ni dgn arwah bapak pegi mengail kat jeti.... pagi2 baru balik bawak ikan...

Cousin Zam K.Z. Ramly:
tangga pusing tu ada lagi tak...? teringat makan ubi keledek mentah yang ditanam kat belakang post office tu...
satu lagi teringat ketuk kotak, tupperware....dan bermacam lagi semasa jamming session kat dalam bilik belakang tu....!! bilik yang ada pangkin kayu yang jadi stage kita tu...

ropanya....bila dah besor..., nak jadi Director tersohor...! buat Juara Lagu....AIM.....dan macam2 lagi.....

Me:

Zam:  bilik belakang tu lah yg mengeratkan kita adikberadik kan?

seronok jamming...berlakun...menyanyi..pakaian beragam..ratu cantik...pastu tak kurang merajuk rajuk...tumbuk-tumbuk...hihi...but we were good...and are good sampe sekarang... and Zam, we are proud of you...wlpon...AIM malam tadi overrun... banyak iklan daaa...

My Sis, kak elin/lena/lina...hihih!:

kome bbudak tu la korjernya asik turun naik tangga pusing tu...kami yg dah beso2 sikit ni kenangan jemo dan angkat kain kat belakang tu...selalu sama dgn Rohida...nanti kain2 yg kami angkat tu Yong dgn arwah Nyah ler yg melipatnya...dema 2 beradik kalo lipat kain suka nyanyi2...salah satunya lagu Rose Garden..." I beg your pardon....."

Cousin RR - Na Ramly:

Memang nostalgia gambo ni. Yg paling ingat lagi masa main masak2 kat blkg. Kita main masak2 betoi2, guna periuk kecik arwah pah. Tiba2 Li (DS Shazalli Ramly ler tu...)  buat terbako dapo rekaan kita tu. Ape lagi...kena marah dgn arwah Ayah Chik. Lg satu pakaian beragam. Tapi yg Lili hot dulu, asyik Da aje yg menang. Juri2 tu pun tk nmpak org lain dah, trmasuklah org AIM tu.....

Lili ,kedai runcit mamak lepas balai polis tu ingat dak? Kita selalu pegi beli biskut suji mamak tu, sekupang satu. Lagi satu pergi pantai. Paling best. Teringat arwah Kak Menah ajar kita nyanyi lagu Pujaan hatiku. Sampai skrg pun bleh ingat liriknye

(my reply to CikYang Na: ate, kalo teman yg menang...kang ade yg tarik rambut, tumbuk belakang teman...tak nak cakap dgn teman... huhu!)

Hmm... since I'm a bit 'weng' today, reading their comments for the umpteenth time make me smile!
They always make me laugh... and sometimes buat I cengeng... biasalah Ateh... ratu airmata.

Have a nice day, y'all! I'm off now... in the mood to bake a chocolate cake!

My Mistakes Were Made For You

About as subtle as an earthquake, I know,  
My mistakes were made for you.
And in the backroom of the bad dream, she came,
And whisked me away, enthused.

And it's as solid as a rock rolling down a hill,
The fact is that it probably will hit something,
On the hazardous terrain.

And we're just following the flock,
Around and in-between,
Before we're smashed to smithereens

Like they were, then we scramble from the blame
And it's the fame that put words in her mouth,
She couldn't help, but spit them out.
Innocence and arrogance entwined,
In the filthiest of minds.

She was bitten on her birthday,
And now a face in the crowd, she's not.
And I suspected now forever the shape
She came to escape, is forgot.

And it's a lot to ask her not to sting.
And give her less than everything;
Around your crooked conscience she will wind.

And we're just following the flock,
Around and in-between,
Before we're smashed to smithereens
Like they were, and we scrambled from the blame.
And it's the fame that put words in her mouth,
She couldn't help but spit them out
Around your crooked conscience she will wind.

And it's a lot to ask her not to sting,
And give her less than everything
Innocence and arrogance entwined.

The House That Was Not Ours...

Earlier this year, I wrote about my childhood memories at a house that was never my house, but definitely made myself feel like home.

Recently, I shared a picture of this house with my siblings and cousins, and as expected, the feedback I received were overwhelming and came as no surprise. Everyone had something to tell. The happy times were relived with just one picture below:

The house on top of the post office... the house that was not ours...but it did make a place where our hearts live...

Why is it a place that was never mine hold such a fondest memory in me?

I passed this house again one late Sunday afternoon. This time it was different. I had pictures of the house taken. It was quite in a sorry state. It didn't look homely at all. When my late uncle took over this house a long time ago, he treated it like his own. I have greatest respect for my uncle who tended the orchids himself, the lawn were well kept and the foot path meandering around the grounds from front to the backyard was passable. Somehow, I noticed, the compound look smaller now. Or, is it me who grew bigger ...er...older? :-D

The elated me saw nothing much of a change. The happy faces that once scampered the stairs, the grounds and the small lane beside it suddenly registered in my head. If I were to stare at the staircase long enough, I could see us, my cousins and me, running up and down, screaming and laughing - only stopping when being told off. Even the stairs had its stories! Everywhere I looked, there is something that reminded me of our escapades. Those were the happiest moments I held close to my heart.

When I shared this picture with my siblings and cousins, I never knew the excitement I caused. It was heart-warming when one by one, my cousins, started to reminisce their moments that were similar to what I had had. Everyone remembered the fire-escape at the back of the house and asking me whether it was still there.
I bet it is still there! A favourite hang-out for us at any time of day... the spiral stairs, they called it. An escape for us to sneak out at mid-mornings for our roti canai down the road, or in the afternoons for ice-creams at a nearby store. And we loved our evening strolls at the beach fronting the hospital across the house, under the supervision of the older cousins and an aunt.

I guess being young and care-free merit us the best ever childhood one could imagine.

I must say, writing this makes me a bit melancholic. Who would believe a house devoid of fancy trappings, that we're basking in nowadays, could be a winner of one of the best places I had ever been. I want to think of this house as a place we knew no heart-aches. There was only love. We were one big family then. That is why it was special.

We have our commitments now, but I'm glad my families shared the same sentiment with me... and shared the sense of belonging about a house that was never ours...
 

Lunch, anyone?

When it's hot and bothered...

.... a bowl of koayteow t'ng, is simply refreshing...

Jemput makan!

Sunday Rantings

American Idol has to be a joke this time around... I'm sorry Casey James, much that I like your vocals...still Adam Lambert proves to be the real idol. Initially I've been rooting for Casey, Lee Dewyze and Chrystal 'Mamasox' Bowersox, but now it looks I'm yawning throughout the show and I even had the tv mute when Siobhan Magnus sang. Oh, now that she's gone...it's a good riddance....along with that irritating Andrew Garcia. Okay, I stayed because of Ellen D and Mr Cowell, and Kara (thanks for the hair styles), and Randy.

With five hopefuls left, Chrystal might as well go on to sing and win, while the others surely have to bet on their bottom dollar for the mercy from their voters. Still my choice would have been Casey...but if he is good to leave, then, by all means...tata! But then again, you can never tell AI's game... the best sometimes won't win. Adam Lambert was one such cases, so was Daughtry....Bo Bice... well, I can go on and on but Adam still reigns on AI's throne.

Back on our shores, AF is but another joke. Same goes to the jokers judges. What does Haji Aznil know about singing, for crying out loud! I had the feelings that one judge trying to be Simon Cowell, but hey, that guy knows his stuff! Oh, don't get me started...

Okay, gotta go...I'm not myself when I'm bad. That's what it takes.... be cruel in order to be nice. Hihik!
Oh, by the way, lets hope AIM 17 tonight will not be a letdown. No, I'm not saying this because my cousin is part of the production, but seriously, can we have something from our music industry be memorable?

Last but not least, here's a sneak preview of what in store tonight...

(Pic: by courtesy of kzr: Yuna and Aizat's performance... )