Its School Holidays again....

Credit to Google Images and childfriendlyrestaurant.com.au

Yup, its mid-term school holidays. Kids are thrill and entertaining themselves with PSP, PS2, more time on tv and computer.

We have no plans yet as where to go for this holiday. I am quite overloaded with work. Satu hari cuti, my mail box dah bagi warning 'your mailbox is almost full'. Haih.....satu hari e-mail yang datang at least 80 to 100 messages. Huhuhu....bayangkan kalau I'm gone for 3 days? Itu je yang I tak larat ....mengadap e-mail and replying them.

My son has been pressuring us to go to Bukit Gambang Resort City. Well..... I don't know....I am sorry but I do not enjoy water that much. Then there's the heat and the sweat....aye,....the waiting....hmmm....Am I such a holiday pooper?

If given the given the choice where to go for a holiday......scrap the overseas trip,...I missed Cameron Highlands so much.  http://shs-shark.blogspot.com/2008/05/i-am-free-again-tonight.html

It is so weird because I am still unable to find the nerve to go to Cameron. It was the last family holiday that we spent with Abah. A year later he passed away. It was Abah's favorite place to play golf (the golf course right in front of Merlin Hotel,....well used to be). It really brings back so much memories.....

I've said it once before and I want to say it again,....when I retire I want to spend my final years in Cameron Highlands.

Happy Birthday Shakiel!

Both Shakiel and myself would have celebrate the same birthday every year. But he was too eager to come out 10 days sooner than the expected due date....hahaha. It was a quick delivery and alhamdulillah all went well.

He was an easy baby to care and does not create much hassle like his sister. He falls sleep easily and sleeps through the night. 

Today Shakiel turns 10 and mummy want to wish you Happy Birthday. Semoga Shakiel menjadi anak yang baik, rajin dan soleh ya....

Mummy tak akan pernah minta balasan. Mummy tak akan pernah minta harta kekayaan. Mummy tak akan pernah minta dibelikan sesuatu yang mewah. As a mother I only can hope and pray that either my children does not hurt my feelings and jadi anak-anak yang soleh/solehah. Itulah sebenar-benarnya harapan mummy. The rest I will leave it in Gods hand, insya Allah.

Shakiel, no matter what mummy will always love you....

Tahlil for Abah

12-May-2014 genap 5 tahun Abah meninggal dunia. Frankly speaking I have not yet come to terms of his loss. I still feel he is around. When I thought of him, I will sedekah Al Fatihah; sometimes I smile and there are days where tears were my best mate. It still hurts whenever I think or talk about Abah.

It's been a while since I visited his grave, last being 2013 Raya. Ni dah nak masuk bulan puasa....

So today, my sister buat kenduri tahlil at her house. It was just for our side of the family and her in laws. At 11 am we read Yassin and also prayed for our children who will be sitting UPSR this year. Hopefully they will do well in their exams.

At 12 noon was lunch. A good spread which was mostly prepared by my sister.

We had steamed Otak-Otak, Salted Fish, Salted Eggs, Sambal Terasi, Sambal Kelapa, Mixed Vege, Spicy Squid, Fried Chicken, Gulai Lemak Cili Padi Daging Salai, Gulai Dalca with Salted Fish and Remunggai.

Love, love, love the food. It was my first attempt tasting Gulai Lemak Cili Padi Daging Salai.  I heard so much about it and was not so sure what am I supposed to expect; like, how thick/thin the beef slice should be? Is it how the original gulai lemak should taste? Ya da Ya da Ya da....banyak pulak soalkan? My sister's mother in law cakap yang buat sedap santan mesti freshly squeezed and bukan beli santan dah siap dalam packet kat kedai.....Being half Noghori I am embarrased to say I don't enjoy much of gulai lemak. Entahla I guess sebab after my mom's death, I grew up in Perak so I am more of a Perakian than a Noghori. Whatever it is, the lunch was awesome.

Dessert time I ate lots of ubi kayu rebus. Yang sedap tu cicah dengan kelapa parut and gula. Tried with the sambal ikan bilis but I didn't like it. Rasa pelik macam ada pahit-pahit sikit.  Tried the beef pie,...nope a turn off. Pastry was stale and isi sungguh kendekut....sorry ya beb....banyak complaint pulak. Dahlah makan free...In return I prepared my special pohpia goreng tapi tak sempat nak ambil gambar....huhuhu...

Ubi Kayu with sambal ikan bilis and kelap parut.

Shakiel received an early birthday presents since his birthday is just 2 days away. An Adidas wrist watch from his aunt and a bicycle from his Uncle. Yeap, he's been asking what I will give him for his birthday....and I have no idea lagi.

Tahlil selesai. Makan pun dah selesai. Perut kenyang. Apa lagi, tidur la....which I did..hahaha.

Abah, I can never have another dad like you.....Al Fatihah.

Meet ROCK STAR

This is Rock Star. He is a fighting fish or ikan laga.

It was a Mother's Day gift from my other half and the kids. Thank you guys....Though I do not favor having pets....because of past experiences,...I am learning to like it by the day. You know how people say, once you give a pet a name you will start to get attached.

Why Rock Star? Don't know, it just popped up in my mind.

It was my other half's intention that I bring the fish to work. Its supposed to be therapeutic. Supposed to help me to reduce my stress level when looking at it. Sometimes it does....now I don't think I want to bring to work. I am more concern whose gonna feed Rock Star during weekends I am not at work. Or when I go for long leave?.....SO I am keeping him at home!

Suka tengok bila dia kembang kan ekor dia....and funny bila tengok dia makan....mula2 masuk dalam mulut then it spit it out....hihhihii. The way he swims around....so graceful. Kesian jugak bila tengok dia swimming alone but ikan laga ni tak boleh keep in pairs, they will fight with each other.

Thank you very much guys and love you all. To Shakiel who put in 99% effort making my Sunday a real cheer with the mother's day card and 4 'recycled' gifts, you're a blessing in disguise.

Happy Mother's Day.

Yes, it the time of the year for every mother to get recognition of being the Super Coolest Mom in the entire Universe.  Hahaha......

Credit to Google Images and badlandsunderground.blogspot.com

A couple of years' ago, someone posted on my Facebook wall that it is 'haram' to celebrate Mother's Day. Reason being you can read here, http://shafiqolbu.wordpress.com/2013/05/11/sejarah-asal-sambutan-hari-ibu/

It is inconclusive. I feel as long as we do not spent excessively I am sure it is okay. I mean, do we mothers get at least a word of thank you daily from your children? Never! So if it takes one day in a year for my kids to appreciate my hard work and effort in raising them, I'll take Mother's Day!

I have been working in the weekends this past few weeks. Since I took up the acting position I am still not able to stabilized my work load. I need the 2 extra days to make me feel a slight relaxed when I step in to work on Mondays. I pray this will reduce in weeks to come. Insya Allah.....

So this year, we celebrated Mother's Day at my office, just the 3 of us.  Mummy is so sorry that I have to dragged you both again this weekend to work. They were enjoying themselves on the computer and in returned mummy had prepare lunch. They love my chicken soup with carrots and potatoes. And, we ate in the break room.

 Kids put on their funny faces.

Later we decided to take a selfie.....

Happy Mother's Day to my Moms and all the other mothers out there.

Package Wrapped in News Paper.

Credit to Google Seach and bluepurpleand scarlett.com

When I reached puberty I only had my grandmother as a 'substitute mom'. By then, she was already in her sixties. I am sure she thought me all she knew just like when she raised her 3 daughters in the,...1950's.

This may be inappropriate so if you wish not to continue reading, I understand. For those who insist,....here goes.

I did not have a mother who can teach me about puberty and mensuration or what we simply called periods. Since I lived with my grandmother, she taught me what to do or use when I get my monthly periods. Perhaps,.... she did not know that sanitary towel existed then.....well, I was 12 and do not have the slightest idea what period is.

Nobody came to explain to me why we have it. No one advised what are we expected to do when we have it. NAA...DAA...Her version of sanitary pad is ancient and maybe she was taught the same by her own mother! Only 2 years after I reached puberty, I was introduced to sanitary towel and later to tampons during my college years.

Masa mula dapat my period I did not have to think of buying sanitary towels. I used my grandmother's ancient method. I dragged myself every time I have elder cousin or aunt who asked favor from me to buy sanitary towel at the local convenience store, Kedai si Ah Kan.....Why?

Well NOW the whole kampung knows that you have period because you'll be carrying around a box package wrapped in newspaper and tied with rubber band! Ialah dulu kayuh basikal, Clip kan kotak yang berbalut kertas surat khabar kat seat belakang. Kayuh basikal dari kedai, lalu depan klinik kerajaan, lalu depan rumah orang kampung, lalu tepi padang bola.....looked left and right so that tak ada budak lelaki tengah main bola,.....and finally a stretched of houses before sampai rumah my grandmother. How humiliating!

Young Girl Riding Her Bike.

Credit to Google Images and photography.nationalgeographic.com

Because of the package I was willing to sacrifice my bloodline....I was in a confrontation with Kak Ina,.... didn't speak to her for more than 5 months, even though she came back Parit every weekend from Ipoh. She goes to MGS Ipoh (I think.....? It sounded natural...) Anyway, it ended when Uncle Ros came to the picture.....I guess Kak Ina must have missed my company. She must have mentioned the 'stand-off'. She want to make amends with me! Personally, I can go on silent for the rest of my life......

Yes, it was a big of a deal!!!!

Soal Jawab Ustaz Azhar Idrus - Hukum Suami Guna Duit Isteri.

Terkejut jugak bila terbaca ni on somebody's Facebook wall. Something to ponder and share.

Soalan : HUKUM SUAMI GUNA DUIT ISTERI

Sekadar hiasan. Credit to Google Images and ping.busuk.org

Jawapan Ustaz Azhar Idrus : Jawabnya, HALAL.... Jika isteri HALALKAN. Tapi ingat! Perbelanjaan harian yang perlu adalah WAJIB atas suami walaupun isteri kaya dan banyak duit. Cth : Isteri berniaga RM20K sebulan, suami makan gaji RM2000 sebulan. Suami TAK BOLEH kata pada isteri, 'Yang ni awak bayar'. Hukumnya HARAM.

Kerana tanggungjawab belanja nafkah harian adalah atas suami. Melainkan Isteri kata, 'Oleh kerana awak tak ada duit, biar saya yang bayar'. Ini baru boleh.

Ramai suami2 yang memperbodohkan isterinya dengan menyuruh isteri bayar itu bayar ini. 'Yang ni awak bayar, yang tu saya bayar'.

Ingat, hukumnya HARAM kerana setiap sen untuk belanja nafkah adalah tanggungjawab suami, kecuali isterinya halalkan baru boleh.

Macamana dengan duit isteri yang suami guna selama ini? Jawabnya, duit isteri yang telah suami guna untuk buat belanja, akan menjadi beban HUTANG yang suami WAJIB bayar balik pada isteri, kecuali isteri halalkan.

SUAMI JUGA TIADA HAK UNTUK BERTANYA TENTANG DUIT ISTERI DAN KE MANAKAH ISTERI BELANJAKAN DUIT TERSEBUT.

Ada pulak suami atau bakal suami yang kata, 'Oooo... kalau macam tu teruk la.

Mana boleh....' Jawapannya senang, kalau dah tahu tak boleh, jangan kahwin!

.....and I did not made it up.

What else can they say?

Recently a colleague at work received a phone call that his mother passed away. He rushed back to Malacca. He was away from work for almost a week. My condolences to him and his family during this difficult period.

I saw his car parked in the basement today and I do not have any thing planned of what to say to him. A few scenarios playing in my mind and when I reached forth floor I had a plan.

For Display purposes only. Credit to Google Images and news.bbc.co.uk

As I expected other colleagues were there to comfort him. I decided not to approach him. Maybe a bit later I said to myself. I am sure he is still sad and distraught of with what he had just went through. The whole day, I have been busy and occupied with my work, rushing datelines, replying e-mail, tele-conference with UNAIDS Geneva.....but on and off I took a glance at him telling myself. I just wanna make sure that he is in his comfort zone...... no, not yet.....and then,..... it was 10 to 5 pm.

So I decided to pop by his workstation. "So you apa khabar? He replied he is doing good though the death was unexpected. Then I said, I purposely tak datang jumpa you much earlier sebab I am sure ramai member2 akan datang. I rasa biar you relax dulu. Anyway, takziah ya. I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. I pun tak tahu macamana nak cakap lagi. Kita berbanyakkan doa and sedekah Al-Fatihah ya". I am lost with words. So I kept quiet and looked in his teary eyes. Then he opened up. Sebak jugak rasanya.


I have lost both of my parents; one at an early age and then the other at my later age. Two different types of emotions I carry around. You can never imagine the feeling how a person who lost someone close to them and in this instances our parent. If you ever heard people say, " Yeah, I understand how you feel..." trust me no other person can understand how we feel. The feeling varies from one another. Yes, you may say that I'm not being sensitive...I know they are being polite....and that is nice......what else can they say at this point of time?



This 12th May marked the 5th year my dad pulang ke rahmatullah.....hmmmm....all I can say is I have my dad's features that I can see him everyday whenever I look in the mirror.  Constant reminder he is always with me. And when I look at my sister, I see my mom....mom been gone 37 years.

Al-Fatihah...mudah-mudahan mereka yang telah pergi menyambut seruan Ilahi, ditempatkan di kalangan orang-orang yang beriman.

 To Amran, saya doakan agar you tabah sebab God has other plans for us...