Another Milestone Reached

I am without my Chech at the moment. This is the last day of the Diploma Pengurusan Awam course, and the participants are having dinner with the Secretary of State. Chech has been chosen as the Master of Ceremony for the prestigous event. So very, very proud of my Chech.

Tonight, she will be busy packing up to leave INTAN. And tomorrow, we will look for a place to stay in Bandar Baru Bangi, which will be nearer to her office. I am hoping to get more customers in Putrajaya so that I would be able to hang out nearer to the new home more often.

The following few days will be our last time staying in Bangsar. It has been a great experience, but Bandar Baru Bangi will be our place to settle down for the next several years. Ultimately, we will retire somewhere quiet and peaceful. ;)

It Must Be the Lightbulbs!

I scanned my state of mind for my attitudes last evening. A haggard image. And today, as the attitude beams vibrance, the image appears haggard still. I need to change the lightbulbs.

Je t'aime!

❤

New, Every Day

Monday
I woke up to my mother's cooking in Rembau as Kamal and I decided to rest there on a lazy Sunday evening, after our energy was squeezed out by Anis and Haris in Pulau Gadong. Moreover, on Monday, I needed to be Mas' personal referee for Tapisan Keselamatan in Putrajaya, which was just 45-minute drive from Rembau.

Tuesday
I was the emcee for Malam Kesenian Islam, which required me to don a hijab. K-lynn sponsored the inner hijab, Fand, the hijab itself, Yong, the brooch, Era, the style, and Ayue and Fique, the cheers. Thanks to my understanding fellow emcee, Husni, for being calm despite the last-minute preparation as I fell sick after Monday's Putrajaya trip. It was a brilliant day. Thank you, everybody.

Wednesday
Seh, Fique, and I accompanied Yus to MidValley. Kenny Roger's quarter meal was a perfect substitute to Unit Sajian's chicken rice, the Skin Food lip balm Yus introduced felt delicious on my lips, and the skirt displayed at Mixed Culture window charmed me with its vibrant colours. Later in the evening, Diploma Pengurusan Awam participants attended yet another function, Malam Jasamu Dikenang. It was specially arranged for INTAN supporting staff who have contributed to us in numerous ways. I really enjoyed all the performances, particularly the Indian dance, which reminded me of the dance we the fourth formers performed during the farewell lunch for the fifth formers, back in Seri Puteri.

Today
Fique and I will keep ourselves busy with the preparations for our sidang's dance troupe. It is only a day away from Malam Awan Menari Unggas Menyanyi. At the moment, we are completing an assignment due tomorrow. And, I feel like getting a new something.

A Wedding Saturday within the Month of June

June 18, 2006 marked a year of our marriage.

A year of understanding what love really is.

"Love is the true means by which the world is cherished; our love to others and others' love to us" Trahern.

I searched within. In him, I found me.

Speedy Recovery, Anis

On Saturday, my elder brother, Bakhtiar, called to tell that Anis was being hospitalised due to high fever. Unfortunately, we could not visit her immediately as Paklong and Maklong were hosting a kenduri aqiqah for their grandchildren. It was also a farewell to a number of the family members who flew to U.S. the next day.

After visiting my maternal grandmother's ailing younger sister, Wan Teh Jamaliah, and my maternal grandfather's ailing younger brother, Tok Lang Adam (who was the Qadi for my Nikah ceremony), the members of Chez Chembong proceeded to Putra Specialist Hospital to give Anis a cheer.

She looked deucedly delirious to see us, bringing out all her toys to play with Atuk Ali, Wan Asmah, Pak Teh, Pak Cik, Pak Lang, and Mak Lang. Angah was just as excited to see his siblings. We had asam pedas ikan pari and nasi ayam at Pak Man's for lunch and bought nasi ayam for Along and Kak Nani who arrived at the hospital while we were at the stall.

Speedy recovery, Anis. We love you.

Al-Fatihah

When I switched on my phone this morning, the first message I received was from Rose.

Rose's father had passed away yesterday. Our deepest condolences to you and your family, dear Rose.

Al-Fatihah.

Baby Frenzy

Who says I am only into Anis and Haris?
I can't resist my darling husband, too.

Heh.

Aside from being my personal masseur, he also helped to iron my shirt this morning. The result was excellent for a first attempt, further considering he had to do the ironing sans the board as it was being used downstairs at that time.

Anyway, my baby-frenzy weekend might start after attending my cousin's triplets' kenduri aqiqah.

A Hat Trick

I edited my previous entry thrice because Kamal is steadly glued on the plush sofa, surrounded by ayah, Cimi, and Cajib, watching the Germany-Costa Rica game, thus disabling him from fetching the camera in the car, which contains the pictures I would like to upload here. I am into World Cup, definitely, but other teams do not have similar magnetic pull as compared to Brazil. Anything else does not trigger any interest within me, except for the fact that Wanchop might be named Man of the Match in this particular game. Now, that is magnetic.

I hope Cikgu Wan Rodzali has not lost interest in football after refereeing a group of clueless girls during a mock English Premier League, which was made up of teams comprising second former sets in English language lesson once upon 1995.

The Deliciousness of Losing a Meatball

On top of spaghetti
All covered with cheese
I lost my poor meatball
When somebody sneezed

I went to Ujong Pasir, Melaka, last evening, only to be able to catch up with my niece and nephew, my parents, my brothers, and my sister-in-law as well as her sister. Although I have not seen the rest of the gu for in Melaka for a long while due to the two-consecutive-week outdoor modules and my state of being the previous week, I had to recluse myself from everybody as my mother needed me more yesterday. She was tired from a whole day of medical check-up and bone scan in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Every thing will be fine eventually, Mak.

Haris took her worry away by his little antics, particularly when he stared at Kamal for a long, long moment, without blinking. His mother said his eyes resemble mine. Mak agreed that Haris looks a lot like me when I was little, adding that Haris' father and I looked much like Ayah when all of us were babies. As for the adult versions, it is Cimi who is a mirror image of me, particularly when it comes to the nose.

Once I overheard a little relative in Kelantan, who was fond of me, forwarded a question to her friends, "hidung siapa paling mancung dekat sini?"

Tired of listening to all the wrong answers, she looked at me and claimed, "Hidung Kak Aishah lah!"

My chums, who overheard that, guffawed out loud!

Who wouldn't? I have a big nose. The little relative must have loved me so much that she thought highly of my nose.


No matter what, I am always thankful for every single thing. Of course there were moments of negativity. Moments of leaving my true-self. The truth is, such moments strengthen my spiritual being. Today, I am a calmer Aishah, thanks to such moments. And, thanks to Kamal. The truth is we reflect each other.

A Solo Date

Banana Mocha Frappuccino is tantalising. No caffeine for me though. So, iced chocolate it is. Refreshing as I anticipated at least a hint of sweetness, not this bitterness. Bitter definitely tastes better. And, there is a chicken pie.

I need all the fat there is. Ahem. The place is mercilessly cold albeit being almost packed with lunch crowd. If my best chum was here, I would not feel as cold as he would flash me his warmest smile. Ah, that smile. Enjoy your own lunch date, sir.

(As I was typing the earlier paragraphs, I saw a gentleman paying for a little girl's lollypop as her hand could not reach the cashier counter. Oh, how cute. Of course, I was referring to the verb, not the pronoun).

Once, my mother reminisced how she used banana leaf to cover herself when it rained on the way to school. My paternal grandmother dried the laundered clothes above burning charcoals during monsoon seasons. My maternal grandmother shouted "bagho, bagho, bagho api" which shall be translated to "keep on burning, o fire" when she saw black clouds that would hinder outdoor activities. No, it is not raining outside this outlet, but I am somehow relating this coldness to rainy days.

We will be in Melaka later in the evening. There are a pair of baju kurung and a pair of baju melayu to be ironed. I have been extra careful to fold the head scarf neatly so that I could save on the landlady's electricity bill by not having to iron it.

In Melaka, I will get my pimple remedy from Kak Ita, my sister-in-law.

In Melaka, I will also get to discover more about my-true-self.

Lost (Dictionary) and Found (Realisation)

Cilan called to borrow an English-English-Malay dictionary, if I owned any. Which I did not. I owned two exceptional dictionaries, but they were nowhere to be found after one of my younger brothers borrowed them right before I moved to my new place with Kamal. Cimi said he kept it in the drawer of the computer table. Cajib said he only borrowed one of those for an assignment which was done in Rembau, not in Subang. Cilan, then, said "den tak minat nap guno maso tu."

Now that he has to use it, I am thinking of buying a dictionary meant for a chef-to-be like him. Then, he might pay back by cooking for Kamal and I for our special occasions ;p.

I am definitely getting one for myself, too. And, perhaps, a thesaurus as well. Looking forward to going to Kinokinuya afterwards while waiting for Kamal to finish his meeting.

I Just Write to Read

I just write to read.

Simply that, being the simple me.

I just write to read.

Under the Duvet Experience

I am no longer a television junkie, who did not bother going to school to collect her Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah result early Saturday morning as there were endless enthralling television programmes that day! Heck, I even liked Ultraman, with Taro being my favourite then. And, How to Use Public Telephone on TV Pendidikan is a television junkie's must-watch item, as confirmed by informal surveys done back in high school and university.

These days, I watch television only when my favourite show is being aired. As for last evening, there was none. With the scrumptious Kettle Organic Brown Rice Tortilla & Light Cheese Dip substituting popcorn, Kamal and I had an under-the-duvet date instead, watching a mystery movie.

A different side of Robin Williams that made me cringed in sympathy. Kamal, my idea for relaxing has always been light genres actually.

So, the next time we have another under-the-duvet date, the movie will be my pick. And, I would like to watch Desperate Housewives after our swimming date tonight. No The Omen please.

I am still traumatised at my chums' idea of having me seated at the end of the row with empty seats next to it while watching a horror flick!

For Sweet Tuty

Congratulations, Tuty, on your recent engagement to Aizec.

She is a fellow

+ SSPian 98
+ University mate back in UTM Skudai

who is

+ a pantun expert
+ indescribably sweet

Kamal and I can't wait to go to JB for her wedding!

English Lesson at the Canteen

A Jolly Good Morning!
(I first heard this phrase when I was listening to the radio on the way to my mother's office).

It is interesting how we acquire words, particularly those in second language. No, I am not going to change the blog to an English as a Second Language journal. I just want to share how this particular word was added to my vocabulary:

Increase

This occurred in 1996, the year I sat for Penilaian Menengah Rendah exam. Nini and I decided to buy teh ais in our school canteen. The usual canteen owner was not there, probably performing Zuhur prayer. There was only a young guy, a Familiar Face helping Agus, the Indonesian roti canai expert who revealed to my mum, when being asked, that he added Sprite to oomph up the roti canai.

"Teh ais dua. Bungkus."
"Siap!"



The Familiar Face appeared in front of us minutes later, with two plastics filled with teh ais. We wanted to pay, but,

"Kenapa tehnya sikit sangat?"
"Alah, nanti bila ais cair, tehnya increase lah."

From then onward:

i. The Familiar Face became the Familiar Intellectual Face.
ii. Both of us began to use the newly found vocabulary in our essays, starting from the trial paper we had that fateful afternoon.

:D

...

I long to be with Anis and Haris now that this 90%-Bacteria Creature comes alive!

A Definitive Surprise

Guests : We're all so proud of you, proud, proud, proud, proud, proud, proud, proud. What are you going to do now?
Ben : I was going to go upstairs for a minute.
Guests : I meant with your future, your life.
Ben : Well, that's a little hard to say.
☙
Ben : (Naively). (The camera shoots under her upraised leg, framing Ben underneath) Mrs. Robinson - you are trying to seduce me. Aren't you?
Mrs. Robinson : Well, no. I hadn't thought of it. I feel very flattered.
Ben : Mrs. Robinson. Will you forgive me for what I just said?
☙
The Definitive Simon and Garfunkel CD plays the same song over and over again. If I got carried away in the conversation, his left thumb would push the rewind button, playfully.

"Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you
What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson
Joltin' Joe has left and gone away"

I love the surprise, Kamal!

Pampered

The best thing about being unwell is the pampering received from loved ones. When I was feeling under the weather on the last day of Biro Tatanegara Module the previous week, my mother and a younger brother dashed to the scene and drove me to the best doctor in town. Back at home for the weekend, my mother cooked sumptuously healthy meals that could feed the entire Africa.

Maybe I was missing her so much. I felt unfit yesterday, thus a medical leave. Kamal was so sweet to take a half day off work to attend to me. Usually, I would walk to the clinic on my own as the exercise would help me feel better, at least a little. Nonetheless, the whirling sensation strapped me to bed all morning until he finished his meeting. He got me my lunch for the time that he would be away, too.

The true pampering came after he arrived from work. Extra-special massage and that dinner. No, it is not Nine @ One Bangsar or Le Francais. Simply Outback Steakhouse. Nonetheless, everything is special when there is Kamal.

Our second visit there. During the first visit, I was full from lunch and chicken still triggered eczema. So I had one of its salad selections. Nice. Nowadays, after much familiarisation practices, the eczema does not react to chicken. Then, as I am advised by my doctor to increase protein intake while simultaneously decreasing intake of refined carbohydrate, I decided to have Grilled Chicken on Barbie.

Oh, I want to be sick again so that Kamal could treat me at The Manhattan Fish Market.