They just adore each other these two....

This is actually "kacau Abang" time for Millie

This is My Card

Errr.... puffy eyed just got out of bed Millie

Millie's First Steps

STOP PRESS!!!! On Saturday 22nd September 2007, Little Miss Millie took her first four steps!!!! She sort of did it uncosciously, just like her independent standing ups... She's been doing that since a few days ago..... I just can't wait to see her walking!!!! Insya Allah she'll be able to do it for Eid.

Another Child Is Dead... More Missing.... What Do We Do?

So, it is Nurin.... at least the parents have closure.... my heart goes out to them..... regardless of who, why, how, when, where and what.... and the IGP wants to enforce the "negligent parent(s)" law. Okay, fine.... does this mean the parents of all the missing children will be brought to court? Jailed? Sentenced to God knows what?
Where do we draw the line? Will it only limit to missing and dead children? What about children who are neglected? What about malnourished children? What about children whose fathers simply ignore them after divorcing their mothers? What about children whose fathers are too lazy to fend for them? Do we also punish hardworking parents who work day and night to feed, cloth and shelter their kids but have to leave them at home unsupervised?
Wouldn't it be much easier if we simply adopt the divine laws? Need I say more? Ban whatever is haraam, enforce whatever is the hukum..... implement whatever is the sunnah and the divine decree.... ALLAH knoweth best for mankind..... then, now and forever......

Haakem's Test 3 Results

I have been asking Abang for his Buku Laporan Adab Belajar aka Report Book since August and finally yesterday, when I asked for it while breastfeeding Millie (after coming back from Lumut), he said, "Oh Yes, nasib baik Mama tanya.... Haakem rindu Mama sampai lupa pasal buku tu". And he showed it to me, saying, "tapi Mama jangan marah tau markah Sains Haakem... tak byk la...". I looked at the results and was pleasantly surprised, He scored 92% for his Science and above 95% for all other subjects including full marks for Agama and English. I told him that I am really proud of him not only because of his high marks but because he put an effort to study for the tests and to keep up the good work.
In actual fact, I feel rather guilty for I have not been able to coach his studying very often like I used to. I have been arriving home quite late (earliest at 5.40pm and latest at 9.30pm, the latter being more often) and would be preoccupied with housework and Millie. By the time I finished, I would be exhausted and all I could do is hug and kiss Haakem or briefly flip through pages of his text and exercise books. And now with so many outstation duties (which I can no longer escape from since Millie is already not exclusively breastfed), I have lesser time with him... and Haakem has been a real angel, never complaining.

Outstation (Again) in Ramadhan

On Tuesday, my best friend (also a colleague from office) and I drove to Lumut. She picked me up at 6.30am (after losing her way) and we arrived at the Yard at 10.00am, for the meeting with the Dutch. The meeting was actually a continuation from yesterday's but we were not required earlier. All went well and we went off at 4.30pm, to check-in to our hotel room (Orient Star).
We earlier had an invitation for Iftar at one of my close friends' home. She just got back from the States following her husband's training there. She just re-joined our company a day earlier. After unpacking, resting for a bit and freshening up, we drove to the place, arriving at 7.00pm, in time for iftar. Her kids have all grown up!! I used to see them quite a bit when they used to reside in KL and now the eldest is a sweet 17 while the the little girl has started Primary 1.
We had fried noodles (with humungous prawns!!), white rice with beef in soy sauce, chicken curry and stir fried mixed vegy. We had a really great time, catching up on the latest news. We left the house at 9.15pm, all full and exhausted. We stopped at a shop to get some canned drinks, a carton of milk and chips!!
We slept at 1.00 am after taking turns to do our work for the next day's meeting on my notebook. After sahur at the hotel terrace, we continued with our works (and taking turn to sleep). We pushed off from the hotel at 8.45, arriving at the Yard ay 9.00am, in time to print things out.
The meeting started at 10.30am and finished at 1.30pm. We went back to the hotel and after freshening up, we pushed off for KL at 3.30pm. I arrived home at 6.45pm and my friend arrived at hers at 6.55pm. Alhamdulillah!! Haakem has already laid the table and my aunt served rice, fish head & okra curry and sambal tumis telur (boiled eggs in chilli paste), fried dried kurau fish and lemon syrup drinks.
I was so tired that after breastfeeding Millie I slept until 5.00am.
Most probably, I will have to go to Lumut again on Friday and definitely will have to be in Lumut on 1st and 2nd October..... sigh....... my only worry is Millie's milk and her sleeping at night but both times previously (including this very recent one), she slept soundly from 11.00pm to 5.00am.

First Week of Ramadhan Is Almost Over

Alhamdulillah.... the first 4 days of Ramadhan went well and my family got to breakfast together on every day. We all managed to perform tarawih prayers too and get up for sahur even for drinking a glass of water.
But this week will be another story. I will have to travel to Lumut on Tuesday and Wednesday so Tuesday will definitely without the family and if we can finish early (which I doubt), I will make it in time for iftar with my family on Wednesday.
On Friday 14th Sept, I arrived in Sg Buluh from Lumut at 4.40pm but due to the heavy traffic jam, my husband and I managed to reach home at 7.00pm. Lucky I already bought some curry puffs, sardine bread rolls and mini kueh bakar for iftar. My aunt has already cooked chicken curry for dinner and after iftar and maghrib prayers, I cooked stir fry mixed vegies and fried the dried fish I bought in Lumut earlier.
On Saturday, 15th Sept., my aunt cooked fish in soy sauce and vegetables soup for dinner. For iftar we had murtabak (beef stuffed dough, fried with beaten eggs), otak-otak (fish paste grilled in palm leaves) and bubur som-som (custard eaten with syrup) and orange squash.
On Sunday 16th Sept., my aunt bought bubur lambuk (mixed rice porridge) and kueh bakar (again) for iftar and I cooked fried rice to be served with boiled salted eggs, fried pickled mackerel and lettuce. Haakem enjoyed dinner very much and had third helpings! He didn't have dinner on the second and third night.
Today, my aunt is preparing oxtail/bones soup ( I guess to be eaten with rice and boiled macaroni) and some cooked salad. For iftar Haakem has requested sweet red bean porridge.

First Day of Ramadhan

Work was okay. Nobody circulated any price list of Ramadhan Berbuka Promo of hotels / restaurants / eateries around KL. I am not in the habit of breakfasting outside except with really close friends, once at our favourite spot (Terminal Seafood). Hotels are a definite no-no. Waste of money and totally unacceptable especially in Ramadhan. Other than iftar at my relatives' homes, I usually eat at home.
My husband's company released the Muslim staff at 4.15pm, good arrangement, in time to fetch me at 4.30pm. We arrived home at 5.00pm. As expected traffic jam is a norm during early days of fasting month. After Asar prayers, hubby and Haakem went to Pasar Ramadhan to get some kuehs. My aunty has cooked asam pedas ikan merah with cabbage and prepared watermelon juice. We decided to iftar with just the kuehs and drinks and after Maghrib prayer, we'd have dinner.
So, at 6.30pm I laid the table. Haakem and hubby bought murtabak (Haakem's and my favourite iftar dish), kueh takung and kueh bakar. I made some hot tea, put 3 dates on each saucer and pour zamzam water in each glass. I had earlier put Millie to sleep so that we and Bibik can all eat together. Iftar was at 7.14 pm. After iftar, Bibik performed her Maghrib prayer and Millie was already up. The rest of us prayed Maghrib together and after that we had our dinner. The assam pedas and fried fish. After that Hubby ad haakem went to the nearby Mosque for isya' and tarawih prayers. I did mine at home and so did my aunt while Bibik looked after Millie. I went to bed at 11.30 pm. Alhamdulillah, the first day was really smooth. I have to travel to Lumut with my colleagues tomorrow.

Urban Bistro Istana Hotel

Yesterday after the signing ceremony, my colleagues and I were invited for lunch at Urban Bistro Istana Hotel with the project team and the awarding company.

Verdict:

Ambience - excellent for leisurely meals, meeting old friends, reunions;

Service - slow, really bad for quickies but acceptable for those who are killing time;

Food - limited choices for Muslims as most contain alcohol, whatever is available is delicious though;

Drinks - for non-alcoholic beverages, a reasonably wide selection and tasted good!

Price - on the pricey side but worth it.

Chef - young, energetic and really good looking caucasion lady!!!

I had the set lunch - soup of the day (with hint of lemon grass and lobster eggs in it), fried salmon (with oiled anchovy, fennel and avocado) and local fruits. Kiwi & melon juice and jasmine tea to quench my thirst.

Ramadhan 1428

Today is the first day of Ramadhan. I started it off by getting up at 2.30am to perform my isya', tarawih and witr prayers. Earlier I slept at 8.00pm. Alhamdulillah, Millie slept through. I got up at 5.10pm for my sahur (I had rice, fish soup, stir fried beans and hot tea and 3 sips of zam-zam water) with my aunt who had almost the same dish except the tea, I then woke Haakem up to drink a glass of zam-zam water and prepared hot coffee for hubby to have with some dates and zam-zam water too. I woke him up at 5.30am. Bibik got up at 5.20 am and had milo and 3 pieces of bread.
At 5.55 am, I woke Haakem for Subuh jemaah prayer. We later slept and I got up at 8.00am to get ready for office. Haakem was still asleep as his school is closed for first fasting day. I hope he'll be fine. He managed full months of fasting for the past 2 years since he was in Kindergarten Year 2, biologically aged 5, officially aged 6.
I hope I also can manage this Ramadhan. Last year I was still in confinement after giving birth to my little princess 4 weeks earlier and I got to fast the first days and only missed 8 days. But is was great being a stay-at-home mom then.
And at around 11.30am, I felt a slight tremor.... innalillah... the tsunami again.... Ya Allah, please protect me and all my beloved ones.

Little Princess Ameera

One of my close friends, Fieda gave birth to a baby girl some 4 months ago. She too had to wait for a few years after the first one (boy) was around before getting a new addition to the lineage. Little Princess Ameera Zulaikha (yes, you read it right!) Mohd Yusof is featured here and another pic with big bro Adam!!

Hope to meet them this Eid. CONGRATULATIONS FIEDA... now we each have a pair of whom we are really proud of!

September 11th

It's the 6th anniversary....... and I still can remember vividly how excited I was to see the second tower of the WTC got hit by the plane and hours later the Pentagon..... the next day and a few months following that, we received a lot of e-mails on theories, speculations and more news.... I'm sure I keep more pix but then again...... I cannot remember where.... heard that they are erecting Freedom Tower on Ground Zero, soon....

The Heirs To The Throne

Heeheheheh...... I just cannot resist this pix, of my brother (the only boy in the family) and his almost one year old son.... Haikal is only 2 months younger than my little Miss Millie but is showing physical progress at almost the same pace.

Millie Millie

Striking a pose for Mama's always ready camera!!

Kenduri Doa Selamat & Birthdays

On 9th Sept 2007, my sisters and I decided to organise a pot luck kenduri (feast?) for tahlil (prayers recitals) Abah's 10th Hol Almarhum and later birthdays celebration of my hubby, my eldest sister, my brother, Millie and my Mom. All July, Aug, Sept and Oct. birthdays they are. Loads and loads of food there was!

I prepared the white rice, padprik campur (that is beef, chicken, squid, long beans, onions, cauliflower, carrots, baby sweetcorn, chillies, all cut into bite size, cooked with garlic, ginger and mixture of tomato ketchup, soy ketchup & oyster sauce), lemak kobis (cabbage in coconut milk) and drinks (hot tea and cold lemon syrup). My younger sister brought sambal tumis udang petai (prawn & smelly peas in chillie paste) and ikan keli goreng (fried small catfish), my elder sister brought ulam (local raw vegetables) & sambal belacan (chillie with prawn paste), my eldest siter brought the birthday carrot cake, my sister in law brought fried noodles, my Mom brought fried dried kurau fish, boiled salted duck eggs and tapai ubi (fermented tapioca) and my youngest aunt brought grilled red talapia fish. And everybody brought fruits. There were rambutans, dokong, rambai, melon and grapes.

The people were the whole of my siblings' families, my youngest aunt's family, my Mom, my aunt-cum-mother (Mak Yah), the newly weds (remember posting Teluk Intan?) and the groom's elder brother (my cousin).

We had a really good time of course!! We started with Maghrib prayers jemaah with Haakem as the muezzin reciting the call for prayers and Syahmi (my 6 year old nephew) reciting the qamat. And then, as we sisters started to lay the table, my hubby led the tahlil & prayers, at around 8pm we started with the fruits and later the main course.

Birthday cake was cut at around 9.15pm and after more chattings, stupid jokes, bursts of laughters, hugs & kisses, the guests started leaving at around 10.30pm, with my brother's family being the last to leave at 12.00 midnight.

Mak Yah retired by 11.00pm and after putting Millie (a very tired little hostess), I continued rearranging the furniture with hubby, who by 12.30 is sound asleep. I asked Bibik to go to bed and continue in the morning. Meanwhile I did some clearing ups and rearranging of stuff and went to bed at 1.30am. At 4.30am I was woken up by the very strong wind. I got up to close all doors and windows.

Alhamdulillah it all went well and we didn't have any left overs!! Good planning!

Hoskins Part 3

More pictures received from my foster sister Jen. Her boys have really grown up!!

Pix of Sam & Grandpa (my foster Dad, that is!), Jayden (isn't he handsome!!) and Sam & Jay.

Budget 2008

Yesterday the PM (not my namesake la....) cum First Finance Minister, tabled the 2008 Budget. Does it affect me? at all? Well.... out of the many2 items, I shall benefit in the form of not having to pay RM4 of my son's primary school fee and not having to spend some RM70 for text books and if I want to get some tax exemption, I will have to enrol in a postgraduate course and buying sports equipment... err... does tracksuit count as sports equipment? And that's all......... thank you Pak Lah..... you are so kind........

The Grumpy Mole

During our stay in Wellington while touring NZ in 2004, we had to pass by a famous pub, to get to our apartment. The name of the pub is "The Grumpy Mole", which has become a famous landmark in that area. Apparently it is a franchise and it has its own website..... this picture sort of reminded me of the name of the pub... that's all......

Wedding @ Teluk Intan - 25 Aug 2007 (Belated Post)

Last 25th August 2007, we went to Teluk Intan for my cousin's wedding. 3 car convoy. Ours, my eldest sister's (with my Mom, sister-in-law, 2 nephews) and my youngest aunty's (herself, her husband, her daughter and my brother as the driver). Millie was still unwell, in fact I almost cancelled the trip but since it is a chance to meet our relatives, we proceeded as planned. Millie was not resting very well the night before and of course, neither did I.

I prepared sardine sandwiches for the convoy members and waited for the "go" signal from my aunty, because we are meeting at Sungai Buluh R&R before commencing our journey north the PLUS Highway. My aunt's family arrived at 9.40am and we arrived at 10.00am.

My sister's group arrived at 10.45am and after filling up our gas (and some dunkin donuts & lattes), we pushed off at around 11.25am, stopping after Bidor's toll plaza, for my sandwiches. They loved them sandwiches!

At around 1.30pm, we arrived at the groom's house and it was oh so much fun!! I met my eldest male cousin whom I have not seen for 22 years! He used to stay with my grandmother too. It was a small reunion, in a way. The groom's siblings were in fact my "foster siblings" when I was staying with my grandmother as they too lived in the same town. All were with kids, most looking exactly like my cousins!!

After we had our lunch and more catching-ups and contact details exchanges, we pushed off back to KL at 3.30pm, bringing back loads of food and goody bags, stopping at Ulu Bernam R&R for prayers and the famous mee kari and lemon tea.

We arrived home at 8.00 pm, in time for Maghrib prayers. Alhamdulillah!! Don't know when we will meet them again!

More Bday Pics

A few more shots for the fans!! The first picture is the happiest bday girl "the world is mine" pose on Atuk's bed, before proceeding to disturb Abang's slumber. The last picture is the grumpy bday girl, having her dinner, sweet potato and corn.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MILLIE

4th September 2007 - My Little Princess Millie is One Year Old today!!!
All bright, happy and grinning!!

And it was only moments ago that I went through the pregnancy, that I spent the nights at the hospital, that I had the pain, that I was pushed to the labour room, that I saw my little bundle of joy on my chest immediately after she pushed her way out of my tummy...........

Millie Is Warded!! 27th to 29th August 2007

Millie had an on & off fever, cough and runny nose for 2 days so we brought her to our family doctor's clinic on 22nd August but her condition did not improve and her refusing to take her medication didn't help either and we didn't have the heart to force her...... then her temperature shot to 38.4 on Sunday but we didn't bring her to the clinic because replacement doctors were on duty the whole day, so we took her to the doctor first thing Monday morning.
Lungs are noisy and after the nebuliser it still didn't improve, so the doctor gave an option of either 4 hourly nebuliser (we had to bring her to the clinic, of course) or admitted. So we opted for hospitalisation.... We had our breakfast, went home to pack and settle things at home. After Zohor prayer, we went to Paed Inst HKL, see the doctor (actually I don't understand why we had to see the doctor again, does it mean private clinics' recommendations are not valid?), took her for X-Ray and later warded at around 5.20pm.
As expected phlegm in the lungs and although the junior doctor said it could be just viral, the senior MO suspected bacterial infection, so they administer IV antibiotics and also oral paracetamol for her fever but since her oxygen level was maintained above 95, they didn't administer oxygen or nebuliser...
Mama had to sleep at the hospital but it was comfortable enough and they serve breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. Papa came on & off to look after Millie while Mama took her shower or go for prayers. After 10pm, Papa had to leave, and Mama had to adjust accordingly if Mama needed to use the ladies. Atuk, Bibik and Abang came to visit on the second day. They missed Millie terribly.
Millie was particularly iritated with the student nurses' rounds and I had to request them to minimise their intrusions so that Millie can rest properly.
And then on Wednesday, since she is no more having any fever, the MO ordered her discharge but she had to continue with antibiotics for 10 days.... Alhamdulillah... and the bills? Errr.... the registration fee was RM30.00 since we are not goverment servants but he hospital bill was err... RM7.00... thank God I am a tax paying citizen, so I don't feel that I am "subsidised" by the people's money.
So, for the past 6 days, Mama and Papa had to wrestle with Millie to administer her antibiotics but she is getting better in "rejecting" all attempts. She is so full of ideas and tricks. She fakes sleeping, she shakes her head and whimpers with the mouth clenched shut!!! She pretends to watch the TV, she pretends everything!!!!
But Alhamdulillah, since 4 days ago she's getting better, eating well, no more runny or stuffy nose and no more coughing but medicine time is always an adventure.
Otherwise, she's really happy and playful.....
Mama was on unrecorded leave for the 3 days......