Solitary Meal

* This was last year's entry. Just added and updated the pictures. *

Having a solitary dinner since Ayang is busy with his company's open house. Alas, as there were only me to cater to, I decided upon the one-wok-dish ala masak pedas seafood s****i. Ayang did mention that s****i is getting more expensive and I wanted to see whether I could duplicate their signature dish. So, there I was gearing upto cook the dish and the only seafood on hand was some squids the I bought at Kedai Aceh. However, I made do and here is the result.

Ta daa!!!!

Does it taste as yummilicious as it look? Of course!!!! This is what the Malays said about masuk bakul angkat sendiri (literally it means praising and boasting about one's achievements). For those wanting to have a taste...

Here is the recipe:

Four shallots, three garlic (smashed), an inch of ginger, two tablespoons of chilli paste, a tablespoon of fish sauce or nampla, eight squids (cut across to make 4 rings each), some carrot, some long beans and an onion.

Heat some oil and stir fry the shallot, garlic and ginger. Add the chilli paste, stir and add the nampla. Let the oil rise and add the squids. Stir around and throw in the cut veggies. Add salt and sugar to taste.

It is as easy as ABC or 123. Have a try!!!!

Loss

A colleague of mine passed away a few weeks ago leaving a grieving widow and children. His youngest is only around 3++. And today a friend told me how her friend passed away due to meningitis. She suffered for a week before succumbing to the disease. She had two kids, one of which is only a year plus. Imagine losing your loved ones at such tender ages. Some might say, oh they won't remember the loved ones but I know the impact is there. Another friend called to say that her mother had a mild stroke. My heart skipped a beat.
Therefore, for those of us who still have the luxury of having their mothers anf fathers around, please spare some moments to connect to them. Make that long forgotten phone call that you never came round to. They don't need much, you don't even have to say you love them. They will know that you care, that you love with that one phone call.
(Al-Fatihah to Allahyarham En. Bakri & Sya's friend)

Three Weeks

It has been three weeks since the last post. Many things happened during that period. The first week was filled with marking papers and filling in marks and being generally beat as always when procrastinating work. The second week marked us as the host and hostess for our open house for Hari Raya. It was tiring but was energised watching friends partook in the - may I say - yummilicious food. It was heartwarming when friends came to celebrate the 'beginning' of the house and generally visited one another. Thank you to the guests (you know who you are) for making all the hardwork worthwhile. This third week will also see me in the heat of the kitchen as we will be having another open house for family and relatives. They were not not invited last week but due to the fact that my PIL weren't able to make it as they had to head off to Muar for kenduri tahlil. I am now in the midst of preparing the food and hopefully would be able to add a few images on tomorrow's open house.

Mbak Ika ohhh Mbak Ika

Waduh!!!! Gi mana ni? Kok panggilan teleponnya ngggakk dijawab. Waduhh, gi mana nih, enggak ada baju raya!!!! Huwaaa, takde baju raya la jawabnye ni. Call pun tak berjawab, sms pun diignore nya...adakah aku perlu membeli sehelai dua untuk cover baju raya tu, ahhh tak nak lah (ek e leh, saja lah tu, sebenarnye kau nak kan, kan, kan????) Muaahahahaha, I do know myself, but, during the ranting and grumbling, masuk lah sms dari si dia (siapa lagi, tailor la!!!)

waalaikumsalam kak minta maap tak dengar tepon ingsyaAllah siap kak

Yabeda bedu, aku ada baju raya!!!! Oooops, tak leh suka sesangat, nanti tak siap menangis air mata darah....

Ramadhan ini....

Since moving to the new house, Ayang and I have been spending the weekends at the in-laws' place. There's not much to do since being without a child ,yet, as I think a child would be much suited to be the entertainment of the week for the grandparents...but I guess it fits Ayang's purpose which is to at least come home and see his parents. And being the month of Ramadhan, of course he would like to have Iftar with his parents. And being a good wife I am, I just abide gracefully...(yeah, right)

Since, his brother came back this week from City of Lion, I've decided to wear the hijab. I used not to wear at home eventhough when my BILs are home, too. But, I think since it's the Ramadhan and the time to gather as much pahala as you can, I have decided to start wearing the hijab whenever I am around BILs or non-mahram, Insya-Allah.

The Finale

The Woman In The Sun - the Korean drama which made me stuck on the couch for nearly ten weeks finally ended. Sigh.... I felt so drained and exhausted watching it as it was filled with a multitude of feelings and emotions. I was bawling and crying while watching the last two episode as these two episide is the turning point for the characters to make amends to each other. Frankly speaking, I can't blame the eldest sister for making such a drastic decision as she may have believed that she is acting on the principle of the survival of the fittest and I can't blame on the younger sister for getting revenge on what had been done to her. The plot, the casts, the music, the setting all played important roles in making the drama fabulous. The main actress was very good in emoting different feelings and changing different emotions at a blink of an eye. Ahhhh, puashati....puashati.

P/s: Lepas ni ganti cite antu, tak boleh tengok (terawih, weh) dan memang tak nak tengok...takut...he he he......

Psychobabble

Pn. N from PPD G****k called and informed that there is a short course that will be held tomorrow. And it was already 2.30 p.m. and boohoo I had to go. I wondered how some people figured you can just drop a bombshell and just ignore the fact that other people have life!!! That I have a life. Hello, people have other obligations in life and I can't just say yes on the spot. I need to ask permission from my husband even though anything work related will be blessed by Ayang. What I am trying to say is that people need to learn some courtesy and if you expect people to respect you, respect them in turn. What had happen if I have three children, no maid and a demanding husband? Wouldn't it be a burden!!!!

To just relay the news without any other details as to what the course is all about is totally irresponsible and I am sure there will be tonnes of work waiting at B**** L*****. One thing I hate about this particular PPD is that if a course is to empower you in any way, you will not be called nor invited but if it is work related, hmmmnn bring it on. It would come without me asking nor thinking about it.

I just hope that I will have relatively enjoyable experience there. I am hoping for the best.

All Alone

I am left to my own device as Ayang has a team building exercise in PD. What luck!!!! It has always been this way. Our schedule has always been out of sorts lately. I'll be away, next weekend to Kalumpang Resort and will be leaving Ayang the whole day for a in-house training. Hmmmnnn, tension....

Alahai...

Due to the barrage of workload given to yours dearly, I am now attacked by the cold virus or whatever that is plaguing me now. I am sneezing, teary-eyed and having a mind-blowing headache.

Luckily for me, Ayang is willing to complete some of my work and doing a good job at it. Thanks, Ayang.

Meanwhile, I can relax and update the blog...ha ha ha.....

Thousand Apologies

Things have been hectic and chaotic this past few weeks at the workplace. We have been bombarded by accusations, misconceptions and whatnot. I have always tried to persevere in the face of adversity (ha ha ha...jangan nak berlakon, kau ada mengamuk, kan, kan???). But in the end as a human being you cannot not be hurt by the comments made by 'so-called friends'.

So, I would like to apologize to my panel members for the blunders that I have done and for being the KP who is way beyond inept and incompetent. Sob, sob, sob

Aduhhhhh!!!! 2

Alkisah, alkisah ada orang itew tak takut dan tak serik-serik.

Kaki tak baik lagi, dia dah sibuk nak melompat lagi...

Adalah ada PESKAT - apa itew - Pesta Sukan & Kebudayaan Antara Teknik.

Dia sudahlah main netball kat SMT Klang.

Lompat lah lompat tak sedar diri, kaki terjelepok, sakitlah lagi...

Owwwwhhhhh!!!!

Sekarang ini sedang merana,

Sakitnya amat menjerihkan hati,

Nasib lah baik ada yang simpati,

Kalau tiada hero ku ini,

Merana lah hamba seorang diri.

(ikut nada gurindam, ke sajak, apa-apa pun boley)

What Flower Are You?

I am a Daffodil

You have a sunny disposition and are normally one of the first to show up for the party. You don't need too much attention from the host once you get there as you are more than capable of making yourself seen and heard.

(I don't think this describes me at all. I'm likely the wall flower- trying to disappear - rather than be the life of the party. Do like the flower though. ;-p)

Aduhhhhh!!!!

Aaarghhh! I, who have never played sports earnestly, have always been able to avoid being injured. But to my dismay, yesterday afternoon was different. As I was practising netball for the KAT tournament, I sort of sprained my ankle. Pehhh, the pain was excruciating - my pain tolerance is nil - so the smallest pain does feel 100x intense.

Went to the clinic, and the doctor advised no to make a lot of movement. So going to school was out of the question. And to my delight (albeit the pain) I was given two days of sick leave. Ayang was the most attentive caregiver. He bought me some analgesic cream and some crepe bandage. But then he had to leave for work. Aaaahhhhh, boring nye.

SIGH!!!!

My life has taken such a turn that going to school no longer makes my heart swell with pride. It has in fact makes my heart looks like a withered prune, tinge with bitterness. I look forward to the holidays rather than the working days. How terrible!!!

I WANT TO BE THE TEACHER I USED TO BE. PLEASE, GRANT ME THIS WISH!!!!

Lesser and Lesser

I notice that my posts are dwindling gradually since I started in April. Didn't I promise myself to write more as I need the practice. The thing is I absolutely HATE writing. Even when I was in school and college, writing seemed to have escape from my grasp. I can't figure out the subject matter, nor the theme or whatever it is required to write. All I did most of the time is rambling nonsensically and expect my teachers or my lecturers to actually grade them and I expected excellent results. Hah, no such hope there. I even (in all my humility) flunked "Writing 101" in one semester and of course had to repeat the paper and to my horror with my juniors. Argghhh, how embarrassing and demeaning. Alas, I was rewarded for my diligence (*,) that time and procured an exalted B+ for my effort. However, I do have to share that with a few coursemates - Muhaida and Fathinie - who helped me tremendously. Thank you.

Turning back to the now, I must walk the walk. I have been nagging my students to be more diligent in their writing practice and yet here I am not making good of my own promise to keep on writing.

Well, folks, July would be the month of posts galore. God help me!!!!

Hanging by a Thin Thread

I am, in fact, is hanging by a really, really thin thread and at the end of my leash. These days I feel, no, actually I am being attacked left and right. Dodging the attacks seems to be out of the question. So, I just grin and bear with it. I do feel the hurt as rumours and accusations are flying every other way. Various persons come up to me with stories, some amusing, some entertaining and some downright malicious.

I should have been more confrontational and set the record straight as one colleague suggested but I just don't have the energy to expend and I am not interested to please people nor to rectify their assumptions. As long as I know, I have nothing to worry about my teaching and doing my job as best as I can. I COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT ME. There, I've said it.