I first wrote in my earlier blog in July 2006.
I was in my 3rd year of P*D study and already moved out of on-campus accommodation with both 'diploma & degree', i.e. after a FT 6 years stay.
I moved to a shop-lot unit shared with 2 other peoples who come and go until mid 2008.
Came to Penang on 30 January 2009.
So what's new for 2016?
I've done my 1st snorkeling in Kr*bi (14-17 February ladies' trip) and gone horribly sea-sick afterwards.
I can take care of mak for 5 continuous weeks from Dec 2015- Jan 2016, all by myself. It was a daily struggle to make sure breakfast and lunch were ready before I went to office and still maintain normal office hours and only going out on weekends - girls day out - no cooking!
Now that my mak is with my siblings in N9, I really struggle to wake up early for qiam, cooking tapau lunch and reach the office early. I'm becoming lazier day by day......
I have a adopted a stray cat as my 'anak bulu'. Even my mak said, 'Anak kau tu...' (Your son..) when talking about K*Puteh.
Now that I'm appealing to go for hajj for this coming hajj season, mak is already worried over who's taking care of him. I left him at the boarding for long Xmas break (Sunday to Sunday), out station workshop (Sunday to Thursday) and Kr*bi holiday (Saturday to Wednesday). Upon reaching home, he slept next to me at nights and even licked my hair and kneaded my back/neck and whatever upon his reach. With his long claws!!
Basically, I have all that I want in life and nothing more.. I'm happy indeed!
Oh, w.r.t. power struggle at the office - I was unofficially one of the deputies for only about 1 week. I was nominated & I kindly rejected through email but still called for meeting to discuss on Thursday. I said my reasons, like do appoint others more senior academics but none of the person approached by the dean were willing to accept the position and there were others who are more than interested but not approach at all for some reasons or others.
My mistakes were in going around asking opinion of others (selected people) on whether to accept or to reject. So, one person who wasn't in the know now came to know and told me why would you want to do this petty jobs who eventually talked to the dean to appoint another person of his choice instead.
So, by the following Wednesday, I received an urgent call for meeting from the D*an's office. Knowing that there was already a scheduled meeting later in the afternoon, it was the signal to me of what was to come...
I am ok really, I didn't want the position and I only accepted it for reasons related to the school, not personal. However, it was kinda awkward to come to meeting and people congratulated me ...sorry, you're only 15 minutes too late! Hahaha
Now, I have received another appointment letter, this time around however, no money/allowance involved so I guess nobody wants it too. Let's see whether the following 22 months is enough to prove them wrong!
Showing posts with label Mak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mak. Show all posts
Saturday, 12 March 2016
Tuesday, 11 August 2015
Mak
Mak is 79 yo this year.
She is at that stage where she becomes like a kid again.. and I'm the adult who look after her needs and wants. Except that when I was a kid, she told me to do something and I will simply follow her advice/lead. Now, I say something and she will say something else..
I tried to fulfill whatever she wants whenever I can ..but there are times when I need make a strong stand and simply say a harsh no!
Case in point - on Saturday afternoon, we were driving from S'ban to S.A, along with my sis#3 and her youngest daughter. She kept on complaining about the hot son biting her skin, the glare from the sun in her eyes (we were heading north, the sun is right ahead of us).. I did offer her my other sunglasses - no, won't do! She does has her own clip-on but it was in another bag at home (next time, I need to include in my list of reminders for her: medicine, hp and charger, towel etc.). I want her to stay comfortable during the drive, with leg room and everything but all she wants is to stay seat-belt free at the back! And there was I driving with the hot son biting my skin, the glare from the sun in my eyes..
On Sunday morning, we went to visit my late dad's niece who stay in healthcare service (convalescent - another long story) in KL. My SIL was driving us, as such mak got to sit at the back with me as the co-pilot. Upon reaching home and the many bumps typical in housing areas, we hitted one loudly! Lucky I don't get to see the underside of the PKE... I wished now her understand why I wanted her to sit in front passenger seat.
On the way heading back to S'ban, again she wanted to sit at the back. This time, with an additional 32" LCD tv along side my sis#3 and niece, both smaller in size - simply no space!
Another point - on Saturday, our journey to S'ban was delayed since my BIL#2 came back to take the rambutan -in season now, both yellow rambutan gading and rambutan batu in red - to be served at the raya open house. He did invited mak to join the open house in S'ban at his mosque - as organizer. So, mak been saying we need to come back early from SA in order to visit the open house 10-12pm on Sunday.
Back to Sunday morning, after a short trip to KPJ KL, we reach SA and leave again about 10am. She already said, "Will we arrive in time? All the food will be gone if we arrive late..." - mind you, we already had a heavy breakfast - bihun goreng, karipap and roti jala. Somewhere along the journey, she said, ""It's ok if we didn't go to the open house, after all..." So, I drove fast and by about 10 minutes past 11am, we were already at the traffic light junction going into the housing area. She was asking, "Where are we going now?"
I guess, by now, I was lucky that I really understand that she wanted to attend the open house party even if she kept saying it's ok if we didn't go...
I drove straight to the mosque - mind you, this is not my area, I might have visited once or twice in the past 10 years or so (last Eidul Adha when ayah was still around and more recent during Ramadhan, at night). So I reach the mosque - in sight - but not the entrance. There were other tents around - I wasn't too sure which direction to go to. My sis#3 or mak weren't helping ..I was kinda lost, and after calling my sis#4, went to her house and asked them all to transfer to her car and went ahead to the party without me!
Why am I so mad at the situation?
If you read my previous post - lawak bimbo moment - I need to be everything: the planner, the driver, the navigator, the secretary, the communicator, the listener to all grouses, the ATM and everything.
During recent Eid, I already told my siblings to take mak along during raya visits - but of course, she wanted to stay home and waited for her nephews and nieces came visitings instead. By the the time everyone is gone on the third day, she had only been to a neighbour's house. I remember before Ramadhan, she said that she had no opportunity to visit her parents' graves last year - off we went before Penang trip in June and before Eid, I already brought her to visit ayah's. So, on the 4th day, I took her to visit her parents' graves again. By this time, I was already on my 3rd day of fasting (replacement) and her 1st day day (6 days of sunnah Syawal). I knew I needed to bring her around visiting her sisters in Asahan and Bukit Jalur. I targetted on Sunday, 10th Syawal - when she would be celebrating raya puasa 6 by then! But, no - she didn't want to visit her sis in BJ due to (...long story here). Off we go to her sis in Asahan, after farmers' market on Sunday morning. First, she didn't like my attire -I was wearing t-shirt and pants and it was raya *gulp!!*! Second, why was I still fasting!!! I told her, it's ok -I'm used to fasting and still making round, visitings during Eid like last time. But, but she said, you are not eating! I said, "Mak, not a problem lah... I can still drive and talk like normal..." She wanted me to follow her in fasting but I had a lot of things to consider myself - need to finish replacing those missing fasts before I was back in office - insert reasons here.
All in all, I am very happy to fulfill her wishes, she got to spend 2 weeks of Ramadhan in Penang with me, 1 week in S'ban staying with my sis#3, sis#4 and bro#1 and got to see sis#1 and sis#5. Visited bro#3 in between Pen-S'ban. Brought her shopping in Pen, S'ban (Fami.ly Store and Gi.ants a couple of time), Sepang for kerepeks and Nilai 3 for mats and also at hometown.
The recent weekend visit can be considered as a closure to Syawal - met her future granddaughter-in-law *Ib.an!! Mak, she is a Muslim, her parents are Muslim!!* at my sis#3, then bro#3 in SA, backed to open house party with sis#4 and not forgetting sis#1's place for lunch. Now, she has those lovely memories to entertain her until I'm back again for Eidul Adha insya-Allah.
P/s: Another short, long story - during rinsing the rambutans (ants, lotsa them) on Saturday, mak lost her gold ring. She told me once we were on our way to S'ban. No wonder, she was getting in and out of her rooms before the journey. By Monday morning, after looking inside and outside drain, everywhere for it, she thought of searching the ground where we put all the dry leaves to rot. After only 1 poking around, there it was, shining yellow! She said, "Alhamdulillah... punca rezeki yang halal mesti tak ke mana!" If tak jumpa, "Redha je lah, takde rezeki..." By the time I reach ukm office yesterday, I got the news that she lost her gigi palsu! Mak-mak... sabar je lah, she needs a caretaker now.
She is at that stage where she becomes like a kid again.. and I'm the adult who look after her needs and wants. Except that when I was a kid, she told me to do something and I will simply follow her advice/lead. Now, I say something and she will say something else..
I tried to fulfill whatever she wants whenever I can ..but there are times when I need make a strong stand and simply say a harsh no!
Case in point - on Saturday afternoon, we were driving from S'ban to S.A, along with my sis#3 and her youngest daughter. She kept on complaining about the hot son biting her skin, the glare from the sun in her eyes (we were heading north, the sun is right ahead of us).. I did offer her my other sunglasses - no, won't do! She does has her own clip-on but it was in another bag at home (next time, I need to include in my list of reminders for her: medicine, hp and charger, towel etc.). I want her to stay comfortable during the drive, with leg room and everything but all she wants is to stay seat-belt free at the back! And there was I driving with the hot son biting my skin, the glare from the sun in my eyes..
On Sunday morning, we went to visit my late dad's niece who stay in healthcare service (convalescent - another long story) in KL. My SIL was driving us, as such mak got to sit at the back with me as the co-pilot. Upon reaching home and the many bumps typical in housing areas, we hitted one loudly! Lucky I don't get to see the underside of the PKE... I wished now her understand why I wanted her to sit in front passenger seat.
On the way heading back to S'ban, again she wanted to sit at the back. This time, with an additional 32" LCD tv along side my sis#3 and niece, both smaller in size - simply no space!
Another point - on Saturday, our journey to S'ban was delayed since my BIL#2 came back to take the rambutan -in season now, both yellow rambutan gading and rambutan batu in red - to be served at the raya open house. He did invited mak to join the open house in S'ban at his mosque - as organizer. So, mak been saying we need to come back early from SA in order to visit the open house 10-12pm on Sunday.
Back to Sunday morning, after a short trip to KPJ KL, we reach SA and leave again about 10am. She already said, "Will we arrive in time? All the food will be gone if we arrive late..." - mind you, we already had a heavy breakfast - bihun goreng, karipap and roti jala. Somewhere along the journey, she said, ""It's ok if we didn't go to the open house, after all..." So, I drove fast and by about 10 minutes past 11am, we were already at the traffic light junction going into the housing area. She was asking, "Where are we going now?"
I guess, by now, I was lucky that I really understand that she wanted to attend the open house party even if she kept saying it's ok if we didn't go...
I drove straight to the mosque - mind you, this is not my area, I might have visited once or twice in the past 10 years or so (last Eidul Adha when ayah was still around and more recent during Ramadhan, at night). So I reach the mosque - in sight - but not the entrance. There were other tents around - I wasn't too sure which direction to go to. My sis#3 or mak weren't helping ..I was kinda lost, and after calling my sis#4, went to her house and asked them all to transfer to her car and went ahead to the party without me!
Why am I so mad at the situation?
If you read my previous post - lawak bimbo moment - I need to be everything: the planner, the driver, the navigator, the secretary, the communicator, the listener to all grouses, the ATM and everything.
During recent Eid, I already told my siblings to take mak along during raya visits - but of course, she wanted to stay home and waited for her nephews and nieces came visitings instead. By the the time everyone is gone on the third day, she had only been to a neighbour's house. I remember before Ramadhan, she said that she had no opportunity to visit her parents' graves last year - off we went before Penang trip in June and before Eid, I already brought her to visit ayah's. So, on the 4th day, I took her to visit her parents' graves again. By this time, I was already on my 3rd day of fasting (replacement) and her 1st day day (6 days of sunnah Syawal). I knew I needed to bring her around visiting her sisters in Asahan and Bukit Jalur. I targetted on Sunday, 10th Syawal - when she would be celebrating raya puasa 6 by then! But, no - she didn't want to visit her sis in BJ due to (...long story here). Off we go to her sis in Asahan, after farmers' market on Sunday morning. First, she didn't like my attire -I was wearing t-shirt and pants and it was raya *gulp!!*! Second, why was I still fasting!!! I told her, it's ok -I'm used to fasting and still making round, visitings during Eid like last time. But, but she said, you are not eating! I said, "Mak, not a problem lah... I can still drive and talk like normal..." She wanted me to follow her in fasting but I had a lot of things to consider myself - need to finish replacing those missing fasts before I was back in office - insert reasons here.
All in all, I am very happy to fulfill her wishes, she got to spend 2 weeks of Ramadhan in Penang with me, 1 week in S'ban staying with my sis#3, sis#4 and bro#1 and got to see sis#1 and sis#5. Visited bro#3 in between Pen-S'ban. Brought her shopping in Pen, S'ban (Fami.ly Store and Gi.ants a couple of time), Sepang for kerepeks and Nilai 3 for mats and also at hometown.
The recent weekend visit can be considered as a closure to Syawal - met her future granddaughter-in-law *Ib.an!! Mak, she is a Muslim, her parents are Muslim!!* at my sis#3, then bro#3 in SA, backed to open house party with sis#4 and not forgetting sis#1's place for lunch. Now, she has those lovely memories to entertain her until I'm back again for Eidul Adha insya-Allah.
P/s: Another short, long story - during rinsing the rambutans (ants, lotsa them) on Saturday, mak lost her gold ring. She told me once we were on our way to S'ban. No wonder, she was getting in and out of her rooms before the journey. By Monday morning, after looking inside and outside drain, everywhere for it, she thought of searching the ground where we put all the dry leaves to rot. After only 1 poking around, there it was, shining yellow! She said, "Alhamdulillah... punca rezeki yang halal mesti tak ke mana!" If tak jumpa, "Redha je lah, takde rezeki..." By the time I reach ukm office yesterday, I got the news that she lost her gigi palsu! Mak-mak... sabar je lah, she needs a caretaker now.
20150809
Location: Petronas Jalan Seremban-Kuala Pilah
Normally, I would fill up my PKE tank early in the morning before I start any long journey. But then, I have been travelling quite a lot for the past 3 days.
So, a pit stop to refill the tank is really necessary on the afternoon that day. My tummy were full post-lunch (it as a good one) and I was getting sleepy under the hot glare of the sun. Just looking forward to reach home and lay down to take a nap.
I leave my mak remain seated inside the car with both passenger and driver's window down and I already pulled the lever to open the petrol tank.
I went inside to the counter to make payment. Then only I realized I do need to withdraw some cash at the corner ATM. Queue for quite some time.
Went outside and headed to the car. I noticed that the tank cover was close now.. hmmm.. Took the petrol pump head and start filling up - nothing happened! Try again .. put it back and then try one more time. Getting angry now. Marched to the counter, "Dik, why the pump meter is not running? Nothing came out. I already paid just now you know!!?" *muka tak puas hati*
The young guy went out and came along with me towards my parked car - mind you, it was a busy time and many people around and all the petrol pump were in used.
Halfway point with me bubbling mad, he pointed to a foreign worker and then said, "He already fill up for you kak..."
I wished the ground open up and swallow me immediately - MALU! MALU!!
And I hope nobody noticed my bimbo moment huhuhu...
Got inside the car and only then my mak said, "No wonder that Bang.la guy raised his hand and waved just now..."
Aiyaiyai mak!! Why didn't you tell me earlier...
Normally, I would fill up my PKE tank early in the morning before I start any long journey. But then, I have been travelling quite a lot for the past 3 days.
So, a pit stop to refill the tank is really necessary on the afternoon that day. My tummy were full post-lunch (it as a good one) and I was getting sleepy under the hot glare of the sun. Just looking forward to reach home and lay down to take a nap.
I leave my mak remain seated inside the car with both passenger and driver's window down and I already pulled the lever to open the petrol tank.
I went inside to the counter to make payment. Then only I realized I do need to withdraw some cash at the corner ATM. Queue for quite some time.
Went outside and headed to the car. I noticed that the tank cover was close now.. hmmm.. Took the petrol pump head and start filling up - nothing happened! Try again .. put it back and then try one more time. Getting angry now. Marched to the counter, "Dik, why the pump meter is not running? Nothing came out. I already paid just now you know!!?" *muka tak puas hati*
The young guy went out and came along with me towards my parked car - mind you, it was a busy time and many people around and all the petrol pump were in used.
Halfway point with me bubbling mad, he pointed to a foreign worker and then said, "He already fill up for you kak..."
I wished the ground open up and swallow me immediately - MALU! MALU!!
And I hope nobody noticed my bimbo moment huhuhu...
Got inside the car and only then my mak said, "No wonder that Bang.la guy raised his hand and waved just now..."
Aiyaiyai mak!! Why didn't you tell me earlier...
Wednesday, 15 July 2015
Ramadhan 28th, 1436H
Wajik by mak
4 gayung beras pulut (or any bekas oso will do) rendam semalaman - no need if use nox.xa
8 gayung (same size) gula pasir
2 biji kelapa saiz besar - perah santan secukupnya
Daun pandan @screwpine leave for nice smell
Isi durian secukupnya
1. My sis#2 suggested we use that expansive pot to steam the glutinous rice - save time. I was in charged of the operation and none of us were the wiser to do our homework. I called my sis#5, she said 7 minutes hi-pressure to be followed by 3 minutes of steaming. Except nothing was mentioned about the amount of water. I asked mak to put in some water...she poured 1 bowl!
End result, not enough water lor... especially bottom part - need to be separated & thrown away, to the chicken!
2. In a large wok, slowly cook 1 bowl of sugar - caramelised - for the lovely dark chocolate colour. Else, you can substitute with brown sugar or gula melaka.
3. Pour in the coconut milk - keep on stirring over slow/medium fire.
4. Put in the durian - seedless preferably - mak already done so yesterday and leave it outside the fridge for easy use supposedly. The durians became tempoyak already... bubbling! Lucky, we got other durians in the house.
5. Once thicken a bit, pour in the steamed glutinous rice. Mixed well - no clumping. Keep on stirring. By this time, you can take out the screwpine leave and durian seeds.
6. Switch off the gas and keep on stirring to cool it down. If you wait until the mixture thicken too much, you will be left with harden lump of rice - once cooled - no good at all.
Do try!
Monday, 22 June 2015
Day 5, 1436H
.. of R*madhan!
Sometimes I wonder whether I made a mistake in deciding to spend my s*bbatical leave locally. I remember asking my bro#3 for advice and he told me - in spite of my earlier intention of looking for a place in Seoul (near & cheap enough to come back home frequently) - to just stick locally for mak! In order to gain KPI mark for the school, I also have to spend some time outside my institution so I decided to spend the first 5 months internally and go back to my alma mater (just because it is nearby my hometown) for the remaining 4 months (mid-April to mid-August) where I had planned it all nicely, weekly commute (it takes 1:40 to almost 2 hours depending upon traffic & highway conditions) - going on monday mornings and coming back on Friday afternoons, just in time for a visit to the night market, and planning to spend longer time in my hometown during R*amadhan like maybe going on Tuesday and coming back on Thursdays.
Then, I started to get the hints. During drives/conversations with my mak, she was saying things like where she would like to go during R*madhan this year: sis#3's house is ok since she stays home & not working but no shops nearby (mak rides her own bike and loves to buy kuehs or dishes outside); bro#2's house is not yet ready, maybe not even next year, he promises her that he prepared 1 room just for mak! Bro#1's place is not suitable due to no space/room for her (one room downstairs is for the sons) and squatting toilet. Sis#4's house - mak is most comfortable here but nobody is around during the day and she didn't offer even if I told her to invite mak for a visit, she still finds excuses - the siblings know that she had uttered the words - "with mak around, everybody came for visits!" - and that might cramped her busy schedules (NGOs and all). Sis#1 did not offer at all for now and when I explained the situation, she shared her intention in future to renovate the toilet downstairs $$$ and the fact that she and her son is using the only one room downstairs. And sis#5 's place is kind of cramp too with 5 kids, single story house (no where to hide) and only 3 rooms.
During the recent school breaks, my bro#3 told me to plan for a visit to Penang since his daughter is back for summer holiday. I really want to go along with mak, since it will justify not going to Penang during R*amadhan now. Alas, planning went haywire and it was a no go!
Then during one Sunday, I went to my neighbour's place to spend some time with her cats (Alex and co!). We talked and she basically told me that mak really wants to spend R*madan Penang! Important thing is mak just want to spend time outside the house.. and I guess (I take it a compliment) her 1 month experience with me last year is good enough for a repeat! Immediately upon getting back, I told mak about the plan for Penang (until end of June only) and all she said was, "Doesn't it cause you trouble? I told her I already arranged with my supervisor and we'll be back in time for her medical check up (bi-monthly nowadays with specialist) which she responded, " ..can actually call the hospital and reschedule you know.." And I arranged for her to spend another week or so at my sis#3's place so I can commute to Bangi.
So, here I am - back in Penang - home sweet home! I drove last Monday from TJ Seremban, at 8am. Due to heavy traffic in getting into the Seremban Tol (almost 50 minutes just to get there), we reach home around 1:20pm in time for Zuhur prayer. We did stopped by at R&R Bukit Gantang - she loves buying fruits (duku langsat and kacang putih rebus) - for lunch, around 11:35-12:20pm.
Given that the fridge is basically empty and I was in need of cash, I had to do my groceries shopping etc. that late afternoon - after a quick mopping of floor and rest. And bought dinner (RM22 for 3 big prawns - 1 leftover, fried vege and 1 piece of lamb korma) too!
Since she wanted rendang to celebrate the coming of Ramadhan, on Tuesday morning I went to the wet market to buy 2kg of fresh beef (RM56) - I am taking the opportunity to invite along my colleagues and neighbours for lunch/dinner, kind of early replacement for Eid celebration for this year hehehe.. I bought coconut milk, ginger, onion, lemongrass, curry powder and spices, I planned to stir-fry French beans with squids too and that was it! Upon making the preparation, mak said, ".. and there is no kuah!" So, she suggested su'un + pucuk masak lemak. Then, she asked, "Where is the blended chillies?" But-but, you didn't mention it when I was making the list earlier... "You don't even have dried chillies?" Aiyaiyai.. mak, here in my place, you need to assume nothing is available, everything has to be bought before I can cook anything! Off I went to the grocer across the road to buy pucuk & blended chillies.
At the same time, the day before I already arranged for Che' Lan Library to deliver durians - 1,2 special ones for mak and RM20 of normal ones, he said to call him again at 10am. I called, twice and no reply - even to this day.. Lucky I already bought grapes for dessert and I also blended soursop (from R&R) for drink!
On Wednesday, I went to office to attend a whole day workshop as well as checking my letters. During lunch, arranged to meet my student for consultation on further studies (here or another place?) and met the others too. On the way back to office, I happened to come across my immediate boss when I should have tried harder to avoid meeting him for now - long story but I understand his position as my boss for now... For dinner, it was fried kangkung (no go - throw away almost untouched after sahur Day 1, put in fridge) and fried fish with chillies (my sambal not so tasty, I suspected!)
By now, I know mak's current list of dos and don'ts: No to mangoes (heavy coughing), no to karipap (muak), kue teow (lembik, memek2x.. ), and no fried yellow noodle too. Yes to huge & juicy grapes, fried chicken especially K*C.
I stayed home on Thursday supposedly to work but ended doing mostly nothing - started R*madhan, Day 1. Brought mak to R*madhan bazaar (nearby TH) as early as 4:30pm - shouldn't go after 6pm - packed and rubbing shoulders with too many people. She choosen chicken curry (drumstick), fried vege (in egg) - both RM4.50, taufufa RM1.20 x2 (smaller), watermelon, kuih cara manis RM2 for set of 5 (ate only 3 til sahur), must-have cendol RM2 and 1 piece of fried chicken RM3 (more expensive than hometown)! Spent around RM20..
On Friday, I went to wet market again - prawns, veges, 1kg beef for dendeng (RM29 batang pinang) etc. First, I dropped by TNB counter to pay my PBA bills - all 6 months - just to avoid 90 cent agent charges. Headed to office but not doing anything much since internet was slow and everyone is busy marking final exam papers. On the way home, I dropped by the furniture shop (same row as grocer shop) to buy stool (RM45 inclusive of gst) for mak's terawih at mosque. And whole durian RM30 for two! What is for dinner/breakfast day 2? Ayam masak lemak cili api (onion & ginger for the nicer smell) and cannot remember what else.. dendeng (mak don't like much!) was ready only after maghrib. Again, another round of house cleaning in preparation for my bro#3 & family. He drove at 10:30pm and reach my parking around 1:40am. I woke up as usual by 4am to prepare sahur for mak (selection of thick black coffee Hang Tuah, 3-in-1 coffee N*scafe of one with Habbatul Sauda', even cappucino once). Fried chicken drummets and nuggets for the kids (mak loves this too) and reheated rendang. Must-have teh tarik by SIL.
So Saturday was spent lazing around the house, they read the Quran, bro and me (we had secret/silent chat too) had conversation with mak about everyone especially someone hehehe, kids with wifi & sleeping on & off... by 10am, went to the wet market again with SIL - her menu: bihun soto with beef soup (chicken finger, balls and pegedil), daging tetel masak asam pedas, and stir-fried French bean & mushroom - selection of watermelon, mata kucing & dragon fruit/pitaya - no go for iced sugar cane juice - bad for joints. Finally, my buah melaka or onde2 was only ready at sahur but the grated coconut was getting no good - mak said, should have mixed it with salt upon reaching home. I noticed myself are too proud to ask for help or instructions and I specially hate it if people suggest things as if I know nothing.. but turn out I know not everything!
They went back after Subuh on Sunday. By 9:15am, I already in office to meet my PhD supervisee at 10am -lasted until after 11am. What is for iftar Day 4? Fried chicken (marinated for days already), stir-fried cabbage, re-heated asam pedas and take out the chicken curry - and I made, for the first time ever, roti jala (looked more like lempeng hahaha) using just mineral bottle water with holes on the cover - remind myself to buy those pronto. Usually for iftar, I will prepare hot ear grey/apple tea with honey, I did tried lemon and honey but it was no go (blamed for upsetting mak's tummy)! Big no-no for cendol extended to day 2 - mak had diarrhoea on Friday evening.
Ikhlas.. today, I am accepting this golden opportunity to serve mak to the best of my ability - make her as comfy as possible. So, what is for iftar day 5? I plan to fried bihun - Singapore style, fried fish fillet (mak doesn't require much watery dish - I offer her fave ikan singgang) and prawn sambal insya-Allah. Alhamdulillah, thank you Allah for this much that I have now..
Wednesday, 3 June 2015
20150603
On saying 'I love you':
'But it's often the first step to turning a relationship from casual to serious. You might be thinking it's turning into a long-term thing, but they're stuck at having fun and what you're interpreting as reciprocal romantic feelings might well be affectionate friendship.'
Tracey adds: 'The only way to find out is to tell them how you feel - but it is always a risk.
'The "I told you not to", probably came from someone who'd made it clear to the person that they weren't interested in a relationship. (When someone says they aren't interested, they're not. Take them at their word!)
'Yes, the responses are cutting but I still believe you're much better off letting your feelings be known and suffering the (usually brief) humiliation and pain than keeping them bottled up.'
Tracey explains: 'At least you know where you stand and can move on to loving someone who is able to love you back in the way you want to be loved.
'Remember, for every person who has been humiliated, there are another ten who got greeted with an enormous smile and hug and 'Oh my god, I love you too'. You choose the wrong person to say it to, that's all.
'If it's happened to you, pat yourself on the back for being brave enough to say it and for finding out NOW that it's not reciprocated. There is nothing more futile than continuing to love someone who is never going to love you back.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3107431/Scorned-sweethearts-reveal-humiliating-reactions-received-telling-love-you.html#ixzz3bxbpKIIi
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___
I was asked by sis#4 to help send my niece for her admission interview at the nearby campus - I took the opportunity to bring along mak for jalan-jalan.
Made the arrangement with my SIL and then only informed my bro - as a courtesy. Surpringly, he thanked me for the effort and joined in the plan to bring mak for jalan-jalan, literally.
The Interview
The letter that called her for interview stated the time as 2pm. We got there - my bro send us - before 2pm. She met her friend - so no problem at all - I left her with promise to pick her up later.
The actual interview started around 2:45pm, a set of 3 interviewees faced a panel of interviewers with a time limit of 20 minutes. Of course, everyone got excited in the earlier parts and this extend the session a little bit and it continued on... by the time, my niece (4th set) was called upon, it was already after 4pm and quickly upon finishing she called me - it was 4:25pm ...Later, she told me her friend finished her interview session after 6pm!
Which bring my attention to what happened last Thursday & Friday, the same interview process here in my alma mater. For 2 days, morning & afternoon parallel sessions, about 400 candidates & only half of that will be offer placement. There were those who came from near and far..and there was this pakcik who came to accompany his son/daughter and already bought the return bus tix for departure at 4:30pm and at 4pm - his son wasn't even called for interview yet!
____
Back to my mak...
So, after my niece had her interview done & over with, my bro brought us to P*trajaya with the intention to visit the F*oria - out of curiosity I search in Fb and it seemed that we were too early - by one week! At the same time, there were Y*outh Festival going on too and road closure here and there. Basically, we were going round and round (men being men *sigh*) in P*trajaya! We stopped at the mosque for Maghrib prayer then walked downstairs to the Souq.
TBC..
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Juz 7
Mak la.. not me but *hungheadinshame* Typical of me, I have the know-how now but always find excuses not to read the verses. Even 110 verses of a surah takes me days!
Mak had a disadvantage childhood (at least to me). She did not went to formal school at all. She did learn how to read the Q*ran a bit but then she got married at the age of 14, moved places (S*ngapore, Cam*ron, hometown & then a totally new settlement area) and went on to have 9+2 children. I guess, the emphasized back then was to be a good housewife, a mother and so much more. It wasn't helping that the societal leaning was more towards the much loved sons instead of daughters... but I heard stories - my maternal granddad was the best!
When I talked to her yesterday, she explained her feeling of being reluctant to leave home for more than a couple of days. She is really looking forward to attend the daily session with the ustazah and later on each day practicing by herself using the digital version. She said, definitely will have a pulut kuning moment to signify the completion of 30 juzuks! May Allah grants her wishes and give her ample time in this world to achieve it & blessed her with the rewards in the hereafter, insyaAllah and amin.
____
My first sewage bill arrived yesterday. RM8 per month???! That is more than double the amount I pay for water supply, i.e. RM5 (minumum rate) for every 2 month.
____
A reminder of how small is this world: a long, long time ago, somebody wrote an email to me about applying for an academic position in my institution. I replied by saying sorry but sorry there was no vacancies. But I did told him other avenues to try... lo and behold, today I met him for breakfast to welcome him as my new colleague (in another department).
____
I am sending material (with sample) for K'tan *wow!* to be sewn into raya kurung. Yes, it is still far ahead (not really if you are kind of forward thinking person like me) but then my hometown tailor who took more than 6 months to finish my last order had change her 'job' and no longer taking any orders. The other that I tried - not comfortable enough. The one that I have nearby at work place already stop taking orders even after much persuasion...at least I managed to squeeze in 3 pairs hehehe... She is complaining of getting sleepy every time she started to sew.. I guess, it is kind of a boring job, being alone at home, and as we get older, need to strain our eyes too. Even her husband is not helping, "How much more kurungs will be enough?" Haha! I guess... I always need one more pair of kurungs.. and the next one! What I did was...usually I did not come visit her empty handed, I brought her something like snacks, some home-baked choc cake and at one time, even roti canai telur! With the hope enough to sustain her for a long period to come.
___
Missing him. I do. I am angry too. I'm too old to play these games. How I wish to simply stop counting the days, erased memory of everything and never to cry again.
Mak had a disadvantage childhood (at least to me). She did not went to formal school at all. She did learn how to read the Q*ran a bit but then she got married at the age of 14, moved places (S*ngapore, Cam*ron, hometown & then a totally new settlement area) and went on to have 9+2 children. I guess, the emphasized back then was to be a good housewife, a mother and so much more. It wasn't helping that the societal leaning was more towards the much loved sons instead of daughters... but I heard stories - my maternal granddad was the best!
When I talked to her yesterday, she explained her feeling of being reluctant to leave home for more than a couple of days. She is really looking forward to attend the daily session with the ustazah and later on each day practicing by herself using the digital version. She said, definitely will have a pulut kuning moment to signify the completion of 30 juzuks! May Allah grants her wishes and give her ample time in this world to achieve it & blessed her with the rewards in the hereafter, insyaAllah and amin.
____
My first sewage bill arrived yesterday. RM8 per month???! That is more than double the amount I pay for water supply, i.e. RM5 (minumum rate) for every 2 month.
____
A reminder of how small is this world: a long, long time ago, somebody wrote an email to me about applying for an academic position in my institution. I replied by saying sorry but sorry there was no vacancies. But I did told him other avenues to try... lo and behold, today I met him for breakfast to welcome him as my new colleague (in another department).
____
I am sending material (with sample) for K'tan *wow!* to be sewn into raya kurung. Yes, it is still far ahead (not really if you are kind of forward thinking person like me) but then my hometown tailor who took more than 6 months to finish my last order had change her 'job' and no longer taking any orders. The other that I tried - not comfortable enough. The one that I have nearby at work place already stop taking orders even after much persuasion...at least I managed to squeeze in 3 pairs hehehe... She is complaining of getting sleepy every time she started to sew.. I guess, it is kind of a boring job, being alone at home, and as we get older, need to strain our eyes too. Even her husband is not helping, "How much more kurungs will be enough?" Haha! I guess... I always need one more pair of kurungs.. and the next one! What I did was...usually I did not come visit her empty handed, I brought her something like snacks, some home-baked choc cake and at one time, even roti canai telur! With the hope enough to sustain her for a long period to come.
___
Missing him. I do. I am angry too. I'm too old to play these games. How I wish to simply stop counting the days, erased memory of everything and never to cry again.
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Getting Older: Mak and me
Mak was born in 1936 - according to her birth certificate. So, she is now 77 years old. I am really grateful and also thankful to Allah, alhamdulillah for allowing me more time to spend with her and vice versa.
I just came back from my hometown for Eidul Adha celebration last Wednesday and on Thursday I received a call from the Head's office asking me to attend a course this week nearby my hometown (considered 1:15min + another 40min as nearby lah). Of course, I was excited for the opportunity to go home again and I took emergency leave on Monday thinking that the course will be on Wed-Thurs, thus check-in by Tue - insert another long story here.
Anyway, I drove down with a colleague on Sunday, stopped at Bukit G*ntang R&R to buy some tropical fruits: huge, humangous mangoes; limau madu and promegranate (delima). I forgot that mak has pedih ulu hati (heart burns) nowadays which means she cannot enjoy what used to be her favourite: most greenish limau means most masam/sourish!
She is having trouble with simple things around the house: how to start the machine for washing her clothes instead of only spinning (she relies more upon this now since her hands/arms hurt - kopek kelapa punya pasal); every time she charges the battery-is-dead phone, she do not know how to switch it on again; with the new S-tro remote, she cannot watch her normal tv channel, TV1-TV3, every time the last person watching left the tv at whatever channels; and she prefers to listen to my radio in the room because of nicer songs than the one outside which is always on N9.fm but she do not know how to make it works. She is also having difficulty fastening the car seat belt since she can no longer turn right and left like she used to (and we always take this for granted)...and I feel bad for not helping her!
On Tuesday, my sister went for her follow-up at the GH along with her husband which just left the two of us at home. She prepared breakfast already but me and mak already concurred that her fried mee wasn't up to our taste buds hahahaha...and I'm too lazy to cook! So, I told her, "Mak, wanna have K*C for lunch?" Surprisingly, she said yes!! No need to ask her twice as per normal procedure...you know, we ask and she declined such that we had to ask again.. & eventually push her to come along hahaha...unless she really didn't want to!
Ok, our date was set to 11am (in retrospective, the business opens at 10:30am) and of we go! I was deserving of a proper lunch plate set given that I swept and mopped the floor already since she mentioned that she did it bit by bit only..
But then, when I push open the door, "Alaa mak...no table (provided on ground floor) lah...we have to take away - bring it back home!" Imagine her disappointment...it's her first time eating in at the new branch although someone in the family already brought home the take aways from time to time. Thank you to the kind and nice male branch manager *I assumed* who offered to bring down a table from upstairs! I'm forever indebted to this branch such that instead of having 2 sets of Special Tuesday Offer, I agreed to his suggestion to try the new offering. Can you imagine the sweetness of my special lunch date with mak? Just the two of us and she finished up her two pieces. According to Along, I updated the family Whatsapp with photo to prove, he has been thinking along the line, "it has been quite some time since mak had K*C!" And he said, normal portion for mak is 3 pieces! Ouch, failed dieting...
During lunch, I noticed her wrinkled hands - those hands use to work hard to put food on the tables literally for the family and especially me - because she started to tap rubber by herself when I was in primary school. I asked her, why didn't she put some lotion on those hands? No lotion was her replied...I promised myself there and then to buy her some really nice lotion for hands soon!
During the drive home, I asked her whether she waited outside the school everyday for the other siblings or simply just me? Since she started to ride bike only by then, so I was the only lucky one! Was I ever grateful? I bet you wouldn't want to know what was going on my mind during those pick-ups time...
And mak wasn't the only one getting older. I getting more and more forgetful now. I mixed up the dates for the workshop and it wasn't normal at all - almost unsangka-able to me! I noticed white hairs of my colleagues and neighbours..and how much longer do I have? Am I prepared for the hereafter? I do hope it is not too late...
I just came back from my hometown for Eidul Adha celebration last Wednesday and on Thursday I received a call from the Head's office asking me to attend a course this week nearby my hometown (considered 1:15min + another 40min as nearby lah). Of course, I was excited for the opportunity to go home again and I took emergency leave on Monday thinking that the course will be on Wed-Thurs, thus check-in by Tue - insert another long story here.
Anyway, I drove down with a colleague on Sunday, stopped at Bukit G*ntang R&R to buy some tropical fruits: huge, humangous mangoes; limau madu and promegranate (delima). I forgot that mak has pedih ulu hati (heart burns) nowadays which means she cannot enjoy what used to be her favourite: most greenish limau means most masam/sourish!
She is having trouble with simple things around the house: how to start the machine for washing her clothes instead of only spinning (she relies more upon this now since her hands/arms hurt - kopek kelapa punya pasal); every time she charges the battery-is-dead phone, she do not know how to switch it on again; with the new S-tro remote, she cannot watch her normal tv channel, TV1-TV3, every time the last person watching left the tv at whatever channels; and she prefers to listen to my radio in the room because of nicer songs than the one outside which is always on N9.fm but she do not know how to make it works. She is also having difficulty fastening the car seat belt since she can no longer turn right and left like she used to (and we always take this for granted)...and I feel bad for not helping her!
On Tuesday, my sister went for her follow-up at the GH along with her husband which just left the two of us at home. She prepared breakfast already but me and mak already concurred that her fried mee wasn't up to our taste buds hahahaha...and I'm too lazy to cook! So, I told her, "Mak, wanna have K*C for lunch?" Surprisingly, she said yes!! No need to ask her twice as per normal procedure...you know, we ask and she declined such that we had to ask again.. & eventually push her to come along hahaha...unless she really didn't want to!
Ok, our date was set to 11am (in retrospective, the business opens at 10:30am) and of we go! I was deserving of a proper lunch plate set given that I swept and mopped the floor already since she mentioned that she did it bit by bit only..
But then, when I push open the door, "Alaa mak...no table (provided on ground floor) lah...we have to take away - bring it back home!" Imagine her disappointment...it's her first time eating in at the new branch although someone in the family already brought home the take aways from time to time. Thank you to the kind and nice male branch manager *I assumed* who offered to bring down a table from upstairs! I'm forever indebted to this branch such that instead of having 2 sets of Special Tuesday Offer, I agreed to his suggestion to try the new offering. Can you imagine the sweetness of my special lunch date with mak? Just the two of us and she finished up her two pieces. According to Along, I updated the family Whatsapp with photo to prove, he has been thinking along the line, "it has been quite some time since mak had K*C!" And he said, normal portion for mak is 3 pieces! Ouch, failed dieting...
During lunch, I noticed her wrinkled hands - those hands use to work hard to put food on the tables literally for the family and especially me - because she started to tap rubber by herself when I was in primary school. I asked her, why didn't she put some lotion on those hands? No lotion was her replied...I promised myself there and then to buy her some really nice lotion for hands soon!
During the drive home, I asked her whether she waited outside the school everyday for the other siblings or simply just me? Since she started to ride bike only by then, so I was the only lucky one! Was I ever grateful? I bet you wouldn't want to know what was going on my mind during those pick-ups time...
And mak wasn't the only one getting older. I getting more and more forgetful now. I mixed up the dates for the workshop and it wasn't normal at all - almost unsangka-able to me! I noticed white hairs of my colleagues and neighbours..and how much longer do I have? Am I prepared for the hereafter? I do hope it is not too late...
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