26th Ramadhan 1429

And suddenly I am feeling blue on the last working day prior to raya. The office has been like the Sentral Station at peak hours (I was going to say Paddington Station actually..) - lots of activities, full of noise.

A bunch of guys came over in baju melayu and songkok to take pictures at our elaboratedly decorated office (yours truly was put in charge of the raya office decoration - thank god for gifted people on the team; I am saved!) The decorating is still on-going. There are raya songs playing all over. Still there are people working.

Had received loads of raya email. Maybe that's the culprit for this melancholy feeling. & what's not to be melancholy about - we are celebrating raya at Bangi - duuhh.. Have a great weekend to everyone reading this - mine is definitely going to be packed.

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Putting Things Into Perspectives

And talking about the burst pipes.. (the post below..)

So while running in and out of the house to turn on the mains when I need water and turning it off again when I am done, I thought what a hassle the whole incident is. The dirty clothes heaped like no one's business (except mine, of course), cooking cant be done properly and the ration applies in the bathroom too..

But it came to mind that Fatimah ra fetched water herself. When she went to Rasulullah saw to ask for someone to help her with the housework, Rasulullah said something like to do the tasks herself would be best for her. So I guess I really shouldnt complain about things..

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10 Days Before Syawal

.. And how time simply flies!

I've finished the kuih raya (except the cornflakes that I really must make!) And cleaned all corners of the bedroom. And washed the curtains.

And along the way the water pipe burst and the porch got flooded. The pipe was replaced. The engineer finally solved the problem after a couple of days - turned out pebbles had blocked the flow of the water. That created havoc with my washings and cooking. Then Eirfan had a big accident with his seluar sekolah ugama and the shops got no uniforms of that color. I sew a couple pants for him. Eirfan kata seluar ni special ma - sebab tak de zip. LOL..

But now I still have to put the beads on the curtain tie back. Got to check my baju raya (I hope it will be ready by raya). And then clean the rest of the house.. ugh, help. And then suddenly Iman's friend wanted some cookies by Sunday..

I still need to visit my mum who's already here in Bangi since last weekend. Need some tudung. Need to get songkok for Eirfan. Need to get a dress for my niece. And there is the blah.. blah..

I havent finished my Ramadhan goals yet either.. Where did the month go?

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Ramadhan al-Mubarrak

In a blink of an eye it is already the 20th of Ramadhan. And here I am still thinking if I am ready for the last 10 days of the month and the lailatul-qadr.

I had set goals for the Ramadhan and at the rate I am going I doubt I'll achieve what I had planned to do.

Nevertheless I am happy to say that this year we are most careful about the food - we bought only kuih - for the kids and me (!!) - I cant imagine iftar without some sort of kuih on the table. But the kids said the kuih keria has too much flour in it; the lepat pisang has got no inti kelapa and buah melaka mama lagi sedap. And along the way the kuih koci and kasui made their exit to the *cough, cough..* bin.

On my worst days we had kicap telur; which actually was quite a change from the usual chicken. Still, fried chicken with onions, garlic, ginger and ketumbar remains the champion throughout the month.

I am hoping also I wont be too occupied with raya preparations that I'd forget Ramadhan is actually the month to 'celebrate'. With the best 10 days of Ramadhan to go I guess it is not too late to wish full speed ahead in this most blessed month.

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Tantrum AT Dawn (Ugh..)

Things seem to go wrong after Fajr today. I realised I forgot to take my iron supplement. Neither did I take the muscle spasm medications. The traffic were too slow. People kept wanting to change lane in front of me. The traffic lights took too long to change. Pedestrians cross when I got to the junction. The police didnt know how to manage the traffic..

If the sun were already shining I'm sure I would find fault with the rays, its brightness, its shape! God forbid..

But Faizal Tahir sang my fave Kasih Tercipta and Ahmad Jais rendered the best of the best raya song. And I tried hard to manage my - let's call it my tantrum. Let's hope the day turn out better Insya'allah..

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Raya Is Coming

For once I am writing ahead about the weekend; instead of reminiscing about it.

Tomorrow I am thinking of making some biskut raya. I dont want to wait till too late. Surprises might spring my way and turn all carefully laid raya preparation plans go awry.

The boys' baju melayu arrive via courier today. Isnt that cool? I never thought that kind of arrangement could be done. We made the baju the last time we went home. We thought we might have to go pick them up personally but when we called Abang Mat (the tailor) yesterday he said he could send those stuff via the delivery express. We said cool (I know I am repeating myself, but I really, really think it is cool). & they are already here today! Eirfan said, cantiknya baju Eirfan, when he tried it on just now and then asked, mama pergi ambik tadi ke? I laughed and said not a chance yang - not when I had to go to the office too.

And I need to pick up the curtain tiebacks and the floor cushion tommorrow. I plan to put some tassle like beads on them. So I had some work there.

I am also thinking of putting up new raya lights. People at home asked why? I said I hate to see the same thing every raya. I'll think of something this weekend about that.

And my sisters have called and said they might drop by this weekend to learn how to make - or maybe to watch me make - pineapple tarts. They have been looking high and low for those for raya. I told them buat sendiri je lah. I had learnt this a couple of months (?) back maybe. Since I am talking about that, I should share that recipe with you I think. Click here; if it is not there yet, come back soon - I'm sure I will put it up very, very soon.

I suppose from here on the days will be filled with lots more raya things.

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Playing A Concerto

When I am in a crazy mood or a blues mood or feeling-lonely mood or etc I would occassionally tune to the classical music on the radio or astro. Unfortunately the dj never did mention what the song titles are or who the are the composer or the orchestra that's playing. So I am none the wiser about the classicals.

And I had a classmate from the Latin America once and during class introduction he said his favorite songs are by Wagner. We all chorused, who?? We can barely say Mozart or Bach or Beethoven - back then the only Wagner I knew was Lindsay Wagner.. you know the uh, Bionic Woman..?

Anyway.

Today / Yesterday (it makes not much difference) it crossed my mind that the boss is something akin to the composer of an orchestra. He will orchestrate the performance of all his men. Bad his orchestration, bad will the performance be and vice versa. And I suppose that's why much credit is given to the composer - the ability to harmonise all pieces of the instruments into a melodious tune; not a cacophony.

Unfortunately the same desired effect is not apparent in my office. The hall is packed with so-called musicians and the conductor is frantically waving his stick in all and every direction (oh look, did he drop his stick?) All the musicians are trying their best to follow suit but getting the wrong signals and at the end of the day we'd all say, what the hell??

So I am asking (to no one in particular actually) what is the tune that the boss is actually playing? Please compose it well so I might be able to strum my guitar / beat the drum / blow the sax / play the piano to that particular tune. Otherwise I might get on with the music in tandem with my own tune..

Maybe I should share this bulb of light with the boss.. (as if..)

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In Love For The Very First Time

My children are discovering first loves.

They talk endlessly on the phone. They smile and giggle and laugh while talking on the phone. They disappear to the mall without prior notice to me. They come home late. They need girlish birthday presents. They make commitmments I never see them do before. They got pretty presents. I got presents..

When I complained to my husband he said airily, dont you remember when we were in love? I said oh pleeeaase, I cant believe how foolish I was! (ha-ha..)

Simply put, the kids drive me nuts sometimes. Err.. none of you are reading these, are you yang..?

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Sunny Morning At My Fave Pasar

I was at the pasar tani (of course, where else? I should do a count and see how many times I have mentioned the pasar tani in my blog..) two weekends ago when I saw that plant above. It looked like something I know - and want - and quickly picked it up (so that the other makcik looking at the plants dont get to it first, he-he..)

I asked the adik, ini pokok apa? He said Rosemary. Just as I thought. The other makcik said pokok ni yang banyak bunga tu ke? I said I dont know. She said buat ulam ke? I said it is a herb. She went ohh.. (clearly she doesnt know her herbs.. naughty, but I cant resist that..)

Happily I took my rosemary home and put it in front of my kitchen window (ala Jamie who picks his herb from the sill whilst cooking.. perasan). But one and a half week after that (today) the rosemary looks wilted and not so healthy anymore. I knew it wouldnt last too long when I bought it..


And whilst at the markets I met Sue who said Zah, wah.. your bakul (the above is the culprit) macam.. (I cant remember the exact expression but it seem like macam glam gitu..) I kept telling people this is the bakul susu when my youngest was a baby. But then again, it might be me not the bakul you know.. LOL..

Anyway. This reminds me of Zarina too - who would laugh at my bakul. Whatever it is, the bakul stays. And for whatever reasons unbeknown to me my husband dont really want to carry the bakul at the pasar.

Actually I have set my eyes on one particular shopping bag but the store had run out of stock since forever. But I am still waiting. We used to have a trolley but the wheels had came off after only using it twice (with the kind of stuff we buy at the pasar it is no wonder that that happens!)

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The Good Old Days

The office had been somewhat cold all through Ramadhan. Someone had said that it almost seem like autumn. We had all laughed then.

But it was definitely chilly all day today. Looking out the big office window, it was bright and sunny outside. I opened the window trying to get some heat from outside. The hot air was somewhat comforting. It nevertheless do remind me of autumn.

We would have thick sweaters on or even winter coats if we were not too embarrassed by the raised eyebrows from the mat sallehs (maybe they thought we were wimps wearing thick clothes when it was barely October). And we would declare the weather cold. They, haughtily would remark "Cold? This is not cold. It is but a little bit chilly." We would drink hot coffee outside in the sun during our break and just enjoy the heat like any ordinary mat salleh would do. Ah well, when in Rome..

And the aspen leaves would be quaking in the wind and be all golden. The hills would be yellow with only patches of green. There would be a nip in the air and involuntarily you would shiver against the weather.

And yes, it would definitely be chilly..

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Ramadhan & Foods

These are the cookbooks I have collected thus far (memang saja la kalau tak memasak..)

I spent half of yesterday morning dusting and rearranging my cookbooks. And I actually wondered what it is about Ramadhan that inspires me to do that. I guess if we had a survey done, it would show that more recipes are traded during Ramadhan, more cookbooks are bought and more hits are recorded on the cooking websites.

And again this year I promise myself that we will not rampantly buy things at the pasar Ramadhan. We will cook all meals unless it is strictly unavoidable. Let's hope it is not unavoidable like every other day..

I wondered also when did we start the pasar Ramadhan which makes the month so synonym with food, food and more food. We can think of any food then go to the pasar and actually find it sold there. I have had bad experiences with the food at the pasar though - the ikan bakar that tasted like it has been left outside the fridge for too long; the stale chicken; the agar-agar pandan that tasted like egg yolk; the buah melaka coated with hampas kelapa.. And many others that made their way to the bin in the evening. And these arent cheap either..

Kalau balik terkejar-kejar kemudian masak kicap telur untuk berbuka; the meal will taste even better than some of the food found at the pasar (hari ni mungkin balik masak kicap telur..).

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