'Twas His Birthday

Eirfan celebrated his birthday recently. Already tired of segala kek resipi yang berahsia, I thanked Aida yang mengiyakan cerita saya tentang kek di Cupcake Chapter. I thought the place was gorgeous; not your usual secret recipe type of place. Just look at their site and I'm sure you'll agree.

Anyway, when I told Aida about the place she said it is her friend's. She went for a birthday party there once and it was gorgeously gorgeous. I think I will ask friends to go chill at the place. I read their meals are quite good too.

Eirfan got a kit-kat cake that everybody loved. I took a couple of slices to the office and everybody said sedap too. And which I'd recommend to anyone.

I love the place. Cantik sangat. Personally I'd call it a boutique cake shop (you know, like a boutique hotel concept). And I definitely like the words they use to describe their place - so much fun and gaiety and enjoyment! And so creative. Dan saya amat, amat suka legal frostitution dan confectionately yours. With a tagline like that how could you not like the place?

I'd recommend this cake / place to everybody. Ada sesiapa nak pergi sini dengan saya? Anytime. Even for a cuppa and a (an out of this world) cupcake.

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Ilyas' Wedding : The Reception

Sebenarnya I am not too sure what a wedding reception is in the Malay culture (in this case it is just a title).

Anyway. Alhamdulillah the majlis went on quite smoothly. I thought it was beautiful (my opinion might be biased and I could be wrong). There was no major catastrophe. And the weather cooperated despite the laden sky and dark clouds in the afternoon. MasyaaAllah.

I have some photos to share, if you dont mind.

We put up signages which got swallowed up by the election posters; jadi letak directions pun macam tak letak jugak.

We also put up a photo booth with masquerade masks and hot lips and funny moustache. They werent very professionally done (they are home made and it is our first try) but looked interesting and we had fun with them anyway..

I told Eirfan to tidy up the door gifts and this is what we ended up with..

We thought this is a funny photo - both boys are wore orange tee with identical actions -

That's Sushi peeping at us from the top of the stairs while we run around finishing last minute chores.

The pelamin that Fatin did for us - and we love. It looks rather pink here, but was ok in the warm evening lights (I requested for grey but Fatin thought we might not have good contrasts as we also wore grey for the occasion). I was afraid the baubles might be too christmas-sy; but they look simply gorgeous actually.

 

Fatin also put up candelabras and flowers in the walkway.

We took some fun photos.

I'll put up more photos when the official ones come back.

ps - I love the wedding and thought it was beautiful (pardon me for saying so myself). Lalu saya bertanya pada diri sendiri; what more can I ask dan nikmat Allah yang mana lagi yang ingin didustakan?

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Ilyas' Wedding : The Aqad

Alhamdulillah. The aqad last night was without glitches.

The ceremony was short (mungkin sebab the aqad was after Isya', jadi dah lewat) and simple, tok qadhi pun tak ada cakap panjang lebar. Dan tak ada soalan yang tidak berkaitan dengan majlis aqad yang ditanya.

Yesterday afternoon I said to Ilyas, mama berdebar lah yang. He laughed and said dia sendiri pun tak nervous. Adik2 dia kata kami lagi lah tak berdebar! I thought wait till it is your turn and we'll see.

Thank you to everybody who has made the occasion beautiful - sisters, in-laws and friends. The hantaran did indeed look beautiful. The young men who carried them were equally so. The aqad was smooth. The pengantin, in gold wedding suites were gorgeous. Maka nikmat Allah yang mana yang ingin didustakan lagi? Semoga taqwa semakin bersemarak di dada masing2. MasyaaAllah. Alhamdulillah.

I have a few photos to share, if you'd like to see.

 

 

 

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Rahmat dan Ni'mat

Saya anggap cerita ini satu rahmat, satu nikmat. Maka semestinyalah saya bercerita di sini.

Ilyas got engaged and I love to share some photos.We kept it very simple and personal between the two families. My Abg Naguib came in to help with the formalities (he's good in these things).

We brought a very simple ring, as that is preferred.

And a gorgeous cake made by Aida (thanks Aida, even with the short notice). Fyi, Aida gave us the gorgeous cake at Iman's wedding.

And some fruits.

We went to the future besan's house (InsyaAllah) with the gifts - malu pulak pergi bawak semata2 "seketul" cincin. We dressed up the presents a bit (takkan nak bawak dalam beg plastik Giant pulak). It  was my sister who insisted on the tepak (the "orang Perak mesti la bawak tepak" phrase from Iman's wedding came back to haunt me), otherwise I'd do without.

I think I am caught between trying to make things as simple as possible. Yet not too shabby. Not out of the norms (ie takde yang pelik2). Within the boundaries of ugama. Dan (unavoidably, to a certain extent) adat. And I found out that is a tough call indeed (you can shoot and I will duck).

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But Dont Call To Ask The Results When It Is Announced..

I put up count downs for Eirfan for his up-coming exam (we are all thinking he's too relaxed about the exam, kami yang lebih worry). He said, do you have to? Actually what he said was perlukah? I said YES.

 

 

I even have a "V for Victory" slogan up for him; and I said - 

- remember IronMan (one of his favorite heroes) when he did the V (but his abang said, ma isnt V for Vendetta? I said it is a free world, I prefer victory and IronMan was victorious after all) -

- which at least put a smile on his face although he had said, I am stressed with all these hung in my room. I thought kesian, and told him, you are not meant to be stressed out over this, all you have to do is read your books.

Wish us well. Tolong doakan yang terbaik untuk teruna saya exam ni.

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Time Flies At The Speed Of Light

Same beach. Same boys. With a gap of 10 years or so between the two photos.

& nikmat Allah yang manakah yang ingin kamu dustakan?

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(More) Trivia

Have you played these cards before? I havent. Although persuaded by the kids. I said I only play card games / board games of any kind when I am on vacation (and have nothing to do).

This is a hot ticket item at home right now. Bising bila budak2 ni main. The first time they played the game together I thought what is all the racket about?

And I have always thought Monopoly is a board game. And it is not my favorite - it takes forever to finish the game and I always lose (and I am a sore loser!)

With the cards the game is quicker, you dont need to physically make a move on the board or buy green houses and red hotels. You dont need extra space. Or clearing up the mess later. Something to keep kids occupied and to have quality time - jangan bergaduh sudah lah.

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Stones

We spent 4 days at the hospital when Ilyas went through laser treatment for stones.


BEFORE

We were on our way to the OT. Left : gemuruh. Right : I coaxed a smile and he said nanti keluar ot pun senyum macam ni jugak (big words).


AFTER

Back in the ward. Left : tahan sakit agaknya in spite of the pain killer. Right : I coaxed a smile but no words from him. Namun senyum jugak (walaupun pahit).

Boring sungguh duduk di hospital (I kept visiting the cafe for mee kari, eclair and quiche; with chocolates for the patient). I made a couple of visits to the physio center (which is a good thing). Reading started to bore me. We rounded up the stay laughing over loads of the Korean Running Men series while waiting for the green light to leave the hospital.

He's ok now. Alhamdulillah (tak sanggup tengok sakit perut berguling2 - not exaggerating). Returning to work on Mon Insya'Allah.

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A Lovely Occasion

So Luqman graduated. And I told my husband that this is another milestone in our lives..



When we got the letter from his university about the convo, Luqman gave me a long hujjah why he didnt want to go for the ceremony. I was rather concerned initially. Nevertheless, he nicely ended his long reasoning with kalau mama nak Luqman pergi, Luqman pergi lah. (Sejuk hati mana-mana mak pun kalau dengar anak cakap macam nih.) I compromised and said, why dont you send me the link and I'll read up on this subject. (But obviously his mum had said pergi..)



I actually like convos. It is like an achievement day and everybody was recognized for the (hard?) effort they had put through the years at college. I like to see my kids go on stage and receive their scrolls (are they still called scrolls? Because that flat thingy they received arent scrolled anymore..) - anyway - take pictures, watch the kids laugh with friends. It is something nice to see. Maybe a day where all parents feel proud. I dont know - but it is nice.



The ceremony that day went through efficiently. Since I am already a veteran at this (haha) I didnt experience any prickle of tears.. that is, not until the pro-chancellor gave his closing speech when he paid tribute to the sacrifices all mothers make and said, graduan2 USM sekelian, renunglah ke mata ibu anda. Lihatlah.. I dont remember all he had said, but they were beautiful words in a very meaningful speech (walaupun speech dibaca dalam Bahasa Melayu yang penuh dengan slang dan tonggang-langgang..)



That evening at the hotel room I sat on the balcony and looked out to the horizon where the vast sea meets the (even more vast) skies and thought, Masya'Allah. Life is surely short, where have all the years gone by? It didnt feel like almost 22 years since he was born. I pray for the best future for him. For the best di akhirat. Untuk rahmat Allah. Untuk keampunan. Robbana atina fiddunya hasanah, wafil akhiroti hasanah..

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Weekend Doodle

The new NetBook I got for free when upgrading Streamyx service arrived last weekend. It is compact and nice - but I have yet to get use to the small keyboard (not small small like tiny, but still not the usual).

It came on Sat - which was a packed day. I sent Eirfan to (his old) school for the UPSR prize giving. I slipped from school to go to my best-est of the best place (you can go yeah, yeah here..) - the pasar tani! Quickly got what I need from the pasar and SWORE (profusely, let me tell you) at the male (of course) driver who refused to rev even though he was in my lane! Dia duduk diam dalam kereta tak nak reverse; what a *&#@**! (fill in your fave word here).

I head back to school just in time for the head mistress' address and then yeay - the prize giving. We (Eirfan and me) took photos, chat with our mutual friends and then left for breakfast. I was glad that the event did not drag.

I left home after making sure the (other) boys were fed for Jalan TAR. I need beads for more kurung I am sewing (more pix below and here). I got out of that place before it got too busy for its pasar malam on Sat afternoon / night. I had to get stuff from the bakery supplies store too. I've run out of cookie bottles (I hate to say plastic bottles.. I swear I am a self-proclaimed environmentalist after all ) and we have cookies to deliver this week. Luckily traffic wasnt so bad given that it was a Sat.

Lunch had to be early Sat as Luq was leaving for college again after the CNY break. And Iman was away for a wedding in Bidor (sigh). Luckily I was already home when the delivery boy called and told us he is coming now instead of later to deliver the netbook - as I had to receive the netbook in person.

While I was cooking Ilyas said, can you fry me some nuggets to take to the bbq I am going to this evening? (For the life of me I dont get this nugget fascination / addiction / obsession) I said - yang, as far as I can remember, all your life you have requested for nuggets every time there is a makan-makan at kindergarten, primary, secondary and college days. Why dont I make you meehoon instead? (I am all tickled and laughing inside. I know what his answer would be). He declined (of course - but he knew I was teasing). I offered to make him some lasagna instead and he agreed (as I know he would).

So there I was saying goodbye to Luq. And then baked the lasagna. But guess what? It is time to think what's for dinner. The guy who worked today is now home and I am sure he is hungry.

Coincidently I showed the boys the back of my foot earlier today and they said ma, there's nothing there. I said, you are not looking at the big picture and pointed again to the upturned foot. They still looked blank. Then I announced to them, regally ala a queen - syurga di bawah tapak kaki ibu. We laughed. But I hope they get, remember and 'walk' the message.

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Season To Be Merry

And we decided to get Eirfan the PSP after all. He had asked for one for doing good in his UPSR.

For a while I thought maybe we shouldnt. I doubt my brother bought one for his son for getting good results in the UPSR (or anything come to think of it. I can imagine him saying it a waste of time / money). But considering many of Eirfan's friends have PSPs we bought one anyway.

He seemed pleased with the present although he didnt show it so much (I hope he likes it!) Maybe his abangs were disappointed. They were hoping for a PS3 or an Xbox. But what would I do with the PS2 then?

We got the PSP at the Sony outlet in KLCC (the Christmas decoration was beautiful there - pix below). It came with standard games (according to Eirfan these games are outdated games that is why they are given free). I was disappointed - there in no Tetris, Galaga, Dig Dug or Pac-man included in the cartridge given..



I told Eirfan I have the right to keep the PSP at times I deem suitable. He of course agreed at the time. Let's hope this is something worthwhile bought.

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Trick or Treat?

I hate being surprised. Because I could get surprised real good.

When Eirfan was 5 or 6 he hid behind the curtains and surprised me as I walked into the house. I got real mad with him. He cried, the poor baby, when all he wanted to do was play.

From there on people in the house knew never to catch me unawares.

I was getting dinner ready the other day when I thought I heard my daughter scream. I listened at the bottom of the stairs but then heard laughs. Satisfied nothing was wrong I went back to the kitchen. Later I thought "someone" was watching me. I turned to the living room and sure enough there is this ugly looking face staring at me. I thought something was familiar - the shirt actually; I recognize the shirt. I said to my son, dont you dare scare me - you never guess what I might do. He laughed, took off the mask and said, that is why I am standing here far enough from you and not there in the kitchen right behind you!

He was wearing that mask below (but that is Eirfan with the mask). And I hate it. He got it for the Halloween do at his office.

He was pleased that he got Iman and Eirfan screaming in fright. Satisfied that I got a bit of a shock..

Later Eirfan gave his father a fright (he said nasib baik bapak tak jerit like a girl). Tried to frighten his abang but according to abang he is too macho to be frightened with such an ugly mask like that.

Eirfan cant wait for his Abang Luq to get home for the semester break so that he can play the same trick on his abang then.

I know I am repeating myself - but I hate that mask.

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Masya Allah, Alhamdulillah, Astaghfirullah

The garden of knowledge and virtue. Taman ilmu dan budi. Arent those beautiful phrases? These are the taglines (if I can call them that) for IIUM / UIA.


And the convo at the university today went on almost perfectly. The ceremony started on time in fact they were very punctual all the way; everybody queued nicely and everything went on very smoothly.

Uh, except (ha-ha of course I have something to comment on) that the mc went overboard with her pronunciation of the names like Zain which became Zayyn and Mohamed is stressed on the e and not Muhamad etc etc.


Nevertheless, the students nasyid was very, very good. Unfortunately they didnt perform during recess; which is a shame. The rector's speech was quite moving that left tears in the eyes. But I doubt the graduans were listening; they were making all sorts gestures at the camera.

I am happy, relieved that there is yet another milestone achieved. Dan mengaminkan sepenuh hati doa yang dibacakan.


And yet at the same time cant help but wonder at the audacity of man (or should I translate that to me?); walau sebanyak mana jua pun rahmat diberi Allah namun masih lagi lupa dan alpa dengan segala kurnia dari Nya.

Astaghfirullahul'adzim. Astaghfirullahul'adzim. Astaghfirullahul'adzim.

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I Dont Think We Should Do This Again

And we did something crazy last night - on a weekday, on a school day...

Iman came home one day last week and asked if we would want to watch Transformers. Her office would buy the tickets (of course we would have to pay from our own pockets) - and she said it is on a Wed night so ticket would be at a discounted price. And it would be a first evening show too.

The boys were excited about the movie.. so we said yes, let's go watch. We were told it was an 8:30pm show. It seemed a decent show time. I have to leave office on time but I guess I could still make it. And Eirfan doesnt have class on Wed evening and we should be home not too late for Thur classes and to the office.

So yesterday I left office early enough for people to raise their eyebrowses. I said it is 1st Rejab and everyone at home is fasting; which is the truth - therefore I have to go home on time. The sky was dark. It started to drizzle when I got to Bangsar. By the time I got to Ulu Klang, traffic was terrible. Trees had fallen onto the road due to heavy wind and rain earlier in the area. To make matters worse there were at least two accidents on the road. By the time I got home it was almost Maghrib already.

Luckily everybody was ready and after buka puasa we quickly left for GSC at Pavillion - which is already almost 8 by then. A black sleek BMW driver took the parking space that was rightfully ours! When we got to GCS, we found out the show is at 9. So we were not late after all.

The boys love the movie. I personally prefer the first movie. It has a charm in its own way. We got home at midnite. In a blink of an eye Eirfan was snoring quietly away.. I dont think we should do this again on a weekday.

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Years Speeding Us By

And suddenly things are picking up in life. Let's not mention work for a while longer - I am on leave!

I have lots to update after the lull in the last month or so. But like the schematics of a database (what else would I liken things with but a database structure?) I like to keep things neatly arranged and catalogued in different tables and thus blog posts would be written according to topics..

Anyway.

I love this photo. It reaffirms life is wonderful, if indeed I need any reaffirmation on that, that is. Let me be a cliche and ask, where have all the years gone?



And I pray for them that days ahead would be as wonderful as it is on this day.


Life is so uncomplicated at 20, dont you agree?

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