Chef Diva's Love Moment

I don’t know what it is about me, but planning is sure not one of the rules in my life nowadays. I do things on impulse as long as the result will be fruitful. Today happens to be one of those non planning days too. Soon I will be leaving and my two angels will have to do things on their own a lot, therefore whatever it takes I just want to give them all the quality moments.

Today I decided to buy a whole Salmon home, in fact I was so happy to get this Salmon direct from the supplier, otherwise it would have cost me a lot. Chef Diva was elated when she saw the Salmon, and smacked me with kisses and hugs as a token of thanks.

The joy that was on her face when she saw the Salmon was ecstatic, she was cradling the Salmon like a baby, caressing it with admiration, stroking it with love, she was in the kitchen with the Salmon for a good many hours. She cleaned the whole Salmon by herself; some were fillet, some cut into steaks, while the bones were kept for stock.

All these times, I was enjoying a body massage in the hall, her little sister was busy watching her and hubby was as usual engrossed with his computer. Once Chef Diva came to me and dared me to take the Salmon raw, I was like what? We do this all the time at the Japanese restaurant; of course the raw Salmon was heavenly.

Since she was in charge of the kitchen, she also cooked us late dinner, and it was everyone’s favorite, Angel hair Carbonara.

I would do this over and over again just so Chef Diva will have the experience she needs for her future career.

NICE.....Indah Nama Dari Rupa

I was invited for a quick trip to Singapore recently with a Girlfriend; I forgot all about it and was really not looking forward to the trip at all, however, having given her my word, I had to drag myself to go.

Since none of us wanted to drive, we decided to take the bus instead, my experience has only been on Aeroline (which was very reliable and comfortable). Sadly, she could not get any tickets on that bus, so she had no choice but to get the only bus available and that was Nice.

When I saw the bus I became depressed, I guess she could sense my feelings and suggested that we go to the lounge to wait. The lounge was a tiny square box; the first thing that caught my eyes was this Indian guy waiter with an apron as well as a red bow tie….. oops …… may be my eyes playing a trick on me, I looked again, confirmed an Indian with a red bow tie.

Not long after that came the announcement that the bus is ready. Off we went to the bus just to be told that the bus was going to Penang, instead we were told to go to another bus waiting in the front and locked, at this time it was raining and everyone was trying to duck themselves from the rain, just to discover again that it was not the bus. To make the story short, we finally were shown to the right bus, got into our seat, waited, waited again and again before the bus decided that it was already late, and time to buzz off.

We were greeted by a slurry dragging voice over the microphone; I swear I thought I was hallucinating, could someone be trained to be so incompetent and imbecile? What was she thinking of? After the announcement, she came round to serve us some pathetic looking bread, my tongue was eagerly wagging to confront her on the stupidity of her announcement, but the angelic side of me decided to do otherwise.

This is a bus that comes without a toilet on board, so if you want to pee, you better have a strong controlling power of your bladder as the bus will only stop at the decision of the driver, if you are hungry be reassured that you will stay hungry till you arrive to your destination, or well swallow the pathetic looking bread, you ain’t got no choice. The bus or the operator running the operation of the bus must be from another planet. Sitting on this bus make me feel as though I am on a charity ride.

NICE what a name? My Girlfriend was charged RM30.00 extra on top of the RM55.00 that was printed on the ticket, meaning for the full round trip she actually paid RM120.00 extra for the two of us, and no receipt was given.

Would I ever go on this bus again? No!!!!!!! I would rather crawl all the way to the causeway then to be intimidated the whole journey.

It's Duckling Santa

It is Xmas time again, on this day I choose to give gifts to all my kids and my only daughter-in-law; I also exchanged gifts with some of my favorite people, so it was truly a time for giving.

The day started as lazy as anyone can think of, we had planned to have a big dinner too, and everyone was looking forward to that moment. This year I was too lazy to put up our little tree, so we do without a tree, hence the kids were not aware that gifts were still in the menu. Lunch was normal; everyone was chatty about nothing and everything. Immediately after lunch and all the cleaning up, I gave the girls their gifts, and it is the look of surprise that I so love to see in my girls’ faces; This moment that I so wish to capture forever.

We had two roast chickens, gnocchi with cheese and homemade tomato sauce, curry puff, cheese cake, doughnuts etc. It was really enjoyable to see everyone in good spirit. The kids and hubby ended up playing card games, while I went to my sanctuary for my dose of computer games.

I don’t know what time my son and daughter-in-law left, as hubby and I had to go out for an appointment. I look forward to more quality time with the family always.

On The Rocks

Look at Chef Diva, look, what do you think she is doing, while we were all waiting diligently at our table for the food to arrive, she was busy doing something else. This picture was taken by hubby as we thought she still looked the innocent young thing, who does not have a care in the world.
While walking on the rocks she discovered that there was a cat hiding in between the rocks, it just took her attention totally. The first time she saw the cat, she quickly came back to the table to ask her sister for the camera to capture a picture of the cat, however, she was not given the camera, and reason being the battery was low.

This does not dither her from going ahead to continue playing with the cat. This daughter of mine has from her very young age shown a keen interest as an animal lover, especially cats. She had her collection of animals from Iguana, White mice, Indian Turtle, Persian and Siamese Cats, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs etc. She just loves animals.

Don’t you just love these pictures?

Desperately Lonely

Sepang Gold Coast is indeed a place of many things, first the attitude of the people, the campers, the rubbish, the desperate couples cheap dos on motorbikes as well as cars shamelessly, children running around freely while parents busy chatting away and of course the so over rated messages left on the beach, and written on the sand.

As this picture shows here, it was very obvious that the person who decided to inscribe his/her phone number on the sand must be such a desperado. What goes on in his/her brain to even think of such a method to get a call from someone? It is so weird, especially in this time of cyber world.

I wonder if some people can actually get so lonely to be a desperado. I have seen friends who wanted to get a partner and were willing to go all the extra miles to get one, because they were afraid of being alone and lonely.

How can someone claim to be lonely? I guess it is all in the grey matter, life is everything you make it to be, so is loneliness, if you keep banging it in your brain that you are lonely, you will be lonely, but if you realize that in life humans are not the only factor that can keep you away from loneliness, then you will be a happier person.

Anyways, to each his own. I will conclude that people who are desperados can be chepos too.

Black Magic and the Sea

As the tide was down on the evening that we were at the beach, we decided to take the much loved walk on the sand and deep into the sea. While we were enjoying the feel of warm and wet sand under our feet, my three angels spotted a plastic bag full of photo frames embedded in the sand. Their curious mind got the better of them, as they excitedly pulled the bag out from the sand, laughingly hoping that it was a hidden treasure.

The two elder girls immediately tore into the bag and pulled out the wooden photo frames, all bounded together with a string. At this point, I told them to stop and not go further with the bag, however, as usual my eldest girl has to do what she thinks is right. All the pictures that were framed were some kind of Indian Gods, all sorts of them. By now I have to put my foot down, and raised my voice telling her not to open the bag and the photo frames any further. She listened, alhamdulillah.

We walked away from the plastic bag and not far from where the bag was left, we found another book bounded together with a string of flowers, normally used for prayers at the Indian Temple. The immediate reaction of my girls were to pull that book out as well, but I sternly told them to leave the book alone and urged them to walk away from that area.

I have often heard that people who practice black magic will throw things in the river or the sea, so that the evil spells would stay permanent, or so that the evil spells could not be broken, which is which I don’t know, but with this in mind, I fear for my daughters’ safety.

Black Magic is so common everywhere and I have seen some people being affected by such evil acts. One could feel a total mental block, with very much disturbed sleep, and negative thoughts. They will also feel the presence of an unknown entity in their house, which makes them fell restless all the time. The common bait to put a spell will be the usage of pictures, hair, nails etc. Therefore, when I saw the photo frames, it sent the chills on me.

I pray that my daughters will be more aware of the surroundings, and not take things for granted. InsyaAllah.

Sepang Gold Coast

Time really flies when you are in a family and enjoying every seconds of it. Today we decided to have another day of quality family time, and the place that we choose was the much talked about Sepang Gold Coast.

Initially, we wanted to leave in the morning but Chef Diva and Drama Queen had to have their dose of the gym, as they actually have to smell the gym every day. So, we only left home at approximately 1330 hours.

It took us about 1.30 hours to arrive at Sepang Gold Coast, the place was packed with people. We found a nice parking space, with a shade from the sun, and very close to one of the seafood restaurants.

Since it was already lunch time, we decided to have lunch first before hitting the beach. The food we ordered came in time, and it was delicious. For a spread that consists of Squid, Fish, Crabs, Eggs, Rice, Veggies, 5 coconut drinks, Milo, Ice Kacang etc, the price was super cheap. We were happy of course.

After lunch we went walking on the beach, sad truth always come so quickly when you are on home ground. The beach was filthy with rubbish, broken glass, empty cans and everything that they can just swing into the sea, you will find them there.

Parents who do not care about the safety and cleanliness of the beach just let their children loose in the water. It was sad to see how the young innocent enjoying themselves without being aware of the filthy environment that they are in.

Ahhhhh….. Malaysia, what a name you place to this beach? If only half the brains who agreed to the name Gold Coast had done any research at all!! to keep the beach safe, clean and neat.

All I can say is that as long as this is Malaysia and corruption is the soup of the day, nothing functions.

Safarah Liban

Accompanied hubby to the Lebanese Embassy recently, this is not the first time that I have been to this place, however, the irritation that this place seem to have on me is ongoing.

If only there were at any given time that I have been to the Embassy would I see people seeking any assistance here, I would understand why they were so scared of even opening their gate. Honestly, there were none. Anyone visiting this Embassy will have to park on the main road because visitors were not allowed to park in the vicinity of the Embassy.

Hubby was the only client that they have for the day, but the way the staff were carrying on their work was as though they were serving 100 clients at the same time.

There was this guy from Thailand attending to all the documentation, then there was this coffee lady who kept walking up and down the stairs to serve one miserly coffee each time. She must be so bored with her work that she has to walk as though a stick was stuck in her back, and a ton of bricks chained to her leg. Out of nowhere came this huge lady whose attire was more suitable for a cushion cover. She wore no smile at all, and a second look at her one can’t help noticing the thick moustache as well as sideburns on her face. I was not being nasty but I just can’t help bursting out laughing.

At one point I needed to use their toilet, and was shown one next to the pantry. My jaw dropped as I hesitate whether to pee or to just walk out, and endure the urge longer.

Take a look at the pictures here and believe me this is the Embassy’s toilet.

Immigration Department

Went to the Immigration Department recently, was very happy to see their latest state of the art machines for the application and renewal of passports. However, this machine has its flaw and is not applicable to all. Thumbs up for an initiative of advancement anyways.

Those who failed to put in their application through the machine will have to go through the normal process. First, you have to queue for the number, here the person serving at the counter will check that your forms have been completed, photo and other documentation attached before you are given your number.

Then you wait for approximately one hour forty minutes or more before your number is called, at this counter your application will be counter checked, your thumb print copied, and finally the submission of the whole thing. Next, you wait again for another 45 minutes or so before your number is called for a second time. At this counter, there were signages that informed the public that your passport will be ready two hours after receipt of payment, so you make your payment, get your receipt, and go anywhere you want, but remember to come back in 2 hours, as that was the time limit given for the passport to be ready.

Most people will go have their food, run some errands, or like us go home for a short nap, while setting the alarm so that we don’t miss the 2 hours dateline.

Like all Government Departments, no matter how modern or ancient the building may be, parking will always be an unending problem. With this in mind and not wanting to be late you just park wherever is convenient, though if you are unlucky you will be given the ticket, what the heck?

On the 2 hours timeliness you submit your receipt to the counter, they will in return give you another number, and, yes of course you wait, and you wait and you wait. Oh, did I read that signage wrong? Obviously all these processes that I have been through from the moment of receipt of payment have been more then 2 hours.

What is weird too is that, the numbers that were way after yours will be called much earlier than you. WTF?

Anyways, after nearly 4 hours I finally got my passport. Do I need to say more? The very obvious thing at the Immigration Department is that there were 38 counters, by 1100 hours only 3 counters will be serving, while the rest were empty, yet you see the staff walking around behind the counters, talking, on the mobile, just pondering at nothing, and top most trying to look busy.

I hope someday, my grandchildren will see a better serving government, and not go through this shit over and over again.

Augmentin 625mg And Me

I have been sick since the 9th of December, 2008, having been to the hospital, I can only hope to feel well. However, the medication that was given to me was all super powerful especially the antibiotic. The prescribed antibiotic was Augmentin 625mg.

Augmentin is an antibiotic in a group of drugs called penicillins, which fights bacteria in the body. I have never had any antibiotic which is as strong as this one, it actually caused more damaged to my already sick body then before consuming it.

On the first day of consuming this medication I was experiencing all sorts of reactions, but I didn’t realize that this was part of the side effects, as I was not informed by the hospital. The direction was to take the antibiotic for 5 days, each day I was feeling worse, I started to have stomach pain, a lot of gas, total loss of appetite, loose bowels and nauseated. My mood swings were getting the better of me.

Hubby wanted me to stop taking the medication, but then when you started a course of antibiotic you are to finish it, so I was enduring all these side effects and trying to be strong at the same time. The next thing that creeps into my system was a severe headache, and my fever kept coming back off and on. It was only at this point of time that I decided to look up on the internet about this product.

I was shocked to learn about the severe side effects of this antibiotic, as usual I can only wonder which direction our medical system heading to?

It does not make any difference if you were to just walk into one of the thousand clinics that are available on the sidewalks, or go to a reputable private hospital. The only difference is that those side walk clinics will cost you peanuts for a better prescription of medication, while the reputable private hospital boost up your confidence only to drop you like a rotten tomato.

Today is the last day of the antibiotic; I pray that I will be feeling a lot better tomorrow. The whole episode is a nightmare I wish not to walk into again.

Sitting On The Toilet Bowl

10 things I do while I am sitting on the toilet bowl:

1. Counting and calculating the tiles and marble on the wall and floor of the toilet.

2. Wondering over and over again why the toilet bowl is designed too big for people with my butt size and height

3. Rearranging in my mind the bottles of shampoo, cleanser, soap whatever there is on the sink counter

4. Counting my hand and toe fingers just for the fun of it

5. Closing my eyes and making a challenge, whether my poo will complete faster than when I decided to open my eyes

6. Exercise my arms and legs because sitting on the toilet bowl is so uncomfortable

7. Flip through the same magazine and book that I last left in the toilet

8. Wondering what everyone else is doing outside my toilet

9. Wondering how can some people not wash their ass after they poo

10. Sitting on the toilet bowl is so not my thing

When It Rains It Pours

Have you ever experienced a situation where one thing after another will befall you, be it good or bad? It is weird how when your wishes just happen to be fulfilled with an added bonus. Or when the least expected bad situation that you hope not to encounter will come knocking on your door one after the other. This is what I will term as, `when it rains it pours’.

This year for example, we had been saving so hard to go for a short vacation together, at least for me and the girls, as hubby is always away. After some calculation done, we managed to go for a 4 day trip to Singapore, then shortly afterwards we found ourselves in Kuching celebrating my little angel’s birthday, and recently we were in Kedah and Penang. It was like we had only planned for one but the Lord opened more doors for us. Thank you Lord.

Then there was this period of time this year that nearly five people I know were taken ill, and demised within a short interval of each other. For a moment it keeps me wondering how things happen when you least expect them to.

Recently, hubby got sick, so we all assumed that it was the normal flu till we realized that it was not just that. Having gone to the doctor he got better, alhamdulillah, but a few days after I started to feel very much under the weather, again assuming that it was just the flu, I began self medicating, till the very early morning of the 3rd day of being sick; I dragged myself to the emergency unit of Damansara Specialist.

My temperature was so high that they had to give me an injection immediately and also medication to take orally; I was also requested to rest at the sick bay before allowing me to go home. I am still not feeling too good.

However, as though the circle was not over, my eldest girl called to inform that she is also down with similar symptoms that I am having. I can only hope that she will get well soon.

I am a rain person, I just love the rainy days, I love the sound of the rain, I love the smell of rain, and simply the rain just makes me feel so secured and peaceful.

`When it rains, it pours’ is a beautiful connotation to the rhythm of the rain itself.

What Is There In A Name?

What is there in a name? Often you will hear this question being asked. Each and every one of us was given a name, just so we can be identified easily, just so we are molded into the character of the name or vice versa.

Recently when I was in Kampung Hilir, Sungai Petani, Kedah I saw a road named `Jalan Haji Shaari’. I couldn’t help but smile at the similarity of the name to that of my own father. My eldest daughter was proudly saying that if any one were to tell me that this is my grandfather’s road, I will surely say, yes it is.

Like my father the road sign has seen its light of days, suddenly I feel the pang of missing him so dearly. He is the greatest father that anyone could ask for, he is a very calm person, very patience, does not talk much and a great thinker. My father is a very diplomatic person, he does not gossip, he is not judgmental, and he is just so simple.

Back to the question, what is there in a name? Like all of us our names will be attached to many other persons in the world. There were other Shaaris that I know who are not at all like my father. Therefore, will the name make us or will we make the name?

I always thought that my name was so cliché, till I realized that it is so common that my name become synonym of those from the village, however, it is still my name. If I were given the opportunity would I change my name? May be or may be not, because besides being too common a name, its meaning is good. My name means thankful were my parents being thankful when I was born, or was it just a name to fill in the blank, as I was their fifth born, and I bet by then the excitement of naming another child is just a chore.

You tell me.

Under Attack

On the day that we were leaving for Kedah, hubby was down with very high fever, so we had to make a quick stop over at the Mediveron Clinic. There, the doctor even decided to take his blood sample. We left with 4 kinds of medication for him; of course I have to take over the driving.

The vacation that we had planned was spent monitoring his temperature as well as making sure that he gets all the rest needed. The blood results show that his platelet counts was at 115 as compared to the normal reading of 150. The doctor does not make it any easier for us as he said that there could be a possibility that hubby is down with dengue. However, my Medic daughter refused to let us worry ourselves in believing what the doctor said, and we decided to follow what she said instead.

The hotel in Penang is one of the best that we have choose to stay in, so while the girls spent their time at the pool and the gym, I had to stay with hubby as he was really ill, I have never seen him in such a situation before. He even said that he was ready to die (well he is an exaggerator at times, but when you are sick, you are sick I suppose).

On the morning of our check out, I was suddenly down with very high fever too, while my whole body was aching mad, it is as though someone is practically hammering me all over, my throat was irritating me, the cough started in full swing and tons of flem follows.

The three girls went down to enjoy a wonderful buffet breakfast, while hubby waited on me. I could hardly carry myself; every inch of me was aching so so much. I swear that a couple of times I was so close to tears but I know this is a test from the Lord and I should be strong.

Today at 0500 hours I woke up as I was shivering under my blanket, went to the kitchen and took my magic pills, it helps with the fever but not the body aching, so I decided to take the medication that hubby was given. I hope I will get better in a few days. We are wondering what is this nasty virus that has made its way to our bodies, and totally, totally leaving us helpless.

Eid Al Adha `Korban'

Eid Al Adha comes again, and this time the whole family wanted to do something different. We pledged to do the sacrifice of a whole cow representing all 7 of us in the family. However, it is not easy to make a booking in Selangor, but Alhamdulillah we got the opportunity to do the sacrifice in Kedah.

This is the very first time that I witness how the processes of the sacrifice is done. The person who sold the cow to us has to do an `akad’ with hubby on the sales and purchase, then the Imam did another `akad’ with hubby for the slaughtering of the cow and mentioning our 7 names. It was something new to me; I never knew that such process have to take place before the actual sacrifice is done.

The Kampung folks were marvelous people, full of hospitality and commitment. We felt indebted to them, in accepting us and going all the way to make our short stay at the Kampung as comfortable as possible.

Thank you Lord for making this sacrifice a smooth one.

I Am Irritated

Please be informed that I honestly get super duper irritated by the following:
- People whistling especially in the house, this is because I was brought up to understand that whistling is a very inappropriate kind of behavior.

- Not putting things at their original place, basic knowledge will tell you that this kind of action is messy.

- Acting that you are a stone when spoken to, wake up already, if you are not born deaf then at least be human.

- Talking too much and acting that you are the know it all person

- Picking your teeth at the table in front of everyone (so hate this one)

- Burping at the dining table and not shy of the action

- Leaving the sink full of unwashed plates

- Talking so loudly and not even bothered if all other eyes are looking at you.

- Waiting in line, just to be shown the next counter sign.

- The `I don’t know’ answer to every questions

When you are with me, please I beg of you do not irritate me with any of the above-mentioned.

Save My Day

Today none of us had any desire to make breakfast or take breakfast; we were just so laid back. However, at around 1030 hours we were all beginning to yearn for some food. On impulse we decided to go to Pavilion for food then to the Low Yat Mall.

Upon arriving at Pavilion I had suggested that we give the car for Jockey parking, but hubby insists that it is alright to go to the parking as he is confident that we will not have any difficulty locating our car. Little did he realize that once the stomach is full the brain is less alert, so when it was time to leave, we went round and round the parking but could not locate our car.

The situation was made worst as we had already paid for the parking, which means that after 15 minutes the parking ticket will have to be revalidated. A security guard on duty was of not much help too, seeing that we were getting more anxious he called for a buggy to come and ferry us in locating our car.

The road home was heavily jammed due to the sudden heavy down pour, everyone was bored as a dead log in the car. The only person who was still concentrating on the road was hubby as he was driving. We finally arrived to the destination, and to get a parking in this place is almost impossible, I am really not in the mood to go round and round in search for a parking anymore. Therefore, the car was parked on the shoulder of the main road.

We went on doing our things, assuming that no policemen will come round at this hour of the day, what more with this weather. We spotted a new coffee shop and decided to give it a try; all four of us placed our orders happily. While waiting for the food hubby had gone over to the next shop to get a quote to replace our wind screen wipers.

We were chatting, joking and laugh while enjoying our order, suddenly the guy whom hubby had earlier asked for the quote came and said, `your car, your car, go move quickly, police summon’. Without much thinking hubby throw the keys at me and I was next to the policeman in a split second.

The ticket was already issued, I begged him to take back the ticket, but he said I was too late. Not one who give up so easily, I followed him, and again he told me that I was too late. Meanwhile, he went on with his work to issue the next summon on the next car, then I realized that the car he had just planted the summon on was not mine, but the next one is. Like a lightning I went straight in front of him and told him, `wait, wait this is my car, I will move it now’. He laughed and told me to take the car and move quickly.

I was saved twice today, thanked God. Looking back I know we were simply stupid.

My Strength

28.11.2008 was a super duper busy day for me; it was all systems go from 0700 hours till after 0100 hours the next day. It was suddenly dawn on me that all the lazy Sundays I had before were actually a bonus in lieu compared to this magical date.

I was the planner, the organizer, the deplorer and everything; no one was around to lend me a hand except for my two angels. But in the end I was happy, I wanted to finish this episode of my life on this day and not another day longer. It was a hell of a decision that I had to make and a decision that I was proud to have made.

By the time I put my body on the bed with my little angel next to me, my eyes refused to sleep, as I was doing a lot of praying for my hubby who was then traveling for his home vacation. On this day I believe I only had approximately an hour sleep.

Whatever I dreamt of during this short hour of sleep, I know it was a dream of peace and happiness. It was a dream that I know had materialized on the day that I was my own boss, still very independent, still full of life and still trusting that nothing is impossible if I set my mind to do it.

Thank you Lord for giving me the strength.