1986 - 2009

I created an FB group for my fellow primary school buddies early this year. Yes, for those who don't know me in person I kind of get carried away with this social networking. Well, anyway it was only quite recently the group became lively.

It all started when a friend shared a few ancient photos of us then way in the 80s. The tagging
did the trick when other members start to join in especially our dear Haza. Not only is she the "CNN" of our school, she is also our google search engine. Knows almost everyone by the full names & their whereabouts :-)

A class photo when were only 12

Those tagged in the photo had a shock of their lives to review themselves 23 years younger! Hahaha! Now the comment boxes have not stopped multiplying & in fact, slowly turning to a chatting thread.

Of course, the highlight of our chats was to have a reunion. Seriously, reunion is such a big word which takes up a lot of times & not to mention the commitment we have to put in. Someone mentioned to meet up somewhere. I replied that I was free Sunday & our dear Haza made an arrangement with another friend who owns a Kopitiam - the venue of the get together.

20 seats were reserved for us. The turn up was not bad at all. It was really wonderful meeting everyone. A few I have met before but mostly I have n'ot ever since the year 1986. The boys especially have changed a lot in sizes... vertically obviously but horizontally too ? ;-D The girls? Need I elaborate? Hehehehe...

Us 23 years later

Planned for our proper reunion. I however look forward to meeting my very close friends then. Most did not make it. We plan to have a small do amongst us soon. Really can't wait.

Oh yes... it's HB's birthday today. Happy Birthday Baby.... He's away & will only come home tomorrow. The girls have something planned & as usual I'm needed to assist ;-) Will update about it in the next post.

3 mics & 6 friends were all it takes...

I can't really recall when was the last time I allow my singing be heard. Singing & me are like day & night. My cup of tea? Not at all... At any karaoke session I would merely be a tentative listener or an audience, the supportive one :-)

There are exceptions however... ;-) If the day & night once in awhile have to give way to the eclipse, the singing & me need to once in a blue moon make way to my not so melodious voice! With a wonderful company as a booster, this voice could sure go farrrrr.... hehehe!

Attended a get together last weekend. My intention there was more for the company & the foods of course. To sing was the last in my list. I was kind of expecting for the others to entertain me with their singing whilst I catch up with each other & play the photographer ;-)

Only 6 turned up. None with a spouse nor kids. We have known each other for ages & there was really nothing under the sun that could make me feel embarrassed with this crowd. My unmelodic talent could do no harm...

My usual remark, "Well... I'm not singing." didn't really work with them. Not that they were pushy but they made the room so comfortable & relaxed that your hand became magnetised to the mic.

I sang... Opened up my jaw, articulated the words on the screen accordingly to the tune & enjoying every moment of it! Mind you, the tune not necessarily needed to be in rhythm & that was the beauty in it. Hahaha! Loved it! It was indeed a therapy....

So from today onwards, whenever I decide to join for a round or two of this sing-along escapade, I will rephrase my regular statement to - "Give me the mic, I'm singing!" Woohoo... how 'bout that? ;-D

Here are some of the photos. Thanks to a dear friend for her consent allowing me to share a few taken frm her FB. And to you-know-who-you-were, I had an incredible time. We got to do this more often!!

Now, that was the getting used to the feel of holding a mic session... hehehe!

Still the same session... the warming up ;-D

These girls were superb!

This one was mem pimpin'.... (not only in FB, you are in my blog too now... lupakan lah hasrat nak berpolitik...) Hahaha!

Standing up now & di pimpin' by a pe pimpin'... :-)

The standing allowed us to express more of the hidden feelings.

Tu dia... lontaran suara!!


To regenarate & rejuvenate, a great company was all it takes....


& let's not forget the foods as well ;-)

302/8

After like almost 11 years I was reunited with my housemates back in the college years. Rather an unexpected... Though didn't manage to pull all 6 of us together, the short meet was remarkable.

Now, we were supposed to meet up on the 9th. Agreed. I had blocked that particular date & was looking forward in meeting the other girls.

The venue chosen was PanPac KLIA. Nani, residing & lecturing in KK would be putting up a night at the airport hotel before flying off home. Lynn, teaching in PP should be in Subang during the school hols. Yati, Sara & I shouldn't have a problem as we are in Klang Valley. Fina, a determined Prudent*al agent is up north in Penang. Anyhow, a miscomunication in my part & Yati's failed to inform Fina earlier. With such a short notice, she could not make it this time... Sorry again :-(

Who would have thought after all these years, with a different status & carrying the extra weight we are still the same in character. And according to Nadeen's icon, that's what make us special... Yup, Barney! "You are special. You're the only one, you're the only one like you!"

Yati & Lynn drove separately to KLIA. The time given by Yati was at 11am & at 11am, I had not yet met Sara at our meeting place. She was late, fashionably late. Well, she had her little one & a child in tow... If not for us pleading for her to go (you really enjoyed that right Sara?), I bet she wouldn't make it.

Once I had Sara with me, Lynn called disguising as a bank manager & failed big time. Hahaha! In a serious tone however, she informed that Nani had not checked in... Her line was not connected & we assumed, her flight was delayed. Another thing... we didn't know from where did she depart! Great...!

Instead, we agreed to have lunch at Alamanda. It was a wonderful meet even though we were down to 3. The 6 of us sort of grew up together. We knew each other's relationship, name it, family? love? So it was like reading the next chapter of each other's life.

As we were chatting non-stop & obviously the loudest there... Yati's phone rang & it was Nani!! She just landed & thought that the next day was the 9th. The same old Nani!! Hahaha...

Lunch at BK

How could we refuse to reschedule & meet her today? Sara, couldn't make it this time. Her little one was uncomfortable & had been crying. Still we did try to coax her but the mom in her was stronger. She opted to stay home with her baby.

I was the last to meet them. HB was around & had to send him off to the airport for a daily flight. It was good to really meet you,Nani. She just returned from her umrah to the Holy City, Mecca with her son & a helper.

It was a bonus on our sight that Nani had an issue remembering dates. If not for her, we wouldn't have the chance to meet twice in two days in a row! ;-D

The plan next year is on girls. Will do the planning. Venue is still open for suggestions. I've got my green light! Guess HB knows that I will be in good hands...

At KLIA

Nani in the hotel buggy. Thanks for the gifts babey. I really love the tudung!!

Till we meet again next time girls! For the time being, do think of a suitable place for the trip. :-D

Maal Hijrah 1430

Kepada semua umat Islam, Selamat Tahun Baru 1430H.

Ya Allah, muliakan & sayangi pembaca ini, berkati keluarganya, sihatkan tubuh badannya, limpahkan rezekinya, jauhkan daripada fitnah, penganiayaan & penghinaan, suburkan benih keimanan dengan penuh rasa kasih sayang serta taqwa tanpa alasan. Makbulkan cita-citanya yang murni. Amin, Amin Ya Rabbal A'lamin.

This new year I had the opportunity meeting my old buddies back in college. Thank you Cik Ly & Nina for hosting such event. It was a wonderful do & we definitely have to do this again. Perhaps annually or maybe biannually... hehehe. So, who was given the honour as the new host... ;-)

Of course the photos... Enjoy them!

Isn't this the same old pose? This seems like a dejavu...

Snuggling pose is must eh?... ;-)

Apparently someone was holding to a glass of water while posing for the camera. Well... accidents do happen!

Some of the spread

My 100th post

I was about to publish the continuation of my KK trip when I discovered that I had posted 99 posts. My following entry will be my 100th. Hmmm... thought of just mentioning it in my KK trip posting. I however, came out with a better idea. Whilst waiting for the pictures to be uploaded for my next publish, as usual I did some blog hoppings & landed onto yatie_t's My Taste of Home. And guess what? I was tagged.

Thanks yatie for your thought of rewarding my humble blog. A Brilliante Weblog. That was the recognition. It is obviously to reward sites and blogs that are smart and brilliant both in their contents and their designs. The purpose of the prize is to promote as many blogs as possible in the blogsphere.Here are the rules to follow:

Once you have been notified, you are to write a post & paste the award, together with the blogger name who presented it to you, and link it back. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs (or even more) that you find brilliant in both the content and design. Show their names together with the links and leave them a comment informing they were rewarded with the‘Brilliante Weblog’. Show a picture of those who awarded you and those you presented the recognition to (optional). All bloggers with wonderful works and contents in their blogs deserve this recognition.

In conjuction with my centennial post, I hereby reward these dear fellow bloggers the Brilliante Weblog award ;-)

1. Arwah Shera with her SheraCuppaCofeee
2. Ila with her Where the world owes you nothing
2. Dikny with her Upclose & Personal with Dikny
3. Kak Shana with her Wherever You Are
4. Lia with her A Malaysian Cuddly Family
5. Min with her Thinking Aloud
6. Ai Lian with her Tips and Tricks to Effective Parenting
7. Waterlily with her Musings of a Home Diva
8. Uncle Lee with his Moonlight Rendezvous
9. Yasmin with her My Whole Wide World

Shera Darling, You Are Missed...

In my life, never have I experienced losing a good friend far a close friend. On July 22nd 2008, anyhow, I had to swallow a devastating news. The passing of my beloved close friend Allahyarhamah Shahira Abd Ghani or better known to us as Shera.

Shera to those who didn't know her, was a synonym to felicitousness, sunniness, warmheartedness, unselfishness. She brought laughters wherever she went. She touched our hearts with her affection. I sometimes was amazed with the energy she carried with her. A petite lady who was always on the move & able to juggle time as a mom, a wife, a career woman & a friend.

She was normally among the firsts to drop a comment on my blog. After each posting, I always looked forward to her cheerful & warm remark. She never failed to make me smile. Even though she started blogging only this year, it was quite a drive coping with her lovely posts. They kept on coming. It was really through blogging that we started to reconcile our friendship.

Not only that she boosted up my spirit to keep on posting. She was also the one who introduced me to my latest favourite author. We did not have the chance to talk in person about the books. Nor did we have the chance to do coffee that we planned.

The last time we met was at my house in February. She attended Yasmin's & Wardah's birthday party with both her girls. As always she was as chirpy as usual. Minding both her girls & at the same time catching up with our friends. Not even once she snapped at her girls. In fact at one point I found her away from the group. Her girls wanted to play on a dolphin seesaw I had. In between laughters she told me that her girls insisted to eat at this playground (which was really the seesaw). Did she refuse? No, she played along. I remembered her perspiring under the hot sun feeding the girls, away from the others under the cool shed of a canopy. Come to think of it, she made a beautiful picture with her girls. Why didn't I snap a photo??...

It had always been difficult to pool all of us together. Now that everyone is with family & our priorities change which is normal. Once, we failed to have a get together due to a poor response. Arwah Shera replied "Sometimes when things are impromptu mesti jadiknya". What an irony when most of us were in the end together again, at unfortunately her funeral.

Shera darling, you are deeply missed. Rest in peace my friend. May Allah place you amongst the mukminins. Amin.... Al-Fatihah.

We Owe It To Facebook

Yes, I have to thank Facebook. Not the addiction, No....! (am ashamed of that though... hihihi) But for being the source of me getting reconnected with friends whom I have lost contact with.

Over the weekend I was at my parents' & somehow, managed to sneak out from the girls. (Apparently none of them bothered about me at all. They were busy turning my parents' house to a shipwreck with their cousins). The plan was to meet at a cafe near Ampang Puteri but at the last minute I changed the venue to a Fish Spa at Carrefour, Wangsa Maju. ( I was driving & read a bunting about a new Fish Spa. The words I saw were "Fish Spa", "Carrefour", "Wangsa Maju". Confidently changed the venue without considering what was the preposition used, "near" or "at"). To make a long story short, we could not find the spa. Obviously the preposition I missed was "near". Still we failed to look for the spa near Carrefour... ( Could the preposition be "opposite"? I really didn't check what was opposite Carrefour!). In the end, we agreed on a kopitiam - Hometown Coffee Station or something...

My friend whom I was searching high & low for is not other than Sheena Sara Aini. Such beautiful name matches her in person. We were in school together. Way in 1983 to 1986. One of my very good buddies when I was in primary school.We totally lost contact & in FB,we found in each other. She shares the same profession as I am & our 2 hrs meet definitely needs a follow up.

Sheena, any plan yet for next weekend? ;-) Perhaps this time we can include the kids. To my other friends whom I found in FB but have not the chance to meet yet... let's have a rain check! ;-)

This was what we had. (Well... I can't recall what it's called. Care to help me here Sheena?)

Here is my dear friend Sheena

This is Sheena with her good friend ;-)

The Welcome of a New Cap

A new cap. That was the reason for last night get together. Little that my friends knew about the reason of our little gathering. They were like assuming us to make the big announcement. Sorry babe! Not that one... most probably it's a no.

Anyway, back to the cap. Some might be aware of how dear HB encountered with "TuanPuteri" of Mount Ophir & sort of presented her with my cap. My lens cap. He lost it during his attempt to conquer the peak. I hate to lie but I was a bit furious. Grr...!

My lens was uncapped for 3 solid months. It was quite a hassle looking for the right size. I am to blame really. Was rather too lazy to go to Jln Pudu or even Pertama Complex. Thanks to my good buddy Iesa. Appreciate you getting the cap for me... ;-)

I, to be frank knew nothing about this arrangement made by HB & Iesa. Was aware of their phone discussion of which weekend HB was available. In fact, it was me who confirmed to HB that we were free last night.

After the phone call between the two, HB with his infamous grin relayed a new piece of info. "Iesa tanya Ruby whether it's OK to have a pot luck gathering at his place. If Ruby hesitates we'll have it at ours." There I was gaping to swallow the abrupt plan & he added more, "Lagipun nak bagi lens cap you tu.." Deep inside me I knew that I would have to play host. It was quite recently that Iesa/Ruby hosted a kenduri aqiqah.

Right after supper Thursday night, as expected I won. It was decided that we were to play host. As to make things easier for me, HB promised that I need not have to cook at all. He planned to buy satay. Still... I love hosting. I felt bad for not preparing anything homemade at all besides drinks. Offered to fry noodle or beehoon. But the idea was rejected by HB. Didn't want to tire me, said he. Hmmm... OK then!

It was quite relaxing. After lunch, we even spared the time to go to Nickelodeon Carnival in Cyberjaya. But it was too hot for the girls to enjoy the games. After the carnival, we headed to buy satay. Straight home after that & started getting things ready.These are some shots snapped at the carnival. Balqis was moody & chose not to participate. Nadeen was as usual left at home.

Wardah with her attempt hula-hooping

I'm sure Yasmin won't agree with me uploaded this shot of her skipping... ;-)

Yasmin & Wardah as Katara posing with other characters in The Legend of Aang.

Back to the house. Guests started to arrive just before 8pm. There were 7 families altogether, 8 including mine. Would never change anything in the world for good companies, great friends & superlicious foods. To all, thanks for coming. I promise, the next time around, I will make an appoint to cook something... hehehe. To Iesa, thanks for the trouble. To HB, thanks for troubling. Hahaha... ! Nah..! Glad that you decided to have an occasion for actually welcoming my new cap. ;-) Let's enjoy the photos!

One of the potluck dishes - Spinach Dip. Thanks Shake & Fiza.

The superlicios foods

Good Companies, Great Friends!

I found these boys outside shooting ball. Was wondering where my girls were?

Was looking for them inside the house, instead witnessed Shake cutting the bread of his Spinach Dip.

The girls & their friends with Uncle Shake.

My new lens cap!

Mamak Bistro, USJ 9

Even after like almost 16 years, I am still in contacts with my high school buddies. Recently, we had another small gathering at our regular hangout - Mamak Bistro. On how the place became our rendezvous, it's got to be our favourite menu.This cafe serves the best tandoori chicken & cheese nan in town.

The grilled chicken is not dry. The texture is smooth& juicy. Plus the tandoori paste is just perfect. Not too spicy.


Here is the cheese nan. Most places merely put the cheese onto the nan bread. This will look something like plain pizza with cheese. What I like about the cheese nan here is how the cheese is hidden inside the nan. So, the cheesy taste is preserved inside.

We really had a great time there. Besides the food is of course the company. I always look forward to hang out with them. Telling our school years tales & sharing jokes. Those are like the best remedy to a stay at home mother like me. A chance to socialize & have fun without the kids.

These are some of my good friends hanging out at Mamak Bistro.