Mom's cooking

I'm at Hotel Putra KL. Husband has a 4-day course here, so I took a day off from work hoping that I can relax a bit. Unfortunately, the phone just couldn't stop ringing since this morning.

We came here from ma's house. It touches me whenever we wanted to leave the house after visiting her, she's always so excited to give something for us to bring back even as small as a few oranges she just bought from the market. Moms will always be moms eventhough I come back to see her every weekend.

Today, she packed pulut durian and 4 oranges as 'bekal' for me at the hotel. I know I shouldn't be eating too much pulut or durian but it just so irresistible. Sorry hotel, you said no durian but not such thing as cooked durian and the room doesn't smell that bad.


Ma's cooking are the best. A simple dish such as fried fish with kicap cili tasted better when she cooked it. It's the power of love :)

The past

I attended my ex-bf's wedding recently because his mother and him personally invited me and for the sake of meeting up old school friends. Husband was ok with it. Never had any problem when it comes to exes.

Reminiscing about us, we had a good break-up or as far as I remember we never actually went to the extend of saying "we should go separate ways" and cried a few weeks. We just drifted away after school ended.

His mom likes me. I was the good, school nerd girl back then. So she thinks I was a good example to his son. I don't know if it's true but he once told me his mom always gave him a big sum of money to him if he told her he's going on a date with me.

I was always a rational and an objective girl (and my objectives in life were usually influenced by tv dramas I watched everyday, hahaha but they turned up to be good).

Therefore, I always knew the quality I want for a future husband and for me, childhood sweethearts hardly ended up together. So I was actually doing his mom a favour by being at his side for him to go through spm and I really cared for him as a dear friend.

Seeing him on the dais that night, I just can't imagine myself being the bride next to him. As I looked at my husband finishing up his food hungrily in front of me, I believe the ex and I had made the right decision by drifting away and choosing our own paths 11 years ago.

I didn't go and greet him that night because the last time I heard, the bride had issues with me being his ex and even forbade him attending my wedding. Oh well, what can I say, I am much prettier. hahahahaha.

Kidding...

Updates about the baby and us

Junior is entering 23 weeks next week. Time is moving too fast and the moment I realised it, the tummy is growing bigger and I kept on complaining "I don't have anything nice to wear to work" to husband every morning.

Alhamdulillah, at this stage I can move around like usual, I can drive, no swelling, stretch marks or weird cravings and it really helps with my work.

At times, I think we are a pair of not-the-super-excited parents. We love this baby so much even though we have only seen him/her in the screen of black and grey. Maybe because I'm perfectly ok, we sometimes forget I'm carrying a life in my tummy/uterus. You get what I meant?

-________________-

The first time I felt the baby kicking was while I was reading and husband was inspecting his racket.

me: B, the baby is kicking now, come put your hand here.
husband: where? (still couldn't figure it up)
me: here. (getting annoyed)
husband: oooooo..
me: (wasn't sure if he really felt it)
later
both of us: (continued doing what we did before)

See...
Some first-timer mothers may streaming down tears but I was like, okay, acting all cool.

I talk to my baby a lot especially when I'm annoyed. Advising him/her not to be like the one I'm complaining about. I hope he/she grows up well. having kid(s) is the biggest responsibility ever.

It has only been 23 weeks and ibu is having nightmares about labour already....

Cat story

This is Ginny, my bro wan's cat. Ma went to KB for a week with my other brother. Therefore Ginny was left with my dad. Bro Wan insisted that I take Ginny to my house for the time being.

We brought him back last Sunday. The moment she went out of the carrier, she was in shock and hid herself at the corner in the prayer room refused to eat. Husband kept checking on her every 1 hour. Ah, I hope he still does this when the baby comes out.

At last, after maghrib, she went out of her hiding place. She strolled all over the house, following us every where we went, meowing. When it's time to sleep, we closed the room door leaving her in the living room. We even left the fan on so that she didn't feel warm and could sleep soundly.

However, she ended up meowing outside the door and kept on scratching it once in a while the whole night. We couldn't sleep. We opened the door once, she came in the room but she wanted to sleep with us on the bed. So we left her outside the room again, and the meowing started.

We decided to take her back to ma's house and asked dad to take care of her. She must be missing her boyfriend or my house has something that scares her. During lunch hour, we came home but couldn't find her anywhere. Later, we found her sleeping at the back of the tv cabinet.

Reaching ma's house, took her out of the carrier, she looked content and happy. Golek2 left, right and slept at that very moment.

Even animals can feel homesick, eh?

What EURO?

My house doesn't have Astr0 and my husband sleeps at 10 (and sometimes earlier) every night. However, he jokingly said he supports France because Neel0fa does.
-________________-

B is for baby

I've written this long ago but I kept it as draft until I think I'm ready to tell my friends about it.









tadaaaaaaa.......





Alhamdulillah, I'm 14 weeks pregnant now.

I'm sorry for keeping it too long. We were just too scared that the same thing will happen again so we better keep it from others for a while until we knew that the baby is fine.

Alhamdulillah, lil one and mommy are fine. A big thank you to my beloved family and friends who never stop praying for us :)

During the early pregnancy period, I was advised by the doctor to be extra careful. I had spotting and needed a few visits to the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU).

The moment I saw the first heartbeat at week 7 on the screen, I cried. Too bad, the future daddy wasn't there in the EPAU room to witness it.

Work is still the same. Hectic like always. A week after my pregnancy was confirmed, I received a call informing that I was elected to be one of the Liaison Officer for the King's Coronation. We were given only a few days to decide and I decided to decline the offer with a heavy heart. I can't predict what's going to happen for the next few weeks so I better not take the risk.

Allah always listens. I prayed hard not to fall sick.

Alhamdulillah, morning sickness seemed like a non-existence during my first trimester. I can work like usual. Sometimes, I forgot that I am now carrying a new life and my staff kept reminding myself to slowdown.

Eating is fine. I have no weird cravings so far. Husband has been nothing but very supportive. Alhamdulillah. I guess the long period of childless married life has given us the chance to get to know each other better and he understands me so well.

EDD is in October.

We are anxious and nervous at the same time waiting for lil one to come out. There are so many things playing in my head. My dad once said, delivering a healthy baby is a miracle that happens everyday.

And reading something like, "autism happens in 1 out of 60" is terrifying.

Please pray for us that everything will be ok :) Lil one can't wait to meet his/her uncles and aunties.

Great team

I was part of the apc team this year. no apc for me yet though..

One great team. Everyone was so pro-active. The event was held at Renaissance KL on the 2nd of April. Our agency is the biggest in the Ministry, so we were the busiest managing the registration.









Will it be the same team again next year?

Like what you get, I wish..

My HOD once told, we can't always get what we like, so in order to be happy, we must like what we get.

For those who have good bosses, be thankful.

Working with not so brilliant bosses will definitely shorten your life or worst, made you look older than your age. (Or the other way round.. heh)

Bosses have egos. Especially when their subordinates are so much younger. Only a few will admit that they are wrong. When it is so obvious that we are right, the longest word that'll come out from their mouths is "Oh" and off they go to their rooms after series of yelling, trying hard to point out that you are wrong and they are right.

Then, you have bosses dengan memori ikan emas. You reported your work, gave them things they wanted but later you were yelled at for not doing what they asked you to do because they always misplaced everything you gave them and forgot what you told them.

There are bosses who suck at making decision. You know well those decisions were wrong and you tried to tell them it was not the right thing to do, but your intention were misinterpret and you are marked as a rebellious officer. And in order for not being guilty of those bad decisions, you have to do extra works which is, to do memos for those bosses to sign claiming that the decisions were their calls.

How to pretend to be happy when deep inside you know well that your boss hates you to the core and vice-versa? It is very, very bad for your baby. (Eh, wait, did I say baby? ;)

You work hard, made sacrifices, but all you get every day are, yelling and cynical remarks... How sad is that?

I'm speaking of general situation here. Types of bosses. Nothing to do with me :D

Is he?

A few commented on how my husband look a little bit like Ustaz Don.

So, the husband wore the jubah Ma bought from him, borrowed my white tudung as his serban and here's the result..


Tak sama pun kannnnnn??

Despair..

Being told that what my unit does has no significant values broke my hearts to millions pieces. I cried for I don't know how many times.

Not long after that, a subordinate came and told me to be strong. Even how bad we're treated, they will give me the best performance because of me. Alhamdulillah.. Those words cured my heart immediately..

I will be strong, for them and our work MATTERS.....

Blessed

Husband made me breakfast this morning.

It was 3 slices of wholemeal bread with peanut butter + cheese + chocolate + garlic spread.

How's the taste?

Errr, speechless!

But I ate it anyway because I was really, really hungry.

Throwing food is bad, people!

******

A friend of ours once asked us a question, which place(s) in this whole world do I want to visit other than the holy city of mekah and madinah?

It was a really simple question. Some can give a handful of answers within minutes unfortunately, I can't give any. Big L stamped on my forehead.

It's not that I've never given any thought about it. I used to dream but I've forgotten when was the last time I dreamed about going to these beautiful places across the world.

Airasia's newsletter are deleted without even bothering to read it. I have planned my whole 2012 budget. How much savings and money spent are analysed. Is it just me or everyone who's married has their priorities sorted out differently compares to the singles? Or I'm turning into that makcik who loves asset and money more than wanting to enjoy it because she fears that if anything were to happen to this country, she still has a piece of land that she can claim as hers.

I'm not in denial. Everyone leads their lives differently and it doesn't matter where I go, as long as I have my loved ones with me, it'll be a wonderful visit.

p/s: I love reading about my friends' traveling stories :)

30 months and counting

Alhamdulillah, our marriage reached 30 months old yesterday.

It has been that old. 2 and a half years.

A friend of mine who got married 1 week after us is now a mother of 2 beautiful kids.

We were watching Gemersik Kalbu (yeah, we don't have astro so this is my entertainment ;) and during the commercial break.

Me: Why doesn't God bless us with a child yet?
Husband: He wants us to move in to our house first. If you're pregnant, then I have to do all the cleaning, that's not fair, right, right?
Me: pffftttt.. Maybe God knows we're not ready to be parents? Tell me, you're not ready to be a dad, are you?
Husband: I'm ready when it's time to be.
Me: Maybe I'm the one whose not ready?

Then I told him my feelings when my period was late for 4 days last month, how I was feeling nervous thinking about labour pain even before anything was confirmed. Crazy. (Blame it on my tuition biology teacher who showed us a video of how Cesarean was performed, I was merely 18!!!)

He just laughed at it as if I was telling a silly joke.

Honestly, I don't think about it too much anymore. People are blessed with so many great things in life. Not having kids doesn't mean that my life is incomplete. I still keep that long text from kuntum when I miscarried last year.

And Ma always said, be happy with what you own and don't be stressed out on things you didn't have.

Anyway, to Niha and Rezal, Congratulations and may she grows up to be a good muslimah :)

Mean...

The public can be so mean.

Yeah, jkm’s fb made a mistake. (You guys can google it. It was circulated all over the net and fb.) But it doesn’t mean people can ridicule us to that extend.

Oh, my.

I spent almost an hour going through those comments and man their words are harsh, uneducated, emotional and very uncivilised.

Some called us stupid and we should not work in the office but in the kandang taking care of the cow instead. Others even went deeper commenting how stupid government officers are. Ah, I bet most of them don’t even memorise the Rukun Negara or the Negaraku song and they have the urge to comment about patriotism?? My a**.

Sad though.

Why can’t they comment nicely?!! Civilised people don’t bash like that. I just felt like putting their heads in the microwave and let them explode. (oh, I watched The Last House on The Left yesterday and the ending is awesome ;)

However, a few gave very nice words, trying to sooth the angry community. I felt like hugging them. You guys make me believe that there are still good rational people out there.

At that point of time, I wish we were back during the time where the fastest way the news can be reached is by using the telegram.

Eat Work, Sleep Work...

I have nothing interesting to blog about.

Life isn't easy. No one says it is. But it is up to us to make it wonderful.

I got scolded really, really bad by my superior last Tuesday and ended up crying when husband asked me why on the phone. I was sad and disappointed because of what she said which I think is ridiculous. I was and still am frustrated to be treated this way, so low as if what I did all these while meant nothing to her. Little did she knew I even bought a new laptop so that I can continue doing my work at home.

*sigh*

Above all that, I don't regret a bit when I agreed to be transferred out. Dealing with this hardship thought me a lot about life, people and work. It matures me.

The good thing about doing HR is that, you get updated about everything first hand. And the latest, I learned how us, the p*d are given marks to get promoted. I can conclude that, the variety job scope you did, more points you'll get. Working at the same place doing the same thing too long won't make you a Subject Matter Expert either.

So plan well friends.

Anyway, those interested to work at Education Malaysia overseas can apply with MOHE. I want husband to apply and if he got it, I'll take unpaid leave to be with him. Kawan-kawan, apa lagi?

I'm really suck at giving titles for entries.

Anyway, I never thought myself as being a workaholic. Never....

Until my laptop died on me yesterday. It just went blank while we were watching movie on the laptop.

And I was really, really disturbed for the rest of the day.

I was so upset because at that point of time I was thinking that I can't bring work home anymore. Crazy because money only came second (whether to fix it or just buy a new one and oh I just changed the screen 2 months ago.. zzzzzzzz )

It has served me good for almost 4 years.

Maybe it's a good thing for the time being. At the moment, I can stop bringing those files back and enjoy my hours at home.

Just temporarily..

I definitely need to have a laptop at home.. must have.... 10 hours at work is just too short of time.. Ok, I should stop now. I sounded cocky.. pffffttttttt

putrajaya-kl-putrajaya

my 8 months working experience in kl was indeed a marvellous journey that I will never forget.

I am now back in Putrajaya.

From 4th floor at my previous workplace to 23rd floor and now I'm on the 16th. 2 days ago, there was this announcement saying there's an emergency and everyone had to leave the building immediately, I couldn't help wishing for a parachute. I think I should consider having one? Does anyone know where to buy it? heh

I realised I didn't take any picture of my cubicle in kl. But I snapped some on my last day which was on the 16th December 2011.


My office has these 2 huge pillars that reminded me of the chinese temple.

That's my cubicle.

I filtered all those documents left for me by the previous officer and only brought these to the new building:

only 6 boxes

view from the 23rd floor of Menara Tun Ismail Mohamed Ali, Jalan Raja Laut

thumbed-out on the last day

And oh, I'm surely going to miss walking down Bandar Tasik Selatan station at night ;)

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan during the the night

ERL Stesen Bandar Tasik Selatan

On 19th December 2011, I'm officially back in Putrajaya. The new office building is in Presint 4. The nearest one to picc.

I love working in kl because of it's surroundings which are more exciting but Putrajaya is only 10 minutes from home. We can't get everything right?

So, here's my new workstation. I share a room with another male colleague. So far, I just hate his collection of songs. Last week, my eardrums suffered hearing to macarena and Asyik song.



This is the beautiful view from my room. When the heart is sinking, I just look up at the sky or the lake and it soothes me.



I love my new office and I surely gonna miss the hectic life of kl and sogo and jalan tar. urgh...

And I'm so glad I moved to a different department and get the chance to venture a new job scope plus, I get to know more people. Alhamdulillah.

What's life without its ups and down?

toodles.

p/s: I'll give myself 2 years here then I want out to learn other jobscope. hehe

12 months later

Oh my, I suddenly realised that I actually own a blog.

By the way, Happy New Year!!

2012.

Remember this post?

2011 was a good year for me.

~We bought our very first house together. Planned so much for the house and we can't wait to live in it. We saved every little penny just for the house. I may be using a very old handphone which couldn't even support whatsapp but I'm just glad I saved quite a sum because in the end, it's all worth it. alhamdulillah..

~I got pregnant, and lost it. Yeah, it's still sad when I thought about it. If it is still here, I'm due in 2 weeks time. Unfortunately, the tummy is big because of a huge chunk of fat instead of a baby growing in it. heh. Anyway, everything happens for reason. And the reason is, sbpa happened. You can't imagine I'm being pregnant had to deal with all the pressure at work and how we worked like crazy plus that crazy shrieking voice of, ehem (and now, it's postponed!!).

~Shed a few kgs, but I don't look any thinner.. -________________-
Maybe the weighing scale is broken because I don't know what I shed where I shed. At times like this, I wish I were back in moh where I can scale my weight and the fats in my body every Wednesday with that tanita scale.
Wait until I'm done renovating my house, I'm going to have my very own tanita at home. yeah..

~I think I have to accept the fact that I'm one of those people who suffers from acne for the rest of her life. *sigh* and it's getting worst. Can I blame the stressed?

And what's for 2012??

hmmm...

Death is the closest thing to us.

Everytime I hug my mom when I'm going back to putrajaya every weekend, I'll hug her tightly because I fear that it will be the last time I see her.

Everytime I send my husband to the door when he's going out or before we go to sleep, I'll ask for his forgiveness and I'll do the same as I did to mom.

We'll never know when death will come to take us. Old or young.

I just lost a friend just now. A very sweet friend and she's only 29. A wife to a friend of mine too. They have only been married for a year. She had complications during delivery, she fought for almost a day but Allah loves her more. I hope the baby survives and may Allah gives her husband the courage to survive all this.

Al-fatihah for my dear sweet noria idris.

You'll be missed.. DPA 1/2008 just lost a very good friend :'(

Down and under

This year's December is definitely not a good month for me.

I got scolded badly yesterday by the big boss for something I'm not responsible of; that particular department kept on asking information while given too short of a notice to complete it whereby they knew damn well that all these things earlier when the new system was drafted (ingat staf kami 5 orang je seluruh negara?? beribu tahu tak.), I missed my 7.05 erl because my monthly pass buat hal.

While waiting for the train, my mind was racing thinking about the meeting at 9am. She left me nothing but he wanted answers and I'm the only officer representing my unit. The pressure was too hard to handle at the moment, so I broke down and cried at the station. If she still thinks my work is ringan, I'm gonna confront her next week. If she doesn't like me here, I will dare her to sent me to Kementerian and let's see how she'll manage.

I thought of not going to work today. Wanted to divert the destination to Putra Gombak and go back to mom's place. However, on second thoughts, I'm not a quitter. I'm not that weak. I'll fight back and will try to do my best with my team to complete everything accordingly without anyone to rely on at the office. Allah will always be with me. Always..

It's 12.30 noon and it's a Friday. Back to work...

Reminiscing

What I did last Saturday and Sunday was actually a mixture of reminiscing this and this..

Oh yes. We (husband and I) were among the facilitators for the M41 P@C at INTIM. Turned down 2 favours before but we couldn't say no on the 3rd time, for the sake of the experience and friendship (and the money ;)

Off we went to Kemaman on late Friday afternoon and arrived at 9.00pm sharp for the briefing.

I have not been there since PTD Unggul. February 2012 will mark the 5th year. How time flies.

Upon arriving at the Blok Eksekutif's Lobby, there was this flash of every moment of what I've been through in year 2007. Syahdu beb..

The Dewan Samudera which is the main hall, Dewan Bahtera which is the dining hall, Blok Warisan, Blok Akademik, Blok Pentadbiran, the corridor between Blok Eksekutif and Blok Pentadbiran where I always came across this tall, skinny guy who's forever on the phone; everything still looks the same. Except for me who has gained 12kg and I'm married to that tall, skinny guy.. heh

Spent the 2 nights at room 4001. A big spacious room with 2 single beds located at the end of the block.

On Saturday, we started our roll as the facilitators. And guess which panel I was assigned to? It was Tuan @li!!!!!! Hahaha..

He was my sidang's PPK during DPA but I never had the chance to get to know him and now I have. He's one cool panel and a fun person to chat with. He's damn friendly. The Tuan @li I never knew.

Of course, he noticed dear husband and commented that husband is more kurus than when he was in DPA. He is notttttttt.. Please look at his tummy.. hehehehe

The P@C was done in 2 days and 1 night which consist of these activities:
1. Kajian kes
2. Case Study
3. Penyelesaian masalah
4. Problem Solving
5. 2.4km run
6. Public Speaking

I remember during my P@C, candidates were at the range of those born in 1982 to 1984. Everyone looked so young and immature. But for this session, it was a mixture of all ages even as old as 38 years old and the youngest are born in 1989.

Anyway, apart from how they perform, I noticed some of them wore very worn out shoes and clothes. Sayu... I couldn't help feeling, erm, it's hard to put it to words. Most of them were so eager and trying their best to compete and to gain a post, even when they had to wear faded shoes that looked grey instead of black, over-sized shirt, pants that was not even a pair of slacks and a very worn out belt, they don't look ashamed. I felt pity at first then proud and kagum at the same time.

And these people were very humble with their words and actions whereas those who were very confident and cocky are mostly from a better family background. Such a big difference.

Before they released us, there was this score review session with all panels and facilitators. We reviewed those who pass (the score and the image of the candidates) This actually made us think of us during our time.

Suraya binti xxxxxx age xx
Graduated from UKM in Food Science and Nutrition with CGPA X.XX
Currently unemployed.
(displaying image from the next screen and panels commented)

Kamarul Redzuan bin xxxx age xx
Graduated from UKM in xxxxxxxx with CGPA X.XX
Currently working at xxxxxxxx
(displaying image from the next screen and panels commented)

Hehehehe

To those in the same scheme, we were given the chance and were selected among thousands of candidates through out the country. The panels must have seen something in us during that time, they put high hope that we'll be a good officer, therefore don't let them down and work our very best till the end of our service..