Family get togethers

Yesterday we celebrated Eid Adha. Ja and EA went to Sec 14 mosque for their prayer. Then we had a simple breakfast of just nasi himpit, chicken and sayur jawa. Lisa and I went to TTDI market to get tempeh. Of course no longer available, it being the raya morning itself. However a friendly lady at a shop told us that there was also no tempeh on Thursday.. So, our sayur jawa was cooked minus that. It still turned out delicious, actually it smelt better too.

Kak Long, Azura and husband, Shah arrived at 5.00p.m. Abang Maulut could not make it, him being the surau ajk and waiting for the arrival of cows for Qurban session today. Then Hisham, wife Su and children, Helena Sophia and Hakim arrived. We served them Mi Bandung followed by Sagu and gula melaka for dessert. They left after the maghrib prayer. It was a good family get together albeit a small one at that.

I am never one for big gatherings. Small ones are cozier and easier to manage. It helps us to bond better. I like the fact that all of us can be involved in the same conversation and without having to jump from one table to another..

So today being Saturday, went back to bed after my Subuh prayer and finally got up again at 10.30a.m. Had brunch with Ja at our side patio then we played scrabble. Am having a break, Ja pi fetch Lisa and now am just waiting for them to do their Zohor prayer sebab Lisa nak main sekali...

64 ways to say "I love you.."

This is a copy and paste article - psychology.suite101.com.

A little relationship advice can go a long way, and so can a list of relationship tips. Specific, practical ways of showing your love for your partner, kids, and friends can increase the communication, connection, and caring in your family. Knowing how to say I love you consistently and sincerely will give you and your lover a natural high!

1. Don't compare them to anyone.
2. Be courteous at all times.
3. Embrace the present moments without fear or guilt.
4. Live by the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you).
5. Give your full attention when talking.
6. Become their biggest fan and cheerleader!
7. Toast each other over breakfast or dinner to say I love you.
8. Tell them how they bring love to your life.
9. Laugh about kids quotes on love or events.
10. Talk about your day during mealtimes.
11. Read books aloud together.
12. Say you're sorry.
13. Recall good and bad memories.
14. Let go of the past to say I love you.
15. Do nothing together.
16. Encourage health in all its forms.
17. Trust your partner enough to cry together.
18. Act silly together.
19. Be lavish in praise.
20. Ask questions about opinions, feelings, thoughts.
21. To say I love you, forget about labels.
22. Encourage adventures and risks!
23. Show your joy when they come home.
24. Bake cookies.
25. Leave stress at work to say I love you.
26. Use flannel sheets in the winter.
27. Solve problems together - such as crosswords or Suduku.
28. Show your gratitude for them.
29. Be a good sounding board.
30. To say I love you, take pride in them -- and show it.
31. Compliment them in front of others.
32. Spend time with them.
33. Listen.
34. Ask for hugs and kisses.
35. Take vacations together.
36. Tell the truth to say I love you.
37. Use pet names to say I love you.
38. Practice self-acceptance.
39. Hunt for treasure together.
40. Be interested in their interests.
41. To say I love you, let go of jealousy.
42. Accept their weaknesses and flaws.
43. Ditch work or responsibilities to play with them.
44. Be yourself.
45. Share chocolates, ice cream sundaes, milkshakes.
46. To say I love you, ignore slights.
47. Pray or meditate together.
48. Practice forgiveness.
49. Watch classic movies together.
50. Leave notes or send letters.
51. To say I love you, buy a "for no reason at all" gift.
52. Don't gossip or judge.
53. Give the benefit of the doubt to say I love you.
54. Give space when they're in a bad or sad mood.
55. Learn something new together.
56. Go dancing.
57. Keep your promises to say I love you.
58. Make them laugh.
59. Consider their feelings.
60. Learn ways to rekindle the romance.
61. Hide a treat in their lunch.
62. To say I love you, make home a fun place to be.
63. Let them make their own decisions.
64. Say what you mean when you say I love you. Say why.

Saying I love you takes work and making your relationship stronger does take work. It's hard to be honest, and it's hard to accept the consequences of your honesty and authenticity. It takes time, energy, and commitment to stay connected through all the problems that life and people bring. It can be painful, aggravating, and scary to stick it out through all the ups and downs....but the alternative is worse.

Off the cuff..

Opened my eyes at 5.30a.m this morning. Earlier in fact. Just that it was the routine "to get up or not to get up". Of course I didn't, hence I missed my Tahajjud. Then at 5.30, I thought I could still make it. Day before while checking out the prayer times for the remainder of this month, I noticed that maghrib is now at 7.01p.m and slowly after this will become later and later. So okay, took it for granted that I could make it only to realise it later that I could not. I was brushing my teeth when I heard our azan alarm to indicate the prayer time for Subuh..

Anyway, after subuh prayer I didn't go back to bed. Did my morning stretching exercises and at 7.00a.m sent Ja to the LRT station to catch the ERL to KLiA for his trip to Perth. Should be arriving in Perth about 3.00p.m. Check in at his hotel then wait for our son, EA.

Was supposed to go to the gym with Lisa at 8.00 a.m but I have this running nose to contend with. I wouldn't want to contaminate the gym what with the H1N1 still looming in the horizon. So I decided to just stay home, write this blog and after this perhaps finish off trimming the dining chair covers that I managed to finish sewing yesterday.

Also saw Sam at my neighbour's house. She looked at me as I drove past but she hasn't been back home for quite a while now. I only get to see her every now and then but am grateful that her new owner seems to love and care for her very well. Only that she doesn't get to sleep in the house. She is in my prayers daily..

Now at 10.30a.m, I just got back after fetching Lisa from gym and dropping her off at her college. Snowball is sleeping on the kitchen cabinet, Patty in my room and Grubs in the guest room. One day, I will write about all the cats that we have at home...

What else.. oh yes, Lisa has a lunch outing with Azlan (she calls him Alan). He plans to cook, though no confirmation just yet where he 'll do the cooking.

Husna from Sec 14 mosque just called to find out if Ja and I would like to help in the Qurban event this year to be held this Saturday. We were there last year. This year though? Will wait for Ja to arrive back with EA from Perth this thursday before deciding..

Two Sundays..

i. Cuci, the musical.

Ja, Lisa & I went to Istana Budaya to watch the last show of Cuci the musical at 3.00p.m. It was hilarious and we enjoyed ourselves tremendously. We have never laughed so much watching a musical prior to this. A special mention of Awie and Adibah Noor for being simply adorable and cute, Hans for oh his so macho voice. I have never liked to watch AC on TV but for this musical, I found him bearable to watch. He was funny but I suppose I can only take a small dosage of him.

We left the theatre at 7.00p.m and Ja decided to take the Taman Tasik Titiwangsa route and the traffic jam really spoilt all of our good feelings. Maybe there's some truth in the old saying that we shouldn't laugh too much, something bad's bound to happen...

ii. Last Sunday, we went to 1 Utama and entered through the old wing using our One Card. After having late lunch and looking around and buying things we decided it was time to head for home. It was not meant to be an easy exit, the machine couldn't read the card. So we re-parked the car and Ja walked all the way to the new wing to the One Card service counter. The card seemed to be in working order but the machines at the old wing apparently are known to not recognize One Cards every now and then. We were advised to drive to the new wing via the two carpark links either at the roof top or basement and exit through the new wing. Both the rooftop and basement links were closed. Fly fm had a concert going on at the new wing so we kind of expected the carparks to be full.

We also discovered that the One Card that Ja used to enter I U was mine and the one that I thought was mine and in my purse was invalid. His One Card was missing. Anyway, we finally left after an hour in the parking lot, with a lot of thanks to the carpark security.

iii. Today, Friday- Ja went to the One Card service counter to check my One Card again and to find out what happened to his own card. Their machine detected transactions by my One Card and also his on the same day, mine through the old wing and Ja's the new wing. We couldn't have entered both wings within minutes without exiting first. Their deduction: Ja must have dropped his card somewhere and somebody picked it up and shamelessly used it instead of handing it over to the service counter. So they issued him a new card and will share the credit with his old card.. (to transfer, Ja needs to hand over the old card)

iv. Left house to fetch Lisa at the Gym around 12-ish. Just as I was reversing my car out to the main road, a lorry stopped opposite my house. Three men came out and  and as I drove off, crossed the road and walked to my tree which is just outside the fence. Feeling uneasy, I stopped the car and saw them painting the TNB pole near the tree. Called Suki and Bibik and sought their help to observe the workers.

On the way back, I checked out the other TNB poles along my road and noticed none was repainted. Curiously enough, I was told they left after painting the pole at my house. Later after sending Lisa to college, I drove to the other roads in my neighbourhood and detected another 'solo' pole painted silver and only on SS 2/43 road. I hope it was just that, they were marking poles to indicate future work to be done and not like the Ali Baba and the 40 thieves where they marked the outhouse as the house to be broken into, and in my case, mark the TNB pole.

Our house was broken into on the 4th day of Eid Fitri 2008. Lisa and I were at home and no, we don't want to have to go through that again.. May God protect us, Amen.

My Sam

This is Sam, my busyuk pot. I found her on a staircase at Sec 14 market on 4.9.2005. She was about few weeks old then and was sleeping nicely on the staircase. I was from the wet market heading to the dry section on the 1st floor when I spotted her. Her sight melted my heart. I borrowed a basket from a trader, put her in it and walked back to my car and said to my husband, "Don't kill me. I like her."

It took her a while to adjust to eating proper cat food and drinking milk. My older cat, Snowball hated her on sight! She took every opportunity to pounce on Sam and every now and then managed to actually hurt her.

I then put Sam in my bedroom and her nights were spent snuggled in between our pillows. She virtually grew up in my bedroom. She ate her food in our guest bedroom. The downside of having her in our room was her treating my bed as her toilet. We had to put plastic sheet over my bed just to protect my mattress!

Funny that none of my two children ever messed up my bed but my cat did. This is all history. Sam has left home and is now happily settled at my neighbour's house. They seem to love her and she is so cuddly and white. And there is no Snowball to terrorise her anymore. Patty used to play with Sam but not so much now.

Spotted her at 6.40pm today after I came back home from fetching Lisa. Called her and she came nearer but not near enough for me to touch her. In the days when she used to go out in the morning and come back home at night, we sometimes had to fetch her. It was so adorable to see her running home alongside us.

I miss her so. Wonder what she is called now...

Walking down memory lane..

   Ja, and I.

We were in Kuantan for one of the then Sure Heboh, TV3 carnival. 

My 1st ever tagging along with him. 

Picture was taken by my daughter, Lisa before we left for home, 

Petaling Jaya. 

We arrived on Saturday afternoon and headed straight to the site 

where the carnival was held. 

Didn't stay long, it was hot and it was crowded but it was an interesting 
experience that I will treasure. 

Glad to say that his days of going away on weekends 

to oversee the carnival is over and 

that this carnival is now known as JOM HEBOH.