...afif's blessful antiques...

as we are getting nearer to the blissful month of Ramadhan, i guess it's best for me to share the story of my adorable 2 1/2 yrs old nephew, Afif...

as you might find in my previous post, i've been with Abema's kids for the whole of last week...a babysitter i was, i became the centre of attraction to Afif...

no more calling of "Bibik~~~Bibik~~~"...everything became "Cik Ja~~~Cik Ja~~~"...

during playtime: "Cik Ja~~~main dengan Afif" or "Cik Ja~~~Afif nak 611" (note: Astro Ceria channel 611)
at makan time: "Afif nak Cik Ja suap..."
after bath time: "Cik Ja pakeikan pipers..."
after dressing his pampers: "Afif nak pakei baju bawah/atas"
(note: baju bawah (folded clothes) = clothes used at home, baju atas (hanged clothes) = clothes used for outings)
and many many more requests for "Cik Ja~~~"

until at one particular afternoon i purposely refused to one of his request to watch video clip of Saiful Apek's Aspalela song at YouTube.com...my reason was i was going to perform Zohor prayer first...guess what's next?!!

"Afif nak semayang same Cik Ja buleh tak?"
okay my dear...

so, he quickly took another prayer rug from the closet and placed it next to mine's...he even wore his green 'kopiah' (present from mama)... here goes - "Allahu Akbar!" (note the wrong Qiblah - ahh, nevermind)...
he left the next rukun of bow position (Ruku') and straight-away go to the prostration position (Sujud)...a long, long one...
and this was the transition period (Tahiyyat) in between the prostration...
and finally the Dua' session after the prayers...aminn...
alalalalala so cute...

Happy Ramadhan, folks!

...babysitter cum driver...

last friday, my family were alerted by Abema's parents-in-law that Kak Intan was admitted to Room 7, Wad As-Salam, Hospital PUSRAWI due to low blood pressure...my mama called Abema and was reassured by him that he's returning from his Lumut business trip to take care of things that very night...

thus, on saturday morning, i drove mama and Jeleen to pay Kak Intan a visit...abah and baby adik stayed at home as they still need to keep an eye on baby adik's room progress...as Jemi had other plan with Saz, he promised to join us in the evening...

mama, Jeleen and me reached Kak Intan's room at about 1130am...Abema and his kids were already there...

it so happens that that day is also the due date for 'Aina and Iman to return their borrowed books from the National Library, which is apparently 2 blocks away from the hospital itself...yeay...so, this is the moment indeed...i volunteered to accompany 'Aina to return those borrowed books...and guess what?!yeay...i finally got myself registered with the National Library...the whole registration process costs me RM1.30...hehe...however,since the membership ID card has run out of stock (poor me), the clerk only handed a simple receipt and that will be use to redeem my membership card at a later date...for the time being, my IC will be the temporary pass...

we including the kids left Kak Intan at about 230pm and headed to Abema's house for lunch...after lunch and prayers, we just lazed around...at around 6pm, Jemi came to pick mama and Jeleen...this marks my starting time as unofficial babysitter cum driver to Abema's kids...all praise to Allah as i have one more week holidays left...huhuhu~~~

my first job - that saturday night, i drove the kids to their ibu...we also send new clothes for her...

early sunday morning, i drove to Keramat to buy 'nasi berlauk' for our breakfast...Abema then took me and the kids to see Kak Intan at 11am...we left at 2pm and had our rest for the evening...again, at night, i'm the one driving to bring the kids to their ibu and also to send new clothes...but that sunday night we left earlier because 'Aina and Iman need to sleep early for school...

on monday, 'Aina and Iman went to the school...after breakfast, Abema and me went to the Honda showroom leaving Afif with Bibik...we went for the new Jazz test drive...yeay...i found the view from the inside of the car very broad...i like the steering wheel (a smaller version of Civic's) with the paddle shift...i like the dashboard arrangements too...next to the power socket outlet is the USB-enabled music player...yeay - nice one...what disappoints me is the gear knob design...it's practically okay but i prefer a more masculine type of gear knob...and, though the new Jazz provides a lot more compartments to store things, i found that the glove box is not that spacious...the Ultra seats are comfortable...how i wish that they are leather...as for the passengers' side, i do think that the new Jazz has improved in terms of knee length comfort...ohh...my Ryan~~~i might opt for the tailgate spoiler and the Jazz illuminated side step garnish to further customise Ryan to my liking...pray for the delivery to be in September okay...i just can't wait...

after the test drive, Abema and me had our lunch at Restoran Ros Fatimah in Jalan Gombak...Abema sent me back to wait for Iman and he quickly left to visit Kak Intan...when Iman has returned from school, i waited for him to have his lunch...at 3pm, i drove Iman and Afif to their Opah's home to pick 'Aina...later that evening, Abema told us that Kak Intan will be discharge on tuesday afternoon...that monday night, the kids and me didn't go to the hospital...i tutored the kids' homework and reviewed Iman's monthly test results...

tuesday - 26082008 - the day of Permatang Pauh's by-election...alhamdulillah...glad that DSAI won the MP seat...

at 3pm, i went to pick 'Aina from her Opah's home with Afif and Bibik while Abema and Iman went to fetch Kak Intan from the hospital...i called mama to inform that my stay will be extended until friday since Kak Intan is not fully recovered yet and Abema need to go to Lumut on wednesday...

what i've been up to today?early morning today, i followed Abema to send 'Aina and Iman to school as i need to know the route so that i can send them on thursday and friday...Abema left for Lumut at 11am...my routine at 3pm is to pick 'Aina from her Opah's home...today , i went with Iman...we left Afif with his ibu and Bibik...

returning from Keramat, we stopped at Wangsa Maju Carrefour for some grocery shopping...i also bought two blouses for mama, Cleo September issue and make new name stickers (Shin Chan design)...

...DSAI's landslide victory...

"We declare victory, the margin is very huge," said Tian Chua, information chief of Anwar's Keadilan party which leads a three-member opposition alliance.

"I think it's a landslide victory,".

hurmm...what goes around comes around...

yeay! i rest my case...

...wednesday's day out...

it turned out that UiTM and UTM is having their mid-sem break at the same time as the school holidays...since all their dear aunts (Jeleen & me) and uncles (Jemi & Baby Adik) are around to keep them entertained, 'Aina & Iman were sent by Abema last monday to stay for a week in the kampung...yeay...

so, on wednesday, their great Cik Ja & Cik Leen brought both of them for a day out at Jusco Bukit Tinggi...we went out to watch Wall.E...there were several cute, sweet scenes between Wall.E & Eve...very little conversations...Wall.E calling out,"Eeee...Vehh~~" and vice versa...Eve in return calling out,"Wallll...E~~" overall, i'd rate this movie at 3-stars...

...Wall.E & Eve...

right after the movie, we headed to the Arena foodcourt for lunch...i had a Claypot Squid Rice with Prawns while Jeleen chose to have a Claypot Chicken Rice with Egg...my niece and nephew had the same Sizzling Chicken & Mushroom Yee Mee with Egg...Soya Bean Milk and Iced Milo for drinks...

...my lunch - Claypot Squid Rice with Prawns...

'Aina and her sizzling mee

Iman and his sizzling mee (note the gravy stain at his mouth)

then, i went to the Surau while Jeleen searched for her new sandals with the kids...

later while looking around, we came across the Kinder JOY promotion campaign at the North Court...'Aina and Iman were delighted to have a go at Kinderino's sand art and colouring activities...after finishing with their masterpieces, they were given free samples of the new Kinder JOY chocolates and some goodies (notebooks and car signs)...

Iman & 'Aina with their sand art...on the stage (left) - Kinderino
hand painting - 'Aina (butterfly) & Iman (spider)

we left Jusco Bukit Tinggi at around 3pm and went to the next stop - haircuts for my niece & nephew...as Jeleen planned to have her hair done as well, she went to the saloon with 'Aina while i brought Iman to the barber shop...

Iman getting his hair cut huhu...look at Iman's serious face...
tada...'Aina's new look

ohh yaaa...just sharing what i bought for myself :

a 'blink blink' A keychain & Ryan's keychain
a Hello Kitty water bottle
Mahathir Mohamad - an illustrated biography

...jalan haji hassan salleh...

"hey,ko ingat jalan ni bapak ko yang punye ke?!"

kuikuikui... i came across this interesting road sign at a triple junction heading to Kg Baru LRT station...

"ya...ini jalan bapak aku yang punya!" hehehe...

...my best friend's wedding...

another happy episode of retentate's member...but, this time around it's about my everdearest Abie's glorious wedding...to Abie and Adip, wishing both of you love of a lifetime...Abie, so very happy for you...me now officially entrusted Adip to take extra good care of you, okay?!

Abie and me went back to Gemencheh last Thursday morning...Abie picked me up together with all hantarans...We drove cautiously at every curves and slowly as well as to not spoil the great deal of these exquisite arrangements...

the very first job on our to-do list is to settle on the 'remeh' part - preparing wedding doorgifts...

common guests will each receive a maroon paper bag inclusive of a cute egg gunny sack plus either a fish baulu (traditional egg cake) or a pair of cermai baulu or a pair of kuih sarang tebuan/kuih ros/kuih loyang/kuih goyang (all the same,only different in terms of names)...

kids will get a small, hard, gold paperbag with sweets, chocolates and a jelly inside...

close friends will receive a golden pear/apple 'bunga telur' together with a fish baulu and a small square orange/brown coconut leaves sticks box containing potpourri inside their allocated brown paper bag...

VIP guests get a big cermai baulu, a brown stocking cloth 'bunga telur' and the same coconut leaves stick box with their brown paper bag...

Abie's wedding doorgifts

on Friday, we've become a lot busier tidying up the entire house...We end the day by a coating henna ceremony...

Anor is putting the henna mixture around Abie's fingers

when Saturday arrives, we set up the bride's room and rearrange the hantarans accordingly...

A close-up picture of all the hantarans
1. kuih cakar ayam (in the form of bird's nest)
2. betel leaves bouquet
3. Quran with its recital case
4. cupcakes in a net-covered food tray
oohhh...yummy...yummy...
5. tropical fruit's ark
6. blue, satin cloth
7. Tommy Hilfiger's perfume set
8. Dockers's shirt, tie and slacks
9. Timberland's comfort shoe
10. Braun Buffel's belt and wallet set
11. Tissot's elegant watch

Kak Ain and her crew also worked very hard setting up the wedding dais...

Abie's glamour wedding dais
the bright yellow canopies
DJ corner

finally, the time has come - 17/08/2008...

Abie - before the solemnization (very cheerful)
inside the mosque - Mak Cik Leha (Abie's mak) and Kak Ain (mak andam)

the solemnization ceremony started exactly at 10am...Tok Imam started off with a khutbah in Arabic followed by its translation...then, he asked Adip some basic matrimonial knowledge...both bride and bridegroom later signed some form before proceeding with the solemnization process...Abie's ayah willingly chose to perform the task...Alhamdulillah, Adip managed to utter the magical lines in one stroke...yeay...

Abie surrounded by friends (after solemnization) From left:- Suzie, Mimi, Beebee, Abie, me, Azwa and Iza

Abie's fresh flowers hand bouquet
Abie and friends' gedik pose
Abie - before receiving event

Adip and family arrived for the receiving event at around 1230pm...me escorted Abie up to the triple junction where the couple was reunited...local kids then perform some silat moves whereby in the end of the show, out of a sudden Adip was forced to accept a slice of orange...Adip spontaneously fed Abie...hahaha...

then it was time for the 'bersanding' event...it took us about 20 minutes up on the dais...

the best part was 'makan beradab' time...thanks to Cik Ita (the chef) for the marvellous dishes...

my job as Abie's bridesmaid end at around 130pm...

i left Abie's house at 2pm following Suzie and the gang to Emy's house to visit her and her newborn 12-days old baby girl, Nabila Syazana...

later, in the evening, we stopped at Mimi's house to have our tea break as well as perform our prayers...Mimi treated us with curry mee, soup meehoon, rojak and iced cendol...thanks dear...

after sending Iza back to her house in Bangi, Suzie, Azwa and me arrived at Setapak at nearly 7pm...Azwa drove back home with 'Bujang'...

Suzie and me went out after Maghrib looking for burgers and cold drinks...we watched the awaiting Live badminton match and quite disappointed with Chong Wei's defeat...my instincts told me that Lin Dan will get the gold medal...i also supported Lin Dan...but, i don't expect that he will win so easily...there was quite a huge gap in the game points...Chong Wei's totally lifeless during the match...

...lousy T-shirt from Jemi...

Jemi safely arrived at Gate 4, arrival terminal KLIA at around 10am today and this lousy T-shirt tells it all...thanks dear bro...i like it!

ryan is coming this raya...insya-Allah..

early yesterday morning, i went to Honda showroom together with Abema and Afif...we met with Khairuddin - the salesperson...

as it is finally decided that i'm going to get the new Honda Jazz as my new beau - Ryan, we straight-away settle into the business...i quickly browsed through confidential brochures shared by Khairuddin - the actual brochures will be released during the official launching which is scheduled on 21st august 2008...

feeling satisfied and excited, i end up paying for the booking fee...yeay...

ryan will be delivered somewhere in September...insya-Allah...depending on the loan approval as well as registration process...currently, i'm hopefully waiting for the financier's good news as my application is without the accompaniment of any payslip...please pray for me yaa...

for registration, i prefer to have a Selangor vehicle plate number for Ryan but current Selangor plate tender starts with BKD...i don't like the alphabet B and K together...so, will go for Wilayah's vehicle plate number...however, i still have to wait until JPJ opens the tender for WRV as i also don't like the combinations of either WRT or WRU...

what will be the ideal number for Ryan?jengjengjeng...
at first, i would want to have my birthdate 184...but then, since i'm going to tender for WRV, i've decided to pursue the number 151 - default family number...

it will read as WRV151...

the significance:
W - white (ryan will be in Taffeta White)
R - ryan
V151 - visi

isn't it nice?ohh well...i just can't wait for the launching ceremony...

...tips to stay young & happy...

i got this from Farrah Iz...thanks dear!

1) throw out nonessential numbers - this includes AGE, WEIGHT and HEIGHT...
- let the doctors worry about them...that's why we pay them... 2) keep only cheerful friends - the grouches pull you down...
- keep this in mind if you're one of those grouches...

3) keep on learning - never let the brain get idle...

- An idle mind is a devil's workshop & the devil's name is Alzheimer's...

4) enjoy the simple things...

5) laugh often, long & loud - laugh until you gasp for breath...

6) the tears happen - LIVE while you are alive...

-endure, grieve and move on...the only person who is with us our entire life is ourself...

7) surround yourself with what you LOVE - whether it's family, pets, hobbies, whatever...

- your HOME is your refuge...

8) cherish your HEALTH...
- if it is good: preserve it
- if it is unstable: improve it
- if it is beyond what you can improve: get HELP!

9) don't take guilt trips - take a trip to the mall, even to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is...

10) tell the people you LOVE that you LOVE them, at every opportunity...