The one & only? Nahhh...

'Sudah kahwin ka?'

'Bila u kahwin?'

'Oooo...kahwin tak jemput!'

Those were the content of some emails and smses I received yesterday and today. I was quite blur at the beginning but laughed as soon as I opened my gmail yesterday. In one email sent by orang kuat R2V to Srikandi Yahoogroup regarding the upcoming PPM, she wrote 'ryza + husband' and that tiny part of the email managed to confuse a few people, hence the emails and smses that I received. Can't blame them really since the only 'ryza(h)' that many knew in that group previously was just me (perasan glamour sat eh...hahahaha..)

Turned out, there is another 'Ryza' (without the H) in the alma mater community from batch '82 and yes, she is married. She was the person Kak Ana Jabbar referring to in her email. Definitely not me!

Anyway, to all my sisters... don't worry, you will receive invitations from me when (if ever) the time comes ya! hehe..

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Streamyx at home has been down for awhile but today, the repair guy finally came and I'm now back online. But as soon as I turned on my YM just now, a weird thing happened. One name that I've deleted from my YM list years ago reappeared although with offline status... How did that happened?

May he rest in peace. Al-fatihah.

Picture Perfect

Port Dickson 12.4.2008


Langkawi 19.4.2008

How I wish I could enjoy these sceneries on daily basis. Emmm... maybe I should start sending my CV to Langkawi District Hospital eh? :)

More photos here later..
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I am due for another colonoscopy tomorrow. I am so not looking forward to spending hours in the loo tonight after the phosphate soda intake and even more not to the idea of the male specialist friend looking up my ass tomorrow. But I don't have the luxury to choose at this point.. I need to get the problem settled once and for all and since the female doctor who helped to do it for me the last time has now gone for a study leave, I am left with no other option than to just get on with it. I am also praying hard that this incident won't happen again. But if any of you ever receive multiple calls from me tomorrow or if you get bombarded with the same questions/ statements from me again and again...I would like to apologise in advance ok!
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I first saw the play circa late 1996 and it was showing at Dominion Theatre, situated at the cross junction of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street. Since the theatre place was only about 5 minutes walk from College Hall, the residence hall where I stayed in my first and third year of Uni, it was no surprise that this was the first West End play that I saw in London. I always enjoy watching plays since I was at school although I hardly get to indulge myself in this past-time nowadays. Anyway... Beauty and The Beast is coming to KL 25th June till 3rd July this year... Anyone interested to join me for a matinee?

Potts:
Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly.
Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the Beast.
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise.
Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong.
Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast.
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast.

Off to the cupboard with you now, Chip.
It's past your bedtime. Good night, love.

That's what friends are for

I was supposed to put up this post about 3 weeks ago. It got postponed for so long because I kept forgetting to upload the photos. Oh well, it's better now than never..

p/s I am blogging while holidaying on this Langkawi Island because a certain someone is still not awake yet! I need to keep myself occupied, right?
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I spent most of last week catching up with old friends. I am pretty bad at keeping in touch at regular basis, be it through phone or email, so whenever the opportunity to meet up arises, I would rarely turn it down. It is so much nicer to talk (and gossip!) face-to-face anyway..

The first stop was to the house of my Guildford Street ex-flatmate. Although it's been a number of years since we both left London and that we are now not as close as we used to be, I still consider her as a good friend and as the elder sister I never had. She's highly intelligent, hardworking, pretty and a great cook. She is the person I'd turn to for practical advice or when my head needs a bit of knockin' to overrule my heart. It was just half past 10 on a Sunday morning but she had Laksa Johor all ready to be consumed when I arrived! And mind you she has 3 adorable kids to take care of as well. We spent 2 hours updating each other (ok, it was me updating her mainly) and by midday I was already on my way to pick up a couple of my alma mater friends for a small get-together in Dengkil Valley.

We have these small gatherings whenever we can especially when Nizeq, who is now based in London, and Madam Dhaka who is currently (lounging) in Dhaka are back in this country. A couple of friends couldn't made it this time but the loudness of laughters was the same anyway!

Here are some photos:


Eating time


Yummy homemade cheese cake from Liza


Special souvenir from London. They have changed the packings now.. It looked like Ferragamo shoebox to me!


The heavenly cookies. The few things that I truly missed from my UK years!


The good (bloated!) friends
Thank you Nong for being a lovely host.. We'll be back!! :)

Won't be swayed

'You cannot be working late everyday
You need to have a break someday
And I am going to call you TODAY'

Sorry sir, the answer is still NO..

Mini library going to east coast

Brother Nasrun, one of the guys who joined the Bukit Gantang trip last March has helped to identify the next target for the mini library project. This time, the volunteers will be going to Machang and the details are as follows:

Place: Asrama Bakti Anak Yatim Batu 25, Machang
Date: 17-19th May 2008

More info can be found on Dr Bubble's blog here.

So guys, let's do our bits for the community ya.. you can either donate $$$ or books or join us there on the date. Apart from setting up the mini library, the volunteers will also help to repaint the hostel so more hands (and legs!) are definitely needed.

I hope I will be able to make my way to Machang but since 17th May is going to be a special day for a certain someone, I may need to leave later in the afternoon. Let me know if you want to join me ya!

MISSING!

A sad day for a friend.... read here for more info.

Melancholic saturday night entry

25 laps in 1/2 hour... and straight out of the water.

'Eh, apasal sekejap sangat?' asked the on-duty lifeguard.

'Pancit!' came the reply.

'Hahaha... tu la... lain kali datang la 3 bulan sekali'

Cehhhh...

There wasn't any other swimmers in the pool but the place was lively. There was a wedding reception going on next to it. Very classy decor indeed. Cheerful happy faces.

I hope the newly-wedded couple would have a better luck at marriage then a couple who held theirs at this very same place about 8 years ago...

8 years ago? wow.. time flies isn't it?
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People say that you're no good for me
People say it constantly
I hear it said so much I repeat it in my sleep

Maybe I am just a fool for you
Maybe you're no angel too
But all that talk is cheap
When I'm alone with you

If love is blind
I'll find my way with you
Cause I can't see myself
Not in love with you
If love is blind
I'll find my way with you

All the world is crazy anyway
What's it matter what they say
If I'm the one that's wrong
Then let it be my mistake

If love is blind
I'll find my way with you
Cause I can't see myself
Not in love with you
If love is blind
I'll find my way with you

You wouldn't be with me tonight if I didn't feel I was right
What will it matter anyhow a hundred years from now

If love is blind
I'll find my way with you
Cause I can't see myself
I'm not in love with you
If love is blind
I'll find my way with you

Oh well, for what it is worth... it is a nice song :)

______________________________

Grey's Anatomy Extra:

McSteamy : Hi
Yet to be named : You?
McSteamy : I'm back
Yet to be named : Why?
McSteamy : This place is still the best
Yet to be named : Oh, ok..
McSteamy : How are you?
Yet to be named : I'm ok..
McSteamy : We should meet up
Yet to be named : Huh?
McSteamy : Don't say no the next time I call
Yet to be named : Sorry, it's not a good idea
McSteamy : You want a simple life? I AM simple
Yet to be named : You don't get it, do you? and you never give up?

Ouch!

Dry. Flaky. Itchy.

That's the state of my skin at the moment. I am ok getting a sunburn since I never really bothered about the colour of my skin (dah memang gelap kan!). It's the complications that comes with it that I just couldn't cope with. I am now itching all over!

Iskandar and Farouq, who 3 days ago were busy lounging by the Mekong River eating peanuts and papaya salad (they're very cultured people!) said that I need 3kg of Fair & Lovely ...... ceh!!

A close (but hampeh!) friend said I looked like a kunta-kinte descendant.... ceh ceh and more ceh!!

A doctor friend of mine said I looked 'sweetly tanned'.... emmm, macam ni ler... why can't everybody be as polite as her eh? hehe..

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This song has been playing in my mind for days now. I think it's a way of my brain telling me that I have not been to any musicals/plays for far too long. Maybe I shall just listen to my ALW CD for the time being, just to remind me of the good ol' days.. I am too pokai to even check out on any upcoming shows for now!



Daylight
See the dew on the sunflower
And a rose that is fading
Roses whither away
Like the sunflower
I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day . . .

Midnight
Not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone
In the lamplight
The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan

Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again

Every streetlamp
Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Someone mutters
And the streetlamp gutters
And soon it will be morning

Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I musn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin

Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning

Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is

Look
A new day has begun...

Memory (from CATS) - Andrew Lloyd Webber-

Another tick on the list

I have finally fulfilled another of my life to-do list and it was a great fun. I am too lazy to describe it in details so as usual, let the photos do the story-telling ya :)


The destination: Salang, Tioman Island


The accomodation: Puteri Salang Inn


The great (tho sometimes crazy!) company


The pitstop between dives: Pasir Panjang


The leisurely (or competitively for a certain someone!) activity: UNO


The yummylicious food


The night view


The sombre mood on the ferry home: reluctant to leave!

The main activities? Let's wait for photos from bakawali ok... more photos here too!

A tribute

This house used to be loud and vibrant all day and night
With kids running around on rampant, with all their might
One particular girl thought her footprints looked nice on the newly-painted wall
Sent her grandfather fuming and chased her around the house until nightfall

There used to be a huge bourgenvilla tree in front of this house
Where the girl used to hide whenever she was lazy to board the school bus
Or she would hide her textbooks among the tree branches
And told her aunt the books were missing, just another I-can't-go-to-school excuses

When other girls her age would play barbie dolls and other girlie toys
She was only interested in rounders, combats or flying kites with the boys
In the afternoon, she would help her grandma cutting grass and mending the plants
Or she would climb up the jambu/rambutan/kedondong trees and got bitten by the ants

2 decades later, she hardly goes back there but never forget the sweet memory
The house itself has lost its colour and strength but never its old glory
She hopes the house will be preserved and stay within the family
This is her kampung, nothing can delete it from her life history

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I learnt alot about politics when I was at primary age due to my granddad's decades of involvement in it. At the tender age of 8, I've already read a lot of political books like Malay Dilemma and many more which titles I could not remember anymore. I was genuinely interested and was very well-versed on the topic back then.

My dad briefly joined politics too in the mid-late 80s but got disillusioned with the money-politics, back-stabbings and all the dramas involving UMNO Johor at the time (and quite a few of those from his time are ministers now) so he shied away. But my granddad stayed on and remained as a true politician who really fought for the betterment of his people till the day he retired from politics. He looked after 'orang pasar' @ the local small businesses to the point that he would lent them his personal money when they were in need although he himself already retired at the time. There were a few times when I followed him on his pasar and pasar malam rounds (we just walked from home, no flashy cars back then) and I was so proud to be 'cucu Haji Hussein' . Of course, I was happy back then because I was treated with free satay and ABC but looking back now, I realised that these people really looked up at my granddad, not as a politician, but as somebody they could really rely on.

Of course, being 'cucu Haji Hussein' had its own disadvantage... as a somebody with strong religious background, my granddad were frequently invited to teach al-quran or marhaban at my sekolah agama and being his 'cucu' I obviously had to perform and behave. Performing wasn't that hard..In fact, I frequently scored the highest in every subjects especially arabic (although the only thing I can remember now is 'jumjumatun-tengkorak'!) but behaving was another story all together. I remember one day after sekolah agama, my friends and I saw some sukun (what is it called in English?) on somebody's land near the school and decided to take some (the key word here is 'take' not 'steal' ok!). Since the fruits were too high up on the tree and we couldn't climb up, we resorted to throwing stones hoping that the fruits would drop. Unfortunately, one of the stones (and it was a big one!) went straight to the owner's house window and it broke into thousand pieces. Of course, we saved our butts and quickly ran away but the day after, the owner came to the school and told my ustazah that "cucu haji hussein pecahkan tingkap saya semalam!" Needless to say, I got a slash of rotan from my headmaster that day but because he was a good friend of my granddad, he decided to keep the incident to himself knowing that I would surely get a taste of my granddad's tongkat burung if he got to know about it!

Anyway, back to my granddad and his devotion to his passion...

During general or local elections, my granddad would personally filled in every single polling information cards for his area members and sent them himself to their homes to ensure that all members would know where to go and have all the polling details with them come the important day. He was so particular about the polling cards that I was not even allowed to help with the filling in since he said my handwriting was not legible enough for people to read. And I got sticky bright stars at school for nice writings ok!

A true politician my granddad was, he passed away last friday night, on the eve of the recent general election. Although he had retired from politics for more than 5 years before his death, I guess he is still regarded as a local legend. On the morning of his burial, people came in droves to pay their last respects including the two parlimentary and state candidates, Shahrir Samad and Adam Sumiro. It was really heartwarming to see many voters including 'orang pasar' made a detour to the house before they went to cast their votes.

Anyway, in the last few years, my granddad had only one real wish and his wish was finally granted on that fateful saturday. His body was buried just next to my grandmother's, his beloved wife, who passed away 5 years earlier. May god bless both their souls. Al-fatihah.


My grandparents with my cousin and I... somewhere in the 70s..

One humbling experience

It started with a few old and new friends trying to help Iskandar @ Dr Bubbles making a difference in a few kids' life. RM200 soon multiplied and in no time, he managed to collect roughly RM9k for his brilliant mini libraries project. A few went to Janda Baik to materialise the mission a few weeks ago and I joined the second trip to Kampung Cheh, Bukit Gantang Perak last weekend. It was one humbling learning experience and we had so much fun too along the way. I think I've learnt so much more about humanity and goodwill within this 48 hours than I have in years!

Iskandar, Farouq, Bro Nasrun, his wife Kak Nett and myself left for Ipoh on Saturday morning after a brief breakfast meet at Setiawangsa. Since 2 of the guys happened to be STAR Old boys, we went to have 'Nasi Ganja' at Jln. Yang Kalsom to let them take a journey down their memory lane as soon as we arrived in Ipoh (kasi can la kan..heheh..). Here is a photo of it, especially requested to be put up here by another Old boy, my former 3MMMP boss :)


Sorry that the picture is abit blurry.. I only remembered to take a snap of it when I already had my fingers onto it!

We met up with Salina and her brother at that Nasi Ganja place so once our stomachs were filled, we made our way to Bukit Gantang in 3 cars. At Nurul Hidayah, we were greeted by smily yet shy faces of the young residents and later, by the friendly owner, Pak Manap. Bro Jiwarasa (from Ipoh) and Kak Laily (from Penang) with their respective families joined us soon after. Let the photos do the rest of the story-telling...


Our destination


The task began: sorting out the books


A light moment


Some were donated, many were bought


Mission accomplished (for now at least)


The kids enjoying the new books


Khusyuknya Fila


Pak Manap's homestay: where we went to rest and clean ourselves

Later in the afternoon, Pak Manap and Mamagie took us to visit a poor cancer patient in a neighbouring village. I almost wanted to cry seeing the condition she and her family were in. Yup, poverty still exist in this country even after 50 years of independence...

In the evening we went back to Nurul Hidayah for BBQ and get-to-know session with the kids. The initially shy and reserved kids turned out to be very chatty and asked numerous questions, which some I couldn't easily answer like "Ahli Psikik tu kerja apa kak?"


BBQ


Kak Nett chatting with the kids about future careers


A serious discussion with Pak Manap and Pak Tam ( sebenarnya tengah tunggu ayam and ikan patin siap tu..hehe..)


Filling in the gaps with the career books (nasib baik Is beli buku 'Ahli Farmasi', senang sikit nak explain!)


The kids posing with my handbag

By the end of the night, I was really close to the kids that they even asked me to spend the night with them. Part of me wanted to, but I didn't want to interfere with their daily routines. I did spent some time in their dorms though, dispensing old hostel tricks such as how to make a good bed before saying goodbyes. We then headed to Pak Tam's place, and even managed to learn a few massage tricks from him before calling off the night.

Early sunday morning, Mamagie and I went for a short visit to a couple of cancer patients' houses after breakfast, and again, their living conditions particularly of a very old lady who can't walk and lives alone caught my nerves. If only I could do more for them...sigh..

We then joined the rest to visit another cancer patient who owns this:

Such a strong lady she is

Before we left for KL, Pak Manap took us for a nature and history trail and brought us here:

Kampung Warisan Resort

and here:

Long Jaafar resting place

We finally bid goodbye and left Bukit Gantang at about 11am. But another twist of event followed. Instead of straight to KL, we ended up here:



All for a good cause of course :)

More photos here soon.