An evening in Alamanda

We were at Alamanda, Putrajaya yesterday evening to do some shopping and groceries. We left home around 3.30pm, and it didn't take us long to reach there. I thought getting parking would be a nightmare, but it was not bad. We didn't have to go round and round to look for parking.

We decided to have pizza for our buka puasa (Iftar), so we headed to Pizza Hut. Whoa! No reservation. We had to order and pay them first. I told the girl we would be there by 7.20pm.

We then headed to Parkson. Zaki wanted a new pair of shoes because his current shoes is already tight. He didn't want any shoes but Polo kids high top. He saw it last week at Parkson 1Utama, but there was no size. Unfortunately, there was no polo shoes for kids in Alamanda. The only brand for kids was Kiki Lala. I showed to him, but he just walked past it.

Since we're already there, we bought Zara another pair of jeans and blouse for her. I wanted her to wear a skirt or gown, but she refused. She wanted jeans. She also wanted a pair of shoes. I showed her all the girls shoes and sandals, but none caught her fancy. She wanted sneakers. Gahhhhh!!!!!, my little doesn't like girl stuff. She just wanted to be like one of the boys.

As we were busy choosing, selecting and trying shoes, not us but hubby, Zara said that she's hungry. After we had paid the shoes, we went to Pizza Hut, and we were one hour earlier than the time I told them. Well, they can't turn us out, right?

So they brought Zara's food first. Cabonara, Ice Milo and ice cream. Woohoo! Zaki who fasted was really tested especially when Zara had her ice cream. Every five minutes, he would be asking me the time. It's fun to watch him and Amir looking at Zara, and when the buka puasa time came, they quickly said the prayer and eat.

Half-way through, Zara wanted to go to the toilet. Luckily, I had finished my meal, and we went to the first floor toilet. On the way to the toilet, I realized that the mall was very quiet. Only one or two people walking around, while all the restaurants were packed with people. I realized than that Alamanda's patron was mainly Malay. At other major shopping center, likes One Utama, Mid Valley or KLCC, the place will still be busy with people during Iftar.

After an hour, the place was busy again with shoppers. Before it started crowded, we headed to Carrefour to buy some groceries. On the way home, I realized that we didn't accomplish our goals. Heh! We have to go shopping again.

Excellence Day

My husband and I took leave today and spent our day going around in KL. But the first destination that we went to was not KL, but Putrajaya.

I went to Immigration Department first to renew my passport, which expired last year. I thought that I would have to wait for a few hours before I can get my passport, but I was surprised. The whole process took less than an hour. Kudos to the Immigration Department for the excellent services.

After that, we headed to EON bank in Putrajaya. Hmm… my husband must have travelled around Putrajaya a lot because he knows all these places. I kept on asking him whether he took the right turns until he asked me to keep quiet. Ahhh… Men!.

When I was leaving the building, I saw a sign board at the parking lot that said, ‘SHORT TERM VISITORS ONLY (less than 30minutes)’. I kept staring at it until my husband asked me what was so interesting. I pointed to him the sign board. We then had a good discussion on that ‘Short term’ on our way to UMW Toyota in Balakong.

I love to be at Toyota Service Center. They have excellent Customer Services. While waiting for my hubby to finish his business with the Service Advisor, I was sitting at the waiting area, enjoying the tea and biscuits that they served. The waiting area has big TV, and it is equipped with few computers for people to surf. They also have free WiFi. I guess people don't mind to wait for hours there.

From Balakong, we headed to KLCC. It was lunch time when we reached KLCC. As usual, the place is packed with office workers out hunting for food. Husband wanted to eat at the Food Court, but I told him, it would not be easy to get a place to sit. True enough, when we reached there, it was packed. 

After going around, we decided to go Aseana Café. The place was full, but we were lucky to get a table. Since I have been to Aseana Café before, I know what I want to order, but hubby was flipping the menu from front to back. As usual, I ordered Spice Chicken Rice for me, and hubby ordered Nasi Lemak with Beef. Both were good.

From KLCC, we went to Tabung Haji to sort out our planned trip. Hubby has finally received the offer and now, both of us can start preparing for our trip. It is a trip that we look forward to. In fact, it is a trip where every Muslim look forward to. At least once in his or her lifetime.

From KLCC, we made one more stop, that is, in Kajang. By this time, I was already tired, and looked forward to go home.

Oh! During that nine hours that we were away from home, I received twenty calls from Zara and Zaki. They took turns to call until I have to ignore it. Do they missed us, or they just wanted to give us a hard time? I guess it is more that they missed us. If possible they wanted to follow, but they can’t because they have school to attend.


Salam.

I'm Happy

I took a half day leave today to do some personal errands. Remember the offered that I received that required me to respond by 21st May,2010. So I went to the office and submitted my acceptance. Before that, I have to get ‘penghulu’ to certified my marriage certificate; otherwise, my hubby has to stay behind while I go on the trip.

The next step after this will be to go to the Immigration Office and renew my passport. I didn’t know that my passport had expired in June last year. But I’m not worried because nowadays, I can get it within a few hours. 

To renew my passport, I have to take another half day to go to Putrajaya. Maybe I would do it next week. If my husband training in Singapore is on, I might take the opportunity to go there too for holiday. 

Oh yea! Before I left office this afternoon, I had received a call from the dispatch boy. When I saw the number is from the receptionist, I know it was about my iPad2. He knew that I was waiting for the delivery, and when he called he asked, ”Where are you?”, and I said at my place. 

“Hah! You have to buy me one ‘nasi kukus’ if you want your iPad,” he said jokingly.
I replied, “For you, no problem.”

I can’t wait for him to deliver, so I went down and took the package myself. I was so happy, but I know someone who would not be happy when he found out about my latest gadget. For your information, I'm a gadget lover, and two things I don't mind spending my money on are gadgets and books. 


For the time being,I better hide my iPad from him.

Sekian. Salam.

My mom, the Brave Lady.

I went to see my mom at the Putrajaya Hospital this evening. She had an operation on Saturday. Alhamdulillah, she is fine. Her recovery has been smooth so far and no major complication.

I called her before I leave the office, asking whether she needs anything, but she already asked my sister, Arda, to buy Nasi Lemak for her. The hospital has been giving her porridge, and she doesn’t like it. Doctor told her that there is no problem for her to consume rice. Aahh! Someone must have forgotten to order the right food for her.

When I reached there, my mom was in the bathroom. Hah! The first thing that caught my attention was the mango in the container. Whoa… without asking permission I just took it and started to eat. When my mom came out, I told her that I was hungry. Luckily the mango was sweet.

As we chatted, I asked my mom to show me her wound. Wow! A single long cut across her left breast, and it's healing nicely. There’s a small rubber hose attached to the left breast that drains the blood to the bottle.

When Arda and her husband arrived, they brought the Nasi Lemak and Mee Hoon Soup for mom and Musliha. The Nasi Lemak looked very nice, but mom only ate a little. Since I was still hungry, I took some and ate it, but what a turned off. The chicken was sweet and not to my liking.

As we sat down and chat, my mom told me that sometimes she felt my father was around. Whenever she closed her eye, she saw him sitting on the wheelchair, wearing his black shirt and kopiah. We were silent for a while.

Dad used to be at Ward 3A, and now, mom is at Ward 3B. Dad suffering was still fresh in our memory. My niece was very sad when she came to visit my mom, and she was not alone.

When I left, my sister and her husband were still there. Hmmm.. They will only leave the place when the guard chases them out. So, dear mak, don’t think of going back home yet. You just rest and relax there so that you can heal faster.

Sekian. Salam

We are together and proud of it!

Yesterday, I went to visit Abah in Putrajaya Hospital alone. He was admitted to hospital on Friday after he complaint of breathing problem. On Saturday, I brought my kids to see him. Well my youngest two don't know much what's happening except they know he is sick and with big tummy.

But I can see my eldest son was really affected to see his Atuk lying on the bed and no able to move much. He was very quite on the way back and in fact until Sunday he was still thinking about his Atuk.

On Sunday, it was decided earlier that we (the 7 of us) need to meet and discuss about our parents condition. No spouse or children in the meeting. So basically it only us with abah and mak.

Well I reached there at 4pm and bumped into my sister,Zura with her kid. Arda, my youngest sister and Ami, another sister of mine, were already there. Well abah was very happy to see us and when my abang Zahir came in later at 4.15pm, I can see how delighted he was. He cracked jokes and we laughed even though deep down we know we are losing him.

When Along, my eldest in the family, and Bang Ngah, oldest boy in the family, came in, he was surprised to see all of us without kids and spouse. We hanged around for a while and slowly slipped out of the room to discuss on their predicament.

I'm so proud that we really come together and united as a family. Bang Ngah as the oldest boy in the family lead the meeting. We discussed on where my parents going to stay, how we going to support them, who going to take care of their house, car, my mom flowers and also on the financial side. We also agreed to take turns to be with them so that they won't feel neglected and lonely. The most painful things was when we discussed life after abah, who gonna take care of mak and so on.

During the meeting, I can see that Bang Zahir was shocked to hear abah's condition. Maybe he didn't know that abah is at advanced stage and terminal. He was very quiet throughout he meeting. You can see the emotion running in the meeting. One minute we cried another minute we laughed just to ease the tension and stress. I can say all of us cried in the meeting including my brothers. Well it shows how deep is our love towards them and one thing that Bang Ngah kept on reminding us in the meeting, "DO NOT HURT THEM AT ALL. JUST FOLLOW WHATEVER THEY WANT." and yes that what I'm going to do.To make sure they are happy and comfortable.

T