- January to February - Hmmm, after looking back, nothing much happened in the early part of the year.
- March - 7th wedding anniversary but we didn't celebrate much because we were looking forward to...
- April - when we had our Langkawi holiday, the highlight of our travels this year.
- May - Shah and I went nuclear. I wonder what's left of the things I learnt in the two-week course.
- June - We had scheduled another holiday to Singapore but we cancelled it because we were worried about the H1N1 which was spreading like wild fire at that time.
- July - We made up for the cancelled holiday by having a weekend break at Equa*torial Bangi and it was the best weekend we had this year.
- August - Fasting month came so we didn't do much.
- September - We went back to Perlis twice. Once during fasting month and another on the second day of Eid. Both trips wer planned as a surprise for my in-laws. I really like gpoing back to Perlis and I hope we'll go back more often in 2010.
- October - Shah turned 30. Maisarah refused to drink EBM so I gave her UHT milk during the day. We did our financial audit by tracking each and every expenditure.
- November - Maisarah's turned 2! Earlier in the month she got diarrhea for the first time.
- December - I turn 30 and received a new camera and watch from my darling hubby. We also received the keys to our own house!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Reflections of 2009
Let's see what has happened in 2009.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Things To Look Forward To
We've got the keys to our OWN house. Yeay! Shah and I are very excited and we can already picture ourselves living there. We can't wait to decorate it. But before that we'll have to thoroughly inspect the house for any defects and measure all rooms. Pictures will be posted later. I'll have to go to the house again to take pictures of it using the new camera Shah gave me for my birthday. I'm still playing around with the Powershot S90 to familiarise with all the features. It's an upgrade to our old Ixus which I have always wanted. Thanks a lot Abang! I love you!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Shah's List of 30 Things About Me
It's my birthday today and as Shah had promised me, he has written down 30 things about me. So, I am posting it here. Also, based on the email I received from the 'THREE-O Fund', in order for me to get my birthday present this year, I will have to answer three questions. These questions were also sent to me this morning together with the 30 things list. Below is the email he sent me and my comment and answers to the questions ae written in red. Shah gave me some hints to answer the questions and I got the all correct. So I patiently await the present or presents that will come.
---------
Dear KiaSedona, (<---see, my husband likes to call me by creative names)
I think I know a lot more about you, but here are the 30 things as promised. Also, at the end of this list are the THREE questions that you MUST answer to get your 2009 Birthday presents:
THE LIST:
1. You called yourself ‘Ta’ because when you were little, you were ‘pelat’. (<--yes, I couldn't say Anisa)
2. You like to eat almost everything and it’s very hard to find things you dont like, but for sure Tapai, Nenas and Kerang are No-No-NO… (<--true! Tapai is to bitter for my liking)
3. You used to ride bus to school and you met Flashers twice while waiting for the bus. Lucky you? (Lucky?? not when you are alone and the man looks scary)
4. Your face looks like Skeletor when you try to make the ‘geram’ face, especially when me and Maisarah bug you.
5. You have close to zero of art and drawing skills. During the first few months we were married, we used to draw the plan of each others’ house in the effort to explain about the house to each other – since we got married in the UK and have not seen each others’ house until we got back to Malaysia in August 2002. Now that I have seen your house, it doesn’t look anything like what you drew back in 2002. (yes, my artistic skills are shameful)
6. On our wedding day, we took the train from Nottingham to London, and there was something wrong with the tube in London at that time and we took the replacement bus. On the bus going towards Malaysia Hall, you asked me – “Are you going to run away now”? I don’t remember what I said. I was a bit panic and nervous. (yes, I did ask him this bacause normally guys have cold feet kan?)
7. I believe I have a good memory, but I found a big trouble in remembering your big, extended family and you kept testing and asking who’s who. Now I know all lah.
8. You have a distinct way to ‘laugh with your breath’, and you hate the fact that I can imitate this act perfectly. (I hate it when he immitates me!)
9. You very rarely got sick. Every time you are sick , I will say “I thought you are immortal”. (No Abang, I am just a human being)
10. You skipped lots of classes to come and visit me when I was sick during the time we were studying and I am very thankful for that. (Skipping classes was the best, and I enjoyed the train rides to Nottingham)
11. You loved horse-riding when you were little. But you were so soft spoken and polite that the horse didn’t even listen to what you ask it to do. (Don't ask me how I gave commands to the horse ok? My whole family teases me on this)
12. You have low blood pressure most of the time and you keep asking me how. (Yes, how? When to go see the doctor?)
13. You can’t swim. Hihihi. (I want to learn to swim!!)
14. You can sleep anywhere, anytime. I always tell you that I can throw you out into the sea and you will still be asleep.
15. You are a good cook, but your first meal you ever cooked for me was a lousy vegetable soup, cooked using a rice-cooker at Nottingham. Oh lousy soup with broccoli and cauliflower, and I can still remember how it tastes. We had to eat a whole roasted chicken ordered and delivered from Delicacy Balti instead. You have improved a lot since. (Yes, I only learned to cook after moving to a rented place in my 2nd year of Uni. The above incident happened during the 1st year in UK)
16. You like to shop for handbags, shoes, dresses etc. but since you are married to me, you can’t shop too much. (I want to shop more!. Boleh?)
17. In Kuantan, when we completed the A-Level and I was about to go back to my hometown we had a goodbye meal at the KFC, and you cried. Hihihi. (Please don't laugh at me ok? Habis pecah rahsia I)
18. One day after landing at Heathrow, alone, you got chicken pox.
19. You always buy things I don’t approve, and then you will panic and try to show that it is useful to you, and always run into troubles while doing that. For example, you will bear the pain of wearing high heels just to show that it was worth buying, rite? (Yes, of course I will bear the pain. I think most women do this as Monica did in the 'Friends' episode when she baught a new pair of boots. Please back me up ladies.)
20. You used to be afraid of driving. Two things that you hate – roundabouts, and parking. You failed your first driving test in Kuantan because of a so-called-stupid roundabout. Hahahaha. (Yes, I took the driving test twice. Pecah lagi rahsia.)
21. You are afraid of ghosts and I like to mock you by making scary faces (and sounds – by the way I have mastered in replicating the ghost sound) in the dark. (Yes, I hate your scary face but the sounds you make do not sound like ghosts.)
22. As a complete contrast to me, you hate snakes and creepy crawlies and we have not been to Taman Ular yet. Last time, I had to go with my brothers instead. (I have improved ok? Since being married to you I can now watch documentaries of snakes which I previously avoided.)
23. When you are asleep, your face looks like you are thinking of some major problems (and Maisarah also has this habit!). I call that face – ‘Musang Pulut’ because it resembles a fox. I myself don’t know what is Musang Pulut! (Yes, my face 'berkerut' when I sleep but I don't know what a 'Musang Pulut' is? Do you?)
24. Because you are always ‘blur’, you always get into some awkward situations/incidences with strangers – Brader jual ayam, bus driver, old man buying Greggs vegetable pasties, to name a few. (Please don't remind me of these incidences. Malu !!)
25. You love the Greggs vegetable pasties that you never failed to eat that every time we went outing in UK. You miss it very much now. (Yes, I want Greggs!!!)
26. I called you many nice names but you hate them all. Some of the names are – Kia Sedona, Weapon of Mass Destruction, Jotun, Shop Til you Drop, BOGOF, and many players’ names in my Pro Evolution Soccer games – Zumbrun, Mavrogenidis, Atooba etc.
27. In 2001, you were sad when you lost a nice bracelet that I gave you in Nottingham. (Yes, I was sad and afraid you would scold me!)
28. On 19/11/2007, you waited for one hour to confirm that you are having contractions, before waking me up to send you to An-nur. I still had time to take a shower and iron my work-shirt before sending you. (Yes, luckily it wasn't that painful yet, if not I would have scolded you.)
29. In 2001, I bought the first teddy bear for you and you named it Bubut. Bubut was supposed to be one of YOUR names but you didn’t like it so you gave it to the poor bear. (Yes, I still have Bubut but he now sits at the corner of the bed ever since Maisarah came. Even Maisarah knows the bears name.)
30. Finally, you are always naïve. For example you still love me eventhough I bug you all the times with all my questions. (Yes, I naive and gullible.)
THE THREE KILLA QUESTIONS:
1. Related to Item 21: Give me one incidence that you created that scared the hell out of me and almost gave me a heart attack. (Hint: You did many incidences that gave me heart attacks, but this one was related to ‘ghost’)
Answer: One night after I finished performing prayers and while I was still in my telekung and Shah was sleeping, I put my face very close to his. He must have realised it and he opened his eyes. He saw my face in the telekung and he got the scare of his life.
2. Related to Item 27: The lost bracelet was the SECOND bracelet I gave you since I knew you in 1994. Describe the FIRST bracelet, on how it looks like and the time I gave to you.
Answer: It was a green and black bracelet, made of beads.
3. Related to Item 30: After my questions-firing sessions, I have another ‘question’ that I always ask you. Write this ‘question’, and your usual answer.
The answer to this final question is a bit obscene so it will remain between the two of us.
-------
---------
Dear KiaSedona, (<---see, my husband likes to call me by creative names)
I think I know a lot more about you, but here are the 30 things as promised. Also, at the end of this list are the THREE questions that you MUST answer to get your 2009 Birthday presents:
THE LIST:
1. You called yourself ‘Ta’ because when you were little, you were ‘pelat’. (<--yes, I couldn't say Anisa)
2. You like to eat almost everything and it’s very hard to find things you dont like, but for sure Tapai, Nenas and Kerang are No-No-NO… (<--true! Tapai is to bitter for my liking)
3. You used to ride bus to school and you met Flashers twice while waiting for the bus. Lucky you? (Lucky?? not when you are alone and the man looks scary)
4. Your face looks like Skeletor when you try to make the ‘geram’ face, especially when me and Maisarah bug you.
5. You have close to zero of art and drawing skills. During the first few months we were married, we used to draw the plan of each others’ house in the effort to explain about the house to each other – since we got married in the UK and have not seen each others’ house until we got back to Malaysia in August 2002. Now that I have seen your house, it doesn’t look anything like what you drew back in 2002. (yes, my artistic skills are shameful)
6. On our wedding day, we took the train from Nottingham to London, and there was something wrong with the tube in London at that time and we took the replacement bus. On the bus going towards Malaysia Hall, you asked me – “Are you going to run away now”? I don’t remember what I said. I was a bit panic and nervous. (yes, I did ask him this bacause normally guys have cold feet kan?)
7. I believe I have a good memory, but I found a big trouble in remembering your big, extended family and you kept testing and asking who’s who. Now I know all lah.
8. You have a distinct way to ‘laugh with your breath’, and you hate the fact that I can imitate this act perfectly. (I hate it when he immitates me!)
9. You very rarely got sick. Every time you are sick , I will say “I thought you are immortal”. (No Abang, I am just a human being)
10. You skipped lots of classes to come and visit me when I was sick during the time we were studying and I am very thankful for that. (Skipping classes was the best, and I enjoyed the train rides to Nottingham)
11. You loved horse-riding when you were little. But you were so soft spoken and polite that the horse didn’t even listen to what you ask it to do. (Don't ask me how I gave commands to the horse ok? My whole family teases me on this)
12. You have low blood pressure most of the time and you keep asking me how. (Yes, how? When to go see the doctor?)
13. You can’t swim. Hihihi. (I want to learn to swim!!)
14. You can sleep anywhere, anytime. I always tell you that I can throw you out into the sea and you will still be asleep.
15. You are a good cook, but your first meal you ever cooked for me was a lousy vegetable soup, cooked using a rice-cooker at Nottingham. Oh lousy soup with broccoli and cauliflower, and I can still remember how it tastes. We had to eat a whole roasted chicken ordered and delivered from Delicacy Balti instead. You have improved a lot since. (Yes, I only learned to cook after moving to a rented place in my 2nd year of Uni. The above incident happened during the 1st year in UK)
16. You like to shop for handbags, shoes, dresses etc. but since you are married to me, you can’t shop too much. (I want to shop more!. Boleh?)
17. In Kuantan, when we completed the A-Level and I was about to go back to my hometown we had a goodbye meal at the KFC, and you cried. Hihihi. (Please don't laugh at me ok? Habis pecah rahsia I)
18. One day after landing at Heathrow, alone, you got chicken pox.
19. You always buy things I don’t approve, and then you will panic and try to show that it is useful to you, and always run into troubles while doing that. For example, you will bear the pain of wearing high heels just to show that it was worth buying, rite? (Yes, of course I will bear the pain. I think most women do this as Monica did in the 'Friends' episode when she baught a new pair of boots. Please back me up ladies.)
20. You used to be afraid of driving. Two things that you hate – roundabouts, and parking. You failed your first driving test in Kuantan because of a so-called-stupid roundabout. Hahahaha. (Yes, I took the driving test twice. Pecah lagi rahsia.)
21. You are afraid of ghosts and I like to mock you by making scary faces (and sounds – by the way I have mastered in replicating the ghost sound) in the dark. (Yes, I hate your scary face but the sounds you make do not sound like ghosts.)
22. As a complete contrast to me, you hate snakes and creepy crawlies and we have not been to Taman Ular yet. Last time, I had to go with my brothers instead. (I have improved ok? Since being married to you I can now watch documentaries of snakes which I previously avoided.)
23. When you are asleep, your face looks like you are thinking of some major problems (and Maisarah also has this habit!). I call that face – ‘Musang Pulut’ because it resembles a fox. I myself don’t know what is Musang Pulut! (Yes, my face 'berkerut' when I sleep but I don't know what a 'Musang Pulut' is? Do you?)
24. Because you are always ‘blur’, you always get into some awkward situations/incidences with strangers – Brader jual ayam, bus driver, old man buying Greggs vegetable pasties, to name a few. (Please don't remind me of these incidences. Malu !!)
25. You love the Greggs vegetable pasties that you never failed to eat that every time we went outing in UK. You miss it very much now. (Yes, I want Greggs!!!)
26. I called you many nice names but you hate them all. Some of the names are – Kia Sedona, Weapon of Mass Destruction, Jotun, Shop Til you Drop, BOGOF, and many players’ names in my Pro Evolution Soccer games – Zumbrun, Mavrogenidis, Atooba etc.
27. In 2001, you were sad when you lost a nice bracelet that I gave you in Nottingham. (Yes, I was sad and afraid you would scold me!)
28. On 19/11/2007, you waited for one hour to confirm that you are having contractions, before waking me up to send you to An-nur. I still had time to take a shower and iron my work-shirt before sending you. (Yes, luckily it wasn't that painful yet, if not I would have scolded you.)
29. In 2001, I bought the first teddy bear for you and you named it Bubut. Bubut was supposed to be one of YOUR names but you didn’t like it so you gave it to the poor bear. (Yes, I still have Bubut but he now sits at the corner of the bed ever since Maisarah came. Even Maisarah knows the bears name.)
30. Finally, you are always naïve. For example you still love me eventhough I bug you all the times with all my questions. (Yes, I naive and gullible.)
THE THREE KILLA QUESTIONS:
1. Related to Item 21: Give me one incidence that you created that scared the hell out of me and almost gave me a heart attack. (Hint: You did many incidences that gave me heart attacks, but this one was related to ‘ghost’)
Answer: One night after I finished performing prayers and while I was still in my telekung and Shah was sleeping, I put my face very close to his. He must have realised it and he opened his eyes. He saw my face in the telekung and he got the scare of his life.
2. Related to Item 27: The lost bracelet was the SECOND bracelet I gave you since I knew you in 1994. Describe the FIRST bracelet, on how it looks like and the time I gave to you.
Answer: It was a green and black bracelet, made of beads.
3. Related to Item 30: After my questions-firing sessions, I have another ‘question’ that I always ask you. Write this ‘question’, and your usual answer.
The answer to this final question is a bit obscene so it will remain between the two of us.
-------
Monday, December 14, 2009
Maisarah @ 2 years plus
Maisarah is getting cheekier by the day and more clingy. Before December, we took a few days leave since the students were on holiday and last week we had Friday off due to Sultan Selangor's birthday. I find that Maisarah is getting more clingy because she won't let me get ready for work and will cry at the slightest mention of Shah and I going to work. I am looking forward to the next 3 weeks of long weekends but am dreading the Monday following them. I think Maisarah will cry on each and every Monday just like she did this morning.
Apart from that, her latest antics are:
Apart from that, her latest antics are:
- She will say 'Ahh..sedapnya!' if we scratch her when she feels itchy.
- She loves to wear baju kurung. If possible she wants to wear it every day. Now all her baju kurung's are hidden from her sight and no one is to mention the word 'Hari Raya' cause she will associate it with baju kurung and will request to wear it.
- My best friend gave Maisarah a swimsuit for her 2nd birthday and whenever she sees it she will want to wear it, be it day or night time. So the swim suit is also placed in hiding.
- She doesn't drink milk during the day time and will only feed directly off me when I get home from work. Lately she has been liking soymilk, so I'm trying to get her to drink that during the day.
- She loves to eat flavoured rice, especially nasi briyani.
- She's now no longer afraid to play on the slide her grandfather gave her. She also loves going to the playground so we'll have to take her there more often.
- We need to use reverse psychology when taking her photo. If we say 'look at the camera' or 'smile' she won't do so. But when we say 'Don't look' or 'Don't smile' then she will and we will get nice shots of her.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Long Awaited Keys
What keys you ask? Well, the keys to our own house! We got the letter informing of the property handover at the on the last week of November. However, in order to get the keys we had to ensure that the bank had paid the final payment for the house. That started my incescent calls to the developer and CI*MB bank to find out if the bank had made the payment. Almost every other day, for two weeks, I called the developer and the bank but to no avail. The developer was yet to receive the payment. Then earlier this week I was busy attending a conference so no more calls were made. The bank was given 21 days from 18 November to make the payment.
So, yesterday on the last day of the 21 grace period for the bank, I called the developer. They made me wait. Then, good news was conveyed to me. The bank had made payment and we can set an appointment to collect our keys! So, the date has been set for Wednesday 16 December. I am excited and a bit scared at the same time. I can't wait to see the house and start decorating it. But I'm scared as I don't know where to start first. Well, I've got lots of ideas on what I want in my head. Now, I've got to start putting it down on paper and making detailed plans. Yeay! Now, excuse me while I dig out all those home decor magazines and really start choosing.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
A Letter Arrived in my Email
We've now entered my favourite month because my birthday falls in this month. A week before entering this month, I got an email with the following letter. I wasn't expecting it this year you see because it came last year and it only comes every two years (i.e. year 2006 and 2008). Anyway, the deadline is on Monday and I already have in mind two out of the three items that I must list down. I'm not sure what to write for the RM 500 to RM 1000 category. Any ideas?
P/S: I can't believe the letter said that this 'THREE-O-FUND' is for OLD and HELPLESS people! I don't feel old even if I am entering 'the Three Series' as they call it.
******The letter I received******
Prop J.D. Bubutov BhD FBEng FDFundE
Chief Executive Officer,
B-day Fund International Ltd.,
PO Box, 66666, Moscow, Russia.
Date: 24th November 2009
Anisa
No XX, Jalan SSX/XX, 4XX00, PJ,
Selangor, Malaysia.
Dear Anisa,
‘THREE-O-FUND’ allocation for your birthday in 2009
Greetings from Bday Fund International!
For your information, although the rule is that we contact you once every two years (first was 2006, then 2008) we do have a special allocation fund called the ‘THREE-O-FUND’ for the people who turns 30.
Our main aim is that, in a way, this should help relieve their anxiety in becoming OLD and HOPELESS.
It gives me great pleasure to announce the following THREE-O-FUND for you. The followings are steps to claim your THREE-O-FUND allocation:
1. Please send an email to our coordinator in Malaysia and list THREE Items that you want the most for your upcoming Birthday.
2. The requirement is that the THREE ITEMS must contain:
i. Item 1: Cost between RM 1000- RM 2000
ii. Item 2: Cost between RM 500- RM 1000
iii. Item 3: Cost between RM 0 – RM 500
3. The B-day fund Board of Directors will choose TWO OUT OF THREE items for your presents.
4. In addition, there will be a mystery gift which will depend on your local coordinator. Upon receiving your reply, your coordinator will ask you THREE questions. Correct answer for ALL these THREE questions will entitle you to a gift which, in many previous cases, is more substantial than the ones requested.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
• Please bear in mind that You must name ALL THE ITEMS by the deadline, or the offer will be void.
• You are not allowed to ask your B-day fund coordinator to get some ideas on the list, or the offer will be void. You may consult your friends and families.
• The B-day fund coordinator will bring the presents to you in a number of ways around your birthday. You are not allowed to ask how.
• You are required to reply to this email with list not later than 9.00 am Monday, 7th December 2009. Should you fail to do so, this offer will be automatically void.
Your B-Day fund coordinator whom you need to reply this email to, is:
xyz, PhD CEng MIMechE BBEng BDFundE,
Email: xyz@BDayFund.com.my
We wish you a very pleasant year ahead, and have a nice 30th birthday,
______________________
Prop J.D. Bubutov BhD FBEng FDFundE
-B-Day Fund, making dreams come true for hopeless people -
P/S: I can't believe the letter said that this 'THREE-O-FUND' is for OLD and HELPLESS people! I don't feel old even if I am entering 'the Three Series' as they call it.
******The letter I received******
Prop J.D. Bubutov BhD FBEng FDFundE
Chief Executive Officer,
B-day Fund International Ltd.,
PO Box, 66666, Moscow, Russia.
Date: 24th November 2009
Anisa
No XX, Jalan SSX/XX, 4XX00, PJ,
Selangor, Malaysia.
Dear Anisa,
‘THREE-O-FUND’ allocation for your birthday in 2009
Greetings from Bday Fund International!
For your information, although the rule is that we contact you once every two years (first was 2006, then 2008) we do have a special allocation fund called the ‘THREE-O-FUND’ for the people who turns 30.
Our main aim is that, in a way, this should help relieve their anxiety in becoming OLD and HOPELESS.
It gives me great pleasure to announce the following THREE-O-FUND for you. The followings are steps to claim your THREE-O-FUND allocation:
1. Please send an email to our coordinator in Malaysia and list THREE Items that you want the most for your upcoming Birthday.
2. The requirement is that the THREE ITEMS must contain:
i. Item 1: Cost between RM 1000- RM 2000
ii. Item 2: Cost between RM 500- RM 1000
iii. Item 3: Cost between RM 0 – RM 500
3. The B-day fund Board of Directors will choose TWO OUT OF THREE items for your presents.
4. In addition, there will be a mystery gift which will depend on your local coordinator. Upon receiving your reply, your coordinator will ask you THREE questions. Correct answer for ALL these THREE questions will entitle you to a gift which, in many previous cases, is more substantial than the ones requested.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
• Please bear in mind that You must name ALL THE ITEMS by the deadline, or the offer will be void.
• You are not allowed to ask your B-day fund coordinator to get some ideas on the list, or the offer will be void. You may consult your friends and families.
• The B-day fund coordinator will bring the presents to you in a number of ways around your birthday. You are not allowed to ask how.
• You are required to reply to this email with list not later than 9.00 am Monday, 7th December 2009. Should you fail to do so, this offer will be automatically void.
Your B-Day fund coordinator whom you need to reply this email to, is:
xyz, PhD CEng MIMechE BBEng BDFundE,
Email: xyz@BDayFund.com.my
We wish you a very pleasant year ahead, and have a nice 30th birthday,
______________________
Prop J.D. Bubutov BhD FBEng FDFundE
-B-Day Fund, making dreams come true for hopeless people -
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