Book Binding

i bought 3 books. i am so so so happy. mr. khairul bought me *books* and i love him bunches for that! i always tell him, "you're so lucky your wife doesn't ask for jewellery. doesn't ask for the latest on the LV shelves. doesn't ask for the new fragrance or make-up line. she asks for books. oh, and bookracks."

he just wears that silly grin that he does only when he's with me.

before you think i'm lavishing on books, it was a 'pick 3 books for the price of 2' thingy at ibn batutta mall's borders. i'm always looking for good bargain on books, that's why i love payless bookstore and the novel hut back in ipoh where i get very cheap 2nd hand books in decent condition.

now what did i buy?

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i never read any of his full-fledge novels, and having liked his short stories, i myself wonder why i won't pick up any of his novels. anyone a fan? any difference between his short stories and longer ones? maybe the fact that he's known as a drama author that threw me off. not a fan of family conflict and drama. got enough of that in real life...

jeffrey archer is an english author, also interestingly, an ex-politician. man, imagine dr. m got down to writing fictional stories...archer's short stories are fantastic, a tad draggy at times but still a gem. most engaging of all is of course the smashing endings of his short stories; unexpected - fans of roald dahl's adult short stories would like his style.

i now have all of his short stories collection except for 'cat o nine tales'. geram!

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i love short stories. easy on the eyes and time. i can read 10 good stories with the amount of time spent to read one whole book. i'm glad i found this collection.

if you love to read, you definitely should've read any of the 80 agatha christie's crime novels, even if it's just that one single book. she's the 'queen of crime'! i often wonder how a demure, plain-looking little ol lady like her was able to conjure such intricate plots of crime and solutions!

i wish i had found one collection of hercule poirot's stories instead, but miss marple is an equally fascinating character. hercule poirot, of course is the grand super-sleuth with the egg-shape head, while miss marple is the seemingly unassuming old spinster, who always manages to solve crime by referring to similar incidents in her quiet little hometown which she acutely observes.

it's been so long since i read agatha christie, so i'm giving this one the time of day first.

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it's not easy to find pratchett's book at the 'sale' or 'buy 3 for the price of 2' section so i grabbed this book just because it has his name on it. i didn't even bother to read the synopsis at the back. even before deciding to buy the books, i kept it tightly in my arms. takut orang lain ambik!

i LOVE terry pratchett's work. i'm no fan of science fiction stories, but terry pratchett is too hillarious to stay away from. sounds corny but when i need cheering up written-word-wise, any of pratchett's work would do the trick. here are some interesting facts about the man.

• sir terry pratchett is an english fantasy, science fiction author
• best known for his popular and long-running 'discworld' series of comic fantasy novels - discworld ni macam our world but with trolls, dwarfs, vampires and werewolves. imagine police force diorang is called 'city watch' and the police comprise of these 'creatures'
  
• there are no chapters in his books, the story just goes on and on
• discworld novels often include a modern innovation and its introduction to the world's medieval setting, such as a public police force (Guards! Guards!), cinema (Moving Pictures), investigative journalism (The Truth), or modern banking (Making Money)
• practhett suka pakai topi koboi kaler hitam
  
• in 2007, pratchett was diagnosed with a very rare form of early-onset alzheimer's disease, in which areas at the back of the brain begin to shrink and shrivel
• pratchett is a trustee for the orangutan foundation UK as one of pratchett's most popular fictional characters, the librarian of the unseen university's library, is an orangutan
• pratchett was knighted in 2008

here is my fav pratchett's quotation, taken from my fav pratchett's book:

There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who, when presented with a glass that is exactly half full, say: this glass is half full. And then there are those who say: this glass is half empty. The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass!

~The Truth

the boys are asleep, and i don't have a reading light. i'm using the tv. i hope i don't need glasses by the time i'm done...

Tidbits II

what is new this week?

cu with grandnephew and grandniece khaleef and cuya

ini pakcik saya.

yesterday was my uncle's birthday. he turns 45 i think. i call him cu. he's my mak's youngest brother. he's a fun guy, cool dude and he can speak japanese! (tak tau le dah berkarat)

so happy birthday, cu! bila nak datang dubai?

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back in malaysia, we stayed at an apartment with the most generous carpark space ever. it's so spacious that khaleef played ball there every other weekend, especially on a saturday, while waiting for mr. khairul to come home after work.

how time passed. back then, khaleef played with a huge air-filled beach ball - which is ironic coz the bigger he grows, the smaller the ball is.

that's why i'm glad that at our current apartment, we still have a spacious area overlooking the marina to hang out at, and for khaleef to continue his football madness.

at times when the weather is right, the sun peeks just a little bit over the clouds, the boats out and the wind sings, it's pure bliss! just me and the boys, waiting for the ol man to come home...

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...and when i am not looking...

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...or when kahfi is not looking!

i have got to get him into school very very soon!

Borak Sama Abah Lagi

abah is going to korea tomorrow with umi. as part of his round-the-world trip. haha. (joke adik-beradik) he'll fly vietnam airline since it's cheaper. so go check out vietname airline if you wanna see korea. had a chat with the big guy yesterday...

abah (with his backpack - ever the prepared traveller) and grandkid khaleef on the boat-buffet-ride across dubai creek

Abah: sunday abah pegi seoul frm ipoh to klia
migiys: how long will u be in korea
Abah: sunday to sunday, 7 days
Abah: stop over 1 nite in saigon. abah dah pegi saigon dulu. mainly shopping
migiys: ooooo
Abah: seoul lots to see
Abah: sakura blooming now
Abah: also theme parks
Abah: and mbc studio winter sonata
Abah: famous love series
migiys: yup, didn't see it
migiys: but syima, azi suka la citer tu
Abah: they preserve the parks, the houses

abah said he was hoping to catch some of the cast members or when they shoot a scene. and take pictures with them. abah? hihi.

Abah: now still cold 7 c, spring, seoul is still cold despite spring
Abah: also everland macam disneyland juga, as big
migiys: korea ade everland? i'll google
Abah: ye
Abah: like disney
Abah: half day may b try the rides
migiys: ooooo
Abah: given 5 free tickets
migiys: abah got 5 free tickets?
migiys: entry?
migiys: ke for rides?
Umi and Abah: inclusive of tour cost
migiys: ooooo

bla bla bla. yada yada yada.
sembang anak and abah. macam-macam lagi.

i really miss travelling with him. with my sisters. the trip to dubai in '05 was quite funny as it was only abah and 4 girls - and what a luck - he had to accompany his girls to buy kain of all things - so off we went from one shop to another checking out kain while abah sat and watched, only to be sought out when it came to payment...which we really really appreciate!

i'm really lucky to have abah who doesn't mind spending for our travels, letting his daughters tengok negeri orang and see the world. as corny as this may sound, the memory and experience are testimony of our trips. period.

(ok. and some fridge magnets!)

so nice to hear him going where the wind takes him. living his life full. embracing the world yet always remembering the hereafter.

wishing abah bon voyage and as usual, i just need tissues and stirrers from korea, ok!

something in korean language, for you to polish up on before going...

• 오모! - (omo!) this one has no particular meaning...more like a word you utter when you are surprised. maybe it's like 'fuyyo' or 'wah'!
• 안녕하세요 - (annyong haseyo) hello
• 안녕히 가세요 - (annyong kasayo) goodbye
• 감사합니다. - (kamsahamnida) thank you
• 맛있어요 - (mashi soryo) delicious

have fun and take care!

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speaking of travels and journeys, i'm waiting for love to return home from qatar and bahrain...

Good Luck PM Najib!

hmm. not me to write about politics. so this posting is not about politics. it's not! it's about a humble rakyat sharing her feelings about her country getting a new prime minister. the much talked-about change is in the air. a little, but it's a start.


Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was sworn in as Malaysia's 6th Prime Minister earlier this morning, succeeding Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

it was a historical moment as he is the son of our 2nd prime minister, Tun Abdul Razak. father and son, both prime ministers! i hope he will make his father proud by changing the face of malaysia amidst this economic turmoil and political instability.




datuk seri najib took his oath of office before Yang di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara, attended by many including former prime minister tun dr mahathir and his wife.

i like what datuk kadir jasin wrote in his blog about datuk seri najib taking over from paklah at this most trying time for malaysia. big job! big responsibility! big hope! hope he's able to turn things around!

"Tidak seperti Abdullah yang mengambil alih ketika ekonomi teguh dan politik negara stabil, Mohd Najib mewarisi ekonomi yang lemah dan politik yang kucar-kacir.

Kalau Mohd Najib berjaya menstabilkan ekonomi, mengurangkan kesan kemelesetan ke atas rakyat jelata dan mengembalikan kewarasan politik, dia akan dikenang sebagai penyelamat.

Tidak ada Perdana Menteri sebelum ini yang mengambil alih pemerintahan dalam suasana yang serba tidak kena seperti yang akan terbeban di atas bahu Mohd Najib."

- from datuk a. kadir jasin's blog

datuk seri najib cites "One Malaysia. People First. Performance Now." at the end of his maiden speech as the 6th prime minister. in spite of what fugly things said about him, i say give him the chance to walk the talk.

to me he might not be as influential and charismatic as dr. m, or a fierce orator as anwar, having the grace of pak lah nor the wisdom of nik aziz but i hope he steps up and prove his worth, and not let the rakyat down.

"Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak takes over as captain of the nation when the seas are choppy and the weather stormy, but being a decisive and effective leader, he should be given a chance to prove his mettle."

~ the star online

not enough has been written about change. regaining the rakyat's trust. strengthening the government's credibility. datuk seri najib has a lot of fixing up to do! probably starting from within...

to pak lah, or tun lah now - we say thank you for the five years of service and let him have his rest. we will miss your warm presence and infectious smile. at least he is gentleman enough to resign and admit his weaknesses, which not many of the present leaders are willing to do. read about how i met tun lah in dubai, here.

good luck, datuk seri najib. as rakyat i send my doa, may you govern the country with honesty, high integrity and stay true to your promise : people first. performance now.

visit his blog 1malaysia.

Facebook Graffiti

do you facebook?

syida stumbled upon a new facebook application - 'graffiti' and now i am very addicted to it coz i love to draw. and i love to color. i can't do a whole shebang of acrylic art or spin a piccaso but i just enjoy doing simple drawings. did i ever mention that?

the wow factor of this application is once you're done, you could click 'replay' and...watch magic happens. moving lines and dancing colours...

syida calls it my 'silly graffiti madness'. i call it arty farty passion. ha ha. potayto potahto. see what i drew for her here. i got carried away and drew a ben10 for yong's boys and a princess for syima's cuya. for azi, i drew a 'paul frank' that looks more like a creepy mickey mouse.

i want to draw more!

if you go to the main page for this graffiti application, you can see tons of masterpieces made by other facebook peeps - and they're seriously talented. i was turning sick sick sick with envy. it almost drove me mad tryin to figure out how they did those unbelievable drawings!

and of course i drew for him! here's what i draw for my mr. khairul. click 'play' and enjoy! simple but it's from the heart (cewah. cover baek! *smile*)

World Premier : Kahfi's 1st Laughter

it was the best experience for a mother. of all the weird happy shouts and giggly screams and smiles and laughter a person will have in his entire life, i witnessed his first.

it was so breath-taking.


how to make kahfi laugh :

1. put kahfi on your lap.
2. smell his foot.
3. make yucky sound as if his feet is the smelliest feet ever.
4. couple that with icky facial expression.
   
5. wait for him to laugh.

simple!

so syida, it was not vomitting sounds! close, but not!

Mekah Beckons - Safe Journey!

it's a deep sense of joy knowing someone is going to Mekah. knowing that they've received that special calling. knowing that they'd be in the presence of other believers in the same mission. knowing that they'd experience something greater than themselves.

i've never been there though believe it or not, all my sisters have! i think i was having my exams in uia at the time...abah has been there more than once, once with mak.

i hope one day i can go with mr. khairul, God willing!

with mama and her first grandchild, mira

just last week my mama and ayah angkat, che'gu zabedah (retired principal) and encik ramli went to perform *umrah. they left on the 24th. mama was not exactly in the best of health, but you know what they say - though the body is in need of rest, the heart is ever-willing when it comes to the call of Mekah. there, they will find peace.

right before they boarded the plane, i got a chance to call them, "take it easy and don't push yourself, ok? doctor cakap ok ke nak pergi ni?" - "better now than never!" was her simplest reply.

she is always the gutsy lady in her sweet, calm demeanour.


i'll be sending some doas your way, mama and ayah. do take it easy and rest whenever you can. safe journey home!

"*The ʿUmrah or (Arabic: عمرة‎) is a pilgrimage to Mecca performed by Muslims that can be undertaken at any time of the year...It is sometimes called the 'minor pilgrimage' or 'lesser pilgrimage', the Hajj being the 'major' pilgrimage and which is compulsory for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it. The Umrah is not compulsory but highly recommended."

~wikipedia

thanks, zira for the pictures!