maybe.memories

Good memories worth remembering with family and friends

november rain

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and so i wanted to blog. after a day of laundry and suspending a sub and reading for the second time, The Glass Castle (because it’s also a gift from you). and now on to gilbert’s eat pray love. when by right, i still have oh so many pending works to do post-retreat at batam. it’s a dread. but it’s work, you just have to do it.

let’s congratulate dear fren dyan for the beautiful wedding accompanied by heavy november rain, which, for a split second, i felt like happy tears for her, him and their family. like there’s one more soul encompassing us. bless her dear late mother. and my fren especially, looked gorgeous! the devil in manolos no more! 😛
although as her ‘maids’ we pretty much have work to do, but i realised i enjoyed the whole event especially when the dj started to play songs from her playlist, which pretty much similar to my music genre (muse, no use for a name, radiohead and etcetc)and seeing people having fun at the photobooth with some funny props.

some of my personal faves from the many pics i’ve grabbed from the bridesmaids’ cameras.



the very best for dyan and zaki. and while i’m writing, i mean, blogging this, they’re probably somewhere in Europe~

and the meet with beloved girlfriends is fantabalustic and encyclopedic night with jokes and sharings and surprises. with the sudden excitement on mcd monopoly (everyone rooting for sentosa cove) and selebriti ‘treatments’ and pseudo magical powers, and oh yes, definitely tis the season to get married. 😀

i love them babes.

although for the happy moments for a friend or with friends, i also had to sacrifice some time away from my one and only. i hated having to disappoint you…and seems like it’s going to be this way for the next coming weeks:/ okay maybe not as bad as the past weeks, i hope. and you have shown much patience since day one i’ve known you.

we still have a sunrise to catch. but a lifetime to experience it.

of songkets, lacy affairs and stomping rebana

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last weekend was probably one of the weekends that will remain in memory for quite some time.
for the first time ever, in a gathering with delicious scrumptious food, i wasnt able to enjoy them as much as i would have imagined. macaroni medley, bread and butter pudding, sate, brownies and just everything nice! if you’re wondering what event? it’s a teachers’ day cum eid gathering at begonia downtown!

i happened to be the so called floor coordinator where i oversaw that everything is on time (or at least try to, when we started 30 minutes late!) and alerting the emcee-dj warna of what comes next and all. by the time it was lunch, i was just so exhausted i couldn’t care what was on buffet~

i guess things went well except for a few glitches, like our video clip couldn’t play out nicely with the music, since the laptop was lagging, and the few minutes undecidedness of whether to continue with the performances or continue after lunch and whatnots. people might not noticed, but at the ‘floor’ its not that organized. i don’t know if it’s just me or instructions are just coming from everywhere! i was just glad it was over! still, i enjoyed it all the same. everyone did work hard for this.

so afterwards, went to the lacy affair of red and pink at the majestic with the bride’s maids and the bride aka the devil in manolos! the place was fantastic! i love the place and i love spending the day with them girls! managed to catch two movies the proposal (although we didnt finish it) and bride wars. tabooing the words ‘wedding’ and the groom’s name and anything related to it was the funniest, apparently most of us seems to forget the taboo rules and unconsciously mentioned them words couple of times! penalty? spanked by the devil’s fork-

and scrumptious pasta, chips and dips, chocolate fondue with marshmallows and strawberries ~drools~ and yes, cameras and pictures of us!! and for once, i got my ‘wish’ of being in america’s next top model~ 😉 the pics made my day~ but well, restricted to only 7 of us, not for public~




and if being there during your wedding marks a sincere friendship, i will want to be there, it won’t make up for the years and part of your life i’ve missed but i hope it shows how much your friendship is important to me and a big chunk of my school memories revolves around you, i mean, there’s roswell, and endless notes we passed during lessons in class just so we’d stayed awake and rave about max and liz and whatever comes to mind and introduced me to local bands and was it Big O mag that was our supplement english readings? i have always admired your intelligence and confidence and unique creativity like a personalised invitation card for studygroup, birthday cards and whatnots. and it’s not dyan if it isnt chuck palahniuk’s books…

it’s just sad i couldnt stayed for the night, and i hate to give the reason that i had to work on sunday mornings!! i hate saying it becuase i shouldnt be working on sundays~ *sigh* i would love to jump into the pool!

that was what happened on saturday…
sunday was about stomp, ear thumping and clappings and amazing beats out of cans, rubber tubes, plastic and whatnots. entertaining much! i love it!
still having the drums ringing in my head, and guess who i get to see just at the concourse?
maman of teacher’s pet singing live!!! and playing the last song: Kasihku pinjam wajahmu!!!
and our music adventure doesnt end there, when we went out and saw there’s a malay cultural performance at the outdoor stage @ esplanade (or was it called outdoor theatre?) it was riau cultural music with much drums and kompangs, i can’t understand a word-songs and dance performances.

as much as i was exhausted and tired last weekend, i enjoyed everything. 😀
thank you to the bride and bridesmaids(!) and dearest, for my weekend felt almost like a getaway from the word ‘work’ and anything related to it (although i did bring along some paperwork, albeit ‘unseriously’ read)…

and thank dearest you for being there for me.

raya 2.9 and its even

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so i’ve been browsing so many raya pics from the (part of your life and updated every single second!!) facebook. what makes me happy looking at them photos are the smiles of the family members, the babies(!!) of so many acquaintances and their many firsts (first raya, first dress, first shoes, first time moms and dads and first whatevers) and yes i love the colours! i love looking at purple, green, brown, blue, pink (yikes!!pink???) pretty dresses! (it’s becoming a hobby nowadays..especially…. :P)

raya this year has been simple, like i mentioned before, but with a difference…we are even numbers this year! :)) all those years taking the public transports and mam would always say i’m always the odd one out because sometimes i ended sitting alone on bus journeys :/

i must say we are all happy to have you with us this year. who would have thought, last year i was just a simple independent naivete who’s always been ‘alone’…..i am still a simple independent (in times of need) naivete but…yours. and it seems my blogging nowadays always referring to you. well, i don’t think other people are reading mine anyway~

one year can make so much difference. unexpected but pleasant, or otherwise, unexpected and heartbreaking. i mean really, it felt like such a short time when a year has gone by. and countless changes, experiences, feelings have i felt. and as always, there will be some i took as some learning journeys of my life, and while others part of the many beautiful colours which paint my memories. but anyway, this post is not about life.

it’s about taking everything in a day and make a picture of it in my mind and heart and appreciating the blessings i’ve had so far. i feel like i’m becoming a greed at taking it all in. i felt every single thing and moment in this life must be captured and treasured. every smiles and laughters must be remembered. but of course, giving my trust to the One and Only. Forgive me Lord. we always forget.

but i’m loving my life now and let’s have a look at the purpled family.(and of the blue and maroon-ed)



hmmm…..if ramadhan is full of iftars every week, now it’s open houses and invites to raya gatherings… apart from the food, i don’t think i care that much anymore, i just want to spend some quality time with my family or read and do laundry!!

26 and Engaged

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a perfect week had gone by. i wish i can relived the week and savour the moments again. a moment of bonds of lurve, care and belief. and i am officially a fiancee to Suhaimi Tweevran. just saying it makes me glow laaa 😉

anyway, between working (it was the first week of classes back at the mosque…so imagine the number of calls i received and decisions and making sure things are well and running for the first day of classes!!) and preparing for the day, wahh really one of the times when my mind is just jumping from one thing to another…but alhamdulillah, our day went well and smooth. perfect just as i had imagined it!

first would be the backdrop. excellent work by Kak Tini of JG Wedding Creations. turqoise and beige curtains and white roses with a touch of butterflies. we had to have the backdrop to cover the shelves with its all nitty gritty bits and there is no way guests are going into my totally crammed room. but i’m truly glad we have it at the living room for the comfort of everyone and of course me, the princess (as little Amirah called me) haha.

oh before that, i have to say i’m really happy that the gifts turn out nice anyway, to me and my mother’s eyes la. we did the final touches on the night before, adding pretty pretty yellow orchids and red carnations with some baby breaths to give more colour to our silver metallic and black themed hantarans. i hope you like it. 😉

and love the pouches for the bunga rampai!! and the handkerchief + hairclip gifts!

then came the cake, absolutely gorgeous cake!! (rinacreations.com)

and after what seemed so long…being dolled up..and thinking what have i put myself into(??!!)with all this make up on??! haha. but the dress is real nice and the idea is to feel like galadriel, which i think i did, especially when i was all ready and waiting at the living room, one of the LOTR dvd was on play. a very smart way to ease the nervousness 😉

and the moment came, amazingly huge crowd, and i thought you mentioned 20 from your side?? 🙂 with my paternal and maternal family members, and his family members who came, our hall really saves the day.
two families bonded and really there’s no word to describe the beautiful feeling especially when kak Surifah put on the ring. i mean my mind was just shouting THIS IS IT. SERI YOU’RE ENGAGED!!

at that few minutes, it actually felt long to me.:)
more pictures to feast on:
..paternal cousins and aunts..Thank you to my aunts for some of the cakes and puddings as gifts~ i heard the durian beancurd was a hit with the guests!
..from him..
Cik Saad and family-sans- Hanis. Thank you Suli for the Batik Cake
love these pics!


..his family..

my joy my life my everything and the most hardworking people on the day!!:) well people, you got your wish to see me having a boyfriend and engaged….and coming soon…haha

well there’s a list of people i had to thank:
my paternal aunts for preparing some additional feast and yes, the durian beancurd(!)and some of the gifts for him
cousin suhaili for baking the mentioned cake. my aunt Wak Mal and family for staying the WHOLE day till late night to help clear up the buffet stuffs and whatnots.
kak Tini for the gorgeous backdrop cum dais, kak rina for the gorgeous cake, and cik leha for making me feel like a gorgeous galadriel..erkkk…:))
oh yes the caterer cik jehan for the best teh susu! and sumptuous food!
and dayah and husband othman for staying throughout as well and being the official photographer
my armoured petals for the nice gift! so going to use the wedding journal! 😉 dyan and mahir and fana and Teach for coming~
and every single person who came and celebrate this meaningful day with me and my family. all of you make it more beautiful than ever. i kinda have a preview to the Big Day, hehe;)

and you, for making me a part of your life.
never in my imagination, has this very picture came to mind, but God has HIS ways and has lead me to you. you mean so much to me now more than ever. and i treasure every minute with you.
well, i can say we’ve never really been that far from one another all these years…it just takes us longer to find each other…

ps:thank you for the perfect gifts and the giant cake/cupcakes ;)and for pampering me with more books and more blue roses! and yes red roses would be nice sometimes;))

crossed parallel

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how can you know when it’s your time? somehow a loss of life affected me much that till this night, i still think about it, and the deceased still pictured quite clearly in mind, despite not having known her enough.

is it because i had been too happy that the news came as a shock…utter suddenness, a reminder that happiness is HIS and can always be taken back.
is it because of the realisation that i couldn’t get to know her as a family.
is it because i keep remembering to the day when she had been the one who handed me his gift to me.
i feel happy waiting for the day but i cant help thinking she wont be there. and why should i be rejoicing?

it hurts to know they are pained by this loss. and me, my family, we are deeply saddened by it.
although life has to move on. and pray Lord will help us all.

but you know what, i can never stop thinking that my most loved family members are not here to see me, see us. they have been gone for so many years but we can never forget them and will always miss them. i still remember those innocent years when i thought they will live for as long as i am but had them taken away. never stop remembering. it’s the only comfort.

and right now it’s crossed emotions running parallel. because it’s all happiness and grief at the same time. it pained me to see and hear him in sadness, but this pain i cannot control.

(and i can’t sleep for thinking about the orientation in a few hours’ time and the load of things to be done…work in non-ender do they?!)
and a meet up with two of my petals is great to relive those memories. thank you babes and i’m so going to get used to being driven back home by qzaimah!! hehe.

please pray everything went well, what’s with the first week of classes and THE day and whatnots.

i.m.y

in the mood for lego

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of all things to buy…and be fascintaed with…i bought for me LEGO!!! and i’m actually very much excited about it! like a born again child. wahh, 26 and heading a unit and one more month to go, still want to play lego~ aha! but i really think Lego is a good destress when you have many entangled stuffs in your mind…lego makes you think one step at a time and finding solutions..like how you put one block after another…and eventually creating something, whether conscious or unconscious(ok, takdela nak justify sangat why i bought Lego..oh ya…here’s one very good reason: it can also be a learning tool!!)
and you know what i’ll end up doing…grouping them blocks according to colours or sizes or shapes. i just did.

let’s do lego together ok sometime 😛

art folly random

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definitely a nice feeling to be awaken to a nice sunny day(despite the heat), looking out to the green park and breathe fresh air, and not have to go to work! haha!

some very random thoughts to fill up the space.

  • spent the first half of the day doing bits and pieces of what i’ve always wanted to do since started working at the mosque, and havent had the chance to. the room looks more…well like a girls room …

  • helped to clear the kitchen and ….

  • was thinking of doing more of the gifts deco but ended up…

  • reading The White Tiger (Aravind Adiga). speaking of which, i just realized i tend to enjoy Man Booker Prize-d novels…

  • and i still prefer Yuna to Zee Avi

  • 4 more weekends to go

  • and i’m actually doing the Gifts do-it-yourself way!! and i think it turned out pretty nice with some hot glue and laced ribbons here and there and you have a themed set of Gifts.

  • and then i remembered i have many other things to do work-related but i refuse to do anything…

  • because i’ll be working on the weekends. (right…welcome to working saturdays AND sundays, albeit half day) just like the ‘good’ old days — although i hope this will change come July

and throughout all the chaosness,


i had the opportunity to appreciate art although very much a newbie and knowing pretty much zilch of what’s in the scene…thanks to dear with the heart of gold~

there’s orchestra on Final Fantasy, and since our seat was on the second floor(or was it the third?), we got a good view of the screen where they show scenes from the many Final fantasy episodes and a bird’s eye view of the talented talented musicians.
(i think they should soon have one on Lotr + orchestra!)

first time ever watching the performance of young shaolin martial arts, although very much contemporary.

and tricky Seven Boards of Tricks. i mean seriously tricky. with triangle and square boards to make whatnots..although we got pretty sleepy since some of the songs were in chinese and we can’t for the heck of it understood what it all meant.

i know there are meanings behind every moves and dances but i couldn’t figure it out, just like the cullberg ballet..although there’s some sort of a storyline which i could follow but in all i can appreciate just how much talent and the energy and time put in to come up with a 100 minutes performance. all those passion they put in. pretty amazing. never had the chance to view performances before but it’s a ‘new breath of air’ to be able to catch and see what’s the hype is all about. have always wanted to experience them and you have given me that chance. thank you.

-holiday- programmes

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the very first childrens’ programme held at the mosque went well! it was all about me running here and there assisting the teachers, printing worksheets and making sure the learning materials were provided, making decisions, food and more food for the kids and whatnots. eventually the smile of the children and their laughters and seeing how much they enjoy the programme were the greatest gifts of all~~

the overwhelming response and support from parents are as valuable as their children’s happiness. organizing these holiday programmes had actually given me a glimpse of how it will be like when it comes to the real thing! and that is…in less than a month. what a long list of things to do!




enthusiastic, participative…a happy bunch! especially on the trip to pasir ris park on wednesday. of all days of the week, it had to rain that morning…but the powers above were on our side. just when we reached the park, the sun greeted us with such fine weather i almost cried with relief.

the younger ones had to collect seashells and dry leaves to make a collage and i was amazed at how sharp the kids can be. they could even spot the tiniest crab shells and squealed and jumping with such amazement everytime they found something. it made me remember why we were doing all these in the first place. beautiful children.
of course, there are always room for improvement. all through the week i noticed all the small details which i should really have thought of earlier and not take for granted. but alhamdulillah, children were safe and enjoyed the whole 5-days programme.
so this is the job i have chosen to tread upon…so much strength and mind energy….and i’m fortunate to have people around me encouraging and supporting me.
but i guess this is just the beginning, it’ll get more easier as it goes along~
i need a break. and exciting July is just few more weeks to go!! 😉

officially

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the open house of the new mosque in the block marks its functioning for the public officially….three very challenging days has gone and i think it went well….i cannot be critical since everybody, and i mean everybody worked so hard to make it went succesfully. i am so glad it’s done with. the preparations towards the event, my heart body and soul to decorate my classes. the nervousness and whatnots. i’m just real glad and HUGELY relieved that my mock class- cum colouring and drawing competition went so well!!! and my feet is hurting doubly bad!

and since the mosque is all about family as a niche “loving and affectionate mosque”, i realised my family members pretty much involved themselves these few days…apart from me as the staff, my mother is also a member of the women’s wing of the mosque, so we’ve practically spent the whole week at the mosque, mother helped to decorate class, nuri came to help around last friday, and then father bought lunches and got stuffs for us…my brothers for helping to move the books we bought for the Reading Room, and of course, my dear for lending us a hand sending the books to the mosque, accompanying me to collect mcys booklets and…more books.
what would i do without my family~~

so ok… let’s stop here, my eyes really can’t take it anymore….so…glad….it…went…well…zzzzzz

full force

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super duper busy since i step in full force at mawaddah. and it’s only been a week!!! and time seems to fly double fast rate. straight away when i come in at 8.30, there’s no time to ‘warm-up’ get to gear 2 and do emails, pick up calls, making decisions, and trying to decorate two classrooms as best i can, with the help of dear mother and my little sister nuri who tagged along last friday to help out. and somehow found ourselves staying a bit longer till 8pm~

last friday, i had to present in front of a whole auditorium and share a little bit with the volunteers what alive is all about…with a few last minute slides which alhamdulillah turned out pretty nice and straight to the point presentation. since it’s also more of like a briefing to the volunteers so they know that we’re conducting aLive as the madrasah. mother said it was a good presentation. thankfully it was an informal kind of setting since i mixed english and malay up there on stage! and i believe i spoke too fast!

and next week is going to be another looonngg week! but in any ways: everyone of you are invited to the family buzz at mawaddah this friday – saturday!

on to the next thing, somehow word got round among the aunts at the mosque that i’m…hmm…taken ;)because apparently some aunts were ‘inquiring’ about me and mother had to be clear about my ‘status’ with them. at the same time, it turns out everyone’s excited for my birthday month…and i thought it’s going to be a family affair!!
on that note: i don’t know where to start and ideas all around that i need to focus, haha! these are like big things for me, the mosque, the family affair and the next year in line~

the weekend has been a short escape for me, watching Wolverine which is awesomeness, and glad that my brothers and sisters enjoyed the movie and the company as much i did.;) i mean, it’s X-men!! who wouldn’t enjoy it? i think there’s more action to this than the Last Stand. and i’ve always liked stories where they tell you how things started and me being a non-comic reader, i appreciate the storyline. and first time truly watching star trek with real interest and enjoyment, even though there’s some parts i don’t understand in the movie. i told you i’ve seen more movies within these few months than i ever did in my 25 years of living.

mono: God has always directed my decisions and meeting you must have been part of the deal…