speeding thoughts

there’s going to be our very first maulid rasul celebration at the mosque this saturday and it’s making me restless. i couldn’t sleep the whole of last night just thinking about it! i keep going through the things that needed to be done over and over, worried that i will forget them the very next day! it’s almost like a speeding train not knowing when to stop :/

when i did get to sleep, i think i slept for a short while before the alarm sounded and then aware of my sisters walking about getting ready for school. as soon as i reached work, my mind already reeling with so many things.

but i know everything will turn out well, insya Allah. i really hope it will. speaking of which, tomorrow i have to call up people!! don’t forget that seri! and email those applicants who want to teach!

ok. breath in breath out. things will go well. am excited and nervous. but hey, i always feel like this before every event. haha!

and the best thing would be to play as many selawats as possible on this day. i always felt my heart ‘jumping’ with joy everytime we played a selawat. i missed those feeling. and i missed those times at my old school when we have our very own session of maulids. if only among my teachers are almaarifians who could reminisce with me those beautiful times and perhaps, have it as a culture at school. i wouuld love those. (hehe, better start looking for juniors who are willing to teach:))

*************

and because you dedicate the song to me…
i.m.y. yes. you.

2009 Recall

I know it’s way overdue and when people have already jumped on 2010 wagon and pretty much waved goodbye to 2009, i thought i shall not miss out the ‘traditional’ recap of what the year had been. but this shall not take too long and i wont blabber much because there are only two things i wanted to have as the landmarks of 2009.

the e-word. the single but not available. attached. whatever you want to call it. i’m yours.

i have always thought it’s going to be difficult to be in a relationship, but turns out, i wont say it’s perfect but it has been pretty much smooth sailing. or it may just still the tip of the iceberg.

i will not deny there were some difficult thoughts going on and serious deep decision made but i believe this is also directed by the Lord and everyday i pray that this gracious good is eternal and i believe that in hardships and happiness, i will be with this man. still, Lord knows better but at this point, i’m taking it all in, breathing and living these days and memories.

another e-word. education. heading it, leading it, managing it, being it. never said it was easy and never will i guess. it’s everything from my brain, to my body and soul. literally. this job, i’m telling you, its a love and hate relationship. its a bittersweet joy. the circles of influence and control are grey matters and when you’re just in the rhythm, something smack you in the face and make things difficult.

but these made my 2009 fulfilled.

and regret non grata, i am grateful with all that had been, and will be. life is loved.

to thank You Lord, is never enough…

10 km and an island

what does 10km walk and cycling around pulau Ubin have in common?
They both hurt my legs!!! haha!

but i enjoyed and loved the whole experience of them both.
the walk from macritchie, treetop walk and surprise, surprise, all the way to bukit timah’s peak, i never know i had it in me to endure the walk, the whole journey!!! seriously. exhausted definitely, but we just walked on and on and the nature made me forget at times the tiredness. walking to work may now seems like a very very easy feat. only that i need a good shoe~

i really love the walk, makes me sweat (what’s with all that sitting in the office) and my eyes enjoying the green green and more green (without specs nor lens)and it amazes me really that you can go from one place to another through this nature trails, away from the road. and especially when i found out that from bukit timah to macritchie, we had to take two different buses!

and if you’re wondering, of course i didn’t walk alone. there’s the master of walking himself. i love it, i mean, u. 😉

and after a one day rest, went to pulau ubin for a cycling adventure, as my little bro called it, he was so excited about it! but cycling was much harder than walking, for me la. even with all the 15 min cycles i did every day to work. but i must say i may have improved than the last time i cycled at pulau ubin. when was that? i knew that first time i really could not take it.

despite the cramps, i enjoy these outdoor days.

only….i saw the news tonight and cyclists on pathways can get fined if they are caught! does that mean i cannot cycle to work anymore??? but i just started to love cycling…and i cant possibly cycle on the road, can i? that would be more scary and yes the fact that it’s dangerous!

why do they have to take away the joy of cycling; it lets busy people like us have the chance to have some fitness routine (while cycling to and from work), and less pollution with all them cars, and less time consuming when we want to go to places around the neighbourhood. and the fact that it saves money to cycle. why do they have to make simple cycling difficult??!!

or perhaps i misunderstand the news? (ok got to check again!)

and then it’s “turkey”(bowling term) for malays in the singapore idols!! three in a row!! 😀

oklaaaa, few more days before the year ends. got to meet the girls one of these days and wow, a new year begins, exciting 2010.

space to breathe

work is always about moving from one task to another. always and seemingly neverending. believe me. last week was all about korban. this week was all about orientation. the amount of physical and thought energy it took, not forgetting the utter nervousness i had all week, knowing i had to conduct this round of orientation by myself!

so this morning was the orientation, i stayed up quite late last night, rehearsing to the slides, which thankfully was prepared for all mosques. i just had to understand what the slides are all about and remembering exactly what to say, but knowing me, i ended up talking impromptu, whatever script i wrote or tried to memorise went out the window.

of course, i still need alot of improvements. A LOT. there are times when the word just don’t come out and then some points which i missed out to mention. but alhamdulillah, it went well, teachers who came to help were on automotum, registration, activities for the children, although a bit quite messed up, because we weren’t expecting a WHOLE AUDITORIUM FULL OF PARENTS.

next time must always expect the unexpected and prepare with more precise details. i was nervouse prior to the session,, but once i was on stage it’s like do or die. i hope i get to do better orientation next time. only i didnt know why i suddenly had a runny nose in the middle of the presentation, and i had to catch a lot of breath.

thank you Lord, at least this went well. now on to what’s next on the list!

yes…it’s been a whole year. with you.

november rain

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.

and no i did not forget Y*una

and after the whole load of burden taken off and the excitement of checking out the very very competitive industry of wedding services.

we get to finish off the week with Y*una LIVE. so much for going for a 10th anniversary m*occ*a performance, we’re there @ SAM for Y*una~ and we love it! there were four local performances to start off, well good to know we do have talents, and apart from the drums and guitars, i don’t really understand what is it they were singing. it’s either the music’s too loud or they don’t sing clear enough (redundant seh seri) but anyway….

…you’ve got to love this girl! she sings real well (and clear at that), down to earth and her band members are all talented guys~

although it’s a bit unusually different to have a mini concert at an auditorium albeit smaller than expected, and the room not even half full!!

raya 2.9 and its even

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!!

time and heart

one week of ramadhan has passed and suddenly it’s all going to pass in a short while. and the challenges has been more difficult the first week. mostly with time. rushing to finish reports, rushing to do this and that, pressures from so many sides. although there are times my brain feels numbed to all work.


been somewhat exhausted with everything that is going around, sometimes i woke up with a huge headache instead of a well rested sleep. biological clock is truly truly tested this month.
still, it has been a good start. it might be one of the perks of working at a mosque. alhamdulillah.

it’s a serene joy to have the opportunity to help the volunteers preparing the meals for iftar, and day after day, the prayer hall is filled all four floors with jemaah every night. the tiredness is forgotten for a while. serving the Creator while serving the servants, insya Allah.

and my teens joined a value added programme which, at the same time, joining the camp the youth wing organized. barulah nampak ramai..but it was all in good cause, since there’s a well-known company who are conducting some teens activities, pretty much related to the theme we are doing for this term which was on relationships and sexuality. only one setback was my misunderstanding of one activity. initially thought their wonderwalk is just around the mosque, it turned out to be an amazing race around Sengkang!! kesian my teens as surprised as their trainer about this but they have been super sporting!! and joined in all the same. my heart goes to them, although the whole time they were out, i was restless and kept praying they are all ok.

they reached the mosque at around 5.30pm, and i couldn’t properly congrats them, because we were on to the next mosque programme with LPM and all. hopefully they got to have some good rest. i realized i’m caring for them just as i cared my two not-so-little siblings. 🙂 trusting them but not willing to fully let go.

but anyway, all went well…and another week to go through…

it doesnt help that you are super busy too…i miss you.

26 and Engaged

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;))