The one where I want to thank my dad

My dad....

My old man....

My father.....

I never thought one day, I will be writing about my dad. My dad is a very strict and perfectionist man. Everything has to be in order. Everything that don't follow his way is the wrong way. Everything has to be perfect otherwise why bother doing it anyway!

My dad had also thought me how to be tough. Crying is not acceptable. I remembered when I was small, my dad took me to the dentist and he warned me about crying. While the dentist was doing the extraction, he stood there at the door making sure I won't cry. And I did not cry, just shed some tears but no sound.

My dad also told me, no matter how a person behave, and if that person is older, there's no excuse for me to misbehave or in malay terms "kurang ajar" to that person. To him, it's a reflection of how I was raised if I do misbehave.

My dad also thought me though we are equipped with all the knowledge in the world, if it's not complimented with hard work, success will not happen. Work hard is a must, not just work smart.

I owe many things in life to my dad. Why this entry? Nope, it's not his birthday or any special event. Cause, I am thinking of my dad and that does not require me to have a special event!

A Merdeka Entry - Why Merdeka Means A Lot To Me

After few days of silence, I finally got the chance to do an entry, and this one is not an autopublish entry. While typing this, my better half is sitting next to me watching Demi Moore in action in the movie Indescent Proposal, one of her best acting.

Yup, we have just entered the Merdeka Day and let me share why Merdeka Day means a lot to me.

Merdeka Day......

This is my parents wedding anniversary. They were married 40 years ago on that day. Very convenient, so every years celebration, no need to apply leave, a celebration is totally guaranteed.

This year, we have to delay the dinner bit later, since it's Ramadhan and my dad don't really like to eat out or even eat that much during iftar cause he don't want to miss even a day of Terawih. So, perhas we'll have a good celebration later.

Merdeka Day also marked the 1st year we moved to our new house. A very easy date to remember....

And my real Merdeka, was back in 2003, when all the loans we have were settled and we lived for 5 years debt free until 2008, when we bought our new humble home and the new car, that was done after long hard thought.

So, Merdeka don't have to be 31st August, it can happen to us everyday....Just that whether we are willing to look hard enough for it.

With that said, Selamat Menyambut Hari Merdeka and Have a good time with your family....

More gardening this weekend??

My better half and my dad share this same passion about gardening. Whenever my dad comes over to our humble home, they can talk for hours on this topic of gardening ; which plant is good, what flower is suitable for which corner of the garden...yada yada yada....

My parents come over quite frequent to our humble home. They told me they miss the cuties very much, to the extend one day my dad was having this dream where the cuties went into the room and my baby slept next to him....Kesian akak dengar. So, everytime this trip happened, surely there will be plants accompanied with it. So far, we have to small coconut plants one each at the back and front of our humble home and few more other plants which you just don't have to ask what's the name of this cause I am very clueless!!

Last week my dad bought all this plants for my better half. My better half was very excited and already know where to plant all this. Me?? Akak rasa biasa jer, nak excited apa kan?

So, now the small garden in our humble home has been filled with plants and flowers. I love the ambiance of all this. And what makes me love this more???

Cause I don't have to do anything and enjoy the view!!!!

Mom's birthday celebration

Ever since I was very small, I remembered we will always have a double celebration for Mother's Day. Why? Cause my mom's birthday falls some where around Mother's Day.

This year was not exception. However, it was not a big celebration like before because my elder brother who is in Malacca couldn't make it and Iwan has to work late. Never mind, we shall have another celebration when everyone is around.

We brought mom to Swensen at Subang Parade. My dad is quite paranoid with this halal issue. Whenever we need to take him out for dinner, we have to do our research to ensure the place is halal place. Halal by definition with the halal certification. I know he meant well as he always reminds me if we ever consumed non-halal food, it will blackened our heart and later cause lots of harm to the body.

We ordered a little bit of everything in the menu. From pasta to pizza to salad and some snack like chicken wings and fried mushroom. Dad had fish and chips which he complained was not that tender and the crumb was too hard. Did I mention to you he was a chef hence he loves to criticised whenever we eat out.

The cuties love this place. I love this place too. The service is excellent and the food is simply delicious.

We wanted to order Earthquake but everyone was too full. But, what's a trip to Swensen without having the ice cream. So, I ordered the sticky chocolate ice cream, my favourite! Actually, that was the only food I had, did not want to have too much cause I have plan to have supper with my better half. Nak dating lah!

To mom, happy birthday and love you sooooo much. Thanks for everything that you have done and that definitely make me a better person. And Happy Mother's Day too!!

The wedding - Making parents happy

It was Mother's Day and I think it is mandatory for me to make my mom happy especially on Mother's Day. She wanted to go to this wedding in Keramat and from the tone of her vioce plus the way my dad was asking for direction to that place, it's pretty clear they wanted me to take them there.

My mom came over to our house after her kelas mengaji and we told her let's attend the kenduri at our front door neighbour first before we proceed to Keramat and my parents agreed to that. Takkan jiran depan rumah kenduri anak bertunang and have invited us about 3 weeks ago, kitaorang buat selamba jer keluar rumah. Sunggu tak reti bermasyarakat kan.

Keramat is never our territory so we asked for directions from Tipah as that area is totally her area. Alhamdulilah, reached the place without getting lost even for a second. That's a major achievement.

This wedding was the wedding of my mom's cousin's daughter, whom she have not seen for ages. Both of them were in tears when they saw each other. My mom told me they have been through many difficulties in life together including the death of her other daughter due to cancer. How tragic!

It felt so good making my mom happy, that would just be a priceless gift.

Breakfast with parents

My parents came over Sunday morning. Actually, very early Sunday morning around 8.30am. The cuties were up already watching cartoon while me and my better half were still asleep, woke up for subuh prayer then went back to sleep which is very typical Monday morning for us.

My parents has a set of key so usually we will be surprised when suddenly they are already in the house. Nasib baik ler I'm always upstairs so sempatlah to get pakaian yang lebih sopan before I go down to great them.

After we bath and get ready, we took them out for breakfast at a nearby food outlet. Which was a dissapointment, everything that we ordered taste horrible. Not going to this outlet ever ever again...

After breakfast, my mom wanted to look for some tudung for her trip to China. We took her to Nilai 3 and she went on her shopping spree while my dad just sat down and look after the cuties.

Yup, my parent is going for a holiday to China this Friday for nearly a week and I will need to be on leave to babysit...Bestnyer kalau dapat ikut gi holiday but apakan daya, budget ciput!

What's cooking

My parents are staying in my house today and through out the weekend. But, that is no excuse for me not to cook. They come here for a break so it's only fair for me to do the cooking.

Last night dinner were cekodok bawang dip in sambal sardin(dip tu, sound so kelas kan?)

For the cuties lunch today, kuah pindang (my princess requested for this) and sambal tumis udang.

My dad has a project to plant more trees around my house. He just love doing that.

Let's see the result once I come back from work today!

Food for the cuties

My parents are kind enough to take care of my hero after he went through this. They knwo it's difficult for me and my better half to take leave considering we will need to be on leave again during the start of the year to arrange for the cuties schooling needs.

But, I don't like to burden my parents. For me, their willingness to stay with me and take care of the cuties are good enough. Now, I woke up extra early (usually at 5.30am, now change to 5am) to cook before I leave the house. By doing this, my mom don't have to do the cooking. Nanti mami penat pulok!

Since my hero is on the pantang mode, I have to cook 2 sets of meal...

Set one, kuah pindang ikan cencaru for my hero

Set two, ikan selar masak kicap for the rest...

And another dish, vegetable soup which can be consumed by all...

We also went to Giant earlier to stock up food in the kitchen and fridge just in case my mom want to cook something else...

Cepat ler my hero baik, kesian seeing him not having appetite to eat...

Kambing oh kambing

We are still busy preparing for Sunday...Jangan ler marah, if you wanna know what's happening on Sunday, stick around and you'll find out soon enough ok...

After buying some groceries very early Saturday morning, we then went to Kajang to meet my dad and mom. Iwan and Nija tagged along too as Iwan will be going back to his in-law's house after that, also located in Kajang.

This area in Kajang is in a place called Sg Sekamat. It's located along the Kajang Silk Highway.

My dad purchased a lamb earlier, so today it's the time to pick up the one which are already slaughtered and cut into pieces, ready to be cooked.

I told my dad, since this place offers cooking services, why don't we just engaged them to do this. My intention was so suci and murni but ended up kena zass by my dad when he said...just this 3 simple word...

Kau mana tau! (hehehehe)

My dad's birthday

My apology for not being able to do entries more frequently. The internet service has been very bad and I gave up being on line and trying to do more auto published entries. Hence, just managed to do one before I leave for work. I am also still actively working on the new 2 blogs that I mentioned earlier.

Well, how was was my dad's birthday. It was quite ok. Since my mom is not well, we decided not to eat out, just a quiet ta-pau dinner. I bought sate, mee hoon goreng, roti nan with tandoori and of course a birthday, which was chosen by my hero. That explains the Robin picture on the cake.

The cuties were excited to have this celebration. They helped to set the table and in making sure things are done smoothly. After performing maghrib prayers, we gather at the dining area for doa recital and makan time!

My hero recited the doa makan while Iwan did the long doa selamat part. I hope one day, my hero would be able to resume his Pak Usu's position and recite the doa instead.

Kesian Anis. Drooling over the food served. Sabar yer sayang, when you are old enough, you will joining us at the dining table.

And here my hero handing in the birthday card signed by all 3 of them for his Atok. My dad keep on teasing him saying this must be a blank cheque where he can write whatever figure he wants...

What did I get my dad? That will be in the next entry. TUNGGU!!!!

My parents trip tp Sabah aka what you get when your parents has your digital camera ;)

My parents love travelling. Since my dad used to work for MAS until he retires about 6 years ago(he worked there for about 35 years, so everytime when I was about to quit my job for a new job, there goes the lecture about company loyalty and all, sigh!), he still enjoy the cheap fligh rate as part of the retirement package. Fyi, this only applies if you joined MAS during their government body years. So, jgn dok berangan yer.

They have travelled all around the world. Even when I was younger and not married, we used to travel abroad once a year. So, this time around, my parents went to Sabah. They spent 3 days there.

My dad is quite skeptical about investing in a digital camera. He felt he is more comfortable using the old Kodak inserting camera. However, while we were about to reach KLIA, my dad realised he left his precious camera on the car(please note, not in but on). Hence, not wanting him not being able to capture moments during their trip, I loaned my dad my cheap digital camera.

My hero gave Atok a quick tutorial on how to use the camera. First picture taken, ok ler tu!

Enjoy some of the picture taken during the trip.

Since today is my dad's birthday, perhaps I should get him a digital camera for him....what say you??

Raya Family Photo

This photos were taken by Iwan who made us pose so many times until he is satisfied with the result. My hero insisted to have the kuih raya to be part of the picture, otherwise, people won't know it's Raya pics...ok ler tu!

Tukar location lak!

And the Atok wanted his pics to be taken with the cucus lak...

A wonderful Raya indeed!!

Menantu yang baik

My dad was gathering some wood which was thrown away by one of our neighbours whose doing some renovation work and didn't want these anymore.

My dad said that he wanted to build a reban ayam at his kebun - tiba2 i terpikir, biler lak abah ada reban ayam...and my better half is like a mind reader, he suddenly replied, dah lama dah abah bela ayam hutan, cuma takde proper place for the ayam to tidur...scary man!!!

This happened around 6.30am, while we were getting ready to go to work. My better half being my dad's favourite, came and helped him out without even being asked to..

Patut ler abah sayang...cheh!

Prayers needed

I was in the middle of a meeting when I got a call from my better half. He was frantic and his voice sounded like he is going to burst anytime...just then I found out he was frantic cause of Abah

Adik called just now, she was sobbing. Abah is very ill. The left part of his body is numb. Iwas telling myself, oh no, don't tell me abah is getting a stroke!

I told my better half, let's go back now. And I told him, if we don't and something happen, we may regret this for the rest of our life.

I walked out of the meeting room, packed my stuff and left message to Cik Puan Ambang. I also spoke to my boss and applied for leave. Since I have lots of outstanding work in my plate, I decided to bring the laptop with me. I don't want to inconvenience people just because I couldn't complete my work on time. I am paid to do this job...

I waited for my better half to come and pick me up. On the way home, I called my mom and told her what happened. I requested not to send baby to school. Once we arrived home, I quickly pack our clothes and other necessities. We always have this medium size bag of toileteries so its easy to just pick that up and go. I told the cuties to bath and eat their lunch.

We arrived at Batu Pahat around 4.45pm. It was raining all the way. Once we arrived, we unload our bags and took abah to see the doctor.

Doctor told us that Abah's blood pressure was high and his stomach was gassy. He gave loads of medication and told him to have plenty of rest. Also, a long list of do's and don'ts especially on food in take.

We decided to stick around for few days, just to monitor Abah's progress. Mak said he looks much better now. I guess he was 50% cured the moment he looked at his eldest child face, that's my better half.

This incident is a real tigger for me at least. Lots of what if questions came to my mind...

Ya Allah, please don't take Abah away from us. We still need him around...

Ahhh, sudah botak ka!!

I went home from work quite early yesterday, earlier than usual at least. Arrived home at about 7pm. The cuties were watching TV, they are now the follower of this new malay series called Bella...

As I walk to the kitchen, I bump into this bald guy, none other than my dad. And he is hairless, dalam erti kata lain sudah botak!

I remembered this will be the 3rd time he botak himself ; first time when my mom gave birth to me to pay his nazar for a baby girl, when he returns from mekah and now this. I asked him why?

He said bayar nazar of the win the other day...

I was so stunned to see him like that sampai luper nak ambik gambo. Maybe will do that tonite and will post it later.

My dad's birthday

I have always have this love-hate relationship with my dad. My dad is a very strict and adamant person who doesn't change hiw view or opinion without having a big fight first. My dad also doesn't like to show his emotion hence sometimes I wonder does my dad really cares about me. Being the only daughter, my dad has been very protective off me. He even made this remarks before "kalau anak orang sebelah tu lelaki, abah kawinkan akak dgn anak dia". He was afraid that once I got married, I will be away from him staying far and far from where he lives. I am his "peneman" when he watches football either on TV or at the stadium, his companion when he wants to go fishing and his "enemy" when he wants to have a good argument with someone. I have also been the person to help him to paint the house, to go to the DIY shop and to go to the market to buy the freshest fish!

I know my dad has always been proud of me but has difficulty to show it. One decision that I made in my life which I know dissapoint him so much but I just had to do it since I know that's the right decision and alhamdulilah, it was and still the best decision that I have made in my whole entire life.

Last Tuesday was my dad's birthday. I always have problems where to bring him since he was the head chef of an airline hence he will always criticise the way others cook and will the scrutinise me for spending money to bring him out to a crappy place. I also have problems what to buy him since he can afford mostly anything.

This year, me and my better half decided to bring him to Pantai Jeram seafood in Kuala Selangor. He is a pure seafood lover. And we got him a brand new mobile phone.

My dad really had a good time and loves our gift.

My dad is very close to my hero and couldn't even be apart from him even for one day!

Over the years, after having grandchildren, my dad starts to mellow down and somehow a changed man.

Abah, I know you love me and has always been there for me. I know I have hurt you with my decision before but trust me, that was not my intention. And abah, I love you soooo much and can't even imagine my life without having you around. Whatever success in life that I am enjoying now is with your blessing. You made me a strong person that I am now! *tears flowing while doing this postings....