IT'S A PANDAN LIFE ...!

Mothers and their children are in a category all their own. There's no bond so strong in the entire world. No love so instantaneous and forgiving.” ~ Gail Tsukiyama Last weekend my Mom had come over, having to attend an umrah course in KL. In a few weeks' time she will be going on another umrah trip, with her brother and his family. About the same time I'd be departing for my Portugal trip. Sigh. Since my Mom had gone on a Hajj and umrah trip before, I asked her why she needed to attend the course. "Oh, It's been years, I probably have forgotten some of the things", she retorted.  This is probably one of those rare trips where she came to KL alone, by bus. Usually she'd come with my sis and niece. I picked her up at Hentian Serdang and sent her off to my uncle's place in BB Bangi. But not before bringing her to her favourite restaurant, Ayam Penyet Wong Solo.  I normally don't eat rice for dinner but maybe I was too happy to see her, I o...

You have no idea how hard I've looked for a gift to bring You. Nothing seemed right. What's the point of bringing gold to the gold mine, or water to the ocean. Everything I came up with was like ... taking spices to the Orient. It's no good giving my heart and my soul because you already have these. So I've brought you a mirror. Look at yourself and remember me. This poem was written by Rumi (1207-1273), a remowned Persian poet. I have always loved his poems. I think I have about 3 or 4 books by Rumi. Some I've read and some I haven't. What I love about his poems is the ambiguity, or, the different layers of meaning. Sometimes however, it is not easy to decipher these meanings. Like onions, you have to peel these layers one by one. Known as a Sufi poet, his poems naturally revolve around God, but as can be seen from the poem above, his  poems can also be read as love poems. As in human love *chuckle*. I can ...

We realize our dilemma goes deeper than shortage of time; it is basically a problem of priorities. We confess, we have left undone those things that ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.“ – Charles E. Hummel  Some time last year my BFF, Ann, shared with me some invaluable insights into leading a successful and   meaningful   life. A colleague of hers had done a mega-scale research on the secret of some really rich Muslims in Malaysia and beyond, and had learnt some really useful tips. She shared one of these tips with Ann, which was given by a very successful and rich female Muslim banker in Malaysia. Ann captured this tip in a pie chart, which can be seen below:       So basically, this pie chart describes the EIGHT things that one must allocate time to (sincerely and earnestly) in one's daily life: 1. God 2. Family 3. Work  4. Knowledge 5. Your interest 6. Charity ...

I must admit that I love shoes. Be it flats, wedges, peep-toes, pumps, sandals, I love them all. I've always looked at shoes as immensely beautiful things. As do other women. It's in our blood, I guess. Hehehe. It's a woman thing lah!  *wink wink* I am a shoeholic I guess, but on a scale of 1 to 10, I'd say my shoeholicness is 5. This is because I don't splurge on shoes on a weekly basis, like some people. I don't buy shoes every month either. A lot of factors are at play when I buy shoes. Some shoes simply need to be bought for utility purposes -like Reebok/Nike shoes. Sometimes I go for quality and comfort - like Clarks/Naturalizer shoes - they're perfect for work.  Some shoes simply 'speak' to me for their aesthetic qualities - like Zang Toi/Aldo shoes.  Some 'speak' to me because of their incredibly inexpensive price tags. But what I love most are those branded shoes when they are on sale! I get style, quality and value for my money, ...

If there was anything I would like to do on NYE, it would be watching fireworks. As 2013 approached, I got my wish. A couple of friends had rented an apartment near KLCC for this purpose so they invited me over. I was supposed to feel exhilarated but with Fir's death coupled with my failure to finish Chapter 3, my mood was really sombre. I almost picked up the phone telling them I wouldn't be able to make it. My plan was to stay at home and drown in self-pity. But since I'd promised them that I would come, my conscience got the best of me. I dragged myself  lazily off the couch and drove to KL.  I was the last to reach the apartment. To kill time, we exchanged gifts. Earlier on Nal had instructed everybody to each bring a gift and the gift should not be worth more than 10 ringgit. I got a fridge magnet and it went to Ecket. Ecket's room deodorizer went to me. Coincidentally. Hehe. Everybody got a gift, including the kids. Everybody was happy. 15 mins to 12, all of us...

This post came late, I know. A lot of things got the best of me, especially my thesis. But I reckon before 2012 draws its final curtain, I'd better recap some of the major things that had occurred. A bit of retrospection would be good for the soul. So, in no particular order:   1. Diet, Loss As I'd mentioned earlier on this year, I had gone on a diet to lose weight; reinforced by sessions of working out at the gym. I managed to lose around 10 kgs by the middle of the year. Most people I know had remarked on the change. I was happy that I could now fit into my kebaya(s) again. That I could now fit into a size 28 jeans. A size M top. A size M pants. I still carry on with the diet, not with the aim to lose any more weight, but to maintain it. I try to eat healthily,  with portion control. Of course, this diet is botched whenever I go out, meet up with friends, travel or balik kampong , but I try to make up for these immediately.  If I want,...

If you don't like it Lie to me Just let me bask In my own serendipity. If you don't like it Lie to me And let me ponder not The thought and labour Wasted on it.