ricoh gr3

Met this pretty young thing at a friend's house recently. Such a joy to shoot a willing cat. 

two sons' chili and cream clams!

I hate it when I see a recipe that I want to try and then the cook will say "agak-agak". Agak-agak my foot! But surprisingly this family favorite is relatively easy to cook - butter, cooking cream, garlic, paprika (but I ended up using cheyenne powder), curry leaves, chicken broth then agak2 lah the taste! *roll eyes* But I added cili padi for good measure.

Yum! Pair it with Roy's garlic bread, wallah! After this we don't need to go to Two Sons anymore - tbh I'm only gonna start eating at restaurants in 2021, I am that  paranoid. As I'm typing this I have chicken stew brewing in the oven. Trying to replicate the taste of Albanian chicken stew from uni days. Yeah let's not deny the fact that I hated uni but nobody forgets a good chicken stew. 

Selamat mencuba! 

stuff we bought during MCO

Oh man I should have documented stuff I bought during MCO (and still buying). Funny our apartment guards recognize us now because we are always buying things! Like, I don't even have them the number of our apartment anymore.

Yesterday my orders from Uniqlo arrived (Marimekko and Billie Eilish x Takashi Pom!) and today my new power bank came. Both of our existing power banks decided to die recently - together! - maybe they were underutilized?

Next up in the wish list is durian. Sweet savory durians. Hmm...

Today my husband brought home 3 whole chickens. "They're uncut", he said.

It's okay, I said.

It's really okay because during the beginning of MCO, I learned how to cut a whole chicken via YouTube (like everything else I learned these days).

But I'm also reminded of that time when my late dad bought me a whole chicken (I was in my teens) and told me to cut it myself. How else are you going to learn, he said. Of course after much struggling I butchered the poor chicken and he pretended to enjoy the fried chicken I made for him. My precious father, always in support of whatever I do.

MCO thoughts:

Missing the cafe scene, just enjoying freshly brewed coffee with colleagues, family or friends.

tanah dan langit

There is a Hamka quote that's been going around lately.

Manusia asalnya daripada tanah,

Makan hasil tanah, 

Berdiri di atas tanah, 

Akan kembali ke tanah.

Kenapa masih bersifat langit?

things we've lost in water

I’d like to believe that back in the 70s no home (in Kelantan at least) is complete without those scary mounted taxidermy. Say hello to me in 1977 in the loving arms of my late Baba and sitting upfront is my late Bak (grandfather).

We lost a lot of old photos over the years, mostly from some floods (not the ones in Kota Bharu, but in KL - Jalan Tun Razak was notorious with flash floods back then). So whenever my siblings dig out old photos I get chills. Bak’s house was a treasure trove for a kid like me - a wooden maze with countless windows and an open air patio INSIDE the house itself. Despite having an open air patio the house was never burglarised and flood season (musim bah) is the best because the house will be so cool and you’ll get a natural swimming pool outside your home for weeks! Ah good times. 

May Allah bless the souls of these magnificent men in my life for without them I would not be who I am now.

Note: Nobody died from bah, no toxic waste/diseases to fear from, not like now.

Shopping fiesta

Random photo lol

3rd day WFO and I headed to the pinggan mangkuk section of the mall. In a way I am grateful that the MCO has opened my eyes to many things - cookingware, housekeeping, etc. I still suck at them though.

Right now i'm just dying to head to kinokuniya or at laest Ikea. There are  few things in the house that desperately need to be changed -but one step at a time. But at 42, can I afford small steps?

tiny sacrifices

Today when i got home I could hear cops gently coaxing people to disperse. Not sure if it's a funeral or some event that people think they can get away with. Raya is coming and the more I hear about people wanting to break the rules and not follow SOP it breaks my heart a little you know? Because these days, selfishness kills.

Ramadan Mubarak

Selamat Berpuasa folks.

Yesterday I saw a friend posted a Ramadan Mubarak post and I'm like, did I miss a memo?

When did Ramadan is a Mubarak not a Kareem? Not that I know what both words mean hehe. Guess it irks me as much as seeing the word Ramadhan spelled into Ramadan because I'm so used to it. But as you can see, I am spelling it as Ramadan now. *shrugs*

As expected, MCO is extended. No big deal. Fasting at home is way better than fasting and having to go to work anyway. For the first time we get to do terawikh as a family of 4 and that means a lot to me. 

Now i just need to figure out what to cook for the next 30 days...

instant gratification

Hey all cool cats and kittens. 

I've always believed in how charity is the greatest form of giving, and no matter how small you give, you will get back - either in abundance or in a form a good news. Last Friday my family in Gombak sent over some delicious food and oh my god i didn't expect it at all!

"Hati tergerak", my sister said. 

Earlier in the morning, i had donated a little to a much-loved nation's ustaz. I didn't think much of it, I just wanted an honest outlet to donate to. Not some big T20-can't-relate fundraisers *roll eyes*. Then boom, surprise food delivery. :)

Whether they are interrelated or not, it doesn't matter.  I miss family a whole bunch (they are scattered at the other side of the city) and I can't wait to see them again.

ok bye! 

rmo thoughts

https://medium.com/swlh/keanu-reeves-rarely-talks-about-money-but-when-he-does-its-life-changing-8a89175ad694

Live generously whether you have money or not and aim to teach, entertain, inspire, inform, or make people laugh.

Wow I can't believe we're in 2020 now. I vaguely remember back in year 2000 I was telling my friends 2020 is so far away, we'll be 43! Now that I will be 43 in March, there's a lot to be thankful for.

2019 was an eventful year. I had my neck surgery, I took my kids to their first stadium concert (Shawn Mendes!), I myself managed to watch 2 overseas concerts (BTS in HK and Epik High in Seoul), celebrated Roy's birthday in Seoul, the kids' first trip to Bali in December, among other things. Alhamdulillah for these blessings. 

I don't have anything planned for 2020, just to continue praying for good health.and to continue count my blessings every day. :)

Relatively good day today. For lunch we went to an old friend's wedding where I got super emotional and in the evening I hauled my ass to Bangsar to see some dear friends. I'm glad I did. It's been a while and it's good catching up with them. We all have a certain amount of burden we're carrying but a good chat over delicious cakes helps a lot. 

Territorial

My children, they fight all the time. So the other day the big brother sprayed water all around him so that his baby brother can’t come into his territory and beat the crap out of him. It gets lonely at times, being the only girl woman in the house. 

But I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Mama cat

So this got me thinking.
Was arwah Mama fond of cats? :/

Reso 2020 #1

I want a promotion next year. Naik pangkat, and move up the salary scale. I’m the least ambitious person in my friends’ circle but I do believe in working dengan ikhlas and it’s important to stay diplomatic with everyone

So there you go. Resolution 2020 #1: naik pangkat. 

Loving my new espradilles. Do I need it? Of course not!

Just my insecurity talking

Isn’t it weird how I would rather have strangers follow me and stalk me and be all judgemental on me but I get very paranoid with people that I don’t know that well? Like ex-colleagues from work who are finally given a glimpse of my almost private life. 

I want to remain insignificant.  

Ad Astra

I think if Hollywood were to make a movie about Brad Pitt watching paint dry for 2 hours straight I would still watch it. Watch this movie on IMAX please, it’s a whole Pusat Sains Negara experience altogether. 

don't write yourself off yet

Just read a friend's blog spot - his friend just passed away. 
Speaking of death, yesterday an ex-colleague called and she said that another ex-colleague Ms G has passed on. I don't know Ms G very well because I left shortly after she joined. 

So I don't really have anything nice to say about her. I can barely recall her face - typical me, always forgetting people's names and faces. I only remembered an unpleasant email from her - you know, she being new, and she probably felt she needed to assert her authoritativeness on us. And you know what, my ex-colleague also said "OMG I don't have anything nice to say about her either! She was very mean, to be honest."

I couldn't sleep last night. Sedih kan? Imagine you died all of a sudden, and people don't have anything nice to say about you. 💔 So maybe I am overthinking this. Generally I know I am a nice person (maybe a little stubborn and egoistic) and I'm sure Ms G surely had some nice traits about her but I can't help but think about leaving this earth in the most unpleasant way - people not remembering any nice things about you.

I'll never know I guess.

adult problem

Nothing bothers me more than a clogged sink.