RAYA PUASA TAWUN LEPAS...1st DAY.

All was silent, even the birds loathed to leave their nests for it was the first day of Hari Raya Puasa. The day when Muslims all over the world celebrate after a month of fasting. And in that "petite maison" tucked away in that unassuming village in Mantin-Montreal, Negeri Sembilan...

Ya Allah, anak daro den!

Walaupun tengah tido mak masih maintain pose "vogue"! Arose, striking a pose on the same long suffering sofa...Raya morning.

Alahai, lawa anak daro den pagi Rayo.

I wonder what these two are up two...partners in crime, Arose and Amira Da Bon Bons.

Dua wakil Dewan Undangan Negeri Kelantan dari Kota Bharu dan Kuala Krai sedang hangat berdebat sampai diperhatikan Amira da Bons Bons dan Mr Poyores Al Bangla.

"Ish, ish...nasib mu baik mu abe ipar, kalau tidak dah ku sungkup dengan balang nih!"

The view from the "rear"...Ha! Ha! Ha!

Gambar lawa di pagi raya, dengan muka sembab sebab tak cukup tido, tak kuasa mak nak pakai baju kurung...jadi capai yang paling selesa, t-shirt oversize dengan skirt. Pas tu, nyammmm, nyammmm!

Nyammmm!!! Nyammmm!!! Sebab ada wakil Pantai Timur kan so menu ada sikit lain la, ada itu nasi berdagang juga, sangat la sedapnya.

Uncle and Aunty Tan...good long time friends of the family.

And as the day got older...

Rasanya kerusi ni memang ada ubat tido...sesiapa yang landing sure berdengkur. Auwwwww, it rhymes! I'm such a poet!

"Den tokonang jo kampung...induk, ayah, adek sadoeai...". Cian hubby den, rindu KB la tu, renungan sungguh jauh...jangan risau, tawun dopan kito balik yo. Kalau tak balik nanti ado anak Mok Nab yang lupo caro nak cakap loghat Kelate.

Kerahan tenaga, mencucuk satay untuk hidangan tetamu yang datang...ehhh, macam lagu Raya pulak.

The posse entrusted with the task of ensuring that the satay is well cooked. The fellow trying desperately to suck in his stomach is none other than "Mr Poyore Al Bangla", my cousin Mader. The Yuna look alike is my brother's wife, Sue and the guy with the close cropped hairstyle is my one and only brother, Adi a.k.a Didie a.k.a El-Doyots. And the guy in the black t-shirt is me hubby.

Anybody needs extra luck??? Rub my brother's tummy...ha! Ha! Ha! And the headless figure in the white baju kurung with the blue rose motifs is none other than Arose, she finally ditched the bermudas for something more...ummm...feminine(?).

The satay must be good...judging by the smile on my sister-in-laws face.

The end-product...not bad for our first attempt.

Auwwwwww...adegan romantis di belakang rumah...

Arose's friends came a visiting...Wisa and her brood.

The men having a chat.

Auwwwww...sungguh lentuk gitewwww!!! Jangan tak caya, mamat pakai baju melayu grey tu and the "awek mengancam" in the "baju kurung" are both Chinese...so the very 1Malaysia!!!

Friends and food...just the way "Raya" should be celebrated.

This is not a scene from "Misteri Nusantara" or some other paranormal documentary. It's my hubby tengah main...oppps...tak boleh sebut...

My hubby bought me a belated Birthday Cake...

After the last visitor had gome home...the family sat down for a late nite supper and some cake before dragging ourselves to bed. It was a good day.

I love this man...

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL...

The 2nd of May, 2010 finally came and went...and Mader is engaged.

The ceremony went well, I guess. I am not able to vouch for that as I was not there. I was busy snoring away in my room in Mantin-Montreal while they were in Selayang. But I was not alone. Rose was in the next room and my hubby was on the "famous red sofa" in the TV room. Why was I not in Selayang? Long story Mak Long... Part of it was that "bangla's" fault! "SENTAP" MAK! Ish, ish, kalau kecik lagi, dah lama ku tabuh bagaikan kompang itu bangla...

Part of it was actually my fault. Left the hantaran to the last minute, so I had to stay up all night to prepare it. Arose was nice enough to accompany me but she "pengsan" around 8.30 a.m. Finished everything around 9.00 a.m. on Sunday morning, dragged my sorry self to the bedroom and was asleep before my head hit the pillow. I woke up around half and hour before the "hunting"...opps...be nice Roza...the engagement party arrived home from Selayang.

But Adi went and he was my proxy as far as photos were concerned. Glamour Mak Long, hantaran from you bakal menantu, the very "the!" Quite a few people went, Ayah and Ibu, Adi, Acik Ujang, Cik Nab and their two daughters, Along and Angah, Pak Busu and Mak Busu, Mamat and Zaid, Ateh Duan and Induk Esah. Well Mak Long, it's done. The next trip will be for the "nikah" ceremony on 29th May, 2010 but till then let's check out the photos.

The Sirih Junjung which moi prepared...All the "hantarans" were in "mengkuang" containers as we wanted the "mengkuang" concept for the engagement.

The rings...the "cincin belah rotan" on the right is for the "merisik" and the ring on the left, the one with the humongous rock on top of it (it's huge though it's not that visible from this angle...blame the cameraman please), is the official "Will you marry me" ring.

The "manisan" container...All the above moi prepared...ada sesiapa nak tempah??? Ha! Ha! Ha!

The man in the black "baju batik" is ayah (trust Adi to get such a shot) ...and the shorter of the two "Sirih Junjungs" is the "balasan" from Lin, Mader's fiancee.

All the "hantarans" in purple are from Mader's fiancee.

Another look at the "hantarans" in purple.

The lady on the pouffe is my Ibu, she is unable to sit cross legged on the floor due to problems with her knees.

The ladies from Mantin-Montreal, 2nd from the left: Mak Busu, Along, Induk Esah, Angah, somebody's kid, and the lady in the lilac tudung sitting by the door is Cik Nab, Acik Ujang's wife.

The MACHO men from Mantin-Montreal, from the left: Atih Duan, Pak Busu, Acik Ujang and Ayah.

Adat-beradat...

Ayah continuing his discussions with the waiting posse from Selayang.

Ayah presenting the "wang hantaran"...Jeng! Jeng! Jeng! And the cameraman didn't get a shot of the "dulang"...Ish, nak kena babab si debab nih!

Ayah explaining the "wang hantaran"...RM5,000 in Banker's Cheque and RM2,500.00 in cold hard cash for the kenduri...hmmm...

The presentation of the "rings" for inspection.

The pakcik in the white "kopiah"..."Hmmm, ni botul omeh ko zhulian nih". Ayah..."Omeh tu bang, siap boli kat kodai omeh Sri Pinang kek Kajang tu." To Cik Nor, anak Nek Pah of Kampung Tengah, Batu 13, Kajang, thanks for the discounts!!!

After the discussions...the moment that everybody has been waiting for, the "Majlis Sarung Cincin".

"Ohhhhh...Abang Hitam ku...Kau telah mengotakan semua janji-janji manis mu kepada ku...Ohhh aku terharu sampai merah birat pipiku...(sambil kelip-kelip bulu mata palsu)"(heh! heh! heh!). I am sooooooo mean!!!

"Ekau jago anak sedaro den tu baik-baik."

"Aik? Takkan baru sebulan boli cincin ni dah tak muat?" Ha! Ha! Ha! Gelak evil tahap dewa cipan gaban tujuh puluh tujuh petala langit!

"Thank you Ibu...Muah! Muah! Muah!".

Not the end yet...wait till the next instalment...the "nikah" ceremony!!!

DING DONG WEDDING BELLS...THE SHOPPING FRENZY

This should have been posted long ago, but due to another event of an "earth shattering magnitude" this got placed on the back burner. But I got around to finishing it finally, so here goes.

Alahai Mak Long,

On the 23/03/2010 Mader called me and said that your soon-to-be-daughter-in-law was wondering if the wedding can be brought forward to the 2nd of May, 2010. I nearly turned into a "Naga-gunung-berapi-kepala tujuh-puluh-tujuh" but I managed to maintain my cool. That is if you consider spouting steam from my nostrils as "cool". I felt like singing "Ubekkan den aiiiiii... ubekkan den aiiiiiii...sakitnyo jago...orghang bacinto...(please sing according to the melody of the Minangkabau song..."Ubekkan den...").

Sesungguhnya sangatlah poyores cousin ku ini...Alahai omak kahwinkan aku!!!

Alhamdulillah, the "bringing forward of dates" never materialised and we are back to the original schedule, engagement on 02/05/2010 and wedding proper on 29/05/2010. Whew!!! Anyways, on 20/03/2010, I "forced-at-gun-point" the two lovey-dovey magpies (I am sooooo mean!!!) to go shopping for the "barang hantaran". So I waited for them at SOGO, as it was having a sale and my hubby had to take care of a "showcase" nearby. But as usual, Mr Poyores was late and I actually fell asleep on the bench in SOGO, only to be awaken by an old friend who happened to be shopping there. Nasib baik tak meleleh ayaq liog, kalau tidak habis glamer mak!

At last, he arrived dengan muka ala-ala kucing manja...hmmmm, ada cam Rajinikanth sikit kan, especially with the "misai melintang ular sawa".

When the happy couple finally arrived, I was not actually in the best of moods. So there was quite a bit of "muncung" initially. Nevertheless, we went a walking to the shoe section and Mr Poyores said he couldn't find anything to his liking. Nevermind...we left the shoe section and checked out the shirts and pants. Mader wanted a pair of pants which are straight cut, meant for slim men...ehem...he seems to have forgotten the "little" bump around his waist. Nevertheless, we found something to his liking and after walking up and down the aisle several times, got his shirt, managed to find his belt, wallet and finally he found a pair of shoes to his liking. Then it was Lin's turn...yessss... I finally get to introduce your "bakal menantu"...drum roll please...

TA-DA!!! Lin, the bakal Mrs Mohd Mahathir Bin Ma'amor...cooling down at SOGO's foodcourt during a break in the shopping frenzy.

The artificial waterfall at SOGO's food court...it's been around for quite some time.

At first I thought that this was one fat "koi" but then realised that it's "preggy". Maybe it was trying to tell me something..he...he...

My hubby, earlier on when we were among the first to arrive at the food court, having a meal before rushing off to handle the "showcase", which was, Alhamdulillah a success.

So off we went to the perfume section. Mader wanted to get his "Sean John" at Parksons' as he was of the opinion that they had a better deal. Fine by me, I am all for better deals. Anyways, we stopped at the Elizabeth Arden counter as Lin wanted perfume and make-up as well. Mader and I were both intetersted in the new Mariah Carey perfume, I believe it was called "Miracle". It came with a big tube of body lotion. But then the saleslady introduced us to the "little red box of wonders". It had like several lipstick, several lip and eye liners, several eyeshadow palettes, several this and several that plus one big bottle of Arden perfume. Well, for your info Mak Long, your future daughter in law is what the Kelantanese would call, a "berjangok" type of person. This means she dresses up and unlike moi, likes to make her self up. Hence the love for the big girl's version of "crayons". The "little red box" is actually worth more than RM1,000.00 but due to the SOGO sale was going off at RM400++. Quite a bargain!

Mader and Lin, in front of the Elizabeth Arden counter, being introduced to the amazing little red box full of "crayons, pencil colours and water colour palettes" for big girls.

Mader wanted Lin to get the perfume and body lotion sans the "little red box of wonders". By the glint in his eyes Mak Long, I believe your eldest had some "kinky" plans for the body lotion...hmmmm...waang ko gata yo Mader. But I could see that Lin was hooked on the "little red box and if I was a lady who loves make-ups, I would too. So hubby and I (by then, my hubby had finished his "showcase" and had joined us in SOGO) left them to decide while we harassed the other salesperson. Hubby tried a sample of the "Hummer" perfume. Can you believe it, the "Hummer" or "Humvee" actually has a perfume line? The perfume was very strong and "very- the-male"one! Didn't like it, though I luuurrrrvvvveeeee the vehicle...can I have one for my next birthday? Someone? Anyone?

Lin under pressure...should she get the perfume plus body lotion which comes with one lipstick and an eye-shadow duo or should she go for that "amazing little red box full of rainbow colours"?

Finally the "little red box of wonders" won! Then off we went to get Lin's shoes, which experience was a study in patience, as all four of us waddled (after five hours of shopping, walking was no longer an option, so like ducks we waddled) and I was always on the look out for space on which to rest my ample derriere. Thank Allah there were several...hmmmmm...Joy to the world!

Lin looking relieved after she finally made the decision to go for the make-up and perfume sans body lotion.

And finally we got Mr Poyore his watch...cantik Mak Long and a bargain as well...so finally after nearly six hours of shopping, starting from 3.00 p.m. and only stopping because SOGO was closing down for the day, we said our goodbyes and went home. Mader and Lin went off to KLCC to see Arose and present her with the days loot for her "perusal and comments" (a bit of legal lingo there) while hubby and me dragged ourselves to the car and drove home...letih giler Mak Long but it was worth it...

So I guess this time it is really, really for real. Mak Long, wherever you are please give us your blessing and forgive our shortcomings for we are just kids trying to make the best of the situation. Ibu is no longer the sprightly lady she used to be, I guess age is catching up with your younger sister, so she is not able to actually be there for the shopping and "running around like headless chicken" situations. But she knows whats going on. Other than that, we are flying by the seat of our pants here, carrying out our obligations as best as we can based on our love for Mader. Don't worry, despite our never-ending "dush,dush, kapowwwing" (again the sound effect from a fight scene in a Tamil movie) of Mader, he is much loved.

So wherever you are, rest assured that we'll see Mader through this the best that we can. And if you see "the Big Kahuna" in heaven, can you please ask Him to bless this union of lives and souls. May they be happy together for the rest of their lives.

Love you Mak Long...Miss You much...

RAINED ON MY PARADE...

Well, I missed my monthlies and I was feeling more bloated than usual (yeah...that's new!). I did the home pregnancy test on 12/3/2010 but it was negative. Still my monthlies, which is usually right on time, went AWOL. So I grumbled and grumbled and finally got my hubby to buy me another home pregnancy test kit. The lady at the pharmacy told my hubby that for best results, the test should be carried out in the morning. So early on 23/3/2010, I took the test again. I didn't expect to see the two parallel lines but there they were!!! I'm pregnant!!!

This to me...is one of the most beautiful sights I will ever behold.

Being diabetic and with having had to terminate my first pregnancy during the 17th week due to my baby's anenchephaly, I quickly called up the Endocrine Clinic at Putrajaya Hospital to set up an appointment. I went to see Dr Alan Pok on 25/3/2010 and he said that I will have to come and see him every week. At the same time I am supposed to get a "combined clinic" appointment, ie. where I will have to attend both the obstetrict and gynae clinic together with the endocrine clinic on the same date. However when I went to the Obs and Gyn Clinic to get an appointment date, I was told that I must first register myself at any "Klinik Kesihatan" in order to get my lovely "pink book". By then, it was already lunchtime and I doubt that any "Klinik Kesihatan" or as they are so affectionally referred to as "KK" would entertain me during lunch. Hmmm...so I went off to Mantin, where the family had an impromptu gathering. My brother and his family came back and I was able to get him to drive hubby and me to the Mantin KK.

My hubby...in the doctor's room at the Putrajaya Hospital.

The Klinik Kesihatan Ibu & Anak at the Klinik Kesihatan in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan.

Upon arrival at the Mantin KK, I followed the signs to the "Klinik Kesihatan Ibu & Anak". There I was given a piece of paper and was asked to present myself at the Bilik Makmal. Upon arrival there I was sent back to the clinic as the nurse had forgotten to write down the test that was suppossed to be carried out. After huffing and puffing back to the "Bilik Makmal" I was unceremoniously handed a container and asked to urinate. So waddle, waddle, waddle to the "water closet", do what I had to do and waddle, waddle, waddle back to the "Bilik Makmal". I left the container at the counter, took a seat and waited.

The "Bilik Makmal" at the Klinik Kesihatan in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan.

My name was finally called and I was handed a piece of paper...(see above)...yup folks, I am officially a certified pregnant lady.

I was then weighed, poked, prodded, asked to wait, prodded again, had my blood taken from me (siphoned is an apt description), asked to wait again, and waited, and waited, sent back to the "Bilik Makmal" where the man shoved another urine sample container in my face and told me to fill it up. I nicely said "Tadi dah buat..." and he replied "Tadi untuk test lain, ini untuk test lain!". Ummm...do I look like a fountain? Doesn't this guy understand that you can't just do your "wee wee" on command, it's an act of nature, you do it when nature calls, you don't call nature up and say things like..."here's a little round plastic container, please fill it up...and by the by, you'll have to to a repeat performance in twenty minutes". Anyways, off I waddled to the "water closet" and I beseeched all the powers of nature to call me so I can answer "nature's call", make sense doesn't it? (Ok, ok...it was extremely warm and the KK did not have air-conditioning, I guess the heat went to my head). But I was able to do a "repeat performance" and produced the necessary "sample".

My brother...who waited along with me and my hubby at the KK...for all his "gruff" exterior...he has a heart of pure gold.

I was then sent back to the "Klinik Kesihatan Ibu Dan Anak" where I was asked to wait (again), ushered into a room where I sat before a nurse and waited (so what's new?), and waited, andwaited, and listened, and listened, and listened to the nurses gossipping, pretended I was not bored, and tried to stifle a yawn, and another, and several others...until finally the nurse deemed that she has written all that she can in the little "Pink Book" and I was ushered into a consultation room to see a doctor. The doctor...looked so sleepy...and was, beside asking me several "pertinent" questions, busy trying to save the electrical medical equipment (Eh? Ok, ok, the medical equipment which uses electricity and hence was plugged into a socket...make sense now?) as there was a thunderstorm brewing, with flashes of lightning and the not-so-distant-roll-of thunder...the works!

The (in)famous "Pink Book" by which you are officially...(drum roll...or in my case rolls of thunder and flashes of lightning...please)...a pregnant Malaysian lady. Ta-da!!!

Anyways, my "good" doctor finished off by telling me that since I'm past forty and diabetic I stand a high chance of having a malformed or as he so "nicely" put it "cacat" baby. NICEEEEE!!! I have been poked and prodded to no end, left stewing in the poorly ventilated KK, forced to listen to the nurses gossing on and on, I was tired, hungry and the @#$%^&* doctor was doing a "House" on me.

"Your love shines the way into paradise...So I offer my life...I offer my love...for you...

I live for your love..."

(Leona Lewis...I See You - OST "Avatar")

I know I have problems but couldn't he have just said something like "Your age and the medical complications that you are facing poses a challenge but "insyaAllah" (the doctor was a Malay and hence a Muslim) with proper guidance and lots of "doa" you'll make it through this. I thought he was just plain daft, high IQ, lacking on the EQ...but boy was I wrong...he was the first in a long of doctors...mostly malay Muslims who "prayed" through their words and their attitude that my baby will turn out abnormal...it was like they were waiting for me to say..."Yes!!! I have committed mortal sin by becoming pregnant...take this baby away, cleanse me of this of freak of nature as only the beautiful, the young, the superbly healthy, deserves to have children!!!".

My lovely niece...Amiera, who will always be the one the only...thank you for allowing Mama to "menumpang kasih"...I hope you will continue to allow me to share in you life and love.

No...no...no...no! I want this baby. I never thought I'll be pregnant again. I had already resigned myself to the life of a doting aunt, "menumpang kasih anak orang" but Allah gave me this miracle and this "dugaan" and I will fight for my baby. I saw his/her heart beating...my baby is alive in me...can't they just do what they have been trained to do? Do whatever they can to save lives? Isn't that part of the oath these doctors took? Why can't they just do that? They are doctors but the power to decide on life and death, on whether or not a baby will be "abnormal" is not theirs...that belongs, my dear doctors, to a far greater power, the Almighty, the All Powerful...

They "rained on my parade"...made me so scared and so very, very sad...why did they have to do that???

So I am putting all my trust in Allah...please, please, please I beg of You Oh Lord, this sinner, this imperfect human being is begging You, please save my baby, make him/her healthy, "sempurna sifat", cantik iman, akhlak and budi, anak yang soleh who will fill the hearts of those who knows him/her with joy...please Oh Lord...I have no where else to turn to...Amin.