Counting down to 5th Aug 2006...

The countdown to this begins!! 6 days to go...144 hours... yippeee!!

Beauty & The...Butterfly!

The face in this picture cld've been mine!!  Had I not let go of the makeover opportunity, that is!  Maslin's makeover was today, 29th Jul. 

As u know, I've been having migraine on & off this whole week.  Thus, I had a few movies I cldn't stay up to watch which my Mom kindly recorded for me, like Bardaasht which showed on Ch 9 last Sun nite & Koi Mere Dil Mein Hai on TV2 this afternoon as I was out collecting my new IC.  So, I was just bumming arnd in the living room catching up on all the recorded movies, when the home phone rang...juz b4 7pm.  Aaarrrgghhh!!!  Mom was sleeping, but bcoz she knows that only she gets calls on the home phone & I definitely refuse to get up to ans the call, she got up to ans it (thinking it's for her)...Unfortunately for her, it was Maslin (who mus've called my hp but not getting an ans since I wasn't in my room).  She wanted me to look out of my balcony window to see the state of her face...of coz I can hardly see anything from my 4th floor so I went downstairs...and I got a shock!  Mind u, in all the 13 yrs I've known her, I've nvr seen her so fully made-up...so it was quite a culture-shock for me!! When I regained consciousness...she does look gd with the make-up, her features enhanced, esp. THE EYES!! She was rambling abt how awkward it was for her in the bus, getting stares, but luckily she got a call on her hp which helped to divert her mind...Anyways, later at night, when she showed me the Makeover shots, my jaw dropped.  How not to...it cld've been me in those shots!!!  I cld have easily given a Madhuri, Urmila, Rani & Preity, or Aish for that matter, a run for their money!!! 

No no, I don't regret giving up the opportunity...I prefer to remain contented not letting myself be conned.  Afterall I've seen myself all fully made-up & all...people have seen me in such state (except I do not have any good shots)...but Maslin has nvr seen herself in that state...and she nvr will until she gets married...so I really think Maslin deserve this joy - of seeing the beautiful side of her!  I'm very happy for her...and I'm glad the voucher went to the right hand!  1 thing wasted though, if only her makeover was on the morning of 5th Aug, then she can go for the Bollywood Masti Hi-Tea straightaway with that make-up!!!

Twice my age later...

I collected my brand new IC today!

Oh, if u didn't know yet, NRIC holders who are 30 yrs old on or after 1st Jan 2002 & who've not been issued with a replacement NRIC within the last 10 yrs (before reaching the age 30) will need to re-register for the NRIC.  Whatever that means!!  I juz know I'm 1 of those who fall under the above criteria since I got a letter from ICA!!

Yea...so last wkend I did my re-registration online ($10), had to change to a recent photo & I also took the opportunity to change the jawi character of my name.  Oh, u see, when Sis & I changed our NRICs at age 16, we wanted to have jawi characters for our names.  There was only 1 person who cld do it for us...my youngest (& fave) aunt who was arabic-educated!!  Years later, as I grow up & learn to read arabic/jawi, I wasn't too happy that my name was spelt wif a "sot" (So) instead of "shin" (Sh).  Weiii...my name is not pronounce as SOrbina ok...it's SHarbina!!!   Whatever the reason for the "sot", I lived wif it for 13 yrs. 

I didn't have jawi fonts in my PC, so I asked Sis for help.  I consulted her abt my unhappiness wif the "sot" (hers, SHarmila, was spelt wif a "sot" too!) & also that when I told Mom abt it she told me "Shin is used if your name is spelt as SYarbina"...which I told Sis I felt that was CRAP of an explanation!!  So Sis confessed that she got hers changed to "shin" too when she had to re-register her IC last yr!!  Whoeeehhhaaaa!! 

So...sweet Sis (whenever she takes on the role of protective-elder-Sis to me!) took the liberty to spell my name wif a "shin" instead of "sot".  She also sent me the link for the jawi fonts for me to d/load on my PC, just in case after doing my research with learned people, I wanna revert back to "sot" b4 I send my online registration.  Anyways, I got a notification 3 days later that my new NRIC is ready for collection from 28th Jul onwards, 2b collected within 2 wks from that date.  So since I'm only free this wkend, I went to collect it today.  Hey look....that's me in 1993....

..........and........twice my age later!!!

Inconsiderate...or inconsiderate??!!

I'm 30 & I still can't comprehend why people do such inconsiderate things?!?!  I came to work today to find this sight at the carpark (no wonder my migraine persisted throughout the day!):

I had to park further from my usual lot bcoz some asshole (pardon my French!!) didn't have enuf brain to place the trolley at a more appropriate spot but just leave it like that after they unload their stuff!! 

Ya? Do I hear u saying "Just get out of the car & move it la!!"???  I'm answering back "Why shld I!?" 

*sigh* No wonder.  Now I see the reason behind supermarkets resorting to coined-trolleys...Bcoz S'poreans won't wanna lose their dollar, they dutifully place the trolleys appropriately so as to retrieve back their coin!!! 

Maybe I shld put up an idea under the Staff Suggestion Scheme (SSS) to implement the coin-trolley system!!  Cut cost on trolley-retrievers who obviously sleep on their job anyways!!

"Helloooo Migraine...been a while since we last met!!"

I took 1/2 day leave yesterday afternoon to chauffeur Mom to Tg Katong Complex (TKC) to collect her sewing machine (which we sent for repair on Sat!).  They told us it'd be ready in 3-4 days, but on Mon they already called to say it's ready!  I asked Mom to find out what time the shop closes.  After checking, she told me it's 8.30pm, so I told her no prob we can collect it on Tues after I finish work. 

Went to work yesterday...since it's an amazingly free period for me until Thurs 27 Jul (after I accidentally finished all my work & cleared all backlogs efficiently), I decided to take 1/2 day leave & go earlier instead of getting irritated with the traffic, post 7pm!

Reached home @ 3pm, changed into my cargo pants & off we went to TKC.  I parked at the open carpark, put a 1hr coupon from 3.45pm (cheated by 10 mins) & after we collected the machine & put it in the car, we headed for Joo Chiat Complex coz Mom wanted to get herself a yellow-with-black-stripes tudung (she's been searching for it since Sat!)!  Oh guess what...talk of tudung, for helping Mom send & collect her machine, she rewarded me with 2 tudungs (1 blue & 1 maroonish-pinkish-brown which I fondly call it "Ovaltine" colour!)!!

On the way to Joo Chiat, we saw an eatery called Teh Tarik (or something to that effect!).  Mom suggested "Let's have ice-kachang?"...after thinking for a while, I told her, yeah, I wldn't mind sharing an ice-kachang & a teh tarik, but let's finish our shopping @ Joo Chiat 1st & then we can peacefully sit down for a drink.  Before heading to Joo Chiat, I saw something which I told Mom I just have to snap & show Maslin "Look, even the shop calls it GORENG PISANG!!" so it doesn't necessarily have to be called Pisang Goreng (although I understand the logic)!  Too bad that we've been calling it Goreng Pisang since we started talking...heehee...Oh well, Mom didn't find any tudung to her liking so we headed back to Teh Tarik for our ice-kachang & teh tarik.  After 20mins, we set off back to the car, just in time @ 4.45pm! 

Did I mention that the weather is SUPER DUPER HOT!?!  Yeah...Oh, I was also exposed to some drilling along the Teh Tarik stretch...So, guess what happened by the time I reach home?  Migraine...indeed!  Nope, don't worry, this time no vomiting!  Had my dinner, took panadol & was ordered (by Mom) to sleep!!  So from 7pm, I slept till I got awakened (hi-tide) arnd 8.30pm!  Sadly, still didn't recover, so b4 going back to sleep, I  massaged my shoulder with TigerRub.  Still can't sleep till 11pm (kept thinking abt the sudden death of M'sian actor Hani Mohsin...I wish I knew my future coz it surely sux to wake up 1 day not knowing that it's gonna be my LAST DAY!!)...as a last resort, I did reflexology on my toe which helped to clear the migraine & after that I slept all the way till 8am this morning!

Woke up feeling slightly better...but the moment I reached office, the migraine came back (IT'S THE OFFICE!).  Wanted to take Panadol Extra but I've not had b/fast...luckily my colleague Saidah came by to pass me a muffin she baked.  After I had the muffin...eh? the migraine is gone...so ok la, no need the panadol.  Work work work non-stop till 3pm, felt hungry & decided to do my normal Milo & biscuits.  Just as I was abt to eat, my boss called & asked me to do a challenging job in T1...so I told her "I just made Milo, I'll finish it  & go T1".  B4 I went, the migraine just got worse, so I popped 2 Panadol Extra & soon the migraine subsided!!  I happily did the challenging job for 2 hrs b4 heading back to office @ 6pm.  Did some stuff & felt shiverish & "high" due to the after-effect of the Panadol Extra...so b4 I lose the ability to drive, I decided to head back home.  Halfway along the PIE, I did wanna give up driving & stop along the road shoulder to rest (knees shaking & feeling very drowsy) but I perservered  & safely reached home.  I almost wanted to just phone home to check if bro's home so he can come down & help me park...but I decided not to be a baby & depend on others only to get myself disappointed!  When I come home (pissed to find in the mailbox a letter from IRAS for my Income Tax!!) & when Mom asked what's wrong wif me & I told her that I'm drowsy with Panadol Extra, I got a earful from her!!!  I've lost count of the no. of time she's nagged me that whenever I'm not well or drowsy due to panadol...DO NOT DRIVE, LEAVE THE CAR IN THE AIRPORT & TAKE A CAB HOME!  She started nagging "If anything happen, they check you, they'll charge you saying you took drug!!"  Hahaha...MOM & their imagination...Gosh!!  They watch too much of TV & then tell us TV is bad for us...LOOK WHO'S TALKING!!

Haircut in Salon...finally...after 5 yrs!!

After I started wearing tudung in Mar 2001, haircut was really a problem.  I needed a Muslimah Salon.  There was only 1 at least on the easter side of S'pore - Salon Khairunissa @ Kembangan Plaza.  But it was a hassle to go all the way there from Tampines just for a haircut...and it was costly...just a wash & cut wld cost me at least $50!!!  A wash-cut-blow costed me abt $90!!

To save the hassle, the next time, I went to a normal chinese hairdressing salon @ Tampines Telepark.  At least it'd be cheaper.  But after that visit, I developed a phobia of salons...amidst all the lady hairdressers...when I was given a wash, I got a shock when I saw a chinese Ah-Beng washing my hair!! Eee...even when I wasn't wearing tudung, no men handled my hair!!  This one Ah-Beng...wif long nails!! U know what Ah-Bengs use their nails for rite?  Digging...everything they cld dig!!  Eeee...

Since that day...whenever my hair is long & starts to thin/fall, I just get Mom to trim it abt 1-2 inch.  That's how it's been for the past 5 yrs!!  Sometime last yr, I learnt that just 10mins away from my block, a new Muslimah Salon opened.  Maslin went there to do her hair previously.  I'm sick of my 1-length hair & decided to go back to my previous layered hairstyle...and when I told Maslin I wanted to go for a haircut there...she made appt for her ha irdo & accompanied me there (so I cld get a discount since she's a regular!). 

We finally went today.  To cut a long story short...my hair is shorter now!!!  It feels lighter.  What's more satisfying is the wash & cut just costed me $23.  I'm happy with the cut.  Got them to blow it straight (instead of blow-curl) after the cut. Afterall, how often can I get to see myself in real straight hair...ala Madhuri in Dil To Pagal Hai!?!?  I do resemble Madhuri from the back...but from the front...that's an insult to Madhuri!!

Dear God, pls make Himesh Reshammiya lose his voice!!

This chap, Himesh Reshammiya, owes his career to Salman Khan...who felt he has the talent & let him compose music for their home production, HELLO BROTHER.  Salman again recommended Himesh & got him to compose music for his movie TERE NAAM which made Himesh an instant hit!  Himesh may be unknown during those years, but I've already been in love with his composition since then (the soulful music he composes such as Tumse Milna (Tere Naam) & Yeh Dil To Mila Hai (Dil Ne Jisse Apna Kaha - Salman's BIL's directorial debut). Really, Himesh makes brilliant music...& that's exactly what I think he shld keep doing...MAKE BRILLIANT MUSIC!!  Quit trying 2b another Anu Malik, who makes brilliant music & spoil it by singing himself!!!  Coz I don't enjoy your (Himesh's) singing at all, which sounds very nasal & script-reading btw.

Ok, if he had wanted to try singing once & do it for 1 song or 1 movie & then cut 1 pop album for that matter...fine...but he's going a lil bit too far coz all the forthcoming movie he's composing music for (which is MANY!!), I'm hearing nothing but a nasal Himesh croaking!!!  I'm unable to enjoy the good music he makes...plus coz he's singing for all his compositions, I'm hearing the same music for almost all movies; there's no more variety! 

If that's not bad enough, all his songs have countless remixes by this DJ Akbar Sami (obviously his fren!?!?) & video clips featuring himself!!!  Who does he think he is - some hunky, sexy Salman Khan...Arjun Rampal...Abhishek Bachchan!?!?  Pls la, get lost from the screen, I don't wanna see your snobbish face!!!  Stick to making those good music u make & leave the singing to Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Kay Kay & Kunal Ganjawala.  Oh, and those new boys we loved on Saregamapa Challenge 2005.

Shit!! I just realised I'm almost reaching my 50 photos/mth quota on Friendster thanks to this stupid post!!  All bcoz I'm bored while waiting to go for my haircut (1st time in salon after 5 yrs gap!).  Now I'm left with 2 photos for Jul - which will be used for my next post on my new haircut!

Oh shit agn!  Juz when I'm 1/2hr away from going for my haircut...the thunder just started making music!!! It's gonna pour soon!  Shit shit shit...I hate to go out in the rain!

The Impreza below my room

Oookaaayyy...I cant help it...I dont wanna cast an evil eye on the new Subaru Impreza (SGH plate) parked below my room...but somehow, I cant help but eye it.  Maybe it's the colour (familiar?).  I can vividly picture myself driving this car...if only the owner wld accidentally drop his/her key next to the car!! *sigh* I guess such things only happen in movies!!!

My future Bedroom Set

Not many know that I've actually "bought" my wedding bedroom set since 2004.  Just for fun!  It was Mother's Day & I thought the best gift I cld give my Mom was an assurance that I will get married (when the time comes).  So I booked my bedroom set @ this shop in Tg Katong Complex - LEE FURNITURE & INTERIOR DESIGN.  This place is cool, they allow you to book a furniture, pay instalments (as & when & any amt u like) and when u're ready to have the furniture delivered, u pay the full balance.  If you open the "account" with 1 thing, they even allow u to change to other things, or other models, as long as the price is not lesser than what you booked.  My Mom did that for the sofa we now have (since last 3-4 yrs), which costed $699.  She opened an "acct" & paid ez-instalments for abt 6-8 mths.  Just in time for Hari Raya, with a balance of abt $100+, I told her I'll pay the balance, so we got it delivered.  I thought it's quite a cool idea...rather than spend a bomb if I decide to get married, I might as well slowly pay for the bedroom set now.  The set I booked costed $1,999.  This afternoon, since I was there, I paid another $150, and now my balance is just $950.  Kewl rite?!?   Actually, even if I don't get married, if we do shift to a new flat, I'll get the new bedroom set.  Quite sick of my existing one.  Last yr I fell in love with a wooden set, with sliding door wardrobe & obviously the blue lights (not the one I initially booked in 2004)!!

Today, while I was there, I checked out if they have other new sets & now I've fallen in love with this one (even Mom thought it's nice!), albeit no blue lights or sliding door wardrobe.  But of coz, I'll only get this if my room is big enuf...otherwise, the room will look small.  I'm too used to my spacious looking room!

Jewellery shopping...

Remember I was planning for a matching set for the bracelet I got for my 30th b'day?!

Hah! I did it today!!  Wnet shopping @ Geylang b4 heading to Granny's place.  1st stop: Ming Seng @ Joo Chiat Complex.  Oh! As I was going up the carpark, a car was coming out of it & I saw a familiar face waving...it was my nephew, Naz (Hajira's hero!)!  I was telling Mom "Eh, that's Naz!".  I didn't see anyone beside him...but Mom said there's a lady @ the back.  So I quickly took a glimpse & yeah, there's a ma'am with a kid!  No prize for guessing who.  Hehe...yeah, Hajira & baby Najwa.  They went shopping stuff for their new home...but fancy mtg them there!!  Anyways...cldn't find wat I wanted @ anything @ Ming Seng (plus we don't like the salesman.  So we headed to 2nd stop: Tg Katong Complex to check out Golden Chance.  Yeayyy, found the matching choker & a ring to match.  Total cost above $1.5k.  Noooo!!!  I'm not depressed people...I traded-in my old ring, bracelet & necklace, which totaled to abt the same price...I just had to top up $33!!  Peanuts!!

Pizza...finally!

Finally, I got to eat Pizza (Hut)!!!  Remember Wirza was giving me a treat there, but the Tampines Mall outlet was closed for reno!?  Maslin wanted a treat...I wanted to bring her for turkish @ Sofra, but bcoz Italy won, she wanted Pizza (had France won, it'd have been Delifrance I guess!!), so we decided on Pizza Hut @ Bedok.

Left office abt 6.40pm, reached Bedok arnd 7pm & we were seated by 7.15pm.  Cool outlet, so empty!!  No crowd nothing.  Just the kind I like.  Maslin didn't make full use of my treat coz she settled for a shared Pizza with me & a mere Fish O's (onion ring) & Cream of Chicken...but overall we enjoyed dinner till there's hardly any space left in our stomachs!!  Oh, the only drawback was: I wanted to try the Blueberry Cheesecake.  After I'm done wif my Pizza, I ordered the cheesecake.  The waitress went in, and came back shortly to tell me that the cheesecake can't be served as it's still frozen!!!  Duh!  I asked her how long it'll take to unfreeze it, afterall if I order it at the start, by the time I'm done wif my meal 1/2hr later it'd have to be available rite!??!  I wasn't in a hurry...I was willing to wait, but after checking wif her manager, she told me it'll take "very long".  Urrgghhh...watever la!! Your loss!!

So I left w/o getting to eat Blueberry Cheesecake.  If I die tomorrow, Maslin has been tasked to go back to the outlet & tell them "See, she died unfulfilled bcoz u cldn't give her the Blueberry Cheesecake!!"  Don't 4get eh Lin!?!

Baatein bhool jaati hai, yaadein yaad aati hai...

Sony played YAADEIN (Hrithik & Kareena) earlier today.  I was gonna have my shower when Mom wanted to enter the toilet to take her wudhu'.  After she came out, she was putting on her telekong while eyes on the TV watching the climax of Yaadein.  I ticked her off telling her to decide if she wanna pray or watch TV...she told me she wanna just watch the next scene for a while, & started describing the next scene for me "wait, wait, I wanna see Hrithik come speeding in his car making a circle..."  Shortly after that, a sporty blue car came zooming fast & twirling in a circle b4 braking to a complete halt!  I just gave a smirk, went to my room & grabbed my towel.  I came out wif a thinking look & started quizzing my mom:

Ma, dya remember which year it was when I took my O'levels?  "Huh? No.."

Oh? Hmmm...dya remember what date was my Graduation Ceremony last year? "Errr...no..."

I just mouthed "hmmm...ok..." and proceeded to the kitchen.  Was abt to enter the bathroom, but I u-turned back to the living room & jumped at her:

Ma Ma Ma, dya remember which year I had my appendix operation? "Mmmm...no...y?"

I snapped (jokingly of coz): AND YOU REMEMBERED HRITHIK WILL BE ZOOMING IN HIS CAR MAKING A CIRCLE!!!  Guess what she did?!?  She laughed.

So ppl, now u noe y I hate Hrithik to death!?!?  Coz he, like Shahrukh, holds more importance in my Mom's life!

I'm not very pleased wif u Mom...I sure hope u remember when u gave birth to me!!

Presenting...1 of my many crushes!!

Those who're sick can skip...Tehzeeb wld probably b the only 1 who'd njoy this post.  If she's hanging on to Iqbal Khan (Angaad of Sony's Kaisa Yeh Pyar Hai)...I'm so infatuated to Rajeev Khandelwal (ACP Prithviraj of Sony's CID, Varun of Zee's TIME BOMB & latest host of Sony's Deal Ya No Deal...I can nvr have enuf of him!!)!

That's my "Mamat Handsome"...hehe.  Soooo cute...soooo boyish...but his voice a bit wimpish la, not the kind I'd wanna hang on the line & not talk but juz listen (I love coarse manly voice like Iqbal Khan's!)!!  Oh, I dunno why or what, but something abt Rajeev just reminds me of evergreen superstar Rajesh Khanna when he 1st entered the industry in 1969.  Anyways, yeah...that's my television crush...he's gd looking, talented, creative & a perfectionist...just like me (errr...minus the gd looking part!)!!

My latest crush...

Okay!! U're probably sick of this...me & my crushes!  But yeah, my crushes are like...buses - they come every 2 mins...provided there's no traffic jam!!  Hehee...

So...I was watching the re-run of the World Cup finals (alright alright Liyah, stop smiling!! I know your Italy & Del Piero won!!  I lost my bet on France!!) on Ch 5 last nite & Italy's player No. 3 caught my attn.  Damn cute (well, in my eyes!)...I like his lankiness.  I tried hard to see his name on his jersey... finally saw...GROSSO!!  Throughout the match, my eyes just searched for No. 3.  And finally, No. 3 became the hero who ended the game with Italy's victory.  Yeah yeah...here's my new crush...now whenever I wipe my brass/metal items with Mr Brasso, I'll definitely get reminded of...Grosso...my hero. Heehee...

Weekend's calling...

Woke up @ 6am, left home @ 7am to head to Clementi MRT for the CARE (Caring Action in Response to Emergency) Awareness seminar @ NP (me entering Poly @ age 30...but I sure blended well wif the kids! Hehehe).  But my gawd, NP was such a maze...so huge we had trouble even finding toilets!!!!  Oh well, my colleagues & I cabut 1/2hr earlier (supposed to end @ 1pm) coz it was getting draggy I almost fell asleep!!  See, that's me pretending 2b awake but actually sleeping wif eyes open...while listening to my mp3...instead of listening 2d speaker (but if u see behind, I can spot so many people ACTUALLY sleeping!!)!  Boring & sleepy aside, actually the next & last speaker, Cpt Earnest Ong from SCDF, is someone I've attended his presentation during my last course, so chances are he's gonna repeat his video/presentation abt his experience with the Tsunami!!  We decided to cabut & my colleauge Leana brought me to Canteen 1 for lunch.  I had a nice Lemon Chicken Rice (Cavana Chicken) & a gd chat on our personal lives...afterwhich we parted & I went on to Harbourfront, Mustaffa & Millennia to do my survey work.  I finished almost 6pm...

Oh yeah...Dad got me a new MISTRAL multi-oscillating fan ($90) from Ubi.  The same fan that's $128 @ Best & Courts...I think.  Dad is loaded (just got his pay+bonus...Alhamdulillah), so Mom is on a MISSION:KETUK on Dad...hehehe...Rileks la Pa...banyak2 sedekah, Allah murahkan rezeki tau...see how your rezeki has been enriched since u stopped being a miser to Ma & I!!?? That's coz everytime u give us $$, we pray for 10x the amt 2b returned to u!!  Dad gave me $200 (1/2 share of road tax)...choooo chweeeeet...Such a waste though, I was late by 5mins, I didnt know they went fan-hunting yesterday while I was at survey...so when I saw a MORRIES multi-oscillating fan for $69, I sms-ed Mom for them to consider...but apparently, Dad just made payment for the fan @ Ubi just 5 mins b4 I sms-ed.  But at least, looking on a brighter side, $90 from $128 is a more huge saving ($38) compared to $69 from $90 ($21)!! 

This morning, I was awakened by Sis' call (had to pick up coz it kept ringing, which means Mom's out 2d market).  She left a message for Mom that BIL will be coming to pick up lunch later.  So I figured Mom told her it's Briyani Dam day.  So, guess what?!  I decided not to do the cooking...so I off all my alarms & didnt wake up early.  I'm learning to cook Briyani Dam for my betterment...I'm not some blardy maid, making lunch for lazy people!!  By all means, Mom can cook it herself if she enjoys being the maid & encourage her lazy married daughter 2b lazier by not cooking ever!!  Already since she got married 5 yrs ago & shifted to their own home 4 yrs ago, they still come over for lunch & tapao dinner from Mon-Fri, with the excuse Sis is teaching, so no time (funny thing is she finishes school by 1pm...if office-hrs workers can cook after work, ie. 7pm, what's 1pm?!?!)...wkends & when she's not teaching (eg. holidays) she supposedly "cooks" own meal, but that's hardly the case ever (I stressed the length of marriage & living on her own to emphasize on the fact that she doesnt CHANGE for the better at all after marriage!!)!  Selfish, yeah, I'm like this coz I simply cant stand laziness in people, worst still, married & still lazy to do own housework/cooking!!  Soooo, I refuse to do something for HER benefit.  No, it's not that I don't ever wanna share my cooking wif Sis...perhaps, if she change 4d btr, I may soften...but I'm generally like that by nature...dont take me for granted.  When I wake up 1 day & feel like cooking for all to enjoy, then I will, but until then, dont assume I'm alright wif such things.  Mom cooks for the remaining ones @ home, esp Dad & Bro...so if I take over cooking chores, it's for them too (that's y I only cook over the wkends)...not for the one who's married & shld be doing her own cooking!!  Soooo...I shall make Briyani Dam when I feel like it...but 1 thing for sure, it shall be a last minute decision, not a pre-planned decision.  Hmmppphhh!  Sorry Dad...no Briyani Dam by me today (he's been looking 4ward to it...maybe to tekan me!!)!

When Madhuri meets Manisha...

Oh...just like how I call myself Madhuri, my best fren since Sec Sch - Wirza - calls herself Manisha (for the same reason!!).  So now u know who's "Manisha"...I came to work this morning greeted by a shocker.  Wirza had emailed me last evening planning to meet up today...well, she was dying to gimme a treat for my b'day - a belated one since I wasnt in the mood during my actual b'day week - she originally had Wed or Thurs in mind, but I told her to gimme 1 day notice!  Anyways, I did tell her that it was too last minute, but I'm ok...it's just that I was scheduled to go for survey today, so I'm not dressed for a date!!!  She claimed she isnt dressed for one either (she's just being conscious of her maternity outfit!!  Yes, no. 2 is coming in 4 mths time!)  We still met after work, nevertheless. 

I had 3 choices - Pizza Hut, Swensens or Fish & Co.  I dont like fish, I've had Swensens last wk, so I settled for Pizza Hut.  But as jinxed as anyone can be, when I reached Pizza Hut (Tamp Mall), it was closed for reno. from 25 Jun - 14 Jul.  So Swensens once agn. I didnt have to wait too long b4 they joined me.  Shamim was very well-behaved.  For the 1st time.  She was a lil playful & cranky @ some point, but it's natural for kids 2b like that esp when they just woke up!!! Haha...so, pardonable.  She didnt have 2b forced to salam me (for once!!).  She was very friendly, albeit naughty @ times. The best part was, I think this is possibly the only time she has taken proper pictures!!!  She obligingly posed when I aim my handphone @ her. Shamim ordered kids Cheese Spaghetti (which she was more interested in playing wif instead of eating it!!). It came wif a cute Ice-Cream.  Wirza had dunno wat spaghetti...while I had my usual - Sirloin Steak & Banana Split.  Unfortunately, b4 my Ice-Cream came, Wirza asked me to share wif her Shamim's spaghetti...but ended up, she cldn't take it anymore thus, baaton baaton mein (while chatting), I ended up gobbling up the spaghetti (it's kids one, so the sauce was tomato-ish & not spicy @ all!).  So by the end of the meal, I was like 3 mths pregnant!!  B4 we left, Shamim wanted to berak...so Wirza brought her to toilet & after that we went home...took a cab, she dropped me off & headed to her house.

Actually, I'm on course (the CARE office course) @ Ngee Ann Poly @ 8.30am tomorrow.  So I need to leave home by 7am so I can be @ Clementi MRT @ 8.15am to meet my colleague so we can share a cab up to NP as planned (it's a long uphill walk to Lecture Theatre 38 so we can't be bothered to climb the hill early morning!!).  Which means I need to wake up @ 6am.  Which means...what the hell am I still up blogging @ 1am!?!?!  Nitezzzzzz....

Jeeyo, khush raho, muskurao...kya pata, kal ho na ho!

Aaj, ek haansi aur baant lo...
(Today, share yet another smile...)
Aaj, ek dua aur maang lo....
(Today, ask for yet another blessing...)
Aaj, ek aansoo aur pee lo...
(Today, shed yet another tear)
Aaj, ek zindagi aur jee lo...
(Today, live yet another life...)
Aaj, ek sapna aur dekh lo...
(Today, see yet another dream...)
Kya pata, Kal ho na ho.
(Who knows, if there'll be tomorrow or not.)

I cant think of a more apt way to start this post.  Somehow, this tagline from Kal Ho Naa Ho keep flashing in my mind!  I keep recalling how my life changed 5 yrs ago.  I woke up one Sat morning (it was my off day) to find myself home alone.  Yeah, I've always wished 2b in a situation like Kevin in HOME ALONE - Wake up one day & find myself home alone indeed!  I searched the whole house, no sign of Mom.  Later, she called home - to tell me she's in hospital, brought Dad there, & that she wont be home so soon, in fact she has no idea when she'll be home.  So I was left with the responsibility of cooking - Dhal - for the 1st time in my life!!

Dad...yeah...we were at Dad.  What happened was...Dad had always been very fit, he jogged daily...he had nvr fallen majorly ill...nvr visited a doctor.  But in 2001, after Sis' marriage, he had this persistent headache.  Despite taking panadol, it nvr ceased (but, he still went to work - CISCO cant function w/o him!!).  But that fateful Sat, he asked 2b released early as the headache got unbearable.  He went to Tampines Polyclinic.  The doctor checked his BP & immediately wrote a referal for him to go to Changi GH IMMEDIATELY as his BP has reached the level of hypertension!!!  He called Mom & Mom met him @ Poly & went to Changi Hospital with him.  He was put on medication to bring down the BP & he had to rest in hospital...till the BP goes down to a safe level.  He came home late afternoon.  Till today, he's on medication, w/o it, his BP will rise.  That yr, for his b'day all of us shared & bought him a BP monitor.  We've always hated him coz he doesnt celebrate b'days & will nvr allow us to buy anything for him...and when we finally got a chance to share & got him something, it had 2b a BP Monitor of all things!!  Eversince he fell ill, he's a changed man.  He's finally living his life...and letting us live ours!!  He's quite a COOL Dad now...of coz, he can be orthodox still...Adat se majboor (helpless by habit).

Aaj, I heard news of a colleague (in her early 40s) from another Dept...that her hubby had passed away.  Suddenly.  Unexpectedly.  Like my Dad, her hubby had no history of illness. He's been feeling unwell & having chest pain...this morning, after sending her to work (she was contemplating whether to go to work or not, but eventually, she went to work as she had to do counter duty)...he heeded her advise to see the doctor.  He visited Bedok Polyclinic & after the doctor cheked him, he was told to go to Changi GH immediately.  He didnt go immediately.  He went back home (Chai Chee).  In the lift, he collapsed.  There was a chinese lady in the lift, but the lady just ignored (can't blame the lady also, she was alone).  The lift went all the way up to 21st floor the maintenance guys woke him up.  He told them he's staying @ the 3rd floor.  He went home, called his wife & told her abt it.  She told him to go to the hospital.  She called the doctor to ask what's wrong with him, and the doctor told her "nothing serious, his BP is very high, hypertension & I've told him to go to the hospital immediately".  After she hung up with the doctor, she called home to check on him agn & her MIL told her that he collapsed agn & foaming.  She called the doctor agn & the doctor sent an ambulance to her hse.  He didnt make it, by the time she reached home, he was no more.  Her biggest regret: She went to work!!  She was not there for him when he needed her most.

Once agn, the unpredictability of death reminded me of how fragile life is.  One moment u may be talking to someone & the next moment he/she may be gone.  Worst still if the person is your spouse/partner.  If u're prepared (person is sick, etc) it's quite easy to accept, but untimely death has always worried me sick.  What if my Dad finds my collection of movie ticket stubs?  What if my parents/family find all my other ridiculous collections!!??  Hehehe...

Today I'm reminded all over agn to live life as though today is my last day...yeah...live, be happy, smile...who knows, there might not be a tomorrow!! 

PS: Now I need to wipe my darling Tehzeeb's tears, in case she's wailing (hehehe) coz this post mentions her most dreaded topic - Death.  Sweetheart, maut se kya darna...hum sab, aaj nahin to kal, is duniya se chale jayenge!  Insyallah, hum jannat mein milenge.  Now stop being a baby & stop crying!! Heeheee....

Shock of my life!!

I accompanied my fren Maslin (at her request) to Challenger to get a cable for her modem.  Since I kept thinking abt the $10 sunglasses I saw @ Century Sq. yest'day, I thought I might as well go get it.  So I accompanied her.  I left abt 1.45pm & back home abt 3pm.  Wif 2 new sunglasses...both blue shades...both $10.

I sat in bed cleaning the 2 sunglasses...I wiped & rubbed till my fingers ached...but no genie appeared!!  After I'm done, I put my old sunglasses (looking very old) in its box & before I kept the cloth in the box of my normal glasses, I decided to put it on.  In case u didn't know yet (wif the exception of Roshni!), I'm known to buy glasses (change it every yr!!) only to keep it in the drawer or bag.  Of coz, there are ocassions when I'd use the glasses.  Like when I'm having migraine & can't focus on the PC (reading or typing), when I read, when I watch on the 14" TV, when in class, etc.  So as I was saying...I put on the glasses...looked out of my room window & shocked to find that the vision was unusually perfect.  Not convinced, I took off the glasses.  I see...dead people (Just kidding! That's a dialogue from the movie Sixth Sense).  Jokes apart, I see trees, cars, ppl walking, bricks of the blocks...but all somewhat blurry & smudgy.                                    

I put on my glasses agn & got the shock of my life when I realised I was seeing a perfect vision of the same trees, bricks, car plate nos., text on ppl's T-shirt, etc.  All I cld do was remove the glasses & put it back!!  Oh my gawd!  I'm losing my eyesight & I nvr realised it!?!?!  Instead, I kept cursing myself for bumping into things, thinking I'm goddamn clumsy & accident prone!! 

Ok, why the hell am I still up @ 3.41am on a Mon morning!?!? No wonder my eyesight is getting perfect.  Nay, actually I slept earlier (after the eyesight test) for abt 4hrs till 7.30pm, watched some TV b4 having my shower & doing my usual facial routine.  I was settled down by 10.30pm all ready to watch Dhoom on Sony.  Abhishek was so sweet, he even waited for me.  I was chatting with Maslin & Nikky when I shld be washing my masque off @ 10.10pm, but somehow got delayed till 10.20pm...so I quickly went to the bathroom, told Mom (who was reading newspaper) that if Abhishek is coming on, tell him to wait 4 me...I'm just going to wash off my masque.  Mom just nodded.  Abhishek really waited... Dhoom didn't start till almost 10.35pm...I made it back to my room just in time!!! 

Anyways, Dhoom ended since 2am just now...but u see, I wasn't sleepy yet...till now.  So, g'nite...gonna get some sleep b4 a yet another irritating week @ work starts!!  Adios!

Miracles do happen...don't they?!?!

U know what?!  My 1yr plus TOYOMI fan (which oscillates up-down, left-right & both) died on me @ 4.30am yesterday.  I was already having migraine the night before (back from night out with Nikky).  After shower, I took panadol & massaged x-oil & tried to sleep.  When I was finally in deep slumber, I was awakened by a loud thud followed by a silence.  I knew it was my fan.  I tried to go w/o it...but I felt warm.  So with eyes half- opened, I off the switched & removed the plug & fixed it back b4 switching it on agn...but to no avail.  It's totally dead.  It's just 4.30am...still 4 more hrs to go...can't make it.  So I kidnapped the AKIRA fan @ the dining hall & continued my beauty sleep.  I woke up shaken @ 8.30am.  Just that few hrs of sleep, I had so many dreams...all unrelated, all nonsensical!!  I dreamt my boss got a promotion...well, nothing scary abt it.   But what got me into a cold sweat was a bad dream relating to my Sis.  Ya Allah...I hope the theory of "gd dream=bad outcome; bad dream=gd outcome" is true (which has always been the case for me).  *Ya Allah, pls protect my Sis & our family from evil eyes...Ameeen!!!*

Oh well...putting all that behind me...as usual, Fri night routine, Mom will ask me "what shall we cook tomorrow?" & I said "I wanna cook!!".  We brainstormed for ideas...hmmm...I have kicap in mine.  She suggested Ikan Masak Kicap...but I asked if there's meat.  When she told me yes, I told her that since I've cooked fish, chicken, prawn & egg b4 - but nvr cooked meat - I wanted to try cooking a meat meal.  So Daging Masak Kicap it is.  She breezed thru the steps with me.

I set my alarm for 9.30am & today I woke up punctually like a gd gal.  Washed up & prepared to boil the meat (Mom took it out from the freezer for me already).  Put the meat for boiling for 1hr...meanwhile I had my breakfast, prepared all the ingredients as instructed by Mom, checked my mails while Mom did her ironing while watching TV.  I started cooking @ 10.45am - zap zap zap - & wrapped everything up (sparkling clean!) by 12 noon.  The meal turned out fine.  It's amazing - I can cook!! (Hahaha...it's not like I've nvr cooked b4!).  Mom thinks I did fine & guess what...she's promoting me to a higher level.  She asked if I wanna learn to cook Briyani & I nodded excitedly.  So people, my next experiment's gonna be Briyani Dam, Insyallah next Sat.  Kewl!!  I'm counting down to that day!  [PS: Just b4 I started this post, I asked Mom if Bro & Dad had any complaints on my cooking.  Mom told me both said it was fine, no adverse comments.  Phew!!  The thing abt me...when I cook anything, I don't expect any praises, but I'm hopeful that no one finds it unswallowable.]

After cooking, I rested for a while, then had my shower & pray, then watched some TV.  Was abt to doze off when Mom asked if I wanna come along wif her to the interchange.  I thought alright, since I wanna recce for a fan.  We covered Century Sq & Isetan b4 heading to Bedok.  We left abt 3pm & reached home abt 6pm.  Cheapest multi-oscillating fan: $128 (Mistral).  KIV.  Oh, while @ Century Sq., I checked out some funky sunglasses which I've been trying to find since last yr (during my graduation period, I saw one @ Tg Pagar Plaza's NTUC but it wasn't in gd condition so I didn't buy it...nvr gotta find a similar 1 since then!)  Found 1 which Mom said suited my face...$10.  KIV.

There was a ltr from CPF for Dad.  When we came home, Dad was reading newspaper in the living hall.  After my shower & wudhu, as I walked past Dad to go to my room to do my Asar, Dad fanned the CPF ltr in front of me saying "aku menang lottery!!"...I thought he's lost it...but when I took the ltr & read it, I realised how great ALLAH is. 

Yesterday, I was reading a fwd-ed email abt a touching story told by a Muslim Dr in South Africa.  A baby was born premature & the mom died leaving behind another young girl.  As there wasn't any medical facilities to incubate the baby, the Dr used a hot water bottle, but it broke.  So now they are so in need of a hot water bottle.  During 1 prayer session, after praying wif some kids, she related the story of the premature baby & the crying sister...telling the kids to pray for them.  1 kid prayed to Allah "to send a hot water bottle for the baby" and continued "oh, while You are at that, pls also send a dolly for the sister so that she knows You love her".  Of coz, the Dr was quite sceptical (dunno also whether to Amin for that prayer).  But the next day, a huge package came from her hometown.  While they removed the items in the huge box...1 by 1...she felt something that she refused to believe.  When she took it out, it was a HOT WATER BOTTLE.  The gal who prayed for it saw that & told the Dr "if the hot water bottle is there...I'm sure God will send a dolly too".  And yeah, there was a doll i the box!!!!  Amazing right?!?!  The email touched my heart & strengthened my faith in the greatness of Allah & the power of doa.  Deep down, I prayed that some miracle wld happen & Dad somehow gets a windfall in his CPF (Ok, I know that's wishful thinking...but I can't help it!!).

After work, I was just chatting wif 2 of my colleagues...abt chain letters.  I was teasing my colleague "Kak Aziza" abt this chain ltr she fwd-ed last mth: "Fwd this kalimah to 12 ppl within 12 hrs & ur financial situation will improve".  I've always believed in fate & destiny & thus sceptical abt chain ltrs.  I replied to Kak Aziza to let me know if she becomes rich, only then I shall fwd the email (Kidding of coz!).  As I was housekeeping my emails b4 I leave office, I found that chain kalimah.  So I asked Kak Aziza if she's any richer today.  She thought hard & then she excitedly went "Eh, yeah, yeah, I got a $500 rebate to my CPF...for HPS premium!"  I told her "Duh!! That's CPF, not even cash...but c'mon, whatever it is, it's not the email...it's Allah!!"  Then I asked what the rebate was all abt & she carried on sharing that her cousin was upset that he only $50 rebate while Kak she got $500!  Of coz, I did wonder how come we nvr got any rebate.  Hehe.  Greed got the btr of me!

From that topic, we moved on to me sharing abt this $4,800++ refund of property tax that Dad got last yr (IRAS' screw up!!).  I was sharing wif her how Dad used 2b so stingy wif mom...even for $10, he made Mom shed tears.  I used to tell Dad "u're so stingy, that's y Allah restricts ur wealth!!  If u're generous to Mom...aherm...and me...I'll always pray to Allah that He increases ur wealth."  After that, I noticed that Dad changed...he's very generous wif Mom...not calculative.  Shortly after that, he got this windfall.  Today, he's nvr been so generous.  Mom goes jogging wif him every Sun (gd recreational activity to strengthen husband-wife bonding) & every jogging Sun w/o fail, Mom gets abt $50 every week to buy breakfast or marketing for that day.  I used 2b so jealoused I told Mom I wanna join their jogging session, hoping she'd split the tip wif me.  Hahaha.  I keep telling Mom that he's taking advantage of Dad's generosity.  One time he gave her $$, she demands every wk!!  She'll sulk like a kid if Dad didn't bring $$ when they go jogging!!  Can u imagine, 4 wks a mth, $50x4...every mth $200 is gone just by having Mom's company for jogging!!!  Anyways.  Yeah, back to my Dad & CPF.  Not many wld know that over the last 2 yrs, Dad's CPF has exhausted & he's really troubled by his inability to service the Housing Loan.  I wanted to transfer my CPF funds to his so that we can service the loan...but CPF won't allow.  I've to be a co-owner & use my CPF for the loan...but for that, HDB will have to re-value the house & do a new loan all over agn...which means, I'm technically buying a new hse & using the HDB concessionary privilege.   Which means, I'll only be left wif 1 concessionary privilege if I get married & wanna buy a brand new flat.   We've done so much...used 3 out of 4 Reduced Payment Scheme, accumulating arrears of up to $1,600.  Dad is retiring in Jun 07 & by then, he won't have any CPF contribution anymore if he doesn't sign on wif CISCO.  Learning from his mistake, I've invested my CPF to grow my CPF.  We tried to sell the hse.  They're hopeful I'd get married soon & buy a brand new flat so they can sell this hse.  *sigh*  When we got the $4,000++ refund in cash for the property tax screw up last yr, we finally looked @ selling the hse as we can finally afford the agent fees etc.  Dad is adamant he wants to sell this hse eventho they'll lose 30% of their initial CPF.  But somehow, due to some reason...the idea of selling a hse & downgrading to a smaller flat was shelved agn as I advised Dad that it wldn't resolve our problem.  Eventually, after much thought, I told Mom to live on wif this problem a while longer...if I don't get married by end of this yr, I'll proceed to buy a brand new flat & they can sell this hse.  I explained to her that I can't do it now coz I just invested my CPF in Feb...so I'll only sell it after 1 yr (hopefully, I'd have make some $$$ out of it).

So after Hari Raya this yr, I'll probably be bz wif the buying of a new hse.  For those who think I made the wrong decision not to accept the overseas job opportunity, then for the record, I chose fillial piety over greed for money.  I've promised my parents that I'll save them from this financial difficulty.  If I leave my job & relocate for 2 yrs (no CPF some more!), I'll be going against my promise & though my parents won't heave a sigh, I know deep down they'll think that like my Sis (who initially planned to get a hse nearby in Tamp so we can sell this hse & move to hers, but she bought a hse in Pasir Ris instead...near her in-laws), I'm also going back on my word.

Recently, I've started to check out HDB online for available 4-rm flats in Sengkang & Punggol.  For some selfish & petty reasons, I don't wish to buy the new hse till I get married (whenever that happens), but I can't be selfish.  My parents have done so much for me for 30 yrs, I've to do something for them...like it or not.  I really wished Dad's CPF can just increase so we can settle the arrears & live with peace of mind for some more time...but that's simply impossible.  He neither has enough CPF to invest, nor he has much time to reap any benefits even if he invests anything now (he's retiring in less than a yr).  Once he retires, he'll not have any CPF contribution...to make things worse, he won't also be able to enjoy any CPF in his old age, unless he sells this 5-rm flat. 

Why am I saying all this?  Remember the email above, abt the hot water bottle & dolly??  Yeah, so when I read the CPF letter which Dad flashed in front of me, I realised he hasn't lost his mind.  He was just being cute!!!  It's true.  That letter was the HPS rebate thingy that Kak Aziza was talking abt & my dad got a rebate of *clearing my throat* $4,667...to be credited into his Ordinary Acct on 1 Jul (ie. TODAY!!)!!!  If that (a wish/hope that was very much impossible!) is not a MIRACLE, then I don't know what is!!!  I just smiled at Dad (while he & Mom argued with each other abt whose CPF was used to pay for the HPS...*sigh*...my 2 kids!!) & went to my room to do my Asar.  I just had to end it with sujud syukur.

JUST IN CASE!

Now, this is possibly the oddest title of all my posts...but there's a hidden meaning behind this title which will be revealed @ the end of this post.

Tabu & Madhuri finally met after 2 months of unsuccessful attempts to coincide our dates.  What to do, we're 2 bz actresses!! Hehehe.  From her b'day in Apr...to nobody's b'day in May...to my b'day in Jun, we finally worked something out for Thurs 29 Jun.

THE PLAN: Nikky to come to T2 after work (oh, her coming to airport plan has been long overdue since Christmas - her fave, to take pic @ the christmas tree deco in T2!) @ +/- 7pm.  On Wed night I've told Mom I won't be home for dinner the following night.  The day came.  At 5.30pm, I got a missed call from her office & mobile, so I immediately called her back "Are u calling to tell me that u're gonna late?!?"  When she told me yes & she suggested we meet @ Tampines instead so I don't have to stay in office too late.  I suggested that we re-schedule as I see no point in mtg too late & rushing thru' the time.  But she was adamant & decided to talk to her boss instead.

THE MEETING: She reached @ 6.50pm.  All the while I had canteen in mind since the last time we planned for a simple dinner & then slack on the roof (I even had chapati in mind).  But when we finally met, I didn't know she had a grand dinner treat for me in mind (Although I didn't feel comfy she spend so much, I think this is the 1st treat from Kamal, so I let her have the honour).  We dined @ Swensens instead.  Food was good, company was btr, the range of topics we covered (catching up big time!!) were great!!  We had our agenda in mind...and what we did was we shared our stories alternately.  She went 1st, then my story, then hers...and b4 we knew it, we gobbled down our individual meals (Sirloin Steak for me & Chicken Baked Rice for her) as well as a shared Banana Split & Sticky Chewy Chocolate ice-creams!!

THE MAD ACT: By 9.30pm, we decided to leave Swensens.  But the night is still young, so what shall we do?  Let's snap some pictures @ the newly renovated T2.  When 2 creative & mad minds come together, the outcome is unbelievable (Check these out!!). This is the 1st time we've taken so much photos as though we've gone on a holiday or something!!!  We choreographed so many mad poses as we experiment with the self-time function of my Nokia hp.  Since Nikky is renowned to be a helluva dancer, I had wanted to video her on a dance number, there's space, there's music, there's camera...but she's supposedly shy, so I didn't manage to do it (her condition: I've to dance with her!!).  Nikky is good @ taking snaps of me behind the wheels...amazingly, my pictures while driving always turn out the same whenever snapped by her!!

THE SPOILER: Just before Nikky arrived, something happened which irritated me & later turned into migraine.  That copycat & kaypoh bitch in my office (remember the one who quitely bought the same hp I was planning to buy?) emailed me to ask if there's something that she's done which I'm not happy abt coz she noticed the change in attitude in me.  Interesting that she only noticed after 2 mths.  But who cares...I didn't tell her exactly what it is...as I told her if I felt it was worth pursuing, I'd have pursued long ago...coz I'd expect a feigning of ignorance from her.  I told her to "just leave it" & told her that whatever I'm probably unhappy with her abt has got to do with her character but I do not wish to specify & go into insulting mode.  I ended with a PS to request that she stop trying to eavesdrop people's conversation & kaypoh abt people's affairs!  Guess what I got?? As expected, a defensive feign ignorance reply.  So her email spoiled the end of my day...till it turned into migraine.  Tried snapping the stiff locked bones behind my neck, but it wldn't snap...so I had to bear with it...but I perservered not to let it affect our night.  Controlled till I reach home @ 11.30pm.  [Guess my body (post-flu recupperation) is still not fully recovered.  Don't think I can take another long day, so with a heavy heart, I've to cancel my night out with Roshni the following day (Fri, 30 Jun)...as I didn't want to spoil her night.  These dates are just overdue...they were meant for my b'day week...but kambahkt Flu & some spate of bad lucks came in the way & spoilt my mood!!  So these are all "make up" dates.]

THE LESSON: While we were walking arnd the Terminal we checked out some perfumes @ the perfume shop (she tried to understand the kinda scent that is "my type").  Nikky told me that I'll definitely like the smell of this Elizabeth Arden (was it EA Nikky?!) perfume.  Outside the shop, she took out this small (30ml) perfume which she was talking abt & let me sample the smell.  I was more astonished at the size of the perfume & the fact that she had it in her bag!!! So I asked her if she carries that perfume (a perfume for that matter) in her bag wherever she goes & she answered "Yeah, just in case..."!  I was like "Just in case what!??!"  We had a great laugh...I mean, people carry lipstick, brush & mouth spray & mirror in their bag...but perfume?!?!  That's new!!  I realised, yeah...it's not a bad idea actually...maybe I shld also start carrying a bottle of 30ml perfume (Nikky's giving me the website for me to purchase online)...JUST IN CASE!!!