Happy 3rd Anniversary!

Three years ago, on this very day, we officially became husband and wife. I did not shed a tear when hubby selesai melafazkan akad. I was actually trying hard to not smile so wide, unsuccessfully. I was really REALLY happy, to be married to the one guy I love. The event was quite simple. Carried out in a mosque in Taman Melati. And after dinner, the crowd dispersed and we were left on our own. Just like any other nights. We didn't even have a bilik pengantin... Well, we did but just for show. The real bilik pengantin was my old room, which I didn't bother decorating or made it special for the occasion. But we fit right in... I knew at that moment, this is where I belong.

Today, three years down the road, we are still as strong as ever. Of course, there are ups and downs but we will continue to fight the battle of life together. And now there are 3 of us! Tido malam, katil tak cukup sbb si kecik tu conquer katil okeh. There is no proper celebration for today as these past few days, we have been spending some relaxing time together and for me, that is enough. We travel a lot, we eat out at expensive places often so I don't need to mark the day with these kind of celebrations. I am simply happy to get to hug my hubby to sleep at night, despite our opposite body clock and crazy work schedule. So for the record, I just want to say, Mohd Hazmi Abdul Halim, Happy Anniversary. For a bright and happy future together. Cheers!

Darul Izzah and Gunung Angsi

The first week of October, my group of girlfriends went to an orphanage house in Bangi. It was nothing spectacular or big. It was just a simple event to have pizzas for lunch with them since the last time Irna went, one of the boys got so excited when he heard pizza but there were just bihun and kuih muih. It was a nice, humbling and joyful experience for me. A fulfilling reunion with my girls given everyone's tight schedule these days. We had all the intention to do more next round, find a less-well-to-do establishment to contribute to... insyaAllah, may Allah pave the way for us. Not to say this establishment is well taken care of but only after 10 minutes we finished eating our food, there was already food (nasi + ayam) outside the dining hall. MasyaAllah. Such a caring community we have. =)

The next day, Aizat, Irna, Shasha Id, Hubby and I followed Aizat's ex-colleagues to go hiking at Gunung Angsi. It is the 3rd highest peak in Negeri Sembilan and apparently has a tougher trail than Gunung Kinabalu. I was all excited and pumped-up before we started our climb since it had been a long time since I last hike a mountain. The last one must be Gunung Ledang in 2002, right after I left MMU. What happened to my vow in 2001 before I left TKC to never go hiking again?

We started our hike around 9.50am, nearly 2 hours delayed from the original plan. The hike up was not too bad. We talked and laughed and took a couple breaks. It was damn tiring and it made us really thirsty. Shasha and Aizat's shoes gave way but only Shasha was lucky enough to be given spare shoes from Mizi while Aizat had to tie the sole of the shoes to prevent them from falling off. The trail up was quite steep and there was this one place where we had to climb up using a rope ala2 rock-climbing gitu. We reached the peak in one piece around 2pm.

Climbing down was a nightmare. The first two hours was tough but manageable. I, as usual, climbed down very very slowly. Hubby waited for me and we walked together silently. We reached the 1st river crossing where Irna, Aizat, Mamat and was it Firdaus, stopped for prayer. I continued on knowing well enough how slow I am. However, at the 2nd river crossing, hubby wanted to stop for a quick dip in the water. By that time, half of my legs were in the water already, a result of being too lazy to balance myself on the slippery rocks to cross the river. But that was as far as I went. I sat on the rocks, waiting for hubby. Soon, Irna, Aizat, Mamat & Firdaus caught up with us so we moved together. It was 5pm.

By that time, I felt super drained and tired and dehydrated I felt like fainting. I moved very2 slowly. Hubby walked slowly in front of me. Occasionally offered to carry me but I insisted on walking on my own. Irna and Firdaus went ahead. Aizat and Mamat behind us given that Aizat shoes were in a very bad condition already. The path back seemed unusually long. I remembered it only took us one hour to the Kem Tangga Batu (near the river where hubby took his dip). We heard the first bell at 5.30pm. I was really frustrated that I was still in the jungle. I thought I could be done with all these by 3pm and go back to my baby girl. So I refused to stop. Must. Keep. Going. I was half walking, half crawling by then. Focusing my mind on something to make sure it would not be taken over by some other spirits since I was having my 1st day period that day. Keep on chanting "a little bit more... a little bit more". By 6pm, we heard the second bell. Hubby was getting worried. We should be out of the jungle by Maghrib. So he insisted on carrying me. He also didn't want me to slow Aizat down. I let him because I also want to get out as soon as I could but I was in no condition to run. I let him carry me THREE times. The third time, I got panicked halfway that I struggled to be let down while hubby was carrying me through a very narrow path, just by the slope. We could have fallen to our death at the waterfall below us. Lucky, Very Luckily, hubby could manage his balance for both of us... After that, I walked on my own. Aizat and Mamat nowhere to be seen. I guess, Aizat felt just as tired as I was since she didn't try to catch up.

We arrived at the picnic area around 6.15pm. Visitors there were starting to pack up their stuff. Hubby wanted to follow the trail we used that morning but I insisted to go by the river where there were many people around. We managed to reach the carpark around 6.30pm. Aizat came out around 6.45pm. That was a very close call and I cannot describe how glad I felt that everyone got out safely.

Okay. I vow to never to do this AGAIN. I should remember this experience before I drag my ass up Gunung Kinabalu and slow everyone else down. MUST REMEMBER! One good thing that came out of this experience was the renewed feeling I have for my husband. 10 years of togetherness... made me rethink the feelings we have for each other. I kept thinking whether we still feel the same, whether the love is still as strong, whether we could live with each other for the rest of our lives.  After what we went through that evening, I know his love for me is just as strong, if not stronger, given the responsibility he has as my husband. I know I can put my lives in his hand and he will protect me till his last breath. And I would definitely do the same for him.

Papa's birthday weekend

Hi, everyone. It seems like I'm so in the mood to blog these days, hehe, although I still have a few more posts delayed. So what have everyone been doing this weekend? I started my Saturday with Tica's swimming class. It should be every Sunday but I was going to meet my papa this morning so we went to yesterday's one instead. I woke up just on time so I just brushed my teeth and packed both my sleeping babies into the car, wearing the clothes I slept in i.e. my working clothes from Friday. Thought I would go straight home after breakfast, but oh boy, how wrong I was. Hubby detoured to Subang Parade to get my rings and bracelet cleaned at Diamond Platinum. We also got my Blackberry's casing changed since my keypad lost not one or two, but three letters and installed new OS. 

Then, hubby took me to Kia's showroom in Bangsar to let me test drive his current dream car, Kia Optima K5. Hoho. I am solddd!!! It was such a NICE car that we conveniently forgot how expensive the car is and put in our booking. *gulp* Okay. The booking is refundable so we can still dream. This discussion is being revisited since my husband's friend suddenly wanted to buy my our Inspira. Odd...

Source: Paultan.org

This morning (Sunday) I woke up quite early but started getting ready so much later that I was nearly late to see my father. One thing you need to know about my father is: HE IS NEVER LATE. And he can really scold me if I am so ape lagi, kalut laaa this morning. Hubby pressed the pedal hard that once the ABS kicked in when hubby did an almost emergency brake. Thankfully, we reached KJ just on time. Thank you so much, Inspira. You did such a good job. I love you. =p

Apart from that, I bought TWO malay movies on Astro First this weekend. Untuk Tiga Hari and 29 Februari. I would say both movies are not bad at all. The first one is quite light while the latter is slightly heavier. Different concept and nice storyline. See... I can be supportive to our local movie industry if the movies are worth watching. 

Also currently trying to finish the second book from the fifty shades Trilogy. Hubby said I'm reading porn... Okay, it was my comment that made him say that. Bought the second book from The Hunger Games trilogy but that book is currently with the owner of fifty shades book I'm currently reading. Swap books so that I don't own too many of them since I rarely read any book twice. On top of that, I also bought a Malay novel, Adam dan Hawa. The teledrama of Adam and Hawa shown on TV is such a hit that I feel like getting on the bandwagon too. Sounds interesting so why not while I still have the time. That's all then. Enjoy what's left of your weekend, everyone!

UK & Italy trip (part 3)

15 September 2012: Woke up early for our trip to Capri! I bought this tour via Viator.com. Bus from Rome took 3 hours and then we boarded a medium-sized ship at Napoli Beverello to Capri. Capri was SO BeAuTiFuL. The water was clear blue and the view of houses build on the hill looked like Greece to me. The road to Anacapri, the top part of the island was very very narrow, it was quite a scary bus-ride climbing up. People here mostly walk or ride a bicycle/motorcycle. Lunch was provided and it was quite filling. A lot of handmade stuff on sale but just a bit too pricey for me. The ladies handmade sandals were quite pretty though, cost at least 60 euros per pair. The nicer once cost around 130-160 euros or so. If they were cheaper, I might have bought one pair for myself.

Hubby and abg went up this hanging-cable-chair but mummy and I stayed down with Batrisyia. They said the view up there was postcard worthy, obviously! Going back, we missed our boat back to Napoli by 2 minutes!!! Oh Italy. Why you always do that to us.

16 September 2012: We had a tight schedule to walk around Rome this day because we had a flight to catch at 5:50pm. Most important place to go to was the Vatican City because hubby specifically requested it and that was why we went to Rome in the first place. He really wanted to go visit the smallest country in the world. Since it was a Sunday, there was a mass going on that time but tourist were still allowed to come in. Mummy waited outside since she was already tired from all the walking we had done. Had a drink at cafe by the roadside before heading to Castel Sant'angelo and Fontana di Neptuno, Piazza Navona (appeared in one of Angels and Demons scenes). Took a cab to Colleseum and rushed back to our Hotel to check-out.

17 September 2012: This is a historical date because exactly 10 years ago, Hazmi and I started dating. And we were celebrating our 10 years of togetherness in London! We stayed in Tune Hotel, Kings Cross on the last day. At this moment, there are actually 4 Tune Hotels in London alone! Must be really good business over there. It cost us around 50pounds per room so around 100+pounds that night. The last day was free and easy. I wanted to leave around 9am+ but turned out I woke up late. Haha. Checked out around 10.30am, left our luggages there. Went to Hard Rock London and we were done. Mom wanted to do some last minute shopping and I BEGGED my brother to take her while we waited at Hyde Park. It was a chill afternoon and it was really relaxing and fun. After that, we had our late lunch cum belated birthday celebration for abang at a briyani shop in King's Cross. Picked up our bags, went to Paddington Station, where abang took his train to Bristol and we took our train to Heathrow.
All-in-all, it was a good trip. We settled abang down and had a good, fun break, albeit a tiring one that I felt like I needed another break from this break! Hehe. I was so thankful I bought a new Sony camera in time for this trip. The Olympus camera I bought last year was so bluergh, wasted my money only. Till next year then! Abang, hope you study well and take full advantage of this opportunity.

UK and Italy trip 2012 (part 2)

12 September 2012: We decided to sleep in a little that day but Batrisyia refused to sit quietly. When I picked her up and put her down at the corridor between our rooms, she cried loudly. Amazingly when TokMa asked her what's wrong, she said it loud and clear "mamaaa". Oh mengadu eh. We did our laundry before we left. (One of the things we love about this apartment was the washing machine! and wifi connection IN the apartment, of course. The one in London, Hyde Park Exec Apartment, could only get connection downstairs at the reception.) That day we went out with 2 missions: to take abg's accommodation key and open his bank account. Managed to settle the 1st one but on campus NatWest was closed on Wednesdays as the term hadn't started yet. Since it was still quite early, I decided to bring the whole family to see the suspension bridge at the opposite side of town. However, I wasn't quite sure where to stop so we ended up going round and round in the bus for more than 2 hours!!! Oh precious time wasted. When we finally got down, it was getting dark and then while we were running to catch the sunset at the bridge, it started raining. T_T Mummy wasn't up with the running anymore and I was carrying Batrisyia so in the end, we gave up and took a cab back to town. Most shops were already closed. Luckily, the Halal KFC we were looking for was still opened. So we had dinner there. I ordered their Nacho's Stackos menu, which was not available in Malaysia but it was not as nice as I expected. After that, we went back, feeling rather disappointed.

 

13 September 2012: Started the day at Cabot Circus. Bought abg's duvet and duvet covers at Argos. Had breakfast at Costa. Bought a pair of high-heeled boots at Debenhams for 35pounds to replace the sportshoes I was wearing. =p Went back to our accommodation to pick up abg's luggages, sent it to his room in Glenside, went to Frenchey campus to open his bank account but unfortunately, we need a confirmation letter from the university to do that and it would only be ready the day after. Sigh, if only we knew about that the day before. Hubby was craving for rice since he thought we won't be finding any in Rome. Faiz, a Malaysian student in UWE we met the day before suggested we go to Tampopo in Cabot Circus, which serves Halal Oriental food. Perfect! We went there for early dinner, shopped at Primark for a bit and settled in early that night.

 

 

14 September 2012: We were quite rushing that morning to catch our flight to Rome and we couldn't find any taxi available from there so we took a bus to town. Taxi to Bristol International Airport didn't take too long.. about 20 minutes or so and it cost us 39pounds, which I think was quite reasonable. Everything was smooth except we had to wait over an hour for immigration to clear us. Not that there were too many people, there was just no one manning the booth. With my new-heeled-boots and Batrisyia on my hand, the wait was really killing me and my legs. Missed our Terravision bus to town by 2 minutes! so we had to wait for 40 minutes for the next bus to come. Had to cancel my plan to go to Colloseum that evening. Checked-in at Hotel Everest near Termini Station. It's a 2-star accommodation, small but clean and neat. I read online they just refurbished the place. Wifi connection in the room! Haha. Only small problem, the toilet's water hose was leaking that it flowed out of the room when we didn't turn it off. Left our luggage and went out to have dinner across the accommodation. Halal place which serves rice. Pfftt... So much for worrying about food. Then we rushed to Hard Rock Cafe, Rome to buy some souveniers. Walked to the nearest tourist attraction place, Trevi Fountain. By then, I couldn't tolerate the pain any longer that I took my boots off and walked barefooted around Rome. Haha. Memories. It was surprising to see SO MANY PEOPLE there at that hour. Took a few pictures, found a shop which sells slippers!!! and took a cab back. Had the most relaxing drink across our hotel before we called it a night.

Batrisyia's first step

I know I'm supposed to be excited to continue writing/updating about my UK trip but that takes too long and I cannot wait to update about this. Yesterday, Abby told me that Tricia took her first few steps. Being a working mom, I expected not to be the first one witnessing her firsts so I just acknowledged the fact, making a quick mental note to record it somewhere. When hubby came back, we told him about it and he seemed pretty upset that he did not get to see it. Why did I say that? He looked at me and asked whether I had seen it. When I shook my head, he seemed satisfied. Haha. Then he went to pick up Batrisyia, made her stand on her own and extended his hand to her, gesturing her to walk towards him. First attempt, she quickly sat down. Second attempt, she did it... she walked 3 steps towards hubby. We were over-joyed! Our baby growing up so fast. First steps: 2 days to 11 months.

UK & Italy trip 2012 (part 1)

Early last month my whole family (mummy, hubby, baby and myself) went to send my younger brother (abg) to Bristol for his 3rd year degree in UWE. It was a hectic, hectic, most tiring trip ever. Tiring mostly because we had to carry Batrisyia and her bag during the whole trip but it was a conscious collective decision not to bring a stroller considering the amount of travelling we had to do so I don't know whether I can regret that decision.

 

8 September 2012: 11.40pm - Boarded our A380 flight to London. Hubby was so impressed with the size of the fleet. Take off was really smooth that my sleeping baby couldn't even feel it. She slept for a whole 9 hours. The balance 3 hours we fed her, changed her diapers, twice and had to play with her to keep her entertained. Above all, we were really thankful that she was such a good baby!

 

9 September 2012: 5.50am - Arrived in London Heathrow. Abg had to filled in forms at immigration. Went straight to our 1st accommodation, Hyde Park Executive Apartment (cost us 248pounds for 2 nights). Left our luggage there and off we went to London Marlyborne to take a train to Bichester Village via Bichester North. I think that trip was so not worth it. Paid 73pounds for the whole family train tickets and all we got was one pair of shoes for me. Met Azmir and Mimi there but we didn't stay long. Wanted to have dinner at Holiday Villa but opening time was 5pm so we went to Malaysian Student Department (MSD) canteen instead. Checked in, freshen up, prayed... Thought of going down to Tesco Express to buy some drinks and fruits but everyone just got hit by jetlag and off we went to sleep.

 

10 September 2012: The whole family woke up pretty early (considering we were still on Malaysia's timezone. It's Harry Potter Studio's day! Mimi joined us for breakfast at MSD (again!) and off we went to Paddington Station. From there we took London Overground to Watford Junction and took a shuttle bus to the studio. It was a very cool experience to see the real set where they shot the movies. After that, we (my family and I) were supposed to catch our 3.45pm session for Queen's royal jewel exhibition at Buckingham Palace. I initially thought of going back first but decided against it and decided to be early for the session. Turned out there was an closing Olympic Parade going on! The entrance to Buckingham Palace were closed so we had to make a VERY BIG round to the other side of the palace, running! Batrisyia was happily sleeping on my shoulder and mummy had to fast walk to catch up with me. Poor mummy. After Buckingham Palace, we went back to send mummy. Hubby, Abg and I went back out to Holiday Villa to buy her favourite Lobster Noodle.

11 September 2012: Checked out. Had breakfast at London Paddington and took train (First Great Western) to Bristol. Arrived early at our accommodation to store our luggages at Bristol Serviced Lettings (300pounds for 3 nights), but they let us in early because the place was ready. Very nice place and service! They not only provided a baby cot for us, they also installed a baby gate before the stairs. Took bus #13 (UWE3) to go to Glenside campus to pick up Abg's hostel keys but we missed the stop so we went to Frenchey campus instead. Since we were caught in after hours traffic, it was quite late already. Couldn't do any official stuff so we went to Cabot Circus instead. Bought abg's UK sim card (we chose 3), had light dinner, bought stuff from Sainsbury and back to rest.