Eighth Familymoon...

As a surprise for his lovely wife *ehem*, B treated us to a 3D2N getaway at Avillion Port Dickson. I wasn't told of the location of our holiday till we exited the PLUS highway enroute to PD. Ahah!

I was over the moon when he turned into the junction heading towards Avillion. I had hoped for it but dare not say it out loud as the place was quite pricey but as B puts it, it only happens once a year.

I have nothing but praises for this place. It's romantic if you're here for a honeymoon but it's also great if you bring your children along as they have loads of activities and facilities for the young and the young at heart.

I highly recommend going to this place if you haven't been here. Memang best! I'll let the pictures do the talking ya...

Eight Years...

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST:

After seven years of courtship, we finally decided to get hitched. Or was it my Dad who decided it for us?! Oh well, B did the nudging and Dad did the shoving :)

Just 10 months fresh from graduation, we got married. March 25th, 2001 became the sacred date and we were solemnized by Abah dearest who wouldn't have it any other way. B however, was quite jittery and couldn't remember my name the first time and so had to repeat the akad. Thank God he didn't say some other chick's name else I'd shoo him from the house with the broomstick myself :P.

The event was best put as simple but very meaningful. It was nikah in the morning and lunch reception at 2 pm attended by almost 3000 people; 200 were our friends (lucky us to have the same set of friends) while the rest were relatives from far and wide and my parents' friends whom I barely know.

The first year of marriage was more of couplehood reinforcement of sorts. The good thing is, we got to go out and about together anywhere, whenever and wherever we want. Coming home in the wee hours of morning was a norm on weekends, weekdays even and having friends over at our humble abode was a bonus given my flair for entertaining (eh chewahhh...).

We decided to put off having children for awhile. We just couldn't get enough of each other plus I wasn't ready to have kids, financially and emotionally. Relatives asked but I just shrugged it off.

After a year of being a couple, I decided that I was ready and B just went along with me. Being pregnant was tough especially when I was sick like a dog for the first five months of pregnancy. By the time I was feeling a wee bit dandy, it was time for us to drag our asses off to Loughborough. The rest of our stories in Loughborough is well written in my much earlier previous posts.

When I woke up today, I just couldn't believe that we've been married for eight years. I am forever thankful and indebted to Allah for giving me a good husband, an almost perfect marriage (nak kata perfect, gaduh2 tu biasa la kan...) and two beautiful children . I couldn't ask for more.

My darling husband,

I thank God everyday for pairing us up. It's fate, I always say and I wouldn't have it any other way...

I think of you often and always with love...

I think about how hard you work and how much you do for our family...

I remember the time you've encouraged me and I see how your wisdom and caring have helped me through...

I look back on favorite memories that remind me how much we've always meant to each other and always will...

There are so many times when I think of you and feel proud and thankful and very lucky that you're my husband...

Happy Eighth Anniversary Aling!! May Allah bless us with love, care and happiness.

Love you till the power of infinity,
Wifey...

15 Years Ago, How It All Started...

AT HOME:

"Tahniah! Awak telah ditawarkan biasiswa TM untuk melanjutkan pelajaran ke Jepun untuk kursus kejuruteraan telekomunikasi"

"Huhh??!! Jepun?? Tapi saya tak mintak pun pergi Jepun masa interview!"

"Takde ke? Rasanye ada, kalau tak, kami takde la masukkan nama awak dalam senarai pelajar2 ke Jepun"

Damnit!! When did I ever mention Japan during the interview? That would be the last place I'd ever want to go. Kalau UK or US tu, logik la jugak. Hmm... hentam la labu. Maybe it'll be a start of a new adventure? I hope so.

***
AT TTC MARANG:

Good God! All these talks and lectures are such a bore!! Bla bla bla... I hear nothing. Hmm... let's see how others are faring. OMG... that guy is literally sleeping with his head bobbing to and fro! Hahahhaha... Woww... didn't realize that there are soooo many eye candies among us. Must check them out :P

***

I'm so bored, I could die! Alamak... my specs are blurry. Must ask Farah for her specs' wipes. Camna pulak nak cakap when she's way behind me. Ohh... I'll pass a note to her.

"Farah, can I please have one of your specs' wipes? My stinky breath just won't do it. By the way, the guy on your right is MIGHTY cute! Any idea what's his name?"

Neatly folded with Farah's name written on it, the note was passed to her. I turned around and smiled at her nudging for her wipes that was clearly laying on the table. To my ultimate horror, she passed the note that was meant for her to the guy across the aisle on her rightafter reading it! FCUK!! Die la like this!!!... Eh wait, why is that guy smiling macam kerang busuk je?

***

"Farah!!! Giler kau pass note to that mamat! Malu aku okay!"

"Alahh... takpe. Kau kan nak tau nama dia. Nanti I'm sure dia bagitau kat kau. Sure dia syok ada orang kata dia cute hehehhe"

Pengsan!!!....

***

"Liza... kau dah stock up gula2 tak? Karang gerenti boring and ngantuk punye lecture. Dah la malam2 camni, perut kenyang pulak tuh"

"Dah..."

"Eh Nora... that cute guy is alone over there la. Pegi la say hie ;)", nudged Farah.

"Hahhh! Crazy!! I don't even know his name"

"His name is Bard", winked Amani.

Aiseyy... must I? Okay la. No harm in saying hie, I suppose...

***

"Hie Bard... Makan sweets sorang2 je?"

"Eh hie! Oh you nak ke?"

Errr... apalah mamat nih... lagi mau tanya.

"Here you go"

"Thanks! Banyak stock sweets you. Mesti tak larat nak dengar lecture banyak2 nih."

"Yupp... I makan sweets tak nak bagi mengantuk. You Nora right?!"

"Err... yes (by this time, my face was so red, I could feel it burning). Eh okay la. Gotta go. My friends tengah tunggu I. Talk to you later".

"Okay... "

Ya Allah... Malunya aku!! Tuhan saja yang tahu. But why am I humming and skipping?? hehheheh...

***

It's obligatory for all scholars to exercise in the evening. Most guys would opt to play soccer while the gals would play netball. Very secular like that. However, for the rest of us who doesn't mind mixing and matching, we'd play volleyball, tennis or ping pong, whichever tickles our fancies.

"Hie Bard... didn't know you play tennis. Dah lama ke main?"

"Boleh la. I dulu selalu main kat sekolah"

"Ohhh... wakil sekolah la nih? :)"

"Takde lah. Main for fun je. I heard you dulu main basketball".

"Yupp. But now I'm taking a break. Penat la dulu main non-stop masa kat sekolah. Now I main sumer games for fun. Eh jom ambik gambar".

"Okay. Jap, I carik orang to take our picture".

What started out as a picture of just the two of us, ended up as a group ;P Haiiyaaa... kacau daun betul la...


***

AT UTMKL:

"Nora, birthday you kan hari ni?!"

"Yes (sambil senyum2 kambing, wakakakka...), camna you tahu?"

"I pasang spy ;). Anyway, here's something for you. Hope you'll like it. Malam ni kita keluar dinner kay. I belanja"(Oh wow... is this a date?)

"Ohh okay but lambat sikit boleh tak? I dah promise nak belanja my classmates makan cake. Kita go out after that ye for supper :)"

"No prob. Nanti I tunggu. Eh wait, can I snap a picture with you?"

"Oh okay. Let me get my camera first ya..." (Hatiku sudah berbunga2 lalalalal... hehehhe...)

***

I guess, if it was meant to be, it was meant to be. From that day onwards, we were inseparable except when it comes to sleeping arrangements, of course. We were put in the same watch at Outward Bound School, Lumut where we started being serious with each other. We just sort of click and the chemistry that passed between us was undeniable. I fell hard for this guy, really hard eventhough I knew we were going to face a long distance relationship for two years but I persevered.

The day he flew off to UK was the hardest and saddest day of my life (then :P). It was pretty hard maintaining a long distance relationship at that time. There were no internet so I had to rely heavily on the snail mail. I was a regular at the post office, sending off scores of letters, tapes, pictures and gifts of sorts. Once in a blue moon would I give him a call when missing him would become unbearable, with every call lasting not more than five minutes as they were mighty costly.

B came back for summer hols a year later. I was esctatic. I couldn't wait to see him but when I met him at the airport, I got the cold shoulder treatment. Why? Why is he doing this to me?

Turns out, he wanted to break off with me. I was shattered. My world came crumbling down. The main reason; he just couldn't bear with the long distance thingy. Whenever he misses me, it hurts him badly. He doesn't know how to deal with it.

Despite the many, many pleas and pleading, he wouldn't change his mind. He never even asked how I felt about it but I finally caved in. And so we broke it off.

That was the bleakest night, ever. I went back to my room all bawled out. I couldn't stop crying. In fact, I cried myself to sleep. Despite the many consolations from my roomies Along, Liza and Lin, nothing could mend this broken heart of mine. At that time, Cake's 'I Will Survive' became my best friend, played on a death loop.

For ten days, I was miserable and they say, misery loves company. It was a weekend, the weekend that we were supposed to go on a date but instead was spent cooped up in my room at my parents'. I was in no mood at all to even get out of my room let alone go out with friends despite the many invites that I got, all in the name of cheering me up.

"Noresh, jom aa keluar tengok wayang", Arai called.

"Malas la. Not in the mood".

"Jom la. Buat apa kau dok berkurung dalam bilik. Not good. Kau tengah sedih2, entah Bard tengah seronok2 dengan orang lain".

"Yeah... whatever. I don't care. Biar la dia nak buat apa pun. Kitorang kan dah BO".

"Alaahhh... jom la Noresh. Aku belanja kau. Tak bagus la kau monyok nangis sorang2 dalam bilik".

"Sape lagi pegi?"

"Aku, Hamdi, Along, Mail etc."

After much delibaration my part and persuading on Arai's part, I agreed. Who knows, a good laugh with friends might do me some good.

Half an hour later, I got a phone call from of all the person, it had to be B!

"Are you going out?"

"Why?"

"Saje tanya. Are you?"

Truthfully, I was so relieved to hear his voice. I missed him so much.

"Yes. Are you?"

"Yes. Can we meet?"

"Why? I thought you didn't want to have anything to do with me anymore??"

"Well, I was wrong. Forgive me? I miss you..."

Okay... by this time I was a mush. I cried and cried and said things that weren't really comprehensible to him. All I remembered was saying, okay. I'll meet you.

Fast forward, I went the extra mile to make our relationship really work. He had another year to go at Scotland while I was still stuck at home. We wrote, called, wrote, called till it was time for him to finally come home.

A-Level results came out and both of us got unexpected results. Instead of flying off to UK, we were sent to different colleges locally. I, on the other hand, opted to quit TM and joined B and the others in the ADP program in Shah Alam privately.

From there onwards, I made sure that we were always together. I wasn't going to take any chances. No way, after what had happened. I was tired of long distance relationship and so did he. We applied to all the same universities in the States. Alhamdulillah, we got admitted into all the Unis that we chose. We finally picked Purdue as our final destination and I am glad we did. I had the best time of my life there spent with the person whom I love most.

TO BE CONTINUED...

I Have, Have You?

Don't forget to switch off your lights on 28th March 2009, 8.30-9.30 pm.


Let's save Earth.

Please go to http://www.earthhour.org/malaysia to sign up.

How True...

I found this on Along's blog and was intrigued to try it. You can try it too...

Your view on yourself:
You are intelligent, honest and sweet. You are friendly to everybody and don't like conflict. Because you're so cheerful and fun people are naturally attracted to you and like to talk to you.
Intelligent, check! Honest, check! Sweet? hahahhaha... I'm not so sure about this but I do know that I'm friendly so much so that I'd be friends with the oddest person when most people would shy away.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:
You are a true romantic. When you are in love, you will do anything and everything to keep your love true.
This is soooo true! Heck, I'd even kill for B, kill a cockroach laa... What were you guys thinking?

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:
You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you might that person.
I knew it the moment I met B. That's why, I went to all the trouble to maintain a long-distance relationship for two years and then made sure that we were together till the end. I do not want to lose him yet again (I did lose him once).

The seriousness of your love:
You like to flirt and behave seductively. The opposite sex finds this very attractive, and that's why you'll always have admirers hanging off your arms. But how serious are you about choosing someone to be in a relationship with?
Hmmm... before B, I did flirt, a lot heheheh... but now, it's limited to eye batting and smiling just to get extra discounts from salesmen :P

Your views on education
Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.
Well, isn't learning a lifelong process?

The right job for you:
You have plenty of dream jobs but have little chance of doing any of them if you don't focus on something in particular. You need to choose something and go for it to be happy and achieve success.
I used to dream of a high-profiled career but that didn't materialized. However, I'm happy with my job now but some added bonus doesn't hurt *winks at B*

How do you view success:
You are confident that you will be successful in your chosen career and nothing will stop you from trying.
Hear! Hear!...

What are you most afraid of:
You are afraid of things that you cannot control. Sometimes you show your anger to cover up how you feel.
Come to think of it, yes, I do but not all the time. Most of the time, I would take the "I don't give a damn or rat's ass" attitute. And no, I'm not a control freak.

Who is your true self:
You are full of energy and confidence. You are unpredictable, with moods changing as quickly as an ocean. You might occasionally be calm and still, but never for long.
I HAVE to be full of energy right?! I'm a mom! Mothers cannot afford to be sick nor can we afford to slack it off even a tiny wee bit. As for the moods, I blame it on PMS hihihi...

That Feeling...

Butterflies in the tummy, heart palpitations, silly smile on the face, unsettling, feel-good tingling feeling.

Suddenly I miss all these feelings. I wish I could just rewind the days back to where it all started. I think I will, just to relive those feelings, in three days time. Sighhh...

Say A Little Prayer....

Recently, I got a text message from a close friend of ours. I was floored when I read it. Her son has just been diagnosed with brain tumor. I'm not sure which son (she has three) but all three are under the age of seven. She asked that we pray for her son's condition and that it is not as serious as it sounds.

I feel really sad for her. I've known her for almost 15 years (with a few years gap in between) and she has always come across as a persistent, jovial and positive person. She would always be laughing and smiling even if she's not feeling that way deep inside.

Somehow, things didn't quite go as planned for her. It's her fate, I always tell myself and the others, but one that I personally think, can be avoided.

Now, with one problem after another come knocking on her door, I don't know how she faces it when they come hitting straight to her face. One thing for sure, she's really being strong about it. I have never heard her once complaint about her predicament. All she asked was for my doa so that whatever shit that she's going through and her son's ailment will pass.

Y, I don't know if you read my blog but you have my prayers. Please don't keep it to yourself. I know you're strong, but in the face of adversity, even the strongest man will crumble one time or another. The other thing is, it's important that you get your parents' blessing. Without it, you'll go nowhere.

And my dear friends out there who thinks you know who I am talking about, please say a doa for her son's well-being ya. It will mean a lot to her. Thank you.