Would have been 23...

Arwah Ayang...

Today, the 29th of April 2009, would have been my late brother's 23rd birthday. But it's never meant to be...

He left suddenly, tragically...without waiting for me to say goodbye...

Last night (early morning in Malaysia) I received an sms from Ibu, the mother of my brother's best friend. She wrote how she missed him... You see, even though he didn't get the love from our parents since he was young but there were so many people who loved and cared for him. Allah's truly great! My Mak Ulong said that we shouldn't be sad because finally Ayang will join our parents in Jannah, insyaallah. She said, "Mak dan Ayah dia ada menunggu dia disana". 

Ya Allah, Ya Tuhanku, cucurilah rahmat ke atas roh adikku. Tempatkanlah Ayang dikalangan orang-orang yang beriman...Amin...Al-Fatihah...

Amir and lipstick!

Er...What can I say... It's Amir...sigh...

This happened on 19th of February. I gave Aliah a make-up kit from Avon. She liked to play it with her friends. Sometimes she would just let it lie around and 'Amir' happened!!! Just enjoy the pictures. I hope I'll be around to show these pictures to his kids...hehehe.

 

He was trying to get my sympathy...

Teruk bebenor rupanya...hehehe

He knew he had to suffer the punishment...

The punishment : Standing on the freezer for half an hour! 

Malam Ramah Mesra Blok A : Part 2

On the 13th of February, we had our Malam Ramah Mesra Blok A. 

We not only had dinner but lunch also. Such a small project became a two days two nights kinda event...hehehe. Well, for me it was only fair to prepare lunch as well for those involved in cooking the dishes. As usual we had an abundance of food. The table for dessert nearly overflowed.

Since it was during winter, so many desserts used strawberries as the decor...hehehe. At first the ladies were a bit skeptical about the ability of the OGP guys to make karipap, but when they came down bearing boxes of doughnuts and karipap...we couldn't wait to taste them...hehehe. And it was delicious! They came in every shape and sizes though, from S, M, L and even XL...hehehe

I had to laugh when Shahril came down bearing a tray laden with watermelon. I mean literally a small 'hill' of cut melons. Anyway, the dinner was a success, everyone had fun and we had plenty of food for everyone. We even had leftover to share among us. 

Can you see the melon 'hill'...hehehe

Strawberries here and there...

The early birds...Kak Halina tasting the karipap...

The kids having fun...

They were busy playing...

The box on the right was filled with doughnuts...

Posing time...

Some more pictures...

Started with 'doa'...

Our 'men'...

Nabil enter-frame...

Malam Ramah Mesra Blok A : Part 1

As you've noticed I've written about so many farewell. Naturally, if people are going home, there is also an influx of new comers. Mostly bringing their families to Khartoum. 

Living in the same Block doesn't guarantee that you know each other. So, the community decided to have a Majlis Ramah Mesra for our block. It was something like a welcoming party plus a little bit of a bonding session for our community...hehehe. Anyway a 'hamba Allah' was generous enough to sponsor 500 Euro. We then collected some more from everyone. Who's the 'ceti'?!! Of course it was the both of us! Who else? hehehe...

At first the men decided to have something that wouldn't burden the ladies... yeah, right!!! In the first meeting, they said they would do everything. In the second meeting they involved some of us ladies (including me) and they asked us to cook...sigh...

We decided on something simple, nasi kawah concept. During the meeting someone mentioned that the OGP fellers could make karipap and doughnut which I insisted they prepared...hehehe. The final menu was beef soup with bread, nasi putih, gulai kawah, ayam goreng, ulam and ikan kering. Karipap and doughnut by the OGP fellers and some of the ladies made desserts.

Kak Rehana, Kak Jas and me (plus Amir) did the marketing. Once we arrived, the other ladies came down to help with preparing the meat and other condiments for the event. Luckily Kak Maznah prepared meehoon goreng for us... Thank you Kak Maz because we're very, very hungry...hehehe

One thing I liked about our men was that they're very cooperative. On the eve of our event, I was amazed how many of them came down to cut the chickens... The atmosphere was very kampung-like. Exactly felt like 'merewang' in Malaysia...hehehe. But, there was also a downside to this, they liked to be 'fed' as well. There must also be drinks prepared. On that night, they also made khoruf soup with bread...sigh... They even volunteered to make fried onions for the soup! But the most important thing, they enjoyed themselves, being able to 'bond' outside office hours with friends.

The OGP fellers were busy upstairs making the karipap filling. I asked Mazman to check on their progress...hehehe.  That night, the ladies rested, we only came down for tea...hehehe. Oh yes I remembered one funny thing. Being 'men', they came down with a variety of knives and started to talk 'shop'...hehehe, looking at them, I laughed out loud because some used pocket knife, some used the regular knife while some even used the chopper/ cleaver (this was to slice the onions!)...hehehe. We just let them be 'boys'...hehehe... Enjoy the pictures.

The picture taken from the stairs...

You see what I mean?!! hehehe...

Time to fry the onions...

OGP fellers preparing the karipap filling...

Our QC manager...hehehe

Cleanliness? OK. Everyone's wearing baju...hehehe

We're relaxing...

Amir enter-frame...hehehe

I had a dream...

I had a dream about my brother last night. The one who's not with us anymore...

I don't normally dream. If I do, I would hardly remember it. But last night, I woke up, maybe because I was too emotional. 

What do I remember about the dream? I remembered walking through a gate when someone walked past me. When I looked up, it was Ayang. What made me so surprised was because he was wearing one of his favourite shirt, the white and red one. Tears just came spontaneously when he looked at me sadly, with an apologetic look on his face...

When I tried to turn round he was already sitting on a bus and when I waved at him, he just looked back at me with that sad look on his face. I cried and cried and that woke me up. 

Since his passing, I never dreamt about him before, never. It's been eight months, eight long months... In the beginning, I did not even dare to dream about him but as the months passed even when I wished that I could dream about him, I never did, until last night.

Maybe because I was so tired with all the activities that I let my guard down. Maybe... But honestly I'm so glad I 'met' him. Maybe he wants me to let him go. Maybe it's a sign that he has moved on and for me to accept his passing. 

It's been eight long months but hardly a day goes by that I would not shed a tear or two remembering him. People see me always smiling, always happy but it's just my way of coping with my loss. If I stay at home I would be very lonely. Even when I'm doing something mundane like doing the laundry, I would suddenly remember him and I would cry. Cooking dishes that I know he loved would break me down also. There were just too many memories. Maybe he wants me to start living again. 

Whatever it is, I'm so glad that I dreamt about him. It's such a long time since I saw him last. It's over a year ago at KLIA actually, when he sent us to the airport going to Sudan. That was the first and the last time I hugged him (we're not a lovey-dovey family). We only 'salam' each other during raya...hehehe, but we know we love and care about each other. That's the only thing that matters.

I miss him, I miss him, I miss him so much...  

Ya Allah, Ya Tuhanku, tempatkanlah adik ku di kalangan orang-orang beriman... Al-fatihah... Amin...

Farewell to Kak Halina...

This is another farewell story, obviously...hehehe. This time it's Kak Halina's turn to go back to Malaysia for good, though her husband's staying on. She was one of the most senior in Khartoum. She came in 2004 with her kids, so this year would be her 6th year in Sudan.

Actually, I first met her in April 2008 before she went back to Malaysia for a long break which lasted until January this year. Unfortunately, I didn't get to know Kak Halina all that well, only been in her company for several months. But I definitely acknowledge her expertise in cooking. She's definitely a great cook...hehehe. She helped cooked soto for my kids birthday and it was marvelous... definitely a 'soto queen'...hehehe

Being in Sudan for so long, she could also speak Arabic, Sudan style. One of her latest craze before going back was shopping, shopping and more shopping, especially for victorinox and carpets...hehehe. For me, she's very jovial and we could get along so well...hehehe, especially the shopping part...hehehe

So, on the 19th of March, she left us to start her new life in Malaysia. So long Kak Halina, till we meet again, insyaallah. Enjoy the pictures! 

K. Jannah, K. Faridah, K. Nor, K. Halina and Kak Umi (K.Rafiah and Aseh at the back)

Lisna, K.Halina, me and K.Erlina...

More pictures for the album...

Even En. Rahim joined us...hehehe

Everyone's looking at different cameras...hehehe

The hugging session begins...

With Kak Hanum, one of her longest buddy...

Started crying...

Close-up...hehehe

Leaving their friends...

Even Joseph came to see her off...hehehe

Ready to go home...

Goodbye guys...

Lisna's eyes were actually red...hehehe... Nangis ye?!!!

Petronita Birthday Bash : April, May & June

On 17th April, we had the Birthday Bash for kids born in the months of April, May and June. This would be the last birthday bash before the summer school holidays. This time round, nearly 40 kids were involved. 

Again, I'm one of the mothers contributing for the event. After discussing with Najwa, I decided to make cupcakes for the birthday boys and girls and Najwa would prepare the personal 'flag'. For the rest I made smaller cupcakes, really small okay...hehehe, because we don't want them to 'waste'. Normally, if we give them frosted cupcakes, they would just lick the frosting and left them everywhere. By using the small cupcakes, they could just pop it in their mouth and be done with it...hehehe... Look at the pictures...

With their names on it...

I frosted them with cream cheese, by the way...

Aliah's cupcake...

This time round, we used the MPH because it was so hot outside. But actually, it was hot inside too... I pity the kids because they were melting...either the aircond's not really cold or it was switched on a bit late. Anyway, the birthday boys and girls received a birthday present. They got a mug imported all the way from Malaysia...hehehe.

We had laksa penang, fried rice, fried chicken and other kuehs for the afternoon. For the first time ever, we invited the 'dads' to join us. All because there were so many mothers involved and we don't want to cook dinner...hehehe... Well, we do have another event after isya' as well...

The next birthday bash would be sometime in August, insyaallah. 

Aliah, looking so disinterested...hehehe

Nabila on her left and Nadia on her right...

Getting ready...

Kak Husna handing the 'birthday present'

Some of us...

My handsome boy...

Amir's on stage, angry because he didn't get any present...again! hehehe

Najwa's mischievous daughter, Nadira...

A Tribute to Auntie Arah...

Early this morning, we received news that Auntie Arah has passed away. My heart goes to her family in this time of sadness. We can only doa that her roh belongs in Jannah, insyaallah.

First, let me explain who is Auntie Arah in my husband's family. She was my one of MIL's best friends. The other one is Mummy Daisy. In the 70s, these three ladies shared their happiness and sadness in London. While their husbands studied (in my FIL's case worked and studied), they bonded together. When they had to leave the children for their part time jobs (to supplement their family income), they could always depend on each other to help out.

Such were the friendship that it continues throughout the years. The children grew up together and my husband ended up with three mothers. One of them was Auntie Arah. 

When I first met them in 1997 I was a bit intimidated (during my engagement if I'm not mistaken) . Later, when I was trying out my wedding dress in my usual jeans and t-shirt (as always), I felt really 'selekeh' compared to these 3 trendy Mak Datins...hehehe. But I did warmed up to them and their ways, even though it didn't change the way I dressed...hehehe

I discovered that Auntie Arah's very jovial. She's full of laughter and crazy anecdotes. She could move you to tears by just listening to her stories and boy does she have loads of those. I could still hear her infectious laughter in my head...sigh...

She was such a contrast to Uncle Megat's quiet dignity but they had one of the best marriage in town. She doted on her four children, Azam, Izzat, Ayang and Intan and in later years her grand children. She embraced life to the fullest as well and you can guarantee bursts of laughter surrounding her wherever she goes.

A few years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer but after treatment she was in remission. But it 'broke' her character in a way because the cancer took so much away from her. Her asthma became worse and last year, when we first came to Sudan she fell in a coma and there she remained until early today. 

We managed to squeeze a little time to visit her when she was in hospital late last year. Even though I thought I was mentally prepared to see her but I was wrong... She was so different from her old self with wires all around her... It just broke my heart... I hope Allah has mercy on her soul.

Auntie Arah, I'll always remember your bubbly personality and your infectious laughter. Semoga beliau digolongkan di kalangan orang2 mukmin, Amin... Al-Fatihah...

Petronita Birthday Bash : February-March

The beautiful cake...

On the 21st of March, we had a Birthday Bash for kids whose birthday was either in February or March. This time round, we had it at the playground because the weather was not so hot. Little that we know that afternoon was so hot...hehehe. One container of drinks was definitely not enough and we were melting under the sun. Well, it's the price we had to pay for living in the African continent!

As usual, Najwa decorated the beautiful birthday cake which was prepared by Kak Jaz (made from 4 cakes (8in x 8in). It was huge and the kids loved it so much! Since Hadi's also included in the group, I had to prepare muffins, loads and loads of muffins. I baked around 100 the night before until I wasn't sure what kind of muffins I baked... I even put choc. chips on top of a blueberry muffins...hehehe. Too tired, I guess.

The other mothers made fried meehoon, popiah and if I'm not mistaken, Winnie made sausage rolls...hmmm, very delicious! This time round, the committee introduced birthday  gifts for the birthday boys and girls. So Hadi got a framed picture of himself which he loved so much. 

The funny thing was, Amir was so sad because he didn't get any...hehehe. Unfortunately, there was another boy named Amir as well and his name was called out, my baby thought that it was for him. When nothing was given to him, he had a fit! hehehe, it was so funny... to think that he recognised that his name was called out, my poor baby...

All in all, the birthday bash was a success. Alhamdulillah... Enjoy the pictures!

Hadi, in clothes that was bought by my late brother, Ayang...

Some of the muffins...

Arranged in a basket...

Filled to the brim...assorted muffins...

Power-puff girls in the swimming pool...hehehe

Getting ready for the party...

Anak dara mana pulak ni?!!

Birthday boys and girls...

Cake-cutting time!

No wonder they couldn't cut the cake, the cake cutter was upside-down...sigh...

Nabil and his gift...

Hadi's so handsome...hehehe

Happy with his gift!

Really sad he didn't get anything...kesian dia...

Bribed with food...

Back to his normal self...hehehe

Kak Long with her friends...

Under the hot sweltering sun, we still had fun...