The Best of A Week Vacation

This video is specially dedicated to Qel and his whole family for the warmest hospitality during our stay at their place for the whole week. Looking forward to go there again next month and this time will be with my niece Tiara.

DEJAVU

DÉJÀ VU

When the first time Qel sent me “request for friend”, I said to myself, “I think I know him from somewhere but I just don’t know where and when”. The thing is that, it’s like I’ve met him before. Then on the 13^th November Nini and I went up north for our vacation, he picked us up and told me that his dad would love to have us staying at their place and so we stayed at his place the day we arrived and that was the first time I met him in person. The first day I was there, that particular moment where Nini and I woke up and we sat outside with baba, fahmi and Qel, suddenly this 20+years old boy who’s mentally challenged I would say came to the house to buy some snacks and drink.. I’ve seen that moment and I knew he was gonna come again the second time which he did and the whole conversation is so familiar.

I kept telling Nini that I saw that exact moment before, the whole particular moment plus the whole conversation. So Nini told me probably it’s what they called DÉJÀ VU. I tried to just ignore it and let that thought just passed by. Then yesterday, my son Ridhwan asked me, “Umi when can we go to Uncle Qel’s place again?” Ridhwan is a boy who doesn’t easily like a person. What more having to stay at stranger’s place? So is Sarah. And for him to ask that question was absurd. So I asked him if he really like Qel’s place and they both answered at the same time with full of excitement… “YES UMI, We love it..” and Ridhwan continued saying that he doesn’t like staying at places like KL or Subang.

I asked him again if he likes staying at his grandma’s place at Malacca which is also sort of “kampong” and he said NOPE. That really puzzled me because I thought it’s the kampong ambiance that they like. And today he was lying down on my tummy; suddenly he got up and again asked me the same question?

I sat next to him and this time I asked him what exactly made him really want to go back to Qel’s place? His answer really gave me a shock. He said he dreamt of Qel’s house many times before and it’s the exact house. Not just any house but that particular house and he said he felt like he has met Qel before too. On top of that, he said “Uncle Qel is nice and funny”. Wokayyyyy…that’s creepy...MOTHER SON has the same DÉJÀ VU…eeeooouuuucchhh!!!

Whatever it is, I think its Allah’s way of telling me he is the one. Because I have always told Allah that, if He is going to open my heart to any guy, OPEN TO WHOM HE KNOWS BEST FOR ME, otherwise close it permanently.

I guess DEJAVU or NO DEJAVU, I leave it up to the ONE up there. He knows what’s best

I Finally Got The Book....YAY!!

Yesterday, Nini's daughter called me from Bangsar Shopping Complex. She told me that she found the book that I wanted so badly to own...."Tuesdays with Morrie". The book was recommended to me by my ex-GM when he found out about my cancer. We were in the car on the way back from visiting a friend who lost her husband when I told him about this book I read titled "My sister's keeper".
"My sister's keeper" was about Sara and Brian live on an idyllic life with their son and daughter. But their family is rocked by sudden, heartbreaking news that forces them to make a difficult and unorthodox choice in order to save their baby girl's life. Their parents' desperate decision raises both ethical and moral questions and rips away at the foundation of their relationship. Their actions ultimately set off a court case that threaten to tear the family apart, while revealing surprising truths that challenge everyone's perception of love and loyalty and give a new meaning to the definition of healing.
Then my GM told me, if i like that kind of story, then I should try reading this book titled "Tuesday with Morrie". "ITS A MUST HAVE". I have been looking for the book at MPH for weeks. Went to couple MPH and it wasn't available until Juria(Nini's daughter) went to TIMES Bookstore at Bangsar Shopping Complex yesterday. She called me last night and asked if I still want the book. I told her..yes!yes! yes please. She got me the book as a present from her and her boyfriend Matthew.
A wise and loving that teaches us those things we ought to know already but have somehow forgotten. A wonderfully honest exchange between a terminally ill professor and his successful student. They both gave and both received a wonderful gifts of love and friendship.

2nd Radiation Day 1

Couldn't sleep last nite till this morning at 4.30am. Was supposed to take the kids for McD breakfast at 6am but I overslept till my alarm clock woke me up at 7.15am. Got myself ready to go to the hospital. Since this would be my 2nd time, I knew what to expect and the fear wasn't there anymore. Hospital is like my 2nd home now. Last night i received dozens of well wishes from my bosses(including my new CEO), my MAS batch girls and not forgetting my schoolmates MGS'87. Since I got back from Kulim, today was my first day of getting stuck in a traffic jam. One week at Kulim, no matter at what hour, there wasn't any traffic jam.
I only look at my phone after the treatment and saw one SMS from Qel which he sent at 8.23am and I only replied in the afternoon. I was touched when he said he actually fasted today just because I had my first day treatment and he couldn't be here and hoping the Almighty would cure me. How can I not love this guy. Just as I'm writing this, he called. He just "buka puasa". Dear Allah, please bless him always and put him under your protection.
I slept the whole entire time after I reached home. No vomiting, thank God but my throat felt so dry and it hurt even when i swallowed my saliva. One of my client called today and he said i sounded terrible with my husky voice. Finish 2 bottles of mineral water. Hopefully tonight i will be okay as tomorrow will be my 2nd day of treatment. I really pray that this will be my last radiation. They will monitor for a year after this before they can declare that I am cancer free.

My new family member

Shall I say this is the continuation of the journal below. This journal is specially dedicated to my new family..Qel's parents.

Baba enjoying my cooking while Mak was peeling "temulawak" to eat as "ulam" and me...still in my pajamas. Just after cooking brunch. The only thing i havent done was baba's favourite "EllieCafe". I managed to even make baba loves spaghetti during my stay there.

This is Mak peeling "temulawak" to eat as "ulam". Tried it on the first day but just can't seem to like it but one thing...I brought back a lot to use it as my face mask. It look like kunyit but taste different.
Baba eating the nasi lemak I cooked. Simply love him. During my stay there, I just love listening to him reciting the Quran. Hehehe but when he teaches the neighborhood kids to read Quran, they better pay attention otherwise.....

Showing Baba some of my family pictures on my Lappy...


Qel just can't stop snapping candid pictures...at times feel like skinning him alive. Taking my pictures in my pajamas...GOSH!He is one crazy guy i must say

Some people call me "CRAZY"...and seriously I am proud to be called that and I am a "HIPPIE ECCENTRIC" and really happy being one. And even though I am crazy, I don't make a fool of myself like some people. LOL! I am crazy but harmless nut case..

Both muka tak mandi (we both woke up late after challenging each other with the pick up stick game- yeah at times we just acted like kids..but to some people who doesn't enjoy life will definitely say we are crazy but who cares....so what if we are crazy kan?kan?kan?)

I forgot what I was talking about but sure put a smile on Helmi's and mak's face....

A wonderful one week of my life

On Saturday 12th December, my 2 kids and me woke up really early as we had to catch a 9.30am train to Bukit Mertajam to spend our whole week at Qel's. Bought the ticket all the way to Butterworth actually but we stopped at BM because its nearer to Kulim. It was the kid's first long holiday with me. God has helped us a lot..I was kinda broke actually because this month there was a deduction of RM500++ for my kids insurance and on top of that on the 21st of December which is tomorrow i will have to go for another 5 more radiation treatment. The last radiation didn't get rid of the whole cancer.

My boss En Azli has "sedekah" me RM1,000.00 for my radiation(God bless him always) and Tuan Alwee has given the kids a couple of hundreds for their holiday(Allah blessed him too).Its all Allah's help and i can never thank Him enough. Took 2 weeks leave. First week was to spend my time with kids,Qel & family at Kulim and 2nd week will be one hell of week as i have to go for my treatment daily(Monday to Friday).
Train departed on time (09.30) to Butterworth. The kids were so excited as that was their first ride on a train. But only the first 2 hours..after that they started to get so restless and the question like "Are we there yet" was repeatedly asked. The train ride to Butterworth took us 8 hours. Should have bought the sinaran malam but the night before that i had to bake 100 chocolate muffins for a Christmas party.

So had no choice but to go early in the morning and the morning train has no bed.
At 4.30pm we reached BM.

Qel and his nephew Helmi were already there. They arrived at the train station just 5mins before our train arrived BM. I still had butterflies in my tummy and really felt that i was gonna poop butterflies anytime then and only this time my best friend Nini didn't follow me for this trip to calm me down. And to make double butterflies syndrome in my stomach,this time his mom too will be around. The last trip I came with Nini, there were only Helmi, Qel's dad and him. And it was only over the weekend that Nini and I were there but this time it was one whole week at Qel's house.
Finally at 5.15pm we reached Qel's house. We were greeted by the warmest smile of an elderly couple.(His mom and his dad). Put all our stuff in "our room" and we sat outside with Qel, Helmi and his parents. The kids took awhile to warm up as this is their first time meeting Qel & family.
The first day we rested. The kids slept early but Qel & me spent time together til 4.30am catching up on stuffs.
I am so blessed to be loved by his parents and they accepted me just like their very own daughter. The father (Baba) especially has shown me so much love and wants me to call him Baba instead of "pakcik"(uncle). I felt so overwhelmed by the treatment received from his whole family. We cooked together, laughed and joke alot. His parents are so loving and Helmi was funny too. They are just fun to be with and full of happiness in them. They have the simplest life but because there are so much love in their heart, that what makes them very pleasant to be with,That explained why Qel is such a loving and funny guy. The kids got along well and actually like him a lot.
When Allah sent Qel into my life, I knew things were gonna be so okay. I know that things arent always gonna be smooth but I know he is the right one for me. Spending the whole week at Kulim with him and his parents and nephew has given me the 1001 reasons to even want to spend my remaining life with him. He might not be the richest man on earth when it comes to material and financial but he and his family are the richest people when it comes to love, giving, respect and all the goodness anyone can offer. Not saying this because I am madly in love with him but its the truth and that's the reason why I am so head over heel for him. And i simply fall in love with his parents and nephew too. Just the perfect family....

The kids wanted so much to go to the beach so on Wednesday (5th day) we went to Pantai Bersih. Mom prepared "keropok ikan", bread with butter and jam, and also the fried meehoon i made earlier. Just after Asar prayer, we made a move. The kids were so excited and the joy on their faces can never be bought with any amount of money in the world.

I am so thankful to the Almighty for the most beautiful gift call "Life". No matter what I do and no matter how long i fast and pray, I can never repay Him for the blessing He has bestowed upon me and my kids. Guess it's true, when you are patient with all His test, you will be rewarded with His blessing dunia akhirat.

Finally the time has come for me and the kids to go back to KL. The kids requested that we take a bus instead of a train. They wanted to experience the bus ride instead. Bought a ticket to KL which departed on Friday midnight. Wanted to stay longer but i have to work on Sunday and on top of that Monday 21st, i have my treatment to go to. The bus arrived Pudu at 5am on Saturday and my best friend Nini came to pick us up at Pudu Raya Bus Station. On the way back we stop at Mc D to have our breakfast. We were the only at McD as it was only 6am. Thank you Allah for the trip and the gift called "LIFE".