Father-Daughter Day Out

The older my daughters get, the more it's sinking in that I don't have much time left to spend with them! My youngest turns 15 today. And the two older ones will, in a year or two, be going to college.

Many said that it's hard to find things to do with your teenage daughter. You might be busy, they might have better things to do. But I am blessed because I don’t really have problems in that area.

The thing is I make it a point to keep up with their interest like movies and music and…. books. Yes, we read a lot and books, in some way, do help making our relationships closer.

Once in a while, the wifey and I will make it a point to go out with one daughter. It's not that we plan it but mostly the day out would be an impromptu act. It can just be a trip to the stationery store or to a mamak stall but I find that these are great bonding moments.

Like the other day, the second daughter and I went to Suria KLCC with a mission to buy some Japanese foodstuff at Isetan. You see, we wanted to surprise Arissa with a Japanese-themed birthday dinner at home. The trip was unplanned, really.

It was after I sent my eldest daughter off to her study group that I concluded that since it’s a Deepavali holiday, I might as well do something worthwhile rather than taking a long nap. So off we went to Suria KLCC. Wifey willingly stayed back with Arissa as we do not want to spoil the surprise.

We have, of course, been to Suria KLCC countless times, but it was still fun because this time around we stumbled upon the Petronas Gallery.

Then we had lunch (Japanese, of course) at the Food Court and then we went to our favorite place in the whole wide Malaysia – Kinokuniya. We spent hours browsing in Kino and then had some coffee and got excited over Kathy Reich’s latest book.

A trip to Isetan supermarket later capped our father-daughter day out. I tell you that shopping at Isetan is an experience because we were attended to by a very nice Japanese manager who not only helped us to find the right halal Japanese food stuff but also he gave us, with the help of one Isetan’s chef, a free lesson on how to make an amazing miso soup. Isn’t that just cool?

Anyway, we have had the birthday dinner last week (a runaway success, I must say). We had it a week earlier because we figured that we would be busy with Raya Haji this week.

Anyway, Happy Birthday Arissa Sweetheart! May Allah Blessed You Always!!!

The Reunion ... 30 years later

Facebook has certainly reconnect millions. And ever so often, you’ll see pictures of reunions being held all over. Thanks to Facebook, friends got reunited after leaving school decades ago. I saw one 50^th reunion once and I went “wow, that’s exciting!”. And, then, I also stumbled upon this one particular reunion by 18 year-olds that was held after only three months of leaving school and I went, “what’s with that, at least wait la for SPM result first.”

Anywayyyyyy……

I recently had the good pleasure of attending my 30-year secondary school reunion. And thanks to FB, many old friends became contactable again.

And I had one of the best days of my life. Really, I did. If you have a reunion coming up, Go! Without hesitation. Don’t believe all those crappy TV shows that depict school reunion as hellish experience. Unless, of course, you did have a mega lousy time in school.

I, fortunately, did not (have a lousy time) although I was perpetually in awed with smart and the sporty students while in school. I was neither – smart and athletics, I mean. I was one of the many that flew under the radar, so to speak.

Was I happy anxious to go? Err yeah… especially knowing fully well that I’ll be the fattest person in the party…. But I’m older and I don’t really care anymore. And these are my friends who knew me when I was way younger.

I guess when you reached the 47^th years of your life, classmates were less inclined to compete and compare. The 30 years of living provided the roller coaster of life’s ups and downs that tend to mature people. Who has the biggest house or the fastest car just doesn’t matter so much any more. It was a time of talking about family and other harmless stuff.

More importantly, it was time to relive those teenage years. The din at the Grand Kampar Hotel hall on Oct 1^st, 2011 could certainly gave one a headache as everybody seemed to be talking, laughing and singing (yes, we sang) at the same time. I tell you that it was fun all the way as BM, English and Cantonese were spoken at the same time.

Of course, there’re a few who look as they do not age at all (yes, very unfair) but I must say that mostly all look matured and wise.

It’s just too bad that I have to leave early as we had (Adzman and I) to send Zul back to LCCT as he had to catch his flight back to Langkawi. But there will be next time. InsyaAllah., I’m sure of that!

Beraya Online

Tahun ni memang pecah rekod.... kami satu keluarga memang ngam-ngam berhari raya satu hari sahaja... on the first day. Masuk second day, balik asal dah. Begitulah kot kalau tak balik kampung. Sehinggalah membawak dekat dua minggu berhari raya, masih tak le mana-mana beraya... kena pulak memang tak ada open house.

Jadinya, beraya tahun ni memang banyak di online la... dan tonton TV (btw, can TV3 stop air the stupid Melodi immediately... sheesssh!). Bila online, seperti biasa dok usha wall orang lain kat FB dan blogwalking... seronok jugak tengok orang lain beraya.... tengok satu family pakai baju kaler sama setiap raya (what's with that???) and yang paling best dok tengok lauk pauk raya orang lain...

Tapi biasalah dah online ...tak boleh tidak mesti terbaca kes-kes boring yang menaikkan darah dan memedihkan ulu hati....

Antara Kes Pedih Ulu Hati Musim Raya (Online)

1. Tetiba orang Melayu ucap Eid bagai... instead of the usual Selamat Hari Raya AidilFitri... (amboi moden dah kita ya)
2. Wish raya sesama member dan kaum kerabat pon dah tulis in English... kalau grammar tu betoi cantik satu hal la plak (ish ish ish)
3. Amik gambor Raya kunun tapi ... errr.. kenapa semua gambor close up jer (oh nak tunjuk make up Raya , ekk?)...
4. Baju raya yang pompuan seketat-ketatnya (alahai adik-adik....tak sesak nafas ka?) dan baju raya yang lelaki pulak jenis see through sampai nampak singlet hitam (like... eeeewwww!)

Yang Menaikkan Darah pulak....

1. Petknode punya kes
2. Politicians (especially penyokong tegar tak hengat mereka) yang dari bulan Ramadan membawak masuk malam raya dan seterusnya asyik salah menyalah each other dalam wall memasing . Depa ni tak tau ka konsep take a break and tarik nafas and maaf memaaf and enjoy live tenang-tenang? (Penat la woiiii!)

Raya 2011

This Year's Raya is very the simple. And low key. We practically Raya on the first day of Syawal. Only. But it's fun nevertheless.

The five of us after the Solat Raya at home.

Then we made our wy to my brother's place in Shah Alam to beraya with Mak and my  brothers and their families.

And then we rushed back to receive Yan's brothers and their families.... fun, fun, fun!

Clearly sederhana tetapi meriah proportion punya raya.

David Archuleta Live In KL!!

I don’t think I am qualified to be a DiGi Angel but I’m trying my luck here.

Okay, I want to watch David Archuleta performs live next Tuesday in Stadium Negara.

Here’s the thing… my eldest daughter Alia (she’s currently walking around believing that she’s Mr Archuleta’s future wife….and I went: huh???????) will be going with her best friend, Iman and somehow I got “manipulated” into becoming their chauffeur for the evening. And yes, I am merely a driver for the day as I don't have a ticket to get in and watch.

And I still blame myself for agreeing as just what am I supposed to do while waiting for them to enjoy the night away – I can see, feel and smell the traffics in and around the area already. Oh drag!

So, I think it will be awesome if I can get in to watch David Archuleta too with the wife (well, she’s a huge fan of Archuleta too and thinks that boy is a good “menantu” material as well and I was like ???????).

Nevertheless, I’m sure with David Archuleta crooning, it’ll be an amazing date night for two middle aged parents like us. After all, he’s a way better singer than JB. Hoyeah.

Archuleta if he decides to become my son-in-law.

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