This is Patricia's car.
She just got it today.
I was thinking...
"...I want one too..."
"How? Can...I got plan. Go marry damn rich guy."
"Yeah lor, then buy FLYING CAR! Hah, that will show Santa."
Of course, we have our own local flair in decorating Christmas trees here... like a chilli perhaps?
I noticed this year, Mom did away wif all the old decorations. The paper lanterns my bro and I made when we were in sunday school were missing.
Her fav xmas candle figures are still around though.
I remember a Christmas eve when my mom took my bro and sisters to church. Dad was working in the Capital that time and didn't have the time to come back to a holiday he didn't believe in (dad's a free thinker). It was raining hard outside, I would have a cup of milo, turn out all the lights except for the ones on the xmas tree and sing "I'm dreaming of a wet christmas..." while watching the special programs on TV.
Yep, tis the season people. I feel like decorating a coconut tree or something.
It’s December again. The last month, when businesses wrap up their accounts, the holiday month, the month of bitter cold or rainy monsoon, the month of celebration and all that jazz.
It’s also my birthday month. I’ve been wondering about that for a while now. Why was I born on the 2nd last day of the year? Why not on new year’s eve? But then I thought, does it even matter? No, not really. Just wondering, you know? Haha. My mother use to say that I couldn’t wait to see the New Year. Bleh.
Christ was born on the 25th of Dec. Why 25th? Then again, why not? Would it be just as meaningful if he was born on the 8th of June? *heh* I guess so. God didn’t invent the calendar, we did. Go figure. No wonder it doesn’t work properly. Come on la, leap year? Bleh.
My family wasn’t born into Christianity. My mom started bringing my bro and I to church one Sunday (I was 10, bro was 5) and that was that. To tell you the truth I have no idea of ½ the things we did at church that time. I was just a kid. When I was in Primary 4 I was so scared of failing that year that I prayed for nothing else but to pass my exams. In the end I did pass and my faith was sealed. Like I said, I was only 10 at the time.
As a kid I’ve always knew there is a God but I didn’t know I have to go for confessions to him or that I have to go for Holy Communion. I mean does doing those things bring me closer to God? Would He only recognize me when I go to Mass? I don’t think so. Actually I think this free will thing is that God dun give a rat’s ass with what we do as long as we recognize and love him and his creations.
But of course, that is just what I think. Heh. Bleh.
Our Christmas tree when I was a kid, was the middle wooden pole holding up our part of the house. I would stick pins and thumb tacks in the middle of the pole with Christmas decoration and pretend it’s a tree. I would put a list of things I wish for in a new sock and also stick it on the xmas pole. It’s always the next morning the sock would be gone and a present would be sitting there. Heh. I didn’t mind it wasn’t what I wanted because was too ecstatic that HE came. Who? Duh, Santa of course. Bleh.
That time we were living in the maid quarters of Panaga while my mom worked for a Dutch family. At the time, most of the people living in Panaga are from Holland. It’s not surprising that they also have their own traditional celebrations. Like a Saint Nick with his black elves, throwing candy at good little kids while they run through the area. At bad kids, I hear, they throw coal and pebbles. But then I dun think they actually did that. What if the bad kid happened to be the son of Saint Nick’s Boss’s?
“I’ll see you Monday morning, Nick.” *gulp* Hehe. Bleh.
This year I’ll be taking a 5 day leave for xmas. Not sure what I’ll be doing yet because the same thing happens every year. Dad would be at home watching TV with a beer. Mom would be at Church with the choir. My sisters would either be with her at Church or watching TV at home. Only God knows what my brother will be doing, working probably. I know I’ll be going for WOE (Ragnarok) on xmas eve. Heh. Bleh.
I’ve been invited several times to spend xmas at KL. It sounds awfully tempting (I hear some places in KL rawk during xmas.) but sad to say I’m in no financial position to go. Maybe next Christmas. Bleh.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!! ^_^
Took pictures after the dinner. Lovely couple eh?
After the initial polite manners and chit chat, we all went up again to change to our more casual clothes to par-tay in Cherry Berries. (What to do? This is Miri we’re talking about.)
Okay, whatever happens in Cherry Berries, STAYS in Cherry Berries. Heh.
Off we go back to the hotel to snooze the night away. Next evening back to the normality of our life in Kuala Belait.
Helloooo Brunei.
Yes, I was the fanless dum dum in black.
They also had the traditional Hadrah which was entertaining for Shikin, Tini and I, in more ways than one. (One of the better looking Hadrah guys was looking at our direction, but we could be imagining it.)
Before we were cooked to ‘well done’, Hamdani came out to the tents to greet all the guests. I’ve always been a sucker for guys in baju cara melayu (and any kind of uniforms, traditional Chinese outfits, formal wear, in good jeans, dress shirts, three piece suits…er…okay…) So Hamdani scored a prefect 10 from his shiny shoes to his super lipstick smile.
Then they started the doa. Okay, keep in mind that we’ve been cooking since 11am to 12.30 noon. We’re hot and thirsty. This is because after the 1st doa we immediately stood up (the 3 of us) and was gonna head for the drinks. Thing is…no one else stood up and to our embarrassment there was another doa before the makan. We couldn’t help laughing and giggling all through the 2nd doa. Dammit we were so embarrassed.
After the eats we head for the main house for photos and air con. There I met my long ago classmate who also happens to be the cousin of Hamdani, Fadzillah. After we chatted a bit, we went inside to the living room where the pelamin is to have our picture taken with the King and Queen.
Patricia looked so lovely in her gold coloured gown…*sigh*
Now, all that’s left is the swinging Chinese reception in Miri coming tomorrow. I can’t wait *grin* It’s gonna be at Grand Palace Hotel too.
She looked tired as she laid there with her hands and feet occupied with the henna. We talked and joked about the stuff that happened in Nikkah and what would happen the following Sunday. She said she was in a lot pain from her allergic reaction.
Didn’t stay long because she was tired and there were certain things that occurred which I took notice and didn’t like. I will not blog in out in public due to respect to Patricia and Hamdani. However, when I talked about it later with Shikin, turns out she didn’t like it either. Don’t worry, it had nothing to do with us, it was just how others were treated in front of us.
Anyway, Pat and Hamdani looked prepped for the next day. I was so excited to see how good they would look.
[to be continued…]
Still, it was an exciting time. Aziz and Tini did a good job in guiding the guests. We all had some food to eat, then waited for the people from Hamdani’s side to come with the hantaran.
I didn’t count Pat’s hantaran but I know there was quiet a few. (Pat…if ur white shoes are missing, ask Tini. You know I can’t fit into your shoes. Now…if it was your bags missing…that’s a diff story.) *lol*
Hamdani’s hantaran wasn’t small stuff either. The biggest fuss everyone made had got to be the guitar. Yes, you read right, it was a real freaking good lookin one too. It was huge, we were wondering how to actually place it gracefully and prettily with the rest of the gifts.
So we all drove to Hamdani’s place where we all gathered in the living room where the ceremony was to take place. Before that, we dropped into the couple while they were getting ready.
My first glimpse of Patricia in all her make up and finery was…memorable. She was so beautiful dressed in all white. It didn’t seem like the Patricia I know. Instead there stood a composed, lovely woman, all ready to devote herself to be Hamdani’s wife for the rest of her life.
When they preformed the ceremony, thought I didn’t understand a single thing still…when Hamdani said that “Yes, I accept this woman, Izzah Batricia, as my wife.” I really felt so weepy. They shook hands, rings, signed the contracts…Tini and I were openly weeping.
Some kid handed us tissue. Glad to see that gentlemen still exists in the world.
“Eh sei…kau ni…”
“Nada lah, karang make up orang gugur?”
I had just enough time after the ceremony to congratulate Pat and family before rushing off to work. Later Tini messaged me that Pat went to the hospital. I was shocked! Why? Cuz the make up artist used a body shop lip balm on Pat and she had a allergic reaction to it. She was in major pain. So they took her to the hospital where she had two injections.
Poor Pat.
At least this much I can say, I’ve never seen her look as beautiful as she did on that day, all dressed in white and made up. She looked so HAPPY. I’m just as happy for her. Well, that’s the first girl in our gang to wed.
[To be continued...]
Unless of course you have parents like mine…
May I present to you, fresh from my father’s garden, the CATERPILLAR VEG (Ulat Veg)!
The veg itself is neither big nor long. This one I judged to be roughly 4 inches long. It’s always green in colour and my parents love them. As for me, the mere sight of them gimme the creeps, much less so to actually picture chewing it in my mouth.
Lovely, sweet, refreshing rainy weather we have in Kuala Belait today. Not that big stormy monsoon like rain, but soft pitter pattering rain. Yes, I love rain. I love to listen to it, feel and smell it.
Some people say that when it rains it means God is crying. I don’t think so. I like to think (not that my thinking matters to any one) that God causes it to rain to feed and cleanse us. Kinda like laundry day, where God sees a particular part of the world is kinda dry, dusty and dirty, He sends in some rain to water and clean up then He waits for the earth to spin and dry in the sun.
Okay, if that’s the case then why there’s TOO much rain on some parts of the world causing floods or how about the typhoon Katrina situation in New Orleans?
Ok, I will not say it’s natural. I will not say Americans just so happens to be in the way of Typhoon Katrina. I will not say its God’s Will. We will never know why it happened, but I believe everything happens for a cause.
There’s a song that goes,
"I’ve seen a cloud and thought it was the sky,
I saw a bird and thought that I could follow,
but it was You who taught that bird to fly.
Cause You know better than I,
You know the way,
I’ve let go the need to know why,
for You know better than I.”
So yeah, we all need a little hope, a bit of patience and lots of faith.
They've been a couple for four years now, ppl, and are getting married. Woohoo!
It’s coming closer now, the inevitable, the unavoidable and really, the undeniable fact that a close female friend is getting married soon. We’re talking about next few weeks soon, baby, yeah!
A tiny voice in my head squeaks “You know the old saying, dearie, three times a bride’s maid, never a bride.”
Well, fortunately this Pat is getting married in both Malay and Chinese style, both of which don’t require the presence of bride’s maids. Haha! I beat that old wives tale. (Why do old wives make tales anyway? Maybe they can’t have sex anymore? *ack!* Don’t be so mean! But then again…maybe it’s true?)
The other morning, I happened to watch on Oprah as to why 90% women in America have post marriage depression. Well, Oprah, that’s America, here in Brunei, an unhappy wife doesn’t have post marriage depression. They either have two things, credit cards or an affair with someone that has credit cards.
It’s sad, I know, but true. I’ve seen it happen countless of times. But seriously, though, doesn’t marriage mean anything to these people?
This however will never happen to Pat and Ham because I've never seen two love bunnies so...so in TUNE with each other. Pat talk, Ham listen. Ham cook, Pat eat. See? It's a match made in heaven.
Besides, both of them have credit cards.
But I digress. Back to Patricia’s wedding.
Wedding planning is no easy thing. People would tend to think of silk, satin, lace and veils. In reality, we’re talking about decisions, decisions and more decisions. Silver or gold? Pink or purple? Long or short? Up or down? Abalone or shark fin? Or both?
I have trouble even deciding what t shoes to wear sometimes, so I can’t imagine how it would be like to actually make final decisions on a wedding gown, a chapel and list of guests.
However, Patricia is a great girl and somehow manages to pull it off. Now she only has a few more adjustments to settle. This is how she’s like now.
Normal conversation with the bride to be:
Pat: “I’m getting married!”
Me: “Shikin, what u want to eat?"
Pat: ”In less than 3 weeks!”
Me: “I hear the butter chicken here not bad.”
Pat: “I got butterflies in my stomach...”
Me: ”Pat? What are u having?”
Pat: ”Did I book the rooms already?”
Shikin: ”Ooh, I like ur skirt, Pat.”
Pat: ”Oh no! The rooms! The rooms!”
*whips out her mini notebook to jot down wedding notes and to-dos.
Shikin & Me: *sigh*
I just got my salary yesterday but after paying all my bills, I find I’m broke again. Only this time I’m broke with more credibility. -_-“
Early happy Halloween to all those celebrating this interesting western holiday, where everyone dress up and gets free candy for it. Well, for the kids anyway.
I remember when I was 12 and living in the Panaga Area, I once dress up as a crippled hunchback (pillow stuffed at my back and a plank taped to my leg), my best friend Rana was a mummy (the toiler paper kept falling off her), my brother was a bleeding zombie (blue and green make up and tomato sauce on an old t shirt) and his best friend Patrick was a vampire. Our collection for that night was one apple, two lollies, strepsils and small but brightly wrapped candy.
It wasn’t the candy that I remember most about that night. It was the time we toilet papered a house whose owner shooed us away (we did say “TRICK or treat.” How much fun it was roaming around the neighbourhood, meeting up other kids and staying up past our bedtime.
Raya is coming up just around the corner, kiddies, are you ready for it? I am, haha, planning to go around visiting all my malay friends and my malay staff on the 1st day of Raya. Gonna hunt for kek batik and green ang pow. (Aren’t you a bit too old for ang pow, red OR green? XD …No!) I even have my baju kurung all ready and waiting. Hehehe, it’s gonna be fun cuz this is the 1st Raya for me in my hometown after 4 years living in the capital. Plus, most of my friends are back from Uni overseas. It’s gonna be uber fun.
But it will not as much fun as I will have during Chinese New Year. (duh! You’re Chinese, of course, you’ll have more fun!) I can’t wait! XD
Then let’s not forget Christmas…
Wait! ROFL! I almost forgot my birthday! It’s coming on the 30th December! How old am I this year? Well…okay, I’ll tell you since I’m not ashamed of my age (yet). I’m turning 25yrs old this year. Isn’t that lovely? It’s a very lovely number. I’m at the prime of my life and it’s gonna get better! Woohoo!
Kek batik, green ang pow, Christmas cards and birthday pressies are most welcome! Hahaha.
You know there are always times when it’s bad or depressing. When the one you are fond of most isn’t with you anymore. Perhaps you feel alone even when you are in a crowded room. Or maybe when you are in bed, staring into the darkness, and thinking about what happened in the day time or wondering what dreams you might have when you sleep.
Suddenly you feel heavy deep within, as if someone poured in cement to harden your heart and seal your soul.
But it’s not as simple as it seems. The human heart and soul is not easily sealed as long as you have others, other people who have their faith in you, who believe in you, who trust you. It doesn’t matter if you deserve it or not. It doesn’t matter if they are not around or if they don’t exist in this world anymore.
The main thing is that they are attached to you. The string of your faith is woven in the complex cloth of life. One string may not make much of a difference, but with many strings, it creates a beautiful design. If one string is cut, then that piece of cloth becomes less beautiful, a little bare.
So today, smile and know that you have people’s faith in you. Your teacher put faith in you to pass your class, your boss counts on you to do your work and your parents hope the best for you. Although sometimes crap happens, it’s true, there’s no way to avoid the unavoidable.
Still...
I believe there’s a reason for everyone to be here. Even if we don’t know what that reason might be, and might never know until we die, but it’s there. No one is brought into this world without a reason to live. Everyone has a purpose.
A few visitors didn’t take notice the sign and they ended up so.
I was too busy taking pics to help them... may they rest in peace.
After the feasts of human flesh they still wanted more as they swam around in large schools. Notice their patterns are predatory like. Their beady little eyes watching me hungrily.
First, a rant on yesterday’s crappy happenings. I got to work as normal only to be given the message that my boss will be coming down at 11am NOT 12pm as planned. So our executive had the courtesy to let us know at the bloody last minute (10am) and added, “Please, finish up the stock inventory by the time they arrive.”
Gawd damn.
I can tell you my staff and I rushed through it. Thing is, (I should fire my staff for this or something) my exec also instruct us to help each other writing in the figures from our own lists to the main list BUT my staff forgot that little fact. So then my other staff was left alone with finishing up her list of figures.
Okay, I know we should help up since it needed to be done fast but we have a rule of helping out other staff in their own stock count. In the past we had cases where when one staff is helping the other, if a problem comes up, a wrong figure or expiration date, they would start playing the blaming/finger pointing game. So this is why we didn’t help out.
When my exec arrived with my boss’s right hand woman (oh, my boss couldn’t make it), she blasted me right in front of everyone. Not even a “Good morning, girls.”
Shit.
She flamed me with questions as why the main list isn’t complete and why aren’t we helping the last staff out. She TOLD us to help. This is happening when the staff who took the message via phone was in the restroom.
I was flabbergasted. I told her I didn’t know what she is talking about and reminded her about our rule of solitary stock count and record it in. She then barked at the staff to pass the rest of the stock take to me. I can actually feel my face go BLACK. I mean it’s alright if I actually did something wrong, but to be blamed for something I didn’t know I should be doing, then flamed in front of my staff and the boss’s right hand woman, THEN be barked an order like that. I can tell you I was not a happy lady.
Later when she cooled down (the other staff was also questioned and told her yes, she forgot.) she then instructed the other staff to help out and then we finally finished the list. I was too busy helping the right hand woman to really care. I didn’t speak to her much after that. She talked to me about the write off in previous months as normal and I answered just as normal.
I can’t pretend it didn’t happen, but I know she’s smart enough to know that she did wrong. Well, it’s because when she makes a mistake, she would gloss over it and try to make amends with us the staff. I’m not saying it’s fair but she’s in charge of us, so yeah, have to give her SOME face.
So after that, they left as soon as they finished printing the reports from our cash register CPU. I blew a sigh of frustrated relief. I now have put the matter aside and promptly named my exec the ‘Puffer Fish’, whenever a puffer fish gets excited or senses danger or gets angry, they blow up and are full of poison but looks comical at the same time.
Can we say ‘FUGU’?
End of September
THINGS TO DO:
1. stock inventory check
2. buy electronic gaming monthly
3. relish the fact that I have $$ in my bank account again
4. use the $$ and get me broadband. [Finally!]
5. get ready the master stock list, VIP list, write off form, shop supplement FOC, RQ and PO for the accountants.
6. gear up to put a brave front when ‘da boss’ when she drops by.
I have been working here for the last 9 months and she never dropped by. Why she has decided to do so now is beyond me. I dunno but whenever I heard her name and the word ‘visit’ in the same sentence, I get the chills. The world will freeze over, I get flashes of the last visit and my mind will go ‘hang’ for a minute.
She’s a pretty nice person really which is why all the more deadly. She’s this nice lady who talks to you, asks how are you and do you need her advice in anything or do you have any questions for her but while this is going on, in your own mind, “She has the power to fire my tiny little pathetic ass if I so as much as step [accidentally] on her Prada shoes.”
I just admire women of power like that. Scary, but admirable.
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