fat cat bed

Hehehe...
I read about this just now, it's cute and funny.


http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2009/01/bedtime-for-titina.html

Hope you cat lovers out there like this one too!

Miao!

tagged!

Tagged by Lydia, and this has been long overdue.

1. Senaraikan 5 perkara tentang org yang tag kamu:

1. Her name is Lydia
2. She works in MMHE, attached with PMDP
   
3. Hard on the outside, but actually mellow inside. She said so.
   
4. She likes to bloop
5. She always melalut in her blog
   

2. Tuliskan novel kegemaran kamu:
Michael Crichton's 'The Great Train Robbery'.
Was written in the year I was born!


3. Listkan 5 benda yang kamu sayang:

1. my Titus watch - a wedding gift from my wife. later will pass on to my kids. an heirloom, sort of.
   
2. my wallet - a storage for my family portrait, ID, driving licence, bankcard, and cash (yup, no credit cards). also a wedding gift, but replaced with a similar one. the old one still nicely kept.
   
3. my ultra sophisticated handphone - Nokia 1200. actually, the data in it. and the emergency flashlight. my PDA as well also lah, like that...
   
4. books
5. bicycles

Now, these people are tagged by me:
Huar huar huar...

• panjang
• kelolo
• dino
• noraidalin
• hurul
• aiyahh... too many to list la...
  
• you, the reader of this blog entry
  

Linkin Park now playing in your nearest masjid

Or it could be Metallica, or P. Ramlee, or whatever mp3 tunes that you have set for your ring tones.

C'mon, people.
If you have those ring tones, please switch your phones to silent mode if you don't want to switch the phone off. It is rather annoying, what with the fact that it is actually rude to have music in play while the Khatib is giving his sermon during Jumaat.

On the other hand, may I suggest that you discard your mp3 ring tones and stick to the normal, boring old standard ring tone. That is, if you're the kind of people who always forget to switch off your phones before entering surau or masjid.

Al Fatihah

9:50 pm last night Ayah called me and relayed a very surprising news.
At first I thought he mentioned my cousin Kak Lang has passed away. That would be a shock to me. Immediately he made it clear that it was my uncle Pak Lang, my mom's brother-in-law.

I really didn't know what to do right then. My mind was filled with what to do next. First of all, I recited Al Fatihah for him. Next, to deliberate and assess my current situation. How do I attend his funeral - planned after zuhur today at kampung. Late last night I decided that I couldn't attend, and told Ibu about it.

Pak Lang is of a quiet character. He's a man of few words, but full of wisdom. Understandably so, as he was an Ustaz, an Imam and also a Qadhi. I went to hajj the same time with him, and we shared the same tent in Mina. He took very good care of my late grandparents house and everything around it in Juasseh (the one that you see in Astro - Nubhan's house). That, I admire highly and I appreciate so much.

I pray that Allah rests this good man's soul in Jannah. InsyaAllah.

Al Fatihah.

more...

jalan jalan pegi berendam

Isnin 29 Disember 2008.
Ma'al Hijrah.

Aku sekeluarga bercadang untuk pergi berendam di Starhill resort (kawasan Kempas, arah ke Seelong). Lambat jugak kitorang keluar, dalam pukul 10 pagi.

Sampai aje kat tempat tu, abang jaga kat situ kata kolam tutup setiap Isnin.
Hampa.

Tukar arah ke Pulai Springs Resort pulak. Dah berapa lama aku kat JB ni, tak pernah berkunjung pun ke situ. Macam biasa lah, terbuka hanya pada ahli kelab sahaja. Ada laa dalam rm8k setahun yurannya.

Perjalanan diteruskan ke Gunung Pulai pulak. Info dari anak sedara aku yang kampungnya kat Pontian, katanya tempat tu dibuka. Info dari kawan sepengayuh kata tempat tu masih ditutup ekoran kemalangan akibat banjir kilat 2001. Aku baca suratkhabar semalam, masih dalam kajian 10 tahun sebelum dibuka semula. Ada lagi 2 tahun nak kena tunggu. Errkk...
Tapi aku tau, ada aje makhluk yang selamba naik ke situ dan menikmati alam anugerah Allah. Aku tetap teruskan jugak ke Gunung Pulai tu. Saja-saja nak tau jalan dan macamana rupa tempat tu. Rasanya aku ke situ cuma sekali, 10 tahun lepas... itupun jadi penumpang dok kat tempat duduk belakang tanpa menggunakan talipinggang keledar (masih belum menjadi kesalahan). Nak ke Gunung Pulai tu kena la pulak lalu Pekan Nanas. Heheheh... maka aku pun singgah le jugak jenguk-jenguk kedai beskal yang tersohor kat situ.

Sampai je kat Gunung Pulai tu ada papan tanda 'Dilarang Masuk'. Maka aku pun tak masuk le. Setelah berbincang, kami pun sepakat untuk ke Kota Tinggi. Pun, aku dah lama tak ke sana sejak dinaiktaraf pengurusan (dan harga tiket). Untuk itu, kami menghala ke Kulai. Kali pertama aku lalu jalan tu, dan kali pertama jugak le aku tau kat mana tempatnya Felda Taib Andak. Jauh jugak siut... padan le Mawi suami isteri naik heli nak ke sini untuk hadiri kenduri sendiri (hey, it rhymes!).

Perjalanan diteruskan ke Kota Tinggi dari Kulai. Bab ni, aku agak familiar siket pasal ada laa 3-4 kali jugak aku dah ke Air Terjun Kota Tinggi. Dalam pukul 2 petang kami sampai kat pintu masuk. Lepas bayar tiket untuk 2 dewasa, 2 kanak-kanak dan 1 kereta, kitorang pun menuju ke tempat parkir dan bersiap solat zohor sebelum pegi berendam.

Fuhh... Punya laa ramai orang kat situ. Iye la, cuti umum kan...

Kitorang naik ke tingkat atas dan carik tempat sesuai untuk berendam. Agak cuak bagi aku pasal kena handle 2 budak tak berapa kecik dan sorang mak budak. Kali pertama aku bawak Marsya dan Adam gi berendam kat air terjun. Dengan batu besarnya, dengan lumut kat batu jadi licinnya, dengan air yang sejuknya... fuhh... best dengan bahaya bercampur. Nasib baek anak2 aku tak komen kuat2 pasal couple2 yang shame-shame kat situ. Rasa macam overprotective pulak bila aku dok pimpin diorang masuk kat tempat berendam tu. Tapi bila tiba masa nak pindah kat tempat lain pulak, aku amik keputusan untuk biarkan Marsya & Adam cari jalan diorang sendiri (aku jadi guide aje) untuk melintasi bebatu besar dan licin.

Ada 3 tempat kitorang berendam. Sebetulnya, aku & Naza je yang banyak berendam. Penghujung air terjun tu ada gelungsur lebar. Aku turun kat situ, memang syiok. Last call, kononnya, sebelum balik tinggalkan air terjun. Marsya nak cuba jugak, tapi takut-takut. Pastu bila aku setuju turun sama-sama, dia pun beranikan diri turun kat situ. Penyudahnya, 2-3 kali jugak kami dok naik-turun kat situ.

Kami balik dan cari makan kat bandar Kota Tinggi. Jumpa restoran Nasi Padang. Lepas makan, aku ternampak ada pulak satu kedai surfing kat tingkat atas. Tangganya betul betul bersebelahan dengan kedai makan tu. Aku naik ke atas saja jenguk-jenguk, Naza pulak belek-belek kedai baju kat sebelah.

Aku turun cari Naza, dia takde. Padan la takde... dia menyorok kat dalam fitting room kedai baju tu. Maka aku pun ada laa lesen untuk berkunjung ke kedai beskal Lim. Terus aku telefon si Jai tanya kat mana letaknya kedai tu. Berkunjung ke kedai Lim tu, ada pulak tuas brek Avid SD 7. Aku pun angkut le sepasang... (maka lengkaplah cockpit SRAM aku sekarang ni).

6.30 petang kami pulang dari Kota. Dah balik baru la terasa penat. Tapi aku rasa berbaloi. Ada pengalaman baru untuk aku, Marsya & Adam. Dan ada baju baru untuk Naza. Dan ada barang mtb baru untuk aku.
Keh keh keh...

Fusilli with Baked Fish Dish

I love this one.

Tomatoes are diced.
Fish sprinkled with herbs (thyme and parsley) and salt to taste.
Garlic, onion and ginger puréed.
All put together and baked.
Served with fusilli prepared with boiling water.

Fusilli with Baked Fish Dish prepared by Naza.
Me, I just eat.

I don't know what the fish is, but it's a type of fresh water fish. Jelawat, maybe.
Baked, the fish is like a combination of salmon and terubuk. Thick fat and with lots of bones.
Anyway, it tastes super.

Yummmmmyyyy!

trifle

Naza's trifle: sponge cake as base layer, pudding in the middle and topped with jelly and fresh strawberries

We had our first dinner in Seri Alam last night, with Ayah and Ibu joining us.

For the occasion, Naza made trifle for our dessert.
Yummmmmyyy!!
First try and she made it super.

Another special dish was Siakap Masak Tomato. Literally translated as Siakap cooking the tomato. Hehe... kidding...
Naza prepared the dish. The fish. The fish dish. Hey, it rhymes.
Delishes fish dish. Heheehh...
(don't bother about the spelling)

we have moved

18.12.2008
Naza, Mak, kids and I officially moved to our house in Seri Alam.

Datang le menjenguk-jenguk. You're welcome to our little place.

Hexagon Pi-Water Filter from Cosway

Naza and I bought the unit from Cosway for our home in Seri Alam, and I (who else?) installed it the day after.

The unit is fairly of a moderate size. Not too big (compared to the other Cosway 6-stage purifier). Just nice for our really basic kitchen sink unit in our really small kithcen. It was very easy to set up (no lengthy installation instructions booklet as well), and I drank the first cup only 5 minutes from the start of installation. Well, not literally the first cup coming out of the filter. Initially the water was a bit blackened - probably from the charcoal?

I tested the water for presence of chlorine by using the tester supplied together with the unit. No reaction - a good sign. The thing that blew me way was the distinctively sweet taste of the filtered water. Also, the flow coming out of the filter is quite high - perhaps because of the simple piping route and also the large contact area of the ceramic filter.

At an offer price of RM295 (RRP RM395), we're happy with it. Expect the price of replacement cartridge to be at about RM100, for a recommended usage of about a year. Well, if you install a pre-filter, that period between replacements would be extended.

Get in touch with me if you'd like to own the experience.

www.alwiz.com.my

this is a special entry to promote a merchant website owned by a friend of mine

My friend Arnizah helped me deliver chocolates (and a bonus 3 stalks of roses) to Naza on our anniversary recently.

I forgot to order from her much earlier, and so I gave her a quick call during lunch time that day asking if she could help me for the special occasion. Not really knowing what to send Naza as a surprise delivery, I asked Arnizah for her suggestions, within my budget. She came out with a few options, and we agreed on chocolates. And, she delivered it herself a few hours later.

An sms from the happy missus confirmed the delivery.

In return of Arnizah's big help, I'm doing this free advertisement for her as my sincere gratitude.

Browse through her catalog at www.alwiz.com.my.
Bookmark it, just so you know where to go to for gift deliveries online.

note: the Sarawak layer cakes are from Sarawak.

in memoriam - michael crichton

In Memoriam
Michael Crichton | 1942 - 2008

Michael who?

Chances are, you may have enjoyed his writings - in another media.
Many of his novels are adapted for the silver screen (and TV: ER the hospital drama series). Most notable is Jurassic Park. And a lot more, before and after that.

Melissa Yong introduced me this amazing medical doctor through his book Sphere. It was during my A-Level years. I was hooked right from the first page, and read many of his novels after that. In fact, I have a precious collection of his writings sitting in my bookshelf at home.

What I respect the most is that he digs deep into the subject through his research, and present it with his own rendering and laced with his own ideas.

My favourite? It has to be his autobiography - Travels.

I watched a few of his novels-turned-movies - Jurassic Park (trilogy), Twister (script), Timeline - but I reckon reading gives much more pleasure that movies just can't deliver. Oh, and I'm still looking for 'The Great Train Robbery' movie.

http://www.michaelcrichton.net/aboutmichaelcrichton-biography.html

Happy Anniversary!

At about this time 9 years ago, Nazahiya and I were married.
Blessed with a pair of kids - Marsya (8) and Adam (6), and countless number of cats (currently 7 adults + 8 kittens).

I pray for more happy and blessed years ahead together.

Grow old with me. The best is yet to come...

4 coleby avenue

L to R: Akmal Hisham, Akmal Hizam, Azman, Zaiman, Zulhilmi.

Me and housemates in front of our rental house in Old Trafford.
4 Coleby Avenue, off Lindum Avenue, Old Trafford, Manchester.

It's a semi-D house with a separate garage (keys kept by the owner - Mr. Shabir Bangi) and a small backyard (never bothered about it, but once we had a barbecue session with friends over there). Located in a cul-de-sac in a quiet neighbourhood.


View Larger Map

I don't quite remember this photo existed, until my mate Akmal Hisham (aka Imam) scanned it and posted in his facebook page. What I remembered is that we snapped several photos to be sent to newspapers in Malaysia for Hari Raya greetings from overseas. Not sure whether this was the one being published.
Date stamp: 17 January 1997. More than 10 years. Seemed like it was only a short time ago.

Aah... and look at the colour tone of our Baju Melayu - by pure chance.

credits:
don't know who snapped this photo.
scanned by Akmal Hisham

Afraid To Write

I sent an email to my loved one, just the other day
It’s sad communication has evolved this way.
We use so many words but have so little to relay
as angels scribble down every letter that we say.
All the viral attachments sent and passionate insults we vent
It’s easy to be arrogant behind user passwords we invent.
But on the day the scrolls are laid, with every word and deed displayed,
when we read our accounts, I know, for one, I’ll be afraid.

That day I’ll be so afraid to read,
every harsh word that I’ve spoken - and every time I have lied.
I’ll be obliged to admit,
I’ll be obliged to submit
Will I have strength owning up to each deed I’ve tried to hide?
Oh Allah, I’m so afraid to read.

An excerpt from Dawud Wharnsby Ali's song Afraid To Read.

If ever I wrote in here or any other digital media, please forgive me if I offended you in any way.

Lyrics above copyright owner DWA.
Cut and paste from here.

virtual meeting place

A few years ago I tried to have my own website, to share things digitally - thoughts, photos (videos are a bit rare back then - slow connection).
Then I discovered blogspot. And so I signed up and started writing.

I used to write long emails to friends, conveying my thoughts in discussions.
I thought, rather than sharing it with a person (or a few people in a group), I'd share it with the world. Hence, 'typed thoughts'.

I have a few photos that I use as my wallpaper on the PC desktop. These too I housed in a dedicated wallpaper blog (Faizi, if you're reading this, my 'Faizi's photos' folder in my PC is still empty).

I kept my hajj journal in a blog. Events and photos.

My family on my mother's side have been updating our big family tree in Geni, and I posted a few news and photos. Regularly visiting the tree.

Yesterday, I discovered My Site in my company's e-portal. It's a personal space for employees, but for internal viewing only.

Today I received a Facebook 'friend request' from Alina.
I signed up Facebook because it's a place where all your friends and their pets are loitering. Furthermore, you can't view other's Facebook pages if you're not a member. Have not updated or posted anything or sending requests or anything. Except for this morning. And it's quite a hassle. Learning the rope is one thing, updating and maintaining it is another big one.

I put links to my blogs in Geni, MySite, Facebook and other virtual meeting places that I signed up so far. What I'm doing now is that I keep on writing in here and my other blogs as and when I have the time.
Friends, families, strangers and their pets can always view them and leave a comment or two.

Oh, and if you feel like sending me personal messages, email me at akmalhamid[at]gmail.com.
Or send me texts. I'll give you my mobile number through email.