Ashviny's Birthday 14.10.2010

If Rajdip's birthday cake was such, do you think Ashviny would want any less? Nope sir, after taking one look at rajdip's cake she told me she wanted a barbir princess on her cake. Okie! Anyways my mum and dad decided to take that upon themselves and spare me the horror of sticking barbie into the birthday cake. Well safe to say Ash loved her birthday cake also and the fact that she got 2 dolls on her cake rather than just one made the birthday girl even more happy than usual. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHVINY!

Venue was again Tong Kum Thai Restaurant!

Rajdip's Birthday- 8.9.2010

It was a time for birthday's again kids always look forward for birthdays more than adults as kids don't worry about getting older. Nope they just relish the cake, without the worries of putting on more pounds. For the adults, the kids birthdays are always a thing to worry because of the task of acquiring the cake and presents. This year Rajdip's birthday cake was my duty and although given very short notice I was asked to hunt for a Ben 10 cake. Well City Aquare was the first place I sniffed out but unfortunately no cake shop was willing to give me a Ben 10 cake without a 1 week notice ( I had only 2 days to arrange it).

Well, my husband and I hit upon a plan to order a normal cake go hunt for a action figurine which my nephew likes and stick it on the cake. Plan on paper sounded fantastic but our searches were drawing a blank. Either the figurines were to small to be place on the cake or that my nephew had already acquired them thus killing the surprise. Forlorn and about to give up going down aisle after aisle, we decided to give one aisle a finall look out and lo behold we founf a perfect X men Wolverine figurine that wd look excellent on the cake and one that I was sure my nephew didn't have but wd love to acquire. So ithout much tought into it we bought it. Now started a whole new list of worries. How wd we stick it into the cake as the figurine was big. My worry was that it wd not hold due to its weight and wd fall and with it ruin the cake also. Anyways, my hubby being the optimistic one, told me not to worry and get some sleep which is what he did! I spent the night worrying (pessimistic to the core).

The moment of truth finally arrived when we collected the cake and sped off to the venue of the celebrations, Thai Restaurant Tong Kum. My worries were all put to rest when Baljit and Poon (co-owners of the wonderful Tong Kum Thai Reastaurant) helped us stuff wolverine into the cake and let it set in the freezer till it was time to roll out the cake after our sumptious Thai dinner. How did it go? Well I wont say anything, just judge it for urself? Boy was my nephew surprised as he got to eat his cake and keep it also (the gift). HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAJDIP!

Our New Home- 24.2.2010/14.5.2010

Marriage is a big step. Once married the bigger step is acquiring an abode a husband and wife can call their matrimonial home. That one property purchase is a porud moment for a married couple as their whole married life will be spent in that very home and it is there that a the jorney of dreams begins. After renting for almost 1 and a half years, we decided to finally look around for a home to call ours rather than posting rent checks month after month. We went around various places but then finally decided that we were to spoilt by the area we were renting in, Taman Impian Emas and decided to narrow our search to this one place itself. It was a nice location, we had a bank, a petrol station, shops, eateries all in the vicinity and the place was quiet and it had a clean environment. Finally our search ended at Phase 6 where we decided to purchase a 2 and a half storey terrace house which caught our fancy. So September 2009, we signed our Sales and Purchase and once all the loan formalities were out of our way, finally on 25th February 2010, we were handed over the keys of our home.

Renovations went on for 2 months whereby our home was ready to be occupied by the first week of May. On 14th May 2010, we decided to shift into our new home. The shifting process was made easier as we had already begun packing months in advance in anticipation of moving and most of the small stuff had already begun being shifted even before the actual shifting dates. On 14th, we moved all our big furniture that needed help of the moving men. It ttok 2 trips but by mid afternoon, all the big stuff had already been moved and placed accordingly as per decided. Thanks to my mum's and brother's helper over the next 2 days, all my stuff in the boxes were all atacked away neatly in their respective locations. By 16th May 2010, we were very much settled into our new home. A house we could now call our home!

With the blesssings of WAHEGURU, we the decided to hold our prayers on 29th May 2010 as it was a long holiday due to wesak day and all our family and relatives from far and near cd make it to be part of our joyous moment. All went well and I can hardly believe it that we have already been staying at our new home for 8 months. How fast time flies. I can still remember it just like it was yesterday we moved.

Home Sweet Home!

The Passing of Didar Singhji - 26.3.2010

Ghalle Aaye Nanaka, Sade He Uth Jaaye

26 March 2010, Sardar Didar Singhji (Muar), father to my Masardji passed away leaving all his loved ones mourning the loss of a great father and a greater human being. I have know Uncleji ever since my aunt got married into the family ( my aunt's father in law) way back in 1986. A man of few words, he was then already a retired head master. A very gentle human being who had very little to say about others. Always taking care of those around him and making everyone feel very at home when we visited his house in muar. His passing is a great loss to the family and may Waheguru give them all the strength to carry on by placing his memories close to their hearts and never letting them fade.

Additions to Our Family- 22.3.2010

The year 2010 was made even more special with the arrival of 2 new members of the family. Twins Harsraj and Harsvir born on 22nd March 2011 to proud parents Ranjit Singh and Daljit Kaur at Pantai Hospital Bangsar. Aeshlyn Kaur now has 2 cute brothers and she is a proud sister. The most important part about these bundle of joys are that I am the one who suggested their names which later were considered by the parents with some spelling changes. Cool! Never have had my name suggestions considered before. First time and that sure makes me proud!

Tremors & Aftermath Shakes Me

I had forgotten to blog about our office experience of an aftermath of the 2Nd earthquake of a magnitude of 6.8 that hit Sumatera at 9.53am. Well since everyone had already left office day b4 yesterday when the first earthquake actually occurred, none of us felt the tremors of that although a few parts of JB was said to have felt it. I was still on the road driving back home at that time so it would not be easy to have felt the tremors even tough they were happening. However yesterday sitting on my desk at around 10am or so I felt a very strange feeling. Its almost a feeling someone sitting in a ship in the middle of sea would feel. I felt instantly sick and nauseous and actually thought that it was my diet that was doing this to me. I manage to bring my concentration level back to my work however I suspected something amiss when the water the bottle sitting on my desk was shaking without any reason. This puzzled me as my computer desk is very stable and therefore the water should not shake as it was. I walked up to my clerks and colleague alerted them. When we looked out of the window, we noticed that all occupants of our near by buildings were evacuating so we closed our office and coolly made our way down. We were out from office for about one over hour when the building managers deemed it safe to go back in again. No other incidents as such occurred again after that but having never gone thru this before I was pretty shaken and sick after that. I just wondered if I was feeling like that just with some tremors, how about those who are actually in Padang, Sumatera who bore the actual brunt of the earthquake. Is it God's way to do math, I am not sure but I pray for the souls who have perished, those who are in critical conditions, those who have lost family members and to those who have very little food and drinking water. MAY GOD BLESS AND PROTECT ALL!

Just to bring all reading to level as to why we working in Komtar fear that the tremors may affect Komtar (where our office is located on the 21st Floor) Komtar is actually supposed to be a 4 storey shopping complex and a 26 floor office tower resting on the foundations of the complex. Due to refurbishing work, the complex was totally torn down and what is left a hollow square on which the 26 floored office building rests upon so when it comes to tremors we take no chances!

NST 2/10/2009

Cracks in 5 buildings after tremors

KUALA LUMPUR: The earthquake in Padang, Sumatra, on Wednesday left minor cracks in several buildings in Peninsular Malaysia. Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said yesterday the Fire and Rescue Department received calls from residents of 47 high-rise buildings that felt the tremors.Checks by the department's staff showed minor cracks in five buildings in the Klang Valley, Bernama quoted Kong as saying in Ipoh yesterday."The cracks in the five buildings were found to be not serious after checks by engineers and the relevant authorities." In Putrajaya, hairline cracks appeared in several government buildings and homes.Putrajaya Public Works Department director Datuk Abdul Rahim Ahmad, however, assured residents there was no need to worry.He had referred the matter to the city's developer and said the building structures were able to withstand minor tremors as the piling foundation was sturdy."We have only received complaints of minor cracks from residents in two units of a government quarters apartment block in Presint 14 and government buildings in Parcel C."Our officers have thoroughly checked all premises and concluded that the damage to buildings doesn't pose a threat to inhabitants."Rahim said repair work commenced yesterday.Resident Mazuadi Mustafar, 27, who lives on the 15th floor of the Presint 14 apartments affected the most, said he barely slept a wink that night worrying that the building may collapse.His elderly neighbour, Sheikh Aziz Sheikh Said, 74, whose apartment unit bears cracks as an aftermath of the tremors, said they had immediately packed their bags even after the authorities declared it safe in case the building collapsed.

In Johor Baru, precautionary measures were taken at several high-rise buildings, with those inside told to evacuate when tremors were felt for a second day in a row. Among buildings where the occupants were told to evacuate were Menara MAA, Plaza Kotaraya, Hotel Selesa, Landmark Mall, City Square office tower, Menara Ansar and Komtar. Also affected were government office buildings at Wisma Persekutuan.The Johor Fire and Rescue Department received reports of tremors at more than 10 high-rise buildings in the city centre from 10am.

All That We Have Are Memories

Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because dawn has come. Author --- Rabindranath Tagore

I was just sitting down yesterday and managing my Diwali sms wish list. I was putting all my friends and family who celebrate diwali into one folder in my contacts so that when it comes to sending out Diwali greetings it would be much easier. I almost reached the end of my contacts when I realised what I had done. I had also included the numbers of my mama who passed on one month ago (2nd September 2009) and my dearest friend Lachman who passed on 2 years ago (14th July 2007). What surprised me was that after 2 years I still have Lachman's number. Maybe because I always have this bizarre thought that one day I will call and might just hear his voice at the end of the other line. Never going to happen I know but sometimes it is nice to think that nothing is impossible in life. If impossibilities becomes integral in life, it would be impossible to live. When I was posted to Putrajaya I used to think how nice it would be to still have my grandparents house in Rahang, Seremban. I wd travel daily. Even though no one is around anymore, just staying in the house would have been a joy. It is so strange how even today I close my eyes I can still imagine every nook and cranny of that house and all the time I have spent there. The house is no longer where it is. All that is left is a plot covered with thick bushes. The kampung is almost unrecognisable. The sandy roads have been replaced by tar, the papan houses with brick. The yellow buses are far n few in between where once there used to be many. There is no longer the smell emanating from Lee Rubber, the smell that never bothered us but would have disturb many. The biscuit factory just sits there motionless. The cow sheds have vanished just like their owners. The river has dried up where once water flowed. The infamous scary wooden bridge that we had to cross which connected us to the other side of the kampung where the shops used to be has disappeared almost as if saying that our present can never ever be connected back to our past life. It holds as reminder to say that everything changes but change itself. My ultimate dream is to build a house exactly like what our Seremban house was. Wish me luck. Now whenever I pass a signboard that says either Seremban or Pontian, my heart says visit but my mind automatically asks WHO? I have always been listening to my heart so the next time I pass such signage I will visit......not the people but their abundant MEMORIES that is left behind. Nanaji, Nanima, Great Nanima, Dadaji, Dadima, Mamaji and Lachman. Rest in pecae and HAPPY DIWALI in advance.

Death- The Order Of The Year 2009 (Yasmin Ahmad.....The Story Teller)

Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names. (Quote by author -- Proverb)

On Saturday, July 25, 2009, more than 48 hours after surgery, Yasmin Ahmad succumbed to her injury and was pronounced dead at 11.25pm.On Sunday, July 26, 2009, Yasmin Ahmad was laid to rest at the USJ 22 Muslim Cemetery in Subang Jaya, Selangor where her husband, Abdullah Tan Yew Leong, their immediate families, hundreds of fans, friends, industry colleagues and personalities gathered to bid her farewell.

If in one sentence I am ever asked to comment about YA's movies what would I say? I was asked this question just after the passing of YA by one of my colleague. I taught hard. I had watched Sepet unknowingly when it was first televised on ASTRO. It was a revelation. An important message depicted so innocently almost childlike. Having watched Sepet umpteen times ( I still watched it again and again on channel 110 YDK when it was recently shown in memory of YA) I made it a point this time to seek out GUBRA in the cinema in Kuala Lumpur in the year 2006. I had to breve the movie alone as no one was interested in watching a movie made by a Malaysian Director. No form of convincing helped so I decided I was on my own. From the time the lights went out and the title of the movie came on till the credits rolled I was mesmerized once again by YA. I had no words to describe what I had just saw. Any word from the dictionary would not have sufficed. I imbibed the movie as one would inhale a favourite cologne. After which my curiosity towards YA mounted and i turned to you tube to watch all the advertisements that were YA branded. I realised over the years I have seen all these touching commercials on TV during festive seasons and how it struck chords in me but never imagined that these were the work of none other than our very own YA. One commercial that stuck on was the one title 'Funeral'. I am married and hubby snores so I can relate to the protagonist that played the wife. Since our marriage we have never stayed apart for more than one day. Yesterday my hubby had to remain in Batam due to some work. Initially i was thinking it was a good break we would get from each other but after a while realised TV didn't seem so interesting without him and his small silly comments, food without him didn't taste so good, and our bed didn't seem so comfortable without us wrestling for the covers.

So if I were to describe YA's movies/commercial in one line it wd certainly be

' An ordinary/everyday message presented through extraordinary brilliance'

Rest in Peace YA.

Death- The Order Of The Year 2009 (Micheal Jackson)

Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names. (Quote by author -- Proverb)

I could not believe what my hand phone screen was displaying on June 25th (Malaysian Time) 2009. It took some time to sink in that Micheal Jackson, the man that the world christened King Of Pop had actually passed on to meet his maker. I had come to know about MJ back in the 80ties when I had accidentally stumbled upon a cassette lying in my uncle's room. It had no label so I had no idea what it was. Being a curious kid I seeked the assistance of the then popular 'walk man' and within minutes of me hitting the play button I heard my first MJ song that until today brings back all lovely memories of being a child way back in the 80ties. I am so very proud that the first 2 songs that endeared me to MJ was none other than Beat It and Billy Jean. What music, what vocals......amazing just amazing. MJ had a hold over me just with those two songs and back then I was just a small kid knowing very little about music. Imagine if he cd have a hold over a child, the magnitude of hold over the rest of the world certainly is befitting with the title 'King of Pop' that he shall forever be known as. Rest in Peace Micheal!

I'd Rather Be A Happy Whale!

From time to time my friends and loved ones send me profound e-mails that touch my heart and I thank them. In the last few years I have myself become heavier by a few kilos. Age tends to drain metabolism and thus weight gain. There have some people who time and again rub my face in it by saying "Gosh loose some weight"......Like I don't want to. This started to get at me. Why should people be obsessed with my weight when I myself am at a stage in life where I am contended with life. I have a beautiful home a loving husband, a good job, wonderful parents and in laws. What more can I ask for in life.........being a supermodel was not what I set out to achieve. I love being me cause I am who I am. I am proud to say I am a happy whale. Sharing this article I found to be brilliant!

Sharmila

Recently, in a large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tanned woman appeared in the window of a gym.

It said: "THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE?"
A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern:
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans). They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins, stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Barren Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia. Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Therefore they don't have kids either. Not to mention who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?
The choice is perfectly clear to me; I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver and a coffee with my friends. With time we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, "Good gosh, look how smart I am!"

The Paradox

I frequently ask my husband one question, in getting a fatter paycheck, a bigger home, a nicer car and a fat bank balance what are we losing out on? Our average day starts at 5am, my husband leaves home at 6am and i follow suit at 7.30am. I am normally back home by 7pm and my husband follows up at 7.30pm latest 8pm. By the time i get home , clean and straighten out the house, arrange a meal and have my bath my husband is back. We just have enough energy to greet each other, eat dinner whilst watching the idiot box and then retire for the day. Our day ends as early as 8.30 sometimes or maybe if we are lucky around 9.30 max. Weekends don't help either cause there is housework to do, errands to run. As i ponder over this scenario which is the order of the day 5 days a week (MON-FRIDAY), questions are being thrown at me at high speed about starting a family. FAMILY? BABY? What type of quality time would I being a mother be able to give to my child when i have not even enough time for myself and mu husband. I do calculations in my mind counting the time I can devote to my child and that makes me so sad. One of my friends was kind enough to send me this message written by George Carlin which i found profound thus the urge to put it in my blog and share.

Sharmila

Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things..

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less.. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait.. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ' I love you ' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away..