Sanctuary...

Finally... I concluded the Sanctuary by Nora Roberts... I took me more than a month to finish the book... and now I am indulging P.S I Love You by Cecelia Ahern.. my first time with hers. I borrowed from a friend who had abondened the book after halfway reading it. I'll finish it for her....quite different from the other books I've read... the story flow is much simpler and easy reading...

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It's been over 2 months since I last purchase Sanctuary. I think I'll pay a visit to the book store by end of this month. Been to the bookstore recently but sibuk beli buku for Nadia's PMR revision.

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Ada sesiapa anak nak PMR? I'm worried sick...

Strawberry Coklat and Sanctuary

This is prepared by me... alamak blur pulak photo ni...maklumlah camera lama 5 megapix je..

Someone's happy because her wish comes true tonite... strawberry coklat le... kalau ikutkan hati malas nak buat malam-malam. Notice tak.. her new sandal... baru beli siang tadi. That's why pakai dalam rumah. Belum rasmi kat luar. Kalau boleh nak bawak tidur agaknya...

... and Sanctuary written by Nora Roberts. I started this book couple of weeks ago, but stop about a week, then today sambung balik. This is my first time reading Nora Roberts's. Sanctuary is about a lady photographer, she escaped from the house called Sanctuary long ago, after the sudden, unexplained dissapearance of her mother. But now someone is sending her pictures, strange, close-ups and most shocking potrait of all - a photo of her mother, dead.

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jeng.... jeng...jeng... suspen kan... I nak baca ni...

About Mungkir Janji...

I am on leave today.. so... after sending both Sarah and Hajar off to school, I quickly made up my plan for today... off to the bank... and after that to search for a cake for someone's special occasion ... that is tomorrow.

As I was driving alone towards Taipan Senawang (ceh... kat Senawang pun ada Taipan.. jgn marah!), I turned on the radio to Ikim.FM. jarang dengar this station kalau the girls ada sekali... tahu jelah asyik nak dengar EraFM je..

What attracted my attention was the topic discussed... Kewajipan Menepati Janji... bukan sahaja janji sesama manusia tetapi jugak janji kepada Allah s.w.t.

The ustaz was saying that whoever cannot keep to their promise is someone who is tipis IMAN nya! has no DISCIPLINE ! hambik kau!! For instance, perangai suka melambat-lambat solat, selalu lambat ke tempat kerja, sengaja lambat menghadiri perjumpaan ataupun lewat ke mesyuarat atau berjanji sesuatu perkara... tanpa ada halangan dengan sengaja melambat-lambatkan janji atau tidak langsung menunaikan janji tanpa sebab.

Another contoh is, suka sangat menyebut perkataan InsyaAllah... dengan tidak mengetahui bahawa perkataan InsyaAllah itu sendiri adalah kata janji yang WAJIB ditunaikan, wajib berusaha bersungguh-sungguh untuk menunaikan janji. Tapi kita (termasuklah saya) suka mengucapkan perkataan InsyaAllah bila sebenarnya kita tak mampu nak kata TIDAK (that's me lah). Contohnya, bila seseorang mengundang kita ke suatu majlis, kita tahu kita tak dapat datang, tapi kita cakap InsyAllah... sebenarnya Ustaz tu kata tak boleh kata InsyaAllah kalau kita memang plan tak nak datang... sebab InsyaAllah itu bermaksud kita berjanji... janji WAJIB ditunaikan... If we cannot make it to the majlis.. just say NO, I cannot come, instead of saying InsyaAllah.... Can we do that? I asked myself... Are you able to say 'NO' ?

Tonite, 10.00 p.m. at RTM 1, there will be a TV program called blog@1 featuring Zabrina Abu Bakar, the author of the current book I am reading ... Life is an Open Secret... cannot miss it..

About the cake I mentioned just now... I have ordered 2 cakes, a carrot cake with creamcheese topping and the other one is a chocolate cake... petang ni gi ambik...

Next posting would be on tomorrow's occasion.. what occasion? just wait...

Life is an Open Secret...You, Me and We

A book written by Zabrina A. Bakar. A very interesting book consists of 18 inspirational stories of ordinary life experiences.

I really enjoyed this book, eventhough I was half-way through. I had pleasure of reading the contents and this book was sort of book I enjoyed as a commuter on my way or back from work. I would definitely buy the other book of hers entitled Life is an Open Secret - Think about it Here.

Do visit the http://www.wisdomthruwords.blogspot.com/

I would also recommend all my friends to read those books as well. Tell me what you think about this book.

Books and the girls

I like this book the most...

Alamak... forgot to turn the picture... kindly turn your head to the right....

My favourite recipe is here to be tried out later... I will report the result ...soon...

This is another book to add to my collections...

A motivational book by a local writer... I should have bought the first book... this is her second book... I have started reading... very interesting... 18 inspirational stories from ordinary life experiences...

Yesterday morning I was out quite early in the morning to do my groceries at the giant hypermarket in Senawang. Before entering the supermarket, we singgah at the MPH and Sarah grabbed Aku Mahu Buli by Ain Maisarah and Hajar was forced to take the Program Mudah Baca book 1-4. No coloring books this time. Hajar reluctantly agreed with me... For me... nothing... since nothing interest me... not much of choice here since the bookstore was small..

After we have done with the groceries, we rushed home. It was already 1.00 p.m. and Babah has to go for Friday prayer...

After Friday prayer, Angah called me saying that she was on her way from Bangi to balik kampung. The traffic was quite slow as everyone were rushing out the city.. She planned to singgah at Jusco, Seremban 2 for lunch as all her children only have breakfast before the journey. I agreed to meet her there and about 3 p.m. all of us except Babah were on our way.

We met up at infront of MPH bookstore.. This time I have to get something for myself... The girls, Angah's 4 girls and a son and mine 3 girls, altogether aged between 15 (Nadia) and 2 (Maryam). They (except for Nadia, Sarah and Haqim) ran happily playing hide-and-seek inside the bookstore and grabbed one princess activity book for each of themselves.. The mommies (me and Angah), Nadia and Sarah were busy browsing through all the shelves at our favourite sections..

Finally, I have to pay quite a handsome amount of money for all the selections made by me and my 3 girls (books as above). I got the Sanctuary by Nora Roberts, 500 Pai dan Tart by Rebecca Baugniet (translated to BM), a motivational book Life is an Open Secret - You, Me and We by Zabrina Abu Bakar, Cupcakes, Muffins and Scones by Azza Pawanchik and Nadia's a bunch of PMR books. Hope she would produce the best result she could... InsyaAllah... please pray for her success and our children success be it in education or in their lives...Amin....

Out of the Office

I was away from office for 2 days from Tuesday. Only today I'm in and there's a bundle of documents in my in-tray until I delayed my breakfast.

I attended the Developing the Purchasing Skills course at the Legend Hotel in KL nearby the PWTC. It been sooo long since I last attended a paid course. It's either the courses offered not related to my job scope or the company just sooo kedekut to approve my requisition.

Anyway, the course was so informative for me as I am still 'young' in Purchasing. There were 7 participants all together including me. The instructor is generally good in the field and an experienced guy. The best part was the hotel's food was excellent! (it was free).

As usual, if I were to go to KL on official engagement, I would take the Komuter train from Seremban. This time my stop was at the Hentian Putra. Guess what? It took 1.5 hours from Seremban to Putra stop. Bangun tidur bangun balik semula tak sampai-sampai lagi. Quite a boring journey. Some more no story book to read. On the first day I attended the course, I went to the International book fair at the PWTC before balik. There's lots of books. Tak tau mana nak pilih. But... I already had something on my mind... I search and search... and finally jumpa. Punyalah happy jumpa sampai tak sedar I termenjerit. The lady beside me pandang I, she was a bit terkejut I guess. I was looking for the A-Z Smocking. Murah je RM38.00 and after 20% discount I got it for RM30.40 only. It is a translated book to BM. Kalau English version punyalah mahal, around RM115 or more. Punyalah puas hati and smiling all the way home.

Yesterday, after finished the course singgah at a small pameran buku at The mall. A lot of story books but I was so tired to choose. So, I balik with nothing.

Now, I am planning to try out the smocking project pulak.

Ayat-ayat Cinta...the end

That's it!... I finished reading ayat-ayat cinta late last night. I started to continue reading while the girls were watching the AF7.. the season that I was not interested at all... I simply got fed-up with.... the stage!! In fact, the whole thing of AF!

The ayat-ayat cinta... I really like the whole story... the background of the story, the people inside the story, the references given, the characters within and the morale of the story... It was fantastic!!! It was truly full of life! Penuh keinsafan...

But.... I did not cry ya... eventhough it was soooo touching gitu... Maybe kalau watch the movie... barulah terasa....

What's my next book? I will visit the MPH next weekend... but I just received the April's copy of my Reader's Digest...

Now.. I remember the Book Fair at PWTC next week... alamak!! nak kena pegi ni....

Ayat-Ayat Cinta

by Habiburrahman El Shirazy

This is my first non-english language novel. Why I bought this one? Simply because my friend read it and my sister in-law also read it. Semua yang dah baca kata buku ini teramatlah bestnya..

I am now at page 90. I started reading since I bought the book during the weekend. As planned I went to the Popular and immediately searches the Ayat-ayat Cinta. Sekejap je dah jumpa. Tak tengok dah buku lain. Nadia pulak pilih Aku Mahu ke New York by Ain Maisarah, a teenage novel. Nothing for Sarah because she yet to finish her Sarah and Bunga Mawar. And also nothing for Hajar.

Before the bookstore, I went to the textile shop, Casa Moda to buy kain for a baju melayu for my father. And this time no kain for me as I have plenty of stock at home!

The Best Laid Plans

A novel by Sidney Sheldon.

I bought this book in August 2003 (I wrote the date when I bought it). But I cannot remember whether I read it or not. A friend borrowed the book late last year and just returned it today. Since I just concluded the book "The other side of Midnight" yesterday, I might continue with this book.

The Best laid Plans tells about America's most powerful and ruthless world of politics with its scandals and corruption. You may browse inside the book from the link on your left hand side menu.

About The other Side of Midnight, I love this book. I would recommend you reading this book.

Hajar's Coloring Contest, Glittering Stickers and The other side of midnight

During the weekend, Hajar participated along with her classmates at Seremban Parade for the colouring contest organised by the Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah Seremban. As usual she won again but third prize. As I normally have said, as long as she wins any of the prizes that is alright with her. I was always be with her at any time she enter the contest. And she wins!

The night before the contest she was like not feeling well. Alamak! Hajar demam la.. We were at the Bookstore and I realised that she was not as energetic as usual she would. I was looking at the book shelf of the children's section when I came across an activity book which consist of a few pages of glittering stickers. I better buy for her, I thought. In case she won't be able to be at the colouring contest tomorrow. She would have a new activity as a substitute. I did and also did for myself, another Sidney Sheldon's The other side of Midnight. I have started reading it today. By the way, I have finished with the Bloodline. It was a fantastic fiction and I enjoyed each of the pages.

The next morning, Hajar woke up early and I was quite surprised that she was o.k. tak demam lagi. So, bolehlah pergi colouring contest tu. We went there, collect the prize, had our lunch at the foodcourt and we returned home. I slept until late evening sebab kenyang and penat.

My latest books...

I am now indulging reading Sidney's Sheldon's Bloodline. I bought the book on the way to boarding flight to Alor Setar from KLIA. Dalam terkejar2 to the gate, I sempat grabbed (and pay it of course!) the book from the shelve. It is the best ever book that I read by Sidney Sheldon.

Bloodline is about a daughter of a rich and powerful father and sole heir to a billion dollar fortune. In summary bloodline is a tale of love and ambition, danger, intrigue and death. Very interesting. Much better than Danielle Steel. You are right Zarina! I would prefer Sheldon's.

Another two new books this week are Japanese Ondori book on patchwork projects and Sewing bags for children. I would love to start new project this weekend. But... this weekend ada kenduri kahwin and guess what??!

Hajar is having another coloring contest in Seremban Parade in conjunction with Karnival Kerjaya Daerah Seremban, this Sunday at 10.00 a.m.

Sarah dan Bunga Mawar

Sarah bought another book for herself - Sarah dan Bunga Mawar. Ada 30% discount at the same kind of bookstore that I went the other day but this is in Senawang. This book is the third after Sarah dan Anting-anting and Sarah dan Kasut Tumit Tinggi. I guessed she just love all the books simply because the main character inside it was SARAH. Tak kisah lah.. as long as she could gradually built her reading interest. oops lupa, what's for Hajar? again... biasalah.. she picked a Barbie Colouring Book this time. Enjoy girls!!

This time no book for mama. I still have a few more pages to finish Honour Thyself.

Chocolate and Books

A friend of mine, Ziela just came back from a holiday on an island of legend... Before that I kinda 'force' her to buy me something from the island's free duty.. chocolate! When she came to work today, I 'force' her to surrender her big chocolate bar to me and guess what?? she did!! Thank you soooo much Ziela... Here's the tip... Just say your children love it... I love this particular brand of chocolate ever since I am still a little girl up to now became a 'biggg...' girl.

When I was small, I could still remember that my father used to treat us adik beradik with cadbury's milk chocolate and a can of F&N orange drink during special occassion e.g. kalau ada function kat mess. My father was an army and we used to live in an army quarters. There was a mess, kind of a club house then. kat situ ada chocolates and canned drinks! Special kan during that time... 30 over years ago...

Today is Friday, so.. we had 2 hours lunch break. As usual me and friends, Junaidah and Ida pergi SACC mall in Shah Alam. Just makan-makan, no shopping! We ate at one of our favourite eatery - Asiari. I ordered Buttered Rice with Lemongrass Chicken. Sedap!!! with iced-lemon tea lagi. After finished the nasi I cepat-cepat naik atas to the MPH Bookstore sebab ada 30% discount on some of the books. We got back to office by 3.00 p.m. lambat 15 minutes. Nasib baik boss tak ada...

I bought books for Hajar and me. This time no book for Sarah or Nadia. For Hajar, I bought 2 books - First Picture Dictionary and Bacakan Saya Satu Cerita. And for myself I bought 2 books also - Misteri Solat Sunat Dhuha and Misteri Solat Sunat Hajat.

A tale of small miracles and big surprises...

What did I do today? I do all the washing, drying and folding and ironing. Done. I cooked for lunch. What did I cooked? I cooked ikan siakap masak lemak cili api, sambal belacan and timun, and ikan bilis goreng and telur goreng. I done all the house chores diligently and got back to my book immediately. Before that, while I was still in the kitchen, I switched on the TV and tak pernah2 tengok TV2, ada cerita 'The prince and I'. The tajuk interesting and tak sengaja I watched it to the end! The story quite interesting about a prince from denmark enrolled in an American university. There he met a girl in the same class and fall in love without the girl realise that he was a prince. The story go on with all a girl could dream of and finally they live happily ever after.. I guessed...

Back to the book... I was so indulge in the storybook since I bought it on Friday. Honour Thyself is about a courageous journey of survival, memory and self-discovery. A story of a lady who got her second chance in life after a tragic terrorists bombing, got an extraordinary opportunity to count her blessings, heal wounded hearts, recapture lost love... and to live a life that will truly honour others - beginning with herself. A tale of small miracles and big surprises....

Glass Painting at Rumah mak.. Kota

Yesterday, Saturday, as planned I drove back to Kota. Adik was there. As usual Sarah and Hajar followed me. Nadia was busy with some motivational program at school. Babah as usual would not follow.

We went there after lunch. I cooked and eat and left. Normally, I would help Ayah to fold all his clothes. He would do the washing but not the folding. I would do it for him. Ayah gave me the latest edition of Feb's National Geographic because he got 2 copies. Last month pun dapat 2 copies. Sebenarnya Ayah terlupa yang dia dah renew the subscription. When he got the other form the following month, dia isi lagi sekali. That's the reason why they sent 2 copies. And I was to cancel the second subscription or to change it for the upcoming year subscription. This month National Geographic's 'What Darwin Didn't know'. I just browse thru but haven't read it yet. Actually I was busy reading the latest book I bought, Danielle Steel's Honour Thyself. It is quite a good book.

Back to Kota, what do we do there beside folding clothes? Yes, we do some glass painting. It's been quite sometime that I last do this. For Adik it was her first time. So do Hajar. We painted empty bottles that adik collected. Hajar tried her skill on an empty tomato ketchup bottle. See the above photo. I have a few bottles of acryllic colours. It was quite interesting.

Jerusalem In the Qur'an

I found this book few years back on the book shelf in my living room. The book was bought by my husband. I accidently came across that very same book again last nite as I was searching for my Numbered Account.

The first time jumpa buku ni, I was like not really interested of reading it. But now, it is like a must for me to start reading the book.

Anyway, Numbered Account is another book which I am in a midway of finishing it. Quite interesting... about a banking scandal in Switzerland.. a father was killed and the son came back to work for the bank, to seek the truth behind his father's murder.

I do some reading whenever I do not have any sewing project, dah habis lipat baju, dah mop lantai, dah habis basuh pinggan etc. I do read quite a number of books by various authors from those days, ever since I commute between Seremban and KL, back in 1996.

What about the Jerusalem in the Quran? I am yet to know ... until I start reading it..

Talking about Jerusalem.. I remembered the Gaza.. As I was thinking of it, I received an e-mail informing about our department where I am working had launch the Tabung for the Palentine. I do hope that we will continue to support the Palestine people and please don't forget to donate to the Tabung NSTP untuk GAZA. The account no. is published on various on-line newspaper. Do visit the sites.