Priory of Sion...

“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom…” - Lao Tzu

(My new collection of Dan Brown's book)

I arrived at the Mahkamah Mejistret Bentong very early this morning. When the Investigation Officer came we were informed that the case is postponed to a later date. The magistrate has conveniently called in sick. Dr. Hasnah and En. Azman from SIRIM were lucky as they were informed earlier this morning on their way to Bentong, and had turned back just in time. This will be the second time the case is postponed. The first time was on the 16th May where we were made to wait until noon before we knew that there will be no hearing for the case. I have wasted ½ of my day.

Hubby came home early. When I reached home, father and daughter were napping on the sofa while the TV was blaring loud. Tonight we had dinner at Laksa Shack and decided to watch the Da Vinci Code at 1-Utama. A stunning new thriller that will provoke much debate on Christianity, of secret societies and revelations on Da Vinci's penchant for hiding codes in his paintings.

I have read several of Dan Brown books and found them quite interesting.

Apples of my eyes...

'"In life we want to have the best for us and our children..."

(Iwan, Sara and Ja @ Starbucks, KL Sentral...)

Hubby and I came from poor families. We have seen our parents sacrificed a lot to send us to school and later to college for further studies. They did not have savings and the only means of income was from our fathers’ meager salary received at end of month. Some how we managed to survive and become what we are now.

When hubby and I got married, we promised that we want a better life for us and our children. On the day our children were born, we opened a Tabung Haji saving account for each of them and started with small monthly deduction from our salary. Over the years, alhamdulillah our rezeki melimpah, and the children’s savings grew too and we diversified their investments in ASB as well.

Our initial plan was to use these funds for their education when they enter the U. When each of them reached the age of 18, their savings had reached the amount that could pay for their course and tuition fees, estimated to be around RM15k annually for 5 years. Somehow, again Alhamdulillah, with their good results they entered varsities and were awarded scholarships and grants. We even allowed them to buy their cars in cash during their first year in varsities. We have provided enough for them and the money is theirs to use.

Earlier this year, I met a friend in Amanah Raya and that has set in motion for me to write a will. Between me and him and with consultation with the 3 children (arwah Ja was still around then). We’ve decided that Sara, our eldest daughter, will get our Westminster Park Putramas Apartment. Iwan, our second son, will get the Mandy Villa Apartment and we want Ja, our youngest son, to stay in the 5-bedroom terrace house in Taman Bidara. And I have also mentioned in my will that the tanah dusun in Sungai Rambai, Sungai Baru and Pedas will be divided equally between the 3 of them.

Now that Ja is no more around, I’ve yet to change my will…

Dear Ja, mak miss you so very much…

A get together...

“I suppose if we couldn't laugh at the things that don't make sense, we couldn't react to a lot of life...” - Bill Watterson

Today I had lunch with Kak Ani. Kak Ani was my senior in Sultan Ismail College, Kota Bharu and now she’s the senior Librarian of UIA. I have not met her since more than 30 years ago, since our time together in the hostel in Kota Bharu. I was in my form 5 and she was in Upper six. Back then she was our ‘Big Sister’. Looking after us and most of the time covering for our mischief. Back then, we were very naughty but good at heart..

Earlier this week I arranged for a small get together with old friends. We decided to meet up at Crown Princess where Ad is attending a seminar. So on Wednesday, I fetched Senator Ubai at the Parliament after office. We met Adilah in Room 3111 and ordered McD meals while waiting for the rest. Nik Fauziah came later and brought with her karipap segera from Kelantan. Nik Aminah missed the junction to the hotel and was caught in the jam. She arrived just in time for us to solat magrib together. While eating our Mc D meals, we updated each other and exchange news and watch old photos and read friends blogs together and had lots of laughs. It's a pity Bee couldn’t join us tonight.

Later that night we said goodbyes. I drove Senator Ubai to Subang to her cousin’s house to say hello to her aunties then sent her to Taman Melewar. It was already midnight when I drove back alone to Putramas.

Your wedding present...

"Happiness is only real when shared..."

Last week I was busy clearing work in the office, and doing marathon of errands after office hours. Tuesday and Wednesday nights were spent together with the kids looking for lightings and fixtures for our Mandy Villa apartment. Saturday afternoon, we bought air-cons and water-heaters. Chan, the contractor, promised that the renovation works will be completed in 3 weeks.

(Mandy Villa Show House)

On our last visit to Mandy Villa, the contractors had completed the tiling of the kitchen and bathrooms. Most of the hacking and wiring were completed, too. We left the choosing and deciding of the themes and colors to Iwan and Ella. Between me and hubby, we have decided for Iwan and Ella to stay in the apartment after their wedding.

Untuk anak-anak tersayang, Iwan dan Ella, Mandy Villa apartment tu adalah pemberian dari emak dan abah sebagai hadiah perkahwinan kamu berdua…

The start of a journey...

“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm…” - Abraham Lincoln

(Selamat Pengantin Baru)

Today is a day you will always remember
the greatest in anyone’s life. You’ll start off the day just two people in love
and end it as husband and wife.
It’s a brand new beginning, the start of a journey,
with moments to cherish and treasure. And although there’ll be times when you both disagree,
these will surely be outweighed by pleasure.
You’ll have heard many words of advice in the past,
when the secrets of marriage were spoken,
but now you know that the answers lie hidden inside,
where the bond of true love lies unbroken.
So live happy forever as lovers and friends,
it’s the dawn of a new life for you,
as you stand there together with love in your eyes
from the moment you whisper, “I do”.
And with luck, all your hopes, and your dreams can be real,
may success find its way to your hearts. Tomorrow can bring you the greatest of joys,
but today is the day it all starts...

*****

To Iwan & Ella
Wishing you both every happiness and a lifetime of wonderful dreams come true
Lots of love
From: Abah, Mak & Sara

Tie-the-knot...

"Why be afraid of tomorrow when today is all we have?..."

I was away from the office for more than 2 weeks and I could imagine the backlog of reports and drafts piling on my table. First thing to do is to clear my e-mails. I guess it will take days for me to reply and clear the mails.

Work wise I am not too concern as it can be delegated :) I am more concern on the preparation for Iwan and Ella’s Akad Nikah ceremony this Sunday. We have agreed with Ella’s parents that the akad nikah will be at a mosque in Setiawan at 3 p.m. and the jamuan will be ala high-tea after the ceremony.

Check list on things to do:
a. to remind Iwan to withdraw from his ASB for duit hantaran, the amount already fixed during bertunang dulu.
b. to change the duit Mas kahwin into brand new notes.
c. to check with Ella’s parents whether the duit hantaran is to be in cash or cheque.
d. to check with our siblings how many cars to follow the rombongan pengantin.
e. to fetch mak and abah from Melaka if no one is joining the rombongan from there.

Excited jugak nak terima menantu ni ye….

Bratislava old city...

“I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them...” - Mark Twain

(12 May 2006)

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia with vineyards on the slopes of the Little Carpathian Mountains, where they meet the Danube River.

The Austrian border is almost within sight of the city and Hungary is just 16 km away. Many beautiful monuments survive in the old town to tell of its past under Hungarian rule, and Bratislava's numerous museums are surprisingly rich.

My Overseas Travelogue: Bratislava 2006, Slovakia

Budapest, City of Spas...

“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel…” - Rosalia de Castro

(11 May 2006)

Budapest is a city rich in traditions. Buda and Pest blend several centuries of architectural and cultural heritage with all the innovations thrown at it by modern life. Historic buildings and monuments are renovated and restored.

My Overseas Travelogue: Budapest 2006, Hungary

Wachau romantic scenery...

“A man who leaves home to mend himself and others is a philosopher; but he who goes from country to country guided by blind impulses of curiosity is only a vagabond…” - Oliver Goldsmith

(10 May 2006)

The journey through the beauty of Wachau scenery full of history and legends of the Danube.

The Wachau is a stretch of the Danube Valley between Melk and Krems, a landscape of high visual quality. It preserves in an intact and visible form many traces in terms of architecture, monasteries, castles, ruins, towns and villages, and agricultural use for the cultivation of vines.

My Overseas Travelogue: Wachau, Austria

Vienna, Spring of love...

"The greatest part of life is to go to places you’ve never been before, and to live dangerously...” – Noran Bakrie

 (9 May 2006)

 

The Astoria Hotel is situated at the center of Stephanplazt, with rows of shops and famous Viennese cafes. For those keen on shopping there are plenty of flea markets and shopping streets to browse through. At the end of Stephanplazt stood the Gothic Imperial Chapel, houses a wealth of art treasures where the Vienna Boys’ Choir performs during High Mass on Sunday, is also a remnant of the Imperial Palace during the Middle Ages.

My Overseas Travelogue: Vienna 2006, Austria 

Vienna Witness disposal...

“The wanderer’s danger is to find comfort...” – William Least Heat-Moon

(7 May 2006 – 9 May 2006)

Day 1: Dinner at Ken’s with the Austrians’ and Philippines’ teams
Arrived at Vienna at 6.15 p.m. with hotel transfer already pre-arranged. The Astoria Hotel is situated right in the middle of Stephanplatz. Allen and the Philippines’ team have checked-in earlier. Dinner was at Ken’s, a Turkish Restaurant where we had nasi briani and lamb kebab. Roger and wife, Gernoit and Wife and Dr. Raluca, from the Austrian Mint team joined us.

Day 2: Visits to the Austrian Mint and Printing Plant
Picked-up and transferred to OeBS at 8.30 a.m. General presentation was by Oliver F on Company profile and products. Together with the Philippines’ team visited the Origination Center, National Analysis Center, Production Department and Finishing Department.

Transferred to the Austrian Mint and visited GSA and listened to a briefing by G Maier. Visited the precious metal casting and blanking, proof production and auto packaging system. End of day dinner with K Meyer, the Director of the Mint at the Wok, a Malaysian Chinese restaurant.

Day 3: Witness dies destruction
The Philippines’ team flew to Zurich this morning. I was picked-up and transferred to OeBS at 9.30 a.m. Expert presentation was by Dr. D Schwarzbach on security features. Transferred to the Austrian Mint and toured the plant with B Wohletz. Later witness the destruction of dies and signing of certificates. Lunch was with B Wohletz and Bridget at a seafood restaurant.

By 3 p.m. I was back at the hotel and dear hubby was already in the room waiting for me. His flight reached Vienna early this morning. I was happy to see him...

Bordeaux Post-conference...

“There is little difference between being lost and exploring…” - Dan Eldon

Visits to the Mint and Proditec Facilities

(4 May 2006 - 7 May 2006)

(Arriving at the Central Station)

(A short walk to the City Hall)

In Bordeaux City Hall I had lunch with the Mayor of Bordeaux. The lunch was hosted by Proditec. In the afternoon we went for a tour to a famous wineyard chateaux. We had dinner hosted by Samlerhuset MDM at chateau Giscours.

(Life music entertainment during dinner)

My Overseas Travelogue: Bordeaux 2006, France

Paris Conference...

“Travel is education, it teaches you how fast you spend your money”

Benchmarking for the Future

(1 May 2006 - 4 May 2006)

All the conference venues and exhibition rooms were at Hotel de la Monnaie. Global and Technical sessions were held in the Dupre room, Marketing sessions were in the Museum’s conference room. The participants were provided with a welcome pack and later we visited the museum for the exhibition of CRO coins. Later in the evening we had dinner cruise with music on the Seine River.

(The grand opening ceremony)

(The Eiffel Tower at night)

My Overseas Travelogue: Paris 2006, France

Happy Mother’s Day...

“Heroes are ordinary people who make themselves extraordinary…” - Gerard Way

We took the ERL and a taxi back to the apartment. Sara and Iwan were still asleep in their rooms. I was surprised to see a beautiful bouquet of roses and a Mother’s Day card on my side table. There were only two signatures in it where it should have been three. It brought tears to my eyes when I read the poem. It hurts more not to see Ja’s signature in the card.

To Sara and Iwan, thanks for the lovely roses. I love you too…
To Ja, Mak miss you so very much…

End of the journey...

"The journey not the arrival matters..."

Alhamdulillah... I'm glad to be back home...

The flight from Vienna to KL was delayed for an hour because of some technical problems. The 11-hour flight was uneventful and the business seats were half full. After a few in-flight movies and a few rounds of meals, hubby was ready for a deep slumber. Although feeling very tired, I was unable to sleep and ended listening to the jukebox till touch-down. I missed the kids. And I missed Ja the most.

Yang, I had the happiest wonderful time with you…

My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com