Dayang Noor's Blog

MCO 3.0

I had my first dose of Astra Zeneca about 2 weeks ago. 

It was such a relief to know that Malaysia is getting more vaccine supplies in the coming months. After living with this pandemic for more than a year we all realized that life has changed. I can't remember how it feels to be sitting with friends in a crowded restaurant having lunch, or going to big book expo, or even participating in a mega Zumba event. 

MCO 3.0 is worse than the first one. This time the number of daily cases are way much higher. We know the virus is everywhere. Entering the mini market feels like entering a battle field. We don't know where the enemies are hiding and we can be shot at anytime. 

Many of my Zumba instructor friends are either doing online classes or started venturing into food business. Gyms and fitness studios will remain closed until further notice. Many studio owners decided to close down their businesses as well. There's no way they can survive. There was no incentive or financial assistance, yet they still have to pay for utility bills and rental. 

School children had only a few months of face-to-face classes with their teachers. Online learning has not been really successful either. Many less fortunate kids can't even join the online classes as they have to help their parents earn money. 

Everyone's hoping that things will get better in the next quarter. When more people get the vaccine, it's possible to achieve herd immunity faster. Only then more businesses can re-open and kids can go to school.

This feels like centuries ago

Miss this playground and the studio floor
My friends from different states in Malaysia
  

COVID-19, MCO, life and the new normal

My family went for umrah and came back about 2 weeks before MCO started in Malaysia. Panic buying started a few days before the announcement. I went to the nearest grocery and bought some meat, chicken, vege and rice. I was thinking, ok we can still go out to get our essentials after this. Don't have to worry so much.
When MCO really started I realized that I didn't want to go out at all. So I stayed at home from 18th March - 14th May 2020. That was even longer than my confinement after child birth. Usually my husband or my eldest son would go out to do groceries and buy other essentials.
Before Ramadhan started, I was cooking 3-4 times daily and during Ramadhan I cooked once for iftar and sahur.
Aidilfitri came and went so smoothly. I didn't cook much for raya this year, only instant nasi himpit, rendang daging and ayam masak merah. We were only allowed to visit close relatives on the first day of Syawal and not allowed to travel cross state. So, I didn't get to see my family in Pahang this year. Hopefully things will get better in July so that we can go back for Aidil Adha.
As I'm writing this, we are in the CMCO (Conditional Movement Control Order) phase in Malaysia. Many businesses have started operating, the government is re-opening the economy. However, schools and universities are still closed. My kids are doing e-learning at home. My 2nd son is waiting for his UPU application result, so we have no idea whether he will start his foundation soon or not. New university intakes will have its challenges. Other uni students will continue with e-learning until December 2020.
The saddest part is there's still no news when gyms will re-open. I need to be at the gym to really work out. When I'm at home, I tend to spend more time in the kitchen, and then in front of the TV or my laptop. Getting myself to do some exercise during MCO is such a huge challenge. I need a trainer/instructor to scream at me every few minutes, otherwise I'll just sit around and sip coffee.
So, after 9 weeks of staying at home I finally decided that I should write. I went through some of my old folders transferred from another laptop and found a few chapters of a manuscript that I didn't remember writing. That's funny because I'd usually remember things that I created. So, I just copy pasted the content onto wattpad and continued with the story. Loop holes everywhere but I hope there'll be a decent story. Well, at least I'll feel good when I come up with something during this MCO.
Follow this link if you'd like to read it. The title is MIMPI.  Enjoy!

Before I forget...

Assalamualaikum!
I hope people still read blogs. And even if you don't, that's okay because I'll still update this page once in a while just to record what I've been up to. We forget easily, so it's better if I park the memories somewhere. (Note: this is NOT in chronological order. hehe. Yeah, I'm lazy like that.)
1. During the June school holidays we went to New Zealand (during bulan puasa hehehe) for a short holiday, but we managed to cover many places at north and south island. It felt very short because it was almost winter and day time is only from 7a.m to 5.30pm. Puasa was also short, which is a good thing. We only had 1 big meal a day - buka puasa. Sahur was really simple, it was either bread or cereal. Managed to shed a few kg after the holiday, which was unusual.
Family potrait
Pengantin lama
Di celah-celah gunung
2). I attended a script writing short course that was tailored for TV drama and films. It was fun, eye-opening and got to meet a few writers both experienced and new. 

 3). During PBAKL 2017 I was invited to become one of the panels for ITBM Sofa Putih session. We discussed the Coffee Table Book I did with my fellow Srikandis that was launched in Oct 2016.

I submitted a different photo, why lah they still use this old one?

 4). As usual, celebrated my birthday in July. This time I ate as much cake as I wanted because I lost a few kg during puasa, so didn't feel that guilty lah.

Celebrated at home
Celebrated at the gym 5). Got my first ever duck as a token of appreciation after being in the Srikandi EXCO for 4 years. To tell you the truth, I still don't know how to style this shawl. Hehe.

Still can't figure out why this shawl is so mahal.
6). Went to Kuching for a short getaway. That was my first time visiting Sarawak. Loved the food. Brought back packets of laksa Sarawak gravy. 


7). My 4th FIXI novel was published in September. This one is quite different. Many of my readers complained it was nothing like SAMAR or JERAT or HILANG. Yeah! It's a kisah masyarakat. Not the usual kill-kill-kill-die-die-die type. I hope it will manage to stay in the market for some time. Haha!

Meanwhile, I'm still working on SAMAR part 2. I know it's long overdue. It's just that I still can't get a few parts right. I don't want it to be out yet. When things don't feel right, you know it's still not right.
Babai! Thanks for reading this entry!

Yarn Obsession

What to do when your manuscript is stuck somewhere and you're just too uninspired to start another one? Well, you can always crochet and make beautiful things. ;)

I started learning this craft when I was only 9. Back then, in my kampung we only had electricity supply from 7pm to 7am. So, in the afternoon, there's not much to do. No TV to watch, no video games to play and off course there was no smartphones. What the aunties in my neighbourhood would do then, they'd have lepak sessions or mesyuarat tingkap from 2-6pm almost everyday. My mom and I would join them sometimes. There was a time when some of them started bringing their crochet yarn and needle and made table runners, baby hats, baby socks and the most famous one was chair backs. It is so nostalgic now when I visit friends' houses and see chair backs in their living room. The popular design back then (even now, I think) was bunga nenas and spider pattern. After seeing the aunties making pretty pieces of chair backs, I asked my mom to buy me crochet yarn and needle. One of the aunties taught me to do 'tali air' that's the most basic crochet. She asked me to do 1000 'tali air'. So I did and made a thousand more until I was so expert I could do it my eyes closed. Once I've mastered that, I asked my mom to buy me more yarn. I started to pester my late grandma to teach me more. So, I went for a sleep over at her place and she taught me a few more basic crochet stitches. 
After that I started coming up with my own crochet pattern. Back then it was not easy to buy the pattern book. Some of the aunties had photocopies from their friends or families. The first thing I made was supposed to be a dark blue chair back. When I was half way done, one of my brothers told me that it looked like 'alas kaki'. Yeah, brothers are zalim like that. So, I un-crochet everything and started something else from scratch. I don't quite remember what I made after that but it was a very small piece and I used it as a radio cover. When I was 11, the sundry shop in my kampung sold a few new colours of crochet yarn. I was attracted to the striking green one and told my mum to buy a few of them. That was when I designed a water bottle sleeve and brought it to school. Off course I received mixed reviews from friends and teachers (not much different from writing books, eh?) The bottle sleeve lasted until I finished primary 6. When I went to STF, I had no idea what happened to that it. 

So, during CNY holidays this year, out of the blue, I took out my old crochet needle and yarn from my sewing basket and started a project. It was a telekung bag. I never knew I needed a telekung bag. I only go to the mosque a few times a year. But I just thought of having one would be nice. Once it was done, I put in a pair of my telekung and I liked what I saw. The telekung could 'breathe' too as the crochet bag had many lubang-lubang. After the telekung bag, I went to Daiso to see what kind of yarns are available and I fell in love with a few colours. So, I bought a few (6 balls of colourful yarns, to be exact) and started another telekung bag, followed by a few bottle sleeves. This seems to be an on-going project as I'm getting orders from friends and families who love crochet  bags/sleeves/table runners/chairbacks as well. OKlah kan? If my book project got shelved, I can always crochet. Hehe.

And the best part was when one of my gym friends told me, "ingatkan awak ni tahu melompat je. Ada soft side juga rupanya, ya?"
Have a nice day, peeps! Muah! Muah!

NaNoWriMo2016 : Ada Apa Dengan Saleha?

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,apa khabar semua orang-orang di Blogosphere? Wujud ke lagi Blogosphere ni? Semua dah terjun lubuk media sosial, kan?Ini ialah entry wajib setiap menjelang hujung tahun iaitu update tentang penyertaan saya dalam NaNoWriMo. Tahun ni sebenarnya tak rajin sangat pun nak participate tapi tiba-tiba ada orang bagi ilham dan peluang nak menulis, maka sayapun tulislah. Kali ini cerita asal adalah daripada karyawan lain, saya sekadar buat olahan dan ceritakan dengan lebih terperinci. Plot utama dah ditentukan semasa sesi brainstorming yang kami buat di sebuah kedai kopi yang jual pastry sedap di Paradigm Mall pada bulan Oktober haritu. Seronok juga mengembangkan cerita berdasarkan ilham orang lain ni. Ye lah, sekurang-kurangnya, takdelah kita syok sendiri berlebih-lebihan, kan? Bila rasa macam dah terlebih hanyut tu, tengok balik nota-nota masa brainstorming dulu, dan kembali ke landasan asal. Setiap kali menulis saya akan letakkan project code name (heh! mentang-mentanglah dulu selalu buat IT projects, semua projek pun nak kena bagi kod!) Projek NaNoWriMo2016 ni saya beri code name: Ada Apa Dengan Saleha? So, spoiler pertama ialah ada watak nama Saleha. Tapi, ada juga orang yang tanya Saleha tu nama orang ke, nama komputer? Hahahaha! Ni mesti sebab pernah baca Di Sebalik DINARA agaknya. DINARA tu lain, dek non! DINARA tu memang nama computer system, itu pasallah semua capital letters nama dia.Saleha ni lain. Saleha ni perempuan. Dia ni macam kita semua - perempuan kompleks yang nak macam-macam dalam dunia. Eh, taknaklah kasi spoiler banyak-banyak. Korang tunggulah bila novel ni keluar nanti. InsyaAllah tahun depan. Tarikhnya tak pasti lagi. Bila keluar novel nanti, korang belilah, ya? Kasihanilah penulis kecil-kecilan seperti saya ini. Dahlah harga minyak dunia tak stabil, kan? Ringgit Malaysia pun jatuh teruk, boleh bankrap nak bayar Zumba subscription every month dalam dolar Amerika tu. Sobs!So, nantikan kisah Saleha, ok? Tajuk sebenar novel ni sayapun tak tahu lagi. Hehe.

STF Daripada Kaca mata Srikandi Tun Fatimah 1956-2016

Borang pra-pesanan (pre-order)
It will not be too much to admit that our lives are generally beyond ordinary comfort that, many in this world can only dream of enjoying. We owe it all to our alma mater, second to our own old folks, for the excellent foundation.
Now that the alma mater is a sexagenarian, it is time to joyfully celebrate, to express our utmost gratitude. Among the many commemorative occasions planned, is a Coffee Table book, carrying the objective of recording and sharing the historical moments and unforgettable stories and memories from 1956 to 2016. 
Ok, let's change the mood....
Tempat jatuh lagikan dikenang, inikan pula tempat mencuri buah nangka, eh.... bukan itu aje... tempat kita cabut rumput semalu sampai berdarah tangan, belajar masak maggi baldi, menyakat makcik amah sampai pengsan, kena denda pergi kelas demerit hampir setiap minggu, 'escape' prep duduk bawah tangga sampai tertidur, hambat 'intruder' guna kayu hoki dan banyak lagilah kenangan dan peristiwa sepanjang nak mula belajar jadi dewasa. 
Kenangan ni kalau setakat kita bercerita dari mulut ke mulut, lama-lama cerita tu mati. Mungkin tak sampai pun kepada 2 generasi. Tapi kalau dicatat elok-elok siap dengan gambar yang cantik-cantik, buat buku berkulit tebal dengan kertas berkualiti tinggi, bolehlah juga disimpan dalam almari. Waktu petang-petang bila tinggal seorang diri minum kopi, kitapun selak-selaklah buku kenangan serba mewah yang sarat dengan seribu memori dan detik-detik bersejarah yang takkan berulang lagi. 
Buku ini luar biasa. Bukan sekadar mencatat sejarah dan kenangan, malah mampu menginspirasikan pembaca untuk menjadi seperti tokoh-tokoh hasil acuan Sekolah Tun Fatimah yang telah mengukir kegemilangan dengan nama masing-masing gah di peringkat dunia. 
Hajat di hati hendak berkempen, bukanlah nak berdrama tapi isi kandungan buku ini mampu mencetus ilham untuk anak-anak gadis sunti yang bercita-cita tinggi. Di mana kamu ingin bermula? Di STF lah salah satu tempatnya. Mahu menggali sejarah dan kisah kehidupan di Desa Tun kesayangan ramai ini? Semua itu ada terkandung dalam buku ini. 
Bakal dilancarkan pada 1 Oktober 2016 di Hotel Istana, Kuala Lumpur semasa Majlis Makan Malam Perdana bersempena Sambutan Jubli Intan STF.
Seksyen soalan lazim
Soalan 1:Harga berapa ni? Kategori buku mewah, kan?
Jawapan 1:Harga pasaran ialah RM129.90
TAPI......
Jika pesan dari sekarang hingga ke majlis makan malam tu, boleh beli dengan harga istimewa iaitu RM110.40.
LEPAS TU.....
Jika pesan atau beli selepas majlis makan malam tu sehingga 31 Disember 2016, harga masih agak istimewa iaitu RM117.
ADA YANG LAGI ISTIMEWA!!Boleh buat bayaran ansuran sebanyak 2 kali (tapi dengan harga belian RM129.90 lah, ya...) Bayaran pertama mestilah RM80. Selebihnya dalam bayaran kedua.
Soalan 2:I tak dapat pergi dinner ni, lah. Macam mana I nak beli buku ni?
Jawapan 2:Kami boleh pos ke alamat anda, anda cuma perlu tambah kos pos. 
Soalan 3:I tak sabar nak buku ni. I nak order sekarang jugak tapi taknaklah pos. How?
Jawapan 3:Boleh aje order sekarang. Nanti datang ambil sendiri di Hotel Istana semasa dinner tu, ok?

Soalan 4:Nak bayar dekat siapa ni? I dah tak sabar nak 'chop' buku ni. Kalau habis stok nanti penatlah nak tunggu korang reprint pulak.
Jawapan 4:Bawa bertenang, ok. Bayaran boleh dibuat ke akaun CIMB 8602136737 PERSATUAN BEKAS PELAJAR PELAJAR SEKOLAH TUN FATIMAH JOHOR BAHRU MALAYSIA. Bukti pembayaran boleh di WhatsApp ke Srikandi Hotline 0193644337.
Soalan 5:Orait. Malam ni jugak I transfer duit. Tapi masalahnya, macam mana nak order ni? I cadang nak beli 5 naskhah. Bukan kiasu tau, terlebih excited je. 
Jawapan 5:Online pre-order boleh dibuat di sini: STF Daripada Kaca mata Srikandi Tun Fatimah 1956-2016
Soalan 6:Kalau I order untuk dipos tu agak-agak bila boleh sampai?
Jawapan 6:Kami hanya akan mula mengepos selepas 10hb Oktober 2016.

Lagi kisah tentang arwah Apak

Ini kisah Hari Bapa yang aku tulis tahun 2009. Terjumpa dalam FB notes, maka aku republish kat blog ni pulak. Selamat membaca!

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Hari ini Hari Bapa. Aku tak buat apa-apa sebab bapa aku sudah tiada. Ingatkan nak masuk pertandingan menulis Entri Hari Bapa tapi rupa-rupanya tarikh tutup pernyertaan adalah pada 15 Jun 2009. Mengapalah aku asyik tertinggal keretapi?

Mummy dan arwah Apak di depan Bilik Warden STF tahun 1991Hari kelmarin aku cuma pegi beli coklat sekotak, bungkus cantik-cantik dan lepas tu, suruh Waz1f dengan Shawq1 tulis kad untuk bapa diorang. Diorang konon buat surprise lah. Masa bapa diorang balik dari pasar malam, diorang bagilah bungkusan coklat tu. Pagi ni diorang yang bersungguh-sungguh menjamu selera dengan coklat tu. Aku sempat rasa sebijik aje tadi.

Kalau arwah bapa aku hidup lagi, tahun ni dia akan berumur 78 tahun (sebab dalam IC kata dia lahir tahun 1931). Itupun tarikh lahir sebenarnya tak dapat dipastikan. Aku dilahirkan ketika bapa aku berusia 43 tahun manakala emak aku 34. Kiranya aku ni benih hujung-hujung lah. Mungkin sebab itu selalu ada personality conflict. Bapa dengan mak aku tak pernah jangka aku akan dilahirkan seorang perempuan sebab 5 orang anak mereka sebelum aku semuanya lelaki. Masa aku kecik aku selalu rasa nak jadi lelaki sebab jadi budak perempuan tak best langsung.
Pakai seluar jeans hari-hari tak boleh, gelak kuat-kuat tak boleh, melepak depan TV duduk terkangkang tak boleh, nak pegi main bola dengan budak-budak lelaki petang-petang tak boleh. Banyak betullah pantang larang kalau dilahirkan jadi budak perempuan ni.

Nasib baiklah zaman aku kecik, budak perempuan dah boleh tengok TV, pegi sekolah dan baca buku. Kalau aku lahir zaman Jahiliah mungkin aku akan jadi ketua Pejuang Pemberontak Wanita yang sangat brutal.

Berbalik kepada cerita arwah bapa aku (ni kan entri Hari Bapa, yang aku membebel pasal aku punya kisah masa kecik tu kira sengaja melencong jauh le.. hehehe). Aku panggil arwah bapa aku Apak. Jangan tanya asal-usulnya panggilan itu, akupun tak pasti. Tapi kawan-kawan aku lagi confuse sebab aku panggil mak aku Mummy. Cuba bayangkan, duduk kat kampung, sekolah kat kampung tapi panggil mak, Mummy. Teruk jugaklah kena kutuk zaman-zaman sekolah rendah dulu, tapi aku tetap maintain macho.

Apak aku garang boleh tahan. Bila mood dia baik, dia memang ramah dan gelak huha-huha. Tapi bila angin dia datang, eloklah baca Bismillah dan bagi salam baik-baik sebelum nak cakap apa-apa dengan dia. Aku yang perempuan ni pun pernah kena tampar dengan dia. Aku tak ingatlah apa ceritanya, masa tu aku kecik lagi.

Masa aku dalam darjah 2 Apak pernah tanya aku nak hadiah apa-apa tak sebab masa tu aku periksa dapat Nombor 1. Aku cakap nak basikal sebab kawan-kawan lain semua ada basikal. Tapi mummy dengan apak aku tak bagi. Diorang bimbang aku akan terlebih sosial kalau ada basikal. Budak perempuan yang rebellious dan sosial memang tak sesuai diberikan basikal. Pada masa yang sama, apak aku tanya abang aku nak apa sebab dia pun dapat keputusan periksa yang cemerlang. Abang aku cakap dia nak Drawing Block. Dalam hati aku, 'Cheh, lukih pun tak reti, nak drawing block konon....' Pada keesokan harinya, kami dua-dua orang mendapat drawing block. Padan muka aku, hahahahaha.

Masa aku lepas Penilaian Darjah Lima, apak bagi aku surprise gift sebab dapat keputusan semua A. Masa tu apak dengan abang aku yang No. 2 pegi beli kat Triang. Hadiah tu besar!!! Kotak dia berbalut dengan kertas bunga-bunga warna merah. Apak nak bagi hadiah tu kat aku masa hari ucapan dekat sekolah. Dalam pada menunggu hari ucapan, maka hadiah tu diletakkan di rumah dekat meja aku selalu buat homework. Aku cuba-cuba jugak nak intai apa benda yang ada dalam kotak tu, tapi kotaknya tebal, tak boleh nak siat sikit pun.

Semasa hari ucapan dan penyampaian hadiah, apak aku datang pakai slack, kemeja, kot dan bawak briefcase. Aku cuak gila. Tahun tu memang apak pengetua PIBG kat sekolah, aku tau memang dia akan bagi ucapan. Tapi, apa hal lah nak kena pasang badan sampai macam tu sekali, kan? Bila tiba giliran apak bagi ucapan, aku sorok-sorok tutup telinga sebab aku takut dia nak buat lakonan sebabak filem P. Ramlee, kalau tak pun dia nak buat lawak Aziz Sattar. Lepas dia mula berucap lebih kurang 2 minit, aku dengar kawan-kawan aku gelak sakan. Aku pun turunkan tangan dan baru sibuk tanya orang sebelah apa dah jadi. Kawan kat sebelah aku cakap ,'Best lah ayah kau. Kelakar betul. Macam ni lah kalau nak bagi ucapan menarik.'

Sampai hari ni aku tak pasti apa yang apak buat sepanjang 2 minit tu. Tapi, bila aku dah tak tutup telinga, dia bercerita dan bagi nasihat supaya jangan mudah terpedaya dengan manusia yang luarannya nampak mengkagumkan tapi sebenarnya auta semata. Lepas tu ada lagilah apak aku cerita pasal keyakinan diri. Bila habis berucap, semua kawan-kawan akupun tepuk tangan dengan meriahnya.

Sewaktu sessi penyampaian hadiah, apak sendiri yang sampaikan hadiah besar tu kepada aku. Bila aku bawak hadiah tu keluar, kawan-kawan akupun kerumun nak tengok apa kat dalam kotak tu. Maka, akupun buka beramai-ramai. Semua orang suspen, akupun suspen jugak. Kawan-kawan aku semua teka mesti mini-compo sebab zaman tu breakdance dengan mini-compo tengah popular. Tekaan semua orang meleset sebab sebenarnya apak aku bagi hadiah mesin taip jenama Brothers. Hehehehe... sebab hadiah itulah lepas tu akupun belajar menaip dengan apak aku.

Masa aku kat STF apak aku tak pernah datang melawat kecuali masa nak jemput aku balik lepas SPM. Tapi masa aku tunggu keputusan SRP, dia pernah cabar aku. Dia kata kalau aku dapat semua A1, nanti dia nak hadiahkan komputer. Bila result dah keluar, alhamdulillah memang semua subjek aku dapat A1, tapi apak senyap je. Sampai habis tingkatan 4 pun dia senyap jugak. Jadi bila aku dah balik rumah lepas SPM, akupun cubalah ingatkan dia pasal cabaran dia tu. Tiga hari tiga malam jugak apak cuba nak mengingatkan betulke dia pernah bagi cabaran macam tu. Lepas dah ingat balik, maka apak dan kawannya pun membawa aku ke kedai komputer terdekat masa tu di Mentakab untuk membeli sebuah komputer peribadi.

Oleh kerana zaman tu Windows tak menapak lagi di Malaysia, maka aku menggunakan PC yang berasaskan DOS sahaja. Mouse pun tak ada, maka terpaksalah aku menghafal semua short-cut key yang ada.

Setelah membuang masa beberapa bulan di kampung selepas SPM, aku pun melanjutkan pelajaran ke UPM. Semasa bulan pertama di kampus, memang siksa sebab kolej kediaman dengan Fakulti Kejuruteraan tu rupanya jauh ya rabbi. Kalau ada kelas pukul 8, pukul 7.30 dah kena mula menapak dari kolej. Kalau ada subjek ladang pulak, lagi haru. Ladang mula pukul 2 petang, lepas solat Zuhur dah kena keluar, singgah kat stor ladang untuk ambil cangkul, cakar, penggali dan sebagainya. Lepas tu kena jalan kaki lagi 20 minit untuk sampai ke batas tanaman masing-masing.

Oleh kerana akupun tak larat nak menunjuk macho, maka satu hari aku telefon apak. Hajat di hati aku nak cuba mintak sesuatu yang aku pernah minta sepuluh tahun sebelumnya sebab kali ini aku ada alasan yang lebih kukuh. Masa telefon apak, aku cakap pelan-pelan nak mintak basikal sebijik. Kalau boleh mountain bike lah, sebab aku nak kena pegi kuliah dan ladang. Masa tu apak macam sporting je bunyinya, dia sangat memahami kesukaran aku hendak bergerak sekitar kampus. Selang seminggu kemudian, tiba-tiba abang aku datang menghantar sebuah motor kapchai baru kepada aku. Wow! Akupun buat-buat terkejut besar depan kawan-kawan. Aku dah agak dah, apak takkan belikan aku basikal punya. Perempuan rebellious yang suka bersosial memang tak sesuai bawak basikal, kan?

Sebenarnya ada banyak lagi kisah-kisah kenangan dengan apak aku yang aku masih ingat, tapi tak larat nak tulis di sini. Kalau aku tulis, 15 hari 15 malam korang kena baca. Entri tahun ni banyak yang berkaitan dengan material sahaja supaya korang dapat membayangkan betapa materialistiknya aku ni.... hihihi. Kenangan yang lain tu aku simpan untuk tahun depan - lebih ilmiah dan penuh unsur-unsur keinsafan mungkin.

Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat kepada roh apak aku. Al Fatihah.

Happy Father's Day, Apak.

My father left us 20 years ago. My mom, two of my brothers and I were at his side when he took his last breath. He left us 11 months after a major heart attack. I will always remember him as the man who always think. If you see him smoking alone at the dining table or on top of the tangga batu in front of our house, you'll notice him talking to himself. Soon after that he would call one of us to share what he was thinking. It was always weird ideas (at least when I was younger I thought they were weird). Once in the early 1990s he told me that if he were Mahathir (then PM) he would move all the government administration offices far away from KL City Center and Pusat Bandar Damansara. He thought that the traffic congestion was too much to bear. Since he was about Mahathir's age, he thought the PM would think of the same thing. OK, we live in Pahang, I had no idea why he was so concerned about traffic in KL.  About 10 years later it really happened. Many of the ministries were moved to Putrajaya. Although it didn't really solve the traffic congestion problem in KL, at least it is now easier for us to go to Putrajaya when we have to renew our passports at the Immigration office. 
My late father with my brother, Ally and one of our Chikaboos in 1995In 1995 he did something crazy when he purchased 5 ostriches from The Netherlands. I was really surprised when I came back from Uni and found 5 strange looking birds at the back of our house. If anyone asked him why he did it back then, he would say that Malaysian weather seemed to suit ostriches, perhaps it's time to breed them here. He also thought that ostrich meat could be a good option.
Until today I didn't know how much it cost him to buy the 5 Chikaboos but we really had fun watching the big birds danced when there was strong wind, and even after a few years I still couldn't tell the male and female apart.
We had visitors from a few parts of the world who came to interview my late father, even Majalah 3 did a segment on his effort and he became an instant celebrity in Triang, Temerloh, Bera dan kawasan-kawasan yang sewaktu dengannya.
Apart from strange ideas, he always gave us advice that we only appreciate 10 or 15 years later. For instance, after he had the heart attack and recuperating at home he asked me whether I've decided on what to major in my studies. I couldn't make up my mind then. He told me to focus on Computer Software, although he knew that I was doing Electronics and Computer Engineering. The only software I was learning back then was PASCAL programming Microsoft Office. So, I asked him why.
He said that after some time the Computer Hardware industry will become very slow and stagnant and this will hinder technical people and engineers who love doing new things to have fun exploring.
I didn't really get it back then. But when I became part of the industry (and thank god I decided to focus on Operating System, Database and Virtualization technology) his advice started to make sense. For someone who likes new challenges everyday, being in the software industry is more interesting and challenging.
FYI, my late father was computer illiterate but he used to read a lot.
That's my late father, the thinker and he was way ahead of everyone.
Happy father's day, Apak. Wish you were still here.

Srikandi Sports Carnival 2016

Ini satu lagi acara besar yang dianjurkan oleh Srikandi untuk tahun 2016 bersempena sambutan Jubli Intan STF iaitu Srikandi Sports Carnival. Dalam banyak-banyak acara yang Srikandi pernah anjurkan sejak tahun 1999, aku rasa ini yang paling happening. Acara lain tu best juga tapi acara ni dah berjaya mengumpulkan alumni STF dan SBP lain juga yang datang untuk menyertai acara 5KM Batin Fun Run, Futsal dan Basketball. Ramai juga yang datang sebab nak jumpa kawan-kawan lama. Ini memang acara reunion besar-besaran. Atmosphere kat acara ni memang lain. It was full of fun and love. Mana tak best, dapat jumpa kawan-kawan yang dah berpuluh tahun setakat sekodeng kat social media je. Ada yang datang dari jauh semata-mata untuk event ni, memang terharu rasanya kalau nak cerita. 
Sebahagian committee bergambar selepas rehearsal pada malam sebelumnya.
Malam sebelum acara, kami, komiti yang dok berdebar-debar ni dipanggil untuk sesi rehearsal di Putrajaya. Ini sesi rehearsal yang sangat best sebab ada orang belanja KFC, jambu, cendol, roti dan sebagainya. Belum abis rehearsal perut dah kenyang, Alhamdulillah. 

Kami sampai awal pagi tu sebab budak-budak ni nak masuk 5KM Batik Fun Run tapi sorang pun taknak pakai batik.
Pada pagi acara tu kami semua datang awal. 6.30am dah sampai Presint 18, Putrajaya. Semua taknak lewat sebab Batik Fun Run tu flag off pukul 7.30. Aku pulak nak kena breakfast dan prepare untuk sesi Zumba pukul 8.15am.
Gerai barangan bukan makanan yang meriah kalah bazaar hari raya. Ni gambar masa baru nak bukak gerai.Sambil tunggu runners mengabihkan 5KM tu, geng-geng usahawan dok set-up gerai masing-masing. Suasana agak cool sebab hari masih pagi dan cuaca pun sedap-sedap je. Kali ni banyak variety kat gerai, aku tengok, takdelah didominasi oleh gerai tudung aje. Ada gerai kosmetik, gerai makanan kesihatan, gerai cenderamata, gerai ubat-ubat dan pelbagai lagi.
Para pemenang Best Dress untuk 5KM Batik Fun Run: Batman and Cowgirl. Kreatif sungguh!Sebaik saja ada runner sampai ke garisan penamat, kami mulakan sesi Zumba. Masa tu belum ramai runners yang dah sampai, jadi yang join Zumba kebanyakannya non-runners le, termasuklah adik-adik yang begitu minat dengan Zumba. Lepas 10 lagu, kami terpaksa stop dulu untuk beri laluan untuk acara perasmian oleh YB Datuk Emy. Lepas perasmian tu, diumumkan pemenang Best Dress dan juga pemenang Grand Prize untuk Lucky Draw. Perlawanan Futsal dan Basketball dimulakan serentak dengan sesi Zumba untuk pastikan perlawanan final dapat dijalankan lebih kurang jam 2 petang. YB Datuk Emy pun tunjuk skill main basketball dalam acara Dunk It with YB. 
Sebahagian daripada my Zumba team
Bila dah banyak game berjalan, yang tak terlibat semua pakat gi shopping, makan, melepak, selfie dan berborak. My Zumba team pun semua telah pergi merata-rata sampai ada yang tak dapat dikesan. Sekitar jam 10.45 ada artis jemputan datang. Dia nyanyi 3 lagu je. Baru nak request lagu Joget Angan Tak Sudah ataupun lagu Siti Nurhaliza, dia dah nak balik. Tapi dia sempat ajak kami joget dengan dia masa lagu dangdut (yang aku tak tahu tajuknya, tapi aku joget selamba aje).Lebih kurang pukul 11 ramai pulak yang request buat lagi sekali sesi Zumba sebab ada yang datang lambatlah, yang abih running lambatlah, yang tak dengar announcementlah dan macam-macam alasan lagi. Kami pun dengan sukacitanya buat lagi satu sesi. Fuh! Nasib baik ada prepare lagu untuk 90minutes Zumba. Kalau tak, pening juga. 
Our second Zumba session. Masa first session tak sempat ambik gambar pun.

Ini Shawqi punya bib. Dia menang Lucky Draw juga!
Shawqi muka selamba je lepas menang lucky draw pergi lepak mamak minum Milo.
 Dah 3 hari berlalu pun, rasa macam susah betul nak move on dari Srikandi Sports Carnival ni. Tak tahulah kenapa, tapi rasa macam gilang gemilang sangat event ni. Dinner kat PICC pun kalah kot. Hehe. Syabas diucapkan kepada Project Manager, Ryzah dan semua committee yang berhempas pulas nak menjayakan event besar ni. Sebenarnya tak sedar pun ini event besar sampailah tengok runners flag off pagi tu. Alhamdulillah semua berjalan lancar. Adalah sikit-sikit glitch sini sana, tapi overall it's a huge success to Srikandi. Ramai juga alumni sekolah lain dan Srikandi yang request nak jadikan ni acara tahunan tapi tak tahulah macam mana sebab nak organize yang ni pun ambik masa lebih 6 bulan. Dan perlukan sumber tenaga muda-muda dan ramai gila. 

Back to school 2016

Bismillahirrahmaanirrahiim. Ini kejadian bulan April sebenarnya, tapi baru ni terfikir nak upload gambar-gambar ni. Sejak-sejak asyik layan WhatsApp memang malas nak update blog. So, acara Back To School ni diadakan bersempena sambutan Jubli Intan STF. Dua tiga hari sebelum hari kejadian, kami semua telah bersepakat untuk menukar DP di media sosial kepada logo di bawah ni ha: Kalut gak nak edit gambar ni sebenarnya. Siap subcon dekat kengkawan mintak tolong buatkan.
Pada pagi kejadian, kami telah berduyun-duyun menaiki bas dua tingkat syarikat Kiffah ni ha. Memang agak kecohlah bila naik bas ramai-ramai. Kalau zaman sekolah dulu heboh, zaman ni lagilah sebab siap bawak anak beranak lagi.
Excited dapat naik bas double decker
Kami sampai lambat kat STF sebab ada accident dekat area Kulai. Sampai-sampai sekolah je semua terus serbu acara Sumbangsih murid-murid tingkatan 5. Shopping apa yang patut. Srikandi pun ada bukak booth kat acara ni, menjual segala aneka Srikandi Merchandise. Yang paling laku, of courselah fridge magnet. Kengkawan yang dekat KL siap order dekat WhatsApp ok sebab taknak ketinggalan nak jadi pemilik fridge magnet limited edition tu.
Aktiviti melepak di kantin STF selepas penat shopping
Posing sambil tunggu bas nak pergi check-in kat Hotel M-suites
Bila dah check-in kat M-suites masing-masing pun bersiap-siap nak pergi ke acara sebelah malam pula di STF. Bila dah masuk bilik semua pakat tidur terbongkang barang 10 minit, power nap kononnya sebelum berebut toilet nak mandi dan solat. Lepas bersolek berjam-jam maka semua orang pun dah ready nak pergi dinner DJC.
Posing ngan Nita sementara menunggu bas kat lobi hotel
Posing ngan Dr. Sadhana pulak
Ambik gambar ramai-ramai sebelum muka masing-masing comot
Sesampai di STF, persiapan untuk dinner dah ready. Masa ni committee dok buat last minute touch-up apa yang patut. Kami pun dok serbu photobooth nak ambik gambar kenang-kenangan. Batch 91 awal-awal dah book satu meja panjang nak lepak ramai-ramai. 
Hiburan sebelum dinner
Batch 67 - the purple ladies yang sporting teramat-amat
Pada malam, semasa dinner ada dua acara penting telah berlangsung. Pertama, pelancaran Tabung Ehsani Srikandi (TES) yang telah dilaksanakan oleh YB Datuk Emy secara rakaman video sebab masa tu beliau berada di Manchester untuk pertandingan Dodgeball World Cup. Yang kedua, soft launch Coffee Table Book sempena STF DJC yang bakal dijual semasa Grand Dinner nanti, Insya Allah.

Belon-belon melindungi bunting Coffee Table Book yang penuh misteri
Terjumpa orang kampung kat sini. Orang Kuala Triang, katanya.
Kat depan bas STF lama dari zaman kami remaja dulu yang kini dah dijadikan computer kiosk.
Selepas dinner selesai, kami berpecah pula - ada yang pergi menonton wayang pacak di gelanggang bola keranjang dan ada pula yang masuk ke dewan besar untuk acara wajib - poco-poco dan joget lambak.
Pada keesokan harinya, kami kembali semula ke STF untuk perlawanan basketball antara Srikandi dan murid-murid STF. Selepas itu wajiblah ada acara makan-makan di Dewan Melati. Sedap betul sambal nasik lemak pagi tu. Sampai ada yang tapau balik KL. Ada juga yang tamak makan nasi lemak dengan benjo, pastu siap tambah-tambah lagi. 
SK91 di Dewan Melati. Zaman dulu kitorang panggil Dewan Makan je.
Bila dah kenyang, kami pun pusing-pusing sekolah, tengok apa peninggalan yang masih ada. 
Nostalgia betul bila nampak talipon. 
Malam sebelumnya, main talipon juga.
Berjalan-jalan santai di koridor Dewan Melati. Kalau dulu, takde lah nak jalan santai. Semua lari pecut siap angkat kain bila ada lauk ayam masak merah masa lunch.
Wajib ambik gambar kat koridor. Bila murid-murid lalu bagi salam "Assalamualaikum, Kak!" semua jadi jakun sebab dah tua pun ada yang masih sudi panggil 'Kak'.
Lepas tu kami pergi ke bilik guru mencari Ustazah Kamariah yang dikhabarkan bakal bersara tak lama lagi. Syahdu juga bila tengok Ustazah yang masih tetap macam dulu, tak makan tua. Dulu-dulu bila Ramadhan mesti Ustazah Kamariah jadi imam terawih. Dia mesti baca ayat-ayat yang best. 
Dengan Ustazah Kamariah di bilik guru
Tunggu bas nak balik hotel untuk check-out. Semua dah excited sebab nak pergi melawat JPO pulak.