"Your Mistake, My Agony!"

I promised myself that I will never repeat this silly and stupid mistake again which resulted in your agony! Although you never mentioned it explicitly, but by the looks of your face, your eyes and your behavior, I know too well that you're angry with me, Gary. I could   read your feelings and absolutely understand   how you feel as if you're saying straight to my face, "Mom, how could you do this to me? Your Mistake, My Agony ..." Sob! Sob! Sob!

It all started last weekend when I booked for Gary's appointment for medical wash with the Clinic. For the past one and half years we always sent him for the medical wash as his monthly routine to keep him clean and his claws well trimmed. It normally took an hour and when we came back for him, his fur was fluffy after the clinical shampoo and blow dry and most of all he'll smell fresh and wonderful! 

But last week when the girl at the Clinic's reception asked me if I wanted to groom him, I answered affirmatively 'Yes!' with a view like the previous monthly routine. Then, she asked me again 'short' or 'medium' and I answered 'medium' with a personal view that 'short' connotes the groomer will cut his fur short which I have no intention at all!  In my mind, I just wanted his beautiful shaggy grayish fur trimmed only followed by the usual body wash and blow dry just like the norm. 

I truly love his shaggy grayish white fur and so far it has been my routine to brush his furry hair twice a day at home :) After I signed the paper and left Gary under the care of the so called groomer, we left the Clinic  for some coffee and blue berry muffins at Costa. Once done, we waited for Gary in the Clinic. This time it took us more than an hour's wait which was not normal but quite okay for us as long as Gary is fine and 'well groomed' meaning beautiful with great fluffy hair liken to a fantasy gray tiger's cub and beautiful aroma fresh from the 'grooming room!'

But, after nearly two hours of waiting patiently for him, alas when we saw Gary with his 'new look' I was stunned and felt truly sorry and guilty to him. Instead of looking well groomed and beautiful, he looked like a sick feline. Instead of trimming his fur like the usual practice when we sent him for grooming, the groomer shaved his fur! All his gray fur vanished and he was left with the coarse whitefish fur only. His long fluffy tail was no longer there. Instead it was 'replaced' with long and thin tail with shortened fur and just at the tip still shaggy! And, of course when he saw me he gave me the 'angry look' which was shown all over his face! 

Worst still when I arrived at our home and heard the shocked and surprised remarked from Mrs P who took care of Gary's foods and Daily Care. When she saw Gary's new look, she said to me at point blank, "Madam, he looks like a monkey" which automatically made my heart sank for my poor 'sonny' ... Indeed, my 'stupid' mistake made Gary feeling miserable and didn't like his new look at all. That made me feel more uncomfortable and sad each time I set my eyes on him. He was also reluctant to be held by me which was not his usual self! 

Oh! Gary is feeling the agony over my mistake. But when I held him and stroked his fur gently, I also consoled and promised him that I would not repeat that silly and stupid mistake again. To my Gary, please forgive Mommy. Insyallah as said by Mr Right and others who had seen his new look which he truly annoyed and detested, "Gary's fur will grow like before. Perhaps more hairy and fluffy!" Indeed, I would like to believe them and pray hard that his hairy grayish fur will grow as they signaled to me. But, some said that I have to wait a month or so. Others said, to get his full self again, perhaps two months!!! OMG ....

Gary: Mommy, I don't like this new look!!! Please, don't take any picture of me :(((

Gary: I love my old look and especially when Dad holds me like this .... :)))

Oman @A'Glance

We have been staying in this blessed land for more than two years. For us who have less expectation, our stay so far have been blissful with tons of cherished moments well spent with each other as love birds, with loved ones during their vacations and with the ever caring friends both the locals and residents from all walks of life. Indeed, spectacular Oman has been our wonder home far away from home which I'm truly thankful. 

Just like last night, Muscat was blessed with gifts from the sky - the heavy rain! It made me feel like I was at home with sparkles of colourful lightnings and the thunderous roar all over the dark sky. Although it was scary since Mr Right and I were on the slippery road  where visibility was at its lowest but the sight of the 'colourful night' was truly rare! Who would believe that we experienced heavy rain in the land surrounded by vast deserts where most of time the weather is scorchingly hot!

Yes! this country has lots to offer to its nationals and people like me and to this day, I'm still craving and hoping to see more and have more of it. Just a simple brisk walk on the well maintained pavement overlooking   the Gulf of Oman along the stretch of silvery QBeach was already blissful! What more if we  were to continue walking towards the hill that located Crown Plaza in QHeights that would be awesome and full of picturesque sights beyond expression. And no wonder, this area has never been empty or shy of people especially during  this time of the year - November to March aka the winter season where the scene and mood are liken to festival time :)

Since the weather is just like Spring season so the flowers too are blooming beautifully and creating multicolored spectacular view to all onlookers. In most gardens lovely well trimmed carpeted grass were flocked by families with happy faced children playing, running and jumping while enjoying the cool weather which made me green with envy! Oh! How I wish the 'grown kiddos' are here :( Well, I still have to wait another month before their arrival which sound more like another year! :)

If one were to take a ride to Nizwa, about  two hours drive towards south from Muscat, he or she will encounter another fascinating sight and experience Oman @A'Glance. Along the well paved road and smooth drive expressway, there are small towns like Fanja and Izki that one could stop for a cup of tea at the tea shops before contine the journey to the old capital city which is unique and full of exciting adventures. From Nizwa, one could climb up the green mountains of Jebel Akhdar or branch out towards the canyon of Jebel Sham where the temperature drops till minus 5 degrees during cold season!

Another exciting event that covers Oman @A'Glance is if we drive towards the Mutrah corniche area for less than half a day trip. Apart from being captivated by the beautiful port and the surrounding waterfront, one could get herself 'lost' in the busy yet mesmerizing Souq of Old Oman. The ambiance coupled with the scented frankincence fragrance truly 'transported' oneself as if we are in the Sindbad era or the historical time of 1001 night! 

In the souq all sellers are busy luring in customers to their stalls  be it antiques, silverware, homemade crafts and unique Omani attires and headgears. At the same time, the customers too are 'drown with confusion' because they are spoilt for choices! Too many choices that they had difficulty to choose! But, in most cases no one will leave the Souq empty handed. At the very least, they would bring home some sovenirs as momentous items such as frankincense, kanjar, dish dasha, mussar hat or for the ladies silver handicrafts or jewellery. But some may prefer gold from the Gold Souq!

Notwithstanding all the outside activities, here inside our own home-sweet-home we also have our share of joy and happiness through our feline Gary. He is now closed to a year and a half since we brought him home from the pet shop in Sabco. We never failed to pour our love to this cutie furry hairy. Indeed, he brings joy and happiness to our home! He loves and appreciates Oman @A'Glance through the BeeMer's window :D

During weekends, we took him for night sight seeing for the lovely street lights along the Muscat-Nizwa Expressway. Other times he loves to follow us for some 'moonlighting' moments around the Azaiba coastline and along the Seeb Beach. There we witnessed many fishermen with their late evening catch. Gary excitedly would elongate his neck at the car window to catch the glimpse of the busy 'night fish market' along the beach but most of all he just loves the rows and rows of beautiful street lights!

In a sentence > life in Oman has been blissful and our gratitude to Allah SWT for the opportunity given to us. Amin.

Omani folk dance ...

Blissful Drops!

It's mid-November and the weather in Muscat is getting cooler after months of scorching summer! I truly look forward to savor  this time of the year till end March. It is also called 'winter season' which is very popular for BBQ activities either at the silvery sandy beaches along the coast or up on the rugged mountains. 

To start enjoying the cool season, this evening we decided to join some of our countrymen for BBQ get-together and family fun times @Seeb Beach which was half an hour drive from home-sweet-home. I was excited and can't wait for Asar to come @3pm because the BBQ event will only start after the prayer where all the families will gather at the beach! Mr Right had prepared the evergreen beach mat, two beach chairs and a big blue umbrella especially for me to shun away from the sun. He also made sure that I also had my big pinky hat with huge sunglasses and reminded me to tag my blue shawl for the night wrap!

We also did our part to share with our friends by preparing some foodies. Mr Right and I went to Matrah Market and we bought some fresh fishes including sole and others. Once cleaned he marinated the fish with salt, turmeric and ginger and neatly placed them in a cooler. Wallah! They're all ready to be BBQ'ed!!! I also prepared some sambal kicap as dip for the  fish and a tupperware of nasi goreng kampung and fried frankfurters for dinner to be shared with friends under the bright moonlight with cool breezy wind from the sea! We planned to stay warm and happily chatting with fellow countrymen and their family members around the bonfire until midnight. 

However, as human beings we can only plan, but Allah SWT has the Final Say! On this there is a saying in my language with little amendments in italic "Ku sangka panas sampai ke Tengah Malam, rupanya hujan di Dinihari" :D We did not expect any rain because we are in the dessert! -(@^@)-

Indeed, it happened - it started with Blissful Drops just after we had Maghrib prayer together @5.30pm and was followed by our BBQ foodies! Night just begun and I was enjoying some grilled prawns and sweet corn with my friends. The others were still barbecuing the beef, lamb, kebabs, burgers and many more. Some families were still eating beside the bonfire. The children were seen happily playing with the sand to make sand castles where I managed to snap their cheerful moments with my mobile. 

Then I noticed that the Blissful drops did not stop! It kept pouring. But before the small to medium drops turned to heavy rain fall, Mr Right started packing all our things and 'shooed' me to start running towards our car. The situation on the beach was liken to 'raining cats and dogs!' In my case, the scenario was as Kay wrote in the FB comments: "Best Giler. Lama tak mandi hujan ... Paling best sebab lari-lari dengan D & D sampai basah kuyup ..." By the time we reached our car, we were all blissfully wet!!! 

Rare View: Heavy Rain in Seeb captured by me the minute I was inside our faithful BeeMer. It was an exceptionally a rare view in Oman. I felt like I was transported to my tropical home country where rain and flash flood was the norm. I was soaked with water and heavily panting due to running from the BBQ site to the roadside where we parked our car! Hu Hu Hu but feeling blessed with Allah gift from the sky :))

'Asyura' 4TenthMuharram

It is just a cultural tradition in my family dinner @Happy Village and not on religious grounds whatsoever to have Bubur Lambuk or sometimes called as Asyura on 10th Muharram as part of our Iftar breakfast cuisines. 

Here, in a land surrounded by beautiful mosques and lovely voices of muezzins's call for prayers brings nostalgic feelings to me for they remind me of my late Abah who was once an Imam in my evergreen and peaceful hometown. The mosque was just adjacent to our home-sweet-home which made it plain sailing for late Abah to go for his prayers with the other villagers even at old age. The garden surrounding the mosque also was once the playing ground for my friends and me each evening with our sepit udang game or ting ting before we called off the day to the chagrin of our Moms :)

Particularly during this time of the sacred day and month, when I was young before going to boarding school, my late GrandMa Nyai and ever caring Dear Mom will be busy preparing foodies for breaking fast! What I remembered and certainly liked most was that they also cooked the delicious savory dish Asyura and sent to the mosque for the people to savour after their Maghrib prayers. In fact, my late Grandma Nyai cooked  the Asyura Johore style which was a savory dish. The ingredients among others include rice porridge cooked with meat, chicken and ground nuts plus other spices and some coconut milk. Whereas in other parts of Malaysia, especially in the northern areas such as Kedah there is sweet Asyura mainly made of rice flour with corn, bananas, sweet potatoes and jaggery or gula Melaka. Instead of looking like porridge, the sweet asyura has 'bingka' look!

This evening to commemorate the sacred month, I prepared Asyura for Mr Right and me for dinner. It may not be the same as Grandma Nyai's or Mom's but, from the look and taste - it was quite closed to the original recipe. I would like to think so :-D but most importantly Mr Right liked it! He won't touch if the porridge is sweet but he'll surely finish a bowl full if the dish is savory! And more often than not, he will have a second helping. Definitely Mr Right isn't a sweet tooth person ...

Mr Right's favourite: My Asyura Johore style

An image of sweet Asyura - Bubur Asyura Manis (Utara) copyright of Sajian Hati balqis-resepiku.blogspot! TQ Blogger for the image :D

Email that brings me BigSmile!

"He He Hye Ma, I'm grateful also ... :)"

An e-mail which brings intoxicating Grin and Big Smile to my face while I'm still lazying on bed. A blissful morning of 10 Muharram 1435. TQ RDR!

It was a sweet surprise on an early morning when I opened my email today. Indeed, I did not expect any return answer when I wrote an email to my son with just a short sentence "Mama grateful to conceive and have you!" I sent the e-mail to him yesterday after reading the beautiful words in the FB Wall:

Taken from FB Wall. Acknowledgement and Credit to whoever wrote these words :)' 

Upon reading the status, it was encouraged to all readers to click 'share' to the others. I did not share it in my FB Wall although I am truly thankful and the credit goes to whoever wrote it? Instead, I sent the heart-2-heart words straight to my son RDR to show how grateful I am to have him! And who is my RDR?

RDR ...

He is my every thing!

My beautiful moon during darkness

My shining stars that lights the pavement 

A true sunlight that brightens my day

Colourful flower beds throughout my way

And the reason to live with beautiful stay!

RDR ...

My once 'Diplo-Tot'

Now grown up as young man

He who had followed me to many places

Desert to Desert via Snow and Woods

If only I could tag him that be good,

Alas, I can't for someone will 'shoot!' :D

RDR

At one time a 'Diplo-Kid'

Full of Oops Slips which I lost count

Never liked history or mugging subjects

With spiky hair and never dressed down 

Truly a class of his own with no bound

Turned out Bright and Creatively Sound!

I'm blessed with Alllah SWT special gift to me - a son! You make me a proud Mom :)

Indeed, the words in FB reflect some of the feelings written in my heart for you 'sonny' which sometimes wish to remain there sacredly! But now all have been revealed and I'm feeling awesome and exceptionally blissful. Amin.

A Nite of HeadGears!

It was a wonderful and colourful night! I truly enjoyed the reception @GrandHyatt - not only the bright and vibrant ambience with sumptuous international foodies, but most of all my eyes were captivated with the varieties of headgears worn by the people participating in the event and also the guests who attended the memorable reception!

Just glance at the pictures below:

A Magnificent HeadGear worn by a South African DS! It captures the sights of on lookers. A truly enchanting moment for me from an African beauty. 

I love the butterfly on the headscarf! A touch of elegance that enhances the already fascinating turquoise which further promotes charm or anggun to the wearer. A nice tip to all Ladies ...

Wow! Who could miss this 'Minangkabau' lass? Surely, I could not since the scarlet headgear caught and lured my eyes straight to the young woman more than the aroma of the enticing beef rendang from Sumatra. Sweet and exceptionally engrossing one's attention! Also reminds me of my MIL who is the descendants of Minangkabau clan •^•

A spectacular sight of golden head-dress fit for a bride! This reminds me of someone's voice - "Once a bride worn her bridal attire, it will be incomplete without the head accessory" said my late Nyai who had passed down her legacy to my Dear Mom. A truly cherished moment for every bride :D

My heartiest gratitude to the host and hostess HE Sukanto and Ibu NLS for the honour and invitation. Thus, giving me the opportunity to savour the fascinating moments that brought back mesmerizing memories of my late Nyai who was once a 'Mak Andam' and during her life time had showed and shared with me the importance of headgears to women. 

Yours truly with Host & Hostess, MDD and ZM at the Indonesia National Day Reception in Grand Hyatt Hotel, Muscat - 13.11.13!

Mrs P, my Heart goes to You :(

One morning I saw a petite and fair looking lady's eyes were scarletly swollen and welled with tears. I have known her for three months but I have not seen her so vulnerable as that memorable morning. I called her Mrs P. Other days, whenever I passed by her who was always watering the plants in her little garden, she's always waved, smiling and never showed any sign of unhappiness. So, that fateful morning I went to her and asked her what's wrong and if she needs any help or assistance from me?

She smiled a little and slowly said, "My Dad met with an accident!" Indeed, she called her daughter the day before as part of her weekly routine and was later informed of the mishap. But, she was very sad for not being able to look after her elderly father, especially in time of need after the demise of her mother ten years ago! Anyway, she said that she felt a little better since she had sent some money to her second daughter last week from her salary as part of the monthly allowance and already told her daughter to take her grandfather to the hospital for some check ups, which was truly awesome on her part! Although I barely know her and her background but I noticed that she is a pious person who never fails to pray for her family.

Mrs P has been in this country for more than three years. She was in another Middle East nation for six years before she came here. That was a pretty long period isn't it to be away from home and did not see her three children who now aged 22, 21 and 17 and her only father for the past nine years! She left her country and landed a job in these lands of opportunities after the demise of her mother who was her staunch supporter and liken to a sturdy pole for her to hang on.

It all begun when her dear father visited her one day during monsoon season. Her father had witnessed her bruised body, tormented daily life and shabby home situation which all along she had difficulty but managed to hide from him. Her sad father was heart broken to see his lovely daughter who was badly treated by her abusive husband. Finally, her father had the courage and said to her, "P, either you go far away from here, or you'll die here!" 

After much thought and coupled with her father's persuasion, encouragement and blessings Mrs P chose the former and left her family. In between sobs, she revealed that she was living with a jobless, abusive and alcoholic husband who was matched make to her by both her parents and in-laws. There was no love at first sight relationship but she was content with her fate and marriage life. Then, she found solace and little happiness with her children in her small farm and selling vegetables to make ends meet! But, that feelings did not last long with the constant and repeated abuse!

She still vividly remembered her youngest daughter now aged seventeen clinging and suckling to her motherly breasts for milk. And she has not seen her and what more to hug and chat with her as a normal mother-daughter bonding for the past nine years. Meaning, when she left her home country, her daughter was only an eight year old girl! Oh ... Hearing her story and the feelings of how much she had missed her children made my heart choked and tears welled in the eyes. My little heart shrinks and goes to Mrs P!

Since she had the opportunity to work abroad, she was able to send some money home for her children to go to school. Her eldest son has started working while her second girl just finished her college studies and now is seeking for jobs which is scarce and difficult to come by in her native place which according to her is quite an over populated country. 

Her youngest daughter is still in high school and Mrs P hopes that she could enter college and to further her studies and then earn a reputable university degree. Indeed, she has high hopes for her youngest daughter who she believes so far was quite promising in her studies and it's time for her to make a change! She prays that this daughter will get a good job. In whatever way she is determined to assist her daughter to make a change for her and her familiy because that change is a ticket for the new era in her entire family circle. I looked at her and nodded. Very quietly deep in my heart I pray for Mrs  P's hope to materialize ... May all her wishes come true!

This image is copy right of media.photobucket.com which truly captivating and captures my sights and souls. It fits well with the story of Mrs P who actually "a friend who reaches for my hands, instead has touched my heart!"