Leelwan had her 3 1/2 year review just now.  I am overcome with loads of emotions at the moment. 

I am so happy and proud that she excelled and the Child Development Worker (CDW) was so pleased with her findings.  Azmarea even passed the reviews for 4 and 5 year olds!  And she is not even 3 1/2 yet!!!  Well done my dear.

I am also overwhelmed after the CDW said that this was her last visit.  This means her red book has been filled up.  She is due for her last jabs (MMR and Booster).  I was flipping through her reviews since she was born and realised that my baby is no longer a baby!  Nothing is beyond her reach from now on.  She is ready for the world...  well not really...  that's just exaggerating.  Ahahahahaha!

Time to train for Britain's Got Talent 3 then!!!  Muekekekkekeke.

What the...?

How ironic is it that on one hand we have the boys "protecting" the queen as they are honoured as the queen's guards this summer...  and at the same time another set of our boys are being portrayed as terrorists.  Idiot terrorist pulak tuh!  Standing by the beach saying that he is the most evil person in the world???  What the...?  Kalau yer pun...  buat laaa terrorist yang cool sikit...  nih gelabah giler ok!  Sheeesh!

And why do people have to assume that he is Malay and is a Muslim???  There is no indication of that whatsoever.  I have Chinese, Indian and Lain-Lain friends who speak better Bahasa Malaysia than me...  so how?  But there's no denying that he is speaking Bahasa Malaysia laaa...  however the people here are going to spin this...  it will insult someone!

Anyone saw this whilst checking out the latest Indy or Ironman?

Oh for those who have no idea what this is all about...  read this (in Malay) from the Malaysian press.  I have a feeling that Malaysians are going to go on a "ban UK" rampage now (like what happened to the Dutch) so people will stop eating Cadbury, Fish and Chips and just ban English from the curriculum all together.  No more 1119 and A-Levels...  wooot!!!

But summer sale is coming...  I am sure there will still be plenty of Malaysians in Bicester Village...  betul taaaak???  BETUUULLLLLL!!!

They say that when people forward you an email...  they are thinking of you.  Hopefully with fond thoughts.  So what does it mean when I received five of this from my friends...  including my husband?

Thank you for thinking of me with loving thoughts...

I love you too!

Summer is officially here...  despite the weather proving otherwise.

The footie is over.  Series have shown the last episode of the season.  And I am not a happy bunny.

Chelsea lost.  The wrong David won (I lost a tenner to her!).  I won't even begin to tell you what happened in Gossip Girl and Desperate Housewives (coz my friends have not seen them yet and I am not that cruel... heh!).  It will get warmer and perhaps a bit too warm for my liking.  And the list goes on.

This is definitely not a season to be jolly.  Sigh.  Why me?

I wish I could soak in a big tub of liquid chocolate and eat the whole thing!!!  Do you think they have a spa for something like that?  Why don't we start something of that sort girls?

I always had problems believing in the supernatural.  I have had family members being "spooked" and my father is an avid believer.  I remember him giving me tangkals to keep in my wallet since I was a kid.  I would humour him and take them along but would never thing anything of it.  I do believe that there are other beings amongst us.  But we live in two separate worlds.  You don't come to mine and I don't go to yours.  And we live in harmony that way...  not knowing each other but accepting each other's existence.

Until I met and married Sayang.  He on the other hand believes a bit more than I do.  Though he doesn't like to talk about it.  He will fill me in with stories he heard before.  He too like me accepts their existence but will never get involved with the mumbo jumbo that is associated with them.

Then came Leelwan.

When something happens once...  it could be by chance.  Twice then it is coincidence.  But when there are times when even I begin to question whether my little girl can actually sense things...  or even see things...  then that is not chance or coincidence. 

Ever since she was a baby...  she would cry out excessively when a place is...  what people may call panas.  Then before she could speak...  I remember catching her giggling for no reason and asking to be carried by lifting her hands into the air...  when no one was in the room.  Then now since she can speak...  she will talk to herself...  tell us that an "uncle" or "kakak" wants something...  or tell this "kakak" off and complaining to me when said "kakak" is being silly and disturbing her.  We usually tell our friends about her abilities wondering if any of their kids acted strangely.  Some thought that it was unsual and probably she does have a gift.  Some thought that it was just her imagination...  a really good one!  I always thought she had a wild imagination.  Until last weekend.

We were in Guildford for her first (almost) sleepover.  The next day we went to Guildford town and whilst waiting for Adita and Hasli to arrive we went into Waterstones with Kak Zihan to pick up my Ahern books, Sayang's Son of a Witch and my Lahiri's The Namesake.  I love summer when books are on sale and thanks to an unused voucher from Sayang's bowling competition (ages ago!) we managed to get four brand new books for under 15 quid!  Whilst browsing...  Leelwan was running around the ground floor.  She was giggling all the way saying "you cannot catch me!" and then went on to hide and seek.  We didn't see any other kids there and then she started going "where are you Fari...  where are you Fari???"...  looking high and low for her new friend Fari.  After paying and receiving a call from Adita saying that they have arrived and will meet at the restaurant...  I called out to Leelwan and she came up to me and said "sshhhhh (finger on her lips) Fari is hiding...".  Kak Zihan asked who was Fari and I just said that was her being silly and her wild imagination.  As we walked out Leelwan turned her head back and waved to her imaginary friend.

We had a lovely lunch with Adita, Hasli, Haidan, Kak Zihan and Hawari.  Matahari was a Malaysian, Thai and Japanese restaurant.  The venue was so quaint and they had the history on the menu which led to our next discussion.  Hawari said that one day we should go on a Guildford haunting walk because Guildford is famous for it's ghost.  Then he said that the most haunted place was...  Waterstones.  Yes.  The Waterstones we went to.  The Waterstones Leelwan was playing catch and hide and seek with "Fari".  The hair on my, Sayang and Kak Zihan's neck stood on air.  Then Hawari said that it used to be a place where Jews would read their Torah in the basement.  We then shared the story with the rest and mentioned that Leelwan sometimes scares us with her "uncle" and "kakak" and "princesses".  We try to blame it on her imagination but this was just a wee bit too much...  too spooky.  I told them that I will Google "Fari" when I get home and if it is a Jewish name...  then...  well...  then I don't know really...  we'll just have to see.

We went home that night.  I went straight for my laptop. 

Google = "Fari Hebrew Name"

Results = the one that stood out was "The Origins of Farhi Name"

Then I remembered a famous Farhi...  Nicole Farhi.  Wiki-ed her...  she's Jewish.

Eeeeeeeeekkkkkkk!!!

As we tucked each other in bed...  Sayang and I asked Leelwan.

Sayang:    Who's Farhi Leelwan?

Leelwan:   Farhi my friend.

Sayang:    Oh is Farhi a girl or a boy?

Leelwan:   Girl.

Sayang:    Is she big or small?

Leelwan:   Big like kakak. (Kakak to Leelwan is a child a bit older than her)

Me:          Is her hair long or short? (I don't know why I asked her that!)

Leelwan:   Short.  She wearing dress.

Me:          Oh... ok.

Leelwan:   Good night Mummy.  Good night Daddy. 

Leelwan went to sleep.  I was up for quite a bit...  I wonder if Sayang was too.

Last night we had dinner with Shameem, Shasa, Rena and Elina and when we got back I really had to go pee so asked Sayang to just stop me so that I can rush up.  When he came up he asked me if I think Leelwan could actually see things.  I told him that I was unsure and said we shouldn't discuss this at night.  He then agreed and said he'll tell me tomorrow.  I told him that if that's the case then he might as well tell me since I already know there's something in his mind.  So he told me that when he and Leelwan got out of the car Leelwan pointed to one of the trees and said "... look Daddy!  There's something there in the tree...". 

Sayang was stunned.  Then he looked up to see what it was.  Leelwan then said "oh oh...  it's gone.  Oh look stars!" and pointed to the stars pretending she never saw anything before that.

Hmmmmmm.

I used to love Bree until Season 4 of Desperate Housewives.  That's when I fell in love with Lynette.  And today when I watched the final episode of the show for Season 4...  I fell in love with Lynette and Tom. 

:: WARNING ::

THERE MAY BE SPOILERS OF STUFF HAPPENING IN WYSTERIA LANE BELOW

[blah blah blah intro...  not that interesting...]

Tom:        If you are willing to break up over an ice sculpture then you guys should definitely not get married.

Lynette:    Tom where the hell are you going with this?

Tom:        Who gets to choose the ice sculpture?  Who gets to take out the trash?  Who gets to stay home and make the mini pizzas...  that's the little stuff.  What are you going to do when the big stuff comes along? 

Lynette:    Look could you give us a sec...

Tom:        What are you when a tornado comes along?  Or when you have problems with your kids or if one of you gets cancer?

Lynette looks at Tom.  Cue sappy music.

Tom:        At some point the crap is going to hit the fan and so right now before you are going to make that commitment you have to ask yourself...  is that person in bed next to you... is worth all the trouble?  Do you love him or her so much that no disease or disaster can possibly pull you apart?

Lynette looks at Tom.  Then quickly looks at Bob and Lee.

Lynette:    Answer him!

Bob & Lee:  [in unison] Sure we do!!!

Lynette:    Good...  so now get out there and get committed you

            crazy kids!

Tom looks at Lynette and Lynette looks at Tom.  They smile.  Lynette gives him a quick peck on the lips.  They leave the room.

I cried and cried during this scene (and a bit more after) thinking of the "shit-is-going-to-hit-the-fan" position we are in.  But Sayang...  you are so worth all the trouble.  Think of me a bit (and the sacrifices that I will be making) when we go through it together ok? 

Here we go!!!

It all started with Sayang's idea of planting the left over mint we had.

Wait wait wait...  let's go back to the thosai dinner which surprised him and because of that I also made some fresh homemade lemonade with mint...  hence the mint.

Let me just share my recipe for coconut tomato chutney for the thosai.  It is really really simple.  Blend some dessicated coconut with a green cili padi (the big ones not the itsy bitsy fiery ones) and a bit of ginger.  Then heat some oil and add some mustard seeds (biji sawi) and curry leaves.  Then add the coconut paste and some tomato puree.  Season with salt.  Voila!  It's really lovely with thosais, idlis and even roti canai.  I had some with rice the day after and it was nice too!  Leelwan enjoyed the potato and carrot masala with her thosai. And the sambar (dhal) was a hit and had a reappearence last night with fried chicken (garam kunyit) and kangkung goreng belacan.  Yummmm.

OK.  Back to the mint. 

We went to the patio and I saw that in order to plant it...  there was some major weeding to do.  And if you know me...  you would know that once I start something I will go all out.  So the patio is now quite spotless with no weeds and dead trees/leaves/flowers.  I so wish I did this when Mummy was around.  But it was just too cold then.  I will do it again before she comes again to visit.  It's so nice to be able to sit in a clean and calming patio.  I wish she was here when it is warm to sit outside and see the flowers.

So last night (yes my gardening starts after din din where it is cooler) whilst I was cleaning up the patio floors...  Sayang had to run to ASDA to get some groceries.  He brought Leelwan with him.  He kissed me goodbye and left.  It was getting dark and when I was done I kept everything away and wanted to finish all my chores in the house.  And guess what...

Sayang locked me out!

Because my blog is PG-13... I cannot list down the words that came out of my mouth when I realise that I was probably going to be stuck in the dark and cold for at least an hour!  Once I calmed down (only took 15 seconds) I crossed over to the neighbours and Juliette (who probably heard everything) asked me to come in.  I told her what had happened and she was not amused at all.  Curtis was in the toilet and heard everything.  He came out laughing... as a man would.  So for the one hour and a bit I was entertained by my neighbours.  We laughed and argued about footie over an ice cold concoction Curtis made which was sublime!  After watching bits of The Apprentice (I wonder why I didn't follow it this year!)...  I heard Sayang and Leelwan's footsteps.  "What are you doing here mom (she calls me that now!)?".  I told her that her daddy had locked me out.  Confused...  it did not hit Sayang immediately.  He thought I went out because the patio door was locked and I was not in the flat.  "How did I manage to lock the door and be at the neighbours?" I asked him.  Only then he realised what he had done.  The time with Curtis and Juliette did give me a huge sense of humour and I laughed it off.

Whilst I was there I noticed that their living room was a bit more spacious than ours.  I realised that we had a lot of wasted space behind the sofa.  So I asked Sayang if we could do something to our living room.  It was 10.00 pm by then.  Sayang said that it would take at least 2 hours...  but (probably because he was sooooo guilty) he obliged.  And so it was removing all the cables...  moving the TV (with the rest of the players and system), the piano, the table, the sofa and putting everything back and vacuuming the entire place and after all that...  we have a new living room and £1.40 richer (found them whilst cleaning).  Leelwan was such a good girl.  She was in her room entertaining herself (without leaving much mess at all!).  And when she came back she thought that the big space now was the dancing floor (coz we had The Box on when she finally was allowed to come back in).  We finished everything by about 1.30 am and only got to bed at about 2.30 - 3.00 am.  I am amazed by Sayang.  He managed to hide the cables and put everything together so quickly that he was rewarded with a well-deserved treat!  Eehhehehehehe.

Before we went to bed...  Sayang asked me to check if the Wi-Fi was still working.  It was and I checked my e-mail and found this:

From:    City Firm

Sent:     14 May 2008 20:34:56

To:        Marisa Zainal Abidin 

Cc:        MD City Firm

Subject: Interview 

Hi Marisa,

Hope your well.  Thank you for your CV.  We are delighted to invite you for an interview in our office on Friday 16 May 2008 at 1.00 pm.  Please call us to discuss further.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

HR City Firm

Whoooopiiiieeeeeee!!!  Mummy is so right!!!  You gotta clean your house for things to happen to you.  Now I have to get my work suit out and dust off the cobwebs!

But someone has to tell the HR person that it is you're not your.  Eheeehehehe.

Peanuts, sweet and crisp wrappers, cigarette buds, more peanuts, used condom, two pennies, a tuppence, more peanuts, two micro machines, three pens, snails, bugs of all colours, shapes and sizes and more peanuts.

Yup that's what I found on the patio whilst cleaning it last night.  Damn the squirrels who hide their stash in my pots (but I am still curious...  where the heck did they find these peanuts in the shell!!!).  Damn the kids upstairs who keep on throwing their toys and food wrappers on my patio.

Now...  who shall I curse (or kill) for throwing their used condom out their window!!!  It was not funny when Leelwan went "balloon pop!" when she saw it!!! 

Urrrrggghhhhhhh!!!